In accordance with the invention, an image is formed by applying a local magnetic field to selected regions of a magnetic composite medium comprising columns of magnetic particles distributed in a matrix medium. The particles are "hard" or "semi-hard" magnetic materials in order to retain the latent image as residual magnetism, and the image is developed by exposure to magnetic fluid or powders. The image can be erased by exposure to an AC demagnetizing field or a DC sweep magnet. Preferred apparatus for making such images comprises a sheet of such composite material having a pair of major surfaces with columns of magnetic particles oriented between the surfaces. A local magnetic field, such as a magnetic pen, can be used to write a latent magnetic image on one of the major surfaces. The magnetic columns present the latent image for development at either major surface. In preferred apparatus, one major surface is adapted for magnetic image writing and the other major surface is positioned in sealed relationship with a chamber for exposing the image to magnetic development material. In this arrangement the columns provide a high resolution image on the second surface despite the thickness of the medium between the write and development surfaces.

In the Jan. 24, 1992 issue of Science (Vol. 255, p. 446), applicants Jin and Tiefel describe a class of composite materials which are optically transparent and, at the same time, electrically conductive. These composite materials comprise sheets of polymer containing columns of magnetic conducting spheres.
Such composite materials have a variety of uses due to their anisotropic electrical conductivity. They conduct through the thickness of the material but not laterally. U.S. Pat. No. 4,644,101 issued to Sungho Jin et al. on Feb. 17, 1987 discloses the use of such materials in a pressure-responsive position sensor. The operative principle is that applied pressure forces the spheres through any intervening polymer into contact with one another and through the polymer to the surface. U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,249 shows the use of such material as a means for providing electrical contact between protruding electrical contact regions. The protruding contacts press on the conductive columns to enhance electrical contact.
The present invention is concerned with the magnetic properties of a composite medium rather than its electrical properties, and it is specifically concerned with the use of a composite medium as a material upon which erasable magnetic images can be written and developed.

Method for forming an image on a magnetic composite medium and apparatus therefor


The frequency detector includes a first impedance circuit and a second impedance circuit. The first impedance circuit has a first terminal for receiving an input signal, and a second terminal for outputting a divisional signal. The second impedance circuit has a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first impedance circuit, and a second terminal coupled to a first system voltage terminal. The frequency response of the first impedance circuit is different from a frequency response of the second impedance circuit. The resistance of the first impedance circuit, a resistance of the second impedance circuit, and the divisional signal change with a frequency of the input signal.

As the development of network communication applications becomes more and more diverse, electronic devices are required to support wider frequency bands for different applications. In existing arts, some electronic devices may support more than two different frequency bands at the same time. For example, the electronic devices supporting applications of the wireless networks may support both the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band.
However, since electronic components inside the electronic device have different frequency responses at different frequencies, it is difficult to maintain the same signal quality in all frequency bands even if the electronic device is designed to support a wider bandwidth. For example, when an electronic device amplifies an input signal via an amplifying circuit, since the frequency response of each component in the amplifying circuit is different, the linearity of the amplifying circuit would be poor for signals within some bands, resulting in signal distortion and decline in quality of communications.


A pretreatment device for food safety detection, including: a base; a vortex oscillator disposed on the base; and a container holding mechanism disposed on the base and configured to hold a container such that the container is positioned above the vortex oscillator, wherein the vortex oscillator is configured to cooperate with the container holding mechanism to treat materials contained in the container. The present disclosure further provides a pretreatment method for food safety detection. By means of the pretreatment device and the pretreatment method according to the present disclosure, it can perform pretreatment work of food safety detection efficiently and simply, and save labor costs.

Food safety is closely related to the body health and life safety of the public and increasingly concerned. In order to ensure the safety of food, it is necessary to properly detect and monitor the food at nodes of food supply chain, so as to obtain information about ingredients and harmful substances of the food by the detection. A number of food safety detection techniques have been proposed out in the exiting techniques, for example, detecting additive levels or pesticide residues in the food.
For the safe detection of food, it is generally necessary to pre-treat or pretreat the food or foodstuff to facilitate the implementation of the detection. For example, common pretreatments include pulverizing and pulping the food, adding a solvent to dissolve a target substance (for example, additive component) to be detected in the solvent, and so on. At present, a pretreatment of food safety detection is often implemented manually, without any dedicated automatic pretreatment devices.
The pretreatment procedure of food safety detection implemented manually has the following disadvantages: 1) it involves in complicated operation steps, and then results in operators are required to operate one step by one step according to predetermined pretreatment steps with the aid of an operation manual, thus, the processing speed is slow and it requires the operator to have certain capabilities about pretreatment; 2) it requires a lot of manpower, and due to different operating habits for different operators, it is difficult to standardize the entire pretreatment processes, thereby it readily introduces experimental system errors caused by the different operating habits; 3) it has high cost, and it is difficult to accurately control experimental consumables, storage of reagents, and use of solid powder samples or the like.

Pretreatment device and pretreatment method for food safety detection


Embodiments of the invention are directed to a device that combines microfabrication, microfluidic, and surface micropatterning techniques to create a multi-compartment neuronal culturing device that has application across a number of different neuroscience uses. Devices configured in accordance with the invention allow directed growth of neurites and isolation of neurites from their cell bodies. The device can use hydrostatic pressure to isolate insults to one compartment and, thus, expose localized areas of neurons to insults. Due to the high resistance of the microgrooves for fluid transport, insults are contained in the neuritic compartment without appreciable leakage into the somal compartment for a certain period of time (e.g., over 15 h).

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention described herein relate to the field of nanotechnology and are more specifically directed to a microfluidic multi-compartment device for neuroscience research.
2. Background
A multi-compartment culturing device for neuritic isolation was first described by Campenot for primary cultures of sympathetic neurons. In this method, a tissue culture dish is coated with collagen and parallel lines, spaced 200 um apart, are scratched along the surface of the dish. A three-compartment Teflon piece is sealed to a Petri dish with silicone grease and neurons are plated in the small central chamber of the Teflon piece. Nuerites grow outwards into the two other compartments on either side, aligning parallel to the scratches. Variations of the Campenot chamber have been used in studies of various types of long projection neurons. However the Campenot chamber did not work well when used to culture cortical and hippocampal neurons.
Ivins, et al. developed a chamber designed for cortical and hippocampal neuron cultures using a relatively short barrier distance (150 um versus 300 um in the classic Campenot chamber). These chambers use a glass coverslip fixed to hemisected Teflon tubing using Sylgard 184 (Dow Corning, Corning N.Y.). A small amount of silicone vacuum grease is applied to the bottom of the converslip using a dissecting microscope and the whole apparatus is placed on the tissue culture dish. Neurites extend through the vacuum grease barrier between the polystyrene and the coverslip, if the vacuum grease barrier is sufficiently thin. A problem with these devices is that the process of making the chambers is laborious and their successfulness is directly related to the skill level of the individual using the device. Additionally, there is no alignment of neurons and the apparatus is not compatible with live cell imaging, thus, the effects of insults were observed only after the cells were fixed.

Microfluidic device for enabling fluidic isolation among interconnected compartments within the apparatus and methods relating to same


Disclosed is a method for operating and managing a re-fueling business. The method includes contracting with a customer to fuel a fuel consuming vehicle for the customer, providing a locking device with a fuel tank of the vehicle, the locking device being unlockable by the re-fueling business and the customer, and transporting a fuel containing structure from the re-fueling business to various locations of the customer's vehicle whenever a fueling of the vehicle is desirable to the business and the customer, the locations being remote of the business, unlocking the locking device of the fuel tank upon arrival at the locations, filling the fuel tank with an amount of fuel from the fuel containing structure upon the transporting of the fuel container to the locations, and re-locking the locking device after filling the fuel tank with the amount of fuel.

1. Field of the Invention
The disclosure relates generally to a method for operating and managing a re-fueling business, and more particularly to a method for operating and managing a re-fueling business for fuel consuming vehicles.
2. Description of the Background
Most drivers re-fuel their vehicles at retail gas stations. Sometimes it is necessary to spend a significant amount of time waiting in line to buy gas. Even self-service sometimes requires a significant amount of time. Additionally, gas stations are typically located in areas where real estate is expensive, such a densely populated urban and sub-urban areas. The cost of real estate in these areas is factored into the retail price of gas, which seems to be ever increasing. At least in part because of these factors it is not only frustratingly time consuming to re-fuel a vehicle, but it is also expensive.
Accordingly, a method for supplying fuel to customers under less time consuming and expensive conditions would be desirable.

Method for operating and managing a re-fueling business

International Business Machines Corporation


A wet wipe dispenser is provided that includes a support having an open area adapted to be juxtaposed with the cover portion of a container of wet wipes in an inverted orientation, and a base portion supporting the support above a surface on which the base portion is placed. In one embodiment the wet wipes dispenser includes a lower support and an upper support connected by means of a hinge. A wipes package is inserted between the upper and lower supports in juxtaposition with a slot within the lower support. The package has an inverted orientation within the slot such that wipes are downwardly dispensed, which allows for removal, and preferably also heating of the wipes, without a high rate of moisture loss occurring from the package. The downward force of the upper support can compress the package as wipes are sequentially dispensed.

