A system and method for an arrayed sensor to resolve ambiguity in received signals, improve direction of arrival accuracy and estimate a location of one or more targets in an environment including signal interference.

Actively transmitting arrayed sensor systems, such as linear or phased array radar system, include multiple transmitting and receiving antenna elements that are arranged in space in the antenna array. For example, a phased-array radar antenna consists of a number of transmitting and receiving antenna elements arranged in space and each antenna element transmits radar signals and receives reflected signals (signal reflections) from targets as well as other items present in the environment. When a target is detected by the radar system, its position is estimated based on the received reflected signals at one or more of the antenna elements. In some radar systems, antenna elements are grouped to formed so called sub-arrays, and the received reflected signals of the group of elements (sub-array) are combined in specific ways to form sub-array signals which are used for detection and estimation of a target. Radar target positions are usually identified by the range, azimuth angle, elevation angle, and Doppler frequency shift space. However, the range resolution, angular resolution, and Doppler resolution are limited by the radar system's signal bandwidth, radar aperture, and signal pulse repetitions. When multiple targets are present in a single radar range, angular, and Doppler resolution cell, the individual targets cannot be distinguished without further processing.
In some environments, signals are transmitted on the same frequency as the transmission frequency of the radar causing interference with the radar reception of reflected signals. These signals may have known waveforms or unknown waveforms, and the transmission of these signals may be inadvertently interfering with the signal reception of the radar or may be deliberately transmitted to interfere with reception of the reflected signals (i.e., jamming the radar receivers) to prevent the radar from detecting and estimating the position of targets.
To overcome interfering signals transmitted by other signal sources and/or jamming signals from radar jammers, some radars will manipulate the array radiation pattern to suppress the interfering and/or jamming signals based on the detected locations of the jammers by its Electronic Support (ES) systems. Other radars use adaptive beam forming techniques that adjust complex weights being applied to element or sub-array signals to suppress the interfering and/or jamming signals without explicitly locating the jammers while extracting the desired target signal. In some environments, the interfering signals and/or jamming signals are also reflected by objects in the environment, resulting in multipath signals arriving at the receivers of the radar. These replicas of the transmitted signals are "coherent," which means they are delayed and complexly attenuated versions of the original transmitted signals, which causes the signal source location estimation process to be even more difficult and require more processing resources.
Since adaptive beam forming signal processing for a sensor system typically involves the use of the covariance of the element signals or sub-array signals, the typical adaptive beam forming signal processing cannot resolve for a location of a signal of interest because coherent interference received with the signal of interest cannot be separated in the Eigen space of the signal covariance matrix. This causes the adaptive beam forming signal processing to be unable to resolve the DoA of the signal of interest from the associated coherent interference including multipath signals arriving at the signal receiving elements of the sensor, and results in the sensor system being unable to estimate the location of the signal of interest.
What is needed is a sensor system that can determine a location of a target, even resolve locations of multiple targets within a defined area, such as a single range-angular-Doppler detection cell for a radar system, or an area bounded in elevation and azimuth for passive signal receiving systems, in environments including a high level of signal interference including multipath signals, and may include jamming signals and associated multipath signals or repeated signals.

Sensor system and method for determining target location using sparsity-based processing


An improved method for treating or preventing a pathological condition in a mammalian subject in which modified mammalian blood is administered to the subject. The method comprises administering to the subject from two to four aliquots of modified mammalian blood, with the administration of any pair of consecutive treatments either being on consecutive days or being separated by a rest period of 1 to 21 days. The treatment is useful for treating or preventing a wide range of pathological conditions in which modified mammalian blood is effective, including preconditioning a mammalian subject to better withstand the adverse effects of ischemic stress, atherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Mammalian blood modified by exposure to one or more certain stressors has been found useful for the treatment and prevention of a wide variety of pathological conditions. The stressors to which the blood is exposed are selected from one or more of an oxidative environment, a temperature stressor and ultraviolet (UV) light. The following is a brief discussion of the prior art relating to uses of mammalian blood which has been modified by one or more of the above-mentioned stressors.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,483 to Mueller et al. describes an apparatus for oxygenating blood by treating an aliquot of a patient's blood extracorporeally, with an oxygen/ozone mixture and UV light, at a controlled temperature. The apparatus taught by Mueller is proposed for use in hematological oxidation therapy.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,457 to Bolton discloses a method of inhibiting the aggregation of blood platelets in a human, a method of stimulating the immune system and a method of treating peripheral vascular diseases such as Raynaud's disease, by extracting an aliquot of blood from a patient, subjecting it to an ozone/oxygen gas mixture and UV light at a temperature in the range of about 37 to 43° C., and then re-injecting the treated blood in the human patient.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,834,030 to Bolton describes a similar process for increasing the content of nitric oxide in the blood of mammalian subject, potentially useful in treating conditions such as high blood pressure in mammalian subjects. Example 5 of this patent discloses a course of treatment comprising ten injections of modified mammalian blood administered over a period of 2 to 4 weeks.
International Publication No. WO 98/07436 describes an autoimmune vaccine for administration to human patients to alleviate the symptoms of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. The vaccine comprises an aliquot of the subject's blood which has been subjected extracorporeally to an oxidizing environment, UV light and elevated temperature. This application discloses a course of treatment comprising from 30 to 60 injections of modified mammalian blood.
International Publication No. WO 96/34613 relates to treatment of vascular disorders associated with deficient endothelial function, in a mammalian subject, by administration to the patient of an aliquot of blood which has been modified by having been subjected to at least one stressor selected from elevated temperature in the range of 37° to 55° C., UV light and an oxidative environment. This application discloses a number of different treatment methods. For example, Example 1 discloses ten injections of modified mammalian blood administered over a period of 2 weeks; Example 2 discloses ten injections over a period of 2 to 4 weeks; Example 3 discloses a treatment schedule comprising two courses of treatment, the first course comprising ten injections over a period of 2 to 4 weeks and the second course comprising five injections; and Example 5 discloses administration of five injections at 2 to 3 day intervals.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/190,236, filed Nov. 13, 1998, describes a method for lowering levels of lipids in mammals by injecting a mammalian subject with an aliquot of mammalian blood which has been treated extracorporeally by one or more stressors selected from heat, UV light and oxidative environments. This application describes a study in which animals were subjected to a course of treatment comprising a total of 10 injections over 12 days, with two sets of 5 daily injections being separated by a rest period of two days.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/151,653, filed Nov. 9, 1998, discloses a method for treatment of stress and preconditioning against stress by injecting a mammalian subject with an aliquot of mammalian blood having been subjected extracorporeally to at least one stressor selected from an oxidative environment, UV light and elevated temperature up to about 45° C. This application discloses various treatment methods. Examples 1 and 3 disclose a single course of treatment comprising ten injections administered over a period of 10 days; and Examples 4 and 6 to 8 disclose a treatment method comprising two courses of treatment, each comprising ten injections administered over a period of 10 days, separated by a rest period of about three weeks.
Although the treatments described above have been shown to be useful in the treatment and prevention of a wide range of pathological conditions, there is a desire to develop a treatment schedule which is less costly to administer and more convenient to patients, and which either improves or at least does not reduce the effectiveness of the treatment.

