Title: Shipping And Dispensing Carton

Technical Field and Background:
Cartons are typically shipped in bulk quantities. During shipping, the cartons may be vertically stacked upon each other in order to maximize the amount of product shipped in a particular vessel. The amount of product shipped may depend, however, on the load-bearing capacity of the stacked cartons. It is therefore desirable to produce cartons having high rigidity and/or strength in compression for shipping, and for other purposes such as the protection of the carton contents in general. A conventional method for increasing the strength of a carton is to produce the carton from a blank of a different, stronger board material, or to produce the blank from the same carton material but of greater thickness. Such methods typically increase the costs associated with manufacturing the carton, with the material costs of manufacture generally increasing according to the cost of increasing the strength and/or thickness of the entire blank. Some sections of the blank, however, may not be load-bearing, and the additional costs associated with increasing the strength of non-load bearing sections of the blank are wasted.

Invention Disclosure:
A carton for holding a plurality of articles. The carton comprises a first side panel, a bottom panel, a second side panel, a first top panel, and a second top panel. The bottom panel comprises a first portion and a second portion. The carton comprises a first proximal side end flap, a first distal side end flap, a second proximal side end flap, a second distal side end flap, a first bottom end flap foldably connected to the first portion of the bottom panel, and second bottom end flap foldably connected to the second portion of the bottom panel. The first distal side end flap is in face-to-face contact with the second distal side end flap, the first bottom end flap is in face-to-face contact with the first proximal side end flap, and the second bottom end flap is in face-to-face contact with the second proximal side end flap.

1. A carton for holding a plurality of articles, the carton comprising:
a plurality of panels that extends around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprises a first side panel, a bottom panel foldably connected to the first side panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a first top panel foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second top panel foldably connected to the second side panel, the bottom panel comprises a fold line that divides the bottom panel into a first portion and a second portion foldably connected to the first portion at the fold line; and
a plurality of end flaps respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels and being at least partially overlapped to close an end of the carton, the plurality of end flaps comprises a first proximal side end flap foldably connected to the first side panel, a first distal side end flap foldably connected to the first proximal side end flap, a second proximal side end flap foldably connected to the second side panel, a second distal side end flap foldably connected to the second proximal side end flap, a first bottom end flap foldably connected to the first portion of the bottom panel, and second bottom end flap foldably connected to the second portion of the bottom panel,
the first distal side end flap is in face-to-face contact with the second distal side end flap, the first bottom end flap is in face-to-face contact with the first proximal side end flap, and the second bottom end flap is in face-to-face contact with the second proximal side end flap.

2. The carton of claim 1, wherein the plurality of end flaps comprises a first top end flap foldably connected to the first top panel and a second top end flap foldably connected to the second top panel.

3. The carton of claim 2, wherein the first distal side end flap is adhesively attached to the second distal side end flap.

4. The carton of claim 2, wherein the first top end flap and the second top end flap are separated by a cut.

5. The carton of claim 2, wherein the first top end flap is in face-to-face contact with the second proximal side end flap and the second top end flap is in face-to-face contact with the first proximal side end flap.

6. The carton of claim 5, wherein the plurality of panels comprises a third top panel foldably connected to the first top panel.

7. The carton of claim 6, wherein the third top panel is in face-to-face contact with the second top panel.

8. The carton of claim 7, wherein the second top panel is adhesively attached to the third top panel.

9. A blank for forming a carton, the blank comprising:
a plurality of panels comprising a first side panel, a bottom panel foldably connected to the first side panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a first top panel foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second top panel foldably connected to the second side panel, the bottom panel comprises a fold line that divides the bottom panel into a first portion and a second portion foldably connected to the first portion at the fold line; and
a plurality of end flaps respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels and for being at least partially overlapped to close an end of the carton formed from the blank, the plurality of end flaps comprises a first proximal side end flap foldably connected to the first side panel, a first distal side end flap foldably connected to the first proximal side end flap, a second proximal side end flap foldably connected to the second side panel, a second distal side end flap foldably connected to the second proximal side end flap, a first bottom end flap foldably connected to the first portion of the bottom panel, and second bottom end flap foldably connected to the second portion of the bottom panel,
the first distal side end flap is positionable to be in face-to-face contact with the second distal side end flap, the first bottom end flap is in face-to-face contact with the first proximal side end flap, and the second bottom end flap is in face-to-face contact with the second proximal side end flap.

10. The blank of claim 9, wherein the plurality of end flaps comprises a first top end flap foldably connected to the first top panel and a second top end flap foldably connected to the second top panel.

11. The blank of claim 10, wherein the first distal side end flap is adhesively attached to the second distal side end flap.

12. The blank of claim 10, wherein the first top end flap and the second top end flap are separated by a cut.

13. The blank of claim 12, wherein the cut is aligned with the fold line.

14. The blank of claim 10, wherein the first top end flap is in face-to-face contact with the second proximal side end flap and the second top end flap is in face-to-face contact with the first proximal side end flap.

15. The blank of claim 14, wherein the plurality of panels comprises a third top panel foldably connected to the first top panel.

