A method for fabricating micro pipes on a semiconductor wafer or other substrate. According to the method of the invention, a base layer is initially deposited on the substrate and then etched to form a trench which exposes the surface of the substrate. Next, a PR (photoresist) layer of selected thickness is deposited over the base layer and the trench. Finally, in a curing step, the deposited photoresist is irradiated with ionizing radiation to cause outgassing of nitrogen gas from the photoresist layer, between the PR layer and the substrate. This step facilitates buckling of the PR layer into an arcuate bubble which defines the semispherical micro pipe structure.

In the fabrication of semiconductor integrated circuits, metal conductor lines are used to interconnect the multiple components in device circuits on a semiconductor wafer. A general process used in the deposition of metal conductor line patterns on semiconductor wafers includes deposition of a conducting layer on the silicon wafer substrate; formation of a photoresist or other mask such as titanium oxide or silicon oxide, in the form of the desired metal conductor line pattern, using standard lithographic techniques; subjecting the wafer substrate to a dry etching process to remove the conducting layer from the areas not covered by the mask, thereby leaving the metal layer in the form of the masked conductor line pattern; and removing the mask layer typically using reactive plasma and chlorine gas, thereby exposing the top surface of the metal conductor lines. Typically, multiple alternating layers of electrically conductive and insulative materials are sequentially deposited on the wafer substrate, and conductive layers at different levels on the wafer may be electrically connected to each other by etching vias, or openings, in the insulative layers and filling the vias using aluminum, tungsten or other metal to establish electrical connection between the conductive layers.
A current drive in the semiconductor device industry is to produce semiconductors having an increasingly large density of integrated circuits which are ever-decreasing in size. These goals are achieved by scaling down the size of the circuit features in both the lateral and vertical dimensions. Vertical downscaling requires that the thickness of gate oxides on the wafer be reduced by a degree which corresponds to shrinkage of the circuit features in the lateral dimension. While there are still circumstances in which thicker gate dielectrics on a wafer are useful, such as to maintain operating voltage compatibility between the device circuits manufactured on a wafer and the current packaged integrated circuits which operate at a standard voltage, ultrathin gate dielectrics will become increasingly essential for the fabrication of semiconductor integrated circuits in the burgeoning small/fast device technology.
In micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) and other technologies, voids may be intentionally formed in a substrate to create controlled micro channel structures. In integrated circuit fabrication, these micro channels or pipes may be used to cool the substrate or semiconductor devices fabricated thereon. In addition, micro pipes may be fabricated on substrates and used as channels for fluid control and movement.
Micro pipes are conventionally formed on a substrate by initially forming a V-shaped or U-shaped groove in the substrate. The groove is then covered with a layer of lid-glass. However, this technique is sometimes difficult to carry out and is unsuitable for fabrication of multi-layered micro piping.
Another method of manufacturing and using micro pipe systems is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,031,286 and 6,228,744, both assigned to IBM. According to that method, micro pipes are fabricated in a semiconductor device or other suitable substrate by controlling the aspect ratio of trenches as well as controlling the deposition characteristics of the material used to fill the trenches. A buried micro pipe is formed by filling a trench that has a height which is larger than a width thereof, so that the trench filler material lines sidewalls and bottom of the trench, and covers the top of the trench to form the micro pipe within the trench. Another layer can be formed over the filler material and planarized. Alternatively, the filler material itself can be planarized. Forming trenches in the planarized layer and repeating the above steps forms a second set of buried micro pipes in these new trenches. This forms a semiconductor device having multiple layer of buried micro pipes. Via holes may be etched to contact a micro pipe, or to interconnect micro pipes buried at different levels. Thus, instead of eliminating defective voids in trenches, the voids are controlled to form the micro pipes, which may be used to circulate a cooling fluid, or lined with a conductive material to form a micro light pipe channel or buried conductive pipes.
One of the limitations inherent in the conventional methods of fabricating micro pipes is that the methods are unsuitable for fabricating relatively large micro pipes of a size on the order of about 30˜200 m in diameter. Accordingly, an improved micro pipe fabrication method is needed which is easy to carry out, applicable to a variety of technologies and is capable of fabricating multi-layered and larger-sized micro pipes.
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for fabricating micro pipes on a substrate.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method which is capable of fabricating multiple layers of micro pipes on a substrate.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved micro pipe fabrication method which is easy to carry out.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved micro pipe fabrication method which is suitable for fabricating micro pipes on the order of about 30˜200 m in diameter.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved micro pipe fabrication method which is applicable to semiconductor fabrication as well as biotech or other technologies.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


What is provided is a system and method for node set construction and look-up table generation to transform image data in the form of color values of an input color image in an input color space to an output color space of an image output system. In the present method, node locations are selected based upon an importance value generated by a significance function which describes a relative importance of a given color value in the input image or a region thereof. A distance weighting function is also provided which is applied to the significance function to balance the significance of a given node against a relative positioning of all other nodes in the multi-dimensional grid. Nodes can be added or deleted according to methods also described herein. Accordingly, a multi-dimensional look-up table is generated wherein node tiling is based upon a significance of color values of an input image.

An image prepared for rendering on an electronic device is represented by a set of pixels that each describes a small portion of the image in terms of digital values that represent the colorants available to the rendering device. For example, in an image prepared for display on a video monitor, each pixel typically describes the intensity of the red (R), green (G) and blue (B) components of light that are illuminated to reproduce the color at the associated region of the screen. Similarly, in an image prepared for rendering on a printing device operating in a CMYK color space, each pixel describes the amount of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y) and black (K) colorants to applied to the print medium in order to reproduce the color at the associated region of the rendered image.
In an 8-bit system, the pixel value for each colorant can range from 0 to 255, with 255 representing the maximum or fully saturated amount of colorant. For an RGB color space, for example, fully saturated red is represented by the pixel value R=255, G=0, B=0 and ideally, a printer operating in a CMYK color space, for example, would reproduce the fully saturated red in response to the pixel value C=0, M=255, Y=255, K=0. In other words, the magenta and yellow colorants, when combined through simple subtractive mixing, would be perceived as red.
However, the spectral properties of the red phosphor used in the video monitor typically differ from those of the subtractively mixed magenta and yellow colorants of a particular printer. As a result, the visual appearance of the red described in RGB space and displayed on the video monitor will usually not match that of the red described in CMYK space and printed on a page. Further, even when rendered on different devices of the same type (e.g., two CMYK printers), the colors reproduced in response to the same color value (e.g., CMYK) will often differ in visual appearance. Accordingly, color transformations are typically required when color matching between two rendering devices is required. In the example described above, the saturated red pixel with RGB color value 255, 0, 0 may be mapped to a CMYK printer pixel that represents, for example, magenta and/or yellow that is less than fully saturated and also calls for a small cyan component, e.g., C=27, M=247, Y=255, K=0.
Color transformations are often complex, multidimensional functions that correct for the nonlinear behavior of both digital color devices and the human visual system, which would require a significant amount of memory in order to process large images in real-time. To reduce the computational cost, these functions are typically implemented as multidimensional lookup tables. A look-up table is essentially a rectangular grid that spans the input color space of the transform. Output values corresponding to each node, i.e., intersection point, of the grid are pre-computed and stored in the look-up table. Input colors are processed through the look-up table by i) retrieving the cell to which the input color belongs, and ii) performing an interpolation among a subset of the surrounding cell vertices to compute the output color value.
The size of a look-up-table is typically limited by the amount of available processor RAM and cache memory. Accordingly, look-up tables are built with an input node sampling that is as sparse as is practical under the circumstances. For example, while a 24-bit RGB vector would be capable of describing over 16 million colors, it would not be unusual for the corresponding RGB-to-CMYK look-up table to be partitioned into 16×16×16 table locations or nodes, with one CMYK value stored at each node. CMYK values of points not directly represented by nodes are then determined by interpolation among nodes or some other suitable calculation and thus, the issue of "node placement" becomes very important.
In spite of this significance, however, input nodes are typically positioned on a uniformly spaced lattice and even. In cases where the nodes are adapted to lie on a non-uniform lattice, node locations are usually selected based on the curvature of the function that describes the multi-dimensional transform. Simple mathematical operators such as the second derivative can be used to yield a measure of curvature. However, even in those scenarios, the distribution or relative importance of the values of the input values is usually ignored, which often leads to poor node placement and consequently, to inaccurate transforms.
Techniques for "truly optimal" node placement are search based and hence very intensive in computation. That is, the identification of truly optimal locations of a lattice for the placement of the nodes of a multi-dimensional look-up table would entail a search on all candidate nodes to eliminate as many locations as possible for optimal memory/cost reduction while maintaining the accuracy of the required color transformations. Since the set of candidate nodes in general is very large, particularly for high-dimensional inputs, a search of every node would also be very expensive and thus, is an impractical solution.

