Resonance enhanced color filter arrays are provided for image sensors. Resonance cavities formed with color filter materials that enhance the color filtering capabilities of the color filter materials. Resonance enhanced color filter arrays may be provided for back side illumination image sensors and front side illumination image sensors. A layer of high refractive index material or metamaterial may be provided between a microlens and a color filter material to serve as a first partially reflecting interface for the resonance cavity. An optional layer of high refractive index material or metamaterial may be provided between color filter material and a substrate. In front side illumination image sensors, color filter material may be provided in a light guide structure that extends through interlayer dielectric. The color filter material in the light guide structure may form at least part of a resonance cavity for a resonance enhanced color filter array.

This relates generally to imaging devices, and more particularly, image sensors having resonance enhanced absorptive color filters for both back and front side illumination image sensors.
Image sensors are commonly used in electronic devices such as cellular telephones, cameras, and computers to capture images. Conventional image sensors are fabricated on a semiconductor substrate using complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology or charge-coupled device (CCD) technology.
An image sensor may include an active pixel array having photodiodes. A color filler array is often formed over the photodiodes. The color fitter array contains color filters such as red, green, and blue color filters that filter incoming light before it reaches the photodiodes. However, conventional color filter arrays may be susceptible to optical cross talk.
It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved color filter arrays for image sensors.

Resonance enhanced absorptive color filters having resonance cavities

Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC


It is an object to realize and establish new extrusion technology for manufacturing a light-metal hollow member (product) having excellent mechanical properties with constant stability and also efficiently manufacturing the product having a strength satisfying a required level at low cost, by using a hollow die such as a bridge die. The object is achieved by dividing and joining/welding a light-metal material with a hollow extrusion die and then extruding the light-metal material to form in a desired cross-sectional shape through a die opening, wherein the strain level applied to the light-metal material after the joining/welding is maintained at 1.8 or more and the extrusion is performed.

Conventional methods for manufacturing a hollow member made of light-metal such as an aluminum base alloy by hot extrusion are known, such as a method shown in FIG. 5. In this method, a light-metal material 1 molded into a solid billet is fed into a container 2 of an extruder under heating; a pressure is applied from the back (from the direction shown by an arrow A in the drawing) of the light-metal material 1 by a stem 3; and the light-metal material 1 is extruded from a die opening having a predetermined cross-sectional shape to the front (to the direction shown by an arrow B in the drawing) through a couple of hollow dies 4 provided in a die-holder 9 continuing to the container 2. Thus, a product of the hollow member 5 (a rectangular tube in this drawing example) is prepared.
In this method, a hollow die such as a bridge die, a porthole die, or a spider die is used as the couple of hollow dies 4. The porthole die as an example of the hollow die is shown in FIG. 6.
The couple of hollow dies 4 has an internal die 4a positioned at the billet side and an external die 4b positioned at the hollow member 5 side. Both dies 4a and 4b are fit to each other and used in an integrated manner.
The internal die 4a includes a plurality of entry ports 6 (the example in the drawing has four entry ports, but one of them is not shown) perforated at a peripheral portion thereof and includes an internal bearing 7a (mandrel) which protrudes toward the downstream direction (the external die 4b side) in the extrusion at the central portion. The external die 4b is provided with a recessed welding chamber 8 having an approximate cross shape corresponding to the respective entry ports 6 of the internal die 4a. The welding chamber 8 has an external bearing 7b of a hole passing through the external die 4b in the axial direction at the central part. The external bearing 7b is formed into a shape so that a gap with a specified shape (a thin-walled rectangular tube in this drawing example) can be formed when the internal bearing 7a of the internal die 4a is inserted into the external bearing 7b. Thus, the hollow member 5 having a cross-section corresponding to the gap shape can be prepared by extrusion.
The mechanism of extrusion using the couple of hollow dies 4 will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 6. The light-metal material 1 is pushed from the direction of the arrow A and is pressed into the four entry ports 6 of the external die 4b so as to be divided and to flow in the respective entry ports 6. Namely, the light-metal material 1 is divided into four parts 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d. The divided parts 1a to 1d converge at the welding chamber 8 of the external die 4b after passing through the entry ports 6 and are welded to be unified again. The unified light-metal material 1 is extruded from a gap between the external face of the internal bearing 7a having a rectangular cross-section and the internal face of the external bearing 7b having a rectangular cross-section for receiving the internal bearing 7a with the gap in the direction of the arrow B. As a result, the hollow member (rectangular tube) 5 having a rectangular hollow cross-section corresponding to the gap shape is formed. Therefore, the resulting hollow member 5 has four edges of welding portions 5a.
Namely, since the product of the hollow member 5 prepared by this method is extruded through the processes of dividing joining/welding which are not performed in a general method using a solid die, the hollow member 5 necessarily has the welding portions 5a corresponding to the number and position of the entry ports 6 of the couple of hollow dies 4. The metallurgical welding adhesion between the welding portions and bearing portions (non-welded portions) influences mechanical properties, such as tensile strength, proof stress, and elongation, of the hollow member, in particular, largely influences strength. Defects in the welding adhesion of the welding portions causes fracture and deformation during secondary fabrication or in use thereafter; thus, the quality may not be sufficiently guaranteed.
The extrusion using the bridge die has an advantage of that the bridge die has a life cycle longer than that of other hollow dies, but has a disadvantage of that the operation for ensuring the strength of the welding portions is difficult. For example, an aluminum base alloy can be used without causing problems in some products which are not required to have relatively high strength, such as JIS-3000 series and JIS-6000 series. However, in products which are required to have high strength, such as JIS-7000 series, it is very difficult to ensure enough strength of the welding portions because of the metallurgical properties of the aluminum base alloy. Furthermore, in the case of JIS-5000 series, it is believed in this field that the extrusion using the hollow die is impossible. Thus, even development has been abandoned.
In cooperation with such conventional conditions, no method suitable for previously evaluating the strength of the welding portions exists. Actually, the strength cannot be confirmed until a test such as a tube expansion test after the manufacturing is performed. Therefore, the lack of strength often occurs in products, and the yield ratio is low, which is a problem. When the lack of strength is found, the die shape or extruding conditions are altered according to experimental knowledge or trial and error. Such countermeasures lack in repeatability and versatility and cannot sufficiently and rapidly respond to new product shapes and prescribed properties manufactured for the first time. Furthermore, the fabricated dies are useless, which is extremely inefficient.
The present invention has been accomplished under such circumstances. It is an object of the present invention to realize and establish new extrusion technology for stably manufacturing a light-metal hollow member (product) having excellent mechanical properties by solving all the basic problems relating to strength of the welding portions in the extrusion using a hollow die such as a bridge die, and also efficiently manufacturing the product having a strength satisfying a required level at low cost.

Method of extruding hollow light metal member, die for extruding hollow light metal, and member for extruding hollow light metal

Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)


An antenna apparatus may include a reflective layer connected to a ground, one or more first antennas disposed on the reflective layer, wherein each first antenna includes a first active element and one or more first parasitic elements; one or more first switching devices, each associated with corresponding one of the one or more first parasitic elements in at least one of one or more first antennas, one or more second antennas disposed on the reflective layer, wherein each second antenna includes a second active element and one or more second parasitic elements, and one or more second switching devices, each associated with corresponding one of the one or more second parasitic elements in at least one of one or more second antennas. The first antennas operate at a first frequency. The second antennas operate at a second frequency different from the first frequency.

Available spectrum resources for wireless communication systems are limited. However, since improvement on performance of the wireless communication systems is desired, more efficient use of spectrum resources may be required. Since reconfigurable antenna apparatuses/systems may provide various radiation patterns, the reconfigurable antenna apparatuses/systems may address the requirements of more efficient use of spectrum resources and improve the overall performance of the wireless communication systems in which the reconfigurable antenna apparatuses/systems are involved. For reconfigurable antenna apparatuses/systems, higher radiation efficiency has been desired. Also, more compact and less complicated designs have been desired for reconfigurable antenna apparatuses/systems.


An exemplary display device is a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), the on-screen imager is referred to as an LCD imager. Without affecting the display functions of an LCD device, an image sensing module is provided behind or within an LCD unit in the LCD device. By controlling the liquid crystals in the LCD unit, the reflected light from an object placed against the LCD device to be imaged is allowed to pass through the LCD unit and projected onto an image sensor in the image sensing module to generate an image of the object. The imager includes an optical assembly having at least one wedge shaped light guide to collect and focus the reflected light from the object onto an image sensor, where the image sensor is disposed at an end of the wedge shaped light guide.

Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to techniques for scanning through a display screen, where such a display screen has a see-through feature and may include but not be limited to, a liquid crystal display (LCD). The scanning is achieved by a sensing mechanism disposed behind a display screen when the display screen is set for a moment of see-through so that scanning through the display screen is achieved.
Description of the Related Art
There are many applications that need optical scanners to convert paper-based objects, such as texts and graphics, to an electronic format that can be subsequently analyzed, distributed and archived. One of the most popular optical scanners is a flatbed scanner that converts scanning objects, including pictures and papers, to images that can be used, for example, for designing World Wide Web pages and optical character recognition. Another popular optical scanner is what is called sheet-fed scanners that are small and unobtrusive enough to be carried around, hence referred to as mobile scanners, to provide a handy scanning means.
A mobile scanner comes handy and is often used to convert actual printed or written materials into electronic format. For example, a journalist goes far away from a news bureau to collect information about an important event there. It is considerably useful that such a portable or mobile scanner can be used to scan documents on site into a computer that then forwards the electronic versions to the news bureau for immediate news reporting or archival.
Many latest mobile devices are equipped with one or more cameras. For example, iPhones from Apple Inc. are equipped with two cameras, one on the front and the other on the back to allow a user to capture video or images for various purposes. Although the image quality of such cameras is improving over the time, it is difficult to use such cameras to capture documents in good quality. Thus, various scanners are still holding their market shares and being used in applications they have been designed for.
Biometrics recognition is getting popular lately. It refers to metrics related to human characteristics (e.g., fingerprints). Biometrics authentication is used in computer science as a form of identification and access control. iPhone 5 may be the first smartphone equipped with the capability to capture a fingerprint of a user for authentication. Specifically, a touch ID (being Apple's name for the new biometric fingerprint authentication technology) is built into the home button of an iPhone. The touch ID features a stainless steel detection ring to detect the fingerprint without the user having to pressing it. There is no shape drawing in the home button. The sensor behind uses capacitive touch to detect the fingerprint of the user. The sensor used in iPhone 5S has a thickness of 170 μm with 500 pixels per inch resolution and can capture the fingerprint of a finger oriented in any direction.
As the name suggested, the touch ID on iPhone is for capturing a fingerprint and of almost no use to capture anything else. With the popularity of smartphones, a user would like to use his smartphone to do more than identification and access control. In the case of currency bill verification, neither the touch ID nor the camera could be used to verify whether a received currency bill (e.g., a $100 bill) is genuine or counterfeited.
Thus there is a need for technology that can be used to read or scan a large object on a computing device, especially those portable ones, where such technology shall not increase the size of the device when used. With the popularity of the smartphones, there is a demand that a smartphone can be used for authentication and access control. However, just relying on a single fingerprint is weak. It is believed that techniques for scanning more than one fingerprints at the same time shall be welcome and useful in the market.
There is also a need for technology that can be used to read or scan certain marks on an object that are not visible under normal lighting. It is believed that techniques for scanning such marks with a portable device shall be welcome and useful in the market.

Method and apparatus for image capture through a display screen


Disclosed is an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The OCT system may include: a light source unit generating light; an optical interferometer including an optical coupler splitting the light generated by the light source unit into first distribution light and second distribution light, a reference arm reflecting the first distribution light, a sample arm reflecting the second distribution light, and an optical detector detecting the light reflected by the reference arm and the sample arm; an OCT catheter including an optical fiber having a shape in which the optical fiber is insertable into at least a part of a human body and is rotatable and discharging the light to a tissue and collecting OCT data for the tissue; an OCT engine including a processor and a storage unit and processing the OCT data collected by the OCT catheter; and an OCT controller connected to a proximal end of the OCT catheter and controlling rotation of the OCT catheter.

Since medical technology is an act of treating diseases and saving lives of people, large technological investment and research for the medical technology have been made. As a result of the technological investment and research, an internal image of a human body is acquired through medical equipment to achieve accurate diagnosis for a patient and the resulting treatment. The medical equipment capable of acquiring the internal image of the human body includes X-ray imaging equipment, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment, computer tomography (CT) equipment, and ultrasound imaging equipment. The equipment may be classified into equipment (i.e., non-invasive imaging equipment) for photographing the inside of the human body from the outside of the human body.
For example, in order to ensure accuracy of imaging for fine blood vessel tissues such as a cardiovascular field and tissues which continuously move, various types of equipment have been developed, which is related to acquisition of an internal image of the human body in an invasive scheme. Since the invasive-scheme imaging equipment is inserted into the human body and photographs the inside of the human body, for example, the invasive-scheme imaging equipment may be used for diagnosing an anatomical structure (e.g., stenosis) inside the blood vessel.
As the invasive imaging equipment, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging equipment exists. The intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging equipment may evaluate intravascular atheromatous plaque characteristics by overcoming a limit of coronary angiography (a method for evaluating an internal blood vessel by injecting a contrast medium into the blood vessel) used to diagnose the anatomical structure and stenosis of coronary artery. In the intravascular ultrasound imaging scheme, a rotating ultrasound generating device is attached to an end of a fine tube capable of entering the inside of the blood vessel to observe a stenosis degree of the blood vessel and a state of the atheromatous plaque.
In recent years, an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system has been developed, which has a higher resolution than the IVUS imaging equipment to enable evaluation of a micro structure (e.g., a micro structure of coronary atheromatous plague in the human body, which is difficult to observe by means of the IVUS imaging equipment.
The OCT system is an optical tomography device that generally images a cross section of a body tissue by using a light source of a near infrared (e.g., wavelength 0.6 to 1.3 μm) area. The OCT technology is evaluated as new imaging technology which is studied in order to complement a human hazard issue, a price issue, and a measurement resolution issue of the existing invasive schemes of measurement equipment such as computer tomography (CT), ultrasound imaging, and magnetic resonance imaging equipment.
The OCT technology has a higher resolution than the existing IVUS technology and has many advantages including an advantage that the inside of a target object may be photographed by a non-cutting scheme, an advantage that real-time tomography imaging is available with development of Fourier-domain OCT, and an advantage that small and low-price devices can be fabricated.
The OCT technology is technology that performs 3D imaging for the inside of a living body by using a coherence phenomenon of light and when the OCT technology is invasively used, for example, a catheter formed by an optical fiber is inserted into the blood vessel to acquire an image of the inside of a blood vessel wall. In this case, the OCT technology may be utilized as various forms such as stenting, discovery of macrophage, evaluation of usefulness of medication, discovery of thrombosis, discovery of coronary atheromatous plaque, and/or evaluation of a coronary artery lesion. Moreover, when the OCT technology is non-invasively used, for example, since a high-resolution image may be acquired through tomography for the cornea and the retina, the OCT technology may be used as a measurement device for ophthalmology and used as a measurement device for dermatology such as non-invasive blood glucose measurement and/or diagnosis for skin and scalp.
As the advantage of the OCT technology is utilized, the OCT technology may also be applied to various industrial fields including polymer characteristic analysis, thin film thickness measurement, wiper scanning, fingerprint detection, and measurement for MEMS equipment.
As described above, at present, various researches for OCT technology are made and for example, Prior U.S. Pat. No. 6,445,939 presents a technical feature for an ultra-small optical probe used in the OCT system and another Prior U.S. Pat. No. 8,831,321 presents a technical feature for detecting a side branch for the blood vessel by utilizing the OCT system, and yet another Prior U.S. Pat. No. 9,069,396 presents a technical feature for an OCT controller including a joystick type user input unit.


A hand machine tool has an electric motor, a radial fan driven by the electric motor and having an aspirating region and a stationary pre-spin grate located in the aspirating region of the radial fan directly upstream the radial fan as considered in an air flow direction and formed so that a supply air to the radial fan is deviated against a rotary direction of the radial fan.

The present invention relates to a hand machine tool which has an electric motor with a stationary stator and a radial fan with fan vanes accommodated in a machine tool housing.
In such electric machine tools there is a need, due to the augmentation of the pressure increase and volume stream of the radial fan for heat withdrawal from the electric motor, to cool the electric motor and other thermally loaded components in the machine tool housing better so as to increase an output.
One of known electrical hand machine tools of the above mentioned type is disclosed in the German document DE 39 42 083 A1. The machine tool is provided for this purpose with a smaller axial fan arranged before the radial fan and rotating synchronously with the latter. Its fan wheel is arranged between the radial fan and the electric motor on the motor shaft and is located immediately before the radial fan in its aspiration region.


A remote monitoring diagnostic system and method utilize two different storage techniques. A time-coherent storage technique and change-detect storage technique are utilized to ensure that sensor signals are stored accurately and efficiently. A central diagnostic system can poll or pull the sensor values remotely. Additionally, an on-site monitor can perform anomaly detection to generate malfunction data.

