A write current driving circuit in which drains of the transistors A1 and B1 are commonly connected to the base of the transistor T1, drains of the transistors C1 and D1 are commonly connected to the base of the transistor T2, inverted signal of the input signal into the transistors C1 and D1 is inputted into the transistors A1 and B1. Therefore, the transistors T1 and T2 can speedily be switched ON/OFF with suppressed power consumption. Transistors A2, C2 and transistors B2, D2 are connected in parallel with the transistors A1, C1 and NMOS transistors B1, D1 respectively, and the transistors A2, C2, B2, and D2 are turned ON only for a specified period of time immediately after the transistors T1 and T2 are switched ON/OFF.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing a write current driving circuit based on the conventional technology. This write current driving circuit comprises two NPN transistors T1, T2 on the current-supply side; two NPN transistors T3, T4 on the current-extraction side; a write head WH made up of a coil; two NPN transistors T5, T6 for biasing a base potential of the transistors T1, T2; and two loading resistors R1, R2.
Collectors of the transistors T1 and T2 are connected to a power supply unit Vcc. Bases of the transistors T1 and T2 are connected to the power supply unit Vcc through the resistors R1 and R2 respectively. Emitters of the transistors T1 and T2 are connected to the collectors of the transistors T3 and T4 respectively.
Signals IN1 and IN2 inputted from external devices are supplied as base potentials to the bases of the transistors T3 and T4 respectively. The input signal IN2 is an inverted signal of the other input signal IN1. Emitters of the transistors T3 and T4 are commonly connected to a current source 11, thus a current flows from the emitters of the transistors T3 and T4 into the current source 11.
Collectors of the transistors T5 and T6 are connected to the bases of the transistors T1 and T2 respectively. Base potentials are fed by the signals IN1 and IN2 to the bases of the transistors T5 and T6 respectively. Emitters of the transistors T5 and T6 are commonly connected to a current source 12, thus a current flows from the emitters of the transistors T5 and T6 into the current source 12.
One end of the coil of the write head WH is connected to the emitter of the transistor T1 and the collector of the transistor T3. The other end is connected to the emitter of the transistor T2 and to the collector of the transistor T4.
Effects of the write current driving circuit configured as shown in FIG. 8 will be described below. When one input signal IN1 is at a relatively high potential level (described as HIGH hereinafter) and the other input signal IN2 is at a relatively low potential level (described as LOW hereinafter), the transistors T3 and T5 are ON, while the transistors T4 and T6 are OFF.
As the transistor T5 is ON, a current passes through the loading resistor R1. With that current, a base potential of the transistor T1 drops and the transistor T1 is turned OFF. On the other hand, as the transistor T6 is OFF, a current does not pass through the loading resistor R2. Accordingly, a base potential of the transistor T2 is maintained at the power supply potential as it is, and so the transistor T2 is turned ON. Therefore, an emitter current of the transistor T2 passes through the write head WH from the side of the transistor T2 toward the side of the transistor T3, and becomes a collector current of the transistor T3.
When the input signal IN1 is LOW and the other input signal IN2 is HIGH, the transistors T3 and T5 are OFF while the transistors T4 and T6 are ON. Accordingly, a current passes through the loading resistor R2, and with that current, a base potential of the transistor T2 drops, and the transistor T2 is turned OFF. On the other hand, as the transistor T5 is OFF, a current does not pass through the loading resistor R1, and so a base potential of the transistor T1 is maintained at the power supply potential as it is, and the transistor T1 is turned ON.
Therefore, an emitter current of the transistor T1 passes through the write head WH from the side of the transistor T1 toward the side of the transistor T4, and becomes a collector current of the transistor T4. As described above, by inputting a pair of inverted signals IN1 and IN2, a current passing through the write head WH, namely a direction of a write current to a disk is switched.
In recent years, it has been desired that data is written in a hard disk or the like with higher speed. To increase the writing speed, it is required to increase the switching speed when a direction of a write current is switched and also to speed up a rise time (Tr) and a fall time (Tf) of the current on switching.
In the conventional type of write current driving circuit shown in FIG. 8, however, there are base-emitter capacitor and base-collector capacitor in input sections of the transistors T1 and T2, and the capacities form a low-pass filter together with the loading resistors R1 and R2. The formed filter makes frequency response worse, and so the rise time and the fall time of a write current when the direction of the write current is switched becomes longer. If resistances of the loading resistors R1 and R2 are made smaller to overcome the problem, a current required to supply a base voltage to the transistors T1 and T2 becomes larger, which requires larger power consumption.