Method for treating mammals with modified mammalian blood


In a semiconductor memory array, each cell includes a semiconductor switching element and a capacitor with a ferroelectric material layer. The ferroelectric material layer is sandwiched between opposing electrodes and exhibits a polarization varied in response to a voltage applied across the electrodes in such a manner that the direction of polarization is reversed if the voltage reaches a polarization reversal voltage. First electrodes of the capacitor elements are constituted by portions of semiconductor regions of the associated switching elements, while the second electrodes of the capacitor elements of the cells are constituted by a single common conductor layer. A first conductor is connected in common with the second main semiconductor regions of the switching elements of those cells which are on one column. A second conductor is connected in common with control electrodes of the switching elements of those cells which are on one row. An address signal generator is in electrical connection with the first and second conductors and the single common conductor such that a first voltage not lower than the polarization reversal voltage is applied across the electrodes of a capacitor element of a selected cell selected and a second voltage lower than the polarization reversal voltage is applied across the electrodes of a capacitor element of at least one cell which is a not selected.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor IC device and in particular, to a technique which is useful when it is applied to a semiconductor IC device using ferroelectric material.
DRAMs (Dynamic Random Access Memories) are widely used as semiconductor memory devices, which can be integrated in a high degree. A DRAM includes an array of memory cells, each of which comprises a series circuit consisting of an MISFET for memory cell selection and a capacitor element for information storage. One (1) bit of information is stored in each of these memory cells.
Recently, as the degree of integration has increased, research and development have been carried out, using a ferroelectric material layer for the dielectric layer in the capacitor element for information storage of the memory cell in the DRAM. The ferroelectric material layer is made of, e.g., lead zirconate titanate, by means of which an amount of stored charge about ten times as great as that obtained by means of a conventional dielectric layer made of silicon oxide can be obtained. That is, by using a ferroelectric material layer, since the amount of charge stored by the capacitor element for information storage in the memory cell can be increased, it is possible to reduce the area occupied by a memory cell and thus to increase the degree of integration of the DRAM. Further the .alpha.-ray soft error withstand voltage of the DRAM can be improved by using the ferroelectric material layer. Still further, by using the ferroelectric material layer, since it is possible to omit the refresh operation (rewriting operation), it is possible to increase operation speed of the storage device.
In the ferroelectric material layer described above, when a voltage is applied between two electrodes of the capacitor element for information storage, the polarization direction thereof varies, tracing a hysteresis loop. The information writing operation is executed by applying a writing voltage, which is higher than the polarization reversal voltage, between the two electrodes of the capacitor element for information storage in the memory cell in the selected state. The polarization reversal voltage is a voltage at which the polarization direction of the ferroelectric material layer begins to be reversed.
For example, in a DRAM, for which the planar structure is adopted, one of the electrodes of the capacitor element for information storage in the memory cell is composed of a semiconductor region. This semiconductor region is formed in one body with one of the semiconductor regions of the MISFET for the memory cell selection, electrically connected therewith. The other electrode of the capacitor element for information storage is composed of a plate electrode disposed on the semiconductor region described above, opposite thereto. This plate electrode is formed in one body with the plate electrodes of the capacitor elements for information storage in the other memory cells, electrically connected therewith. That is, they are constructed in the form of a common plate over the whole region of the memory cell array.
In this DRAM, for which the planar structure is adopted, in the information writing operation described above, a writing voltage, which is higher than the polarization reversal voltage, e.g., of about 5 V is applied to the common plate electrode. For the memory cell in the selected state, a writing voltage, e.g. of 0 V is applied to the data line and a selecting voltage e.g., of 5 V is applied to the word line. On the other hand, for the memory cell in the unselected state a non-writing voltage of about 5 V or the writing voltage of 0 V is applied to the data line and the unselecting voltage of 5 V or a unselecting voltage of 0 V is applied to the word line.
However, in the DRAM having the common plate electrode as described above, when the voltage on a data line in an unselected memory cell is raised from 0 V to 5 V for a reading operation, with the data line and a word line in the unselected memory cell being supplied with 5 V and the common plate electrode being supplied with 0 V in a previous writing operation, a voltage higher than the polarization several voltage is applied between the electrodes of the information storage capacitor element in the course of a rise of the voltage on the data line from 0 V to 5 V. For this reason, since the information written previously in the memory cell by the information writing operation is reversed in the unselected state (the polarization direction is reversed), the information stored in the memory cell is destroyed.
As a technique for solving such technical problems, a technique is proposed, by which the common plate described above is divided into a plurality of lines, each of which corresponds to one data line (complementary data line), and drive lines are constructed so as to be able to supply the writing voltage and the non-writing voltage independently to the divided lines. These drive lines extend in the direction parallel to the direction in which the data lines extend. Further, each of the drive lines is constructed as a drive line common to the other electrodes of all the capacitor elements for information storage in a plurality of memory cells connected with one data line.
In the DRAM to which this technique is applied, in the information writing operation, the writing voltage (e.g., 0 V) is applied to the data line and the writing voltage (e.g., 5 V) is applied to the other electrode of the capacitor element for information storage through the drive line for the memory cell in the selected state. On the other hand, for the memory cell in the unselected state, the non-writing voltage (e.g., 0 V) is applied to the data line and the non-writing voltage (e.g., 0 V) is applied to the other electrode of the capacitor element for information storage through the drive line. That is, since no voltage higher than the polarization reversal voltage is applied between the two electrodes of the capacitor element for information storage in the memory cell in the unselected state, no destruction of information described above takes place.
The technique described above, by which the drive lines are disposed, is reported e.g. in 1989 IEEE ISSCC, Feb. 17, 1989, pp. 242-243. Further a non-volatile memory, in which a ferroelectric material layer is used in each memory cell, is disclosed in JP-A-62-185376 (published Aug. 13, 1987).

Semiconductor IC device using ferroelectric material in data storage cells with light assisted state transition


A pixel, a display device including the same, and a driving method thereof. The display device includes: a data driver transmitting data signals; a scan driver generating and transmitting scan signals; a display panel including pixels, each emitting light with a driving current according to the data signals; a compensation signal unit generating and transmitting a compensation control signal for controlling simultaneous transmission of a predetermined bias voltage to each of the pixels before a data voltage according to the data signals is applied to each of the pixels; a power controller controlling voltage levels of the first power source voltage and the second power source voltage and supplying the level-controlled first and second power source voltages; and a timing controller generating the data signals by processing an external image signal and generating a plurality of driving control signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device and a driving method thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a display device including an organic light emitting diode (OLED) and a pixel that is digitally driven, and a driving method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a display panel has increased in size and reduced in weight, and a stable driving method of a frame has been developed in order to display an accurate and clear image with high-integration and high-precision of a display device which is required to implement a 3D stereoscopic image.
An analog-type driving method of a conventional display device increases the number of circuit elements in a pixel so that it cannot be applied to a large-sized panel, and causes problems in high-resolution display panel, particularly, FULL HD panel. A conventional pixel circuit is formed of 7 to 8 transistors and 2 to 3 capacitors, and this becomes a difficulty in layout design and manufacturing of the display panel.
In order to solve such a problem, a digital driving method replaces the analog driving method and high integration and high resolution can be realized by reducing the number of circuits in a pixel. In particular, in the pixel employing the digital driving method can be formed of 2 to 3 transistors and 1 capacitor so that the difficulty in layout design and manufacturing of the display panel can be solved.
However, a driving transistor transmitting a driving current according to a data signal is operated in a linear area in the digitally driven pixel, and thus luminance is not uniform in the entire panel depending on a material of an organic light emitting diode and a distribution characteristic such as processing. Thus, a failure such as long range uniformity (LRU) or a short range uniformity (SRU) occurs in the display panel, thereby causing deterioration of the display device.
Accordingly, development and research for a pixel structure having high integration and high resolution adaptability in the digital driving method while having a screen display characteristic of the conventional analog driving method, and a display device including the same and a driving method thereof are required.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Pixel with enhanced luminance non-uniformity, a display device comprising the pixel and driving method of the display device

Samsung-ro, Giheung-Gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-Do


A waveguide DBR laser or waveguide DBR laser array may be comprised of a semiconductor gain element, or a series of semiconductor gain elements, in combination with a waveguide grating functioning as a resonant cavity end reflector for lasing operation comprising either an optical fiber having a fiber grating (fiber DBR laser) or a planar waveguide (planar waveguide DBR laser). The gain element may be comprised of a laser diode which has high efficient AR coating on its front facet so that it functions as a modulated gain element in a resonant cavity established between its rear HR facet and the grating formed in the external waveguide. Disclosed are ways to form this resonant cavity so that gain element modulation rates can be carried out in excess of 2 Gb/sec with suppression of longitudinal mode hops and/or with trimming to compensate for wavelength changes, rendering the waveguide DBR laser or waveguide DBR laser array highly suitable for WDM transmitter, dense WDM transmission systems and other communications applications.

Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) imposes new demands on laser sources employed in conjunction with optical fiber and free-space communications. One of these primary demands is the requirement for precision alignment of the source wavelength to one of the prescribed channels of a WDM system. Presently, distributed feedback (DFB) laser diodes are employed in such systems. Since the emission wavelength of a standard DFB laser diode varies with temperature at a typical rate of about 0.1 nm/.degree.C., their deployment in a WDM system requires precision control of the laser temperature, typically to better than .+-.0.1.degree. C. In order to provide laser sources that operate around room temperature within a tight wavelength tolerance, these types of lasers have to be individually sorted. In addition, screening of DFB laser sources is required to sort out those with low wavelength drift with aging.
WDM systems can be designed to run "open loop" where the channel alignment relies on the long term stability of the DFB wavelength with aging at constant temperature, or the laser emission wavelength can be controlled by an external passive reference filter. This is typically accomplished by monitoring the wavelength-dependent transmission of the filter, employing the laser temperature as a controlling parameter to match the laser output wavelength to the center wavelength of the filter. While such a feedback provides compensation and correction there are added costs to bear such as the external reference filter and required servo circuit controls in the feedback system.
A more simple approach is the use of a passive wavelength selection element in an optical fiber waveguide or a silica waveguide with a narrow band Bragg reflector embedded in an optical waveguide functioning as a wavelength filter. The optical waveguide is optically coupled to the laser chip output to provide optical feedback in an extended laser resonator that includes the laser chip rear facet at one end and the external reflector at the other end of the resonant cavity. The narrow band reflector locks the laser wavelength at the Bragg frequency of the fiber Bragg reflector and eliminates the need for additional external filters or servo circuits. Furthermore, the lower temperature sensitivity of the waveguide Bragg reflector center wavelength places tighter bounds on the overall wavelength drift with temperature compared to semiconductor DFB and DBR laser sources. An additional advantage is the ability to modulate the laser with low chirp in the extended, hybrid laser resonator. By directly modulating the current of the gain element, one can generate analog or digital data streams suitable for high speed optical data communication. In addition, by directly modulating the gain element of the waveguide DBR laser source, a train of stable pulses can be produced with tens of picoseconds pulse width having several to tens of milliwatts of peak power.
An antireflection (AR) coated semiconductor laser is thus employed as a gain element providing laser action through amplified stimulated emission while the optical fiber and the waveguide Bragg reflector function as the principal part of the optical cavity with very low loss.
Perhaps one of the largest concerns in the use of such hybrid extended laser cavities with a waveguide Bragg grating is the stability of longitudinal mode selection in operation of the laser source. The ability to produce waveguide DBR lasers with tightly controlled operating wavelengths is important for WDM systems, particularly dense WDM systems requiring closely spaced fixed wavelengths. However, the waveguide DBR by itself will not be stable in single longitudinal mode operation because longitudinal mode transition can occur with changes in environmental temperature or current pumping. A primary source of this instability stems from the difference in the dependence of refractive index in the different components making up the resonant cavity. What is needed is some way of stabilizing the waveguide DBR taking into consideration these foregoing mentioned factors of temperature changes and refractive index differences.
An object of this invention is to provide a stabilized waveguide DBR laser source.
Another object of this invention is to provide a directly modulated waveguide DBR laser capable of operating at high modulation rates in excess of 2.0 Gb/s.
It is another object of this invention to provide a waveguide DBR laser that can be assembled to ensure reliable operation with aging and environmental temperature changes.

