Provided is a biological information measuring instrument which can be easily and reliably worn on an appropriate position of an arm by a user. The biological information measuring instrument includes: a belt portion that is worn on a user's arm in a circumferential direction of the arm and disposed with a sensor for detecting a displacement of an arm muscle; and a case portion that is attached to a predetermined portion of the belt portion and houses a circuit component that processes a signal of the displacement detected by the sensor. The case portion has a shape of protruding from the belt portion in a longitudinal direction of the arm when the belt portion is worn on the arm, and amounts D1 and D2 of protrusions protruding in the longitudinal direction are different between one protrusion and the other protrusion.

In recent years, with progress of virtual reality technology and spread of head-mounted displays, video games that allow various experiences in a virtual space presented by video have been developed.
When such a video game is operated by a user, the user feels more realistic sensation in operation by movement of the user's hand or finger than in operation using a controller with conventional buttons and keys. For example, it is known to detect the movement of the user's hand from the video taken using a video camera and reflect the detected movement of the hand in the video game.
However, when detecting a user's movement using the video camera, it is impossible to detect finger movement or the like that cannot be seen from the video camera in principle, because it is only possible to perform an operation based on the user's movement that can be taken by the video camera.
In order to solve this problem, the present applicant has proposed a technique for detecting the movement of the finger with a measuring instrument previously worn on the user's arm (see PATENT LITERATURE 1).
The technique described in PATENT LITERATURE 1 detects the movement of the user's finger by detecting a displacement of muscle that moves the finger by an optical distance sensor disposed in the measuring instrument worn on the user's arm. In the measuring instrument described in PATENT LITERATURE 1, the optical distance sensor for detecting the displacement of the muscle is disposed, and an electrode for stimulating the muscle is disposed in addition to the optical distance sensor, so that it has bidirectionality to control the movement of the finger while detecting the movement of the user's finger.

Biological information measurement device


A valve device for a compressed air supply system, includes a control chamber to which compressed air may be supplied, a control piston plate delimiting the control chamber, a control piston that is fixed to the side of the control piston plate facing away from the control chamber. The piston protrudes into a discharge valve chamber of a discharge valve, provided with at least one compressed air connection. A valve head delimits the discharge valve chamber, which can be pressurized with the force of a spring in the direction of a valve seat and which can be lifted from the valve seat by the control piston counter to the force of the spring in order to open the discharge valve. The control piston and a valve housing surrounding the control piston define at least two regeneration valve chambers of a regeneration valve having at least one compressed air connection. The at least two regeneration valve chambers are either separated from each other or connected together in accordance with the position of the control piston.

The invention relates to a valve device for a compressed air supply system of a utility vehicle, and to a compressed air supply system having a valve device of said type.
Utility vehicles having pneumatic components require a compressed air supply system. The compressed air is generally fed by a compressor into an air treatment system where the air which is introduced is cleaned in a filter unit before then finally being supplied via a multi-circuit protective valve for use, for example to the brake system of the utility vehicle.
After certain feed quantities are reached or after certain periods of time have elapsed, it is necessary to clean the filter unit. For this purpose, a regeneration solenoid valve is connected within the air treatment system in such a way that compressed air from storage tanks, either the storage tanks of the service brake circuit or one or more storage tanks provided especially for the purpose, flows through the regeneration solenoid valve and in the reverse direction through the filter unit, before then being allowed to flow, laden with moisture and foreign particles, out of the filter unit and into the atmosphere. During the regeneration phases, the compressor is generally shut off or placed into an idle phase.
It is generally sought for the air drying to take place in as effective and efficient a manner as possible, with this requiring in particular a good utilization of the volume available in the air dryer cartridge. This also relates to the regeneration capacity of the system, wherein the dry air which is supplied to the air dryer cartridge for the purpose of regeneration must be provided in a sufficient quantity.
The object on which the invention is based is that of providing a compressed air supply device with an improved regeneration capacity and an increased degree of integration. The object is achieved by a valve device and compressed air supply system having the valve device according to the invention. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described herein.
The invention encompasses a valve device for a compressed air supply system, having a control chamber which can be charged with compressed air, a control piston plate which delimits the control chamber, a control piston which is attached to that side of the control piston plate which faces away from the control chamber, which control piston projects into a blow-off valve chamber, which is provided with at least one compressed air port, of a blow-off valve, and a valve plate which delimits the blow-off valve chamber and which can be acted on with force in the direction of a valve seat by a spring and which can be lifted up from the valve seat, in order to open the blow-off valve, by the control piston counter to the force of the spring. The control piston and a valve housing which surrounds the control piston define at least two regeneration valve chambers of a regeneration valve with, in each case, at least one compressed air port, and with the at least two regeneration valve chambers either being separated from one another or connected to one another as a function of the position of the control piston.
In this way, a valve device is provided which has a pneumatically activatable regeneration valve. It is hereby possible to utilize considerably higher regeneration air rates than with regeneration solenoid valves, such that it is in particular also possible to regenerate filter units which have a high filter capacity. Here, reference is made in particular to filter units which have a labyrinthine construction, such that the air to be dried and also the regeneration air cover a large distance through the filter unit. The regeneration air quantity required for such filter units can be provided in a simple manner by way of the valve device according to the invention. At the same time, the valve device according to the invention is particularly expedient on account of an integration of the blow-off valve and regeneration valve. It is sufficient to provide a single control chamber, by means of the pressurization of which both the regeneration valve can be switched and also the blow-off valve can be opened.
It is expediently provided that the regeneration valve chambers are separated from one another when the blow-off valve is closed and are connected to one another when the blow-off valve is open. The regeneration is thus automatically initiated whenever the blow-off valve is opened. Conversely, a regeneration takes place every time the blow-off valve is opened.
Provision may be made for the control piston to have at least one constriction which, in a first position of the control piston, is situated entirely within one of the regeneration valve chambers and, in a second position of the control piston, creates a connection between the at least two regeneration valve chambers. The control piston therefore has a dual function. The control piston firstly acts as a tappet with respect to the blow-off valve; and the control piston secondly has, over the constriction, a control device which enables the regeneration valve function.
Provision may likewise be made for the control piston, which defines an axis by its extent between the control piston plate and the blow-off valve chamber, to have at least one duct with at least two duct openings situated axially offset with respect to one another. The at least two duct openings which are situated axially offset with respect to one another are situated in one of the regeneration valve chambers in a first position of the control piston and are situated in different regeneration valve chambers, such that the duct creates a connection between the at least two regeneration valve chambers, in a second position of the control piston.
The invention is expediently refined in that the control piston is separate from the valve plate. It may likewise be provided that the control piston is formed in one piece with the valve plate.
The invention is expediently refined in that the blow-off valve chamber has at least one second compressed air port. The feed line which is connected indirectly or directly to the compressor is connected to the blow-off valve at the second compressed air port. During the feed phase, the compressed air therefore flows through the blow-off valve chamber with the blow-off valve closed, while in the regeneration phase, an outflow of the air out of the blow-off valve chamber is enabled.
It is expediently provided that the regeneration valve and the blow-off valve are arranged in the same valve housing. This provides a particular degree of integration.
The invention also encompasses a compressed air supply system having a valve device with a control chamber which can be charged with compressed air, a control piston plate which delimits the control chamber, a control piston which is attached to that side of the control piston plate which faces away from the control chamber, which control piston projects into a blow-off valve chamber, which is provided with at least one compressed air port, of a blow-off valve, and a valve plate. The valve plate delimits the blow-off valve chamber and can be acted on with force in the direction of a valve seat by a spring. The valve plate can be lifted up from the valve seat, in order to open the blow-off valve, by the control piston counter to the force of the spring, with the control piston and a valve housing which surrounds the control piston defining at least two regeneration valve chambers of a regeneration valve with in each case at least one compressed air port. At least two regeneration valve chambers either are separated from one another or connected to one another as a function of the position of the control piston. It is possible for the control chamber to be activated by a solenoid valve. The at least one compressed air port of the blow-off valve chamber is connected to a compressed air inlet of a filter unit, and the regeneration valve chambers are connected to in each case one port of a non-return valve which is connected to a compressed air outlet of the filter unit.
It is expediently provided that a second compressed air port of the blow-off valve chamber is connected to a compressed air source.
The invention will now be explained by way of example below with reference to the appended drawings on the basis of particularly preferred embodiments. In the drawings:

Valve device for a compressed air supply device and compressed air supply system

KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH


A color filter panel for a transflective type LCD with transmission areas and reflection areas includes a substrate, a plurality of color filters formed on the substrate, an overcoat layer formed on the color filters and including lens parts that are individually placed at the transmission areas, and a common electrode formed on the overcoat layer. This construction improves the total reflectance and outdoor visibility by efficiently utilizing exterior light entering the transmission areas for image display without light loss.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a liquid crystal display (LCD) and, more particularly, to a color filter panel to be used in a transflective LCD with reflective areas and transmission areas, and a method of manufacturing the same. The method also relates to transflective LCD employing the color filter panel.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Generally, an LCD includes a pair of panels individually having electrodes on their inner surfaces, and a dielectric anisotropy liquid crystal layer interposed between the panels. In an LCD, by varying the voltage difference between the field generating electrodes, i.e., by varying the strength of an electric field generated by the electrodes, the transmittance of the light passing through the LCD is changed, and thus obtaining the desired images.
Depending on the way light sources are used to display images, LCDs are divided into three types: transmissive, reflective, and transflective LCDs. In a transmissive LCD, an image is displayed using an internal light source, such as lamps in a backlight unit that is provided behind an LC panel assembly of the device. In a reflective LCD, an image is displayed by reflecting external natural light or external artificial light coming in from the front of the device.
The transmissive LCD is disadvantageous under very bright external conditions, i.e., when light emitted from the lamps in the transmissive LCD becomes significantly lower in brightness than the external light, so that visibility and display characteristics of the device suffer. In addition, the lamps of the backlight require significant power. Meanwhile, the reflective LCD does not fully function as a display device when the external light is insufficient. Due to the above drawbacks of these LCDs, the transflective LCD, which combines transmissive and reflective characteristics, was developed. The transflective LCD is operated in a transmissive mode under medium light conditions, such as in an indoor environment, or under complete darkness. The transflective LCD operates in a reflective mode under very bright conditions, such as in an outdoor environment.
Generally, such a transflective LCD has transmission areas and reflection areas. To display an image using the transmission areas, light emitted from the backlight behind the LC panel assembly passes through the transmission areas, while in the reflection areas, external light from the front of the device is reflected by internal reflective components back to the front of the device.
However, the transmission areas may also be supplied with both external light through the front of the LC panel assembly, and the light from the backlight. Unlike the external light supplied to the reflection areas, the external light supplied to the transmission areas passes through the transmission areas without reflection. That is, such a light does not contribute to image display as a light source. As a result, the total reflectance of the external light source lowers, resulting in the device's low outdoor visibility.

Color filter panel having microlenses in transmission areas and method of manufacturing the same, and transflective liquid crystal display using such a color filter panel


A disc valve with a disc that is pivotable between open and closed positions has a metallic seal ring placed against an axially-oriented face formed by the housing and located at the ends of an enlarged conduit portion between the face and one of the ends of the housing. A three-part retainer ring which includes a main body located opposite the seal ring and a flange which extends radially outward from the main body and snugly fits into a groove in the housing is defined by at least three retainer ring segments. At least one of the retainer ring segments includes parallel ends which are opposite correspondingly parallel ends formed by the adjoining retainer ring segments so that this one segment can be radially moved past the other segments. Each segment includes one or more threaded bolts to generate an axially acting pressure against the seal ring, securely install the seal ring and bias it into sealing engagement with the housing face to prevent leakage therebetween when the disc is closed and one of its sides is subjected to fluid pressure. The axially acting pressure generated by the threaded bolts is transmitted from the main body of each retainer ring segment via the associated flange to the housing. Axially oriented locking pins prevent unintentional relative radial movements between the retainer ring segments.

The present invention relates to the installation of seal rings in valve housings and in particular to the installation of seal rings in the housing of disc valves.
Expired U.S. Pat. No. 3,442,488 discloses a disc valve in which a disc is pivotable between an open position, in which the disc is substantially parallel to an axis through the housing, and a closed position in which the disc is generally transverse to the housing. The pivot axis of the disc is offset with respect to the main axis through the housing. The seal ring is installed on the disc and seals against the housing.
The commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,281,817 discloses a similar valve in which the seal ring is in the housing and includes a radially inwardly projecting sealing surface which engages and cooperates with a peripheral seating surface of the disc to form a fluid-tight seal when the disc is in its closed position. In such valves provisions must be made for appropriately installing the seal ring in the housing. Typically, this involves the formation of an annular, enlarged diameter recess in a portion of the flow passage through the housing extending from an end thereof to an axially oriented face. The seal ring is placed against the face so that its sealing surface faces radially inward and a retainer ring, also disposed in the enlarged diameter conduit portion, is secured to the housing with threaded bolts which extend into the housing radially outward of the seal ring. The bolts pressure the retainer ring against the seal ring and the latter against the axially oriented face to securely install the seal ring in the housing and bias it into intimate contact with the axially oriented face to establish a seal between them. Thus, when the disc is closed and fluid pressure is applied to one side, fluid does not leak past the housing face-seal ring interface.
Seal ring installations as described in the preceding paragraph work well so long as the seal ring is constructed of a compressible material such as elastomers, for under relatively low pressure, low heat and/or with noncorrosive fluids or asbestos for installations subjected to higher temperatures and/or many types of corrosive fluids where conventional elastomers are not usable. Because of health hazards, however, the use of asbestos-based materials is no longer acceptable. In its stead it is now typically specified to employ metallic seal rings capable of withstanding the encountered temperatures, resisting corrosion by the fluid flowing through the valve and capable of establishing a seal with the closure member of the valve, e.g. the disc.
Although metallic seal rings are entirely satisfactory, from an operational point of the valve, it is much more difficult to prevent leakage past the interface between the valve housing and the seal ring as compared to seal rings constructed of relatively compressible materials. Metal seal ring installations require a significantly larger force with which the seal ring must be pressed against the cooperating, axially oriented face of the housing, and a relatively larger contact area between the two as compared to seal rings made of compressible materials such as asbestos, for example.
According to the prior art this force is generated by providing a retainer ring of the appropriate size so that it is strong enough to transmit the sealing pressure to the seal ring. Threaded bolts secure the retainer ring to the housing and generate the needed pressure. It is necessary that these bolts be placed radially outward of the outermost diameter of the seal ring. Since metal seal rings require a greater contact area with the opposing housing face to establish a seal and to prevent damage to the seal ring during operation, the bolts must be moved even further radially outward than was necessary for asbestos seal rings, for example. The extent to which the bolts can be moved radially outward, however, is limited by the standardized flanges at each end of the housing for connecting the valve with the pipeline in which it is installed. Moreover, the needed threaded holes in the housing have a tendency to weaken it which, for high pressure installations, might be unacceptable or outright dangerous.
There is, therefore, a present need for a metal seal ring installation for valve housings which are capable of generating the required, relatively large axial forces to engage the seal ring and seal it with respect to the housing so that leakage cannot occur when the disc is closed, while limiting the radial extent of the installation so as to not interfere with the connection of the valve to the pipeline and/or unacceptably weaken the housing.


