An integrated memory having a memory cell array: including word lines for selecting memory cells, bit lines for reading out or writing data signals of the memory cells, a precharge circuit for precharging at least one of the bit lines to a precharge voltage that differs from a supply voltage of the memory. The precharge circuit has a loop regulating circuit for setting the precharge voltage using an actual voltage of the one of the bit lines. The precharge circuit makes it possible to reduce the power loss of the memory in conjunction with low area consumption.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an integrated memory having a memory cell array, word lines for selecting memory cells, bit lines for reading out or writing data signals of the memory cells, and a precharge circuit for precharging at least one of the bit lines.
An integrated memory generally has a memory cell array including word lines and bit lines. The memory cells are arranged at crossover points between the word lines and the bit lines. The memory cells are connected to one of the bit lines for reading out or writing in a data signal, in each case via a selection transistor whose control input is connected to one of the word lines. A word line selects selection transistors of corresponding memory cells along the word line and opens the selection transistors. If the respective selection transistor is open, then the charge stored in the cell capacitor can pass onto the corresponding bit line, and from there into a read/write amplifier.
In integrated memories, generally after the writing or reading of data signals, the corresponding bit line is precharged to a positive supply voltage of the memory (also referred to as voltage VDD). This precharge voltage is chosen since, on the one hand, it can be made available comparatively simply, and on the other hand, it entails a high so-called static stability for data access. The static stability (so-called static noise margin SNM) is a characteristic quantity for the security during the read-out of data signals and is of great importance for the reliability of the read-out operation. The static stability itself depends on the magnitude of the precharge voltage. A maximum of the static stability is achieved for a precharge voltage VDD at the level of the positive supply voltage of the memory.
The level of the supply voltage of memories is constantly reduced primarily in view of increasing requirements with respect to reliability and low energy consumption. On the other hand, the increase in memory size demands higher processing speeds of memories. By way of example, in the case of large project-specific low-power memories, a large part of the power taken up can be reduced by no longer precharging the bit lines to the positive supply voltage VDD of the memory, but rather only to a precharge voltage that is lower in comparison therewith. A theoretical consideration for precharging a bit line to a voltage less than the positive supply voltage VDD of the memory and an associated reduction of the static stability is discussed in more detail in Th. Nirschl, B. Wicht, D. Schmitt-Landsiedel: High Speed, Low Power Design Rules for SRAM Precharge and Self-timing under Technology Variations; and In: Power and Timing Modeling, Optimization and Simulation 2001, Proceedings of the 11th Intern. Workshop, Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland, September 2001, pp. 7.3.1-7.3.10.
In order to provide a precharge voltage that is less than the positive supply voltage VDD, reference voltage sources that generate a constant voltage as the precharge voltage are generally used. Simple reference voltage sources can be constructed for example using voltage dividers with a corresponding number of resistors. However, reference voltage sources constructed in this way generally have the disadvantage of a relatively high power loss. A reference voltage for so-called high-end applications can also be generated by a bandgap reference. The bandgap reference can also be used to satisfy comparatively stringent stability requirements made of a precharge voltage, but a circuit of this type has a comparatively high area consumption.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an integrated memory of the type mentioned in the introduction which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art apparatus of this general type.
In particular, an object of the invention is to provide an integrated memory of the type mentioned in the introduction, which enables the power loss of the memory to be reduced in conjunction with comparatively low area consumption.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, an integrated memory with a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells, a plurality of word lines for selecting the plurality of the memory cells and a plurality of bit lines for reading out or writing data signals of the plurality of the memory cells. A precharge circuit is connected to at least one of the plurality of the bit lines. The precharge circuit is for precharging the one of the plurality of the bit lines to a precharge voltage generated from a supply voltage that is different from the precharge voltage. The precharge circuit has a loop regulating circuit for setting the precharge voltage using an actual voltage of the one of the plurality bit lines.
In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the precharge circuit has a regulator exhibiting hysteresis.
In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the precharge circuit has a Schmitt trigger.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, there is provided, a terminal for obtaining a supply voltage. The precharge circuit includes a precharge transistor having a controlled path connected to the terminal for obtaining the supply voltage. The precharge transistor is turned on or off depending on an actual voltage of the one of the plurality of the bit lines.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the precharge transistor is of a p conductivity type or an n conductivity type.
In accordance with a further added feature of the invention, there is provided, a plurality of precharge circuits and a plurality of switches. The plurality of the bit lines are organized into a plurality of bit line pairs. Each one of the plurality of precharge circuits is provided for a respective one of the plurality of the bit line pairs. Each one of the plurality of the switches is for connecting together respective ones of the plurality of the bit lines associated with a respective one of the plurality of the bit line pairs. The precharge circuit of the integrated memory serves for precharging at least one of the bit lines to a precharge voltage. The precharge voltage is generated from a supply voltage of the memory, which differs from the precharge voltage. In particular, the magnitude of the precharge voltage is lower than that of the supply voltage of the memory, which, by way of example, is a positive supply voltage VDD of the memory. According to the invention, for setting the precharge voltage, the precharge circuit has a loop regulating circuit using an actual voltage of the corresponding bit line to be precharged. The precharge circuit can thus advantageously be realized by a local loop regulation requiring only a comparatively simple circuit which takes up only relatively little area. Integration into an existing memory design is possible with little outlay. Moreover, using a local loop regulation, it is possible for the power consumption or the power loss of the precharge circuit to be kept low since the precharging can be controlled in a targeted manner depending on the actual voltage of the bit line being precharged. For the case where the actual voltage reaches the predetermined value of the precharge voltage, the precharging of the relevant bit line can be interrupted or ended. In this case, the precharge circuit takes up essentially no power, as a result of which the power loss of the memory can be reduced overall.
In an advantageous embodiment of the inventive memory, the precharge circuit has a regulator exhibiting hysteresis. This advantageously makes it possible to avoid the situation in which driven actuators or control circuits of the loop regulating circuit are actuated correspondingly often on account of harmonics or superimposed interference. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the precharge circuit has a switching amplifier with hysteresis in the form of a Schmitt trigger.
In an advantageous development of the invention, the precharge circuit has a precharge transistor, whose controlled path is connected to a terminal for the supply voltage of the memory. The precharge transistor is turned on or off depending on the actual voltage of the bit line to be precharged. This means that, in the on state of the precharge transistor, the bit line to be precharged is charged to the precharge voltage and the precharge operation is ended, upon reaching the predetermined value of the precharge voltage, by turning off the precharge transistor. An embodiment of this type can be integrated into an existing design of an integrated memory with little outlay.
Since the precharge transistor is connected to the supply voltage of the memory, the advantage is afforded over conventional reference voltage sources that the drain-source voltage or the collector-emitter voltage of the precharge transistor, at the time at which the precharge transistor is switched off, is greater than in the case of a comparable interconnection of a precharge transistor which connects a conventional reference voltage source and the bit line to be precharged to one another. A large current flows primarily toward the end of the precharge cycle, which entails a speed advantage. Both a transistor of the p conductivity type and a transistor of the n conductivity type can advantageously be used as precharge transistor.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in an integrated memory having a precharge circuit for precharging a bit line, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Integrated memory having a precharge circuit for precharging a bit line


A fuel system is disclosed for a floating unit, including a fuel passage extending from a filler neck to a motor, a measuring unit disposed in the fuel passage through which at least part of the fuel flowing along the fuel passage flows, for measuring a sulfur content of the fuel through the measuring unit.

