A triple-flow turbomachine for an aircraft, including a power transmission module including a torque input connected to a turbine shaft, a first torque output of a gearbox connected to a main shaft for rotatably driving a main fan propeller, and a second torque output of a planet gear connected to a secondary shaft for rotatably driving a secondary fan propeller. The planet gear is independent of the gearbox and arranged downstream of the gearbox.

The prior art comprises in particular the documents WO-A1-2010/092263, FR-A1-2 987 416, FR-A1-3 008 462, FR-A1-3 008 463, U.S. Pat. No. 9,488,101 B1, EP-A2-3 067 541, EP-B1-2 831 396 and FR-A1-3 041 054.
The newer generations of double-flow turbomachines, in particular those with a high bypass ratio, comprise a mechanical gearbox to drive a shaft of a fan propeller. The usual purpose of the gearbox is to convert the speed of rotation referred to as high speed of the shaft of a power turbine into a slower speed of rotation for the shaft driving the fan propeller.
Such a gearbox generally comprises a central pinion, referred to as a sun gear, a ring gear and pinions called planet gears, which are engaged between the sun gear and the ring gear. The planet gears are held by a chassis referred to as planet carrier. The sun gear, the ring gear and the planet carrier are planetary gears because their axes of revolution coincide with the longitudinal axis X of the turbomachine. The planet gears each have a different axis of revolution equally distributed on the same operating diameter around the axis of the planetaries. These axes are parallel to the longitudinal axis X.
There are several gearbox architectures. In the prior art of the double-flow turbomachines, the gearboxes are of the planetary or epicyclic type. In other similar applications, there are architectures referred to as differential or "compound".                In a planetary gearbox, the planet carrier is stationary and the ring gear is the output shaft of the device which rotates in the opposite direction of the sun gear.        In an epicyclic gearbox, the ring gear is stationary and the planet carrier is the output shaft of the device which rotates in the same direction as the sun gear.        On a compound gearbox, no element is attached in rotation. The ring gear rotates in the opposite direction of the sun gear and the planet carrier.
The gearboxes can consist of one or more gear stages. This meshing is ensured in different ways such as by contact, friction or magnetic field.
In the present application, "stage" or "toothing" means at least one series of meshing teeth with at least one series of complementary teeth. A toothing can be internal or external.
A planet gear may comprise one or two gear stages. A single-stage planet gear comprises a toothing that can be straight, helical or herringbone, and whose teeth are located on a same diameter. This toothing cooperates with both the sun gear and the ring gear.
A double-stage planet gear comprises two toothings that are located on different diameters. A first toothing cooperates with the sun gear and a second toothing generally cooperates with the ring gear.
The new generations of triple-flow turbomachines are extensions of the high bypass ratio double-flow turbomachines. A triple-flow turbomachine typically comprises a mechanical gearbox to drive the fan propeller and another propeller that can be considered a smaller fan or a secondary fan. The gearbox is part of a power transmission module which is used to rotatably drive the main fan shaft on the one hand and to drive the secondary fan shaft on the other.
However, the technologies currently proposed for this type of power transmission module are not satisfactory, particularly from the point of view of their complexity, their overall dimensions and their mass.
The invention provides an improvement allowing to ameliorate some or all of these disadvantages.

Triple flow aircraft turbomachine provided with a power transmission module


This invention relates to a semiconductor memory device having a cell array and a peripheral circuit and the fabrication method thereof. A semiconductor memory device and the fabrication method are provided wherein source and drain impurity diffusion regions of transistors constituting the cell array have an impurity concentration lower than that of source and drain impurity diffusion regions of transistors constituting the peripheral circuit Thus, the junction's breakdown voltage characteristic of the transistor in the cell array is improved, and the data inverting phenomenon and refresh characteristic deterioration problem due to the leakage current of the transistor in the peripheral circuit area are both solved.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device and a fabrication method therefor, in which the impurity concentration of the source and drain regions of transistors within a cell array is lower than that within a peripheral circuit.
Semiconductor memory devices of the type with which this invention is concerned typically consist of two areas. The first is a cell array area in which DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) cells are arranged in a matrix. Each cell array area contains a transistor, a capacitor, and a word line connected to a bit line. The second area is a peripheral circuit area for storing and transmitting data and for driving the cell array.
In semiconductor memory devices, miniaturization of unit cells to increase memory, high speed switching to transmit and store the data more quickly, and accurate reading and writing of data in the cell array are all being widely studied
FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a cell array and peripheral circuit manufactured by a conventional method. More particularly, FIG. 1 shows the border between the cell array area and the peripheral circuit area constituting semiconductor memory device, thereby checking the variation in the reliability of the memory device according to characteristic variation in transistors constituting the two regions.
In this drawing, a DRAM cell array area includes a transistor commonly having a drain region within an active region defined by a field oxide film 12 and having a source region and a gate electrode, and a capacitor in contact with the source region of the transistor and having a storage electrode, a dielectric film and a plate electrode. Transistors constituting the peripheral circuit are disposed in the periphery of the cell array. Generally, the impurity diffusion region of a transistor is formed by forming a gate electrode on the substrate and then doping an impurity using the gate electrode as a mask.
While smaller transistors are available to manufacture an effective highly integrated memory device, the power supplied remains constant regardless of size reduction, thereby increasing the electric field strength inside the transistor. Particularly, in the pinch-off region near the drain, the electric field becomes much stronger such that hot carriers are generated by the strong electric field in the region. The hot carrier is accelerated by the electric field to be injected into the gate oxide film. Otherwise, the hot carrier obtains an energy which overcomes the band gap of the substrate silicon, such that new electron/hole pairs are generated according to the impact ionization; part of the newly generated electrons are injected into the gate oxide film depending on the strength of the electrical field of the drain and part flow into the substrate and generate substrate current.
If a hot carrier is injected into the gate oxide film, a new interface state is generated between the substrate and the oxide film which changes the threshold voltage or deteriorates mutual conductance. If part of the holes flow within the substrate, the substrate voltage increases and causes parasitic bipolar breakdown, thereby deteriorating the withstand voltage of the drain region, and consequently hindering the memory characteristic.
To decrease the hot carrier effect due to a strong electric field as described above, a transistor is manufactured to have a double impurity diffusion region by thinly doping an impurity of low concentration in the substrate using the gate electrode as a mask. Then a spacer is formed on the side wall of the gate electrode, and again an impurity of high concentration using the spacer as a mask is doped. In this structure, called an LDD (Lightly Doped Drain) structure, an impurity diffusion region of low concentration is formed near the gate electrode and in the drain region, thereby decreasing the hot-carrier effect by weakening the electrical field therein. Generally, in the LDD structure a first impurity diffusion region 100 is first thinly formed by doping phosphorus using the gate electrode as a mask, and successively, a second impurity diffusion region 200 of a high concentration is thickly formed by disposing a spacer 18a on the side wall of the gate electrode 14 and then doping arsenic using the spacer as a mask.
The cell array area and the peripheral circuit area of the conventional semiconductor device using the LDD structure can improve the current driving capability by the above-mentioned effects, but an impurity diffusion process carried out in two steps causes leakage current in the memory cells of the cell array area. This results in a data inverting phenomenon which deteriorates the refresh characteristic of the memory cell. This is because there are minute defects in the semiconductor substrate itself due to the process of coating and etching an oxide film on a substrate on which a gate electrode has been formed, in order to form the second impurity diffusion region or the process for doping an impurity of high concentration. The defects become a factor contributing to the substrate leakage current, which cause the inversion of data stored in the capacitor.

Semiconductor memory device and the fabrication method thereof


An expansion valve includes a valve body having a valve body hole, a first passage, a bottomed valve chamber, a second passage, a third passage and a guide member disposed in the valve body hole between the first passage and the third passage. The valve body hole has a first valve body hole portion and a second valve body hole portion of different diameters forming a valve body step between the second passage and the first passage. The guide has a first guide portion and a second guide portion of different diameters forming a guide portion step. The guide is sized to be slidably received by the valve body hole in a close-fitting relationship with the first valve body hole portion receiving the first guide portion, the second valve body hole portion receiving the second guide portion and the valve body step and the guide portion step contacting each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an expansion valve which is mounted in an air conditioner for an automobile and the like for controlling the flow rate of a refrigerant supplied to an evaporator according to the temperature of the refrigerant.
2. Description of the Related Art
An expansion valve of this type has been disposed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-310538 (Patent Document 1).
The conventional expansion valve disclosed in Patent Document 1 requires a large number of parts such as a valve receiving member, a spring, and an adjusting screw, so that it is difficult to achieve the miniaturization and lightweight of expansion valve.
Furthermore, there is a fear that a refrigerant leaks from a valve chamber through an adjusting screw portion.


An object of the present invention is to reduce the diameter, to make focus adjustment easy, and to achieve bright, wide-angle, high-resolution image quality.

