A noise filter includes: a dielectric element formed of a stack of dielectric layers; a pair of first terminal electrodes disposed on one face of the dielectric element and each connectable to an external circuit; a second terminal electrode disposed on the face on which the pair of first terminal electrodes exist, and connectable to the external circuit; a pair of first internal conductors having bent portions respectively and disposed in the dielectric element with both ends thereof being led out outside the dielectric element and with the ends thereof on one side being individually connected to the pair of first terminal electrodes; a coupling electrode disposed on a face of the dielectric element and connecting the other ends of the pair of first internal conductors to each other on an outer face of the dielectric element; and a second internal conductor which is arranged at least between the pair of first internal conductors in the dielectric element, being separated from the pair of first internal conductors by dielectric layers, and whose one end is led out to the face of the dielectric element to be connected to the second terminal electrode. Therefore, a noise filter with an improved noise filtering effect can be obtained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a noise filter with an improved noise filtering effect whose basic structure is a feedthrough capacitor and which is imparted an effect of a distributed constant filter, and more particularly, to that suitable for use in a circuit of data processing equipment and communication equipment.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electronic equipment such as data processing equipment and communication equipment in recent years is mostly digitalized, and further, the frequency of digital signals handled in these equipments is becoming higher in accordance with the increased speed of data processing capability. Accordingly, noises generated from these equipments similarly tend to increase in a high-frequency range. As a noise countermeasure, many of these equipments use electronic components for preventing electromagnetic interference and inhibiting unnecessary voltage fluctuation. Multilayer feedthrough capacitors are in general use as such electronic components for noise countermeasure.
Here, a multilayer feedthrough capacitor 110 being a multilayered type feedthrough capacitor for noise countermeasure, which is shown in FIG. 21 to FIG. 23, will be described below.
As shown in FIG. 22(A), FIG. 22(B), and FIG. 22(C) the multilayer feedthrough capacitor 110 has one dielectric sheet 122 on which a first internal conductor 112 led out to two side faces opposite to each other and serving as a signal conductor is disposed, and two dielectric sheets 124 on each of which a second internal conductor 114 led out to two side faces different from the abovementioned two side faces and serving as a grounding conductor is disposed. These dielectric sheet 122 and dielectric sheets 124 are stacked to form a multilayer body 120 shown in FIG. 21.
Further, a pair of terminal electrodes 132A, 132B both connected to the first internal conductors 112 are disposed on both ends of the multilayer body 120, and a pair of terminal electrodes 134A, 134B both connected to the second internal conductors 114 are disposed on both side faces of the multilayer body 120. Accordingly, the pair of terminal electrodes 132A, 132B are connectable to a signal line side and the pair of terminal electrodes 134A, 134B are connectable to a ground side. In the multilayer feedthrough capacitor 110, the first internal conductors 112 and the second internal conductors 114 constitute a capacitor C as in an equivalent circuit diagram shown in FIG. 23.
However, the frequency handled in recent electronic equipment has become remarkably higher, which further increases noises, and the lowered power consumption of the electronic equipment lowers operating voltage. Consequently, noise resistance of the electronic equipment is deteriorating. Under such circumstances, multilayer feedthrough capacitors have been used in many electronic equipments and have exhibited an effect as noise filters which are electronic components for noise countermeasure, but there has arisen a demand for a higher noise filtering effect.


An apparatus situated in a space for controlling an air terminal device to affect at least one environmental condition in the space includes: (a) at least one sensor unit for presenting at least one sensed indication related with at least one respective environmental condition of the at least one environmental condition; and (b) a local control unit coupled with the air terminal device and coupled with at least one respective sensor unit of the at least one sensor unit. The local control unit responds to a relationship of at least one predetermined requirement with the at least one sensed indication to effect the controlling.

The present invention is directed to environmental control systems, and especially to environmental control systems affecting environmental conditions in a plurality of spaces and controlled using a network arrangement.
Environmental control networks generally include a central control unit coupled by a network with a plurality of variable air volume units in air ducts serving various conditioned spaces. Sensor units in the conditioned spaces provide indications regarding environmental conditions in the conditioned space. The indications are provided using indicating signals provided to a local control unit located in the air terminal device servicing the conditioned space.
The environmental network serves to control at least one Roof-Top Unit (RTU) or other air conditioning unit in providing conditioned air to a duct system. Air terminal devices may control air flow from the duct system to the conditioned spaces.
One or more environmental conditions in a space may be monitored and may be used for controlling conditioning of the space. A temperature sensor may provide an indicating signal relating to temperature within a space. A relative humidity sensor may provide an indicating signal relating to relative humidity within a space. A motion sensor may provide an indicating signal relating to motion occurring within a space, which may be used to indicate that a space is occupied. A carbon dioxide sensor may provide an indicating signal relating to amount of carbon dioxide within a space, which may be used to indicate how many occupants are in a space. One or more of such sensors in addition to other sensors may be employed to condition a space in view of one or more conditions extant within the space.
Situating electronic control units in air terminal devices for responding to indicating signals from sensor units in conditioned spaces locates electronic control units in areas that require service personnel to access duct systems to perform maintenance actions on the electronic control units. Such accessing of duct systems can be inconvenient, uncomfortable and awkward. Positioning electronic control units in air terminal devices also requires locating electronic units in at least two positions—in the air terminal device (in the duct) and in the sensor unit (in the conditioned space). Such a splitting of electronic functionality and equipment can be costly and inefficient as compared to locating electronic units in a single location.
Another consideration in designing an environmental control system is efficiency of communications in a control network associated with such a system. Fewer required notifications, orders and similar communications traversing the network can contribute to more efficient and faster communications. Higher speed and greater efficiency of communication in a control network can contribute to more efficient operation of an environmental control system.
There is a need for an apparatus and method for environmentally conditioning a space that situates electronic control circuitry in easily accessible single locations.
There is a need for an apparatus and method for environmentally conditioning a space that improves efficiency in communications in control network portions of an environmental control system.

Apparatus and method for environmentally conditioning a space


In a portable electronic device, time and effort of a user is reduced while performing mode switching that reflects the user's intention. The portable electronic device includes a first touch sensor, a second touch sensor, and a processing unit which performs a first process when the first touch sensor detects a touch operation and performs a second process related to the first process in place of the first process when the first touch sensor detects the touch operation and the second touch sensor detects a touch operation.

In a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone, as a method for switching a mode such as a secret mode, a method in which the portable electronic device displays a mode setting screen in accordance with a user's operation and switches the mode in accordance with the user's operation using the mode setting screen is generally used.
However, in order to perform the mode switching using this method, it is necessary for the user to perform an operation of requesting a display of the mode setting screen and further perform an operation of requesting the mode switching. In this manner, time and effort of a user are necessary and a considerable time is necessary to perform the setting because the user needs to perform a plurality of operations.
Therefore, several methods for more simply performing mode switching have been proposed.
For example, a mobile phone disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a memory unit which holds input data, a secret mode state holding unit which holds a state of a secret mode, a determination unit which determines whether a secret attribute is assigned to the data, and a control unit which controls an operation of each structural component. When the secret attribute is assigned to the data and the content of the secret mode state holding unit is a normal mode, this control unit switches the content of the secret mode state holding unit to the secret mode and prevents the data to which the secret attribute is assigned from being displayed.
Thereby, in the work of collectively moving data from an old-model mobile phone to a new-model mobile phone when the model of the mobile phone or the like is changed, data set by the user as non-display data in the old-model mobile phone can be easily set as the non-display data even in the new-model mobile phone similar to the old-model mobile phone.

Portable electronic device, touch operation processing method, and program


When a plurality of user terminals request a plurality of contents, the numbers of user terminals which request the content are managed. For each of the plurality of contents, the number of content servers which provide that content is decided using the managed numbers. For each of the plurality of contents, the content is installed in content servers as many as the number decided in association with that content, and user terminals which request the content are permitted to access the content servers which provide the content.

In a network service which provides a plurality of contents, accesses are concentrated on hot contents. In a system used for the network service, content servers of one data center store contents, which are provided by a plurality of companies and individuals, together.
For this reason, the system is required to attain smooth load balancing of the data center which can avoid access concentration on the contents and robust security performance between contents in correspondence with the load balancing.

Management apparatus and control method of management apparatus


A method and system for generating 3D images of faces from 2D images, for generating 2D images of the faces at different image conditions from the 3D images, and for recognizing a 2D image of a target face based on the generated 2D images is provided. The recognition system provides a 3D model of a face that includes a 3D image of a standard face under a standard image condition and parameters indicating variations of an individual face from the standard face. To generate the 3D image of a face, the recognition system inputs a 2D image of the face under a standard image condition. The recognition system then calculates parameters that map the points of the 2D image to the corresponding points of a 2D image of the standard face. The recognition system uses these parameters with the 3D model to generate 3D images of the face at different image conditions.

