The linear friction welding apparatus of this invention includes two vibrating assemblies, which simultaneously vibrate both work pieces along different weld axis within the plane of the weld interface during the weld process. The LFW apparatus allows one or both work pieces to be independently vibrated against one another along different weld axis to control and concentrate the application of thermal energy across the weld surfaces caused by friction in certain areas of the weld surface and certain times during the weld process.

Linear friction welding (LFW) is a process of joining two components which may be made from the same or different materials. The LFW process typically involves pressing the two components together under a large amount of force and rapidly vibrating the components with respect to one another to generate friction at the interface between the two components. The pressure and movement generate sufficient heat to cause the material at the interface to plasticize. Once the material at the interface begins to plasticize, the vibration is stopped and an increased force is applied. As the plasticized material of both components cools in this static condition, the components are bonded together and a weld is formed. While LFW is suitable in many applications, heretofore, LFW has not been practical for repair welds.
In certain embodiments, the linear friction welding (LFW) apparatus of this invention includes two vibrating assemblies, which simultaneously vibrate both work pieces along different weld axis within the plane of the weld interface during the weld process. The LFW apparatus allows both work pieces to be independently vibrated against one another along different weld axis to control and concentrate the application of thermal energy across the weld surfaces caused by friction in certain areas of the weld surface and during certain times during the weld process. Each vibrating assembly independently controls the amplitude and frequency of the vibration of its work piece relative to the other during the weld process, and also allows the vibration to instantly stop with no load on the work piece. In other embodiments, the linear friction welding (LFW) apparatus of this invention uses a vibrating assembly that moves one of the work pieces along a fixed orbit within the plane of the weld interface during the weld process.
The apparatus and method of the present invention may take form in various systems and components, as well as the arrangement of those systems and components. The above described features and advantages, as well as others, will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating exemplary embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention.


A distinct color LCD apparatus including at least two layers of respectively disparate encapsulated liquid crystal materials; Structural means for maintaining said layers proximate to each other and in a substantially parallel orientation; Electrically conductive means for addressing at least one substantially parallel address across the encapsulated liquid crystal material in each of the respective layers; and Coordinated with said means for addressing, an electrical pulse driving means (I) wherein a state is selected from the list Homeouopre and planar and (U) whereby said state is communicated to a predetermined address between one of said parallel layers.

Multi-color Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) devices are generally constructed with at least two glass-encapsulated parallel layers of disparate Liquid crystal materials wherein each layer has a respectively parallel addressing scheme of substantially transparent conductor to predetermined regions in each layer. Cholesteric liquid crystal display devices can be either mono-color or multicolor.
Mono-color devices typically have one liquid crystal layer and multicolor typically have two or more liquid crystal layers. Each of these predetermined layers has an upper glass conductor location and an opposite lower glass conductor location such that a specific voltage even between the two will "drive" the liquid crystal material there-between into a desired optical state. Three such optical states are commonly encountered and are planar, Homeotropic, and focal-conic.
Most current liquid crystal displays use a nematic-based technology in which two states are used. The twisted nematic device is the most common. One state is the field-applied state and the second is a non-field applied state. In most cases, the field on state consists of molecules that are aligned with their long molecular axis parallel to the electric field direction (and induced Homeotropic State). The field off state is an aligned homogeneous state (long molecular axis parallel to the glass substrates). Both states are optically transparent. To achieve gray level intermediate states intermediate voltage levels are used. The position of the molecules is observed by using polarized light and the molecules of the liquid crystal phase act as variable "retarders" to the polarized light. It is generally desired in the LCD industry to achieve high graphic resolution (ultra small pixels), video refresh rates, variable "gray" levels for each color layer, and to use low voltage.
Bi-stable display modes such as the cholesteric liquid crystal display traditionally operate between two stable states (planar and focal conic); an applied electric field is used to transfer between these states usually via a meta-stable stable (Homeotropic State). The planar state consists of an aligned helix of molecules the molecules lie substantially parallel to the glass substrates and it reflects light of a specific wavelength that is proportional to the pitch length of the cholesteric liquid crystal. Any light scattering that does occur is not intended and the phase is substantially transparent. The focal conic state consists of many randomly arranged cholesteric helices that are too small to reflect light but can cause scattering of incident light. This state is therefore not transparent but slightly light scattering. This reduces the contrast and limits the color gamut in multicolor devices; thus, the colors are less vivid. The contrast between these two states is emphasized by the use of a black absorber placed behind the layer(s) of liquid crystal that absorbs transmitted light. The observer then either sees only the reflected ray from the planar texture or the black absorber that is apparent when the cholesteric liquid crystal is in the focal conic texture. Intermediate gray levels arise from areas that are brought into a state that has both states present. If several different color layers are used and each is in the planar texture wavelengths from the entire visible spectrum can be reflected and the device appears white. By selecting the layers that will reflect many colors can be reflected including gray levels of these colors.
It is an amazing historical anomaly that in such displays the two stable states have been almost exclusively used.


An optical sensor and a method of manufacturing such as sensor are provided. The sensor includes a lead optical fiber with a single piece optical element joined permanently joined to its forward end. The optical element defines a spacer with a cavity therein at one end, and a diaphragm at the opposite end. The diaphragm is flexible in response to a parameter and the sensor defines a sensing Fabry-Perot resonator.

Optical fiber pressure sensors have been the topic of intense research during the last decade as they can be made very small, compact, immune to electromagnetic interference, biocompatible and can be used at elevated temperature or in a harsh chemical environment. Applications for such sensors are therefore numerous and range from combustion and jet engine controls to biomedical applications.
It is known in the prior art to provide a pressure sensor at the tip of an optical fiber. For example, published international patent application no. WO 02/23148 (WILNER et al.) shows a housing made from silicon in which the end section of a lead fiber and a silicon diaphragm are fixed. The flat cleaved lead fiber end and the diaphragm form two reflective surfaces that define a Fabry-Perot interferometer. The optical signal from the lead optical fiber is split into two paths which mutually interfere. The sum of their interference is function of the distance between the fiber end and the diaphragm position, the latter being a function of pressure.
Other sensors of this type are for example described in patents and patent applications EP 1 089 062; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,491,590; 5,381,229; 6,539,136; 5,657,405; 6,597,820; 6,820,488; 6,823,738; US 2004/0223679; US 2005/0041905; WO 99/45352 and WO 02/23148. The following publications may also be consulted: MacPherson W. N. et al., "Miniature fiber optic pressure sensor for turbomachinary applications", Rev. Sci. Instr., 1999, Vol. 70 no. 3, pp. 1868 1874,); Pinet É. et al. "Miniature fiber optic pressure sensor for medical applications: an opportunity for intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) therapy", Proc. of SPIE, 2005, Vol. 5855, pp. 234-237. For all the solutions mentioned in these documents, the typical design produces a sensor that is larger than the diameter of the lead optical fiber used for its interrogation.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,078,432, 4,701,614, 4,918,305 and 5,193,129 describe small micro-binding optical fiber pressure sensors. In all cases, two optical fibers are needed; one for the probing light and the other for the detected light whose intensity is dependent on the pressure applied on the sensor.
European patent EP 0 503 812 discloses a small optical fiber pressure sensor using fluorescence-quenching, suitable for example for arterial blood pressure measurements. The size of such a sensor could be made very close to the diameter of the optical fiber.
There are very few known devices where the sensor diameter is equal to the diameter of the lead optical fiber. Some examples could be found in patent and patent application EP 0 997 721, US 2004/0114848. These technologies however have their drawbacks; for example, in EP 0 997 721 the manufacturing procedure is relatively complicated and requires application of special tools and materials. In US 2004/0114848, the intrinsic Fabry-Perot sensor includes a thin film sandwiched between two fiber ends.
Other ultra-miniature pressure sensors have been reported in the literature. The paper by Cibula & onlagić "Miniature fiber-optic pressure sensor with a polymer diaphragm", Appl. Opt. 2005, Vol. 44 no. 14, pp. 2736 2744, and Slovene patent Sl 21242 disclose an optical fiber pressure sensor with a polymer diaphragm that is not larger than the size of the optical fiber. Papers by Abeysinghe D. C et al. ("A novel MEMS pressure sensor fabricated on an optical fiber", IEEE Phot. Tech. Lett., 2001, Vol. 13 no. 9, pp. 993 995,), Abeysinghe D. C et al. ("Novel MEMS pressure and temperature sensors fabricated on optical fibers" J. Micromech. Microeng. 2002, Vol. 12, pp. 229 235,) and Totsu K. et al. ("Ultra-miniature fiber-optic pressure sensor using white light interferometry", J. Micromech. Microeng., 2005, Vol. 15, pp. 71 75,) all disclose pressure sensors manufactured at the tip of a lead optical fiber using photolithographic patterning techniques.
Other embodiments of miniature sensors are shown in U.S. patent application no. 2005/0062979 (ZHU et al.). The miniature sensor of Zhu is designed by first bonding a hollow tube to the end face of a lead optical fiber, and then bonding a diaphragm to the hollow tube to create a Fabry-Perot interferometer. Similar configurations, employing polymer diaphragm, was also reported by Cibula E. et al ("Miniature fiber optic pressure sensor for medical applications", Proc. IEEE Sensors 2002, Vol. 1 no. 12-14 pp. 711-714,) and in Slovene patent Sl 21242. One drawback of such sensors is the relative fragility of the hollow spacer, both during its manufacturing and its use. The manufacturability of the disclosed sensor is further complicated by the need to make multiple splices to join the components together, and the need to precisely adjust the length of the hollow spacer so that it provides the desired cavity length after splicing of the diaphragm.
There is therefore a need for a miniature optical sensor which alleviates drawbacks of the prior art.