The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for locally collecting data and diagnosing malfunctions. More particularly, the present invention is related to a system and a method that enable a combination of on-site anomaly detection and remote data analysis.
Safety and efficiency considerations require that operating conditions of various processes be continuously monitored to obtain an early indication of possible malfunctions. Early indications of possible malfunctions allow corrective measures to be taken more quickly, thereby reducing waste and preventing more serious and potentially hazardous conditions.
Some industrial processes, such as, the generation of electricity, the operation of an aircraft engine or locomotive, the manufacturing of steel or paper, or other processes implemented by industrial drives or equipment, utilize hundreds or thousands of sensors to obtain on-line indications of operating conditions and parameters. In one particular example of an industrial process, turbine generator equipment in a power plant can be remotely monitored and diagnosed to improve its availability and performance. Certain turbine generator equipment can be utilized with an on-site monitor that collects and stores data which is downloaded to a central site for diagnostic analysis. The central site can utilize any number of expert systems or rule-based systems to automatically detect malfunctions. Additionally, an operator or engineer can review the data to determine if the turbine is functioning properly. Other processes, such as, those processes occurring in airplanes, locomotives, steel mills, paper mills, and factories, can utilize equipment which is remotely monitored in a similar fashion to the turbine generator equipment described above.
To improve availability of equipment and performance of complex processes, the earliest possible detection of detrimental conditions is necessary. Early detection permits appropriate action to be taken to minimize the impact of such conditions and to prevent consequential damage. Early detection can be achieved through continuous detailed evaluation of the operating condition of the equipment (e.g., the turbine and generator equipment in a power plant). This requirement for early detection is especially critical when deterioration of equipment can happen in relatively short periods of time (in several minutes to a few hours), which, if left uncorrected, can have significant impact on the availability and performance of the equipment. Equally important to improved availability and performance of complex processes is the ability to accurately identify a developing condition. For example, in a power plant, the consequence of unnecessarily interrupting turbine operation is costly to an operator. Similarly, in other industrial processes, unnecessarily interrupting equipment is costly, especially in complex processes which utilize expensive equipment, such as, steel fabrication, paper fabrication, airplane operation and locomotive operation. Thus, the accurate diagnosis of detrimental conditions and developing conditions is critical to the efficient operation of complex processes.
The key factors to precise identification of detrimental conditions and developing conditions are accuracy and completeness of the data (e.g., the appropriate data logged in the most informative manner), timeliness of the data, and background fleet data to facilitate accurate analysis.
Generally, sensor signals are not continuously stored in memory because of the large amount of communication and storage overhead associated with the large number of sensors. Accordingly, some systems utilize a xe2x80x9cdeadbandxe2x80x9d technique to store sensor signals; the deadband technique only stores a signal when the signal exceeds a previously stored value by a predetermined amount (e.g., only stores those signals which exhibit a predetermined difference in value from a previous scan). With such systems, general trends and changes associated with the sensor signals over long periods of time can be stored efficiently in memory.
Alternatively, some systems utilize a time-coherent data storage technique where the sensors are all scanned simultaneously and periodically stored. The sensors are stored for a period of time or for a particular number of readings. However, the archival time interval and number of readings are limited due to memory requirements. In addition, this technique can miss recordation of rapid signal changes if the signal change does not occur during the time of the reading (e.g., in a period between readings).
Although change-detect data storage techniques can be effective for data storage where the evaluation or analysis depends solely upon changes of monitored parameters, change-detect data storage techniques do not provide accurate definitions of instantaneous relationships among parameters. Accurate definitions of instantaneous relationships among parameters are critical to predicting and diagnosing malfunctions. Although time-coherent data storage techniques are effective where instantaneous relationships among systems parameter can be solely used for evaluation and analysis, rapid changes in parameter values are often missed in such an archiving scheme.
Conventional systems generally rely on the central site to perform sophisticated diagnostic analysis to detect malfunctions and anomalies. The central site includes computer equipment which can perform expert system diagnostics on the data downloaded from the remote location. In addition, it includes experts who can validate the conclusions of the automated diagnostic results. However, with such a scheme, anomaly detection and malfunction diagnosis cannot occur until the data is made available to the central site. Accordingly, a delay can prevent the central site from uncovering serious and potentially hazardous conditions as quickly as possible without continuous transfer of data to the central location. On-line or real time expert system anomaly detection is not possible without continuous transfer of data to the central location. In addition, conventional systems which solely rely upon central site diagnostics require that communication overhead be utilized to transfer data when systems are working appropriately and anomalous conditions are not present (i.e., communication overhead is wasted transferring xe2x80x9chealthyxe2x80x9d data to the central site).
Accordingly, there is a need for a diagnostic system that is not susceptible to the disadvantages associated with a change-detect only or time-coherent data only storage technique. Further still, there is a need for a diagnostic system that performs local anomaly detection to reduce response time to anomalous equipment or process conditions and to reduce the transfer of healthy unit data to a central location. Even further still, there is a need for a diagnostic system that combines the advantages of time-coherent data storage techniques and change-detect data storage techniques. Yet further, there is a need for a diagnostic system which performs real time, on-line anomaly detection.
The present invention relates to a diagnostic system for analyzing operation of a process. The process is monitored by sensors, each of which senses a different parameter associated with the operation of the process. The diagnostic system includes a local diagnostic unit. The local diagnostic unit is located at a site associated with the process and receives sensor signals from the sensors. The local diagnostic unit periodically and simultaneously stores the sensor signals. The local diagnostic unit stores one sensor signal of the sensor signals whenever the one sensor signal deviates from a previously stored value by a first predetermined amount.
The present invention relates to a diagnostic system for analyzing operation of a process. The diagnostic system includes a local database, and a local diagnostic unit. The local diagnostic unit is located at a site associated with the process. The local diagnostic unit receives a plurality of parameters associated with the process. The local diagnostic unit periodically stores the parameters in the local database. The local diagnostic unit continuously performs a local diagnostic analysis in response to the parameters and stores malfunction data in the database. The malfunction data indicates a probability of an anomaly.
The present invention even further still relates to a method of diagnosing anomalies in an industrial process. The method includes storing a plurality of different parameters on a time-coherent basis, storing at least one of the parameters on a change detect basis, generating, with the on-site monitor, malfunction data in response to the parameters, and communicating the malfunction data and the stored parameters to a remote diagnostic center. The parameters are stored in a database in the on-site monitor, and the malfunction data is stored in the database in the on-site monitor.

Remote diagnostic system and method collecting sensor data according to two storage techniques


A system for processing semiconductor substrates includes a front-end with at least two vertical levels of input/output ports for transferring substrate cassettes into or out of the housing of the processing system. The front-end also includes at least one level of storage positions, e.g., two levels of storage positions, which can be disposed between the two vertical levels of the input/output ports. The two vertical levels of storage positions can each be provided with two storage positions and each of two levels of input/output ports can be provided with accommodations for two cassettes, allowing for a total of eight cassettes to be accommodated at the front-end of the processing system. Inside the housing of the processing system, interior storage positions can be provided adjacent a wafer handling chamber and spaced apart from a cassette store having rotary platforms for housing cassettes. A single cassette handler can be used to access cassettes at each of the input/output ports and the interior storage positions.

Semiconductor fabrication systems are under constant pressure to increase throughput. This pressure is due to many factors, including the expense associated with operating semiconductor fabrication equipment and the desire to maximize the yield of substrates processed in the equipment.
A semiconductor fabrication system can include various stations and pieces of equipment housed in a clean room. For example, such a system can include reactors, robots for handling semiconductor substrates and cassettes which hold the substrates, input/output ports in system front-ends for bringing substrates into and sending substrates out of the system, storage units, metrology tools, etc. Each station or piece of equipment has the potential to cause a bottleneck to the flow of substrates through the system, thereby degrading the throughput of the system as a whole.
Accordingly, a need exists for apparatus and methods that minimize bottle-necks in a semiconductor fabrication system.

Processing system with increased cassette storage capacity


Optimum usage of time diversity and significantly higher data rates are achieved by utilizing an adaptive Ultra-wideband impulse radio (UWB IR) transmission scheme based upon information about the channel state at a particular time instant. Through the use of channel state information, the transmission scheme is adjusted for the particular channel state. In particular, the system is adapted dynamically for each user by varying the number of pulses transmitted per bit in response to the channel state. The channel state is a dynamic parameter of the transmission system that is typically measured or estimated by the receiver. An adaptation element responds to the channel state information to determine a desired number of pulses per bit to be utilized in a transmission channel for subsequent UWB IR communication. This desired number of pulses per bit is then supplied to and used by an adaptive transmitter for subsequent transmission by a particular mobile station.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for wireless communications and, more particularly, to adaptive transmission in ultra-wideband communication systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Ultra-Wideband (UWB) communication systems generally involve wireless transmission having a 3 dB bandwidth occupying more than 25% of its center frequency, or more than 1.5 GHz. An Ultra-Wideband Impulse Radio (IR) system communicates using baseband pulses of very short duration—typically on the order of a nanosecond—thereby spreading the energy of the radio signal very thinly over a broad bandwidth. Energy spreading of about a few W per MHz occurs in these systems from the low end of the band near DC to the top end of the band located around a few Gigahertz. For example, see R. A. Scholtz, "Multiple Access with Time-Hopping Impulse Modulation," Proc. Of IEEE Milcom., Vol. 2, pp. 447-450 (October 1993).
UWB IR communications promises to be a viable technique for building relatively simple, low-cost, low-power transceivers that can be used for short range, high speed, multiple-access, multimedia communications over the multi-path indoor wireless channel. Proponents of UWB communications claim that UWB is intended to reutilize spectrum by taking advantage of light usage of frequency bands assigned to other services. This wideband communication technology is designed to coexist with many other narrow-band signals that simultaneously occupy portions of this extremely large transmission bandwidth without causing intolerable interference problems.
It is important in such a wideband technology that the channel capacity be used efficiently and effectively. But it can be shown that, when the system parameters are designed, optimized, and implemented, the system performance as a measure of channel capacity utilization varies as the channel conditions vary. In the fading wireless environment, channel capacity in a UWB IR system is used relatively efficiently under poor channel conditions and relatively poorly when fading abates.
Conventional multiple access employing time hopping sequences for UWB communications involving IR modulation uses time diversity to achieve a desired bit-error-rate consistent with regulatory restrictions on power spectral density. Unfortunately, the use of time diversity reduces the maximum data rate achievable for the system.