The automatic recognition of faces is becoming increasingly important in several applications such as security and processing of digital photographs. In security applications, automatic face recognition can be used to identify persons of interest or to confirm the identity of a person seeking access to a resource. In digital photography applications, automatic face recognition can be used to identify the people within each photograph. The knowledge of which people are in which photographs can be used to help organize the collection.
Conventional techniques for automatic face recognition do not perform satisfactorily for various reasons. Although automatic face recognition when presented with an image condition of frontal face with indoor lighting can be performed with 90% accuracy, the accuracy reduces significantly when the image conditions, such as pose, illumination, and expression, vary. For example, when a face of an image is at a 45 degree angle with an exaggerated expression (e.g., big smile) under poor illumination, it can be extremely difficult to automatically recognize the identity of the face.
Conventional techniques use various strategies to automatically recognize faces. Some techniques attempt to normalize target faces to a standard image condition. Some 2D techniques normalize target faces to an image condition that is the same as the image condition of a corpus of faces. Some 3D techniques attempt to warp non-frontal faces to frontal faces using a cylinder geometry. These techniques may train a classifier using the corpus or check specific features that are invariant to different image conditions. Because the 2D techniques do not consider specific structures of faces, their results can be less than acceptable. Although the 3D techniques overcome this limitation, they may require manual labeling or may be time-consuming.
Other techniques utilize a corpus with multiple images of a face covering different image conditions. These techniques then try to match a target face to one of the multiple images. It can be, however, very time-consuming to create the corpus or difficult to collect multiple images when the persons of interest are not readily available. Moreover, in practice, since the images of target faces may not match the image conditions of the corpus, the results of recognition can be less than acceptable.
It would be desirable to have a technique for automatic recognition of faces or other objects that would overcome some of the limitations of these conventional techniques.

Method and system for constructing a 3D representation of a face from a 2D representation


A semiconductor apparatus includes: a slave chip including a signal transfer unit configured to determine whether or not to transfer an input signal in response to a chip select signal; a master chip including a replica circuit unit having the same configuration as the signal transfer unit and a signal output unit configured to receive an output signal of the signal transfer unit and an output signal of the replica circuit unit and generate an output signal in response to the control signal; a first through-chip via vertically formed through the slave chip, and having one end connected to the master chip to receive the input signal and the other end connected to the signal transfer unit; and a second through-chip via vertically formed through the slave chip, and having one end connected to the signal transfer unit and the other end connected to the signal output unit.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to a semiconductor integrated circuit, and more particularly, to a three-dimensional (3D) semiconductor apparatus.
2. Related Art
In order to meet high integration demands for semiconductor devices, a 3D semiconductor apparatus including a plurality of chips stacked and packaged inside a single package has been developed. Since the 3D semiconductor apparatus includes two or more chips stacked in a vertical direction, the higher integration levels may be provided without utilizing additional space.
A variety of methods may be applied to implement the 3D semiconductor apparatus. One of the methods is to stack a plurality of chips having the same structure and connect the stacked chips through a metallic wire such that the stacked chips operate as one semiconductor apparatus.
In particular, a chip stack method to form one semiconductor memory apparatus by stacking a plurality of semiconductor chips uses a through-chip via to transfer a signal in common to the plurality of semiconductor chips. In general, since a semiconductor chip is fabricated using a silicon wafer, the through-chip via may be referred to as a through-silicon via (TSV).
In general, a semiconductor apparatus using the TSV may include a master chip and a plurality of slave chips which are electrically connected to the master chip through the TSV. In the case of a memory apparatus, the master chip includes all logic circuits in a peripheral circuit area for the operation of the memory apparatus, and the slave chips include a memory core to store data and circuits for a core operation, thereby operating as one semiconductor apparatus.
Although the 3D semiconductor apparatus includes a plurality of chips stacked therein, the plurality of chips share a data input/output line, in order to operate as a single semiconductor apparatus. In a semiconductor apparatus using wire connection, data outputted from a plurality of chips stacked therein may be transferred to a controller through one input/output line. In a semiconductor apparatus using a TSV, data of slave chips may be transferred to a master chip, and then outputted to the outside through a pad provided in the master chip. However, the semiconductor apparatus using a TSV has different signal transfer times and different driving abilities throughout the device, depending on the diameter and length of the TSV, thereby causing different performance levels among the individual chips. Therefore, it is necessary to measure a signal transfer time through the TSV.
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a conventional 3D semiconductor apparatus 10.
Referring to FIG. 1, the 3D semiconductor apparatus 10 includes a plurality of chips 11 to 13, a plurality of TSVs 14 to 17 formed through the respective chips 11 to 13, a plurality of connection pads BP1 and BP2 provided between the respective TSVs 14 to 17 and electrically connecting the corresponding TSVs, a plurality of external connection terminals BALL1 and BALL2 to electrically connect the plurality of chips 11 to 13 to a substrate 20, and the substrate 20 electrically connected to the plurality of chips 11 to 13.
A TSV time delay measuring method of the conventional 3D semiconductor apparatus 10 is performed as follows: a total time delay is measured from where an input signal IN is transmitted to a specific external connection terminal to where the input signal IN is outputted to another external connection terminal, and is then divided by the number of TSVs 14 to 17 inside the 3D semiconductor apparatus 10, in order to calculate the time delay of each TSV.
However, the TSV time delay measuring method of the conventional 3D semiconductor apparatus 10 may not be accurate, since there is additional delay caused by the connection pads BP1 and BP2 or PVT (process, voltage, temperature) variation occurring in each chip while the input signal IN is transmitted.

Semiconductor system having semiconductor apparatus and method of determining delay amount using the semiconductor apparatus


A system includes a processor configured to begin an instance of a micro-interaction, requiring a driver response to an issued query for completion. The processor is also configured to receive an occupant-issued wait command instructing delay of the micro-interaction. Further, the processor is configured to wait for a predetermined time period in accordance with the occupant-issued wait command and then re-present the micro-interaction for completion.

Drivers traveling in modern vehicles may have frequent interaction with a vehicle computing system. From interactions as simple as changing a radio station or setting a vehicle climate, to responding in an interactive manner with the vehicle computer, drivers have a much greater degree of interaction with the vehicle computer than in older vehicles, where interaction was limited to simple button presses (e.g., changing the radio). Many of the vehicle computers also include a human machine interface (HMI), which allows the vehicle and human to communicate. This can include, but is not limited to, a touch-selectable input or display, and/or an audio output and input. The vehicle HMI may presents the driver with numerous micro-interactions during a drive, consisting of a question and answer such as "do you want to turn the lights on?" when it gets dark, or "do you want to answer the phone now?" when the phone rings. Typically the answer is a very simple binary choice for a micro-interaction. For example yes/no, now/later, left/right, up/down, on/off, etc.
Many micro-interactions, however, can lead to state changes in the vehicle. For example, a question such as "would you like the windshield wipers off?" will cease the wiping state, which can be problematic if the weather is still rainy. In such an instance, the driver needs to make a decision about the wiper state, and that decision might better be deferred to a later time, if asked at a time where the driver's focus is better on the road, such as when a driver is making a left turn across traffic. If the driver needs to consider the answer to the question, it may be a distraction from more important driving tasks.
Also, radio advertisements may announce opportunities, such as "if you want this great deal, dial xxx-xxx-xxxx". Next-generation systems using connected vehicle technology might utilize this advertisement to output "if want you want this great deal say yes and you will be connected to xxx-xxx-xxxx." Again, some measure of active thought and consideration may be needed to answer or respond, and accordingly the timing of offer presentation may be better left for moments where the driver is not focused on driving.

Methods and apparatus for state dependent micro-interaction fulfillment


A Pseudo Bipolar Junction Transistor(Pseudo-BJT) based retinal focal-plane sensing system is an instant image sensing and front-end processing system with the advantages of high dynamic range and instant image processing. In addition, the system proposes a Pseudo-BJT based retinal focal-plane sensor with adaptive current Schmitt trigger and smoothing network for applying a new Pseudo-BJT circuit structure to mimic parts of functions of the cells in the outer plexiform layer of the real retina. It is suitable to resolve the existing technical drawbacks performing major functions in optical image detecting circuits, such as image recognition, image tracing, robot vision, bar-code/character readers, etc.