Thermal compensators for waveguide DBR laser sources


A semiconductor structure and its fabrication method are provided in the present disclosure. The method includes providing a substrate, forming a plurality of fins on the substrate, and forming an isolation structure layer including a plurality of isolation structures on the substrate, each isolation structure being formed between adjacent fins. The method further includes forming a first opening by etching at least one isolation structure of the plurality of isolation structures and a portion of the substrate, and forming a power rail by filling the first opening with a conductive material, where a top surface of the power rail is lower than a top surface of the plurality of fins.

In integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing, standard cells, used as basic elements for fabricating IC devices, are arranged and wired to form functional circuits. Each standard cell needs a power (Vdd) input and a ground (Vss) connection when in use. In order to supply power to a variety of components, each standard cell is coupled to a power rail, which is electrically connected to an active layer of the standard cell, to supply the power (Vdd). In certain cases, a plurality of power rails may be provided to each standard cell to respectively provide the power (Vdd) input and the ground (Vss) connection.
The standard cell may be designed to be a stacked structure having various metal layers, and each metal layer may include wiring traces. Various interconnection elements may be formed in the wiring traces to allow connections between various components of the standard cell and to allow connections of various components of the standard cell with other standard cells.
In the existing technology, the power rail may be arranged in one metal layer of various metal layers and then be connected to the active layer of the standard cell through a conduction pass, which may occupy much space in the metal layer for forming wiring traces and various interconnection elements. As such, in order to improve the response speed of the integrated circuit, the dimension of the standard cell needs to be enlarged to provide a larger wiring trace space, which may not be beneficial for the advancement to the next process node of the semiconductor technology.

Semiconductor structure and fabrication method thereof

SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (SHANGHAI) CORPORATION

SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (BEIJING) CORPORATION


A film-rewinding apparatus to rewind a film from a cartridge into a container which can accommodate the film therein by inserting the film from an opening of the container. The apparatus comprises: a cartridge-supporting portion which supports the cartridge; a shielding door driving mechanism for opening and closing the shielding door; a spool-driving mechanism for feeding the film out by driving the spool; a container-supporting portion for supporting the container; and a film-dismounting mechanism for dismounting the film from the spool. The film-rewinding apparatus can easily perform rewinding only by operating a handle or a lever, or by switching operation, after the cartridge and the intermediate magazine are set and the cover is locked.

The present invention relates to a film-rewinding apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus to rewind a film from a cartridge (patrone) into a container of a developing machine (hereinafter referred to as an "intermediate magazine").
A film housed in a container which cannot be set to a film automatic developing machine (110, 120, 126 sizes and the like) has to be rewound into a container exclusive for a developing machine capable of being set to the machine. Therefore, it has been conventionally conducted to rewind an exposed film from a cartridge into a predetermined intermediate magazine. In the present situation, however, the film is rewound into a separate container manually in a darkroom where both hands can be put into, which is time-consuming and inefficient.
Furthermore, when a film and a leader are connected, it is required to open a shielding door of the cartridge and to pull out the tip of the film from a film port of the cartridge. But since there is provided no shielding material in the film port of the cartridge, light comes into the cartridge, therefore there is a problem that the work cannot be done in a light room
The present invention has been completed under this circumstance. It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a film-rewinding apparatus which can easily rewind a film from a cartridge into an intermediate magazine of a developing machine.


An electrically conductive element and a related assembly are provided for use in an electrochemical cell. The electrically conductive separator plate has an upper boundary and a lower boundary. The upper boundary has at least one land formed therein, where the land has a surface defining a first plane and the lower boundary defines a second plane. The first plane extends towards said second plane, so as to intersect with said second plane at an angle greater than zero. An assembly further comprises a compliant layer which substantially conforms to the angled land surfaces, thereby enhancing contact pressure between and across a plurality of components in the compliant layer. A method of assembling such a separator assembly in a fuel cell is also provided.

Fuel cells have been proposed as a power source for electric vehicles and other applications. One known fuel cell is the PEM (i.e., Proton Exchange Membrane) fuel cell that includes a so-called "membrane-electrode-assembly" (MEA) comprising a thin, solid polymer membrane-electrolyte having an anode on one face of the membrane-electrolyte and a cathode on the opposite face of the membrane-electrolyte. The anode and cathode typically comprise finely divided carbon particles, having very finely divided catalytic particles supported on the internal and external surfaces of the carbon particles, and proton conductive material intermingled with the catalytic and carbon particles.
The membrane-electrode-assembly is sandwiched between a pair of electrically conductive porous fluid distribution media layers. The MEA together with the fluid distribution elements form a compliant layer, which is then sandwiched between a pair of electrically conductive contact elements that serve as current collectors for the anode and cathode, and may contain appropriate channels and openings therein for distributing the fuel cell's gaseous reactants (i.e., H2 & O2/air) over the surfaces of the respective anode and cathode.
Bipolar PEM fuel cells comprise a plurality of the membrane-electrode-assemblies stacked together in electrical series while being separated one from the next by an impermeable, electrically conductive contact element known as a bipolar or separator plate. The separator or bipolar plate has two working faces, one confronting the anode of one cell and the other confronting the cathode on the next adjacent cell in the stack, where each bipolar plate electrically conducts current between the adjacent cells. Conductive contact elements at the ends of the stack are referred to as end or terminal separator plates. These terminal separator plates contact an MEA along one side and are adjacent to an end plate of the stack, and collect current and transport gases along a single side (rather than both sides of a bipolar plate). The separator plate elements of the stack thus serve as an electrically conductive separator element between two adjacent cells, and typically have reactant gas flow fields on both external faces thereof, conduct electrical current between the anode of one cell and the cathode of the next adjacent cell in the stack, and have internal passages therein through which coolant flows to remove heat from the stack.
The PEM fuel cell environment is highly corrosive, and accordingly, the separator plates and the materials used to assemble them must be both corrosion resistant and electrically conductive. Bipolar plates are generally fabricated from two separate conductive plates, and may be constructed of electrically conductive metal or composite materials. These individual plates are joined together to form an interior formed between the plates which contains cooling passages. The plates must withstand the harsh conditions of the fuel cell, while providing high electrical conductivity, low weight to improve gravimetric efficiency, and durability for long-term operational efficiency. Further, separator plate contact with adjacent elements must be optimized to enhance fuel cell operation. There remains the challenge to optimize these electrically conductive elements and assemblies made therefrom in a fuel cell to promote efficiency as cost-effectively as possible.