Wet wipes have become a staple article of commerce in connection with their use for numerous cosmetic, personal and household applications, including use as baby wipes and the like. The packaging and dispensing of wet wipes has developed in numerous directions including portable dispensers, both hard and soft containers, and many dispensers which are available in different shapes, size and forms, both heated and unheated. In a number of these dispensers the accessiblity of the wipes themselves is not readily obtained, and in many of these applications, such as with various pop-up dispensers, even though these dispensers are designed and intended to be used for the individual removal of these wipes, the first available wet wipe tends to dry out, particularly when not subject to immediate use. This, in turn, eliminates the entire purpose of wet wipes, producing dryer, less comfortable and less efficient products.
In many cases these wet wipes are sold in containers, including both flexible and rigid containers, and the solvent or other liquid contained within the wet wipes is unevenly distributed in these containers. Thus, the wipes at the bottom of the container are far wetter than the wipes at the top of the container, and in fact in some cases users have tended to invert the containers and leave them in that condition for a period of time in order to more evenly distribute this liquid throughout the container.
In addition, in many of these wet wipe dispensers, and particularly the pop-up dispensers, although they are specifically designed so that with the removal of each wet wipe the next succeeding wet wipe will be pulled into a dispensing slot for subsequent removal, during use in many case the initial wet wipe will fall back into the container, thus creating inconvenience, and the need for manual manipulation in order to obtain the upper wet wipe and withdraw it into the dispensing slot.
The nature and variety of various wipe dispensers is, as mentioned above, quite extensive. Examples by the assignee of the present application include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,647,506 and 5,542,568, which are only two of the many commercially important products which have been developed. These also include products with refillable dispensing systems, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 6,412,634, and systems which dispense continuous webs of material which are joined by perforations and are dispensed from a continuous roll such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,578,731, and others.
There are also some instances in which dry wipe dispensers have been designed for downward removal of an initial wipe from a vertically disposed wipe dispenser kit. Thus, the product shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,130 is mounted by means of a hook attached to an outside surface. However, the product shown in this patent is specifically designed for the dispensing of dry wipe products, and the wipes are not arranged to be separately removed through a dispensing slot. To the contrary, they are specifically arranged for grasping by the user in order to effectuate each separate removal step. Also, this device is not removably or temporarily mountable upon a surface for the ready removal of individual wipes therefrom, and in fact the bottom surface includes the slot for wipe removal and therefore could not possibly be mounted on a surface selected by the user.
In addition, there are a number of heated wipe dispensers which are known in the art in which the wipes are separately removed in an upward direction from the top of a dispenser. For example, Japanese Patent No. JP 8-11737 (see FIG. 13 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,696) discloses a prepackaged wet tissue warming apparatus with electrical heating elements heating the wet tissues closest to the dispensing surface so as to provide for those tissues to be heated more thoroughly than those further from the dispensing surface. The surface also includes a cover which can be opened to remove the wet tissues and means for aiding in dispensing by utilizing coil springs to exert pressure upon the plate supporting the wet tissues.
There are many other configurations of wet wipes and the like which are disposed in a heated dispenser for upward removal in the prior art. These include, for example, the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,696, disclosing a device for warming prepackaged pre-wetted towels including a coil spring shown in FIG. 2 thereof to aid in dispensing. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 4,694,973 uses light bulbs as the heating element therein, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,210,396 discloses a baby wipes warmer apparatus which includes a container assembly to receive a box of baby wipes and a heater assembly with an electrical heating element with preselected heating conditions.
The search has thus continued for a more convenient and efficient dispenser for wet wipes which can not only provide a free-standing dispenser which is readily usable for individual selective removal of wet wipes when mounted on a surface selected by the user, but which also maintains these wet wipes in a configuration which keeps the leading wet wipe for removal in a wet or moist condition while permitting such ready removal, and which in a preferred embodiment also provides for heating the wet wipes as they are removed from the container, which is also preferably one which can be refilled in a simple manner.


An object of the invention is to provide a semiconductor device which includes a barrier metal having high adhesiveness and diffusion barrier properties and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device. The invention provides a semiconductor device manufacturing method including forming a first layer made of a material containing silicon on a base substance; forming a second layer containing metal and nitrogen on the first layer; and exposing the second layer to active species obtained from plasma in an atmosphere including reducing gas.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same, particularly to the semiconductor device which has an insulating interlayer and uses a Cu (copper) interconnect and the method of manufacturing the same.
2. Related Art
In recent semiconductor devices represented by a 65-nm node generation, delay of signal propagation in an interconnect is known as a rate-controlling factor in device operation. A delay constant at the interconnect is expressed by a product of interconnect resistance and capacitance among the interconnect. Therefore, in order to increase speed of the device operation by decreasing the interconnect resistance and capacitance among the interconnect, a material (hereinafter referred to as "low dielectric constant material") having a specific dielectric constant smaller than that of SiO2 is used as the material for the insulating interlayer, and Cu (copper) having smaller specific resistance is being used as the interconnect material.
A Cu multi-layer interconnect is frequently formed by a damascene process.
FIG. 11 is a process cross-sectional view showing a main part of the damascene process.
Namely, as shown in FIG. 11A, first an insulating interlayer 220 made of the low dielectric constant material is formed on a base substance 200 such as a silicon (Si) substrate. Then, as shown in FIG. 11B, an opening H is made in the insulating interlayer 220. The opening H has a role of an interconnect trench for an interconnect layer or a via hole for via. Then, as shown in FIG. 11C, a barrier metal layer 210 is formed in an inner wall of the opening H. As shown in FIG. 11D, an opening H is filled with a Cu layer 300 as the interconnect material. At this point, in many cases where an opening H is filled with the Cu layer 300, Cu is deposited in a thin-film shape by a physical vapor deposition (PVD) method, an opening H is filled with the Cu layer 300 by electrolytic plating method that uses the Cu thin film as a cathode electrode.
In the damascene process, a filled structure shown in FIG. 11D is formed by removing a barrier metal 240 and the Cu layer 300, deposited outside the opening H, by chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) after the barrier metal layer 210 and the Cu layer are deposited.
In this case, the barrier metal layer 210 prevents Cu diffusion into the base substance 200 such as the silicon substrate, improves adhesiveness between the insulating interlayer 220 and the Cu layer 300, and prevents oxidation of the Cu layer 300.
In the barrier metal layer 210, it is difficult that compatibility between the diffusion barrier properties and the adhesiveness. Therefore, in the present circumstances, the barrier metal layer 210 is formed by combination of an amorphous film and a crystalline film. Specifically, the barrier metal layer 210 is formed by a multilayered film including an amorphous film of TaN (tantalum nitride) film with no crystal grain boundary which becomes a high speed diffusion channel and a crystalline Ta film having the adhesiveness to Cu.
Currently one of the most studied techniques as a method of forming the barrier metal is the physical vapor deposition (PVD) method. However, because the PVD method has a worse step coverage, a thickness of a side wall portion is decreased when compared with the thickness of a bottom portion in the interconnect trench or the via hole. In order to decrease the interconnect resistance, it is desirable that the barrier metal is thinned. However, in the PVD method, it is difficult that the thin film is conformaly formed, so that another technique is required in order to form the barrier metal having the thickness of not more than 10 nm.
Therefore, it is demanded that the barrier metal is formed by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. In the CVD method, thin film is easily formed with the good step coverage when compared with the PVD method. Recently the barrier metal is being developed by an atomic layer deposition (ALD) method (or atomic layer chemical vapor deposition (ALCVD) method). The ALD method is of a kind of the CVD method. In the ALD method, when compared with the conventional CVD method, the conformal film is easily obtained with the good step coverage. As one cycle of a depositing procedure of the ALD method, after a first raw material containing an element A is saturation-adsorbed on the substrate, a second raw material containing an element B is supplied to the substrate to react with the first raw material saturation-adsorbed on the substrate, which forms a compound AB. The layer consisting of compound AB having the desired thickness is formed by repeating the above cycle by the predetermined number of times.
When a complicated pattern is formed by CVD method, generally the higher step coverage is obtained in reaction rate-controlling in which a deposition rate is determined by reaction of the raw material on the substrate rather than in supply rate-controlling in which the deposition rate is determined by the supply of the raw material.
Because a deposition principle is the reaction rate controlling in the ideal ALD method, the ALD method is excellent in the step coverage properties and the uniformity of the film thickness when compared with the conventional CD method. In the ALD method, the saturation adsorption is utilized, so that the thickness formed in one cycle is kept constant and thickness controllability is excellent. Further, film composition uniformity is also excellent because the composition is determined by the number of valences of the first raw material and the second raw material.
The barrier metal formed by the ALD method is used in the thin film while the thickness is about several nanometers, so that anitride of high melting point metal which is non-solid-soluble in Cu is used as the material for the barrier metal such that high diffusion barrier properties are obtained. TaN, TaCN, WN, WCN, and TiN can be cited as examples of the barrier metal formed by the ALD method. These materials are formed by performing reduction and nitriding to a metallic compound such as an organometallic compound and a metallic halide with a nitrogen compound such as NH3. These films often have the high resistance. In order to improve the high resistance properties, a method of reducing resistivity of the film by performing plasma treatment to increase density is disclosed (see Japanese Laid-open patent publication NO. 2002-151437).
The barrier metal formed by the ALD method is excellent in the diffusion barrier properties of Cu while the barrier metal has the low adhesiveness. As described above, currently the combination of the amorphous film and the crystalline film is used in order that the diffusion barrier properties are compatible with the adhesiveness in the barrier metal. However, in the ALD method, since the film formation is performed by the saturation adsorption mechanism, it is easy to stably obtain the given composition and the crystalline film while it is difficult to obtain the different compositions and the crystalline film.
A method of forming high melting point metal silicide nitride by mixing silicon is proposed as the technique of improving the adhesiveness. In the ALD method, the following method can be considered as the method of forming the silicide nitride.
(1) the method in which the reduction and the nitriding are performed with the nitrogen compound such as NH3 after the metallic compound and the silicon compound are simultaneously supplied and saturation-adsorbed onto the substrate,
(2) the method in which the reduction and nitriding are performed to the metallic compound to perform the reduction and silicification with the silicon compound, and
(3) the method in which the reduction and the silicification of the metallic compound are performed with SiH4 or the like to perform the reduction and the nitriding of the metallic compound.
However, because a temperature at which the metallic compound is saturation-adsorbed differs from a temperature at which the silicon compound is saturation-adsorbed, in the methods described in (1) and (2), it is difficult to select the raw material. Further, in the method described in (3), there is a concern that impurities such as organic materials and halogens and the like remain due to inadequacy of reduction power of SiH4.
Therefore, the semiconductor device which includes the barrier metal having the high adhesiveness and diffusion barrier properties and the method of manufacturing the semiconductor device are demanded.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same