Multi-Dimensional look-up table generation via adaptive node selection based upon color characteristics of an input image


A laser tracking interferometer directs a laser beam to a retroreflector serving as an object to be measured to sense a displacement of the retroreflector using interference with a laser beam back reflected from the retroreflector. The laser tracking interferometer includes: a reference sphere; a carriage that rotates about a center of the reference sphere; a laser interferometer; a displacement gage for providing a displacement signal corresponding to a relative displacement between the reference sphere and the displacement gage; a data processing apparatus for computing a displacement of the retroreflector; a position sensitive detector for providing a position signal corresponding to deviation of a laser beam; and a controller for controlling rotation of the carriage based on the position signal so that the amount of deviation becomes zero.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a laser tracking interferometer for measuring the displacement and position of a moving object with high accuracy while tracking the moving object. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improvement of a laser tracking interferometer which directs a laser beam to a retroreflector to sense a displacement of the retroreflector using the interference with a laser beam back reflected from the retroreflector as well as to track the retroreflector using a change in position of the optical axis of the laser beam.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such a laser tracking interferometer is known which directs a laser beam to a retroreflector to sense a displacement of the retroreflector using the interference with a laser beam back reflected from the retroreflector as well as to track the retroreflector using a change in position of the optical axis of the laser beam.
For example, as shown in FIG. 1 (overall configuration) and FIG. 2 (the detailed configuration of a laser interferometer), disclosed in the description of US Pat. No. 6,147,748 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1) is a laser tracking interferometer which is designed to measure a relative displacement between a retroreflector 10 and the center C of a reference sphere 12.
This laser interferometer includes the reference sphere 12; a carriage 14 designed to rotate about the center C of the reference sphere 12; a laser interferometer 16 including a light source (not shown); and a condenser lens 18 for focusing a measurement beam at the center C or on the surface of the reference sphere 12. The laser interferometer 16 and the condenser lens 18 are provided on the carriage 14.
In this arrangement, as shown in FIG. 2, a light beam emitted from a light source enters a non-polarizing beam splitter (NPBS) 24 through an optical fiber 20 and a collimator lens 22, and a portion of the light beam is reflected off the NPBS 24 to be directed as an optical reference counter signal to a photodetector (not shown) through a polarizing plate 26 and an optical fiber 28. The optical reference counter signal is used to compensate polarization mixing in the optical fiber. On the other hand, the light beam that has passed through the NPBS 24 is separated at a polarizing beam splitter (PBS) 30 into two. One goes straight through as a reference and interfered with a measurement beam for obtaining measurement signal. The other is reflected off the PBS 30 and then transmitted as the measurement beam to the center C or the surface of the reference sphere 12 through a quarter-wave (λ/4) plate 32 and the condenser lens 18.
The measurement beam that has been reflected off the surface of the reference sphere 12 is directed to the retroreflector 10 through the condenser lens 18, the λ/4 plate 32, the PBS 30, a λ/4 plate 34, and a NPBS 36.
The measurement beam that has been reflected off the retroreflector 10 reenters the laser interferometer 16. A portion of the measurement beam that is incident upon the laser interferometer 16 is reflected off the NPBS 36 to enter a position sensitive detector (PSD) 38. On the other hand, the remaining portion passes through the λ/4 plate 34, the PBS 30, a polarizing plate 40, and an optical fiber 42 to interfere with the reference beam and then enter the photodetector.
Since the output from the photodetector varies according to the interference pattern of the incident interference beam, the output from the photodetector can be used to measure the displacement of the retroreflector 10 with respect to the center C of the reference sphere 12.
The reference sphere 12 having a high sphericity allows the distances from the center C of the reference sphere 12 to the surface to be constant with high accuracy. This makes it possible to measure the displacement of the retroreflector 10 with high accuracy with respect to the center C of the reference sphere 12 even when the laser interferometer 16 tracks the retroreflector 10 to rotate about the center C of the reference sphere 12.
On the other hand, the retroreflector 10 is tracked as follows. That is, a portion of the measurement beam incident upon the laser interferometer 16 enters the PSD 38. Thus, the position of the carriage 14 can be controlled to allow the position of the measurement beam on the PSD 38 to be kept constant all the time, thereby automatically tracking the retroreflector 10. This is because the positional displacement of the measurement beam incident upon the PSD 38 varies depending on the displacement of the retroreflector 10 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the measurement beam, so that a displacement of the retroreflector 10 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the measurement beam causes the optical axis of the measurement beam back reflected from the retroreflector 10 to be displaced in parallel.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, a laser tracking interferometer for measuring the relative displacement between a retroreflector 106 serving as a reference and a retroreflector 110 serving as a target is disclosed in the Publication of Japanese Patent No. 2603429 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 2).
This laser interferometer includes: a first retroreflector 106 disposed at a fixed location; a second retroreflector 110 disposed on a moving object; a rotating portion 108 which is rotatable about each of the X-axis and the Y-axis which orthogonally intersect each other at the center of the first retroreflector 106; means for directing a laser beam produced by lasing in a laser light source (not shown) to the rotating portion 108 irrespective of the rotation of the rotating portion 108; and an optical system made up of a plurality of optical components (λ/4 plates 148 and 164, prisms 150, 152, 158, 160, and 162, and a PBS 154) which are each disposed at a fixed location in the rotating portion 108.
This optical system is designed such that a laser beam directed to the rotating portion 108 is divided at the PBS 154 into two, one of which goes through an optical path orthogonal to the X-axis and enters the first retroreflector 106 while the other laser beam further travels along the optical path and enters the second retroreflector 110, thereby allowing for providing the reflected beams from each of the first and second retroreflectors 106 and 110.
Also included are a detecting portion (not shown) for detecting the amount of movement of the second retroreflector 110 based on the interference between the two reflected beams obtained via the optical system; a quadrant photodiode (QPD) 112 serving as position sensitive detector, which is disposed at a fixed location in the rotating portion 108 and upon which a portion of the reflected beam from the second retroreflector 110 is incident, for providing a position signal corresponding to the amount of deviation of the laser beam incident upon the second retroreflector 110; and control means (not shown) for controlling the rotational position of the rotating portion 108 about the X-axis and the Y-axis so that the amount of deviation becomes zero, based on the position signal from the position sensitive detector.
On the other hand, a laser tracking length-measuring interferometer which is provided with a tracking mirror in an optical path of an interference optical system instead of the reference sphere is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-98510 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 3). With this interferometer, a laser beam is directed to the center of the reflection plane of the tracking mirror, and the tracking mirror can be controlled for the reflected beam to be directed in a desired direction, thereby allowing the reflected beam to impinge upon a retroreflector serving as an object to be measured for tracking purposes.
However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 has the following problems: (1) when the measurement beam is condensed so as to focus at the center C of the reference sphere 12, this arrangement is susceptible to runout of the rotational mechanism (a deviation between the actual locus, which a point on the rotational mechanism draws when the rotational mechanism rotates, and the ideal locus). That is, a deviation of the center of the focus of the measurement beam from the position C due to the runout of the rotational mechanism causes the S/N of a signal produced by a photodetector to degrade, thereby disabling the measurement of displacement. This arrangement is thus susceptible to the runout of the rotational mechanism. On the other hand, there is also another problem with this technique: (2) with a focus on the surface of the reference sphere 12, this arrangement is susceptible to flaws and dust particles on the surface of the reference sphere, and particularly more susceptible to small flaws and dust particles when the focus has a smaller diameter.
According to the technique described in Patent Document 2, when a metal sphere or a glass sphere coated with metal is employed as a reference sphere, the technique also has the following problems as with the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1. That is, (1) with the center of the reference sphere employed as the focus, the arrangement is not robust to the runout of the rotational mechanism; and (2) with the surface of the reference sphere employed as the focus, the arrangement is susceptible to flaws and dust particles on the surface of the reference sphere.
Furthermore, when a sphere formed of a material having a refractive index of 2.0 is employed as a reference sphere, the arrangement has a problem, in addition to the aforementioned problem (2), that such a sphere is not commercially available in general, and thus the reference sphere is expensive and difficult to obtain.
On the other hand, with the technique disclosed in Patent Document 3, when the center of a laser beam is not aligned with the center of rotation of a mirror, this error may cause an error in the measurement of length. However, the center position of the laser beam is difficult to measure with high accuracy, and thus difficult to be aligned with the center of rotation of the mirror with high accuracy. Furthermore, a steel sphere and a semisphere are seated under pressure by means of tensile force exerted by a helical spring, thereby causing an increase in friction between the steel sphere in a three-point spherical seat and the semispherical portion of the mirror. It is thus difficult to provide control with accuracy. Additionally, although a high-precision sphere can be made relatively easily, a high-precision semisphere is expensive. Thus, there is a problem that the semispherical mirror is made only at high costs.