A method is disclosed for pretreatment of a lumpy carbon carrier suitable for forming a fluidized bed and a solid bed used in the production of pig iron from iron ore. The ore is pre-reduced in at least one reduction plant and the thus produced iron sponge is subsequently final reduced and fused in a melt-down gasifier with the help of the lumpy carbon carrier and an oxygen-containing gas and is the carbon carrier is fed into the upper part and the oxygen-containing gas is fed into the lower part of the melt-down gasifier. These materials form, together with the iron sponge, a fluidized bed in the melt-down gasifier. Below the fluidized bed, a solid bed is formed consisting of said lumpy carbon carrier. A suitable carbon carrier may be formed by pretreating available coal by one of two methods. Lumpy coal tending to burst upon subjection to a shock-like thermal load is preheated for a minimum of one hour at a temperature of at least 300.degree. C. prior to being fed into the melt-down gasifier in order to diminish its bursting tendency and to reduce the thermal load to which it is subjected. Ground fine coal is blended with a binder and granulated into lumps.

Fine coal and coal tending to burst upon subjection to heavy thermal loads cannot be used effectively as a carbon carrying reduction agent in a process in which pig iron is produced from iron ore wherein a fluidized bed is formed in a melt-down gasifier. Pre-treatment of lumpy coal tending to burst or of fine coal by one of the two methods described herein, however, permits the effective employment of most grades of coal and of fine coal as lumpy carbon carriers.
To produce pig iron from iron ore, the ore is first pre-reduced in at least one reduction step to form sponge iron. The sponge iron is then transported into a melt-down gasifier. To aid the subsequent final reducing and melting of the sponge iron, a lumpy carbon carrying reduction agent is introduced into the upper portion of the gasifier to form, together with the sponge iron, a fluidized bed and a solid bed of carbon carrier underneath the fluidized bed.
This reduction agent consists preferably of coal, in particular long-flame gas coal with a grain size of up to 50 mm, which has been dried degassed and subsequently converted into coke in the upper area of the melt-down gasifier. Therefore, a fluidized bed of coke is produced in the melt-down gasifier.
The formation of an optimum fluidized bed required for the melting and final reducing, and of a solid bed forming underneath the fluidized bed depends on the grain distribution of the coke particles produced in the meltdown gasifier. Many grades of coal tend to burst more or less violently when being fed into the head area of the gasifier due to the shock-like thermal load they are subjected to when brought into the there prevailing temperature of approximately 1,000.degree. C., alterating the grain distribution accordingly.
Alternatively, the available coal may not have a sufficient grain size. The production of fine coal having a grain size of less than 1 mm constitutes approximately 30% of all coal produced by underground mining and this percentage is expected to increase further due to mining methods and preparation plants. Such fine coals, as well as coarse-grain coals tending to burst easily, are therefore less suitable for use in a melt-down gasifier working with a fluidized bed.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a method for pretreating coals tending to burst or fine coals so as to form a lumpy carbon carrier suitable for the formation of a fluidized bed and a solid bed in a melt-down gasifier. The lumpy carbon carrier thus formed is used in a production of pig iron from iron ore wherein the ore is prereduced in one or in a plurality of reduction plants to iron sponge, and the iron sponge is subsequently fused and finally reduced in the melt-down gasifier with the help of the lumpy carbon carrier and an oxygen-containing gas. The lumpy carbon carrier is fed into the upper part of the melt-down gasifier and the oxygen-containing gas if fed into the lower part of the melt-down gasifier forming within the melt-down gasifier a fluidized bed with a solid bed of the lumpy carbon carrier being formed underneath the fluidized bed.