1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an optical sensing system, in particular, a retinal focal-plane sensor chip that is structured on Pseudo Bipolar Junction Transistor (Pseudo-BJT) and comprises a system with an adaptive current Schmitt trigger and a smoothing network for optical image detecting circuits, such as image identification, image tracing, robot vision readers of image, barcode or character, etc.
2) Description of the Prior Art
Rapid development of science and technology has made the semi-conductor and IT industries continuously rising and flourishing, resulting in outstanding changes in considerable application fields. Such changes not only make achievement of science and technology, but also improve our quality of life and alter our patterns of life. Since 1980, the researches in silicon retina have been developed one after another emphasizing how to attain the H cell function by circuits applying Gaussian smoothing to signals. How to enable retina and cerebrum visual functions to be performed by silicon chip has become a great challenge in recent years. In the event that silicon retina and silicon neural network can be developed, human visual system functions or its partial functions can be attained in electronic systems to greatly enhance the capability of instant image processing system and further be applied to the fields of image recognition, image tracing and robot vision.
An organism's retina is an excellent instant image sensing and front-end processing system with the advantages of high dynamic range and instant image processing, hence, more and more R&D people are attracted to research the possibility of using IC for realizing the retina function.
Among those researches, the most attractive structure was Resistor Network proposed by Caver Mead. The structure employed photo bipolar junction transistor (PBJT) to convert light into electric signal and simulate the sensitization of P cell. Subsequently, the signal is implanted into the Resistor Network generating similar Gaussian smoothing signal for simulating the H cell function. Consequently, both signals subtract each other obtaining a B cell signal. The Resistor Network in this structure is only composed of megaohms resistance; however, a large resistance still occupies a larger chip area during the Integrated Circuit(IC) design. Even though there have been various researches and methods for improving the drawback mentioned above, nevertheless, the chip area of silicon retina of Resistor Network is still too large. In addition to the above drawbacks of Resistor Network, there are two problems while PBJTs are applied: (1) the chip area is large when BJT-based retinal sensor is manufactured; (2) the PBJTs have smaller current gain when the technology scales down to 0.25 um or below. In view of the drawbacks and problems mentioned above, it is obvious that BJT-based technique is not suitable to be applied in the future manufacturing and optical applications.

Pseudo-BJT based retinal focal-plane sensing system


Processes for making an antiperspirant emulsion composition and antiperspirant emulsion compositions are provided herein. In an embodiment, a process for making an antiperspirant emulsion composition includes combining water and an antiperspirant active component to form a water phase. A hydrophobic carrier and a structurant are combined to form an oil phase. The structurant has a melting point above ambient temperature. The oil phase is heated to a first temperature of at least a melting point of the structurant that is disposed in the oil phase. The water phase and the heated oil phase are mixed to form the antiperspirant emulsion composition. The antiperspirant emulsion composition is cooled under continued mixing.

Antiperspirants are popular personal care products used to prevent or eliminate perspiration and body odor caused by perspiration. Antiperspirants typically prevent the secretion of perspiration by blocking or plugging perspiration-secreting glands, such as those located at the underarms. Antiperspirant sticks are desired by a large majority of the population because of the presence of antiperspirant active compounds that block or prevent the secretion of perspiration and the accompanying odors thereof and because of their ease of application. The antiperspirant composition is applied to the skin by swiping or rubbing the stick across the skin, typically of the underarm. However, antiperspirant users often are disappointed in the chalky, brittle, and/or crumbly application of the stick across the skin
To reduce chalky, brittle, and/or crumbly application of the stick antiperspirant compositions across the skin, antiperspirant emulsion compositions that exhibit smooth application, with minimal crumbling or caking, have been developed. Such products typically include an emulsion of a water phase containing an active antiperspirant compound, such as an antiperspirant metal salt, and an oil phase containing, for example, a hydrophobic carrier, fragrances, structurants, and other additives.
For the antiperspirant emulsion compositions, solid stick antiperspirant emulsion compositions have been developed with varying hardness to meet particular preferences of consumers. However, formulating antiperspirant emulsion compositions to vary the hardness thereof generally requires formulary modification of the components of the antiperspirant emulsion compositions. For example, hardness of antiperspirant emulsion compositions may be influenced by various components including structurants, such as waxes, that are generally used in the antiperspirant emulsion compositions. To vary hardness of the antiperspirant emulsion compositions, the amount and type of wax present in the antiperspirant composition may require modification, thus requiring extensive efforts to maintain other similar characteristics between the various forms of the antiperspirant emulsion compositions, such as antiperspirant efficacy, appearance, and scent, while only modifying the hardness of the antiperspirant emulsion compositions.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide processes for making antiperspirant emulsion compositions that enable hardness of the antiperspirant emulsion compositions to be modified without requiring formulary modification of the antiperspirant emulsion compositions. It is also desirable to provide antiperspirant emulsion compositions made by the processes and having a lower hardness than what would ordinarily be achieved with the antiperspirant emulsion compositions when made in accordance with traditional processes. It is also desirable to provide antiperspirant emulsion compositions having a low hardness. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.

Antiperspirant emulsion compositions and processes for making antiperspirant emulsion compositions


Techniques for an electronic shelf label (ESL) system which uses an ESL""s liquid crystal display (LCD) to transmit information to a relay unit, or CBS, by reflecting infrared (IR) or visible light to the relay unit. In a first embodiment, a plurality of IR light sources flood the area where the ESL is located. To transmit a message to the relay unit, the ESL reflectively modulates the IR light by blinking, or turning on and off, at least one segment of the LCD display. The relay unit then receives and interprets the modulated reflected IR light. In a second embodiment, the relay unit does not generate IR light. Instead, the ESL reflectively modulates the visible light present in the retail establishment to transmit a message to the relay unit. The relay unit may use one or more cameras to receive this reflectively modulated visible light.

The present invention relates generally to improvements in electronic shelf label (ESL) systems used in transaction establishments. More specifically, the present invention relates to advantageous aspects of a wireless ESL communication system.
ESL systems typically include a plurality of ESLs for each merchandise item in a store. ESLs display the price of corresponding merchandise items on store shelves and are typically attached to a rail along the leading edge of the shelves. A store may contain thousands of ESLs to display the prices of the merchandise items. The ESLs are coupled to a central server where information about the ESLs is typically maintained in an ESL data file which contains ESL identification information and ESL merchandise item information. Price information displayed by the ESLs is obtained from a price look-up (PLU) data file. The central server sends messages, including price change messages, to the ESLs through a communication base station (CBS) which may be mounted in the ceiling of the retail establishment.
The communications link from the CBS to an ESL, known as the xe2x80x9cdownlinkxe2x80x9d, uses infrared (IR) or radio frequency (RF) technology. To ensure that a message transmitted to the ESL was properly received, the ESL transmits a positive acknowledgement over an xe2x80x9cuplinkxe2x80x9d communication path to the CBS, which in turn relays the acknowledgment to the central server. The downlink communications path is separate from and may employ different technology than the uplink communication path, since the uplink path transmits much less data than the downlink path. For example, the ESL may transmit an acknowledgement which consists of a single status byte.
Not only is it important for the communication links to be reliable, but for ESL systems to be cost effective, ESLs must be inexpensive and the cost of the infrastructure, such as the CBS, kept to a minimum. Since the downlink is transmitted from the CBS which may be operated by an external power source, providing transmission power for the downlink is not usually a concern. However, the uplink signal is originated by the ESL, which is typically powered by a battery. Since battery life of the ESL is an important design consideration, utilizing an active uplink which actively transmits an RF or IR signal may consume excessive power and reduce battery life.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide a reliable uplink communication path for an ESL system which consumes minimal battery power while providing a large communication range.
The present invention advantageously provides methods and apparatus for an ESL system which uses the ESL""s liquid crystal display (LCD) to transmit information to a relay unit, or CBS, by reflecting infrared (IR) or visible light to the relay unit. In a first embodiment, a plurality of IR light sources flood the area where the ESL is located. To transmit a message to the relay unit, the ESL reflectively modulates the IR light by blinking, or turning on and off, at least one segment of the LCD display. The relay unit then receives and interprets the modulated reflected IR light. In a second embodiment, the relay unit does not generate IR light. Instead, the ESL reflectively modulates the visible light present in the retail establishment to transmit a message to the relay unit. The relay unit may use one or more cameras to receive this reflectively modulated visible light.
A more complete understanding of the present invention, as well as further features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

Methods and apparatus for an electronic shelf label communication system


A memory cell array for memorizing data with any of 0th through fourth threshold voltages and a flag memory unit for memorizing a flag data showing a chronological sequence relationship between writing operations in which data in first and second pages are respectively written are provided. A controller shifts a state of the memory cell from the 0th state to the 0th or first state in accordance with the data in the first page, and shifts the state of the memory cell to any of the 0th, first, second and third states in accordance with the data in the second page in a “forward” writing operation. The controller shifts the state of the memory cell from the 0th state to the 0th or third state in accordance with the data in the second page, and shifts the state of the memory cell to any of the 0th, first, third and fourth states in accordance with the data in the first page in a “reverse” writing operation. A flag data showing the “reverse” writing operation is then memorized in the flag memory unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device capable of memorizing multiple-value data and a control method for the semiconductor memory device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A NAND flash memory wherein EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory) is used has been proposed as a non-volatile semiconductor capable of electrically rewriting data. In the NAND flash memory, sources and drains of a plurality of memory cells adjacently placed are serially connected, and the multiple memory cells serially connected is connected to a bit line as a unit. In the NAND flash memory, the data is written in and read from all or half of the plural cells placed in a row direction.
Recently, a multiple-value memory for memorizing a plural data in a cell of the NAND flash memory has been developed. No. 2001-93288 of the Publication of the Unexamined Japanese Patent Applications discloses a data writing method, and the like, for the multiple-value NAND flash memory, which is an example the technology.
FIG. 22 shows the data writing method recited in the document mentioned above. When the data is written in the memory cell, a threshold voltage of the memory cell is not changed by the writing operation in the case that the write data constituting a data in a first or second page is "1". In other words, there is no change in the data in the memory cell, that is, the data is not written in the cell. The threshold voltage of the memory cell is changed by the writing operation in the case that the write data constituting the data in the first or second page is "0". In other words, the data in the memory cell is changed, that is, the data is written in the cell.
Assuming that the data in the memory cell in an erased state is "0" (data "11": data "1" in the second page, data "1" in the first page), first, the data in the first page is written in the memory cell. When the write data is "1", the data in the memory cell remains "0" (data "11). When the write data is "0", the data in the memory cell shifts to "1" (data "10").
Next, the data in the second page is written in the memory cell. In the case that the write data "0" is supplied from outside to the memory cell whose data shifts to "1" (data "10") by the write operation in the first page, the data in the memory cell shifts to "2" (data "00"). In the case that the write data "0" is supplied from outside to the memory cell whose data remains "0" (data "11") by the write operation in the first page, the data in the memory cell shifts to "3" (data "01").
FIG. 23 shows the data reading method recited in the foregoing document. When the data in the second page is read from the memory cell, the read data is "1" in the case that the data in the memory cell is "0" (data "11") or "1" (data "10"), while the read data is "0" in the case that the data in the memory cell is "2" (data "00") or "3" (data "01"). Therefore, the data can be read from the memory cell if it is judged if the data in the memory cell is at most "1", or at least "2". Accordingly, the data is read from the memory cell by setting a word-line voltage when the data is read to a second judgment level which is a voltage between "1" and "2".
The read data is "1" if the data in the memory cell is "0" (data "11) or "3" (data "01) in reading the data in the first page, while the read data is "0" if the data in the memory cell is "1" (data "10") or "2" (data "00"). Therefore, the data in the first page can be read by judging if the data in the memory cell is at least "0" or at least "1", and if the data in the memory cell is at most "2" state or "3". More specifically, the data in the first page can be read in the two reading operations, which are respectively the reading operation where the word-line voltage when the data is read is set to a first judgment level which is a voltage between "0" and "1", and the reading operation where the word-line voltage is set to a third judgment level which is a voltage between "2" and "3".
FIG. 21 shows a schematic constitution of the conventional non-volatile semiconductor memory device, for example, a structure of the NAND flash memory for memorizing quaternary data (two bits). A memory cell array 1 includes a plurality of bit lines, a plurality of word lines and a common source line, wherein memory cells comprising, for example, EEPROM cells, and capable of electrically rewriting data are arranged in a matrix shape. A bit line control circuit 2 for controlling the bit lines and a word line control circuit 6 are connected to the memory cell 1.
The bit line control circuit 2 includes a plurality of data memory circuits as described later. The bit line control circuit executes a processing in which the data in the memory cell in the memory cell array 1 is read via the bit line, a processing in which a state of the memory cell in the memory cell array 1 is read via the bit line, and a processing in which a write control voltage is applied to the memory cell in the memory cell array 1 via the bit line so that the data is written in the memory cell. A column decoder 3 and a data input/output circuit 4 are connected to the bit line control circuit 2. Any of the data memory circuits in the bit line control circuit 2 is selected by the column decoder 3. The data in the memory cell read via the selected data memory circuit is outputted outside from the data input/output terminal 5 via the data input/output circuit 4. The write data inputted to the data input/output terminal 5 from outside is inputted to the data memory circuit via the data input/output circuit 4. The data memory circuit in which the data is inputted is selected by the column decoder 3.
The word line control circuit 6 is connected to the memory cell array 1. The word line control circuit 6 selects any of the word lines of the memory cell array 1, and supplies a voltage necessary for reading, writing or erasing the data to the selected word line.
The memory cell array 1, bit line control circuit 2, column decoder 3, data input/output circuit 4 and word line control circuit 6 are connected to a control signal generating circuit 7a and a control voltage generating circuit 7b, and controlled by the control signal generating circuit 7a and the control voltage generating circuit 7b. The control signal generating circuit 7a and the control voltage generating circuit 7b are connected to a control signal input terminal 8. The respective components 1-4 and 6 of the memory cell array 1 are controlled by a control signal inputted to the control signal input terminal 8 from outside. The control voltage generating circuit 7b generates voltages respectively required for programming, verifying, reading, and erasing the data to supply the generated voltages to the components 1-4 and 6 of the memory cell array 1.
There is a problem that the data writing operation must is executed according to a "forward direction" as first page→second page in the conventional multiple-value memory cells described above. The problem is described in detail as follows.
When the data in the first page is written in the conventional multiple-value memory cell in the erased state, that is, the state "0" (data "11), the write data "1" and the write state "0" respectively shift to "0" (data "11) or "1" (data "10) in the memory cell. When the data in the second page is subsequently written in the current state, the write data "1" and the write data "0" respectively shift to any of "0" (data "11"), "1" (data "10"), "2" (data "00") and "3" (data "01") in the memory cell (processing according to the forward order, first page→second page).
However, when the data is written in a "reverse direction" in which the data in the second page is written in the erased state before the data in the first page is written, the write data of the second page "1" and "0" respectively shift to "0" (data "11") and "3" (data "01").
In the case of memory cells of floating gate type such as the NAND flash memory or the like, the threshold value of the memory cells is made higher by the data write operation, while lower by the data erasing. Therefore, it is not possible to change "3", which is the highest threshold voltage in the four states in the writing operation, back to "1" or "2". Then, the data in the first page cannot be written in the writing operation in the "reverse direction" because there trouble is generated in a sequential shift of the memory cell (threshold voltage). As a result, the data cannot be recorded as the multiple-value memory. Due to the disadvantage, the conventional writing operation could be limitedly executed only in the "forward direction", first page→second page, there has been a problem that it is not possible to write the data in the multiple-value flash memory at random addresses.

Semiconductor memory device and control method for the semiconductor memory device

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A contact structure that includes a first pattern formed on a substrate, wherein the first pattern has a recessed region in an upper surface thereof, a planarized buffer pattern formed on the first pattern, and a conductive pattern formed on the planarized buffer pattern.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a contact structure, a semiconductor device employing the same, and methods of manufacturing the same.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Non-volatile memory devices can retain stored information even when not powered. Some examples of non-volatile memory devices include read-only and flash memory devices.
Research has been performed on memory devices with structures that have nonvolatile memory characteristics and increased integration density. This research has led to the development of a phase change memory device.
In a phase change memory device, a contact structure may be formed on a data storage pattern. However, when the data storage pattern has a recessed region in its upper surface, stable contact with the contact structure may not be realized. Accordingly, there is a need to improve the contact characteristics of a data storage pattern having a recessed region in its upper surface.

Contact structure, a semiconductor device employing the same, and methods of manufacturing the same


An acoustic monitoring method and system in laser-induced optical breakdown (LIOB) provides information which characterize material which is broken down, microbubbles in the material, and/or the microenvironment of the microbubbles. In one embodiment of the invention, femtosecond laser pulses are focused just inside the surface of a volume of aqueous solution which may include dendrimer nanocomposite (DNC) particles. A tightly focused, high frequency, single-element ultrasonic transducer is positioned such that its focus coincides axially and laterally with this laser focus. When optical breakdown occurs, a microbubble forms and a shock or pressure wave is emitted (i.e., acoustic emission). In addition to this acoustic signal, the microbubble may be actively probed with pulse-echo measurements from the same transducer. After the microbubble forms, received pulse-echo signals have an extra pulse, describing the microbubble location and providing a measure of axial microbubble size. Wavefield plots of successive recordings illustrate the generation, growth, and collapse of microbubbles due to optical breakdown. These same plots can also be used to quantify LIOB thresholds.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to acoustic monitoring methods and systems in laser-induced optical breakdown (LIOB).
2. Background Art
Ultrafast lasers allow light to interact with materials in a femtosecond period, with peak powers many orders of magnitude higher than that of continuous wave light but with low average powers. Interestingly, an optically transparent material that has no linear absorption of incident laser light may have strong non-linear absorption under high intensity irradiation of a femtosecond pulsed laser. Non-linear absorption can lead to photodisruption of the material by generating a fast, expanding high-temperature plasma. Measurable secondary effects of the plasma include shock wave emission, temperature increases, and cavitation bubble generation. Many applications of ultrafast laser-induced optical breakdown (LIOB) have been developed recently, such as: micromachining of solid materials, microsurgery of tissues, and high-density optical data storage.
A number of methods have been developed to characterize LIOB. Stuart et al. determined LIOB via visual acquisition with Nomarski microscopy, which was simple but not well defined. Another approach for estimating breakdown threshold was to measure ablation depth using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, a combination of different microscopy techniques including optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy and SEM has been employed for accurate characterization of LIOB. However, none of these methods are real-time or applicable to liquid or liquid-like samples.
The dominant breakdown attributes studied in liquids are shock-wave emission and cavitation bubble generation. As a shock wave propagates spherically outward from the laser's focus, it dissipates energy and can be considered a broadband pressure wave after propagating only a few wavelengths from the source. Hence, pressure sensors can be strategically positioned within the liquid to record acoustic events associated with each optical breakdown. To observe cavitation bubble formation and subsequent behavior, laser-flash photography, optical limiting, and third-harmonic generation (THG) techniques are often employed. Each looks at a specific and limited facet of an optical breakdown.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,615,675 and 5,732,046 disclose opto-acoustic transducers for internally examining objects.
Laser-induced optical breakdown (LIOB) with femtosecond pulsed lasers is utilized in diverse applications, including biomedical systems, material characterization, and data storage. LIOB parameters and behavior have been investigated extensively. It occurs when sufficiently high threshold fluence is attained at the laser focus, inducing plasma formation. Plasma formation leads to non-linear energy absorption and measurable secondary effects that include shock-wave emission, heat transfer, and cavitation bubbles (i.e., photodisruption). The presence and magnitude of these breakdown attributes are used to determine a material's LIOB threshold.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,471,968 discloses a multi-functional nano device platform in the form of a dendrimer complex. Dendrimers are highly branched spherical macromolecules that provide templates for guest molecules to form dendrimer nanocomposite (DNC) particles. Optical limiting and third-harmonic generation techniques can explore some non-linear optical properties of these particles and their aggregates; yet they provide only limited information about the photodisruption.

Acoustic monitoring method and system in laser-induced optical breakdown (LIOB)

The Regents of the University of Michigan


On a plate of birefringent crystal made of an LiNbO3 crystal or an LiTaO3 crystal, a conductive substance is adhered to the whole periphery of side surfaces of the plate that intersect an incident surface of a laser beam, thereby to form a wave plate. A polarizer is provided at the latter stage of the wave plate. A wavelength is monitored based on an output from the polarizer. With this arrangement, based on the use of the LiNbO3 crystal or the LiTaO3 crystal that can be manufactured by a large quantity at low cost, it is possible to obtain polarization characteristics and wavelength discrimination characteristics that are stable against environmental changes such as temperature and external stress, by suppressing the pyroelectric effect and the piezoelectric effect of these materials.

Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (hereinafter, "DWDM") Technology, which employs a single optical fiber with optical signals each having different wavelength in place of a plurality of optical fibers, have proceeded over the past few years. In the systems that employ the DWDM technology (hereinafter, "DWDM systems"), one wavelength is assigned a band of a few gigabits (Gbits), and the single optical fiber makes it possible to communicate through a few dozens of wavelengths (i.e., a few hundred gigabits). The DWDM systems require higher stability with narrow spacing between the wavelength bands, to multiplex the optical signals in each of different wavelength bands in high density. An optical communication device applied to the DWDM systems employs a semiconductor module that outputs an optical signal having a specific wavelength band from a laser diode (hereinafter, "semiconductor laser"). The wavelength division multiplexing on the DWDM systems is realized by multiplexing beams, which are output from a plurality of semiconductor modules each having different emission wavelength bands, in one optical fiber.
This type of semiconductor module is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-244557. The application, specifically, discloses, monitoring a wavelength of a beam emitted from the rear side of the semiconductor laser, adjusting a current injected to the semiconductor laser and a temperature to stabilize an emission wavelength of the semiconductor laser within a specific wavelength band, and thereby controlling the emission wavelength.
It is generally known that the emission wavelength of the semiconductor laser increases with an increase in the injection current for high beam power. It is also known that the wavelength changes depending on a temperature, and the emission wavelength increases with an increase in the temperature. The application also discloses a technique of monitoring an emission wavelength of a semiconductor laser using a birefringent crystal that has an optical anisotropy in which refractive indexes thereof differ depending on polarization directions of an input laser beam. The birefringent crystal is provided with a high reflection coating on both end surfaces thereof. In the application, moreover, the use of two crystals to cancel a change of a refractive index depending on a temperature of the birefringent crystal is disclosed. One crystal is a YVO4 crystal whose refractive index increases with an increase in a temperature thereof, and the other crystal is a β-BaB2O4 crystal whose refractive index decreases with an increase in a temperature thereof.
"Temperature Compensation of Birefringent Optical Filter, Kimura et al, the proceedings of IEEE, August 1971, pp. 1273-1274" also discloses an optical filter that employs two birefringent crystals. FIG. 1 shows a structure of this optical filter. The optical filter consists of a first polarizer 51, a CaCO3 crystal 52, an LiTaO3 crystal 53, and a second polarizer 54.
The first polarizer 51 transmits only a linearly polarized beam. The linearly polarized beam is inclined by 45 degrees from a horizontal axis direction on a plane that is perpendicular to an incident light axis direction. The CaCO3 crystal 52 has a fast axis in a plane that is perpendicular to an incident light. The LiTaO3 crystal 53 has a slow axis in a plane that is perpendicular to the incident light. The second polarizer 54 transmits only a linearly polarized beam in a polarization direction that is the same as the first polarizer. The fast axis refers to an axis direction in which a refractive index is the lowest on the plane that is perpendicular to an optical axis of the birefringent crystal. The slow axis refers to an axis that is perpendicular to the fast axis.
As a result, a laser beam is incident on the first polarizer 51. The laser beam that has passed through the first polarizer 51 has only the component inclined by 45 degrees from the horizontal axis direction on the plane that is perpendicular to the optical axis direction. Therefore, the polarized beam inclined by 45 degrees with respect to the crystal axes of the CaCO3 crystal 52 and the LiTaO3 crystal 53 is sequentially incident on the crystal. The CaCO3 crystal 52 and the LiTaO3 crystal 53 give different phase shifts to the incident laser beam that pass through these crystals. The second polarizer 54 transmits only the polarization component that is the same as the polarized beam that has been transmitted from the first polarizer 51. Since the phase shifts given in the crystals 52 and 53 have wavelength dependency, the intensity of the laser beam that has passed through the second polarizer 54 also has wavelength dependency.
However, the wavelength of the laser beam that has passed through the second polarizer 54 is not easily changed by a temperature change. This is because the CaCO3 crystal 52 and the LiTaO3 crystal 53 have such lengths l1 and l2 respectively that respective phase shift quantities δ are cancelled each other with respect to a temperature change. Concretely, the shift quantities and the shift directions of the length l1 and l2 are designed.
The LiTaO3 crystal 53 is a birefringent crystal material that can be manufactured in a large quantity at low cost. The inventors have previously proposed, in Published International Application WO 01/5787A1, a method of monitoring an emission wavelength of a semiconductor laser, by using an LiNbO3 crystal that is a birefringent crystal material that can be manufactured in a large quantity at low cost, like the LiTaO3 crystal 53. The proposed method describes that a wavelength filter is structured using the LiNbO3 crystal having typical two characteristics. One characteristic is that refractive indexes of the LiNbO3 crystal are different depending on an axis azimuth based on the optical anisotropy of the LiNbO3 crystal. The other characteristic is that a polarization state of a laser beam that has passed through the LiNbO3 crystal changes depending on the wavelength of the laser beam. As a result, this method makes it possible to monitor the emission wavelength of the semiconductor laser by detecting the polarization state of the laser beam that has passed through the LiNbO3 crystal as the birefringent crystal. In the proposed method, moreover, a combination of two crystals is employed. One crystal is the YVO4 crystal whose refractive index increases with an increase in a temperature thereof. The other crystal is the LiNbO3 crystal whose refractive index decreases along an increase in a crystal temperature. As a result, the combination makes it possible to cancel a change of a refractive index relative to a temperature change of those birefringent crystals.
The inventors, however, have found the following problems of the proposed method by an experiment. The wavelength filter has the combination so as to cancel the change of the refractive index relative to a temperature change. However, a phase shift relative to the temperature change remains depending on a birefringent crystal material that is employed in the combination. This remaining phase shift gives an influence that cannot be disregarded to the monitoring of a wavelength.
In other words, even when a laser beam that is stably emitted with a wavelength (reference wavelength) to be controlled is incident on the wavelength filter, the wavelength of the beam after passing through the wavelength filter varies due to a change in the temperature. In this experiment, the inventors have used the LiNbO3 crystal as one of the birefringent crystals that constitute the wavelength filter. The thickness of the LiNbO3 crystal in a propagation direction of the laser beam is extremely small as compared with the size of the plane on which the laser beam is incident. However, pyroelectricity of the LiNbO3 crystal leads to a change of the phase shift quantity δ, and therefore the wavelength discrimination characteristic of the wavelength filter changes from a temperature change and an external stress. It is not possible to disregard this change in monitoring the emission wavelength of the semiconductor laser in high precision. Moreover, the pyroelectricity causes piezoelectric effect, and this piezoelectric effect further leads to an increase in the change of the phase shift quantity δ.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 62-73207 discloses an example of the application of the LiNbO3 crystal to an optical waveguide device. A change in temperature of the optical waveguide leads to the result that pyroelectricity of a substrate made of the LiNbO3 crystal changes a state of electric polarization. Therefore, a charge is accumulated on the surface of the substrate. Corresponding to the accumulated charge, the opposite polarity of charge is induced on the bottom surface of an electrode. A refractive index of the waveguide is changed by applying an electric field to between the electrode and the counter electrode. A modulation operation of the optical waveguide device is realized by this changes in the refractive index.
However, when a charge occurs within the waveguide due to a change in the temperature, modulation characteristics change significantly over the waveguide length. The Japanese Patent Application describes that it is possible to suppress the change in the modulation characteristics resulting from the temperature change, in the following manner. An ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) film is coated on the surface of the substrate over the waveguide length so that charge distribution on the surfaces of the electrodes and the surface between the electrodes is uniform. This uniform charge distribution prevents the generation of an electric field that is directed from between the electrodes to one electrode, and suppresses a change in the modulation characteristics resulting from the temperature change.
However, the charge accumulated on the surface of the LiNbO3 substrate is not localized but is accumulated uniformly. Therefore, refractive index variation occurs due to the electro-optic effect. While the ITO film induces a charge on the surface thereof, this substance is relatively expensive in general, and it has been relatively difficult to handle the coating and the like.
As other birefringent crystal material, an SiO2 crystal is generally used, as described in a brochure of U.S. VLOC Incorporated, titled "LASER OPTICS, COATINGS, CRYSTALS AND CAVIIES", pp. 9-13 (issued by VLOC). This SiO2 crystal is obtained only as a natural substance, and is expensive. Therefore, it is difficult to produce a large number of the SiO2 crystal.
The conventional wavelength filter is structured as explained above. While two birefringent crystals are employed to cancel a change in the refractive index resulting from a temperature change, pyroelectric materials are used for the birefringent crystals. Therefore, the pyroelectric effect occurs, and the piezoelectric effect occurs following the pyroelectric effect. Consequently, there is a problem that these effects give an influence that cannot be disregarded to improving the precision of the wavelength discrimination characteristics.
According to the conventional optical waveguide device that employs the pyroelectric material, the ITO film is coated on the surface on which the electrode is disposed, and therefore a charge does not exist on the surface locally. However, a charge is uniformly accumulated on the surface of the substrate, which also generates a change in the refractive index. While the ITO film is employed to induce a charge on the surface, ITO is expensive in general, and it is relatively difficult to handle the coating and the like.
To solve the problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a wave plate and a wavelength filter that employ a birefringent crystal, such as the LiNbO3 crystal or the LiTaO3 crystal that can be manufactured in a large quantity at low cost, that suppress the pyroelectric effect and the piezoelectric effect of these crystals, and that have polarization characteristics and wavelength discrimination characteristics that are stable against changes in the environment such as temperature and external stress. It is another object of this invention to provide a wavelength monitor that employs the wave plate or the wavelength filter.

Wave length plate, wavelength filter and wavelength monitor


The invention relates to adhesive compositions for gluing wood containing aqueous vinyl ester graft copolymer dispersions and water-soluble acid metal salts or free acids, in which the adhesive compositions exhibit outstanding resistance to hot water and have high storage stability. The vinyl ester graft copolymer comprises from 2 to 12 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the graft copolymer, of one or more polyvinyl alcohols having a degree of hydrolysis of from 60 to 99 mol persent and 88 to 98 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the graft copolymer, of a grafting monomer mixture. The grafting monomer mixture contains from 5 to 50 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the monomer mixture, of vinyl esters of saturated, highly branched aliphatic monocarboxylic acids having 9 or 10 carbon atoms, vinyl pivalate, diisopropyl maleate, diisopropyl fumarate, vinyl chloride and mixtures thereof.

The use of aqueous polyvinyl ester dispersions as adhesives is known. One disadvantage of these dispersions is their low resistance to water due to the presence of protective colloids, such as, for example, polyvinyl alcohol. U.S. Pat. No. 4,118,357 (DE-A2,620,738) describes the use of polyvinyl ester dispersions in which the polyvinyl ester component is grafted onto polyvinyl alcohol and which contain water-soluble acids or water-soluble acid metal salts as a hardener additive, to improve their resistance to water. With the addition of water-soluble acids as hardeners, these dispersions have an acceptable storage stability, (pot lives of more than 4 weeks); however, their resistance to hot water is unsatisfactory in comparison with the addition of water-soluble metal salts as hardeners. If the above mentioned metal salts are employed as the hardener additive together with the vinyl ester graft copolymer dispersions, the resultant adhesives have outstanding resistance to hot water; however, the storage stability is drastically reduced (pot lives of significantly less than 4 weeks).
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide adhesives containing aqueous vinyl ester graft copolymers which, when mixed with water-soluble metal salt hardeners, have a high resistance to hot water and high storage stability.

Adhesive compositions containing aqueous copolymer dispersions and acid metal salts or free acids


A metal blank that includes a binder trim component having at least one cut edge with a non-linear section. The creation of the non-linear section simultaneously forms a corresponding section in a binder trim component of an adjacent metal blank so that binder material can be shared therebetween. This reduces the amount of scrap metal, as the binder trim component is subsequently cut off and discarded. Furthermore, the non-linear section can include one or more strategically placed formations, such as projections, recesses, flat sections, etc., that cause it to be non-uniform along its length and to be specifically tailored to the manufacturing requirements of the part being formed.

In the metal forming industry, sheet metal blanks are oftentimes manufactured with an outer flange that extends around the periphery of the sheet metal blank so that during a subsequent metal forming operation, bead structures formed in the upper and lower die will have blank material to engage and clamp onto. The bead structures usually consist of a male bead formed in a binder ring of one of the die and a female groove formed in a binder ring of the other die, and are designed to mate with one another when the upper and lower dies are brought together under the force of a hydraulic or other type of press. By firmly clamping the outer flange between the opposing bead structures, frictional and deformational forces restrict the outer flange from being pulled into the center of the die during the metal forming process.
Furthermore, the compressional interaction between the bead structures and the outer flange of the sheet metal blank influence the amount of sheet metal material that is drawn into the die. If too little material is drawn in, then it can result in tears or cracks in the formed part; conversely, if too much material is drawn in, the formed part can exhibit wrinkles and/or other surface distortions. After the metal forming process, the outer flange is typically cut or otherwise removed from the formed part and is discarded as scrap material.


An optical head emits a plurality of light beams onto an information record medium to perform a recording operation and/or a reproducing operation. The optical head is provided with: a plurality of light source, each outputting one of the light beams; an objective lens for collecting the light beams outputted from the light sources onto the information record medium; an optical element located on the optical path of only one of the light beams; a detector for receiving the light beam from the information record medium and outputting a detection signal; and a generating circuit for generating a drive signal based on the detection signal. The optical head is further provided with a dual-axis actuator for actuating the optical element in an optical axis direction of the light beam and in a substantially perpendicular direction to the optical axis direction in accordance with the drive signal. Because the objective lens is commonly used for all of the light beams while the optical element is actuated by the dual-axis actuator, the number of parts in the optical head is reduced while permitting the necessary collection of the light beams from the information record medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical head which is one component constituting an optical disc drive for collecting and emitting a light beam generated by a light source onto an optical disc to thereby record and reproduce information.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, an optical head of an optical disc drive uses one beam to thereby record and reproduce information.
Recently, an optical disc drive is used as an external memory device in a computer. In the computer, it is tried to improve a processing speed and increase an information amount in each program of driving the computer. Thus, an optical disc file composed of an optical disc for recording the information and an optical disc drive for driving the optical disc is required to improve a record density, a data transfer speed and the like.
A method of forming two beam spots and performing the simultaneous recording and reproducing operations by use of the two beam spots to thereby double the transfer speed is considered with regard to the data transfer technique in the above mentioned improvements.
As the technique of forming the two beam spots, there is a method of simply using two optical heads of an optical disc drive each using one beam, to thereby record or reproduce the information. However, the simple utilization of the two optical heads is not desirable from the viewpoint of the miniaturization of the optical disc drive and the reduction of the number of the parts.


An apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a flip-flop including an input configured to receive a setup time and delay control (SDC) signal, and an output buffer including first and second conductive paths. The second conductive path is non-conductive when the SDC signal has a first value at the input and is conductive when the SDC signal has a second value at the input. The apparatus includes a propagation delay sensor configured to estimate a propagation delay of the flip-flop, and, when the estimated propagation delay exceeds a threshold, supply the SDC signal having the second value to the input of the flip-flop.

