Compounds, compositions and methods for modulating the activity of receptors are provided. In particular compounds and compositions are provided for modulating the activity of receptors and for the treatment, prevention, or amelioration of one or more symptoms of disease or disorder directly or indirectly related to the activity of the receptors.

The nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily comprises more than 150 different proteins, most of which are believed to function as ligand activated transcription factors, exerting widely different biological responses by regulating gene expression (for review, see Di Croce et al, EMBO J18:6201-6210 (1999); Mangelsdorf, et al Cell 83:825-839 (1995); Perlmann, et al, Cell 90:391-397 (1997)). Members of this family include receptors for endogenous small, lipophilic molecules, such as steroid hormones, retinoids, vitamin D and thyroid hormone.
The classical steroid receptors include the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) (or aldosterone receptor), the estrogen receptors, ER alpha and ER beta, the androgen receptor (AR), the progesterone receptor (PR) and the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Also closely related in structure are the estrogen related receptors (ERRs) ERR1, ERR2 and ERR3. The steroid receptors perform important functions in the body related to the transcriptional homeostasis of electrolyte and water balance, growth, development and wound healing, fertility, stress responses, immunological function, and cognitive functioning (see, Assay Drug Dev. Technol., 1 (6): 843-52 (2003)). Accordingly, compounds that modulate (i.e. antagonize, agonize, partially antagonize, partially agonize) the activity of steroid nuclear receptors are important pharmaceutical agents that have specific utility in a number of methods, as well as for the treatment and prevention of a wide range of diseases and disorders modulated by the activity of steroid nuclear receptors.
Members of the steroid nuclear receptor sub-family exhibit significant homology to each other and possess closely related DNA and ligand binding domains. Given the close similarity in ligand binding domains of the steroid nuclear receptors, it is not surprising that many naturally occurring and synthetic molecules possess the ability to modulate the activity of more than one steroid nuclear receptor. For example the naturally occurring glucocorticoids cortisol and corticosterone are able to modulate both the glucocorticoid receptor and the mineralocorticoid receptor under physiological conditions.
Accordingly, one approach to developing compounds that are steroid nuclear receptor modulators is to identify a core chemical scaffold that exhibits a common structural motif that provides for the ability to bind to a steroid nuclear receptor, and which in certain embodiments possesses the ability to selectively modulate one or more of the other steroid nuclear receptors. Such compounds are useful for the local or systemic treatment or prophylaxis of human and veterinary diseases, disorders and conditions that are modulated, or otherwise affected by one or more steroid nuclear receptors, or in which steroid nuclear receptor activity, is implicated.
A well-characterized example of the classical steroid receptor sub-family that is amenable to this approach is the mineralocorticoid receptor (aldosterone receptor). The mineralocorticoid receptor plays an important role in regulating electrolyte balance and blood pressure in the body (Adv. Physiol. Educ., 26(1): 8-20 (2002), and its activity is modulated in vivo through the secretion of aldosterone.
Traditionally, it was thought that aldosterone was secreted by the zona glomerulosa of the adrenal gland in response to angiotensin II, potassium and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and acted primarily on the epithelial cells of the kidney and colon to regulate sodium and potassium transport. More recently, it has been appreciated that aldosterone is also synthesized by endothelial cells and in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), the brain, blood vessels and myocardium where it may play a paracrine or autocrine role (Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 970 89-100 (2002)).
Tissue specificity for aldosterone is conferred by the local expression of the mineralocorticoid receptor and by the activity of 11-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11 β-HSD2), which acts to convert the cross-reactive glucocorticoids cortisol and corticosterone into cortisone and 11-dehydrocorticosterone which have significantly reduced affinity for the MR (Science, 242: 583-585 (1988)).
In humans, elevated plasma aldosterone concentrations are usually associated with hypertension, typically mediated through the effect of the hormone on sodium retention and blood volume. Hypertension affects about 5 million Americans, approximately a third of which are unaware of their condition and are not receiving treatment. Hypertension is associated with the development of cardiovascular, cardiac and renal diseases, including chronic and congestive heart failure (J. Postgrad. Med. J., 79 :634-642 (2003)), progressive renal failure (J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 14 :2395-2401 (2003)) and chronic and end stage renal failure (Am. J. Kid. Dis., 37 (4): 677-688 (2001)). In these conditions, elevated blood pressure appears to enhance and amplify the progressive decline in organ function in these diseases.
Aldosterone also has direct effects on brain, heart, vascular and renal tissues. In the heart, vascular and renal tissues, aldosterone action can also play a significant role in the development and progression of inflammation, scarring and fibrosis (the generation of fibrotic tissue) independently of the effects on blood pressure (Clin. Cardiol., 23:724-730 (2000); Adv. Physiol. Educ., 26(1): 8-20 (2002); Hypertension, 26:101-111 (1995)).
In the brain, aldosterone has been linked to various cognitive dysfunctions, and aldosterone antagonists have been shown to be useful for improving cognitive function (US Application UA2002/0111337), and treating cognitive & mood dysfunctions.
In chronic heart failure (CHF), impaired cardiac function triggers a train of compensatory mechanisms, including aldosterone secretion, that ultimately leads to a worsening of symptoms and reduced survival (J. Clin. Endo & Meta, 88: (6) 2376-2383 (2003)). These changes are primarily mediated by the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and sympathetic nervous system. Activation of the RAAS leads to increases in renin, angiotensin II and aldosterone. Angiotensin II acts as a vasoconstrictor, promotes aldosterone production, and stimulates norepinephrine release from sympathetic nerve terminals to increase the heart rate. Aldosterone acts to increase blood volume, and hence blood pressure, through its action in the kidney to retain sodium.
While the net effect of these factors is to restore blood pressure, the increased peripheral vascular resistance also increases the load against which the heart works. Ultimately the increased cardiac pressure results in cardiac re-modeling, leading to lung stiffness, pulmonary edema, and breathlessness. Additionally peripheral vasoconstriction results in reduced blood flow to the skeletal muscles contributing to fatigue during exercise.
Current drug treatments for CHF are focused on relieving the symptoms of the disease, improving the quality of life, slowing disease progression, preventing hospital admission, prolonging active life, and reducing mortality. Such therapeutic approaches include the use of diuretics, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors), beta adrenergic receptor blockers (beta blockers), AT antagonists and calcium channel blockers to suppress the harmful effects of the neuroendocrine compensatory mechanisms such as the RAAS and beta adrenergic (symphathetic) nervous system. (Postgrad. Med. J. 79 634-642 (2003)).
Diuretics act to reduce water retention, reduce blood pressure and can act as vasodilators to reduce circulatory resistance. ACE inhibitors and beta blockers have been shown to reduce mortality and improve symptom status in CHF in part by reducing angiotensin II and aldosterone levels. However angiotensin II and aldosterone typically return to normal levels with chronic therapy. Accordingly, angiotensin II receptor antagonists, which selectively block the AT1 angiotensin receptor, and aldosterone antagonists, which selectively block the mineralocorticoid receptor, provide significant therapeutic benefit for the treatment of CHF (Circulation, 100:1056-1064 (1999); N. Eng. J. Med., 341 (10):709-718 (1999)).
In addition to aldosterone and angiotensin II, calcium channels play an important role in heart failure. In both vascular and cardiac tissue, muscle cell contraction occurs when cells are depolarized from the influx of calcium through calcium channels in the cell. Calcium channel blockers inhibit muscle contraction and promote relaxation. In vascular smooth muscle this results in vessel dilation, reduced blood pressure (anti-hypertensive effect) and a reduction in the force required to pump blood by the heart. Calcium channel blockers also act on the heart to improve filling by promoting relaxation of cardiac muscle in diastole. However, calcium channel blockers also reduce the force of contraction during systole (negative inotropy) and therefore are often not the drug of choice for treating heart failure.
Hypertension is not only a primary cause of the development of cardiovascular, cardiac and renal diseases, but a risk factor for the progression of these diseases initiated by other mechanisms such as atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, ischemic heart disease, diabetes, diabetic nephropathy, chronic glomerulonephritis and polycystic kidney disease (J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., 14 :2395-2401 (2003)).
In renal failure, as with the case of chronic heart failure, a number of clinical trials have established that interruption of the RAAS cascade with ACE inhibitors is beneficial in limiting renal disease (Am. J. Kid. Dis., 37 (4): 677-688 (2001). Additional studies have also established that aldosterone antagonists can attenuate proteinuria and renal damage typically observed in progressive renal disease and offer further therapeutic benefit compared to ACE inhibitors alone (Hypertension., 31:451-458 (1998)).
Many aldosterone antagonists are known. For example spironolactone, the first approved aldosterone antagonist, has been used for blocking aldosterone-dependent sodium transport in the distal tubule of the kidney in order to reduce edema and to treat essential hypertension and primary hyperaldosteronism (F. Mantero et al, Clin. Sci. Mol. Med., 45 (Suppl 1), 219s-224s (1973)). Spironolactone is also used commonly in the treatment of other hyperaldosterone-related diseases such as liver cirrhosis, renal failure and congestive heart failure (F. J. Saunders et al, Aldactone; Spironolactone: A Comprehensive Review, Searle, N.Y. (1978)).
However, spironolactone is not very selective for the MR over other steroid receptors, including the androgen and progesterone receptors. This cross reactivity leads to undesired side effects such as menstrual irregularity in women, and gynecomastia in men (Circulation, 107 :2512-2518 (2003)). Eplerenone is a derivative of spironolactone that is more selective for the MR than spironolactone (Nature Reviews, 2: 177-178 (2003)). However, eplerenone has relatively low potency for the MR, induces hyperkalemia, and is primarily eliminated via the kidney, making it unsuitable for patients with progressive renal failure.
Accordingly, there is a need for new modulators that are useful in the prevention, treatment, or amelioration of one or more of the symptoms of diseases or disorders associated with mineralocorticoid receptor activity. Such diseases or disorders include, but are not limited to fluid retention, edema, primary hyperaldosteronism, Conn's syndrome, hypertension, high blood pressure, liver cirrhosis, cardiovascular disease, heart failure, chronic heart failure, cardiac disease, renal disease, chronic kidney disease, fibrosis, and cognitive dysfunctions.