A pad type input device is provided. The pad type input device includes an operation surface which includes a scroll area operated by an operation body. A detector is operative to detect a touch position of the operation body placed on the operation surface as positional information on a coordinate plane. A data processor is operative to acquire an operation signal obtained by the detector to perform a predetermined process. The data processor outputs a scroll signal that moves display contents in a predetermined scroll direction when the operation body placed on the scroll area is in a stop state where the operation body does not move, even after a predetermined time elapses.

1. Field
The present embodiments relate to a pad type input device and a scroll function.
2. Related Art
In order to display a portion, which cannot be displayed in a window at one given time, on an operation screen of a personal computer, scroll for moving display contents in a window in all directions is executed.
In order to execute the scroll, for example, a point (cursor) is generally matched to a "scroll bar" displayed on the right end and the lower end of a window screen and is moved while pressing a click button.
In a pad type input device provided in a notebook type personal computer, in addition to the method, for example, a first area for horizontal scroll and vertical scroll (general scroll) and second areas for continuously executing the scroll (continuous scroll), which are disposed on the both ends thereof, are disposed on one side of the horizontal direction and one side of the vertical direction of an operation surface (pad), respectively. In such a pad type input device, when display contents are scrolled by a movement direction of a finger (operation body) that moves on the first area and the moved finger stops at any position of the second areas, the scroll is continuously executed until the finger next moves (for example, Patent Document 1).
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-214994.
In the conventional pad type input device, when the scroll is desired to be continuously executed, the finger need move from the first area to the second areas disposed on one end thereof by a relatively long distance. This operation is difficult for an operator.
The area of the operation surface of the pad type input device of the notebook type personal computer is relatively small. Although the first area for the general scroll and the second areas for the continuous scroll are separated in the small operation surface, the operator cannot easily recognize the boundary between the separated areas. Accordingly, it is difficult to improve operability.
Thus, a pad type input device capable of executing continuous scroll only by a simple operation on the spot is desired.

Pad type input device and scroll controlling method using the same


An apparatus analyzes a composite input signal to determine whether the amount of common mode signal in the composite signal is unacceptably high; thus, precluding an accurate diagnosis of the differential mode signal of interest. Method steps include separating the composite signal input into intermediate signals that are known functions of the differential mode signals of interest and common mode signals (or a suitable combination thereof). In one embodiment, the intermediate signals are cross-correlated to produce a measure of correlation between the intermediate signals. This measure is then compared with a threshold value. If the comparison is favorable, then the data is presumed to be uncorrupted and analysis of the signal representing the differential mode signal continues. Otherwise, the data is presumed to be corrupted and analysis of the signal data is inhibited. In another embodiment, the intermediate signal representing the common mode signal is itself compared against a threshold value without first cross-correlating with the intermediate signal that represents the differential mode signal. If the comparison is favorable, then it may be concluded that the potential for corruption is small and analysis of the intermediate or composite signal is continued.

The presence of common-mode signals in instrumentation systems that are primarily interested in monitoring differential-mode signals is a common phenomenon. Typical examples of a differential-mode signal analyzer include an electrocardiograph ("ECG") monitoring system or a defibrillator system. Electrodes of these system are placed advantageously on the torso of a patient such that the electrical signals generated by the heart induce a differential signal across the electrodes. These differential-mode signals are of interest because they give the diagnostician an accurate indication of the state of the patient's heart (e.g. normal beat pattern versus ventricular fibrillation).
As is well known in the art, common-mode signals (i.e. signals that appear simultaneously upon both electrodes with essentially equal magnitude, frequency, and phase) are superimposed upon the differential-mode signals of interest (i.e. those generated by the heart) and are sometimes converted by the system into differential-mode signals themselves. As discussed in commonly-assigned and co-filed patent application Ser. No. 08/398,377 (entitled "COMMON MODE SIGNAL AND CIRCUIT FAULT DETECTION IN DIFFERENTIAL SIGNAL DETECTORS", filed March 3, 1995 by Leyde et al. and hereby incorporated by reference), this conversion may lead to the ultimate corruption of the differential-mode signals of interest and, in the case of a defibrillator, may lead to a potentially harmful misdiagnosis of the patient's true heart condition.
Because the possibility of misdiagnosis has potentially serious consequences, several attempts have been made to deal with the problem of common-mode conversion. These efforts have, by and large, been concerned with either the elimination or suppression of common-mode signals. By reducing common-mode signals, the contribution of their effects on the composite signal are similarly reduced.
The reduction of common-mode signals has taken several forms. The first common method is capacitance reduction. As is well known in the art, common mode voltages induce common mode currents inversely proportional to the total impedance around the loop between the patient, the system, and the common mode voltage sources. To reduce common mode currents, this impedance is made as large as possible by minimizing the capacitance between the system and its cables to the outside world.
Nevertheless, capacitance minimization has its limitations. Circuits and cabling occupy certain minimum physical areas, and capacitance can only be reduced by increasing the distance from these circuits to outside references. Outside references may be the earth, or objects outside the instrument, or may even be other parts of the same instrument that have different potential references.
For example, many medical instruments maintain "isolated" circuits connected to patients for safety reasons. These circuits maintain a local potential reference not electrically connected to other references in order to reduce accidental electrical injuries. In these cases, reducing the capacitance to such "isolated" circuits means that spacing must be maximized within the instruments between the isolated circuits and other portions of the instrument, the instrument enclosure, or objects in the outside world. However, it is also important to limit the physical size of instrumentation, so that increasing available spacing has practical limitations as a means of limiting common mode currents.
A second major effort to reduce common mode currents is shielding. In this case, shields are equipotential surfaces such as metal enclosures, that are employed to block the entry of electromagnetic fields into instruments and cabling. Such fields may originate, for example, from power lines, radio transmitters, or nearby moving charged objects and may induce common mode currents in circuits they encounter.
However, instrument shielding does not include the patient--a major source of common-mode coupling. The shielding of the instrumentation system thus does nothing to prevent the presentation of large common-mode sources at electrode connections, after which common-to-differential mode conversion proceeds without inhibition. Shielding can, in fact, make matters worse by increasing capacitance between the instrument ground and earth ground, thus facilitating common-mode current flow.
Closely tailored to the inadequacies of shielding, a third common-mode signal reduction method is the use of extra electrodes. In some systems, a third electrode is attached to the patient and connected to the instrument potential reference in an attempt to shunt common-mode currents around the differential electrode leads. Unfortunately, even this third electrode has its own series impedance. Thus, common mode currents will divide between the differential input leads and the third electrode connection. This results in a reduction--but not elimination--of common mode currents in the differential input leads. Also, the addition of a third electrode adds complication to circuitry that minimally requires only two patient electrodes. A fourth method for reducing common-mode signals is filtering. Some common-mode signals, especially at low frequencies (e.g. below 1 Hz) or at power line frequencies, lie outside the normal passband desired for ECG signals (usually between 1-40 Hertz) and thus the composite signal can be improved somewhat by passband filtering. Nevertheless, much of the energy in both common-mode artifacts and ECG signals occupy the same part of the spectrum, which makes attempts to remove all of the common-mode signal futile. Many time-varying fields encountered in patient treatment fall into the normal ECG passband and have time characteristics that are particularly confusing.
As mentioned above, none of these above-described methods for dealing with the presence of common-mode signal completely eliminate the effects of converted common-to-differential mode signal. Thus, the potential for misdiagnosis is still a very real and serious possibility--even after these above suppression techniques have been tried.
Thus, there is a need for a way to effectively deal with the effects of common-mode signal even after suppression of these signals has been attempted. More specifically, there is a need to analyze the composite signal to avoid the possibility of a serious misdiagnosis of patient's condition.