Dynamic differentiated link adaptation for ultra-wideband communication system


An inspection apparatus performs position adjustment between a reference image and an target image in a band region of a predetermined band size by using information of a feature point in the band region having the predetermined band size and information of a feature point in a region adjacent to the band region, and performs inspection of the printed document based on the comparison of the reference image and the target image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for inspecting printed documents. More specifically, the present invention relates to a technique for detecting a print defect of an image read from a printed document.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is a technique for inspecting a printed document to detect a print defect of the printed document. In this technique, based on an original image input into a printing apparatus, printing processing is performed. A reading apparatus scans and reads the printed document output from the printing apparatus to obtain an image thereof. Then, from the read image and the input image, feature points thereof are extracted. Using the feature points, position adjustment thereof is performed. Then, comparison processing of the read image and the input image after the position adjustment is performed. Thus, a printing defect is detected.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2010-249565 discusses a position adjustment technique in which two steps of position adjustment processing is performed on images each divided into a plurality of areas. The technique discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2010-249565 performs a first step position adjustment of specific areas to perform rough position adjustment thereof. Consequently a second position adjustment is performed to perform accurate position adjustment of the specific areas.
It is necessary for performing position adjustment processing to extract feature points for position adjustment. Therefore, if the information of the extracted feature points (e.g. the number of the extracted feature points and/or the position information of the extracted feature points) is not appropriate or sufficient to perform position adjustment processing, accuracy of the position adjustment is deteriorated.
For example, in order to reduce the capacity of the buffer memory for a read image of a printed document or to perform a real time inspection, in a case where images sequentially read by a reading apparatus is inspected sequentially for a band region of a predetermined size, sometimes information of feature points within a band region is not enough depending on the band region. That is because an image within a band region may be configured of faint characters or gradation. Therefore, even if two steps of position adjustment processing are performed on such a band region, the accuracy of the position adjustment is not improved. Thus, position adjustment processing with enough accuracy may not sometimes be performed.

Inspection apparatus, inspection method, and computer-readable storage medium


A high load operation industrial roll door, including a flexible door curtain windable about a top roll positioned above a door opening and provided with a drive system. The roll door includes a bottom beam fastened to the door curtain, and a biasing spring, for resisting movement of the door upon application of a load thereon, and a positive stop preventing movement of the biasing means beyond a predetermined point.

Since the 1970's there has been a great need to use rapidly moving doors in buildings for industrial use. This applies to openings indoors as well as in external walls, where the door provides shielding between different activities or prevents drafts and heat losses. Presently, rolling doors with flexible door leaves are used for this purpose, but also more rigid constructions like slatted doors with polymeric or metallic lamellae are used. These doors are rolled up on an overhead drive cylinder and can be provided with additional elements like transverse wind reinforcements on the door leaf to counteract wind load, a weight balance system, tensioning system, windows or the like. For safety reasons, rolling doors can be further provided with safety edge protection, failsafe devices, drop protection, and crash safety functions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,541 teaches a roll-up industrial door with a counter-balancing and tensioning system which counter-balances the weight of the door panel and, through a biasing mechanism, applies a downward tension to the closed door panel to stretch the panel and resist wind deflection. It is noted that the system operates with constant force in the pull-down direction, but contains no locking of the door leaf in the lower position. In any case, the invention is primarily directed to a break-away function.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,117 describes a locking mechanism for a roll-up closure with horizontal slats. The lowermost and uppermost slats carry spring-biased pins which resist unintentional lifting of the closure. The drawings of this patent shows a door locked at the bottom. It is noted that similar solutions have been previously proposed, but mainly as catching devices.
A related door construction is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,317. The invention is a roll-up door assembly with a number of embodiments including a moveable barrier bar to minimize deflection of the door closure member, or curtain, due to wind or other pressure generating forces. However, this solution is very complex and contains expensive elements. In addition, manual locking of the door is also provided for added wind resistance.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,439,292 is a roll-up door with a crash safety system that can automatically return the door to an operational condition. In the event that the door is not automatically restored to operation, it can be restored manually. It is noted that this patent presents a break-away function in combination with a photocell for safe operation during opening and closing of the door.
While some of the foregoing references have certain attendant advantages, further improvements and/or alternative forms, are always desirable.

High load operation of an industrial roll door


To acquire defect images even when a defect exists below an optically transparent film, an electron optical system of an electron microscope is set to a first imaging condition. A defect position of a specimen is set so as to fall within the visual field of the electron microscope, using position data of a defect of the specimen. The position of the defect is imaged by the electron microscope set to the first imaging condition to obtain a first image corresponding to the defect position. The first image is processed to determine whether a defect exists. The electron optical system is then set to a second imaging condition on the basis of the result of determination. A point imaged under the first imaging condition is imaged by the electron microscope set to the second imaging condition to acquire a second image corresponding to a defect position.

The present invention relates in general to a method to be used for collecting defect images of a foreign substance and a defect generated in a thin film device manufacturing process on the basis of inspection information, and an apparatus for use in carrying out the method.
The production of thin-film devices, such as a semiconductor, a liquid crystal display device, a hard disk magnetic head, etc., involves a large number of processes. The number of process steps for performing such work reaches several hundreds of process steps on occasion.
When a foreign substance and anomalies in appearance, such as a break in wiring, etc., occur on a thin-film device due to imperfections and problems involving the manufacturing conditions of the processing equipment, the probability that a failure will occur in such a product becomes high, thus causing a degradation of the yield. Thus, in order to maintain a desired yield and to provide improvements in the manufacture, it is important to specify a defect in a produced device and take measures in connection therewith. Therefore, inspections, such as a foreign substance inspection, a visual inspection, etc., are executed for all main processes, and whether the processing or work is being done properly is monitored. Since the execution of all inspections effected on a substrate to be processed for all working processes is impossible from time and labor restrictions, inspections are normally conducted for substrates to be processed on a basis in lot units or processed substrate units, or in a combination thereof for every several series of process steps. Here, the substrate to be processed is a minimum unit in which product processing is carried out. It indicates one wafer, if a semiconductor is taken as an example.
When a wafer is examined for foreign substances by an inspecting device, for example, the surface of the wafer is scanned with a laser beam to detect the presence or absence of scattered light, so that information concerning the positions and the number of foreign substances which may be present n the wafer can be obtained. When a defect inspection is carried out that involves examination of a wafer for foreign substances and for a possible abnormality of each pattern together, information about the positions and number of significant points or the like can be obtained by, for example, capturing images of the wafer's circuit patterns by means of an optical magnifying imaging device and by making comparisons between the images and images obtained in other similar pattern regions adjacent thereto.
Here, the term "significant points" indicates points outputted as locations where abnormalities are found by the inspection performed by the inspecting device. The foreign substance and the anomalies that appear are subsequently represented as "defects".
A decision as to the presence of an anomaly in a device is often made with a number of defects detected by the inspecting device as a density management index. When the number of defects exceeds a preset reference value, it is judged that a defect is present in the device. Then, each of the defects is imaged in an enlarged form by a reviewer, such as an optical microscope or a scanning electron microscope (hereinafter called "SEM") or the like, on the basis of defect coordinate information detected by the inspecting device to obtain detailed information concerning the defect, such as the size, shape and texture thereof or the like. Detailed inspections, such as an elemental analysis, section observation, etc., are performed to specify a defective device and determine the content of it's the defective condition. Based on the result of this analysis thereof, countermeasures are taken for the device and the process is controlled to prevent degradation of the yield.
In order to bring such review work into a state of automation and high efficiency, a method for automatically acquiring enlarged images of a foreign substance and a defect in an efficient manner on the basis of inspection data outputted from a foreign substance inspecting device or a visual inspecting device has been described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-30652. Estimating the cause of the defects a from defect's visual information depends on high-level judgment of an analyzer, and differences among individuals and the time necessary for such a judgment present problems. Therefore, a method for automatically classifying defects in accordance with a specific rule has been described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 7(1995)-201946.
The significant points detected by the inspecting device are not necessarily limited to defects. There may be cases in which, for example, depressions and projections developed on a pattern, of such an extent that they cannot be recognized as defects, will be detected; components diffusely reflected from the edge portion of the pattern will be detected, a small variation in pattern shape, of such an extent that it cannot be judged as a defect, may be detected; or irregularities in luminance or color due to a small variation in the thickness, of such an extent that it cannot be judged as a defect, may be detected. Thus, when no defects are found in the significant points reviewed in detail, the circumstances may be interpreted to indicate that the device is free of defects, which serves as "disinformation" corresponding to a misdetection of the inspecting device. However, there may be a case in which a misdetection does not lead to such disinformation.
In the case of a defect inspecting device, for example, a circuit pattern is normally imaged using light having a wavelength in the range of ultraviolet light to visible light. Each of the areas for the same patterns located adjacent to each other and the shape of the circuit pattern are compared, and a section in which a difference results therebetween is detected as a defect. The image observed at the time of inspection is not limited to an image of the top surface of a device. When the surface of a substance is covered with a silicon oxide film, for example, the substance is optically transparent, and, hence, a foreign substance and a pattern that exist below the film are also imaged. Therefore, a defect that exists below the film is also detected. On the other hand, when the detailed reviewer consists of a SEM, an electron beam is applied onto a target, and secondary electrons and reflected electrons generated therefrom are brought into form of an image. In this case, the silicon oxide film remains nontransparent. Therefore, when no defect is observed during a detailed review using a SEM adapting to the defect detected by the defect inspecting device, a decision can not be made as to whether the results indicate disinformation or a below-film defect.
The concept of observing the structure of the inside of a specimen, a defect, a foreign substance, etc. through use of an electron beam having high energy has been described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 5(1993)-290786. However, a technique that makes it possible to obtain suitable observations that are compatible between a defect observation of the top surface and an internal observation has not yet been disclosed. Further, the concept of acquiring images under a plurality of observation conditions by use of an electron microscope and classifying defects according to the difference in visibility has been described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-93950. However, a method of bringing a review work operation into high efficiency according to the circumstances of a target defect has not been disclosed therein.