16. The blank of claim 15, wherein the third top panel is for being in face-to-face contact with the second top panel.

17. A method of forming a carton for containing a plurality of articles, the method comprising:
obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a first side panel, a bottom panel foldably connected to the first side panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a first top panel foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second top panel foldably connected to the second side panel, the bottom panel comprises a fold line that divides the bottom panel into a first portion and a second portion foldably connected to the first portion at the fold line, the blank comprises a plurality of end flaps respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the plurality of end flaps comprises a first proximal side end flap foldably connected to the first side panel, a first distal side end flap foldably connected to the first proximal side end flap, a second proximal side end flap foldably connected to the second side panel, a second distal side end flap foldably connected to the second proximal side end flap, a first bottom end flap foldably connected to the first portion of the bottom panel, and second bottom end flap foldably connected to the second portion of the bottom panel;
positioning the plurality of panels to form an interior of the carton;
positioning the plurality of end flaps to at least partially close an end of the carton, the positioning the plurality of end flaps comprises positioning the first distal side end flap to be in face-to-face contact with the second distal side end flap, positioning the first bottom end flap to be in face-to-face contact with the first proximal side end flap, and positioning the second bottom end flap to be in face-to-face contact with the second proximal side end flap.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of end flaps comprises a first top end flap foldably connected to the first top panel and a second top end flap foldably connected to the second top panel.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the positioning the plurality of end flaps comprises positioning the first top end flap to be in face-to-face contact with the second proximal side end flap and positioning the second top end flap to be in face-to-face contact with the first proximal side end flap.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the plurality of panels comprises a third top panel foldably connected to the first top panel and the positioning the plurality of panels comprises positioning the third top panel to be in face-to-face contact with the second top panel.

1. A carton for holding a plurality of articles, the carton comprising:
a plurality of panels that extends around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprises a first side panel, a bottom panel foldably connected to the first side panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a first top panel foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second top panel foldably connected to the second side panel, the bottom panel comprises a fold line that divides the bottom panel into a first portion and a second portion foldably connected to the first portion at the fold line; and
a plurality of end flaps respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels and being at least partially overlapped to close an end of the carton, the plurality of end flaps comprises a first proximal side end flap foldably connected to the first side panel, a first distal side end flap foldably connected to the first proximal side end flap, a second proximal side end flap foldably connected to the second side panel, a second distal side end flap foldably connected to the second proximal side end flap, a first bottom end flap foldably connected to the first portion of the bottom panel, and second bottom end flap foldably connected to the second portion of the bottom panel,
the first distal side end flap is in face-to-face contact with the second distal side end flap, the first bottom end flap is in face-to-face contact with the first proximal side end flap, and the second bottom end flap is in face-to-face contact with the second proximal side end flap.

2. The carton of claim 1, wherein the plurality of end flaps comprises a first top end flap foldably connected to the first top panel and a second top end flap foldably connected to the second top panel.

3. The carton of claim 2, wherein the first distal side end flap is adhesively attached to the second distal side end flap.

4. The carton of claim 2, wherein the first bottom end flap and the second bottom end flap are separated by a cut.

5. The carton of claim 2, wherein the first top end flap is in face-to-face contact with the second proximal side end flap and the second top end flap is in face-to-face contact with the first proximal side end flap.

6. The carton of claim 5, wherein the plurality of panels comprises a third top panel foldably connected to the first top panel.

7. The carton of claim 6, wherein the third top panel is in face-to-face contact with the second top panel.

8. The carton of claim 7, wherein the second top panel is adhesively attached to the third top panel.

9. A method of forming a carton for containing a plurality of articles, the method comprising:
obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a first side panel, a bottom panel foldably connected to the first side panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a first top panel foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second top panel foldably connected to the second side panel, the bottom panel comprises a fold line that divides the bottom panel into a first portion and a second portion foldably connected to the first portion at the fold line, the blank comprises a plurality of end flaps respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the plurality of end flaps comprises a first proximal side end flap foldably connected to the first side panel, a first distal side end flap foldably connected to the first proximal side end flap, a second proximal side end flap foldably connected to the second side panel, a second distal side end flap foldably connected to the second proximal side end flap, a first bottom end flap foldably connected to the first portion of the bottom panel, and second bottom end flap foldably connected to the second portion of the bottom panel;
positioning the plurality of panels to form an interior of the carton;
positioning the plurality of end flaps to at least partially close an end of the carton, the positioning the plurality of end flaps comprises positioning the first distal side end flap to be in face-to-face contact with the second distal side end flap, positioning the first bottom end flap to be in face-to-face contact with the first proximal side end flap, and positioning the second bottom end flap to be in face-to-face contact with the second proximal side end flap.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of end flaps comprises a first top end flap foldably connected to the first top panel and a second top end flap foldably connected to the second top panel.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the positioning the plurality of end flaps comprises positioning the first top end flap to be in face-to-face contact with the second proximal side end flap and positioning the second top end flap to be in face-to-face contact with the first proximal side end flap.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of panels comprises a third top panel foldably connected to the first top panel and the positioning the plurality of panels comprises positioning the third top panel to be in face-to-face contact with the second top panel.