Method and apparatus for detecting artifacts using common-mode signals in differential signal detectors


A firearm magazine housing contains a spring to forcibly urge a follower with ammunition rounds stacked thereon toward an open end of the housing, thereby to facilitate delivery of the ammunition rounds into the firing chamber of a firearm. By a positional adjustment of the spring, the urging force that the spring applies to the follower during loading of ammunition rounds is reduced.

Conventional firearm magazines require manual loading of ammunition rounds one at a time through an upper opening into the magazine, progressively overcoming increasing resistance of a magazine spring. In general, as each ammunition round is loaded, it is pressed against a previously loaded round. This loading operation requires increasing force as more rounds are loaded into the magazine and the magazine spring is progressively compressed. This loading operation thus requires the firearm user to apply progressively increasing loading forces with their finger, which in turn progressively increases the fatigue on the finger. Some people do not have the required finger strength to manually load a firearm magazine in this manner, or are simply unable to load the magazine to its designed ammunition round capacity.
Moreover, even those who are able to load the magazine to its full capacity are typically unable to load the last several ammunition rounds as quickly as the first several ammunition rounds were loaded.
It is therefore desirable to provide for easing the aforementioned difficulties associated with loading ammunition rounds into a conventional firearm magazine.

Magazine and firearm with positional adjustment of magazine spring


An inner cutter for a shaving head provided with an outer cutter, of a dry shaving apparatus, the inner cutter including several cutter blades in parallel relative alignment which are formed by means of slots cut into an elongate bar essentially transversely to the bar longitudinal extent, with the ends of the slots being of an arcuate configuration and each cutter blade being provided with a wall thickness D diminishing from a vertex SP of an arcuate end of a slot in the direction of a crest line SP of the bar, wherein the reduction of wall thickness D, extending from the vertex SP, covers an area B which is greater than half the relative distance A of two adjacent cutter blades in the area of the crest line SL.

This invention relates to an inner cutter for a shaving head provided with an outer cutter, of a dry shaving apparatus, the inner cutter including several cutter blades in parallel relative alignment which are formed by means of slots cut into an elongate bar essentially transversely to the bar longitudinal extent, with the ends of the slots being of an arcuate configuration and each cutter blade being provided with a wall thickness that diminishes from the vertex of each arcuate end of each slot in the direction of a crest line of the bar.
An inner cutter of the type initially referred to is known in the art--see page 3 of the operating instructions for the "Braun Flex Control 4515 universal", "Braun Flex Control 4520 universal", and "Braun Flex Control 4525 universal" dry shaving apparatus, print reference 5585-075/XI-91. In these known dry shaving apparatus, two inner cutters manufactured from an elongate tubular bar are arranged on a mounting member. The cutter blades of the respective inner cutter are formed by means of slots cut into the tubular bar from a crest line thereof. The cutter blades obtained by the slots extending parallel to each other have their sides in parallel arrangement, whereby the wall of a cutter blade is of a uniform thickness up to the arcuate ends of each slot. The end of each slot is shaped in semi-circular form of a radius corresponding to half the relative distance of two adjacent cutter blades. In inner cutters made from bars, the wall thickness of a cutter blade is 0.2 mm and more. Cutter blades having a wall thickness of the dimension identified have an adverse effect on the cutting action of inner cutters.
It is an object of the present invention to improve the cutting action of an inner cutter of the type initially referred to.

Inner cutter for a dry shaving apparatus


Systems and techniques for a lighting control system which include a control switch to control an electrical device are disclosed herein. The control switch includes a master display to display status information of the electrical device. Additionally, a remote control switch couples to provide user-initiated commands to the control switch for controlling the electrical device. The remote control switch includes a display and receive signals from the control switch to display the same status information of the electrical device which enables a user in a location separate from the electrical device to accurately control the electrical device. A second embodiment of the control system may include a unidirectional switch which generates additional control signals that are transmitted to the control switch for control of the electrical device.

The present invention relates to a device and/or system used to control electrical devices.
Electrical devices, such as, an electrical appliance, light source, or electric fan, may be controlled by multi-pole power switches including three-way and four-way switches. These switches may be used to turn ON and OFF the electrical device. Moreover, these switches are operable to turn ON and OFF these electrical devices from more than one location. Toggling any one of the switches can cause the electrical device to change states. That is, to change from ON to OFF or vice versa.
In some applications, however, it may be desirable to dim the light or change the rate of fan revolutions of the electrical fan rather than simply toggling the state of the electrical device from ON to OFF. Therein, a control device such as a dimmer may be used to affect the state of the light or fan. Moreover, wireless remote control of these electrical devices, further including televisions, hi-fi equipment, and air-conditioners may be used to turn ON, turn OFF, to dim or adjust other variable settings of these devices. Specifically, a master control switch may be configured to control, through the use of a dimmer, one or more light sources within a room such that each light has variable illumination. In addition, a remote control switch may control these same light sources by varying the intensity of each source. There are scenarios, however, wherein the position of the controlled load (i.e. a light or fan) is not visible from the position where a user seeks to control the load. In particular, the user may be adjusting a dimmer of a light from a first room in a house while the user is located in a second room. Since the user is unable to see the effect of the dimmer on the intensity of the light, this approach will not enable the user to properly control the brightness of the light.
Therefore, a need exists for a control switching system having a control panel that provides a user with status information of the electrical device connected thereto.


A master information carrier for magnetic transfer bears uneven signal patterns on its surface. When the minimum bit length in the uneven signal patterns is Bmin, dummy uneven patterns are provided in a depression of the uneven signal patterns, which has a length of 4Bmin or longer in the direction along a track. When magnetic transfer is performed, magnetized patterns corresponding to the dummy uneven patterns are transferred onto a slave medium. The magnetized patterns are patterns which will not be recognized as reproduction signals at a drive, into which the slave medium after magnetic transfer will be loaded.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a master information carrier for magnetic transfer, which bears signal patterns on its surface, so as to magnetically transfer desired magnetized patterns onto a magnetic recording medium. The present invention also relates to a magnetic transfer method using the master information carrier. The present invention also relates to a magnetic recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a magnetic transfer method for transferring magnetized patterns corresponding to information, carried by a master information carrier, onto a magnetic recording medium (slave medium) is well known. In this method, the master information carrier for magnetic transfer, which carries the information to be transferred, represented by very fine uneven patterns, is placed in close contact with the slave medium. Then, a magnetic field for transfer is applied to the master information carrier and the slave medium, which are in close contact with each other, and magnetized patterns are transferred onto the slave medium. In the magnetic transfer method, recording may be performed statically without changing the relative position of the master information carrier and the slave medium. Further, the magnetic transfer method has the advantage that the information can be recorded on the slave medium in a very short time (for example, please refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 10(1998)-040544, and 10(1998)-269566, or the like).
The application of the magnetic transfer technique to recording of servo signals for positioning a magnetic head on a magnetic recording medium is already proposed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 10(1998)-040544 and 10(1998)-269566, or the like.
However, there is a technical problem in the magnetic transfer method. When signals are transferred from the master information carrier onto the slave medium, an unclear magnetic recording area (reversely magnetized area) is produced on the slave medium. If the unclear magnetic recording area is present on the slave medium, when the magnetized patterns are read out, a sub-pulse is detected in the waveform of the magnetized patterns. Therefore, there is a possibility that the sub-pulse is recognized as a reproduction signal by a magnetic reproduction apparatus, which may cause an error in reproduction. A method for observing the sub-pulse, generated by the unclear magnetic recording area, is disclosed in U.S. patent application Publication No. 20020044368, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-042301, for example.
However, the studies by the inventors of the present invention have revealed that it is possible to suppress generation of the sub-pulse considerably. Generation of the sub-pulse may be suppressed if a substrate made of a magnetic material is used as the substrate of the master information carrier, or if transfer conditions such as a pressure, applied to the master information carrier and the slave medium to place them in close contact with each other, is adjusted.
However, when servo signals are transferred, for example, an unclear magnetic recording area is produced on a slave medium after magnetic transfer. The unclear magnetic recording area is produced in a data area when the data area and a servo area are adjacent to each other in the direction along a track. Therefore, it is difficult to completely eliminate a sub-pulse, generated by the unclear magnetic recording area. An example will be described with reference to schematic diagrams illustrated in FIGS. 8A to 8C.
FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram illustrating a sectional view of a part of a master information carrier in the direction along a track. FIG. 8B is a schematic diagram illustrating magnetized patterns in a corresponding part of a slave medium, onto which the magnetized patterns are transferred from the master information carrier, illustrated in FIG. 8A. FIG. 8C is a schematic diagram illustrating a readout waveform, which is detected from the magnetized patterns. As illustrated in FIG. 8A, uneven patterns corresponding to desired information are formed on a master information carrier 101. The uneven patterns include protrusions and depressions, which have various bit lengths. If the minimum bit length (length in the direction along a track) among the various bit lengths is Bmin, there are many depressions, each having a length L, which satisfies L≧4Bmin. The master information carrier 101 includes a substrate 101a, made of a magnetic material such as Ni, for example. The substrate 101a bears uneven patterns corresponding to the desired information on its surface. The master information carrier 101 also includes a magnetic layer 101b, which is provided on the surface of the uneven patterns of the substrate 101a. The surface of the master information carrier 101, which bears the magnetic layer 101b, and a magnetic recording layer of the slave medium, on which direct current magnetization has been carried out in advance in one direction along the track, are placed in close contact with each other. While they are in close contact with each other, a magnetic field for transfer is applied in a direction opposite to that of the direct current magnetization. Accordingly, the magnetized patterns as illustrated in FIG. 8B are recorded on the slave medium. At this time, unclear magnetic recording areas 104 are produced at both ends of an area corresponding to the depression, which has the length L. Further, the readout waveform as illustrated in FIG. 8C is detected from the magnetized patterns, which are illustrated in FIG. 8B. As illustrated in FIG. 8C, sub-pulses 105, which correspond to the unclear magnetic recording areas 104, are detected. Specifically, the sub-pulses are detected at a reproduction apparatus for reproducing data from magnetic recording mediums. Therefore, there is a possibility that the detected sub-pulses may be incorrectly recognized as reproduction signals. For example, when sub-pulses are generated at both ends of a servo area, the timing of the beginning and end of the servo signal area is incorrectly recognized. Therefore, the servo timing is shifted, and there is a possibility that an error such as failure in servo tracking will be caused.