Floating units in the context of the present document are, for example, ocean-going craft, such as ships or submarines, or else fuel-consuming offshore installations, such as drilling rigs or wind power plants. For the sake of simplicity, to represent these, ships are referred to hereafter.
Fuels for ships (often also designated, in this context, as "propellants" or "combustibles") are distinguished by a high sulfur content of up to 5% by weight. Since shipping has increased greatly in recent years due to increasing international trade, its share of environmental pollution in harbors and inshore waters has risen markedly. Thus, in particular, the sulfur-containing exhaust gas constituents, such as SO2, are especially harmful. There has therefore, for some time, been efforts to limit the sulfur emissions by ships by limiting the sulfur content of the fuels. For the SECAS (SOx EMISSIONS CONTROLLED AREAS) of the North Sea and Baltic Sea, it is prescribed, for example, that only fuels with a maximum sulfur content of 1.5% by weight, and in harbors even only sulfur-free fuels (content <0.1% by weight), should be used. Similar regulations apply on the West coast of the USA. When traveling in these waters, ships are monitored as to whether only fuels with a content below the prescribed limit are currently being employed. There is a threat of severe penalties in the event of violations.
Furthermore, outside the statutory sea areas, fuel with any sulfur content is allowed to be burnt on the world's oceans. Since low-sulfur fuel is more costly than fuel with a high sulfur content, ships are operated with cheap sulfur-containing fuel over most of their trip and low-sulfur fuels are used only in specific areas. This means that, in future, ships will bunker fuels having different qualities.
EU Directive 2005/33/EC provides,                from 11 Aug. 2006, for the introduction of a sulfur limit value of 1.5% for ship's fuels which are used by ships in the Baltic Sea and, from 11 Aug. 2007, in the North Sea and in the English Channel, in order to reduce acidification and improve the air quality,        from 11 Aug. 2006, for the introduction of a sulfur limit value of 1.5% for ship's fuels which are used by passenger ships in a scheduled service from or to a Community harbor, so that the air quality is improved and, in order to ensure an EU-wide supply of low-sulfur ship's fuels, a sufficient demand is afforded,        for the introduction of a sulfur limit value of 0.1% from 1 Jan. 2010 for ship's fuels which are used by ships on the inland waterways and at berths for diesel engines, so that the air quality in harbors and on inland waterways is improved,        contrary to the above-described limit values for heavy oils, for issuing a permit to ships for the use of an approved emission-reducing technology, insofar as these ships constantly achieve at least equivalent emission reductions and it is documented in detail that all waste flows discharged to closed harbors and river mouths have no effect on the ecosystems,        for the proper management of logbooks with indications of the fuel changeover to become a condition for ships to be able to enter harbors of the EU Community,        for the sulfur content of all fuels sold in the sovereign area of the member states of the EU to have to be noted by the supplier on a delivery note accompanied by a sample,        for samples of ship's fuels to be taken and checked for their sulfur content.
A serious problem is that the fuel quality is stipulated internationally in very different ways and not by generally valid laws or standards. In particular, it is to be expected, for example in harbors in Asia, South America or Africa, that the fuel is sold with false certificates, that is to say the sulfur content is usually higher than acknowledged in the certificate. Since, during controls in the areas of limited emissions, not only are the certificates inspected, but direct samples of the fuel are also taken and investigated, the ship's captain may be presented with considerable problems when too high a sulfur content is found (financial penalties, disposal of the false fuel, etc.).
The knowledge of the sulfur content of the fuel has not hitherto been necessary in order to operate a ship, since a limitation of the sulfur emissions for ships in specific sea areas has been implemented for only a very short time. The EU first decided in 2003 upon measures for limiting the sulfur content, the implementation of which is provided for in stages up to 2010.A lowering of the sulfur content to 1.5% by weight for the fuel of ocean-going ships (this applies to SECAS North Sea and Baltic Sea) is provided for 2007.
The sulfur content is at the present time usually measured only when the fuel is produced at the refinery. The ship's captain then has to trust in the correctness of the certificate, but without being able to check it himself.
From [Innov-X-Systems/Maersk Fluid Technology, "On-Board Elemental XRF Analysis of Oils & Additives", 2006], an appliance, referred to as a "Sea-Mate™", is known, which, for example, can be operated on a ship and can investigate samples of fuels with regard to their sulfur content. However, the sampling and subsequent analysis are complicated and time-consuming.

Fuel system for a floating unit, and method for the operation thereof


A communication system, source and destination ports of the communication system, and methodology is provided for transporting data in one of possibly three different ways. Data is transported across the network at a frame sample rate that can be the same as or different from the sample rate or master clock within the source port or the destination port. If the sample rate of the source port is known, the sample rate of the destination port can be created using a PLL within the destination port and simply employing a phase comparator in the source port. The phase comparator forwards the phase or frequency difference of the network transfer rate and the source sample rate to the destination port, which then generates a local clock equivalent to the source which then compiles audio data being played at the same rate in which it was sampled at the source. Where economically feasible, sample rate conversion can be used at the source. However, sample rate conversion at the destination is preferred if the source sample rate is forwarded across the network relative to the frame transfer rate of the synchronous network. The sample rate converter simply produces a play rate from the transmitted information at the destination. Again, however, sample rate conversion compares relative phase difference changes similar to the phase difference compared in the digital PLL mode. As a further alternative, sample rates within the source and destination ports can be derived from the network frame rate using fractional dividers in the source and destination ports.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a communication system, such as a network of interconnected nodes for sending streaming data and non-streaming data across a network having a frame transfer rate that can be dissimilar from the sampling rate of the data at the source or destination nodes. Ports within the source or destination port preferably include circuits that use the synchronous frame transfer rate of the network to generate sample and master clocks at the source and destination ports.
2. Description of the Related Art
Communication systems are generally well known as containing at least two nodes interconnected by a transmission line. Each node may include a data source and/or a data destination. If the node is configured to transmit data into the network, the node is known as a source port. Another node can be configured to receive data from the network and is sometimes known as a destination port. A node can be configured to source data during one transaction and receive data during another transaction and, therefore, is a transceiver. Each source port and each destination port may comprise a port, hereinafter known as a source port and a destination port. The source port is used to source the input of data onto the network, and the destination port receives data from the network. The source port can be configured on a single monolithic substrate as an integrated circuit that is coupled to other subsystems within the source port. Similarly, the destination port is an integrated circuit within the destination port.
It is generally desirable that the transmission line of the network accommodate not only digital data, but also data that can arrive as voice data, audio data, video data, or bursts of data derived from a computer domain. An optimal transmission line is, therefore, one that can receive information from a multimedia device herein defined as any hardware and/or software module that can transfer information in whatever form upon the network. The transmission line can either be a copper wire, optical fiber, or a wireless transmission medium.
There are many types of multimedia devices. For example, a multimedia device can include a telephone, a compact disc (CD) player, a digital video disc (DVD) player, a computer, an amplifier, a speaker, or any device which can send and receive different types of data across a transmission line of the network.
Popular types of data include streaming data or packetized data. Streaming data is data that has a temporal relationship between samples produced from a source port onto the network. The relationship between those samples must be maintained across the transmission line to prevent perceptible errors, such as gaps or altered frequencies. A loss in the temporal relationship can cause a receiver at a destination port to present jitter, echo, or, in the worst instance, periodic blanks in the voice or video stream. Converse to streaming data, packetized data is data which need not maintain the sample rate or temporal relationship of that data and, instead, can be sent as disjointed bursts across the transmission line. The packets of data can be sent across the transmission line at virtually any rate at which the transmission line transfers data and is not dependent, in any fashion, on any sampling frequency since packetized data is generally recognized as non-sampled data.
Depending on the frequency difference between the local clock of the source port (or destination port) and the network frame transfer rate, streaming data can be sent either synchronously or isochronously across the network. If the sample rate (i.e., "fs") local to the node is at the same frequency as the frame synchronization rate (i.e., "FSR") of the transmission line, then the streaming data can be sent synchronously across the network. However, in many instances, FSR is dissimilar from fs. Thus, the sample rate must be changed (or converted) or the streaming data must be sent isochronously across the network, where isochronous transfer protocols are used to accommodate the frequency differences in order to prevent perceptible gaps, errors, jitter, or echo.
One methodology in which to prevent sending data isochronously is to sample rate convert the data at the source before the data is sent onto the network. There are various sample rate converters currently available on the market. For example, Analog Devices offers part no. AD1896 that converts the sample rate offered by the local clock to another sample rate synchronous to, for example, another clock. Either increasing or decreasing the sample rate would therefore be beneficial if, indeed, a system can be employed that can match fs to FSR.
In order to implement sample rate conversion in a network environment, a frequency comparator is needed to compare the local sample rate clock to the frame transfer rate and, depending on that frequency comparison, modify the sample rate to match FSR. Conventional frequency comparators typically use a timer that formulates the frequency comparison after several samples are taken over multiple clock cycles. Once the necessary number of clock cycles has occurred, the frequency difference is then measured and, for example, impulse response coefficients of the FIR digital filter within the sample rate converter are set. Of course, this requires a fairly complex digital filter and a digital signal processor (DSP), as well as a time-consumptive frequency comparator within each source port. If, for example, the audio information from a DVD must be sample rate converted, then the multiple channels streaming from the DVD will require a fairly expensive DSPs to perform the sample rate conversion. Thus, in some cases, sample rate conversion can be fairly complex and expensive to implement. Moreover, if sample rate conversion is used, the frequency comparison mechanism can often take too long and, therefore, introduce additional jitter and audible artifacts into the data received at the destination port.
If used, typical sample rate converters are employed at the source port of the network. A DVD by its nature contains compressed data. The compressed data must be decompressed before the data is sample rate converted to a frame rate of the network. Thereafter, the decompressed, sample rate converted data is sent across the network. Unfortunately, sending decompressed data consumes more network bandwidth than sending compressed data. It would therefore be desirable to sample rate convert at the destination rather than at the source. However, the frame rate of the isochronous data cannot be used at the destination since it is dissimilar from the sample rate at the source.
Conventional sample rate conversion at the source port can occur if, for example, the multimedia device has fewer channels and a lower bit resolution. Increasing the resolution of comparing the sample rate to the frame rate using counters with long count time-out will introduce jitter. If jitter is to be avoided, or if sample rate conversion proves too costly for rather complex multimedia device output, then isochronous transfer should be used in lieu of sample rate conversion. Isochronous data transfer may require possibly an additional byte for each channel of data being transferred. It is desirable that an improvement be derived over conventional techniques. The desired isochronous transfer technique should use sample rate conversion at the destination (with relative phase change or frequency information sent across the network), can use phase-locked loops (PLLs) within the source and destination (with multiply and divide factors in the source and destination known and synchronized to the network FSR), or can use a PLL solely on the destination port (with a phase difference sent across the network). The desirous mechanics of transferring data either synchronously or isochronously using sample rate conversion at the destination, arbitrary rate synchronous to the network, or a single PLL at the destination but not the source, are all advantages and improvements over conventional transfer techniques, the details of which are set forth below.

