A display device (10) for producing images to be viewed by an observer includes an optical system (14) and a control unit (20). The optical system receives input light indicative of an image into a light propagation channel (14A) and produces, at an exit pupil (14B), output light having a field of view (FOV) corresponding to the image to be presented to the observer (18). The light propagation channel has an intensity transfer function map I1(x,φ) of the optical system across a lateral dimension x of the exit pupil and an angular 20 span φ of the FOV. The control unit (20) modifies the image data which is to be input in the optical system by applying thereto intensity modulation based on a correction intensity map that at least partially compensates intensity non-uniformity in the intensity transfer function map I1(x,φ) of the optical system, such that the light output at the exit pupil of the optical system and indicative of the image, has a modulated intensity map which is observed by the viewer with improved intensity uniformity.

The main physical principle of the operation of a lightguide coupler used in near-eye displays (NEDs) is that light waves, indicative of a virtual image, are trapped inside a substrate by total internal reflections from the major surfaces of the substrate, and are coupled out into the eyes of the viewer by one or more (internal) at least partially reflecting or diffracting surfaces. One of the important factors defining the performance of the NED is associated with a requirement for uniformity of illumination formed by light output from the lightguide coupler. The non-uniformities, or irregularities, are intrinsic to the lightguide based NEDs, regardless of the physics of the coupling-out. The irregularities can look like fringes, or bands of lower/higher intensity over the image, with angular frequencies lay roughly in a range between ¼ of the field of view (FOV) and FOV/100. In light-guide architectures that address colors independently, these appear as color variations across the scene.
Various techniques have been developed to improve the uniformity of illumination, and are described for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,829,095, 7,724,442, 8,004,765, 9,551,874, and WO16132347, all assigned to the applicant of the present application.
As described above, uniformity of illumination/brightness across the field of view of the system output is an important requirement for the system performance, and especially for a display devices including a virtual imaging system. The above mentioned earlier techniques solved this problem by utilizing coatings on various surfaces along the light propagation path averaging up the brightness of the dark and light areas of the image.
Yet another technique developed by the inventor of the present application is described in a recently filed International Patent Application No. PCT/IL2018/050010. According to this technique, a masking optical element is used which is optically coupled to an output of an optical unit, which produces light of non-uniform intensity profile across the field of view of the optical unit. The masking element is configured with a spatially varying transmission profile across the element in accordance with the non-uniform intensity profile, such that light interaction with (e.g. passage through) the masking element affects regions of relatively high light intensity within the intensity profile to apply intensity modulation to light passing through the masking optical element and improve the light intensity uniformity.
The present invention provides a novel approach for improving intensity/brightness uniformity of an image produced by the system as observed by a viewer. The invention is particularly useful for optical systems of the kind utilizing a light-guiding optical element (LOE) for guiding light propagation therethrough. Such LOE is used in near-eye display devices for projecting a virtual image. The LOE is configured for guiding virtual-image light propagation through the LOE by total internal reflection from mayor surfaces thereof, and may include one or more light directing surfaces (e.g. at least partially reflective surfaces) embedded therein for directing the virtual-image light towards one or more output directions.
According to the present invention, the illumination uniformity profile of an image as observed by a viewer is improved (i.e., the image at an eye pupil of the viewer) by applying intensity modulation to an image-carrying optical field which is to be input to the optical system, via the entry pupil of the optical system. The input field intensity modulation is applied electronically (e.g. via operation of a spatial light modulator), which may be performed concurrently with the creation of the image data to be input into the optical system or is applied to the previously created image data prior to be input in the optical system.
According to the invention, data about the optical system is provided, i.e. measured, or simulated based on the known configuration of a light propagation channel defined by the optical system. Such data about the optical system includes a characterizing intensity transfer function map I1(x,ϕ) across a lateral dimension x of an exit pupil of the optical system and an angular span ϕ of a field of view (FOV) corresponding to an image to be presented to the viewer by the optical system. In other words, the optical system has its characteristic intensity profile in an angular-spatial space. This data is analyzed to properly affect the image data which is to be input in the optical system, such that the image being displayed is viewed by observer with improved intensity uniformity.
Thus, according to one broad aspect of the invention, there is provided a display device for producing images to be viewed by an observer. The display device comprises an optical system, and a control unit. The optical system comprises a light propagation channel having an exit pupil, and is configured and operable to receive input light indicative of an image and produce, at the exit pupil, output light having a field of view (FOV) corresponding to the image to be presented to the observer, while configuration of the light propagation channel defines a characterizing intensity transfer function map I1(x,ϕ) of the optical system across a lateral dimension x of the exit pupil and an angular span ϕ of the FOV. The control unit is configured and operable to affect the image data which is to be input in the optical system by applying thereto intensity modulation based on a correction intensity map configured to at least partially compensate intensity non-uniformity in the characterizing intensity transfer function map I1(x,ϕ) of the optical system, such that the light output at the exit pupil of the optical system and indicative of the image, has a modulated intensity map which is observed by the viewer with improved intensity uniformity.
In some embodiments, the control unit includes an intensity map generator module which is configured and operable to analyze the characterizing intensity transfer function map I1(x,ϕ) of the optical system and predetermined eye pupil related data, to determine a corresponding intensity transfer function map indicative of angular intensity transfer from the exit pupil to the eye pupil, and generate the correction intensity map. The correction intensity map is analyzed by an intensity map modulator utility which utilizes the correction intensity map to generate corresponding intensity modulation and apply this intensity modulation to the image data being input to the optical system. The intensity modulation applied to the image is applied as an inversion of data indicative of at least a portion of the correction intensity map.
The predetermined eye pupil related data comprises data indicative of eye pupil dimension x′ (either given or measured for a specific observer), and/or data indicative of a distance z between the exit pupil and the eye pupil (which might be fixed for a specific head mounted near-eye display device) or measured during the use of the device, and also data indicative of a lateral offset (x′−x) between the exit pupil and the eye pupil.
In some embodiments, the intensity map generator module comprises an integrator module configured to convolve the characterizing intensity transfer function map I1(x,ϕ) over a predetermined eye pupil dimension x′ and a predetermined lateral offset (x′−x) between the exit pupil and the eye pupil to obtain data indicative of convolved intensity transfer function map I′1((x′−x),ϕ) indicative of angular intensity transfer from the exit pupil to the predetermined eye pupil dimension x′.
As indicated above, the control unit may utilize given data indicative of the eye pupil dimension x′.
In some embodiments, the data indicative of the convolved intensity transfer function map I′1((x′x), ϕ) includes a plurality of convolved intensity transfer function maps corresponding to different pupil extents x′.
The intensity map generator module may include a selector module/utility configured and operable to utilize data indicative of a distance z between the exit pupil and the eye pupil and a lateral offset (x′−x) between the exit and eye pupils, and analyze the convolved intensity transfer function map I1((x′−x), ϕ) to identify, in the convolved intensity transfer function map I′1((x′−x), ϕ), a region corresponding to the specific distance z and offset (x−x′) values, and generate the correction intensity map.
The intensity map modulator utility is configured to generate the intensity modulation as an inversion of the selected region of the convolved intensity transfer function map I′1((x′−x), ϕ).
As indicated above, one or more parameters of the eye pupil related data may be measured during the image display sessions. To this end, the system includes an eye position controller configured and operable to monitor one or more parameters of the eye pupil of the observer, and determine the eye pupil related data, to thereby enable the control unit to dynamically adjust the correction intensity map.
As also indicated above, in some embodiments, the display device according to the invention is configured as a near-eye display device for displaying virtual images, or through-see display device to additionally and concurrently displaying real scene images. The optical system of such near-eye display device may include a light-guiding optical element (LOE) comprising a waveguide configured for guiding light propagation therethrough by total internal reflections from major surfaces of the waveguide and comprising one or more light directing surfaces embedded in the waveguide and arranged to define the exit pupil for directing light out of the waveguide.
In some embodiments, the control unit is configured to communicate with a storage device to receive the data indicative of the characterizing intensity transfer function map of the optical system. Alternatively or additionally, the control unit may include a simulator module configured and operable to receive data indicative of the configuration of the light propagation channel of the optical system and determine simulated data comprising the data indicative of the characterizing intensity transfer function map of the optical system.
According to another broad aspects of the invention, it provides a control system for controlling illumination uniformity of an image observed by a viewer from a display device having an optical system. The control system is configured as a computer system comprising a data processor and analyzer which comprises an intensity map generator module, and an intensity map modulator utility in data communication with the intensity map generator module. The intensity map generator module is configured and operable to receive and analyze input data comprising viewer's eye pupil related data and characterizing intensity transfer function map I1(x,ϕ) of the optical system across a lateral dimension x of an exit pupil of the optical system and an angular span ϕ of a field of view (FOV) corresponding to an image to be presented to the viewer by the optical system. The intensity map generator module determines a corresponding intensity transfer function map indicative of angular intensity transfer from the exit pupil to the eye pupil, and generates a correction intensity map. The intensity map modulator utility is configured and operable to utilize the correction intensity map and generate corresponding intensity modulation to be applied to image data being input to the optical system to affect the image data to at least partially compensate intensity non-uniformity in the characterizing intensity transfer function map of the optical system, to provide that output light at the exit pupil of the optical system, which is indicative of the image, has a modulated intensity map observed by the viewer with improved intensity uniformity.