Single piece Fabry-Perot optical sensor and method of manufacturing the same


A driver circuit outputs a result of classifying and counting photons based on one or more energy levels to a column line. The driver circuit includes a multiplexer for receiving the result from a counter, a driving inverter for receiving a signal from the multiplexer and a power supply, and a switch connected between the power supply and an input terminal of the driving inverter.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a driver circuit and a readout circuit configured to output to column lines the result of classifying photons according to their energy levels and counting the number of photons for each energy level.
2. Related Art
Radiation medical devices are being widely used and developed. An example of a radiation medical device is an X-ray imaging system, which exists in analog and digital forms. The change from analog to digital may be largely attributed to a rapid advancement of technology related to X-ray detectors, which are the core components of X-ray imaging systems.
Digital X-ray detection technologies are mainly classified into ones that perform an indirect detection method and ones that perform a direct detection method. In an indirect detection method, X-rays are first converted into visible light and then into electrical signals to produce an image. In a direct detection method, X-ray signals are directly converted into electrical signals to generate an image.
The direct detection method may be implemented in various modes including integration mode and photon counting mode. In the integration mode, electrical signals are accumulated for a time to produce an image signal. In the photon counting mode, the number of incoming X-ray photons is counted to produce an image signal. Recently, research has been very actively conducted on the photon counting mode because it allows generation of an image for each of a plurality of X-ray energy levels with one shot imaging and provides high quality images with low X-ray exposure.

Driver circuit for outputting photon counting including a multiplexer, inverter and power supply


The present invention provides a method for the targeted insertion of a nucleotide of interest into a specific chromosomal site within a plant cell. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing a plant cell, the plant cell optionally but preferably having a heterologous target site on a chromosome thereof, wherein said target site is flanked by at least one recombination site; and then (b) transforming said plant cell with a transformation vector (e.g., with an Agrobacterium transformation vector) carrying a nucleotide sequence of interest, wherein said nucleotide sequence of interest is flanked by at least one recombination site that corresponds to the recombination sites of said target site, so that said nucleotide of interest is inserted into said chromosome at said target site (when a target site is employed).

It has now become common to insert heterologous DNA into plants, including both monocots and dicots. Vectors used to carry out such insertions, or "transform" the plants, include Agrobacterium vectors and ballistic vectors. Unfortunately, when plant transformations are routinely performed, the resulting transformants frequently express the transgene at unpredictable levels or at inappropriate times. And while it is true that plant transformation has become "routine", it is also true that plants vary widely with respect to their ability to be transformed, some plants being largely recalcitrant to transformation. For such difficult-to-transform plants therefore, it would be desirable to have higher efficiency transformation procedures and vectors, which are provided by the present invention.
The lack of predictability for expressing a genetic trait (for example, herbicide resistance) increases the cost of producing the desired plant because many "undesired" plants have to be initially screened to get the desired plant. The need to screen many transformants decreases the value of the transgenic crop and decreases confidence in the use of transgenic materials. Hence, it would be desirable to provide ways to introduce heterologous nucleic acids of interest into pre-established "target" sites within the genome of the plant to be transformed, where the DNA target site has been previously chosen to provide stable and predictable expression of the heterologous nucleic acid.
PCT Application WO99/25821 to Baszczynski et al. (assigned to Pioneer Hi-Bred) describes methods for the targeted excision of nucleotide sequences from a plant genome. P. Hooykaas describes the targeted delivery of a heterologous DNA by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in Arabidopsis with the Cre/LOX site-specific recombination system (A. Vergunst et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 26, 2729 (1998); A. Vergunst and P. Hooykaas., Plant Molec. Biol 38, 393–406 (1998). However, high-efficiency targeted insertion of a desired nucleic acid into a plant of interest at a predetermined chromosomal site has not yet been described.
Transformation involves the insertion and integration of exogenous DNA into the genome of a cell by physical or biological means. True transformation in a precise and targeted manner, at a reasonably high efficiency, is a difficult, complex process. Accordingly, there is a continued a need in the art for such procedures.

High efficiency gene targeting in plants


A glass laminate comprising panes of glass held together by a bonding layer is provided with an edge seal by the drying of an ethylene polymer emulsion such that the emulsion thins out along the edge of the glass panes.

Glass laminates are commonly used wherever so-called safety glass is of advantage, e.g. in automotive vehicle windows and the like where shattering of the glass may be a problem because it can endanger the occupants of the vehicle.
For this reason it has become common practice in the safety-glass art to laminate an outer glass pane to an inner glass pane with at least one layer of a bonding synthetic resin material.
The glass laminate can have a simple or complex perimetral edge in which the edge surfaces of the two glass panes and of the bonding layer are incorporated.
The term "edge" is here used to refer to the planar, rounded or beveled surfaces which run along the boundaries of each of the glass panes generally transverse to the broad surfaces thereof. The term "edge" when used without reference to the edge surfaces will then be reserved for the junction between the aforementioned edge surface and the broad base of the glass pane and is represented in cross section by a corner.
The perimetral edge will thus then be the simple or complex structure formed along the boundary of the glass laminate by the two edge surfaces of the glass pane and the edge surface of the bonding layer or layers. A simple perimetral edge can be one which is planar and in which the edge surfaces of the glass panes and the bonding layer are level with one another. A complex perimetral edge will generally be one in which the edge surface of one glass pane is set back from the edge surface of the other, in which the edge surface of the bonding layer is set back from one or both of the edge surfaces of the glass panes and in which the edge of the glass laminate can thus have a groove and/or can be stepped.
The reference of an optically-effective coating will generally refer to a metallic or metal oxide coating which can be applied to one or both of the glass panes to the bonding layer or on a foil which is sandwiched between the glass panes and thus is integrated with the bonding layer.
The synthetic resins which can be used for the bonding layer are generally known and include polyvinylbutyral or ethylenevinylacetate and polyurethanes. The glass laminates which are fabricated can be used in construction and in the motor vehicle industries, as noted, wherever safety glass is required.
The glass laminates which have been described have lives which can be measured in decades although they are subject to various influences which restrict the useful life. These can include static or dynamic mechanical stresses, thermal stresses which are often superimposed upon mechanical stresses, for example from exposure to sunlight and the like.
It is important that the laminate be formed in such manner that corrosive action, delamination and loosening of the bond between the glass panes is avoided as much as possible and for that moisture penetration into the perimetral edge of the glass laminate should be prevented. The term "corrosion" is used here in its most general sense and includes all deteriorating influence, including moisture penetration, damage to functional layers such as to an infrared reflecting silver layer, etc.
In order to reduce the effect on the laminate of such influences, it is common to completely or partially seal the perimetral edge and thereby maintain the long useful life of the glass laminate.
EP 0 391 165 A3 describes the sealing of the edge of a glass laminate of automotive vehicle window glass by means of a synthetic resin of the fluoropolymer, polybutenepolymer or butylpolymer type applied to a planar or simple perimetral edge of the glass laminate. The sealing of the perimetral edge has not, however, been fully satisfactory. For some time it has been known to provide the perimetral edge with a groove (UK Patent 310 065) which widens outwardly and receives a plastic seal not described in detail in this reference.
In neither case has the application of plastics by prior methods to the perimetral edge been fully satisfactory. In the past, the plastic has been doctored onto the perimetral edge in the form of a paste by a blade or the like. This method is not compatible with serial production techniques and it is difficult to obtain a completely uniform sealed edge.
The sealing layer is not, moreover, a structure layer which is capable of imparting strength to the glass laminate. It furthermore does not have a naturally-occurring contour or configuration or surface so that the nature of the seal will depend largely on the manipulative steps with which it is applied.

Glass laminate and method of making same


A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device according to the present invention includes the steps of (b) forming, on a back face of a dummy substrate and back faces of a plurality of semiconductor substrates, inorganic films having such thicknesses as to be resistant to a temperature of a thermal oxidizing treatment or a heat treatment and to sufficiently decrease an amount of oxidation or reducing gaseous species to reach the back faces of the dummy substrate and the plurality of semiconductor substrates, (c) disposing the dummy substrate and the plurality of semiconductor substrates in a lamination with surfaces turned in the same direction at an interval from each other, and (d) carrying out a thermal oxidizing treatment or post annealing over the surfaces of the semiconductor substrates in an oxidation gas atmosphere or a reducing gas atmosphere after the steps (b) and (c).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device and more particularly to a process for heat treating a semiconductor substrate.
2. Description of the Background Art
In the case where a semiconductor substrate is heat treated by a batch type device, generally, a filling substrate (which will be hereinafter referred to as a dummy substrate) for eliminating a space of a slot to make a heat distribution uniform or a monitor substrate for managing a process is provided directly above upper ends of product substrates disposed in a vertical direction (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-117646). For example, a monitor substrate for confirming a thickness of a formed film is provided in a thermal oxidizing step or a CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) step in some cases. The same material as that of the product substrate may be used for the dummy substrate or the monitor substrate. In the case where the material of the product substrate is silicon carbide (which will be hereinafter referred to as SiC), however, it is general to use a more inexpensive substrate such as a silicon substrate (which will be hereinafter referred to as Si).
In the case where thermal oxidation for the product substrate having an inorganic film formed on a back face is carried out, a by-product is generated by a reaction to an atmospheric gas over the back face of the dummy substrate if an inorganic film is not formed on the back face. For this reason, there is a problem in that a difference is made in the atmospheric gas to which surfaces of the product substrate disposed directly under the dummy substrate and the other substrates are exposed and different electrical characteristics are thus obtained.