Method for the pretreatment of a lumpy carbon carrier

Deutsche Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH


The present invention relates to (halogenated) copolymer vulcanizates and the use thereof in devices such as seals, tank linings, o-rings or hoses which are in contact with liquid medium comprising oxymethylene ether.

Combustion engines are under criticism due to pollution of the environment. Future powertrain technologies will be measured against CO2 neutrality, sustainability and exhaust emissions, which are statutory requirements that take priority and lay the foundations for sustainability. To reach these goals, technical processes using electrical energy have been developed to synthesize liquid fuel ("Power-to-liquid"). One approach is to use CO or CO2 and sustainably produced H2 to synthesize non-toxic or liquid fuels (e.g. benzene, diesel or kerosene) which are CO2-neutral and sustainable (so called "blue crude").
Ether-based fuels with C1 building blocks that contain no C—C bonds such as oxymethylene ether (e.g. OME1) are a particularly effective means of minimizing emissions with less complex exhaust after treatment. OME1 is made from methanol on a commercial scale, has a high energy density and has a cetane number (CN) of about 38. It can be mixed with additives to produce OME1a diesel fuel (CN 48).
The use of a synthetic oxygenated product as a substitute of gas oil in diesel engines is known for some time EP-A-1 422 285 (2003). A content of 20 wt.-% OME in diesel leads to soot reduction of more than 60% and to a NOx-emission reduction of 25%.
Compositions comprising diesel fuel (DF) and polyoxymethylene dialkylether (POMDAE) are disclosed in WO-A-08/074704.
The soot production is reduced to 0% if pure OME is used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. These fuels have the potential to prolong the use of the efficient internal combustion engines.
However, these oxygenated fuels have different chemical properties compared to standard hydrocarbon fuels which leads to new challenges for components and devices which are in contact with oxygenated fuels. Conventionally, several vulcanized rubber products and devices based on synthetic rubber are in contact with fuel in every combustion engine, e.g. O-ring seals, gaskets, transport lines or hoses.
Unfortunately, not every vulcanized synthetic rubber which is suitable for use as a products in contact with diesel fuel, can be also use in contact with oxymethylene ether as oxygenated fuels often lead to a tremendous swelling of the rubber vulcanizate which makes their application unfeasible. E.g. the polarity of diesel fuel is too similar for un-polar rubbers like butadiene rubber (BR) or ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM).
The Book of Abstracts of the 5. International Conference of the excellence cluster "Tailor-Made Fuels from Biomass" discloses on page 101-104 swelling experiments with various synthetic rubbers in diesel fuel and in OME. Conventional synthetic rubbers for seals such as nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) or fluorocarbon rubber (FKM) show a strong swelling in OEM. Suitable synthetic rubbers such as perfluoro elastomer rubber (FFKM) or tetrafluoro ethylene propylene rubber (FEPM) which show a low swelling are uneconomical.
It is difficult to predict the swelling degree of rubber in liquid medium. Swelling of polymers is typically correlated to the principle of "likes solves likes" and can be expressed by the solubility parameter of both materials to assess if there will be swell in the rubber. In theory, a rubber with a solubility parameter which is close to the solubility parameter of the medium should swell the most ("similia similibus solvuntur").
The most simple oxymethylene ether is dimethyl ether (DME) and has a solubility parameter of 17.1 MPa1/2. OME1 (dimethoxymethane, methylal) with one oxymethylene group more has a solubility parameter according to literature of 17.4 MPa1/2. It was expected that hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR) with 34 wt.-% acrylonitrile content with a solubility parameter of 20.7 MPa1/2 would be a good fit and have low swell. However, unexpectedly a relatively high swell occurred.
It was therefore an object of the present invention to provide elastic vulcanized rubber products (vulcanizates) such as seals, gaskets or hoses which have a low swelling degree in contact with oxymethylene ether or media comprising oxymethylene ether.