Pyrrole derivatives as pharmaceutical agents


A piezoelectric filter of the present invention is provided with first and second piezoelectric vibrators, each having a substrate, a lower load film formed on the substrate, a lower electrode formed on the lower load film, a piezoelectric element formed on the lower electrode, an upper electrode formed on the piezoelectric element and an upper load film formed on the upper electrode, and the piezoelectric filter is configured by electrically connecting the first and second piezoelectric vibrators to each other, and the piezoelectric element of the first piezoelectric vibrator and the piezoelectric element of the second piezoelectric vibrator correspond to respectively different areas of the same piezoelectric element; thus, the resonance frequencies of the first and second piezoelectric vibrators are adjusted by the respective lower load films and upper load films of the first piezoelectric vibrator and the second piezoelectric vibrator so that the resonance frequencies of the first and second piezoelectric vibrators are made different from each other.

1. Technical Field
This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-301114 filed on Nov. 21, 2007 in Japan, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated in the present specification by reference.
The present invention relates to a piezoelectric filter using a piezoelectric vibrator and a method for manufacturing such a filter.
2. Background Art
There have been demands for small-size and light-weight parts as built-in parts to be used in an electronic apparatus such as a portable apparatus. For example, as a filter for use in a portable apparatus, a small-size filter, as well as a filter whose frequency characteristic can be precisely adjusted, has been required. A filter using a piezoelectric vibrator has been known as one of the filters that satisfy these demands.
Conventional piezoelectric vibrator will be described with reference to FIGS. 14A to 14C. FIG. 14A is a cross-sectional view that shows a basic structure of a conventional piezoelectric vibrator 60. The piezoelectric vibrator 60 has a resonance unit having a structure in which a piezoelectric element 61 is sandwiched by a lower electrode portion 62 and an upper electrode portion 63. This resonance unit is mounted on a substrate 65 with a cavity 64 formed therein. This cavity 64 can be formed by partially etching the substrate 65 from its rear face by using a micro-processing method.
As shown in FIG. 14B, the piezoelectric vibrator 60 applies an electric field in a thickness direction to the piezoelectric element 61 by the lower electrode portion 62 and the upper electrode portion 63 so that vibrations in the thickness direction are generated. The following description will discuss operations of the piezoelectric vibrator 60 by reference to thickness longitudinal vibrations of an endless flat plate. In the piezoelectric vibrator 60, when an electric field is applied between the lower electrode portion 62 and the upper electrode portion 63, electric energy is converted to mechanical energy in the piezoelectric element 61. The induced mechanical vibrations are extending vibrations in the thickness direction, and cause expansions and shrinkages in the same direction as that of the electric field. In general, the piezoelectric vibrator 60 is operated by utilizing resonance vibrations in the thickness direction of the piezoelectric element 61 to give resonance having a frequency the half-wavelength of which corresponds to the thickness. The cavity 64 shown in FIG. 14A is utilized so as to ensure the thickness longitudinal vibrations of the piezoelectric element 61.
As shown in FIG. 14C (a), the equivalent circuit of the piezoelectric vibrator 60 is allowed to have both of series resonance and parallel resonance. More specifically, the circuit is formed by a series resonator unit configured by a capacitor C1, an inductor L1 and a resistor R1 and a capacitor C0 that is connected in parallel to the series resonance unit. By using this circuit structure, the admittance frequency characteristic of the equivalent circuit has a maximum admittance at a resonance frequency fr and a minimum admittance at an anti-resonance frequency fa, as shown in FIG. 14C (b). Here, the resonance frequency fr and the anti-resonance frequency fa have the following relationships.fr=1/{2π√(L1×C1)}fa=fr√(1+C1/C0)
In the case where the piezoelectric vibrator 60 having such an admittance frequency characteristic is applied as a filter, since the resonance vibrations of the piezoelectric element 61 are utilized, a small size filter with a low loss can be achieved. As shown in FIG. 15, two piezoelectric vibrators 71 and 72 are connected in series with, as well as in parallel with each other so that, as shown in FIG. 16, a band-pass filter that allows the resonance frequency of the series piezoelectric vibrators and the anti-resonance frequency of the parallel piezoelectric vibrators to be made virtually coincident with each other can be easily configured. However, in order to make the frequencies coincident with each other, it is necessary to design the parallel piezoelectric vibrators so as to have a frequency lower than that of the series piezoelectric vibrators, as a whole. Here, Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2002-335141, Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2005-223479 and the like have disclosed inventions for carrying out such frequency adjustments.
Referring to FIG. 17, the following description will discuss a conventional frequency-adjusting method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2002-335141. This method uses a general mass load structure as one of frequency-adjusting methods. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view that shows a structure of a piezoelectric filter using two piezoelectric vibrators.
In order to manufacture resonators 140 and 150 on a substrate 132, a first bottom electrode 142 and a second bottom electrode 152 are formed, and these electrodes respectively bridge over a first void 141 and a second void 151. Next, a piezoelectric (PZ) layer 134 is formed over both of the first and second bottom electrodes 142 and 152, and the PZ layer 134 has a first portion 144 located on the first bottom electrode 142 and a second portion 154 located on the second bottom electrode 152. Next, a surface electrode layer 136 is formed, and the surface electrode 136 has a first section 146 formed on the first portion 144 and a second section 156 formed on the second portion 154. Next, a surface load film 138 is formed on the first section 146 so as to desirably cover the entire first section 146. The surface load film 138 includes a conductive material or an insulating material, or both of these, and although not particularly limited, the material includes molybdenum, aluminum nitride, or silicon dioxide. Next, the surface load film 138 is over-etched to form a first surface electrode (combination of the etched surface load film 148 and the first section 146 (148+146)). In other words, the surface load film 138 and the surface electrode layer 136 are simultaneously etched to form the first surface electrode (148+146). A second surface electrode 156 can be made by the same processes as those for forming the first surface electrode (148+146). Since no load electrode exists on the second surface section 156 of the surface electrode layer 136, the second surface electrode 156 is formed, with the second section 156 being left, while the surface electrode layer 136 is etched so as to eliminate all the other portions of the surface electrode layer 136, with the first surface electrodes (148+146) being left. With this structure, in the first resonator 140, a greater mass load is applied thereto in comparison with that applied on the second resonator 150 because of the portion corresponding to the surface load film 148. Thus, the first resonator 140 has a reduction in the frequency so that the first resonator 140 and the second resonator 150 are made different in their frequencies.
Next, FIG. 18 shows another frequency adjusting method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2005-223479. In the same manner as in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2002-335141, this method uses a general mass load structure as one of the frequency adjusting methods. FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing a piezoelectric filter using two piezoelectric vibrators. In FIG. 18, a formation area for a first thin-film bulk vibrator 111 is referred to as a first area, and a formation area for a second thin-film bulk vibrator 112 is referred to as a second area. The diaphragm structures of the thin-film bulk vibrators are respectively formed on voids 109 and 110 formed on the rear face side of a single substrate, and include a base layer 102 of the first area and a base layer 121 of the second area, a lower electrode layer 103 of the first area and a lower electrode layer 104 of the second area, a piezoelectric layer 105 of the first area and a piezoelectric layer 106 of the second area, and an upper electrode layer 107 of the first area and an upper electrode layer 108 of the second area. The film thickness t2 of the base layer 121 of the diaphragm structure of the second area is made thicker than the film thickness t1 of the base layer 102 of the diaphragm structure of the first area. Therefore, the film thickness T2 of the diaphragm structure of the second area including the base layer 121 is thicker than the film thickness T1 of the diaphragm structure of the first area including the base layer 102, and consequently, the resonance frequency of the second thin-film bulk vibrator 112 is made lower than the resonance frequency of the first thin-film bulk vibrator 111.
In the inventions disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2002-335141 and Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2005-223479, a desired resonance frequency is achieved by adding a mass load effect to a piezoelectric vibrator, and a filter can be formed by realizing piezoelectric vibrators having a plurality of different resonance frequencies.
However, in the piezoelectric vibrators disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a load film is formed only on one face of an optimal piezoelectric vibrator shown in FIG. 19A so as to carry out the frequency adjustment. FIG. 19B shows a structure in which a load film 85 is formed beneath a lower electrode 82. In the optimal piezoelectric vibrator shown in FIG. 19A, since the two faces in the vertical direction are made in contact with the free space, the two faces serve as free ends so that on the basic mode, vibrations are exerted with ½ of a wavelength, with the center of a piezoelectric element 81 in the thickness direction serving as the node of the vibrations. At this time, energy to be used in the piezoelectric element 81 is maximized, and the effective coupling coefficient of the piezoelectric vibrator is also maximized. However, as shown in FIG. 19B, in the case where the load film 85 is formed only on one of the faces, the node of vibrations is changed in the direction in which the load film is formed. At this time, the energy to be utilized in the piezoelectric element 81 is reduced, with the result that the coupling coefficient deteriorates. FIG. 19C shows the results of numeric calculations of the size of the coupling coefficient relative to the film thickness of the load film. The axis of abscissas indicates the thickness of the load film 85 standardized by the film thickness of the piezoelectric element 81, and the axis of ordinates indicates the coupling coefficient. Here, AlN is used as the piezoelectric element, Mo is used as the electrode, and SiO2 is used as the load film. As shown in FIG. 19C, it is found that as the thickness of the load film 85 becomes greater, the coupling coefficient greatly deteriorates. In the case where this is used in a W-CDMA system (2 GHz band) of a portable telephone, the thickness of the piezoelectric element is about 1 μm, and a desired amount of frequency adjustment (thickness of the load film) is about 0.5 μm, with the result that the coupling coefficient is lowered by about 15% in comparison with that of the optimal piezoelectric vibrator.