A motorcycle wherein it is possible to easily identify the state of a headlight and flasher lamps covered with a common outer lens. A a headlight is disposed in a central portion of a light unit in a transverse direction of the motorcycle. A pair of left and right flasher lamps is disposed on left and right sides of the headlight. A common outer lens covers the left and right flasher lamps and the headlight. An upper edge of a light opening in a handlebar cover has left and right interposed parts extending downward to be interposed between the headlight and the left and right flasher lamps.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a motorcycle having a handlebar cover that encloses the steering handlebars, and a light unit mounted to the handlebar cover.
2. Description of Related Art
Some motorcycles have a light unit disposed on a handlebar cover that encloses steering handlebars. Some conventional light units have a headlight disposed in the central portion in the transverse direction of the motorcycle, left and right flasher lamps disposed on the left and right sides of the headlight, and a common outer lens covering the front portions of the headlight and flasher lamps (see JP-A-2004-322827, for example).
In such conventional light units where the headlight and the left and right flasher lamps are covered with a common outer lens, it is sometimes hard to identify the state of the headlight and the flasher lamps being lit, resulting in a need for improvement in visibility.


A system and method is described for providing data to a mobile information system. A broadcast server receives information preferences from a plurality of subscribers to the mobile information system. The broadcast server aggregates these information preferences and transmits the aggregated information preferences to at least one data source providers. The data source providers then assemble data for the mobile information system using the aggregated information preferences.

The world today is driven by information. Much of this information is accessible electronically, whether over the Internet or through a private intranet. People typically access desired information by connecting to the Internet or intranet using wired network connections or short-ranged wireless protocols, such as wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.11, BLUETOOTH™, or the like. These short-ranged wireless protocols allow for high bandwidth connectivity, which lends to their popularity. However, these access methods are limited to the availability of the wired or wireless access point.
Attempts have been made in the past to implement information access over the wireless telephone networks. However, because these networks are designed mostly for voice traffic, the available bandwidth capability for data transmission is far less than the broadband capabilities of the short-ranged wireless protocols. As such, these previous phone-based information systems typically provided only textual information or some kind of Web browsing at very high latency.
One of the first technologies used to pass information to a wireless phone user was Small Message Service (SMS). SMS is a text service that enables short messages of generally no more than 140-160 characters in length to be sent and transmitted from a mobile phone. In such a system, a user would typically log onto a particular Web site to sign up and enter information preferences or sign up through some interactive telecommunications service to receive periodic small messages of interest. For example, a user would call into a service provider's interactive voice response (IVR) system and sign up to receive sports scores for their favorite basketball team or teams. Thereafter, when the service provider compiles the scores for the user-requested team or teams, a short text message would be forwarded to the user's mobile phone, or whatever other mobile device that was designated. The SMS information system, thus, utilizes a broadcast paradigm to deliver information.
The information presented by the service provider or SMS server is gathered and formed into the individual messages for the user. Each user interacts with an out of band system to enter the user's data preferences. Through either a Web site or interactive voice response (IVR) system, the user enters his or her preferences. Those preferences are then communicated to the service provider or SMS server. The preferences are typically entered into a database and associated with the particular user. Therefore, not only is the amount and format of data limited, user preferences are entered out of band. This out of band preference entry system many times delays delivery of the newly requested or changed information while the preferences are communicated to the service provider or SMS server.
The next step in wireless information technology was largely driven by the explosion of the World Wide Web (WWW). Web browsers, which are so prevalent in everyday life, were basically scaled down for use in mobile phones. These microbrowsers generally provide browser-like functionality to the mobile phone, albeit at a much reduced level. Due to the typically limited memory and processing power of mobile phones, early microbrowsers used Wireless Access Protocol (WAP) and Wireless Mark-up Language (WML), which are protocols that attempt to mimic the full-scale standards of hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) and hypertext mark-up language (HTML). More recently, however, as the ability of the mobile phones has increased, some microbrowsers actually use HTML browsers.
The paradigm of the microbrowser operates in much the same manner as a full-scaled Web browser. A Web page, which may be a WAP page or an HTML page, is downloaded from a Web server, again, which could be a WAP server or HTTP server, to a user's phone. Either by activating standard navigation elements or hypertext links, subsequent Web pages are downloaded to the microbrowser for the user to view. The user's interaction is similar to that in a Web browser except without the graphical richness, which has been either removed or drastically reduced in order to accommodate the limited bandwidth availability in mobile telecommunication systems for data traffic. The user may access typical browser navigational elements, such as Back or Forward or, through some substantial key-strokes, enter a Web site address or Uniform Resource Locator (URL). Because of the device and bandwidth restrictions in the mobile telecommunication area, the main noticeable difference between the microbrowser paradigm and the Web browser is that the majority of information on the "micro" pages is textual.
In application, the microbrowser offers a greater variety and reach of information than the SMS systems. Moreover, the user is afforded a greater interactivity by being allowed to "surf" to any desired and compatible Web site or Web page. However, a user interacts with pre-existing Web sites or Web pages, or some kind of server page, such as SUN MICROSYSTEM INC.'s JAVA™ SERVER PAGE (JSP™), MICROSOFT CORPORATION's ACTIVE SERVER PAGE (ASP™), and the like, that may generate the Web site or Web page dynamically as the user navigates to the page. Therefore, an information system that utilizes an Internet or WWW browsing paradigm, does so with pre-existing sites, pages, or server pages. The user typically has no ability to enter preferences as to what kind of data to receive when browsing to the compatible Web pages or Web sites.
Moreover, in operation, the user experience could generally be described as click-and-wait, rather than click-and-view. Because a relatively large amount of data is transmitted over the wireless network to the phone for each Web page, a large latency existed between the page request and the final download and display of the page. This large latency period experienced by most wireless phone Internet users limited the appeal of the microbrowser system. Furthermore, because many service providers placed a per minute usage charge on accessing the Internet over a mobile phone, the long latency generally meant higher costs for a service where the waiting time could exceed the actual information interaction time.
Several ideas followed the microbrowser attempting to address the problems it exhibited. One solution that addressed the long latency periods and lack of graphical experience was the stored-page approach. An example of this type of service is iAnywhere Solutions, Inc.'s AVANTGO™. The AVANTGO™ system includes software on the user's device which allows the user to select particular Web sites or Web pages to store on the user's device. While the user's device is physically connected to the Internet, either using a wired or wireless connection, the AVANTGO™ software accesses the user's preferred Web sites and stores those HTML pages directly on the user's device memory. The user is then able to "surf" through the saved Web pages even after disconnecting the device from the Internet connection. Because the Web pages are stored directly on the mobile device, almost no latency exists when the user is viewing the various, saved Web pages. However, the trade-off made for the low latency is the fact that the data being viewed is no longer dynamic Web content. Moreover, as with the regular browser paradigm, the user has no means for customizing the information other than merely selecting a particular Web site or Web page.
The latest improvement, which was applied to the microbrowser paradigm, is generally referred to as a push browser service. Instead of waiting for a user to request a particular Web page, the push browser is proactively sent an HTML or WML page from the server. Therefore, when a user accesses the microbrowser, at least some content is already resident on the device, which initially reduces the latency. The user's interaction remains the same as the regular microbrowser, which basically mimics the user interaction of Web browsers without the rich graphics. The limitation to the push browser is that only a limited number of HTML/WML pages are stored. Once the user navigates or browses through all of the stored pages, the advantages achieved by the push system are gone. Without the stored pages, new pages are generally downloaded from the Web server on request of the user, which results in the long latency periods experienced in the normal microbrowsers.
An addition to the push technology was attempted in POINTCAST INC.'s POINTCAST™ system. The POINTCAST™ system was an information system for desktop computers that compiled and broadcast a wide variety of information items. Subscribers to this system received the broadcasts and stored the information items locally. By entering preferences to the user's local system, the client-side application of POINTCAST™ generally filtered the presentation of the information to the user based on those user preferences. The POINTCAST™ server would periodically update the information items, which the user could then view if those updates corresponded to the items the user preferred to view. However, the bandwidth requirements for transmitting and receiving all of the information typically clogged networks and caused long periods of network latency. While users experienced relatively low latency in accessing the information on the user's device, the user would typically experience a slow network clogged with a large amount of data being transmitted to every POINTCAST™ subscriber, much of which may not even be used.
The data for the POINTCAST™ system is compiled by the POINTCAST™ service provider. All of that data is broadcast to every subscriber. The subscriber typically has no direct interaction with the POINTCAST™ server to customize or even limit the data being transmitted to the user's device. The user, instead, enters data preferences locally on the user's device. The local preferences are then used as a filter of the large block of broadcast data stored on the user's device.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for developing information for a wireless information system


