Showing papers by "Sony Broadcast & Professional Research Laboratories published in 1992"

Dry etching method

Abstract: A dry etching method for etching an aluminum (Al) based layer for effectively combatting the after-corrosion in accordance with three aspects. In the first aspect, while a resist mask and chlorine based gas as known per se are used, S 2 F 2 is used during etching of the barrier metal layer. In this manner, residual chlorine in a carbonaceous polymer as a sidewall protection material or a resist mask is replaced by fluorine, whilst sulfur yielded from S 2 F 2 under conditions of discharge dissociation is deposited to provide for sidewall protection effects. In the second aspect, a SiO 2 mask and an S 2 Cl 2 etching gas are used. Since the sidewall protection material is solely sulfur yielded from S 2 Cl 2 , it becomes possible to avoid the effects of the residual chlorine. In the third aspect, an neutral Ar beam is irradiated at a suitable stage in the etching process for increasing the resistance of the SiO 2 mask against reducing compounds contained in an etching gas for the layer of the aluminum-based material. By irradiation of the neutral beam, a reduction-resistant layer is produced on the surface of the SiO 2 mask to render it possible to reduce the mask thickness without producing problems such as increased step differences on the wafer surface.

User selectable response to an incoming call at a mobile station

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively answering an incoming call transmitted from a cellular base station to a mobile station based upon the telephone number of a calling party An ID processor is programmed by a user of the mobile station to store selected telephone numbers corresponding to calling party telephone numbers, which serve to uniquely identify the calling parties The processor is also programmed by the user to select predetermined response categories and to assign desired ones of those response categories to each of the stored calling parties' telephone numbers When an incoming call is received at the mobile station, the calling party's telephone number is compared with the stored telephone numbers, previously programmed by the user, to detect an incoming call from a particular calling party Depending upon the response category assigned to incoming calls from that particular calling party, the selected response is initiated Responses to the incoming calls include distinctive ringing (to indicate high or low priority or long distance calls), the activation of a voice message recorder, communication scrambling device, facsimile device, data modem, or a cartographic display

Multi-chamber wafer process equipment having plural, physically communicating transfer means

Abstract: In a multi-chamber process equipment in which a plurality of process chambers for processing a single wafer are connected with a wafer transfer chamber in parallel through respective gate valves, and a wafer transfer means is provided for carrying the wafer between the wafer transfer chamber and each process chamber through one of the gate valves, there are further provided a plurality of vacuum pumps in order to prevent cross contamination among processes, improve throughput and prevent condensation in the process chambers. The vacuum pumps are connected with the wafer transfer chamber, and designed to reduce the pressure in the wafer transfer chamber to different vacuum levels. Therefore, the degree of vacuum in the wafer transfer chamber can be set at a desired value according to the process chamber to be opened, by operating the vacuum pumps properly, so that cross contamination between the wafer transfer chamber and the process chambers is prevented effectively.

Disc reproduction system with sequential reproduction of audio and image data

Abstract: A disc reproducing apparatus for reproducing a disc on which at least audio data such as sound, music or the like and image data such as pictures, characters or the like are recorded is comprised of a reproducing device for reproducing audio data recorded on the disc, a memory for writing therein image data recorded on the disc, a video signal generating circuit for generating a video signal on the basis of image data stored in the memory, a display supplied with the video signal and displaying thereon the image data, and an image processor for writing the image data on the memory when the audio data is reproduced and selecting the image data written so that selected image data is sequentially displayed on the display.

Apparatus and method for inputting data

Abstract: A data input apparatus comprising a pen for selectively indicating and inputting (1) desired data; a display unit (9) for displaying an image of the input data; a tablet (8) for obtaining coordinate data by indicating with the pen the position corresponding to a predetermined portion of a pattern displayed on the display unit (9); means for detecting the coordinate data in response to a downward press of the pen to the tablet (8), and further detecting the coordinate data in response to an upward lift of the pen from the tablet (8); means for setting a first region of a predetermined area in the tablet (8), and also setting a second region which includes the first region and has an area greater than that of the first region; and deciding means for accepting the input data in response to a downward press of the pen to the first region and thereafter settling the input data in response to an upward lift of the pen from the second region. The apparatus is capable of preventing unintentional cancel of the input data that may result from an accidental displacement of the pen-up region beyond the pen-down region, hence facilitating accurate input of data to consequently realize faster manipulation.