Copolymer vulcanizates for use in contact with oxymethylene ether comprising media


Ice fishing apparatus of the tip-up type wherein a fish line reel is supported below the water surface upon a column suspended from a cross bar resting upon the ice surface. The fishing reel is maintained in a ready position by an elastic band supported at one end relative to the column, and attached to a detent mounted on the reel. A fish on the line tends to unwind the reel tensioning the elastic band, and upon a pre-determined tension in the band being achieved the detent is released permitting the reel to deploy the line. The elastic band serves to set the hook. Preferably, the elastic band is anchored to a trigger attached to the column and operatively associated with a resiliently supported flag to indicate reel release. However, the flag indicator may be removed from the apparatus without affecting its fishing function.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to tip-up fishing apparatus of the type used in ice fishing wherein the fishing line is wound upon a submerged reel suspended from a vertically disposed column, and the reel is controlled in such a manner as to aid the setting of the hook.
2. Description of the Related Art
Tip-up ice fishing apparatus using a submerged reel upon which the fishing line is wound has the advantage of preventing freezing of the reel and line. Such devices usually include a cross arm supporting the vertical column upon which the reel is mounted at the column lower end, and an indicator in the form of a flag is usually mounted upon the upper end of the column to indicate when the reel has been rotated due to tension forces applied to the fishing line by a hooked fish. Devices of this type are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,575,156; 2,598,778; 2,651,875; 2,693,046; 2,887,813; 4,821,446; 4,907,363 and 5,101,591.
While the aforementioned patents, and similar devices, do support the reel and fishing line below the water surface, and avoid freezing of the reel and line, known devices are complicated, undependable, and do not provide practical means for setting the hook in the fish's mouth upon the bait being taken. Tip-up fishing devices of the aforementioned type presently on the market are unduly expensive to manufacture, and they often lack dependability of operation.
Additionally, it is often desirable to permit ice fishing apparatus to remain in place for several days, and tip-up apparatus utilizing indicators mounted upon columns or other structure extending above the surface of the ice indicate the location of the fishing apparatus and subject the apparatus to vandalism.


A translation apparatus retains a first correlation between a Mobile IPv6 terminal's home address and virtual IPv4 address. When the Mobile IPv6 terminal transmits a packet to said IPv6 network with a care-of address specified as the packet's source address and a home address specified in an extension header, the translation apparatus changes the packet's source address to a virtual IPv4 address that corresponds to the packet's home address in accordance with the first correlation, and then transmits the packet to an IPv4 network. Mobile IPv6 terminal-to-IPv4 terminal communication can then be established between an IPv6 network to which Mobile IPv6 terminals are connected and an IPv4 network to which IPv4 terminals are connected.

