A touch display device may include an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display panel that includes scan lines, data lines, and OLED cells, and a driver to display a touch position on a screen (of the OLED display panel) in a frame that includes a touch subfield. The driver may supply at least one scan sync signal to the scan lines and supply at least one data sync signal to the data lines during one frame. The touch subfield may include a vertical touch subfield to detect a vertical position of the touch position and a horizontal touch subfield to detect a horizontal position of the touch position.

1. Field
Embodiments may relate to a touch display device that includes an organic light emitting diode display panel.
2. Discussion of Related Art
A touch device may be provided in a front of a display panel so a user may touch objects displayed on a screen of the display panel.
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a touch device according to an example arrangement, other arrangements may also be provided
A touch device may be attached to a surface of a display panel. The touch device is an input device that executes a previously appointed command when a user presses (or touches) an icon (or a portion corresponding to a selection button) displayed on a screen of the display panel. The user may press or touch the icon a finger, or a pen and/or a stylist, for example.
As shown in FIG. 1, the touch device may include a substrate 100, a light emitting element 120, and a light receiving element 130.
The substrate 100 may be formed of a transparent material with light transmission. The substrate 100 may be a film substrate or a glass substrate. Alternatively, the substrate 100 may be a plastic substrate.
A protective layer 110 may be formed on the substrate 100. The protective layer 110 may prevent the substrate 100 from being damaged by a pressure, etc. applied from the outside. The protective layer 110 may be formed of a glass material or a resin material, for example.
The light emitting element 120 may emit a predetermined light such as infrared light, visible light, microwave beam, acoustic wave beam, and/or vibration wave beam, for example.
The light receiving element 130 may receive the light emitted from the light emitting element 120.
An operation of the touch device may be described with reference to FIG. 2.
When an input unit 140 (for example, a pen, a finger, etc.) is positioned at a predetermined position of the substrate 100, the input unit 140 may shield the light emitted by the light emitting element 120 at a corresponding position.
The light emitted by the light emitting element 120 may not reach the light receiving element 130. A controller may confirm the light receiving element 130 disposed at a position corresponding to a shielding portion of the light, thereby calculating a position (i.e., a touched position) of the input unit 140.
When the touch device is disposed in a front of the display panel, manufacturing cost of a display device may increase because of the touch device.
As size of the display panel increases, the size of the touch device may increase. The manufacturing cost of the display device may further increase.
Further, thickness and weight of the display device may increase because of the touch device.

Touch display device having a driver to provide a scan synchronization signal and a data synchronization signal


The present invention provides a hydrogel composition comprising at least one polymer with functional groups including alcohol groups, acid groups, and amide groups and where the ratio of the functional alcohol groups to functional acid groups in the hydrogel composition ranges from about 16:1 to about 3:2. The present invention also provides a method of repairing an articulating surface in a body using the inventive composition. The inventive hydrogel composition is created by blending two or more polymers to achieve the desired ratio of functional groups, reacting at least one polymer with a reagent that results in the formation of alcohol, acid, and/or amide functional groups of the desired ratio, and/or polymerizing at least one monomer to achieve the desired ratio of functional groups.

Hydrogels are water-swellable or water-swollen materials whose structure is typically defined by a crosslinked or interpenetrating network of hydrophilic homopolymers or copolymers. The hydrophilic homopolymers or copolymers can be water-soluble in free form, but in a hydrogel they may be rendered insoluble generally due to the presence of covalent, ionic, or physical crosslinks. In the case of physical crosslinking, the linkages can take the form of entanglements, crystallites, or hydrogen-bonded structures. The crosslinks in a hydrogel provide structure and physical integrity to the polymeric network.
Hydrogels can be classified as amorphous, semicrystalline, hydrogen-bonded structures, supermolecular structures, or hydrocolloidal aggregates. Numerous parameters affect the physical properties of a hydrogel, including porosity, pore size, nature of gel polymer, molecular weight of gel polymer, and crosslinking density. The crosslinking density influences the hydrogel's macroscopic properties, such as volumetric equilibrium swelling ratio, compressive modulus, or mesh size. Pore size and shape, pore density, and other factors can impact the surface properties, optical properties, and mechanical properties of a hydrogel.
Over the past three to four decades, hydrogels have shown promise for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications, mainly due to their high water content and rubbery or pliable nature, which can mimic natural tissue. Biocompatible hydrogels can be engineered to be either degradable or resistant to degradation. An additional advantage of hydrogels, which has only recently been appreciated, is that they may provide desirable protection of drugs, peptides, and proteins from the potentially harsh environment in the vicinity of a release site.
However, typical hydrogels lack the required mechanical and frictional properties to be useful as articulating and weight-bearing mediums. Biostable hydrogels are often based on alcohol functional polymers such as hydroxymethylmethacrylates, polyvinyl alcohol, etc. These materials are known to readily absorb and release water. However, they do not have the same frictional properties as that of articular cartilage. Particularly, the degree of bound water in these types of synthetic materials is far less than that for natural cartilage.
Therefore, there is a need to develop hydrogel materials that mimic the frictional properties of natural articulating surfaces.

Chemical composition of hydrogels for use as articulating surfaces


A jigsaw includes a housing containing a motor activated by a trigger assembly. A shoe member is pivotally connected to the housing of the jigsaw and establishes an angle therebetween. The jigsaw includes a keel assembly includes a blade member that generally extends from the housing beyond the shoe member. The keel assembly remains generally in line with the housing as the angle between the shoe member and the housing varies. The jigsaw also includes a latch assembly capable of retaining and releasing the keel assembly from the housing.

Typically, a keel blade can be attached to a jigsaw to provide a relatively more accurate straight cut through a piece of sheet material than a jigsaw without the keel blade. The keel blade is traditionally attached to and removed from a housing of the jigsaw using tools and multiple fasteners, which can be a relatively complex process. In some instances, the keel blade needs to be uncoupled from the housing to perform a bevel cut.

Adjustable and removable keel assembly and blade guide for a jigsaw


A spinning reel spool according to a first aspect of the present invention is a spinning reel spool that delivers fishing line forward. The spinning reel spool comprises a spool body and a ring member. This spool body has a body portion and a protruding portion. The protruding portion is integrally formed on a front side of the body portion. The protruding portion is annularly arranged and protrudes from the body portion in an axial direction of the spool body. The ring member is disposed on an outer circumferential portion of the protruding portion of the spool body. The ring member is held between the body portion and a plastically deformed part of the protruding portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a spinning reel that delivers fishing line forward and a spool of a spinning reel.
2. Background Information
The conventional spinning reel comprises a spool body, an abutting member (a spool collar), and a ring member (a spool ring). In this type of spinning reel, the ring member is held between the abutting member and the spool body. Specifically, the ring member is held between the abutting member and the spool body by mounting the abutting member to the spool body in a state of having disposed the ring member on the front side of the spool body. See, for example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2008-283931.


Yield monitor apparatus and method for a forage processing machinery are provided according to the invention. The yield monitor measures a forage yield by measuring a forage volume increment accumulation. In one embodiment of the invention, the yield monitor includes a volume increment accumulation measuring device generating a volume increment accumulation signal substantially related to a forage mass and a computer that receives the volume increment accumulation signal. The computer generates a yield amount based upon the accumulation signal, a forage processing machinery groundspeed, and forage processing machinery intake parameters. The yield monitor may generate a yield amount, with the yield amount capable of being stored and displayed to a forage processing machinery operator. Alternatively, the yield monitor may generate a groundspeed control signal that is used by the forage processing machinery to control a forage processing machinery groundspeed or other forage processing machinery parameters.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a yield monitor, and more particularly to a yield monitor for use with forage processing machinery.
2. Description of the Background Art
Modern farming has continued to evolve and change as farmers strive to increase efficiency of farming methods and to operate in a way that maximizes yields while conserving soil and minimizing use of pesticides, fertilizers, etc. One area of great interest is precision farming, where instead of treating a field as one uniform unit of land, a farmer maps, analyzes, fertilizes, harvests, and otherwise treats small sections of a field. Using precision farming techniques, a farmer can more precisely control the application of fertilizers, pesticides, etc., and can more precisely monitor resulting yields. This allows field treatment on more of an as-needed basis and makes better use of resources.
In order to do this, a farmer needs to be able to measure and record yield levels at different spots in the field as the crop is being harvested or otherwise processed. This data may be used to generate a yield map showing yield levels for each region of a field.
In the prior art, precision farming for grain production has included devices such as yield monitors. Typically, yield monitors are included on a combine or other grain harvester and can gather yield data as the grain is harvested. For example, in a wheat combine, the grain is weighed or otherwise quantified as it is harvested (i.e., weighed in the harvesting machine). As previously discussed, this presents advantages to the farmer in being able to know how each small region of the field is producing. Problem regions can be targeted, insect infestations can be outlined, different soil types can be identified and plotted, diseases can be identified, fertilizer quantities can be adjusted, etc.
Typically, when storing yield data to a yield map, multiple measurements may be taken and averaged for each cell (a field may be divided up into cells, with a cell being the smallest unit measured or displayed). Typically, a cell is equal in width to a harvester or processing machinery operating width, such as, for example, a cut width or pickup width. By measuring an instantaneous yield amount, a machine can measure and record a yield amount for each cell of a field. The data may be manipulated or transmitted to other computers for analysis and storage.
One area that has not seen wide application of precision farming methods and machinery is in the area of forage. Forage is defined as cultivated non-grain plants or plant parts, other than separated grain, grown for grazing or for harvest as animal feed. The term forage generally refers to more-digestible material (e.g., what is called pasturage, hay, silage, dehydrated, green chop) in contrast to less-digestible plant material, known as roughage. Examples of forage crops are grasses, hay, alfalfa, corn silage, etc. Forage is widely used for animal feed especially, for example, during winter time when pasture grasses are generally not available. In addition, forage can be harvested and stored during abundant times as a hedge against leaner times.
Forage processing machinery encompasses many different types of machinery used for different purposes. Examples of forage processing machinery are mowers, windrowers, mower conditioners, balers, etc. A mower includes a cutter bar and cuts the forage, with the forage lying where it falls. A windrower is essentially a mower that gathers the cut forage into a windrow. The forage harvester 110 is a machine that cuts or picks up forage, chops it into small pieces, and deposits the chopped forage (sometimes referred to as silage) into a trailing wagon. The chopped forage is generally fed into a blower that blows the chopped forage up a spout and into the wagon. A baler picks up cut forage and compresses it into a rectangular or round bale that is bound up with wire, twine, or a net wrap.
The availability of grain yield monitors, as opposed to yield monitors for forage crops, is due to the fact that the harvesting of grain is quite different from the harvesting of forage. For example, grain is typically small, fairly uniform in terms of size, density, moisture content, etc., where forage may include a wide variety of plant sizes, plant moisture content, leaf types, stem lengths, toughness, etc. Therefore, although much progress has been made in yield monitored devices for grain harvesting, forage harvesting has not seen such improvements. Based upon current techniques, the farmer can obtain yield values only on a per field basis.
What is needed, therefore, are yield monitors for forage processing machinery.