A method of cladding a building wall surface with individual prefabricated panels and trim mouldings with any fasteners and joints between the panels and trim being covered on site with a coating of stucco to produce a flush finished stucco surface. Each panel has a uniform transverse cross-sectional profile, and a core of foam material coated with a weatherproof stucco coating on its exterior surface. Tongue and groove joints are disposed along the longitudinal surfaces and a longitudinal recess in the exterior surface adjacent each tongue and groove joint is adapted to receive a layer of joint coating to fill the recess and cover the longitudinal joints flush with the external surface. The wall surface is installed by cutting the elongate cladding panels to the approximate length of the wall and mounting the cladding panels temporarily to the wall substrate, such as plywood for example. The exterior surface of the panels is aligned to a predetermined outside finish datum and fasteners secure the cladding panels to the substrate without creating a thermally conductive bridge between the substrate and the external ambient atmosphere. The openings around doors and windows, vertical corners and other details are finished by cutting, mounting and affixing elongate transverse end trim mouldings to cover the end surfaces of the cladding panels. Installation is completed by applying a joint coating to cover the joints and filling the adjacent recesses flush with the exterior surface of the panels, then applying a final finish coat to the entire wall assembly.

Exterior finishing systems for building constructions include brick or masonry, aluminum siding, wooden siding, sheet metal panels, and stucco. The popularity of stucco finishes has recently increased partially due to the introduction of prefinished moulding components, prefabricated panels and other stucco finished components which have an insulating foam core coated with weatherproof coating.
Stucco finishes have traditionally been associated with the architectural styles of southern Europe, South and Central America and other relatively warm climates, however, modern stucco products have been used in northern climates as well with equal success. In Canada and the northern United States traditionally buildings have been clad with brick, metal or wood siding, although stucco finishes are on the increase.
The widespread adoption of stucco construction has been inhibited largely due to the relatively high cost and short summer period in northern climates. Stucco finishing requires highly skilled labour and dry warm weather due to the conventional practice of applying the entire multiple layer stucco coating by hand on site. Typically, stucco mouldings are affixed to a concrete block or wooden wall, a reinforcing mesh is then applied to the wall, a coarse base layer of stucco and then one or two finish coats of fine stucco are applied by hand.
To reduce the labour component, prefabricated and precoated stucco panels and moulding have been provided, however, conventional methods still require the entire surface to be finish stucco coating to be applied by hand on site. The appearance of the final coating is critical to the overall result and so highly skilled workers are required to ensure consistent colour, thickness, finish roughness etc. Since moulding, panels and other prefinished components may have slightly different exterior coloured or textured finishes, it is common to integrate all components visually by applying the final finish coating of stucco on site.
As a result of the high labour content involved in stucco finishing, other conventional finishes are largely preferred by builders, such as brick and siding. The brick and metal siding come to the site usually in a completely finished state requiring only cutting and installation to produced a complete exterior finish. The level of skill is lower than stucco, and the methods of construction are generally familiar to workers. For these reasons, small scale projects done by individual property owners or small contractors don't often include stucco, but rather tend to include wooden or metal siding which do not require the same skill or tools.
Never the less, architects and owners often prefer the appearance of stucco, and wish to benefit from some of its advantages. Stucco is very easily integrated with other finishes and is relatively lightweight. By including a layer of foam in the prefabricated stucco coated panels and mouldings, a significant degree of insulating value can be easily added. These advantages result in stucco use in many renovation or addition projects. Stucco also gives a modern clean and stylish impression whereas metal or wood siding appears on relatively low cost housing, and projects an associated image.
Stucco is the traditional method of exterior finishing in many southern climates, partly due to the relatively high cost of alternative finish materials such as wood or metal in those parts of the world. In contrast, stucco uses much less expensive materials, such as sand and cement. Even in southern markets, the speed of traditional stucco finishing and labour intensive methods involved result in significant construction costs and time involved.
Stucco cannot be properly applied in wet weather except in a sheltered enclosure and requires a period of time in relatively warm air after application to cure properly. Stucco is applied as a wet cement mixture and therefore cannot be applied in freezing weather or heavy rain. Scaffolding is required to gain access to the wall to be coated with traditional stucco, and to store materials. The cost of heating stucco after application to prevent freezing overnight renders the acceptance of stucco limited especially in colder climates.
Conventional prefabricated panels in part address these problems by providing a partially finished panel which is final finish coated on site. However in many southern climates, labour is still relatively cheap compared to the costs of factory prefabrication and transport of materials to a building site. As a result, the adoption of prefabricated panels has not penetrated beyond large volume building construction projects such as hotels, commercial and industrial buildings. Homes coated with stucco remain largely built with traditional labour intensive methods and locally available materials.
It is desirable therefore to produce a finished stucco finish by methods which reduce the level of skill and the time involved.
It is also desirable to produce stucco finishes with a final cost competitive with conventional finishing systems, including traditionally installed stucco, brick, wood or metal siding.
It is desirable to produce a lightweight durable stucco building product which is simple to understand, uses commonly available tools and building methods, so that relatively unskilled people, such as do-it-yourself homeowners or those in developing countries, can easily complete a project.
It is also desirable to produce a stucco product which is substantially finished to reduce on site labour and can be installed in various weather conditions, without specialized tools or complex installation methods.


A process and apparatus for the hermetic adhesive bonding of plastic casing parts of a battery or of a galvanic cell. The casing comprises a plastic casing container and a top or bottom of the same type of plastic, preferably of polyamide, which are adhesively bonded to each other by means of a pair of joining surfaces. For adhesive bonding, the joining surface of one of the two parts is wetted at specific locations with a solvent dissolving the plastic, preferably with formic acid, over a time period of 5 to 7 seconds. The joining surface is aired at room temperature in still air over a time period of about 15 to 25 seconds, and the casing parts are then joined to each other and pressed together with pressure maintained over a time period of about to 5 to 10 minutes.

The present invention relates to a process for the hermetic adhesive bonding of plastic casing parts of a battery or of a galvanic cell.
German book publication: "Taschenbuch der Kitte und Klebstoffe" (Pocketbook of cements and adhesives), Dr. E. Plath, L. Plath; Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Stuttgart (1963), pages 328-29, describes a process for adhesive bonding of plastic parts made from polyamide, in which the joining surfaces of the parts are thinly coated with formic acid, dried slightly and then pressed together, as well as an apparatus for carrying out the process. In some cases of batteries or galvanic cells, however, it is necessary to keep the leakage rate of the adhesion very low. For instance, in the case of gas-tight nickel/cadmium cells with oxygen consuming electrodes, it is necessary to achieve a tightness which allows a leakage rate of no more than 10.sup.7 mbar.times.liter per sec. (referred to as 50 mbar helium), in order to ensure a service life of many years. Otherwise, the ingress of the nitrogen contained in the atmosphere would considerably impair the gas kinetics, and consequently the functioning of the cell.
Since polyamide 6 is generally used as plastic for the casing, it is usual to seal such a gas-tight cell by diffusion bonding by means of formic acid. This type of bonding, and design tips for the bonding seam, are described in VDI codes of practice; "Kunststoffkleben" (adhesive bonding of plastics); VDI 3821. Generally, quite good results are obtained in such adhesive bonding of the cell casing, but there is a relatively high rejection rate with respect to the required tightness due to the partial dissolution of the polyamide 6 by the formic acid, which causes the formation of many small gas passages in the region of the joining surfaces (microporosity) thereby increasing gas permeability. Moreover, the application of the adhesive solution, which is toxic and very aggressive, is complicated, time-consuming and thus expensive.
The object of the present invention is to develop a process by which the rejection rate is lowered and the adhesive bonding is made easier in terms of the process and in terms of design.
This object is achieved by the process according to the invention, in which the plastic casing of the future battery or galvanic cell is produced in an efficient way, the bonding region having a low to insignificant microporosity. As a result, on the one hand the rejection rate is lowered in production and on the other hand the tightness of the bond is ensured.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Process and apparatus for the hermetic adhesive bonding of plastic casing parts of a battery or of a galvanic cell


It is provided a blood vessel function inspecting apparatus including: a blood vessel diameter measuring portion configured to measure a diameter of a blood vessel; a blood vessel wall thickness measuring portion configured to measure a wall thickness of the blood vessel; and a blood vessel function index value calculating portion configured to calculate a function index value for diagnosing the blood vessel of its function, after releasing of the blood vessel from blood flow obstruction, by dividing an amount of dilatation of said diameter of the blood vessel continuously measured by said blood vessel diameter measuring portion, by the wall thickness measured by said blood vessel wall thickness measuring portion.