Optical system and method for improvement of light field uniformity


A method for processing information includes receiving a set of records, which include a plurality of fields containing data regarding respective items, and selecting a field that occurs in all of the records and contains multiple terms in each of the records. At least first and second terms that occur among the terms in the selected field in the records are identified, such that the records are partitioned into at least first and second respective subsets by occurrences of the at least first and second terms in the selected field. Responsively to partitioning of the records by the occurrences, it is determined that the at least first and second terms correspond to at least first and second different values of an attribute of the items. The data are classified according to the values of the attribute.

Companies and other organizations commonly maintain large quantities of data in different databases and in different formats (even within the same database). Data mastering—compiling diverse data into a single, unified database while eliminating duplication and errors—has become increasingly important in ensuring data quality and accessibility. A number of software-based tools are available for automated data mastering, such as Zoomix ONE, produced by Zoomix Data Mastering Ltd. (Jerusalem, Israel).
One of the challenges of data mastering is to convert unorganized text into orderly sets of attributes and values. For example, records in an enterprise database corresponding to different products may each contain a list of terms describing the corresponding product without indicating the product attribute that each term identifies. (For example, a "description" field of the record may contain the terms "lamp," large" and "yellow," listed as free text, without specifying that these terms are values of the respective attributes "product type," "size," "color," etc.) Normalization of the records—i.e., associating the terms with a common, standardized set of attributes—is important in enabling applications to search the records efficiently, as well as in data cleansing (detection and correction of data errors) and categorization.

Detection of attributes in unstructured data


A screen wiping apparatus, in particular for an opening window of a motor vehicle, comprises an electric motor which drives at least one screen wiper in oscillating motion between two reversal positions, namely a fixed inner stop position and a fixed outer stop position. In addition, the blade is able to be retracted into a parked position which lies away from the window, when the window is to be opened. The apparatus includes a control system whereby the power supply voltage to the motor is variable by adjustment between a zero voltage and a maximum or full power voltage. The control system includes means for reducing the power supply voltage to the motor when the screen wiper passes from the fixed inner stop position to the off-window parked position.

To this end, proposals have been made in the prior art to provide screen wiping apparatus for openable windows of vehicles, in which the wiper blade (and therefore the wiper) is positioned off the window when the wiping system is out of use. In these cases the wiper is retracted away from the window once opening of the window is detected during operation of the wiper motor.
However, when the wiper passes off the window and on to the bodywork of the vehicle, the rubber wiping strip of the wiper blade rubs on the paintwork of the vehicle and this gives rise to the danger of scratching of the paintwork if any dirt is stuck to the wiping strip. In addition, the rubber wiping strip itself is in danger of being damaged by these repeated movements from the window on to the bodywork and vice versa.
One solution to this problem consists, in the manner which is described in particular in U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,943, in guiding the screen wiper arm in a ramp or a guide finger when it is desired to retract the screen wiper off the window. Although this ramp or guide finger does enable direct contact between the rubber wiping strip and the bodywork of the vehicle to be avoided, this solution has a major disadvantage, in that when the wiper blade meets the ramp, the resulting impact makes a noise which is highly disagreeable for the occupants of the vehicle. In addition, there is a danger of people, and particularly children, getting their fingers trapped between the wiper blade and the ramp.

Control system for a vehicle screen wiping apparatus


A method of using a tospoviral nucleic acid molecule of the sequence of nt (nucleotide) 3975-4928 in accordance with GenBank Accession No. AF133128 or a full complement thereof comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining at least one fragment made from the tospoviral nucleic acid molecule; (b) obtaining a transgene from the at least one fragment; (c) introducing the transgene into a plant to generate a transgenic plant; (d) culturing the transgenic plant; (e) selecting a transgenic plant with broad-spectrum resistance; and (f) obtaining the transgenic plant with broad-spectrum resistance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a use of a tospoviral nucleic acid molecule, particularly to a use of a tospoviral nucleic acid molecule for providing broad-spectrum resistance in transgenic plants against different virus species of the genus Tospovirus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Members of the genus Tospovirus are transmitted by thrips in a persistent manner to infect more than 900 species in 82 families of monocots and dicots, and they cause severe damages to many important economic crops around the world. Since thrips species are more abundant in tropical and subtropical areas, more tospovirus species are found in these regions. Due to the high divergence of tospoviruses and the persistent transmission by thrips, so far no significant control strategies are available. Tospoviruses have become economically important plant disease agents in the cultivation of crops all over the world.
A tospovirus has an N (nucleocapsid) gene and an NSm gene. The N gene encodes a tospoviral N (nucleocapsid) protein. The NSm gene encodes a tospoviral nonstructural NSm protein.
A conventional method for generating resistance in tospoviral host plants against tospoviruses has been developed. The conventional method comprises following steps:
(a) Preparing a transgene. The transgene comprises the N gene.
(b) Preparing a transgenic plant by introducing the transgene into a tospoviral host plant.
(c) Allowing the N protein to be expressed in the transgenic plant to produce resistance against tospoviruses.
In an embodiment of the conventional method, the tospoviral host plant used in the conventional method is a tobacco plant. The transgenic plant is a transgenic tobacco plant prepared by introducing a transgene having a tospoviral N gene into a tobacco plant, wherein the N gene is derived from a TSWV isolate. High levels of expressed N protein are accumulated in the transgenic tobacco plants. When challenged with different tospoviral inocula, the transgenic tobacco plants show a broad-spectrum resistance not only against the homologous TSWV isolate but also against heterologous INSV isolates. However, the resistance only provides low levels of protection and can be overcome by increasing inoculum strength.
On the other hand, another conventional method uses a transgenic plant carrying a nontranslatable N gene or NSm gene from a tospovirus. This conventional method triggers RNA-mediated resistance to tospoviruses. The specificity of RNA-mediated resistance appears to be highly protective but functional only against the homologous tospovirus from which the N gene or the NSm gene is originated.
To overcome the shortcomings of the conventional methods, the present invention provides a use of a tospoviral nucleic acid molecule in transgenic plants for conferring high levels of broad-spectrum resistance, including immunity, against different tospovirus species to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

Use of a tospoviral nucleid acid molecule for broad-spectrum transgenic resistance against different tospoviruses


An apparatus for an improved operational amplifier. The disclosed improved operational amplifier comprises an operational amplifier, a first feedback circuit, and one or more secondary feedback circuits. The operational amplifier include a plurality of serially coupled gain stages and is configured so that an output of each gain stage drives an input of a next gain stage and an output of a last gain stage drives a load external to the improved operational amplifier. The first feedback circuit is coupled between an output of a designated gain stage and an output of a previous gain stage to provide a first feedback to the previous gain stage. Each secondary feedback circuit provides an additional feedback to the output of the previous gain stage.

1. Technical Field
The present teaching relates to method and system for analog circuits. More specifically, the present teaching relates to method and system for operational amplifiers and systems incorporating the same.
2. Discussion of Technical Background
Operational amplifiers (op-amp) are widely used to drive a load which often corresponds to a capacitive load. A typical op-amp with a Miller feedback is shown as 100 in FIG. 1 (Prior Art). Circuit 100 includes two gain stages 115 and 125 in series (the output of the first gain stage drives the input of the second gain stage) and a Miller feedback element 150. The first gain stage 115 comprises a gm stage (110) with parasitic loads (120 and 121). The first gain stage has a positive voltage gain at zero frequency (DC). A gm stage is a functional block where the output current is a function (normally a linear function) of input voltage difference. The second gain stage 125 comprises a gm stage (130) with an external load (104). The Miller feedback 150 is a capacitive element 160 (sometimes in series with a resistive element 155) from the output of the second gain stage to the output of the first gain stage. The second gain stage 125 has a negative voltage gain at zero frequency (DC).
Specifically, the first gain stage has its positive input connected to the op-amp positive input (180) and its negative input connected to the op-amp negative input (190). At the output of gain stage 115 (VA), a resistor 120 and a capacitor 121 represent the load at that node (including parasitic and next stage load). The second gain stage 125 has its input connected to the first gain stage output (VA). The Miller feedback circuit (150) connects VOUT which is the output of the second gain stage (125) and VA which is the output of the first gain stage (115). Alternatively, the input of the second gain stage (125) may be generated by a buffer (not shown) situated between the output of first gain stage 115 and the input of second gain stage 125.
At the second gain stage, the output of amplifier (VOUT) is connected to the external load (represented by load resistor 135 and a load capacitor 140, which are connected in parallel). The output of the amplifier (VOUT) is also fed back to node VA through the Miller feedback element 150. The Miller feedback element 150 comprises a serially connected resistor 155 and a capacitor 160.
To drive a larger capacitive load, traditionally, a resistor 170 is introduced which is connected in series, with the load capacitor. However, this solution may cause voltage swing problem with degradation of gain bandwidth product and slew rate depending on the load. Therefore, there is a need for an operational amplifier that can drive a larger capacitive load but avoid voltage swing problem while maintaining a good slew rate and a good gain bandwidth product.

Enhancing an operational amplifier's capacitive load driving capability using parallel Miller feedback


A valve is formed by an intersection of an open ended water supply pipe and a sprinkler outlet pipe. The outlet pipe has a closed end and an outlet end that is adapted for connection to a sprinkler. A cylindrical guide post connected to the closed end extends through the intersection to a proximal portion of the outlet end. A guide assembly is slidably disposed over the guide post. In response to an excessive flow of water through the outlet end, the guide assembly is drawn through the intersection to occlude the outlet end.