ZnSe/ZnMgSSe blue laser diode

Abstract: The continuous wave operation of an ZnSe/ZnMgSSe laser diode was achieved for the first time at 77K. Blue stimulated emission was observed at a wavelength of 447nm and the threshold current density was 225A/cm2.

Display apparatus displaying operation menu

Abstract: A television receiver has a system controller and a memory that supplies data to a display microcomputer for displaying a menu of features, such as picture-in-picture, a broadcast satellite receive mode, a reservation of recording mode. The displaying microcomputer displays the menu on a sub-screen portion of a cathode-ray tube. A user selects a feature using a remote controller and the system controller displays cursor that moves under user control, and displays non-selected items in half-tone brightness or a different color.

Plasma system comprising hollow mesh plate electrode

Abstract: A plasma system which eliminates damage derived from charged particles in the plasma and which is able to perform uniform plasma CVD and plasma etching on a large area substrate, wherein a mesh plate having a plurality of holes is placed at the interface of a plasma generation chamber and a substrate treatment chamber which holds a substrate, a high frequency electrical field being applied between an upper electrode in the plasma generation chamber and the mesh plate so as to disassociate the plasma forming gas by electrodischarge so as to cause the generation of plasma. By this, the plasma is isolated from the substrate. On the other hand, source gas supply ports are opened near the holes of the mesh plate, the source gas being introduced from there being brought into contact with the plasma through the holes, whereby the reaction product can be uniformly produced in a broad area. If the reaction product is a deposit-like substance, plasma CVD becomes possible, while if of the etching type, plasma etching becomes possible.

Computer pointing device with dynamic sensitivity

Abstract: A pointing device, such as a mouse, for a computer system detects when a pointer controlled by the mouse is within a control zone of a display (e.g., and icon). When it is, the speed factor for the mouse is reduced making it easier for the user to hit an icon.

Auto-focus system for video camera

Abstract: A focus detection signal is generated from the video signal produced by a video camera by deriving higher frequency components of that video signal, detecting when those higher frequency components exceed a minimum threshold level, sensing when the video signal exceeds a maximum threshold, and integrating those higher frequency components which exceed the minimum threshold, except during an interval when the video signal exceeds the maximum threshold, thereby producing the focus detection signal.

Rear vision system for two-wheeled vehicles with movable handlebars

Abstract: A rear vision system for vehicles, and more particularly to a system for providing a rider of a two-wheeled vehicle having movable handlebars the capability of seeing what is behind the vehicle while still facing forward.

Robot with virtual arm positioning based on sensed camera image

Abstract: A robot numerical control apparatus for following a program and utilizing, in the program, the result of processing an image obtained by a camera attached to an arm of a robot. Either a first command for displacing the manipulating end of the robot to a designated position or a second command for displacing the center of the output image of the camera to the designated position is selectable as a displacement command to actuate the robot. A coordinate transformer is provided for controlling the movement of the robot's arm with pseudo-control in such a manner that when the second command is selected the center of the sensed image is positioned at the manipulating end of a virtual arm measured from the center of the sensed image to the center of the articulation of the robot's arm equipped with the camera, whereby the subject being photographed can be caught exactly at the image sensing center of the camera attached to the robot's arm.

Interframe motion predicting method and picture signal coding/decoding apparatus

Abstract: An interframe motion predicting method for prediction of the motion in a bidirectionally predictive-coded frame from an intra-coded frame and a predictive-coded frame, predicts the motion in another bidirectionally predictive-coded frame from the preceding bidirectionally predictive-coded frame and the predictive-coded frame. A picture signal coding apparatus executes orthogonal transformation of a picture signal, then quantizes the transformed data, and codes the data thus quantized. The apparatus includes a local decoder for the quantized data; first and second memories for storing the decoded picture data of an intra-coded or bidirectionally predictive-coded frame, and a predictive-coded frame respectively; a predictive picture generator for generating a predictive picture of a second bidirectionally predictive-coded frame; and a difference calculator for calculating the difference between the predictive picture and the original picture signal corresponding thereto. A picture signal decoding apparatus includes inverse multiplexer for separating the coded data into interframe predictive error data and vector coded data; a decoder for generating decoded picture data on the basis of such error data; first and second memories for storing the decoded picture data of the intra-coded frame and the predictive-coded frame respectively; a predictive picture generator for generating a predicted picture of a second bidirectionally predictive-coded frame; and a frame switching selector for selectively rearranging the decoded picture data in the order of reproduction.