Method of manufacturing semiconductor device


There is provided an apparatus and a method for heat treatment of lignocellulosic material. The apparatus comprises a treatment chamber and devices for circulating and recovering gases from the treatment chamber such as to provide a uniform temperature within the chamber and allow efficient drying of the material. This is achieved by injecting and recovering the gases from at least two sides of the treatment chamber.

High temperature treatment of lignocellulosic material, such as wood, makes it possible to reduce their moisture content and improve their stability characteristics.
Various methods and apparatus for carrying out high temperature treatment of lignocellulosic materials are known. FR-A-2,720,969 discloses such a method and a cell for carrying it out. This document discloses drying of the materials, followed by heating in a closed circuit during which the gases released by the material are employed as a fuel, and finally, cooling by injection of water. The closed-circuit heating step disclosed in this document does not make it possible to ensure residual humidity, remaining after the drying step, is completely eliminated. Additionally, the use of the gases released by the material as a fuel involves control of the treatment plant which is difficult to achieve in practice. Finally, injecting water for cooling leads to the material treated splitting or breaking up. The cell disclosed in that document for carrying out the method has corresponding disadvantages, and in practice, it is difficult or even impossible to carry out material treatment inside it. In particular, it is difficult, with this apparatus, to ensure that the gases released are subject to combustion, as proposed in the method, and it is also difficult and dangerous to carry out heating in a closed circuit. U.S. Pat. No. 6,374,513 discloses an apparatus and a method for high temperature disclosure in which delivery channels carry the gases to the treatment chamber on one side, and an induction channel, on the other side of the treatment chamber, recovers the gases to be channeled to a combustion chamber. However, the arrangement of this apparatus, which is further described below, creates a unidirectional flow of gas within the treatment chamber that results in temperature inhomogeneity within the material being treated. While this has utility in certain circumstances, there is a need for an improved apparatus for treating lignocellulosic material.

Apparatus and method for the heat treatment of lignocellulosic material


In a system that includes two or more computing systems connected to a computer network, a network control and synchronization (NetSync) application controls the in-sync playback of media files across different computing systems in the network, where each computing system is playing a local version of a media file using a local instance of a Media player. The NetSync application receives status messages from all Media players and controls the playback of all media files by sending them playback commands based on the received status messages, so that video playback among the players is in sync with a Master Media player. Alternatively, media playback across all Media players is based on user-entered playback commands, such as Play, Pause, Stop, and the like, entered using either the NetSync application interface or NetSync command scripts.

During the content creation process, given a "master" source (e.g., a movie), it is not unusual to generate multiple variations of the master targeting different markets and different playback environments. For example, a studio may generate three versions of a movie: a cinema version, for movie theater projectors, a standard-definition version, for DVD distribution, and a high-definition version, for Blu-Ray distribution. These versions may use different resolutions and different video compression schemes; however, in most cases, they all need to conform to the original artistic intent of the director.
Alternatively, when generating a version for consumer release (e.g., the cinema version), a director may want to experiment, and compare different artistic looks before selecting the final one. Hence, there is a need to compare, typically side-by-side, and in frame sync, multiple versions of the same stream.
As appreciated by the inventors here, it is desirable to develop improved techniques for simultaneous, frame-synchronized, playback of digital media files across multiple media players connected into a computer network.
The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section. Similarly, issues identified with respect to one or more approaches should not assume to have been recognized in any prior art on the basis of this section, unless otherwise indicated.

Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation


Systems, methods and media are provided for collaborative caching of files in a cloud storage directory. One method includes providing, at a cloud storage server having a cloud storage directory, an interface configured for forming one or more groups. Each group has a plurality of members. The method also includes monitoring the cloud storage directory including a plurality of files that is shared amongst members of a working group and, upon detecting a file activity related to one of the plurality of files, updating a profile for the file. The method further includes determining using the updated profile whether to distribute the file to the group members by applying a policy to the updated profile. The method also includes distributing the file to the group members by downloading the file to cloud storage devices associated with the group members when it is determined to distribute the file.

Cloud storage is a model of networked enterprise storage where data is stored not only in users' computers but also in virtualized pools of storage that are generally hosted by third party companies. Hosting companies operate large data centers and the data center operators virtualize necessary disk and other resources in the background in accordance with the requirements of the users. The virtualized disk and other resources are exposed as storage pools to which the users store files and other data objects.
Cloud storage client devices often use client software program(s) to upload and download files from a cloud storage server. The client software program(s) running on a cloud storage client device can provide a user with a view onto a very large number of files stored in a cloud storage directory. For performance reasons, among others, however, it is not always desirable to download all of those files prior to use. Existing cloud storage client solutions either retrieve/download a file on demand or do not present a file to a user at all until that file is resident on the user's cloud storage client device.

Systems, methods and media for collaborative caching of files in cloud storage


A railway system with at least one track having at least two rails and a method for encoding data for this railway system are disclosed. Railway signaling systems are located proximate to the tract for controlling railway cars moving along the rails. The railway system also includes safety systems associated with the railway signaling systems for exchanging data between the safety systems for safely controlling the railway signaling systems. The data are exchanged bidirectionally by signal pulses, whereby digital electrical signals are transmitted via the two electrically conducting rails. For encoding the data, each data point is formed from one or more signal pulses within a predetermined cycle time which is divided into time intervals. The encoding capacity can be enhanced, without significantly increasing the complexity, by using electrical signals that contain the encoded data in each time interval in form of at least one of three different signal states.

The present invention relates to a railway system with at least one track, and to a method for digital encoding of data for bidirectional transmission over the track.
Nothing in the following discussion of the state of the art is to be construed as an admission of prior art.
Railway systems that detect the presence of track-bound vehicles on a track are known. The tracks are typically comprised of two rails, with the vehicles' wheels and axles that span the rails acting as a shunt between the rails. Railway signals for controlling movement of the railway cars are typically arranged proximate to the tracks. Safety devices are associated with the railway signals and exchange data on a secure data link for controlling the railway signals, whereby the data are exchanged bidirectionally over both rails of the track. For data exchange, digital electrical signals in form of signal pulses, in particular electrical current pulses, are transmitted over the two electrically conducting rails. This principle is also referred to as bidirectional encoded track circuit. Each of the data consists of one or more current pulses transmitted within a cycle time, which is divided into predetermined time intervals. U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,584 describes for example an exchange of data by means of signal pulses. Heretofore, conventional methods suffer shortcomings as data encoding has a relatively small encoding capacity.
It would therefore be desirable and advantageous to provide an improved system and method for encoding data for transmission over railway tracks, to obviate prior art shortcomings and to realize any increase in the encoding capacity, without adding complexity to the system.

Railway system with at least one track, and method for encoding data for transmission over the track


A method for automatically converting a promotional calling card to a permanent calling card by an operator services system (OSS) is disclosed. A promotional calling card call received in the OSS is validated by obtaining card product-type data and card information data from a calling card validation database. Upon depletion of a non-billed promotional balance, the caller using a promotional calling card is presented with the option of being connected to a customer services representative by the OSS for arranging billing for future use of the card. User convenience is enhanced since the promotional calling card number is also used as the permanent calling card number after billing arrangements are made via the customer service representative.