Implementations of a magnetic eyewear retainer system and method are provided. In some implementations, the magnetic eyewear retainer system comprises eyewear temple magnets and a retainer necklace. In some implementations, the magnetic eyewear retainer system further comprises eyewear that includes the eyewear temple magnets. In some implementations, the magnetic eyewear retainer method comprises attaching the eyewear temple magnets to the temples of eyewear and magnetically connecting the eyewear to the retainer necklace with the eyewear temple magnets to retain the eyewear on a user's person while the eyewear is not being worn on the user's face.

FIG. 1 illustrates eyeglasses and other eyewear worn on a user's face such as sunglasses and protective glasses (hereinafter referred to collectively or individually as "eyewear"). Eyewear may be worn for various purposes. For example, eyewear, such as eyeglasses (or glasses), may be worn for vision correction or improvement. As another example, eyewear, such as sunglasses, may be worn for sunlight protection and glare reduction. As yet another example, eyewear, such as protective glasses, may be worn for eye protection from dust and debris. A person wearing eyewear may desire wear the eyewear at times and not wear the eyewear at other times yet have the eyewear conveniently accessibly while the eyewear is not in use.
FIGS. 2A-2D illustrates eyewear retainers, such as eyewear chains or cords to hold eyewear on a user when the eyewear is not in use (e.g., when the eyewear is not worn on the user's face). As shown in FIGS. 2C and 2D, existing eyewear retainers are attached to the temples (or "arms") of eyewear and the retainers are worn around a user's neck to conveniently and accessibly retain the eyewear on the user when the eyewear is not being used. However, the retainer can be unsightly and/or uncomfortable. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, when the eyewear is worn on the user's face, the attached retainer chain or cord hangs down from the eyewear arms and along the sides of and/or behind the user's head and around the user's neck. As another example, as shown in FIGS. 2C and 2D, when the eyewear is not worn on the user's face, the attached retainer chain or cord hangs down from around the user's neck.

Magnetic eyewear retainer system and method


The invention provides a production process of a granular poly(arylene sulfide) by polymerizing a sulfur source and a dihalo-aromatic compound in an organic amide solvent by a polymerization process containing a phase-separation polymerization step, wherein the production process contains a step I of adding an aromatic compound in a proportion of 0.01 to 20 mol per 100 mol of the organic amide solvent into the liquid phase containing the organic amide solvent and a formed polymer within the polymerization reaction system, said liquid phase being in the phase-separated state, after the phase-separation polymerization step; a step II of cooling the liquid phase within the polymerization reaction system; and a step III of collecting the formed polymer from the liquid phase.

Poly(arylene sulfides) (hereinafter abbreviated as "PASs") represented by poly(phenylene sulfide) (hereinafter abbreviated as "PPS") are engineering plastics excellent in heat resistance, chemical resistance, flame retardancy, mechanical strength, electrical properties, dimensional stability, etc. The PASs are commonly used in a wide variety of fields such as electrical and electronic equipments and automotive equipments because they can be molded or formed into various kinds of molded or formed products, films, sheets, fibers, etc. by general melt processing processes such as extrusion, injection molding and compression molding.
As a typical production process of a PAS, is known a process in which a sulfur source is reacted with a dihalo-aromatic compound in an organic amide solvent such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. As the sulfur source, is generally used an alkali metal sulfide, an alkali metal hydrosulfide or a mixture thereof. When the alkali metal hydro sulfide is used as the sulfur source, the alkali metal hydrosulfide is used in combination with an alkali metal hydroxide. When at least one sulfur source selected from the group consisting of alkali metal sulfides and alkali metal hydrosulfides is reacted with a dihalo-aromatic compound, a great amount of an alkali metal salt such as NaCl is secondarily produced by a desalting condensation reaction.
For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 45-3368 (Patent Literature 1) discloses a process for producing poly(phenylene sulfide) by reacting sodium sulfide and p-dichlorobenzene in an organic amide solvent such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. However, the process disclosed in Patent Literature 1 can provide only PPS having a low molecular weight. When the low-molecular weight PPS is heated in the presence of air to cure it, the molecular weight thereof can be increased. However, the PPS whose molecular weight has been increased by the oxidative cure (curing) is insufficient in mechanical properties such as toughness.
Thus, there have been proposed various processes for producing a high-molecular weight PAS using various polymerization aids in a production process of a PAS by polymerizing a sulfur source and a dihalo-aromatic compound in an organic amide solvent. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 52-12240 (Patent Literature 2) discloses a production process of PPS using a carboxylic acid alkali metal salt as the polymerization aid. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-219332 (Patent Literature 3) discloses a production process of PPS using an alkaline earth metal salt or zinc salt of an aromatic carboxylic acid as the polymerization aid. U.S. Pat. No. 4,038,263 (Patent Literature 4) discloses a production process of PPS using an alkali metal halide as the polymerization aid. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-161022 (Patent Literature 5) discloses a production process of PPS using the sodium salt of an aliphatic carboxylic acid as the polymerization aid. Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-33775 (Patent Literature 6) and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-183858 (Patent Literature 7) disclose a production process of a PAS using water as the polymerization aid.
The amount and time of the polymerization aid added, the temperature of a polymerization reaction system, etc. are controlled, whereby a phase-separated state that a concentrated formed polymer phase and a dilute formed polymer phase are present in a mixed state can be created in a liquid phase within the polymerization reaction system. When the polymerization reaction is continued in such a phase-separated state, the formation of a high-molecular weight PAS is caused to progress, and moreover the high-molecular weight PAS can be obtained in the form of granules by slowly cooling the polymerization reaction system after the polymerization reaction. Therefore, these polymerization aids are called phase separation agents.
More specifically, when at least one sulfur source selected from the group consisting of alkali metal sulfides and alkali metal hydrosulfides is reacted with a dihalo-aromatic compound, a desalting condensation reaction between the monomers is caused to rapidly progress to increase the conversion of the dihalo-aromatic compound. However, the polymer in this state is low in both melt viscosity and molecular weight and is in a stage of the so-called prepolymer.
When a phase separation agent is caused to exist in a liquid phase within a high-temperature polymerization reaction system, a phase-separated state that a concentrated formed polymer phase and a dilute formed polymer phase are present in a mixed state in the liquid phase is created. An alkali metal salt such as NaCl is present in a great amount in the dilute formed polymer phase. The concentrated formed polymer phase contains many of a formed polymer in the liquid phase. When the liquid phase is stirred, the concentrated formed polymer phase is dispersed in the dilute formed polymer phase, and a condensation reaction between the prepolymers is caused to efficiently progress in the concentrated phase. As a result, the formation of a high-molecular weight polymer is advanced.
When the liquid phase is sifted by a screen after the polymerization reaction, a granular PAS having a high molecular weight is captured on the screen. Impurities such as a secondarily formed alkali metal salt and oligomers are easy to be removed by washing from the high-molecular weight granular PAS. At present, the high-molecular weight granular PAS is washed by a combination of water washing, washing with an organic solvent, acid washing, etc., in a post treatment step after polymerization whereby a PAS substantially containing no alkali metal salt such as NaCl comes to be obtained.
As described above, the high-molecular weight granular PAS can be obtained according to the production process of the PAS comprising the phase-separation polymerization step using the phase separation agent. Impurities such as the secondarily formed alkali metal salt and oligomers are easy to be removed by washing from the granular PAS. On the contrary, the yield of the granular PAS is not always sufficiently high, and a great amount of oligomers or the like removed by washing is disposed as industrial waste.
With the increasing interest in environmental problems in recent years, a production process little in industrial waste has been more and more required even in a technical field of polymers. Even in the production process of a granular PAS comprising the phase-separation polymerization step, there is a latent requirement for reduction in waste such as oligomers and a finely particulate PAS. When the yield of the granular PAS is improved, it is expected to reduce the production of the oligomers and finely particulate PAS.
However, interest in reduction of the production of the oligomers and finely particulate PAS has been little in the prior art, and moreover there has been a limit to technical solving means for increasing the yield of the granular PAS. In addition, in the production process of the PAS comprising a step of polymerizing the sulfur source and the dihalo-aromatic compound in the organic amide solvent, it has been proved that it is preferable to adopt a process of adding an alkali metal hydroxide (for example, NaOH) in excess to the charged sulfur source within the polymerization reaction system for the purpose of stabilizing the polymerization reaction. According to this process, however, there is a tendency for the production of pasty oligomers and a finely particulate PAS to increase, and the yield of the granular PAS is lowered. This tendency becomes stronger as the molecular weight or melt viscosity of the PAS is higher.