Electrochemical fuel cell elements having improved compression over channels


An internal combustion engine having two cylinder banks and adjustable camshaft timing is disclosed in which the camshafts in one cylinder bank are adjusted so that there is no net flow from the cylinders to effectively disable the cylinder bank. In particular, exhaust valve timing is advanced so that the maximum valve lift occurs approximately at bottom center between expansion and exhaust strokes and intake valve timing is advanced so that maximum valve lift occurs approximately at bottom center between intake and compression strokes. Also disclosed is an engine in which an intake and an exhaust camshaft on a single bank are coaxial with valve timings adjusted by rotating the inner of the two camshafts with respect to the outer of the two camshafts.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to using a variable camshaft timing device to deactivate a portion of engine cylinders.
2. Background Art
Variable camshaft timing (VCT) devices are used to change the phase relationship between the crankshaft and the camshaft lobes that control actuation of the intake and exhaust poppet valves. By controlling the phase relationship, the fuel economy, performance, and emissions can be improved by providing less valve overlap at low engine speed operation to improve combustion stability, and more valve overlap at higher engine speed to improve engine power and performance.
It is known that by deactivating a portion of engine cylinders when the engine is operating at light load, that overall fuel economy can be improved. Typically, cylinders are deactivated by deactivating intake and exhaust poppet valves. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,559 B1, commonly assigned to the assignee of the present application, cylinder deactivation is provided by disabling exhaust poppet valves. The intake valves are not disabled, but are opened and closed generally symmetrically about a top center or bottom center position of the piston. This results in a cost savings because valve deactivators are provided for exhaust valves and not intake valves. However, such a system does not eliminate valve deactivators, which are known to be problematic. For example, there are typically issues associated with latching the valve deactivators and difficulties in ensuring that they are latched within one engine cycle, particularly at high engine speeds.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,703 commonly assigned to the assignee of the present application, cylinder deactivation is provided by adjusting a single camshaft which actuates both the intake and the exhaust valves, or alternatively, using dual camshafts. However, this reference teaches that both camshafts may be linked together with one phase and that adjusting the timing of the valve lift events has no effect on the relative timing between the exhaust valve lift event and intake valve lift event, i.e., the timing between exhaust and intake valve lift events remains constant regardless of phase shifting. Because the intakes and exhausts are not independently adjusted, one embodiment shows both valve events retarded such that the exhaust valve event is roughly centered about top center (TC) of piston movement between the exhaust and intake strokes and the intake valve event is roughly centered about bottom center (BC) between the intake and compression strokes. The valve events are optimized for normal operation, not for deactivated operation. Thus, it is not possible to adjust both intake and exhaust valve events such that they are symmetrical about a rotational position of the crankshaft when the direction of the piston changes, i.e., TC or BC. Also, valve overlap, which lasts about 25 degrees of crank rotation is not adjusted in such a system because the intake and exhaust valve events move in lock step. It is typical for the intake system to operate at a vacuum and the exhaust system to be at a pressure slightly higher than atmospheric. Thus, during the valve overlap period while the valves are in the deactivated condition, exhaust gases flow into the intake and are then inducted by the activated cylinders. While there may be operating conditions where such flow from exhaust to intake is advantageous, it is desirable to control such flow. For example, when operating at low torque conditions, there is a considerable intake manifold vacuum to drive flow from the exhaust to the intake. However, this is an operating condition where no additional exhaust gases can be accommodated without impairing combustion stability. At higher torque conditions, exhaust gases can be accommodated in the combustion charge, but there is little manifold vacuum to drive the flow from exhaust to intake. While the strategy for valve deactivation disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,703 is suitable for many applications, various advantages may be provided by appropriate control of valve overlap that cannot be achieved with such a strategy.

Adjusting valve timing to deactivate engine cylinders for variable displacement operation


Provided are a polymer/liposome nanocomposite composition comprising lipids and poly(amino acids), and a method for preparing same. The polymer/liposome nanocomposite composition has excellent formation stability with respect to surfactants and salts, and can be used in various ways as a drug delivery system in the fields of medicine and cosmetics.

Recently, utility of drug delivery systems using a liposome has been spotlighted. Thus, many attentions have been given to studies about preparation of more effective lipid-based nanocarriers through combination of various lipid components. Particularly, active studies have been conducted to provide a liposome formed from various components so that physiologically active ingredients incorporated into the inner phase of a liposome may be delivered to cells in vivo with high efficiency to realize their maximized efficiencies.
For example, some studies have been conducted about a liposome designed in such a manner that physiologically active ingredients incorporated into a liposome are released into cells through a decrease in liposome stability caused by the specific environment of a minute organ in cells. In addition, various systems capable of drug release at a predetermined temperature or pH range have been studied by using pH- or temperature-sensitive lipids or polymers in combination.
A liposome may include various types of lipid molecules but ensures no physical stability. Thus, many studies have been conducted to ensure liposome stability. In some technologies, a specific anionic surfactant is added to a liposome to induce an increase in stability. In other technologies, static charge lipids are added or sterols, anionic lipids or sphingolipids are introduced to elements forming a liposome. Further, it has been suggested that a liposome is mixed with an aqueous phase in which a polymeric emulsifier is dissolved, or a liposome is added to lamellar liquid crystals to stabilize physiologically active ingredients.
As mentioned above, active studies have been conducted continuously to improve the stability of a liposome or emulsion. However, the technologies according to the related art cannot provide sufficient physical stability, and thus are limited in use in the fields of food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
In general, it is known that a liposome based on lipid-cholesterol does not ensure long-term stability in an aqueous phase. Particularly, such a liposome is highly liable to various salts used in vivo. To allow the use of such a liposome in cosmetics and skin application products, its stability in a formulation is required. However, such a liposome easily loses its structural integrity due to various surfactants present in a formulation.

Polymer-liposome nanocomposite composition for percutaneous absorption, and method for preparing same


Provided are a medical diagnosis apparatus and a medical diagnosis method using the same. According to an embodiment, the medical diagnosis apparatus may include: a main body; a chair unit movably supported by the main body and on which an object is positioned; a diagnosis part that is movably connected to the main body and is spaced apart from the chair unit by a preset first distance in one plane; a controller configured to generate a control signal for moving the diagnosis part according to preset information; and a first driving device configured to generate a driving force for moving the diagnosis part according to the control signal.

Ultrasound diagnosis apparatuses transmit an ultrasound signal generated by a transducer of a probe to an object and receive information about a signal reflected from the object, thereby obtaining an image of an internal part of the object (e.g., soft tissue or blood flow) in a non-invasive manner.
Because ultrasound diagnosis apparatuses are compact, affordable, display images in real-time, and are highly safe for a fetus due to lack of radiation exposure compared to other types of imaging diagnosis apparatuses such as an X-ray diagnostic apparatus, a computerized tomography (CT) scanner, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus, a nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatus, etc., such ultrasound diagnosis apparatuses have been widely used for medical diagnosis.
An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes a medical chair unit on which a probe and an object can be positioned. In obstetrical and gynecological diagnosis during which ultrasound probes are widely used, an external condition of a pregnant woman corresponding to an object rapidly changes, and according to a change in a diagnostic posture of the pregnant woman due to changes in an external appearance of the pregnant woman and diagnostic items, relative positions of a medical chair on which the pregnant woman is seated for obstetrical or gynecological examination, a probe holder for holding probes, and a diagnosis part also need to be changed.

Medical diagnosis device and medical diagnosis method using same


A motor control device includes: a frequency instruction setting section for outputting a plurality of frequency instructions; an AC voltage instruction generation section for generating and outputting an AC voltage instruction based on each of the frequency instructions; a voltage application section for applying voltage to a motor based on the AC voltage instruction; a current detection section for detecting motor current flowing in the motor; and a type determination section for determining the type of the motor based on a transfer characteristic of the motor calculated from the motor current, the AC voltage instruction, and the frequency instruction.

In order to drive a motor such as an induction motor or a synchronous motor, it is necessary to recognize the type of the motor in advance before driving the motor, because a driving method differs depending on the type of the motor. Therefore, conventionally, a user recognizes the type of the motor in advance, and selects a control device and a control method in accordance with the type of the motor. However, it may be difficult to recognize the types of some motors from their appearances. Thus, a user cannot always recognize the type of the motor.
In order to solve the above problem, a method of Patent Document 1 is proposed. The method of Patent Document 1 determines the type of a motor by using the fact that the saturation degree of the motor differs depending on the type of the motor.


Motion and video data from vehicle sensors and camera arrays attached to a vehicle collect video and sensor data along a path driven by the vehicle. A system processes such data to produce high-accuracy structured map data, as might be used to precisely locate a moving vehicle in its environment. Positions are calculated from the sensor data. The positions are updated based on the video data. When loops in the vehicle path are detected, a loop closure error is calculated and used to update the positions as well as to reduce bias in the sensors when calculating future positions. Positions of features in the video are used to create or update structured map data.

As technology for autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles advances, there is a need for machine-readable maps encoded in map data structures that enable locating the vehicle in its environment with enough accuracy and precision to allow, for example, a vehicle to stay in its lane or avoid hitting a curb or road obstruction. Such precision might be within centimeters. Commercial Global Positioning Systems (GPS) do not provide such accuracy and are often unavailable in moments of need, and maps meant for human use do not provide the type of terrain data that a vehicle would need to navigate (e.g., location of curbs). Map data structures meant for vehicular navigation, as opposed maps for human navigation, provide rich data about stationary objects to allow a vehicle to avoid hitting objects and to allow the vehicle to obtain its position from stationary objects.
One approach to generating such map data is to equip a vehicle with a commercial LIDAR array, but such systems can be expensive. Features near and on a road can change, for example due to roadwork. Because LIDAR systems are expensive, it is often not economical to have map data frequently updated, except possibly for the most heavily traveled roads, leaving map data typically out of date.
There is a need for a less expensive source of vehicular map data. As more map data is produced, this creates a need for an automated method of processing the map data.