Method and apparatus for collecting defect images


The overlay mark and method for making the same are described. In one embodiment, a semiconductor overlay structure includes gate stack structures formed on the semiconductor substrate and configured as an overlay mark, and a doped semiconductor substrate disposed on both sides of the gate stack structure that includes at least as much dopant as the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the gate stack structure in a device region. The doped semiconductor substrate is formed by at least three ion implantation steps.

Overlay marks are important in fabrication of semiconductor, or integrated circuit ("IC"), devices because the devices are produced by aligning several layers of conductive, semiconductive, and insulative materials one atop the other. It is critical that each layer is precisely aligned with the previous layer so that the resultant circuits are functional and reliable. If the layers are not correctly aligned, some features may be short-circuited while others may be open circuited or have an unacceptably large resistance. Typically for each technology node, an overlay error threshold is specified in the x or y direction. In other words, each layer cannot shift more than a specified distance from another layer above or below. A shift greater than the specification causes an "alignment fail", which increases cycle time because layers may have to be reworked.
During an overlay check, the position of the overlay mark on the wafer is typically sensed using a laser beam, which is bounced off the overlay mark to produce a reflected light signal reflected back to an inspector on a machine. The inspector then analyzes the reflected light signal to determine the exact position of the overlay mark. Notably, the quality of the signal reflected from the overlay mark is directly dependent on the structure and the materials. Methods to improve overlay mark signals continue to be sought.

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.


By increasing an interval between electrodes which drives liquid crystals, a gradient of an electric field applied between the electrodes can be controlled and an optimal electric field can be applied between the electrodes. The invention includes a first electrode formed over a substrate, an insulating film formed over the substrate and the first electrode, a thin film transistor including a semiconductor film in which a source, a channel region, and a drain are formed over the insulating film, a second electrode located over the semiconductor film and the first electrode and including first opening patterns, and liquid crystals provided over the second electrode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a liquid crystal display device. In particular, the invention relates to a semiconductor device and a liquid crystal display device each controlling liquid crystal molecules by generating an electric field almost parallel to a substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
One of technical development strategies of a liquid crystal display device is widening a viewing angle. As a technique for realizing a wide viewing angle, a mode has been used in which gray scales are controlled by generating an electric field almost parallel to a substrate to move liquid crystal molecules within a surface parallel to the substrate. IPS (In-Plane Switching) and FFS (Fringe-Field Switching) are given as such a mode. In an FFS mode, a second electrode having an opening pattern (e.g., a pixel electrode of which a voltage is controlled per pixel) is provided below liquid crystals, and a first electrode (e.g., a common electrode of which a voltage common to all pixels is supplied) is provided below the opening pattern. An electric field is applied between the pixel electrode and the common electrode, so that the liquid crystals are controlled. Since an electric field is applied to the liquid crystals in a direction parallel to a substrate, liquid crystal molecules can be controlled by using the electric field. That is, since liquid crystal molecules which are aligned in parallel to the substrate (so-called homogeneous alignment) can be controlled in a direction parallel to the substrate, a viewing angle is widened.
The first electrode (the common electrode) is formed to be in direct contact with a glass substrate, and a gate electrode in an inversely staggered transistor is also formed to be in direct contact with the glass substrate. An insulating film functioning as a gate insulating film in the inversely staggered transistor is formed to be in direct contact therewith. In addition, the second electrode (the pixel electrode) is formed thereover (see Reference 1: Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2000-89255).
Alternatively, the first electrode (the common electrode) is formed to be in direct contact with the insulating film functioning as the gate insulating film in the inversely staggered transistor. Note that a semiconductor film, a source electrode, and a drain electrode are also formed to be in direct contact with the insulating film functioning as the gate insulating film in the inversely staggered transistor. In addition, an insulating layer is formed to be in direct contact therewith. Further, the second electrode (the pixel electrode) is formed thereover (see Reference 1: Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2000-89255).

Liquid crystal display device and semiconductor device

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A back support device for supporting a wearer's back during various activities is described. The back support device includes an inner belt, and outer substantially inelastic belt, and a semi-rigid abdominal plate positioned beneath the outer substantially inelastic belt. The back support device is designed to be positioned circumferentially about a wearer's waist or lower torso region, such that the abdominal plate overlies an abdominal region of the wearer, with the substantially inelastic belt securing the abdominal plate firmly in position thereon, in order to increase the intraabdominal pressure and thereby support the wearer's lower spine. The inner belt is desirably substantially elastic in order that it closely conforms to the wearer's body and assists in increasing the intraabdominal pressure. The back support device also desirably includes a lumbosacral pad, which can be positioned within a pocket located on a rear portion of the back support device, to thereby correspond with the wearer's lower spinal region and to provide effective contact between the inelastic belt of the device and the spine due to the spine's natural curvature in the lumbar region.

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to an industrial back support, and more specifically, to an industrial back support which provides a concerted combination of abdominal and lower back support.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Back injuries have become one of the leading causes of disability. At some point in their lives, most individuals will suffer from back pain of one sort or another; such pain can be long-lasting and debilitating for many people. The causes of back pain are varied: for some people, a one-time over-stressing of back muscles and ligaments can cause lasting pain. For others, the pain can be caused by naturally poor posture or by jobs or hobbies which require that they assume certain positions, in particular, for long periods of time. For still others, motions such as bending, lifting, and the like which are repeatedly performed can cause back discomfort, particularly when proper body alignment is not maintained throughout the motion.
To help reduce the occurrence of such injuries, federal workplace guidelines, as well as many employers, often require that employees engaged in particular jobs wear back support devices of some variety.
Examples of prior art back supports are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,421,809, 5,388,274, and 4,475,543 to Rise, Glover et al., and Brooks et al., respectively. Each of these patents describes a support device which provides direct support for a wearer's spinal region through the provision of a pad proximate a wearer's lower back.
It has been found, however, that the abdominal muscles play a large part in the support of a person's spine, and thus the aforementioned supports, by only providing support to a wearer's spinal region, have failed to provide optimal back support for their wearers. Further, because the majority of the human waist region is fleshy, its configuration changes during certain motions, such as bending, due to muscle contraction and the like. Thus, because the aforementioned patents describe rigid support directly proximate the lower spine only, their effectiveness in supporting a person's back during certain motions can tend to be limited.
Several other patents describe supports which include some type of abdominal support, e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,433,697 and 5,105,806 to Woodhouse et al. and Cox, respectively. The patent to Woodhouse et al. describes the provision of a rigid abdominal pad for securement to a conventional leather-type weight lifting belt; thus the device would likely not provide the comfort and support levels desired for many uses. The patent to Cox describes a back brace having first and second substantially rigid dome-shaped support elements, one for positioning proximate a wearer's back and the other for positioning proximate his abdomen. The rigid support elements are secured together by first and second fastening belts. The support element for positioning proximate the wearer's abdomen is sized to extend across the full width of the front lower torso region of the wearer, and in a preferred form of the invention, it curves around the wearer's sides to some degree; thus it would limit user flexibility and could tend to irritate the prominences of the ilium (hip bones).
Thus, a need exists for an industrial back support device which provides an optimal amount of back support, yet is comfortable to wear.