As one method of detecting a disease such as arteriosclerosis at an early stage of the disease, a method of diagnosing a blood vessel of its function is drawing a recent attention. Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a blood vessel dynamic characteristic measuring apparatus, which is configured to measure a blood flow velocity distribution within a blood vessel, and to calculate a blood shear rate distribution, a blood viscosity distribution and a blood shear stress on the basis of the measured blood flow velocity distribution. This document proposes the use of the calculated blood viscosity distribution or a blood shear stress distribution as one index value for diagnosing the blood vessel of its function. There is also known a method wherein a diameter of a blood vessel of a subject person at rest (rest-time blood vessel diameter) is measured, and a diameter of the blood vessel is measured after releasing of the blood vessel from blood flow obstruction at a portion of the antebrachium maintained for about five minutes, to calculate a blood vessel diameter increase ratio FMD (blood vessel diameter dilatation amount/rest-time blood vessel diameter*100%) on the basis of an amount of dilatation of the blood vessel diameter after releasing of the blood vessel from the blood flow obstruction, and the rest-time blood vessel diameter, for using this blood vessel diameter increase ratio FMD as the index value for diagnosing the blood vessel of its function. It is also known to use a thickness of the blood vessel wall or a stress acting on the blood vessel wall, as the index value for diagnosing the blood vessel of its function.

Blood vessel function inspecting apparatus


A device (1) for varying the valve timing of the gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine, essentially comprising a driven unit (2) rotationally fixed to an intake or exhaust camshaft, a drive unit (4) in driving relationship with a crankshaft through a traction element and formed by a drive pinion (5), a housing (6) and a pinion hub (10) made up of an inner ring (11) and an outer ring (13), the device (1) further comprising an adjusting piston (15) which is axially displaceable on the inner wall (7) of the housing (6) and axially delimits two pressure chambers (8, 9) while being connected to a hollow cylindrical sliding sleeve (18) to reduce pressure medium leakages between the pressure chambers (8, 9) and the noise produced by the adjusting piston (15) and the sliding sleeve (18) during their adjusting movements to a minimum by arranging between the outer surface (16) of the adjusting piston (15) and the inner wall (7) of the housing (6), and/or between the inner ring (11) of the pinion hub (10) and the sliding sleeve (18), an annular strip (21, 22) of a thermoplastic or of an elastomeric material which is configured both as a guide strip and a sealing ring for the adjusting piston (15), or for the sliding sleeve (18), as the case may be.

In a device of the above type known from DE-OS 44 17 959, the piston surfaces of the adjusting piston likewise delimit two pressure chambers and the outer surface of the adjusting piston is likewise guided on the inner wall of the housing. To avoid an undesired transfer of the hydraulic pressure medium from one pressure chamber to the other, there is arranged on the outer surface of the adjusting piston, an annular groove in which a steel snap sealing ring is inserted which is slightly biased towards the inner wall of the housing.
A drawback of camshaft adjusting devices of the said type is that by the very presence of the split gap in the steel sealing ring, undesired transfers of the hydraulic pressure medium occur. Moreover, the inner wall of the housing has to be made with a high degree of precision, among other things, to exclude circularity errors which can lead to undesired pressure medium leakages between the pressure chambers. At the same time, due to the steel sealing ring, a high degree of wear is to be expected in the region of sealing and, as a result thereof, a continuously deteriorating sealing effect over the operational life of the device.
Another inherent drawback of camshaft adjusting devices with the aforesaid configuration are their disturbing noises during adjustment which are caused by free float phases and canting of the adjusting piston and sliding sleeve assembly and are transmitted to the housing of the device due to the steel sealing ring on the outer surface of the adjusting piston acting as a bridge for structure-borne noise. It is certainly possible to reduce these noises of adjustment by respecting closer tolerances of flank clearance in the manufacture of the helical gearings of the drive and driven units as well as of the helical gear sections of the sliding sleeve, but this leads to a considerable increase of the manufacturing costs of the device.

Device for varying valve timing of gas exchange valves of internal combustion engine


An X-ray detector includes; a panel having a plurality of photo-detecting pixels generating electrical signals in response to the detection of X-rays, a gate driver providing a gate signal to the plurality of photo-detecting pixels, wherein the photo-detecting pixels output the electrical signals in response to the gate signal, a readout integrated circuit reading out the electrical signal in response to the gate signal, a main board including a controller receiving the electrical signal and converting the electrical signal to an image signal, a film attached to the panel and the main board, the film including a signal line electrically connecting the readout integrated circuit to the panel and main board, wherein the readout integrated circuit is mounted on the film, and a shielding layer covering the film and comprising a conductive material, wherein the shielding layer prevents externally applied electromagnetic signals from passing through the film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an X-ray detector. More particularly, the present invention relates to an X-ray detector capable of removing noise caused by electronic interference.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, an X-ray detector is used in a medical diagnostic instrument to provide an X-ray image of a subject to a display apparatus by detecting the X-ray image produced by the absorption and transmission of X-rays through the subject.
Presently, a flat panel X-ray detector employing digital radiography ("DR"), which does not require photographic film, is extensively used. The flat panel X-ray detector employing DR includes a plurality of photo-detecting pixels provided in a flat panel to detect X-rays generated by an X-ray generator. As used herein, X-rays, refer to electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength from about 0.01 nm to about 10 nm. Each photo-detecting pixel includes a photo diode that detects X-rays generated from the X-ray generator and outputs electric signals, and a switching device that switches the electric signals output from the photo diode.
A readout integrated circuit and a gate driver are provided at an outer portion of the flat panel. The readout integrated circuit reads out the electric signals from the flat panel and the gate driver sequentially turns on switching devices aligned in a row direction to allow the readout integrated circuit to sequentially read out the electric signals from photo-detecting pixels aligned in the row direction. The electric signals output from the readout integrated circuit are processed through a controller provided in a main board, and then converted into image signals. The converted image signals are provided to a display apparatus to display X-ray images.
In general, the readout integrated circuit is mounted on a film that connects the flat panel to the main board. The film is provided with a signal line that electrically connects the flat panel to the main board. However, the signals, which are input into or output from the readout integrated circuit, are distorted due to electronic interference generated from the main board or external electronic appliances. As a result, the display apparatus, which displays the image signals provided from the X-ray detector, displays images having noise, thereby deteriorating display quality of the X-ray image.

X-ray detector and manufacturing method thereof


A thin film of barium titanate is formed on a substrate by immersing the substrate in an aqueous solution containing barium ions and titanium alkoxide. The aqueous solution may contain not more than 20 vol % of one or more alkanolamines expressed by the general formula: EQU HO(C.sub.n H.sub.2n)mNH.sub.3-m. where n is not more than 10, and m=1, 2 or 3.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for production of ferroelectric thin films and, more particularly, a method for depositing thin films of barium titanate on desired substrates without use of complex procedures.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Barium titanate, BaTiO.sub.3, has been utilized widely for various electronic devices such as, ultrasonic sensors, capacitors, actuators, pyroelectric infrared detectors and nonvolatile memories, because of its superior properties as a ferroelectric, piezoelectric or pyroelectric material. Further, many investigations have been directed to the application of barium titanate to many other fields.
In such devices, barium titanate is generally applied as thin films to make the best use of its properties. For this reason, there have been proposed various methods for production of thin films of barium titanate in various patent documents and literatures such as, JP-A-S61-30678, JP-A- H2-94209, JP-A- H2-258700, and JAPANESE JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS, Vol. 28, No. 11, 1989.
JP-A- 61-30678 discloses a method including the step of chemically converting a metallic titanium surface serving as a substrate to a barium titanate. However, this method is limited only to metallic titanium as the substrate, thus making it impossible to form thin films of barium titanate on other substrates.
JP-A- H2-94209 discloses a sputtering process in which a material is sputtered from a target and deposited on the substrate. However, sputtering requires use of complex, expensive equipments, resulting in considerable increase of equipment investment.
JP-A- H2-258700 discloses a plasma method utilizing plasma for deposition of thin films. This method requires complex, large-scale equipments and can be applied only to substrates which can withstand high temperatures.
The JAPANESE JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS discloses a hydrothermal, electrochemical method in which thin films are deposited on a substrate by a wet process at high temperature and high pressure in an autoclave. Since the substrate is used as one of electrodes, this method can be applied only to metal substrates with good conductivity. Further, the formation of thin films is performed at high temperature and pressure, thus making it impossible to apply this process to organic substrates.
On the other hand, it is also known that barium titanate can be produced in a powder form by hydrolyzing titanium alkoxide in a solution containing barium ions at low temperatures. However, it is impossible with the known hydrolyzing process to produce thin film of barium titanate.