In recent years, from the standpoint of reducing the burden on patients, improving diagnostic accuracy, etc., endoscopes have been reduced in size and improved in terms of image quality. Therefore, compact image-acquisition elements having high pixel numbers (for example, CODs and CMOSs) have been developed for use in endoscopes, and the pixel pitches thereof have been reduced year by year. As the pixel pitches are reduced, the endoscope objective optical systems are also required to be reduced in size, while achieving a wide angle of view and satisfying the required optical performance, such as aberration correction.
In general, when the pixel pitch of an image-acquisition element is reduced, the Fno needs to be reduced to make the objective optical system bright, otherwise a high-resolution image cannot be obtained. If the objective optical system is made bright, the depth of focus becomes small. Furthermore, in an objective optical system, after positioning, when the focus position is shifted due to, for example, displacement occurring when an adhesive is cured, the influence of a focus-position adjusting device, or the like.
Compact endoscope objective optical systems that can achieve high image quality are disclosed in, for example, 1 and 2. Specifically, PTL 1 discloses an endoscope objective optical system that has been reduced in diameter, has been made bright by reducing the Fno, has good various aberrations characteristics, and has been made less susceptible to one-side blur without increasing the power of the first lens. Furthermore, PTL 2 discloses an endoscope objective optical system that has good various aberrations characteristics.

Abstract: Provided is an endoscope objective optical system including, in this order from the object side, a front group having negative refractive power, an aperture stop, and a positive rear group. The front group includes, in this order from the object side, a first lens, which is a single lens having negative refractive power, and a second lens, which is a single lens having positive refractive power. The rear group includes a third lens, which is a single lens having positive refractive power, a cemented lens formed of a fourth lens having positive refractive power and a fifth lens having negative refractive power, and a sixth lens having positive refractive power. The object-side surface of the first lens is a flat surface, the second lens has as meniscus shape, and the sixth lens is joined to the image-acquisition element, and the endoscope objective optical system satisfies the following conditional expression:4<Fno×F6/F1_5<500  (1)where Fno is the effective F number of the endoscope objective optical system, F6 is the focal length of the sixth lens, and F1_5 is the composite focal length of the first to fifth lenses.


An interactive multimedia book provides hands-on multimedia instruction to the user in response to voiced commands. The book is implemented on a computer system and includes both text and audio/video clips. The interactive multimedia book is accessed by voiced commands and natural language queries as the primary user input. The displayed text is written in a markup language and contains hyperlinks which link the current topic with other related topics. The user may command the book to read the text and, as the text is read by the voice synthesizer, a word which is also a hyperlink will change its attributes upon being spoken. The user will be able to observe or hear this and simply utter the word which is the hyperlink to navigate to the linked topic.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to the field of electronic publishing, and more particularly to an interactive multimedia book useful in providing a user with hands-on multimedia instructions in response to voiced commands.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Books which provide instruction in various arts, ranging from gardening to cooking to woodworking, are especially popular, as may be readily seen by the number of shelves devoted to them in major bookstores. Generally speaking, however, these books are intended to be read at one location, and then the knowledge gained from them applied in another location. Take for example a cookbook. There may be sections of the cookbook which provide instruction on various cooking techniques and other sections which set out the recipes. The user of the cookbook is typically not able to read the book on topics of technique instruction while attempting to cook. It is more a matter of reading and then attempting to execute based on the instructions read. More commonly, a cookbook will be laid open in the kitchen at the place of a recipe to allow the user to make more or less frequent reference to the ingredients and quantities. For this purpose, there are number of devices currently sold in kitchen supply stores which hold a cookbook at an easy to read angle with a transparent plastic cover so as to protect the open pages of the cookbook from splatters. These devices make it difficult to page back and forth in the cookbook, but generally the desired recipe is on a single page.
The ease of use of other types of instructional books is also a problem. A gardening book is typically not found in the environment it describes; that is, in the garden or the potting shed. The book is simply too valuable to the user to be ruined by soil and water and, in any case, the book is not easily used when one is wearing gardening gloves and handling a spade or trowel. The same is true of woodworking books. In the environment of the wood shop, there are many potentially dangerous tools requiring the full attention of the user. One cannot safely operate a radial arm saw while looking at the illustrations in a book.
There are many other instructional books which have the same problems. Many of these are in the nature of do-it-yourself (DIY) repair and maintenance books, such as home repair and automobile repair and maintenance books. Consider for example the problem of replacing an electrical switch in the home. To someone familiar with the procedure, it is quite simple; however, to the new homeowner, even the simplest home wiring problem can be quite mysterious. And sometimes just reading a book on the procedure does not always provide that sufficient degree of confidence that would allow the homeowner to confidently and competently complete the procedure. As to automobile repair and maintenance, which at one time was the avocation of many young American males, this is not something attempted much nowadays simply because the modern automobile has become such a complex machine. Yet, there are many things the average car owner can do on their own provided they had the right instruction. But a book is not always a good substitute for personal instruction.


The present invention relates to circuitry and a related method to reliably write data to an array of programmable resistance elements by selectively applying pulses of a sufficient level to impart either a first (high) or second (low) resistance state to selected programmable resistance elements to store either a binary "1" or "0", respectively. Data is then read from the array by supplying currents though the selected programmable resistance element and a fixed resistive element. A comparison of the resulting voltages on nodes coupled to these resistive elements will indicate whether the resistance value of the programmable resistance element is at a high or low state, i.e., a binary "1" or "0". Further, a shunt circuit is coupled to the selected column lines of the array to protect the programmable resistance elements from excessive spurious or noise currents, which can erroneously program the programmable resistance elements.

DRAM integrated circuit arrays have existed for more than twenty five years and have evolved from the earliest one kilobit (Kb) generation to the recent 256 megabit (Mb) generation. This dramatic increase in storage capacity has been achieved through advances in semiconductor fabrication technology and circuit design technology. The tremendous advances in these two technologies have also achieved higher and higher levels of integration that permit dramatic reductions in memory array size and cost, as well as increased process yield.
A DRAM memory cell typically comprises, as basic components, an access transistor (switch) and a capacitor for storing a binary data bit in the form of a charge. Typically, a charge of one polarity is stored on the capacitor to represent a binary ONE, and a stored charge of the opposite polarity represents a binary ZERO. The basic drawback of a DRAM is that the charge on the capacitor eventually leaks away and therefore provisions must be made to "refresh" the capacitor charge or else the data bit stored by the memory cell is lost.
The memory cell of a conventional SRAM, on the other hand, comprises, as basic components, an access transistor or transistors and a memory element in the form of two or more integrated circuit devices interconnected to function as a bistable latch. An example of such a bistable latch is cross-coupled inverters. Bistable latches do not need to be "refreshed", as in the case of DRAM memory cells, and will reliably store a data bit indefinitely as long as they continue to receive supply voltage.
Efforts continue to identify other forms of memory elements for use in SRAMs. Recent studies have focused on resistive materials that can be programmed to exhibit either high or low stable ohmic states. A programmable resistance element of such material could be programmed (set) to a high resistive state to store, for example, a ONE data bit or programmed to a low resistive state to store a ZERO data bit. The stored data bit could then be retrieved by detecting the magnitude of a readout current switched through the resistive memory element by an access device, thus indicating the stable resistance state it had previously been programmed to.
One particularly promising programmable, bistable resistive material is chalcogenide, such as the alloy system including Ge:Sb:Te disclosed in Ovshinsky et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,271, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. A memory element comprised of a chalcogenide material can be programmed to a stable high resistive state by passing a narrow, high amplitude current pulse through it. A lower amplitude current pulse of longer duration programs a chalcogenide memory element to a stable, low resistive state. A chalcogenide memory element is simply written over by the appropriate current pulse to reprogram it, and thus does not need to be erased. Moreover, a memory element of chalcogenide material is nonvolatile, in that it need not be connected to a power supply to retain its programmed high or low resistive state.
However, suitable circuitry for reading and writing data from an array of chalcogenide resistance elements has not yet been fully developed. Accordingly, in order to realize a functional chalcogenide memory, appropriate read circuitry is required to nondestructively sense data stored in the array, and write circuitry is required to accurately write data into the array.
Further, spurious or noise currents may flow in conductive lines within the memory array. These currents can then flow through the chalcogenide memory elements and program erroneous bits into the array.

Method and apparatus for reading/writing data in a memory system including programmable resistors


An apparatus includes a plurality of memories, a plurality of systems, and a switch interface circuit. Each of the plurality of systems includes a memory controller coupled to a respective one of the plurality of memories. Additionally, each of the plurality of systems is coupled to at least one other one of the plurality of systems. Each of the plurality of systems further includes one or more coherent agents configured to access the plurality of memories, and wherein the plurality of systems enforce coherency across the plurality of systems for at least some accesses. At least one of the plurality of systems is coupled to the switch interface circuit separate from the interconnection of the plurality of systems. The switch interface circuit is configured to interface the apparatus to a switch fabric.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to the fields of packet processing and coherency.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the continued expansion of networks, networked systems (e.g. local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), the Internet, etc.), and emerging storage subsystem technologies such as network attached storage (NAS) and storage area network (SAN), packet processing is an increasingly important function for a variety of systems. The amount of packet processing to be performed may be increasing due to the increased amount of packet traffic, as well as the more sophisticated packet processing that is being attempted on each packet (e.g. processing at deeper layers of the packet).
In the past, packet processing circuitry was often implemented via fixed-function (non-programmable) devices. As packet interfaces, packet content, and packet standards evolved, the fixed-function devices would be redesigned to handle the changes. More recently, network processing units (NPUs) have been implemented to provide programmable packet processing solutions. However, NPUs have generally not provided robust scalability to multiple NPUs, and thus NPUs may have to be replaced when the processing power of the NPUs is no longer sufficient to handle the desired packet processing.