Master information carrier for magnetic transfer, magnetic transfer method, and magnetic recording medium


The inductor assembly of the present invention is configured with an agricultural implement to enhance conveyance of product from a storage hopper to a remote location. The inductor assembly includes an inductor chamber that defines an interior cavity configured to receive the supply of product from the storage hopper, an inlet tube configured to direct the stream of pressurized air so as to generate a combined stream of pressurized air and product, and an outlet tube configured to pass the combined stream of pressurized air and product from the inductor chamber to a distribution system application of the product in an agricultural environment. The improved inductor assembly can further include a selectively extendable outlet tube assembly, a trajectory control assembly coupled to the inlet tube, and an adjustable cover assembly configured to regulate agitation of the product and to purge deposits downstream of the inductor assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an implement for conveying products in an agricultural environment and, more particularly, relates to an improved nurse inductor assembly for conveying feed seed and other particulate material to a planting mechanism for application in an agricultural environment.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In recent years, product delivery systems have been employed in agricultural implements to deliver seed, fertilizer and herbicides to planters and tool bars. As the size of agricultural implements continues to grow, the versatility of such implements becomes more significant. Large air carts or air seeders have become increasingly popular for planting seeds, fertilizer and other product without strict regard for the exact placement of the product. Typically, these large air carts are used for dry land farming (e.g., cereal crops, etc.).
For certain crop planting applications that require row crop planting or seed singulation (e.g., corn, soybean, etc.), the air cart can be combined with a nurse inductor assembly adapted to feed seed or other product from a larger storage hopper into smaller reservoirs located at on-row singulators or receivers. The combined air cart and nurse inductor assembly enables a farmer to singulate planting of seeds on-row from one central hopper filling location. Thereby, the combined nurse inductor assembly and air cart allows a farmer to plant more acreage before having to stop to fill the central hopper again, resulting in quicker planting and less labor while maintaining the precision spacing available by on-row singulation.
FIG. 14 illustrates a nurse inductor assembly 20 known in the art. The known inductor assembly 20 includes an inductor chamber 25 positioned below a main feed hopper 26 of seed product 28. The inductor chamber 25 includes forward and rearward walls 30 and 35, respectively, and a bottom wall 40 that define an interior cavity 42 therebetween. The assembly 20 further includes an inlet tube 45 that extends through the forward wall 30. The inlet tube 45 is angled relative to the forward wall 30 in a downward direction toward the bottom wall 40. The assembly 20 further includes an outlet tube 50 that extends through the rearward wall 35. The outlet tube 50 is angled with respect to the rearward wall 35 in an upward direction from the bottom wall 40. The diameter of the inlet tube 45 is shown equal to the diameter of the outlet tube 50. The cross-sectional areas of the inlet and outlet tubes 45 and 50 are uniform throughout their lengths.
The interior cavity 42 is configured to receive a supply of seed product from the main feed hopper 26. A known pressurized or forced air system (not shown) provides a stream of forced air to an inlet end 55 of the inlet tube 45. The inlet tube 45 is configured to direct the stream of forced air in a direction toward the seed particulates so as to agitate and entrain the seed particulates into the air stream. The outlet tube 50 is configured to pass the stream of forced air and entrained seed particulates from the inductor assembly 20 to a seed distribution system. The seed distribution system generally includes one or more distribution lines 60 operable to route or direct the stream of air and entrained product toward one or more receivers or singulators. The receivers are configured to perform on-row planting of the seed product to an agricultural field. Each receiver generally includes one or more metering unit bins or mini-hoppers located on top of a respective seed metering unit and an injector configured to uniformly apply the seed into a furrow in the ground.
The nurse inductor assembly 20 induces seed product into the air stream when and where there is demand for the product at the receiver. The demand for product is controlled by the level of product in each respective receiver on the output end of the seed distribution line. In a known manner, the flow of air in the combined stream of air and entrained seed product escapes out an air vent at the receiver. The remaining suspended seed product drops under gravity into one or more mini-hoppers or meter bins, and is then applied precisely into a furrow in the ground. The receiver is designed to allow air from the combined stream of air and entrained product to escape when the seed particle level is well below the air vent, but to limit the amount of air to escape as the seed particle level approaches the air vent. A filled receiver prevents the escape of air, thereby reducing the capacity of the air flow through the inductor assembly 20 to induce the seed product into the distribution line. If the nurse inductor assembly 20 includes a plurality of outlet tubes 50, the flow of air will to go to the distribution lines that have open receivers that exhibit less air flow resistance. As the seed product passes through the meter and is planted, the seed pile shrinks in the receiver or mini-hopper until the end of the distribution line is uncovered. At that point, the stream of air and seed product resumes through the distribution line, and the seed pile in the mini-hopper is replenished.
The certain known nurse inductor assembly described above has several drawbacks. For example, the velocity of the combined stream of air and seed product through the distribution line 60 slows as the stream encounters the increased resistance associated with traveling through the deposited seed product at the receiver. Seed product allowed to be induced into the distribution lines below the minimum carrying velocity causes blocking of the seed distribution lines 60. Any seed product that had been entrained into the slower flowing air stream drops out under the force of gravity. A certain quantity of this seed product will fall back into the interior cavity 42 of the inductor chamber 25. The remaining quantity of dropped seed product will deposit toward low points in the distribution lines, increasing plugging opportunities.
In another example, FIG. 14 shows the certain known inductor assembly 20 having the inlet tube 45 and the outlet tube 50 opposed to one another and of the same cross-sectional area. The distribution line 60 typically attaches over the outside surface of the outlet tube 50, and therefore a cross-sectional area of the distribution line is greater than a cross-sectional area of the outlet tube 50. This geometry of the known inductor assembly 20 further enhances inducement of seed product into the distribution lines 60 at or below the product's minimum carrying air velocity. The inducement of seed product below the minimum carrying velocity enhances plugging at or near the inductor and/or in the distribution lines 60. This problematic plugging can be intensified by other additional variables—e.g., hillsides, humidity, longer delivery lines on larger machines, system air loss, etc. Furthermore, this known inductor geometry causes seed product and particulates to be deposited in the distribution lines following shutting off the air pressure from the air pressure source. As the air pressure drops, known inductor assemblies continue to pick-Lip seed product and particulates until the air velocity drops below the minimum carrying velocity. As a result, seed product drops out of the air stream and settles down at low points in the distribution lines. Depending on the delivery rate and the air pressure shutoff speed, known inductor systems cause a significant amount of seed product to be deposited in the distribution lines, causing plugging and inhibiting planting operation. Therefore, it is critical for known systems to have flat distribution lines.
Furthermore, certain known nurse inductor assemblies do not provide for an efficient method to clean-out or purge deposits of seed product in the nurse distribution system. To clean-out certain known distribution systems, an operator must empty the meter bins and/or mini-hoppers first, then empty the main storage hopper, purge the distribution lines, and empty the mini-hoppers again. This clean-out process is cumbersome and very time-consuming. Furthermore, certain known nurse inductor assemblies do not provide a means for regulating the flow of seed product in the distribution lines other than by adjusting the speed of a blower fan. Variable speed adjustment of the fan is not equally efficient for a wide range of seed product types and variable sizes.
Therefore, a need has arisen to provide an improved nurse inductor assembly and an improved method of forced air conveying seed product that provide sufficient carrying velocity before the seed product enters a distribution line. The need has also arisen to provide an improved method of regulating an induction rate of seed product conveyed in a nurse distribution system. The need has also arisen to provide an improved method of cleaning-out or flushing seed product deposited in a distribution line of a nurse distribution system. The need has also arisen for an improved method of selectively directing the trajectory of air into the inductor assembly for entrainment of seed product into an air stream for conveyance in a distribution line of a nurse distribution system. The need therefore has arisen to provide a simple, reliable, durable, and efficient system for conveying product in an agricultural setting or environment.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Implantable fluid shunting devices and associated methods for controlling the pressure of fluids within anatomical spaces or cavities of the body. The device generally comprises a tube having a diffusion barrier (e.g., diffusion chamber) formed on a proximal end thereof. Fluid which flows through the tube will collect within the diffusion chamber and will diffuse outwardly therethrough. However, the presence of the diffusion chamber will prevent microbes, cells or other matter from interfering with or backflowing through the tube. Additionally, the tube may be provided with a pressure-openable aperture through which fluid from the tube may flow into the diffusion chamber. Such pressure-openable aperture will remain closed, until the pressure of fluid within the tube exceeds a predetermined maximum pressure P.sub.MAX. In this manner, the pressure-openable aperture will limit the amount of fluid drained from the anatomical space or cavity of the body, thereby avoiding hypotony within such anatomical space or cavity.