Three-dimensional optical-electronic integrated circuit device with raised sections

Abstract: An optical-electronic integrated circuit device capable of three-dimensionally transmitting optical signals between plural semiconductor substrates on each of which an integrated circuit is previously formed. At least one of the light emitting elements and the light receiving elements are formed on the semiconductor substrate which transmits the light propagated between these elements. In this manner, signals may be transmitted in a direction perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate even without specifically processing the semiconductor substrate. Additionally, signal distortion, transmission losses, mutual intervention or delay are not incurred. For two-dimensionally connecting plural three-dimensionally integrated optical-electronic integrated circuit devices in a direction parallel to the semiconductor substrates, the circuit devices are arrayed on an optical interconnection base plate, and light signals are transmitted by means of a pair of inclined surfaces which are formed on the optical interconnection base plate and which are arranged facing the light emitting element and the light receiving element, and the light waveguide channels defined between these inclined surfaces. This drastically increases the operating speed of the circuit device and the integration degree.

Digital encoder with dynamic quantization bit allocation

Abstract: A digital encoder for compressing a digital input signal derived from an analog signal to reduce the number of bits required to represent the analog signal with low quantizing noise. In the encoder, a digital input signal representing the analog signal is divided into three frequency ranges. The digital signal in each of the three frequency ranges is divided in time into frames, the time duration of which may be adaptively varied. The frames are orthogonally transformed into spectral coefficients, which are grouped into critical bands. The total number of bits available for quantizing the spectral coefficients is allocated among the critical bands. In a first embodiment and a second embodiment, fixed bits are allocated among the critical bands according to a selected one of a plurality of predetermined bit allocation patterns and variable bits are allocated among the critical bands according to the energy in the critical bands. In the first embodiment, the apportionment between fixed bits and variable bits is fixed. In a second embodiment, the apportionment between fixed bits and variable bits is varied according to the smoothness of the spectrum of the input signal. In a third embodiment, bits are allocated among the critical bands according to a noise shaping factor that is varied according to the smoothness of the spectrum of the input signal. All three embodiments give low quantizing noise with both broad spectrum signals and highly tonal signals.

Ccd solid state imager

Abstract: A flattened layer (6) formed between a micro-condenser lens (7) and an Al light-shielding layer (5) is formed as a bilayer and this bilayer is formed by sequentially laminating a first layer (6a) and a second layer (6b) having a refractive index (N₂) lower than a refractive index (N₁) of the first layer (6a). Therefore, of the incident light converged by the micro-condenser lens (7), a light component shielded by the shoulder portion of the Al light-shielding layer (5) is reduced and a sensitivity increasing effect, which is an effect inherent in the condenser lens, can be demonstrated sufficiently, which can make the CCD solid state imager compact in size and which can improve the image quality.

Noise reducing microphone apparatus

Abstract: A noise reducing microphone apparatus having an adaptive noise canceller which has a primary input and a reference input and in which the reference input signal is subtracted from the primary input through an adaptive filter and the adaptive filter is adaptively controlled by an output signal resulted from the subtraction, comprises: a pair of microphone units disposed in close locations; and subtracting means for performing subtraction of outputs from the pair of microphone units. An output from one of the microphone units is supplied as the primary input signal of the adaptive noise canceller. A differential output from the pair of microphone units is supplied as the reference input signal of the adaptive noise canceller.

Image signal coding and decoding apparatus with multiple-process motion compensation

Abstract: Image signal coding and decoding apparatus adapted to reduce the redundancy between motion vectors in divided blocks of an image to realize enhanced data compression. The coding apparatus comprises a local decoder for locally decoding quantized data; a motion detector for calculating the motion vectors of individual subblocks defined by dividing macroblocks for motion compensation of a dynamic image; a controller for selecting an optimal process for the motion vectors to minimize the redundancy; a motion compensator for forming a predictive image; and a difference calculator for calculating the difference between the predictive image and the original image signal corresponding thereto. The image signal decoding apparatus comprises an inverse multiplexer for separating the coded data into variable-length coded data and vector coded data; and a controller for selecting an optimal motion vector process on the basis of the vector coded data.

Method of forming trench isolation having polishing step and method of manufacturing semiconductor device

Abstract: A method of forming trench isolation including a burying step of burying trenches by a deposition means for conducting etching and deposition simultaneously and a polishing step of flattening a burying material by polishing is conducted by disposing an isotropic etching step, a multi-layered etching stopper and a protrusion unifying structure. Polishing can be attained with satisfactory flatness uniformly or with no polishing residue even in a portion to be polished in which the etching stopper layer is distributed unevenly. The method can be applied to manufacture of a semiconductor device or the like.