System having configurable interfaces for flexible system configurations


A method of manufacturing a thin-film magnetic head, includes a first step of forming a second magnetic pole layer (an upper magnetic pole layer) on a magnetic gap layer formed on a first magnetic pole layer (a lower magnetic pole layer) so that the second magnetic pole layer opposes to the first magnetic pole layer via the magnetic gap layer, and a second step of dry etching a part of an upper surface of the first magnetic pole layer surrounding the second magnetic pole layer used as an etching mask to make a width of the dry-etched part of the first magnetic pole layer equal to a width of the second magnetic pole layer. The first step includes shaping at least part of the second magnetic pole layer so that the width of the second magnetic pole layer increases as a throat height becomes large.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a thin-film magnetic head with at least an inductive writing head element.
A method for manufacturing a thin-film magnetic head with only an inductive writing head element, or a composite type thin-film magnetic head with both an inductive writing head element and a magnetoresistive effect (MR), giant magnetoresistive effect (GMR) or tunneling magnetoresistive effect (TMR) reading head element may include a process of forming a magnetic gap layer on a lower magnetic pole (or an upper shield layer when it is the composite type thin-film magnetic head), a process of forming an upper magnetic pole layer on the magnetic gap layer by frame plating, and a trimming process performed thereafter. In the trimming process, a part of the upper surface of the lower pole layer surrounding the upper pole layer used as an etching mask is dry-etched to make a protruded portion or a pedestal of the lower pole layer. This trimming process aims to make a width PWL of the protruded portion of the lower pole layer (hereinafter also called as a pole width), which opposes the upper pole layer via the gap layer, equal to a width PWU of the upper pole layer (hereinafter also called as a pole width) by dry etching.
The term of xe2x80x9cdry etchingxe2x80x9d executed in this trimming process has broad meaning including ion milling, reactive ion etching (RIE) and other etching. However, in the following description, examples using the ion milling will be explained.
In the conventional fabricating process using such a trimming process, the width PWU of the upper pole layer after the trimming process will not have a constant value along a throat-height (TH) direction. The more the throat height TH increases, the narrower the width PWU becomes.
FIGS. 1a to 1c are plane views schematically illustrating a plane shape of a resist frame and an upper magnetic pole layer seen from the direction of multi-layering when fabricated by the conventional method.
More detail, FIG. 1a represents a plane shape of a resist frame when the upper pole layer is fabricated by using a frame plating method, FIG. 1b represents a plane shape of the upper pole layer formed by the plating, and FIG. 1c represents a plane shape of the upper pole layer after the trimming. It should be noted that these figures indicate the plane shapes around a region where the throat height TH is zero.
In general, a photo-mask used for making a resist frame has the same shape as the resist frame.
As will be noted from the figures, according to the conventional method, the upper pole layer is frame-plated so that its width PWU is kept constant along the throat-height direction. If ion milling is executed using such an upper pole layer as a milling mask, since the upper pole layer itself will be removed not only in its depth direction but also in its width direction and an etching rate will increase as the throat height TH becomes large, the width PW of the upper and lower pole layers becomes gradually small depending upon the change of the etching rate. Since an incoming angle of the ion beam is slanting to the upper pole layer, this ion beam will be shadowed by the level difference of an insulation layer or a yoke located behind the upper pole layer arises. For this reason, the change of the etching rate will occur. The amount of this change of the pole width PW in the throat-height direction depends upon the three-dimensional shape of elements near the zero throat-height position (TH=0), such as the insulation layer and the yoke, or on the conditions of the ion milling.
If the pole width PW varies along with the throat-height direction, in the polishing process for adjusting the throat height (throat-height adjustment process) performed thereafter, a pole end edge width will vary according to the polished amount, and the yield of magnetic head manufacturing will get worse.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing a thin-film magnetic head, whereby throat-height dependability of a pole width can be eliminated, and thus a pole end edge width can be prevented from varying.
According to the present invention, a method of manufacturing a thin-film magnetic head, includes a first step of forming a second magnetic pole layer (an upper magnetic pole layer) on a magnetic gap layer formed on a first magnetic pole layer (a lower magnetic pole layer) so that the second magnetic pole layer opposes to the first magnetic pole layer via the magnetic gap layer, and a second step of dry etching a part of an upper surface of the first magnetic pole layer surrounding the second magnetic pole layer used as an etching mask to make a width of the dry-etched part of the first magnetic pole layer equal to a width of the second magnetic pole layer. Particularly, according to the present invention, the first step includes shaping at least part of the second magnetic pole layer so that the width of the second magnetic pole layer increases as a throat height becomes large.
At least part of the upper pole layer is formed in a shape that the width of the upper pole layer increases as a throat height becomes large. Thus, even if the upper pole layer itself is partly removed in its width direction to decrease its width, this decrease in the pole width is compensated so that the width of the upper and lower pole layers after the dry etching is kept constant along the throat-height direction. Therefore, in the polishing process for adjusting the throat height performed thereafter, a pole end edge width will not vary according to the machined or polished amount, and thus the yield of magnetic head manufacturing can be prevented from getting worse.
It is preferred that the first step includes shaping the second magnetic pole layer so that the width of the second magnetic pole layer increases from a position of a zero throat-height as the throat height becomes large.
In this case, it is preferred that the width of the second magnetic pole layer continuously, namely linearly or in curve, increases as the throat height becomes large.
In this case, it is also preferred that the width of the second magnetic pole layer discontinuously increases as the throat height becomes large.
It is preferred that the first step includes shaping the second magnetic pole layer so that the width of the second magnetic pole layer increases within a region of the throat height TH=0 to +3 xcexcm as the throat height becomes large.
It is also preferred that the first step includes shaping the second magnetic pole layer so that the width of the second magnetic pole layer is kept constant from a position of a zero throat-height to a predetermined position of a larger throat-height and increases from the predetermined position as the throat height becomes large.
In this case, it is preferred that the width of the second magnetic pole layer continuously, namely linearly or in curve, increases from the predetermined position as the throat height becomes large.
In this case, it is also preferred that the width of the second magnetic pole layer discontinuously increases from the predetermined position as the throat height becomes large.
It is also preferred that the first step includes shaping the second magnetic pole layer so that the width of the second magnetic pole layer increases depending upon a change in etching rate of the dry etching.
It is further preferred that the first step includes shaping the second magnetic pole layer so that the width of the second magnetic pole layer increases depending upon an etching rate near a position of a zero throat-height during the dry etching and upon etching rates at predetermined positions with larger throat heights during the dry etching.
It is preferred that the first step includes shaping the second magnetic pole layer so that the width of the second magnetic pole layer increases depending upon etching rates determined by measuring, after the dry etching, widths of a sample that has a constant width along the throat-height direction before the dry etching.
It is also preferred that the first step includes patterning the second magnetic pole layer by a plating process.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Manufacturing method of thin-film magnetic head


A prefilled disposable apparatus is provided for placing thermoplastic filling material including gutta percha in an endodontically prepared root canal. A hollow carrier has a distal end and a proximal end and has a cylindrical carrier bore defined therethrough. A plug of thermoplastic filling material is contained in the carrier bore. A displacing shaft is received in the proximal end of the carrier bore for displacing the thermoplastic filling material from the distal end of the carrier bore into the endodontically prepared root canal.

1. Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for filling an endodontically prepared root canal, and more particularly, but not necessarily by way of limitation, to methods and apparatus for filling such a root canal with a thermoplastic material including gutta percha.
2. Description Of The Prior Art
During endodontic procedures commonly referred to as root canal operations, one step of the procedure involves the filling of the root canal after it has been endodontically prepared, that is after it has been reamed out to remove pulpal tissue.
Endodontically prepared root canals are filled with a material commonly referred to as gutta percha. Gutta percha is commercially available in the form of gutta percha points which are elongated, tapered articles having a length of approximately twenty-eight mm and having a diameter of between approximately 0.15 to 1.4 mm. These gutta percha points may be held with tweezers or the like and inserted into the root canal. Once in place, they may be heated with a warmed instrument. A pick-shaped instrument commonly referred to as a condenser is then used to gradually push the softened gutta percha material down into the root canal to fill the root canal space.
There are many difficulties with this conventional use of gutta percha points. First, the points are difficult to handle, and a great deal of dexterity is required to place softened gutta percha points into the root canal opening and to compact that material so as to completely fill the root canal.
Several attempts have been made to improve upon methods and apparatus for placement of gutta percha material in an endodontically prepared root canal.
One approach is to use what is referred to as a gutta percha gun which is a device which heats a bulk quantity of gutta percha material and then forces the material through a hollow needle to place it in the root canal. One example of such a gutta percha gun is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,357,136 to Herskovitz et al.
Another approach has been to form the gutta percha material about an elongated shaft made of plastic or metal. The shaft with the material formed thereabout can be manually placed in the prepared root canal, and then the shaft is broken leaving a portion of the broken shaft along with the surrounding gutta percha material in place filling the root canal. Examples of such devices are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,758,156 and 4,894,011 both to Johnson.
Both of the devices described above have serious shortcomings.
The gutta percha guns like that of the Herskovitz et al. patent are very expensive and are bulky to use.
The devices like those of Johnson having a shaft imbedded in the gutta percha material are undesirable because they leave foreign material, namely the broken shaft, in the root canal. This foreign material can be very difficult to remove in the event that there is a failure of the root canal operation and it is desired to remove the filling material.
Thus there is a need for a simple inexpensive means for placing gutta percha material in an endodontically prepared root canal. Further, there is a need for such means that provides a filling that does not include any foreign matter other than the gutta percha material.