Communication system and method for generating slave clocks and sample clocks at the source and destination ports of a synchronous network using the network frame rate


A multifunctional cooking and baking assembly, which comprises an upper housing and a lower housing hinged mutually, wherein the upper housing and the lower housing are respectively provided with a chamber, a griddle plate is arranged inside the chamber, the chambers of the upper housing and the lower housing are connected through a connecting passage in which the griddle plate can be placed. The multifunctional cooking and baking assembly of the invention can integrate the functions of closed baking and open broiling by rotating the upper housing and the lower housing to a preset angle to match with the type switch of the griddle plates, and also has the functions of pan baking, frying, deep frying, stir frying, heating, and unfreezing when an overall griddle plate is used.

A waffle maker needs to include closed space for food baking. The existing waffle maker generally includes two relatively rotating housings. The housings are internally provided with griddle plates and heating plates, and the griddle plates are heated by the heating plates. The closed space for baking a waffle can be provided by covering the two griddle plates with the relative rotation of the housings. The reference to a specific structure can be made to the disclosure in the applications CN201220403354.7, CN201110030376.3, CN201620578601.5, CN201620453288.2 and CN201320442861.6. In prior art, the waffle maker generally is monotonous in function and has only one function of food baking, since the two housings thereof are separate or not connected. Furthermore, the mutually independent griddle plates in the two housings and small space for food accommodation of the griddle plates result in low cooking efficiency. Therefore, it needs a griddle plate switching assembly which enables the waffle maker to integrate the functions of pastry baking as well as meat and vegetables broiling.

Multifunctional cooking and baking assembly

JIANGMEN CITY XINHUI HENGLONG INNOVATIVE HOUSEWARES CO., LTD.


A scanning wiring driving unit for generating a signal of a frequency Fb applies a scanning signal to a plurality of scanning wirings which are a part of a plurality of scanning wirings. In a next selection period following a predetermined selection period, by shifting by a portion of the scanning wiring to which the scanning signal was applied in a previous stage, a scanning signal is applied to a plurality of scanning wirings. Further, in any one of the selection periods, a scanning signal is applied to a plurality of scanning wirings simultaneously, and n pieces of scanning wirings are sequentially scanned by use of a frequency of n X Fb and below.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an image display apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the past, as an example of a television receiver and a display device for receiving a television signal, a display signal from a computer and so on and for carrying out image display, by use of a plurality of electron-emitting devices which were interconnected as a matrix wiring and a display panel which is configured by a fluorescent screen for emitting light when it received electron irradiation thereof, such structures as in Patent Document 1 (JP-A-6-342636 gazette) and Patent Document 2(JP-A-8-212944 gazette) have been known.
An image display apparatus which was described in these documents is configured such that a plurality of surface conduction electron-emitting devices are connected in a matrix shape by use of a plurality of scanning wirings and a plurality of modulation wirings.
And, image display of one frame is realized, by applying a selection electric potential to one scanning wiring and applying a drive electric potential to respective plural modulation wirings, by driving the electron-emitting device with an electric potential difference (hereinafter, referred to as a drive voltage) of the selection electric potential and the drive electric potential so as to carry out display of 1 line portion, and further, by sequentially switching the scanning wiring to be selected by a predetermined scanning frequency so as to carry out scanning in a vertical direction.
Now, in an image display apparatus which was described in Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 6, image display of one frame is carried out. Here, in order to make an explanation easy, pixels of a display panel are connected by matrix wirings of 8 column×6 rows, and one frame period is, as described later, divided into eight scanning periods, so as to carry out image display.
That is, as shown in FIG. 6, luminance data for determining an amount of light emission with respect to each pixel divides one frame period into eight scanning periods, and with respect to each scanning period, data for one scanning is sent in a manner of pixel interleave. In passing, a panel is of six rows, but there are frame image signals for seven rows, and a seventh image signal is made to be of non-display.
This luminance data is held by a modulation wiring drive circuit which was provided with respect to each modulation wiring, and outputs a voltage pulse having an effective electric potential in proportion to size of luminance data, with respect to each scanning period, and with respect to each modulation wiring, for driving the modulation wiring. Also, here, as to selection scanning of scanning wirings, the scanning will be carried out as follows.
That is, a first scanning period is assigned to a non-display period, and no selection electric potential is given to any scanning. In a second scanning period, the selection electric potential is given to a first row scanning wiring, and an opportunity of light emission is given to a pixel for first scanning. In a third scanning period, the selection electric potential is given to a second row scanning wiring, and the opportunity of light emission is given to a pixel for second scanning. In a fourth scanning period, the selection electric potential is given to a third row scanning wiring, and the opportunity of light emission is given to a pixel for third scanning. In a fifth scanning period, the selection electric potential is given to a fourth row scanning wiring, and the opportunity of light emission is given to a pixel for fourth scanning. In a sixth scanning period, the selection electric potential is given to a fifth row scanning wiring, and the opportunity of light emission is given to a pixel for fifth scanning. In a seventh scanning period, the selection electric potential is given to a sixth row scanning wiring, and the opportunity of light emission is given to a pixel for sixth scanning. An eighth scanning period is assigned to a non-display period, and no selection electric potential is given to any scanning.
Also, a technology which was described in Patent Document 2 is such a technology that a display panel comprising a plurality of electron-emitting devices which was interconnected as a matrix wiring is divided into two above and below, and, independently for one for an upper half area and one for a lower half area, a modulation wiring modulation circuit and a scanning wiring selection circuit are provided.
According to this technology, it becomes possible to expand scanning selection time two times, and a luminance margin due to this is parted to drive current reduction, so that it is possible to reduce luminance lowering due to voltage drop which is generated by a drive current flowing through the scanning wiring.
Also, such a structure as described in Patent Document 3 (JP-A-2000-250473) has been known. A technology which was described in this Patent Document 3 is one for carrying out high frame rate driving for improving light emission efficiency of a fluorescent material. This technology will be described with reference to FIG. 7. In passing, in order to make understanding easy, pixels of a display panel 100 are connected by matrix wirings of 8 columns×6 rows.
That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the technology which was disclosed in Patent Document 3 is such a drive display method that, when received is an image signal which corresponds to six scanning lines in one frame period (60 Hz) as an input signal, one frame period is divided into two sub-frame periods (120 Hz), and display is carried out twice repeatedly in a half display period. By this, since it is possible to shorten time for exciting the fluorescent material consecutively, it becomes possible to improve light emission efficiency. In passing, such a structure as described in Patent Document 4(JP-A-8-50462 gazette) has been known.
Also, in recent years, a television signal format has been diversified. For example, in BS digital broadcasting, an operation with a diversified range of formats is carried out. On one hand, in resolution of a display panel at the side of an image display apparatus for receiving suchlike broadcasting, various combinations are conceivable.
That is, in case of receiving a TV signal which was based upon a high resolution format, by use of a panel with the number of pixels which is in conformity with broadcasting with low resolution, there is a method for carrying out image display in which resolution conversion is carried out so as to be in conformity with the number of pixels of a low resolution panel.
On the other hand, in case of receiving a TV signal of a low resolution format, by use of a panel with the number of pixels which is in conformity with broadcasting with high resolution, there is a method for carrying out image display in which resolution conversion is carried out so as to be in conformity with high resolution.


