All The Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for forming an interconnect pattern comprising the consecutive steps of:
depositing an interconnect film on an underlying layer, said interconnect film including at least an AlCu alloy layer;
plasma treating said interconnect film;
heat-treating said interconnect film at a temperature between 280 C. and 400 C.; and
patterning said interconnect film by using an etching mask to form the interconnect pattern.
2. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the consecutive steps of removing another etching mask by an ashing step at a temperature equal to or below 200 C., O2-plasma treating said interconnect film at temperature equal to or below 150 C. and forming said etching mask.
3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said interconnect film further includes an adhesion layer and a barrier layer on each of top and bottom surfaces of said AlCu alloy layer.
4. The method as defined in claim 3, wherein said adhesion layer and said barrier layer are a Ti layer and a TiN layer, respectively.
5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said plasma treating is O2-plasma treating at a temperature higher than 200 C.
6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said plasma treating is Ar-plasma treating at a temperature of 250 C. or lower.

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 coating material applying method for applying an image protecting coating material to a surface of a print, including the steps of:
applying said image protecting coating material to said surface of said print by spraying said image protecting coating material thereto from a plurality of droplet spray nozzles while said print is moved relatively to said droplet spray nozzles, said image protecting coating material being provided to protect an image on said print, wherein;
an area for image protecting coating material application is determined as a particular area on said print, said image protecting coating material being applied to said particular area by spraying said image protecting coating material selectively onto said particular area;
said plurality of droplet spray nozzles are arranged transversely of said print, said image protecting coating material being applied selectively to said particular area by spraying said image protecting coating material from selected droplet spray nozzles corresponding to said particular area among said plurality of droplet spray nozzles; and
said particular area is determined based on image data forming said image on said print;
the method further including the steps of:
obtaining coating conditions for said particular area; and
converting the obtained coating conditions into control data for said selected droplet nozzles.
2. The coating material applying method as defined in claim 1, wherein said image protecting coating material is an ultraviolet-curable coating material, said image protecting coating material being cured by emitting ultraviolet light to said print after applying said image protecting coating material to said print.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the coating conditions comprise at least one of a droplet size and a number of droplets.
4. A coating material applying apparatus for applying an image protecting coating material to a surface of a print, comprising:
a plurality of droplet spray nozzles for spraying said image protecting coating material on said surface of said print to apply said image protecting coating material thereto, said image protecting coating material being provided to protect an image on said print;
moving means for moving said print relative to said droplet spray nozzles;
area determining means for determining an area for image protecting coating material application as a particular area on said print;
an instruction device for obtaining coating conditions for said particular area, wherein said area determining means is for converting said coating conditions into control data for said droplet spray nozzles; and
control means for selectively driving, based on said control data, droplet spray nozzles corresponding to said particular area from among said plurality of droplet spray nozzles and causing said image protecting coating material to be sprayed from said droplet spray nozzles selected;
wherein said area determining means is arranged to determine said particular area based on image data forming said image on said print.
5. The coating material applying apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said image protecting coating material is an ultraviolet-curable coating material, said apparatus further comprising ultraviolet light emitting means for emitting ultraviolet light to said print after said droplet spray nozzles apply said image protecting coating material to said print.
6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the coating conditions comprise at least one of a droplet size and a number of droplets.
7. A printing machine for performing printing based on image data, comprising:
a transport mechanism for transporting a print;
coating applying means including a plurality of droplet spray nozzles arranged perpendicular to a direction in which said print is transported by said transport mechanism, for spraying an image protecting coating material on said print as said print is transported, said image protecting coating material being provided to protect an image on said print;
area determining means for determining, based on said image data, an area for image protecting coating material application as a particular area on said print;
an instruction device for obtaining coating conditions for said particular area, wherein said area determining means is for converting said coating conditions into control data for said droplet spray nozzles; and
control means for selectively driving, based on said control data, droplet spray nozzles corresponding to said particular area from among said plurality of droplet spray nozzles, and causing said image protecting coating material to be sprayed from said droplet spray nozzles selected;
wherein said area determining means is arranged to recognize an image area on said print from said image data, and determine said particular area to coincide with said image area.
8. The printing machine as defined in claim 7, further composing:
platemaking means for making printing plates based on said image data; and
printing means for performing printing by using said printing plates.
9. The printing machine as defined in claim 7, wherein said area determining means is arranged to determine said particular area as an area for image protecting coating material application on said print based on data inputted by an operator.
10. The printing machine as defined in claim 7, wherein said image protecting coating material is an ultraviolet-curable coating material, said printing machine further comprising ultraviolet light emitting means disposed downstream of said coating applying means with respect to said direction in which said print is transported, for emitting ultraviolet light to said print.
11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the coating conditions comprise at least one of a droplet size and a number of droplets.