A disk recording apparatus and method therefore including a boundary violation detector to determine whether a violation of a block boundary occurs on a disk by determining a phase difference between a block boundary signal and an encoding block synchronous signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disk recording apparatus, and more particularly, to a block boundary violation detecting apparatus and method for preventing abnormal recording by detecting inconsistencies between an encoding block and an error correction code (ECC) block on a disk.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a disk recording apparatus, such as a DVD-R/RW drive, a DVD+RW drive, and a CD-R/RW drive, an encoding block must be recorded according to an error correction code (ECC) block on a disk, which generally consists of 16 sectors. When data in an encoding block corresponding to an ECC block is recorded in a subsequent ECC block, data recorded in the next ECC block is lost. Accordingly, the entire ECC block may not be reproduced.

Method of detecting violation of block boundary and apparatus therefor


Eyewear, such as goggles, includes a frame, a lens supported by the frame, and an outrigger that is pivotally mounted to sides of the frame. An elastic band is mounted to the outrigger. The elastic band is made from two band arms that are connected on one end to form a loop, and at the opposite end, the arms have loose ends, but can be attached and detached from the outrigger. The attachable and detachable aspect of the band provides the opportunity to interchange the band when the band is worn or broken, or alternatively, a completely different style of band can be used with the eyewear. For example, a traditional looking band having a stretchable elastic textile band can be substituted for the band with two arms.

Conventional protective gear for winter sports typically includes a helmet and goggles. Conventional goggles have an elastic strap that encircles the back of the helmet to hold the goggles in place. The single elastic strap is attached at its ends to respective sides of the goggles. The use of a single elastic strap has its drawbacks. The goggles remain on the helmet due only to the pressure applied by the elastic strap. The goggles are otherwise not physically attached to the helmet and may be dislodged by accident. Also, if the user wants to temporarily remove the goggles, the user normally places the goggles on the helmet just above the forehead. In the forehead position, the goggles are prone to slipping and falling off the helmet.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide alternative goggles without having the aforementioned drawbacks.

Banded goggles for a winter sports helmet


A control apparatus for a machine that can be operated at high precision in a stable control state is provided by driving a movable body with control parameters suited to the mechanical state. A control parameter calculation circuit is provided to obtain control parameters for a drive apparatus control circuit for driving actuators in accordance with the conditions of actuator rotational velocity, the orientation of the movable body, and the position of the movable body, and a control parameter K for the drive apparatus control circuit is varied.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control apparatus in a feed driving system to be used in industrial robots, machine tools, and post-machining deburring machines.
2. Description of the Related Art
A parallel kinematic machine is one type of mechanism for driving a movable body by an actuator and driving and controlling the movable body to a free position and orientation with respect to a holding base. A known machine tool equipped with a spindle head 2, which is a body that is freely movable in six axial directions in a machining space, is shown in FIG. 19 as an apparatus of the prior art employing the parallel kinematic machine. In this machine tool, six universal joints 5 are respectively disposed on a holding base 7. A servo motor 6a, which supports the top end of a ball screw 4 at each universal joint 5 and is a rotary actuator for driving the ball screw 4, is installed. As shown in FIG. 20, a position detector 6b is mounted to each motor 6a.
The spindle head 2 is supported via the universal joint 3 at the bottom ends of the six ball screws 4 and a main spindle 8 is disposed at the spindle head so as to be pivotable. Then, by changing the position of the ball screws 4 between universal joints 3 and the universal joints 5, the arm lengths are changed and the spindle head 2 is positioned at an arbitrary orientation in the machining space and a workpiece on a table 1 is machined by a tool mounted to the main spindle 8. To the spindle head 2 are connected electrical wiring, such as electric supply lines and control signal lines for a main spindle drive motor, and piping for supplying fluids, such as pressurized oil for tool clamps, lubricating oil for bearings, and cooling water or cutting water. These wiring and piping are passed through a flexible tube 9 with leeway provided from the holding base 7 to the flexible tube 9.
A parallel kinematic machine tool performs feedback control independently at each of the 6 axes by utilizing the output from a position detector that is mounted to each servo motor. Control parameters for the servo system are .adjusted so that maximum feed velocity is obtained in the Cartesian coordinate system at various positions and orientations within the movable range. However, in the apparatus of the prior art, the same and fixed control parameters are used among the 6 axes.

Control apparatus for feed driving system


A positioning system for selectively directing a first beam of light towards a destination and a second beam of light towards a first diffractive optic. The first beam of light and the second beam of light traverse a substantially co-linear optical path. The first diffractive optic diffracts the second beam of light into a plurality of optical spots. The second beam of light comprising the plurality of optical spots is directed onto a second diffractive optic. A change in position of the plurality of optical spots relative to the second diffractive optic is sensed in a reflection of the second beam of light by a detection element and representative signals are derived thereof. The signals are coupled to a directing assembly, which directs the first beam of light towards the destination.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to optical positioning of a light beam and more particularly to two-dimensional optical positioning of a light beam.
2. Background Art
A number of optical switch technologies are currently used to control the optical passage of light. With one technology, electric current is applied to a polymer to create a thermal effect that changes a refractive index of a polymer. As the refractive index changes, a light beam passing through the polymer is selectively routed from an input to an output. Although faster than a comparable mechanical optical switch, the switching time of polymer optical switches is limited significantly by the thermal characteristics of the polymer. Additionally, the optical properties of the light transmitted through the polymer are undesirably affected by the optical characteristics of the polymer.
Another optical switch is disclosed by Leslie A. Field et al. in "The 8.sup.th International Conference on Solid-State Sensors and Actuators, and Eurosensors IX, Stockholm, Sweden, Jun. 25-29, 1995." The optical switch is micromachined in silicon and uses a thermally activated actuator to mechanically move a single send optical fiber relative to two receive optical fibers. Field et al. exhibits relatively slow mechanical movement due to inherent thermal effects. Additionally, Field et al. provides only one degree of optical alignment, resulting in inefficient transfer between optical fibers due to slight misalignments.
Another micromachined optical switch is disclosed by Levinson in U.S. Pat. No. 4,626,066. Levinson uses a cantilevered micromachined mirror that is electrostatically positioned between a stopped and unstopped position. While Levinson's mirror may deflect light between two optical fibers, as with the aforementioned switch designs, it also is capable of optical alignment in only one dimension.
Reflections of a diffracted impinging laser beam from a grooved surface may be used to maintain a one-dimensional position of the impinging diffracted laser beam relative to the grooved surface, for example, a position of an impinging laser beam on a grooved surface of a compact disk (CD) drive.
What is needed is an optical switch that provides fast and precise switching of light between one input and a plurality of outputs, or vice versa.

Optical system for two-dimensional positioning of light beams


There is disclosed an apparatus and method for evenly dispersing the contents of powder filled bulk bags, in order to create a flat, even, horizontal bulk bag surface for efficient attachment to the suction head of a vacuum lift.