The U.S. telecommunications industry is evolving in anticipation of rigorous competition for market share in local and long distance services. It is competition, and the expectations of the modern day consumer, that drive telecommunications companies to quickly bring to market those products and services which provide competitive pricing, quality service and convenience. One example of such a service is the now familiar "calling card" which allows a subscriber to place toll calls while away from the home or office without having to bill the call to a third party, or to continually insert coins into a public telephone. For example, a typical calling and/or credit card, such as the AT&T Universal card, enables a user to dial a directory number of a called party and a calling card number to place a call. Upon validation of the dialed calling card number by an operator services system (OSS), a connection between the subscriber and the called party is established. The calling card subscriber subsequently pays for the telephone call, and all other calls placed during a predetermined period, upon receiving an itemized calling card bill.
To introduce and encourage the use of calling card services, companies commonly distribute "promotional" calling cards at community events or via bulk mailings. A promotional card carries a pre-established non-billed balance which enables a user to place free telephone calls using the number printed on the face of the card until the non-billed balance is depleted. This trial use of a calling card is designed to convince potential customers of the ease-of-use and security associated with calling card service. Once the balance is depleted, the user disposes of the card and, if he or she desires, contacts the issuing company for a permanent calling card. Since promotional cards are distributed in a random fashion, it is not possible to issue a customized calling card number, such as a number which is based on the home directory number of the user.
Promotional calling cards do not allow billing and thus, are issued with predefined numbers (e.g. all promotional card numbers may start with the digits "898") which signifies to the OSS that the card is for promotional purposes, and that a billing record should not be generated for calls placed using the card. Permanent (or "unlimited use") calling card calls, however, are normally billed to a subscriber-specified directory number (e.g. a home or business directory number). Although some permanent card subscribers use a directory number as a portion of their calling card number, other subscribers choose to use a company assigned number for security reasons. Regardless of the card number chosen by a subscriber, permanent calling card numbers are always distinguishable from promotional calling card numbers so that the network can properly bill calls.
Although promotional calling cards are a valuable vehicle for introducing calling card service, users of the cards who become accustomed to a particular promotional card number are inconvenienced when, upon electing to subscribe to a permanent calling card, a new card number is assigned. In the current system, a new card number must be assigned due to card numbering rigidity which is imposed for proper billing. Thus, a promotional calling card user cannot extend use of the card after the initial non-billed balance has been depleted. Since ease-of-use is the hallmark of any calling card service, inconveniences associated with calling card use may result in a loss of market share for the card-issuing company. Therefore, there is a need in the art for flexibility in a telecommunications network so that promotional calling cards can be converted to permanent calling cards.

Method for establishing customized billing arrangements for a calling card in a telecommunications network


An ink jet cartridge for use in an ink jet printer has replaceable ink supply tanks. The cartridge includes a housing with an integrally mounted printhead, at least one ink pipe connector protruding from a floor thereof, and internal passageways which interconnect the ink pipe connectors and printhead. The replaceable ink supply tanks, one for each color and each ink pipe connector, contain an ink saturated foam or needled felt member, an ink outlet port, and a filter element which covers the ink outlet port. When the ink supply tank is installed in the cartridge housing, the ink pipe connector extends through the outlet port of the tank and deforms the filter element into compressive contact with the foam or needled felt member. Whenever an ink depleted ink supply tank is replaced with a new ink supply tank, a fresh filter element is available for the cartridge, thus preventing degradation of the cartridge filters during the useful life of the cartridge.

The invention relates to ink jet printing devices and more particularly to ink jet cartridges having replaceable ink tanks with internal filters for use in ink jet printers. The cartridges are mounted on translatable carriages in the ink jet printers for translation thereby during the printing mode.
Existing ink jet printing devices typically rely on some form of filtration, but generally have a filter that is included as part of the printhead mechanism or, in the case of disposable ink jet cartridges which integrate the ink supply tank and printhead, the filter is generally located between the printhead ink inlet and the ink supply tank outlet. In either case, the filter is used without replacement until the printhead or cartridge is removed and discarded. It is well known that ink tanks using foam or felt as an ink holding and dispensing medium contaminate the ink with dislodged fibers and particles. These contaminates delivered from the ink tank range in sizes that can cause the filters used to protect the printhead to become clogged over time during use and can cause immediate or long term ink jet printhead performance degradation. Such contaminants have been known to substantially block the filter and prevent ink droplet ejection from some of the nozzles, which is sometimes referred to as ink jet dropout.
In drop-on-demand, liquid ink printing devices, power pulses are used to selectively eject ink droplets from printhead nozzles to confronting recording mediums, such as paper. Such printing devices may either use piezoelectric, acoustic, or thermal droplet ejectors to expel ink droplets. In the thermal ink jet printing devices, the power pulses are usually produced by resistors located in channels which are selectively addressed with electric pulses to heat rapidly and momentarily vaporize ink in the channels. As voltage is applied across a selected resistor, an ink vapor bubble grows and causes the ink to bulge from channel nozzles. Removal of the voltage from the resistor causes the vapor bubble to collapse quickly and the ink in the channel to retract towards the collapsing bubble, thereby separating the bulging ink and producing a droplet which is propelled from the nozzle towards a recording medium. When the droplet impacts on the recording medium, a dot or spot is deposited. The channel is refilled by capillary action and ink is withdrawn from a supply container or cartridge. The operation of a typical thermal ink jet printer is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,849,774.
The carriage type ink jet printer typically has one or more small printheads containing the ink channels and nozzles. The printheads are combined with ink supply tanks to form an ink cartridge. In one type of cartridge, the printhead and one or more ink tanks are an integral part thereof and the entire cartridge is disposable when the ink in the tanks is depleted. In another type of cartridge, such as disclosed, for example, in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 08/668,802 filed Jun. 24, 1996, entitled "Ink Supply Container With Improved Foam Retention Properties", and 08/820,624, filed Mar. 19, 1997, entitled "Ink Jet Printer Including A Disengageable Medium Transport For Jam Clearance", the printheads are an integral part thereof with the ink supply tanks for the cartridge being replaceable. Cartridges which have replaceable ink supply tanks may also be replaceable, but are designed for a life expectancy of at least ten ink supply tanks. If the cartridge for replaceable ink supply tanks is a multicolor type, then the replaceable cartridge should not need to be replaced until at least ten ink supply tanks of the same color ink are depleted of ink. The ink supply tanks are mounted on the cartridge and sealingly connected to integral ink connectors of the cartridge which are covered by permanent filters. Both types of cartridges are mounted on a translatable carriage in the printer and translated in one direction to print a swath of information on a recording medium, such as paper. The swath height is equal to the length of the column of nozzles in the printhead. The paper is held stationary during the printing and, after the swath is printed, the paper is stepped a distance equal to the height of the printed swath or a portion thereof. This procedure is repeated until the entire page is printed. The filters for each of these types of cartridges are used for the entire life of the printhead, as contrasted with the present invention where the filters are fresh with each new ink supply tank.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,295 discloses an ink supply cartridge construction having multiple ink storage compartments. Ink is stored in a medium of reticulated polyurethane foam of controlled porosity and capillarity. The medium empties into ink pipes, the entrances of which are provided with wire mesh filters for filtering of air bubbles and solid particles from the ink. The ink in the ink pipes is directed to the printheads which are permanently attached to the cartridge. The entire cartridge is replaced when the ink has been depleted therefrom.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,425 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,491,501 disclose disposable ink cartridges in which the printheads and ink tanks are integrally attached. The ink is contained in an absorbent material in a housing which is partitioned from the printhead by a housing wall having a vent and an ink outlet in a well which is covered by a filter. The ink flow path is from the absorbent material through the filter into the well and out the ink outlet into a passageway which is in fluid communication with the printhead.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,204,690; U.S. Pat. No. 5,124,717; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,596 disclose an ink jet printhead having a filter at the ink inlet of the printhead which is an integral part of the printhead.
As disclosed above and in conventional ink jet cartridges, ink filtration is generally included as a permanent part of the printhead or cartridges having the printheads permanently attached thereto. Thus, the filters must be suitably functional for the life of the printhead. However, the absorbent material used in the typical ink cartridges tends to deteriorate or otherwise give off particles or debris which is collected by the filters, along with all other ink contaminants, so that with use the filters are progressively clogged. This clogging of the filter results in the ink flow to the printhead channels being impeded or blocked, which prevents the cartridge and/or printhead from achieving its normal usage or lifetime.

Ink jet cartridge having replaceable ink supply tanks with an internal filter


An engaging mechanism includes an engaging member and an engaged member freely detachably engageable with the engaging member. The engaging member includes an engaging main part and an engaging claw part formed on the engaging main part, both resiliently deformable. The engaging claw part has an inwardly curved engaging surface defined by a first curvature continuous curve. The engaged member includes an engaged part engageable with the engaging claw part and having an outwardly curved engaged surface defined by a second curvature continuous curve. The engaging surface and the engaged surface contact each other at a linear contact area at a time from when the engaging claw part and the engaged part are in engagement with each other through to when the engaging claw part is disengaged from the engaged part. A curvature of the engaging surface at the linear contact area is smaller than a curvature of the engaged surface at the linear contact area.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an engaging mechanism for freely detachably engaging two members with each other.
2. Related Art
An engaging mechanism is used for freely detachably engaging two members with each other. FIG. 1 shows an example of widely-used conventional engaging mechanisms. The engaging mechanism shown in FIG. 1 includes an engaging member 102 provided to a first member and an engaged member 104 provided to a second member. The engaging member 102 has an engaging main part 106 and an engaging claw part 108 formed on the engaging main part 106. The engaged member 104 is formed with an engaged part 110 that the engaging claw part 108 engages. The engaging claw part 108 has a planar engaging surface 112 that extends perpendicular to the engaging main part 106. Also, the engaged part 110 has a planar engaged surface 114 that extends parallel to and confronts the engaging surface 112.
The engaging member 102 is moved in a direction indicated by an arrow 116 or 118 relative to the engaged member 104, for example. When the engaging member 102 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow 118, then the engaging claw part 108 of the engaging member 102 passes over the engaged part 110 of the engaged member 104, and then the engaging surface 112 of the engaging claw part 108 engages the engaged surface 114 of the engaged part 110. In this engaging state, the engaging surface 112 is in surface-to-surface contact with the engaged surface 114. On the other hand, when the engaging member 102 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow 116, the engaging main part 106 and the engaging claw part 108 of the engaging member 102 elastically deform rightward in FIG. 1, and the engaging claw part 108 is disengaged from the engaged part 110. As a result, the engaging state is released.
Japanese Patent-Application Publication No. HEI-8-228811 discloses a different type of engaging mechanism, which is used for fasteners and includes a hook-shaped piece 122 shown in FIGS. 2(a) to 2(c). The hook-shaped piece 122 is integrally formed on a base member 120 and has an upright part 124 extending upward from the base member 120 and a curved part 126 formed on an end of the upright part 124. A first reinforcing rib 128 and a second reinforcing rib 130 are formed at either side of the upright part 124. The first reinforcing rib 128 is formed higher than the second reinforcing rib 130. With this configuration, when a loop member 132 is moved in a direction indicated by an arrow 134, the hook-shaped piece 122 elastically deforms as shown in FIG. 2(c). As a result, the loop member 132 is disengaged from the curved part 126 of the hook-shaped piece 122.