1. Field of Invention
This invention is in the general field of water flow regulating systems and, more particularly, is a valve that automatically shuts off an excessive flow of water through an outlet.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In much of the United States, an automatic sprinkler system is probably the easiest way to irrigate the landscape of a suburban home, for example. The sprinkler system is usually of a type where water from a source is carried by a main water supply pipe that is connected to a plurality of sprinklers that are respectively connected to a plurality of risers. A riser elevates a sprinkler in response to water being provided through the supply pipe.
The sprinkler provides a flow of water therefrom that is usually limited by the design of the sprinkler. However, when the sprinkler breaks, the flow of water to the broken sprinkler is limited mainly by the capability of the source to supply the water. Therefore, the broken sprinkler increases the probability of local flooding. Additionally, the flow of water from the broken sprinkler causes unbroken ones of the plurality of sprinklers to provide insufficient water, thereby causing damage to vegetation.
It is desirable to monitor the sprinkler system to locate the broken sprinkler as soon as possible and thereby minimize the local flooding and the damage to the vegetation. The cost of monitoring the sprinkler system, the local flooding and the damage to the vegetation are factors that often make the sprinkler system impractical. The sprinkler system would be more practical if there was a reliable, inexpensive device that automatically shuts off a flow of water to the broken sprinkler.


A combined MRI and radiotherapy apparatus comprises a radiotherapeutic source, an MRI system, a patient support, drive motors for the patient support arranged to adjust the position of the patient support while a patient is on the support, a control panel having a user-operable input interface for controlling the drive motors, and a display unit. A mounting arrangement for a display device comprises a transparent cover, a display panel held against a rear face of the cover so as to be visible through a front face of the cover, and a retaining structure for holding the display panel in place. The retaining structure comprises a chassis fixable in position relative to the cover, the chassis having at least one resilient finger extending therefrom alongside a rear face of the display panel, a part of which bears against the rear face of the display panel to resiliently urge the display panel against the rear face of the cover. The radiotherapeutic source, MRI system, patient support and the control panel will usually be located within an enclosed space, to confine the therapeutic radiation; a second control panel is provided outside the enclosed space, able to control at least the radiotherapy source.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ("MRI") devices operate by establishing a fixed, steady magnetic field, together with a variable gradient field, applying a radio-frequency ("rf") signal to the volume being investigated, and detecting an rf response. They therefore need to operate in an environment that is free from sources of rf interference.
External-beam radiotherapeutic apparatus operates by directing a shaped beam of radiation towards a tumour from multiple directions. The beam is emitted from a source that is mounted on a gantry so that it is rotatable around a central axis, with the beam being directed radially inwards towards a defined point on the axis known as the isocentre. Thus, a tumour placed at the isocentre can remain in the beam throughout the treatment (if desired), whereas healthy tissue around the tumour and spaced from the isocentre will only receive a brief irradiation as the beam passes. In practice, the beam can be collimated and controlled according to a treatment plan so as to build up a desired three-dimensional dose distribution within the patient corresponding to the tumour shape.
The beam is usually made up of high-energy x-rays at typically over 1 Mev, and therefore careful precautions need to be taken in order to ensure that it is properly collimated, that the attenuated beam (i.e. after transmission through the patient) is absorbed, and that scattering is minimised. The operator will usually leave the room during treatment in order to limit their cumulative exposure to scattered radiation.
Recently, combined MRI and radiotherapeutic devices have been proposed. The MR coils are separated into two sections spaced along the axis of the device, with a gap between them through which the beam is directed. This has the potential to allow high-quality diagnostic images of the patient to be prepared in situ immediately prior to treatment or during treatment.
One design of such a combined device uses a linear accelerator as the radiotherapeutic source, movable on a circular path around a central horizontal axis. The MRI magnet structures are located concentrically within the circular path, around the same axis. An example is shown and described in our earlier application WO2012/076150.

Operation and control of magnetic resonance imaging apparatus


A resistor includes a mixture of at least one of a metal conductive oxide and a transition metal material with an insulating oxide. A method for producing such a resistor includes the steps of forming an electrode on one of an alumina substrate, a glass substrate and a glass tube; and flame-spraying a mixture of at least one of a metal conductive oxide and a transition metal material with an insulating oxide, thereby depositing the mixture on the one of the alumina substrate, the glass substrate and the glass tube.