You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

Title: Liquid Ejecting Head And Method Of Manufacturing Liquid Ejecting Head

Technical Field and Background:
1. Technical Field The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting head including a wiring substrate on which wires to be connected to a driver IC have been formed and a method of manufacturing the liquid ejecting head. 2. Related Art As liquid ejecting apparatuses including liquid ejecting heads, for example, there exist image recording devices such as ink jet printers, ink jet plotters and the like, however, recently, liquid ejecting apparatuses have been applied to various manufacturing devices by utilizing their advantage of being able to make a minute amount of liquid precisely land onto a designated position. For example, liquid ejecting apparatuses have been applied to display manufacturing devices that manufacture color filters of liquid crystal displays and the like, electrode forming devices that form electrodes of organic electroluminescence (EL) displays, field emission displays (FEDs) and the like, and chip manufacturing devices that manufacture biochips. In addition, a recording head for image recording devices ejects liquid ink, and a color material ejecting head for display manufacturing devices ejects solutions of individual color materials of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). Moreover, an electrode material ejecting head for electrode forming devices ejects a liquid electrode material and a bioorganic matter ejecting head for chip manufacturing devices ejects a solution of bioorganic matter. The above-described liquid ejecting heads are formed by stacking a pressure chamber forming substrate formed of pressure chambers that communicate with nozzles, piezoelectric elements (a type of driver element) that cause a change in pressure in the liquid inside the pressure chambers, a sealing plate which is arranged so as to be separated at a distance from the piezoelectric elements, and the like. The above-described piezoelectric elements are each driven by a driving signal that is supplied from a driver IC. This driver IC, in the related art, is arranged outside the liquid ejecting head. For example, there is known a liquid ejecting head in which a driver IC is provided on a flexible substrate that connects to the liquid ejecting head (for example, JP-A-2011-115972). To date, with the reduction in the size of liquid ejecting heads, techniques for joining a driver IC onto a sealing plate that covers piezoelectric elements have been developed. In such a structure, a wire that supplies electrical power to the driver IC is formed on a surface on one side (driver IC side) of the sealing plate. If, with nozzle densification, the number of nozzles increases, the electrical power supplied to the driver IC also increases. Consequently, reducing the electrical resistance (hereinafter simply called resistance) of the wire formed on the sealing plate has been considered. However, to date, when the width of the wire has been increased in order to lower the resistance of the wire, the wire area has become large. Consequently, it has been difficult to decrease the resistance of the wire without changing the size of the sealing plate.

Invention Disclosure:
A liquid ejecting head and a method of manufacturing the liquid ejecting head are provided. The liquid ejecting head has a pressure chamber forming substrate that includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements and that is connected to a first surface of a sealing plate, a driver IC that outputs signals that drive the piezoelectric elements and that is provided on a second surface of the sealing plate that is on the opposite side to the first surface, and a power supply wire that supplies electrical power to the piezoelectric elements, that is formed in the second surface of the sealing plate, and that has at least one portion thereof embedded in the sealing plate and a surface thereof exposed on the second surface side.

1. A liquid ejecting head comprising:
a wiring substrate having a first surface that is connected to a driver element forming substrate in which a plurality of driver elements are provided, and a second surface that is on the opposite side to the first surface and that is provided with a driver IC that outputs signals that drive the driver elements;
wherein a wire that supplies electrical power to the driver elements is formed in the second surface of the wiring substrate, and
at least one portion of the wire is embedded in the wiring substrate and a surface of the wire is exposed on the second surface side.

2. The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1, wherein the wire is formed of an embedded wire that is composed of a conductive material and that is embedded inside the wiring substrate and an outer layer wire that is composed of a conductive material that is different from the conductive material of the embedded wire, the outer layer wire covering the second surface side of the embedded wire.

3. The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1, wherein the driver IC has a plurality of circuit blocks that generate the signals that individually drive the driver elements and a plurality of bump electrodes that connect to the circuit blocks in a first direction, and
the wire that extends in the first direction and that is connected to the plurality of bump electrodes.

4. A method of manufacturing a liquid ejecting head that has a wiring substrate having a first surface that is connected to a driver element forming substrate in which a plurality of driver elements are provided and a second surface that is on the opposite side to the first surface and that is provided with a driver IC that outputs signals that drive the driver elements, a wire in the second surface that supplies electrical power to the driver elements and a through wire that extends between the first surface and the second surface, the method comprising:
processing a wiring substrate so as to form a recessed portion that is recessed in the second surface of the wiring substrate in a thickness direction thereof and a through hole that penetrates through the wiring substrate, and
forming the wire by filling a conductive material into the recessed portion and the through wire by filling the conductive material into the through hole.

5. The method of manufacturing a liquid ejecting head according to claim 4,
wherein the forming of the wire involves forming the conductive material in the recessed portion and the through hole by electroplating.

6. The method of manufacturing a liquid ejecting head according to claim 4 further comprising:
forming an outer layer wire that covers the second surface side of the wire embedded in the wiring substrate with a conductive material that is different from the conductive material of the wire embedded in the wiring substrate.

1. A liquid ejecting head comprising:
a driver element forming substrate in which rows and a plurality of driver elements are provided, a part of the plurality of driver elements being included in the rows;
a driver IC that outputs signals that drive the driver elements in the rows;
a wiring substrate having a first surface that is connected to the driver element forming substrate, and a second surface that is on the opposite side of the wiring substrate relative to the first surface and that is connected to the driver IC, the wiring substrate being a board made of a silicon single crystal substrate;
wherein a wire that supplies electrical power to the driver elements and is formed in the second surface of the wiring substrate,
at least one portion of the wire is embedded in the wiring substrate and a surface of the wire is exposed on the second surface side, and
wherein the wire is connected to a second wire formed on the first surface of the wiring substrate via a through wire of a plurality of through wires that pass through the wiring substrate.