A number of diseases and disorders in humans and other mammals are characterized by the build-up of excessive fluid pressure within one or more body cavities. In many instances, implantable devices or surgical procedures may be used to shunt excessive fluid from the body cavity wherein the excessive pressure build up is present, to one or more other sites within the body, as a means of receiving the undesirable pressure buildup, and thereby deterring the development of undesirable sequelae which may result from such pressure build-up.

Implantable devices and methods for controlling the flow of fluids within the body


A circuit arrangement for generating an electronically controlled electrical resistance by apparatus of at least one MOS transistor. A source-drain junction of the MOS transistor is used for the generation of the electrical resistance between a first and a second terminal, in order to optimize the linearity of the electrical resistance, there have been provided means for generating a bulk signal, which apparatus generate from the voltage on that terminal of the circuit arrangement which is coupled to the source electrode of an associated MOS transistor a signal for driving a bulk electrode of the associated MOS transistor, which signal is generated from the voltage on the terminal and an additionally superposed direct voltage of such a polarity that, depending on the doping type of the MOS transistor the formation of a diode between the source and bulk regions of this MOS transistor is avoided.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to the field of precision electronic resistor circuits.
2. Related Art
During the fabrication of signal processing circuits in a BIMOS or CMOS IC the problem arises of fabricating resistors with sufficient accuracy. Moreover, resistors having high resistance values cannot be realized at low cost on such an IC. Related art circuits are known which generate a resistor by electronic means. For this purpose, use is made, for example, of the source-drain path of a MOS transistor. This path forms an electronically generated and electronically controllable resistance between first and second terminals of the circuit arrangement. The known circuit arrangements have the problem that the resistance generated by the MOS transistor is non-linear, (i.e. the resistance value depends on the voltage applied to the terminals). This is caused by the non-linear drain-source characteristic of a MOS transistor. Moreover, such circuit arrangements have the problem that depending on the drive of the source electrode of the MOS transistor its potential can reach the order of magnitude of the bulk voltage of the MOS transistor. In that case, a diode is formed between the bulk region of the transistor and the source electrode or drain electrode, which gives rise to limiting effects and thus causes distortion of the signal passing through the transistor. Before these effects become active the bulk-source/bulk-drain diode produces a non-linearity which increases with the voltage across the controlled resistance. This effect is known as the xe2x80x9cbackgate effectxe2x80x9d.
It is an object of the invention to provide a circuit arrangement of the type defined in the opening paragraph, which operates with the highest possible degree of linearity and in which the formation of capacitively operating diodes within the bulk region is avoided.
According to the invention this object is achieved is provided apparatus for generating a bulk signal, which apparatus generate from the voltage on the terminal of the circuit arrangement which is coupled to the source electrode of an associated MOS transistor a signal for driving a bulk electrode of the associated MOS transistor. Such signal is generated from the voltage on the terminal and an additionally superposed direct voltage of such a polarity that, depending on the doping type of the MOS transistor, the formation of a diode between the source and bulk regions of this MOS transistor is avoided.
A MOS transistor, as used here for the generation of an electronically controlled resistance, has source and drain electrodes of a first doping type. The gate electrode, by means of which the transistor can be controlled, extends between the source and drain electrodes. The transistor as a whole is formed in a so-called bulk region of a second doping type. In operation transistors of this type have the problem that the source potential should always be smaller than the potential of the bulk zone. If, however, both regions have a similar potential a diode is formed between the source electrode and the bulk region, which diode presents a capacitive and d.c. load to the signal applied to the gate electrode of the transistor, as a result of which the signal is distorted or changed.
In order to avoid this undesired effect and to ensure that the transistor always operates in the most linear region of its drain-source characteristic, in accordance with the invention, apparatus is provided for the generation of a bulk signal which ensures that the conducting diode described above is not formed and that the transistor is operated in a region where its operation is as linear as possible. This is achieved in that the apparatus for the generation of a bulk signal generate this signal in such a manner that the bulk signal includes the superposition of the voltage on that terminal of the circuit arrangement which is coupled to the source electrode of the MOS transistor and an additional direct voltage. Thus, in addition, a direct voltage is superposed on the external signal voltage applied to the source electrode of the transistor. This superposed signal is applied to the bulk electrode of the MOS transistor as the bulk signal. Thus, it is achieved that the potential of the bulk electrode and, consequently, of the bulk region of the transistor is always higher than the potential of the source region of the transistor. This also precludes the effect of the capacitive layer of the diode with respect to the bulk.
The result is that the circuit arrangement thus forms an electronically generated resistance whose value is adjustable by the choice of the gate voltage of the transistor and whose value is highly linear and free from undesired capacitive effects.
With an embodiment of the invention it is achieved that also in the case of an asymmetrical drive of the two terminals the circuit arrangement has the above-mentioned advantages without any restriction.
In accordance with a first more specific embodiment, the apparatus for the generation of the bulk signal or bulk signals can advantageously comprise transistors which are suitable for superposing a direct voltage on the bulk signal of the MOS transistor, which direct voltage is in addition to the source signal, which direct voltage can be generated comparatively simply by a diode junction of the transistor.
Similarly, in a second more specific embodiment, the apparatus for generating the bulk signal include a bipolar PNP transistor having its base coupled to one of the terminals of the circuit arrangement, having its collector coupled to the current source. Also, the MOS transistor is a PMOS transistor, the current source is coupled to a positive supply potential and to the bulk electrode of the PMOS transistor whose source-drain junction is used for the generation of the resistance. Thus, the base-emitter potential difference of a bipolar PNP transistor is used for additionally superposing a d.c. potential on the potential for the generation of the bulk signal, which last-mentioned d.c. potential is coupled to the source region of the MOS transistor.
In a third more specific embodiments the means for generating the bulk signal include a bipolar NPN transistor having its base coupled to one of the terminals of the circuit arrangement, having its collector coupled to a positive supply potential and having its emitter coupled to the current source; and the current source is coupled to a supply potential, and to the bulk electrode of a PMOS transistor whose source-drain junction is used for the generation of the resistance.
Similarly in a second more specific embodiment, the means for generating the bulk signal include a bipolar transistor having its base coupled to one of the terminals of the circuit arrangement, having its collector coupled to a reference potential and having its emitter coupled to the current source. Also, the MOS transistor is a PMOS transistor, the current source is coupled to a positive supply potential and to the bulk electrode of the PMOS transistor whose source-drain junction is used for the generation of the resistance.
In a fourth specific embodiment the means for generating the bulk signal include a PMOS transistor having its gate electrode coupled to one of the terminals of the circuit arrangement, having its drain electrode coupled to a reference potential, and having its source and bulk electrodes coupled to the current source. Also, the current source is coupled to a positive supply potential, and to the bulk electrode of a PMOS transistor whose source-drain junction is used for the generation of the resistance.
In a fifth specific embodiment the means for generating the bulk signal comprise an NMOS transistor having its gate electrode coupled to one of the terminals of the circuit arrangement, having its drain electrode coupled to a positive reference potential and having its source and bulk electrodes coupled to the current source. Also, the current source is coupled to a supply potential, and to the bulk electrode of an NMOS transistor whose source-drain junction is used for generation of the resistance.
These fourth and fifth embodiments use PMOS and NMOS transistors in the apparatus for the generation of the bulk signal. In these transistors the gate-source junction is used for the generation of the potential difference. A requirement for the use of MOS transistors is that the bulk electrodes are free.
In a sixth specific example a resistor is arranged in series with the source dain junctions of at least one MOS transistor whose source-drain junction is used for the generation of the resistance. This has the advantage of a further linearity improvement. The resistors provided therein have comparatively small values. However, they ensure that the resistance values to be generated by means of the transistors can be higher. The resistors of comparatively small resistance value can be fabricated in a relatively simple manner in integrated circuits.