In FIGS. 19A-19C, the explanation is given by exemplifying a structure in which the load film is formed only beneath the lower electrode; however, the same results are obtained in the case where the load film is formed only on the upper electrode.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a frequency adjusting method in which the degree of degradation of the coupling coefficient is improved.
Moreover, as a method for manufacturing a conventional thin-film bulk acoustic wave resonator (FBAR: Film Bulk Acoustic wave Resonator) filter, a manufacturing method using a transferring technique has been disclosed. When the conventional frequency adjusting methods of Patent Documents 1 and 2 are applied to this manufacturing method, degradation of the yield occurs.
Therefore, another object of the present invention is to provide a frequency adjusting method by which the degree of degradation of the coupling coefficient is suppressed. Moreover, still another object is to provide a method for suppressing the degradation of the yield in the manufacturing method using the transferring technique.
A piezoelectric filter having a first structure of the present invention is provided with: first and second piezoelectric vibrators, each having: a substrate; a lower load film formed on the substrate; a lower electrode formed on the lower load film; a piezoelectric element formed on the lower electrode; an upper electrode formed on the piezoelectric element; and an upper load film formed on the upper electrode, wherein the piezoelectric filter is formed by electrically connecting the first and second piezoelectric vibrators. In this structure, resonance frequencies of the first and second piezoelectric vibrators are adjusted by the respective lower load film and upper load film so that the resonance frequencies of the first and second piezoelectric vibrators are made different from each other.
A method for manufacturing a piezoelectric filter having a first structure of the present invention includes the steps of: forming an upper electrode on one of main faces of a piezoelectric element; forming a lower electrode on the other main face of the piezoelectric element; forming an upper load film on a face opposing the face of the upper electrode on which the piezoelectric element is formed; and forming a lower load film on a face opposing the face of the lower electrode on which the piezoelectric element is formed, and this method is characterized in that, in the first and second piezoelectric vibrators to be formed, the thicknesses of the respective upper load film and lower load film are adjusted so that the resonance frequencies of the first and second piezoelectric vibrators are made different from each other.
A piezoelectric filter having a second structure of the present invention is provided with: a first piezoelectric vibrator formed with a first area of a piezoelectric element being interposed therebetween, and a second piezoelectric vibrator formed with a second area of the piezoelectric element being interposed therebetween, which are electrically connected to each other, and in this structure,
the first piezoelectric vibrator is provided with:
a lower electrode formed on one of main faces of the first area of the piezoelectric element;
a lower load film formed on a face opposing a face of the lower electrode that is made in contact with the piezoelectric element;
an upper electrode formed on the other main face of the first area of the piezoelectric element; and
an upper load film formed on a face opposing a face of the upper electrode that is made in contact with the piezoelectric element, and
the second piezoelectric vibrator is provided with:
a lower electrode formed on one of main faces of the second area of the piezoelectric element;
a lower load film formed on a face opposing a face of the lower electrode that is made in contact with the piezoelectric element;
an upper electrode formed on the other main face of the second area of the piezoelectric element; and
an upper load film formed on a face opposing a face of the upper electrode that is made in contact with the piezoelectric element, and
the piezoelectric filter is characterized in that resonance frequencies of the first and second piezoelectric vibrators are adjusted by the respective lower load films and upper load films of the first piezoelectric vibrator and the second piezoelectric vibrator so that the resonance frequency of the first piezoelectric vibrator and the resonance frequency of the second piezoelectric vibrator are made different from each other.
A method for manufacturing a piezoelectric filter a second structure of the present invention is directed to a method for manufacturing a piezoelectric filter provided with: a first piezoelectric vibrator formed with a first area of a piezoelectric element being interposed therebetween, and a second piezoelectric vibrator formed with a second area of the piezoelectric element being interposed therebetween,
wherein the step of forming the first piezoelectric vibrator, with the first area of the piezoelectric element being interposed therebetween, further includes:
forming an upper electrode on one of main faces of the first area of the piezoelectric element;
forming a lower electrode on the other main face of the first area of the piezoelectric element;
forming an upper load film on a face opposing a face of the upper electrode that is made in contact with the piezoelectric element; and
forming a lower load film on a face opposing a face of the lower electrode that is made in contact with the piezoelectric element, and
wherein the step of forming the second piezoelectric vibrator, with the second area of the piezoelectric element being interposed therebetween, further includes:
forming an upper electrode on one of main faces of the second area of the piezoelectric element;
forming a lower electrode on the other main face of the second area of the piezoelectric element;
forming an upper load film on a face opposing a face of the upper electrode that is made in contact with the piezoelectric element; and
forming a lower load film on a face opposing a face of the lower electrode that is made in contact with the piezoelectric element, and
wherein, in the step of forming the respective upper load film or lower load film of the first piezoelectric vibrator and the second piezoelectric vibrator, or in the succeeding step thereof, the thicknesses of the upper load film and the lower load film are adjusted so that a resonance frequency of the first piezoelectric vibrator and a resonance frequency of the second piezoelectric vibrator are made different from each other.
Here, another arrangement may be made in which the thicknesses of the upper load film of the first piezoelectric vibrator and the upper load film of the second piezoelectric vibrator are made equal to each other and the thicknesses of the lower load film of the first piezoelectric vibrator and the lower load film of the second piezoelectric vibrator are made different from each other.
Moreover, the upper load film of the first piezoelectric vibrator and the upper load film of the second piezoelectric vibrator may be made from the same material. The lower load film of the first piezoelectric vibrator and the lower load film of the second piezoelectric vibrator may be made from the same material.
Furthermore, supposing that the thickness of the upper load film of each of the first and second piezoelectric vibrators is Ta, the thickness of the lower load film of the first piezoelectric vibrator is Tb, the thickness of the lower load film of the second piezoelectric vibrator is Tc, the sound velocity of the upper load film of each of the first and second piezoelectric vibrators is va, and the sound velocity of the lower load film of each of the first and second piezoelectric vibrators is vb, Ta may be made greater than Tb×va/vb, and also made smaller than Tc×va/vb.
Moreover, by respectively adjusting the thickness of the lower load film of the first piezoelectric vibrator and the thickness of the lower load film of the second piezoelectric vibrator, the resonance frequencies of the first and second piezoelectric vibrators may be adjusted;
the first and second piezoelectric vibrators are formed on the substrate with a supporting portion interposed therebetween;
the supporting portion is formed by joining a first supporting portion formed on the substrate to a second supporting portion formed on a non-adjusted area in which the thicknesses of the lower load films of the first and second piezoelectric vibrators are unadjusted; and
an adjusted area in which the thicknesses of the lower load films of the first and second piezoelectric vibrators are adjusted may be made to face the substrate, with a void portion being interposed therebetween.
Moreover, by respectively adjusting the thickness of the lower load film of the first piezoelectric vibrator and the thickness of the lower load film of the second piezoelectric vibrator, the resonance frequencies of the first and second piezoelectric vibrators may be adjusted;
the first and second piezoelectric vibrators are formed on the substrate with a supporting portion interposed therebetween;
the supporting portion is formed by a non-adjusted area in which the thicknesses of the lower load films are unadjusted, and the non-adjusted area of the lower load films and the substrate are directly joined to each other; and
an adjusted area in which the thicknesses of the lower load films of the first and second piezoelectric vibrators are adjusted may be allowed to face the substrate, with a void portion being interposed therebetween.
In accordance with the piezoelectric vibrator of the present invention, since the node of vibration mode is made closer to the center of the piezoelectric vibrator in comparison with the conventional frequency adjusting method, energy can be efficiently utilized so that a superior coupling coefficient can be achieved. Moreover, in the case where the frequency adjusting method of the present invention is applied to a transferring technique, adjustments for realizing desired frequency intervals can be carried out prior to the transferring operation (prior to formation of a void portion) so that, by reducing the number of processes after the transferring operation, degradation of the yield can be suppressed.