Digital video signal resolution converting apparatus using an average of blocks of a training signal

Abstract: A digital video signal converting apparatus for converting a first digital video signal having a first resolution to a second digital video signal having a second resolution higher than the first resolution, comprises; block segmentation circuit for converting the first digital video signal into a block format, memory having a mapping table stored therein and having address terminals to which the first digital video signal in a block format is supplied and output terminals from which the second digital video signal in block format is output, and block separation circuit for converting the second digital video signal in a block format into a digital video signal in a raster scan order, wherein the mapping table in the memory is generated by training utilizing a plurality of images the training step being performed by generating first and second digital video signal corresponding to each of the plurality of images, converting each of the first and second digital video signals into a block format, and selecting the first digital video signal in a block format is an address signal for the mapping table and inputting the second digital video signal in a block format to a memory area corresponding to the address, and generating data of the mapping table from the signal stored in the memory area.

Ink-jet print head and ink-jet printer

Abstract: The present invention is to provide an on-demand type ink-jet printer which is free from the risk such that the nozzle is stopped and which is also free from the maintenance. An ink-jet print head comprises a liquid chamber (2) into which a carrier liquid (7) is filled, ink-jet driving means (3), (4) disposed within the liquid chamber (2), a nozzle (14) communicated with the liquid chamber (2) and a mixing unit (14a) disposed in the vicinity of the nozzle (14) for mixing an ink (9) into the carrier liquid (7). The ink (9) is mixed into the carrier liquid (7) in the liquid chamber (2) by the mixing unit (14a), pressed by the ink-jet driving means (3), (4) and then ink-jetted from the nozzle (14). Since the carrier liquid (7) is constantly filled into the nozzle (14), the nozzle (14) can be prevented from being choked up.

Composite stacked semiconductor device with contact plates

Abstract: A composite semiconductor device comprises a multilayer wiring board, a plurality of resin-sealed semiconductor devices having external leads projecting from the opposite sides thereof and stacked one on another, on a multilayer wiring board, and contact plates provided with wiring lines on the inner surfaces thereof and disposed close to the opposite sides of the resin-sealed semiconductor devices, respectively, with the wiring lines in electrical contact with the external leads of the resin-sealed semiconductor devices, respectively. Since the resin-sealed semiconductor devices are stacked, the degree of integration of the resin-sealed semiconductor devices is multiplied by the number of the resin-sealed semiconductor devices so stacked. Since the resin-sealed semiconductor devices are electrically interconnected by the wiring lines of the contact plates, the multilayer wiring board need not be provided with any wiring for electrically interconnecting the resin-sealed semiconductor devices.

Digital video signal recording apparatus

Abstract: Coefficient data generated in a DCT transform circuit (2Y, 2C) is sent to a shuffling circuit (3Y, 3C). The shuffling circuit shuffles the data in one field. The amount of coefficient data generated block by block is equalized by the shuffling process. A buffering circuit (6) forms sync blocks with a fixed length by using coefficient data. A DC component of coefficient data is followed by low order components, following by high order components. The blocks of coefficient data are sent to the buffering circuit in this sequence. The buffering circuit performs control operations such as moving bits of high order coefficient data to other sync blocks.

Endothelial cell adhesion to ion implanted polymers

Abstract: The biocompatibility of ion implanted polymers has been studied by means of adhesion measurements of bovine aorta endothelial cells in vitro. The specimens used were polystyrene (PS) and segmented polyurethane (SPU). Na+, N2+, O2+ and Kr+ ion implantations were performed at an energy of 150 keV with fluences ranging from 1 × 1015 to 3 × 1017 ions/cm2 at room temperature. The chemical and physical structures of ion-implanted polymers have been investigated in order to analyze their tissue compatibility such as improvement of endothelial cell adhesion. The ion implanted SPU have been found to exhibit remarkably higher adhesion and spreading of endothelial cells than unimplanted specimens. By contrast, ion implanted PS demonstrated a little improvement of adhesion of cells in this assay. Results of FT-IR-ATR showed that ion implantation broke the original chemical bond to form new radicals such as OH, z.lbond2;C=O, SiH and condensed rings. The results of Raman spectroscopy showed that ion implantation always produced a peak near 1500 cm−1, which indicated that these ion implanted PS and SPU had the same carbon structure. This structure is considered to bring the dramatic increase in the extent of cell adhesion and spreading to these ion implanted PS and SPU.