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for preparing bagged bulk materials for palletizing. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus and method for evenly dispersing the contents of powder filled bulk bags, in order to create a flat, even, horizontal bulk bag surface for efficient attachment to the suction head of a vacuum lift. This results in decreased opportunities for operator injury. The flat shape of the bag also aids in pallet stability.
Bulk powder bags are typically filled on a vibrating table, which is integrated into an automated filling line. Filled bags are sealed and prepared for palletizing. Palletizing requires even dispersion of the powdered material so that the palletized bags form an even, stable structure. Bags in which the contents have not been adequately dispersed, or flattened, give rise to an unbalanced pallet. Unbalanced pallets can topple and lead to lost inventory and personal injury. Bags that have not been flattened before palletizing also pose the potential problem of not being amenable to being lifted by a vacuum lift. A vacuum lift is a powered lifting system requiring the formation of a temporary seal between the suction head of the system and the bag to be lifted. After a seal is formed, the bag is lifted by the system, thus eliminating operator strain and injury. The vacuum is broken when the bag has been moved to a desired location. When a vacuum lift cannot be used to move filled bags, it is necessary for an operator to manually move the filled bags, which can lead to back strain and repetitive motion injuries.
A variety of solutions have been proposed to solve the problem of creating even, flat, horizontal bag surfaces. These solutions include the use of vibrating tables and roller-type devices. There are, however, several drawbacks associated with these devices. For example, vibrating tables can be noisy and generate a significant degree of particulate matter, which can be harmful to machinery and people. Roller devices can require a large amount of space and can be costly. Moreover, roller devices and vibrating tables may not work effectively with all powders. Filling bags on a vibrating table helps to settle the product, but also tends to contribute to the compacting of the product in the bottom of the bag. Bottom heavy bags disturb the pallet layer alignment and can cause difficulties during subsequent packaging steps, such as pallet shrink-wrapping.
Accordingly, there is a need in the industry for an apparatus to evenly flatten filled bulk bags, thereby generating a more uniform shape. The apparatus must also be effective in creating a flat surface suitable for lifting by a vacuum lift. The apparatus must also be relatively inexpensive and able to be integrated with existing equipment. The bag flattening apparatus of the instant application meets all of the above needs.
Thus, a primary object of the instant invention is to provide a means of dispersing materials packaged in bulk bags and in so doing, ready them for palletizing. Another object of the instant invention is to provide a means for palletizing powder filled bulk bags, providing uniform layering, while at the same time, minimizing worker injuries.
There is disclosed an apparatus for flattening filled bulk bags comprising a declined slide unit, an upwardly inclined conveyor belt structure with power means driving the belt, and a transfer cup assembly, said assembly comprising a pneumatically-driven transfer cup.
As a filled bulk bag travels down the declined slide, the contents of the bag are evenly dispersed. The contents are further dispersed when the filled bag impacts the transfer cup at the bottom of the declined slide. The cup is actuated by an operator activated push button, which causes the bag in the cup to be flipped over onto the inclined conveyor belt. The vertical flipping serves to further disperse the contents of the filled bag. The conveyor travels in an upwardly inclined direction and raises the bag to a position suitable for attachment to a vacuum lift.

Method and apparatus for handling bulk bags


There is provided a two-dimensional code capable of performing accurate recognition. The two-dimensional code includes: a code data portion (102) where a plurality of square cells (106) are two-dimensionally arranged to constitute code data; and a plurality of corner cells (104) arranged so as to surround the code data portion (102). The corner cells (104) are configured with a greater area than the square cells (106). When the two-dimensional code is imaged by an imaging device, the corner cells (104) can be recognized in a large scale, thereby improving the two-dimensional code read accuracy.

Recently, the technology is widely available for capturing an image of a two-dimensional code by a camera for recognition and allowing a predetermined process associated with the code data to be performed. Compared to one-dimensional codes, two-dimensional codes can store a larger amount of coded information. Various kinds of two-dimensional codes are available these days. The data for a two-dimensional code needs to be read from image data efficiently and properly. In this background, technologies related to image recognition of two-dimensional codes have been proposed (e.g. patent document 1).
patent document 1
JP 2000-82108

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Object, image data, image data transmission method, card, game mat, card game system, image analysis apparatus, and image analysis method


A bi-material, anti-dazzle raster for tubular light sources includes, for example, at least two side pieces and a plurality of transverse partitions that extend between the pieces. The side pieces are made of a relatively rigid and resistant material and the partitions are grouped into modular units. Each unit includes a selected number of partitions connected to one another by at least two generally parallel connection bars and to the side pieces by a snap fit. The modular units are formed of a selected plastic material using injection molding.

Conventional anti-dazzle rasters for tubular light sources, e.g., fluorescent bulbs, are typically formed by two side pieces, e.g., constructed of aluminum sheeting, generally of an arcuate profile, and by a plurality of transverse partitions mounted thereto via snap fit engagement with notches in the side pieces. The side pieces are also generally parallel to and diverge from opposite locations relative to the median plane in which the light source is situated. Such partitions often have a V-shaped section with transverse flaps bent back towards the interior thereof for added stiffness. Because these partitions must be mounted on the side pieces, one at a time, the anti-dazzle raster which results has been found relatively expensive.
A generally less expensive solution would be to manufacture anti-dazzle rasters from a plastic material using injection molding. While, in this manner, the side pieces and partitions may be formed as a single piece, the length of a raster produced in this fashion is necessarily less than that of a normal raster in aluminum, for reasons associated with the molding operation. In addition, rasters of this type are considered less appealing from an aesthetic point of view, since several modules must be combined to cover the length of such lighting fixtures. In particular, the lengths of these fixtures typically vary from a minimum of about 600 mm to a maximum of about 1800 mm, whereas rasters constructed of plastic do not generally exceed approximately 600 mm in length. Furthermore, the individual modules must be separately attached to the body of the lamp. As a result, the structure is more complex and lamp replacement is more difficult and laborious.

Bi-material anti-dazzle raster for tubular light sources


The invention is a catalyst and a process for manufacturing a catalyst. The process includes adding an effective amount of an acid stable surfactant or an alkaline stable surfactant to a slurry of particles including an active mineral component. Desirable active mineral components include natural or synthetic zeolites and specialty clays such as chlorite clays and other non-kaolin clays for use in catalysts.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a cracking catalyst and process for preparing the cracking catalyst. Particularly, this invention relates to a fluid cracking catalyst ("FCC") and a process for preparing the catalyst by adding an acid or an alkaline stable surfactant to a component stream prior to forming the dry catalyst.
2. Description of the Background Art
Catalyst manufacturers are continuously seeking catalysts, additives, and processes to improve the properties of their catalysts and to lower the cost of producing the catalysts. Catalyst producers, typically, search for processes to lower the cost of raw materials or utilities, to build higher efficiency equipment or equipment with higher through-put and lower maintenance, or to provide better utilization of zeolite, binder, clay, or added alumina. All of these factors contribute to the direct manufacturing costs of catalysts.
The "CSS process" for producing fluid cracking catalysts involves a continuous mode of preparation of a "clay-silicate-slurry" using concentrated sodium silicate, high solids kaolin slurry, and process water to achieve the proper concentration of silicate expressed as the percent of SiO.sub.2. The resulting clay-silicate-slurry is continuously metered against a stream of acidified alum such as 12.5 percent H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 and 3.0 percent Al.sub.2 O.sub.3. Typically, both streams are fed simultaneously into a suction-side of a centrifugal pump or a high shear, low volume mixer to produce a usable binder. The discharge from the mixing device is then metered continuously against metered streams of zeolite and, in some instances, a stream of alumina depending on the functionality desired for the finished catalyst.
The industry's attempts to produce catalysts by CSS processes have generally resulted in a catalyst material with poor attrition resistance and low bulk density. These two undesirable attributes result in production cost savings, but provide catalysts that are commercially non-competitive.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,140,249; 3,140,253; 3,210,267; 3,271,418; 3,436,357; and 3,459,680 to Plank and Rosinski disclose molecular sieve-type cracking catalysts. The world-wide petroleum refining industry rapidly adopted the use of these catalysts in the early 1960's because these catalysts provided significant increases in gasoline yields and improved the coke selectivity obtained with zeolite-containing catalysts when compared to catalysts that are based upon amorphous silica-alumina.
The first molecular sieve-type cracking catalysts incorporated rare earth-stabilized faujasite with silica-alumina in ratios between 2.5 and 3.0. These early formulations were simple admixtures of zeolite-molecular sieves with the amorphous silica-alumina and clay-synthetic gel materials that were previously used alone as cracking catalysts. The molecular sieve component of these catalysts was, typically, added prior to spray drying of the gel slurry. The rapid initial success of these catalysts, because of their increased yield and operational benefits, resulted in the petroleum refining industry demanding fluid cracking catalysts that contain molecular sieves. It became apparent, however, that additional benefits in yields and catalyst performance could be achieved by increasing the silica alumina ratio of the zeolite to a value approaching 5. This ratio imparts superior thermal and hydrothermal stability to a catalyst. The demand was further stimulated by the high temperature regeneration technology introduced in the mid-seventies such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,844,973, and the almost simultaneous development of combustion promoter additives for regeneration of fluid cracking catalysts such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,072,600.
Acceptance of these technologies by the refining industry demanded catalysts with molecular sieves of a higher silica-alumina ratio. The higher ratio resulted in improved cracking activity and "stability." This demand was due to the more severe operating conditions to which the catalyst was subjected.
Current processes for removing lead from gasoline have further sustained the world-wide demand for high silica-alumina ratio sieves. This demand is due to the improvement in gasoline octane which can be obtained catalytically by converting high silica-alumina ratio molecular sieves into a modified form known as ultrastable-Y or USY materials. The ultrastable form of Y-zeolite can be achieved by conversion of the sodium form of Y-zeolite (faujasite) before its incorporation into a catalyst. The entire catalyst particle can, alternatively, be treated under conditions which result in an in situ conversion of faujasite within the microsphere itself. The higher the silica-alumina ratio of the starting NaY zeolite, the higher the quality and performance of the resulting ultrastable-Y materials that are prepared either ex-situ or in situ. The phenomenon is, also, noted in the molecular sieves sold under the trade name LZ 210 by the Union Carbide Corporation.
There are a number of patents describing processes for preparing molecular sieve-type catalysts including U.S. Pat. No. 3,425,956. U.S. Pat. No. 3,867,308 discloses the use of a silica-sol type binding system in the preparation of zeolite promoted catalysts. U.S. Pat. No. 3,957,689 discloses alum buffered silica-sol. These catalysts, that are based on "sol technology" for the binding system, were developed in response to an increased demand for harder and higher density catalysts to meet the ever tightening environmental constraints being placed on the petroleum refining industry. These patents are typical of the large body of art in this area.
The introduction of sol bound catalysts provided catalysts having significant improvements in density and hardness. However, examination of these catalysts by Scanning Electron Microscopy ("SEM") revealed that almost every microspheroidal fluid cracking catalyst particle possessed a "blow-hole" or a cavernous region which caused the particle to be more likely to break into two or more smaller fragments during the FCC operation. When catalyst particles break during the FCC operation, the smaller particle fragments are almost instantly lost through a regenerator flue gas stack. If the particle breakage occurs on the reactor side of the equipment, the slurry oil stream becomes over-loaded with catalyst dust referred to as "fines." This condition can result in the total suspension of the operation of the FCC unit. Such a shutdown of FCC operation is extremely costly to a refinery due to both lost product and unscheduled maintenance expenses. The occurrence of "blow-holes" in catalyst particles can be reduced by changes in the catalyst manufacturing process. These process changes are not necessarily easy or economical and do not eliminated the occurrence of "blow-holes."
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,946,814 and 5,135,756 to Shi et al. disclose a process for improving the physical and catalytic properties of a fluid cracking catalyst. These patents are primarily directed to preparing fluid cracking catalysts. However, the extension of the use of the disclosed processes of these patents to forming other catalyst materials is disclosed. For example, it is explained that the basic process can also be applied to fluid cracking catalyst additives. The present application continues in part from the disclosures of these patents. The disclosures of these two patents are hereby incorporated by reference.
The industry lacks efficient and economical cracking catalysts, additives, and processes to produce catalysts having microspheroidal particles without a significant presence of "blow-holes" or cavernous openings.

