Author: claimsbot

1. A method of providing a watercraft with improved ice penetration characteristics, which watercraft has a hull with a first end and a second end and which is equipped at said second end with a propulsion arrangement which provides both the main propulsive thrust of the watercraft while the watercraft moves with either end ahead and the steering of the watercraft, wherein said second end of the hull is shaped and designed so that it has efficient ice penetration characteristics in that the watercraft has a design waterline and the second end of the hull is oblique in the vicinity of the design waterline and somewhat above it, said propulsion arrangement includes at least three propulsion devices each provided with a propeller, at least a majority of the propulsion devices are rudder propeller devices, and the propeller of at least one of the propulsion devices is at a first distance from the second end of the hull and the propeller of at least another one of the propulsion devices is at a second distance, greater than the first distance, from the second end of the hull, so that that when the watercraft moves in ice or ice build-ups with said second end ahead, at least one propeller at said first distance from said second end of the hull breaks ice and at least one propeller at said second distance from said second end of the hull moves disintegrated ice or ice chunks away from the ice build-up.
2. A method according to claim 1, comprising using at least one of the propulsion devices to blow a water stream towards an ice build-up for breaking the ice build-up.
3. A watercraft with improved ice penetration characteristics, which watercraft has a hull with a first end and a second end and which is equipped at said second end with a propulsion arrangement that provides both the main propulsive thrust of the watercraft while the watercraft moves with either end ahead and the steering of the watercraft, wherein said second end of the hull is shaped and designed so that it has efficient ice penetration characteristics in that the watercraft has a design waterline and the second end of the hull is oblique in the vicinity of the design waterline and somewhat above it, said propulsion arrangement includes at least three propulsion devices each provided with a propeller, at least a majority of the propulsion devices are rudder propeller devices, and the propeller of at least one of the propulsion devices is at a first distance from the second end of the hull and the propeller of at least another one of the propulsion devices is at a second distance, greater than the first distance, from the second end of the hull, so that when the watercraft moves in ice or ice build-ups with said second end ahead, at least one propeller at said first distance from said second end of the hull breaks ice and at least one propeller at said second distance from said second end of the hull moves disintegrated ice or ice chunks away from the ice build-up.
4. A watercraft according to claim 3, wherein the propellers of at least two of the propulsion devices are at said first distance from the second end of the hull.
5. A watercraft according to claim 4, wherein the at least two propulsion devices with a propeller at said first distance from the second end of the hull are rudder propeller devices.
6. A watercraft according to claim 3, wherein two of the propulsion devices are rudder propeller devices each having a propeller at said first distance from the second end of the hull, the two rudder propeller devices being spaced from a longitudinal center line of the hull and at opposite respective sides of the longitudinal center line, and wherein a shaft driven propulsion device having a propeller at said second distance from the second end of the hull is disposed between the rudder propeller devices.
7. A watercraft according to claim 6, wherein the rudder propeller devices in all provide at least a half of the total propulsion power of the watercraft.
8. A method of operating a watercraft, wherein the watercraft has a hull with a first end and a second end and which is equipped at said second end with a propulsion arrangement which provides both the main propulsive thrust of the watercraft while the watercraft moves with either end ahead and the steering of the watercraft, wherein the watercraft has a design waterline and the second end of the hull is oblique in the vicinity of the design waterline and somewhat above it, wherein said propulsion arrangement includes at least three propulsion devices each provided with a propeller, at least a majority of the propulsion devices are rudder propeller devices, and the propeller of at least one of the propulsion devices is at a first distance from the second end of the hull and the propeller of at least another one of the propulsion devices is at a second distance, greater than the first distance, from the second end of the hull, said method comprising operating the watercraft in ice conditions with said second end ahead, so that at least one propeller at said first distance from said second end of the hull breaks ice and at least one propeller at said second distance from said second end of the hull moves disintegrated ice or ice chunks away from the ice build-up.