Package comprising a polymer blend of ionomer and polybutylene in which at least one seam is made up of the blend being sealed to itself.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to packaging films capable of being heat-sealed closed during the packaging of a product and later peeled open by an end-user or consumer. More specifically, the films of the present invention comprise innovative blends of polybutylene and certain types of ionomers.
2. Discussion Of the Prior Art
A number of conventional packaging designs include heat-sealed packaging film which require the end-user to peel open the film, when initially removing a product from the package. In such packaging applications, the heat seal should ideally be strong enough to protect the product, but not so strong as to cause the end user undue difficulty in peeling open the package.
Broadly speaking, polybutylene polymers are known to be useful in preparing peelable heat seals. Furthermore, films have been commercialized comprising blends of about 3-4 wt parts polybutylene and 96-97 weight parts zinc neutralized acid copolymer of ethylene and methacrylic acid.
Generally speaking, ionomers are well known. Ionomers are derived from acid copolymers by wholly or partially neutralizing the acid moiety of the acid copolymer with a cation. Acid copolymers are well known and generally comprise an olefin monomer (such as ethylene) which is copolymerized with an acid comonomer (such as acrylic acid or methacrylic acid).
Applicant has discovered improved heat sealable compositions for peelable packaging applications, comprising innovative blends of polybutylene and certain types of ionomers.

Packaging films capable of being heat-sealed closed and thereafter peeled open


A work-punching device and work-punching method capable of appropriately changing a counter load is provided. Also, a method for manufacturing an element for continuously variable transmission with simple process is provided. A counter load may be controlled by increasing and decreasing a pressure of a fluid, when punching an element 10 from a metal band plate 20 while applying a counter load by a counter punch 113.

Generally, an element used for constituting a driving belt for a continuously variable transmission is equipped with a body portion with lateral sides thereof contacting a pulley of the continuously variable transmission, a neck portion connected to a center of an upper end of the body portion, and a head portion positioned on the neck portion. Lateral sides of the neck portion between the body portion and the head portion are concave portions for assembling the element to a pair of endless rings. The driving belt is constituted by assembling a plurality of the elements to the pair of endless rings via the concave portions.
Conventionally, the element for the continuously variable transmission is formed by punching the metal plate material. The technique related to a punching processing of the element is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1. In the punching processing method of the element for the continuously variable transmission disclosed in the document, a press device equipped with a forming punch which punches the metal plate material into a shape of the element, and a counter punch which descends together with the metal plate material, is used.
Thereafter, upon press forming, a constant counter load, which is an upward biasing force, is applied to the counter punch. Application of the counter load is performed by a counter unit using a disk spring. As a material of the element, a long metallic plate material having a plane portion equipped with a predetermined plate thickness, and having a pair of thinned portions via a pair of corner portions in a longitudinal direction of both side portions of a lower surface thereof, is used.
Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a general press device equipped with a processing punch and a processing die, and which implements a stamping processing or a punching processing to a general metal thin plate.

Work-punching device, work-punching method, and method for producing element for continuously variable transmission


Various techniques are provided to route connections within a programmable logic device (PLD). In one example, a method includes determining timing slacks for connections described in a netlist for a programmable logic device (PLD). The method also includes determining a plurality of priority groups. The connections are associated with one or more of the priority groups based on the timing slacks. The method also includes routing the connections associated with each priority group, from a highest priority group to a lowest priority group. Each priority group is iteratively routed to remove routing conflicts before lower priority groups are routed. Additional methods, systems, machine-readable mediums, and other techniques are also provided.

Programmable logic devices (PLDs) (e.g., field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs), field programmable systems on chips (FPSCs), or other types of programmable devices) may be configured to provide user-defined features. PLDs typically include various components, such as programmable logic blocks (PLBs), memory blocks, digital signal processing blocks, input/output blocks, and other components. PLD components may be interconnected by programmable routing resources (e.g., signal paths) of the PLD to implement a desired circuit design. PLDs typically have a limited supply of routing resources available to provide connections between components of the PLD. This differs from conventional application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) in which typically any desired signal path may be custom-manufactured for a particular application.
Unfortunately, existing approaches to PLD connection routing often fail to provide such routings efficiently. In one approach, maze routing techniques may be used to route connections one at a time. However, maze routing techniques may fail to route all desired connections or may fail to meet the timing requirements of a particular design. In such cases, ripup and reroute operations are subsequently performed to remove routed connections and attempt to reroute them through alternative routing resources of the PLD. Such operations are inefficient, often result in degraded PLD performance, and significantly increase the time and processing resources needed to determine connection routings for the PLD.
In another approach, negotiation routing techniques may be used to route multiple connections using shared routing resources. Resource conflicts among commonly-routed connections are then resolved based on priorities associated with the connections. For example, negotiation routing techniques may be "connection-based" (e.g., where connections of different signals are routed one at a time), or "signal-based" (e.g., where signals are routed one at a time, with each signal having one or more associated connections that are routed before additional signals are routed). Unfortunately, negotiation routing techniques typically suffer the same drawbacks as conventional maze routing techniques, thus requiring similar remedial ripup and reroute operations.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved approach to the routing of connections in PLDs.
Embodiments of the present invention and their advantages are best understood by referring to the detailed description that follows. It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures.