A fastening device for ski boots. The device has a control means, an adjustment means and a strap assembly. The control means is operatable by a user and drives the adjustment means, which is coupled to the strap assembly. The adjustment means includes a gear set and a threaded rod, which allows for a very fine adjustment of the strap assembly and as a result a very fine adjustment of the fit of the boot on a skier's foot. Magnets may also be provided in the control means in a manner that allows the control means to maintain its position.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of boot fasteners. More particularly, the invention relates to a mechanism that fastens a ski boot.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Ski boots have been known for a considerable amount of time. The conventional ski boot has an opening along one side of the boot, to facilitate getting a foot into or out of the boot, and a strap assembly that connects both sides of the opening and allows the user to adjust the fit of the boot against the user's leg. The proper and precise fit of a ski boot is especially important in the act of skiing as the boot is the skiers connection to the ski and thus allows the user to control the direction of the ski and in turn the direction of the skier. The better the boot fits, the better the skier's control over his or her actions. The common buckle uses a simple latching mechanism to secure the boot, thereby providing limited precision as to how the boot fits on the skier's foot.
What is needed is a fastening device that provides for a fine adjustment and that is easily operated.


The invention is an apparatus for heat processing of food. The invention includes a frame which supports the subcomponents of the apparatus. The apparatus' subcomponents include a rack having a plurality of hook-like projections for holding the food. A rack displacement assembly reciprocally moves the rack between a food loading position and a heat processing position. The rack displacement assembly includes both a lever and a cable and pulley-actuated linkage. The rack is moved into a heating cavity when that rack is in its heat processing position. Heating means are provided on at least one side of the heating cavity.

The desirable appearance of food has much to do with its cosmetic eye appeal. Foods that are subjectively pleasing to the eye are generally more appetizing than those foods that are prepared in an improper or careless manner. One of the subjectively pleasing aspects of a food's appearance is its color and shaded nuances. The color of a prepared food is an especially important factor in the eye appeal of meats, including, but not limited to, poultry, beef, pork and fish. Typically, consumers prefer a darker color, ranging from a light brown in poultry products to a much darker, nearly blackened, color for certain beef products. Unfortunately, many conventional one-step cooking processes properly cook the food, but impart an unacceptable, nonappealing color. Other such one-step processes may produce food products with an acceptable color, but which are inadequately or otherwise nonideally cooked, i.e., not cooked to a safe internal product temperature.
In addition, it is difficult to attain consistent, proper color in many preprocessed foods. For example, chicken may be fully cooked at large food processing facilities. The cooked chicken is then quickly frozen and shipped to restaurants, cafeterias and the like. These restaurants retain the food in freezers until shortly before it is to be consumed. The frozen, precooked chicken parts are placed on the shelves of large warming ovens. After an appropriate time period, the chicken in the oven has been thawed and warmed to the ideal and safe temperature for consumption. Such chicken, however, lacks the light- to medium-brown color preferred by most consumers. Instead, the surface of this chicken has a beige color. As a result, the chicken does not have "eye-appeal" and is rejected on sight by a certain number of consumers. This rejection occurs even though the chicken is otherwise perfect and has an excellent flavor, texture and aroma.
Devices for the preparation of food are disclosed in many United States patents. These patents include U.S. Pat. Nos. Re. 24,296, 3,249,741, 3,479,188, 3,559,564, 3,682,643, 3,783,220, 4,051,347, 4,396,817, 4,701,585, 4,771,154, 4,943,697, 4,957,041 and 4,957,042.

Apparatus for high-speed cosmetic finishing of precooked food articles


The test board serves as an interface for testing a conference phone. The test board includes a plurality of test channel selectors. Each of the test channel selectors receives a plurality of test voltages provided by the conference phone and a first and a second control signals. The test voltages are divided into a plurality test voltage pairs, and each of the test channel selectors selects one of the test voltages in each of the test voltage pairs for generating a plurality of selected voltages according to the first control signal. Each of the test channel selectors selects two of the selected voltages for generating a first and a second output voltages according to the second control signal, where the first and the second output voltages are transmitted to a test machine for testing the conference phone.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to a test board structure. Particularly, the invention relates to a test apparatus for a conference phone and a test board structure thereof.
2. Related Art
In a conventional test field of a conference phone, a PCI/PXI-6229 interface card developed by national instruments is generally configured on a computer device to serve as a test machine. The PCI/PXI-6229 interface card has a fixed number of analog input ports (for example, 32 ports) and a fixed number of digital input output ports (for example, 48 ports). However, as functions of the conference phone become more powerful, the number of signals used for testing the conference phone is increased. In this case, it is inadequate to directly use the analog input ports provided by the PCI/PXI-6229 interface card to test voltages and/or currents of the conference phone.
Therefore, in order to test the conference phone having more functions, in the conventional technical field, an interface card having more numbers of the analog input ports and/or the digital input output ports has to be used for testing. Taking the PCI/PXI-6229 interface card as an example, the PCI/PXI-6229 interface card having more numbers of the analog input ports (for example, more than 32 ports) and/or the digital input output ports (for example, more than 48 ports) are very expensive in price, which increases the test cost.


A method of making a microarray comprising the steps of:                providing a support;        coating on the support a receiving layer to receive microspheres, the receiving layer being capable of undergoing sol/gel transition;        coating on the receiving layer a dispersion of microspheres in a carrier fluid, wherein the carrier fluid contains at least one crosslinking agent and is capable of solvating the receiving layer;        allowing the microspheres to partially submerge into the receiving layer;        creating conditions to induce sol/gel transition in the receiving layer, thus immobilizing the microspheres;        evaporating off the carrier fluid; and        allowing crosslinking reaction between the receiving layer and the crosslinker in the carrier fluid.