Piezoelectric filter and method for manufacturing the same


A mobile phone includes a main body, a camera, a primary display screen and a secondary display screen. The main body includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The primary display screen is positioned in the first surface. The camera is positioned in the main body. The secondary display screen faces away from the primary display screen, and the secondary display screen is slidable relative to the primary display screen. An image captured by the camera can be seen via the secondary display screen when user self-takes photo.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to mobile phones and, particularly, to a mobile phone with two display screens.
2. Description of the Related Art
Mobile phones are now equipped with camera for taking photographs. A typical mobile phone includes a main body, a camera and a screen. The main body includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The main body further defines a through hole in the second surface. The screen is positioned on the first surface. The camera is positioned in the main body and receiving light via the through hole, such that an image captured can be seen via the screen. However, when the phone is used to take a self-portrait by aiming the camera to one self, because the display screen is a side of the camera opposite to the camera, it is inconvenient to focus a clear self-portrait.
Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.


A duplex data transmission system in which a station can vary its transmission power to keep the signal-to-noise ratio the same in each direction or, in a system employing a different data rate in each direction, to keep the two ratios in a fixed relation to one another. In an initial training sequence, each station measures "talker echo" from its own transmission, and subsequently measures noise from the other station's transmission. The other station then makes the same measurements. The noise data thus collected is sent by both to a control circuit in one or other station which calculates from both sets of data an adjustment (e.g. a reduction) of the power to be transmitted. One or other stations then accordingly reduces power.

Duplex transmission of signals within the same frequency band over a link such as a telephone line can be subject to problems due to echo effects, in particular so-called "talker echo" (referred to below simply as echo) where reception by a station of echo versions of its own transmitted signals interferes with its reception function. Echo cancellers are commonly used to alleviate this problem. For the purposes of this description, echo effects will be understood to include any effect caused by a station receiving residues of its own transmission as for example residues due to impedance mismatch, inadequate filtering or, in a radio system, antenna misalignment.
According to the present invention there is provided, a duplex data transmission system comprising first and second stations connected via a transmission path, in which each station has assessment means for assessing received signal quality, at least one station has means for transmitting results of the assessment to the other station, the or each other station has control means operable to estimate a transmitted power adjustment to be made by one station, and at least one station includes means responsive thereto to effect an adjustment to its transmitting power, characterized in that the control means is operable in response to the results of its own assessment and that made by and communicated to it by the other station such that the signal-to-noise ratios of the signals received by the two stations shall be substantially in a predetermined relationship.
Other aspects of the invention are as recited in the claims.


In a printer, a controller controls a printing portion to execute a sample print to print on a sheet a plurality of barcodes. Each of the plurality of barcodes is represented by a received barcode data and printed in a different printing condition. The controller controls a reading portion to read the plurality of barcodes printed on the sheet in the sample print process to obtain a plurality of sets of scan data corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of barcodes. The controller performs a quality determination process to determine qualities of the plurality of printed barcodes based on the respective ones of the plurality of sets of scan data, and a printing condition setting process to set a printing condition based on the qualities determined in the quality determination process. The set printing condition is to be used to print a barcode by the printing portion.

A label printer is known in the art as one type of printing device. The label printer prints images on continuous label paper that has been wound into a roll shape.
The images that these label printers print on the label paper may include barcodes. Among such label printers, one proposed device has a test printing function for printing barcodes while varying each bar and each space between the bars by one dot at a time. The user scans the barcode printed according to the test printing function with a barcode reader. The user finds widths for bars and spaces that are optimal for reading with the barcode reader, and the device records the optimal bar and space widths. Thereafter the device uses the recorded widths for printing barcodes.

Printer performing quality determination process to determine qualities of printed barcodes


Inter-alia, a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional light emitting appliance is disclosed, said method comprising: providing a first data model of a three-dimensional area; arranging a plurality of spots for light emitting devices on the three-dimensional area of the first data model, wherein the plurality of spots is substantially evenly distributed over at least a part of the three-dimensional area; transforming the first data model of the three-dimensional area comprising the spots into a substantially two-dimensional and flat second data model, wherein the position of the spots on the second data model is derived; manufacturing a printed circuit board in accordance with the second data model and arranging pads of the printed circuit board on the spots of the second data model; equipping the pads of the printed circuit board with light emitting devices; and bringing the printed circuit board into the shape of the three-dimensional area. Further, a three-dimensional light emitting appliance is disclosed.

In todays car industry the interior of the car itself becomes more and more important to the buyer of a vehicle. This trend is emphasized by the rise of advanced driver assistance systems and automated driving. Due to the increase of automation the driver and/or passengers spend more time of the journey focusing on their surroundings and thus the interior of the vehicle.
Current car interior lighting is often reduced to functional lighting, e.g. reading lights. Researches show that future interior lighting is expected to be situationally configurable and ambient related. Furthermore, it is expected that future interior car lighting can be personalized by the driver and/or the passengers.
Added value can for example be achieved by being able to change the interior lighting into multiple colors or by dimming the interior lighting. Furthermore, additional value can be achieved by integrating the lighting into traditional interior components of cars, such as a dashboard or the interior of a door for example.
From U.S. Pat. No. 10,055,530 B1 a method for computer aided design and subsequent manufacturing of electrical circuits in connection with three-dimensional structures established from initially substantially flat elements is known. For this purpose design inputs such as the mechanical target structure (for example the three-dimensional target design), the target circuit, the substrate and/or the process parameters are used in order to determine a mapping between the locations of the three-dimensional target design and the substrate. The mapping is generated by unfolding the three-dimensional target design into unfolded initial substrate and generating an output which indicates the mapping between different locations of the unfolded and folded versions of the unformed and formed versions of the substrate.
The CN 202158382 U shows a lighting device comprising a model seat, at least one flexible circuit board and a plurality of light-emitting diodes. The flexible circuit board is used for wrapping the model seat and the plurality of light-emitting diodes are installed on the flexible circuit board.