2. The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1,
wherein the wire is formed of an embedded wire that is composed of a conductive material and that is embedded inside the wiring substrate and an outer layer wire that is composed of a conductive material that is different from the conductive material of the embedded wire, the outer layer wire covering a surface of the embedded wire facing the second surface side of the wiring substrate.

3. The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1,
wherein the driver IC includes a plurality of circuit blocks that generate the signals that individually drive the driver elements and a plurality of bump electrodes that connect to the circuit blocks, and
wherein the wire extends in the first direction and is connected to the plurality of bump electrodes.

4. The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1,
wherein the driver IC, the driver element forming substrate, and the wiring substrate are stacked and are at least partially overlapped.


Title: Liquid Crystal Display Device Having Dual Link Structure And Method Of Manufacturing The Same

Technical Field and Background:
1. Field of Technology The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to a LCD device having a dual link structure which includes a plurality of link lines disposed at dense intervals on a first layer and a second layer different from the first layer. The present invention provides an LCD device having a dual link structure, and particularly, provides a method of manufacturing an LCD device which proposes a new manufacturing process for reducing the number of masks used in a manufacturing process and can easily manufacture the LCD device in consideration of the possibility of misalignment of exposure equipment. 2. Discussion of the Related Art FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating an array substrate in which a plurality of switching elements are provided, in a general LCD device. In the LCD device, two substrates with electrodes formed therein face each other and are adhered to each other by a sealant, and liquid crystal is injected therebetween. The liquid crystal is a material having light transmittance anisotropy, and changes a phase of light according to a direction in which the light passes through the liquid crystal. The operation principle of LCD devices is that a polarizer, which changes a phase of light and transmits only specific directional light, transmits and blocks light to realize an image. Also, an alignment direction of the liquid crystal is adjusted by selectively applying voltages to the electrodes formed on the two substrates, in which case the liquid crystal is driven with electric fields generated by the voltages applied to the electrodes and thus the alignment direction of the liquid crystal is changed. A panel, which is configured with the two coupled substrates and the liquid crystal injected therebetween, is called a LCD panel. A process of manufacturing the LCD panel includes: a process of manufacturing an array substrate in which a plurality of pixel electrodes (first electrodes) for applying an electric field to the liquid crystal and a plurality of thin film transistor (TFTs, switching elements) for selectively supplying a voltage to a corresponding pixel electrode are provided; a process of manufacturing a color filter substrate, facing the array substrate, in which a plurality of common electrodes (second electrodes) for applying the electric field to the liquid crystal and a plurality of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color filters are provided; and a process of injecting the liquid crystal between the two substrates. FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a plan view of an array substrate. FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of an area A illustrated in FIG. 1 . Referring to FIG. 1 , an array substrate 1 is divided into an active area AA, in which a plurality of unit pixels are arranged, and an inactive area NA disposed outside the active area AA. In the active area, a plurality of gate lines GL are laterally arranged, and a plurality of data lines DL are vertically arranged to perpendicularly intersect the gate lines GL. One area defined by the gate line GL and the data line DL is a unit pixel area C. An area C of FIG. 1 illustrates the enlarged unit pixel area C. In the one unit pixel area, one pixel electrode P for applying an electric field to liquid crystal is provided, and a thin film transistor (switching element) Tr for selectively applying a voltage to the pixel electrode P is provided at a corner portion of the unit pixel area. The thin film transistor Tr includes a gate electrode connected to a corresponding gate line GL, a source electrode connected to a corresponding data line DL, a drain electrode facing the source electrode, and an active layer that is a semiconductor layer formed of amorphous silicon or polycrystalline silicon. In the thin film transistor Tr, when a scan signal is applied from the gate line to the gate electrode, a channel of the active layer is opened by the scan signal, and simultaneously, when a pixel signal is applied from the data line, the pixel signal is transferred to the drain electrode through the source electrode and the active layer. Since the drain electrode is connected to the pixel electrode, the pixel signal is applied to the pixel electrode. A driving circuit unit (D-IC) for supplying signals to the gate lines GL and data lines DL disposed in the active area AA is disposed in the inactive area NA.

Invention Disclosure:
Disclosed is an LCD device having a dual link structure and a method of manufacturing the same, which can reduce a width of a bezel. A link line structure includes a plurality of first and second link lines which are alternately disposed. The first and second link lines are formed on different layers. Also, embodiments herein provide a method which can reduce the number of masks used in a manufacturing process and can easily manufacture the LCD device in consideration of the possibility of misalignment of exposure equipment.

1. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display (LCD) device having a dual link structure, comprising:
preparing a first substrate that comprises a pixel area comprising a switching unit and a non-pixel area which comprises a link part and surrounds the pixel area;
forming a gate electrode in the switching unit on the first substrate, and forming a first link line in the link part;
forming a first insulating layer covering the first substrate;
sequentially forming an active layer, an ohmic contact layer, and a source metal layer on the first insulating layer;
patterning the active layer, the ohmic contact layer, and the source metal layer in one mask process to form a data line, a channel pattern branching from the data line, and a second link line, the channel pattern being formed in the switching unit and the second link line being formed in the link part;
forming a second insulating layer on the first substrate to cover the channel pattern and the second link line;
removing the second insulating layer formed on the channel pattern and the link part;
forming a transparent electrode layer on the first substrate from which the second insulating layer on the channel pattern and the link part has been removed;
forming a first photoresist pattern on the transparent electrode layer for a channel to be defined on the gate electrode and a second photoresist pattern on the transparent electrode layer above the second link line; and
sequentially removing the transparent electrode layer, the source metal layer, and the ohmic contact layer formed on the channel by using the first and the second photoresist pattern as an etching mask to define the channel, form a pixel electrode by a remaining transparent electrode layer under the first photoresist pattern, and complete the second link line comprising a remaining transparent electrode layer, a remaining source metal layer, a remaining ohmic contact layer, and the active layer that are under the second photoresist pattern.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
forming a photosensitive organic protective layer on the second insulating layer;
patterning the photosensitive organic protective layer to expose the channel pattern and the link part; and
removing the second insulating layer formed on the channel pattern and the link part by using the photosensitive organic protective layer as an etching mask.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the photosensitive organic protective layer is formed of photoacryl.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the removing of the second insulating layer comprises:
forming a photoresist pattern, exposing the channel pattern and the link part, on the second insulating layer;
etching an exposed portion of the second insulating layer on the channel pattern and the link part by using the photoresist pattern as an etching mask; and
removing the photoresist pattern.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second photoresist pattern above the second link line has a width narrower than a line width of the second link line.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a width of the remaining transparent electrode layer under the second photoresist pattern, a width of the remaining source metal layer under the second photoresist pattern, and a width of the remaining ohmic contact layer under the second photoresist pattern are narrower than a width of the active layer under the second photoresist pattern.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a width of the remaining transparent electrode layer under the second photoresist pattern, a width of the remaining source metal layer under the second photoresist pattern, and a width of the remaining ohmic contact layer under the second photoresist pattern are substantially the same.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the entire width of the remaining transparent electrode layer under the second photoresist pattern is on the remaining source metal layer under the second photoresist pattern.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second link lines are alternately disposed in plurality.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first link line and a gate line are formed on the same layer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the second link line and the data line are formed on the same layer.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first link line and the second link line comprises a gate link line and a data link line.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein in the defining of a channel, the source metal layer is separated from a source electrode and a drain electrode of the switching unit.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer are inorganic insulating layers.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
forming a third insulating layer on the first substrate in which the channel is defined and the pixel electrode is formed; and
forming a common electrode on the third insulating layer.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
forming a third insulating layer on the first substrate in which the channel is defined and the pixel electrode is formed; and
forming a common electrode on the third insulating layer.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the second link line is not horizontally overlapped with the first link line.

1. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display (LCD) device having a dual link structure, comprising:
preparing a first substrate that comprises a pixel area comprising a switching unit and a non-pixel area which comprises a link part and surrounds the pixel area;
forming a gate electrode in the switching unit on the first substrate, and forming a first link line in the link part;
forming a first insulating layer covering the first substrate;
sequentially forming an active layer, an ohmic contact layer, and a source metal layer on the first insulating layer;
patterning the active layer, the ohmic contact layer, and the source metal layer in one mask process to form a data line, a channel pattern branching from the data line, and a second link line, the channel pattern being formed in the switching unit and the second link line being formed in the link part;
forming a second insulating layer on the first substrate to cover the channel pattern and the second link line;
removing the second insulating layer from on the channel pattern and the link part;
forming a transparent electrode layer on the first substrate from which the second insulating layer on the channel pattern and the link part has been removed;
forming a first photoresist pattern on the transparent electrode layer for a channel to be defined on the gate electrode and a second photoresist pattern on the transparent electrode layer above the second link line; and
sequentially removing the transparent electrode layer, the source metal layer, and the ohmic contact layer from on the channel by using the first and the second photoresist pattern as an etching mask to define the channel, form a pixel electrode by a remaining transparent electrode layer under the first photoresist pattern, and complete the second link line comprising a remaining transparent electrode layer, a remaining source metal layer, a remaining ohmic contact layer, and the active layer that are under the second photoresist pattern.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
forming a photosensitive organic protective layer on the second insulating layer;
patterning the photosensitive organic protective layer to expose the channel pattern and the link part; and
removing the second insulating layer from on the channel pattern and the link part by using the photosensitive organic protective layer as an etching mask.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the removing of the second insulating layer comprises:
forming a photoresist pattern, exposing the channel pattern and the link part, on the second insulating layer;
etching an exposed portion of the second insulating layer on the channel pattern and the link part by using the photoresist pattern as an etching mask; and
removing the photoresist pattern.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second photoresist pattern above the second link line has a width narrower than a line width of the second link line.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second link lines are alternately disposed in plurality.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first link line and a gate line are formed on the same layer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second link line and the data line are formed on the same layer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first link line and the second link line comprises a gate link line and a data link line.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein in the defining of a channel, the source metal layer is separated from a source electrode and a drain electrode of the switching unit.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer are inorganic insulating layers.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the photosensitive organic protective layer is formed of photoacryl.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
forming a third insulating layer on the first substrate in which the channel is defined and the pixel electrode is formed; and
forming a common electrode on the third insulating layer.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
forming a third insulating layer on the first substrate in which the channel is defined and the pixel electrode is formed; and
forming a common electrode on the third insulating layer.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the second link line is not horizontally overlapped with the first link line.

15. The method of claim 4, wherein a width of the remaining transparent electrode layer under the second photoresist pattern, a width of the remaining source metal layer under the second photoresist pattern, and a width of the remaining ohmic contact layer under the second photoresist pattern are narrower than a width of the active layer under the second photoresist pattern.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein a width of the remaining transparent electrode layer under the second photoresist pattern, a width of the remaining source metal layer under the second photoresist pattern, and a width of the remaining ohmic contact layer under the second photoresist pattern are substantially the same.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the entire width of the remaining transparent electrode layer under the second photoresist pattern is on the remaining source metal layer under the second photoresist pattern.