1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to a resistor having a high area resistance value usable in an image and video display device utilizing an electron source, for example, a cathode-ray tube (hereinafter, referred to as a xe2x80x9cCRTxe2x80x9d) or a field emission display (hereinafter, referred to as an xe2x80x9cFEDxe2x80x9d), a method for producing such a resistor, a cathode-ray tube including such a resistor, and an FED including such a resistor.
2. Description of the Related Art:
FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional CRT 600 used in a color display apparatus. As shown in FIG. 6, the CRT 600 includes a face plate 601 acting as a fluorescent screen and a neck 602. The neck 602 accommodates a cathode 603 and an electronic lens system 607. The electronic lens system 607 includes a triode section 604 and a main electronic lens section 605 formed of a plurality of metal cylinders 605A and 605B. The electronic lens system 607 is structured so as to project a crossover image of an electronic beam from the cathode section 603 on the face plate 601 using the main electronic lens section 605. Reference numeral 606 represents a built-in division-type resistor.
In the electronic lens system 607 having such a structure, a diameter DS of a spot image on the face plate 601 is found by expression (1) using an electrooptic magnitude M and a spherical aberration coefficient CS0.
DS=[(Mxc3x97dx+(xc2xd)Mxc3x97CS0xc3x97xcex103)2+DSC2]xc2xdxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1),
where dx is a virtual crossover diameter, xcex10 is a divergence angle of the beam, and DSC is a divergence component of the beam caused by the repulsive effect of a spatial charge.
Recently, efforts have been made to minimize the spherical aberration coefficient CS0 of the main electronic lens section 605 in order to provide a high precision image by minimizing the spot diameter DS on the face plate 601.
Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 61-147442, for example, discloses a method for reducing the spherical aberration coefficient CS0 by a built-in division-type resistor. Japanese Laid-Open Publication Nos. 60-208027 and 2-276138, for example, each disclose a method for reducing the spherical aberration coefficient CS0 by forming a convergence electrode of a spiral resistor in the neck of the CRT instead of forming a convergence electrode of the main electronic lens including a plurality of metal cylinders.
The division-type resistor and the spiral resistor are formed in the following manner as described in, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Publication Nos. 61-224402 and 6-275211.
A film is formed of a stable suspension including ruthenium hydroxide (Ru(OH)3) and glass particles and excluding an organic binder. The film is formed on an inner surface of a glass tube (formed of, for example, low melting point lead glass having a softening point of 640xc2x0 C.) by dipping. The film is dried, and then cut into a spiral pattern. Then, the film is baked at a temperature of 400xc2x0 C. to 600xc2x0 C. to form a resistor including ruthenium oxide (RuO2).
Japanese Laid-Open Publication Nos. 61-147442, 55-14627 and 6-275211 disclose another resistor having a high area resistance value, which is formed of RuO2 and high melting point glass particles.
The resistor formed of RuO2 and glass particles is formed in a zigzag pattern on an alumina (e.g., Al2O3) substrate by screen printing. Such a resistor (referred to as a xe2x80x9cglaze resistorxe2x80x9d) has a total resistance value of 300 Mxcexa9 to 1000 Mxcexa9. The alumina used as the substrate has a thermal expansion coefficient of 75xc3x9710xe2x88x927/xc2x0C. and a melting point of 2,050xc2x0 C. Since a CRT requires a resistor which is highly reliable against a high voltage of about 30 kV and an electronic beam, the resistor formed of RuO2 and glass particles is formed by baking at a relatively high temperature of 750xc2x0 C. to 850xc2x0 C.
Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 7-309282, for example, discloses still another resistor formed of RuO2 and low melting point glass. The low melting point glass is, for example, PbOxe2x80x94B2O3xe2x80x94SiO2xe2x80x94based glass and includes PbO at 65% or more by weight. The softening point of the low melting point glass is about 600xc2x0 C. or less.
The above-described spiral or zigzag-pattern resistors are provided in the neck of the CRT in order to minimize the spot diameter on the fluorescent screen and the deflecting power. In addition, a double anode CRT is also developed in which the electronic lens system includes a high resistance layer in a funnel portion thereof.
A resistor used in the electronic lens system of the CRT provides a potential distribution between the anode electrode and a focus electrode, and thus needs to have a sufficiently high area resistance value of 1 Gxcexa9/xe2x96xa1 to 100 Gxcexa9/xe2x96xa1 (i.e., about 109 xcexa9/xe2x96xa1 to about 1011 xcexa9/xe2x96xa1) in order to prevent a current flow sufficiently to avoid sparking and arc discharge.
Displays utilizing an electron source, such as an FED, also require a high area resistance value provided between an anode and a cathode.
According to the method described in Japanese Laid-Open Publication Nos. 61-224402 and 6-275211, Ru(OH)3, which is an insulating substance, is thermally decomposed while being baked at a temperature of 400xc2x0 C. to 600xc2x0 C. By such thermal decomposition, RuO2, which is a conductive substance, is deposited, and the low melting point glass flows. As a result, fine particles of RuO2 having a diameter of 0.01 to 0.03 xcexcm are deposited around the glass particles, which form a resistor.
Such a method has the following problems in obtaining a high resistance value of 5 Gxcexa9 to 20 Gxcexa9 (area resistance value: 1 Mxcexa9/xe2x96xa1 to 4 Mxcexa9/xe2x96xa1): (i) the dependency of the area resistance value on the baking temperature increases (i.e., the area resistance value significantly changes when the baking temperature slightly changes); (ii) the temperature coefficient of resistance value (TCR) is increased in a negative direction; and (iii) the load characteristic over a long period of time is inferior. The expression xe2x80x9c/xe2x96xa1xe2x80x9d refers to xe2x80x9cper unit areaxe2x80x9d.
The method described in Japanese Laid-Open Publication Nos. 55-14527, 61-147442 and 6-275211 has a problem in that the resultant resistor cannot be formed on an inner surface of the low melting point glass (having a softening point of 640xc2x0 C.) used for the CRT due to the high baking temperature of 750xc2x0 C. to 850xc2x0 C.
According to the method described in Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 7-309282, the resistor can be formed on an inner surface of the CRT at a low temperature of 440xc2x0 C. to 520xc2x0 C. However, the resistor formed by this method has problems in that (i) the area resistance value significantly changes in accordance with the load characteristic (against application of a voltage of 30 kV at 70xc2x0 C. at 10xe2x88x927 Torr) in the vacuum over a long period of time (5,000 hours); and (ii) the spot diameter on the fluorescent screen is increased due to the load since the TCR is negative.
A tungsten (W)-aluminium oxide-based cermet resistor having a high area resistance value has been developed for use in the electronic tube (see, for example, Japanese Publication for Opposition No. 56-15712). Such a resistor has problems in that (i) a high area resistance value of 109 xcexa9/xe2x96xa1 or more is not obtained; and (ii) the TCR is negative and the absolute value thereof is excessively large.
A resistor having an area resistance value of 1 Gxcexa9/xe2x96xa1 to 100 Gxcexa9/xe2x96xa1 does not need to be shaped into a spiral or zigzag pattern, for use in a CRT. However, the conventional resistive materials have an area resistance value of 1 Mxcexa9/xe2x96xa1 to 100 Mxcexa9/xe2x96xa1. Since such a range of area resistance values is not sufficiently high, the resistor needs to be shaped into a spiral or zigzag pattern.
Attempts have been made to produce an electronic lens system using a high resistance ceramic cylinder without shaping the resistor into a spiral or zigzag pattern (see, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 6-275211 and the Proceedings of the 14th International Display Research Conference, pp. 229 to 232 (1994)).
The resistive materials used for this type of electronic lens system include forsterite (2MgOxe2x80xa2SiO2)-based and Al2O3xe2x80x94MnO2xe2x80x94Fe2O3xe2x80x94Nb2O3xe2x80x94based materials. The specific resistance value of these materials is 1011 xcexa9cm (resistance value: 2.4 Gxcexa9 to 240 Gxcexa9). However, it has been pointed out that when the power consumption of a display apparatus, for example, a TV is increased by the negative TCR, the current flowing in the resistive material rapidly increases and possibly thermal runaway occurs.
According to one aspect of the invention, a resistor includes a mixture of at least one of a metal conductive oxide and a transition metal material with an insulating oxide.
In one embodiment of the invention, the resistor is produced using a flame-spraying method.
In one embodiment of the invention, the flame-spraying method includes plasma flame-spraying.
In one embodiment of the invention, the flame-spraying method includes laser flame-spraying.
In one embodiment of the invention, the metal conductive oxide is at least one material selected from the group consisting of titanium oxide, rhenium oxide, iridium oxide, ruthenium oxide, vanadium oxide, rhodium oxide, osmium oxide, lanthanum titanate, SrRuO3, molybdenum oxide, tungsten oxide, and niobium oxide.
In one embodiment of the invention, the metal conductive oxide is at least one material selected from the group consisting of TiO, ReO3, IrO2, RuO2, VO, RhO2, OSO2, LaTiO3, SrRuO3, MoO2, WO2, and NbO.
In one embodiment of the invention, the transition metal material is at least one material selected from the group consisting of titanium, rhenium, vanadium, and niobium.
In one embodiment of the invention, the insulating oxide is at least one material selected from the group consisting of alumina, silicon oxide, zirconium oxide, and magnesium oxide.
In one embodiment of the invention, the insulating oxide is at least one material selected from the group consisting of Al2O3, SiO2, ZrO2, and MgO.
In one embodiment of the invention, the metal conductive oxide is TiO, and the insulating oxide is Al2O3.
In one embodiment of the invention, the resistor has an area resistance value of at least of about 1 Gxcexa9/xe2x96xa1.
According to another aspect of the invention, a cathode ray tube includes the above-described resistor.
According to still another aspect of the invention, a method for producing a resistor includes the steps of forming an electrode on one of an alumina substrate, a glass substrate and a glass tube; and flame-spraying a mixture of at least one of a metal conductive oxide and a transition metal material with an insulating oxide, thereby depositing the mixture on the one of the alumina substrate, the glass substrate and the glass tube.
According to still another aspect of the invention, a field emission display includes an anode, a cathode, and a resistor provided between the anode and the cathode. The resistor includes a mixture of at least one of a metal conductive oxide and a transition metal material with an insulating oxide. The resistor is formed using a flame-spraying method. The resistor has an area resistance value of at least about 1 Gxcexa9/xe2x96xa1.
In one embodiment of the invention, the field emission display further includes a support provided between the anode and the cathode, wherein the support is covered with the resistor.
In one embodiment of the invention, the support includes at least one of glass and alumina.
In one embodiment of the invention, the metal conductive oxide is at least one material selected from the group consisting of titanium oxide, rhenium oxide, iridium oxide, ruthenium oxide, vanadium oxide, rhodium oxide, osmium oxide, lanthanum titanate, SrRuO3, molybdenum oxide, tungsten oxide, and niobium oxide.
In one embodiment of the invention, the metal conductive oxide is at least one material selected from the group consisting of TiO, ReO3, IrO2, RuO2, VO, RhO2, OsO2, LaTiO3, SrRuO3, MoO2, WO2, and NbO.
In one embodiment of the invention, the transition metal material is at least one material selected from the group consisting of titanium, rhenium, vanadium, and niobium.
In one embodiment of the invention, the insulating oxide is at least one material selected from the group consisting of alumina, silicon oxide, zirconium oxide, and magnesium oxide.
In one embodiment of the invention, the insulating oxide is at least one material selected from the group consisting of Al2O3, SiO2, ZrO2, and MgO.
In one embodiment of the invention, the metal conductive oxide is TiO, and the insulating oxide is Al2O3.
According to the present invention, a resistor having a satisfactorily high area resistance value, a satisfactory load characteristic in vacuum, and a positive and stable TCR is obtained without a baking process.
Such a resistor is obtained by flame-spraying a mixture of both or either of a metal conductive oxide or a transition metal material and an insulating oxide toward a substrate using plasma torch or laser. Usable metal conductive oxides include, for example, TiO, ReO3, IrO2, MoO2, WO2, RuO2, and LaTiO2. Usable transition metal materials include, for example, Ti, Re, V and Nb. Usable insulating oxides include, for example, SiO2, Al2O3, ZrO2, and MgO.
Since the particles of the metal conductive oxide or the transition metal material are dispersed among the particles of the insulating oxide, the resistor formed of the above-described mixture has a sufficiently high area resistance value.
The present inventors have found that (i) by using an appropriate metal conductive oxide and/or transition metal material and insulating oxide at an appropriate ratio and an appropriate flame-spraying method, a resistor having a high area resistance value of about 1 Gxcexa9/xe2x96xa1 to about 100 Gxcexa9/xe2x96xa1 is produced; (ii) the resultant resistor has a superior overtime load characteristic to the conventional resistors; and (iii) the TCR of the resultant resistor is small and stable.
Such a resistor does not need to be shaped into a spiral or zigzag pattern and can be easily formed on an alumina substrate of an inner surface of the funnel of a CRT.
Thus, the invention described herein makes possible the advantages of providing (1) a resistor having a satisfactorily high area resistance value produced without baking; (2) a resistor having a satisfactorily high load characteristic over a long period of time in vacuum; (3) a reliable resistor having a small TCR; (4) a method for producing such a resistor; (5) a CRT including such a resistor; and (6) an FED including such a resistor.
These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying figures.