Electronic circuit with bulk biasing for providing accurate electronically controlled resistance


Financial data associated with one or more “contributing consumers” is obtained from one or more sources and categorized and associated with a specific expense/income category. One or more attributes associated with the contributing consumers are then identified and used to analyze, aggregate, and categorize the financial data according to the attributes. Data representing a user financial transaction is then obtained for categorization and one or more specific user attributes associated with the user are identified. The user financial transaction is then categorized based, at least in part, on the categorization of similar contributing consumer financial transactions by contributing consumers having at least one of the specific user attributes.

Currently, various computing system implemented financial management systems are available and implemented by individuals, businesses, financial institutions, such as banks, credit card companies and investment companies. These computing system implemented financial management systems include, but are not limited to: computing system implemented personal and small business financial management systems; computing system implemented tax preparation systems; computing system implemented business accounting systems; and computing system implemented medical expense management systems; as well as various other data driven financial management systems.
Computing system implemented financial management systems typically help users manage their finances by providing a centralized interface with banks, credit card companies, and other various financial institutions, for electronically identifying and categorizing user financial transactions. Currently, computing system implemented financial management systems typically obtain electronic transaction based information, such as payee, payment amount, date, etc. via communication with banks, credit card providers, or other financial institutions, using electronic data transfer systems such as the Open Financial Exchange (OFX) specification, or various other systems for transferring financial transaction data.
Typically a computing system implemented financial management system's ability to identify and categorize specific financial transactions is what allows the computing system implemented financial management system to provide the features that are typically of interest to the user. Typically, the ability to categorize specific financial transactions is, in turn, dependent on an ability of the computing system implemented financial management system to obtain the data necessary to identify and categorize specific financial transactions.
Using some currently available computing system implemented financial management systems, the data necessary to identify and categorize specific financial transactions is obtained directly from the user by manual and/or semi-manual input. Some computing system implemented financial management systems then use this manual user input to learn and categorize future identical, or substantially similar, specific financial transactions in the same category. As an example, if a given transaction having Safeway Stores as the payee is manually categorized by a user as "groceries" a first time, the computing system implemented financial management system may propose a category of groceries for all future financial transactions having Safeway Stores as the payee.
Using some currently available computing system implemented financial management systems, the electronic transaction based information, such as payee, payment amount, date, etc. associated with a specific financial transaction is used by the computing system implemented financial management system to propose a category for a specific financial transaction. As an example, if a given transaction has Safeway Stores as the payee, the computing system implemented financial management system may propose a category of "groceries" for the financial transaction based solely on the payee being a grocery store.
In some instances, a proposed categorization of a specific financial transaction is provided based on what category similar transactions are assigned by a defined percentage of all other users of the computing system implemented financial management system. As an example, if a given transaction has Safeway Stores as the payee, the computing system implemented financial management system may propose a category of "groceries" for the financial transaction based solely on the fact that 51% of all other users of the computing system implemented financial management system categorize financial transactions having this payee as groceries 51% of the time.
While the semi-automatic and/or automatic methods of categorization of financial transactions discussed above may help, they are often inaccurate and fail to take into account any meaningful data regarding the user and a financial transaction with respect to the user. For instance, a financial transaction having a payee of "Home Depot" may, for most users of the computing system implemented financial management system, be correctly automatically categorized as a "home repair" expense. However, when the financial transaction is associated with a user who is a professional plumber it is far more likely that the financial transaction should be categorized as a "business expense".
Unfortunately, in most cases, the correction of an incorrect semi-automatic and/or automatic categorization of a given financial transaction takes more user time than it would have taken to manually enter the correct categorization of financial transaction in the first place and, experience has shown that, an average user is far more likely to adopt, and continue to use, any computing system implemented financial management system if the amount of manual data entry, i.e., data entry made via any user interface device, such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch pad, or any other device that requires input from the user, is minimized. Consequently, it is desirable to eliminate as many incorrect semi-automatic and/or automatic categorizations of financial transactions as is possible for at least this reason. In addition, anytime correction of a semi-automatic and/or automatic categorization of financial transaction is required, there is an opportunity for error introduction. Consequently, for this reason as well, it is highly desirable to minimize incorrect semi-automatic and/or automatic categorizations of financial transactions.

Method and system for automatic categorization of financial transaction data based on financial data from similarly situated users


The present invention relates to an improved sorbent for use in removing effluents such as sulfur dioxide from combustion gas streams. The sorbent comprises a hydroxide formed from an alkaline-earth based material such as lime and having incorporated therein an iron and organic compound promotion addition to enhance its ability to remove effluents from the gas stream. The sorbent is formed by co-dissolving an iron salt and an organic compound in a hydration solution and thereafter mixing the hydration solution containing the iron salt and the organic compound with an alkaline-earth based material. The sorbent thus produced may be injected into a gas stream in either dry or slurry form to remove the effluents.

The present invention relates to an improved alkaline-earth based sorbent for removing effluent such as sulfur dioxide from a combustion gas stream, a process for preparing this sorbent, and a process for using it.
Processes for removing environmentally harmful effluents from a gaseous combustion stream using sorbents are known in the art. A number of attempts have been made to increase process effectiveness by manufacturing a more effective sorbent for removing these effluents from a gas stream such as combustion flue gases. Some of these attempts have involved the incorporation of iron into a sorbent material. For example, the articles, "Enhanced Sulfur Capture By Promoted Calcium-Based Sorbents", by D. M. Slaughter, S. L. Chen and W. R. Seeker, Proceedings: 1986 Joint Symposium on Dry SO.sub.2 and Simultaneous SO.sub.2 /NO.sub.x Control Technologies (EPRI CS-4966, Volume 1), pages 12-1 to 12-24 (1986) and "The Effectiveness of Additives for Enhancing SO.sub.2 Removal With Calcium Based Sorbents", by L. J. Muzio, G. R. Offen, A. A. Boni and R. Beittel, Proceedings: 1986 Joint Symposium on Dry SO.sub.2 and simultaneous SO.sub.2 /NO.sub.x Control Technologies (EPRI CS-4966, Volume 1), pages 13-1 to 13-23 (1986), both report studies which indicate that the addition of iron to a calcium-based sorbent offers no enhancement in sulfur capture. In both of these studies, the iron source [Fe(NO.sub.3).sub.3 ] was dissolved in water, and the solution mixed with CaO (lime) for preparation of the sorbent. In this formulation, however, as soon as the solution comes into contact with CaO, it becomes alkaline (pH>7). This causes the precipitation of iron hydroxide [FeO(OH)]. The result is that these formulations led to the mixing of a water-insoluble iron compound with a calcium-based sorbent, which is an ineffective method to achieve promotion by iron.
In patent application Ser. No. 657,442, filed Feb. 19, 1991, for "In-Situ Removal of Effluent from a Gaseous Stream by Injection of an Effluent Sorbent Into Downstream of the Combustion Zone", it was disclosed that water soluble salts of iron can enhance the reactivity of alkaline-earth water-insoluble compounds toward sulfur dioxide. In one embodiment described in that application, ferrous gluconate is dissolved in water, and then the solution is mixed with CaO. The resulting material is a dry Ca(OH).sub.2 powder containing the iron promoter. When this material is put in contact at 1100.degree. C. with gases containing sulfur dioxide, up to 60% of the calcium reacts with the sulfur dioxide and oxygen to form CaSO.sub.4 in less than one second. When pure Ca(OH).sub.2 is subjected to the same reaction conditions, only 35% of the calcium can be converted to CaSO.sub.4. This embodiment demonstrates that the effective incorporation of iron can enhance the reactivity of calcium-based materials and therefore, make them better suited sorbents for applications for sulfur dioxide removal.
Sugars by themselves have also been claimed as promoters for calcium-based sorbents used in the removal of sulfur dioxide. College and Vinatry in U.S. Pat. No. 4,626,418, for example, claim that the addition of a sugar solution to CaO during preparation of the sorbent leads to an enhancement in sulfur dioxide removal.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved sorbent which may be used to remove effluent from a combustion gas stream.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an alkaline-earth based sorbent as above which is highly reactive towards sulfur dioxide.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a sorbent as above which contains organic compound(s) for ensuring that an iron promoting material remains in solution upon contact with an alkaline-earth based sorbent.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a process for making the above sorbent and a process for using it to remove sulfur dioxide from a gas stream.
Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following description.

Alkaline-earth based sorbent for removing effluent from a gas stream


Provided is a manufacturing method of a CMOS image sensor. The method includes forming an interlayer insulating layer, a color filter layer, and a planarizing layer. A first photoresist is applied on the planarizing layer, and patterning of the first photoresist is performed using a first mask to form a microlens pattern corresponding to photodiodes on a semiconductor substrate. The microlens pattern is reflowed to form dome-shaped microlenses. A second photoresist is applied on the resulting substrate, and patterning of the second photoresist is preformed using a second mask to retain the second photoresist on top portions of the microlenses. Edge portions of the microlenses are selectively removed using the patterned second photoresist as a mask to make CD (critical dimension) spaces between the microlenses uniform.