Cracking catalyst and process for preparing same


An integrated circuit has a signal path including a first circuit that introduces a propagation delay that decreases with circuit conditions and process speed in series with a second circuit that introduces a propagation delay that increases with circuit conditions and process speed. The circuit conditions and process speed are sensed and the duration of the propagation delay of the second circuit varied such that the total propagation delay remains within a predetermined range over circuit condition and process speed variations. In another embodiment of the invention, a current source develops a bias current to control the duration of the propagation delay of the second circuit. In yet another embodiment of the invention the current source is a current mirror.

In integrated circuits, logic signals must arrive at an appropriate time to be properly read. This requires that the logic signals must be properly timed with respect to pulses that initiate transferring the signals such as to or from a bus. Prior to being placed on a bus, the logic signals may be buffered to assure being placed on the bus at the appropriate time. When the buffer is strobed to initiate data transfer, the switching speed of logic devices in the signal path contribute to a propagation delay. One problem is that the propagation delay may vary over a relatively large range due to variations in operating conditions such as effects of temperature, supply voltage, and device parameter variations during manufacture of the integrated circuit.
One solution has been to add a fixed time delay component to the buffer such that the total propagation delay falls within the desired time range. While this solution will suffice in some applications, it is not adequate for all applications.
Another solution uses feedback in the form of a phase or delay locked loop to adjust the propagation delay of a circuit to track the period of a reference clock. The disadvantage of this solution is the need for the feedback control loop and reference clock.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,791,326 discloses another solution in which switching characteristics of a transistor are maintained nearly uniform as circuit and process variations cause switching conditions to change. A compensated current source controls the peak switching current through a switching transistor to be fairly constant under all switching conditions to control the switching transition time (propagation delay) introduced by the transistor. The switching characteristics are maintained nearly uniform as circuit and process variations cause switching conditions to change, resulting in a nearly uniform propagation delay. However, this approach suffers from the drawback that the compensation circuit does not sense all of the circuit conditions and process speed variations that influence propagation delay.
An improved propagation delay compensation technique is desired that senses the circuit conditions and process speed variations that influence propagation delay in a signal path switching device and provides a control signal incorporating effects of the sensed parameters, such as in the form of a bias current, to produce a variable delay with the result that the total propagation delay in the signal path is controlled to be within an acceptable, predetermined range.

Delay compensation technique for buffers


A pants garment has a pair of thigh leg members for covering the thigh area of a wearer. A front thigh elastic band member is provided substantially at a front side of each of the thigh leg members and extends obliquely from an upper front portion to a lower front portion of each thigh leg member. A back thigh elastic band member is provided substantially at a back side of each of the thigh leg members and extends obliquely from an upper back portion to a lower back portion of each thigh leg member. The garment also has a front and back crus elastic band members extending obliquely on crus leg members, which cover the crus areas of the wearer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pants garment and, more particularly, to a sports pants garment.
2. Related Background Art
Some conventional sports pants garment has a support portion with a strong tightening force at a predetermined portion of the garment in order to support the motion of the leg muscles. For example, Japanese Patent publication Laid Open No. 10 110306 (Reference 1) discloses a pants garment which supports the motion of the muscles by clamping the thigh, knee, and calf with support portions from the left and right of the wearer. When this pants garment is worn, the support portions suppress the motion of the leg in the left to right direction, so the motion of the leg in the back and forth direction becomes stable. This garment also has the effect of supporting the bending and stretching motion of the hip joint and knee joint.


A method and apparatus for the topographical profiling of a raw substrate is carried out during in-line processing of the substrate during which additional films and structures have been formed over the raw substrate surface. The method includes forming a dielectric film over the substrate surface and forming a metal film over the dielectric film. The structure is polished and monitored during various stages of the polishing operation. An interferometer is used to monitor the surface being polished and to distinguish between regions where metal remains and regions in which metal has been removed and the underlying dielectric material exposed. Topographical data, such as a substrate map, is generated by monitoring the time at which the metal film is removed from various spatial locations across the substrate. The substrate map may be generated during polishing, for in-line monitoring.

Semiconductor devices such as integrated circuits and the like, are formed by performing a series of processing operations upon a substrate to form accurately sized and precisely aligned device features. The device features are formed from various conductive and dielectric films that are formed on the substrate. The processing operations include multiple photolithographic patterning processes used to pattern the various conductive and dielectric films and also to define regions in the films or the substrate into which various impurities will be introduced. It is critical to accurately define the various device features so that they are accurately sized, positioned and aligned to tight tolerances.
In each of the multiple photolithographic patterning processes, it is critical to project the photolithographic image onto a focal plane that is at a known location such as the substrate surface. If the substrate surface is not at the expected location, pattern distortion and/or misalignment may result. If the substrate surface is not uniformly level, then such pattern distortion and/or misalignment may occur at various locations across the substrate. Many other of the processing operations used to form the various device features are similarly sensitive to the position of the substrate surface. In summary, non-uniformities in the substrate surface can translate to improperly sized, positioned and aligned device features throughout the substrate. This may result in device characteristics that fail and/or vary unacceptably across the substrate.
It is therefore important for the substrate surface to be uniformly level and likewise important to be able to monitor the topographical uniformity of the substrate surface. This is especially true as device feature sizes shrink into the nanometer regime while substrate sizes increase to 12 inch diameters or greater, increasing the likelihood that substrate surface non-uniformities will result in device feature defects. It would be especially useful to be able to obtain such topographical data on the raw substrate, during the in-line processing of the substrate and responsive to the detection of unacceptable or non-uniform device parameters or characteristics. Such timely information would be useful in establishing a correlation between these parameters or characteristics, and the substrate topography, or in determining another root cause of the problem. The acquisition of in-line surface topographical data would also be useful in determining the degree of substrate surface non-uniformity that is acceptable for production use. This applies to the various substrates upon which semiconductor devices are formed such as silicon wafers, gallium arsenide wafers, sapphire wafers, and other substrates.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are exemplary scans of raw substrate surface profiles showing a substrate with an acceptably level profile in FIG. 1A and an unacceptable substrate with extreme undulations shown in FIG. 1B. While "acceptable" versus "unacceptable" is an arbitrary and relative designation, it is apparent that the substrate depicted graphically in FIG. 1A has a relatively uniform surface and also that the substrate depicted graphically in FIG. 1B exhibits relatively poor uniformity. Referring to the substrate depicted graphically in FIG. 1B, it would appear that patterning and other inconsistencies will be produced between devices and features formed in the relatively low areas 101 and those formed in the relatively high areas 103 of such a substrate.
According to existing technological capabilities, the topography of a substrate is detected and mapped when the substrate is in raw form, i.e., prior to the various manufacturing processing operations carried out upon the substrate. It would therefore be useful to provide a method for mapping the topography of the raw substrate while in-line processing operations are being carried out on the substrate especially since anomalies or non-uniformities are commonly detected during the in-line formation of the devices. The generation of such in-line mapping data can be useful in determining root cause effects of the various anomalies and in instituting immediate fixes and/or other process controls.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company


A method of resistless gate metal etch in the formation of a field effect transistor is disclosed, which includes providing a first layer of a first semiconductor material having a surface. A second layer of a second semiconductor material is formed on the surface and resistlessly patterned to define a masked and an unmasked portions. The unmasked portion of the second layer is etched away to the first layer to enable gate formation.