Production process of granular poly(arylene sulfide)


A method and apparatus for receiving data from a network subscriber, wherein the data conforms to multiple protocols, converting the data into packets that conform to a single protocol of a single layer of the Open System Interconnection Model, and propagating the packets across a network.

As the need for high speed communication increases, new techniques and networks are required to improve the efficiency with which data can be transmitted. Several Digital Loop Carrier ("DLC") systems have been introduced over the last few decades to address the need for high speed communication. A DLC is a telecommunications system that carries telephone signals from a Central Office to subscribers in a local loop using digital signals as a transport mechanism. The first DLC was introduced in the early 1970's to provide a cost-effective means for deployment of voice service in rural areas.
The local loop is necessary since Central Office equipment has an operational range limitation of 18,000 feet. This range is called the Central Office serving area. Subscribers living within that service area are the only subscribers who receive service directly from the Central Office. All other customers receive service from the DLC via Remote Terminals coupled to the local loop.
The Remote Terminals serve as service aggregation points for remote subscribers and are located along the local loop, which is often comprised of fiber optic cable. In operation, voice traffic bound for a subscriber is digitized and transported over the fiber optic cable to a Remote Terminal that services the target subscriber. Upon receipt of the digitized voice traffic, the Remote Terminal converts the digitized signal into an analog signal that is carried to the target subscriber's telephone via a twisted pair of copper wires. In this manner, telephone service is provided to remote subscribers.
In addition, T1 connections are used to deliver phone service to large entities such as corporations, hospitals, hotels, or universities having a large number of telephone lines that are interconnected yet require connection to the local loop.
This entire DLC implementation utilizes Time Division Multiplexing ("TDM") elements. TDM refers to a technique in which data from multiple channels may be allocated bandwidth on a single medium (e.g., copper wire) based on a time slot assignment.
A more recent version of the DLC provides Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line ("ADSL") service along with telephone service to a remote subscriber. This is made possible by transmitting signals for the telephone service and Digital Subscriber Line ("DSL") service on the same line to a splitter within the Remote Terminal. The splitter is included to separate the frequencies for telephone service and DSL service. The voice traffic is sent back to the Central Office via the TDM infrastructure while the DSL service is sent back to the Central Office via a separate Asynchronous Transfer Mode ("ATM") overlay network. In this system, the ATM traffic has limited access to the available bandwidth since at least a portion of the bandwidth has been previously dedicated to telephone service regardless of whether the dedicated bandwidth is actually being used at the time of ATM transmission.
In yet a later DLC, a Symmetrical High Bit Rate Digital Subscriber Line ("SHDSL") is used to connect an Integrated Access Device ("IAD") to a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer ("DSLAM") located in the Remote Terminal. An IAD is customer premise equipment used for aggregating diverse traffic types such as voice and data. The IAD converts analog voice traffic to digital and sends the digitized voice traffic along with non-voice data. The ATM overlay in this system also shares bandwidth with the existing TDM infrastructure, which contains dedicated bandwidth that cannot be reallocated based on network traffic requirements.
All of the DLCs described above conform to the American National Standards Institute's ANSI T1.105-1995 et seq. and ANSI T1.119-1994 et seq. standards for a Synchronous Optical Network ("SONET"), which is a standard for synchronous data transmission on optical media. Typically, SONET is used in a fiber ring topology and supports electronic redundancy in the form of protection switching from a primary to a standby path when a network fault occurs. One problem with a SONET-based communication system is that SONET uses circuit switching with virtual circuits, which ties up bandwidth that cannot be reallocated based on network traffic requirements.


A component mounting system which includes a printer for printing solder on electrodes formed on a board; a first inspection unit for detecting positions of printed solder and outputting solder position detection results; a component mounting unit for picking up components from a component feeder carriage and placing the components on the board using mounting heads; a second inspection unit for inspecting positions of the components placed and outputting component position detection results; a soldering unit for soldering the components onto the board by heating and melting solder; and a main controller for updating at least a control parameter for controlling the printer operation or a control parameter for the component mounting unit operation based on at least the solder position detection results or component position detection results. The above configuration enables the accurate and efficient quality control throughout the mounting process.

The present invention relates to a system and method for mounting components, such as electronic components, on a board.
Increasingly accurate positioning for mounting components onto electrodes on a board is required as electronic components such as semiconductors become smaller and mounting density becomes higher. Numerous micro components measuring about 0.6 mmxc3x970.3 mm are mounted at a narrow pitch of about 0.1 mm in small apparatuses such as mobile phones which are becoming increasingly popular consumer items. Mounting of such small components requires extremely high mounting position accuracy.
When mounting the above-mentioned micro components, it is necessary to pay particular attention to the mounting quality control. More specifically, the quality of mounted boards needs to be assured with respect to their use over a range of conditions without causing any defects. Accordingly, an inspection is carried out on boards after mounting for assuring functions, and if the board is judged defective, it is repaired. In most cases, defective mounted boards are repaired manually such as by removal of defective components and the mounting of new, non-defective components.
In case of boards on which the aforementioned micro components are mounted at high density, the above repair operation is extremely difficult if the defect is determined after all the components have been mounted. Most boards which are judged defective in the inspection after mounting are thus disposed of, resulting in wastage of expensive electronic components mounted at high density.
In order to prevent such wastefulness, the next operation is implemented in order to minimize the occurrence of defects in the conventional mounting operation. The operation of the mounting line is periodically stopped to allow the checking and adjustment of each device in a mounting line using a test board; and calibration is implemented to update control parameters, such as positioning correction values in accordance with the latest conditions of the machine. Since these operations require the machine to be halted, the operation rate drops. Operators also need to spend considerable time and effort carrying out complicated adjustments. Accordingly, more accurate and efficient quality control during the mounting process is required to eliminate wasted time and materials.
These defects also occur due to secular changes in the fine-tuning of individual mechanical part of the component mounting devices. Defects may also occur when individual components in each mechanical part suffer wear and cause faulty operation. In general, by updating control parameters set in each device in accordance with machine conditions, it is possible to offset secular changes in the fine-tuning and maintain the mounting accuracy. However, defects caused by the wearing out of mechanical parts often require that components be replaced, and thus maintenance time is needed for replacing components.
Conventionally, there are no clear indexes for identifying the degree of wear of mechanical parts, and thus skilled operators are needed to identify and pinpoint abnormalities based on the operating conditions of each device, forecast the type and degree of degradation of mechanical parts, and announce the need for maintenance. Accordingly, if abnormal operation occurs suddenly, without being predicted, numerous defectives may be produced before the abnormality is noticed, causing large-scale losses and requiring immediate maintenance.
The present invention solves the above disadvantages, and aims to offer a component mounting system and mounting method which enables the more accurate and efficient control of quality during the mounting process; makes it possible constantly to monitor the conditions prevailing in each device constituting the component mounting system, and eliminates wastage due to defects by predicting faulty operation.
The component mounting system of the present invention is configured by connecting two or more devices, and manufactures mounted boards by placing and soldering components on the board. This system comprises the following devices:
(a) a printer for printing solder onto electrodes formed on a board:
(b) a first inspection unit for detecting the positions of printed solder and outputting solder position detection results;
(c) a component mounting unit for picking up components from a component feeder carriage with a mounting head, and placing these components on the board;
(d) a second inspection unit for detecting the positions of mounted components, and outputting the component position detection results;
(e) a soldering unit for soldering components onto the board by heating and melting solder; and
(f) a main controller for at least updating i) control parameters for controlling the operation of the printer; or ii) control parameters for controlling the operation of the component mounting unit based on at least solder position detection results or component position detection results.
The above configuration enables the component mounting system of the present invention to control quality more accurately and efficiently during the mounting process.
The method for mounting components of the present invention uses a component mounting system configured by connecting two or more devices, and manufactures mounted boards by placing and soldering components onto the board. This method includes the next steps:
(a) a printing step for printing solder on electrodes formed on the board using the printer;
(b) a solder position detection step for detecting the positions of printed solder and outputting solder position detection results using the first inspection unit;
(c) a placement step for picking up components from a component feeder carriage and placing them on the board using the mounting head of the component mounting unit;
(d) a component position detection step for detecting the positions of mounted components and outputting component position detection results using the second inspection unit; and
(e) a soldering step for soldering components onto the board by heating and melting solder using the soldering unit.
While executing each of the above steps, at least the control parameters for controlling the operation of the printer or control parameters for controlling the operation of the component mounting unit are updated based on at least solder position detection results or component position detection results.
This method makes it possible to update control parameters for controlling the printer and/or component mounting unit inline based on solder position detection results and/or component position detection results when executing each step in the component mounting process: printing, solder position detection, placement, component position detection, and soldering. Accordingly, the quality is more accurately and efficiently controlled during the mounting process.

Component mounting system and mounting method

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A two-level multiplexed encoder/decoder based on a novel technique of code table compression is disclosed. By means of comparing various code conversion tables such as well-known tables for use in NRZ-MRM, NRZ-RLL conversion schemes, separate code word condition sets are obtained. In accordance with the code word condition sets thus obtained, a two-level multiplexed encode and decode logic can be easily constructed. The code word condition sets representing the compressed code relations are sensed in the first level and are used further to set up the operation of a connected network of a multiplexed logic circuit in the second level. The AM generation/check and precompensation circuit necessary for the encoder and decoder are incorporated as an integral part. This method is applicable when more than two code tables are needed to be integrated in a single encoder/decoder.

There are a number of encoding schemes used to record data on a disk. The encoding schemes are employed to minimize the number of transitions needed to represent data and, therefore, to increase the recording density of data stored on a mass storage device. In actual encoding process, parallel input data is first serialized and converted to a NRZ (non-return to zero) interpretation of the binary data bit pattern. The serialized NRZ data is then encoded according to a coding scheme such as MFM (modified frequency modulation) and RLL (run length limited). The encoded data are then recorded on the magnetic surface on the disk. When reading back the stored data, the encoded bit streams are decoded according to the same code conversion table used during encoding to obtain the original NRZ data.
A number of different implementations of the encoder and decoder to translate one code into another different code have been developed.
For instance, Adaptec Inc.'s disk controller includes a AlC-250 chip to provide code conversion for NRZ to and from MFM code. The same company developed another chip AlC-270 which provides NRZ to/from 2,7 RLL code conversion. Another commercialized encoder/decoder example is Western Digital Corp.'s WD1100-02 MFM generator which only converts NRZ data to and from MFM data symbols with corresponding write precompensation signals.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,691,254 discloses an encoder and decoder that employs a RLL code and has a write precompensation logic circuit.
All of the above devices provide single code conversion corresponding to a single coding scheme in the encoder and decoder.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,651,237 discloses a disk controller that utilizes a state machine having a stored program to manage the translation of multiple codes including MFM and RLL. This software approach for the code conversion in the disk controller could be too slow to cope with high-speed/high-volume heavy data transfer requirements.
For both economic reasons and efficient operation of code conversion, it has been attempted to provide an encoder and decoder capable of handling several different coding schemes for high speed disk storage devices without resorting to the use of extra components.

Multiplexed encoder and decoder with address mark generation/check and precompensation circuits

Industrial Technology Research Institute


An improved Content Addressable Memory (CAM) architecture and method for operating the same is provided herein. The improved CAM architecture may generally include an array of memory cells arranged into rows and columns, where each row includes a number of memory cells configured for storing one word. In particular, the number of memory cells may be coupled to a plurality of local match lines which, when combined through a hierarchy of two or more logic gates, form a match line signal for the entire word. Dynamic logic is used within a compare portion of each memory cell to reduce the occurrence of functional failures. In addition, the improved method for operating the CAM reduces power consumption and peak current, and improves timing, by eliminating the need to restore the match line voltage to a preset voltage level before each new compare operation.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to content addressable memories (CAMs) and, more particularly, to an improved CAM architecture with substantially fewer functional failures, less power consumption, and improved timing.
2. Description of the Related Art
The following descriptions and examples are given as background only.
Content Addressable Memory (CAM) devices are typically used in applications that require the capability to quickly search for patterns stored among a group of memory cells. Just like other memory devices, a CAM is arranged as an array of memory cells, each cell being capable of storing an electric charge. These charges can be manipulated to store and recall data through the use of special control circuitry in the memory. In some cases, each memory cell may be capable of storing one of two values, depending on whether or not the cell holds a charge. The values "1" and "0" are typically used to represent the charged and uncharged states, respectively, although the opposite may be true. CAM devices configured for storing one of two possible states (i.e., a 1 or a 0) in each cell are known as "Binary CAMs." In addition to storing binary data, Ternary CAMs (or TCAMs) are configured for storing a mask bit, which may otherwise be referred to as a "wild card" or "don't care" bit. One or more mask bits may be used in a compare operation to search for a pattern having one or more unknown or "don't care" bit positions in the pattern. TCAMs are typically used in applications that benefit from increased flexibility.
In addition to a mechanism for storing data, each CAM cell may include a comparison circuit having a "compare" input signal and a "match" output signal. Typically, a column of cells share the same compare signal, while each cell outputs its own match signal. When a binary value or ternary value drives the compare input, each memory cell having the same value as the compare input activates (or "asserts") its match signal. This single-cell matching mechanism is useful for quickly finding data patterns among a plurality of cells in the memory device.
FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary Binary CAM 100 including an array of memory cells 110, 120, 130, 140, 150 and 160. In FIG. 1, the CAM cells are organized into two rows and three columns; however, the CAM cells may be organized into substantially any other number of rows and columns, as desired. In the embodiment shown, CAM cells 110-130 represent the three columns of row 0, and CAM cells 140-160 represent the three columns of row 1. Each cell includes storage logic (S) and comparison logic (C). The storage logic (S) stores the charge that identifies the data value. Each row of cells is coupled for receiving a word line (WL) signal that activates the storage logic of each cell for reading and writing data. The CAM cells 110-130 of row 0, for example, are coupled to word line WL0, while CAM cells 140-160 of row 1 are coupled to word line WL1.
The storage logic (S) in each cell is coupled for receiving complementary bit line signals, which are shared with other cells in the same column. For example, CAM cells 110 and 140 of column 0 are coupled to complementary bit lines BL0 and BLB0, CAM cells 120 and 150 of column 1 are coupled to complementary bit lines BL1 and BLB1, and CAM cells 130 and 160 of column 2 are coupled to complementary bit lines BL2 and BLB2. To read data from a particular cell, the word line coupled to that cell is asserted, causing the cell to dump data from the storage logic onto the bit lines. To write a data value into a particular cell, the data value is placed onto the bit lines coupled to the cell. Activating the cell's word line then causes the cell to store the data value from the bit lines into the storage logic.
The comparison logic (C) in each cell is coupled to the storage logic and to a pair of complementary compare lines, which are shared with other cells in the same column. For example, CAM cells 110 and 140 of column 0 are coupled to compare lines CL0 and CLB0, CAM cells 120 and 150 of column 1 are coupled to compare lines CL1 and CLB1, and CAM cells 130 and 160 of column 2 are coupled to compare lines CL2 and CLB2. In each cell, the comparison logic generates a match line (ML) signal based on the data value stored within the storage logic and the compare value supplied to the compare lines. For example, a MATCH or HIT signal may be generated if the compare value matches the stored data value; otherwise, a NO MATCH or MISS signal may be generated.
Memory cells are usually accessed in groups called "words." Memory words comprise at least two contiguous cells on the same row and share a common word line, and in some cases, a common match line. The memory array shown in FIG. 1, for example, is constructed using three-bit words, including a first word consisting of cells 110-130 and a second word consisting of cells 140-160. The individual "bit match line signals" generated within each memory cell are supplied to a common match line (e.g., ML0 for row 0, or ML1 for row 1) to generate a match line signal for the entire word (referred to herein as a "word match line signal"). A "HIT" signal may be generated for the entire word, if the compare bit pattern exactly matches the sequence of bits in the data word. However, if at least one compare bit fails to match a respective data bit, a MISS signal will be generated for the entire word.
FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate conventional Binary and Ternary CAM cell architectures, respectively. As shown in FIG. 2, Binary CAM cell 200 includes storage logic 210, comparison logic 220, a word line (WL), a match line (ML), a pair of complementary bit lines (BL/BLB) and a pair of complementary compare lines (CL/CLB). The storage logic 210 includes a storage cell, or bi-stable latch, implemented with cross-coupled p-channel load transistors (P1 and P2) and n-channel latch transistors (N1 and N2). A pair of n-channel access transistors (N3 and N4) provide access to the storage nodes (D/DB) of the bi-stable latch. The comparison logic 220 includes a pair of n-channel access transistors (N5 and N6) and an n-channel match detect transistor (N7). The source-drain path of match detect transistor (N7) is coupled between the match line (ML) and ground, while the gate terminal of transistor N7 is coupled to comparison node C.
In some cases, memory cell 200 may be accessed by applying a positive voltage to the wordline (often referred to as "raising the wordline"), which activates access transistors N3 and N4. This may enable one of the two bit lines (BL/BLB) to sense the contents of the memory cell based on the voltages present at the storage nodes. For example, if storage node D is at a relatively high voltage (e.g., logic 1) and node DB is at a relatively low voltage (e.g., logic 0) when the wordline is raised, latch transistor N1 and access transistor N3 are activated to pull the bit line complement (BLB) down toward the ground potential. At the same time, the bit line (BL) is pulled up by activation of latch transistor N2 and access transistor N4. In this manner, the state of the memory cell (either a 1 or 0) can be determined (or "read") by sensing the potential difference between bit lines BL and BLB. Conversely, writing a 1 or 0 into the memory cell can be accomplished by forcing the bit line or bit line complement to either VDD or VSS and then raising the wordline. The potentials placed on the pair of bit lines will be transferred to respective storage nodes, thereby forcing the cell into either a logic 1 or 0 state.
During a compare operation, the data values stored at nodes D/DB are compared with compare values supplied to the pair of complementary compare lines (CL/CLB) for generating a match line signal (e.g., a HIT or MISS). In most cases, the match line (ML) is precharged to a logic 1 state (indicating a HIT) before the compare operation begins. If a HIT occurs during the compare operation (e.g., if the data values at node D and compare line CL are both logic 0 or both logic 1), comparison node C will be pulled to a logic 0 value, allowing the match line to remain at the precharged logic 1 level. However, if a MISS occurs (i.e., if the data values at node D and compare line CL are different), comparison node C will be logic 1 and the match line will be discharged to a logic 0 level. If the match line is shared by multiple bits, as shown in FIG. 1, the match line will be discharged to a logic 0 level if at least one bit misses.
As shown in FIG. 3, Ternary CAM cell 300 includes many of the same circuit elements included within CAM cell 200 of FIG. 2. For example, CAM cell 300 includes storage logic 310, comparison logic 320, a word line (WL), a match line (ML), a pair of complementary bit lines (BL/BLB) and a pair of complementary compare lines (CL/CLB). Storage logic 310 is similar to storage logic 210; therefore, description of storage logic 310 will not be repeated for purposes of brevity. In addition to the circuit elements included within comparison logic 220, comparison logic 320 includes n-channel transistors (N8 and N9). The source-drain paths of transistors N8 and N9 are coupled in series between comparison node C and ground. The match detect transistor N7 is activated or deactivated by the voltage present at the node (X) arranged between transistors N8 and N9.
Ternary CAM cell 300 includes another storage portion 330 for storing a complementary mask bit (M/MB) received from a pair of complementary mask lines (MASK/MASKB). When the mask bit (M) is set to logic 0 (i.e., not masked), transistor N9 will be turned off and transistor N8 will be turned on. This enables compare logic 320 to operate in a manner similar to compare logic 220. However, setting the mask bit (M) to logic 1 (i.e., masked) causes transistor N8 to turn off and transistor N9 to turn on. Activation of transistor N9 pulls node X down to ground, turning off match detect transistor N7 and maintaining the match line at it's preset voltage level to indicate a HIT (regardless of the comparison value at node C).
The CAM cell architectures shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 present many problems, especially in newer technologies with lower power supplies and diminished transistor sizes. First of all, CAM cells 200 and 300 both use n-channel transistors (e.g., NMOS) in the comparison logic portion of the cell. Because NMOS is not particularly good at passing logic 1 values, the voltage at comparison node C is not full VDD when it should be a logic 1. Instead, the voltage at comparison node C is degraded to VDD-Vth (in FIG. 2), where Vth is the threshold voltage of NMOS transistor (N5 or N6). This means that, in the case of a MISS, the match detect transistor (N7) will not be fully turned on. In some cases, the degraded voltage at node C may cause functional failures, which occur when a compare operation is miss-sensed (i.e., sensed incorrectly) as either a HIT or a MISS.
The performance of memory cell 200 may further decrease over certain process, voltage and temperature (PVT) comers (especially when the temperature is low), and is often unacceptable in newer transistor technologies. For example, although the performance of memory cell 200 may be acceptable when using 0.18 micrometer (μm) technology, the performance steadily decreases in newer technologies utilizing lower power supplies and smaller gate lengths (e.g., 0.13 μm and below). Because the transistor threshold voltage (Vth) does not drop proportionately to VDD, the threshold voltage becomes a larger percentage of VDD in newer technologies, which increases the occurrence of functional failures. The problem is exasperated in TCAM cell 300, where a series connection of two NMOS transistors further degrades the compare node C voltage to VDD−2*Vth.
Another problem with memory cells 200 and 300 is that they tend to consume a relatively large amount of power. As shown in FIG. 4, for example, each match line (ML) must be precharged to a predetermined voltage level (usually a logic high voltage level, VH) before the compare operation begins. In most cases, the predetermined voltage level represents a "HIT" state, although the opposite may be true, in some cases. When the compare operation begins (at time t0), the match line voltage for a given row may be discharged to a logic low voltage level (VL) if at least one bit misses in the row. Near the end of the compare operation (at time t1), the match line voltage is restored to the predetermined voltage level (VH) in preparation for the next comparison cycle (which may begin at time t2). A CAM device operates by searching all rows in parallel. Misses are much more frequent than Hits. Therefore, the architectures shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 consume a considerable amount of power by continually charging, discharging and recharging the match lines after each and every MISS.
In addition to increased power consumption, the need for restoring the match line to a predetermined state (after a MISS) complicates the design of the memory device and decreases the speed with which it operates. For example, a self-timing path is usually needed to determine when the compare operation is finished, so that the restore operation can begin. Since it takes time to perform the restore operation, timing margins are also required to account for the restore time. This undesirably increases the amount of delay within a critical path.
Additional problems arise in newer technologies as gate lengths are decreased to about 0.13 μm and below. As gate lengths get shorter, current leakage (e.g., IDS standby current) becomes a larger percentage of the total transistor current consumption. For example, although the current leakage may be small in the 0.18 μm technology used to form memory cells 200 and 300, it becomes a bigger problem as gate lengths decrease to 0.13 μm, and often becomes unmanageable in technologies 90 nm and below. When dynamic logic is used within the compare portion of the memory cell, as in the case of memory cells 200 and 300, more and more functional failures tend to occur as current leakage increases.
For example, a PMOS load transistor (not shown) is used in the memory cells of FIGS. 2 and 3 to precharge the match line during a precharge phase. During compare (i.e., evaluation) modes, the PMOS load transistor is turned off and NMOS transistors (e.g., N5, N6 and N7 in FIG. 2) are used to determine the state of the match line. If the comparison node is pulled to logic "0" (when a HIT occurs), transistor N7 is turned off to ensure that the match line remains at the precharged voltage level. Because the match line is not actively driven during the evaluation phase (i.e., because the PMOS precharge transistor is turned off), current leakage within transistor N7 may cause the match line voltage to decrease over time. In some cases, excessive leakage (or excessive PMOS off time) may cause the match line to be pulled down to a MISS when it should be a HIT.
One solution to the current leakage problem is to insert regeneration ("Regen") cells along the match line (ML), as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The Regen cells are usually spaced along the match line between every N memory cells (e.g., where N=16, in the embodiment of FIG. 6). The Regen cells are used as "match line repeaters" to buffer the match line (ML) signal, since one memory cell usually cannot pull down the match line with all bits tied to it. The Regen cells are also used to reduce leakage along the match line by dividing the match line into "local match lines," each tied to only a portion of the total number of bits. Although the solution shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 may suffice in some technologies (e.g., down to about 0.13 μm the solution presents additional problems in newer technologies (e.g., 90 nm and below) where leakage constitutes a greater portion of the total transistor current consumption. For example, as gate lengths decrease, the number of Regen cells inserted along a match line can be increased to decrease the number of cells tied to each local match line. Although this may decrease the total leakage current, increasing the number of Regen cells increases the amount of area consumed by the CAM device and adds delay to the critical path.
Therefore, a need exists for an improved CAM architecture and method of operating the same. Preferably, the improved architecture and method would improve timing and reduce power consumption, the occurrence of functional failures and the complexity of the CAM device. It is also preferred that the architecture and method be applicable to a wide range of technologies, including those 90 nm and below, without sacrificing accuracy.

Content addressable memory (CAM) architecture and method of operating the same


A humanoid electric hand includes a metacarpophalangeal joint and an interphalangeal joint. The interphalangeal joint bends or extends together with a bending or extending operation of the metacarpophalangeal joint, by linking a finger motor for driving a finger to a worm deceleration mechanism, an output gear of which moves rotationally to bend or extend the metacarpophalangeal joint, and by linking the metacarpophalangeal joint to the interphalangeal joint via a link mechanism.

Recently, development of humanoid electric hands that are capable of performing holding operations, similarly to human hands, and serve as electric artificial hands or electric hands for humanoid robots has been advanced. According to humanoid electric hands described in Patent Literatures 1 to 3, for example, respective joints of fingers are driven by wires.
As described above, the wires are employed to drive the conventional humanoid electric hands, so that smooth movement of the fingers is realized while avoiding an increase in weight. However, as the wires stretch when used over a long period of time, it is necessary to replace the wires and string the wires again. Accordingly, there are demands for the humanoid electric hands that are light-weighted and easily maintained.
According to the humanoid electric hand described in Patent Literature 3, a motor having a large output is required to drive the fingers other than the thumb, to secure multiple degrees of freedom and a large holding force. This causes an increase in weight of the electric hand. Further, according to the humanoid electric hands described in Patent Literatures 1 to 3, it is inevitable that operations of wrist portions are performed in an unnatural manner because the wrist portions have no degree of freedom. At the time of holding a cup, for example, it is necessary to lean his or her body to adjust the position of the glass, in order to prevent liquid from spilling out of the cup. Further, according to the humanoid electric hands described in Patent Literatures 1 to 3, control sections are provided outside the electric hands. Therefore, it is necessary to route many cables between the electric hands and the control sections. As a result of this, operations of the electric hands may be limited, and operation reliability of the electric hands may be decreased.


A power unit having a casing for rotatably supporting a driving force output power shaft and for protecting an oil seal provided between the casing and the driving force output power shaft. A first casing for rotatably supporting input power shafts and a second casing disposed at a position offset in an axial direction from the input power shafts and having an output power shaft supporting portion on which a driving force output power shaft provided in the transmission. The first and second casings are disposed adjacent each other such that the output power shaft supporting portion projects to a side farther than the first casing. A breather chamber is formed between first and second case members which cooperate with each other to configure the second casing disposed above a projection of one end portion of the driving force output power shaft from the output power shaft supporting portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power unit including an internal combustion engine and a transmission for changing the speed of the output power of the internal combustion engine wherein the output power of the changed speed provides a driving force.
2. Description of Background Art
A power unit that includes an internal combustion engine and a transmission is known. See, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-236128.
In the power unit disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-236128, a driving force output power shaft is frequently supported for rotation on a casing provided continuously to an end portion of an engine main body. Further, between the casing which supports the driving force output power shaft for rotation thereon and the driving force output power shaft, an oil seal for preventing leakage of oil from within the casing is interposed. Thus, the oil seal is protected.


Integrated circuit devices and methods of forming the same are provided. The methods of forming an integrated circuit device may include forming a first insulating layer and a via contact on a substrate. The substrate may include an upper surface facing the via contact, and the via contact may be in the first insulating layer and may include a lower surface facing the substrate and an upper surface opposite to the lower surface. The methods may also include forming a second insulating layer and a metallic wire on the via contact. The metallic wire may be in the second insulating layer and may include a lower surface that faces the substrate and contacts the upper surface of the via contact. Both the lower surface of the metallic wire and an interface between the metallic wire and the via contact may have a first width in a horizontal direction that is parallel to the upper surface of the substrate.

A fully-aligned metal wire structure has been introduced to provide stable electrical connection between a via contact and a metal wire subsequently formed on the via contact. A fully-aligned metal wire structure, however, may not provide uniform surface resistance between a via contact and a metal wire because of an overlay error while forming the metal wire.

Integrated circuit devices including enlarged via and fully aligned metal wire and methods of forming the same


A graphics integrated circuit chip is used in a set-top box for controlling a television display. The graphics chip processes analog video input, digital video input, graphics input and audio input simultaneously. The system includes a video decoder having a chroma-locked sample rate converter. The chroma-locked sample rate converter converts the samples to those taken at a sample rate that is a multiple of the chroma subcarrier frequency and that is locked to chroma bursts of the analog video signal in a control loop. The video decoder also includes a line-locked sample rate converter that receives samples at a multiple of the chroma subcarrier frequency and converts the samples to samples with a sample frequency that is a multiple of the horizontal line rate of the video input. The line-locked sample rate converter measures the horizontal line rate to an accuracy of a fraction of a pixel and adjusts the sample rate and phase of the line-locked sample rate converter to produce accurate line-locked samples. The time base corrector receives samples at the output of the line-locked sample rate converter and provides samples synchronized to the display clock for reducing undesirable artifacts such as jitter.

The present invention relates generally to integrated circuits, and more particularly to an integrated circuit graphics display system.
Graphics display systems are typically used in television control electronics, such as set top boxes, integrated digital TVs, and home network computers. Graphics display systems typically include a display engine that may perform display functions. The display engine is the part of the graphics display system that receives display pixel data from any combination of locally attached video and graphics input ports, processes the data in some way, and produces final display pixels as output.
This application includes references to both graphics and video, which reflects in certain ways the structure of the hardware itself. This split does not, however, imply the existence of any fundamental difference between graphics and video, and in fact much of the functionality is common to both. Graphics as used herein may include graphics, text and video.
The present invention provides a graphics display system having a video synchronizing mechanism. The video synchronization mechanism includes a first sample rate converter for converting a sampling rate of a stream of video samples to a first converted rate, a filter for processing at least some of the video samples with the first converted rate, and a second sample rate converter for converting the first converted rate to a second converted rate.

Graphics display system with video synchronization feature


A prong style file fastener and the method of manufacture is disclosed which has a protective element to prevent damage to paper documents and personal injury. In one embodiment, the prongs of the fastener are covered with a heat shrinkable sheath. In another, the prongs are overcoated with a powder coating which is melted thereon. A method of applying the sheath to the prongs uses a pair of jaws or V-shaped surface to drive the sheath onto the prongs.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present invention is directed to the field of paper document management, and more particularly to file fasteners having bendable prongs.
2. Description of the Related Art
Paper fasteners have been used for decades to bind paper documents into file folders. They are typically formed from a base plate with two orthogonal prongs extending from the ends of the base plate and which are themselves bendable.
In the most prevalent configuration, the fastener also includes a compressor plate which is used at the end of the prongs to provide a secure lock on the prongs.
These prior art devices have at least two serious deficiencies. First, they have sharp metal edges which shear the papers they are intended to bind and second, these same sharp edges can cause injuries.
A solution to these problems would be to dull or roll (coin) the edges. This does not seem to work at least with respect to the first problem. The mere nature of metal edges, dull or not, causes papers to become detached by ripping or shearing. Use of plastic prongs has likewise not worked well. The plastic is either too elastic or too rigid which causes cracks and failures.
The present invention provides multiple solutions to this dilemma.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Protected prong file fastener and method of manufacture


An engine (10) electronically controlled by a control device (33), a hydraulic motor (24) for traveling which is driven by a pressurized oil delivered from a hydraulic pump (13), and a traveling speed switching member (29) which switches a traveling speed by the hydraulic motor (24) at least in two stages of a low speed and a high speed. The control device (33) includes an output lowering determination unit for determining whether or not a fuel injection amount to be supplied to the engine (10) is limited and an engine output is in a lowered state and a low-speed control unit in which, when the engine (10) output is in a lowered state, a traveling speed is controlled to a low speed state kept lower than a high speed even if the traveling speed switching member (29) has been switched to the high speed side.

In general, a construction machine represented by a hydraulic excavator is provided with an automotive vehicle body, an engine mounted on the vehicle body and electronically controlled by a control device, a hydraulic pump which is driven by the engine and sucks an oil liquid in a tank and delivers a pressurized oil, a hydraulic motor for traveling which is driven by the pressurized oil delivered from the hydraulic pump, and a traveling operation device provided on the vehicle body and driving and operating the hydraulic motor during traveling of a vehicle (Patent Document 1).
This type of conventional art construction machine (particularly a small-sized hydraulic excavator called a mini excavator) has a traveling speed switching member for switching a traveling speed of a vehicle by the hydraulic motor. This traveling speed switching member is provided on the front side of an operator's seat of the vehicle body and selectively switches the traveling speed of the vehicle at least in two stages of a low speed and a high speed by manual operation by the operator.

HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.


A toner for use in electrophotography comprises particles composed of an inner core containing a pigment and surrounded by an outer layer which contains a conductive substance to reduce its resistance but is free of pigments so as to improve the stability of its charging characteristics.

This invention relates to a toner for use as a developing agent in an electrophotographic copier and the like and more particularly to a method of producing such a toner.
Electrophotographic copiers and the like generally use a two-component developing agent including a toner and a carrier. The toner is produced by mixing a resin material, a coloring agent such as an organic pigment and a charge controlling agent and stirring (or kneading) them together. Many kinds of organic pigments in many forms can be utilized and toners of many different colors can be produced by selecting a proper organic pigment.
It is important that the toner have uniform charging characteristics because they significantly affect the manner in which the toner particles become attached to a photosensitive body and hence the quality of the image which is eventually formed. The charging characteristics of a toner vary, however, depending significantly upon the composition of the pigment on the surface. In Japanese patent Application 61-172440 entitled (in translation) "Toner For Use In Electrophotography", the present applicants disclosed a toner which contains a pigment only in the interior section and of which the exterior layer contains a charge controlling agent dispersed therethrough such that the use of a different pigment would not affect the charging characteristics of the toner and hence that the problem mentioned above is eliminated.
With the toner described above, the charging characteristics are successfully stabilized but since its main component is a resin material and since resins have a high electrical resistance, the toner tends to become charged excessively in spite of the charge controlling agent which is also mixed together. A proper level of charging cannot be attained with such a toner. Because of this high electrical resistance, furthermore, a toner of this type requires an excessively long time for charging inside a developing tank.

Method of making a toner for use in electrophotography


Devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure are directed to facilitating control of a graphical user interface associated with performing a medical procedure. Inputs can be received from a plurality of input devices interacting with respective sets of input options displayed on respective portions of the graphical user interface. One of the input devices can be operable by a physician, during a medical procedure, to navigate a set of input options to modify a graphical representation of at least one of a medical device and an anatomic structure displayed on the graphical user interface.

Three-dimensional models are sometimes used to assist in the placement or use of a device when such placement or use is not easily observable or practical. For example, in medical procedures, three-dimensional models presented on a graphical user interface are used to assist in the placement and use of medical devices as part of diagnosis or treatment of patients. An example of such a medical procedure carried out with the assistance of a three-dimensional model presented on a graphical user interface is the use of a catheter for radio frequency ("RF") ablation to terminate certain arrhythmias in the heart.


A medium conveying apparatus includes a conveyance roller to convey a medium, a motor to drive the conveyance roller, a signal generator to output a pulse signal, a pulse width of which changes according to a rotation speed of the motor, and a processor to rotate the conveyance roller by controlling the motor, and detect a fluctuation of the pulse width caused by a load fluctuation when the conveyance roller conveys a medium to determine a thickness of the medium according to the pulse width.

Since a thickness of a sheet forming an image in a copying machine affects an image formation condition, there is a demand for finding out a thickness of a sheet before forming an image.
For example, a sheet conveying apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-136454 includes a conveyance roller provided on an internal circumference side of a part where a conveyance path of a sheet is crooked, a driving means driving rotation of the conveyance roller, and a drive control means controlling a rotation speed of the conveyance roller through the driving means. Then, the sheet conveying apparatus detects a thickness of a sheet on the basis of a conveyance speed of the sheet, a radius of the conveyance roller, and a rotation speed of the conveyance roller.

Medium conveying apparatus for determining thickness of medium