A transmission method according to the present invention is one of simultaneously using first and second communication resources by variable allocation and includes a step of, if the first or second communication resource is solely used, interleaving data by using the first or second communication resource as a unit to transmit it, and a step of, if the first and second communication resources are simultaneously used, interleaving data by using the whole of the first and second communication resource as a unit to transmit it.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of communication suitable for use in, for example, a base station and a terminal apparatus in a radio telephone system, and a transmission apparatus and a reception apparatus to which the method of communication is applied.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a mobile communication such as a radio telephone system or the like, multiple access is provided in which a plurality of base stations are provided at a predetermined interval to form a service area and each of the base stations is connected to a plurality of mobile stations (terminal apparatus). In this case, a predetermined transmission band is allocated in advance to each base station; a plurality of transmission channels are set in the transmission band; in the case of a request for communication or the like from each terminal apparatus, any of the transmission channels is allocated to the terminal apparatus; and the terminal apparatus side initiates communication by way of the base station using the allocated transmission channel.
For example, such systems of communication wherein the transmission channels are set include a frequency division multiple access (FDMA), a time division multiple access (TDMA), a code division multiple access (CDMA) and so on.
Referring to each method, the communication system of FDMA system is one in which a plurality of transmission channels are provided by dividing the transmission band prepared by a unit of frequency. The communication system of TDMA system is one in which a transmission channel is divided by a predetermined time unit to form a plurality of time slots within a single transmission channel, each of the time slots being allocated to the terminal equipments to be linked. Therefore, it is possible to link the plurality of terminal equipment using the single transmission channel. The communication system of CDMA system is one in which a specified code is allocated to each of the terminal equipments and a carrier having the same frequency is subjected to spectrum spread modulation by the code for transmitting it to the base station. The receiving side achieves synchronization with each code to identify a signal from a desired terminal apparatus.
In a radio telephone system, even if any of the above systems is employed and a transmission channel is set in accordance therewith, a transmission capacity of data which can be transmitted on one transmission channel is previously determined and hence the transmission capacity cannot be changed depending upon the kink of transmission data. In a general radio telephone system, the transmission capacity of one transmission channel is set so as to be a capacity which allows transmission of audio data for speech.
Recently, while attempt to transmit various data other than audio data by using a radio terminal such as a portable telephone or the like has been made, such a limitation that data of only a predetermined transmission capacity can be transmitted on one transmission channel brings the disadvantage that it takes considerable time to transmit data of a large capacity. In order to solve this problem, it may be sufficient to set a large transmission capacity as the transmission capacity of data which can be transmitted on one channel. However, as the transmission capacity of one channel is increased, a frequency band width of one transmission channel and so on must be set wide to that extent, which consequently reduces the number of transmission channels set in a transmission band allocated to one base station. Moreover, if the data of a comparatively small capacity such as the audio data is transmitted, the data amount to be transmitted on each of transmission channels becomes smaller as compared with the transmission capacity of the transmission channel, which disadvantageously causes an ineffective use of the transmission band.
In order to overcome the above disadvantage, the assignee of this application has proposed a communication method and a communication apparatus to which a transmission system permitting a transmission capacity to be changed is applied (in Japanese patent applications No. 8-312295 and so on). In the above proposed communication system and apparatus, when digital data is transmitted by wireless, an interleaving processing for changing a data arrangement of transmission data is carried out and hence even if a part of data lack upon reception, then it is possible to restore the data by an error correction processing and so on.
Since the above interleaving processing is carried out on condition that data of a predetermined transmission capacity is interleaved, if the above interleaving processing is applied to a communication system with a variable transmission capacity as it is, then a processing for precisely restoring the interleaved data arrangement to its original data arrangement may be disabled on the reception side when the transmission capacity is changed.

Communication method transmitting apparatus and receiving apparatus


A method, system, and computer program product for providing automatic expanding and collapsing of a portion of visual content on a screen including expanding the portion of visual content, and providing a visual cue alerting a user that the portion is automatically expanded from a collapsed state.

Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) are software tools that allow a developer (e.g., a web developer) to create web pages, websites, interactive applications, and the like for use by end users (e.g., visitors to websites). Various IDEs exist in the current marketplace, such as DREAMWEAVER™, available from MACROMEDIA INC. of San Francisco, Calif. and FRONTPAGE®, available from Microsoft Corporation. DREAMWEAVER™ is an IDE that allows web developers to design Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) web pages in both a code editor and a graphical-based design time environment. DREAMWEAVER™ also allows the developer to design in other languages, such as, for example, Extensible Markup Language (XML), Extensible HTML (XHTML), Active Server Page (ASP), COLDFUSION™ Markup Language (CFML™), and the like.
An IDE may allow a developer to create a document in an environment that includes both a text-based code view and a graphical-based design view. The code view renders the source code as text in a portion of the screen and allows the developer to see and manipulate the source code in the document file. For example, the developer may write and edit HTML or Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) code in the code view. The design view, on the other hand, is a What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) view of the document that allows the user to visually manipulate the interpreted and graphically laid-out version of the document, such as, for example, by dragging, dropping, cutting, and pasting visual components. As the developer works, changes to the document are reflected in both the code view and the design view.
Further, an IDE may support a code collapse feature. Code collapse, or code folding, in this example, is the ability to visually replace portions of the text in a document with an image or button, in effect hiding it, so that it does not take up much screen space. Users typically employ such a feature to hide portions of the code that they are not interested in or to bring two or more portions of the code closer together so that scrolling is not necessary to view them at the same time.
FIG. 1 is an illustration of example screen 100 from an IDE, including example code view 110. Code views, such as code view 110, are renderings of the source code as text for inspection, creation, and manipulation by the user. Example code view 110 is conceptual in that actual code is not shown thereon, but is understood to be represented by the word, "code." FIG. 2 is an illustration of example screen 200 from an IDE, including example code view 110. In screen 200, the user has selected code B 201. A user usually marks a region of source code (e.g., code 201) in code view 110 that he or she wants to collapse or hide. The marking may be performed by using a mouse or other pointing device to select code. The developer then indicates to the program that he or she desires to collapse selected code 201, for example, by clicking on widget 202 in the gutter area of code view 110. Internally, the program notates the region by dropping markers that capture the range that was selected—a marker at the beginning of the selection and a marker at the end of the selection. FIG. 3 is an illustration of example screen 300 from an IDE, including example code view 110. As shown in screen 300, when the IDE re-renders code view 110, it renders code collapse button 301 in the place of selected code 201.
Some IDEs also support an automatic code expand feature. In auto-expand, whenever a piece of collapsed code is selected, such as by the developer performing a FIND/REPLACE or selecting a corresponding visual object in the design view, the program automatically expands the collapsed code. When that piece of code is no longer selected, the program automatically recollapses the code.
When working in an IDE with code collapse and auto-expand, a developer may not realize that currently selected code is otherwise collapsed, and when the developer selects other code, it causes the auto-expanded code to recollapse unexpectedly. As a result, the developer may be distracted or lose his or her place in the code view. No IDEs that provide a code collapse feature with auto-expand provide a visual indication to the developer that certain code in the code view is auto-expanded from a collapsed state.


Certain example embodiments relate to a transparent conductor film stack with cadmium stannate used as a front contact layer and/or a buffer layer in a photovoltaic device or the like. The cadmium stannate-based layers may be provided between the front glass substrate and the semiconductor absorber film in a photovoltaic device (e.g., a CdS and/or CdTe based photovoltaic device). In certain example embodiments, the buffer layer based on cadmium stannate may have a higher resistivity than the transparent conductive oxide layer based on cadmium stannate. In certain example embodiments, one or more index matching layer(s) may be provided between the glass substrate and the layer(s) comprising cadmium stannate, e.g., to help overcome the optical mismatch between the glass substrate and the CdSnOx.

Photovoltaic devices are known in the art (e.g., see U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,784,361, 6,288,325, 6,613,603 and 6,123,824, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference). Amorphous silicon (a-Si) and CdTe type (including CdS/CdTe) photovoltaic devices, for example, each include a front contact or electrode.
The high temperatures sometimes necessary for depositing the semiconductor may cause sodium effusion and/or diffusion from the glass to the semiconductor. Moreover, some transparent conductive oxide materials that exhibit favorable properties when used as a front contact may have an index of refraction higher than that of the glass, and thus may exhibit reflectance at the surface of the glass. Further, in certain instances, some transparent conductive oxide materials may be cost-prohibitive.
Thus, it will be appreciated that there exists a need in the art for a more efficient and/or improved photovoltaic device, and/or a front electrode structure therefor. It also will be appreciated that there is a need in the art for a technique for making or forming a TCO electrode structure.
Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to a buffer layer provided in connection with a front electrode in a photovoltaic device or the like. In certain example embodiments, a front electrode structure includes a cadmium stannate-based transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer and/or a cadmium stannate-based buffer layer that are provided between the front glass substrate and the semiconductor absorber film in a photovoltaic device. The cadmium stannate-based TCO and/or buffer layer(s) may be deposited via sputtering or the like, and may or may not be doped in certain example instances. In an example context of CdS/CdTe photovoltaic devices, for example, the cadmium stannate-based layer(s) is/are advantageous that they may (a) provide for high transmittance into semiconductors such as CdS and/or CdTe; (b) have low absorption, thus further increasing the transmittance; (c) allow the coating to have a high figure of merit; and/or (d) provide good durability when used with a sodium barrier layer, e.g., in terms of being able to better withstand the migration of sodium through the glass due to the elevated temperatures during CdS/CdTe deposition and/or processing.
In certain example embodiments, the electrode structure (including the electrode and the buffer layer) may be used as any suitable electrode structure in any suitable electronic device, such as a photovoltaic device, electro-optical device, or the like. In certain example embodiments of this invention, the electrode structure may have a sheet resistance (Rs) of from about 7-50 ohms/square, more preferably from about 10-25 ohms/square, and most preferably from about 10-15 ohms/square using a reference example non-limiting thickness of from about 1,000 to 2,000 angstroms.
In certain example embodiments of this invention, there is provided photovoltaic device comprising: a front glass substrate and a plurality of thin film layer disposed thereon, the thin film layers comprising, in order moving outwardly from the front glass substrate: at least one index-matching layer, a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer comprising CdSnOx, a buffer layer comprising CdSnOx, wherein the buffer layer comprising CdSnOx has a resistivity higher than a resistivity of the TCO layer comprising CdSnOx, a semiconductor film comprising CdTe and/or CdS, and a rear contact layer, and a rear glass substrate.
In certain example embodiments of this invention, there is provided a photovoltaic device, the photovoltaic device comprising: a front glass substrate and a plurality of thin film layer disposed thereon, the thin film layers comprising, in order moving outwardly from the front glass substrate: a sodium barrier layer; a plurality of index matching layers including at least a high-index titanium oxide inclusive layer and a low index silicon-inclusive layer; a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer comprising CdSnOx; a buffer layer comprising CdSnOx, wherein the buffer layer has a higher resistivity than a resistivity of the TCO layer comprising CdSnOx; and a semiconductor film comprising CdS and/or CdTe.
In certain example embodiments of this invention, there is provided a method of making a photovoltaic device, the method comprising: providing a front glass substrate; sputter-depositing a barrier layer directly on the front glass substrate; sputter-depositing at least one index matching layer onto the glass substrate, over and contacting the barrier layer; sputter-depositing a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer comprising CdSnOx and having a resistivity of no greater than 0.4 mohm-cm and a refractive index from about 1.8 to 2.2, directly or indirectly, on the at least one index matching layer; and sputter-depositing a buffer layer comprising CdSnOx directly on the TCO layer, the buffer layer having a resistivity of at least about 10 mohm-cm.
The features, aspects, advantages, and example embodiments described herein may be combined to realize yet further embodiments.