Group based routing in programmable logic device


A semiconductor memory device is provided that enhances data output speed. The semiconductor uses dual memory arrays with differing activation voltage levels. The semiconductor memory includes a first memory cell array having multiple memory cells and a second memory cell array having more memory cells than the first memory cell array. First and second row decoders respectively receive first and second row addresses to respectively generate an activation signal for a word line in the first memory cell array and subsequent word lines in the second memory cell array. A column decoder receives and decodes a column address to generate a bit line selection signal for the first and second memory cell arrays. The semiconductor device further includes a sense amplifier, which is coupled to bit lines selected based on the bit line selection signals, that detects a potential difference between the bit lines caused by data and amplifies the potential difference. The sense amplifier also refreshes the data on the memory cell from which the data was read.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and in particular, a semiconductor memory device with improved data output speed.
2. Background of the Related Art
Various types of semiconductor memory devices are used in a computer system or other program driving system. Common memory devices include DRAM and SRAM. SRAM is very fast but expensive because of a low degree of integration. Therefore, DRAM is generally used in personal computers where the relatively low price and low speed are acceptable.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a semiconductor memory cell array and peripheral circuits of a related art DRAM. As shown in FIG. 1, a row decoder 11 decodes a row address to select and activate a word line of a memory cell array 12. When a word line of the memory cell array 12 is activated, a column decoder 14 decodes a column address to select a bit line of the memory cell array 12. Sense amplifier 13 sequentially senses and amplifies data in a memory cell connected to the activated word line and then transmits the data to a data output buffer 15.
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram depicting a memory cell of the memory cell array 12. The general structure of the memory cell includes a transistor and a capacitor. As shown in FIG. 2, a memory cell MCI has a structure with a capacitor C1 connected between the drain of NMOS transistor Q1 and ground. The source of NMOS transistor Q1 is connected to bit line BIT and the gate to the word line WLn.
As shown in FIG. 2, another memory cell MC2 includes an NMOS transistor Q2 and a capacitor C2. The gate of NMOS transistor Q2 is connected to a word line WLn+1 and the source to a bit line /BIT. As described above, when the word line WLn is activated, the NMOS transistor Q1 is turned on. When the word line WLn+1 is activated, the NMOS transistor Q2 is turned on.
The capacitors C1 and C2 are charged or discharged in accordance with the logic value of data. For example, when the word lines WLn and WLn+1 are respectively activated in a data read mode, the data charged is discharged through the turned on NMOS transistors Q1 and Q2. The discharged data is applied to the bit lines BIT and /BIT so that the bit lines BIT and /BIT vary in voltage. If the capacitors are not charged, there is no change in the voltage of the bit lines BIT and /BIT.
The two bit lines BIT and /BIT are precharged with a voltage of VCC/2. When the NMOS transistors Q1 and Q2 of the memory cells MC1 and MC2 are turned on so that the data of the capacitors C1 and C2 are respectively transmitted to the bit lines BIT and /BIT, the sense amplifier 13 compares the voltage difference between the two bit lines BIT and /BIT, and amplifies the voltage difference.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the data read operation of the related art semiconductor memory device will now be described. FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing the read operation of a related art semiconductor memory device. The case data of "0" being stored in the memory cell will be described as an example.
FIG. 3(a) shows a row address strobe signal /RAS and FIG. 3(b) shows a column address strobe signal /CAS. FIG. 3(c) shows a write enable signal /WE and FIG. 3(d) shows a word line voltage. FIG. 3(e) shows voltages of a pair of bit lines BIT and /BIT. FIG. 3(f) shows a bit line selection signal CD transmitted from the column decoder 14.
The row address strobe signal /RAS indicates that the row address is input. The column address strobe signal /CAS indicates that the column address is input. The write enable signal /WE controls the read and write operations of the memory device. A high level of the write enable signal /WE causes the write operation and a low level causes the read operation.
Time t0 is a stand-by state of the timing chart of FIG. 3 where the voltage of the word line is low. As described with respect to FIG. 2, the two bit lines BIT and /BIT of the memory cell are pre-charged with the potential VCC/2 or half of the power voltage VCC.
At time t1, the two bit lines BIT and /BIT of FIG. 2 are in a floating state that is not affected by an outside environment. Accordingly, the two bit lines BIT and /BIT sustain the precharge potential VCC/2.
At time t2, the row decoder 11 decodes the row address transmitted from the outside to select word line (e.g., WLn). The row decoder 11 increases the voltage of the selected word line to the sum of the supply voltage VCC and a MOS transistor threshold voltage, Vt. In other words, the voltage level VCC+Vt, is a word line activation level that activates the word line (e.g., WLn).
The NMOS transistor Q1, whose gate is connected to the activated word line WLn, is turned on so that the data stored in the capacitor C1 is applied to the bit line BIT. As shown in FIG. 3, the data of the capacitor C1 is "0". The charges are applied to the bit line BIT in accordance with the data of the capacitor C1 so that the potential of the bit line BIT becomes a potential slightly lower or slightly higher than the precharge voltage VCC/2. The bit line /BIT sustains the precharge voltage VCC/2. Thus, the potential of a bit line to which a cell to be read is connected is changed and the bit line not connected to the cell to be read remains VCC/2. Accordingly, a specified potential difference exists between the two bit lines BIT and /BIT. The sense amplifier 13 is activated to amplify the potential difference between the bit lines BIT and /BIT between time point t3 and time point t4.
When the amplification by the sense amplifier 13 is achieved to some degree (e.g., between t5 and t6), the ground voltage VSS is applied to the bit line BIT and the supply voltage VCC is applied to the bit line /BIT. Thus, the voltage "0" or the potential of the ground voltage VSS is stored by the capacitor C1 through the NMOS transistor Q1, which is turned on by the high level voltage of the word line WLn. As the result, the data can be read and the refresh operation is performed (i.e., data is rewritten).
Such operations are executed when the data stored in the capacitor C1 is "0". If the data of the capacitor C1 is "1", the opposite operations are performed.
If the amplification operation of the sense amplifier 13 is achieved to some degree so the potential difference between the two bit lines BIT and /BIT exceeds the sum of the respective threshold voltages of usual PMOS and NMOS transistors or ".vertline.Vtn.vertline.+.vertline.Vtp.vertline.", a signal of the bit line BIT corresponding to the bit line selection signal CD is transmitted to the output buffer 15 via a data bus. At time point t7, the word line WLn is deactivated to sustain the data stored in the capacitor C1 (e.g., by the refresh operation previously described).
At time t8, for succeeding data output operations, the two bit lines BIT and /BIT are equalized by the precharge voltage VCC/2. Thus, the bit lines BIT and /BIT are placed in the stand-by state.
The time necessary for activating a word line is an important factor in many elements determining the data output speed in a related art memory device. An operation start point of the sense amplifier and a selection signal output point of the column decoder depend upon the time point when the word line is activated. Therefore, the amount of time taken for the word line voltage of the ground voltage potential, (e.g., VSS) to reach an activation potential, (e.g., VCC+Vt), determines the output operation time for the overall data. This is an important factor in a write operation. Consequently, a need exists for shortening the data input/output operation time in a semiconductor memory.

Semiconductor device having multiple sized memory arrays


Disclosed is a continuous process for producing silicone copolymers using a series of at least one stirred-tank reactor, the last of which reactors in said series has crude product stream feeding into at least one plug flow reactor, wherein this crude product stream is sufficiently homogeneous that this stream which undergoes further reaction in the plug flow reactor does not undergo phase separation.

Silicone copolymers serve as surface-tension lowering agents in agricultural adjuvants, stabilizers for polyurethane foam, additives for coatings applications, antifoams, and emulsifiers. The efficient manufacture of silicone copolymers is desired for two primary reasons--lower cost, and less waste. If, in addition, the equipment needed for that method or process is less costly to construct, such method or process would be inherently attractive. Moreover, there remains a need for a process to prepare silicone copolymers that provides desirable properties in the application for which they are intended, which process would offer manufacturers the flexibility to produce variations of products, determined by the choice of method of manufacture.
Chemical reactions may be conducted in a batch fashion, in a continuous fashion, or in hybrid fashion partially batch or partially continuous). For example, the reactants necessary to prepare a silicone copolymer may be a silicone fluid containing one or more hydrogen atoms directly bonded to silicon (hereafter referred to as a hydrogen siloxane or SiH fluid); and an olefinically terminated compound (hereinafter referred to as an olefinic compound). The two components are mixed together in appropriate amounts, and while being sufficiently agitated, catalyst is added. A vigorous reaction ensues, and the olefin, by hydrosilation, becomes chemically attached to the silicone.
Because in most cases the hydrogen siloxane fluid and the olefinic compound are immiscible, a compatibilizing agent frequently is used to facilitate reaction. This agent is often called a solvent, although it is not necessary to use it in sufficient quantity to dissolve both components. If the hydrogen siloxane fluid and olefinic compound are sufficiently pure of minor-to-trace components, the amount of "solvent" can be decreased, in some cases to zero. However, in those cases, good agitation becomes even more important, to maximize the contact between the two (relatively) immiscible phases.
The reaction between the raw materials need not be conducted in a purely batch fashion. For example, if the reactivity of the hydrogen siloxane fluid is very high, the olefinic compound may be charged to the reactor in its entirety, a fraction of the hydrogen siloxane fluid may be charged, the reaction catalyzed by adding a noble metal catalyst solution, and the remaining hydrogen siloxane fluid added subsequently and at such a rate, after the initial reaction exotherm has begun to subside, as to keep the reaction under control. This process is sometimes called semi-batch, or (incorrectly) semi-continuous. If both the hydrogen siloxane fluid and the olefinic compound are added only in part initially, and then all components added continuously after the reaction is initiated, and added until the reactor is full, the reaction is called (correctly) semi-continuous.
Truly continuous reaction of hydrogen siloxane fluid and olefin has, heretofore, not been successfully accomplished. This is for several reasons, which will be enumerated in detail.
There are two main types of continuous reactors for liquid phase systems: continuous stirred tank reactors (known as CSTRs); and plug-flow reactors. In CSTRs, it is inherent that not all of any of the reactants can be consumed completely. However, silicone copolymer containing unreacted hydrogen siloxane fluid is unsuitable for making many commercial products. Thus, CSTRs themselves are not good for making silicone copolymer.
The presence of this unreacted hydrogen siloxane fluid exiting a CSTR reaction might be circumvented by the use of a plug flow reactor; however, without the continual mixing of the CSTR the immiscible hydrogen siloxane fluid and olefinic compound will phase-separate very rapidly subsequent to initial mixing, thus causing the reaction to proceed more and more slowly. In fact, the reaction ceases rapidly without ongoing agitation, and then fails to proceed, even upon renewed agitation, which effect is believed to be caused by gradual, irreversible deactivation of the catalyst. Thus, neither of the two standard continuous reactor systems alone is effective for the manufacture of silicone copolymers.