Title: Well Tree Hub And Interface For Retrievable Processing Modules

Technical Field and Background:
The present disclosure relates to apparatus and methods for coupling fluid processing or other apparatus into a production flow at or near a production tree, manifold or other equipment. The present disclosure also relates to apparatus and methods for diverting fluids, recovery, and injection. Christmas trees or valve trees are well known in the art of oil and gas wells, and generally comprise an assembly of pipes, valves and fittings installed in a wellhead after completion of drilling and installation of the production tubing to control the flow of oil and gas from the well. Subsea christmas trees typically have at least two bores one of which communicates with the production tubing (the production bore), and the other of which communicates with the annulus (the annulus bore). Typical designs of christmas trees have a side outlet (a production wing branch) to the production bore closed by a production wing valve for removal of production fluids from the production bore. The annulus bore also typically has an annulus wing branch with a respective annulus wing valve. The top of the production bore and the top of the annulus bore are usually capped by a christmas tree cap which typically seals off the various bores in the christmas tree, and provides hydraulic channels for operation of the various valves in the christmas tree by means of intervention equipment, or remotely from an offshore installation. As technology has progressed for subsea installations, subsea processing of fluids is now desirable. Such processing can involve adding chemicals, separating water and sand from the hydrocarbons, pumping the produced fluids, analysing the produced fluids, etc.

Invention Disclosure:
The present disclosure relates to providing a hub coupled into a production tree, manifold, or other equipment, and a base module that is attachable to and retrievable from the hub. The base module may be reconfigurable. The base module may be configured to receive other modules that are reconfigurable, wherein the other modules are retrievable from the base module. The hub provides a dedicated space or support at or near the production tree or equipment for using the base module. An interface is provided between the base module and the production tree. A fluid conduit provides a fluid path across or through the interface. The hub may be part of the interface such that the module can fluidly couple to the fluid conduit and the production tree across the interface via the hub.

1. A wellhead system comprising:
a wellhead valve tree;
a hub connected into the wellhead valve tree by a fluid conduit; and
an interface including the hub and a support structure;
wherein the interface support structure is configured to receive a fluid processing module such that the fluid processing module is in direct contact with both the interface support structure and the hub;
wherein the fluid conduit and the hub are configured to fluidly couple the fluid processing module to the wellhead valve tree across the interface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface separates a wellhead valve tree space from a space receiving the fluid processing module.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the hub and the fluid conduit are configured to communicate fluid across the interface between the spaces.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface support structure includes a receptacle for the fluid processing module.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the receptacle includes a capture plate, a load bearing plate, and cylindrical receptacles having landing bases.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the receptacle is not connected to the hub.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the receptacle is coupled to and supported by the wellhead valve tree.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface support structure includes a support frame coupled to and supported by the wellhead valve tree.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the hub is disposed on a floor of the support frame.

10. A wellhead system comprising:
a wellhead valve tree;
a hub connected into the wellhead valve tree by a fluid conduit; and
an interface including the hub and a support structure;
wherein the interface support structure is configured to receive a fluid processing module;
wherein the fluid conduit and the hub are configured to fluidly couple the fluid processing module to the wellhead valve tree across the interface;
wherein the fluid processing module is configured to engage the interface support structure to resist movement of the fluid processing module before engaging the hub for a fluid connection.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the interface support structure includes a receptacle for the fluid processing module.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the receptacle includes a capture plate, a load bearing plate, and cylindrical receptacles having landing bases.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the receptacle is not connected to the hub.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the receptacle is coupled to and supported by the wellhead valve tree.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the fluid processing module includes a hydraulic cylinder configured to control movement of the fluid processing module toward the hub.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the fluid processing module includes a water damper configured to provide a passive soft landing of the fluid processing module onto the hub.

17. A method of connecting a fluid processing module to a wellhead valve tree, the method comprising:
engaging the fluid processing module with an interface support structure having a support structure and a hub connected into the wellhead valve tree by a fluid conduit;
resisting movement of the fluid processing module toward the hub; and
engaging the fluid processing module with the hub to fluidly connect the fluid processing module with the wellhead valve tree;
whereby the fluid processing module is in direct contact with the interface support structure at the hub.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the interface support structure includes a receptacle for the fluid processing module, the receptacle being coupled to and supported by the wellhead valve tree.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the fluid processing module includes a hydraulic cylinder configured to control movement of the fluid processing module toward the hub.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the fluid processing module includes a water damper configured to provide a passive soft landing of the fluid processing module onto the hub.

1. A wellhead system comprising:
a wellhead valve tree;
a hub laterally spaced from the wellhead valve tree and connected into the wellhead valve tree by a fluid conduit; and
an interface including the hub and a support structure;
wherein the interface support structure is configured to receive a fluid processing module such that the fluid processing module is in direct contact with both the interface support structure and the hub;
wherein the fluid conduit and the hub are configured to fluidly couple the fluid processing module to the wellhead valve tree across the interface;
wherein the fluid processing module includes a water damper comprising a water chamber and a piston rod slidably disposed in the water chamber to provide a passive soft landing of the fluid processing module onto the hub.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface separates a wellhead valve tree space from a space receiving the fluid processing module.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the hub and the fluid conduit are configured to communicate fluid across the interface between the spaces.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface support structure includes a receptacle for the fluid processing module.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the receptacle includes a capture plate, a load bearing plate, and cylindrical receptacles having landing bases.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the receptacle is not connected to the hub.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the receptacle is coupled to and supported by the wellhead valve tree.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface support structure includes a support frame coupled to and supported by the wellhead valve tree.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the hub is disposed on a floor of the support frame.