9. A method according to claim 8, wherein two of the propulsion devices are rudder propeller devices each having a propeller at said first distance from the second end of the hull, the two rudder propeller devices being spaced from a longitudinal center line of the hull and at opposite respective sides of the longitudinal center line, and wherein the method comprises positioning the two rudder propeller devices so the propellers of the two rudder propeller devices bore into the ice as the watercraft moves against the ice.
10. A method according to claim 8, comprising using at least one of the propulsion devices to blow a water stream towards an ice build-up for breaking the ice build-up.
11. A method according to claim 8, wherein the propellers of at least two of the propulsion devices are at said first distance from the second end of the hull.
12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the at least two propulsion devices whose propellers are at said first distance from the second end of the hull are rudder propeller devices.
13. A method according to claim 8, wherein two of the propulsion devices are rudder propeller devices each having a propeller at said first distance from the second end of the hull, the two rudder propeller devices being spaced from a longitudinal center line of the hull and at opposite respective sides of the longitudinal center line, and wherein a shaft driven propulsion device having a propeller at said second distance from the second end of the hull is disposed between the rudder propeller devices.
14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the rudder propeller devices in all provide at least a half of the total propulsion power of the watercraft.

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 manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising:
forming a first pattern in a first region over a semiconductor substrate;
forming a second pattern in a second region separated from the first region over the semiconductor substrate;
depositing an interlayer insulation film to cover the first and second patterns;
forming a photoresist film on the interlayer insulation film;
treating the photoresist film in stepper exposure and development to form a photoresist pattern of a photomask having its device pattern matched with the first pattern and its alignment marks matched with the second pattern;
selectively etching off the interlayer insulation film over the first and second patterns, with the photoresist pattern; and
after removing the photoresist pattern, flattening the interlayer insulation film to expose the surfaces of the first and second patterns, respectively.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the flattening the interlayer insulation film is performed by chemical mechanical polishing the interlayer insulation film.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the photomask is provided with marks for forming inspection targets for misalignment, and the step of forming a second pattern includes, prior to the depositing an interlayer insulation film, forming the second pattern that matches with the marks for forming inspection targets for misalignment.
4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising: after flattening the interlayer insulation film, removing the first pattern to form trenches, and filling the trenches with a material to create a third pattern.
5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the forming a third embedded pattern includes defining transistor gate electrodes in that pattern.
6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising:
prior to depositing an interlayer insulation film, implanting impurities in the semiconductor substrate to form transistor source and drain regions, with a mask of the first pattern.
7. A method according to claim 4, wherein the removing the first pattern includes simultaneously removing the second pattern to form trenches, and thereafter filling the trenches with the identical material to that for the third pattern.
8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second patterns are simultaneously formed in a single forming using the same material.
9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the photoresist pattern over the second pattern is shaped in an almost cross-like plane pattern.
10. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising:
forming dummy gate electrodes in a device formation area of a semiconductor device, and forming a dishing inhibiting pattern in a target area of the semiconductor device;
forming an interlayer insulation film to cover the dummy gate electrodes and the dishing inhibiting pattern;
after covering the interlayer insulation film with a photoresist film, treating the photoresist film in stepper exposure and development to form a photoresist pattern of a photomask having its device pattern matched with the dummy gate electrodes and its alignment marks matched with the dishing inhibiting pattern or having its marks for forming inspection targets for misalignment matched with the same;
selectively etching the interlayer insulation film over the dummy gate electrodes and the dishing inhibiting pattern, with the photoresist pattern;
after removing the photoresist pattern, flattening the interlayer insulation film by means of chemical mechanical polishing to expose the surfaces of the dummy gate electrodes and the dishing inhibiting pattern, respectively; and
removing the dummy gate electrodes and filling with a material to form gate electrodes.
11. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising:
forming dummy gate electrodes in a device formation area of a semiconductor device, and forming a dishing inhibiting pattern in a target area of the semiconductor device;
forming a nitride film to cover the dummy gate electrodes and the dishing inhibiting pattern, thereby setting side walls of the nitride film on opposite sides of each of the dummy gate electrodes;
covering the entire surface of the semiconductor substrate with an interlayer insulation film;
after covering the interlayer insulation film with a photoresist film, treating the photoresist film in stepper exposure and development to form a photoresist pattern of a photomask having its device pattern matched with the dummy gate electrodes and its alignment marks matched with the dishing inhibiting pattern or having its marks for forming inspection targets for misalignment matched with the same;
selectively etching the interlayer insulation film over the dummy gate electrodes and the dishing inhibiting pattern, with the photoresist pattern;
after removing the photoresist pattern, treating the interlayer insulation film and the nitride film in chemical mechanical polishing to expose the surfaces of the dummy gate electrodes and the dishing inhibiting pattern, respectively; and
removing the dummy gate electrodes and filling with a material to form gate electrodes.
12. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising:
forming dummy gate electrodes in a device formation area of a semiconductor device, and forming a dishing inhibiting pattern in a target area of the semiconductor device;
selectively etching the dishing inhibiting pattern to form pattern trenches;
depositing an interlayer insulation film to cover the dummy gate electrodes and the dishing inhibiting pattern and filling the pattern trenches with the interlayer insulation film to create targets in the dishing inhibiting pattern for alignment with a photomask;
after covering the interlayer insulation film with a photoresist film, treating the photoresist film in stepper exposure and development to form a photoresist pattern of the photomask having its device pattern matched with the dummy gate electrodes and its alignment marks matched with the targets in the dishing inhibiting pattern or having its marks for forming inspection targets for misalignment matched with the same;
selectively etching the interlayer insulation film over the dummy gate electrodes and the dishing inhibiting pattern, with the photoresist pattern;
after removing the photoresist pattern, flattening the interlayer insulation film by means of chemical mechanical polishing to expose the surfaces of the dummy gate electrodes and the dishing inhibiting pattern, respectively; and
removing the dummy gate electrodes to obtain gate trenches and filling the gate trenches with material of electrode to form gate electrodes.
13. A semiconductor device having a first region provided with semiconductor devices and a second region provided with targets for alignment with a photomask, comprising:
a first pattern formed in the first region,
a second pattern formed in the second region,
an interlayer insulation film surrounding the first and second patterns and having its surface flattened, and
alignment targets around the second pattern within lamination of the semiconductor substrate.
14. A semiconductor device according to claim 13, wherein the first pattern is an interconnection.

1. An apparatus for controlling the quality of service (QoS) of a variable bandwidth multi-codec comprising:
a network state detection unit detecting a network state including at least one of a packet loss ratio, a packet loss interval, and a packet delay time based on a real-time transport protocol (RTP) packet transmitted to and received from a destination for which a call connection is established; and
a codec control unit updating a transmission rate by comparing a detected resultant value based on the detecting network state with an already set reference value and increasing or decreasing the transmission rate, and controlling the variable bandwidth multi-codec to code data with the updated transmission rate,
wherein the network state detection unit detects a network state at predetermined intervals and the predetermined intervals are adjustable via the codec control unit according to the network state such that the predetermined intervals are increased or decreased based on the result of comparing a value of a current detected network state with a value of a previously detected network state.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network state detection unit transmits and receives data to test the network state, and
the codec control unit comprises:
a prediction bandwidth determination unit determining a prediction bandwidth based on an interoperation characteristic of the network and the transmitted and received data to test the network state;
a first transmission rate update unit updating the transmission rate by decreasing the transmission rate if the determined prediction bandwidth is less than a previously updated transmission rate;
a second transmission rate update unit comparing the detected resultant value with the already set reference value and updating the transmission rate by increasing or decreasing the transmission rate; and
a control unit controlling the variable bandwidth multi-codec so that coding is performed with the updated transmission rate.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the codec control unit updates the transmission rate at the predetermined intervals to control the variable bandwidth multi-codec, and the predetermined intervals are increased or decreased based on the result of comparing the value of the currently detected network state with the value of a previously detected network state.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a codec quality measuring unit measuring the quality of voice included in a signal received from the destination, and the codec control unit increases or decreases the transmission rate based on the measured quality.