Three-dimensional light emitting appliance


A vehicle window interior shade assembly includes a vehicle shade support structure, a first shade, a second shade, and a trim member. The vehicle shade support structure is configured for installation adjacent to a window opening. The first shade and second shades are movably coupled to the vehicle shade support structure to move between respective retracted positions and extended positions. The trim member is coupled to a first leading edge portion of the first shade and includes an elongated recess configured to releasably receive a second leading edge portion of the second shade to form a continuous shade structure when the first and second shades are in both in their extended positions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a vehicle window interior shade assembly. More specifically, the present invention relates to a vehicle window interior shade assembly that includes two shades moveable from opposite sides of a window that mate together at approximately a central portion of the window thereby covering the window blocking sunlight and visibility.
2. Background Information
Most vehicles are provided with windows that are for the pleasure and comfort of passengers, and not specifically for driving visibility. Such windows typically allow sunlight to stream into the vehicle whether or not the passenger desires such light. Also some vehicles, such as vans and SUVs (sports utility vehicles) are provided with sunroofs or glass panels (windows) in the roof of the vehicle. In sunroofs, a slidable rigid panel is occasionally provided in the roof structure in order to provide shade and selectively cover the sunroof to block bright sunlight. However, such rigid panels require space between a headliner and roof structure of the vehicle, or are removable and require storage space elsewhere within the vehicle. Two examples of vehicles having a sunroof with a retractable window covering are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,682,133 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,380. Moreover, there are many aftermarket shade assemblies that are installable on vehicle windows to selectively block the sunlight. In particular, sun shades are available for covering windshields in order to keep the vehicle cool in bright sunlight conditions and protect portions of the dashboard and seats. Some examples of such windshield covers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,878, U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,731 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,431. However, such shade assemblies are not typically intended for use while driving the vehicle. Also some of these shade assemblies are temporarily installed units that mount on a portion of the vehicle.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved shade assembly that provides shade for vehicle windows and sunroofs in order to block bright sunlight. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.


A device, and a method for using the device, for altering the surface of a substrate with a plasma includes a vessel having a chamber, a magnet and a plasma generator. Both the generator and the magnet are positioned outside the vessel while the substrate to be altered is placed in the chamber. The magnetic field is established substantially parallel to the substrate surface that is to be altered to insulate the plasma from the substrate surface. Also, a radio frequency wave is propagated from the generator into the chamber to generate the plasma in chamber which alters the surface. Specifically, the plasma is generated in ionization zones located between the substrate surface and the vessel walls. A region in the chamber is thus defined between the ionization zones where the plasma is established with substantially uniform density. Additionally, electrodes can be placed to voltage bias directly or capacitively the plasma for ion etching or deposition on the substrate surface. Also, the voltages on the electrodes can be configured in such a way to produce high energy neutrals which replace ions for etching the substrate surface.

As is well known, a plasma is an ionized gaseous discharge which includes free electrons, charged ions and neutral species which are sometimes referred to simply as neutrals. It is also well known that, depending on the particular constituents of the plasma, a plasma can be used either to etch a substrate surface or to deposit material onto the substrate surface. Present methods for plasma etching and plasma deposition, however, have some shortcomings.
Insofar as plasma etching and plasma deposition are concerned, certain physical characteristics of a plasma are of particular importance. Firstly, it is basic knowledge that the velocities of free electrons in a plasma, greatly exceed the velocities of charged ions. It is also known that particulates can form from negatively charged species in a plasma. Further, it is known that a magnetic field has a significant effect upon free electron transport in the plasma. Specifically, plasma flux in a direction perpendicular to the magnetic field is significantly inhibited. With the above in mind, certain phenomena should be considered.
If there is no control over the flux of the faster moving free electrons in a plasma, the free electrons will leave the plasma. Accordingly, the plasma will tend to become positively charged. This condition, in turn, promotes the formation and retention of negatively charged particulates in the plasma. These particulates, however, undesirably degrade the quality of the deposition or etching on the substrate surface. Another problem stems from the fact that if the plasma is not somehow insulated from the surface of the substrate, the substrate can become overheated and, thereby, possibly damaged. This becomes even more troublesome when high plasma densities are achieved.
In addition to merely generating a plasma, an efficient plasma etching or plasma deposition system needs to have a control over the functioning of the system. Stated differently, it is desirable if the system operator is able to control independently the flux of positive ions and neutrals toward the substrate surface to be altered. Further, it is obviously desirable if the surface is predictably altered. The implied consequence of this is that the plasma needs to have a uniform density over the substrate surface that is to be altered. Finally, it is desirable that the system be responsive and able to function in a short period of time.
In light of the above it is an object of the present invention to provide a system for processing a plasma to alter the surface of a substrate having a large surface area. Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for processing a plasma to alter the surface of a substrate which can etch the surface of a substrate, or deposit material onto the surface of a substrate, at a relatively high speed. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system for processing a plasma to alter the surface of a substrate which can control the flux of ions or neutrals from the plasma toward the surface of the substrate. Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for processing a plasma to alter the surface of a substrate which produces a beam-like ion flux into the substrate so that deep trenches can be cut into the substrate. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system for processing a plasma to alter the surface of a substrate which inhibits the unwanted formation of particulates in the plasma. Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for processing a plasma to alter the surface of a substrate which allows for the generations of a plasma having a uniform density. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system for processing a plasma to alter the surface of a substrate which shields the substrate from a high electric field. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a system for processing a plasma to alter the surface of a substrate which is relatively easy to manufacture, is easy to use and comparatively cost effective.

Device and method for processing a plasma to alter the surface of a substrate using neutrals


An optical spectrum measuring apparatus is disclosed which is able to accurately measure the optical spectrum without an influence and to measure the light intensity per unit frequency without an influence of the change of the bandwidth of the wavelength because of the measured wavelength. The diffraction grating 4 emits the diffracted light with an appropriate wavelength corresponding to the incident angle after diffracting the parallel light. The outgoing light slit 6 passes the diffracted light with a length shorter than the slit width. The AD converter 9 measures the intensity of the diffracted light passed through the outgoing light slit 6. CPU 12 controls the incident angle and the width of the slit. The memory of the bandwidth of the wavelength 14 stores the bandwidth of the passed wavelength and the measured light intensity is adjusted with the bandwidth of the passed wavelength. Also the bandwidth of the passed wavelength is converted to the frequency and the measured light intensity is adjusted by the bandwidth of passed wave frequency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical spectrum measuring apparatus for measuring the optical spectrum characteristics of a light source.
This application is based on patent application No. Hei 08-290853 filed in Japan, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional optical spectrum measuring apparatus as shown in FIG. 3 will be explained below. FIG. 3 shows a light source 51, and a spectroscope 70 which is formed as a "Czerny-Turner-Type" dispersion spectroscope. This spectroscope is comprised of incident light slit 52, concave surface mirrors 53 and 55, diffraction grating 54, and outgoing light slit 56.
The apparatus also contains optical detector 57, amplification circuit 58, AD converter 59, motor 60, drive circuit 61, CPU (Central Processing Unit) 62, display section 63 and a slit control unit 65.
In this example, a beam from the light source 51 is incident on the incident light slit 52. The light is converted into a parallel beam by the concave surface mirror 53 and is incident on the diffraction grating 54.
A plurality of grooves is formed on the surface of the diffraction grating 54. The diffraction grating 54 can be rotated through an arbitrary angle around an axis parallel to these grooves by means of the motor 60. The drive circuit 61 changes the angle of the diffraction grating 54 by controlling the motor 60 according to the instructions from the CPU 62.
From the above-mentioned parallel beam, the diffraction grating 54 reflects only diffracted light of a particular wavelength component determined by the angle of diffraction grating 54, in the direction of the concave surface mirror 55.
The concave surface mirror 55 images the diffracted light onto the outgoing light slit 56.
Only the wavelength components falling within the width of the outgoing light slit 56 are able to pass through the outgoing light slit 56. At this time, slit control unit 65 sets the width of the outgoing light slit 56 according to the direction of CPU 62.
The optical detector 57 receives the light passing through the outgoing light slit 56, and converts the light into an electrical signal proportional to the optical intensity. The amplification circuit 58 amplifies the output of the optical detector 57 to a voltage appropriate to the input to the AD converter 59. The AD converter 59 converts the output of the amplification circuit 58 into a digital signal.
Following, the measuring steps, CPU 62 gives a direction to the slit control unit 65 and sets the width of the outgoing light slit 56. Next, CPU 62 gives a direction to the drive circuit 61, and sets the wavelength of the wave passing through the outgoing light slit 56 by rotating the angle of the diffraction grating 54. At this time, the strength of the light is taken from the output of the AD converter 59.
The CPU 62 sweeps the wavelength passing through the outgoing light slit 56 from a measurement initiation wavelength to a measurement termination wavelength, and displays the repetitively obtained wavelength and intensity characteristics to the display section 63 as an optical spectrum.
The band width of passing wavelength (or wavelength resolution) RB by the above "Czerny-Turner-Type" dispersion spectroscope is represented approximately as follows, under the condition that focal length of concave surface mirror 53 and of concave surface mirror 55 are the same and that the width of outgoing light slit 56 is greater than that of incident light slit 52. EQU RB=2d/(m.multidot.f).multidot.S.multidot.cos .beta. (1)
d is distance of ditch of the diffraction grating 54, m is diffraction degree of the diffraction gating 54, f is focal length of concave surface mirror 53 and 55, and .beta. is an angle of the diffraction light of the diffraction gating 54 and the normal of the diffraction gating 54.
By rotating the diffraction gating 54 in order to vary the wavelength of the wave, .beta. changes. This means the band width of the wavelength changes depending on the wavelength of the wave on the basis of the formula (1).
In order to use the spectroscope 70 for a wide range of the wavelength, diffraction degree of the diffraction gating 54 may be changed. For an example of using the diffraction gating 54 with 900 ditches per one mm, secondary light is used in the range of wavelength of 350 nm.about.600 nm and primary light is used in the range of wavelength of 600 nm.about.1750 nm. In this case, the width of outgoing light slit 56 is selected according to the degree of changed diffraction gating 54 to be able to obtain the intended band width of the wavelength for the respective diffraction degree.
The width of the outgoing light slit 56 is determined to obtain the designed resolution at the center of the wavelength measured for each diffraction degree. This results in the band width of the wavelength having a difference between the case of the secondary light and of the primary light.
The above example is designed so that the intended band width of the wavelength is obtained at the wavelength of 550 nm when the secondary light is used, and at 1350 nm when the primary light is used.
FIG. 4 shows the wavelength characteristic of the bandwidth of the wavelength. In the above example, the bandwidth of the wavelength at 600 nm which is a switching point of the degree is 8.5 nm for the secondary light, and is 13 nm for the primary light.
The spectrum of the light to be measured is generally broader than the bandwidth of the wavelength. In other words, in the example with a characteristic of the bandwidth of the wavelength shown in FIG. 4, there is a problem in that the measured optical spectrum has undesirable characteristics of higher values in the range of short wavelengths. There is also a problem in that the optical spectrum is discontinuous at the switching point of the degree.
FIG. 5 shows the result of measurement of the LED optical spectrum using a optical spectrum measuring apparatus with a wavelength of 660 nm as a light source 51. As shown in this FIG. 5, the optical spectrum is discontinuous at the point A.