10. A wellhead system comprising:
a wellhead valve tree;
a hub connected into the wellhead valve tree by a fluid conduit; and
an interface including the hub and a support structure;
wherein the interface support structure is configured to receive a fluid processing module;
wherein the fluid conduit and the hub are configured to fluidly couple the fluid processing module to the wellhead valve tree across the interface;
wherein the fluid processing module is configured to engage the interface support structure to resist movement of the fluid processing module before engaging the hub for a fluid connection;
wherein the fluid processing module includes a water damper comprising a water chamber and a piston rod slidably disposed in the water chamber to provide a passive soft landing of the fluid processing module onto the hub;
wherein the fluid processing module includes an end member contacting the piston rod, and wherein the interface support structure comprises a receptacle configured to receive the end member.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the receptacle includes a capture plate, a load bearing plate, and cylindrical receptacles having landing bases.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the receptacle is not connected to the hub.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the receptacle is coupled to and supported by the wellhead valve tree.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the fluid processing module includes a hydraulic cylinder configured to control movement of the fluid processing module toward the hub.

15. A method of connecting a fluid processing module to a wellhead valve tree, the method comprising:
engaging the fluid processing module with an interface support structure having a support structure and a hub connected into the wellhead valve tree by a fluid conduit;
resisting movement of the fluid processing module toward the hub;
sliding a piston rod of a water damper of the fluid processing module through a water chamber of the damper to provide a passive soft landing of the fluid processing module onto the hub;
receiving an end member in contact with the piston rod in a receptacle of the interface support structure; and
engaging the fluid processing module with the hub to fluidly connect the fluid processing module with the wellhead valve tree;
whereby the fluid processing module is in direct contact with the interface support structure at the hub.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the receptacle of the interface support structure is coupled to and supported by the wellhead valve tree.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the fluid processing module includes a hydraulic cylinder configured to control movement of the fluid processing module toward the hub.


Title: Vehicle Monitoring Apparatus And Vehicle Monitoring Method

Technical Field and Background:
Systems that photograph a roadway or the like using a camera, detect a vehicle in an imaged image, and read in information described on a license plate, are known. Such systems may be mounted at an entrance or an exit or a toll road, for example, in order to recognize a passing vehicle. Reading information described on a vehicle license plate from a cameran image and then performing character recognition processing on the overall image may cause the processing load to become excessive, and information may not be able to be read in efficiently. Refer to JP 4690657 .

Invention Disclosure:
An embodiment of a vehicle monitoring apparatus has a determiner and a reader. The determiner determines whether or not a specific site of a vehicle exists at least in an area of an image, the image imaged by an imager, the area being one of multiple areas into which the image is divided by dividing line that are substantially orthogonal to a direction of travel of the vehicle. The reader reads information on a license plate mounted to the vehicle from the area in case that the determiner determines the specific site of the vehicle is determined to exist in the area.

1. A vehicle monitoring apparatus comprising:
an imager that comprises a first imager that images an image of a front of a vehicle approaching a predefined location, a second imager that images an image of a top of a vehicle passing through the predefined location and a third imager that images an image of a rear of a vehicle moving away from the predefined location,
a determiner that determines whether or not a specific site of a vehicle exists at least in an area of the image imaged by the imager, the area being one of multiple areas into which the image is divided by one or more dividing lines that are substantially orthogonal to a direction of travel of the vehicle;
a reader that reads information on a license plate mounted to the vehicle from the area in case that the determiner determines the specific site of the vehicle exists in the area;
a vehicle location estimator that identifies a location of the vehicle in vicinity of the area at each time measurement based on the image imaged by the second imager, the vehicle being detected from the image imaged by the first imager; and
a vehicle type allocator that allocates information at the location of the vehicle, the information read from the image imaged by the first imager.

2. The vehicle monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the vehicle location estimator detects changing lanes or passing other vehicle of a vehicle in the vicinity of the area, based on the image imaged by the second imager.

3. The vehicle monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a speed measurer that measures a speed of the vehicle of which location was identified by the vehicle location estimator, based on a movement amount of location of the vehicle per unit time.

4. The vehicle monitoring apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
the speed measurer reports a warning device of a possibility that a vehicle may have stopped due to a malfunction or an accident for cases where the speed measured by the speed measurer is greatly skewed between vehicles.

5. The vehicle monitoring apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:
a camera controller that controls the imager, and
a vehicle information combiner that combines exit time information and a lane in which a vehicle is moving which information allocated by the vehicle type allocator for each vehicle that exists from an area beneath a gantry on which the first imager, the second imager and the third imager are mounted, wherein
the camera controller increases a shutter speed of the imager when the vehicle information combiner finds that there is a vehicle passing through at a conspicuously high speed.

6. The vehicle monitoring apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:
a camera controller that controls the imager, wherein
the camera controller estimates a timing at which a vehicle will enter the area and let a lighting apparatus light at the timing, the lighting apparatus is located in the vicinity of the area.