Field emission display including a resistor

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


There is provided a brightening ink composition for printing intended for realizing a heat insulating foamed paper container produced by foaming a low-melting point film by a heat treatment, such as a heat insulating foamed paper cup, the brightening ink composition conforming to the foaming without the occurrence of ink splits (cracks) upon foaming, having very small differences in level between the brightening printed areas and other printed areas at the container surface after foaming, making the container surface almost smooth, and having excellent design applicability and aesthetic properties as well as excellent heat resistance and print quality. A brightening ink composition containing a brightening material that imparts a sense of brightness, silicon dioxide, a binder resin and a solvent is prepared, and the brightening ink composition is used to form a printed layer of a paper container material for producing a heat insulating foamed paper container.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a brightening ink composition for forming, by gravure printing, a printed layer which imparts design applicability and aesthetic properties to the surface of a heat insulating foamed container, a paper container material using the ink composition, and a heat insulating foamed paper container. More particularly, the present invention relates to a brightening ink composition for forming a printed layer which has excellent foaming adaptability, has less surface unevenness, and provides a smooth surface with suppressed occurrence of cracks in the ink film, on the film of a paper container material having a thermoplastic synthetic resin film that is foamed by a heat treatment carried out upon the production of a heat insulating foamed paper container and thereby forms a heat insulating layer; a paper container material using the ink composition; and a heat insulating foamed paper container. The heat insulating foamed paper container having a printed layer that is formed from the brightening ink composition of the present invention has a smooth surface and exhibits excellent heat insulating properties, and therefore, the container can be suitably used as a container for holding food containing a high-temperature liquid or low-temperature liquid. For example, the heat insulating foamed paper container according to the present invention can be suitably used as a container such as a cup or a bowl for foods including soup, sweet red bean soup, miso soup and noodles.
2. Background Art
In recent years, the demands for ink and the printing industry are extending into a broad range of applications, concomitantly with the varietization of packaging containers. For example, in the field of containers such as the cups used for those food products generally called as "cup noodles," including ramen products, udon and soba noodles, which become edible several minutes after an appropriate amount of boiling water is poured into the container, polystyrene cups have been mainly used from the viewpoint of cost and heat insulating properties.
However, in the case of foamed polystyrene cups, printing on the cups must be performed individually after the forming of cups. Accordingly, the printing method is limited to methods of using a curved surface printing machine or a stamp printing machine, and there has been a problem that the printing speed and the print quality are poor. Furthermore, owing to the reasons such as that the polystyrene price is increasing concomitantly with a recent increase in the price of petroleum, and that under the implementation of the Containers and Packaging Recycling Law, the food product manufacturers are responsible for the recycling fee, transition from polystyrene cups to paper cups is being promoted in recent years.
As one of the representative structures of paper containers, there is known a double-walled cup having a heat insulating air layer which is formed by bonding paper and paper with furrows therebetween. However, the double-walled cup has problems in terms of high weight and high price. Therefore, heat insulating foamed paper containers are attracting more attention these years.
A heat insulating foamed paper container is generally produced using a paper container material having a thermoplastic synthetic resin film that is foamed by a heat treatment carried out upon production of the container and forms a heat insulating layer. More specifically, the paper container material has a structure in which, for example, a high melting point polyethylene film having a melting point of about 130° C. to 135° C. is laminated on one surface of a base paper (inner side of container), and a low melting point polyethylene film having a melting point of about 105° C. to 110° C. (hereinafter, referred to as "low-Mp film") is laminated on the other surface of the base paper (outer side of container), and a printed layer containing print patterns such as decorative patterns, the company name and a barcode is formed on the surface of the low-Mp film.
In the production process for the heat insulating foamed paper container, a paper container material having a print layer formed in advance is punched out into a predetermined shape, this is used as a body member of cup to form a cup, and then the cup is subjected to a heat treatment at near the melting point of the tow-Mp film, thereby the low-Mp film being foamed. Foaming occurs when the moisture contained in the base paper evaporates at the time of the heat treatment and is pushed out to the side of the low-Mp film which has been softened, and thereby the low-Mp film expands toward the outer side. The low-Mp film thus foamed functions as a heat insulating layer and imparts heat insulating properties to the paper container. Such a heat insulating foamed paper container is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. H9-95368 (Patent Document 1), JP-A No. H7-232774 (Patent Document 2), and JP-A No. H11-189279 (Patent Document 3).
The formation of a printed layer on the surface of the low-Mp film of the material for heat insulating foamed paper containers is usually carried out according to a surface printing method based on gravure printing. In the field of surface printing based on gravure printing, ink is applied on the surface of objects to be printed, such as various base papers and plastic packaging containers. Therefore, inks for gravure printing are requested to have printing suitability for objects to be printed, as well as adhesiveness to the base papers and plastic materials, and various resistances such as the resistance to blocking to prevent adhesion between printed matters after printing, and the abrasion resistance and heat resistance required upon the formation of container.
Furthermore, an ink for gravure printing usually contains an aromatic solvent such as toluene as a main solvent, so as to achieve a balance between the solubility of binder resins and the dryability. However, recently, the tendency toward using a printing ink that does not contain an aromatic solvent is growing stronger, in order to improve the environment of the printing worksite.
Moreover, when the product value as a heat insulating foamed paper container is considered, the ink for gravure printing for forming a printed layer of the container is desirably such that the ink film does not impede but promotes foaming of the low-Mp film that constitutes the heat insulating layer and can thereby provide a container surface having less surface unevenness, and that the ink film has less occurrence of cracks and can provide a smooth printed surface.
As the ink for gravure printing for forming printed layers of heat insulating foamed paper containers, there have been traditionally known inks containing polyamide resins and cellulose derivatives as binder components. However, in the case of an ink containing a polyamide resin as a main component of the binder components, when the ink film is exposed to heat or light over a long time, the low molecular weight components such as oils and fats contained in the polyamide resin undergo oxidative degradation into acetaldehydes, thereby causing a problem of generating a fat-based odor. Furthermore, since there is a possibility that the content in the container may cause a change in the taste due to the generated fat-based odor, this poses a serious problem.
Furthermore, when the printing ink described above is prepared as a brightening ink containing a brightening material such as an aluminum material, and is used to form a printed layer, the ink film tends to markedly suppress the foaming of the low-Mp film. Therefore, when a printed layer formed from a brightening ink has been directly provided on the low-Mp film, conspicuous surface unevenness occurs between the printed areas and the non-printed areas, and thus it is difficult to obtain a smooth printed surface. Accordingly, in the case of forming a printed layer using a brightening ink, usually an undercoat layer of a white ink is provided on the low-Mp film. However, brightening inks have a large suppressive power against the foaming of the low-Mp film as compared with white inks. Thus, even when a white ink is printed as an undercoat layer and a brightening ink is overprinted thereon, it is difficult to make uniform of the thickness of the low-Mp film after foaming.
The surface of a container having such a printed layer is such that the printed areas of white ink/brightening ink overprinting are obviously depressed as compared with the printed areas of white ink, and clear differences in level occur. Therefore, the heat insulating foamed paper container does not acquire a smooth feeling of touch, and have problems such as impaired merchantability or unreadable barcodes. Furthermore, since the foaming of the low-Mp film is suppressed, a heat insulating layer having a sufficient thickness is not obtained, and there are also problems in terms of heat insulating properties, such as the container becomes hot when hot water is placed in the container.
On the other hand, JP-A No. 2006-218708 (Patent Document 4) discloses a colored ink which is applicable to gravure printing, has a sense of glitter, and is excellent in high glossiness and design applicability. The disclosed colored ink contains a pearl pigment and silica as brightening materials, and is mainly used for forming an undercoat layer of glossy decorative papers that are applied to the interior design materials of construction materials and the like.
Patent Document 1: JP-A No. H9-95368
Patent Document 2: JP-A No. H7-232774
Patent Document 3: JP-A No. H11-189279
Patent Document 4: JP-A No. 2006-218708

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Brightening ink composition for printing, paper container material using the brightening ink composition, and heat insulating foamed paper container


A security device for securing first and second adjacent doors having first and second door knobs, respectively. Each door knob has a neck portion and a head portion. The security device comprises: (a) a rigid plate disposed substantially between two parallel planes; (b) first and second openings spaced apart from one another in a bottom wall of the plate; (c) first and second holes in first and second side walls of the plate, the holes extending through the plate into the openings; and (d) first and second locking pins slidably disposed within the first and second holes. The first and second locking pins extend below the respective neck portions of the door knobs when the locking pins are in their locking positions. The locking pins have protruding portions extending out of the side walls of the plate for gripping by a user of the security device. A ball can be provided near an inner end of each locking pin. The ball has a diameter larger than the diameter of the respective hole in which the respective locking pin slides to prevent the locking pin from being removed from the plate. A notch can also be provided in inside walls of the openings. The balls rest in the notches when the locking pins are in their locking positions.

The present invention relates to security devices for dual adjacent doors.
Homes and other buildings are frequently equipped with doorways designed for dual adjacent doors which swing from hinges on opposite sides of the doorway. The dual doors typically have door handles or knobs which are adjacent near the inside edges of the dual doors.
Dual doors improve accessibility to the building and enhance the outward aesthetic appearance of the building. However, dual doors also present higher security risks than single doors.
A variety of security devices exist for locking dual doors for security purposes. Typically, such devices are fairly expensive to manufacture, require a number of parts and have strict tolerance requirements. Furthermore, locking devices are often subject to mechanical breakdown and frequently must be bolted into place on or near the doors.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a security device for dual doors which is:
(1) inexpensive to manufacture;
(2) does not require parts which must meet strict tolerance requirements;
(3) can be secured to dual doors in an effective manner;
(4) is easy to install and remove;
(5) does not need to be bolted into place;
(6) is lightweight and easy to store; and
(7) is portable.


Disclosed herein are methods for treating mammals with HIV/AIDS comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising an extract of Rubia cordifolia. The extract is preferably an alcohol extract, an aqueous extract, or mixtures thereof. The alcohol preferably comprises ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, or mixtures thereof.