Continuous manufacture of silicone coploymers


There is disclosed a semiconductor device comprising at least one capacitive element group having a plurality of unit capacitive elements. At least one lead-out electrode for bottom electrodes of the unit capacitive elements of the capacitive element group is provided along a circumference going around top electrodes as a whole of the capacitive element group. The at least one lead-out electrode is provided so as to surround the top electrodes as a whole of the capacitive element group.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A semiconductor device is known that incorporates a plurality of capacitive elements. Such a semiconductor device is configured, for example, with bipolar integrated circuits. See, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 1999-312784. FIG. 6 shows an example of a cross-sectional structure of a unit capacitive element used in the bipolar integrated circuit. As shown in FIG. 6, a unit capacitive element Cy comprises a P-type semiconductor substrate 1, a P-type isolation region 2, an island region 3 made up of an N-type layer surrounded by the isolation region 2, an N-type bottom electrode region 4 formed on the surface of the island region, an oxide film 5, a dielectric thin film 6 such as silicon nitride film, an aluminum top electrode 7 and a lead-out electrode 8 of a bottom electrode. Its capacitance value is roughly determined by the area of the dielectric thin film 6 in contact with the surface of the bottom electrode 4. This area is equal to the area of an opening portion 5a cleared of the oxide film 5 covering the bottom electrode 4.
As shown in a plan view of FIG. 7, capacitive element groups Ca and Cb are configured through parallel connection of the unit capacitive elements Cy. In the case of a capacitance ratio of 5:15 (1:3), five of the unit capacitive elements Cy are arranged side by side to form the capacitive element Ca. On the other hand, 15 of the unit capacitive elements Cy are arranged side by side to form the capacitive element Cb. The unit capacitive elements Cy of each of the capacitive element groups Ca and Cb are connected to a respective common electrode 12, 13 with connection electrodes 11.
The unit capacitive elements Cy making up each of the capacitive element groups Ca and Cb are connected in parallel each by the electrode wire 11 connected to the top electrode 7. In the case of a three-layer aluminum wiring, the electrode wire is formed by the third wire layer, i.e., the wire layer located at the topmost. The bottom electrode 4 of each of the unit capacitive elements Cy is connected to ground potential GND.
Configuring the above capacitive element groups Ca and Cb presents problems in layout pattern of the unit capacitive elements Cy. That is, it is necessary, out of demands for downsizing and higher accuracy of semiconductor devices, to use the smallest possible unit capacitive elements for capacitive element groups for highly accurate capacitance value and capacitance ratio.
In general, however, the smaller the capacitance value of the unit capacitive element Cy for smaller area, the poorer the accuracy of the capacitance value and capacitance ratio. For this reason, ingenuity is required for the layout pattern of the unit capacitive element Cy to reduce the area without degrading their accuracy.
The aforementioned prior-art layout method shown in FIG. 7, however, has been unfit for downsizing. That is, it is necessary to first route the connection electrode 11 for connection with the common electrode 12 or 13 for each of the unit capacitive elements Cy in the capacitive element group Ca or Cb, thus inhibiting downsizing. This aspect is also true when a connection electrode 11 is routed for connecting a common electrode to the lead-out electrode 8.
The plurality of capacitive element groups Ca and Cb are arranged on the same integrated circuit. This results in the connection electrodes 11 and the common electrode 12, 13 being arranged for each of the capacitive element groups, thus inhibiting downsizing.


The present invention provides a cleaning device for shoe soles. The cleaning device includes a housing in which a brush rack assembly and an oscillating device for oscillating the brush rack assembly are housed. The brush rack assembly includes a plurality of brush rods situated in a spaced manner. Each of the brush rods defines a rod from which a multitude of bristles extend. The cleaning device also includes a vacuum assembly for catching and removing dirt removed from the shoe soles. Specifically, the vacuum assembly includes a vacuum device and a reservoir. The brush rack assembly is supported in the reservoir and the reservoir defines a port which extends through the housing and to which the vacuum device is connectable.

It is widely known in the art of shoe cleaning to utilize mats with bristles for removal of dirt and other debris from the soles of shoes. Typical of the art are those devices disclosed in the following U.S. Pat. Nos.:
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. Inventor(s) Issue Date ______________________________________ 345,291 S. M. Fein July 13, 1886 632,533 Mock et al. Sept. 5, 1899 1,711,116 G. A. Keenan April 30, 1929 1,830,455 J. Zrnel Nov. 3, 1931 2,704,852 W. V. Stone March 29, 1955 3,065,478 A. Lawrin Nov. 27, 1962 3,641,609 W. M. Hansen Feb. 15, 1972 ______________________________________
Typically, the bristles are secured to a mat and removal of any dirt or debris from the shoes soles is effected by the wearer brushing the shoe soles against the bristles. Several devices include a frame which supports the bristles above a reservoir for catching the dirt and debris removed from the shoe soles. Often the bristles will become clogged with dirt and become ineffective. Further, the reservoir can fill up with dirt and clog the bristles as well.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide cleaning device for shoe soles which includes bristles which are powered to remove dirt and debris from shoe soles.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a cleaning device for shoe soles wherein the bristles oscillate back and forth.
Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning device for shoe soles which includes a vacuum device for pulling dirt and debris from the shoes soles and dirt and debris loosened by the bristles.


A magneto-optical recording medium has a recording layer and a reflective layer on a substrate. The recording layer has a layered structure in which at least one spinel ferrite (or rutile-type oxide or hematite) layer and at least one garnet ferrite layer are piled together. It is preferable that the layered structure is formed on tracks where data are recorded. A manufacturing method comprises the steps of heat treatment in the range of 500-700° C., preferably 600-630° C., after the formation of the recording layer. In the magneto-optical recording and playback device to record and play back data, the wavelength of light for recording data is different from that for reading data, which is preferable for a magneto-optical recording medium comprising a garnet ferrite layer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a magneto-optical recording medium such as magneto-optical disk and card, a manufacturing method for the medium and a magneto-optical recording and playback device to record and play back data using the magneto-optical recording medium. This invention specially relates to a magneto-optical recording medium having a recording layer comprising a garnet ferrite layer and being ideal for high density and proximity recording, a manufacturing method for the medium and a magneto-optical recording and playback device for the medium.
2. Background Art
In conventional magneto-optical recording media on the market, the recording layer is mainly made from a thin metal layer. Data are recorded onto the recording layer as recorded bits by changing the optical properties such as the transmission or reflection rate of minute spots on the recording layer by a light beam for recording data. An amorphous alloy of rare earth metals such as TbFeCo is a typical material for the thin metal layer, and the alloy is favorable for recording data because it generally has a high absorption coefficient (>105 cm−1). However, the thin metal layer is prone to deterioration due to oxidation and other factors. For this reason, it has to be sealed and protected by a plastic layer, for example.
On the other hand, a magneto-optical recording medium having a recording layer that consists of an oxide such as garnet ferrite, which is a kind of ferrite having a garnet type structure of crystals and has a large Faraday rotation angle, has been developed. In such a recording medium, the degree of deterioration of properties due to oxidation is smaller than that of the case in which a metal material is used for the recording layer, because the material itself of the recording layer is already an oxide. Therefore, it has the distinctive feature that the above mentioned special protection is not necessary.
In the case in which garnet ferrite is used as the material for magneto-optical recording, however, internal stress occurs in a garnet ferrite layer when spattering for formation of the layer on a substrate. This sometimes results in cracks in the garnet ferrite layer, rough morphology of the surface of the layer and very large crystal particles, which are not preferable because they cause the problem of medium noise when recording and playing back. In order to overcome the above-mentioned problems, a method for improvement of the morphology of the layer by adjusting the thermal expansion coefficient of the substrate and by performing inverse spattering, for example, after annealing, is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 8-249740 (1996).
Meanwhile, a new type of recording layer having a plurality of layers made from several kinds of materials for magneto-optical recording has recently been developed for the purpose of improvement of the S/N and C/N ratio. However, it is said that metal materials such as the above amorphous alloy are not suitable for multi-layered structures since they have a relatively small Kerr Effect and a high absorption coefficient. As a result, a recording layer having multiple-layers made from garnet ferrite, which is known as an oxide-type material for optical recording and which has large Faraday Effect, has attracted much attention. For instance, a multi-layered recording medium having piled layers made from bismuth-substituted type garnet ferrite having an excellent Faraday rotation angle in the wavelength range of visible light has been proposed (see Itoh, Koike, Numata, Inoue and Kawanishi "Multi-Layered Magnetic Garnet Ferrite Film for Magneto-Optical Recording", Abstract of 10th Academic Lectures for Application of Magnetics in Japan, p. 31, November 1986).
However, a multi-layered recording medium having a recording layer made from bismuth-substituted garnet ferrite requires a high power light beam when writing data because the absorption coefficient of the recording layer is small. Taking this problem into consideration, Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 6-282868 discloses a multi-layered type magneto-optical recording medium having a light absorption layer which accelerates the recording process by efficient transfer of the applied by a light beam to a recording layer which is near the light absorption layer. However, the above mentioned magneto-optical recording medium uses direct energy gap semiconductors such as GaAs, InP, CdS, CdSe, ZnSe and ZnS, which are easily oxidized during layer formation, as the light absorption layer. Therefore, a protective layer is required on the surface of the light absorption layer. The protective layer is formed by deposition of SiO2, Al2O3, TiO2 or the like in the range of 2˜100 μm by a CVD method or spattering to create a film. Accordingly, the manufacturing process shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-282868 becomes complex because formation of the light absorption layer and the protective layer is necessary in addition to formation of the recording layer, which leads to increased production costs. Besides, properties such as the S/N ratio of the magneto-optical recording medium manufactured by the above method have not yet reached a satisfactory level.
Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 6-290497 (1994) discloses a manufacturing method for a magneto-optical recording medium having a recording layer that has a double-layered garnet ferrite structure, in which a non-magnetic garnet ferrite underlayer is used, and discloses that the multi-recording layer keeps the garnet ferrite crystal particle diameter at 1 μm or below to reduce the disparities in bit shapes and medium noise. However, the above method is impractical because the manufacturing process is complex. Further, in the case in which the multi-layered structure is formed by two types of garnet ferrite having different compositions, the elements in each garnet ferrite layer disperse at the vicinity of layer boundaries after heat treatment. Therefore, compositional deviations occur in the direction perpendicular to the layer surface in the multi-layered structure, which causes the problem of deterioration of properties such as the S/N ratio and repeatability. Furthermore, high density recording is hindered if the above mentioned method is employed because it is impossible for the above mentioned garnet ferrite layer formation method to provide minute crystals on the order of nanometers.
On the other hand, various approaches to the improvement of the S/N and C/N ratios have been examined from not only the aspect of the magneto-optical recording medium itself but also from the aspect of devices for recording and playing back data on the magneto-optical recording medium.
The method to realize high resolving power by raising the optical refraction rate by fulfilling a liquid between a sample and an object lens is known. An application of this method using a small solid lens has been proposed under the name of SIL lens (Appl. Phys. Lett., 57(24), 1990; U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,307). And, a data recording and playback system using the SIL lens for magneto-optical recording medium has been also proposed (U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,750). This system is characterized in that the distance between the SIL lens and the recording layer of the recording medium is kept within the wavelength of the light, namely on the sub-micron order, so as to gain a small focus spot diameter which is a feature of the SIL lens, and so as to gain an increase in the recording density. However, even in this system, the S/N and C/N ratios have not yet reached a satisfactory level. Besides, this system lacks generality because it is not suitable for a magneto-optical recording medium that has a relatively thick protective layer, which is, for example, disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 6-282868.