The present invention relates to a protocol translation method and protocol translation apparatus, and more particularly to a protocol translation method and apparatus suitable for intercommunications between an IPv4 terminal existing in an IPv4 network and a Mobile IPv6 terminal existing in an IPv6 network.
In recent years, a serious problem has arisen due to widespread use of Internet Protocol (IP). That is, the number of IP addresses available is insufficient. It is anticipated that this IP address depletion problem will be exacerbated with accelerating speed because an increasing number of devices other than personal computers (PCs) will be connected to Internet. Under these circumstances, there is an increased necessity for switching to the next-generation IP standard named "IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6)", which has a vast address space (128-bit long addresses) and offers improved security functions, priority control functions, automatic configuration functions, and various other enhanced functions.
When formulating a detailed plan for switching from IPv4, which is the current IP standard, to IPv6, however, it is necessary to replace routers and other devices and replace and/or add software for the purpose of making an existing IPv4 network compliant with IPv6. Such a changeover would entail enormous cost. Further, there is a risk of affecting operations when you replace running devices or add new functions. As such being the case, it is necessary to make a gradual transition to IPv6 without seriously affecting currently used IPv4 networks. It must be pointed in this connection that the technology for providing intercommunications between these two different networks is required over a transitional period during which IPv4 and IPv6 networks coexist.
To establish communication between devices having IPv4 communication functions only and devices having IPv6 communication functions only, it is necessary to provide translation between IPv4 packets and IPv6 packets at a certain point in an intermediate route. This translation is performed by an IPv4/IPv6 translation apparatus.
An IPv6 terminal has a 128-bit IPv6 address, whereas an IPv4 terminal has a 32-bit IPv4 address. These addresses are used for terminal identification. However, these two terminals differ in the addressing system and cannot identify the address of the other terminal. When IPv6 terminals and IPv4 terminals communicate with each other as shown in FIG. 1, therefore, the IPv4/IPv6 translation apparatus must assign tentative virtual IPv4 addresses to the IPv6 terminals and tentative virtual IPv6 addresses to the IPv4 terminals. When assigning the virtual addresses, the IPv4/IPv6 translation apparatus uses addresses it retains. Further, IPv4 addresses can be embedded in the 32 low-order bit positions of an IPv6 address. Therefore, an IPv6 address having an embedded IPv4 address can be used as a tentative virtual IPv6 address of an IPv4 terminal. The example shown in FIG. 1 indicates that a tentative virtual IPv4 address (192.168.0.1) is assigned to IPv6 terminal A by an address management table 60.
One publicly known example is the Internet Engineering Task Force's (IETF's) "Network Address Translation—Protocol Translation (NAT-PT)" (RFC (Request For Comment) 2766).
Meanwhile, PCs having mobile communication functions are now capable of connecting to a nearby network after a move to receive services in a so-called mobile computing environment. At present, Mobile IPv6 and other protocols are proposed as a standard procedure to be performed by nodes (PCs, PDAs, and other computer network terminals) for establishing communication.
In Mobile IPv6, each terminal has two IP addresses as shown in FIG. 2: home address and care-of address. The care-of address varies with the connected subnetwork when the terminal moves. The home address, on the other hand, remains unchanged not matter whether the terminal moves. A home agent uses its incorporated storage section to memorize an address management table, which defines the relationship between the home address and care-of address. The home agent receives a packet containing a new care-of address from a moved Mobile IPv6 terminal and updates the associated address management table data.
When there is an intention to establish communication with a Mobile IPv6 compliant terminal (hereinafter referred to as a Mobile IPv6 terminal) but its care-of address is not known, a packet is transmitted to the home address of that Mobile IPv6 terminal. In Mobile IPv6, the home agent receives the packet that is transmitted to the home address, and transfers the received packet to the care-of address of a Mobile IPv6 terminal that corresponds to the home address. Mobile IPv6 communication is established in this manner.
The technology concerning the above-mentioned Mobile IPv6 terminal communication is described in JP-A No. 268129/2001.

Method and apparatus for translating protocol


Healing an external wound of a mammal by administering to the mammal a composition containing purified platelet-derived growth factor and purified interleukin-1 or administering to the mammal a composition containing purified insulin-like growth factor and interleukin-1.