Generation of structured map data from vehicle sensors and camera arrays


A process and apparatus for controlled arc coating of substrates utilizing relatively thick cathodes or targets for obtaining coatings which are free of macro-particles. The thick targets are capable of use by controlling and steering the arc in a desired path as necessary to produce coatings of the desired compositions using magnetic fields generated to provide arc path control and modulation for efficient cathode utilization.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to steered arc coating processes and apparatus using thick cathodes or targets.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,477 discloses a controlled arc coating process and apparatus for coating of materials. The patent teaches the control of an arc path by utilizing a magnetic field positioned in a known relationship with respect to the cathode for defining a closed arc track along which the arc will continuously move.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,262 issued to Sablev et al. discloses a method of depositing alloys using a composite target. In this process a random or unsteered arc is employed acting on a composite target of a particular configuration.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 848,720, filed Apr. 4, 1986, to Ramalingam et al. discloses a steered arc coating process and apparatus where the residents time of the arc is controlled in different parts of a solid composite cathode to permit depositing alloys on a substrate. Mechanical linkages control the arc path by moving the magnet that defines the arc path, and geometric proportioning of the composite cathode as well as arc operating parameters such as current provide the basis for control of a deposited alloy composition.
While the system works well with mechanical linkages, improvements in control of the arc path, and tight arc steering are necessary to produce macro particle free coatings when using thick cathodes or targets so an adequate supply of coating material is available. When the process and apparatus disclosed in the Ramalingam Patent 4,673,477 are used to produce macro particle free deposits, cathode thicknesses are usually restricted to about 20 millimeters (about 13/16 inch) or less. The Ramalingam et al. patent application Ser. No. 848,720, filed Apr. 4, 1986, and the Sablev et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,262 produce coatings on a substrate where the composition change is abrupt at the substrate/deposited film interface. These same prior art disclosures can be used to produce multi-layer coatings, but more than one arc source is necessary to do so.
In any coating it is desirable, and is all but necessary, to have uniformly small grain or crystallite sizes, and thus depositing of macro particles is unsatisfactory, and produces coatings that are not within desired tolerances.
The present invention provides the necessary arc steering for producing macro particle free coatings with thick targets or cathodes, and, when desired, multi-layer coatings using a thick composite cathode.


An FDMA (Frequency-Division Multiple Access) transmitter-receiver for use in an FDMA communication system which is capable of changing a bandwidth of a channel as required. The FDMA transmitter-receiver includes: a plurality of trans-demultiplexers which are different in the number of channel multiplexings from each other and each of which serves to convert the received FDMA signal into a TDMA signal; a communication signal demultiplexing/multiplexing circuit for subjecting the output communication channel signals from the trans-demultiplexers to demultiplex and channel-reassignable multiplex them; a plurality of trans-multiplexers which are provided in correspondence to the plurality of trans-demultiplexers and each of which serves to convert the output channel signal after demultiplexing and remultiplexing from the associated communication signal demultiplexing/multiplexing circuit into an FDMA signal; an adder for adding the FDMA signals outputted from the trans-multiplexers; and a transmission circuit connected to an output of the adder for transmitting therefrom the signal which has been obtained by adding the FDMA signals. The bandwidth per channel of each of the trans-demultiplexers and the trans-multiplexers is different in correspondence to the number of channel multiplexing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to an FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access) transmitter-receiver and more particularly to an FDMA transmission/reception method for use in a digital radio communication system which is capable of changing a communication channel bandwidth, and a transmitter-receiver employing the FDMA transmission/reception method.
2. Description of the Related Art
A digital radio communication system is generally designed in such a way that a plurality of local stations transmit/receive the respective radio waves to/from a base station and the communication is established between the local stations via the base station. Therefore, the base station needs to multiplex the signals on all the call channels or communication channels which are assigned to the communication system of interest in order to transmit/receive the resultant radio wave. As such multiplexing communication methods, there are known the Time Division Multiple Access (hereinafter, referred to as "a TDMA" for short, when applicable) method in which multiplexing is carried out in time domain and the Frequency Division Multiple Access (hereinafter, referred to as "an FDMA" for short, when applicable) method in which multiplexing is carried out in frequency domain.
On the other hand, the promotion of the multi-media in recent years results in the demand of carrying out communication between terminals having various data rates being developed. In order to cope with the promotion of the multi-media, it is desired that the rate of data which can be transmitted/received by the communication system can be changed.

Transmission/reception method based on frequency division multiple access having changeable communication channel bandwidths and communication apparatus employing the method


An optical fiber having a core, a cladding layer, a buffer layer, and a midsection for forming a hermetic seal to the fiber. First and second sections of a length of the optical fiber are separated by the midsection that includes a jacket hermetically sealed to the fiber, the jacket having a hermetically sealable outer surface. First and second stress relief joints are formed between the jacket and the buffer layers of the first and second sections of the length of the fiber. A method is disclosed for fabricating the optical fiber having a hermetically sealable section.

Optical components, such as, for example, lasers, modulators, demodulators, etc., are often expected to function for extended periods of time in potentially damaging environments. Accordingly, such an optical component is typically enclosed in a packages that provides an acceptable operating environment internal to the package. The predictable and continued operation of component is thus ensured. However, optical signals must typically enter and exit a component via a single or multimode fiber optic cable. A hermetic seal to the fiber preserves the integrity of the inner environment of the component package. Unfortunately, known hermetic seals are not always satisfactory. Most available fiber optic hermetic seals are unduly complex, or substantially weaken the fiber such that routing the fiber inside the package is a delicate task, prone to injuring the fiber and/or rendering it more susceptible to subsequent injury in service due to vibration, temperature cycling, etc. Degradation or failure of the optical component can result.
For example, a fiber optic cable includes a core, a cladding disposed about the core, and a buffer layer disposed about the cladding layer. As is well known by those of ordinary skill in the art, the indices of refraction and the relative dimensions of the core and cladding are selected to provide the desired optical performance of the cable. The buffer layer primarily provides strength and stress relief to protect the delicate cladding and core.
One known technique for providing a hermetic seal between a package and an optical fiber is illustrated in cross section in FIG. 1. A length of the optical fiber is stripped of the buffer layer 4, leaving the cladding layer 3 and the core 2. A first hermetic sealing joint 5 seals the cladding layer 3 of the fiber to a ferrule 6. Typically the stripped length 1 of the fiber is metallized and the first hermetic sealing joint is a solder joint between the metallized cladding and the wall 8. A second solder joint 7 seals the ferrule 6 to the wall 8 of a package. An epoxy joint secures the buffer layer 4 to the ferrule 6. The length of fiber 1 available inside the package for routing to optical components includes only the cladding layer 3 and the core 2; the buffer layer is absent. Accordingly, the length 1 of fiber is prone to microcracks and other damage and routing the cable is problematic, as bends, twists, or other stress producing configurations should be avoided. Though certain components, such as laser diodes, may not require significant routing of the feedthrough fiber inside the package, other components, such as components based on lithium niobate, can necessitate such routing. Despite careful designs that avoid bends or turns, and appropriate care during assembly of the component, the fiber may fail or degrade in service. A naked fiber, i.e., one devoid of cladding, can be the weakest link in the component performance chain. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved hermetic seal for optical fibers.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved hermetic optical fiber feedthrough.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a simple and economical optical fiber hermetic seal that is easily assembled.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a optical fiber having a hermetic seal located midway between sections of fiber, where both sections include a buffer layer.
Other objects of the invention will in part be apparent and in part appear hereinafter.

Optical fiber having hermetically sealable section

Uniphase Telecommunications Products, Inc.


A carbon nanotube composite wire includes a carbon nanotube wire and a metal layer. The carbon nanotube wire includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes spirally arranged along an axial direction of the carbon nanotube wire. The diameter of the carbon nanotube wire ranges from about 1 micrometer to about 30 micrometers. The twist of the carbon nanotube wire ranges from about 250 t/cm to about 300 t/cm. The metal layer is coated on a surface of the carbon nanotube wire. The thickness of the metal layer ranges from about 1 micrometer to about 5 micrometers.

A conventional ultrafine wire is made of metal or alloy. However, when a diameter of the ultrafine wire is 1 micrometer-50 micrometers, a tensile strength of the ultrafine wire will be significantly reduced.
Since carbon nanotubes have good mechanical properties, the carbon nanotubes are widely used to make an ultrafine wire. A conventional carbon nanotube wire comprises a plurality of microscopic carbon nanotubes connected to each other. Although the carbon nanotube wire has high mechanical strength, the connection between adjacent carbon nanotubes has high resistance, and the conductivity of the carbon nanotube wire can be improved.
In order to improve the conductivity of the carbon nanotube wire, the surface of the carbon nanotube wire is coated by a metal layer with a thickness of 1 nanometer to 50 nanometers. Comparing to the carbon nanotube wire consisting of carbon nanotubes, the electric conductivity of the carbon nanotube wire with the metal layer is improved. However, the metal layer is thin, and is easily oxidized, so the durability of the carbon nanotube wire is low.