There is provided a printer management method in a computer system of the present invention, which controls a plurality of printers connected to a network, including acquiring information related to an elapsed time from the time when each printer made a transition to the power save mode, and selecting a printer based on the acquired information related to the elapsed time. According to the present invention, a printer can be appropriately selected even when printers are waiting in the power save mode.

The present invention relates to a printer management method in a computer system, which controls a plurality of printers connected to a network.
Furthermore, the present invention relates to a printer management system, which controls a plurality of printers connected to a network.
In an environment where a client computer and a plurality of printers are connected in a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the like, there is a requirement from a client that a print job should be sent to a printer that can execute and complete the print job in the shortest time among the plurality of printers. In order to respond to such a requirement, a technique wherein a status (state) of each printer is acquired and a printer that completes printing in the shortest time is selected based on the status is described in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 5-284263. Furthermore, a technique wherein a warm-up time of each printer is acquired or, when the warm-up time cannot be acquired, temperature information of a fixing heater is acquired to calculate the warm-up time from the temperature information, and a printer with the shortest warm-up time is selected is described in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 11-212743.
Generally, for the purpose of power saving in a printer, when a predetermined time elapses after completion of printing, power is supplied only to a controller that executes a network interface program, and power supply to the other controllers is interrupted, which is called a power save mode. Therefore, in a LAN of general users, printers are not constantly operated, but they are waiting in the power save mode most of the time. Since power is usually supplied only to the controller that executes a network interface program, a status of these printers waiting in the power save mode that the printers are in the power save mode can be acquired, but detail situations of the printers such as temperature of their fixing heaters and the like cannot be acquired. Therefore, an appropriate printer cannot be selected from the printers waiting in the usual power save mode with the techniques described in the aforementioned publications.
An object of the present invention is to provide a printer management system and method, with which a printer can be appropriately selected even when printers are waiting in the power save mode.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a printer management system and method, with which printing can be started or completed in the shortest time even when printers are waiting in the power save mode.

Printer management method and management system


The bipolar transistor includes an emitter layer at least a part of which is composed of AlGaAs, a collector layer at least a part of which is composed of GaAs, a base contact layer disposed in at least a part of an area between a base electrode and a base layer, and a base layer at least a part of which is composed of an InGaAs graded layer in which the concentration of In gradually increases from an emitter-base junction towards a base-collector junction.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a bipolar transistor, and more particularly to a heterojunction bipolar transistor including a compound semiconductor therein, and also relates to a method for fabricating such a bipolar semiconductor.
2. Description of the Related Art
A bipolar transistor has advantageously a greater ability for driving electrical current than a field effect transistor (generally referred to as "FET"). For this reason, recently a bipolar transistor using therein a chemical compound semiconductor such as GaAs as well as Si has been researched and developed. In particular, a bipolar transistor using a compound semiconductor therein has many advantages, one of which is that an emitter-base junction can be constituted of a heterojunction and hence emitter injection efficiency can be maintained to be high regardless of a base having a higher density. Accordingly, such a bipolar transistor is presently being researched for driving a simplex element at a high speed, applying to various circuits and the like.
In order to achieve a higher performance of a simplex element using therein such a heterojunction bipolar transistor (hereinafter referred to as "HBT"), or a circuit to which such a simplex element is applied, it is critical to decrease a base resistance and also shorten base transit time.
It is advantageous to reduce a contact resistance in electrodes in order to reduce a base resistance. For this end, there has been suggested a method in which a heavily C-doped layer is selectively regrown in an extrinsic base area. Such a method is disclosed, for instance, in Japanese Public Disclosures Nos. 4-83345 and 4-83346 and a report authored by Shimawaki et al. by the title of "AlGaAs/GaAs HBTs with heavily C-doped extrinsic base layers selectively grown by MOMBE" reported in "The Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers" Vol. 92, No. ED 92-134, 1993, page 23.
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a bipolar transistor disclosed in the above mentioned report. A semiconductor chip in FIG. 1 includes a semi-insulating substrate 1 composed of GaAs, a collector contact layer 2 (3 * 10.sup.18 cm.sup.-3, 500 nanometers) composed of n-GaAs, a collector layer 3a (5 * 10.sup.16 cm.sup.-3, 400 nanometers) composed of n-GaAs, an intrinsic base layer 5b (4 * 10.sup.19 cm.sup.-3, 80 nanometers) composed of p-GaAs, an emitter graded layer 6 (3 * 10.sup.17 cm.sup.-3, 20 nanometers) composed of n-Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As (x is varied in the range of 0 to 0.25), an emitter layer 7 (3 * 10.sup.17 cm.sup.-3, 150 nanometers) composed of n-Al.sub.0.25 Ga.sub.0.75 As, a graded layer 8 (3 * 10.sup.17 through 6 * 10.sup.18 cm.sup.-3, 50 nanometers) composed of n-Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As (x is varied in the range of 0.25 to 0), a n-GaAs layer 9 (6 * 10.sup.18 cm.sup.-3, 80 nanometers), a graded layer 10 (2 * 10.sup.19 cm.sup.-3, 50 nanometers) composed of n-In.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As (x is varied in the range of 0 to 0.5), an emitter contact layer 11 (2 * 10.sup.19 cm.sup.-3, 50 nanometers) composed of n-In.sub.0.5 Ga.sub.0.5 As, an extrinsic base layer 12a (4 * 10.sup.20 cm.sup.-3) composed of p-GaAs, an emitter electrode 13 composed of WSi, a base electrode 14 composed of Ti/Pt/Au, a collector electrode 15 composed of AuGe/Ni/Au, an electrode 16 composed of Ti/Pt/Au for taking out an emitter therethrough, a SiO.sub.2 layer 17, 18, 19 and an insulation area 20.
In FIG. 1, the p-GaAs layer 12a is formed by selective regrowth using a metalorganic molecular beam epitaxy method (generally referred to as "MOMBE"). In the p-GaAs layer 12a, carbon, which is a p-type impurity, is doped heavily or in high density, and the intrinsic base layer 5b is formed to be uniform base structure.
On the other hand, in AlGaAs/GaAs HBT not using selective regrowth for forming an extrinsic base area unlike MOMBE, a p-AlGaAs graded layer is used as a base layer for shortening base transit time. The p-AlGaAs graded layer has continuous gradient with increasing concentration of Al from a base-collector junction towards a base-emitter junction. Since electrons, which are minority carriers, traveling across a base layer are accelerated by pseudo electric field in this base structure, this base structure can shorten a base transit time and enhance a current gain relative to the above mentioned uniform base structure in which electrons run in a base layer by diffusion effect.
It is necessary to prevent aluminum oxide from growing at a regrown interface between the intrinsic base layer 5b and the extrinsic base layer 12a, in order to reduce a base resistance in HBT in which an extrinsic base area is to be formed by regrowth as aforementioned. Accordingly, it is desirable to constitute an intrinsic area of a uniform base structure composed of GaAs, but undesirable to constitute an intrinsic area of a continuous gradient having base structure composed of an AlGaAs graded layer. Thus, it has been almost impossible conventionally to reduce a base resistance and also shorten a base transit time by means of the above mentioned regrowth method.