This invention relates to healing wounds.
Growth factors are polypeptide hormones which stimulate a defined population of target cells. Examples of growth factors include platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-.beta.), transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-.alpha.), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and interleukin-1 (IL-1). PDGF is a cationic, heat-stable protein found in the granules of circulating platelets which is known to stimulate in vitro protein synthesis and collagen production by fibroblasts. It is also known to act as an in vitro mitogen and chemotactic agent for fibroblasts, and smooth muscle cells.
It has been proposed to use PDGF to promote in vivo wound healing. For example, Grotendorst (1984) J. Trauma 24:549-52 describes adding PDGF to Hunt-Schilling wire mesh chambers impregnated with a collagen gel and implanted in the backs of rats; PDGF was found to increase the amount of new collagen synthesized. However, Leitzel et al. (1985) J. Dermatol. Surg. Oncol. 11:617-22 were unable to accelerate normal wound healing in hamsters using PDGF alone or in combination with FGF and EGF.
Michaeli, et al. (1984) In Soft and Hard Tissue Repair (Hunt, T. K. et al., Eds), Praeger Publishers, New York, pp. 380-394, report that application of a partially purified preparation of PDGF obtained from platelet-rich plasma stimulated angiogenesis when implanted in rabbit corneas. Because PDGF is not an angiogenic growth factor the investigators suggested that an unknown factor in their partially purified PDGF preparation was responsible for the angiogenic effect. Lynch et al , Role of Platelet-Derived Growth Factor in Wound Healing: Synergistic Effects with Other Growth Factors, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., Vol. 84, 7696-7700, and Growth Factors in Wound Healing (1989), J. Clin. Invest., Vol. 84, 640-646 demonstrated that purified PDGF preparations, including recombinant PDGF 2 preparations, did not produce a significant effect on connective tissue and epithelial layer regeneration in wound healing studies. In contrast, when purified PDGF was combined with either IGF-I, IGF-II or TGF-alpha a dramatic synergistic effect was seen both in connective tissue regeneration and re epithelialization. Application of IGF-I or II or TGF-alpha alone did not produce any significant effect in connective tissue and epithelial layer regeneration.
Interleukin-1 is a growth factor (or cytokine) which is produced naturally by several cell types, including lymphocytes and macrophages (Kaplan et al , Interleukin-1 and the Response to Injury, (1989) Immunol. Res., Vol. 8, 118-129 . Purified, biologically active IL 1 has a molecular weight of about 17.5 Kd. It occurs in two forms (alpha and beta) with identical biological activity but significant differences in amino acid sequences. Here, the term "IL-1" includes both IL 1 alpha and IL 1 beta, as well as the larger precursor forms of both isoforms. IL-1 is characteristic for both neutrophils and mononuclear cells and stimulates fibroblast and keratinocyte proliferation in vitro, in tissue culture (Kaplan et al.). It is also chemoattractant for epidermal cells in vitro, in culture (Martinet et al., Identification and Characterization of Chemoattractants for Epidermal Cells, J. Invest. Dermatol., Vol. 90, 122-126, 1988) and induces changes in extracellular glycosaminoglycan composition (Bronson et al., Interleukin-1 Induced Changes in Glycosaminoglycan Composition of Cutaneous Scar-Derived Fibroblasts in Culture, Collagen Rel. Res., Vol 8, 1988, 199-208).

Wound healing composition of IL-1 and PDGF or IGF-1

President and Fellows of Harvard College


A position output device for outputting position data indicating a current position of an object, is based on position data of a determined current position of the object as determined by a satellite navigation system. When a position jump has occurred in the position data from the satellite navigation system, an appropriate current position is outputted. An estimated current position is generated based on the output position outputted at the latest update time. It is determined whether or not a position jump has occurred, based on the distance between the estimated position and the satellite navigation system-based determined position, which is being updated by the satellite navigation system. When it is determined that a position jump has occurred, a position adjustment vector is generated by calculation, which is then used to generate an adjusted position.

In recent years, the precision of the determined current position as determined by a satellite navigation system, such as GPS, has been improving rapidly. The improvement is not only contributed by the improvement in the precision of the GPS receivers but also highly contributed by the use of an augmentation system for the satellite navigation system, such as Multi-functional Transport Satellite (MTSAT) Satellite-based Augmentation System (MSAS).
Nevertheless, the position information provided by a satellite navigation system is still subject to the problem of a position jump, which is an abrupt change in the determined current position of a targeted moving object that may be caused by, for example, an interruption of reception of the signals from the satellites, due to possible interference by trees, buildings or other obstacles. The position jump may be also caused by a multipath effect of the signals from the satellites, a satellite change, or others.
There is also known an inertial navigation system, which is a standalone navigation system using sensors such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, and/or geomagnetic direction sensors, in order to determine the position of a moving object. Inertial navigation systems, however, are subject to a disadvantage in that sensor errors may build up in the process of integration calculation process required for their operations. It would be costly to improve the precision of the sensors, although it may be effective to reduce the sensor errors.
In order to remedy the disadvantages accompanied with the two different types of navigation systems, i.e., the satellite navigation system and the inertial navigation system, there have been proposed various position determination systems utilizing the two different systems so as to generate adjusted position for the current position of the targeted moving object.
Patent publication No. 1 discloses a position determination system of such kind. With this position determination system, it is determined whether or not the positioning process being performed by a GPS receiver is effective. If it is effective, then both the GPS-based determined current position and the inertia-based determined current position are fetched into the system. Then, the difference (or the distance) between a new GPS-based determined current position and the previously GPS-based determined current position is compared with a predetermined threshold. If it is greater than the threshold, the new GPS-based determined current position is deemed as a false position. Also, the difference (or the distance) between a new inertial system-based determined current position and the previous inertial system-based determined current position is compared with a predetermined threshold. If it is greater than the threshold, the new inertial system-based determined current position is deemed as a false position. If the determined current position as determined by one of the two navigation systems is deemed as a false one, the determined current position as determined by the other navigation system is used for navigation purpose. If the difference between the new and the previous determined current positions is smaller than the threshold for each navigation system, one of the newly-determined determined current positions may be selected to be used for navigation purpose, or the average between them may be used for the purpose.
Patent publication No. 2 discloses a navigation method, in which map-matching is performed based on a standalone navigation system. When the map-matching cannot be performed based on the standalone navigation system, then vehicle position data provided by GPS is used to correct vehicle position data derived from the standalone navigation system.
Patent publication No. 3 discloses a solution of the problem of the position jump accompanied with satellite navigation system, in which the solution does not require an aid of any inertial navigation system. According to the solution, it is determined whether or not a position jump has occurred in the newly-provided determined current position of a moving object as determined by the satellite navigation system. If not, then a certain adjustment is effected to the newly-determined current position of the moving object based on an estimated current position of the moving object, and the adjusted position is outputted as an output position. Otherwise, i.e., if it is determined that a position jump has occurred, then, either the estimated current position or the newly-determined current position is used as a new output position.