In general, an optical image sensor is a semiconductor device that converts an optical image to an electrical signal. Optical image sensors can largely be divided into charge coupled devices (CCD) and complementary metal oxide semiconductors (CMOS).
A CMOS image sensor incorporates a photo diode for detecting radiated light and a CMOS logic circuit that processes the detected light into electrical signal data. The more light a photodiode is capable of detecting, the better the image sensor's photosensitivity characteristics are.
The CMOS image sensor can be categorized by the number of transistors for each unit of the CMOS image sensor such as, for example as a 3T-type, a 4T-type, or a 5T-type.
Below, a manufacturing method of a CMOS image sensor according to the related art will be described, with reference to the diagrams.
FIGS. 1A through 1D are sectional views showing a manufacturing process of a CMOS image sensor according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 1A, a plurality of light detecting modules, for example, photodiodes 12 are formed on a semiconductor substrate 11, on which an interlayer insulating layer 13 is formed.
Then, a dye resist is applied on the interlayer insulating layer 13, and exposing and developing processes are performed to form a color filter layer 14 with filters for filtering respective ranges of wavelengths.
Next, in order to adjust the focal distance and to form a lens layer on the color filter layer 14, a planarizing layer 15 is formed for ensuring flatness.
Referring to FIG. 1B, a resist layer 16a for forming a microlens is applied on the planarizing layer 15, and a reticle 17 having openings is arranged above the resist layer 16a.
Then, a laser is emitted through the reticle 17 to selectively expose the resist layer 16a corresponding to the openings of the reticle 17.
Referring to FIG. 1C, the exposed resist layer 16a forms a microlens pattern 16b.
Referring to FIG. 1D, the microlens pattern is made to reflow at a predetermined temperature to form the microlens 16.
Here, A and B denote respective spaces formed between microlenses 16. Because of the difficulty of controlling the reflow process, differences in critical dimension (CD) spaces arise between each microlens 16.
Therefore, the manufacturing method of a CMOS image sensor according to the related art has the following problem.
When a reflow process is performed to form dome-shaped microlenses, the CD spaces (A and B) are not uniform, resulting in a striation phenomenon of the microlenses.

Method of manufacturing CMOS image sensor


The present disclosure provides a fracturing equipment. The fracturing equipment includes: a plunger pump, a main motor and a noise reduction device. The plunger pump is used for pressurizing liquid. The main motor is connected to the plunger pump by transmission for providing driving force to the plunger pump. The noise reduction device is constructed as a cabin structure and covers outside the main motor and isolates the main motor from the plunger pump. With the fracturing equipment according to the present disclosure, the fracturing equipment is driven by the main motor with relatively low noise during operation. The noise reduction device isolates the main motor from the outside, which can effectively reduce the noise intensity transmitted to the outside during operation, thereby achieve the effect of noise reduction. In addition, the plunger pump is isolated from the main motor by the noise reduction device, thus realizing isolation of high-pressure dangerous areas and ensuring safe operation.

Fracturing is the core technology for oilfield stimulation in conventional reservoirs and oilfield exploitation in unconventional reservoirs such as shale gas, shale oil and coal-bed methane. Nowadays, the production of shale gas mostly adopts factory fracturing mode and zipper-type multi-well uninterrupted fracturing mode, which requires fracturing equipment to be capable of continuous operation for a long time. Currently, some fracturing equipment each is driven by a diesel engine which needs to be equipped with a gearbox and a transmission shaft. The equipment is large in size and the operation noise is very loud when the engine and gearbox work. Some other fracturing equipment is driven by an electric motor, and when the motor is running, the electromagnetic, cooling and exhaust devices are very noisy. As the fracturing equipment generates loud noise during operation, resulting in noise pollution, normal rest of residents around the well site will be affected, thus the fracturing equipment cannot meet the requirements of 24-hour continuous operation, especially normal operation at night.
Therefore, there is a need for a fracturing equipment to at least partly solve the foregoing problems.

YANTAI JEREH PETROLEUM EQUIPMENT & TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD


Disclosed is a dual pressure plant for the production of nitric acid on the basis of the oxidation of ammonia. The plant comprises a reactor configured to produce a burner gas stream; a gas cooling section configured to form a cooled burner gas; a condensation section configured to form an aqueous nitric acid condensate and an uncondensed nitrogen oxides gas stream; an absorption section configured to produce raw nitric acid and a tail gas; and a tail gas treatment system configured to form a purified tail gas. In a tail gas heating section a further heat exchanger configured to receive heat from the burner gas stream, said further heat exchanger being positioned relatively close to the reactor.

The preparation of nitric acid generally starts with oxidizing ammonia with air over a catalyst, so as to produce nitric oxide (NO). The process continues with oxidizing NO to nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Nitrogen dioxide will form nitric acid with water. The corresponding reaction equations are as follows:4NH3+5O2→4NO+6H2O  (1)2NO+O2→NO2  (2)3NO2+H2O→2HNO3+NO  (3)
In the nitric acid production process, the formation of the acid from nitrogen dioxide occurs in two instances. The nitrogen oxides gas stream obtained from the oxidation of ammonia, which also comprises water as formed in the oxidation of ammonia, is subjected to condensation. Thereby a part of the nitrogen dioxide forms nitric acid. Further, the remaining nitrogen dioxide is subjected to absorption in water, so as to complete the formation of nitric acid. In order for a maximum amount of the nitrogen dioxide NO2 obtained to be absorbed by water, the absorption is generally effected at elevated pressure, preferably at pressures between 4 and 14 bar. In the absorption section also oxygen is added, such as in the form of air, in order to allow nitrogen oxide (NO) to form nitrogen dioxide. Non absorbed nitrogen oxides (NO and/or NO2, generally indicated as NOx) as well as N2O, formed as by product of the oxidation of ammonia, result in a tail gas which is purified and vented into the atmosphere in conventional manner via a stack. A general reference is Behr, A., 2002. Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Vol. 6, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim.
The oxygen required for the conversion of the ammonia used as the raw material is generally supplied in the form of air. For the purpose of supply, the process air is compressed in a compressor and brought to a pressure appropriate for the oxidation reaction. Optionally, the formed NOx gas can be compressed by a second compressor to an appropriate pressure for the absorption reaction.
Modern nitric acid plants are operated under pressure in order to achieve higher acid concentrations and higher absorption rates of NOx (i.e. better efficiencies) in the absorption. A distinction is made between two-pressure and one-pressure plants. In the one-pressure process, both the combustion and the absorption are performed at moderate pressure (<8 bar) or high pressure (>8 bar). In the two-pressure (dual pressure) plants, the gas production, i.e. the production of the nitrous gases by oxidation of ammonia, is effected under a pressure of about 4 to 6 bar, and the absorption of the nitrous gases thus obtained with water to give nitric acid typically at 8 to 12 bar. The pressure is generated using compressors which are driven by means of a gas and/or steam turbine or electric motor. A gas turbine is preferably operated utilizing the energy of the off-gas of the nitric acid plant using the pressure applied by the at least one compressor.
A plant for the production of nitric acid based on the aforementioned oxidation of ammonia, generally comprises the following sections:                a burner section (i.e. a reactor comprising a combustion chamber) wherein a gas mixture of ammonia and air are reacted so as to form a burner gas stream; the burner gas stream comprises nitrogen dioxide formed by oxidation of nitrogen oxide, and further an amount of non-oxidized nitrogen oxide, nitrous oxide (N2O) as a by-product, as well as possibly N2 as a by-product, and water obtained from the oxidation of ammonia;        a gas cooling section wherein the burner gas stream is subjected to cooling, so as to form a cooled burner gas stream, and generally raising steam;        a condensation section wherein said cooled burner gas stream is subjected to condensation, so as to form a nitric acid solution and an uncondensed nitrogen oxides (NOx) gas stream;        an absorption/oxidation section; therein the nitrogen oxides gas stream is subjected to absorption in water so as to form a raw nitric acid product stream and a nitrogen oxides tail gas comprising NOx (nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide) nitrous oxide (N2O), and typically also N2 and any excess oxygen; preferably in this section the gas is provided with a residence time allowing NO to be further oxidized into NO2;        a tail gas treatment section, comprising a tail gas heating zone, a nitrogen oxides (NOx and N2O) gas removal zone, an expansion zone and a heating zone, wherein the nitrous gas is subjected to purification so as to form a purified tail gas, said purified tail gas being subjected to expansion. Thereby the expanded purified tail gas is vented into the atmosphere. The expansion produces work that is generally put to use in driving a turbine (which serves, next to a steam turbine utilizing steam generated in the process, and/or a gas turbine), to drive one or more compressors. This typically refers to an air compressor employed in providing air to the oxidation process and/or to an NOx compressor: these compressors can be combined as a single apparatus, or e.g. be two different sections connected to a single driveshaft.
In general, a nitric acid production process generates a high amount of process heat, and nitric acid production plants are set-up such as to make optimal use of the process heat, and in addition produce steam which can be exported to other plants on site. Thus, to the extent appropriate, heat exchange takes place between various gas streams, both of the nitric acid production circuit (i.e., process gases) and of an energy circuit (i.e., steam).
It is desired in the art to further improve the energy usage in a nitric acid production plant. Also, it is desired to further reduce the content of nitrous gases vented into the atmosphere.

Plant and process for producing nitric acid