Bipolar transistor including a compound semiconductor


A method of manufacturing a power module is implemented which allows easy electrical connections between a control board and relay terminals. The diameter of through holes in the control board tapers down from a side of penetration of the relay terminals in a direction of the penetration, and respective one ends of the relay terminals have a smaller diameter than the other portions of the relay terminals. The diameter of the through holes on the side of penetration of the relay terminals is made sufficiently greater than the diameter of the one ends of the relay terminals, so that the relay terminals can easily penetrate the through holes. Further, even if the relay terminals are formed in deviated positions, the one ends of the relay terminals can be guided along the walls of the through holes in the penetration, so that the relay terminals can be adjusted to proper positions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power module used as a power controller, and its manufacturing method.
2. Description of the Background Art
A power module used as a power controller such as a three phase inverter generally includes a power semiconductor device performing switching, and a control board for driving the power semiconductor device.
The power semiconductor device and the control board are electrically connected with relay terminals. More specifically, relay terminals which have previously been electrically connected to the power semiconductor device are caused to penetrate through holes in the control board and soldered to the control board to establish an electrical connection between the power semiconductor device and the control board.
Prior art documents relating to the present invention include the following: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Nos. 2004-87605, 2004-22705, and 9-293941 (1997).
Conventional power modules have problems such as difficulty in causing relay terminals to penetrate through holes in a control board due to a little freeplay in the diameter of the through holes in the control board relative to the diameter of the relay terminals.
Especially, there are cases in which in the process of causing the relay terminals to penetrate the through holes in the control board, the relay terminals fail to enter the through holes in the control board and then are bent against the surface of the control board. Such bends make more difficult the penetration of the relay terminals into the through holes in the control board and accordingly will require modification of the shape of the relay terminals. This complicates the manufacturing process.
Even if there is no bend in the relay terminals, there are also cases in which the relay terminals are formed in slightly deviated positions and thus less likely to enter the through holes in the control board.

Power module and its manufacturing method


The image display apparatus includes a flat-shaped transmission display device for displaying an image, a backlight corresponding to the display device and a control unit for controlling the backlight in such a way that a part of the backlight corresponding to a non-image area is turned off based on information concerning the image to be displayed. The apparatus is capable of cutting unnecessary light so as to be suitably used to the image diagnosis in a medical field and improving the visibility of the displayed image in the region of interest.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image display apparatus, and more specifically, to an image display apparatus capable of cutting unnecessary light so as to be suitably used in a medical field.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various diagnostic image acquiring apparatuses utilizing X-rays etc. have conventionally been used in medical related fields. For instance, X-ray apparatuses, CR (computed radiography) apparatuses, CT (computed tomography) apparatuses, and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) apparatuses are now in practical use.
Diagnostic image information acquired by these apparatuses is recorded on photographic films and is observed on a film viewer (Shaukasten). Alternatively, the diagnostic image information is recorded on other recording media, subjected to desired image processing such as frequency processing and gradation processing, and is displayed by image display apparatuses (monitor screens) for observation. In this manner, the diagnostic image information is used for diagnoses at medical care sites.
CRT display apparatuses have conventionally been used as the image display apparatuses, although they are recently replaced by so-called flat panel displays using liquid crystal panels or organic EL panels. Generally, these flat panel displays have various advantages over CRT display apparatuses. With such displays, for instance, installation spaces are saved, apparatus weights are reduced, and power consumptions are lowered. As a result, the flat panel displays are expected to become more and more widespread in various fields including the medical field.
It should be noted here that a CR (computed radiography) apparatus is a radiographic image recording and reading apparatus using an accumulative fluorescent material (stimulable phosphor) that operate as follows. First, radiation is emitted and a part of radiation energy is accumulated in the accumulative fluorescent material or the sutimulable phosphor. Then, excitation light such as visible rays or infrared light is emitted onto the accumulative fluorescent material or the stimulable phosphor, whereby the stimulated luminescence is exhibited according to the radiation energy accumulated therein. In the CR apparatus, first, radiographic image information of a subject, such as a human body, is recorded on the stimulable phosphor by an X-Ray apparatus and the like. Then, the radiographic image information represented by the stimulated luminescence is photoelectrically read to obtain image signals. Then, the thus obtained image signals are subjected to image processing. Finally, the thus processed image signals are output to display a soft copy image on an image display apparatus or to record a hardcopy image on a X-Ray photographic film.
Also, a CT (computed tomography) apparatus is based on a computed tomography method, with which projection images are obtained using parallel X-ray beams on straight lines from various angles and X-ray absorption coefficients of tissues in a human body, which represents the composition of the tissues, are obtained through computation of these data. The thus obtained composition of the tissues is output as a soft copy image or a hardcopy image. The tissue composition is reconstructed from the projection images using, for instance, a successive approximation method or an inverse-projection method.
Further, a usual MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) apparatus obtains an electromagnetic wave signal generated by a nuclear magnetic resonance effect of hydrogen atoms and converts the signal into an image. In more detail, an electromagnetic wave at a natural resonance frequency of nuclei is applied from the outside to place a nuclear magnetic moment due to spins in an excitation state. Then, the application of the electromagnetic wave is terminated under this condition to have the nuclei sequentially undergo a transition from the excitation state to a ground state. During this transition, an electromagnetic wave at a resonance frequency is emitted. This electromagnetic wave is received by coils and is converted into an image. The thus converted image is output as a softcopy image or a hardcopy image.
When a radiographic image is taken and recorded onto an x-ray film or a recording sheet (stimulable phosphor sheet) that uses the stated sutimulable phosphor in the radiographic image recording and reading apparatuses such as the CR apparatus, it is required to minimize the effect of radiation exposure on a living body and, for instance, to prevent the degradation of image quality due to scattered light resulting from light that is unnecessary for observation. Consequently, in many cases, a radiation field limiter made of lead or the like is used to limit a radiation field so that only necessary parts of a subject are exposed to radiation.
If image radiography is performed using the radiation field limiter, an image of a subject is recorded in a radiation field area of a recording medium such as an X-ray film or a stimulable phosphor sheet. Here, the radiation field area refers to an area of the recording medium within the outline of an opening of the radiation field limiter. On the other hand, radiation does not reach an area (outside area radiation field) of the recording medium outside the opening outline and therefore the extra-radiation field area remains in an unexposed state. Accordingly, the outline of the radiation field area (hereinafter, a "radiation field outline") corresponds to the opening outline and becomes an edge line.
FIG. 8A shows a X-ray image taking apparatus using a radiation field limiter, while FIG. 8B shows a stimulable phosphor sheet on which is formed a radiation field outline PS of an image that corresponds to the opening outline of the radiation field limiter. As shown in FIG. 8A, the radiation field limiter, which is made of a lead plate and has a rectangular opening, is arranged between an X-ray source and a subject. A portion of the radiation field limiter outside the opening prevents X-rays from reaching unnecessary parts of the subject and the stimulable phosphor sheet.
When the X-ray source emits X-rays toward the subject under this condition, X-rays passing through the subject strikes the stimulable phosphor sheet. During the emission of the X-rays, as shown in FIG. 8B, the outside area of the radiation field (the extra-radiation field area) Pout outside the opening of the radiation field limiter is not exposed to the X-rays, while the X-rays reach the area (the radiation field area) Pin within the opening and therefore X-ray information of the subject is recorded in this area. It should be noted that the X-ray image information of the subject is also recorded on an X-ray photographic film in the same way as the case of the stimulable phosphor sheet shown in FIG. 8B.
If the recording medium, on which an image has been recorded only within the radiation field area Pin, is directly observed (in case of the recording medium being an X-ray photographic film, for instance), or if an image generated by processing information read from such a recording medium with the radiographic image reading apparatus is observed (in case of the recording medium being a stimulable phosphor sheet, for instance), the extra-radiation field area of the recording medium is in an unexposed state and therefore does not bear any images. Consequently, the outside light passes through the extra-radiation field area during observation of the image and the observation is severely hindered by the passing light.
In more detail, if a plurality of X-ray photographic films are placed on a film viewer (Schaukasten) for observation or if a plurality of images are electrically displayed on a screen of an image display apparatus, the extra-radiation field area allows unnecessary light to enter into the eyes of an observer (mainly, a doctor). This is a great hindrance to observation of the images.
In view of this problem, the assignee of this patent application proposes a medical image display system in JP, 11-276441, A. In this system, LCDs (liquid crystal display apparatuses) are used to display images. Sensors for measuring the brightness of the outside light are provided in the vicinities of the display surfaces of the LCDs and the illumination of the backlight of each LCD is controlled according to the measurement results of these sensors.
This system is highly effective at controlling the illumination of each LCD, although not being effective for the light resulting from the stated extra-radiation field area. The problem discussed in this specification is to cut unnecessary light within an image display surface as much as possible.