5. A method of controlling the quality of service (QoS) of a variable bandwidth multi-codec comprising:
detecting at predetermined intervals a network state including at least one of a packet loss ratio, a packet loss interval, and a packet delay time based on an real-time transport protocol (RTP) packet transmitted to and received from a destination for which a call connection is established;
adjusting the predetermined intervals by increasing or decreasing the predetermined intervals based on comparison results of a current detected value of the network state with a previously detected value of a network state; and
updating a transmission rate by comparing a detected resultant value based on the detecting network state with an already set reference value and increasing or decreasing the transmission rate, and controlling the variable bandwidth multi-codec to code data with the updated transmission rate.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the detecting of the network state comprises transmitting and receiving data to test the network state and the updating of the transmission rate and the controlling of the variable bandwidth multi-codec comprises:
determining a prediction bandwidth based on an interoperation characteristic of the network and the transmitted and received data to test the network state;
updating the transmission rate by decreasing the transmission rate if the determined prediction bandwidth is less than a previously updated transmission rate;
comparing the detected resultant value with the already set reference value and updating the transmission rate by increasing or decreasing the transmission rate; and
controlling the variable bandwidth multi-codec so that coding is performed with the updated transmission rate.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein in the updating of the transmission rate and the controlling of the variable bandwidth multi-codec, the transmission rate is updated at the predetermined intervals so that the variable bandwidth multi-codec is controlled.
8. The method of claim 5, further comprising measuring the quality of voice included in a signal received from the destination, and in the updating of the transmission rate and the controlling of the variable bandwidth multi-codec, the transmission rate is increased or decreased based on the measured quality.
9. A computer readable recording medium having embodied thereon a computer program which when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the steps of:
detecting a network state including at least one of a packet loss ratio, a packet loss interval, and a packet delay time based on an real-time transport protocol (RTP) packet transmitted to and received from a destination for which a call connection is established;
adjusting a predetermined intervals by increasing or decreasing the predetermined intervals based on comparison results of a current detected value of the network state with a previously detected value of a network state; and
updating a transmission rate by comparing a detected resultant value based on the detecting network state with an already set reference value and increasing or decreasing the transmission rate, and controlling the variable bandwidth multi-codec to code data with the updated transmission rate.
10. The computer readable recording of claim 9, wherein the computer readable recording medium is selected from the group consisting of a read-only memory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM), a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, an optical data storage device.

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 for folding an article into a bifold configuration, the method comprising:
a) placing the article onto a folding drum surface, the disposable absorbent article having a leading end portion and a trailing end portion;
b) holding the article to the folding drum surface with a holding force;
c) transferring at least a portion the leading end portion of the article to a peel-roll surface positioned adjacent the folding drum surface;
d) applying a peel-force to the leading end portion such that the leading end portion is held to the peel-roll surface by the peel-force;
e) holding at least a portion of the trailing end portion to the folding drum surface;
f) transferring the leading end portion from the peel-roll surface to a movable surface of a vacuum conveyor, the movable surface of the vacuum conveyor configured to have a first speed and a second speed, the movable surface of the vacuum conveyor being driven by a drive mechanism coupled to the movable surface of the vacuum conveyor, the leading end portion being transferred to the movable surface of the vacuum conveyor when the movable surface of the vacuum conveyor engages the leading end portion at the first speed, the movable surface of the vacuum conveyor being configured to apply a vacuum force to the leading end portion when the movable surface of the vacuum conveyor engages the leading end portion;
g) holding the leading end portion from (f) to the movable surface of the vacuum conveyor with the vacuum force;
h) accelerating the movable surface of the vacuum conveyor to the second speed; and
i) transferring the leading end portion from the movable surface of the vacuum conveyor to the folding drum.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vacuum conveyor is coupled to a positioning mechanism, the positioning mechanism configured to position the movable surface of the vacuum conveyor in a first position and a second position, the distance between the movable surface of the vacuum conveyor and the peel-roll surface in the first position being less than the distance between the movable surface of the vacuum conveyor and the surface of the peel-roll in the second position.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the leading end portion is engaged by the movable surface of the vacuum conveyor when the movable surface of the vacuum conveyor is in the first position.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the leading end portion is transferred to the folding drum from the movable surface of the vacuum conveyor when the movable surface of the vacuum conveyor is in the second position.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein the positioning mechanism varies the position of the movable surface of the vacuum conveyor from about 1 mm to 20 cm from the peel-roll surface.