HIV (formally known as HTLV-III and lymphadenopathy-associated virus) is a retrovirus that is the cause of the disease known as AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), a syndrome where the immune system begins to fail, leading to many life-threatening opportunistic infections. HIV has been implicated as the primary cause of AIDS and can be transmitted via exposure to bodily fluids. In addition to percutaneous injury, contact with mucous membranes or non-intact skin with blood, fluids containing blood, tissue or other potentially infectious bodily fluids pose an infectious risk. Infection of human CD-4+T-lymphocytes with an HIV virus leads to depletion of this cell population, resulting in an immunodeficient state, and eventually opportunistic infections, neurological dysfunctions, neoplastic growth, and ultimately death. There are currently 18 drugs licensed and used for the treatment of HIV, and these drugs are divided into one of four classes depending on how they attack HIV. Drugs in the class of nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors are AZT (zidovudine, Retrovir), ddI (didanosine, Videx), 3TC (lamivudine, Epivir), d4T (stavudine, Zerit), abacavir (Ziagen), and FTC (emtricitabine, Emtriva). Drugs in the class of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors are efavirenz (Sustiva) and nevirapine (Viramune). Drugs in the class of protease inhibitors are lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), indinavir (Crixivan), ritonavir (Norvir), nelfinavir (Viracept), saquinavir hard gel capsules (Invirase), atazanavir (Reyataz), amprenavir (Agenerase), fosamprenavir (Telzir), and tipranavir (Aptivus). Only one drug is available in the class of fusion inhibitor, T20 (enfuvirtide, Fuzeon). The antiretroviral drugs are usually combined into three-drug cocktails called highly active antiretroviral therapy or HAART. However, the above-mentioned drugs still cannot effectively treat AIDS.
Rubia cordifolia, often known as Common Madder or Indian Madder, is a species of flowering plant in the coffee family, Rubiaceae. It has been cultivated for a red pigment derived from roots.
International Publication No. WO 2005/030232 describes composition prepared by extracting pulverized powder from various plants to treat HIV and AIDS. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0011052 describes a composition including extract powders from medicinal herbs to treat AIDS.

Plant-derived formulations for treatment of HIV

THE FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES


A monitoring system of the present invention achieves highly reliable switching control by having a monitored response time creating/calculating unit calculate a maximum value and a minimum value between which a response time is judged as normal from a response time of the last measurement and from a response time of the last but one measurement, and by having a monitored response time comparing unit set a range in which a response time is judged as normal in a manner that agrees with past response times.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a monitoring system, recording medium storing a monitoring program and a monitoring method which are for monitoring whether or not switching of lines, switching of devices, control of a plant, control of an information system, etc. are completed normally.
2. Description of Related Art
An object of communication devices, information processing devices, and other similar devices is to raise the communication quality. For this object, prior art has an auxiliary line separate from a main line, which is provided to a subscriber. When there is a failure in the main line in prior art, the main line is switched to the auxiliary line. Prior art attains the object by thus switching the lines.
A line controlling device switches the main line and the auxiliary line. The controlling device decides to make a switch depending on the state of communications over the main line and the auxiliary line each, such as the presence or absence of a line failure and the line state. For this purpose, the controlling device monitors the communication state. The controlling device chooses which one of the lines is to be the operating line based on the monitored communication state. A control signal is therefore sent from the controlling device to a commanded-to-switch-lines device.
In the line switching control, the controlling device sends a line switching command to the commanded-to-switch-lines device. The commanded-to-switch-lines device follows the received command and line switching control is executed in the device. After the line switching is completed normally, the commanded-to-switch-lines device sends a notification of completion of the line switching to the controlling device.
The controlling device monitors a response time, which starts at the moment a line switching command is sent and ends at the moment a line switching completion notification is received from the commanded-to-switch-lines device. The controlling device judges whether the response is received within an estimated normal time or not. Based on the judgment, the controlling device detects a communication trouble between the controlling device and the commanded-to-switch-lines device, and detects an anomaly, a failure, or the like in the commanded-to-switch-lines device.
The response time between the controlling device and the commanded-to-switch-lines device includes a fixed time and a variable time. A fixed time is a physically fixed time that is determined by the wiring length, a bit delay in the device, or the like. A variable time is a time that is varied by fluctuations in a wiring delay between the controlling device and the commanded-to-switch-lines device due to external, environmental factors such as temperature, or by a physical bit delay difference in devices of different types connected to each other. Accordingly, the response time is the sum of a fixed time and a variable time. The controlling device uses a fixed delay time and, as a variable time, an offset value to monitor the response time. The offset value represents a fluctuating time of the response time due to variable factors in the system. The controlling device sets, as a maximum response time value, a value obtained by adding the offset value to an estimated response time and sets, as a minimum response time value, a value obtained by subtracting the offset value from the estimated response time. The controlling device treats the time range between the maximum response time value and the minimum response time value as a range in which a response time is judged as normal. A response time outside of this time range is deemed as a sign of a line trouble. Hereinafter, a line trouble may be referred to as NG. A monitored response time coincides with this range of time. The relation described above is expressed as follows:
A maximum or minimum response time value that is not NG:C(t)=t±dt  (1)
t: a physical transmission time between the controlling device and the commanded-to-switch-lines device (fixed time)
dt: an offset value to account for a fluctuation in transmission time between the controlling device and the commanded-to-switch-lines device FIG. 5 is given as an example of response time monitoring according to Expression (1). FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relation between the monitoring count and the response time according to prior art.                [Patent document 1] JP 2000-116034 A        [Patent document 2] JP 04-86049 A
The controlling device of prior art monitors the response time using t, which represents a fixed time, and dt, which is the value of fluctuation in transmission delay due to external factors, as shown in Expression (1). However, the conventional monitoring method which uses Expression (1) has a problem in that line troubles are detected in succession (NG judgment is made repeatedly) when the external environment changes more than foreseen by the administrator or the like, causing a relative increase or decrease in delay time.
Therefore, to improve the accuracy of measuring the response time, the maximum and minimum response time values, which are expressed by t±dt, are calculated precisely by making the maximum and minimum response time values conform to the external environment. The allowance of dt, which is a fluctuating value, is reduced by a relative increase or decrease in delay time due to a change in external environment or the like. Accordingly, a relative increase or decrease in delay time due to a change in external environment or the like will result in detection of line troubles (NG judgment) even when the fluctuation is within the initially estimated range. Thus the accuracy of measuring the response time depends on how closely t±dt can conform to the external environment.
One of methods that aim to improve the accuracy of measuring the response time is to measure a response time until a time in question or to measure response times at regular cycles. According to this method, the measured times are accumulated in a memory for a certain period of time, and a value obtained by averaging the times accumulated in the memory is set as t. This method minimizes the fluctuating value (dt). Thus the method improves the accuracy of monitoring the response time.
In another method of prior art, measured values of the response time are accumulated as frequency distribution of measured times, and a measured response time value that is the maximum distribution value is set as t. This method minimizes the fluctuating value (dt). Thus the method improves the accuracy of monitoring the response time.
The response time in the conventional methods can be expressed as follows (in these methods, a physical transmission time between the controlling device and the commanded-to-switch-lines device which is a fixed time is used as an actually measured value):
A maximum or minimum response time value that is not NG:C(t)=T1±dt  (2)
T1: a response time until a time in question or the average value of response times measured at regular cycles and accumulated, or a response time obtained from frequency distribution of measured times
dt: an offset value to account for a fluctuation in transmission time between the controlling device and the commanded-to-switch-lines device
In these conventional methods, measured values of the response time within a certain time range are accumulated in a memory. The conventional monitoring methods use the response times accumulated in the memory to obtain a maximum or minimum response time value that is not NG. Accordingly, the conventional monitoring methods have a drawback of being incapable of detecting whether a response time is NG or not at an instant.
In addition, the conventional monitoring methods cannot follow a relative delay time fluctuation resulting from constant changes in external environment as shown in FIG. 6, which illustrates an example of the response time monitoring according to Expression (2). FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relation between the monitoring count and the response time according to prior art. The conventional monitoring methods thus have a problem in that the response time cannot be detected accurately.
The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and an object of the present invention is therefore to provide a monitoring system, a recording medium storing a monitoring program and a monitoring method which achieve more reliable monitoring control by improving the accuracy of measuring a response time to a switching command in line switching, device switching, plant control, information system control, etc.