Position output device using satellite navigation system


An apparatus includes a robot arm, and a plurality of guide pins mounted on the robot arm. Each of the plurality of guide pins includes a plurality of wafer supports at different levels, with each of the plurality of wafer supports configured to support and center a wafer having a size different from wafers configured to be supported and centered by remaining ones of the plurality of wafer supports.

In integrated circuit manufacturing processes, semiconductor wafers typically need to be processed on spin modules, for example, when photo resists are coated on the semiconductor wafers and developed. During these process steps, the semiconductor wafers need to be centered accurately on the chucks that are used to support and secure the semiconductor wafers.
Semiconductor wafers can be placed on chucks first, and then centered. Alternatively, the placement and the centering can be performed simultaneously by placing wafers on movable arms, which have guide pin sets for defining the accurate positions of the semiconductor wafers. The positions of guide pin sets are accurately adjusted to allow the semiconductor wafers to be placed on them, with a very small allowance, so that the wafers will not shift when limited by the guide pin sets.
The required accuracy in the positions of guide pin sets, however, causes a reduction in the throughput of manufacturing processes when wafers having different sizes are processed on the same spin module. For example, semiconductor wafer and the corresponding carrier wafers have different sizes, and may need to be processed by the same spin module. For the same spin module to handle wafers with different sizes, the positions of the guide pins need to be adjusted back and forth to suit different sizes. The throughput is thus adversely affected.

Reconfigurable guide pin design for centering wafers having different sizes

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A spin-current magnetization rotational element includes: a ferromagnetic metal layer; and a spin-orbit torque wiring that extends in a first direction intersecting a stacking direction of the ferromagnetic metal layer and is bonded to the ferromagnetic metal layer. A direction of a spin injected into the ferromagnetic metal layer from the spin-orbit torque wiring intersects a magnetization direction of the ferromagnetic metal layer. The ferromagnetic metal layer has shape anisotropy and has a demagnetizing field distribution caused by the shape anisotropy. The demagnetizing field distribution generates an easy magnetization rotational direction in which the magnetization of the ferromagnetic metal layer is most easily reversed. The easy magnetization rotational direction intersects the first direction in a plan view seen from the stacking direction.