Beijing FUNATE Innovation Technology Co., LTD.


A process for the polymerization of ethylene or a mixture comprising ethylene and one or more alpha-olefins and, optionally, a diene, comprising passing, under polymerization conditions, the aforementioned monomer(s) into contact with a catalyst system comprising:. (a) the reaction product of PA0 (b) a hydrocarbyl aluminum cocatalyst.. (i) a titanium based catalyst precursor having the formula Mg.sub.a Ti(OR).sub.b X.sub.c (ED).sub.d wherein PA1 ED is an inside electron donor comprising a mixture of (A) about 1 to about 80 mole percent of an alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, or aryloxy phosphine oxide, or mixtures thereof, and (B) about 20 to about 99 mole percent of an organic ester, ether, or ketone, or mixtures thereof, said phosphine oxide also being present in a molar ratio of phosphine oxide to titanium of 0.1:1 to 8:1; PA1 R is an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radical having 1 to 14 carbon atoms of COR' wherein R' is an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radical having 1 to 14 carbon atoms; PA1 each OR group is the same or different; PA1 each X is independently chlorine, bromine, or iodine; PA1 wherein component (a) is impregnated into an inorganic support; and

The catalyst system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,302,565 includes a precursor containing magnesium, titanium, a halogen, and an electron donor, and is found to be quite useful in the production of polymers, which are advantageously used in injection molding. These polymers are characterized by relatively high densities, low melt flow ratios, and narrow molecular weight distributions, and the catalyst system is characterized by high activity. Melt flow ratio is the ratio of flow index to melt index. Melt index is determined under ASTM D-1238, Condition E. It is measured at 190.degree. C. and reported as grams per 10 minutes. Flow index is determined under ASTM D-1238, Condition F. It is measured at 10 times the weight used in the melt index text above and reported in the same manner, i.e., grams per 10 minutes.
While the characteristics of the catalyst system and the polymers produced using same are of commercial significance, there is a need for a catalyst system which can provide polymers having still lower melt flow ratios and, when molded or extruded, improved physical properties including higher dart drop, lower hexane extractables, and high impact strength, without sacrifice in the high activity aspect of the catalyst system or even with some improvement.
It was found that lower melt flow ratios could be achieved, for example, by substituting trimethylaluminum for triethylaluminum as a catalyst activator or modifier, but there was a loss in catalyst activity, and the trimethylaluminum was very expensive when compared to triethylaluminum and highly pyrophoric. Other attempts at achieving lower melt flow ratios were similarly frustrated.

Process for the production of polyethylene

Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation


A semiconductor device is provided which includes a first-conductivity-type collector layer having a rear surface on which a collector electrode is formed, a second-conductivity-type buffer layer laminated on the collector layer, a second-conductivity-type conductivity modulation layer formed on the buffer layer, a first-conductivity-type emitter layer formed as a well in a surface of the conductivity modulation layer, a second-conductivity-type source region formed in a surface of a well edge portion of the emitter layer, a gate electrode formed through a gate insulating film to overlap the source region and the conductivity modulation layer, and an emitter electrode that is in ohmic contact with both the emitter layer and the source region. In the present device, the second-conductivity-type source region includes a second-conductivity-type source region formed in the well edge of the emitter layer, and a second-conductivity-type source contact region formed adjacent to the source region and held in ohmic contact with the emitter electrode. This source contact region has a higher impurity concentration than the source region.

As a switching semiconductor device having a large-current capacity and low saturation voltage (low ON-state voltage), there is known an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) that is also called a conductivity modulation type transistor. As shown in FIG. 16, a known semiconductor structure of pnp type IGBT includes a p.sup.+ -type collector layer (minority carrier injected layer) having a rear surface connected to a collector electrode 1, n.sup.+ -type buffer layer 3 laminated on the collector layer 2, and an n.sup.- -type conductivity modulation layer (n base) 4 formed by epitaxial growth on the buffer layer 3. The semiconductor structure further includes a gate electrode 6 made of polysilicon and formed on the surface of the conductivity modulation layer 4 through a gate insulating film 5, p-type emitter layer (p base) 7 formed as a well in a surface of the conductivity modulation layer 4 by self alignment using the gate electrode 6 as a mask, n.sup.+ -type source region 9, and an aluminum emitter electrode 8 formed on the emitter layer 7.
In the IGBT having the above-described vertical DMOS structure, when a positive potential with respect to the emitter electrode 8 is applied to the gate electrode 6, an n channel as an inversion layer is formed in a surface of the p-type emitter layer 7 which provides a channel diffusion layer (back gate) right under the gate electrode 6. Through this channel, electrons (majority carriers of the n.sup.- -type conductivity modulation layer 4) are injected from the emitter electrode 8 and source region 9 into the conductivity modulating layer 4. In response to this, holes (minority carriers of the n.sup.- -type conductivity modulating layer 4) are injected from the collector layer 2 into the conductivity modulation layer 4, with a result of a rapid increase in the conductivity of the conductivity modulation layer 4. As a result, the pnp transistor is turned on, and large current flows through the transistor, to provide a low ON-state voltage (low collector-emitter voltage).
When a load is short-circuited, for example, hole current I.sub.H flowing into the emitter electrode 8 through the portion of the emitter layer 7 right under the source region 9 is rapidly increased, and the voltage drop due to the diffusion resistance (p base resistance) r.sub.B at the portion right under the source region 9 is increased. As a result, the pn junction between the p-type emitter layer 7 and the n.sup.+ -type source region 9 tends to be forward biased, resulting in latch-up of a parasitic transistor (npn-type transistor consisting of the n.sup.- -type conductivity modulation layer 4, p-type emitter layer 7 and the n.sup.+ -type source region 9). Thus, the known IGBT has low capability to withstand breakdown upon load short-circuiting (i.e. low ability to prevent latch-up).
To improve the ability to prevent latch-up, it is effective to lower the current amplification factor h.sub.FE of the parasitic npn-type transistor. To this end, the impurity concentration of the p-type emitter layer 7 or that of the n.sup.+ -type source region 9 needs to be lowered. If the impurity concentration of the p-type emitter layer 7 is lowered, however, the diffusion resistance rB in the emitter layer 7 is undesirably increased. If the impurity concentration of the n.sup.+ -type source region 9 is lowered, the contact resistance between the source region 9 and the emitter electrode 8 is increased.
In view of the above, a structure as shown in FIG. 17 has been proposed which is intended to enhance the ability to prevent latch-up upon load short-circuiting, for example. In the IGBT structure shown in FIG. 17(a), the emitter electrode 8 does not directly contact the stripe-like source region 9 which extends in the gate-width (channel-width) direction of the gate electrode 6, but is in 5 conductively contact with a plurality of branch portions 9a that extend like a comb from the source region 9, such that the diffusion resistance r.sub.s exists as a parasitic element in each narrowed branch portion 9a.
Thus, in the IGBT semiconductor structure in which the diffusion resistance r.sub.s is equivalently present between the source region 9 and the emitter electrode 8, even if the voltage drop due to the diffusion resistance r.sub.B increases with a rapid increase in the hole current I.sub.H flowing into the emitter electrode 8 through the portion of the emitter layer 7 right under the source region 9 upon load short-circuiting, for example, the voltage drop due to the diffusion resistance r.sub.s increases at the same time with a rapid increase in the electron current I.sub.E flowing through the source region 9. Due to the increases in the voltage drops due to both of the diffusion resistance r.sub.B, r.sub.S, the pn junction between the emitter layer 7 and the source region 9 is less likely to be forward biased, thus reducing the likelihood of latch-up of the parasitic npn-type transistor. Thus, the IGBT structure of FIG. 17(a) shows increased capability to withstand breakdown upon load short-circuiting.
In the IGBT structure as shown in FIG. 17(b), a plurality of mutually isolated source regions 9b are formed such that these regions 9b are spaced from each other in the gate-width (channel-width) direction of the gate electrode 6, and the emitter electrode 8 is formed to overlap these source regions 9b. In this locally disconnected channel structure, the emitter electrode 8 is not conducted to the channel right under the gate electrode 6 through the portions interposed between the source regions 9b, and thus the diffusion resistance r.sub.s exists as a parasitic element between the source regions 9b and the emitter electrode 8, as in the structure of FIG. 17(a). In this arrangement, the structure of FIG. 17(b) also shows improved capability to withstand breakdown upon load shortcircuiting, due to the concurrent increases in the voltage drops due to the diffusion resistance.
In the IGBT structures as shown in FIGS. 17(a), 17(b), however, there is a problem as described below. Namely, these structures are effective to improve the ability to prevent latch-up by rapidly increasing the voltage drop due to the diffusion resistance r.sub.s of the source region 9, where excess voltage is applied, for example, upon load short-circuiting. In the normal ON state (when no excess voltage is applied), however, electron current flows into the diffusion resistance r.sub.s, and the voltage drop due to the resistance is continued, with a result of an increased ON-state voltage (collector saturation voltage) V.sub.CE(sat), and increased ON-state loss.