A thermally driven piston assembly's housing has (i) a first material slidingly fitted therein, and (ii) at least one plug of a second material slidingly fitted therein and abutting the first material. The first material is one (e.g., a liquid crystal elastomer) that undergoes a stiffness change and/or a dimensional change when subjected to a temperature change in the temperature range of interest. When subjected to the temperature change while in the housing, the first material is restricted to changing dimensionally along a single dimension. The second material retains its shape and size throughout the temperature range of interest. As a result, the plug moves in the housing in correspondence with the dimensional change of the first material or the plug's movement is damped by the stiffness change of the first material.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to actuator or damping devices utilizing a piston. More specifically, the invention is a thermally driven piston assembly and position control system therefor with the piston being able to function as an actuator or a damping device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the past, linear actuators required a transmission system to convert a motor's rotational energy into linear displacement. However, such linear actuators systems are not practical in many space-restricted applications. More recently, linear actuators use hydraulic or pneumatic driven pistons or have been made from stacks of piezoelectric materials that can generate a strong linear force when space is at a premium. However, hydraulically/pneumatically driven pistons require a pump to effect volumetric or pressure changes that move a piston. Piezoelectric-based linear actuators have low strain characteristics, thereby limiting their linear travel.
Currently, a variety of muscle-like polymer materials are being evaluated for use in actuator or damping devices owing to their ability to undergo large changes in strain and stiffness when activated. However, there is a need to provide simple and efficient actuator "packages" for these materials that capitalize on their large strain characteristics to achieve a linear actuator or damping response. Further, since several of these polymer materials have a tendency to exhibit creep, the actuator package that includes such polymer materials must be able to compensate for a material's creep characteristics.

Thermally driven piston assembly and position control therefor

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration


Expandable casing has an expandable slip used for completion of a mono-diameter wellbore. The expandable casing is run through the upper casing and has an upper end that overlaps a lower end of the upper casing to form a fluid flow path between the expandable casing and the upper casing. The operator expands the overlapping portion of the expandable casing to an intermediate position, causing the expandable slip to anchor the expandable casing to the upper causing without blocking the flow path. Cement is then pumped up around the outside of the expandable casing and wellbore fluid displaced by the cement and excess cement are permitted to flow through the fluid flow path and up the upper casing. After sufficient cement is in place, the expandable casing is further expanded, compressing the expandable slip into to the inner wall of the upper casing and sealing off the fluid flow path.

1. Field of Invention
The invention is directed to expandable casing having an expandable slip for anchoring or securing the expandable casing to a section of upper casing disposed within oil and gas wells.
2. Description of Art
Use of expandable casing to form a "mono-diameter" wellbore within open hole oil or gas wells is known in the art. As is also known in the art, during the formation of mono-diameter wellbores, each completed section of the wellbore is required to be isolated to ensure safe operation during production of the well after completion. By forming a mono-diameter wellbore with the expandable casing as part of the oil or gas well, problems with depth control due to hydraulic effects caused by increasing pressure as the depth of the well is increased are eliminated.
While several methods may be possible for providing zonal isolation, generally, the wellbore is formed in accordance with the prior art by circulating cement around the casing string. During such operations, it is desirable to attach one portion of casing string to another portion of casing string disposed above the first portion prior to pumping cement so that issues with depth control due to hydraulic effects can be avoided. Due to limitations of current hole opening or current reaming technologies, the clearance between the open hole and the expanded liner or casing already disposed within the open hole is insufficient to allow adequate circulation of cement. Thus, the cement needs to be pumped prior to expansion of the expandable casing or liner that is being run-in. Pumping cement after expansion of the expandable casing poses the problem of having a return path for the circulating fluids being displaced by the cement.
This problem is addressed in prior systems by placing windows or holes in the expandable casing that is being run in so that wellbore fluids and cement can circulate through the windows of the expandable casing during cementing of the expandable casing and, thus, into contact with the wellbore. The wellbore fluids and cement flow upward around the liner and through the windows or openings. The cement is used to block the windows as it forms the wellbore. Although, these prior systems result in a wellbore being formed, these prior systems have several shortcomings such as not always adequately blocking the windows, interfering with the expansion of the expandable casing to its set position, and, in some cases, providing an asymmetric casing bore. As is apparent to persons skilled in the art, such shortcomings of the prior systems are not desired.
Accordingly, prior to the development of the present invention, there has been no expandable casing, anchoring system for expandable casing, or method known to the inventors of securing an expandable casing within a section of upper casing disposed in a well that: provides sufficient attachment of the expanding casing to the upper casing; provides complete zonal isolation of the completed section of expandable casing; and provides a flow path for circulating cement during expandable bore construction without the need for the expandable casing to include return ports. Therefore, the art has sought expandable casing, anchoring systems for expandable casing, and methods of securing an expandable casing within a section of upper casing disposed in a well that: provide sufficient attachment of the expanding casing to the upper casing; provide complete zonal isolation of the completed section of expandable casing; and provide a flow path for circulating cement during expandable bore construction without the need for the expandable casing to include return ports.

Liner anchor for expandable casing strings and method of use


A wavegide hybrid junction includes a coupling section, a coupling hole, and an external cavity resonator. The coupling section is formed by removing by a predetermined length part of a common narrow side wall for isolating two rectangular waveguides. The coupling hole is formed in the upper wall of a waveguide so as to communicate with the coupling section. The external cavity resonator externally cover the coupling hole.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a waveguide hybrid junction and, more particularly, to a waveguide hybrid junction serving as a short-slot type directional hybrid junction.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As shown in prespective view of FIG. 1, a conventional waveguide hybrid junction is constituted by a waveguide 10 which is prepared by arranging two rectangular waveguides parallel through one side wall surface and has a small coupling section 21 formed by partially cutting the side wall surface. The waveguide 10 has four terminals 1, 2, 3, and 4 as directional coupling I/O terminals. A waveguide hybrid junction with this arrangement is generally called a short-slot directional hybrid junction.
The basic operation of this waveguide hybrid junction will be explained by dividing its area into three areas 1 to 3, i.e., the area of the coupling section 21 and areas before and after the coupling section 21, as shown in FIG. 2.
First, when a radio wave of TE.sub.10 mode is excited at the terminal 1 of the area 1, radio waves of TE.sub.10 and TE.sub.20 modes are excited in the area 2. If a length L of the coupling section 21 (area 2) is so selected as to obtain a phase shift difference of about 90.degree. between the TE.sub.10 and TE.sub.20 modes, radio waves of TE.sub.10 mode having almost the same amplitude value and a phase shift difference of about 90.degree. are excited at the terminals 3 and 4. As a result, in the waveguide hybrid junction, for example, a radio wave incident from the terminal 1 is output to not the terminal 2 but the terminals 3 and 4, and a radio wave incident from the terminal 3 is similarly output to the terminals 1 and 2.
The frequency vs. phase shift characteristics and amplitude characteistics of this waveguide hybrid junction will be described below.
Of parameters S between these four terminals, S.sub.31 represents coupling from the terminal 1 to the terminal 3, and S.sub.41 represents coupling fromthe terminal 1 to the terminal 4. Under perfect match conditions, S.sub.31 and S.sub.41 are given by the following equations: ##EQU1##
A phase shift difference between radio waves at the terminals 3 and 4 input from the terminal 1 is expressed by .THETA.. ##EQU2## where .beta..sub.3 (z) and .beta..sub.4 (z) are phase constants in the TE.sub.10 and TE.sub.20 modes at a coupling portion A, respectively.
In the above equations, .theta..sub.3 and .theta..sub.4 represent propagation phase shift amounts in TE.sub.10 and TE.sub.20 modes at the coupling portion 21, respectively.
First, the phase shift characteristics will be described.
FIG. 3A is a graph showing the frequency characteristic of a difference .DELTA.=.theta..sub.3 -.theta..sub.4 (solid line) between the phase shift amounts at the coupling section 21 (to be referred to as the coupling portion A hereinafter) of the waveguide hybrid junction having the shape shown in FIG. 1, and that of a difference 2.DELTA..phi.=2 (.phi..sub.13 -.phi..sub.14) (broken line) between the phase shift amounts at discontinuous portions 22 and 23 (to be referred to as discontinuous portions B and B' hereinafter). As described above, the length L of the coupling portion A is selected such that .DELTA..theta.=.theta..sub.3 -.DELTA..sub.4 becomes almost 90.degree. within the frequency range of f.sub.1 to f.sub.2 as a target range of this waveguide hybrid junction, as shown in FIG. 3A.
.phi..sub.13 and .phi..sub.14 represent phase shift amounts in the TE.sub.10 and TE.sub.20 modes, respectively. A difference between the phase shift amounts in the TE.sub.10 and TE.sub.20 modes generated at the corresponding discontinuous portions B and B' is given by .DELTA..phi.=.phi..sub.13 -.phi..sub.-.
A radio wave input from the terminal 1 is output to the terminal 4 through the two discontinuous portions (B and B'). For this reason, the difference between the phase shift amounts in the TE.sub.10 and TE.sub.20 modes generated at the discontinuous portions between the input and output of the short-slot hybrid is 2.DELTA..phi.. The characteristic indicated by the broken line in FIG. 3A is obtained.
The phase shift difference .THETA. generated when radio waves of the respective modes input from the terminal 1 are output to the terminals 3 and 4 is calculated from a difference between the phase shift difference .DELTA..theta.generated at the coupling portion A and the phase shift difference 2.increment..phi.generated at the discontinuous portions B and B',i.e., .THETA.=.DELTA..theta.-2.increment..THETA..
FIG. 3B is a graph showing the frequency characteristics of .THETA. obtained by this calculation. As is apparent from FIG. 3B, the phase shift difference is almost 90.degree. within the frequency band of f.sub.1 to f.sub.2.
Next, the amplitude characteristics will be described.
An amplitude characteristic .vertline.S.sub.31 .vertline. for coupling from the terminal 1 to the terminal 3 and an amplitude characteristic .vertline.S.sub.41 .vertline. for coupling from the terminal 1 to the terminal 4 are obtained by substituting .THETA. prepared by the above calculation into equations (1) and (2), respectively. The frequency characteristics of these amplitude characteristics are shown in FIG. 4.
Referring to FIG. 4, both the amplitude characteristics .vertline.S.sub.31 .vertline. and .vertline.S.sub.41 .vertline. have a loss of about -3 dB within the limited frequency band of f.sub.1 to f.sub.2, and a signal input from the terminal 1 is distributed almost half and half to the terminals 3 and 4.
The conventional waveguide hybrid junction described above is shown in, e.g., reference: Fumikazu Oguchi "Microwave and Millimeter Wave", pp. 303-305.
The conventional waveguide hybrid junction has a compact, relatively simple structure. Further, good characteristics can be ensured over a relatively broad band.
Referring to FIGS. 3B and 4, the amplitude and phase shift characteristics respectively have a loss of about 3 d B and a phase shift difference of almost 90.degree. within the limited frequency band of f.sub.1 to f.sub.2, as described above. However, at, e.g., a frequency f.sub.1 ' lower than the frequency f.sub.1 in FIG. 4, the distribution ratio of the amplitude characteristics .vertline.S.sub.31 .vertline. and .vertline.S.sub.41 .vertline. greatly differs from -3 d B. Also in FIG. 3B, the phase shift difference .THETA. greatly differs from 90.degree. in the frequency band of f.sub.1 ' to f.sub.1.
In this manner, although the conventional waveguide hybrid junction exhibits good characteristics within a frequency band determined by the shape of the waveguide, it greatly degrades at a lower frequency and therefore cannot be used. In particular, transmission of multimedia signals, transmission of broad-band ISDN signals, and the like are requiring waveguide hybrid junctions with better characteristics. The above degradation in signal characteristics in a low frequency band poses a problem.