Transparent conductor film stack with cadmium stannate, corresponding photovoltaic device, and method of making same


A polyacrylamide gel utilizing a buffer system comprising Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane at the concentration range 0.15 to 0.25 M titrated with hydrochloric acid to a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. The gel is substantially stable to polyacrylamide hydrolysis during storage for at extended periods and has an acceptable shelf-life of at least 6 months after storage at about 4xc2x0 C.

This invention relates to the field of gel electrophoresis, particularly to pre-cast polyacrylamide gels having an extended shelf-life.
Gel electrophoresis is an important analytical and preparative separation technique in which charged molecules are separated under the influence of an electric field with a gel being used as the support matrix. This technique is particularly suitable for the separation of biological macromolecules. The gels commonly used in this technique are composed of polyacrylamide or agarose. Polyacrylamide gels are used particularly for the separation of biomolecules such as proteins, peptides, DNA, RNA, lipids, charged carbohydrates and the like, either naturally occurring or synthetic, in which the acrylamide is used in slab form being pre-cast prior to use. Traditionally, polyacrylamide gels have been prepared individually prior to use by polymerising an acrylamide/cross-linker solution in a gel-casting cassette to form a slab. Following electrophoresis, the gels are removed from the cassette, and the biomolecules are stained and/or transferred from the gel to another medium so that the separated biomolecules may be visualised, identified, recovered or quantified. Conventional polyacrylamide gels have the disadvantage of being relatively unstable and have a limited shelf-life.
As gels are often prepared on an individual basis prior to use, there can be variations between gels that have been cast separately such that direct comparisons between separations using different gels are not reliable. Furthermore, the monomer components in polyacrylamide gels are relatively toxic and continued preparation of gels increases the potential of exposure of these toxic monomers to the operator. There has now been a move to the commercial preparation of pre-cast gels under controlled conditions providing consistent and stable characteristics between batches of gels. Unfortunately, most pre-cast commercial gels still have the problem of limited shelf-life and must be used within a relatively short period of time to ensure accurate and reliable separations.
Currently, a major limitation in the production and sale of pre-cast polyacrylamide electrophoresis gels is the relatively short shelf-life, usually up to about three months. This is thought to be due to the hydrolysis of the amide groups in polyacrylamide to the carboxylic acid derivative in alkaline conditions [Geisthardt and Kruppa, Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis: Reaction of Acrylamide at Alkaline pH with Buffer Components and Proteins Anal. Biochem. 160, 184-191 (1987)]. This hydrolysis is manifested in the gels as a loss of resolution of separated molecules, change in the migration distances of the separated molecules and reduced intensity of protein staining.
Typically, gels are prepared using alkaline buffers and run under alkaline conditions, usually around pH 8.9. A buffer system using Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane and hydrochloric acid (Tris-HCl) developed by Laemmli [Cleavage of Structural Proteins During the Assembly of the Head of Bacteriophage T4 Nature 227, 680-686 (1970)], is a typical choice for xe2x80x9cstandardxe2x80x99 polyacrylamide gels in denaturing conditions. Although loss of stability in polyacrylamide gels occurs faster in alkaline conditions, this was thought to be unavoidable in standard gels. In principle, if the pH of the buffer in which the polymer network is formed could be lowered to around neutral, then the hydrolysis of the gel should be greatly reduced and so the gels should remain stable and useful for a longer period of time. Unfortunately, it has been difficult to find inexpensive chemical systems with an effective buffering capacity around neutral pH that are compatible with a polyacrylamide medium and suitable for gel electrophoresis and which do not have any effects that would cause a loss of stability through other interactions.
The most common buffer system used for sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) is that published by Ormstein [Disc Electrophoresis, 1, Background and Theory Ann. New York Acad. Sci. 121, 321-349 (1964)] and modified by Laemmli. This system uses a discontinuous electrophoresis system composed of a xe2x80x98stackingxe2x80x99 gel with a Tris concentration of 0.125 M at pH 6.8 and a xe2x80x98resolvingxe2x80x99 gel with a Tris concentration of 0.375 M at pH 8.8. The change in pH causes the proteins in the gel to xe2x80x98stackxe2x80x99 or concentrate into a fine line in the lower pH gel and then xe2x80x98resolvexe2x80x99 or spread out in the higher pH gel. The stacking gel is a short zone and the resolving gel is a longer zone in the gel. The other common Tris-HCl system is that of Schagger and von Jagow [Tricine-Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis for the Separation of Proteins in the Range from 1 to 100 kDa Anal. Biochem 166, 368-379 (1987)] who used a stacking gel of 0.75 M Tris at pH 8.45 and a resolving gel of 0.9 M at pH 8.45. Some reports have been made of the use of the Tris-HCl system below these pH values. Reisfield and Williams [Disc Electrophoresis in Polyacrylamide Gels: Extension to New Conditions of pH and Buffer Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 121, 373-381 (1964)] have used Tris-HCl at a pH of 7.5, but their Tris concentration was very low (around 0.08 M) and their electrode buffer was Tris-diethylbarbituric acid. The present inventors have found that using Tris at these very low concentrations and at low pHs in more common electrophoresis of buffers leads to a distortion of bands and lack of resolution. King et al [Electrophoretic Conditions for High Resolution Citrus Isozymes in Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis Electrophoresis 16, 32-38 (1995)] have used traditional concentrations of Tris (0.375 M) at pH 7.5. To reach the lower pH levels at this high concentration of Tris involves the addition of a large amount of hydrochloric acid leading to high conductivity in the gel. When the conductivity of the gel is high, the gels run very slowly in traditional electrode buffers.
A number of different gel buffer systems have been proposed for use at or around neutral pH that do not involve the use of Tris-HCl. The most common buffer system at neutral pH is the phosphate system of Shapiro [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 28, 815 (1967)] modified by Weber and Osborn [The Reliability of Molecular Weight Determinations by Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis J. Biol. Chem. 244(16), 4406-4412 (1969)]. Other buffer systems include Bis-Tris-HCl [Moos et al Reproducible High Yield Sequencing of Proteins Electrophoretically Separated and Transferred to an Inert Support J. Biol. Chem. 263(13), 6005-6008 (1988)], Tris-Acetate [Patton et al Tris-Tricine and Tris-Borate Buffer Systems Provide Better Estimates of Human Mesothelial Cell Intermediate Filament Protein Molecular Weights than the Standard Tris-Glycine System Anal. Biochem. 197, 25-33 (1991)], glycylglycine-NaOH [Hoffmann and Chalkley A Neutral pH Acrylamide Gel Electrophoretic System for Histones and Other Basic Proteins Anal. Biochem. 76, 539-546 (1976)], 1,4 piperazine-bis-(ethane sulfonic acid) (PIPES) xe2x80x94Na3PO4 [Davis and Gregerman Separation of Thyroxin (T4)-Binding Proteins of Human Serum in Polyacrylamide Gel at pH 7.4. I. Effect of pH on Distribution of Tracer Quantities of T4 J. Endocr. 30, 237-245 (1970)], 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-1-ethanesulphonic acid (HEPES)/2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulphonic acid (MES)/3-(N-morpholino)propane sulphonic acid (MOPS)/Bicine-NaOH [12], MOPS-KOH [Thomas and Hodes A New Discontinuous Buffer System for the Electrophoresis of Cationic Proteins at Near-Neutral pH Anal. Biochem. 118, 194-196 (1981)] and Histidine-HCl/Tris-Citrate [King et al Electrophoretic Conditions for High Resolution Citrus Isozymes in Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis Electrophoresis 16, 32-38 (1995)].
The buffering capacity of Tris-HCl is reduced at neutral pH and so commercially available pre-cast gels with longer shelf lives employ different buffer systems. U.S. Pat. No. 3,948,743 (Bio-Rad Laboratories, 1976) discloses the use of a strongly ionisable neutral salt in a concentration of 0.0005 N to 1.0 N at a pH of between 6 and 8. The neutral salt is preferably ammonium sulfate. The gels are then xe2x80x98pre-runxe2x80x99 in the buffer that is desired for separation to remove the salt before application of the sample. It would appear, however, that this method has not been commercialised due to the inconvenience of having to pre-run the gels before they are useful for electrophoresis.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,415,655 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,481,094 (TechAmerica Group Inc., 1983 and 1984) disclose the use of a salt of 2-amino-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol at a pH of 6.4 to 7.3 in combination with 2-amino-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol turine as an electrolyte buffer at a pH of 8.0 to 10.0.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,578,180 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,922,185 (Novel Experimental Technology, 1996 and 1999) disclose gels containing a buffer comprised of a primary organic amine or substituted amine with a pKa near neutrality, titrated with hydrochloric acid or acetic acid to a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. The amine is preferably Bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)iminotris(hydroxymethyl)methane (Bis-Tris). The system runs with the gel and buffer at a pH around neutral. U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,948 is a continuation-in-part of these patents and discloses the use of a similar gel buffer consisting of an amine with pKa near neutrality and a zwitterionic base with a pKb between 6 and 9 with the buffer having a pH between pH 5.5 and 7.5.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,516 (Hymo Corporation, Atto Corporation, 1995) discloses gels which contain a buffer comprised of an acid, amine and an ampholyte that has the same number of anionic and cationic groups in each single molecule. The pH of these gels is between 4 and 7.5 and have been designed to give a wide separation range and stability. This patent mentions that lowering the pH and Tris concentration in conventional gel systems does not allow sufficient movement of proteins so is not suitable for use in electrophoretic separation of compounds.
The present inventors have now surprisingly found that by manipulating the conventional Tris-HCl buffer system, stable gels can be prepared that have comparable separation characteristics as standard gels but having the advantage of long shelf-life.
The present invention relates a gel system with a substantially neutral gel buffer system which assists in limiting the hydrolysis of the polymer network of the gel. Modification of conventional Tris-HCl buffer systems resulted in increased stability of the gel during storage. Importantly, in use the gels have minimal variation in migration distances of the proteins and increased retention of band sharpness over time.
In a first aspect, the present invention provides a polyacrylamide gel utilising a buffer system comprising Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane at a concentration range of about 0.15 to 0.25 M titrated with hydrochloric acid to a pH between about 6.5 and 7.5.
Preferably, the gel comprises Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane at about 0.18 to 0.22 M and having a pH of about 6.8 to 7.2. More preferably, the gel comprises Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane at about 0.20 M and having a pH of about 7.0.
The gels produced according to the present invention are substantially relatively stable to polyacrylamide hydrolysis during storage for at extended periods. The gels have an acceptable shelf-life of at least about six months, preferably at least about nine months and even more preferably at least about 12 months after storage at about or around 4xc2x0 C. An acceptable shelf-life can be determined by the gel producing a resolving protein separation migration pattern under electrophoresis conditions which is similar to or better than the degree of resolution of the same or similar sample using standard Tris/HCl gels. Typically, there is little or no significant deterioration in the degree of separation or sharpness of protein bands in the gels after prolonged storage times prior to use.
The polyacrylamide gels according to the present invention are cross-linked acrylamide formed by treating acrylamide with a cross-linking agent, usually N,Nxe2x80x2-methylene-bis-acrylamide (Bis)under suitable initiating conditions. Although Bis is the cross-linker of choice for most standard gel-forming processes, a number of other cross-linking agents have been developed or are being developed. Examples include Piperazine diacrylamide (PDA) and N,Nxe2x80x2diallyl-tartardiamide (DATD). The present invention is therefore applicable to all forms of polyacrylamide, irrespective of the cross-linking agent.
In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method of preparing a polyacrylamide gel, the method comprising polymerising acrylamide in the presence of a cross-linking agent, water, a buffer system for the polyacrylamide gel and a polymerisation means;
wherein the buffer system comprises Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane at the concentration range of about 0.15 to 0.25 M titrated with hydrochloric acid to a pH between about 6.5 and 7.5.
Preferably, the gel comprises Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane at about 0.18 to 0.22 M and having a pH of about 6.8 to 7.2. More preferably, the gel comprises Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane at about 0.20 M and having a pH of about 7.0.
The gels produced according to the present invention are substantially relatively stable to polyacrylamide hydrolysis during storage for at extended periods. The gels have an acceptable shelf-life of at least about six months, preferably at least about nine months and even more preferably at least about 12 months after storage at about or around 4xc2x0 C. An acceptable shelf-life can be determined by the gel producing a resolving protein separation migration pattern under electrophoresis conditions which is similar to or better than the degree of resolution of the same or similar sample using standard Tris/HCl gels. Typically, there is little or no significant deterioration in the degree of separation or sharpness of protein bands in the gels after prolonged storage times prior to use.
The polyacrylamide gels according to the present invention are cross-linked acrylamide formed by treating acrylamide with a cross-linking agent, usually N,Nxe2x80x2-methylene-bis-acrylamide (Bis)under suitable initiating conditions. Although Bis is the cross-linker of choice for most standard gel-forming processes, a number of other cross-linking agents have been developed or are being developed. Examples include Piperazine diacrylamide (PDA) and N,Nxe2x80x2diallyl-tartardiamide (DATD). The present invention is therefore applicable to all forms of polyacrylamide, irrespective of the cross-linking agent.
Preferably, the polymerisation means is by redox type initiator using ammonium persulphate (APS) and N,N,Nxe2x80x2,Nxe2x80x2-tetramethylethelenediamine (TEMED). Other free-radical initiator systems suitable for polymerising acrylamide gels including redox, thermal, photoactivation systems would also be suitable for the present invention.
In a third aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for use in gel electrophoresis, the apparatus comprising a gel according to the first aspect of the present invention adapted to be inserted in an electrophoresis apparatus.
The apparatus can be any standard electrophoresis apparatus housing a gel according to the present invention. The apparatus typically comprises one or more receptacles for electrophoresis buffer electrodes positioned in contact with the electrode buffer, and a housing to accept an arrangement for the electrophoresis gel, typically a cassette arrangement.
In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a method of performing electrophoresis, the method comprising:
(a) applying a sample containing one or more compounds to be separated to the gel of an electrophoresis apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention;
(b) providing an electrode buffer; and
(b) subjecting the gel to an electric field for sufficient time such that at least one compound in the sample is caused to move into the gel.
In one preferred form, the electrode buffer comprises Tris(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane and 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-1-ethanesulphonic acid (HEPES). Preferably, the electrode buffer has a concentration of about 0.05 to 0.125 M and has a pH of about 7.5 to 8.5.
Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word xe2x80x9ccomprisexe2x80x9d, or variations such as xe2x80x9ccomprisesxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9ccomprisingxe2x80x9d, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed in Australia before the priority date of each claim of this application.
In order that the present invention may be more clearly understood preferred forms will be described with reference to the following examples and drawings.