Semiconductor device structure for insulated gate bipolar transistor


A method of forming a semiconductor device includes the following processes. A first interlayer insulating film is formed over a cell transistor and a peripheral transistor. A cell contact hole is formed in the first interlayer insulating film, the cell contact hole reaching the cell transistor. A lower contact plug is formed at a bottom of the cell contact hole. A peripheral contact hole is formed in the first interlayer insulating film, the peripheral contact hole reaching the peripheral transistor. A first peripheral contact plug is simultaneously formed in the peripheral contact hole and an upper contact plug in the cell contact hole, the upper contact plug being disposed on the lower contact plug.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a method for forming a semiconductor device.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-236488, filed Oct. 21, 2010, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication, No. JP-A-2002-009174 discloses a semiconductor device which has a memory cell region, such as a DRAM. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publications, Nos. JP-A-2002-009174 also discloses a technique in which storage elements (for example, capacitors) disposed in the memory cell region and MOS transistors used for selecting are connected via a plurality of contact plugs.
With advances in the microstructuring of semiconductor devices, because the size of contact plugs disposed in the memory cell region has also been shrinking, the operational characteristics tend to be influenced by an increase in the electrical resistance value. If the contact plugs that are disposed in the memory cell region and directly connected to the semiconductor substrate are formed from metal, there has been concern with a worsening of storage operation characteristics, caused by the influence of an increase in the junction leakage current or the like.
Given this, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publications, Nos. JP-A-2002-299571 and JP-A-2009-200255 disclose that plugs that use metal for parts that are not directly connected to a semiconductor substrate are formed, thereby suppressing an increase in the electrical resistance value.


An environmentally resistant coating comprising silicon, titanium, chromium, and a balance of niobium and molybdenum for turbine components formed from molybdenum silicide-based composites. The turbine component may further include a thermal barrier coating disposed upon an outer surface of the environmentally resistant coating comprising zirconia, stabilized zirconia, zircon, mullite, and combinations thereof. The molybdenum silicide-based composite turbine component coated with the environmentally resistant coating and thermal barrier coating is resistant to oxidation at temperatures in the range from about 2000xc2x0 F. to about 2600xc2x0 F. and to pesting at temperatures in the range from about 1000xc2x0 F. to about 1800xc2x0 F.

The present invention relates to turbine systems. More particularly, the invention relates to components of such turbine systems. Still more particularly, the invention relates to turbine components formed from a molybdenum silicide-based composite. Finally, the invention relates to environmentally resistant coatings for such turbine components.
Turbine systems, such as, but not limited to, aircraft turbines, land-based, turbines, marine-based turbines, and the like, and their components (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cturbine componentsxe2x80x9d) have typically been formed from nickel (Ni) based materials, which are often referred to as Ni-based superalloys. Turbine components formed from these Ni-based superalloys exhibit desirable chemical and physical properties under the high temperature, high stress, and high-pressure conditions generally encountered during turbine operation. The highest surface temperatures of state-of-the-art jet engine turbine airfoils, for example, reach as high as about 2100xc2x0 F. (about 1150xc2x0 C.), or about 85% of the melting temperature (Tm) of most of the Ni-based superalloys.
To date, the Ni-based superalloys have provided the desired level of performance for turbine system applications, causing the development of such Ni-based superalloys to be widely explored. As a result of such extensive study, the field has matured and few significant improvements have been realized in this area in recent years. In the meantime, efforts have been made to develop alternative turbine component materials.
These alternative materials include composite materials (hereinafter generally referred to as xe2x80x9cmolybdenum silicide-based compositesxe2x80x9d) that are based on molybdenum silicides, such as MoSi2, Mo3Si, Mo5Si3, and Mo5SiB2 (T2) Most molybdenum silicide-based composites have melting temperatures of greater than about 3100xc2x0 F. (about 1700xc2x0 C.). If molybdenum silicide-based composites can be used at about 80% of their melting temperatures, they will have potential use in applications in which the temperature exceeds the current service temperature limit of Ni-based superalloys.
Molybdenum silicide-based composites comprising molybdenum (Mo), silicon (Si), and either boron (B) or chromium (Cr) are among the materials that have been proposed for turbine component applications in which Ni-based superalloys are presently used. These molybdenum silicide-based composites exhibit a high temperature capability which exceeds that of the Ni-based superalloys that are currently used in such applications. Exemplary molybdenum silicide-based composites are described by Berczik (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,595,616 and 5,693,156), and Subramanian et al. (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,505,793 and 5,683,524).
Although the molybdenum silicide-based composites show potential for use as next-generation turbine components having service temperatures that are significantly greater than those of current Ni-based superalloy components, the oxidation of such turbine components remains a concern. At temperatures in the range between about 2000xc2x0 F. and about 2600xc2x0 F. (between about 1090xc2x0 C. and about 1425xc2x0 C.), refractory materials can undergo rapid oxidation. While a slow-growing oxide scale can form on molybdenum silicide-based composites at this temperature, it is typically not a protective oxide scale. Another type of oxidation known as xe2x80x98pestingxe2x80x99 occurs at intermediate temperatures (e.g., between about 1000xc2x0 F. and about 1800xc2x0 F.). Pesting is a phenomenon that is characterized by the disintegration of a material into pieces or powders after exposure to air at intermediate temperatures. Refractory metals, particularly molybdenum, exhibit poor resistance to pesting oxidation.
While significant progress has been made in improving the oxidation performance of molybdenum silicide-based composites, it is desirable to provide coatings for turbine components fabricated from these materials in order to ensure long lifetimes at service temperatures of 2000xc2x0 F. to 2600xc2x0 F. Therefore, what is needed is a turbine system that includes components formed from molybdenum silicide-based composites, the components having coatings that will provide increased oxidation resistance at temperatures in the range between about 2000xc2x0 F. and about 2600xc2x0 F. What is further needed is a turbine system comprising molybdenum silicide-based composite components having coatings that will provide increased resistance to pesting at temperatures between about 1000xc2x0 F. an about 1800xc2x0 F. What is also needed is an environmentally resistant coating for molybdenum silicide-based composites, which will enhance oxidation resistance at high temperatures and pesting resistance at intermediate temperatures.
The present invention meets these needs and others by providing a turbine system that includes molybdenum silicide-based composite components having coatings that increase oxidation resistance at high temperatures and resistance to pesting at intermediate temperatures. The present invention also provides an environmentally resistant coating for molybdenum silicide-based composites that exhibit improved oxidation resistance at high temperatures and resistance to pesting at intermediate temperatures. In addition, methods for making a coated molybdenum silicide-based composite turbine component and coating a molybdenum silicide-based composite are also disclosed.
Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention is to provide a turbine system having at least one turbine component, the component comprising: a molybdenum silicide-based composite substrate, the molybdenum silicide-based composite substrate comprising molybdenum, silicon, and at least one of chromium and boron; and an environmentally resistant coating disposed on a surface of the molybdenum silicide-based composite substrate. The environmentally resistant coating comprises silicon, titanium, chromium, and a balance of niobium and molybdenum.
A second aspect of the invention is to provide an environmentally resistant coating for a molybdenum silicide-based composite substrate. The environmentally resistant coating comprises: between about 43 and 67 atomic percent silicon; between about 2 and about 25 atomic percent titanium; between about 1 and about 25 atomic percent chromium; and a balance of niobium and molybdenum.
A third aspect of the invention is to provide a turbine system having at least one turbine component. The turbine component comprises: a molybdenum silicide-based composite substrate, the molybdenum silicide-based composite substrate comprising molybdenum, silicon, and at least one of chromium and boron; an environmentally resistant coating disposed on a surface of the molybdenum silicide-based composite substrate, the environmentally resistant coating comprising between about 43 and 67 atomic percent silicon, between about 2 and about 25 atomic percent titanium, between about 1 and about 25 atomic percent chromium, and a balance of niobium and molybdenum; and a thermal barrier coating disposed on an outer surface of the environmentally resistant coating.
A fourth aspect of the invention is to provide a method of making a turbine component comprising a molybdenum silicide-based composite and having an environmentally resistant coating, the environmentally resistant coating comprising between about 43 and 67 atomic percent silicon, between about 2 and about 25 atomic percent titanium, between about 1 and about 25 atomic percent chromium, and a balance of niobium and molybdenum. The method comprises the steps of: providing a molybdenum silicide-based composite substrate formed into the turbine component; and depositing the environmentally resistant coating onto the surface of the component.
A fifth aspect of the invention is to provide a method of coating a molybdenum-based substrate with an environmentally resistant coating, the environmentally resistant coating comprising between about 43 and 67 atomic percent silicon, between about 2 and about 25 atomic percent titanium, between about 1 and about 25 atomic percent chromium, and a balance of niobium and molybdenum. The method comprises the steps of: providing a molybdenum silicide-based composite substrate; and depositing the environmentally resistant coating onto the surface of the molybdenum silicide-based composite substrate.
These and other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

Oxidation resistant coatings for molybdenum silicide-based composite articles


A hydraulic tool is provided with a spool valve 24 for changing the flow of a working fluid pressurized by a hydraulic power generating mechanism in a hydraulic circuit. The spool valve 24 is slidable in directions perpendicular to a piston rod 18. A cylindrical grip handle 34 to be operated by the operator's hand is extended parallel to the piston rod 18 on the outer surface of the main casing 5 so as to be turnable about its own axis. The spool valve 24 and the grip handle 34 are interlocked by a cam mechanism including members 29, 30 and 21. The spool valve 24 is moved axially by turning the grip handle 34 to control the flow direction of the working fluid.