1. A composite comprising:
a first material selected from the group consisting of metals and metalloids capable of being reversibly alloyed with lithium;
a second material selected from the group consisting of metals incapable of being alloyed with lithium, compounds containing the metals, and compounds containing metals or metalloids capable of being irreversibly alloyed with lithium; and
a third material which is at least one kind of metal having a higher electrical conductivity than the second material and which exists as a single-element material by being mixed with the first material and the second material without a chemical bond with the first material and the second material,
wherein a content of the third material ranges from 10 to 10,000 ppm based on the total weight of the composite;
the first material is selected from the group consisting of Si, Sn, Al, Sb, Bi, As, Ge, Pb, Zn, Cd, In, Tl and Ga;
the second material is selected from the group consisting of:
alloys of M1 and M2 (M1M2);
a boron compound containing at least one of M1 and M2;
a fluoride containing at least one of M1 and M2;
a phosphide containing at least one of M1 and M2;
a sulfide containing at least one of M1 and M2;
an oxide containing M2;
an oxide containing M1 and Li;
wherein M1 is selected from the group consisting of Si, Al, Sn, Sb, Bi, As, Ge and Pb; and
M2 is selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Fe, Li and Zn.
2. The composite as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third material is dispersed between the first materials, between the second materials, between the first material and the second material, or between all the materials.
3. The composite as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third material is iron (Fe).
4. The composite as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first material and the second material are included in a weight ratio of 10\u02dc90:90\u02dc10.
5. An electrode active material comprising the composite as claimed in claim 1.
6. The electrode active material as claimed in claim 5, wherein the third material is dispersed between the first materials, between the second materials, between the first material and the second material, or between all the materials.
7. The electrode active material as claimed in claim 5, wherein the third material is iron (Fe).
8. The electrode active material as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first material and the second material are included in a weight ratio of 10\u02dc90:90\u02dc10.
9. The electrode active material as claimed in claim 5, comprising a core comprising the composite; and a carbon layer formed partly or entirely on a surface of the core.
10. The electrode active material as claimed in claim 9, wherein the core and the carbon layer are included in a weight ratio of 98\u02dc10:2\u02dc90.
11. A secondary battery comprising the electrode active material as claimed in claim 5.

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 comprising:
receiving model data from a set of enterprise users in an order based on a multi-level enterprise hierarchy in which each of the enterprise users is associated with at least one of a plurality of hierarchically arranged nodes, wherein the model data from each of the enterprise users defines a portion of an enterprise planning model for use within a subsequent enterprise planning session, wherein receiving model data includes receiving model data from one of the enterprise users associated with a first level of the hierarchically arranged nodes in a first planning stage and receiving model data from a second one of the enterprise users associated with a second level of the hierarchically arranged nodes in a second planning stage, wherein the model data received in the second planning stage refines the portion of the enterprise planning model defined in the first enterprise planning stage;
executing software that validates the portion of the model received from each of the users by rejecting the portions of the enterprise planning model received from the enterprise users associated with lower levels of the enterprise hierarchy when the portions of the enterprise planning model fail to comply with the portions of the enterprise planning model provided by the enterprise users associated with the higher levels of the hierarchy;
repeating the validation until the portions of the enterprise planning model have been validated; and
after validation of the enterprise planning model, executing software that conducts the enterprise planning session in accordance with the enterprise planning model by capturing contribution data from a set of contributors associated with the enterprise hierarchy and reconciling the captured contribution data with target data at each level of the hierarchy.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein refining the portion of the enterprise planning model defined in the first planning stage includes further defining another portion of the enterprise planning model.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first level is higher in the hierarchy of nodes than the second level.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first level and second level are consecutive levels in the hierarchy of nodes.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving data that refines the enterprise planning model includes receiving model data that modifies the plurality of hierarchically arranged nodes.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein receiving model data that modifies the plurality of hierarchically arranged nodes includes at least one of adding a node to the hierarchy and removing a node from the hierarchy.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving model data that refines an enterprise planning model includes receiving model data that assigns enterprise users to the nodes.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein receiving model data that assigns enterprise users to the nodes includes receiving model data that adds an enterprise user to one of the nodes.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein receiving data that assigns enterprise users to the nodes includes receiving model data that removes an enterprise user from one of the nodes.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising notifying the enterprise user of the second level to modify the enterprise planning model upon the enterprise user of the first level submitting the data defining a portion of the enterprise planning model.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein notifying the enterprise user of the second level of the hierarchy includes sending an electronic mail message to the enterprise user of the second level.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving model data includes receiving corporate target data for each of the nodes.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving model data that refines the enterprise planning model includes receiving model data that updates the corporate target data of a portion of the nodes.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving model data that updates the corporate target data of the nodes includes data that distributes the corporate target data among the nodes.
15. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving model data that defines templates for collecting the contribution data from the contributors.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving additional model data that modifies the defined templates.
17. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving additional model data that defines a new template.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein executing software that conducts the enterprise planning session includes:
receiving the contribution data from the contributors beginning with a lowest level of the hierarchy and working up the enterprise hierarchy; and
aggregating the contribution data from the enterprise users to reconcile the contribution data with enterprise targets in real-time.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:
allowing an enterprise contributor to view the aggregated contribution data;
receiving a rejection from the enterprise contributor viewing the aggregated contribution data; and
notifying the enterprise contributor that input the contribution data of the rejection.
20. A system comprising:
an analysis module to receive model data from a set of enterprise users in an order based on a multi-level enterprise hierarchy, in which each of the enterprise users is associated with at least one of a plurality of hierarchically arranged nodes, wherein the model data from each of the enterprise users defines a portion of an enterprise planning model for use within a subsequent enterprise planning session,
wherein the analysis module obtains model data that defines at least a portion of the enterprise planning model from one of the enterprise users associated with a first level of the hierarchically arranged nodes in a first planning stage, and obtains model data from one of the enterprise users associated with a second level of the hierarchically arranged nodes in a second planning stage, wherein the model data obtained in the second planning stage refines the portion of the enterprise planning model defined in the first enterprise planning stage, and
wherein the analysis module validates the portion of the model received from each of the enterprise users by rejecting portions of the model received from the enterprise users associated with lower levels of the enterprise hierarchy when the portions of the model fail to comply with the portions of the model provided by the enterprise users associated with the higher levels of the hierarchy;
a database to store the model data that defines the enterprise planning model; and
a contribution module to conduct the enterprise planning session in accordance with the model by capturing contribution data from a set of contributors associated with the enterprise hierarchy and reconciling the captured contribution data with target data at each level of the hierarchy.
21. The system of claim 20, wherein the model data obtained in the second planning stage further defines another portion of the enterprise planning model.
22. The system of claim 20, wherein the model data obtained from the enterprise user associated with the second level modifies the hierarchically arranged nodes.
23. The system of claim 22, wherein the model data obtained from the enterprise user associated with the second level adds a node to the hierarchically arranged nodes.
24. The system of claim 22, wherein the model data obtained from the enterprise user associated with the second level removes a node from the hierarchically arranged nodes.
25. The system of claim 20, wherein the model data obtained from the enterprise user of the first level associates an enterprise user with at least one of the nodes of the hierarchy.
26. The system of claim 25, wherein the model data obtained from the enterprise user associated with the second level modifies the association between at least one of the nodes and the enterprise user associated with the node.
27. The system of claim 26, wherein the model data from the enterprise user associated with the second level associates an additional enterprise user with one of the nodes.
28. The system of claim 20, wherein the model data obtained from the enterprise user associated with the first level defines target data for the enterprise.
29. The system of claim 28, wherein the target data is defined for each of the nodes of the hierarchy.
30. The system of claim 29, wherein the model data obtained from the enterprise user associated with the second level modifies the target data.
31. The system of claim 20, wherein the model data obtained from the enterprise user associated with the first level defines one or more templates for collecting contribution data.
32. The system of claim 31, wherein the model data obtained from the enterprise user associated with the second level modifies at least one of the defined templates.
33. The system of claim 31, wherein the model data obtained from the enterprise user associated with the second level defines a new template.
34. The system of claim 20, wherein the first level is higher in the hierarchy of nodes than the second level.
35. The system of claim 20, wherein the first level and second level are consecutive levels in the hierarchy of nodes.
36. The system of claim 20, wherein the contribution data is stored in the database and the contribution module interacts with enterprise users to allow for review of the contribution data.
37. A computer-implemented method comprising:
presenting an interface to receive model data from a set of enterprise users in an order based on a multi-level hierarchy that associates each of the enterprise users with at least one of a plurality of hierarchically arranged nodes wherein the model data from each of the enterprise users defines a portion of an enterprise model for use within a subsequent enterprise planning session; wherein presenting an interface includes:
(i) presenting an interface to receive model data that defines at least a portion of the enterprise planning model from an enterprise user associated with a first level of the hierarchically arranged nodes in a first planning stage, and
(ii) presenting an interface to receive model data from an enterprise user associated with a second level of the hierarchically arranged nodes in a second planning stage, wherein the model data received in the second planning stage refines the portion of the enterprise planning model defined in the first enterprise planning stage;

executing an analysis module to validate the portion of the model received from each of the users by rejecting portions of the model received from the enterprise users associated with lower levels of the enterprise hierarchy when the portions of the model fail to comply with the portions of the model provided by the enterprise users associated with the higher levels of the hierarchy; and
after validation of the model, executing a contribution module to conduct the enterprise planning session in accordance with the model by capturing contribution data from a set of contributors associated with the enterprise hierarchy and reconciling the captured contribution data with target data at each level of the hierarchy.
38. The method of claim 37, wherein the network comprises one of a local area network, a wide area network, and a wireless area network.