A dog training collar includes a plurality of releasable interconnecting links connected together to form a string of links having opposite ends with a tensioning member connected between the opposite ends of the link string to form a collar. A releasable fastener is included that releasably connects between the tensioning member and at least one of the opposite ends of the link string. The interconnecting links each include an inner side and outer side where the inner side includes a pair of v-shaped protrusions extending away from the inner side. The string of links having a plurality of v-shaped protrusion pairs forms two columns of links arranged in spaced apart relation extending from the inner sides, whereby the string of links is placed around a neck of a dog with said v-shaped protrusions directed toward the neck and connected to said tensioning member by the releasable fastener to form said collar such that adjustment of said tensioning member during wear causes a physical correction to be applied to the neck. The number of links used may be adjusted according a dog's neck size. An anti-tangling device is coupled to the tensioning member whereby the anti-tangling device restores unintended twists in the collar when applied to the neck of the dog.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an improved dog collar, and, more particularly, to an improved dog training collar with interconnecting links.
2. Description of the Related Art
There have been numerous types of collars sold as training devices for dogs, yet few have proven to effectively create lasting change in the dog's behavior. Many collars of late have focused on a passive approach to training that in essence is void of any true corrective qualities.
A collar with traditional dog training qualities currently on the market is known as a Pinch or Prong collar. The Pinch collar is generally an all-metal collar. But there are drawbacks to the Pinch collar.
One drawback is that the chain-like links of such a Pinch collar are non-removably inter-linked or very difficult to remove and reconnect due to the inflexible properties of the metal it is made from. Many older or very young people may have a very difficult time removing or attaching such links.
With another drawback, Pinch collars with removable links may be very confusing to put together. One issue causing such confusion is that many people end up with links facing opposite directions as the orientation of the collar may change while a person installs links. Upon trying to correct this situation, a person can end up having completely reversed a portion of the connecting chain, leaving the proper connecting ring twisted by at least 180 degrees in the wrong position, further causing confusion and incorrect operation of the collar.
Yet another drawback is that, when applying the collar to the dog's neck many people inadvertently twist the bottom connecting chain, which causes the Pinch collar to be tighter that is should be around the dog's neck possibly endangering the dog by restricting airflow. This also causes the Pinch collar to not work properly by disconnecting the function of the connecting chain. When the chain-connecting piece is rolled over or twisted it cannot smoothly slide through the end holes of the row of linked prongs.
Finally, there is a drawback of a prominent social stigma to being seen using a pinch collar and even a standard metal choke chain. Most people will comment that the Pinch collar looks like a medieval torture device. It is these knee-jerk reactions to the visual appearance of the pinch collar that will cause many people not to ever try the collar on their dog for training purposes.
There have been attempts to improve upon the traditional metal Pinch collar, by way of example, a collar formed from a plurality of interconnecting collar elements having substantially plastic components. While fit for its intend purpose and while addressing some of the drawbacks to a traditional pinch collar, such a collar does not address all of the drawbacks. For example, and not by way of limitation, such a collar does not address the issue of twisting the collar when putting the collar on the dog. Furthermore, such a collar relies upon routine engagement and disengagement of the interconnecting elements for putting on and taking off of a dog's neck. The result is that unnecessary wear of plastic portions of the interconnect may occur from extended use over time. Furthermore, some people may experience confusion and difficulty when attempting the interconnecting of elements while the collar is around a dog's neck, particularly if the dog is at an early stage of training, given the snug fit required for proper use and that the dog may resist application of the collar to its neck by shaking its head and trying to pull away.
Thus, the need exists for a collar that address all of the drawbacks of a traditional Pinch collar, that is easy to attach to a dog's neck, this easy to assemble and connect and has an attractive outward appearance.
Thus, the need exists for a way to improve upon features of training collars that more effectively create lasting change in the dog's behavior.