Relationships between systems can be inferred through a correlation analysis of the system workload activity levels. A method, computer readable medium and system are provided for analyzing correlations between the system workloads. The method comprises obtaining a set of quantile-based workload data pertaining to a plurality of systems. The correlation coefficient limit may then be used to compute the workload correlation scores for the plurality of systems and a result indicative of relationships between the systems then provided.

As organizations have become more reliant on computers for performing day to day activities, so too has the reliance on networks and information technology (IT) infrastructures increased. It is well known that large organizations utilize distributed computing systems connected locally over local area networks (LAN) and across the geographical areas through wide-area networks (WAN).
While the benefits of a distributed approach are numerous and well understood, there has arisen significant practical challenges in managing such environments. Decentralized control and decision making around capacity, the perception that the cost of adding systems is inexpensive, and the increased popularity of server virtualization technologies, have created environments comprised of a multitude of interconnected systems with excess capacity.
Too many servers result in extra costs, mostly through additional capital, maintenance and upgrade expenses; redundant software licenses; and excess heat production and power consumption. As such, removing even a modest number of servers from a large IT infrastructure can save a significant amount of cost on a yearly basis.
Organizations concerned with such redundancies need to determine how they can best achieve consolidation of capacity. In general, consolidating systems is a daunting task as there are many possible consolidation combinations with varying levels of benefits and risks.
To determine the most suitable consolidation solution, understanding dependencies and relationships between systems is critical. System and application dependencies are typically determined through non-empirical methods such as the inspection of detailed configuration and run-time settings of the systems and applications combined with domain knowledge of the computing environment.

System and method for detecting system relationships by correlating system workload activity levels


A system and method for maintaining a connection between a floating dock and a fixed piling during a flood event. The system includes a piling sleeve that is adapted to telescopically and slidably fit over and around a fixed piling, wherein the piling is fixed into the ground below the surface of the water, and extends upwardly through an opening in a floating dock. The piling sleeve includes a catch mechanism attached to an upper portion of the piling sleeve. The catch mechanism is designed to “catch” or engage the floating dock when the dock rises with the water to a pre-determined level. The piling sleeve may freely slide upwardly and downwardly with respect to both the piling and floating dock, and when flood waters rise, the catch mechanism causes the sleeve to rise with the dock while maintaining an extended connection to the piling.

The present invention relates to floating docks. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a system and assembly for ensuring that docks remain connected to pilings during storm surges, floods, and other events that cause waters to rise.
Many people who live on bodies of water own floating docks. Typically, these docks are constructed with a stationary pier that leads out to a floating portion, which is connected to the pier by a hinged ramp, so that the floating portion of the dock may rise and fall along with fluctuations in the water level. Oftentimes, the floating portion of the dock includes one or more openings to accommodate fixed pilings that are driven into the ground beneath the water. The pilings extend upwardly from the water, through the floating dock openings, and these fixed pilings allow the dock to move upwardly and downwardly with water level fluctuations, but otherwise prevent the floating dock from moving laterally, or floating away from the fixed pier.
Because these docks are typically near the dock owner's home, and are positioned within their view of the water, the dock owners make sure that the pilings do not extend far above the accepted high water mark, so that the pilings to not interfere with their view. Under normal circumstances, having such low-cut pilings does not cause problems. However, when the water level rises to an unusually high level, these low-cut pilings may become completely submerged, causing the floating portion of the dock to completely disengage from the pilings. With the addition of high winds and pounding surf or waves, the floating portion of the dock is at much greater risk of becoming damaged or unmoored from the end of the fixed pier.
Through the years, efforts have been made to address this problem, with varying levels of success. The following are examples of devices for maintaining a connection between a dock and a piling, and each of the references cited below is incorporated herein by reference:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,336 Dock Supporting Apparatus
A dock support having a piling composed of an upstanding rod the lower end of which is adapted to be embedded in the bottom of a body of water and an external telescoping sleeve having a cap at its upper end which normally confronts and seats on the upper end of the rod. A passage exists between the confronting surfaces of the inner and outer telescoping members and such passage is occupied by air, rather than water. The air prevents water in the passage rising to the level at which it may freeze, but should water in the passage rise to the freezing level compressed air may be admitted to the passage via a valve under sufficient pressure to purge such water.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,628 Boat Docking Post
A docking post includes a tubular housing having a front wall, including an elongate slot directed through the front wall longitudinally aligned relative to the housing and parallel to the housing axis, with the housing having a rear wall mounted to an associated mooring post. A first tube is mounted within the housing, having a securement ring thereon, with a second tube positioned below the first tube having a length adjusted to accommodate a predetermined length between a boat water line and a boat securement cleat. A third buoyant tube is mounted below the second tube to effect displacement of the first and second tube relative to rising and lowering tides and water level relative to the tubular housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,021,230 Floatable Dock Mooring Article
A floating dock mooring article, which slidably fits around a watercraft dock pipe, comprising a flotation device attached to a mooring member and a flange generally located at the upper end thereof. A watercraft is moored to the dock, as by a rope, via the flotation mooring article. When the water level rises as due to a flood, the float will cause the mooring article to raise-up the dock pipe and maintain securement of the watercraft to the dock.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,121,221 Floatable Dock Mooring Article
A floating dock mooring article that is movably connected around a watercraft dock pipe comprises a float operatively connected to a mooring member having a flange generally located at the upper end thereof. A watercraft is moored to the dock, as by a rope, via the mooring article. The mooring member has at least one radially outward set projection having an external diameter and the float has at least one radially inward projection having an internal diameter. The mooring member projection external diameter is greater than the float inward projection internal diameter. The inward projection is capable of engaging the mooring member projection so that the float is set at a predetermined height of said mooring member and/or the float is capable of causing the mooring member to rise.
U.S. Application No. 20070231079 Telescoping Piling Apparatus and Method
Embodiments include a piling apparatus for providing support for one or more structures on, in, under, or into a body of water, a floor of the body of water, or a floor bed, comprising at least three concentric and generally coaxial bodies comprising an outer body having a first longitudinal bore therethrough, a middle body having a second longitudinal bore therethrough, the middle body operatively connected to the one or more structures, and an inner body having a third longitudinal bore therethrough, wherein the middle body is disposed between the inner and outer bodies, wherein the inner and outer bodies are operatively connected to one another and the middle body is moveable longitudinally and generally coaxially relative to the inner and outer bodies to stabilize the one or more structures. Embodiments include a method for supporting one or more structures using a piling apparatus. Embodiments include a method of installing piling at a location, comprising providing piling comprising one or more generally concentric tubes; forcing a pressurized fluid into at least one of the tubes; lowering the piling; forming a hole at the location using the pressurized fluid exiting from the piling; and installing the piling at the location.
U.S. Application No. 20130087089 Dock Protector for Use with a Floating Dock
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a dock protector apparatus. The apparatus includes an elongated pipe and a flange. A floating dock includes at least one floating dock section coupled to mooring pipes secured to a river or lake bed. The mooring pipes are slidably coupled and to the dock section by pipe sleeve assemblies that enable the dock section to slide vertically along the mooring posts. A dock protector apparatus is inserted within an interior cavity of each mooring pipe. Under tidal surge conditions, the decking may reach a vertical position above a top end of the mooring posts. In order to present the deck section from becoming decoupled from the mooring posts, the dock protector apparatus extends upwardly and remains coupled to both the mooring posts and the dock section, thereby maintaining an essentially laterally-rigid mooring between the dock section and the mooring post.
Each of the aforementioned devices and systems includes significant disadvantages, and it would be desirable to provide a telescoping assembly that may freely move upwardly and downwardly, both with respect to the pilings and a floating dock, while still maintaining a secure connection therebetween to prevent the dock from becoming unmoored from the piling(s).