Magneto-optical recording medium, manufacturing method thereof and magneto-optical data recording and playback device

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation

The Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique


An information communication apparatus includes acoustic and non-acoustic couplers, a switch for selectively connecting an information sending source of the apparatus to the acoustic or non-acoustic couplers, a setting unit for selectively setting items of a communication characteristic of each of the acoustic and non-acoustic couplers, a memorizing circuit for memorizing communication characteristics each having items the values of which are preset by the setting unit, a connection detector for detecting the connection of the acoustic coupler to a communication line, and an information sending controller. The controller connects the sending source to the acoustic or non-acoustic coupler by the switch in response to the acoustic coupler connection or not connection and controls the information sending according to the acoustic coupler or non-acoustic coupler communication characteristic from the memorizing circuit.

1. 1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information communication apparatus and, more particularly, to an information communication apparatus (i.e., a facsimile apparatus) having information sending means for sending information, acoustic coupler means for transmitting the information to a communication line through sound according to a predetermined communication characteristic including a plurality of items, non-acoustic coupler means for transmitting the information to the communication line through an optical signal or an electric signal according to a predetermined communication characteristic including a plurality of items, connection switching means for selectively connecting the information sending means to the acoustic coupler means or the non-acoustic coupler means, and communication characteristic item setting means for selectively setting a plurality of items of the communication characteristic of the acoustic coupler means and a plurality of items of the communication characteristic of the non acoustic coupler means.
2. Description of the Related Art
As such an information communication apparatus, for example, a portable facsimile apparatus is known. The portable facsimile apparatus uses as a communication line a wire public telephone line and a wireless public telephone line. The wireless public telephone line is known as a car telephone and a portable telephone. The portable facsimile is connected through an acoustic coupler with a receiver of one of a wire telephone, a car telephone and a portable telephone, or is connected through a non-acoustic coupler means of a MODEM with the wire public telephone line or a telephone line in a body of the car telephone or the portable telephone.
However, communication characteristics required for sending information from the information sending means of the portable facsimile apparatus are different in these cases, in the first of which the portable facsimile apparatus is connected through the acoustic coupler means to the wire public telephone line or the wireless public telephone line, in the second of which the portable facsimile apparatus is connected through the non-acoustic coupler means to the wire public telephone line, and in the third of which the portable facsimile apparatus is connected through the non-acoustic coupler means to the wireless public telephone line.
In other words, different values are required in a plurality of items included in the communication characteristics in the above-described various cases, the items being such as an initial transmitting speed, an image signal transmitting level, an equalizer, and an initial receiving speed.
Heretofore, whenever the above-described various cases are altered, it is necessary to newly set the values of all the items of the communication characteristic of the information sending means of the portable facsimile apparatus in response to the new case by the communication characteristic item setting means provided in the portable facsimile apparatus.
These operations are troublesome, and a communication error is generated if information is sent from the information sending means in one of the above-described various cases but under the wrong communication characteristic for one case.

Facsimile apparatus adapted to communicate via an acoustic coupler


Electrical signal data from a target location are recorded and collected. A signal analyzer analyzes the signal data and determines whether characteristics of the signal data resemble noise data or whether a departure from noise is present. If the characteristics show a departure from noise, neuronal activity at the target location is indicated.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) employs high-frequency stimulation to stimulate a targeted region of the brain. It includes a surgical procedure where one or more electrodes are positioned and placed into one of several possible targets in the brain. The electrode is then connected to an impulse generator that is implanted subcutaneously, in a manner similar to that used for a pacemaker. Stimulation parameters are adjusted to maximize therapeutic effects. Deep brain stimulation is, for example, a surgical treatment for Parkinson's disease.
In this procedure and other similar procedures, the stimulation electrode works effectively only if positioned near neurons that are targeted for stimulation. To properly position the electrode, a recording microelectrode is used to record electrical signals from within the brain or other tissue. From these signals, a surgeon or other expert must identify and isolate extracellular action potentials of individual neurons. If the action potentials are properly identified, the location of the targeted neurons is more than likely determined.
There are various techniques for isolating neuron cell discharges from electrical signal data. However, the prior techniques depend on the subjective judgment of an expert that attempts to distinguish a nerve cell discharge from a large quantity of noise signals. This is performed, for example, by viewing an oscilloscope and analyzing a tracing of the recorded electrical activity. Alternately, the electrical signal data is made audible and the expert listens for certain characteristics that may represent neuron cell discharges. In either case, experts must be highly trained and sophisticated in order to analyze the electrical signal data. They typically have extensive prior knowledge of what a nerve cell discharge looks like and/or sounds like as opposed to an artifact signal.
Due to its subjective nature, this is a tedious and error prone process. Furthermore, the limited number of qualified experts hinders the ability to perform procedures that require identification of neurons.
The present invention provides a new and useful system and method of analyzing electrical signals that addresses one or more of the above problems.

Neuron signal analysis system and method


Portable, mobile, lightweight, removable, low cost, easy to manufacture, easy to ship, easy to transport, easy to store, and easy to use optical adapters that provides an effective means of videoconferencing over a mobile phone or other mobile device with a camera. Embodiments include landscape and portrait adapters that can be easily applied, used and removed while maintaining a professional and aesthetic appearance. Small mirrors within the optical adapter allow light from the front of the mobile device to enter the adapter and be conditioned and redirected into the built-in lens of the camera on the back of the mobile device. Novel embodiments include a lens reverser and/or a re-lens. Optical adapters also provide for self-imaging or surveillance. Various protective cases and adapter embodiments are configured to match specific mobile devices.

Field of Invention
The present invention relates to optical adapters, in particular optical adapters for mobile devices with still or video cameras.
Description of Prior Art
There is often a need or want to see the people we telecommunicate with. This allows us to see facial expressions, perform a show and tell, make presentations, etc., as if we were physically present. Visual mobile telecommunication is just emerging as a practical reality.
Videoconferencing adds a visual component to telecommunication and is becoming more popular especially with the current focus on global warming and the high cost of travel. Travel for face-to-face meetings is expensive, as well as bad for the environment. Conventionally, videoconferencing is performed using specialized hardware and software or via personal computers. This equipment is not easily portable or mobile. People are often confined to the rooms permanently supporting the videoconferencing equipment or the network required for the telecommunication.
Mobile devices with digital cameras, such as various cell phones, Blackberry, iPhone, iTouch, or other iPhone-like devices have processors that execute computer programs. The programs respond to user input from various buttons or touch displays, handle networking, capture and play audio, capture and display digital images, including video, and perform other functions.
Conventional wired phones and cellular phones allow us to telecommunicate, but contain no visual component. Cell phones and cell phone use is globally ubiquitous these days. Almost everyone has a cell phone and cell phone networks are found throughout the world.
Research in Motion created the Blackberry, the first real business oriented mobile phone with e-mail, web browsing, etc. The Blackberry helped pave the way for high speed broadband mobile networks.
The iPhone and iTouch have a wireless network connection to the Internet.
With the iPhone, Apple Computers has revolutionized mobile phones. With a large touch screen and a slick, graphic rich interface, the iPhone sets the trend for mobile phones of the future. However, videoconferencing has not been commercially available for mobile phones, including the iPhone. One reason videoconferencing is not available on the iPhone, or other cell phones, is that the camera is on the back and so the users cannot see the screen while creating a video image of themselves.
Likewise, because the camera is on the back, users cannot take still pictures or videos of themselves, or people or other objects behind them. Video streams are comprised of a plurality of video frames.
What is needed is a portable, mobile, lightweight, removable, low cost, easy to manufacture, easy to ship, easy to transport, easy to store, and easy to use device that provides an effective means of videoconferencing over a mobile phone, such as the iPhone or other mobile devices with cameras which are not on the same side as the display.

Optical adapters for mobile devices with a camera