Dog training collar with interconnecting links


An electrical connector has a row of signal contacts, and a ground shield disposed inwardly from the signal contacts. Each of the signal and ground contacts has a first segment and a second segment. Each first segment defines a mounting end that can mount to a first electrical component, and each second segment defines a mating end that can mate with a second electrical component. The first and second segments of each signal contact and the ground contact are angularly offset from one another so as to define an angle of between 75 degrees and 105 degrees between the first and second segments. The first and second segments of each signal contact and the ground contact can be coupled to one another to define the angle. Alternatively, the signal and ground contacts can be bent along a common bend line that intersects the signal contacts and the ground contact.

Electrical connector systems generally include circuits and components on one or more interconnected circuit boards. Examples of circuit boards in an electrical connector system can include daughter boards, motherboards, backplane boards, midplane boards, or the like. Electrical assemblies can further include an electrical connector that provides an interface between electrical components, and provides electrically conductive paths for electrical communications data signals and/or electrical power so as to place the electrical components in electrical communication with each other.
As another example, a conventional electrical connector system can include connectors that place a first substrate that can be a printed circuit board (PCB) into electrical communication with a second substrate that can also be a PCB. The electrical connector system can include first and second electrical connectors that mate with one another. The first electrical connector includes a first dielectric connector housing and a first plurality of contacts supported by the first connector housing. The first electrical connector defines a first mounting interface that mounts onto the first substrate, and a first mating interface that mates with the second electrical connector. The second electrical connector includes a second dielectric connector housing and a second plurality of contacts supported by the second connector housing. The second electrical connector defines a second mounting interface that mounts onto the second substrate, and a second mating interface that with mates the first electrical connector at the first mating interface. When mated, the connectors provide an electrically conductive path between traces carried by the first substrate and traces carried by the second substrate.

Right-angle electrical connector and electrical contacts for a right-angle connector


A radio base station according to the present invention is equipped with a determination unit that compares a first signal quality of a first output signal which is output by an adaptive array antenna and a second signal quality of a second output signal which is output by an adaptive equalizer and determines whether the improvement effect of the second signal quality with respect to the first signal quality is below expectation. When the determination unit determines that the improvement effect is below expectation, a controller stops power supply to the adaptive equalizer and the calculation of an equalization weight by a weight calculator, and outputs the first output signal as the output signal of a receiver.

In general, the state of a radio signal received by a radio communication apparatus changes depending on a radio communication environment. For example, the radio signal may include a desired signal from a radio communication apparatus on a transmission side (hereinafter, a transmission side radio communication apparatus) and an interference signal from an interference source. Furthermore, when multiple signal propagation paths are formed, the desired signal may include an advancing wave component (for example, a direct wave component) and delay wave components which are delayed from the advancing wave component.
There is known a radio communication apparatus that includes a receiver having a configuration in which an adaptive array antenna and an adaptive equalizer are serially connected to achieve radio communications adapted to such radio communication environment (e.g., see patent document 1).
The adaptive array antenna has multiple antenna elements and cancels the interference signal contained in the radio signal received by the antenna elements according to an antenna weight. The adaptive equalizer combines the advancing wave component and the delay wave components according to an equalization weight. The antenna weight and the equalization weight (hereinafter abbreviated as "weight" as needed) are calculated by a weight calculator provided to the receiver.
As described above, in the radio communication environment including a delay wave (a delay wave component), the receiver having the configuration in which the adaptive array antenna and the adaptive equalizer are serially connected can maximally improve the signal quality of the received radio signal in such a manner that the adaptive array antenna cancels the interference signal and the adaptive equalizer combines the delay wave components.

Radio communication apparatus and control method


A warm start of a system is initiated with a warm start manager disabling incoming signals to the system and initiating at least a two-phase warm start procedure. In the first phase, being an intra-process phase, each process is checked for integrity of its own data structures. When data structures fail this check and cannot be recovered, a cold start is initiated. In the second phase, being an inter-process phase, entities that each process owns are checked to ensure that all other processes have a consistent image of the entities. Those entities that do not have a consistent image across the processes are removed. In an optional third phase of the warm start procedure, a determination is made as to which of the removed entities can be recreated immediately, and those entities are recreated.

This invention relates to initializations of computer systems and, more particularly, to warm starts.
When a computer system is turned on, it initiates what is called a cold start. A cold start involves initializing the software and the hardware to an initial state. Every time the cold start happens, the system is initialized to the exact same initial state.
A warm start, in contradistinction, can happen only after the system is up and running. When a warm start happens, the hardware is not reinitialized as in a cold start. In general, the hardware is checked to make sure that it is in a sane state. Also, the software is not initialized after a warm start but, rather, the software checks itself for consistency and sanity and attempts to correct any encountered problems. What is important is that the rest of the system software (drivers, platform, and application software) keeps the system state across the warm start.
Warm start is a technique used when providing redundancy and fault tolerance for a particular computing machine. When a critical/unrecoverable error happens, such system attempts a warm start that would clear the error without disrupting the established services. For example, if one is talking over the phone to someone else and a warm start happens on one of the switches that are carrying such call. Both parties in the phone conversation should not notice it. They keep talking to each other without service interruption.
A warm start can be controlled or uncontrolled. In a controlled warm start, a process running on the controller might decide that the system is too unstable to keep running as it is and that warm start should be performed in order to attempt to correct the errors. Alternatively, there is the uncontrolled warm start. For example, if a system has primary controller and standby (redundant) controller, when the primary controller goes bad the secondary controller becomes active. This transition can be achieved through the use of the warm start technique (among other choices). If, however, the primary controller suddenly fails, or a user physically takes out the primary controller, that would force the standby controller to undergo warm start. In this case, the software did not have any control on when the warm start happened, and such a warm start is called an uncontrolled warm start.
Thus, a warm start is a start that is that does not reset, or initialize, all variables. If the warm start is not done carefully, the system might crash, thus defeating the success of the warm start, since the service will be disrupted (in previous phone call example: both parties will all of sudden get disconnected from each other and the phone call is terminated).
In accordance with the principles disclosed herein, when a warm start is initiated, control passes to a managing task. The managing task disables all interactions of the switch controller with other switches or routers, informs the switch""s I/O modules that a warm start has been initiated, and proceeds with a two phase boot-up. In the first phase, each process of the controller checks its own internal data structures to make sure that they are consistent. The checks are made seriatim by means of a token that the managing task circulates. During this phase a process is not allowed to talk to any other process except the managing task. When a process gets the token it does its own internal checking, then returns the token to the managing task. If it is determined that there are inconsistencies in a data structure of a process, the process tries to fix them. If that cannot be done, it is concluded that the error is unrecoverable and a cold start is initiated. During this phase, the system checks only for very critical errors that, if not recoverable, the system cannot continue the warm start. The second phase, which follows a successful completion of the first phase, checks are again done on the processes, seriatim, by means of a token that the managing task circulates. In this phase each process makes sure that any entity that it is managing is an acceptable state, in the sense that images of the entity across all processes are consistent. If it is not, then the process deletes the entity from the system.