Floating dock piling height extension assembly and method


A composition comprising a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) and small quantities of low molecular weight polyethylene (PE) is disclosed. The PP acts as an internal lubricant or mold release, but suprisingly does not significantly increase the flammability of the LCP.

The present invention relates to a composition comprising an aromatic liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) and a low molecular weight polyethylene (PE) which acts as a lubricant.
Thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers are useful as molding resins for a variety of applications. This is due to the desirable properties that many of these polymers possess, such as good moldability, low flammability, high temperature resistance, good physical properties, etc. For electrical applications, such as electrical connectors, low flammability or resistance to burning is important. Further, in many electrical applications, the parts are intricate and have thin walls. As such, these parts are sometimes difficult to eject from the mold. Internal lubricants (sometimes called mold release agents) are useful to aid in the ejection of such parts from the mold. For a discussion of such lubricants, see H. Mark, et al., Ed., Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering, Vol. 14, John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1988, p. 411-421.
While internal lubricants are generally desirable in many applications, it is preferable that the desired properties of the LCP are degraded as little as possible. It has been surprisingly found that low molecular weight polyethylene (often called a xe2x80x9cwaxxe2x80x9d) which by itself bums quite readily, when added to an LCP as a lubricant, does not significantly degrade the low flammability properties of the LCP.
This invention relates to a composition comprising: a) an aromatic liquid crystalline polymer, and b) from about 0.05 to about 2.5 percent by weight of said aromatic liquid crystaline polymer of polyethylene, said polyethylene having a molecular weight within the range between about 1,000 to about 10,000.
The LCPs useful herein are aromatic LCPs. By an xe2x80x9caromaticxe2x80x9d LCP is meant that the backbone of the polymer is composed of aromatic rings and functional groups such as esters, amides and imides. There are no aliphatic or cycloaliphatic groups which are part of the main chain. However, such groups may be substituted onto the main chain as side groups. For instance, in an LCP which is at least partially a polyester, repeat units may be derived from t-butylhydroquinone, methylhydroquinone, phenethyihydroquinone, methylterephthic acid, t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid, etc.
Preferred aromatic LCPs are polyesters, poly(imide-esters) and poly(amide-esters), with polyesters being especially preferred. These types of polymers are well known to the artisan, see for instane U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,900,804, 4,851,497, 4,067,852, 4,083,832, 4,727,131, 4,727,129, 4,762,907, 4,664,972, 4,118,372, 4,684,712, 4,522,974, 4,473,682 4,161,470 and 5,110,896. Preferred LCPs may contain repeat units derived from one or more of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 6-hydroxynapthoic acid, terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid, 4,4xe2x80x2-bibenzoic acid, hydroquinone, 4,4-biphenol, resorcinol, 2,6-dihydroxynaphthalene, substituted hydroquinones including chlorohydroquinone, methylhydroquinone, t-butylhydroquinone, phenylhydroquinone, and phenethylhydroquinone. Especially preferred polymers include polymers consisting essentially of:
wherein the molar ratio of(I):(II) ranges from 0:100 to 100:0, wherein the molar ratio of (III):(IV) ranges from 85:15 to 15:85, wherein the molar ratio of the total of (I) and (II) to the total of (III) and (IV) is substantially 1:1, and further wherein there are 100 to 600 moles of (V) per 100 moles of (I) plus (II);
or polymers consisting essentially of the following repeat units:
wherein the molar ratio of (VI):(VIl) ranges from 0:100 to 100:0, the molar ratio of (VIII):(IX) rages from 25:75 to 90:10, the molar ratio of the sum of (VI) and (VII) to the sum of (VIll) and (IX) is substantially 1:1, the molar ratio of (X):XI) ranges from 97:3 to 50:50, and the number of moles of (X) plus (XI) ranges from 100 to 600 per moles of (VI) plus (VII).
Especially preferred polymers also include copolymers of p-hydroxybenzoic acid and 6-hydroxynapthoic acid.
The polyethylene (xe2x80x9cPExe2x80x9d) useful herein has a molecular weight within the range between about 1,000 to about 10,000, and preferably about 1,500 to about 4,000. Low pressure polymerized (high density), polar PE is preferred for use in the present invention. Such PEs are made by oxidation of PE which introduces polar functional groups, such as carboxyl groups, into the PE. Such oxidized PEs are commercially available, such as those from Hoechst Celanese Corp., Somerville, N.J., U.S.A. under the designation xe2x80x9cHoechst Wax PED.xe2x80x9d
The amount of PE present in the present invention generally ranges from about 0.05 to about 2.5 percent by weight of the LCP, preferably about 0.1 to about 2.0 percent by weight, and most preferably about 0.2 to about 1.0 percent by weight. Other materials usually found in LCP molding compositions may also be present, such as fillers, including glass, clay, talc and other minerals, and carbon black, pigments, antioxidants, other polymers, etc. Preferred fillers are glass fiber, talc, titanium dioxide and carbon black, and an especially preferred filler is glass fiber.
Flammability or flame resistance properties reported herein were measured by UL-94, revised as of May 14, 1993, and published by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., Melville, N.Y., U.S.A. It is preferred that the flammability (as measured by the total after flame time for any condition set) of the LCP compositions not containing PE is increased by less than 50% when the PE is added, more preferably less than 25%, and especially preferably increased less than 10%.
It is also preferred that the overall UL-94 rating under the particular test conditions used is the same or better (less flammable rating) for the PE containing LCP composition compared to the LCP composition without PE. It is particularly preferred if the PE containing LCP composition still retains a UL-94 rating of V-0.
The PE containing LCP compositions claimed herein may be made by standard methods. For instance these materials (and others to be in the composition) may be mixed together in a single or twin screw extruder. The composition may be then directly melt formed or formed into pellets for later use. Melt forming may be done by extrusion or injection molding, for example, and the latter is preferred. Such formed parts are useful as films, or as molded parts in the automotive, electronic or aerospace applications. As mentioned above, the composition is particularly usefull for electronic parts, particularly electronic connectors.
In the Examples, the starting LCP used in had a composition of: (structures shown above, in mole percent) (I), 9.6%; (II), 9.6%; (III), 13.5%; (IV), 5.8%; and (V), 61.5% (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,896). The fiberglass used in the Examples was grade 408 from Owens-Corning Fiberglass Corp. The polyethylene was reported to be an oxidized low pressure polyethylene, from Hoechst Celanese Corp., Somerville, N.J., U.S.A. as grade PED 521. It reportedly had a drop point of about 105xc2x0 C., an acid value of about 35 mg KOH/g and a density of about 0.95 at 20xc2x0 C., using test methods specified by Hoechst Celanese Corp.
The materials were mixed on a Werner and Pfleiderer 28 mm twin screw extruder, in which the zone temperatures (rear to front) were approximately 255xc2x0 C., 290xc2x0 C., 290xc2x0 C., 290xc2x0 C., 300xc2x0 C. and 345xc2x0 C. (die). A one-hole die was used, and pellets were made. The pellets were then injection molded into test bars for the Flammability test with temperatures in the injection molding machine (rear to front) being approximately 325xc2x0 C., 320xc2x0 C., 330xc2x0 C., 335xc2x0 C., and 347 xc2x0 C.
Mold-release Test