To operate correctly, not only must the components of a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) device be correctly designed, but the components must be capable of meeting the timing requirements of the circuit. Because ICs often operate at relatively high frequencies, if any of the individual components of the circuit exhibit excessive delay the device may fail to operate correctly. Accordingly, delays introduced by the individual components of the integrated circuit limit the maximum frequency of operation of the circuit.
In a device that includes a circuit having flip-flops and combinational logic, for example, the maximum speed of the device's system clock is limited by the setup and propagation delays of the flip-flops and the propagation delays of the combination logic incorporated into the device. To illustrate, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a typical delay path in an integrated circuit. The delay path includes flip-flop 10 connected to flip-flop 12 through combination logic 14. In flip-flops 10 and 12, D represents a data input terminal, and Q represents a data output terminal. The terminal designated CK receives a clock signal that controls the operation of flip-flops 10 and 12.
As the clock signal cycles between states, flip-flop 10 releases data received on terminal D to combinational logic 14. This process introduces a first delay referred to as a flip-flop propagation delay (tp). After the data has been outputted by flip-flop 10 to combination logic 14, the data is processed by combinational logic 14, resulting in a combinational logic delay (tpcomb). Finally, combinational logic 14 supplies an output to flip-flop 12, which is set to a state based upon the value outputted by combinational logic 14. In order to capture the data from the combinational logic 14 correctly within flip flop 12, the data signal has to be established before the next clock positive edge. This required time margin is the set up time of the flip flop 12 (ts). Therefore, the total delay of the delay path shown in FIG. 1 is equal to the sum of the flip-flop propagation delay (tp), combinational logic delay (tpcomb), and the flip-flop setup time (ts). This delay, then, becomes a limiting attribute of the circuit as the frequency of the clock cycle of the circuit is constrained by the delay.
A number of factors can affect the delay of the components of an integrated circuit. During fabrication of the circuit, processing conditions can affect the performance of individual components of an integrated circuit. These processing conditions are difficult to control and can make it difficult to predict how delays will be manifested within the circuit during normal operations. Additionally, the operating voltage of the circuit, as well as the temperature of the circuit can affect delay within the circuit. This combination of factors can be referred to as the process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) factors.
Because is it difficult to predict or control the delays that may occur within an integrated circuit due to the PVT factors, designers are generally forced to design circuits to operate in worst-case scenarios (e.g., where the fabrication process, operating voltage, and ambient temperature result in significant delays occurring within the circuit). Designing for such a worst-case scenario may result in the device consuming too much power, or operating at an unnecessarily-high frequency. Either scenario is undesirable as it results in a circuit that is not performing optimally.


An integrated metal processing facility in which molten metal is poured into a series of molds at a pouring station to form metal castings, which are then transferred to a heat treatment line. Prior to introduction of the castings into a heat treatment station of the heat treatment line, the castings are subjected to heating sufficient to arrest cooling of the castings at or above a process control temperature for the metal thereof.

Traditionally, in conventional processes for forming metal castings, a mold such as a metal die or sand mold having an interior chamber with the exterior features of a desired casting defined therein, is filled with a molten metal. A sand core that defines interior features of the casting is received and or positioned within the mold to form the interior detail of the casting as the molten metal solidifies about the core. After the molten metal of the casting has solidified, the casting generally is thereafter moved to a treatment furnace(s) for heat treatment of the castings, removal of sand from the sand cores and/or molds, and other processes as required. The heat treatment processes condition the metal or metal alloys of the castings so that they will be provided with desired physical characteristics suited for different applications.
Typically, during the transfer of the castings from the pouring station to a heat treatment station, and especially if the castings are allowed to sit for any appreciable amount of time, the castings are generally exposed to the ambient environment of the foundry or metal processing facility. As a result, the castings tend to begin to rapidly cool down from a molten or semi-molten temperature. While some cooling of the castings is necessary to cause the castings to solidify, the present inventors/applicants have found that the more that the temperature of the castings drops and the longer the castings remain below a process critical or process control temperature of the castings, the more heat treatment time within the heat treatment furnace that is required to both heat the castings back up to a desired heat treatment temperature and hold the castings at said temperature for heat treating the castings to achieve the desired physical properties thereof.
It has been found that for certain types of metals, for every minute of time that the casting drops below its process control temperature, as much as 4 minutes or more of extra heat treatment time is required to achieve the desired process. Thus, even dropping below for as little as ten minutes below the process control temperature of the metal of the castings can require as much as 40+ minutes of extra heat treatment time to achieve the desired treated physical properties. Typically, therefore, those castings are heat treated for at least 2-6 hours, and in some cases longer, to achieve the desired heat treatment effects. As a consequence, however, the longer the heat treatment time and the more heat required to properly and completely heat treat the castings, the greater the cost of the heat treatment process and the greater the waste of heat and energy.
Attempts have been made to shorten the distance between the pouring and heat treatment stations to try to reduce the loss of heat. For example, the Mercedes unit of Daimler Benz in Germany has placed a heat treatment furnace close to the take off or transfer points of a carousel type pouring station. As the castings reach a take-off point where they are removed from their dies, they generally are transported to a basket or carrier for collection of a batch of castings. The castings are then introduced into a heat treatment furnace for batch processing. The problem with this system is that it still fails to address the problem of the castings being subjected to the ambient environment, which generally is at temperatures much lower than the desired process control temperature of the castings, both during the transfer of the castings to a collection basket and while the castings sit in the basket awaiting introduction into the heat treatment furnace. This idle time can still be as much as 10 minutes or more depending upon the processing rates of the pouring and heat treatment stations. However, it is also important for the castings to be cooled and maintained at a temperature at or below the heat treatment temperature of the casting metal(s) for at least some desired time, in order to enable the castings to properly solidify prior to heat treatment. Thus, moving the castings from pouring to heat treatment too quickly can disrupt the formation of the castings and prevent them from properly solidifying.
There is, therefore, a desire in the industry to enhance the process of heat treating castings, such that a continuing need exists for a more efficient method and system or facility to enable more efficient heat treatment and processing of metal castings, and further potentially enable more efficient sand core and/or sand mold removal and reclamation.


A process for preparing butter milk and/or butter serum, which comprises decreasing the dissolved oxygen concentration of at least one selected from the group consisting of milk, a milk product, butter milk and butter serum, followed by heating, and optionally fractionizing the heated product.