Embodiments of the present invention generally relates to an apparatus and a method for processing semiconductor substrates. Particularly, embodiments of the present invention relates to apparatus and methods for forming shallow trench isolations having recesses with rounded bottoms. One embodiment of the present invention comprises forming a recess in a filled trench structure by removing a portion of a material from the filled trench structure and rounding bottom corners of the recess. Rounding bottom corners is performed by depositing a conformal layer of the same material filled in the trench structure over the substrate and removing the conformal layer of the material from sidewalls of the recess.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an apparatus and a method for processing semiconductor substrates. Particularly, embodiments of the present invention relates to apparatus and methods for forming shallow trench isolations having recesses with rounded bottoms.
2. Description of the Related Art
As critical dimension of semiconductor devices decreases, distances between neighboring devices formed on a semiconductor substrate are also shortened. As a result, crosstalk among signals for neighboring devices also increases.
FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic figure of a memory device 100 formed on a silicon substrate 101. Generally, active areas 108 for individual memory cells are separated by shallow trench isolations (STI) 104. The active areas 108 are generally doped areas in the silicon substrate 101 and the shallow trench isolations 104 are generally silicon oxide filled in a lower portion of trench structures 112 formed in the substrate 101. Floating gates 103 are formed above the active areas 108 with an insulative layer 102 formed therebetween. Control gates 105 are formed from an upper portion of the trench structures 112. The floating gates 103 and the control gates 105 usually comprise polycrystalline silicon. Insulative layers 107, 110 are generally formed within and above the trench structures 112.
In the state of the art memory device, as shown in the memory device 100 of FIG. 1, crosstalk is problematic, particularly crosstalk near area 106 between the control gates 105 and the active areas 108.
One solution to reduce crosstalk between control gates and active areas within a memory device is to increase distance between the control gates and the active areas by forming recessed shallow trench isolation structures. However, the state of the art methods for forming recessed shallow trench isolation structures are very complicated involving a number of added process steps and requiring additional production equipment.
FIGS. 2A-2F schematically illustrate one state of the art sequence for forming recessed shallow trench isolation structures.
FIG. 2A schematically illustrates a substrate section 200. A polycrystalline silicon layer 202 is deposited on a silicon substrate 201. A trench 203 is formed through the polycrystalline silicon layer 202 and into the silicon substrate 201. The silicon oxide 204 is then filled in the trench 203. A planarization process is usually followed to expose the polycrystalline silicon layer 202 after filling the trench 203 with the silicon oxide 204.
FIG. 2B schematically illustrates a result structure after an etching process that removes a portion of the silicon oxide 204 in the trench 203 and forms a recess 205.
A silicon nitride layer 206 is then deposited over the recess 205 and the polycrystalline silicon layer 202 as shown in FIG. 2C.
An anisotropic nitride etching process is then performed to remove the silicon nitride layer 206 from over a bottom 207 of the recess 205 and over the polycrystalline layer 202 leaving only vertical sections of the nitride layer 206 to protect sidewalls of the recess 205, as shown in FIG. 2D. A silicon oxide etching process is followed to remove silicon oxide 204 from the bottom 207 of the recess 205, as shown in FIG. 2D.
A nitride etching process is then need to remove the silicon nitride layer 206 from the sidewalls of the recess 205. A step 208 is then formed in the recess 205, as shown in FIG. 2E.
In FIG. 2F, a recessed shallow trench isolation that would reduce cross talk may be formed over the step 208.
The sequence shown in FIGS. 2A-2F requires four extra processes, silicon nitride deposition, anisotropic nitride etching, silicon oxide etching, and nitride etching, to form a recessed shallow trench isolation (shown in FIG. 2F) that would reduce crosstalk in the final device produced. The four extra processes require additional processing chambers and additional processing chemistry to the over all sequence of forming shallow trench isolation. As a result, the cost of ownership is greatly increased.
Therefore, there is a need for methods and apparatus for efficiently forming recessed shallow trench isolation structures to reduce crosstalk among devices formed in a semiconductor substrate.

Integration sequences with top surface profile modification


An apparatus for counting and storing a number of rounds fired from a gun includes a microcomputer; a non-volatile memory connected to the microcomputer; and at least one piezoelectric transducer connected to the microcomputer and mounted on the gun, the at least one piezoelectric transducer comprising a power source that generates power during operation of the gun. The piezoelectric transducer may also sense the firing of the gun.

The invention relates in general to munitions and in particular to large caliber gun tubes and breech mechanisms. Large caliber gun tubes and breech mechanisms are components of, for example, cannons, mortars, recoilless rifles and howitzers.
Large caliber gun tubes and breech mechanisms are expensive. It is desired to use a gun tube and/or breech mechanism as long as possible. However, these systems may become ineffective and potentially dangerous when operated beyond their useful service life. A significant component of the service life is the historical firing information. In the absence of this information, the system will require additional costly inspections or be prematurely removed from service.
One way to track the activity of a gun tube is with a Weapon Data Record Card. The Weapon Data Record Card includes the number and type of each round fired from a particular gun tube. A soldier manually records the data on the Weapon Data Record Card. The card is stored with the gun tube. A record of the number of tubes used with each breech mechanism is also recorded manually and stored with the breech.
Unfortunately, the Weapon Data Record Cards are often lost and the component has to be either inspected in the field or condemned prematurely. The costs associated with this procedure are high and critical information of the firing history is permanently gone. The administrative responsibilities associated with maintaining accurate information of the Weapon Data Record cards is often an unreasonable requirement for the soldier in the field. Devices similar to those tested on small caliber munitions were determined to be ineffective or untested for large caliber gun tubes and breech mechanisms. In addition, these devices require an external battery to operate. Periodic battery replacement is an unacceptable additional maintenance requirement. There is a need for a device for monitoring the firing history of gun components that requires no periodic maintenance.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


Face of a listener (user) is photographed by a CCD camera, and a face width and auricle size of the listener are detected on the basis of the picture of the listener's face. Head-related transfer functions, which are transfer functions of sounds propagated from virtual rear loudspeakers to both ears of the listener, are calculated, using the detected face width and auricle size as head shape data of the listener. Then, a filter process is performed by a DSP of a USB amplifier unit so as to attain characteristics of the head-related transfer functions, as a result of which sound image localization of the rear loudspeakers can be achieved via front loudspeakers.

The present invention relates to audio amplifier units which output audio signals of rear loudspeakers to channels of front loudspeakers.
Among various recent audio (video) sources, such as DVD Video disks (DVDs), are ones having recorded thereon 5.1-channel or other type of multi-channel audio signals with a view to enhancing a feeling of presence or realism. For example, audio amplifiers and loudspeakers of six channels are normally required for reproduction of 5.1-channel audio signals.
Also, in recent years, it is getting more and more popular to reproduce AV (AudioVisual) software, such as software recorded on a DVD, via a personal computer. In such cases, the multi-channel audio signals are usually reproduced through a pair of left (L) and right (R) channels, because the personal computer is rarely connected to a multi-channel audio system capable of appropriately reproducing 5.1-channel audio signals. However, thus reproducing the multi-channel audio signals by only the two channels can not reproduce a feeling of presence or realism to a satisfactory degree.
Further, there has been proposed a technique which outputs audio signals of rear (surround) channels via front loudspeakers, i.e. front L- and R-channel loudspeakers after performing a filter process on the audio signals of the rear channels to allow their sound images to be localized at virtual rear loudspeaker positions. But, the proposed technique would present the inconvenience that it can not achieve accurate sound image localization because filter coefficients and other parameters employed are fixed.
Namely, although sound image localization perceived by a human listener depends greatly on head-related transfer functions that represent audio-signal transfer characteristics determined by a shape of the head of a human listener, the conventional apparatus for simulating multi-channel audios are generally arranged to only simulate head-related transfer functions of a predetermined head shape; namely, they never allow for different head shapes of various human listeners.


A novel blade design for a tool which strips the buffer layer and protective coating away from a ribbon having a plurality of optical fibers. The blade design includes two generally identical blade halves, each having a cutting edge. Each cutting edge has side borders, and semicircular cutouts between the borders, forming tips between adjacent cutouts. The tips are smoothly rounded, and also recessed whereby, when the blades are brought together in a closed, cutting position, the tips are still separated by a gap. The cutouts have an effective diameter which is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the fiber cladding. The rounded tips minimize damage to the fibers during the stripping operation by providing a self-centering effect as the tips graze the buffer coating of the fibers in a misaligned ribbon, and by further reducing the effective force applied by the tips to the fibers. The larger cutouts and gap between opposing tips further minimize any possible damage to the fibers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to mechanical tools used to strip wires, cables, etc., and more particularly to an improved blade design for a tool used to strip the protective layers away from a group of optical fibers joined in a ribbon.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Stripping tools are well-known in the art, such as the wire strippers commonly used to remove the insulative plastic layer away from copper wires. Exemplary strippers are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,827,317 and 4,271,729. Stripping of the outer insulative layer is often required to allow electrical connection of the wire to other conductors, or to attach the terminal end of the wire to an electrical connector. Similarly, it is often necessary to strip the outer coating from an optical fiber (such as is used in telecommunications) prior to a connection or splice operation on the fiber.
In this regard, it is helpful to understand the construction of a typical optical fiber. The light signal travels within the innermost core of the fiber, usually made of glass (silica), although a polymer is sometimes used. The core is surrounded by a cladding, typically formed from the same material as the core (silica), although it is doped differently to provide a lower refractive index (resulting in internal reflection of most of the light within the core). The cladding is further surrounded by a buffer coating to protect the fiber from adverse external effects. The buffer coating is typically formed from a UV-cured polymeric material.
To prepare a fiber for a connector or splice, it is necessary to strip away the buffer coating, but without damaging the cladding layer. This operation can be very difficult due to the small dimensions involved and the ease with which the glass cladding can be nicked. For example, most optical fibers used in data communications have an outer (cladding) diameter of 125 .mu.m and a buffer diameter of 250 .mu.m. The core diameter varies depending upon application, e.g., a single-mode fiber may have a 10 .mu.m core diameter and a multimode fiber may have up to an 85 .mu.m core diameter.
The tools illustrated in the above-mentioned patents have been modified for use in stripping optical fibers, but still possess certain disadvantages due to the fact that the stripping operation is critical in at least two respects. First of all, if the stripping tool digs too far into the buffered fiber (or the fiber is improperly aligned with the blades of the tool), it will damage the cladding, possibly breaking the fiber, or at least decreasing the tensile strength of the fiber. Secondly, if the blades do not cut deep enough, then the buffer coating may not be fully stripped, which can lead to later problems such as misalignment in a splice or inability to insert the fiber into a connector ferrule.
Techniques have been devised to minimize the foregoing deficiencies, such as improved manufacture of the stripper blades, as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,315,444. These problems still remain, however, and are especially pronounced when simultaneously stripping a plurality of fibers which have been formed into a flat ribbon. Such a fiber ribbon typically includes (in addition to the core, cladding and buffer layers of each fiber) an outer protective coating, such as a polyester film or tape, which is bonded to the fibers, typically with an acrylic adhesive. Other ribbons provide a UV curable polymeric matrix which bonds or encapsulates the fibers. Therefore, in addition to removing buffer coating, the stripping tool must also remove the outer bonding material.
The tools described in the above-mentioned patents have further been modified for use in stripping fiber ribbons, as demonstrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,108. This prior art stripper and its components are shown in FIGS. 1-4, and are discussed more fully below in the detailed description of the preferred embodiment. The closest prior art blade design is illustrated in FIG. 4, along with a cross-sectional view of the fiber ribbon. FIG. 4 serves to illustrate the additional problem that, even with the relatively tight tolerances provided for ribbon alignment, the ribbon may still be misaligned prior to stripping, with the likely result that one or more of the individual fibers will become damaged. An alternative prior art "flat" blade design, having no semicircular cutouts, does not require any alignment at all, but is not suited to stripping ribbons wherein the fibers are interposed between two polyester films. Such a ribbon construction in found in the ASR ribbon sold by American Telephone & Telegraph Co. Flat blade designs do not strip this type of ribbon well, as the straight blade edge cannot easily puncture the outer tape. It would, therefore, be desirable and advantageous to devise a blade design for a fiber ribbon stripping tool which can easily strip such ribbons, and further which would minimize or eliminate misalignments, as well as safeguard against overstripping, i.e., cutting into the fiber cladding or core.