There are situations where doors need to be pried open during rescue operations, such as when a door of an automobile cannot be normally opened due to deformation of the automotive body caused by a traffic accident, or a door of a building cannot be normally opened due to the deformation of the building caused by an earthquake or a fire. Usually, a portable, hydraulic cutting and expanding tool generally called Combi Tools are used to open such a stuck door.
The applicant of the present patent application developed a portable, hydraulic tool capable of being easily operated by an operator and made a patent application for an invention related to the portable, hydraulic tool in Jpn. Pat. App. No. 2000-273697 and JP 2002-78988 A. This previously proposed portable, hydraulic tool includes a hydraulic power generating mechanism for generating hydraulic power, an electric motor for driving the hydraulic power generating mechanism, and a cylinder actuator provided with a piston and a piston rod. Working fluid pressurized by the hydraulic power generating mechanism drives the cylinder actuator to operate a working tool for opening and closing operations by the piston rod to cut and pry open a door or the like.
The hydraulic tool has a hydraulic circuit including a fluid passage through which the working fluid is supplied to the cylinder actuator and the working fluid is returned to a working fluid tank. A spool valve is placed in the fluid passage to control the operation of the working tool. The spool valve is operated manually to change the moving direction of the piston rod. The invention related to the patent application operates the spool valve by operating a slide handle disposed near the grip of the electric motor.
Since the slide handle for operating the spool valve of the hydraulic tool is disposed near the grip, the operator of the hydraulic operating device is able to control the hydraulic tool by operating the slide handle by hand-gripping the grip.
However, when the hydraulic tool is large or when the hydraulic tool needs to be pressed against a door or the like during a prying operation, the hydraulic tool cannot be stably held by the single hand and it is difficult to press the tip of the working tool firmly against the door or the like.
Since a finger of the hand gripping the grip is placed on the slide handle, it is difficult to hold the hydraulic operating device firmly.
Since the slide handle needs to be operated to operate the spool valve, the grip cannot be turned relative to a main casing, the positional relation between the grip and the main casing is fixed, and hence the operability of the hydraulic tool is unsatisfactory.
The present invention has been made in view of those problems and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a hydraulic tool capable of being stably held and of efficiently achieving opening and closing operations and working with reliability even under a condition where the hydraulic tool needs to exert a strong force on an object.


A system and method accommodate several image orientation modes in a single software driver. The driver utilizes the same software instructions for each orientation mode in order to transfer image information to display memory. The driver instructions which transfer the image information to display memory utilize parameters to determine where each successive pixel of information goes in the display memory. These parameters are set at the time an orientation mode is selected, and the use of these parameters by the driver allows the same instructions to be used for each mode.

Conventional computer display screens typically are oriented in a landscape format in which the screen image is wider than it is tall. While this format is convenient for many computer applications, it is inconvenient for others. A computer display screen which is oriented in a landscape format is less desirable for viewing an image of a typical document which is taller than it is wide. Although conventional landscape computer displays can display an image of a document which is taller than it is wide, they do so by wasting display space on the sides of the image. Given the steep increase in the price of computer displays with larger display areas, this wasted space is not economical.
In order to accommodate computer users who may wish to utilize a single monitor for both landscape and portrait (taller than wide) viewing, rotatable computer displays have been developed. A rotatable computer display can be rotated about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the display screen. In order for an image on a rotated computer display to appear upright, however, the attached computer needs to modify the image sent to the computer display. For rotatable computer displays to be useful, a computer must be able to change the orientation of the image transmitted to the display to compensate for rotation of the display.
The ability to alter the orientation of an image sent to a computer display is also advantageous in circumstances other than rotatable displays. For example, if the display is a flat panel display which is lying on a table, it may be viewed by people at the table from many different directions. By changing the orientation of an image on the display, more people at the table may be accommodated in viewing an image.
Conventionally, a computer facilitates display image orientations with a number of orientation modes, each of which corresponds to a particular orientation of the image to be displayed, and the operating system keeps track of the current orientation mode. The mode might be set by a user through a standard user interface dialog box, or it could be set by the operating system in response to a sensor on the computer monitor indicating the current rotation of the monitor. The computer typically uses a software switch to invoke program code specific to the current orientation mode. The program code invoked modifies image information before putting it into a display memory in such a way as to produce the desired orientation of the image on the computer display. The code used to effect the orientation of an image in one mode is not used to effect the orientation of an image in another mode.
Because each orientation mode is associated with code which is specialized for that mode, the software becomes larger with an increased number of available modes. Larger code takes up more useful space on computers, and is generally more difficult to maintain, so the number of modes accommodated by conventional computer systems is often limited to a few orientation modes.
What is needed is a computer system which can accommodate different orientation modes by using the same code to transfer and modify image information for each mode. This would result in a reduction of code required, and would allow more orientation modes to be accommodated.

Parameterized image orientation for computer displays


A bag defining an interior space and an opening. The bag includes a closing member which is connected to the body. The closing member is movable between a first position, which allows access to the interior space of the body through the opening, and a second position which prevents access to the interior space of the body through the opening. The bag includes a handle and a lockable member connected to the body. The handle includes at least one removable end. The lockable member is adapted to secure and lock the closing member and the removable end of the handle to the body when the closing member is moved to the second position to protect the bag and the items contained in the bag from being taken.

The present invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for securing bags and, more particularly, to a bag including a lockable handle.
People use several types of bags, handheld bags, handbags or containers for carrying different personal items with them to a store, the beach, the pool and other locations. For example, women use purses to carry cosmetics, wallets, checkbooks and other personal and valuable items with them. Similarly, students use backpacks to carry books, homework and other items to and from school. Travelers carry clothes, passports and other similar items with them when they travel. These bags or containers contain valuable items that the person does not want to lose or have stolen. Therefore, to ensure that the items are not being removed or stolen from the person's bags, the persons must keep the bags with them at all times. In some situations, carrying the bags at all times becomes burdensome and makes some activities almost impossible.
For example, if a person is at a relatively open area such as a pool or beach and the person has a bag such as a beach bag or purse, the person cannot leave their spot at the pool or beach without taking the bag with them for fear that the bag will be stolen or that one or more items from the bag will be stolen or removed by thieves or the like. The person must therefore carry the bag or purse with them to get food, go to the bathroom or to perform other activities such as playing volleyball. In addition, if the person wants to go in the water to swim, the person must have another person such as a spouse watch their bag while they are in the water. Otherwise, the person must place the bag as close to the water as possible to keep an eye on the bag. The additional burdens of watching the bag and carrying the bag makes carrying other items such as food trays or performing functions such as going to the bathroom more difficult.
Thieves operate quickly and discretely. Therefore, a bag that is secured and locked to an object or at least secured and locked in a closed position is a less desirable target for a thief because the thief will have to spend too much time and effort to attempt to remove the bag or to remove the items from the bag. A thief is less likely to want to draw attention to themselves by trying to cut, pry or break into a secured and locked bag to remove the bag or remove the contents of the bag.
Accordingly, it is desirable to have a container such as a handbag or bag which includes a handle that is securable and lockable to the body of the bag to simultaneously enable the bag to be secured and locked to another item or object such as a beach chair and also enable the container or bag to be secured closed so that personal items and valuable items cannot be removed from the bag. This enables the bag owners to temporarily leave the bag in a particular location without allowing thieves to easily take the bag or remove contents from the bag while the bag owner is away. The bag owner can then feel assured that the bag is safe while they perform other functions and activities.
It is therefore desirable to provide a bag or container that enables a user to secure the bag to another item.
It is also desirable to provide a bag having a handle that is securable to an object such as a chair to prevent the bag from being easily removed or stolen.
Furthermore, it is desirable to provide a bag including a handle that enables the bag to be secured and locked in a closed position to prevent unauthorized persons from opening the bag and removing personal items and valuable items from inside the bag.
It is also desirable to provide a bag having a lockable handle that includes several different types of locks.