Ever since it was invented in the early 1990s (Science, 251, 767-773, 1991), high-density arrays formed by spatially addressable synthesis of bioactive probes on a 2-dimensional solid support has greatly enhanced and simplified the process of biological research and development. The key to current microarray technology is deposition of a bioactive agent at a single spot on a microchip in a "spatially addressable" manner.
Current technologies have used various approaches to fabricate microarrays. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,412,087, and 5,489,678 demonstrate the use of a photolithographic process for making peptide and DNA microarrays. The patent teaches the use of photolabile protecting groups to prepare peptide and DNA microarrays through successive cycles of deprotecting a defined spot on a 1 cm×1 cm chip by photolithography, then flooding the entire surface with an activated amino acid or DNA base. Repetition of this process allows construction of a peptide or DNA microarray with thousands of arbitrarily different peptides or oligonucleotide sequences at different spots on the array. This method is expensive. An ink jet approach is being used by others (e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,079,283; 6,083,762; and 6,094,966) to fabricate spatially addressable arrays, but this technique also suffers from high manufacturing cost in addition to the relatively large spot size of 40 to 100 μm. Because the number of bioactive probes to be placed on a single chip usually runs anywhere from 1000 to 100000 probes, the spatial addressing method is intrinsically expensive regardless how the chip is manufactured. An alternative approach to the spatially addressable method is the concept of using fluorescent dye-incorporated polymeric beads to produce biological multiplexed arrays. U.S. Pat. No. 5,981,180 discloses a method of using color coded beads in conjunction with flow cytometry to perform multiplexed biological assay. Microspheres conjugated with DNA or monoclonal antibody probes on their surfaces were dyed internally with various ratios of two distinct fluorescence dyes. Hundreds of "spectrally addressed" microspheres were allowed to react with a biological sample and the "liquid array" was analyzed by passing a single microsphere through a flow cytometry cell to decode sample information. U.S. Pat. No. 6,023,540 discloses the use of fiber-optic bundles with pre-etched microwells at distal ends to assemble dye loaded microspheres. The surface of each spectrally addressed microsphere was attached with a unique bioactive agent and thousands of microspheres carrying different bioactive probes combined to form "beads array" on pre-etched microwells of fiber optical bundles. More recently, a novel optically encoded microsphere approach was accomplished by using different sized zinc sulfide-capped cadmium selenide nanocrystals incorporated into microspheres (Nature Biotech. 19, 631-635, (2001)). Given the narrow band width demonstrated by these nanocrystals, this approach significantly expands the spectral barcoding capacity in microspheres.
Even though the "spectrally addressed microsphere" approach does provide an advantage in terms of its simplicity over the old fashioned "spatially addressable" approach in microarray making, there are still needs in the art to make the manufacture of biological microarrays less difficult and less expensive.
U.S. Ser. No. 09/942,241 teaches various coating methods but exemplifies machine coating, whereby a support is coated with a fluid coating composition comprising microspheres dispersed in gelatin. Immediately after coating, the support is passed through a chill set chamber in the coating machine where the gelatin undergoes rapid gelation and the microspheres are immobilized.
While that invention provides a huge manufacturing advantage over then existing technologies, it needs some refinement in order to maximize its full potential value to the art. The problem is that during such machine coating and rapid gelation, the gelling agent tends to cover the surface of the microspheres, thereby preventing the analyte (such as DNA) from penetrating through the gel overcoat and hybridizing with probes on the surface of the microspheres.
U.S. Ser. No. 10/062,326, filed Jan. 31, 2002, overcomes the problem outlined above by enzymatically removing the gelling agent from the surface of the microspheres without damaging their integrity or the DNA probes on their surfaces. The enzyme treated surface maintains its physical integrity through the entire DNA hybridization process and the microarray shows a very strong hybridization signal.
The advantage of D83451 is that enzyme digestion can be easily controlled to remove the required amount from the gel overcoat. Further, the enzyme, a protease, is readily available and economical to obtain. However, there is a disadvantage in that an additional process (enzyme digestion) is required and this involves additional time and cost.
Hence, the technology still needs a process that overcomes the problem in a more economical manner.


A detection and paramedic measuring system using a transponder composed of passive components and pulse inductive interrogation is disclosed. A methodology based on measuring the quality factor of the transponder is employed to detect a specific species of transponder or measure a parameter that alters the transponders quality factor.

In-body wireless communications techniques are limited by the ability of living tissue to conduct electromagnetic energy. The generally accepted range of frequencies wherein attenuation by the tissue is acceptable is 40 kHz to less than 30 MHz. This range is also limited to a subset of frequencies where strong interfering signals such as AM radio, WWV, marine radio, etc. are minimal The practice is further limited by the need for both the transponder and monitoring equipment to be physically small. In the case of the transponder, the target application might be for example, monitoring the internal pressure of the bladder. In this case, the transponder will most likely be inserted through the urethra and thus must be small to avoid damaging the urethra during insertion. In the case of the monitoring equipment, the equipment may by necessity be handheld or patent worn to allow mobility. Particularly limiting is the physical size of the transmitter and receiver antennas. With the given spectrum constraints, these antennas must be less than the wave length of the target frequency and are usually of a loop design. Given this restraint, the electromagnetic energy transmitted has the electric field component almost completely suppressed leaving only the magnetic field. The field strength of the resulting inductive field is attenuated at a rate proportional to the inverse of the distance from the source raised to the third power. This in turn limits the useful range to short distances. However, for most applications communication over a distance of 24 to 30 inches is adequate.
Typical parametric monitoring applications include but are not limited to the following:                Pressure in the bladder, veins and arteries, cranial cavity, etc.        Strain induced in mechanical implants such as hip and knee replacements.        Temperature at a specific body location or in a body cavity.        Clinically significant chemicals concentrations such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, glucose, etc.        Flow and transportation rates in vein and arteries, the gastric track, etc.
The second medical application is the detection of surgical implements inadvertently left behind in a surgical site, a situation that leads to a condition known as gossypiboma. Despite best efforts such as counting implements before and after a surgical procedure, it is not uncommon for implements to be left in the surgical wound. When the "counts" are found to be off, the common practice is to x-ray the patient to locate the missing implement and to this end implements have been designed to have radio-opaque markers. This subjects the patient to longer delays on the operation table and does not always detect the implement. It also fails to address the situation where the "count" is on but there is still an implement in the wound. This case is estimated cause 50 to 70% of the cases.
The current invention is applied to the problem by tagging each implement with a transponder. Before closing the surgical wound, the region is scanned with a handheld embodiment of the invention that simply indicates if a tagged implement is in the field. In order to be successful the system must always detect tagged implements while rejecting signals such as those from eddy currents induced in metal implants or signals from other sources.

System for detecting and measuring parameters of passive transponders


The present disclosure relates to a steady-state microwave conductivity method that includes modulating a light beam to form an amplitude modulated light having a modulation frequency ω1, producing a microwave waveform, exposing a sample to the amplitude modulated light and a first portion of the microwave waveform to produce an amplitude modulation signal on the first portion of the microwave waveform, and mixing a second portion of the microwave waveform and the amplitude modulation signal to produce a first signal and a second signal.

Microwave absorption measurements are a sensitive method of measuring the photoconductivity of materials. This capability is extremely useful in (e.g.) photovoltaic materials research, as it allows screening and/or characterization of candidate materials without the need to fabricate full photovoltaic devices. However, existing instruments often require expert users, are quite expensive, and can require laborious data analysis. Thus, there remains a need for improved microwave absorption measurement systems and methods, especially in view of rapidly advancing areas in material science, such as perovskites for solar, lighting, water-splitting, and other areas.

Microwave photoconductance spectrometer and methods of using the same

The Regents of the University of Colorado, a Body Corporate


A testability architecture and method for loosely integrated (modularized) integrated circuits uses stand alone module testing. For an integrated circuit chip which has a number of independent modules, where one module design is used in a number of different chips, each module is connected to the chip""s input/output pins and to a configuration module. To make testing of the modules more efficient and less expensive, during testing of the chip a particular module design is confronted with the same testing environment regardless of the actual chip in which it is present. Advantageously, chip area is only slightly enlarged by the test circuitry. A test architecture of the configuration module includes test registers and carries out a standard protocol for all read and write transactions during testing. This approach provides better test coverage and economizes in test generation.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to testing of integrated circuits, and to on-chip circuitry for supporting testing of modularized (xe2x80x9cloosely integratedxe2x80x9d) integrated circuits.
2. Background
There are types of chips (integrated circuits), e.g. PC87306, PC87307 or PC87317, where each chip includes several circuit modules that are independent of each other (xe2x80x9cloosely integratedxe2x80x9d); these modules have no direct interface with one another. Each independent module receives its input signals either from a central configuration module (CFG) or directly from the I/O (input/output) (terminals) pins of the chip. In a similar way, each module""s output signals are connected either to the CFG or to the I/O. There is also a clock module whose interface is treated as I/O controlled by the CFG. An example of a module is a block of logic circuitry for performing a particular function; a module can include logic and/or memory. FIG. 1 shows such a chip 10 with modules 1, 2, 3, and 4 and CFG 12, having I/O connections 16 to I/O 18. Each module is provided with I/O connections 20, 22, 24, 26, and connections 30, 32, 34, 36 to the CFG. The CFG 12 also provides I/O control signals for the direction of the I/O, multiplexed functions on one chip pin, etc.
In the prior development (design) process for such chips, one module design is used in various otherwise different chips. However the modules"" test vectors (test signals used for testing the chip during production) must be regenerated for each new chip. As a result, the process of generating correct test vectors and testing a new chip is expensive and time consuming.
The main reasons for changing test vectors for a module design used in several different chips are:
1. Changes in the CFG module from chip to chip.
2. Changes in the I/O from chip to chip; these changes require that a particular module design will be connected to different I/O pins in different chips.
Changes in the test vectors necessitate new fault-grading to ensure adequate coverage of the new test program. This lengthy process is seldom done, and the resulting inadequate test coverage results in chip failures.
Since test vectors cannot be used xe2x80x9cas isxe2x80x9d for new chips, this delays commercial production of the chip, incurs additional cost for the test program development, and causes poor fault coverage of the test program, resulting in chip failures.
This prior art testing problem is addressed by adding circuits to the CFG and to the I/O portions of a chip, and providing a method to test each module design using these additional circuits, as a xe2x80x9cstand alone modulexe2x80x9d regardless of the actual chip in which that module design is used. Therefore in the test mode, each module design is exposed to the same test pattern, regardless of the chip into which it is integrated. This allows easy integration of the module design in new chips, regardless of the chip CFG module and the I/O pin assignment, and chip area is enlarged only slightly (e.g. 1% or less). Hence there is no need to generate new test vectors and change test programs for an existing xe2x80x9cstand alone modulexe2x80x9d. Therefore once a module design has reached an adequate level of fault coverage, there is no need to repeat the test design process for each new chip, because the old test vectors are used.

