A wireless communication apparatus and a wireless communication method capable of improving a connection rate. The wireless communication apparatus has: a transceiver for transceiving data with an external device; a response packet generator for generating a response packet for informing of a successful reception of a packet transmitted by the external device; and a control unit for transmitting the generated response packet to the external device through the transceiver when the packet is received, and re-transmitting the response packet after a predetermined time when it is judged that an error occurred in the transmitted response packet. Accordingly, as the wireless communication apparatus can increase the chance for packet transmission while trying to connect with an external device, the rate of re-trying from initial set-up due to a failure of connection with the external device will be reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless communication apparatus and a communication method using the same, and more particularly, to a wireless communication apparatus and a communication method capable of reducing the error rate of a connection conversion by improving communication flow during a conversion into a connection mode. The present application is based on Korean Patent Application No. 2001-80518, filed Dec. 18, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
Blue tooth is a wireless data communication technique employed in a range of fields in electrical communication, networking, computing, and consumer goods. Blue tooth can replace several cables required for connecting devices separated by a short distance. For example, when Blue tooth is realized in a mobile phone and a laptop computer, the devices can communicate with each other without using a cable. A printer, a PDA (personal digital assistance), a desktop computer, a facsimile, a keyboard, a joystick, and virtually all digital devices can be used in the Blue tooth system.
Generally, the fastest data transmission speed of Blue tooth is 1 Mbps and the maximum range of data transmission of Blue tooth is 10 m. 1 Mbps is an available transmission speed using a frequency within a range of the ISM (industrial scientific medical) frequency band of 2.4 GHz, which a user can use without permission and with low cost. Moreover, the transmission range of 10 m is great enough for the user to transmit data between a device and a PC in an office.
Furthermore, as Blue tooth is designed to be operated in a radio frequency band having a lot of noise, the data can be stably transmitted in a wireless frequency having much noise by using a frequency hopping method of 1600 times per second. The frequency hopping method is also called an FHSS (frequency hopping spread spectrum) method. In the FHSS method, a given frequency band is divided into many hopping channels, and is allocated to different hopping channels according to an order decided in advance when a signal (medium frequency) firstly modulated at a sending terminal is converted into an RF frequency band 2.4 GHz. Since the channel to which the signal is allocated is changed at a high speed, multi-channel interference and narrow band impulsive noise can be reduced. A receiving terminal restores an original signal by connecting the received signals after being allocated to several hopping channels in the same order as that of the sending terminal. 79 hopping channels are used for IEEE 802.11, and each hopping channel is disposed at an interval of 1 MHz. When the signal is allocated by hopping several channels, there should be at least a 6 MHz interval to avoid mutual interference between two temporally consecutive hopping channels, and the speed for changing the hopping channel (hopping rate) is more than 2.5 times per second.
Moreover, the Blue tooth system supports a one-to-multiple connection as well as a one-to-one connection. As shown in FIG. 1, in the Blue tooth system, a plurality of piconets can be constructed and connected, respective piconets being divided by different frequency hopping orders. The term "piconet" refers to a Blue tooth unit formed by connecting one or more slaves to one master device. A piconet can have one master and a maximum of seven slaves. The master device decides the overall characteristics with respect to the channel in the piconet. Blue tooth device address (BD_ADDR) decides a frequency hopping sequence and a channel access code. In other words, a clock of the master decides a phase of the hopping sequence and sets up timing. Moreover, the master controls the traffic on the channels. Any digital device can be a master, and once the piconet is configured, a master and a slave can change their roles.
The master and the slave basically perform bi-directional communication by a time division duplex method having a hopping slot of 625 μs ( 1/1600 second). A plurality of piconets connected with each other is called a scatternet.
FIG. 2 is a view showing communication by TDD between the master and the slave. Referring to FIG. 2, the length of each of the channels allocated to the time slot is 625 μs. The number of the time slot is decided in accordance with the Blue tooth clock of the piconet master. In addition, the master and the slave can selectively transmit a packet by the time slot. In other words, the master transmits the packet to time slots marked as even numbers, and the slave transmits the packet to time slots marked as odd numbers. Furthermore, the packet transmitted by the master and the slave should be realized within five time slots. Packet means a unit of data transmitted on the piconet channel.
In a Blue tooth connection state, the master can operate the slave in a hold mode, a sniff mode, or a park mode. In the hold mode, the slave connected with the master goes into a sleep state, while keeping an AM_ADDR (active member address). Additionally, in the sniff mode, a listening period is lengthened between the master and the slave that is connected with the master, while keeping an AM_ADDR. Moreover, in the park mode, the slave connected with the master enters into the sleep state after releasing the AM_ADDR. And before the slave moves to the park mode, the slave is allocated either a PM_ADDR (parked member address) or an AR_ADDR (access request address).
AM_ADDR is expressed as a member address, and recognizes active members in the piconet. In other words, when more than two slaves are connected with one master in the piconet, the master allocates a temporary three bit address to be used when the slaves are activated to recognize each slave. Therefore, the packets exchanged between the master and the slaves all carry AM_ADDR. In other words, an AM_ADDR of the slave is used not only for the packet transmission from the master to the slave but also for the packet transmission from the slave to the master. When the slave is not connected with the master or the slave is in the park mode, the allocated AM_ADDR is withdrawn. When the slave is connected with the master again, a new AM_ADDR should be allocated. The piconet should be limited to one master and seven slaves because the address allocated by a master to activate slaves is defined as three bits in the Blue tooth standard. In other words, address "000" among maximum eight addresses is reserved for broadcasting from a master to the slaves, and rest of the addresses from "001" to "111" are available.
Inquiry and paging processes are used to connect a new slave with the master. The inquiry process allows the apparatuses in the Blue tooth system to ascertain the address and clock of each of the apparatuses. The paging process is periodically performed by the master, and wakes up the slave. The response of the slave with respect to the paging process by the master is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
FIG. 3 is a view showing an initial connection when the slave responses a first paging message of the master. FIG. 4 is a view showing an initial connection when the slave responses a second paging message of the master.
When the paging message transmitted by the master is successfully transmitted, the hopping frequency number of the master and the slave is synchronized. The master and the slave maintain the connection state and enter into a response routine to communicate information. An important aspect of the piconet connection state is that the master and the slave use the same channel access code and the same channel hopping sequence, and the clocks of the master and the slave are synchronized. The channel access code and the channel hopping sequence are obtained from BD_ADDR of the master, and the timing is established by the clock of the master. To temporarily synchronize the clock of the slave to the clock of the master, offset is added to the native clock of the slave. When the connection is started, a master parameter should be transmitted from the master to the slave.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, frequency f(k) and f(k+1) are frequencies of a hopping sequence of a page decided by BD_ADDR of the slave. Frequencies f′(k) and f′(k+1) correspond to a page response frequency from the slave to the master. Frequency g(m) is included in the channel hopping sequence.
Table 1 shows an initial message communicated between the master and the salve.
AccessHoppingcode andStepMessageDirectionsequenceclock1slave IDmaster to slavepageslave2slave IDslave to masterpage responseslave3FHSmaster to slavepageslave4slave IDslave to masterpage responseslave5first packet mastermaster to slavechannelmaster6first packet slaveslave to masterchannelmaster
In step 1, the master is in the paging state, and the slave is in the paging scan state. When the slave enters into the paging scan state, the slave selects a scan frequency corresponding to the page hopping sequence of the master. In this step, it is assumed that the page message (device access code of slave) transmitted by the master is received by the slave.
When the device access code is recognized, the slave transmits the response message in step 2. The response message transmitted by the slave is composed only of the device access code of the slave. The slave transmits the response message at 625 μs from the start of the received page message (ID packet of slave), and the hopping frequency of the response message coincides with the hopping frequency of the received page message. While the initial message is being communicated, the slave uses the page response hopping sequence to return information to the master. After transmitting the response message, a receiver of the slave waits for a FHS (frequency hopping synchronization) packet by being activated at 312.5 μs after the response message is started (step 3). As shown in FIG. 4, the FHS packet might be able to be transmitted 312.5 μs after the page message is transmitted when the slave responds to the second paging message of the master. In other words, in this case, the interval of 625 μs like in RX/TX timing is not applied.
When the FHS packet is transmitted to the slave in the slave response state, the slave returns a response configured only with the device access code of the slave to the master to inform of receipt of the FHS packet by using the page response hopping sequence (step 4). The transmission of the response packet is based on the FHS packet. Moreover, the slave alters the access code and the clock to the channel of the master transmitted from the FHS packet. In other words, in step 5, the slave enters into the connection state, and from that time, the slave uses the clock and BD_ADDR of the master to decide the channel hopping sequence and the channel access code. Connection mode is started by a POLL packet transmitted by the master. The POLL packet and the NULL packet have the same structure. However, while a NULL packet does not need to be responded to, a POLL packet requires a response from a receiving terminal indicating whether the receiving terminal has data to send. In addition, a POLL packet does not affect a response controller with ARQ (automatic repeat request) and SEQN (sequential numbering scheme) or re-transmission control method. A representative usage of a POLL packet is to examine the existence of the slave by the master in the piconet. When there is a slave, it responds to the master.
In step 6, the slave provides responses corresponding to the type of packet. After a FHS packet is received, when a POLL packet is not received by the slave during a new allocated connection number or the response packet is not received by the master, the master and the slave return to a paging and a paging scan state.
As described so far, for a Blue tooth system to establish a connection state, a page and a page scanning process should be successful in a setting-up step so that the slave can receive the clock value of the master. However, when the master cannot receive the ID packet of the slave due to, for example, excessive distance, an obstacle, or a defective RF module, the master consecutively transmits a FHS packet for a predetermined number of times as shown in FIG. 5. Yet, the slave has already entered into the channel hopping sequence state after receiving the FHS packet and sending an ID packet. Thus, the slave awaits receipt of the POLL packet by the channel hopping sequence. Therefore, the connection of the master and the slave cannot be further processed. After a predetermined time is passed, the connection set-up process ends in failure. Accordingly, the master and the slave should start from step 1 again, thereby causing more consumption of electrical power and lowering the connection rate.

Wireless communication apparatus capable of improving connection rate


A compact, rounding machine, or rounder, for quickly rounding dough units discharged from a divider into substantially round dough balls used to make products like flour tortillas, buns, rolls, etc. The rounder includes a stationary shoe having a curved inner face that curves partially around an axis of rotation, and a stationary groove having a substantially semicircular profile and extending between an entry end and an exit end. A roller with an outer face and moving groove is positioned against the stationary shoe's inner face and stationary groove to define a rolling cavity, one half of the rolling cavity being formed by the stationary groove and another half of the rolling cavity is formed by the moving groove. A funnel assembly positioned adjacent to the roller, along with a beveled entry wall at the entry end of the stationary groove, guide dough units into the rolling cavity.

1. Field of the Invention
This application relates generally to assembly line food production machinery and, more particularly, to rounding machines for rounding rough dough portions discharged from a divider into dough balls used to make products like flour tortillas, buns, rolls, etc.
2. Description of the Related Art
The industry has designed many different kinds of machines to make dough balls for producing products like flour tortillas, buns, rolls, etc. The task generally involves two successive operations: (1) dividing a large mass of dough into precise volumetrically sized dough portions or rough dough units; and (2) rounding the rough dough units into balls.
When the two tasks are accomplished by the same machine, it is sometimes called a "divider/rounder" machine, or simply a divider/rounder. When the dividing and rounding are accomplished by using separate, physically and visually distinct machines, as one would guess the two machines are often called a "divider" and a "rounder," and together they form a divider/rounder system. Regardless of the configuration or name given, the ultimate goal of a divider/rounder machine or divider/rounder system is the creation of round dough balls that contain a very precise amount of dough by volume and weight.
Dividers
There are many different types of dividers. Two that are often used in the assembly line production of tortillas are piston-type dividers and extrusion-type dividers.
Piston-type dividers have been known for some time. In a high speed production environment, the divider has a plurality of pistons and the pistons are usually located in a rotating drum assembly that is located at the bottom of a hopper containing a mass of dough. The rotating drum assembly has a chambered area that contains a row of piston/cylinders pairs that divide dough portions from the mass of dough held within the hopper. The divider operates by rotating the drum assembly until its chambered area is in contact with the mass of dough, drawing dough into the cylinders by moving the pistons inward, rotating the drum to move the chambered area away from the hopper to a discharge area, and then moving the pistons outward to expel rough units of dough from the cylinders. U.S. Pat. No. 2,858,775, U.S. Pat. No. 4,338,341 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,668,174 are examples of piston-type dividers, and are hereby incorporated by reference.
Extrusion-type dividers are also well known. In a typical extrusion-type divider, a mass of dough is extruded into a plurality of streams and, as the extruded streams of dough flow forward, they are cut into rough units of dough by a suitable cutting mechanism, e.g. a blade that reciprocates back and forth, or a wire that is held taut within a frame that rotates round and round. U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,611, U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,601, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,610 are examples extrusion-type dividers, and are hereby incorporated by reference.
Rounders
There are also many types of rounders that are an integral part of the various prior art divider/rounders, or are provided separately and used in close association with the prior art dividers.
One earlier approach to rounding an array of rough dough units located on an indexed conveyor belt that stops and starts involved the lowering of a frame carrying a corresponding array of hemispherical cups over the dough units while the belt is stopped, rapidly moving the array of cups in a horizontally circular motion to mould the dough units into dough balls, and then lifting the array of cups upward so that the conveyor could move dough balls further downstream. The conveyor belt and array of cups collectively formed a rounding table.
Another common approach to rounding that works with a continuously moving conveyor belt, rather than an indexed conveyor, involves a rounding bar that is held at a slight angle just above the continuously moving conveyor belt. In a large quantity production environment that deals with a plurality of rough dough units that are simultaneously created and advanced together, in parallel, the rounder has a corresponding plurality of rounding bars, one rounding bar per rough unit of dough, that are also arranged in parallel. The rounding bars and conveyor belt also form a rounding table. In operation, the dough portions are advanced forward on the conveyor of the rounding table and, when they come into contact with a corresponding rounding bar, are rolled against the rounding bar due to the relative movement of the conveyor belt and rotated into the shape of a ball. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,858,775; 3,311,068; 3,448,697; 4,008,025; 4,306,850; 4,338,341; 4,391,576; 4,668,174; 4,948,611; 5,110,610; 5,264,232; 5,270,070; 5,356,652; 5,714,178; 5,750,169; 5,786,016; 6,159,517; and 6,303,168 are examples rounding bars, and are hereby incorporated by reference.
Exemplary Tortilla Production Environment
In the mass production of pressed flour tortillas, the divider/rounder system makes the rough dough units and then forms them into dough balls, in parallel, in order to continuously create row after row of dough balls (e.g. 4, 6, 8, 9, or 10-across). The dough balls are moved forward, still in rows, to downstream equipment that continues to process them into tortillas. The typical equipment includes a dough relaxation conveyor called "proofer", a tortilla press, an oven, a cooling conveyor, a stacking station, and a packaging station.
The tortilla press compresses the dough balls into thin tortillas of relative large diameter when compared to the original diameter of the dough balls. As a result, non-spherical dough balls results in non-circular tortillas and a general lack of uniformity from tortilla to tortilla. Unfortunately, rounding bars tend to form somewhat egg-shaped dough balls.
In addition, due to the consecutive pieces of equipment, a production tortilla line can require a great deal of floor space. Unfortunately, a rounder that uses rounding bars tends to consume a fair amount of that horizontal floor space.
There remains a need, therefore, for an improved dough rounder that receives rough dough units from a divider and quickly and efficiently produces a plurality of very round dough balls, in parallel, and in a quick and space-efficient manner.


The present invention includes a composition of matter comprising a sulfide of a metal selected from Groups VIB, VIIB and VIII of the Periodic Tables, or mixtures thereof, and an aromatic, nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound selected from the group consisting of tetrahydroquinoline, and the mono and diorgano substituted derivatives of tetrahydroquinoline. These compositions are useful as catalyst precursors. Indeed, upon heating at temperatures above 200.degree. C., the compounds are converted to active catalysts useful in polymerizing nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,135 there is described a method for polymerizing certain aromatic nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds using a metal sulfide catalyst in which the metal is selected from the group consisting of transition metals of Group VIB, VIIB and VIII of the Periodic Table or mixtures thereof. The preferred catalyst for the polymerization of the aromatic, nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds is reported to be rhenium sulfide, ReS.sub.2+x.
In Catalyst Letters, 1, 177 to 182 (1988), two soluble rhenium complexes are reported to be useful in generating rhenium sulfides that are catalytically active in the dehydrogenative polymerization of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline.
We now have discovered a new series of organic amine-containing metal sulfide compounds that are particularly suitable as catalysts for the dehydrogenative polymerization of aromatic, nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds like tetrahydroquinoline.

Method for polymering aromatic heterocyclic compounds


Trampoline accessories are described herein that may be affixed to a trampoline system to facilitate the playing of a game. These trampoline accessories may include a soccer net, a rebounding surface that will bounce a ball back to the thrower, and a catch panel that will gather the ball when the ball is thrown against the panel. These accessories may be added to either the trampoline frame of the trampoline enclosure. Deflective netting may be provided adjacent the accessories to prevent the ball and users from entering the space below the trampoline rebounding mat.

Trampolines are widely known and used for a variety of recreational and athletic purposes. Recreational and "backyard" use of trampolines is very popular. Parents often buy a trampoline so that their children can enjoy hours of diversion playing and "jumping" on the trampoline.
As a result of careless use of trampolines and poorly designed/manufactured systems, personal injury has occurred. Such injuries have resulted from a person jumping too close to the edge of the trampoline surface such that the person would either (1) fall off of the trampoline or would (2) strike the frame, a tree, or another hard surface positioned proximate the trampoline's boundary. Of course, such injuries are a grave concern for many trampoline manufacturers and trampoline enthusiasts.
In order to prevent these types of injuries, trampolines have recently been sold and produced having a flexible fence or enclosure that surrounds the perimeter of the trampoline's rebounding surface. One example of this type of trampoline is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,845 (which will be referred to herein as the "'845 patent" and is expressly incorporated herein by reference). In these types of trampolines, any person that jumps on the trampoline will be maintained on the interior of the trampoline. Thus, when the child approaches the edge of the trampoline's rebounding mat, the enclosure will prevent the child from falling off the trampoline. Likewise, because the enclosure is made of a flexible material (such as netting, mesh, etc.), the enclosure will also prevent the child from harmfully impacting the trampoline's frame or other hard surfaces. In this manner, the enclosure will greatly increase the safety of the trampoline.
Furthermore, the trampoline with the enclosure allows children to play a variety of different games using the enclosure and other equipment (such as balls, etc.). In fact, the '845 patent teaches a variety of games that may be played by children using the trampoline and the enclosure. Unfortunately, many of the games listed in the '845 patent are difficult to play and are not interesting to older children/teenagers. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for various trampoline games that interest older children and will include, for example, sports and sporting events.
Moreover, one disadvantage of trampolines is that they can take up large areas of space. Some sports and recreational activities, on the other hand, often require large, open spaces (such as fields, etc.) in order to played properly. People often cannot play or practice sports in the same area as the trampoline for fear that the trampoline will interfere with the game.
In addition, trampoline manufacturers recommend that only one person jump at a time on the rebounding mat. Often while one person jumps, others must wait their turn. It would be a significant advancement in the art to provide a new type of trampoline which permits a variety of other sports and recreational activities to be practiced in the same area while the trampoline is in use. Such a device is disclosed herein.


A holder of a surface mount motor includes a bottom-raising piece formed so as to extend integrally from the bottom portion and bent at a predetermined bending angle with respect to the bottom portion. When the holder is attached to a motor body, there is a risk that a mounting surface of the bottom portion of the holder will not be in the same plane as a mounting surface of a terminal. In such a case, a fine adjustment may be performed simply by slightly raising or lowering the bottom-raising piece. Thus, an adjustment between the heights of the mounting surface of the bottom portion of the holder and the mounting surface of the terminal can be easily performed. A gap between the bottom portion of the holder and the motor casing can be easily changed simply by changing the bending angle of the bottom-raising piece.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a motor suitable for surface mounting on a circuit board.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-234943 discloses an example of a technique in this field. A surface mount motor described in this publication includes a motor body and a metal holder frame fixed to the motor body. The motor body is a brush motor and has a substantially columnar drum portion (motor casing). The rear end of the substantially columnar drum portion is closed by an end bracket made of resin. Terminal pieces (terminals) that are mounted on a circuit board and brush terminal pieces that slide with respect to a commutator are fixed to the end bracket. The metal holder frame includes a holder body that is attached to the drum portion of the motor body. The holder body includes a rectangular bottom plate portion which contacts the circuit board and a pair of clamping spring pieces that are bent upward from the long sides of the bottom plate portion and that clamp the substantially columnar drum portion of the vibration motor body. A bulge portion having a trapezoidal shape in cross section is formed on the bottom plate portion of the holder frame at a position corresponding to the center of gravity of the motor body. The drum portion of the motor body is placed on a top surface of the bulge portion, so that the motor body can be stably placed on the holder frame. Cream solder used for mounting the motor is introduced into the bulge portion while the cream solder is in a molten state. Accordingly, the holder frame does not easily become detached from the circuit board.
The bulge portion provided on the bottom plate portion of the holder frame is formed in a trapezoidal shape in cross section by press working. Therefore, there is a risk that the motor body will be inclined depending on the levelness and flatness of the top surface of the bulge portion. The shape accuracy of the bulge portion largely depends on the accuracy of the die used in press working. As the size of the holder frame decreases, it becomes more difficult to use a die having sufficient accuracy. It is necessary that the mounting surface of the bottom plate portion of the holder frame be in the same plane as the mounting surfaces of the terminal pieces. When the mounting surface of the bottom plate portion of the holder frame and the mounting surfaces of the terminal pieces are at different heights, it is difficult to perform a fine adjustment of the heights of the mounting surfaces by deforming the top surface of the bulge portion having a trapezoidal shape in cross section. Thus, in the holder frame according to the related art, it is difficult to adjust the heights of the mounting surface of the bottom plate portion of the holder frame and the mounting surfaces of the terminal pieces.


An example method receives sensor data of a vehicle at a localized server associated with a particular geographic region that has one or more roadway segments. The vehicle is located in the particular geographic region. The method analyzes the sensor data to determine one or more of a localized lane option and a localized path option for navigating the vehicle and provides the one or more of the lane and the path for navigating the vehicle to a centralized server executing a route planer. The centralized server has data covering a plurality of geographic regions. The method determines a centralized route option including one or more of the localized lane option and the localized path option and provides the centralized route option including the one or more of the localized lane option and the localized path option to a guidance selector of a navigation application of the vehicle for processing.

The present disclosure relates to vehicle navigation.
In-vehicle navigation technology, such as GPS-based navigation units, has become increasingly ubiquitous, and provides drivers with directions, area information, and real-time vehicle location information. This navigation information is often provided via an in-dash navigation unit, a third-party navigation unit, and/or a portable electronic device, such as a driver's mobile phone.
In some cases, various navigation applications may utilize the geolocation functionality of the device to provide the user with mapping and traffic information. These applications, like Google Maps™, Waze™, TomTom™, etc., assist in providing route options to the users, and in some cases, provide alternate routes for the user in case of situations like congestion or roadblocks. These navigation applications send information to a central server which accumulates data from many instances of the application to provide updates. However, communication to and from a central server directly often results in a less-up-to-date routing information due to network issues and expensive data processing needed to process the amount of data being received for a myriad of locations from a numerous application instances (e.g., hundreds of thousands, millions, etc.).
This results in existing technologies often lacking the real-time data needed to optimally and dynamically update navigation routes being traveled by users. Often, there is a significant lag between what is occurring on the roadway and the data reflecting the roadway state being processed by the navigation server that calculates the navigation routes that are provided. This is caused, at least in part, by the ever-changing state of roadways and traffic. Poor data quality, due to poor or non-existent connectivity, older un-connected vehicles, and roadways that lack intelligent infrastructure, also contribute to the problem.
Because the central server often does not have the latest information, the routes that are provided by it often do not reflect what quicker and/or more efficient options might be available. Routing information and other instructions received by the vehicles from the central server is generally outdated by the time it is processed by the vehicle, or may initially be generated by inaccurate heuristics modeled on historical averages due to the lack of current data. As a result, significant delays and obstacles exist in obtaining the latest traffic and/or roadway information, which prohibits better routes from being provided during the travel. Often, using these solutions, even when an optimal route is selected and utilized, it does not remain optimal during the travel due to the ever-changing state of the roadway (e.g., changes in traffic, weather, vehicle position, etc.).
While some existing solutions, such as those described by World Intellectual Property Office Publication No. WO 2009065637, U.S. Pat. No. 8,825,395, or European Patent No. EP 1202028, consider user preferences, they fail to do so in conjunction with dynamic changes occurring on during travel. As a result, route computations based on partially available data is inefficient and fail to fully benefit drivers.

Hierarchical route generation, provision, and selection


A method for preparing a microemulsion is disclosed which employs a method based upon identification of the phase behavior of a plurality of components comprising the microemulsion. Further disclosed is a microemulsion composition comprising a first component, coupling agent, and surfactant.

Microemulsions have attracted interest for use in many applications due to their ability to improve solubility, their phase stability, their increased shelf life compared to macroemulsions, and their ease of preparation, not requiring high-energy mixing techniques.
An emulsion comprises a first phase that is liquid under conditions of use, at least one additional phase that is liquid under conditions of use and immiscible with the first liquid phase, and a surfactant. Each liquid phase may comprise more than one ingredient and other ingredients may optionally be present. One of the liquid phases often comprises water, but this is not a requirement. In addition, a microemulsion may comprise a coupling agent. When properly selected and present in a favorable concentration ratio, these components spontaneously emulsify to form a, thermodynamically stable and visually transparent microemulsion. In contrast, normal emulsions (macroemulsions) typically require energetic mixing to form and are opaque and thermodynamically unstable, separating over time into layers. A properly composed microemulsion concentrate, comprising all ingredients of a microemulsion except for one of the liquid phases, can be added to that one liquid phase and will form a microemulsion with only gentle mixing being required.
Selection and design of microemulsion compositions is complicated, time-consuming, and unpredictable. Although numerous microemulsion systems are known, a surfactant package (surfactant and coupling agent) that is effective for one pair of immiscible liquids will not necessarily be effective for a different pair of immiscible liquids.

Emulsion compositions and a method for selecting surfactants


An image forming apparatus includes: image-forming units of multiple colors that form images on an image carrier in such a manner that the images are overlaid on one another, and a determination unit that determines necessity of position alignment correction of an image of each color accompanying image formation in accordance with a degree of change of image formation environment from when correction was executed in the past and a combination of colors used for the image formation.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an image forming apparatus for forming images by image-forming units of multiple colors in an overlapping manner on an image carrier.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an image forming apparatus for forming images by image-forming units of multiple colors in an overlapping manner on an image carrier, it has been known in the past to perform position alignment correction for adjusting image-forming timing with the image-forming units of the colors so that the images of respective colors can be overlaid on one another accurately.
In this method of correction, for example, a method is known in which the image-forming unit of each color is caused to form an image of a predetermined pattern for position alignment, and presence/absence of deviation from an appropriate position is found according to the distance between the patterns.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2001-92202 describes that, in a full-color image forming apparatus having image-forming units of four-color of YMCK, when the full-color image forming apparatus has a single-color mode and a full-color mode, and when it becomes necessary to perform position alignment correction, the correction is made after changing into the full-color mode.
With the method described in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2001-92202, the position alignment correction can be performed reliably without relying on the selected mode, but the toners of all the colors are consumed, and in addition, the length of the position alignment pattern is also long, and therefore, there is a problem in that it takes much time in the correction.
There is a need to solve such problem and reduce the image forming material such as the toner and the time required in the position alignment of the images of multiple colors.


A disposable vehicle cover constructed of a porous flexible sheet material, optionally consisting of porous and non-porous layers, adapted to conform generally to the shape of a vehicle body and optionally includes at least one removable, tear-out section, adapted to expose a predetermined portion of a vehicle, and optionally also includes at least one impact absorbing, foam strip which is positioned longitudinally along a side of a vehicle when the cover is in use.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,130,078 to Lewis et al., discloses a vehicle cover comprising fabric panels, joined to each other by more or less continuous rows of simple stitching to conform roughly to at least a portion of an automotive vehicle. The vehicle cover is designed so that flaps and other portions of the cover may be raised to expose doors, fenders, trunks, hoods etc. that are to be selectively painted.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,210,233 to DeLillo teaches a protective device adapted to cover and shield a surface to be protected, typically a vehicle surface. The device for protecting a surface from sprayed paint or the like, comprises a strip of flexible sheet material, such as creped paper. The side edge of this paper is gathered so that the strip naturally assumes a somewhat accurate form. A narrow adhesive band extends continuously along the gathered edge and adhesive areas are also provided on the opposite edge of the strip.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,652,023 to Kletsky relates to wheel masks for automotive vehicles adapted to be mounted on a tire when a vehicle is being painted. The protective cover comprises a disk like sheet of material, with an elasticized edge, adapted to cover and conform to the circular formation of a tire and wheel.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,552,287 to Layne also teaches a masking device for protecting an automobile wheel and tire during body painting. As contrasted with Keltsky's elasticized edge, Layne uses a resilient wire connecting the ends of a circumferential loop.
Vehicle covers may also be constructed of other materials such as cloth, or plastic, or paper strips. These covers are problematic. Cloth and plastic covers are difficult to use because they do not easily conform to a variety of different vehicle shapes and sizes. Cloth and plastic covers also require storage and periodic cleaning. Still further, plastic covers are even less desirable because they entrap moisture from the air and plasticizers from curing plastic vehicle components, which may damage the vehicle interior. Paper strips are also undesirable because they require fitting and cutting by hand and permit solvent migration through the paper cover onto the vehicle surface. Furthermore, these vehicle covers provide no adequate protection against certain types of impact damage and are ill-suited for use in a body shop or during vehicle transportation, where such protection is desirable. Additionally, these covers donot provide a reliable means for identifying the covered vehicle without removing the vehicle cover.


A turbine, suitable for use as a water or wind turbine, for generating rotary motion from fluid flow wherein the axis of rotation of the turbine is transverse to the direction of flow. The turbine has two foils, which may meet at the axis of rotation, and the turbine is helical and tapered. The turbine has a quasi-conical base. The non-mount end of the turbine is preferably tilted downstream with the turbine axis of rotation in the range of about 5° to 15° from perpendicular to the flow direction.

Wind turbines configured for use with their axis of rotation transverse to the wind direction are well known. In the case of wind turbines having their axis of rotation transverse to the flow of air, the axis of rotation is most conveniently (in terms of secure mounting and ability to accommodate different wind directions) oriented generally vertically, and such wind turbines are typically referred to as vertical axis wind turbines (or VAWTs) to differentiate them from horizontal axis wind turbines in which in use the axis of rotation is generally parallel to the wind direction. The rotor of a horizontal axis wind turbine must face either into or away from the direction of the wind and a yaw mechanism is required to rotate the rotor about the vertical axis of the tower to keep the rotor in proper alignment with the wind flow.
Vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) generally comprise a central shaft arranged vertically with respect to the ground and rotatably supporting a plurality of blades or vanes arrayed around the shaft and roughly perpendicular to the wind flow. Vertical axis turbines do not require a yaw mechanism to align the blades with the wind and the generator or other energy converter and related power transmission equipment may be mounted on the ground at the base of the turbine, potentially substantially reducing the complexity and cost of the installation.
The best-known types of VAWTs are the Savonius type (as shown in, U.S. Pat. No. 1,766,765, WIND ROTOR, issued 24 Jun. 1930 to Savonius, which discloses a Savonius-type turbine having a self regulating means) and the Darrieus type (as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,835,018, TURBINE HAVING ITS ROTATING SHAFT TRANSVERSE TO THE FLOW OF THE CURRENT, issued 8 Dec. 1931 to Darrieus). As indicated by the following exemplary patent documents, several different configurations of VAWTs have been developed.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,100,332, WINDMILL, issued 16 Jun. 1914 to Smith, discloses a two-level vertical-axis wind turbine, in which the top level has essentially Darrieus-type foils.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,941,504, WIND POWERED ROTATING DEVICE, issued 2 Mar. 1976 to Snarbach, discloses a vertical-axis wind turbine having three generally helical foils wherein the bottoms of the foils are spaced apart and the foils are twisted and configures such that the leading edges of the foils all meet at the tops of the foils.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,293,274, VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINE FOR GENERATING USABLE ENERGY, issued 6 Oct. 1981 to Gilman, discloses a helical Savonius-type turbine having means for varying the vane surface available for wind contact.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,365,934, WIND MACHINE, issued 28 Dec. 1982 to Mason, discloses a vertical-axis wind turbine, having blades pivotally mounted to enable them to swing out to catch wind, and to swing in to feather to reduce drag, as required during each rotation of the turbine.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,246, VERTICAL-AXIS WIND TURBINE WITH A TWISTED BLADE CONFIGURATION, issued 11 Apr. 1995 to Goldberg, discloses a Darrieus-type turbine with helical foils.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,428,275, HELICAL WIND ROTOR AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SAME, issued 6 Aug. 2002 to Jaakola, discloses a helical Savonius-type turbine with a foil design utilizing a planar material.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,040,859, WIND TURBINE, issued 9 May 2006 to Kane, discloses a vertical-axis wind turbine having multiple generally vertically extending blades arrayed about its periphery and having a rounded cap.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,132,760, WIND TURBINE DEVICE, issued 7 Nov. 2006 to Becker, discloses a hybrid vertical-axis wind turbine comprising a pair of inner helical non-overlapping blades and a pair of outer longitudinally extending airfoil-type blades.
Publication No. US 2007/0104582, published 10 May 2007 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,393,177, issued 1 Jul. 2008 to Rahai et al.), discloses a foil profile for a Savonius-type turbine.
Although, general developments in wind turbine technology may have some application to water turbine technology, given the differences in fluid density and operational environments, there has not been significant overlap in recent wind and water turbine developments. Further, as what is generally understood to be the primary benefit of transverse-axis turbines, alignment indifference, is less significant in water turbines, for which the predictability of the flow direction (in the case of rivers) or directions (in the case of tidal streams) simplifies alignment issues, there has been relatively little development of transverse-axis water turbines as compared to VAWTs. Water turbines are typically analogous to horizontal axis wind turbines in that they are configured such that in use the axis of rotation is preferably aligned with the flow direction of the water.

Transverse-axis turbine with twisted foils


A display panel includes a bonded substrate which is bonded with a seal portion having an inlet portion, in which an inlet of a fluid is formed, a sealing material which seals the inlet, metal film patterns which are provided in an end portion of the bonded substrate, and external connection terminals which respectively have rectangular base portions and are provided in parallel in a transverse direction of the base portion. Each metal film pattern has a rectangular pattern base portion. The metal film patterns are provided in parallel such that the center position of the pattern base portion in the transverse direction is aligned with the center position of the base portion in the transverse direction. The width of the pattern base portion in the transverse direction is equal to or smaller than the width of the base portion in the transverse direction at the same arrangement position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device which has a metal film pattern for confirming the position and dimension precision of a sealing material sealing a fluid in a display panel.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the related art, a display panel of a display device is bonded with a seal portion having an inlet portion, in which an inlet of a fluid is formed, and the fluid is filled from the inlet such that the fluid is held between the bonded substrates. For example, a liquid crystal display is provided in which a TFT substrate having pixel electrodes, thin film transistors, and the like and a CF substrate having color filters and the like are bonded by a seal portion formed on the TFT substrate in a frame shape. In this liquid crystal display, liquid crystal material as a fluid is filled from an inlet, and the inlet is sealed with a sealing material made of insulating resin or the like, so that the liquid crystal material is held between the TFT substrate and the CF substrate.
In this display device, the sealing material spreads from the inlet outside the appearance of the substrate. For this reason, if the position and dimension are not kept within standards, when the display panel is attached to the housing or the like of the display device, the display panel is attached with difficulty due to the sealing material. Accordingly, a liquid crystal display is suggested in which a plurality of metal film patterns are formed near an inlet portion to confirm the position and dimension precision of a sealing material, and it is determined whether or not the position and dimension of the sealing material are kept within standards on the basis of the metal film patterns (for example, see JP 2009-25331 A).
In order to improve a production acquisition rate, the product forming regions of a plurality of liquid crystal display panels are partitioned by cutting-plane lines, and a large bonded substrate in which a multi TFT substrate having pixel electrodes, thin film transistors, and the like in the respective product forming regions and a multi CF substrate having color filters and the like in the respective product forming regions are bonded through seal portions formed in the respective product forming regions is divided along the cutting-plane lines (for example, see JP 2008-304493 A).
In the large bonded substrate of the liquid crystal display described in JP 2008-304493 A, the inlet portion of one product forming region is formed to protrude to an adjacent product forming region, and the product forming regions are efficiently arranged (hereinafter, referred to as full just arrangement) within the surface of the large bonded substrate. When the full just arrangement is used, similarly to the inlet portion, the metal film patterns are formed to protrude from one product forming region to an adjacent product forming region.
However, in the full just arrangement, if a metal film pattern which protrudes to an adjacent product forming region is arranged near an external connection terminal of a product forming region on the protruding side, when a terminal of a flexible printed board or the like, to which the external connection terminal will be connected, is thermally compressed along with the external connection terminal and an insulating layer is broken, the metal film pattern causes short-circuiting between the terminals.
In order to solve the problem of short-circuiting due to the metal film pattern, instead of the metal film pattern, the use of a pattern made of an insulating material is considered. Meanwhile, a pattern made of an insulating material causes deterioration in visibility.


An aligning prism amount determination device to determine an aligning prism amount for correcting fixation disparity of a spectacle wearer, having the fixation disparity, includes a determiner to determine an aligning prism amount to be uniformly included in the spectacle lens for correcting the fixation disparity, based on a first aligning prism amount obtained by measuring an aligning prism amount of the spectacle wearer at an eye examination distance corresponding to a first distance, a second aligning prism amount obtained by measurement at an eye examination distance corresponding to a second distance shorter than the first distance, and information used for allocation of the first aligning prism amount and the second aligning prism amount, within a prism prescription range between the first aligning prism amount and the second aligning prism amount.

One of items to be corrected by a spectacle lens includes "fixation disparity". Fixation disparity refers to a state where, when both eyes simultaneously look at (fixate) an object, one of or both of the eyes cannot form an image at a position of the central fovea of retina and the image is formed at a position slightly shifted from the central fovea. Fixation disparity occurs due to a shift in a sight line. Therefore, when a person with fixation disparity sees the same object by binocular vision, a position of forming an image when the object is seen with the left eye and a position of forming an image when the object is seen with the right eye are slightly shifted from the central fovea of the left and the right eyes, respectively. However, the shift in positions of forming images due to fixation disparity is quite small such as several minutes in the sight line angle and thus fusion of images in the brain results in perception of the images as one image. Therefore, the image of the right eye and the image of the left eye are not perceived as shifted in a binocular vision and a blur of images is rarely recognized. However, since the position of forming the image of each of the left and the right eyes is shifted from the central fovea thereof, a vision with the both eyes is deteriorated and a vision with the both eyes becomes unstable. However, this is rarely recognized by the person.
Moreover, a person having fixation disparity often feels physical pain such as fatigue of the eyes, headache, or shoulder stiffness. Checking a cause of the above by testing at a hospital or the like may clarify that the person has fixation disparity. In this case, in order to relieve the pain caused by fixation disparity, it is desirable to measure a prism amount, where a given prism exactly eliminates the fixation disparity, using a plurality of test lenses having different prism powers and to wear a spectacle lens prescribed a prism (prism correction) in accordance with this prism amount. As for the prism amount, a technique described in Patent Literature 1 is known for example. In this manner, the prism amount where the fixation disparity of the spectacle wearer is exactly eliminated is called an aligning prism.

Spectacle lens supply system, program therefor, prism amount determination device, prism amount determination method, and method for producing spectacle lens


Provided is a composition for a hole trapping layer of an organic photoelectric conversion element, such composition: containing a solvent and a charge-transporting substance comprising a polyaniline derivative represented by formula (1); and providing a thin film that is suitable as a hole trapping layer of an organic photoelectric conversion element and can also be used to produce an inverse lamination type organic photoelectric conversion element.

Organic solar cells are solar cell devices that use organic compounds in the active layer and the charge-transporting substances. The dye-sensitized solar cells developed by M. Grätzel and the organic thin-film solar cells developed by C. W. Tang are well known (Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2).
Because both have characteristics differing from those of the inorganic solar cells currently in mainstream use, including the fact that they are thin, lightweight films which can be made flexible, and the fact that roll-to-roll production is possible, they are expected to lead to the creation of new markets.
Of these, organic thin-film solar cells (also referred to below as organic photovoltaic cells or "OPVs") have attracted considerable attention in part because, in addition to having such characteristics as being electrolyte-free and heavy metal compound-free, they have recently been reported by a group at UCLA et al. as having a photoelectric conversion efficiency (abbreviated below as "PCE") of 10.6% (Non-Patent Document 3).
Also, given that organic thin-film solar cells, compared with existing photoelectric conversion devices that use silicon-based materials, have certain characteristics, such as exhibiting a high photoelectric conversion efficiency even under low illumination, enabling thinner devices and smaller pixels and the ability to provide also the attributes of a color filter, they are noteworthy not only in solar cell applications, but also in image sensor and other photosensor applications (Patent Documents 1 and 2, Non-Patent Document 4). Organic thin-film solar cells, including those for light sensors and other applications, are collectively referred to below as organic photoelectric conversion devices (sometimes abbreviated below as OPVs).
Organic photoelectric conversion devices are constructed of, for example, an active layer (photoelectric conversion layer), charge (hole, electron) collecting layers and electrodes (anode, cathode).
Of these, the active layer and the charge-collecting layers are generally formed by vacuum deposition processes. However, vacuum deposition has drawbacks in terms of, for example, its complexity as a mass production process, the high cost of the equipment, and the efficiency of material utilization.
In light of these drawbacks, water-dispersible polymeric organic conductive materials such as PEDOT/PSS are sometimes used as coating-type materials for forming hole-collecting layers. However, because these are aqueous dispersions, the complete removal of moisture and the control of moisture reabsorption are difficult, which tends to accelerate device deterioration.
Moreover, there remain a variety of challenges facing the use of aqueous dispersions of PEDOT/PSS in mass production. Namely, such dispersions are prone to solids agglomeration, and so defects readily arise in applied films made thereof and the coating equipment has a tendency to clog or corrode, in addition to which the applied films leave something to be desired in terms of heat resistance.

Composition for hole trapping layer of organic photoelectric conversion element

Abstract: {R1-R6 each independently denote a hydrogen atom or the like, but one of the R1-R4 groups is a sulfonic acid group, one or more of the other R1-R4 groups is an alkoxy group having 1-20 carbon atoms, a thioalkoxy group having 1-20 carbon atoms, an alkyl group having 1-20 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 2-20 carbon atoms, an alkynyl group having 2-20 carbon atoms, a haloalkyl group having 1-20 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6-20 carbon atoms or an aralkyl group having 7-20 carbon atoms, and m and n are numbers that satisfy the relationships 0≤m≤1, 0≤n≤1 and m+n=1.}


The present invention is an imaging element which includes a support, an image forming layer superposed on the support; and at least one layer superposed on the support. The at least one layer superposed on the support is formed from a non-aqueous coating composition of a composite wax particle composed of a wax phase and a non-crosslinked polymer phase and an organic solvent. The wax phase includes a wax having a melting point of greater than 30.degree. C. The wax comprises greater than 80% by weight of the wax phase. The wax phase to non-crosslinked polymer phase ratio is greater than 30/70 and less than 90/10.

The imaging elements to which this invention relates can be of many different types depending on the particular use for which they are intended. Such elements include, for example, photographic, electrophotographic, electrostatographic, photothermographic, migration, electrothermographic, dielectric recording, inkjet ink image recording and thermal-dye-transfer imaging elements.
Layers of imaging elements other than the image-forming layer are commonly referred to as auxiliary layers. There are many different types of auxiliary layers such as, for example, subbing layers, backing layers, interlayers, overcoat layers, receiving layers, stripping layers, antistatic layers, transparent magnetic layers, and the like.
Support materials for an imaging element often employ auxiliary layers comprising glassy, hydrophobic polymers such as polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polystyrenes, or cellulose esters, for example. One typical application for such an auxiliary layer is as a backing layer to provide resistance to abrasion, scratching, blocking, and ferrotyping. Such backing layers may be applied directly onto the support material, applied onto a priming or "subbing" layer, or applied as an overcoat for an underlying layer such as an antistatic layer, transparent magnetic layer, or the like. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,203,769 describes a vanadium pentoxide-containing antistatic layer that is overcoated with a cellulosic layer applied from an organic solvent. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,612,279 and 4,735,976 describe organic solvent-applied layers comprising a blend of cellulose nitrate and a copolymer containing acrylic acid or methacrylic acid that serve as overcoats for antistatic layers.
Frequently, when the auxiliary layer serves as the outermost layer, as is the case for a backing layer, it is desirable for this layer to have a low coefficient of friction (COF) to provide proper conveyance properties and to protect the imaging element from mechanical damage during the manufacturing process or customer use. It is known to protect imaging elements against mechanical damage by coating them with a layer comprising a lubricant such as a wax. However, it has proven difficult to provide a single layer applied from organic medium that comprises both an abrasion-resistant polymer and a lubricant since it is difficult to find a coating medium that dissolves both the polymer and the lubricant and is at the same time attractive from an environmental and health standpoint. In addition, it is difficult to form a stable dispersion of a lubricant such as a wax in an organic medium that may be added to a coating composition containing a dissolved, abrasion-resistant polymer. Therefore, in order to form a backing layer which can be applied from liquid organic medium that is both abrasion-resistant and has a low coefficient of friction one often applies two separate layers; a first layer which is comprised of an abrasion-resistant polymer and then a second layer which is comprised of a lubricant such as a wax. The need to apply these two separate layers increases both manufacturing complexity and cost.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,059 describes a method of making solid spherical beads having a mean size ranging form 0.5 to about 20 .mu.m. The polymer beads contain a polymeric resinous material and a water insoluble wax. The process of making such solid beads involves the use of water miscible or immiscible low boiling solvent to dissolve both polymeric materials and wax, and subsequently removal of the solvent or solvent mixture by evaporation. This requires large processing equipment and lengthy processing time, which increases the cost of such material. U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,919 describes a lubricant impregnated core/shell polymer particle, the polymer particle comprising a core portion which is insoluble in the organic medium and a shell portion which has an affinity for both the core portion and the organic medium.
The objective of this invention is to provide an imaging element with a wax particle composition which, when used in a surface layer, for example, provides the imaging element with superior surface characteristics.


A device for fiber optic free-space optical communication between electronic components, having no physical communication connection, in which terminal ends of optical fibers are aligned such that light emitting from the terminal end of one optical fiber is transmitted across free-space and received by the terminal end of another optical fiber. The light thusly received is transmitted to a corresponding transceiver, to which the optical fiber is connected, deployed on the electronic component, thereby establishing optical communication between two transceivers across the free-space separating the two terminal ends.

The present invention relates to optical bus systems and, in particular, it concerns a fiber optic free-space optical link.
It is known to employ optical buses to facilitate the high rate of data transferal required by some of the newer processing components. The issue of optical buses is relevant to new system with back planes designed specifically for such buses, as well as retrofitting or upgrading existing hard wired back planes using electronic buses.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,204,866 discloses an electronic system consisting of a number of subsystems or electronic components, which are connected by an optical bus. The individual electronic components are arranged in a housing in such a manner that optical interface units disposed on each component form a monoaxial, bidirectional optical bus working in free-space which distributes electrical signals among the individual components. These signals are transmitted along a single linear axis as polarized light beams. Here each individual component has a bus interface unit for generating outgoing light beams and receiving incoming beams along both directions of the axis respectively. The interface units use laser generators, photodetectors and amplitude-beam-splitters.
In spite of an improvement in the technique, however, such systems are still cost-intensive and only allow for compact construction to a very limited extent, since each individual component requires optical interface units. Furthermore, systems of this type display lower reliability due to the large number of optical elements used. It should also be noted that this type of system is better suited for new systems, since it would be difficult to retrofit an existing system with appropriately aligned housings due to height and location problems created by the existing electronically licked boards.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,038,355 discloses an optical bus between circuit boards or other devices. The system features an electronic circuit assembly that includes electrical circuitry associated with two beam splitters having different optical axes, a detector responsive to one optical axis, and an optical output configured for optical input on the other optical axis.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 2003/0081281 concerns a Wavelength Division Multiple Access (WDMA) free-space broadcast technique for optical backplanes and interplanar communications for providing free-space optical interconnects between multiple circuit cards in a computer system or networking device. It is intended to provide a stable, optimal alignment between a laser center wavelength and the center of a Gaussian bandpass filter in order to optimize power transmission through free-space and reduce optical crosstalk interference in optical networks.
Although the systems referred to above may function as intended when deployed as per design specifications, they do not address the issue of functionality when alternative deployment is required, such as during debugging of the system or an individual board. That is, the required optical alignment is attainable only when the board is in a "normal" deployment on the backplane.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,580,865 offers a system by which individual boards are placed in optical communication by stringing one or more optical fibers from one board to the next. Several boards along a backplane are thus interconnected in series. Although not specifically mentioned in the document, it will be obvious to one skilled in the art that an unintended side benefit of this system in the ability to debug components while they are out of their normal position on the backplane. Drawbacks to this system, however, include being deployable only in systems which have enough room for the user to physically maneuver so as to attached the optical fibers in their receptacles, and the time required to perform detachment and attachment of fibers when a component board is replaced.
In some applications, although the need to replace boards is infrequent, when it is required speed is of the essence. Such applications may include aviation on-board flight control system, ground based flight tracking systems, military applications such as high technology weaponry and detection systems, to specify a few.
There is therefore a need for a fiber optic free-space optical link in which data is transmitted through free-space between open ends of optical fibers.

Rafael - Armament Development Authority Ltd.


According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first stacked body, a memory film, a first channel body, a second stacked body, a gate insulating film and a second channel body. A step part is formed between a side face of the select gate and the second insulating layer. A film thickness of a portion covering the step part of the second channel body is thicker than a film thickness of a portion provided between the second insulating layers of the second channel body.

A memory device has been proposed in which memory cells are arranged three-dimensionally by forming a memory hole on a stacked body having a plurality of electrode layers which function as a control gate in a memory cell and a plurality of insulating layers alternately stacked on each other, forming a charge storage film on a side wall of the memory hole, and thereafter providing silicon in the memory hole to serve as a channel.
As a data erase method specific to such a three-dimensional stacked memory, an erase method using Gate Induced Drain Leakage (GIDL) current is proposed. To use the erase method, a high-concentration impurity diffusion region is required on a channel body near the upper end of a select gate provided above the memory cells.

Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing same


Embodiments include techniques for operating an elevator safety control system and method. The techniques include charging one or more portions of an elevator system, the elevator system includes an elevator door and elevator frame, and monitoring a charge on the one or more portions of the elevator system. In addition, the techniques include detecting a change in the charge on the one or more portions of the elevator system, and responsive to the detection, controlling an operation of the elevator door.

The present disclosure relates generally to elevator systems, and more specifically to elevator door safety control.
In today's environment, elevator systems are used to conveniently and efficiently transport people and goods in buildings having multiple floors. Elevators can be designed to transport various numbers of people and/or support different weights of cargo. Depending on the intended use of the elevator, such as moving cargo in a service elevator or carrying travelling passengers to various office or residential spaces, the presentation of the inside of the elevators can vary from padded walls to elegant mirrors and designs for the passengers enjoyment. In addition, various displays and audio can be provided to occupy the passengers until their destination is met. Regardless of the elevator design, the safety and protection of the cargo and passengers must be provided for.


Provided are a power amplifier and a method thereof. The power amplifier power amplifier includes: a main amplifying unit receiving power; an auxiliary amplifying unit connected in parallel to the main amplifying unit; and a Balun transformer combined with the main amplifying unit and the auxiliary amplifying unit. Respectively different bias voltages are applied to the main amplifying unit and the auxiliary amplifying unit.

The present invention disclosed herein relates to a power amplifier and an amplification method thereof.
Due to the recent development of wireless communication system techniques, an integrated design system that integrates a plurality of systems into one device is generally used. In such devices, many components operate and consume power simultaneously. Thus, a highly efficient power amplifier is required to increase the efficient use of power. Moreover, since a digital modulated signal used in a wireless communication system has a high peak-to-average power ratio, power amplifiers require both high efficiency and excellent linearity.
In order to maintain power amplifier linearity, a back off method is generally used. The back off method allows a power amplifier to operate at an output of about 10 dB less than the maximum output. To implement this, an amplifier must be designed that dynamically changes the loads of some components in order to have high efficiency at a lower-than-maximum output.

Power amplifier and amplification method thereof

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


An engine for a portable working machine includes: a crankshaft to which the working machine is coupled; an air-cooling fan coupled to one end side of the crankshaft; a fan casing enclosing the air-cooling fan; and a bottom cover located in a bottom surface side of the engine and connected to the fan casing. Air suction ports and guide parts are provided in one side of the bottom cover, the air suction ports sucking in air supplied from the air-cooling fan, and the guide parts extending from the air suction ports to the impeller blades of the air-cooling fan.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an engine for a working machine, more specifically to an engine that can be used in a portable working machine, such as a brush cutter, a chain saw, and a power blower.
2. Related Art
Conventionally, this sort of engine for a portable working machine includes a casing to cover the engine and a cooling fan coupled to a crankshaft. The engine is cooled by flowing cooling air between the engine and the casing.
The engine for a portable working machine is used in such as a brush cutter, a chain saw and a power blower. Being held up by the user, the engine is tilted in different directions in use. At work, sometimes a portable working machine is placed on the ground while its engine is in the idle state. For example, an engine for a portable working machine has been known that has a fuel tank and a bottom cover in its lower part in order to prevent foreign matters such as weeds from getting into between the engine and the casing when the portable working machine is placed on the ground (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-75558).
The above-described engine for a portable working machine has a problem that the fuel tank and the bottom cover provided in its lower part may prevent a sufficient amount of cooling air from flowing in the engine. This may cause the performance of the engine to degrade. Therefore, the engine for a portable working machine is designed to ensure that a sufficient amount of cooling air flows therein by forming air flow ports in the bottom cover. However, if the air flow ports of the bottom cover are widened, it is possible to increase an amount of cooling air flowing in the engine for a portable working machine, but foreign matters easily come in the engine.


A system for transmitting and receiving a high definition television signal with characteristics which are determined in part at the receiver. The system transmits an AM signal formed by frequency multiplexing a number of components derived using an HDMAC-60 encoder.

The bandwidth of a television signal is a function of the spatial (horizontal, vertical) and temporal resolution to be contained therein. As increased resolution is desired in either the vertical, horizontal or temporal directions the bandwidth of the signal must be increased. HDTV signals contain considerably more resolution than, for example, standard NTSC encoded signals. As a result various ways have been proposed to generate and transmit HDTV signals, some of which are compatible to a greater or lesser degree with NTSC receivers and some which are designed to replace the NTSC standard altogether.
In order for an HDTV system to gain wide acceptance, however, the economic reality of a $100 billion investment (in North America alone) in NTSC television receivers, must not be ignored. At the same time the trade off for compatibility must not stifle the potential of a true HDTV system.

High definition multiple analog component amplitude modulated television transmission system


A screwdriver is provided having a handle having a first end and a second end; a front element having a bit holder, said front element aligned with said handle along an axis; a cylinder positioned between said handle and said front element, said cylinder having a plurality of chambers, each of said chambers shaped to store a bit; said cylinder rotatable around said axis; and a push rod having a first end and a second end, said push rod slidable along said handle from a first end of said handle to a second end of said handle, said push rod having a magnet at said first end. Wherein the second end of said push rod is positioned at said second end of said handle and said first end of said push rod is aligned with one of said chambers, moving said second end of said push rod from said second end of said handle moves said aligned bit from said cylinder to said bit holder; and when said second end of said push rod is positioned at said first end of said handle, moving said second end of said push rod to said second end of said handle moves said a bit in said bit holder to said cylinder.

There are many screwdrivers available on the market that allow users to change bits so that the screwdriver can be used with various types of screws. Many of these screwdrivers allow for storage of the bits within the screwdriver so that the unused bits are easily available and are less likely to be misplaced.
Other screwdrivers not only store the bits not in use, but also allow the user to put a bit into position in the chuck without removing the bit from the screwdriver. Such screwdrivers offer additional convenience and make it difficult for the user to lose a bit. One example of such a screwdriver is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,332,384 to Cluthe.


The present invention provides a liquid crystal composition wherein properties required in the super twist birefringence effect mode (SBE mode), particularly the high transparent point, low viscosity, and controllable optical isotropic value (.DELTA.n) are kept well balanced, the steepness of the voltage-transmission property is improved, and the value of N.sub.max that indicates high multiplex properties is high.. A liquid crystal composition is provided containing a first component represented by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each represent an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms,. and a second component represented by the general formula: ##STR2## wherein R.sup.3 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or an alkenyl group having 2 to 8 carbon atoms, R.sup.4 represents H or F, R.sup.5 represents a CN-group or F, and ##STR3## represents ##STR4## and a liquid crystal display device that uses the same.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal composition for liquid crystal display.
More particularly the present invention relates to a liquid crystal composition used for high multiplex display devices, and a liquid crystal display device that uses the same.
2. Prior Art
With the recent rapid development of information apparatuses, particularly portable terminal apparatuses, the demand for small-sized, thin and low-power comsumption display devices whose display capacity and display quality correspond to those of the conventional CRT is increasing. Liquid crystal devices meet the demand for small-sized, thin and low-power consumption display devices and have been used customarily in watches and desk-top calculators and as display terminal apparatuses whose duty is on the order of up to 1/100 by the multiplex drive of the TN-type liquid crystal cell whose twist angle is 90 degrees, and in principle it is regarded as difficult to increase the duty number because it lowers the display quality.
On the other hand, the super twist birefringence effect mode (hereinafter abbreviated to SBE mode) is suggested that uses the birefringence effect of a liquid crystal cell whose twist angle is set between 180 and 270 degrees, which is the limit where the bistability of the electrooptical properties of chiral nematic liquid crystals occurs
It is reported by T. J. Scheffer et al. {T. J. Scheffer, and J. Nehring: Appl. Phys. Lett. 45, 1021 (1984)} that this SBE mode allows the same driving method as in matrix display of the common 90-degree twist TN mode driven by the fast scan addressing mode that responds to the effective value of the applied voltage, and the SBE mode has far better contrast and wider visual angle than those of 90-degree twist TN display.
Properties required for liquid crystal compositions used in display devices of the SBE mode are the following:
(1) the voltage-transmission property is steep;
(2) the transition temperature of the nematic-isotropic phase (hereinafter abbreviated to the transparent point (clearing point));
(3) a suitable optical anisotropy value (hereinafter abbreviated to .DELTA.n) can be taken in accordance with the cell thickness (hereinafter abbreviated to d);
(4) the viscosity is low.
The property under (2) is required in the SBE mode to suppress the occurrence of hue changing of the display accompanied with the temperature dependency of the .DELTA.n, thus it is desired that the transparent point is as high as possible.
The property under (4) is particularly effective to shorten the response time in the liquid crystal cell of the SBE mode.
The assignee of the present application filed, as a prior application, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 152334/1988 (U.S. Ser. No. 07/079,997 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,778,620; EPO Application No. 87 111048.2), which is not prior art against the convention date of the present application.
The prior application discloses a tolan derivative represented by the formula: ##STR5## wherein R.sup.1 is an alkyl group or an alkyloxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 is an alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, X represents --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 -- or a single bond, and A represents H or F, provided that when X is a single bond, A is F.