Both butter milk and butter serum are pale yellow liquids which are generated as by-products together with the butter and butter oil of interest in producing butter from cream prepared to a milk fat content of from 30 to 40% in the former case, and in producing butter oil from butter or high fat cream in the latter case, by a physical fractionation operation such as centrifugation which makes use of the difference in specific gravity or demulsification represented by churning effected by the collision of milk fat globules. By further concentrating or drying (butter milk powder) these liquids, various types of butter milk-related dairy products and processed milk products are produced. In Europe and America, butter milk is also produced when fermented butter is produced, after fermenting cream by inoculating a lactic acid bacterium, and this is generally called acidic butter milk. On the other hand, a product by a process without fermentation is called sweet butter milk. Objects of the present invention do not distinguish kinds of sweet and acidic butter milks. Also, though butter milk and butter serum are distinguished based on the difference of the dairy products used in their production, basic differences are not found in terms of their milk components, physical properties and the like, so that butter serum is regarded in the present invention as a part of butter milk in a broad sense (hereinafter, the term butter milk sometimes includes butter serum).
It is said that butter milk contains lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins and the like similar to the case of milk, and its nutritive value per solid matter is almost the same as that of milk. However, as can be understood from its production method, it is characterized by the presence of a large amount of milk fat globule membrane substance constituting the interface of milk fat globules, and it is known that milk fat globule membrane substance-characteristic lipoproteins and glycoproteins are present as the membrane proteins, in addition to casein, α-lactalbumin and β-lactoglobulin. Also, it is said that it contains a large amount of phospholipids which are generally referred to as lecithin, in addition to the general triglycerides (neutral lipids) as the membrane constituting lipids, occupying from 29 to 36% of the milk fat globule membrane substance. The main phospholipids are phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin and phosphatidylethanolamine, and when compared with lecithin derived from a plant such as soybean, the milk lecithin is particularly characterized by the presence of sphingomyelin in a considerably large amount of approximately 18%, which is close to the composition of human milk lecithin, so that its nutritional application value is considered to be markedly high.
In addition, since butter milk richly contains aromatic components which are characteristic to butter, it is a desirable material from the viewpoint of flavor, too. The aromatic components are composed of ketones, fatty acids, lactones and the like, and are particularly characterized in that ketones are contained in an overwhelmingly large amount of 78% even when compared with other dairy products.
On the other hand, it is said that butter milk is also effective for the treatment of acute hepatitis and gastric mucosal sepsis and the prevention of diarrhea of babies. It is also considered that it has a blood pressure reducing activity and serum cholesterol reducing activity.
Thus, in spite of the excellent characteristics such as high nutritive value, various physiological functions and reinforcement of milk flavor of food, the application of butter milk as a food material has hardly been developed, because it is apt to undergo oxidation due to the dissolved oxygen from the air which quickly generates unpleasant taste and smell. Currently in Japan, butter milk generated during the production of butter is mostly discarded without any application, which must be regarded as a serious loss of a food resource.
Two methods are known for effecting long-term storage of butter milk, namely (1) a method in which the number of microorganisms in the generated butter milk is controlled to a predetermined level or less by a batch or plate heating treatment, and the resulting butter milk is concentrated under a reduced pressure using an evaporator, subjected to final sterilization and then frozen to obtain a butter milk concentrate and (2) a method in which the butter milk concentrate obtained in (1) by concentrating under a reduced pressure using an evaporator is made into powder using a spray drying apparatus (dryer). Since butter milk is highly concentrated in either method, the produced butter milk-related diary products are apt to undergo oxidation by oxygen in the air, considerably strongly, so that in order to avoid this, each product is generally packed in a can or an aluminum foil-lined polyethylene processed paper container and stored in a cool and dark place. However, even when it is stored in a cool and dark place using these sealed containers, foul taste and smell due to generation of oxidized products becomes strong within approximately 1 to 3 months, or within about 1 week after opening of the container, so that the shelf life is considerably poor and its application value as a food processing material (e.g., "Nyuseihin Kogyo (Dairy Products Industry), the second volume", published on Feb. 25, 1972, pp. 223-224, edited by Tomokichi Tsugo, published by Chikyu Shuppan) is low.
In addition, by taking note of the fact that butter milk contains milk fat globule membrane substance in a large amount, it has been reported on a method in which the fat globule membrane substance is fractionated and purified from butter milk and used as a food flavor improving agent (JP-A-7-236451) and a method in which the milk fat globules are removed from butter milk by centrifugation and then the ultrafiltration vitrification liquid is used as a food flavor improving agent (Japanese Patent No. 3004912). However, each of these methods is a technique related to the fractionation and purification of the milk fat globule membrane substance in butter milk, and it is evident that this technique is basically different from the technique of the present invention which is intended to prevent generation of oxidized smell caused by undergoing influence of the oxidation based on the dissolution of air oxygen in butter milk, thereby keeping and improving the milky flavor inherent to the butter milk. In addition, although the degree of flavor may vary, as will be described later, generation of oxidized smell of the flavor improving agents obtained by these techniques cannot be avoided, so long as a heat treatment is carried out in the presence of unsaturated fatty acids and milk proteins.
In the field of dairy industry, a process has been reported in which a drink having a flavor close to crude milk or unheated solution of milk is produced by carrying out heat treatment of milk or a milk-containing unheated solution after reducing dissolved oxygen in the liquid prior to their heat treatment (JP-A-10-295341), and also a sterilization method which does not generate heated smell, as a method for sterilizing milk and the like by replacing dissolved oxygen therein with nitrogen gas, in which sterilization is carried out after reducing amount of dissolved oxygen in milk and the like by replacing dissolved oxygen by nitrogen gas, effected by the combined use of a means wherein nitrogen gas is directly mixed and dispersed in milk and the like and a means wherein milk and the like which are not contaminated with nitrogen gas are sprayed from the upper side through a nozzle to nitrogen gas-mixed and dispersed milk and the like stored in a nitrogen gas-replaced tank under a nitrogen gas atmosphere (Japanese Patent No. 3091752). However, the objects of these methods for keeping and improving flavor are milks of cow, horse, goat, sheep, water buffalo, human and the like mammals, and products containing these milks, such as milk based drinks, processed milk, fortified or separated milk beverages, reduced milk, fermented milk, lactic acid bacteria beverage, fresh cream, fruit juice drink and the like, but nothing is reported therein about the butter milk which undergoes influence of the oxidation by oxygen in the air considerably strongly as described in the foregoing.

Method for producing good-flavor butter milk associated dairy product and dairy processed product


A friction material containing, as a binder, a lignin-phenol resin having a weight average molecular weight of 5,000 or less or a cardanol-modified lignin-phenol resin having a weight average molecular weight of 5,000 or less. The friction material is produced by a method including: reacting a lignin having a weight average molecular weight of 5,000 or less, a phenol, an aldehyde, and optionally a cardanol, in the presence of an acid catalyst.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to a friction material with low environmental load using a carbon neutral plant-derived material as a raw material, and particularly to a friction material to be used for brake pads, brake linings, clutch facings and the like for automobiles, railway vehicles, industrial machines and the like.
Background Art
A friction material used for brakes and clutches includes, for example, materials such as a fibrous base material for exerting a reinforcing action, a friction adjusting material for imparting a friction action and adjusting its friction performance and a binder for integrating these components.
A problem of global warming due to an increase of a carbon dioxide concentration in atmospheric has recently been becoming a global problem, and techniques for reducing carbon dioxide emissions have been developed in various industrial fields. Also in the field of friction materials, consideration has been needed for wear powder generated from the friction materials and environmental load caused by the friction materials discarded, from the viewpoint of environmental preservation. Under these circumstances, it has been attracting attention to use carbon neutral plant-derived materials. For example, a lignin, which is a polyphenol much contained in wood and the like, is produced as a by-product when obtaining cellulose in the pulp production, so that there have been attempts to effectively utilize the lignin.
Patent Document 1 describes that noise, wear and sulfurous odor can be reduced by replacing about 1 to 30% by weight of a phenol resin, which is a binder component in a friction material composition, with an organosolv lignin substantially free from sulfur and low in water solubility.
Patent Document 2 describes a lignin-modified novolac type phenolic resin and a production method thereof.
Patent Document 1: JP-T-11-513726 (the term "JP-T" as used herein means a published Japanese translation of a PCT application)
Patent Document 2: JP-A-2008-156601


A self-learning gaming machine comprises a game of chance executed by a processor in response to a wager. The game includes a plurality of symbol-bearing indicia and an adjustable parameter. The adjustable parameter is adjusted by the processor for future plays of the game based on a player""s selections affecting outcomes of at least one previous plays. During the previous play, the player""s selection is made after the plurality of symbol-bearing indicia are displayed.

The present invention relates generally to gaming machines and, more particularly, to a self-learning gaming machine that adjusts a parameter of a game for future plays based on a player""s selection affecting an outcome of a current play.
Gaming machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several years. Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is dependent on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to other available gaming options. Where the available gaming options include a number of competing machines and the expectation of winning each machine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players are most likely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting of the machines. Shrewd operators consequently strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting machines available because such machines attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to the operator. Accordingly, in the competitive gaming machine industry, there is a continuing need for gaming machine manufacturers to produce new types of games, or enhancements to existing games, which will attract frequent play by enhancing the entertainment value and excitement associated with the game.
A self-learning gaming machine comprises a game of chance executed by a processor in response to a wager. The game includes a plurality of symbol-bearing indicia and an adjustable parameter. The adjustable parameter is adjusted by the processor for future plays of the game based on a player""s selections affecting outcomes of at least one previous plays. During the previous play, the player""s selection is made after the plurality of symbol-bearing indicia are displayed.


A mobile terminal including a metal case and an antenna structure that can exhibit optimum radiation performance is provided. The antenna structure includes an antenna having a radiation unit for transmitting and for receiving electric waves, a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) to which the antenna is mechanically coupled at one surface thereof and having a power supply unit electrically coupled to the radiation unit, and a case constructed using a metal material within which the PCB is disposed, wherein the case has at least one slot formed in a surface thereof opposite to the surface to which the PCB is fastened and adjacent to the radiation unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal. More particularly, the present invention relates to a mobile terminal having a metal case and an antenna structure that may exhibit optimum radiation performance.
2. Description of the Related Art
A mobile terminal is a terminal that can perform various functions using wireless communication and various application programs while being transported, such as a personal mobile communication services terminal, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), smart phone, International Mobile Telecommunication 2000 (IMT-2000) terminal and wireless Local Area Network (LAN) terminal.
Due to continuous improvements, the mobile terminal has a small size, is light weight and has various functions, such as Moving Picture Experts Group layer-3 (MP3), digital camera, navigation and Internet connection. Accordingly, the mobile terminal is used as a complex communication terminal.
As the mobile terminal continuously develops, consumers request a mobile terminal of various designs. Thus, various materials are used for the mobile terminal.
Presently, various research for using a metal material as a case of the mobile terminal has been carried out. However, when using metal as the case of the mobile terminal, the metal case operates as an element that disturbs signal radiation from the antenna. Thus, the antenna function of the mobile terminal is deteriorated.
Therefore, a need exists for an antenna in a mobile terminal that sustains performance when a case of the mobile terminal is a metal material.

Mobile terminal having metal case and antenna structure