Testability architecture for modularized integrated circuits


Provided are a transition metal carbene complex represented by the following general formula (1) and a method of producing the same. (In general formula (1), M represents for example a molybdenum atom, R1 represents for example a C1-C20 alkyl group optionally having a substituent, L1 to L3 each represent a ligand selected for example from a halogen group, R2 and R3 each represent for example a hydrogen atom or a C1-C20 alkyl group optionally having a substituent. A represents for example a nitrogen atom, and R4 to R7 each represent for example a C1-C20 alkyl group optionally having a substituent.)

Transition metal carbene complexes, such as ruthenium carbene complexes called Grubbs' catalyst and molybdenum carbene complexes and tungsten carbene complexes called Schrock's catalyst, are known as highly-active catalysts for metathesis reactions (hereinafter frequently referred to as "metathesis catalyst") and are widely used.
Among the transition metal carbene complexes, molybdenum carbene complexes and tungsten carbene complexes exhibit extremely high activity as metathesis catalysts, and may promote metathesis reactions stereospecifically when the substituent and the ligand on the metal are suitably selected, as disclosed for example in JP2002504487A (PTL 1). Thus, various studies have been made on molybdenum carbene complexes and tungsten carbene complexes.
However, molybdenum carbene complexes and tungsten carbene complexes are less stable in air than ruthenium carbene complexes or the like. Thus, molybdenum carbene complexes and tungsten carbene complexes (hereinafter frequently referred to as "molybdenum carbene complexes, etc.") are not easy to handle (or are poor in handleability), which is a problem.

Transition metal carbene complex and method of producing the same


A transactional event management structure is implemented in a network computer system. A dynamic system controller resolves proprietary and standard event and message structures into a common format for use by a system for many management purposes. A dynamic system controller in a computer is connected with a plurality of subsystems in the computer for receiving messages from the subsystems, analyzing the messages and determine an effective utilization of the messages as directed by a user or network administrator. The dynamic system controller receives messages in different message formats, organizes the messages, and converts the messages into a common format that assists a user, system administrator, or network administrator in utilizing the information contained in the messages. The converted messages in a common format are distributed at the discretion of a user, network administrator, or system administrator based on user needs or message importance to other system administration applications via a selected communication method. The network administrator controls the type of messages that are communicated over the network. A dynamic system controller supports the conversion of messages into the common format to facilitate particular control applications. In one example, the conversion of message to a common format facilitates sophisticated power management operations. The power management operations facilitated by the conversion of messages to a common format enable portable and laptop computers to manage power consumption based on user demand rather than system timing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to network management systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system and method for performing dynamic system control of devices in a network.
2. Description of the Related Art
A network management system performs a highly valuable function of automatically monitoring the operations of a network including monitoring of performance, monitoring of operating characteristics of network equipment such as occurrences of failures, and monitoring of traffic levels on the network. Many proprietary network systems have been made available including Hewlett-Packard's Openview, IBM's Netview, Cabletron's Spectrum, Sun Microsystem's NetManager, and Tandem's Distributed Systems Management (DSM). Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) has developed both an Enterprise Management Architecture (EMA) and a Digital Network Architecture (DNA). Most recently, network management systems have evolved toward distributed processing environments.
Network management systems, particularly distributed systems, must communicate to monitor and control the network. Several network communication protocols have been developed to supply communication capabilities. One protocol is a simple network management protocol (SNMP) which is developed for usage in a TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) community. Another protocol is a common management information protocol (CMIP) which is developed for usage in an ISO/OSI (International Standards Organization/Open Systems Interconnection) community.
One problem with network management systems is that various devices connected on a network communicate using different message formats so that intercommunication between devices is difficult or impossible. Conventionally proprietary protocols, proprietary applications, and custom interfaces have been developed to allow networks to read and understand particular message formats. The failure to provide consistent communications for messages has led to a difficulty in implementing any type of universal system administration or network administration and even less support for particular applications and critical system elements.
System and network administration systems generally require a substantial amount of programming support. In many organizations, programming resources are not abundant. What is needed is a network administration system that facilitates system control operations and supports powerful system control functions.

Dynamic system control via messaging in a network management system


A method and system for calibrating medical imaging devices is provided. The method includes generating a calibration image within an X-ray imaging system and determining an image distortion of the X-ray imaging system based upon the calibration image for calibrating the X-ray imaging system.

This invention relates generally to medical imaging systems, and more particularly, to methods and systems for calibrating X-ray medical imaging devices.
Diagnostic medical imaging requires accurate positioning of imaging equipment in relation to a patient. Further, proper calibration of the diagnostic medical imaging equipment is also required. Some diagnostic medical imaging systems are capable of movement, for example, from one room to another. For example, X-ray systems having wheels or other similar members for moving the system are known.
Distortions within an X-ray diagnostic medical imaging system may be caused by the X-ray system geometry, such as the geometry of an image intensifier. These distortions are static and may be corrected using, for example, models instead of calibration methods as are known. Such distortion may include, for example, pin cushion distortion caused by the curved surface of the image intensifier. Further, dynamic distortion of an X-ray image produced by such a system may be caused by interaction of the earth's and external magnetic fields with the electron paths within the image intensifier resulting in S-distortion. For example, these external distortions may be caused by surrounding factors such as structural elements (e.g. I-beams) carrying magnetic fields, other diagnostic medical imaging equipment operating nearby, such as, for example a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system and/or any other external source that may result in a change of the magnetic field surrounding the diagnostic medical imaging system.
For mobile X-ray systems, the dynamic nature of the distortion caused by the magnetic fields cannot be corrected through a static calibration. For example, when moving a mobile X-ray diagnostic medical imaging system from one room to another, non-uniform magnetic fields affecting the system may change.
Known methods provide for distortion correction of diagnostic medical imaging systems. For example, it is known to shield the image intensifier to minimize distortion. Other methods are known that provide active feedback to null out the earth's magnetic fields around the image intensifier using a sensor to measure the magnetic field and correct for changes in the magnetic field around the image intensifier. For fixed systems, other methods are known for measuring the magnetic fields off line and compensating for the magnetic field one time.
These known methods and systems for calibrating and/or correcting for distortion may have undesirable impacts or limitations. For example, shielding in the image intensifier may partially block x-rays being measured and result in a need for higher x-rays doses to image a patient. Further, active feedback is limited to providing correction for changes in a uniform or near uniform magnetic field depending on the number of sensors used. Additionally, off line measurements cannot correct for time varying magnetic fields relative to the x-ray system, such as are caused, for example, when the x-ray system is moved from one room to another.

Methods and systems for calibrating medical imaging devices


Interlayer fabrication methods and interlayer structure are provided having reduced dielectric constants. The methods include, for example: providing a first uncured insulating layer with an evaporable material; and disposing a second uncured insulating layer having porogens above the first uncured insulating layer. The interlayer structure includes both the first and second insulating layers, and the methods further include curing the interlayer structure, leaving air gaps in the first insulating layer, and pores in the second insulating layer, where the air gaps are larger than the pores, and where the air gaps and pores reduce the dielectric constant of the interlayer structure.

As the density of semiconductor integrated circuits increases, and the corresponding size of circuit elements decreases, circuit performance may be dominated by resistive-capacitive (RC) delay, for instance, between interconnect layers. RC delay may be reduced by decreasing the overall capacitance of an integrated circuit, and its components. In particular, RC delay may advantageously be reduced by customizing interlayer dielectrics used between, for instance, adjacent metal layers of the overlying interconnect structure.
Accordingly, a need exists for reduced capacitance interlayer structures and fabrication methods.

Reduced capacitance interlayer structures and fabrication methods


An ultrasonic generator is provided. The ultrasonic generator includes an amplifier for outputting a drive signal to an ultrasonic atomizing nozzle, and a microcontroller, coupled to the amplifier, to control an output power of the amplifier. The microcontroller includes a load leveling operating mode in which the output power of the amplifier fluctuates to match changing load conditions of the ultrasonic atomizing nozzle.

An ultrasonic atomizer nozzle can change a stream of liquid to a plume of dispersed droplets, whose sizes are significantly uniform and whose kinetic energy are at a minimum. The droplet size is based on the resonant frequency of the nozzle and certain properties of the liquid such as surface tension and density. The minimal kinetic energy of the atomized plume results from the droplets falling off the tops of liquid waves in a film that is formed at an anti-node or distal end of the nozzle. This is done through the use of a uniquely shaped horn designed to achieve a target resonate frequency, the use of piezo-electric transducers configured to convert the input of an alternating or time-varying signal to a mechanical resonance in the subassembly, and a means for connecting the driving signal to the transducers, generally through one or more electrodes.
Atomization occurs at the lowest power levels when the frequency of the driving signal matches the nozzle's natural resonant frequency. Required power levels are significantly affected by many conditions, such as, for example, introduction of liquid to the flow channel and to the atomizing surface, the mass of that liquid and its viscosity, changes in temperature of the materials in the complex subassembly that change the wavelength of the material and, therefore, the resonant frequency, accumulation of foreign materials such as dirt or spray residue on the nozzle's front horn stem or other active horn surface, etc.
Traditionally, a constant power is delivered by an ultrasonic generator to the nozzle from analog electronic driving circuits. These analog driving circuits require time to obtain frequency lock to the nozzle, which may require 500 milliseconds or longer. As such, these ultrasonic generators cannot dynamically react to changing load conditions of the nozzle, such as, for example, impedance, frequency, etc., in a manner that is both fast and stable while providing optimal atomization performance.
Therefore a need exists for a dynamic ultrasound generator for ultrasonic spray systems that quickly and accurately adjusts for different nozzle load conditions using programmable digital circuits.

Dynamic ultrasonic generator for ultrasonic spray systems


Device intended for an installation for forming fibrous felts, the fibers being formed from a material that can be attenuated by internal centrifugation and by attenuation by means of a gas stream, the flow of fibers being in the form of a tubular veil, the device including air blowing means that expel air tangentially to the tubular veil so as to impress a rotational movement on the veil, wherein the blowing means deliver air in a direction perpendicular to the main direction of the flow of the tubular veil.

I. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the formation of fibrous felts such as those intended for thermal and acoustic insulation, and it relates more particularly to a device for improving the distribution of the fibers that are collected on a receiving member.
II. Description of Related Art
The formation of fibers, especially mineral fibers such as glass fibers, results from a fiberizing process consisting in attenuating the material, such as glass, by centrifugation and by the action of high-temperature gas streams.
The fiberizing process commonly used today is what is called the internal centrifugation process. It consists in introducing a stream of attenuable material in the molten state in a spinner, also called a fiberizing dish, rotating at high speed and pierced around its periphery by a very large number of holes via which the material is ejected in the form of filaments owing to the centrifugal force. By means of an annular burner, these filaments are then subjected to the action of an annular stream of high-temperature high-velocity attenuating gas that hugs the wall of the spinner, reducing the diameter of the filaments and converting them into fibers.
Moreover, the attenuating gas stream is generally confined by means of a surrounding cold gas sheath, suitably channeling it in the form of a tubular flow. This gas sheath is produced by a blowing ring that surrounds the annular burner. Being cold, this gas sheath also helps to cool the fibers, the mechanical strength of which is thus probably improved by a thermal quenching effect.
It is also common practice to add an annular inductor beneath the centrifugation device in order to help to maintain thermal equilibrium of the spinner. This inductor heats the bottom of the peripheral band of the spinner, which bottom is heated less by the attenuating gas as it is further away from the annular burner and is cooled by the ambient air.
The fibers formed are entrained by the attenuating gas stream toward a receiving belt generally consisting of a gas-permeable belt onto which the fibers are entangled in the form of a blanket.
To fix the fibers together, a binder is generally sprayed onto the fibers during their path towards the receiving belt. The binder is sprayed for example by means of a ring that surrounds the gas stream and has a plurality of spray holes.
The binder is then cured, for example by a heat treatment beyond the receiving belt.
One of the difficulties encountered in preparing these felts is due to the distribution of the fibers within the entire felt, which distribution is desired to be the most uniform possible. Any irregularity in the distribution may result in a local density lower than the desired density, this generally being corrected during manufacture by increasing the mean density of felt. However, it always desirable to reduce the density of a product in order to make it lighter while obtaining just as good insulation, particularly thermal insulation, performance. The aim is therefore continually to make the distribution of the fibers in the felt as homogeneous as possible on a production line.
A known means for improving the fiber distribution is the use of a device called a "bucket", as described in patent application FR 2 544 754, which consists of a guiding duct placed in the path of the gas stream beneath the spinner and above the binder spray device. This duct channels the fibers—it undergoes an oscillatory movement in order to direct the flow of fibers alternately from one edge of the fiber-receiving belt to the other.
However, this solution has a tendency to degrade the properties of the fibers by a rubbing effect during their impact on the walls of the bucket device.
Another known means consists in blowing air, toward the tubular gas flow, substantially perpendicularly in order to pass through it.
Patent FR 1 244 530 thus describes two nozzles that are placed above the binder spray device and diametrically opposite the gas flow, and the air jets of which are actuated in turn in order to impress on the veil of fibers a to-and-fro movement when it is being deposited on the receiving belt.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,266,960 shows two devices, which each deliver a flat jet of air arriving at high velocity perpendicular to and in the tubular gas flow, the two devices being placed on either side of the gas flow so that the orientation of the air jets ensures that the tubular flow separates into several divergent flows.
These blowing means therefore constrain the air to be directed so as to be approximately perpendicular to the tubular sheath of fibers, in order to divide the tubular flow and/or to modify its orientation. However, these means run the risk of creating holes in the veil at the moment of impact of the air jet, which in the end does not optimize a uniform distribution of the fibers on the receiving belt.
Furthermore, one of the risks associated with using these means is that they are very difficult to regulate by an operator.
Finally, document FR 2 510 909 discloses a method for improving the fiber distribution, which consists in creating a gas sheath directed so as to hug the tubular veil carrying the fibers around its periphery by enveloping it, the flow direction of this gas sheath in the plane tangential to the tubular veil making an angle to the flow direction of the veil of between 10 and 60°.
The device for implementing this method consists of a blowing ring comprising an annular chamber, the base of which conducts a pressurized gas so as to generate a gas sheath. In one arrangement, the base of the chamber has, in a first embodiment, inclined holes or else, in another embodiment, a continuous slot, the flow direction being provided by inclined fins placed at regular intervals in this slot along the path of the gas sheath.
However, this type of device blows air tangentially to the fibers from the base of the chamber, at an angle of between 10 and 60° relative to the flow of the tubular sheath, and in the region or the end of the region where the fibers are attenuated, thereby preventing adjustment of the distribution, which is independent of the quality of the fiber obtained.


A vacuum relief unit and method for venting air into a pool pumping system when a pressure level within the system drops below a first pressure level limit. The unit includes a closed air chamber, a device for venting chamber air from the air chamber into the pool pumping system when the pressure level in the pool pumping system drops below the first pressure level limit, a device for venting atmospheric air into the air chamber when the pressure level within the air chamber drops below a second pressure level limit that is lower than the first pressure level limit, and a device for delaying operation of the atmospheric air venting device when the pressure within the air chamber is no longer below the second pressure level limit.

The present invention generally relates to pool safety equipment. More particularly, this invention relates to a method and unit for preventing an obstruction from being trapped by suction to an inlet of a pool filter pump system. The unit can be mounted directly to a skimmer lid of the pool filter pump system, and operates to vent air into the system when a vacuum level within the system exceeds a specified vacuum limit, as is the case if the drain or another inlet connected to the system is partially or completely obstructed, such as by a child or foreign object.
To maximize enjoyment and maintain proper sanitary conditions, swimming pools must be constantly cleaned of debris, dirt and other contaminants. Such a requirement is particularly demanding in the case of commercial pools and hot tubs that are likely to be used by a large number of people. For most pools and tubs (hereinafter simply referred to as pools for convenience), the primary task of cleaning is performed by a filter pump system that continuously draws water through a drain located at the bottom of the pool, typically at or near its deepest point, and through a number of suction lines located elsewhere, typically along the perimeter of the pool. As with all pools, but particularly commercial pools, a high rate of water flow must be achieved through a suitable filtering medium in order to maintain an acceptable level of cleanliness. Consequently, a high capacity pump must be employed to draw the water from the pool, with a relatively larger pump generally being required as the size of the pool increases.
A significant hazard with the use of such large filter pumps is the potential for individuals and particularly children to become drawn and trapped against the drain or a suction line as a result of the vacuum created by the pump when the drain or suction line inlet is obstructed. Occurrences of this type of accident have caused the pool industry to look for solutions. One approach has been to modify the drain construction, examples of which include U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,449 to Martin, directed to a protective adapter for covering a pool drain, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,807 to Baker et al., directed to modifying the drain opening itself in order to more uniformly distribute the flow of water toward the center of the drain. While such approaches may be acceptable for many pool applications, a solution that is capable of being retrofitted to an existing pool without altering the appearance, size or construction of the drain is often more desirable and practical. Furthermore, these solutions only reduce the suction level at the drain, and safer operation of a pool can be achieved if the dangerous suction condition at the pool drain is completely eliminated if the drain is obstructed by a child.
As a solution, vacuum relief valves and units for preventing a child or an object from being trapped by suction to a drain or any other suction line are taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,682,624 and 6,251,285 to Ciochetti. The valve taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,682,624 is configured for mounting directly to a suction line between a drain or suction line and the filter pump, while the valve taught by U.S. Pat. No. 6,251,285 is configured for installation as a lint trap cover on an otherwise conventional lint trap unit located upstream of a pool filter pump. Both valves generally operate by causing the filter pump to quickly lose its prime when a child or object obstructs or becomes trapped against the drain or suction line inlet, so that the vacuum created by the filter pump is completely eliminated. In particular, the valves permit air to rapidly flow into the drain and suction lines if a predetermined vacuum level is exceeded within these lines, as is the case if the drain or one of the pool's suction line inlets becomes partially or completely obstructed. The rapid influx or venting of air eliminates the vacuum within the lines and, therefore, the resulting unsafe condition. The response of the valve is preferably damped such that the valve will remain open sufficiently long to cause the filter pump to completely lose its prime.
Operational aspects of certain vacuum relief valves currently on the market include the ability to be locked in the open (venting) position to allow for the release of an obstruction without time constraints. Such valves do not reset themselves, but must be manually reset in order for the pump to return to normal operation. However, a valve can be unnecessarily actuated by a transient vacuum spike (pressure drop), for example, during pump startup, and certain valves may have a tendency to rapidly open and close during pump startup. Furthermore, pump damage can occur if the pump continues to run when the valve is locked open and continues to vent air into the pump.

Vacuum relief unit and method for a pool


An object of the present invention is to provide a wear-detection probe for a brake lining material which prevents a U-turned portion 61 of a detector K from shifting in a housing and avoids an increase of parts and steps of forming the probe 50. A hole 53 is formed within part of the inner periphery of an insulated electrical wire 60 in a housing 55 by drawing out of the housing 55 a pin 100 which serves to prevent the wire from being shifted in a mold upon mold-forming. A reinforcement bridge 54 is integrally formed in the hole 53 by the same resin material 70 as that 70 of the housing 55. Since the reinforcement bridge 54 is integrally formed in the hole 53 made by drawing the pin 100 out of the molded housing 55, it is possible to increase the strength of the probe 50 and to position the U-turned portion 61 in the housing 55 by the support of the reinforcement bridge 54. Also, it is possible to avoid an increase of parts and steps of producing the probe, since the reinforcement bridge is integrally formed in the molded housing.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a wear-detection probe for a brake lining material such as a brake pad for a disc brake in a vehicle or the like.
2. Statement of the Prior Art
For convenience of explanation, a conventional wear-detection probe for brake lining material will be described below by referring to FIGS. 5 through 9.
FIG. 5 is a side view showing a conventional disc brake for a vehicle.
As shown in FIG. 5, a disc brake 1 for a vehicle generates a braking force by pressing a pair of brake lining materials such as brake pads 3 or the like on both sides of a rotor 2 which rotates in connection with the rotation of the wheels. In this disc brake 1, a probe 10 juxtaposed with the brake pad 3 detects the residual thickness of the pad 3 worn by contact with the rotor 2, so that a warning signal can be generated before the brake pads are overworn.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of a conventional wear-detection probe 10 for a brake pad 3. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines VII--VII in FIG. 6. FIG.8 is a perspective view of the conventional probe shown in FIG. 6. The probe 10 comprises a housing 13 molded by a resin material 12, an insulated electrical wire 11, and a detector K having a U-turned portion 11a of the wire 11. The U-turned portion 11a is embedded in the resin material 12.
The probe 10 is secured to the rear metal 3a of the brake pad 3 at a flange 10b so that the top end 10a of the probe 10 is directed to the rotor 2 and both ends of the insulated electrical wire 11 are drawn out of the probe 10 so as to be connected to an alarm circuit (not shown). The brake pad 3 is worn due to contact with the rotor 2 every time the brake is operated, and the top end 10a of the probe 10 is also worn with reduction of the residual thickness of the brake pad 3. Consequently, the U-turned portion 11a is gradually worn. When the residual thickness of the brake pad reaches a predetermined value, the U-turned portion 11a is cut off. The alarm circuit detects the disconnection of the U-turned portion and generates a warning signal.
Thus, since a wear limit of the residual brake pad 3 is detected by the disconnection of the U-turned portion 11a, it is necessary to accurately position the U-turned portion 11a in the resin material 12, in particular, in a wear-progressing direction A (see FIG. 6) with respect to the residual thickness of the brake pad 3.
Accordingly, in a conventional method of producing the probe 10, as shown in FIG. 9, first, the insulated electrical wire 11 is disposed around a pin 20 mounted in a mold (not shown) to form the U-turned portion 11a, and second, a molten resin material is poured into the mold while holding the wire by the pin 20 so that the wire does not shift in the mold. The resin material solidifies in the mold so that the electrical wire 11 is correctly positioned in the molded resin material 12.
However, after molding the probe 10, a hole 21 (see FIGS. 6 through 8) is left inside the U-turned portion 11a in the housing 13 by drawing the pin 20 out of the resin material 12. Consequently, the probe 10 is weakened near the detector K. If a pushing force F (see FIG. 6), caused by contact with the rotor 2, is applied to the top end 10a of the probe 10, the probe is easily broken, or the U-turned portion 11a is deflected into the hole 21, thereby displacing the disconnection position of the U-turned portion 11a.
Although it is possible to increase the strength of the probe 10 and to prevent the deflection of the U-turned portion 11a by filling the hole 21 with a resin material, this filling material increases the number of parts and the steps of producing the probe.

Wear-detection probe for a brake lining material


A nonvolatile memory device includes a nonvolatile memory cell array including a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells connected to a plurality of word lines, a word line voltage generator configured to generate first and second sequences of voltage pulses. The device selectively supplies one of the first and second sequences of voltage pulses to a selected one of the word lines to program the nonvolatile memory cells connected to the selected word line. A slope of at least one voltage pulse of the first sequence of voltage pulses is greater than a slope of at least one voltage pulse of the second sequence of voltage pulses. In general, the first sequence is applied to word lines far away from the string select line (SSL), and the second sequence is applied to word lines that are close to the SSL.

1. Field
This invention relates, in general, to nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for controlling the slope of a word line voltage in a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device including such an apparatus and executing such a method, and a memory system including such a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device.
2. Description
Semiconductor memories are classified into volatile semiconductor memories and non-volatile semiconductor memories. In the volatile semiconductor memories, data are stored and can be read out as long as the power is applied, and are lost when the power is turned off. On the other hand, non-volatile memories such as an MROM (MASK ROM), a PROM (Programmable ROM), an EPROM (Erasable and Programmable ROM), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM), and flash memories are capable of storing data even with the power turned off.
Of these devices, flash memories are classified into NOR-type flash memories and NAND-type flash memories according to a connection structure of a cell and a bitline. The NOR-type flash memory can be easily adapted to high-speed operation, but has a disadvantage when it comes to providing a high degree of integration. In contrast, the NAND-type flash memory is advantageous when it comes to providing a high degree of integration.
FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate, respectively an initial state and a programmed state of a flash memory cell transistor having a floating gate.
As shown in FIGS. 1A-B, a single transistor-type flash memory cell 100 generally comprises: a channel formed between a source 105 and a drain 110 on a semiconductor substrate 115; a control gate 120; and a floating gate 130 formed between a dielectric oxide 140 and a gate oxide 150, where dielectric oxide 140, floating gate 130, gate oxide 150, and control gate 120 are stacked on the channel. Floating gate 130 traps electrons, and the trapped electrons are used to establish the threshold voltage of flash memory cell 100. The electrons moving to floating gate 130 are generated by Fowler-Nordheim tunneling (FN), electron injection, etc. Electron injection may be performed by channel hot-electron injection (CHE), channel-initiated secondary electron injection (CISEI), etc. Also, Fowler-Nordheim tunneling (FN) is generally used in flash memory devices for erasing data all at once. Further, when the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device performs a read operation, the data value stored in flash memory cell 100 is determined through sensing the threshold voltage of flash memory cell 100, as discussed in further detail below.
As shown in FIG. 1A, initially flash memory cell 100 is in a "non-programmed" (or "erased") state and stores a logical "1" therein. In the non-programmed state, flash memory cell 100 has an initial threshold voltage, VTH1, such that when a voltage less than VTH1 is applied to control gate 120, flash memory cell 100 is turned off, but when a voltage greater than VTH1 is applied to control gate 120, flash memory cell 100 is turned on.
Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 1B, flash memory cell 100 stores a logical "0" when it is in a "programmed" state. In the programmed state, memory cell 100 has a threshold voltage, VTH2 greater than VTH1, such that when a voltage less than VTH2 is applied to control gate 120, flash memory cell 100 is turned off, but when a voltage greater than VTH2 is applied to control gate 120, flash memory cell 100 is turned on.
FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate, respectively an erase operation and a programming operation for flash memory cell 100.
As seen in FIG. 2A, an erase operation is performed on flash memory cell 100 to store logical a "1"0 therein by applying an erase voltage "VERASE" to the bulk substrate 115 of flash memory cell 100 and grounding control gate 120 to thereby remove electrons from memory cell 100's floating gate 130. Removing electrons from floating gate 130 reduces the threshold voltage of flash memory cell 100 to VTH1, as shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows that the threshold voltages VTH1 of all of the memory cells in the device will not be the same, but instead the threshold voltages VTH1 will have some distribution and variance about a mean value. In a typical example, threshold voltage VTH1 may be distributed from −1V to −3V. After the erase operation is performed on flash memory cell 100, it is referred to as an "Erased Cell", and it stores a logical "1." In general, the erase voltage VERASE is greater than an operating voltage VCC of the NAND flash memory device. For instance, the erase voltage could be 19V while operating voltage VCC is only 5V.
As seen in FIG. 2B, a programming operation is performed on flash memory cell 100 to store a logical "0" therein by applying a program voltage VPGM to control gate 120 of flash memory cell 110, and causing current to flow source 105 and drain 110 to thereby cause electrons in the current to be stored in floating gate 130. Storing electrons in floating gate 130 increases the threshold voltage of flash memory cell 100 to VTH2, as shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows that the threshold voltages VTH2 of all of the memory cells in the device will not be the same, but instead the threshold voltages VTH2 will have some distribution and variance about a mean value. In a typical example, threshold voltage VTH2 may be distributed from +1V to +3V. After the programming operation is performed on flash memory cell 100, it is referred to as a "Programmed Cell", and it stores a logical "0."
A NAND-type flash memory device typically comprises a memory cell array (or memory block) including a plurality of NAND flash memory cell strings ("strings") 300 connected to bit lines BL0 through BLn-1, respectively. FIG. 4 illustrates a basic NAND flash memory cell string 400. Each string 400 comprises a string selection transistor (SST), a ground selection transistor (GST), and a plurality of flash memory cells 100 serially connected between string selection transistor SST and ground selection transistor GST. Typically, either 16 or 32 flash memory cells 100 are serially connected in flash memory cell string 400. String select transistor SST has a drain connected to a corresponding bit line and a gate connected to a string select line (SSL). Memory cells 100 are connected to corresponding word lines WL0 through WLm-1, respectively. Word lines WL0 through WLm-1, string select line SSL, and ground select line GSL are driven by a row selector circuit (not shown in FIG. 4)
A NAND flash memory device can perform write and program operations on individual flash memory cell strings 400. However, the NAND flash memory device can only perform an erase operation in the unit of one memory block.
In order to program the memory cells of a selected row (or word line) of a NAND flash memory device, the memory cells in a memory block (or a memory cell array) are first erased in order to give each memory cell the threshold voltage VTH1 that is below 0V (all memory cells store a logical "1"). Once the memory cells are erased, program data is loaded onto a page buffer circuit of the NAND flash memory device, and then a high voltage pump circuit generates relatively high voltages for a programming operation. Afterward, the loaded data is programmed into the memory cells of a selected word line by the iteration of program loops. Each of the program loops consists of a bit line setup interval, a program interval, a discharge/recovery interval, and a verification interval.
During the bit line setup interval, bit lines BL0 through BL(n-1) are charged to a power supply voltage VCC or a ground voltage in accordance with the loaded program data. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, a bit line BL for a memory cell to be programmed is charged to the ground voltage, and a bit line BL for a memory cell to be program inhibited (i.e., not programmed) is charged to the power supply voltage VCC. Within the program interval, the program voltage VPGM is supplied to a selected word line and a lower pass voltage VPASS is supplied to the unselected word lines. For memory cells connected to the selected word line and to a bit line charged to the ground voltage, the channel voltage is zero volts, and a bias condition (e.g., 18V) great enough to induce F-N tunneling is satisfied, so electrons are injected from the bulk to the floating gates of the memory cells. On the other hand, as is well known in the art, for memory cells connected to bit lines that are charged to the power supply voltage VCC, the string select transistor (SST) is electrically turned off and the channel voltage of the memory cell connected to the selected word line rises by self-boosting to a voltage level (e.g., 8 volts) sufficient to prevent F-N tunneling and thereby inhibit programming of the memory cell (see FIG. 6). The voltages of the bit lines and the word lines are discharged during the discharge interval, which functions as a recovery interval, and whether the memory cells have been programmed to the desired target threshold voltage is determined during the verification interval.
A step pulse program technique has been developed for programming a flash memory device. FIG. 7 shows a pulse program voltage applied to a selected word line connected to a control gate of a flash memory cell to be programmed. As can be seen in FIG. 7, the program voltage (e.g., 18 V) is applied to the selected word line in a series of program pulses. In between each program pulse is a "verify period" where the data stored in the memory cells being programmed is read. When it is determined that a memory cell connected to the selected word line is programmed as desired, then as shown in FIG. 5, further programming of that memory cell is inhibited for this program operation by charging the associated bit line for the memory cell to VCC.
Typically, in the memory cells of a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, a programming operation and an erase operation can be performed repeatedly. Flash memory cells are programmed in units of one page. That is, for example, flash memory cells comprising 512 bytes of memory are simultaneously programmed. Meanwhile, flash memory cells are erased in units of one block. That is, for example, flash memory cells comprising 32 pages (e.g., 16 kbytes of memory) are simultaneously programmed.
To read the data stored in a memory cell, a voltage VREAD is applied to the control gate of the memory cell. VREAD is selected to fall between VTH1 and VTH2, i.e., VTH1<VREAD<VTH2. For example, where VTH1 is typically −2V and VTH1 is typically +2V, then VREAD may be 0V (ground). In that case, if the memory cell is turned on when VREAD is applied to its control gate, then the memory cell is determined to be an erased cell, storing a logical "1" therein. On the other hand, if the memory cell remains off when VREAD is applied to its control gate, then the memory cell is determined to be a programmed cell, storing a logical "0" therein.
As shown in FIG. 3 above, in general the various memory cells in a memory device have different values for each of the first and second threshold voltages VTH1 and VTH2, the first and second threshold voltages each being distributed around a mean value with some variance. However, if the variance or distribution of threshold voltages becomes too wide, the difference between the first and second threshold voltages becomes less and less, reducing an operating or noise margin for VREAD to read data from a memory cell.
Accordingly, an incremental step pulse program (ISPP) technique has been developed for programming flash memory cells, to reduce the variation of threshold voltages among the flash memory cells of a flash memory device. As shown in FIG. 8, a series of pulses having gradually increasing voltage levels are applied to the selected word line. Otherwise, the operation is the same as that discussed above with respect to FIG. 7. FIG. 9 shows how the threshold voltage distribution changes after the first pulse, the second pulse having a greater voltage than the first pulse, the third pulse having a greater voltage than the second pulse, etc. By using the ISSP technique, the variation in the threshold voltages among the flash memory cells of a flash memory device is reduced.
However, there is a problem with the flash memory cell programming techniques described above, including the ISSP technique. This problem will be explained with respect to FIGS. 10-11.
FIG. 10 shows a flash memory cell string 1000, illustrating parasitic coupling capacitances that exist between the word lines connected to the various memory cells of the string 1000. Of particular interest is the capacitance 1010 between word line 31 and the adjacent string select line (SSL). As illustrated in FIG. 11, this parasitic coupling capacitance can create a problem when word line 31 is selected during a flash memory cell program operation.
In particular, during a flash memory cell program operation a supply voltage level VCC is applied to SSL, raising the channel voltage for all memory cells of the string 1100 to (VCC−VTH). Then, when word line 31 is selected, the program voltage VPGM of a relatively high voltage level (e.g., 15-18 volts) is applied to word line 31 to program the memory cell 1050 connected thereto, while a lower pass voltage VPASS is applied to each of the remaining, unselected word lines. VPASS has a voltage level such that when the bit line is grounded, the voltage is sufficient to turn on the memory cells connected with these unselected word lines, but insufficient to program these memory cells.
As shown in FIG. 11, due to the capacitance 1010 between word line 31 and the adjacent string select line (SSL), the rising edge of the program voltage VPGM creates a voltage spike on the SSL. This spike may increase the voltage at the control gate of the string select transistor (SST) to be VSSL>(VCC+VTH). Meanwhile, as explained above, if the memory cell 1050 connected to the selected word line 31 is intended not be programmed (program inhibited), then the associated bit line is connected to the supply voltage VCC. In that case, when the voltage on the control gate of the SST becomes VSSL>(VCC+VTH), then the SST may turn on, causing a decrease in the channel voltage for memory cell 1050, as shown in FIG. 11. The decrease in the channel voltage of memory cell 1050, combined with the program voltage VPGM applied to the control gate of memory cell 1050 may present a bias condition which permits F-N tunneling to occur for memory cell 1050, thereby programming memory cell 1050, even though such programming is supposed to be inhibited. In other words, the program inhibit operation may fail. Moreover, due to the coupling capacitances, a similar problem may also occur when another word line (e.g., word line 30) located near the SSL is selected.
One proposed solution to address this problem is shown in FIG. 12. In particular, by decreasing the slope (increasing the rise time) of the program voltage VPGM applied to the selected word line, the voltage spike induced by coupling capacitance onto the SSL may be reduced or eliminated so as to prevent the SST from turning on when it is connected to a bit line charged to VCC (program inhibit) during a programming operation. In turn, this prevents the decrease in the channel voltage for the memory cell connected to the selected word line whose programming is to be inhibited. Accordingly, F-N tunneling is prevented for the memory cell, and the program inhibit function operates properly.
However, when the slope of the program voltage VPGM is decreased (rise time is decreased), then the time required for a programming operation is corresponding increased.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a nonvolatile memory device that can address one or more of the proceeding concerns. It would also be advantageous to provide a method of programming such a nonvolatile memory device. It would further be advantageous to provide a memory system that incorporates such a nonvolatile memory device. Other and further objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.
The present invention comprises method and apparatus for controlling the slope of a word line voltage in a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device including such an apparatus and executing such a method, and a memory system including such a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device.
In one aspect of the invention, a nonvolatile memory device comprises: a nonvolatile memory cell array including a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells connected to a plurality of word lines: and a word line voltage generator configured to generate first and second sequences of voltage pulses, and to selectively supply one of the first and second sequences of voltage pulses to a selected one of the word lines to program the nonvolatile memory cells connected to the selected word line, wherein a slope of at least one voltage pulse of the first sequence of voltage pulses is greater than a slope of at least one voltage pulse of the second sequence of voltage pulses.
In another aspect of the invention, a nonvolatile memory device comprises a nonvolatile memory cell array including plurality of nonvolatile memory cells connected to a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines, the memory cells of each bit line including a plurality of strings, the array further including a plurality of select lines for selecting the strings, and the word lines including at least a first set of one or more word lines and a second set of one or more word lines; and a word line voltage generator configured to generate first and second sequences of voltage pulses to program the nonvolatile memory cells connected to a selected one of the word lines, to supply the first sequence of voltage pulses to the selected word line when the selected word line belongs to the first set of one or more word lines, and to supply the second sequence of voltage pulses to the selected word line when the selected word line belongs to the second set of one or more word lines, wherein the second set of one or more word lines is closer to one of the select lines than the first set of one or more word lines is, and wherein a slope of at least one voltage pulse of the first sequence of voltage pulses is greater than a slope of at least one voltage pulse of the second sequence of voltage pulses.
In a further aspect of the invention, a method of programming a nonvolatile memory device including a nonvolatile memory cell array having a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells connected to a plurality of word lines comprises: applying a first sequence of voltage pulses to a first one of the word lines when programming the nonvolatile memory cells connected to the first word line; and applying a second sequence of voltage pulses to a second one of the word lines when programming the nonvolatile memory cells connected to the second word line, wherein a slope of at least one voltage pulse of the first sequence of voltage pulses is greater than a slope of at least one voltage pulse of the second sequence of voltage pulses.
In yet another aspect of the invention, a system comprises: a nonvolatile memory device including a nonvolatile memory cell array having a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells connected to a plurality of word lines, and a word line voltage generator configured to generate first and second sequences of voltage pulses, and to selectively supply one of the first and second sequences of voltage pulses to a selected one of the word lines to program the nonvolatile memory cells connected to the selected word line, wherein a slope of at least one voltage pulse of the first sequence of voltage pulses is greater than a slope of at least one voltage pulse of the second sequence of voltage pulses; and a memory controller for supplying an address corresponding to the selected word line for writing data to the nonvolatile memory cells connected to the selected word line.