Currently, gate metal etch processes employ a nitride or oxide mask for the formation of gate metal in semiconductor devices. The nitride mask is patterned by using a photoresist mask. The process begins by forming a nitride layer on the surface being masked. A photoresist mask layer is then formed on the nitride. Formation of a photoresist mask takes many steps. Typically, five steps are required. The nitride layer is then etched and used as a mask to etch the underlying material. This typically takes four steps. Once the desired topography is formed, the nitride mask must be removed. An additional three steps are used here.
In addition to taking numerous steps which add to costs and reduce yields, the conventional process using photoresist can cause contamination problems. Furthermore, etching is required to remove unwanted material, and masks are removed by etching, solvent, or the like. During the etching and/or mask removal processes, the material of the semiconductor device has a high likelihood of being contaminated by the etchant, which contamination greatly reduces the life of the device, the operating characteristics of the device, and the reliability of the device. The etch needed to remove the nitride mask can damage the semiconductor material adjacent the etched areas which further reduces life, operating characteristics, and reliability.
Thus, the prior art technique involves many process steps such as resist spinning, exposure, developing, cleaning and so on. All of these processes can introduce contamination, decrease yield, etc. A further problem that arises is that the structure or substrate (generally a wafer) must be removed from the growth chamber to remove the masking material. The structure is then masked again and reintroduced into the growth chamber for re-growth or for further processing. Thus, the prior art techniques keep the wafer vacuum incompatible.
Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide a new and improved method of resistless gate metal etch in the formation of a heterojunction field effect transistor.
It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a new and improved method of resistless gate metal etch in the formation of a heterojunction field effect transistor having reduced steps.
It is another purpose of the present invention to provide a new and improved method of resistless gate metal etch in the formation of a field effect transistor which is vacuum compatible.
It is still another purpose of the present invention to provide a new and improved method of resistless gate metal etch in the formation of a field effect transistor which does not require the introduction of contaminants, such as photoresist, solvents and etchants.
It is a further purpose of the present invention to provide a new and improved method of resistless gate metal etch in the formation of a field effect transistor which is much simpler and includes less chance of contamination of the devices.
And a further purpose of the present invention is to provide a new and improved method of resistless gate metal etch in the formation of a field effect transistor which can be a completely dry process.

Method of resistless gate metal etch for fets


The invention relates to a circuit breaker for protecting an electrical system. The circuit breaker comprises a semiconductor switching element (T1) with a first and a second electrical terminal connected to a mains supply line (LIN) and a control terminal. Such switching element (T1) is controlled by enabling/disabling a control signal (S) applied to the control terminal for switching between an open/closed status and a closed/open status for connecting/disconnecting at least one load (LD) to/from the supply line (LIN). Moreover, the circuit breaker comprises a drive (DV) adapted to enable/disable the control signal (S).

As known, in modern electrical systems designed for industrial use, safety devices are provided against failure or anomaly phenomena that may impair the correct system operation. In fact, without such safety devices, any anomalies and failures may damage both the utility equipment or "loads" present in the system and the same breakers, which connect/disconnect such loads from the system. In addition, hazard conditions may occur for the people that use such utility equipment.
An example of safety device for industrial electrical systems generally comprises a fuse associated with a thermal breaker. The thermal breaker is capable of disconnecting the load from a mains supply line of the system in case of overcurrent due to overload, while the fuse trips to protect the electrical system from short-circuit currents.
A drawback of such known safety device that uses the fuse is related to the need of resetting the safety following the occurrence of the short-circuit in the system, in particular by removing the faulty fuse to replace it with a new one. Such operation for replacing the fuse is often a burdensome manual activity that requires the assistance of a skilled operator.
Moreover, the breaker of the safety device with fuse is not exempt from damages that may be caused by transient phenomena that occur with short-circuits.

Circuit breaker for protecting an electrical system


An improved incentive spirometer adapted to introduce a flow of oxygen across the inlet for inspiratory air so that the oxygen may be drawn thereinto without requiring any change in the calibration of the device or the monitoring of the patient's usage. The device also features an integral information display receptacle in the base for storage of operational instructions. A portion of the base is transparent to that the information contained in the storage receptacle can be viewed by a patient while the device is in use, thereby permitting a patient to observe such things as the instructions for proper use of the incentive spirometer while using the device. The spirometer structure can be utilized for different patient groupings by changing a venturi plate to present a flow restricting orifice designed to accommodate the respiratory therapy and exercise needs for the particular patient grouping. Individual devices can be readily adjusted for desired results by selectively opening or closing tuning ports built into the device.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to respiratory therapy devices and, in particular, to an improved incentive spirometer.
More specifically, but without restriction to the particular embodiment and/or use which is shown and described herein for purposes of illustration, this invention relates to an incentive spirometer wherein an oxygen inlet is provided to facilitate the introduction of oxygen into the device without the oxygen effecting the monitoring of a patient's use of the device, and an integral information display receptacle is provided to enable written information to be displayed while the spirometer is in use.
2. Description of Related Art
The use of incentive spirometers for respiratory care and treatment is well known, but the implementation of oxygen to supplement the use of such devices has not been utilized. Various reasons have contributed to the lack of success in the utilization of oxygen for such a purpose, primarily because of the nature of incentive spirometers, and the manner in which such devices are used in respiratory care and treatment. Incentive spirometers are utilized to monitor a patient's breathing, and to provide a controlled exercise for a patient's lungs and associated breathing apparatus. While the use of a supplemental supply of oxygen is very advantageous in the treatment of some patients when using an incentive spirometers, the introduction of oxygen into the air stream for use by the patient, can effect the patient's use of the incentive spirometer. When the oxygen is introduced into the air stream, the oxygen being supplied can drive the system because of the positive pressure added by the volume of oxygen being added. "Driving" the system in this manner effects the calibration of the incentive spirometer, and gives the patient false feedback readings by which a patient monitors their use of the devices. The present invention includes a provision for supplying oxygen to a user without interfering with the calibration of the device or the user's monitoring their use of the spirometer.
A further feature of this invention is the provision of an integral information display receptacle in the base of the incentive spirometer, which permits a patient to observe such things as the instructions for the use of the device while the device is actually in use. Providing a convenient and readily accessible place on the device itself to store instructional information, in an manner whereby the information can be referred to by a patient when using the device, allows the patient to refer to such information during therapy and exercise sessions to insure that the device is being properly used.


An ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer composition excellent in neck-in reduction, stretching properties and further, gas barrier properties and a multilayer structure using the same, are disclosed. The ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer composition of the present invention is the blend of two or more ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers and at least one of the copolymers has the following structural unit (1).

In general, ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (hereinafter, referred to as EVOH, and EVOH is obtained by hydrolyzing of a copolymer of a vinyl ester monomer and ethylene.) is excellent in transparency, gas barrier properties, aroma retention, solvent resistance, oil resistance and the like, and, with such properties, has been used for various packaging materials such as a food packaging material, a pharmaceutical packaging material, an industrial chemical packaging material and an agricultural chemical packaging material. The EVOH materials are often subjected to thermal stretching treatment for the purposes of compatibility with the shape of the applied container and the improvement of mechanical strength and the like. Further, in recent years, multilayer stretched films containing EVOH are used widely and thus, the velocities of film forming and stretching tend to be increased to improve productivity thereof.
In such high-speed film forming and high-speed stretching, an EVOH which has further improved stretching properties and an EVOH superior in neck-in reduction in order to obtain a stabilized cast film, are desired.
However, EVOH is inferior to polypropylene and polystyrene in thermal stretching properties and as measures therefor, (1) a method of adding a plasticizer to EVOH (for example, see JP-A-53-88067 and JP-A-59-20345) and (2) a method of blending a polyamide resin (for example, see JP-A-52-141785 and JP-A-58-36412) have been suggested. Also, on the other hand, there are also suggested (3) a method of using a resin composition wherein EVOH having a low glass transition temperature, which has relatively favorable stretching properties, is used together (for example, see JP-A-61-4752, JP-A-60-173038, JP-A-63-196645, JP-A-63-230757, JP-A-63-264656, JP-A-2-261847 and JP-A-2000-318095), (4) a method of using an EVOH composition showing a particular crystal melting phenomenon (for example, see JP-A-08-311276) and (5) a method of improving the thermal stretching properties of EVOH at low temperature by adding an ethylene-(meth)acrylic acid copolymer to EVOH (for example, see JP-A-2001-031823) is proposed. Furthermore, studies have been conducted regarding (6) grafting an epoxy compound to EVOH by a melting reaction to improve thermal formability for forming a container and stretching properties (for example, see WO 02/092643 and JP-A-2003-327619).

Ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer composition and multilayer structure using the same

Abstract: (wherein X represents any binding chain excluding an ether bond, each of R1 to R4 represents independently any substituent and n represents 0 or 1). Preferably, the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer having the structural unit (1) is obtained by hydrolyzing of a copolymer of 3,4-diacyloxy-1-butene, a vinyl ester monomer and ethylene.

The Nippon Synthetic Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.


Embodiments disclose encrypting data used to adjust reflectivity of the screen.

Projection systems may be used to display still or video images. Some screens used in projection systems may receive a control signal as part of the process of displaying an image. Although one way to transmit such a control signal to a screen is via wireless (e.g., radio frequency) transmission, such transmission can create security issues. Specifically, the control signal can be intercepted by unscrupulous persons. Moreover, such transmission may cause problems as between projection systems. In particular, adjacent projection systems may suffer from crosstalk that interferes with proper control of the respective screens of the systems.


A compact system is provided for removing liquid from a gas stream exiting a natural gas wellhead. The system has an inlet pipe string communicating with the wellhead for delivering the gas stream therefrom. An elongate, generally cylindrical gas-liquid separator has an inlet communicating with the inlet pipe string for receiving the gas stream therein. The separator separates the liquid from the gas stream to provide a dried gas stream and temporarily stores a pre-set volume of the liquid. The separator includes a disengaging chamber in fluid communication with the inlet for changing the velocity of the incoming gas stream, and at least one baffle element in the disengaging chamber for engaging the gas stream to urge the liquid to coalesce thereon and fall by gravity toward one end of the separator. A separator outlet releases the dried gas stream to an outlet pipe string for transporting the dried gas stream to a gas distribution network. An insulated enclosure houses the separator and at least a portion of the inlet and outlet pipe strings. The enclosure is elevated above a ground surface and is fully supported on the inlet and outlet pipe strings. An opening in the enclosure permits the liquid to exit the separator and enclosure for disbursement on the ground or collection elsewhere.

When a gas well produces natural gas, the gas typically carries liquid, namely water which may also contain particulate matter such as mud and sediment and other substances. This water must be removed from the gas stream before it enters a pipeline system because the water could impede the flow of gas. Water in the presence of gas forms hydrates or ice which can block the flow of gas, particularly in cold climates. Such blockage can create a safety problem in operating the well or pipeline system.
Traditionally well operators have installed separator packages which use a separator that is a minimum of about 12 inches (aprox. 0.3 m) in diameter and 5 feet (aprox. 1.5 m) tall. These prior art separators are very large, bulky and heavy, and are housed in buildings for access by maintenance personnel. The separators are also expensive, with units generally ranging in cost between ten and twenty thousand dollars (CAD), for instance. For shallow gas wells, this cost to separate water makes the wells uneconomic to operate, and so the wells are often abandoned.
What is desired therefore is a novel system and apparatus which overcomes the limitations and problems of prior art separators. Preferably it should provide a fairly simple and compact system with a minimum of moving parts for efficiently and automatically removing liquid from a gas stream. The system should be fully self contained and be light weight to avoid special supports for mounting on a gas pipeline or adjacent a wellhead, and should be relatively inexpensive for economical production of shallow gas wells and the like, particularly in cold climates.


A hydrophobic disordered composite material having a protrusive surface feature includes a recessive phase and a protrusive phase, the recessive phase having a higher susceptibility to a preselected etchant than the protrusive phase, the composite material having an etched surface wherein the protrusive phase protrudes from the surface to form a protrusive surface feature, the protrusive feature being hydrophobic.

Hydrophobic surfaces bind very weakly with water, which makes drops of water "bead up" on the surface. A hydrophobic surface is generally defined and defined herein as that which has a contact angle greater than 90° with a drop of water. Hydrophobic materials include many well known, commercially available polymers.
A super-hydrophobic surface is generally defined and defined herein as that which has a contact angle greater than 150° with a drop of water. The lotus leaf surface is known to be naturally super-hydrophobic due to the texture of its waxy surface.
New materials are and methods are being sought that provide capability for making protrusive-featured surfaces that are especially suitable for super-hydrophobic applications.

Composite, nanostructured, super-hydrophobic material


A radio frequency (RF) transceiver adaptively maintains power output level linearity across a broad spectrum of transmitting frequencies. The RF transceiver comprises a frequency synthesizer adapted to modulate an information signal across a plurality of distinct channels and an amplifier adapted to amplify the modulated information signal to a desired power level for transmission as an RF signal. The transceiver includes a table of offset values having individual entries corresponding to each of the distinct channels. A portion of the amplified and modulated information signal is sampled to provide binary values corresponding to instantaneous power levels of the transceiver. The offset values are calculated by comparing the sampled binary values to optimal binary values. Thereafter, an amount of amplification provided by the amplifier for an associated one of the channels is controlled in accordance with a corresponding one of the offset values from the table.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to radio communication systems, and more particularly, to an RF transceiver that adaptively maintains power output level linearity across a broad spectrum of transmitting frequencies.
2. Description of Related Art
Spread spectrum modulation techniques are increasingly desirable for communications, navigation, radar and other applications. In a spread spectrum system, the transmitted signal is spread over a frequency band that is wider than the minimum bandwidth required to transmit the information being sent. As a result of the signal spreading, spread spectrum systems have reduced susceptibility to interference or jamming, and enable high data integrity and security. Moreover, by spreading transmission power across a broad bandwidth, power levels at any given frequency within the bandwidth are significantly reduced; thereby reducing interference to other radio devices. In view of these significant advantages, spread spectrum communication systems are highly desirable for commercial data transmission.
In one type of spread spectrum communication system, a radio frequency (RF) carrier is shifted in discrete increments in a pattern dictated by a predetermined sequence. These spread spectrum systems are known as "frequency hopping" modulation systems, since the transmitter jumps from frequency to frequency in accordance with the predetermined sequence. Another type of spread spectrum communication system utilizes an RF carrier modulated by a digital code sequence having a bit rate, or chipping rate, much higher than the clock rate of the information signal. These spread spectrum systems are known as "direct sequence" modulation systems. The RF carrier may be modulated such that a data stream has one phase when a code sequence represents a data "one" and 180.degree. phase shift when the code sequence represents a data "zero." In either type of spread spectrum system, a power amplifier within the transmitter amplifies the spread spectrum-modulated signal to the required output level and applies the amplified signal to an antenna.
It is also known to operate a plurality of spread spectrum radio transmitters/receivers (hereinafter "transceivers") together in a wireless local area network (LAN). A central host processing unit could send information to and receive information from any one of the plurality of remotely disposed transceivers. In such a wireless LAN, the remote transceivers may comprise portable units that operate within a defined environment to report information back to the central host processing unit. It should be apparent that such wireless LAN systems offer increased flexibility over more traditional hard-wired systems by enabling operators of the remote transceivers substantial freedom of movement through the environment.
Ideally, the output level linearity of a power amplifier for a spread spectrum communication system should be maintained as flat as possible so that the transmitted power level at each frequency channel is equal to that transmitted for every other frequency. In a frequency hopping system, variations in signal power reduce the ability of the transceiver to interpret the information contained within a transmitted message as well as reducing the immunity of the system to interference or jamming. Moreover, the reduction in power output of some channels has the effect of reducing the usable range of a transceiver in a LAN environment. While this effect is applicable to all constant envelope or angle modulated RF transmissions, it is especially detrimental to frequency hopping systems in which the channels are changed constantly. Each time the transmitter changes to a frequency having a lower power output, the range and/or throughput of the entire LAN is reduced. Direct sequence systems may also operate in a number of separate channels, and variations in output levels between the channels can similarly reduce the range and throughput of such systems.
The procedures for obtaining regulatory agency approval tend to further exacerbate the amplifier output level linearity problem. Certain governmental agencies, such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), have regulations that govern the total allowable power output of a radio transmitter. In order to obtain agency approval, the output power of the channel with the highest amplitude is typically adjusted to operate at the maximum power level permitted under the regulations. Since the output power varies over the operating band, the other channels will necessarily fall short of the maximum level.
Two techniques are known in the art to compensate for the non-linearity of the power amplifier: network compensation and analog feedback. Network compensation is an attempt to attenuate the input frequencies at the receiver through the use of matching networks in order to flatten the power output levels across the channels. This technique is undesirable since it wastes the output power of the higher power level channels, while also increasing the complexity and part count of the receiver. In the analog feedback technique, the transmitted channel outputs are sampled in real time to derive a corresponding DC voltage. The DC voltage is then shifted to a desirable level and fed back directly into the power amplifier bias circuitry. This technique is undesirable since it fails to account for the unique operating characteristics of the transmitter, and also adds complexity to the transmitter due in particular to the complex transfer function generated in the feedback loop.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide a transmitter that provides a linear output power level across a broad bandwidth of frequencies without impacting either performance or efficiency.

Adaptive power leveling of an RF transceiver utilizing information stored in non-volatile memory