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


A method of separating an immiscible lubricant from a liquid refrigerant in a refrigerating system including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator, wherein the expansion device is connected to the condenser by a liquid refrigerant flow line for liquid refrigerant and immiscible lubricant. The method comprising slowing the rate of flow of the liquid refrigerant and immiscible lubricant between the condenser and the expansion device such that the liquid refrigerant and the immiscible lubricant separate based upon differences in density. The method also comprises collecting the separated immiscible lubricant in a collection chamber in fluid communication with the separated immiscible lubricant. Apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

Refrigeration systems are prevalent in our everyday life. Refrigeration systems can be found in such varied locations as automobiles, commercial and residential refrigerators and freezers, commercial and residential air conditioning systems, supermarket display cases and many other applications.
Vapor compression refrigeration systems typically comprise four elements: a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator. Refrigeration systems operate on the basis of a heat or thermodynamic cycle. In conventional refrigeration systems, a refrigerant is utilized which has a lower boiling point than the space which is to be cooled, i.e., have heat removed therefrom. In the evaporator, heat is passed through the evaporator coils to the liquid refrigerant which absorbs that heat as the heat of vaporization. The phase change of the refrigerant from a liquid to a gas which occurs in the evaporator carries the absorbed heat with it. The gaseous refrigerant is withdrawn from the evaporator by a compressor which then compresses the gaseous refrigerant. The compressed vapor is discharged from the compressor to the condenser. In the condenser, the refrigerant once again undergoes a phase change whereby the heat of vaporization is released to the condenser's surrounding. The refrigerant then condenses and changes from a gas to a liquid. The liquid refrigerant then is passed through an expansion device to the evaporator where the heat cycle begins again.
In order to lubricate the moving parts of a refrigeration system compressor, the refrigerant usually includes a lubricant. In chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants ("CFCs"), the conventional lubricant is mineral oil. The mineral oil is miscible with the liquid CFCs.
The phase out of CFC-12, under the terms of the 1987 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is effecting an immediate shift away from CFCs in refrigeration systems toward hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants ("HFCs"), such as HFC-134a, a substitute refrigerant with no ozone depletion potential. However, one may not merely substitute HFC-134a for CFC-12. When CFC-12 is removed from a refrigeration system, residual mineral oil remains in the system. When HFC-134a is added to such a system, it is not miscible with the mineral oil used to provide lubrication in the CFC-12 system. Due to this immiscibility, synthetic lubricants, such as, polyolesters, have been developed specifically to mix with HFC refrigerants and provide proper lubrication. Problems result from this immiscibility. At temperatures occurring in the evaporator, very little HFC-134a is dissolved in the mineral oil, resulting in a high viscosity lubricant that does not circulate. Instead, the mineral oil trapped in the evaporator interferes with refrigerant flow and heat transfer. Processes developed for removing mineral oil during a retrofit, i.e., a change from one refrigerant to another, have been developed. The prevailing "triple flush" procedure safely and efficiently removes mineral oil from the system. The "triple flush" procedure comprises diluting the mineral oil in large amounts of polyolester lubricant. Repeated replacement of the compressor lubricant after periods of system operation result in progressively lower mineral oil levels. Although the "triple flush" procedure is effective, it has high costs associated with lubricant, waste disposal and technician labor.
Opinions differ widely on how much residual mineral oil is acceptable after retrofit. Recommendations from compressor manufacturers and refrigerant manufacturers range from 1% to 8%. While the differences between these values may not seem large, reducing the residual oil content from 8% to 1% may involve a significant effort and cost. Accordingly, there is a significant need for an apparatus and a method of removing immiscible lubricants, such as mineral oil, from refrigeration systems in both an effective and a relatively economical manner.

Method of removing an immiscible lubricant from a refrigeration system and apparatus for same


A multi-chip package has a substrate with electrical contacts for connection to an external device. A CPU die is disposed on the substrate and is in communication with the substrate. The CPU die has a plurality of processor cores occupying a first area of the CPU die, and an SRAM cache occupying a second area of the CPU die. A DRAM cache is disposed on the CPU die and is in communication with the CPU die. The DRAM cache has a plurality of stacked DRAM die. The plurality of stacked DRAM dies are substantially aligned with the second area of the CPU die, and substantially do not overlap the first area of the CPU die. A multi-chip package having a DRAM cache disposed on the substrate and a CPU die disposed on the DRAM cache is also disclosed.

The emergence of mobile consumer electronics, such as cellular telephones, laptop computers, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and MP3 players, has increased the demand for compact, high performance memory devices. These memory devices are subject to increasingly stringent constraints in terms of the number of data bits that can be provided at defined operating speeds using the smallest possible device. In this context, the term "smallest" generally refers to the lateral area occupied by the memory device in a "lateral" X/Y plane, such as a plane defined by the primary surfaces of a printed circuit board or module board.
As a result of the constraints on the area occupied by the device, microchip designers have begun to vertically integrate the data storage capacity of their devices. Thus, multiple memory devices that might have previously been laid out adjacent to one another in a lateral plane are now vertically stacked one on top of the other in a Z plane relative to the lateral X/Y plane, thereby greatly increasing the memory density per area that the device occupies on the board.
Recent developments in the fabrication of through silicon vias (TSVs) have facilitated the trend towards vertically stacked semiconductor memory devices, by providing more efficient communication between stacked chips and by further reducing the area occupied by the device. Most 3-D stacked technologies have focused on only chip-level integration in the vertical direction. One performance bottleneck results from the speed difference between the increasingly-fast microprocessor and the relatively fixed latency times of the main memory (typically DRAM). In order to mitigate this performance bottleneck, the memory I/O interface has been improved in an attempt to keep pace with ever-accelerating CPU performance. However, another limiting factor is the distance between the CPU and the memory, which contributes to signal distortion and degradation of signal integrity, and increases power consumption by the I/O signal connection. The distance between the CPU and the memory device is limited by the physical dimensions of memory and the CPU if these devices are both mounted next to each other on the same board. This distance can be reduced by stacking memory devices with the CPU. Two common stacking arrangements are memory over CPU (FIG. 1) and CPU over memory (FIG. 2). The arrangement of FIG. 1 has disadvantages in terms of heat dissipation, because the heat from the CPU must be conducted through the DRAM stack to reach the heat sink. However, the arrangement of FIG. 2 requires the CPU to communicate to external devices (via the board) using TSVs through the intervening DRAM stack, thereby increasing the TSV overhead of the DRAM stack and reducing storage capacity accordingly.
The processor cores of the CPU chip consume a lot of power and generate heat during normal operation. It is not atypical for the processor cores of the CPU chip to generate hot spots about 30° C. (about 55° F.) hotter than the cooler portions of the chip such as the area allocated to the level 2 (L2) SRAM cache. This high temperature can adversely affect the performance of adjacent DRAM devices, which are inherently temperature-sensitive, and which themselves consume a significant amount of power during operation. Higher temperatures contribute to degradation of memory performance, require more frequent refresh cycles, and increase power consumption in DRAM devices. The stacked arrangement exacerbates the heat dissipation problem, because multiple heat-generating dies are in close proximity and must share a heat sink. Thermal issues are one limiting factor in the maximum acceptable height of the DRAM stack, thereby limiting the memory capacity available to the CPU, as well as adversely affecting the proper operation of the DRAM chips provided.
One approach to regulating thermal issues is to configure the CPU so that the hot spots are more evenly distributed over the area occupied by the processor cores. However, this increases design complexity and may conflict with optimized logic block placement in the CPU. In addition, this approach is of limited benefit when the CPU and the DRAM are stacked together, because the DRAM is still exposed to the same quantity of heat overall.
Therefore, there is a need to provide a stacked arrangement of a CPU and a DRAM memory wherein the stacked DRAM memory is exposed to reduced thermal effects.
There is also a need to provide a stacked arrangement of a CPU and a DRAM memory having efficient heat dissipation.

Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc.