A design method of a semiconductor integrated circuit sets an area having apices of opposing corners of a position of a start point logic cell and a position of an end point logic cell to a repeater search area, adds free area information to the repeater search area, sets a drive boundary in the repeater search area based on a drive ability of the start point logic cell, searches a repeater candidate that can be arranged in an area of the drive boundary based on the free area information, calculates a delay time from the start point logic cell to the end point logic cell based on delay time information and a coordinate of the repeater candidate that is searched, and determines a repeater arranged between the start point logic cell and the end point logic cell from the repeater candidate based on the delay time that is calculated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a design method of a semiconductor integrated circuit, and a computer readable medium, and more particularly, to a design method of a semiconductor integrated circuit and a computer readable medium that optimize the layout of the semiconductor integrated circuit.
2. Description of Related Art
There has been an increasing demand for an increase in a speed of a semiconductor integrated circuit including a system on chip (SoC) due to an increase in a speed of systems mounted thereon and an increase in a macro size as a result of complicated functions. To meet this demand, a logic synthesis method and an arrangement/wiring design method using various high-speed circuit technologies have been developed.
An increase in functional macros in a semiconductor integrated circuit results in an increase in a size of the semiconductor integrated circuit and an increase in the length of a signal wiring passing through the functional macros, which increases the wiring delay. Thus, it becomes difficult to achieve high-speed operation in the semiconductor integrated circuit. One method that is typically used to reduce the influence of wiring capacitance components caused due to the increase in the length of the signal wiring is to insert a buffer logic cell that is able to be sufficiently driven and inverter logic cells formed of even number of stages (hereinafter referred to as repeaters) into the semiconductor integrated circuit, so as to reduce the wiring delay. In this case, a certain time is required to correct bypass wiring in order to change the repeater arrangement position. Thus, an efficient operation is required.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-65669 discloses a technique related to an automatic-arrangement-wiring apparatus in which layout design can be performed at an appropriate timing by one automatic-arrangement-wiring. The automatic-arrangement-wiring apparatus according to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-65669 calculates the wiring length between functional macro cells or blocks using an existing technique such as a Manhattan distance, selects a wiring layer used according to the transfer rate required from the correlation between the transfer rate and the wiring length that are obtained, and inserts repeaters when the transfer rate does not satisfy the required value even when this wiring layer is used.
FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the automatic-arrangement-wiring apparatus according to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-65669. As shown in FIG. 13, the automatic-arrangement-wiring apparatus according to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-65669 includes a transfer rate and repeater-to-repeater distance determining unit 112, an arrangement processing unit 113, a wire-length estimating unit 114, a wire-length determining unit 115, a transfer rate calculating unit 116, a wiring layer assigning unit 117, a repeater inserting unit 118, a wiring processing unit 119, a timing verifying unit 120, and a drawing unit 121.
The transfer rate and repeater-to-repeater distance determining unit 112 acquires a relationship between a repeater-to-repeater distance and a transfer rate for each of a plurality of wiring layers having different time constants based on a relationship between the repeater-to-repeater distance and a delay time which is prepared beforehand for each of the plurality of wiring layers, and calculates the highest transfer rate for each of the plurality of wiring layers. Note that the transfer rate is the time required for signals to propagate over a unit length of the wiring layer connecting repeaters, and is therefore expressed in units of time per unit length. In accordance with the related art, high transfer rate indicates that the time required for signals to propagate over a unit distance of the wiring layer is short, whereas low transfer rate indicates long transfer time.
The delay time is the time required for signals to propagate between repeaters in the wiring layer, and the repeater-to-repeater distance is the wiring length between the repeaters in the wiring layer. In accordance with Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-65669, each delay of the repeaters is disregarded and the result of division of the delay time by the repeater-to-repeater distance is acquired as the transfer rate associated with this repeater-to-repeater distance.
FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing an operation of the automatic-arrangement-wiring apparatus according to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-65669. The related art will be described with reference to this flow chart. First, before carrying out layout wiring, the transfer rate and repeater-to-repeater distance determining unit 112 reads electronic data stored in a hard disk device in advance indicating a relationship between the delay time and the repeater-to-repeater distance for each of a plurality of wiring layers to a RAM. The transfer rate and repeater-to-repeater distance determining unit 112 then calculates a transfer rate for each of the plurality of wiring layers from the relationship between the repeater-to-repeater distance and the delay time indicated by the electronic data, and acquires a relationship between the repeater-to-repeater distance and the transfer rate for each of the plurality of wiring layers. Then, the transfer rate and repeater-to-repeater distance determining unit 112 calculates the highest transfer rate for each of the plurality of wiring layers having different time constants from the relationship between the repeater-to-repeater distance and the transfer rate of each of the plurality of wiring layers. The above processing corresponds to step S101 shown in FIG. 14.
The arrangement processing unit 113 then carries out arrangement of blocks and macro cells using a netlist which defines a connection relationship among blocks and macro cells in each desired logical circuit (step S102 in FIG. 14). One of various types of known arrangement technologies can be used as this arrangement technique.
When the arrangement of blocks and macro cells is completed, the wire-length estimating unit 114 estimates the wiring length of each of wiring routes which are to be provided among the blocks and macro cells based on the results of the arrangement (step S103 in FIG. 14). Using a known technology such as a Manhattan distance or the like as a method of estimating the wiring length, the wire-length estimating unit 114 estimates the wiring length of each of the wiring routes (hereinafter referred to as estimated wiring length as appropriate) in consideration of the congestion degree and degree of difficulty of wiring according to the arrangement results.
When accepting information about the estimated wiring length from the wire-length estimating unit 114, the wire-length determining unit 115 compares this information about the estimated wiring length with information about the wiring length specified by a user, and determines whether or not the estimated wiring length is equal to or longer than the wiring length specified by the user (step S104 in FIG. 14). The wiring length specified by the user is a threshold of a wiring length which provides a maximum permissible delay time according to the specifications of the circuit design. The information of the wiring length specified by the user is input into the automatic-arrangement-wiring apparatus using an input device, e.g., a keyboard or a mouse.
In step S104 in FIG. 14, when the wiring length estimated by the wire-length estimating unit 114 is shorter than the wiring length specified by the user, the process shifts to wiring processing of step S108 in FIG. 14. On the other hand, when determining that the estimated wiring length is equal to or longer than the wiring length specified by the user, the wire-length estimating unit 114 outputs the fact that the estimated wiring length is equal to or longer than the wiring length specified by the user and the information about the estimated wiring length to the transfer rate calculating unit 116. The transfer rate calculating unit 116 then estimates a delay time which is required based on a timing value in the wiring length of each wiring route specified by the user to calculate a transfer rate (step S105 in FIG. 14).
The timing value specified by the user and provided to the wiring length of each wiring route is a timing limitation value for the wiring length of each wiring route in question which the user has specified according to the specifications of the circuit design. For example, the timing value can be a real wire capacitance. The timing value is input to the automatic-arrangement-wiring apparatus by using an input device, e.g., a keyboard or a mouse. The information about the transfer rate and delay time which are determined for the estimated wiring length of each wiring route which is determined to be equal to or longer than the wiring length specified by the user is output from the transfer rate calculating unit 116 to the wiring layer assigning unit 117.
The wiring layer assigning unit 117 then compares the transfer rate calculated by the transfer rate calculating unit 116 with the highest transfer rates each of which being predetermined for the plurality of wiring layers having different time constants, and selects and assigns a wiring layer having the lowest transfer rate from among wiring layers extracted in an area that does not exceed the transfer rate calculated by the transfer rate calculating unit 116 to each wiring route in question (step S106 in FIG. 14).
The repeater inserting unit 118 then uses the relationship between the repeater-to-repeater distance and the transfer rate which is predetermined by the transfer rate and repeater-to-repeater distance determining unit 112, so as to determine a repeater-to-repeater distance which minimizes the transfer rate of the wiring layer which is assigned to each wiring route in question by the wiring layer assigning unit 117. The repeater inserting unit 118 further compares the wiring length of the wiring layer with the repeater-to-repeater distance determined as mentioned above, and, when the wiring length of the wiring layer in question is longer than the determined repeater-to-repeater distance, inserts one or more repeaters, such as buffers, into each wiring route in question formed of the assigned wiring layer at intervals specified by the repeater-to-repeater distance (step S107 in FIG. 14).
When the wire-length determining unit 115, in step S104 in FIG. 14, determines that the estimated wiring length is shorter than the wiring length specified by the user, or when the processing up to above-mentioned step S107 in FIG. 14 is completed, the wiring processing unit 119 performs wiring processing on each of the plurality of wiring routes having an estimated wiring length, and also performs wiring processing on the wiring layer which is assigned to each wiring route by the wiring layer assigning unit 117 (in step S108 in FIG. 14). At this time, the automatic arrangement wiring apparatus performs this processing on the plurality of wiring routes in an increasing order of transfer rates required of wiring layers which are assigned to the plurality of wiring routes. As a result, wiring can be sequentially performed on the wiring layers in order of decreasing time constant and hence increasing transfer rate, but decreasing number of wiring resources. Thus, a fine wiring layer is wired first with the largest time constant and hence the lowest transfer rate, but the largest number of wiring resources. Therefore, automatic wiring with good efficiency in consideration of the wiring resources can be implemented.
The timing verifying unit 120 then performs timing verification on the automatically-arranged wiring layout which is thus obtained as mentioned above (in step S109 in FIG. 14), and determines whether timing error parts exist in the automatically-arranged wiring layout (in step S110 in FIG. 14). When determining that timing error parts exist in the automatically-arranged wiring layout, the process returns to step S106 in FIG. 14 in which it carries out the assignment of wiring layers to the plurality of wiring routes again.
For example, the wiring layer assigning unit 117 assigns a wiring layer having the second lowest transfer rate, which is selected from among wiring layers whose transfer rates do not exceed the transfer rate calculated by the transfer rate calculating unit 116 based on the relationship between the plurality of wiring layers and their lowest transfer rates, to each of the plurality of wiring routes. Then, wiring is sequentially performed on the wiring layers in order of decreasing time constant and hence increasing transfer rate, and decreasing number of wiring resources. Thus, a fine wiring layer is wired first. On the other hand, when determining that no timing error part exists in the automatically-arranged wiring layout, the timing verifying unit 120 notifies the drawing unit 121 of the fact. As a result, the drawing unit 121 displays the semiconductor layout created as mentioned above on a display screen of a computer device to provide it for a user.
In accordance with the automatic-arrangement-wiring apparatus disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-65669, when acquiring the relationship between the repeater-to-repeater distance and the transfer rate for each of the plurality of wiring layers, the transfer rate and repeater-to-repeater distance determining unit 112 can provide an amount of displacement which serves as an arrangement margin from ideal positions which are determined beforehand in consideration of the fact that repeaters cannot be actually arranged at the ideal positions (step S101 in FIG. 14). As a result, when it is impossible to arrange them at the ideal positions when repeaters are actually arranged, the positions where they are to be arranged can be adjusted according to this amount of displacement.
For a certain wiring route to which a wiring layer is assigned, even if it is determined that the transfer rate is the highest in a repeater-to-repeater distance, there is a case where repeaters cannot be arranged at the ideal positions specified by the repeater-to-repeater distance in terms of the arrangement space. In this case, the transfer rate and repeater-to-repeater distance determining unit 112 can receive a user-specified amount of displacement via a graphic display device or the like, and add the user-specified amount of displacement input by the user to the above-mentioned repeater-to-repeater distance. In this case, since the delay time increases by only a time corresponding to the increase in the repeater-to-repeater distance from the ideal one, the automatic-arrangement-wiring apparatus selects a wiring layer having a shorter transfer rate according to the increase in the repeater-to-repeater distance from the ideal one. For example, the wire-length estimating unit 114 estimates the wiring length of each of the plurality of wiring routes again in consideration of the amount of displacement from the ideal positions, or the wiring layer assigning unit 117 can change the assignment of a wiring layer to each of the plurality of wiring routes.

Method of semiconductor integrated circuit, and computer readable medium


Oil resistant package material and packages prepared therefrom have cyclodextrin incorporated in or adjacent to a film layer of the package to reduce the permeation of oil through the package material, and particularly out of the package. The film layer comprises a polymer that coordinates or bonds with a cyclodextrin compound in an amount sufficient to reduce the permeation of oil through the film layer as compared to a like film layer that does not contain cyclodextrin.

Cyclodextrins have been used principally for the encapsulation of insoluble compounds on a molecular basis in order to enhance stability, reduce volatility and alter solubility as well as to increase shelf life of certain products. Such prior uses of cyclodextrins have been limited to flavor carriers and protection of sensitive substances against thermal decomposition, oxidation and degradation. In addition, more recently, cyclodextrins have also been used to remove fatty acids and cholesterol from animal fats and to remove cholesterol and cholesterol esters from egg yolks.
Fat compositions have been thickened by binding the fat with cyclodextrin by mixing the fat with a cyclodextrin that has been solubilized by water in a batch process. This batch process is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/158,747; Titled: VISCOUS FAT COMPOSITIONS HAVING LOW AMOUNTS OF TRANS-FAT, METHODS AND PRODUCTS, filed Jun. 22, 2005. Additionally, the food product can be provided with cyclodextrin in the manner described in US Patent Application No. 2005/0019475, titled "Reduced Trans Fat Product," published Jan. 27, 2005; US Patent Application No. 2005/0025875, titled "Treatment and Composition for Reducing Acrylamide in Food Products and Food Intermediates, published Feb. 3, 2005; and US Patent Application No. 2005/0233054, titled "Method for Reducing Trans Fat Levels in Food Products and Food Intermediates and Products and Intermediates Produced Thereby," published Oct. 20, 2005.
The incorporation of cyclodextrin or a complex of cyclodextrin and blowing agent into an adhesive and/or sealant plastic material in order to improve adhesion is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,717. Possible blowing agents include water. The composition is applied and heated to activate the blowing agent, which produces gasses that expands the adhesive or sealant. This means that the final film in place on the substrate as claimed in this patent cannot contain a cyclodextrin/water complex. Additionally, because the blowing agent is claimed to occupy the interior of the cyclodextrin, a different material cannot be used provided as an inclusion complex.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,985,772 describes packaging systems containing a barrier layer that can act both as a barrier to the passage of a permeant and as a trap for contaminant materials that can arise in new materials or from the recycle of fiber in the manufacture of paperboard. The effective material which acts as a trap or barrier is a cyclodextrin compound, substantially free of an inclusion complex compound. The cyclodextrin barrier layer can be corrugated or sheet laminated with or on the cellulosic web. Alternatively, the cyclodextrin material can be included in a coating composition that is coated on the surface or both surfaces of the cellulosic web after web formation. Further, the cyclodextrin material can be included in a thermoplastic film that can be used as one layer in a bilayer or multilayer laminate containing a cellulosic web.
A microwaveable container is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,679,278. The container is formed of a three part laminate structure including a middle layer of plastic that is impervious to liquid oils, water vapor, gas, and moisture, an inner layer of fibrous material joined to one side of the middle layer, and an outer fibrous layer joined to the other side of the middle layer.


A center frame is fastened to a first bracket and a second bracket such that a first mated protrusion and a second mated protrusion are fitted together with a first mated recess portion and a second mated recess portion so as to be mated. O rings are disposed annularly so as to be held between an end surface of the first bracket and a first axial end surface of the center frame, and between an end surface of the second bracket and a second axial end surface of the center frame on an opposite side from outer circumferential inner wall surfaces of the first mated recess portion and the second mated recess portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an external cover-cooled rotary electric machine and a casing that is used therein that allows a refrigerant to flow through an external cover to perform cooling, and particularly relates to a small, lightweight external cover-cooled rotary electric machine that is suitable for use in automobiles and to a casing that is used therein.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the conventional induction motor described in Patent Literature 1, for example, a stator core is held by a stator frame, the stator frame and a front-end end bracket being fitted together so as to be mated and then fastened using bolts, and the stator frame and a rear-end end bracket being fitted together so as to be mated and then fastened using bolts. A zigzag-shaped cooling medium passage is formed inside the stator frame in an axial direction of the electric motor. This cooling medium passage is configured by forming cavities that have openings on an end surface on a side near the front-end end bracket inside the stator frame when the stator frame is cast, and sealing those opening portions using a sealing member.
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. HEI 6-269143 (Gazette)
In conventional induction motors, because the cooling medium passage is configured by sealing the opening portions of the cavities that are formed on the stator frame using a sealing member, one problem has been that a sealing member is required, increasing the number of parts, and reducing ease of assembly.
Although the stator frame and the end brackets are fitted together so as to be mated, those mated interfitting portions are for positioning parts relative to each other in a radial direction. Because mated interfitting portions for positioning are generally constituted by shallow-based indentations and protrusions, the contribution of the mated interfitting portions to improvements in rigidity of the assemblage of the stator frame and the end brackets is small, making the rigidity of the assemblage insufficient. Thus, another problem has been that the stator frame is deformed due to vibration during movement, etc., and the cooling medium leaks out.

External cover-cooled rotary electric machine and casing used therein


Embodiments of methods and laser system for creating laser-induced damages inside a transparent material are disclosed. One or more embodiments of the invention comprise a method and system for production of an etch point by generating breakdowns in several separate focused small points inside the etch point area. Other embodiments of the invention comprise a method for production of etch points which have the same size but different brightness. Laser-induced damages produced by this method permit to reproduce image gradation without changing of their spatial resolution. According to the invention it is made by variation of a number of focused small points inside an etch point area. Other embodiments of the invention comprise method for creation of an etch point with desirable form. Using such etch points it is possible to produce images which from different directions will have right brightness.

A number of techniques for creating a variety of patterns on the surface and inside of transparent substrates using pulsed laser radiation are well known.
One publication disclosing such techniques is the Russian invention #321422 to Agadjanov et al., published on Nov. 16, 1970 (#140454529-33). The invention concerns a method of manufacturing decorative products inside a transparent material by changing the material structure by laser radiation. As disclosed, by moving a material relative to a focused laser beam, it is possible to create a drawing inside the material.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,092,518 to Merard discloses a method for decorating transparent plastic articles. This technique is carried out by directing a pulsed laser beam into the body of an article by successively focusing the laser beam in different regions within the body of the article. The pulse energy and duration is selected based upon the desired extent of the resulting decorative pattern. The effect of the laser is a number of three dimensional "macro-destruction" (fissures in the material of the article) appearing as fanned-out cracks. The pattern of the cracks produced in the article is controlled by changing the depth of the laser beam focus along the length of the article. Preferably, the article is in the form of a cylinder, and the cracks are shaped predominantly as saucer-like formations of different size arranged randomly around the focal point of the optical system guiding a laser beam. The device used to carry out this technique is preferably a multi-mode solid-state, free-running pulse laser used in conjunction with a convergent lens having a focal length from 100 to 200 mm.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,207 to Urbanek et al., discloses a method of creating controlled decorations on the surface of a hollow symmetrical transparent article. This technique is preferably carried out on glass. The glass is preconditioned with a coating on the outer surface of the glass being approximately 1.2 mm thick and made of a material having at least 75% absorption of laser radiation. The technique is also carried out using a laser having a wave of length of 0.5 to 2 microns acting upon the external coating through the wall of the cylindrical glass article. The laser beam moves so that it is focused on the surface of the cylinder, and moves about the axis of symmetry of the cylinder to irradiate the aforementioned surface coating. As a result, the irradiated portions of the surface coating go through a phase change and a pattern is formed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,496 to Clement et al. discloses a method and apparatus for providing in a transparent material, such as glass or plastic, a mark which is visible to the naked eye or which may be "seen" by optical instruments operating at an appropriate wavelength. The Clement et al. Patent describes a method and apparatus for producing a subsurface marking which is produced in a body such as bottle, by directing into the body a high energy density beam and bringing the beam to focus at a location spaced from the surface, so as to cause localized ionization of the material. In the preferred embodiment the apparatus includes a laser as the high energy density beam source. The laser may be a Nd-YAG laser that emits a pulsed beam of laser radiation with a wavelength of 1064 nm. The pulsed beam is incident upon a first mirror that directs the beam through a beam expander and a beam combiner to a second mirror. A second source of laser radiation in the form of a low power He-Ne laser emits a secondary beam of visible laser radiation with a wavelength of 638 .mu.m. The secondary beam impinges upon the beam combiner where it is reflected toward the second reflecting surface coincident with the pulsed beam of laser radiation from the Nd-YAG laser. The combined coincident beams are reflected at the reflecting surface via reflecting two other surfaces to a pair of movable mirrors for controlling movement of the beam. The beam then passes through a lens assembly into the body to be marked.
Soviet patent publication 1838163 to P. V. Agrynsky, et. al discloses a process for forming of image in solid media by the way of processing of optically transparent solid material by the beam of radiation with changeable energy for creation of the image.
Russian patent publication RU 20083388 C1 to Oshemkov discloses a process for laser forming of images in solid media by the way of focusing of laser radiation inside the volume of sample which differs by the following: with the aim to save the surface and the volume of the sample before the definite point and creation of three dimensional images, the sample is illuminated with the power density higher than the threshold of volume breakdown and moving the sample relatively to the laser beam in three orthogonal directions.
WIPO Patent Document No. 96/30219 to Lebedev et al. discloses a technology for creating two- or three-dimensional images inside a polymer material using penetrating electromagnetic radiation. The technology can be used for marking and for producing decorative articles and souvenirs. Specifically, laser radiation is used as the penetrating radiation, and carbonizing polymers are used as the polymer material. By these means, it is possible to produce both black and half-tone images in the articles.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,936 to Goldfarb discloses a process and apparatus where a focused laser beam causes local destruction within a solid article, without effecting the surface thereof. The apparatus for etching an image within a solid article includes a laser focused to a focal point within the article. The position of the article with respect to the focal point is varied. Control means, coupled to the laser, and positioning means are provided for firing the laser so that a local disruption occurs within the article to form the image within the article.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,244 to Erokhin discloses a technique which depends on a particular optical system including a diffraction limited Q-switched laser (preferably a solid-state single-mode TEM.sub.00) aimed into a defocusing lens having a variable focal length to control the light impinging on a subsequent focusing lens that refocuses the laser beam onto the transparent article being etched. The laser power level, operation of the defocusing lens, and the movement of the transparent article being etched are all controlled by a computer. The computer operates to reproduce a pre- programmed three-dimensional image inside the transparent article being etched. In the computer memory, the image is presented as arrays of picture elements on various parallel planes. The optical system is controlled to reproduce the stored arrays of picture elements inside the transparent material. A method for forming a predetermined half-tone image is discloses. Accordance to the method microdestructions of a first size are created to form a first portion of the image and microdestruction of a second size different from the first size are created to form a second portion of the image. Different sizes of microdestructions are created by changing the laser beam focusing sharpness and the radiation power thereof before each shot.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,936 to A. Vasiliev and B. Goldfarb discloses a method for laser-assisted image formation in transparent specimens which consists in establishing a laser beam having different angular divergence values in two mutually square planes. An angle between the plane with a maximum laser beam angular divergence and the surface of the image portion being formed is changed to suit the required contrast of an image.
EPO Patent Document 0743128 to Balickas et al. disclose a method of marking products made of transparent materials which involves concentration of a laser beam in the material, which does not absorb the beam, at a predetermined location, destruction of the material by laser pulses and formation of the marking symbol by displacement of the laser beam. Destruction of the material at that location takes place in two stages. In the first stage, the resistance of the material to laser radiation is altered, while, in the second stage, destruction of the material takes place at that location.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/643,918, U.S. Pat. No. 6,087,617 to Troitski et al. discloses a computer graphic system for producing an image inside optically transparent material. An image reproducible inside optically transparent material by the system is defined by potential etch points, in which the breakdowns required to create the image in the selected optically transparent material are possible. The potential etch points are generated based on the characteristics of the selected optically transparent material. If the number of the potential etch points exceeds a predetermined number, the system carries out an optimization routine that allows the number of the generated etch points to be reduced based on their size. To prevent the distortion of the reproduced image due to the refraction of the optically transparent material, the coordinates of the generated etch points are adjusted to correct their positions along a selected laser beam direction.
Images comprising laser- generated etch points produced by all aforementioned systems and methods generally suffer from having a low quality. The quality of laser-induced damage images is determined by following principal parameters:
1) spatial resolution; PA0 2) adequate reproduction of grade shades PA0 3) dispersion character of light reflected from a laser- induced damage; PA0 4) artistic effect.
These parameters are determined by form and sizes of each laser induced-damage. Commonly, those etch points that are produced in glass by aforementioned methods, have random star forms in plane perpendicular to the direction of the laser beam. Such form of laser induced-damage is not desirable because it does not give a chance to produce high quality images.
The first, the random etch points have random effective sizes. The distance between adjacent damages should be larger if sizes of etch points is larger (only in this case it is possible to avoid an internal split between several separate etch points). Therefore it is necessary to produce etch points with the large distance between them to have a low probability of an internal split. This demand gives rise to low spatial resolution.
The second, the etch points with random shape have random area of modified refraction index and this gives fluctuation of light reflected from them, consequently, adequate reproduction of grade shades is impossible.
The third, the etch points with random shape have random light dispersion character, consequently, contrast of any image fluctuates.
The fourth, both brightness fluctuation of one etch point for different direction and brightness fluctuation between separate damages are visible by naked eyes and it creates undesirable (not artistic) effect.
Moreover, generally different grade of shades are reproduced by variation of laser damage sizes. Different sizes of microdestructions are created by changing of the focusing sharpness (U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,244 to Erokhin, U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,936 to A. Vasiliev and B. Goldfarb), the radiation power (U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,244 to Erokhin, Soviet patent publication 1838163 to Agrynsky, et. al) or repeat of laser pulses in the same point (Soviet patent publication 1838163 to P. V. Agrynsky, et. al). In all cases etch points are changed in size and consequently reproduction of grade shades influences on the spatial resolution of an image (variation of damage size necessitates variation of distance between adjacent etch points). Just therefore U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,244 to Erokhin disclose a method only "for forming a predetermined half-tone (not grade shade) image inside a transparent material". Moreover each image has its minimal resolution which is needed for reproduction of its small details, and therefore the increase of size has its limitation for each image. At last, it is not possible to reach high artistic effect when the same image is produced by etch points with random sizes.

Method and laser system for creation of laser-induced damages to produce high quality images


A processor includes: a data transmission/reception section that reads parameter data unique to a scope from a ROM provided in the scope; a register communication state determination section that determines whether or not the parameter data read from the data transmission/reception section has an error; and a mute control/color bar control section that if a result of the determination by the register communication state determination section indicates that the parameter data has an error, controls an image processing section according to a type of the parameter data having the error.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a video signal processing apparatus for an endoscope, and specifically relates to a video signal processing apparatus for an endoscope, the video signal processing apparatus controlling image output according to a type of parameter data having an error.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, an endoscope apparatus includes a scope (endoscope) including an image pickup device such as a CCD in a distal end portion thereof, and a processor that performs predetermined image processing on an endoscopic image picked up by the image pickup device provided in the scope and displays the endoscopic image on a monitor. The scope and the processor can be detachably attached to each other via, e.g., a connector, enabling different types of scopes to be connected to the processor.
Scopes incorporate, e.g. a ROM with parameters unique to respective scopes stored therein, and when a scope is connected to a processor, the processor acquires parameters unique to the scope by means of communication between the processor and the scope.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 11-169338 discloses an endoscope apparatus that detects whether or not connection between a scope and a processor is normal, by means of communication between the scope and the processor. The endoscope apparatus makes a comparison to determine whether or not transmission data transmitted from the scope corresponds to fixed value data stored in the processor, and if the transmission data corresponds to the fixed value data, it is determined that the connection is normal, and if the transmission data does not correspond to the fixed value data, it is determined that the connection has an error. Then, if the scope has a connection error, the processor displays an image indicating that the scope is not connected, on a monitor.
However, even if the scope and the processor are normally connected and unique parameters are read from the scope by means of communication and transmitted to the processor, the read unique parameters may be corrupted by noise such as disturbance. The unique parameters include parameters related to endoscopic image output and parameters not related to endoscopic image output.

Video signal processing apparatus for endoscope


The subject invention is an image guided, Computerized Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging compatible device for inserting needle or any such medical device at a desired place in the body.

In medical field it is very often necessary to precisely position a medical device through a needle tip at a particular part of the body or an organ deep inside the body. This is required for obtaining tissue samples or for delivering drugs or for therapeutic/palliative aspiration of fluid collections or any such procedure.
This can be done percutaneously under image guidance obtained from cross sectional imaging devices such as ultrasound/CT scan/MRI scan etc. Image guidance is required to select least harmful path for the needle, so as to avoid vital organs and structures such as blood vessels, bowel etc. The needle can be placed free hand at an approximately correct angle by trial and error. This can also be better done by using needle guiding devices that can guide the needle in the precise direction so as to reach the precise point in the body.
These difficult and critical at time life saving operations/procedures require precise placement of needle/medical devices at precise points or locations in the body while avoiding damage to other delicate organs, tissues, blood vessels etc. Although it is possible to determine exact location using various electronic, sonic or other techniques, guiding the needles to that precise point by free hand is by trial and error and often requires multiple attempts. At times despite multiple attempts it may not be possible to place the needle or such medical device in the desired precise point in the body. At times multiple attempts of passing the needle may cause serious life threatening complications of internal bleeding and/or damage to vital organs in the path of the needle or such device.
There are devices available for guiding the needle in a precise direction under ultrasound guidance. There are also devices available for guiding the needle for brain interventions through drilled holes in the skull. However devices available for guiding the needle for brain interventions are not suitable/compatible for use in other parts of the body.
In the modern era of technology various advanced techniques such as CT and MR scanning are available for precise identification of locations needing treatment through placement of needles/medical devices through the needles or for obtaining tissue samples/body fluids. However a universal device capable of using these imaging techniques for precise placement of needles/medical devices through the needles any where in the body is not presently known and hence there is a need to develop such device.
The only reference available in respect of stereo tactic device in medical field is that of a device used for brain surgery/interventions that I could come across is titled frame for stereotactic surgery. The said device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,665 to Kasim I Gouda dated 17 Nov. 1987. The device provided by the abovementioned U.S. patent cannot be used on any other part of the body as it has been designed for brain surgery/interventions only.
The main object of the present invention is to provide an image guided stereo tactic device for needle/medical device placement that could be used for interventions in the entire of the body including brain.
Another object is to provide the said device which is compatible with both CT and MRI scan techniques and environment.
None of the existing stereotactic biopsy devices are capable of being used in body part affected by respiratory movement. In order to prevent damage to body organs and tissues in the path of the needle during respiratory movements it is mandatory to allow free movement of the needle or such device during breathing.
The present invention provides a stereotactic device that obviates the above limitations by allowing the parts used to support the needle to fall away from the needle, once the needle is placed in side the body.
In particular aspect of the present invention the device comprises a base plate at the bottom of the device with a supporting ring that fits in the base plate, an arc for needle guide, a screw and a pin to fix the supporting ring and arc and a needle guide.

Image guided whole body stereotactic needle placement device with falling arc

Abstract: The subject invention comprises a circular base plate, a supporting ring that is placed in a groove in the base plate, an arc, a needle guide that slides on the arc, a screw which fixes the arc with the supporting ring and the circular base plate and a locking pin which fixes the arc with the supporting ring in such a way that the arc becomes perpendicular to the circular base plate. When the locking pin is removed, this allows the arc to fall and thus frees the needle placed to move with breathing without hindrance from the subject invention, enabling placement of needle also in body parts that move with breathing.


A locking system or a storage unit with the locking system, includes a locking core and a connected cammed lever. A user can rotate the core and lever about an axis when a latch is disengaged from a detent. When the latch is engaged with the detent, the core and the cammed lever are prevented from rotating about the axis. When the locking assembly is installed within the storage unit, the latch may be configured to strike a guide associated with a locking bar assembly, so that when the latch is moved to an unlatched position, the locking core and the lever are free to rotate, operating the locking bar between locked and unlocked positions. When the latch is withdrawn away from the guide, the latch engages with the detent to prevent movement of the lever and locking core relative to the locking assembly, to retain the lever and locking core in a desired, predetermined orientation.

Storage equipment, office furniture, and other storage units and the like, containing multiple storage compartments often include locking mechanisms in which one or more sliding bars are configured to prevent unauthorized opening of storage compartments when the units are locked. The locking bars slide within a predefined path, between a locked position (in which the storage compartments are blocked from opening) and an unlocked position (in which one or more of the storage compartments are unlocked and may be opened).
In some instances, rotatable locks (sometimes called locking cylinders, or rotatable locking cores) are used in association with various mechanical systems to operate the locking bars between the locked position and unlocked position. However, certain prior art systems are prone to misalignment of the components of those locking systems during operation, so that it becomes difficult or impossible to properly reclose and lock the storage compartments after opening and operating one or more of the storage compartments.
It is desirable to have a locking system in which the lock (such as by way of example, a locking cylinder, locking core or similar component) is maintained in its proper position and orientation, so that the storage unit may be fully closed and all storage compartments may be locked when the storage compartments are returned to their closed positions.


A transmission indicator apparatus for a vehicle, may include a base provided on a side of a gearshift lever of the vehicle, a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) circuit mounted on the base and provided with light sources, a cover provided above the PCB circuit to shield an internal structure therein, wherein stage characters of a stage character part and stage selection displays of a stage selection part may be formed on the cover to transmit light of the light sources and be thus distinguished, and a partition provided in a space between the PCB circuit and the cover and located between the stage character part and the stage selection part of the cover, thus preventing light interference between the light sources.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a transmission indicator for a vehicle, which is provided on a side of a gearshift lever of a vehicle, thus indicating to a user the current position of a transmission.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, a transmission indicator is provided on a cluster gate or a console upper cover in a vehicle to indicate the current position of the transmission of the vehicle. A driver can see the current position of the transmission through the transmission indicator. An automatic transmission is generally indicated in "P" (park), "R" (reverse), "N" (neutral), "D" (drive), "+" (stage up), and "−" (stage down). The transmission indicator is configured so that the above characters emit light.
Particularly in the daytime, even if the characters of the transmission indicator do not emit light, a driver can easily recognize the current position of the transmission based on the position of a gearshift lever as long as the gearshift lever is arranged to be parallel to a selected stage character. However, at night, the characters of P, R, N, D, +, and −emit light to allow a driver to distinguish the current position of the transmission. Furthermore, a stage selection part is provided to indicate the current gear position, and emits light, thus affording convenience to a driver.
Therefore, vehicle manufacturers should install light emitting parts at a stage character part and the stage selection part so as to make both the stage character part and the stage selection part emit light, thus making it more complicated to manufacture the transmission indicator. Of course, the stage selection part may be included in the transmission indicator or may be provided separately from the transmission indicator. According to a conventional indicator shown in the drawings, the stage selection part is included in the transmission indicator, so that the stage character part and the stage selection part are placed together on the transmission indicator.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional transmission indicator for a vehicle, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a PCB of the transmission indicator for the vehicle shown in FIG. 1.
As shown in the drawings, the conventional transmission indicator for the vehicle includes a cover 10 and a stage character part 20 which is marked on the cover 10 and includes stage characters P, R, N, D, +, and −. The stage character part 20 always emits light during day and night, and a selected stage emits light with a different color to allow a user to distinguish the selected stage of the transmission during day and night. To this end, as shown in FIG. 2, the PCB circuit 30 is configured so that each stage character has two light emitting parts 41a and 41b, 42a and 42b, 43a and 43b, 44a and 44b, 45a and 45b, or 46a and 46b. The reason why such a configuration is required is because six light emitting parts for indicating the stage characters and six light emitting parts having different colors for indicating stage selection displays corresponding to the respective stage characters are needed.
That is, the conventional transmission indicator for the vehicle is problematic in that at least two light emitting parts are needed per stage character, so that light emitting parts 12 are required as for the embodiment shown in the drawings, and thus manufacturing costs are increased and the excessive volume of the PCB imposes restrictions on design. According to the recent trends in design, the size of the transmission indicator is minimized, so that the remaining space is utilized as a cup holder or storage space. Thus, in order to attain the positional perceptibility of the transmission when the size of the transmission indicator for the vehicle is minimized, distinguishable light emitting parts are needed for respective stages. However, in order to afford designing freedom, the number of light emitting parts must be reduced and the PCB must be simplified.
Further, the conventional transmission indicator is generally configured so that the cover and the stage characters of the stage character part are separately manufactured, and the stage character part is assembled with the cover by fitting. In this case, water passes through a gap between the cover and the stage character part, so the PCB circuit in the transmission indicator may be damaged. Further, in the case of separately manufacturing the stage selection part, both the stage character part and the stage selection part are present in the cover of the transmission indicator, and design is thus complicated.
It is to be understood that the foregoing description merely aids in understanding the present invention, and does not mean that the present invention falls under the purview of the related art which was already known to those skilled in the art.
The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.


A highly interleaved Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) format allows for high data density transfer for a given port at a communications controller. The port is coupled to a Time Slot Assigner (TSA) that will steer the provisioned timeslots of the interleaved TDM data to appropriate Serial Communication Controllers (SCCs), both which are internal to the communications controller. Entries in a Serial Interface Random Access Memory (SI RAM) that is coupled to the TSA and a lookup memory in a clock gapping function block located at a TDM interleaving circuit, are programmed by the communication controller to facilitate the TSA in steering the timeslots.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to optimizing a communications controller and, in particular, to interleaving TDM format for multiple high speed links to a port of the communications controller.
2. Background Information
The advent of the telephone has had a great impact in the way people communicate. Instead of walking to the recipient of the message or waiting days for mail to arrive, one can simply pick up a phone and dial the other party. The phones are connected through a switching system and the communication boundaries are only limited by the extent of the system. Because communication is almost instantaneous, one can receive up-to-date news at the time of the conversation.
A new form of communication has emerged with the development of computer networking. Examples are Local Area Networking (LAN) and Wide Area Networking (WAN) such as the Internet. These networks accommodate a messaging system known as electronic mail (e-mail). Typically, a user connected to a network transmits e-mail by sending it to an e-mail server that services the e-mail recipient. On receipt, the e-mail server stores the e-mail in individual electronic mail-boxes until its recipient accesses the server. The server then makes available the e-mail for his disposal. Like a telephone call, e-mail is also transmitted almost instantaneously among the various users; however, an additional advantage is that in the case of a long distance call, the use of e-mail provides substantial savings over the long distance toll charges.
There has been a drive to provide integrated voice/data services such as Voice over Frame relay (VoFR), Voice over Asynchronous Transfer Mode (VoATM) and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). For instance, the Internet allows for voice, video and data to be transmitted through its network and it is a matter of developing hardware and software to convert voice into a format suitable for transmission. The resulting benefit is that telephone calls and faxes can be made through a computer coupled to the Internet. As an example, suppose an office has a contract with an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and is connected to it via a leased line. The office may then transmit telephone calls and faxes via the Internet without requiring additional services from the telephone company.
A router installed at the ISP or at the user""s end having voice/data integration capabilities provides for voice/data networking, opening a door to WAN voice/data/fax multiservicing and Internet telephony markets. In instances where information is transmitted via a T1/E1 carrier, the receiving router needs to process the information carried by the carrier. To accommodate this, communication controllers within the router interface with the T1/E1 carriers.
An example of an interface suitable for such use is the MPC860 communications controller, available from Motorola. Details of the MPC860 may be found in a technical manual titled xe2x80x9cMPC860 PowerQUICC User""s Manualxe2x80x9d available from Motorola.
The MPC860 is an integrated communications controller having a plurality of serial communication controllers (SCCs) to control the serial data transfer that is interfaced to the MPC 860. An SCC includes a transmit (Tx) buffer and a receive (Rx) buffer coupled to a Tx Direct Memory Access (DMA) controller and a Rx DMA respectively, for transfer of data to and from the main memory that is coupled to the MPC860. The MPC860 includes a Time-Slot Assigner (TSA) with two serial ports that interface with the serial data transmitted to the MPC860, and it steers the serial data to the respective SCCs. As is typical with communication controllers, the MPC860 is limited to one high speed link per serial port (or maximum of two high speed links) due to relatively small buffering capabilities of the Tx and the Rx buffers. The MPC860 may operate in Non-Multiplexed Serial Interface (NMSI) mode. As the name implies, the serial interface is not multiplexed and hence, the SCCs have fixed assignments to the NMSI interfaces on the device (MPC860). One of the disadvantages in this mode of operation is that it is not possible to support multiple data links, i.e. channelized T1/E1 service over T1/E1 trunk. The result is only fractional T1/E1 service can be supported in this mode.
Alternatively, the MPC860 may operate in a Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) mode. The TDM mode enables multiplexing of multiple high speed links onto one serial port. In this instance, the MPC860 does not limit the association of the TDM data with any particular SCCs; the SCCs may be assigned to any part of the serial TDM stream, without any dependencies to each other. However, the use of TDM mode is not problem free. The next obvious step would be to employ an external time switching device to merge the multiple TDM sources into a single rate adapted stream, whose speed is the sum of the sources. The resulting stream would terminate at the serial TDM port of the communications controller. This approach may work if the combined stream does not have an excessively high clock speed. However, as speeds increase with the number of links combined, the shallow SCC buffers begin to show problems in the form of transmit (Tx) underruns and receive (Rx) overflows. An overflow is a situation in which the Rx DMA is unable to empty the Rx buffer faster than it is being filled. Conversely, an underrun is a situation in which the Tx DMA is unable to fill the Tx buffer faster than it is being emptied. This is due to the fact that the several DMAs are competing for the same local bus and the main memory resources. This undermines the performance of the MPC860 and as well as the network, because packet corruptions are handled at higher layers in the communications protocol stack and great effort is required for a recovery. Furthermore, the TSA operates according to the entries stored in the Serial Interface Random Access Memory (SI RAM) which contains SCC routing information in the TDM mode. However, the number of entries in the SI RAM are limited. For instance, each entry may represent route information for one timeslot and the SI RAM may not have sufficient entries to address all the timeslots in the multiplexed high speed link.
In accordance with the invention, a TDM interleaving circuit, such as a TDM bus controller, interleaves multiple TDM data links to form a high data density interleaved TDM stream at a port of a communications controller. The interleaved TDM format maximizes the data transfer to a Time Slot Assigner (TSA), internal to the communications controller to which the port is coupled. The TSA includes a Serial Interface Random Access Memory (SI RAM), wherein its entries contain routing information to steer the interleaved TDM data stream to pertinent Serial Communications Controllers (SCCs) also internal to the communication controller. Typically, the interleaved TDM format is rather complex and the decoding capabilities of the TSA is rather limited. To simplify the decoding process, a clock gapping function is provided that xe2x80x9cgapsxe2x80x9d the clock for all timeslots (or data bits) that are not provisioned or merely used for signaling/framing.
The communications controller configures the clock gapping function block and the SI RAM so that they both operate synchronously. The communication controller programs the clock gapping function block so that portions of the interleaved TDM data stream that are not provisioned are appropriately clock gapped. Whether certain portions of the TDM data stream are provisioned or non-provisioned may be obtained extrinsically by the communication controller, for instance, via network device administrator input. Further, the communication controller programs the SI RAM with entries that contain routing information corresponding to the clock gapped TDM data stream so that the TSA is able to correctly steer the TDM data stream to the appropriate SCCs. Using the gapped clock, the TSA is able to determine the time sequence in which to access the entries in the SI RAM.

TDM format optimized for multiple high speed links to a communications controller


A ramp assembly with an inboard ramp section, an outboard ramp section pivotally coupled to the outboard ramp section, a knob coupled to one of the inboard ramp section or the outboard ramp section, a ramp latch coupled to the other of the inboard ramp section or the outboard ramp section, the ramp latch comprising, an elongated shaft extending from a proximal section towards a distal section, a first arcuate jaw extending from the distal section away from the elongated shaft, a second arcuate jaw extending from the distal section away from the elongated shaft, the first and second arcuate jaw defining an opening therebetween, and wherein the knob is selectively positionable at least partially within the opening.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and should not be construed as constituting prior art.
To enhance the lives of mobility-impaired individuals, lifts, ramps, and other devices are known for providing access to vehicles such as vans, minivans, buses, sport utility vehicles ("SUV"), and the like to those confined to wheelchairs or mobility scooters. For example, lifts are sometimes installed in the doorway of a full-sized van, bus, or SUV. Lifts generally include a platform that is moveable from the ground surface to the floor level of the vehicle. Power for moving the platform is usually provided by electric motors or hydraulic, pneumatic, or electric actuators.
Often, the lower vehicle floor height provided by minivans and similar vehicles allows ramps to be installed instead of lifts. Different types of ramps include folding ramps, swing-out ramps, and ramps that are stored within a cassette provided in the floor of the vehicle. Each type of ramp is generally moveable between a deployed position for providing access to the vehicle, and a stowed position where the ramp is moved to a position inside the vehicle structure. Ramps can be moved between the stowed and deployed positions automatically or manually. Automatic ramps generally use electric motors, hydraulics, or pneumatics to move the ramp between the stowed and deployed positions. Manually operated ramps are generally stowed or deployed by grasping the ramp itself.
Bi-fold ramps in particular are gaining popularity for vehicle use due to their extended length, and therefore less severe angle of inclination, that facilitates entry into the vehicle for passengers using manual wheelchairs. The ramps are intermediately hinged such that they can be vertically oriented in a folded configuration when retracted. During use, the passenger advances their wheelchair up the ramp to a space in the vehicle. Once the wheelchair is securely positioned within the vehicle, the ramp is then folded to fit within the vehicle.
When the ramp is in the storage position, it is very common for the ramp to bounce or vibrate as the vehicle is in motion. Such constant vibration can cause unwanted noise inside the vehicle. To prevent the ramp from experiencing such unwanted noise, it is necessary to secure the ramp in such a manner that it does not excessively vibrate. The present teachings are intended to improve upon and resolve some of these known issues within the art.


A unique painting process and an associated kit including the materials required for practicing the method. The method includes the acts of providing a background media providing a paint source, dipping the posterior of the infant in the paint, and stamping the posterior on the background media to create stamping prints. The kit of the present invention includes a flat, flexible backing piece, at least one paint bottle attached to the backing piece, at least one reservoir attached to the backing piece, at least one painting tool attached to the backing piece, and a plastic cover having a periphery, the plastic cover positioned over the protective cover, plurality of paint bottles, plurality of reservoirs, and plurality of paint brushes, and attached around its peripheral edge to the backing piece.

The addition of a newborn infant to a family inspires feelings of nostalgia and the related desire to create a lasting remembrance of the child's infancy. There are many ways to create this lasting remembrance, including bronzing a baby shoe, photography, videography, and making hand and feet prints. These types of products satisfy the need of a remembrance, but are all either utilitarian or unfinished in nature, and are very recognizable as mementos.
The existing types of remembrances are easily recognizable as just that-a whole or part of a baby or infant used to create a lasting impression. There is no known kit available, or method associated therewith, to assist in creating a remembrance that results in a fine art end product which is not easily recognized as merely a remembrance
It is with these goals in mind that the instant invention was created.


A splice tray (100) to hold a splice holder device (180) configured hold both a mechanical splice and a fusion splice, each having a different shape. A splice holder device (180) includes a first splice channel and second splice channel. Each splice channel includes one or more flexible arms spaced along a length of the splice channel to provide a resistance against a housing of the splice. Also, each channel includes one or more base supports and one or more upper stops. The flexible arms extend from a channel wall at an angle to provide force components in orthogonal directions.

Telecommunication cables are used for distributing all manner of data across vast networks. A telecommunication cable typically includes a bundle of individual telecommunication lines (either optical fibers or copper wires) that are encased within a protective sheath. As telecommunication cables are routed across data networks, it is necessary to periodically open the cable so that one or more telecommunication lines therein may be spliced, thereby allowing data to be distributed to other cables or "branches" of the telecommunication network. The cable branches may be further distributed until the network reaches individual homes, businesses, offices, premises, and so on.
At each point where a telecommunication cable is opened, some type of enclosure is provided to protect the exposed interior of the cable. Commonly, the enclosure has one or more ports through which cables enter and/or exit the enclosure. Once inside the enclosure, the cable is opened to expose the telecommunication lines therein. Conventional telecommunication enclosures are constructed to facilitate the management and protection of individual telecommunication lines and splices thereof.
For optical fiber communications lines, there are several different types of conventional splices being utilized, namely fusion splices and a variety of mechanical splices. Each type of splice offers it own sets of advantages and disadvantages.

Splice holder device using downwardly-extending arms


A drive device 1 includes a motor 2, a planetary roller type power transmission unit and a drive control unit. The planetary roller type power transmission unit includes a plurality of planetary rollers 4, a ring 6, a fixed body 9 covering the ring 6 and having an aperture 9a located so that a projecting portion 6a is movable therein, a carrier roller 7, and an output shaft 8. A drive control unit 10 controls the rotation of a motor 2 of the drive device so that when the image forming device is not carrying out an image forming operation the projecting portion 6a of the ring 6 reciprocates within the aperture 9a of the fixed body 9.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a drive device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a drive device used in an image forming device.
2. Background Information
Image forming devices such as color printers, color copiers, and the like, have rotation drive devices to rotate and to drive image forming unit, e.g. photosensitive drums for each color component, transfer belts, and so on. Some rotation drive devices include a motor and a planetary speed reduction device to reduce the speed of the motor.
In recent years, with the reduction in cost of image forming devices there is a tendency to form at least part of the planetary rollers in the planetary speed reduction device using an elastic material such as, for example, rubber. Elastic deformations are produced in planetary rollers made from an elastic material because the planetary rollers are pressed against the output shaft to transmit the rotation of the motor to the outside. The elastic deformations of the elastic material of the planetary rollers cause a change in the rotation speed of the output shaft of the speed reduction device. Furthermore, color distortion, color unevenness, and the like appears in the images produced when the rotation speed of the output shaft of the speed reduction device fluctuates.
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-171779, a rotation drive device is disclosed in which when an elastic material is used in the planetary rollers, the rotation speed of the motor is directly controlled to obtain a uniform rotation speed of the output shaft. Specifically, the rotation drive device of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-171779 includes a stepping motor, an elastic material speed reduction device, and a feedback control unit. The elastic material speed reduction device includes a torque transmission unit that transmits torque by frictional contact of the elastic material, and does not include a torque transmission unit that uses gears. The elastic material speed reduction device reduces the rotation speed of the motor and outputs the rotation speed to the photosensitive drum. The feedback control unit measures the output rotation speed of the elastic material speed reduction device, obtains the difference from the standard speed, and applies a speed command signal to the motor based on the value of the difference so that the rotation speed of the motor is directly controlled.
However, the device of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-171779 has the following problem points.
The elastic deformation occurs in the elastic material of the planetary rollers during the time that motor rotation has stopped until the motor is driven again. This deformation causes unevenness in the rotation speed of the output shaft of the speed reduction device for a while after starting to drive again. The period of time that the rotation speed of the output shaft of the speed reduction device is non-uniform as a result of elastic deformation in the planetary rollers occurring when the motor is stopped is much longer than the response time of the feedback control of the device in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-171779. Therefore, detecting non-uniformity of the rotation speed of the output shaft of the speed reduction device caused by elastic deformation of the planetary rollers that occurs when the motor is stopped and controlling the rotation speed by the feedback control of the device of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-171779 will result in over-control.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved a drive device used in an image forming device. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

Drive device used in image forming device


A disc device has a sliding member 16 that operates in response to a rotational force of the first partially toothless gear 13 to disconnect a power transmission system from a disc conveying roller, and a protruding portion 16a disposed on this sliding member 16 is brought into contact with a rising portion 17b of a rotary lever 17 at an initial position of the sliding member before the sliding member starts operating, so as to restrict a rotation of the rotary lever 17 in such a way that a pin 17a does not come into contact with a wall surface of a cam groove 13d.

This type of disc device has a mechanism of rotating a rotary lever by using a cam gear, and a fixed spring load is always imposed on this rotary lever by an elastic member. A sliding pin which comes into contact with a cam groove of the cam gear is formed in the rotary lever, and, when the spring load is imposed on the rotary lever, this spring load serves as a frictional force added to the cam groove via the sliding pin. As a result, the frictional force becomes a rotational load imposed on the cam gear. Patent reference 1 discloses a technology of, in order to control this rotational load, adjusting the shape of the wall surface of the cam groove to adjust the amount of expansion and contraction of the elastic member, thereby adjusting the frictional force added to the cam groove.


A carrier member is configured to receive a discrete article from a transfer assembly. The carrier member includes a cylindrical roll having a receiving surface and a resilient member connected with the receiving surface. The resilient member has a plurality of intermittently spaced first voids extending circumferentially about the axis of rotation at a first radial distance from the axis of rotation and a plurality of intermittently spaced second voids extending circumferentially about the axis of rotation at a second radial distance from the axis of rotation. The first radial distance is greater than the second radial distance. Each first void is separated from each second void.

Absorbent articles, such as taped diapers or pant diapers, for example, may be manufactured by a process where discrete articles, such as a chassis of a taped diaper or a pant diaper including a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core, for example, are applied to one or more moving webs of components, such as webs of front and rear belt portions, for example, using transfer members of a transfer assembly. Often, a speed at which the discrete articles are fed onto the transfer assembly is not the same as a speed of a carrier member on which the moving webs of components are situated. Thus, the speed of the discrete articles should generally be changed by the transfer assembly to match, or closely match, the speed of the one or webs of components being conveyed over the carrier member to properly join the discrete articles to the one or more webs of components without adversely affecting the process or a finished product produced by the process. In some instances, the discrete articles may also need to be turned (e.g., about 90 degrees) and repitched by the transfer assembly after pickup from the cutting device and before placement onto the webs conveyed over the carrier member. A transfer assembly may rotate about an axis of rotation and may include a plurality of transfer members rotatable about an axis of rotation.
In some processes, a nip is formed between the carrier member and each transfer member in order to apply a force to the discrete article sufficient to join each discrete article advancing on a transfer member with the moving web. However, the surface of the transfer member may have a different shape than the surface of the carrier member. As a result, the force applied at the nip may vary over time, and portions of the transfer member may cause intermittent spikes in force at the nip. Consequently, the increase in force may cause accelerated wear to the transfer assembly that requires relatively frequent changeover of worn parts. Additionally, the changes in force may result in a non-uniform bond between the discrete component and the moving web.
Thus, it would be beneficial to provide an apparatus for transferring discrete articles to a moving web by applying a relatively low and substantially uniform force at a nip between a transfer assembly and a carrier member.

Carrier member having a resilient member


A microwave photonics based signal receiving device includes a signal generation module, a first Mach-Zehnder modulator, a dispersion module, a second Mach-Zehnder modulator, and a signal conversion module. The signal receiving device simplifies a structure of the signal receiving device by adopting quadrature demodulation. The signal receiving device demodulates a high-order modulation signal and flexibly adjusts a microwave carrier frequency.

With the arising and application of 3G and 4G technologies, wireless communications impose an increasingly high requirement on the transmission rate, and microwave photonics technologies have gradually become an important technology in wireless communications due to the advantage of high speed.
A wireless communication system generally includes a signal transmitter and a signal receiving device. In the prior art, a signal receiving device based on microwave photonics technologies is provided. As shown in FIG. 1, the signal receiving device is disposed with a local oscillator, and the local oscillator is formed by an optical frequency comb generator (Optical Frequency Comb Generator, abbreviated as OFCG) and two optical phase locked loops (Optical Phase Locked Loops, abbreviated as OPLLs). The OFCG is configured to generate two optical signals which have their respective frequencies are V3 and V4 and have different frequencies, in which frequencies of the two optical signals are locked by the OPLLs, then enter a traveling wave uni-traveling-carrier photodiode (Traveling Wave Uni-Traveling-Carrier Photodiode, abbreviated as TW-UTC PD), and are mixed with a signal which has its frequency is V1-V2 and is received from an antenna after being outputted from the TW-UTC PD. A mixed signal enters a band-pass filter and is filtered, and then amplified, to obtain a medium frequency signal. The medium frequency signal can be directly input into a high-speed analog-to-digital converter (Analog-to-Digital Converter, abbreviated as ADC) or a down converter for baseband signal demodulation.
After the optical signals generated by the local oscillator pass through the TW-UTC PD, a noise is introduced, so an error is inevitably caused after the optical signals generated by the local oscillator are mixed with the signal received from the antenna, which in turn influences the accuracy of the whole system. When a microwave carrier frequency needs to be adjusted, the OFCG needs to be adjusted, and the process is troublesome, inflexible, and less accurate. The OPLL, the OFCG and the TW-UTC PD have a high market price, and a high cost.

Signal receiving method based on microwave photonics technologies


The invention relates to monitoring techniques, such as angular movement monitoring techniques, in which an element with at least one peripheral irregularity is moved relative to a magnetic circuit so as to induce a variation in the reluctance in the magnetic circuit which can be detected externally. A device is disclosed including two magnetic elements defining respective magnetic circuits symmetrical with each other. Between the two magnetic members a gap is formed of approximately the same size of a peripheral irregularity, consisting of a notch or a tooth of a moving member, which is passed in front of the two magnetic circuits to cause a corresponding variation in reluctance in the magnetic circuits which produce a disturbance in the characteristics of symmetry, detectable by a sensor preferably a Wiegand-effect sensor.

The present invention relates to monitoring techniques using magnetic circuits in which relative movement is produced between a magnetic circuit and at least one element with a peripheral irregularity and the passage of the peripheral irregularity near the magnetic circuit produces a variation in relunctance in the magnetic circuit which is detectably externally.
Such monitoring techniques are used, for example, in so-called phonic wheels, which are employed to an ever increasing extent in revolution counters, tachometers, etc. A particularly important field of possible use is the automotive sector in which phonic-wheel sensors can be used to detect the rate of rotation of the engine and/or of the wheels in association with electronic ignition and injection systems, automatic gear changes, anti-lock braking systems (ABS). . .
According to a current solution, to which FIG. 1 relates, a monitoring device indicated 1, with a magnetic circuit, is arranged in a position facing the edge of a disc D keyed on to a shaft W whereof it is wished to detect one or more parameters of angular movement, such as the position, the speed, the acceleration. For this purpose, the disc D is provided around its periphery with one or more irregularities consisting, for example, of a notch T, a hole, etc. The disc D is made entirely, or at least in the region adjacent the peripheral irregularity T, from a material which has a certain degree of magnetic permeability, typically a mild ferromagnetic material.
When the irregularity T passes in front of the sensor 1 as a result of the rotation of the disc D, it causes the reluctance in the magnetic circuit of the sensor 1 to vary. This variation in reluctance can be detected so as to cause the emission of an output signal, generally consisting of a train of pulses, on an output line 2. Each pulse indicates the transit of the peripheral irregularity T in front of the sensor 1. As the geonetrical parameters of the disc D are known, it is possible to deduce the angular position, the speed and the angular acceleration of the shaft W from the position of the pulses and their frequency of repetition.
The graph of FIG. 2 shows, by way of example, a typical time trace of the output signal V.sub.out detectable at the output 2 of an electromagnetic sensor of known type.
This signal is indicative of the temporal variation .delta..phi./.delta.t in the flux .phi. which flows through the electromagnetic detector. This flux varies periodically, as stated, due to the periodic variation in reluctance induced by the transit of the peripheral irregularity T in front of the sensor 1.
The signal trace indicated V.sub.1 in FIG. 2 is more than anything, a theoretical model. In reality, phenomena such as production tolerances in the disc D, its assembly in a slightly eccentric position relative to the shaft W, permanent deformations of the disc D or temporary deformations induced by vibrations, or non-homogeneity of the magnetic characteristics of the material constituting the disc disturb the output signal of the sensor 1.
Generally the aforementioned phenomena give rise to variations in the width of the air gap formed by the irregularity T during its passage in front of the sensor 1 or to anomalous fluctuations in the magnetic flux in the detector. Consequently, the reluctance of the magnetic circuit of the detector is modulated correspondingly and this is converted into a modulation (for example of sinusoidal type, as in the example illustrated by a broken line and indicated V'.sub.1 in FIG. 2) of the output signal detectable on the line 2. This modualtion makes it more difficult to detect the position of the signal pulses correctly. Errors can therefore be produced in the determination of the position of the pulses, which are expressed--in some cases very seriously due to propagation--as corresponding operational errors in the system in which the sensor is installed.
In order to avoid such drawbacks so-called differential sensors have been developed.
In such sensors, which are known, for instance, from FR-A-2 112 298 and FR-A-2 386 039 (corresponding to GB-A-1 302 507 and GB-A-1 595 680respectively), two adjacent magnetic circuits are formed with charactertistics of symmetry in at least one region and relative movement between the two magnetic circuits and the element with the at least one peripheral irregularity (i.e. the phonic wheel) is then caused so that the peripheral irregularity passes near the two magnetic circuits in sequence causing corresponding variations in reluctance in the magnetic circuits which can cause in the characteristics of symmetry in the at least one region a disturbance which can be detected externally thus monitoring the speed of said relative movement.
A basic drawback of the sensors of the prior art is that they are generally adapted for operating in conjuction with a moving element (i.e. a phonic wheel) having a substantially continuous plurality of irregularities (notches, holes, etc.) and cannot be used in a reliable manner together with a moving element having just one or several, spaced apart irregularities such as is the case of monitoring assemblies used for monitoring the angular position or phase of a rotating shaft. Moreover in certain arrangements such as disclosed in FR-A-2 112 298 a precise relationship must exist between the dimensions of the sensor and the dimensions of the irregularities of the phonic wheel. This means that one kind of sensor can be used in conjunction with one type of phonic wheel only, which may be quite unpractical in a number of applications such as those in the automotive field.

Magnetic monitoring device, particularly for monitoring the parameters of angular movement of rotating members having a peripheral irregularity


A nose cone assembly for a gas turbine engine is disclosed herein. The nose cone assembly includes a spinner body having an outer surface and extending axially between an upstream portion generally tapering to a truncated first end and a base portion generally cylindrical in cross-section at a second end. The nose cone assembly also includes a flange positioned radially inward of the outer surface and axially adjacent to the base portion. The nose cone assembly also includes a plurality of first apertures defined in the flange for removably connecting the spinner body to a fan of a gas turbine engine. The nose cone assembly also includes a second aperture defined in the spinner body through which all of the plurality of first apertures can be accessed for attaching or removing the nose cone assembly from the fan.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to turbine engines and more particularly to nose cone assemblies that can be a component of turbine engines.
2. Description of Related Prior Art
A nose cone assembly can be a component of a turbine engine. The nose cone assembly can include a spinner body that is attached to and rotates with a hub at the radial center of the inlet of the turbine engine. The hub generally carries one or more stages of blades extending radially outward. The blades can be fan blades or compressor blades. The nose cone assembly provides an aerodynamic surface covering the upstream end of the rotor hub and directs the inlet airflow into the hub region of the blades.


A method for locating on the cornea an optical lens having a preselected geometric shape and power wherein the optical lens is formed of a collagen-hydrogel for promoting epithelial cell growth is shown. The method comprises the steps of: removing from Bowman's membrane over the area of the pupillary zone of the eye a portion of the corneal epithelium; forming on Bowman's membrane a "V" shaped annular groove having a diameter substantially equal to the maximum geometrical dimensions of the optical lens and a preselected depth; dissecting the peripheral edge of the groove forming a wing of corneal tissue having a preselected length; placing the posterior surface of the optical lens on the anterior surface of Bowman's membrane and positioning the outer edge of the optical lens under the corneal wing, and affixing the optical lens to Bowman's membrane over the pupillary zone of the eye to maintain the same on the cornea with the corneal wing overlying the edge of the optical lens. With the edge of the lens in contact with corneal epithelim, the collagen-hydrogel for promoting epithelial cell growth interacts with epithelial cells during a healing period to promote growth thereof over, and attach to, the anterior surface of the optical lens implanting the same under corneal epithelium.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of positioning an optical lens formed of a collagen-hydrogel material which contains a collagen-hydrogel for promoting epithelial cell growth over the cornea during healing of the corneal epithelium and more particularly to method of positioning an artificial lens fabricated of a collagen-hydrogel biomedical material that is formed of a polymerized hydrophilic monomer which is gelled and crosslinked to form a polymeric meshwork anchoring macromolcules formed of a constituent of ground tissue capable of promoting and sustaining epithelial cell growth and wherein the artificial lens is positioned over the pupillary zone of the eye contiguous Bowman's membrane having a selected portion of the corneal epithelium removed therefrom and having a corneal wing formed in Bowman's membrane to support the artificial lens in position enabling the corneal epithelium to attach to and cover the artificial lens to implant the same in the eye between Bowman's membrane and a new layer of epthelial cells forming the corneal epithelium.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Before beginning a description of the prior art, it would be helpful, in understanding the teachings of this invention, to define certain of the key terms that are used in the teachings of this invention.
Collagen, in its broadest sense, is a natural protein which serves as the ground substance or adhesive substance between cells in living tissue. It is well known in the art that collagen, as a substrate material, is capable of promoting cell adhesion and growth. Other proteins are also known to be capable of supporting cell growth of at least certain cell lines. In the present invention, the preferred source of collagen, as a natural protein, is derived from animal sources.
It is also known that other macromolecules, that is a molecule formed of a constituent of a ground substance of tissue, can support cell growth. Typical of such macromolecules, in addition to collagen, are mucopolysaccnarides or fibronectin, which constituents of ground substances of tissue are capable of promoting cell growth.
One class of synthetic materials which have found wide application as biomaterials is the class known as hydrogels. The term "hydrogel" refers to a broad class of polymeric materials which are swollen extensively in water, but which do not dissolve in water. Generally, hydrogels are formed by polymerizing a hydrophilic monomer in an aqueous solution under conditions where the polymer becomes crosslinked so that a three dimensional polymer network is formed which is sufficient to gel the solution.
Hydrogels are described in more detail in Hoffman, D. S., "Polymers in Medicine and Surgery," Plenum Press, New York, pp 33-44 (1974).
Hydrogels have many desirable properties for biomedical applications. For example, they can be made nontoxic and compatible with tissue. In addition, they are usually highly permeable to water, ions and small molecules. As is noted herein below, despite these favorable qualities, hydrogels have been found, in general, to be unsuitable as substrates for cell attachment and growth.
With the benefit of the above described descriptions and definitions, the known prior art will now be addressed.
It is known in the art to utilize a procedure known as epikeratophakia for the correction of aphakia and high myopia in a human eye (hereinafter referred to as the "Epikeratophakia Procedure"). In the Epikeratophakia Procedure, human corneal tissue is used and the corneal tissue is mechanically machined or polished to a specific lens power to form a corneal tissue lens. The corneal tissue lens is then sutured to the anterior surface of the cornea in the pupillary zone of the eye in order to change the refractive power of the eye. The specific procedure used for suturing the machined or polished corneal tissue lens to the eye requires that a portion of the corneal epithelium be removed to expose a portion of Bowman'membrane and the corneal tissue lens then be placed directly upon Bowman's membrane. During the healing process, corneal tissue lens is covered by epithelial cells which form the cornea epithelium implanting the corneal tissue lens between Bowman's membrane and corneal epithelium. This procedure depends on the availability of human cornea tissue.
It is also known in the art to use frozen human corneal tissue, which is ground to a lenticular power, to form a corneal tissue lens and to suture the same to the corneal stroma of a human eye to change the refractive power of the eye. This procedure is known as the "keratomileusis" and is described in a published article captioned "Keratophakia and Kerotomileusis-Clinical Results" which appeared in Aug. 1981, Volume 88, No. 8, at pages 709-715 of American Academy of Ophthalmology by Swinger, Casmir and Barraquer, Jose (the "Swinger/Barraquer Publication").
It is also known in the art to use collagen-hydroxyethylmethacrylate hydrogels as substrates for promoting cell growth in tissue culture. The material used for the hydrogel is known as collagen-hydroxeythylmethacrylic, and referred to as a HEMA hydrogel, which was prepared in the presence of an aqueous solution of native collagen. The resulting transparent hydrogel containing collagen was evaluated as substrata for growth of various cell lines in tissue culture. The preparation and use of collagen-hydroxyethylmethacrylate hydrogels for promoting cell growth in tissue culture is described in a article entitled USE A COLLAGEN-HYDROXYETHYLMETHACRYLATE HYDROGEL FOR CELL GROWTH which appeared in Volume 77, Number 4, Apr. 1980 at pages 2064-2068 of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, United States of America, wherein the authors were Linda Civerchia-Perez (the inventor herein), Barbara Faris, Gary La Pointe, John Beldekas, Howard Leibowitz and Carl Franzblau (the "Civerchia Publication"). The Civerchia Publication disclosed that the collagen-hydroxyethylmethacrylate hydrogels for promoting cell growth in tissue culture were prepared by polymerizing monomeric hydroxyethylmethacylate in the presence of various concentrations of soluble native collagen. The resulting transparent hydrogels were used as substrate for growth of IMR-90 human embryonic lung fibroblasts. It was determined from these experiments that the growth of IMR 90 human embryonic lung fibroblasts was dose dependent upon the amount of collagen contained within the hydrogel. The resulting cell growth become intimately attached to the hydrogel substrate, and could not be removed. It was also noted during the experiments leading to the Civerchia Publication that hydrogels containing albumin, gelatin (denatured collagen) or collagenase-treated collagen do not support cell growth. The results of this publication provided a foundation for a relatively easy procedure for experimentally probing mechanisms of cell adhesion and cell differention.
The use of hydrogels for the correction of refractive error is well known in the art, and such hydrogels are used as the base material for fabricating soft contact lens. Soft contact lens are adapted to be inserted into and removed from the eye. When soft contact lens are placed in the eye of a user, the function thereof is to correct myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and aphakia. Typically such contact lens are formed of a hydrogel selected from the hydrophilic class of polymers, and the hydrogel is molded or latched to a specific lens power. The soft contact lens, when placed over the pupillary zone of the eye of a user, rests upon a tear film and the corneal epithelium and function to change the refractive power of the eye.
It is also known in the art to experimentally implant high water content, intracorneal implants fabricated from a Vistamarc hydrogel in the eye of rhesus monkeys and to develop keratometric data therefrom. Typical of publications describing this procedure are (i) an article captioned HYDROGEL KERATOPHAKIA: A FREEHAND POCKET DISSECTION IN THE MONKEY MODEL which appeared in the 1986 Volume 70 issue, at pages 187-191 of the British Journal of Ophthalmology by Bernard E. McCarey et al (the "McCarey Publication"), and (ii) an article captioned HYDROGEL KERATOPHAKIA: A MICROKERATOME DISSECTION IN THE MONKEY MODEL which appeared in the 1986 Volume 70 issue, at pages 192-198 of the British Journal of Ophthalmology by W. Houdijn Beekuis et al (the "Beekuis Publication"). These publications disclose that hydrogels can be implanted into the cornea of a monkey and that the hydrogel materials are compatible with the cornea tissue of a monkey.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,126,904 to Dennis D. Shepard, M.D. discloses artificial lenses, which are hard contact lenses, which are adapted to be placed in the eye of a user. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 4,126,904 discloses a method of locating the same on the cornea of the eye. The disclosed artificial lens has an optical portion, which preferably is circular in shape and dimensioned to overlie the pupillary zone of an eye, and a non-optical portion, termed the "haptic" portion, which is used as a means for permanently affixing the lens to the eye. As taught by U.S. Pat. No. 4,126,904, the artificial lens can be affixed to the anterior surface of the cornea by suturing, stapling or like attachment means for securing the lens to adjacent structure of the eyeball so that the lens will move with the eyeball.

Method for locating on a cornea an artificial lens fabricated from a collagen-hydrogel for promoting epithelial cell growth