Production of barium titanate thin films


A processor includes an execution unit configured to execute a program, a bus coupled to the execution unit, a local memory coupled to the bus, a DMA unit coupled to the bus, and an interface to couple the bus to an exterior, wherein the DMA unit is configured to perform a DMA transfer process in response to instruction from the execution unit, to load information by the DMA transfer process from the exterior through the interface, to decrypt the loaded information, and to write the decrypted information to the local memory by the DMA transfer process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to processors and systems using processors, and particularly relates to a processor with an information security function and a system using such a processor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Processor-based systems allow programs to be used to define their operations, so that these systems are more flexible than systems operating based on hardware alone, allowing a variety of functions to be implemented easily. Because of such advantages, processor-based systems are used in a variety of fields, and are even beginning to be used in the field such as electronic business transaction where a high degree of security is required. In order to provide high security, various measures such as user authentication need to be implemented at the system level. In recent years, however, security issues have been discussed not only at the system level but also at the software level and processor level.
For example, when data and/or executable instruction codes are to be stored in a main memory device or secondary memory device, security may be ensured by encrypting the data and/or executable instruction codes. At the time of execution of instructions, the encrypted data and/or executable instruction codes are decoded and stored in a cache memory inside the processor, followed by executing the process. With this configuration, if hardware for performing the encryption process is implemented on a chip separate from the processor chip, the processing speed and encryption performance may become a problem.
Technology described in Patent Document 1 is an example of conventional technologies relating to such software execution environment. Patent Document 1 discloses a code executing apparatus which checks the validity of an encrypted code by authenticating the encrypted execution code, and which has a secure processor that fetches an instruction corresponding to the encrypted code, followed by executing the instruction as a secured task.
Such code executing apparatus, however, requires a large-scale modification to software. Depending on usages, there may be a case in which it is necessary to encrypt and protect only a particular portion of the instructions and data. The configuration as described above that requires a large-scale software modification is not desirable in terms of cost-effectiveness.
In a typical processor, an execution unit for decoding and executing instructions fetches instructions via a memory management unit, a cache memory, and a bus interface, and stores execution results in memory. Such operations are repeated one after another. An attempt to implement a full security function for such a typical processor results in an encryption circuit being inserted into the data path, thereby performing encryption and decryption with respect all the information inclusive of the instructions and execution results. However, the security function to protect all the information may not be necessary, and the encryption and protection of only a portion of the information may suffice to achieve the objective, depending on the usage. In such a case, the full protection as described above simply means an excessively large scale and excessive costs.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-353960
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-280989
[Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-320533
Accordingly, there is a need for a processor and system having an efficient configuration suitable for the needs when it is sufficient to encrypt and protect only a portion of the information.


An ILFD control unit sets a control parameter of an injection locked frequency divider based on each frequency of a reference signal and a frequency-divided signal measured in response to the control parameter of the injection locked frequency divider, in a stop state of a VCO and an injection locked frequency divider. The ILFD control unit runs the injection locked frequency divider and sets a control parameter of the injection locked frequency divider based on each frequency of the reference signal and the frequency-divided signal measured in response to the control parameter of the injection locked frequency divider, in the stop state of the VCO.

Recently, prevalent portable wireless communication apparatuses have required fast throughput, and a Phase Locked Loop (PLL) circuit operating at a high frequency band has been required as a frequency synthesizer in wireless communication.
The PLL circuit includes a frequency divider which frequency-divides a high frequency band signal to a low frequency band signal. An injection locked frequency divider (ILFD) capable of high speed operation at a high frequency band of 10 GHz or more using low power consumption is used as a frequency divider.

PLL circuit, calibration method, and wireless communication apparatus


A humidity sensing apparatus and method include a substrate and a MEMS structure, wherein the MEMS structure is supported by the substrate. The MEMS structure comprises a humidity-sensitive material in association with a movable member such that when the humidity-sensitive material changes with humidity, the MEMS structure moves the movable member, thereby providing an indication of humidity based on a stress within the MEMS structure.

Humidity sensors are utilized in a variety of commercial, industrial and consumer applications. A humidity sensor converts a change resulting from humidity and moisture to an electric quantity and executes signal processing by use of an electronic circuit. It has been widely employed to satisfy a demand for humidity control in a variety of objects
One area where humidity sensing is particularly important is the area of fuel cells, including hydrogen based fuel cell devices. Fuel cells are increasingly being used as a power source in a wide variety of different applications. Fuel cells have also been proposed for use in electrical vehicular power plants to replace internal combustion engines. A solid-polymer-electrolyte fuel cell includes a membrane that is sandwiched between an anode and a cathode. To produce electricity through an electrochemical reaction, hydrogen (H2) is supplied to the anode and air or oxygen (O2) is supplied to the cathode.
In a first half-cell reaction, dissociation of the hydrogen (H2) at the anode generates hydrogen protons (H+) and electrons. The membrane is proton conductive and dielectric. As a result, the protons are transported through the membrane while the electrons flow through an electrical load that is connected across the electrodes. In a second half-cell reaction, oxygen (O2) at the cathode reacts with protons (H+), and electrons are taken up to form water (H2O).
To operate efficiently and to produce a maximum amount of electricity, the fuel cell must be properly humidified. To achieve the proper humidity range, the hydrogen stream and/or the air stream are typically humidified by one of several methods known in the art. Conventional humidity control methods generally fail to sufficiently control the humidity of the hydrogen and air streams to the fuel cell. Providing too much humidity to the fuel cell blocks the reacting gases from accessing the catalyst thereby impeding the electrochemical reaction between the hydrogen and air and reducing the production of electricity. Providing too little humidity to the fuel cell restricts or limits the proton transportation required for reaction within the fuel cell.
In order to provide a humidity sensor, which can be adapted for use in applications such as, but not limited to, fuel cells, an improved sensor structure and methodology is required. The humidity sensor described herein therefore offers such a device.

Stress sensitive humidity sensor based on a MEMS structure


A method of allocating radio resources in a wireless communication system is disclosed. In one aspect of the present invention, in a wireless communication system, a user equipment requests a base station to allocate radio resources for uplink data transmission of at least one time in accordance with a first radio resource allocation request mode. The user equipment requests the base station to allocate the radio resources for uplink data transmission in accordance with a second radio resource allocation request mode if a predetermined condition is satisfied.

In a wireless communication system which uses multiple carriers, such as an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) or a single carrier-frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA), radio resources are a set of continuous sub-carriers and are defined by a time-frequency region on a two-dimensional sphere. A time-frequency region is a rectangular form sectioned by time and sub-carrier coordinates. In other words, one time-frequency region could be a rectangular form sectioned by at least one symbol on a time axis and a plurality of sub-carriers on a frequency axis. Such a time-frequency region can be allocated to an uplink for a specific user equipment (UE), or a base station can transmit the time-frequency region to a specific user equipment in a downlink. In order to define such a time-frequency region on the two-dimensional sphere, the number of OFDM symbols and the number of continuous sub-carriers starting from a point having an offset from a reference point should be given.
An evolved universal mobile telecommunications system (E-UMTS) which is currently being discussed uses 10 ms radio frame comprising 10 sub-frames. Namely, one sub-frame includes two continuous slots. One slot has a length of 0.5 ms. Also, one sub-frame comprises a plurality of OFDM symbols, and a part (for example, first symbol) of the plurality of OFDM symbols can be used for transmission of L1/L2 control information.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a structure of physical channels used in the E-UMTS. In FIG. 1, one sub-frame comprises an L1/L2 control information transmission region (hatching part) and a data transmission region (non-hatching part).
FIG. 2 illustrates a general method of transmitting data in the E-UMTS. In the E-UMTS, a hybrid auto repeat request (HARQ) scheme, which is one of data retransmission schemes, is used to improve throughput, thereby enabling desirable communication.
Referring to FIG. 2, the base station transmits downlink scheduling information (hereinafter, referred to as 'DL scheduling information') through DL L1/L2 control channel, for example, a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), to transmit data to a user equipment in accordance with the HARQ scheme. The DL scheduling information includes user equipment identifier (UE ID) or group identifier (group ID) of user equipments, location and duration (resource assignment and duration of assignment) information of radio resources allocated for transmission of downlink data, modulation mode, payload size, transmission parameters such as MIMO related information, HARQ process information, redundancy version, and new data indicator.
In order to notify that DL scheduling information is transmitted through the PDCCH for what user equipment, the user equipment identifier (or group identifier), for example, a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) is transmitted. The RNTI can be classified into a dedicated RNTI and a common RNTI. The dedicated RNTI is used or data transmission and reception to and from a user equipment of which information is registered with a base station. The common RNTI is used if communication is performed with user equipments, which are not allocated with dedicated RNTI as their information is not registered with the base station. Alternatively, the common RNTI is used for transmission and reception of information used commonly for a plurality of user equipments, such as system information. For example, examples of the common RNTI include RA-RNTI and T-C-RNTI, which are used during a random access procedure through a random access channel (RACH). The user equipment identifier or group identifier can be transmitted in a type of CRC masking in DL scheduling information transmitted through the PDCCH.
User equipments located in a specific cell monitor the PDCCH through the L1/L2 control channel using their RNTI information, and receive DL scheduling information through the corresponding PDCCH if they successfully perform CRC decoding through their RNTI. The user equipments receive downlink data transmitted thereto through a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) indicated by the received DL scheduling information.
As described above, in order to efficiently use limited radio resources in the wireless communication system, uplink scheduling and downlink scheduling are performed. Particularly, in the system which uses multiple carriers such as OFDMA or SC-FDMA, since a radio resource block formed by a specific time zone and a specific frequency band can be used by only one user equipment, scheduling, which determines how many radio resources are allocated to each user equipment and also determines when the radio resources are allocated to each user equipment, is very important.
For scheduling, the user equipment can perform a buffer status report (BSR) and a channel resource request. The user equipment can allow a network to efficiently perform scheduling by notifying the network of data stored in its butler, through the buffer status report. The network can perform proper scheduling by identifying what user equipment needs how many radio resources, using the buffer status report. Meanwhile, the user equipment can actively request the network to allocate radio resources.