A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a semiconductor element formed on a principal surface of the semiconductor substrate and having a multiple-layered interconnect layer; and a heterostructure magnetic shield covering the semiconductor element. The heterostructure magnetic shield includes a first magnetic shield layered structure and a second magnetic shield layered structure that covers the first magnetic shield layered structure. Each of a first and a second magnetic shield layered structures includes a magnetic shielding film composed of a magnetic substance and covering the semiconductor element and a buffer film disposed between the semiconductor element and the magnetic shield films and preventing a diffusion of the magnetic substance.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device.
2. Related Art
In the trends of the miniaturization and the enhanced performances of electronic devices in recent years, enhancements in the response speed of semiconductor devices incorporated in such electronic devices are required. In response to such requirements, operating frequency of the semiconductor devices is increased, resulting in an increased frequency of signal that is propagated through interconnects of the semiconductor devices. Such trend of utilizing high frequency signal may cause an increase in the propagation of electromagnetic radiation noise, inducing electromagnetic interferences to other electronic devices. In addition, miniaturizations in the electric wiring configurations of the semiconductor devices causes considerable noise generated between adjacent interconnects (interconnect crosstalk), causing a concern for inducing malfunctions of the semiconductor devices. Thus, in order to ensure higher reliability of semiconductor devices while an enhancement in the response speed of the device is increased, it is desirable to reduce electromagnetic radiation noise to the utmost extent.
Approaches of utilizing magnetic loss of magnetic substance as procedures for reducing electromagnetic radiation noise are disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H06-21,060 (1994), Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H09-330,929 (1997) and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H08-298,310 (1996). Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H06-21,060 (1994) discloses a semiconductor device having a multiple-layered interconnect structure including a ferrimagnetic material film. In such multiple-layered interconnect structure, an interconnect layer, an insulating interlayer, a ferrimagnetic material film, an insulating interlayer and an interconnect layer are formed on a semiconductor substrate in this sequence. The ferrimagnetic material film is disposed between one interconnect layer and another interconnect layer to exhibit an electromagnetic shield function.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H09-330,929 (1997) discloses a semiconductor device having a layer of a magnetic substance formed on an insulating layer including a metallic interconnect layer.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H08-298,310 (1996) discloses a process for manufacturing a semiconductor device having a spinel ferrite layer on a substrate. According to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H08-298,310, it is described that a film having improved magnetic characteristics can be obtained without a thermally process for the ferrite film, when a template layer is formed on a substrate and a ferrite film having spinel structure is formed on the template layer.


The present invention is a structured body for drainage treatment which is an unit box composed of a top panel having multiple weep holes and downward cylinders provided therein and side walls having multiple weep holes and joints for connection, which can be spread to a desired size by connecting these unit boxes.. The structured body for drainage treatment can be used as a material for drainage of sports grounds, roads, parks, golf links, stockhouses, riding grounds and the like, as an antifreezing material for roads in cold districts, and as a material for preparing tree-planting ground in the concrete portion on the roof, desert areas and the like.. Furthermore, the present invention includes and impounding and flushing system to prevent muddy earth (sludge) from sedimenting in the concrete face of the like on the building roof which s the face that the structured body for drainage treatment described above is to be placed.

The present invention relates to a structured body for the drainage treatment, and its impounding and flushing system, which will become the materials for drainage treatment when preparing a garden, for example, on the concrete floor on the roof of the building.
Furthermore, the structured body for the drainage treatment and its impounding and flushing system of the present invention can be applied to sports grounds, roads, parks, golf links, stockhouses and riding grounds.
The difference between the present invention and the conventional techniques described below, the usage and the examples of the present invention, the action and the effects will be described in detail by limiting the application to the preparation for tree-planting areas.
Conventionally, tree-planting areas have been prepared by planting plants on concrete faces of the roof in order to effectively use the roof of the building.
In such cases, materials for drainage treatment, such as gravels for drainage and crushed stones for drainage, are spread in the designated area of the concrete face on the roof to level the area, earth is spread on the upper surface of said materials for drainage treatment, to which plants such as lawns and trees are planted to form a tree-planting area, resulting in tree-planting on the roof of the building.
Therefore, in order to plant trees on the roof of the building, not only the materials for drainage treatment such as gravels for drainage and crushed stones for drainage are needed, but it takes time to spread the materials for drainage treatment. When this tree-planting area is leveled, it is also necessary to dig up the gravels for drainage and crushed stones for drainage by spades and shovels, which requires extra labors and time, and results in expensive leveling cost.
Therefore, the present inventors have developed the structured body for drainage treatment for gardening which comprises as a minimum unit a combined body of an unit box composed of side walls having multiple weep holes and joints for connection, and a lattice panel wall having multiple weep holes which is put into the interior of the unit box.
The feature of said technique is to dispose the structured body for drainage treatment having the above-mentioned structure to be jointly spread in the designated area of the concrete face on the roof of the building, to spread sponge sheets or permeable nets on the upper face of the top wall portion of the structured body for drainage treatment, to sread earth on the upper face of the sponge sheets or the permeable nets, and to plant lawns and trees to prepare the tree-planting area on the roof of the building. The rainwater which falls to the tree-planting area on the roof of the building will go through the spread earth, sponge sheets or permeable nets, multiple weep holes in the top wall portion of the structured body for drainage treatment, multiple weep holes in the lattice panel wall which is put into the interior of the structured body for drainage treatment, and multiple weep holes in the side wall on the structured body for drainage treatment, to the gutter of the concrete face on the roof to be drained. It is contrived to permeate the rainwater collected in the interior of the structured body for drainage treatment to the sponge sheets or the like which is spread on the upper face of the top wall portion of the structured body for drainage treatment by the capillary action to stimulate the earth to keep the water, which results in that the earth to which lawns and trees are planted keeps weltability, which makes it possible for plants to grow normally even in the concrete face on the roof of the building where plants cannot grow naturally.
Since the weight and the pressure of the earth and plants are directly added to the structured body for drainage treatment when the tree-planting area is prepared on the concrete face on the roof as described above by using the structured body for drainage treatment having the above-mentioned structure, it is necessary to keep the structured body for drainage treatment earth-pressure-resistant and strength-resistant. As the means to solve it, the present inventors have proposes the lattice panel wall as the reinforcing material.
In the structured body for drainage treatment described above, however, it is necessary to produce lattice panel walls separately from the unit box formed by side walls having multiple weep holes and joints for connection and to put said lattice panel walls into the interior of the unit box, which requires extra time and labors. If said lattice panel walls are not used, the strength of the structured body for drainage treatment cannot be maintained. Furthermore, putting lattice panel walls into the interior of the box makes drainage (drainability) poor, and extra cost for the lattice panel walls should be borne, which is not economical.
Therefore, it is at least appreciable that the structured body for drainage treatment described above is effective as a material for drainage treatment to accelerate the drainage instead of gravel draining layer on the tree-planting ground which is prepared on the roof of the building.
In the above-mentioned application example, however, while the effect of draining rainwater can be expected by spreading the structured body for drainage treatment, it is undeniable that when it rains, the particles of earth spread on the top wall portion of the structured body for drainage treatment become muddy and flow into the interior of the structured body for drainage treatment through multiple weep holes on the top wall portion, and the muddy liquid adheres to the concrete face on the roof of the building which is the face to be disposed of the structured body for drainage treatment and is piled up and solidified, becoming muddy earth if being left as it is for a ling time, whereby the drainability of the tree-planting ground on the roof will be hindered.
Furthermore, various components contained in the earth particles are piled up on the concrete face, and dissolve the concrete component with the lapse of time, which may cause the leakage of water in the building.
Therefore, the primary object of the present invention is to modify essentially the structured body for drainage treatment described above.
Another object of the present invention is to solve the problem that the muddy earth (sludge) and the like are piled up on the concrete face on the roof of the building and damage the face of the concrete floor to decrease the effect of drainage.

Particularly, a structured body for the drainage treatment for the preparation for tree-planting ground, and its impounding and flushing system


The present invention provides a nitrile group-containing highly-saturated copolymer rubber comprising an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated nitrile monomer unit (a) in a content of 28 wt % or more and a conjugated diene monomer unit (b) in a content of 20 to 72 wt %, and having an iodine value of 120 or less, wherein the conjugated diene monomer unit (b) is at least partially hydrogenated, and a proportion of an isoprene unit in the conjugated diene monomer unit (b) is 33 wt % or more.

A nitrile group-containing highly saturated, copolymer rubber typified by a hydrogenated acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer robber is excellent in heat resistance, oil resistance, ozone resistance and the like as compared with a common nitrile group-containing copolymer rubber such as an acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer rubber, having a plenty of carbon-carbon unsaturated bonds in the main chain structure thereof.
As such a nitrile group-containing highly saturated copolymer rubber. Patent Document 1 has proposed a nitrile group-containing highly saturated copolymer rubber, comprising unsaturated nitrile monomer units, butadiene monomer units and isoprene monomer units, with a molar ratio between the butadiene monomer unit and the isoprene monomer unit of 3:1 or less. The technique described in Patent Document 1 seeks to improve the compression set resistance and to improve the flexibility of the nitrile group-containing highly saturated copolymer rubber at low temperatures, in addition to the above-mentioned characteristics possessed by the nitrile group-containing highly saturated copolymer rubber. Further, the nitrile group-containing highly saturated copolymer robber of Patent Document 1 is suitable for the resistance to hardening in oil. However, the cross-linked, rubber obtained by using the nitrile group-containing highly saturated copolymer rubber described in Patent Document 1 is fundamentally low in resistance to swelling in oil so as to be insufficient for practical use.

Nitrile group-containing highly saturated copolymer rubber