Method and apparatus for controlling slope of word line voltage in nonvolatile memory device


A photoconductive element for generating or detecting a terahertz wave comprises a carrier generation layer for generating carriers on light irradiation, a pair of conductive electrodes provided in opposition on one face of the carrier generation layer, each containing a strip line, a pair of conductive antennas placed in opposition with a gap for light irradiation onto the carrier generation layer, each being joined to the electrodes, a pair of conductive adjusting stubs for adjusting a propagation state of the terahertz wave generated or detected by the carriers, wherein each of the adjusting stubs has a length of not longer than the wavelength λ of the terahertz wave generated by the carriers, and is placed at a distance of not more than the wavelength λ from a joint between the antenna and the electrode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photoconductive element for generation and/or detection of terahertz wave. The present invention relates also to an analysis apparatus, an imaging apparatus, and a communication apparatus employing the photoconductive element. The present invention relates also to a technique for adjusting the propagation state of a terahertz wave by selecting the electrode construction of the photoconductive element. In the present invention, the term "terahertz wave" denotes an electromagnetic wave occupying any portion of the frequency band ranging from 0.03 THz to 30 THz.
2. Description of the Related Art
The terahertz wave band covers characteristic absorption bands stemming from structures and states of various substances including biological molecules. By utilizing the characteristic absorption, inspection techniques are being studied for nondestructive analysis and identification of materials. These techniques are promising for safe imaging in place of X-ray radiography, and high-speed communication.
A photoconductive element is useful as an element for generation or detection of a terahertz wave. The photoconductive element has a semiconductor layer for generating carriers, and electrodes patterned with an interspace on the semiconductor layer for applying a voltage thereto. For improving the spatial coupling efficiency, an antenna structure may be provided on the parts of the electrodes with an antenna gap. On projection of a light beam to the antenna gap, carriers are generated in the semiconductor layer. The carriers are accelerated by application of a voltage between the electrodes to emit a terahertz wave from the photoconductive element.
The propagation characteristics of the terahertz wave in the photoconductive element depend generally on the state of carrier propagation as well as on the antenna structure. Herein the state of the carrier propagation includes the carrier behavior and the influence of the employed members such as absorption of phonon characteristic to the semiconductor substrate. For example, of the antenna for emission and reception of an electromagnetic wave, a bow-tie antenna has a broader band characteristics than a dipole antenna. However, for the photoconductive element to emit or receive terahertz wave, the dipole antenna is more suitable than the bow-tie antenna to obtain a terahertz wave in a broader frequency property range depending on the carrier propagation state. Appl. Optics 36, 7853 (1997) (hereinafter referred to as "Non-patent Document 1") below discloses the above-mentioned matter. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-010319 (hereinafter referred to as "Patent Document 1") below discloses a method for controlling the propagation state of the terahertz wave generated or detected by the carrier by use of the bow-tie antenna in a photoconductive element.
The technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is widely employed for controlling the propagation state of the terahertz wave generated or detected by the carriers by changing the structure of the antenna of the photoconductive element. Such a method of adjustment is effective, but requires an additional step for structure formation.

Photoconductive element for generation and detection of terahertz wave


An apparatus for adhering coupons together for adhesive shear testing may include a first member, a second member, at least one alignment device, and at least one separation device. The first member may have at least one first member cavity for holding at least one first member coupon. The second member may have at least one second member cavity for holding an overlapping area of at least one second member coupon adjacent to and separate from the at least one first member coupon. The overlapping area of the at least one second member coupon may be adhered to the at least one first member coupon. The at least one alignment device may control a size of the overlapping area. The at least one separation device may control a separation distance between the overlapping area of the at least one second member coupon and the at least one first member coupon.

Apparatus and methods exist for adhering coupons together for subsequent adhesive shear testing. Many of the existing apparatus and methods may have one or more of the following issues: the use of inaccurate weight systems being used to adhere the coupons; un-precise coupon overlap measuring systems; the inability to allow adhesive to squeeze out from the coupons during bonding; difficulty removing the adhered coupons from the fabrication apparatus; difficulty in controlling bond thickness of the adhesive used to adhere the coupons; the use of tooling having excessive parts increasing cost; the requirement of a cutting process to cut the coupons which may weaken the coupon bond-line; and/or one or more other types of issues. Each of these issues may lead to inaccurate adhesive shear testing results.
An apparatus and/or method is needed which may solve one or more problems of one or more of the conventional apparatus and methods for adhering coupons together for adhesive shear testing.

Apparatus and method for fabricating shear test coupons


A system that packetizes telephone calls using loss-less codecs for transmission over a communication link. The system includes a call admission control mechanism that admits calls for transmission over the communication link. An adaptive system which monitors bandwidth usage and which dynamically provides a feedback loop to the CAC system. The bandwidth allocation for transmission of the calls and the admission of calls is based upon actual bandwidth usage conditions in the system.

Abbreviations used herein:                CBR Constant Bit Rate        VBR Variable Bit Rate        TDM Time Division Multiplex        LLC loss-less compression codec        VBR variable bit rate        RT Real Time        CAC Call Admission Control        BS Base Station        BTS Base Transceiver Station        BSC Base Station Controller        GSM Global System for Mobile communications        VAS Voice Activity Status
Traditional telephone networks transmit multiple telephone calls over a single channel using time division multiplex (TDM) technology. When TDM is used to transmit telephone calls, the communication channels transmits the data at a constant bit rate (CBR).
Telephone calls can also be transmitted over packet networks. Loss-less compression codecs (LLC) can be used to packetize telephone calls for transmission over a packet network While traditional TDM transmits data at a CBR, LLCs produce a variable bit rate (VBR) data stream.
Typically when multiple streams of VBR traffic are transmitted over a particular link, the amount of bandwidth allocated for each channel is based on the expected average bit rate of the various channels. In many situations the bit rate of the VBR sources are not correlated and hence averages and expectations are a reasonable approach to allocating bandwidth for such links. In many situations, the bandwidth allocated to a VBR connection is established at call set up time. The bandwidth allocation remains constant for all VBR calls which have the same characteristics.
The VBR data streams produced by LLCs operating on voice calls have some special characteristics. Such channels in effect emulate Constant Bit Rate (CBR) channels. Furthermore, they must have a very low error bit rate since they are a replacement for TDM links which have a very low bit error rate. In a typical VBR link, if bandwidth usage exceeds that which can be accommodated over a particular link, a policing mechanism kicks in, and in general this causes higher error rates. The VBR data streams produced by LLCs operating on voice calls generally can not tolerate high error rates.
The present invention also addresses the problem that occurs when a VBR communication link is oversubscribed. That is, the present invention addresses the problem that occurs when there is not enough bandwidth to handle all of the calls destined for a particular link.
In many communication links, a Call Admission Control (CAC) system is used to allocate calls to various links. Typically CAC systems allocate bandwidth for each call when the call is set up. Bandwidth is allocated based on a formula that takes into account the nature of the call in a conventional system, the bandwidth allocation formula does not take into account the amount of bandwidth actually being used by other calls that are being handled by the system at that particular time.

Adaptive call admission control for calls handled over a compressed clear channel