1. A driving support device comprising:
an acceleration gear ratio obtaining unit that acquires information pertaining to a first zone set ahead of a host vehicle and a second zone farther ahead than the first zone, wherein based on the information, if a distance between an end point of the first zone and a start point of the second zone is shorter than a distance within which the host vehicle can be slowed at a predetermined deceleration from a first target vehicle speed for traveling the first zone to a second target vehicle speed for traveling the second zone, a second acceleration gear ratio is acquired for accelerating the host vehicle in a second acceleration zone following the second zone; and
a gear ratio control unit that sets the gear ratio of the host vehicle to the second acceleration gear ratio in a first deceleration zone for slowing the host vehicle before reaching the first zone.
2. The driving support device according to claim 1, wherein
the acceleration gear ratio obtaining unit acquires the second acceleration gear ratio based on a second required acceleration for accelerating the host vehicle from the second target vehicle speed for traveling the second zone to a second recommended vehicle speed after traveling the second zone.
3. A driving support method comprising the steps of:
acquiring information pertaining to a first zone set ahead of a host vehicle and a second zone farther ahead than the first zone, wherein based on the information, if a distance between an end point of the first zone and a start point of the second zone is shorter than a distance within which the host vehicle can be slowed at a predetermined deceleration from a first target vehicle speed for traveling the first zone to a second target vehicle speed for traveling the second zone at the start point of the second zone, a second acceleration gear ratio is acquired for accelerating the host vehicle in a second acceleration zone following the second zone; and
setting the gear ratio of the host vehicle to the second acceleration gear ratio in a first deceleration zone for slowing the host vehicle before reaching the first zone.
4. A driving support program performing in a computer the functions of:
acquiring information pertaining to a first zone set ahead of a host vehicle and a second zone farther ahead than the first zone, wherein based on the information, if a distance between an end point of the first zone and a start point of the second zone is shorter than a distance within which the host vehicle can be slowed at a predetermined deceleration from a first target vehicle speed for traveling the first zone to a second target vehicle speed for traveling the second zone at the start point of the second zone, a second acceleration gear ratio is acquired for accelerating the host vehicle in a second acceleration zone following the second zone; and
setting the gear ratio of the host vehicle to the second acceleration gear ratio in a first deceleration zone for slowing the host vehicle before reaching the first zone.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of fabricating an apparatus for use in a sensing application, said method comprising:
forming a plurality of nano-fingers on a substrate;
forming a Raman-active material nano-particle on respective tips of the nano-fingers;
causing the Raman-active material nano-particles on the tips of adjacent ones of the nano-fingers to come into contact with the Raman-active material nano-particle on the tip of at least another one of the plurality of nano-fingers to form respective clusters; and
transferring the clusters of Raman-active material nano-particles to a component layer from the plurality of nano-fingers while maintaining a spatial relationship between the contacting Raman-active material nano-particles.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein causing the Raman-active material nano-particles on the tips of adjacent ones of the nano-fingers to come into contact with Raman-active material nano-particle on the tip of another one of the plurality of nano-fingers further comprises supplying a liquid into gaps between the tips of the plurality of nano-fingers, and wherein evaporation of the liquid causes the tips of the plurality of nano-fingers to approach each other through capillary force.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the liquid comprises a plurality of probe molecules, wherein the plurality of probe molecules are to become trapped between the contacting Raman-active material nano-particles.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the component layer comprises a top layer, and wherein transferring the Raman-active material nano-particles further comprises:
contacting the top layer onto the clusters of Raman-active material nano-particles causing the clusters of Raman-active material nano-particles to adhere to the top layer; and
moving the component layer, with the clusters of Raman-active material nano-particles attached, away from the plurality of nano-fingers, thereby separating the clusters of Raman-active material nano-particles from the plurality of nano-fingers.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the top layer and the Raman-active material nano-particles are composed of the same material.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein forming the plurality of nano-fingers on the substrate further comprises forming the plurality of nano-fingers in a predetermined arrangement to substantially cause clusters of the Raman-active material nano-particles to have a predetermined spatial configuration.
7. The method according to claim 6, wherein forming the plurality of nano-fingers further comprises:
forming a template defining the predetermined arrangement of the plurality of nano-fingers;
transferring the template to the substrate; and
implementing a fabrication process to form the plurality of nano-fingers in the predetermined arrangement on the substrate.
8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
forming physical features into a base layer of the component layer, wherein the physical features are to enhance Raman light emission from molecules positioned near the clusters of Raman-active material nano-particles.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the component layer is formed of a dielectric material, said method further comprising:
applying a bottom layer on the component layer on a side opposite from the Raman-active material nano-particles, wherein the bottom layer comprises a metal.
10. An apparatus for use in a sensing application, said apparatus comprising:
a component layer comprising a plurality of physical features;
a plurality of clusters of Raman-active material nano-particles attached to the component layer, wherein the Raman-active material nano-particles in each of the plurality of clusters are arranged in a spatial configuration with respect to each other, and wherein the spatial configuration includes a gap between at least two of the Raman-active material nano-particles; and
wherein the physical features in the component layer are to enhance Raman signals emitted from molecules located near the clusters of Raman-active material nano-particles.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the gap between at least two of the Raman-active material nano-particles is less than about 10 nm in width.
12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the component layer further comprises a base layer and a top layer positioned on the base layer and wherein the plurality of clusters of Raman-active material nano-particles are attached to the top layer.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the top layer and the Raman-active material nano-particles are composed of the same material.
14. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the component layer comprises a base layer formed of a dielectric material and wherein a bottom layer is applied on the base layer on a side opposite from the clusters of Raman-active material nano-particles.
15. A sensing apparatus comprising:
a component layer comprising a plurality of physical features;
a plurality of clusters of Raman-active material nano-particles attached to the component layer, where the Raman-active material nano-particles in each of the plurality of clusters are arranged in a spatial configuration with respect to each other, and wherein the spatial configuration includes a gap between at least two of the Raman-active material nano-particles, and wherein the physical features in the component layer are to enhance Raman signals emitted from molecules located near the clusters of Raman-active material nano-particles;
an illumination source to illuminate the plurality of clusters of Raman-active material nano-particles; and
a detector positioned to detect Raman scattered light emitted from an analyte molecule positioned near the plurality of clusters of Raman-active material nano-particles.