A rotor for an electric motor, including a shaft (1), a lamination parcel (2) and a current distribution element (3), which are mounted on the shaft (1) coaxially therewith and for joint rotation therewith, and insulating sleeve members (4,5) coaxially mounted on the shaft (1) one behind another for insulatingly supporting, respectively, the lamination parcel (2) and the current distributions element (3) on the shaft (1).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rotor for an electric motor including a shaft, a lamination parcel and a current distribution element which are mounted on the shaft coaxially with the shaft for joint rotation with the shaft, and an insulating layer that insulates the lamination parcel and the current distribution element from the shaft.
2. Description of the Prior Art
German Publication DE -OS 25 43 549 discloses an electromotor for a hand-held power tool and which can be used, e.g., as a drive motor in drilling and chisel tools. Because in this electric motor the lamination parcel and the current distribution element, which is formed as a commutator, have different inertia moment, different acceleration forces act on the lamination parcel and the current distribution element, in particular during actuation of the electric motor or its braking. These acceleration forces may result in the lamination parcel and the current distribution element rotating in opposite directions. To avoid such opposite rotation, the lamination parcel and the current distribution element of the known electric motor are mounted on the rotor shaft for joint rotation therewith by an intermediate steel pipe separated from the shaft with an insulating layer.
Because the current distribution element is formed of segment-shaped sections each of which cooperates with one rotor pole, alignment of separate sections of the current distribution element with the rotor poles of the lamination parcel in the circumferential direction is necessary. In the known electric motor, the alignment is achieved by using a steel pipe onto which both the lamination parcel and the current distribution element are pressed-on before the steel pipe is connected with the rotor shaft for joint rotation with the shaft, with the insulating layer being provided between the shaft and the steel pipe. The insulating layer can be formed, e.g., as a plastic sleeve glued between the steel pipe and the rotor shaft. The drawback of glue connections consist in that at high motor temperatures, they become destroyed which leads to a damage of an electric motor. It is also possible to form the insulating layer by injection. With this method of forming the insulation layer, first, the steel pipe and the rotor shaft should be secured in a retaining device in which the steel pipe should be so retained against the rotor shaft that a cylindrical clearance is formed between the two parts. The injection of the insulating layer is associated with increased cost associated in part by a need for additional equipment. Furthermore, cooling of the insulating layer consumes a large amount of time.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electric motor and, more specifically, a rotor for an electric motor the insulating layer of which can be economically produced and rapidly and simply connected with the rotor shaft for joint rotation therewith. The insulating layer should further insure a simple alignment of the current distribution element with the lamination parcel and should provide for mounting of the lamination parcel and the current distribution element on the rotor shaft for joint rotation with the shaft. At that, the total weight of the rotor assembly should be a s small as possible.


A holding device for an electronic thermometer, which has a solar cell and an electronic display formed an outer surface of the thermometer, comprises an elongated receiving body configured to allow exposure of the solar cell to receive solar energy therethrough when the thermometer is in the receiving body. The receiving body as inner and outer surfaces, which extend to a closed end and an opposite open end through which the thermometer is to be disposed. The inner surface is formed to complement the outer surface of the electronic thermometer to receive a portion of the thermometer disposed though the open end. The inner surface is formed adjacent the open end to complement and receive the display when the thermometer is disposed in the receiving body.

The present invention relates to holding devices and assemblies for electronic clinical thermometers.
Clinical thermometers are thermometers of relatively high accuracy which are used in medical diagnosis and research. Such thermometers should be capable of measuring physiological temperatures with an accuracy of about 0.1° C., over an expected temperature range of about 34° C. to 42° C. In practice, the actual temperature range may be broader or narrower.
In the past, most clinical thermometers contained mercury as a thermometric fluid. However, mercury is quite toxic, and is rapidly being phased out. Thermometers of Galinstan®, a liquid metal alloy of gallium, indium, and tin, have been available for several years now. However, these thermometers tend to be relatively expensive, and like mercury thermometers, can be readily broken. Unlike mercury thermometers, however, thermometers employing Galinstan® thermometric fluid are non-toxic, and thus their use is steadily increasing.
Digital clinical thermometers have several advantages over classical liquid-filled thermometers, including easy reading, the ability to maintain a given reading for an extended time, and rapid and unambiguous reset. However, digital clinical thermometers have required a battery which results in several drawbacks. First, the battery must be regularly replaced, and the thermometer cannot be used if a replacement battery is not available. Second, the disposal of batteries, even the more common zinc/manganese dioxide batteries, raises environmental concerns with regard to land filling with transition metal-containing waste.
Digital thermometers employing solar cells have been used to monitor swimming pool temperatures. However, such devices are only operable in the light and require a large surface area solar cell. Thermometers having a battery have additionally employed a solar cell to minimise the drain on the battery. However, such devices cannot operate on the solar cell alone, and the battery must still be replaced.
Solar-powered digital clinical thermometers which allow for repeated temperature measurements, even in the dark, and which do not contain an environmentally unfriendly battery, can be stored in various locations. However, in order to recharge when solar energy is available, the thermometer needs to be held in a position suitable to receive solar energy.

Holding device for a solar-powered thermometer


There is a need for a compact and high capacity HVAC system for a vehicle cab. This need is met by a roof enclosed HVAC system. The system includes a roof upper panel, a roof lower panel, a fresh air duct communicated with a fresh air inlet exposed to an exterior of the cab, a recirculation air duct communicated with a recirculation air inlet exposed to an interior of the cab, and a conditioned air duct communicated with an air outlet exposed to the interior of the cab. An HVAC unit is mounted between the roof upper and lower panels. The HVAC unit includes a fan unit, a heater unit and an evaporator unit. The heater and evaporator units are concentrically arranged around and surrounding the fan unit. The fan unit draws air from the fresh air duct and the recirculation air duct and blows air through the heater unit and an evaporator unit and into conditioned air ducts

The present invention relates to a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system for a vehicle cab.
Operator stations or cabs of most agricultural vehicles are surrounded by large areas of glass so that the operator can see the area being worked or the product being produced or harvested. These large glass surface areas transmit a lot of light and result in a significant solar heat load being applied through the glass surfaces into the cab. The large glass area can result in solar loading of a vehicle cabin similar to a mid-size home load with significantly greater floor square footage.
This solar heat load must be overcome by the air conditioning system in order to provide an acceptable level of comfort to the operator, and this is usually accomplished via spot cooling of the operator only, rather than cooling the entire space. Most vehicle air conditioning systems in use today have large heat rejection capacities in order to handle the large solar heat loads combined with heat loads from the vehicle engine and drive train, over which the cab is placed.
Because of the vehicle must operate in a dirty, debris-laden air, this large heat rejection capacity requires a large spacing between the fins of the heat exchanger cores to prevent them from being clogged with airborne debris, and this results in a rather large HVAC system. It is difficult to fit such large HVAC system into a vehicle or cab, and if a large enough system cannot be accommodated, then the cab designer may be forced to use a smaller HVAC system which may only be large enough to spot cool the operator. However, spot cooling is undesirable because it can result in over-cooling of portions of an operator's body, while insufficiently cooling anyone else who is in the operator's compartment.
To minimize the packaging impact to the performance to the vehicle or operator, traditionally, long thin heat exchanger cores have been used. However, these long, thin cores make heat transfer to the air flowing through them difficult to uniformly transfer heat between the air and the entire face area of the core due to the poor aspect ratio of the core faces to the fans used to push or pull air through the cores. This air-side heat transfer inefficiency resulted in core with even larger theoretical capacities and thus space requirements in order to obtain the required capacities increase even further.