Method of allocating radio resources in a wireless communication system


A display device for displaying a first image in a first direction and a second image in a second direction, including a display panel having pixels arrayed in a matrix, a backlight configured to emit a light to a back surface of the display panel, and a parallax barrier configured so that a light from the first pixel passes through an opening of the parallax barrier and is emitted to the first direction, and a light from the second pixel passes through the opening of the parallax barrier and is emitted to the second direction. The formula (B−A)/A≦1 is satisfied wherein A represents the luminance of the first image when the first image and the second image are black images, and B represents a luminance of the first image when the first image is a black image and the second image is a white image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a display device. The present disclosure also relates to an electronic apparatus provided with such a display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a car navigation device or the like mounted on a vehicle uses a multi-view display device that displays different images to plural users on a single screen. Such a multi-view display device can display a map image to a vehicle driver, and can also display a television image to a person other than the driver in the vehicle (passenger), for example.
As its related technique, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2008-64917 describes an electro-optical device capable of narrowing a range of a mixed region where a first image and a second image are mixed in a front direction, while maintaining a display luminance of the first image and a display luminance of the second image.
In multi-view display devices, there may be occurred a crosstalk which is an interference between the first image and the second image. Specifically, when a contrast between the first image and the second image becomes higher, the crosstalk is more likely to be occurred.


A morphing airfoil system includes an airfoil including a bulkhead and an airfoil body extending from the bulkhead, at least one inflatable/deflatable bladder positioned within the airfoil body, and a bladder pressurization mechanism configured for controlling pressurization of the at least one bladder. The system also includes one or more processors and a memory communicably coupled to the one or more processors and storing an airfoil control module including instructions that when executed by the processor(s) cause the processor(s) to control operation of the bladder pressurization mechanism to increase or decrease internal pressure in the at least one bladder to change a configuration of the airfoil.

Airfoils may be used in aircraft to provide lift, and may be incorporated into ground vehicles to favorably modify the airflow around the vehicle when moving. However, aspects of airfoils which are beneficial to vehicle performance under certain conditions may be detrimental to vehicle performance under other conditions. Also, designing an airfoil to maximize a specific performance parameter may be detrimental to other, possibly secondary performance parameters.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.


An optical array waveguide grating-type multiplexer and demultiplexer according to an embodiment of the present invention comprise: a first substrate, a plurality of first waveguides disposed on the first substrate to be superposed in the vertical direction, which is the thickness direction of the first substrate; a 1-1st cladding layer disposed between the first substrate and a 1-1st waveguide, which is nearest to the first substrate among the plurality of first waveguides; a 1-2nd cladding layer disposed between the plurality of first waveguides; and a 1-3rd cladding layer disposed on a 1-2nd waveguide, which is furthest from the first substrate among the plurality of first waveguides.

In optical communication, a wavelength multiplexer transmission method is used in order to transmit large amounts of information. In the wavelength multiplexer transmission method, lights having different wavelengths are multiplexed and transmitted.
In order to broaden the wavelength band of a conventional optical arrayed waveguide grating-type multiplexer and demultiplexer, it is inevitable to increase the size of the optical arrayed waveguide grating-type multiplexer and demultiplexer. In the case in which the size of the conventional optical arrayed waveguide grating-type multiplexer and demultiplexer is large, however, it is difficult to apply the multiplexer and demultiplexer to small-sized products, and costs are increased.
Meanwhile, a spectrometer is a device that measures the spectrum of light that is emitted or absorbed by a material. In addition to spectroscopic analysis, the spectrometer may be used to observe the microscopic structure of the material. Depending on the purpose thereof, light ranging from gamma rays to far-infrared rays is used.
An image sensor is an image sensing device, a representative example of which is a charged coupled device (CCD). In the CCD, more than a hundred thousand sensing elements are included in a coin-sized chip, and an image focused on the surface of the chip is accumulated as a charge packet on each element. These packets are output by a charge transmission device at high speed, converted, processed, and displayed as an image. The elements of the CCD constitute a detection array, which is divided into regions for accumulation and output.
A conventional spectrometer is large-sized, making it difficult for a user to use the spectrometer in a portable manner in our daily lives. In addition, a conventional image sensor acquires only simple image information. In addition, a conventional mobile phone device includes only an image sensor, whereby only simple image information is acquired.

Optical array waveguide grating-type multiplexer and demultiplexer and camera module comprising the same