Apparatus for displaying inhibited menu functions in a television receiver

Abstract: A display microcomputer displays a menu corresponding to several functions, such as picture-in-picture display and satellite broadcast reception on a mini-viewing screen that is part of the cathode-ray tube picture screen of a television receiver. A remote controller permits selection of different video and audio signal sources and, if the user selects sources that are incompatible or inconsistent, a system controller returns the menu to the condition prior to the incorrect selection. The system controller also controls a display microcomputer in such a way that items on the menu that are inhibited from selection are displayed in halftone. That is, if any inhibited item appears in the menu by a modification of the mode of operation, the display microcomputer is controlled so that the menu is returned to the condition prior to the selection and the inhibited item is displayed in halftone. For example, erroneous operation that would change the reproduced sound of a duplex sound channel while the user is watching a picture reproduced from a video tape recorder is prevented, because the set value for the duplex sound can not be varied by the user.

Method of epitaxial growth of semiconductor

Abstract: A method of epitaxially growing semiconductor crystal by which a single crystal region which is superior in quality can be selectively formed at a high throughput without employing the lithography technique. A shield mask is formed on an upper face of an amorphous semiconductor layer formed on substrate, and excimer laser light is irradiated upon the amorphous semiconductor layer using the shield mask to produce, in the amorphous semiconductor layer, a core from which crystal is to be grown. After the shield mask is removed, low temperature solid phase annealing processing for the amorphous semiconductor layer is performed to grow crystal from the core to form a single crystal region in the amorphous semiconductor layer. Alternatively, the silicon core is formed by irradiating an energy beam, which is capable of being converged into a thin beam and being used to directly draw a picture, at a predetermined position of the amorphous silicon film.

Semiconductor layer annealing method using excimer laser

Abstract: A semiconductor layer annealing method comprises a step of heating a wafer consisting of a substrate and a semiconductor layer formed thereon by a heating means at a preheating temperature which will not exercise adverse thermal effect on the substrate, heating a portion of a small area of the semiconductor layer by a pulse of an excimer laser beam in one annealing cycle to a temperature higher than the preheating temperature and high enough to anneal the portion of the semiconductor layer, and repeating the annealing cycle to anneal the successive portions of the semiconductor layer sequentially. Since the semiconductor layer is preheated and the excimer laser beam needs only to raise the temperature of the semiconductor layer by a temperature far lower than the annealing temperature, the energy density of the excimer laser beam on the semiconductor layer may be smaller than that required by the prior art semiconductor layer annealing method and hence the area of a portion of the semiconductor layer which can be annealed by the semiconductor layer annealing method is greater than that can be annealed by the prior art semiconductor layer.

Liquid crystal display device with a capacitor and a thin film transistor in a trench for each pixel

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a pair of opposed insulating substrate and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched therebetween. One of the insulating substrates is formed with a first trench for forming a thin film transistor therein and a second trench for forming a capacitor element therein. The thin film transistor is constituted of a semiconductor layer formed along an inner surface of the first trench, a gate insulating layer formed on the semiconductor layer, and a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating layer. The capacitor element is constituted of a first electrode formed along an inner surface of the second trench, a dielectric layer formed on the first electrode, and a second electrode formed on the dielectric layer. The first electrode is formed integrally with the semiconductor layer, thereby increasing an aperture ratio. The first trench has a tapering side surface, thereby ensuring uniform ion implantation for the semiconductor layer. In the case that the substrate has a laminated structure of an insulating substrate and an insulating layer, an etching rate of the substrate as a whole can be improved.

Data compression method and apparatus in which quantizing bits are allocated to a block in a present frame in response to the block in a past frame

Abstract: A digital input signal is compressed to provide a compressed output signal in a manner which prevents pre-echo, a common defect of data compressors The digital input signal is divided in time into frames, and into at least one block of data in each frame The frames include a past frame preceding a present frame Block floating is applied to the data in the block in each frame Quantizing bits are adaptively allocated to the data in the block in the present frame in response to the block in the past frame Finally, the resulting quantized data is added to the compressed output signal In a first variation, a signal energy or an allowable noise level is determined for the block in each frame A word length is determined for the block in each frame in response to the determined signal energy or allowable noise level of the block The quantizing bits are allocated to the data in the block in the present frame in response to the word length for the block in the past frame In a second variation, a signal energy in the block in each frame is determined, and quantizing bits are adaptively allocated to the data in the block in the present frame in response to an interpolation between the signal energy for the block in the present frame and for the block in the past frame