7. A method of monitoring a vehicle comprising:
imaging an image of a front of a vehicle approaching a predefined location, an image of a top of a vehicle passing through the predefined location and an image of a rear of a vehicle moving away from the predefined location;
determining whether or not a specific site of a vehicle exists at least in an area of the image, the area being one of multiple areas into which the image is divided by one or more dividing lines that are substantially orthogonal to a direction of travel of the vehicle;
reading information on a license plate mounted to the vehicle from the area in case it is determined that the specific site of the vehicle is exists in the area;
identifying a location of the vehicle in vicinity of the area at each time measurement based on the image of the top of the vehicle, the vehicle being detected from the image of the front of the vehicle; and
allocating information at the location of the vehicle, the information read from the front image of the vehicle.

1. A vehicle monitoring apparatus comprising:
a determiner that determines whether or not a specific site of a vehicle exists at least in an area of an image, the image imaged by an imager mounted to a location for imaging an image of the vehicle, the area being one of multiple areas into which the image is divided by one or more dividing lines that are substantially orthogonal to a direction of travel of the vehicle; and
a reader that reads information on a license plate mounted to the vehicle from the area in case that the determiner determines the specific site of the vehicle is determined to exist in the area.

2. The vehicle monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific site is a front end portion or a rear end portion.

3. The vehicle monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a vehicle type determiner that determines a type of vehicle shown in an image imaged by the imager;
wherein the reader determines a scanning area for scanning the license plate from the area, based on the type of vehicle determined by the vehicle type determiner.

4. The vehicle monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a vehicle state classifier that classifies a vehicle state in at least one of the multiple areas imaged by the imager, based on a pattern of a portion of a vehicle existing in each of the multiple areas in an image imaged by the imager; and
a measurer that measures the number of vehicles passing through based on changes in vehicle states classified by the vehicle state classifier.

5. The vehicle monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
the imager comprises:
a first imager that images an image of a front of a vehicle approaching a predefined location; and
a second imager that images an image of a rear of a vehicle moving away from the predefined location, the second imager being directed to a direction same to the traveling of a vehicle
wherein the vehicle monitoring apparatus further comprises a combiner that combines information based on an image imaged by the first imager and information based on an image imaged by the second imager.

6. The vehicle monitoring apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:
a provider that provides an imaging parameter to the second imager using information based on an image imaged by the first imager.

7. A method of monitoring a vehicle, comprising:
determining whether or not a specific site of a vehicle exists at least in an area of an image, the image imaged by an imager mounted to a location for imaging an image of the vehicle, the area being one of multiple areas into which the image is divided by one or more dividing lines that are substantially orthogonal to a direction of travel of the vehicle; and
reading information described on a license plate mounted to the vehicle from the area, in a case that the specific site of the vehicle is determined to exist in the area.

8. The method of monitoring a vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the specific site is a front end portion or a rear end portion.

9. The method of monitoring a vehicle according to claim 7, further comprising:
determining a type of vehicle shown in an image imaged by the imager,
wherein, reading the information comprises:
determining a scanning area for scanning the license plate from the area, based on the type of vehicle determined by the vehicle type determiner.

10. The method of monitoring a vehicle according to claim 7, further comprising:
classifying a vehicle state in at least one of the multiple areas imaged by the imager, based on a pattern of a portion of a vehicle existing in each of the multiple areas in an image imaged by the imager; and
measuring the number of vehicles passing through based on changes in vehicle states classified by classifying the vehicle state.

11. The method of monitoring a vehicle according to claim 7, further comprising:
combining information based on an image imaged by the first imager and information based on an image imaged by the second imager, the first imager and the second imager are included by the imager, the first imager images an image of a front of a vehicle approaching a predefined location, and the second imager images an image of a rear of a vehicle moving away from the predefined location.

12. The method of monitoring a vehicle according to claim 11, further comprising:
providing an imaging parameter to the second imager using information based on an image imaged by the first imager.

13. A vehicle monitoring apparatus comprising:
a vehicle state classifier that classifies a vehicle state in at least one of multiple areas in an image imaged by an imager mounted to a location for imaging an image of the vehicle, based on a pattern of a portion of a vehicle existing in the at least one of the multiple areas, the image is divided into the areas at least by one or more dividing lines that are substantially orthogonal to a direction of travel of the vehicle; and
a measurer that measures the number of vehicles passing through based on changes in vehicle states classified by the vehicle state classifier.

14. The vehicle monitoring apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the specific site is a front end portion or a rear end portion.

15. A vehicle monitoring apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:
a vehicle type determiner that determines a type of vehicle shown in an image imaged by the imager;
a reader that reads information on a license plate mounted to the vehicle from the area, the reader determines a scanning area for scanning the license plate from the area, based on the type of vehicle determined by the vehicle type determiner.

16. A vehicle monitoring apparatus according to claim 13, wherein:
the imager comprises:
a first imager that images an image of a front of a vehicle approaching a predefined location, the first imager being directed to a direction opposite to the traveling of a vehicle; and
a second imager that images an image of a rear of a vehicle moving away from the predefined location, the second imager being directed to a direction same to the traveling of a vehicle; and
wherein the vehicle monitoring apparatus further comprises a combiner that combines information based on an image imaged by the first imager and information based on an image imaged by the second imager.

17. The vehicle monitoring apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:
a provider that provides an imaging parameter to the second imager using information based on an image imaged by the first imager.