Apparatus and a method for treating an irregularity in a wall of a vessel of a patient defined by an irregular or afflicted wall portion with adjacent normal wall portions comprises a catheter having a distal end portion for being guided through the vessel to the site of the irregularity. A balloon associated with said distal end portion of the catheter for selective inflating to contact the walls of the vessel urges a stent carried by the distal end portion of the catheter in a constricted condition for passage through the vessel into an expanded form with the stent spanning the afflicted wall portion and contacting the adjacent wall portions. The catheter is formed with lumens for inflating the balloon, for receiving a guidewire for guiding the catheter through the vessel, and for connecting a port in the catheter proximate the afflicted wall portion to enable delivery of a therapeutic agent into the vessel to contact the stent and the irregular wall portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to stents positionable within the body of a patient and more particularly relates to a stent for delivering a therapeutic agent therefrom and a method and system for delivery of a therapeutic agent to replenish the stent.
2. Description of Related Art
Physicians often use medical guidewires and catheters in combination. Medical guidewires are devices navigable through narrow passages in the body such as vessels, tubes, ducts, passages and the like, hereinafter collectively referred to as vessels. A physician controls the position and travel of a distal end of the guidewire by manipulating a steering mechanism at a proximal end outside the body. In other applications the physician guides the catheter through a laparoscope or endoscope. Medical catheters generally comprise hollow, flexible tubes that convey fluids, such as contrast, embolic, or pharmacological agents, to or from a vessel within a body.
Typically in transluminal procedures, a physician inserts and directs a medical guidewire through a vessel in a patient's body. The physician monitors the travel of the guidewire by a fluoroscope or other known device. Once positioned proximate the desired area, a steering mechanism is removed from the guidewire and a medical catheter is inserted into the vessel along the guidewire. Other procedures are also well known for directing catheters or similar devices into larger vessels of the body such as the esophagus.
Often these catheters include specialized attachments for providing different treatment modalities. For example, the following references disclose catheters with attachments for administering a therapeutic agent and performing balloon therapy:
______________________________________ 4,824,436 (1989) Wolinsky 4,832,688 (1989) Sagae et al. 5,254,089 (1993) Wang 08/105,737 (1993) Lennox et al. ______________________________________
U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,436 to Wolinsky discloses a multi-lumen catheter having opposed ring balloons positionable on opposite sides of a plaque formation in a blood vessel. Inflation of the ring balloons define an isolated volume in the vessel about the plaque. Heparin is then injected into the volume between the ring to assist the body in repairing the plaque deposit. This patent also discloses a central balloon which can be employed to rupture the plaque prior to inflation of the ring balloon.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,688 to Sagae et al. discloses a multi-lumen catheter having an occlusion balloon positionable distally of a tear in a vessel wall. Inflating the balloon occludes the vessel and isolates at the tear. A therapeutic agent, such as heparin or thrombin, injected from the catheter into the volume reduces the risk of thrombosis or restenosis. The balloon is then deflated and moved adjacent the rupture and reinflated to repair the ruptured wall by coagulation of blood thereat.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,089 discloses a balloon catheter having an array of conduits disposed within the outer wall of the balloon. The conduits include apertures in the other wall for delivery of medications through the wall of the balloon into the body of a patient. This type of balloon is often referred to as a channeled balloon.
U.S. application Ser. No. 08/105,737 to Lennox et al., discloses catheters having spaced balloons for treating aneurysms. The inflated balloons define an isolated volume about the aneurysm. A port connects a vacuum source to evacuate the volume and draw the aneurysmal wall toward its ordinary position. Inflating a third balloon with a heated fluid to contact the aneurysmal wall effects the repair.
Therapeutic agent and balloon delivery systems must meet certain criteria. That is, the cross-sectional dimension of the catheter must be minimized to enable transit through the vessel while also having sufficient dimension to enable fluid flow to selectively inflate and deflate the balloon, guidewires to pass therein, and therapeutic agents to flow therethrough for delivery along the catheter. Catheters must also have sufficient internal rigidity to prevent collapse of the lumens while having sufficient flexibility for passage along vessels.
The following references disclose stent delivery systems:
______________________________________ 4,690,684 (1987) McGreevy et al. 4,922,905 (1990) Strecker 4,950,227 (1990) Savin et al. 5,059,211 (1991) Stack et al. 5,108,416 (1992) Ryan et al. 5,158,548 (1992) Lau et al. 5,234,457 (1993) Anderson 5,242,399 (1993) Lau et al. ______________________________________
Stent delivery systems, as disclosed by the Lau et al. and Ryan et al. patents, often include a catheter supporting a compacted stent for transport in a vessel and an expansible device for expanding the stent radially to implant the stent in the vessel wall. After removal of the catheter, the expanded stent keeps the vessels from closing.
The McGreevy et al. patent discloses a stent formed of biologically compatible material, such a frozen blood plasma or the like. According to McGreevy et al., a stent of this type carried by a catheter may be inserted into opposed ends of a ruptured vessel to support the separated vessel walls while the ends are bonded together. Once deployed, the heat from the bonding operation and the body eventually melt the stent and clear the vessel.
The Strecker, patent describes a stent and delivery system. The stent is knitted from metal or plastic filaments and has a tubular structure. The delivery system includes a balloon catheter and a coaxial sheath. The catheter supports and carries the compacted stent to a site within the body. The sheath covers the stent preventing premature deployment and facilitating transit of the stent through passages in the body. Exposure of the stent by moving the sheath axially with respect to the catheter and expansion of a balloon urges the stent into contact with the walls of the vessel. Deflation of the balloon frees it from the stent and enables withdrawal from the vessel of the delivery system.
In the Savin et al. patent a stent delivery system includes a catheter having an expansible distal portion, a stent carried thereon in a contracted position for expansion thereby and sleeves that overlie the end portions of the stent. The sleeves protect the vessel and the stent during transit without substantially inhibiting deployment of the stent.
The Stack et al. patent discloses a stent delivery system comprising a catheter for delivering a compressed stent on a balloon or mechanical extension to the locus of a stenotic lesion. The balloon or mechanical extension proximate the distal end expands the stent and deflation of the balloon or retraction of the mechanical extension permits withdrawal of the distal end of the catheter through the stent. The stent comprises bioabsorbable porous material that reduces the likelihood of embolization and promotes tissue ingrowth in order to encapsulate the stent.
In accordance with the Anderson patent a stent delivery system includes a dissolvable material that impregnates a self-expanding stent in a compacted form. In one embodiment the removal of a sheath exposes the stent to body heat and liquids so that the material dissolves and the stent expands into a deployed position.
Stent delivery systems used in such procedures generally include catheters with selectively expansible devices to deliver and expand a contracted "stent" or restraints that can be removed to allow a self-expanding stent to assure an enlarged or expanded configuration. Stents are known and have a variety of forms and applications. For example, stents serve as prostheses and graft carriers in percutaneous angioplasty. Stents used as an endoprothesis and graft carriers to which the present invention relates usually comprise radially expansible tubular structures for implant into the tissue surrounding "vessels" to maintain their patency. As is known, such stents are utilized in body canals, blood vessels, ducts and other body passages, and the term "vessel" is meant to include all such passages.
Like the previously described therapeutic agent and balloon therapy systems, stent delivery systems must conform to several important criteria. First, it is important to minimize the transverse dimension of the delivery system, so the stent must be capable of compaction against a delivery device, such as a catheter. Second, the delivery system must facilitate the deployment of the stent once located in a vessel. Third, the stent delivery system must easily disengage from the stent after the stent is deployed. Fourth, the procedure for removing the delivery system from the body must be straightforward. Fifth, the delivery system must operate reliably.
It has been found that the administration of therapeutic agents with a stent can reduce the risks of thrombosis or stenosis associated with stents. Stents administered along with seed cells, such as endothelial cells derived from adipose tissue, can accelerate the reformation of an afflicted area. Likewise, tears or other vessel damage associated with balloon angioplasty can be reduced by a deployed stent used in combination with a therapeutic agent.
When both therapeutic agent and stent therapies are required, a physician generally (1) steers a guidewire to the treatment locus, (2) guides a catheter over the guidewire, (3) operates the catheter to provide the first stage of treatment, (4) inserts an exchange guidewire to the guidewire, (5) withdraws the catheter, (6) guides a second catheter over the guidewire, and (7) operates the second catheter to provide the second stage of treatment. After this, the physician withdraws the guidewire, if not previously removed, and the catheter from the body of the patient.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,446 to James Barry the inventor of the present invention and commonly assigned discloses a stent delivery system that incorporates a drug delivery system in the catheter. This device permits the surgeon to use one catheter to deliver both the stent and the therapeutic agent at a selected site in the patient's body.
Other references disclose the use of stents that release therapeutic agents associated with a deployed stent over time. For example U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,457 to Andersen commonly assigned as this invention discloses stents impregnated with a gelatin that enables the release of the stent. It is suggested that the gelatin could entrain a therapeutic agent that dispenses as the gelatin dissolves.
These references thus provide the ability to deliver stents and therapeutic agents to an afflicted site within a patient's body and even enables the dispersion of the therapeutic agent from the stent over time. However, if additional therapeutic agent is needed at the site another catheter must be inserted to deliver the therapeutic agent or by generally introducing the additional therapeutic agent to the vessel such as by injection in the case of a blood vessel or by bathing the esophagus for example.
In some cases where a slow release of the therapeutic agent is desired, as by the release of a therapeutic agent entrained in a gelatin or other hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymers on a stent. Once the therapeutic agent was delivered, replenishment required one of two procedures. In one, a new stent was inserted to be adjacent the old stent. Sometimes this reduced the effectiveness of the therapeutic agent, particularly when the area of treatment was displaced from the second stent. An alternative that overcame that problem was substituting a new stent for the old stent. It is true that percutaneous transluminal procedures and other procedures involving the insertion of stents into the body have improved in recent years. Likewise the reduction in the size of the instruments inserted into the patient reduces the risk of damage. However, it is still a fact that each insertion and extraction risks further damage to afflicted areas and damage to otherwise unaffected areas through which the instruments pass and can add to patient trauma. Moreover, insertion and withdrawal of additional instruments in sequence increases the time of the physician, staff, and medical facility, and the cost of multiple instruments. Thus, reducing the number of instruments and the overall size of the instruments necessarily inserted and withdrawn from a patient, the steps required by the processes, and the overall size of each of the instruments is generally preferred.
Thus, the above-described references generally disclose various forms stents and delivery systems for treatments or therapies using a catheter in percutaneous transluminal procedures and other internal procedures. Some combined with stent delivery systems, which may include a balloon for deploying the stent, while others combine balloon therapy and therapeutic agent delivery systems. Still others of the references disclose a stent delivery system combined with a therapeutic delivery system or a stent that actually enables the slow release of a therapeutic agent carried by the stent. However, none of these references disclose a stent that enable both the release of a therapeutic agent therefrom and the charging or recharging of the stent with a therapeutic agent once positioned within the body to permit delivery of therapeutic agent to replenish a stent. None provides a structure for improving the efficiency of percutaneous transluminal procedures and other internal procedures by providing a stent for dispensing a therapeutic agent that can receive additional therapeutic agents in vivo and a therapeutic agent delivery system for replenishing the therapeutic agent dispensed from the stent. None disclose a delivery system and method capable of replenishing a therapeutic agent after it has been depleted from an original supply.