6. The method of claim 2, wherein the positioning mechanism continuously varies the position of the movable surface of the vacuum conveyor.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the leading end portion is transferred to the folding drum from the movable surface of the vacuum conveyor at the second speed.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the folding drum surface has a folding drum surface speed, and the folding drum surface speed and the second speed are substantially the same.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first speed is zero.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein a portion of the article is secured to the folding drum with a securing force.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the securing force is provided by movable clamps.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the article includes first and second opposing longitudinal side edges and a lateral centerline and the securing force is applied to the lateral centerline portion of at least one of the side edges.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the leading end portion is separated from the peel-roll surface prior to being transferred to the movable surface of the vacuum conveyor.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the movable surface of the vacuum conveyor engages the leading end portion while the leading end portion is held to the peel-roll surface.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the peel-force is at least one of reduced or removed prior to engaging the leading end portion with the movable surface of the vacuum conveyor.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein the article is aligned when the article is bifolded.
17. A bifolded article produced according the method of claim 1.
18. A method for folding an article into a bifold configuration, the method comprising:
a. placing the article onto a folding drum surface, the disposable absorbent article having a leading end portion and a trailing end portion;
b. holding the article to the folding drum surface with a holding force;
c. transferring at least a portion the leading end portion of the article to a peel-roll surface positioned adjacent the folding drum surface;
d. applying a peel-force to the leading end portion such that the leading end portion is held to the peel-roll surface by the peel-force;
e. holding at least a portion of the trailing end portion to the folding drum surface;
f. transferring the leading end portion from the peel-roll surface to a movable surface of a first vacuum conveyor, the movable surface of the first vacuum conveyor configured to have a first speed and a second speed, the movable surface of the first vacuum conveyor being driven by a drive mechanism coupled to the movable surface of the first vacuum conveyor, the leading end portion being transferred to the movable surface of the first vacuum conveyor when the movable surface of the first vacuum conveyor engages the leading end portion at the first speed, the movable surface of the first vacuum conveyor being configured to apply a vacuum force to the leading end portion when the movable surface of the first vacuum conveyor engages the leading end portion;
g. holding the leading end portion from (f) to the movable surface of the first vacuum conveyor with the vacuum force;
h. accelerating the movable surface of the first vacuum conveyor to the second speed;
i. transferring the leading end portion from the movable surface of the first vacuum conveyor to a second vacuum conveyor, the second vacuum conveyor including a second vacuum conveyor movable surface; and
j. transferring the leading end portion from the second vacuum conveyor movable surface to the folding drum.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first vacuum conveyor is coupled to a positioning mechanism, the positioning mechanism configured to position the movable surface of the first vacuum conveyor in a first position and a second position, the distance between the movable surface of the first vacuum conveyor and the peel-roll surface in the first position being less than the distance between the movable surface of the first vacuum conveyor and the surface of the peel-roll in the second position.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein the second vacuum conveyor movable surface moves at a constant speed.