A giant magnetoresistance (GMR) element including a multilayered film of a ferromagnetic layer and a nonmagnetic layer and a tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) element using an insulating layer (a tunnel barrier layer, a barrier layer) as a nonmagnetic layer are known. In general, a TMR element has higher electric resistance and a higher magnetoresistance (MR) ratio than a GMR element. Accordingly, TMR elements have attracted attention as elements for a magnetic sensor, a high-frequency component, a magnetic head, and a nonvolatile RAM (MRAM).
An MRAM reads and writes data using a characteristic that element resistance of a TMR element varies when magnetization directions of two ferromagnetic layers with an insulating interposed therebetween are changed. A writing (magnetization reversing) method using a magnetic field formed by a current or a writing (magnetization reversing) method using a spin transfer torque (STT) which is generated by causing a current to flow in a stacking direction of a magnetoresistance effect element is known as a writing method of an MRAM.
Magnetization reversal of a TMR element using an STT is efficient in view of energy efficiency, but a reversing current density for reversing magnetization is high. In view of a long life span of a TMR element, it is preferable that the reversing current density be as low as possible. This is also true of a GMR element.
Recently, magnetization reversal using a net spin current which is generated by a spin-orbit interaction has attracted attention as means for decreasing a reversing current (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1). A net spin current which is generated by the spin-orbit interaction induces a spin orbit torque (SOT) and causes magnetization reversal due to the SOT. Although a mechanism thereof is not clear, it is known that an SOT is also generated due to a Rashba effect in an interface between different materials. A net spin current is generated by causing the same number of electrons with an upward spin and the same number of electrons with a downward spin to flow reversely, and flows of electric charges are cancelled out. Accordingly, a current flowing in a magnetoresistance effect element is zero and extension of a life span of a magnetoresistance effect element is expected.
Two functions are required for an MRAM in view of recording of data. One function is to store data which has been written once over a long term, and the other function is to easily read and write data.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of curbing an external influence on a magnetoresistance effect element to store data over a long term. Specifically, a shape when a magnetoresistance effect element is seen in a stacking direction thereof is set to a circular shape.
On the other hand, Patent Document 2 and Non-Patent Document 2 discloses that it is necessary to disturb symmetry of magnetization which is reversed in order to perform magnetization reversal (reading and writing of data) using an SOT. As the method of disturbing the magnetization symmetry, a method of applying an external magnetic field and a method of changing a magnitude of magnetic anisotropy in an in-plane direction of a magnetoresistance effect element are also described.

Spin-current magnetization rotational element and element assembly


A polymer including structural units represented by the following formulas (A) and (B).

Due to self-emission and no dependency on viewing angle, as well as capability of plane emission and reduction in thickness, application of an organic EL device to a display of a TV or a mobile phone, an illumination or the like has been studied.
An organic EL device has a configuration in which a thin film of an organic compound is sandwiched between a cathode and an anode. The methods for forming a thin film are roughly divided into the deposition method and the coating method. The deposition method is a method in which a low-molecular weight compound is mainly used, and a thin film is formed on the substrate in vacuum. The industrial-base-production thereof proceeds. On the other hand, the coating method is a technique in which a thin film is formed on the substrate by using a solution (e.g. inkjet and printing). The deposition method has a high material utilization efficiency, and hence is suited to an increase in area and an enhancement of resolution. This method is a technology which is deemed to be indispensable in an organic EL display in the future.
The vacuum deposition method using a low-molecular material has an extremely low utilization efficiency of the material. In addition, if the size is increased, the degree of distortion of a shadow mask becomes large. Therefore, deposition on a large-sized substrate is difficult, and as a result, fabrication of a display using a large-sized organic EL substrate is difficult. In addition, the production cost also increases.
On the other hand, in the case of a high-molecular weight material, it is possible to form a homogenous film by applying a solution obtained by dissolving the high-molecular weight material in an organic solvent. A coating method represented by the inkjet method or the printing method can be used by utilizing such a nature of a high-molecular weight material. Therefore, it is possible to enhance the material utilization efficiency to near to 100%. In addition, since it can be applied to substrates of various shapes ranging from a small-sized substrate to a large-sized substrate, the production cost of the device can be significantly reduced.
However, in general, the coating method is not suited to a stacked-type device, and has a problem that it is not easy to improve the performance of the device.
The reason for unsuitability of applying the coating method to a stacked-type device is that, when stacking layers, films which have been formed in advance are inevitably dissolved. Specifically, in a stacked-type organic EL device fabricated by the coating method, a hole-injecting layer and a hole-transporting layer have to be insoluble in a solvent used when an emitting layer is formed.
Therefore, at present, most of organic EL devices obtained by the coating method are limited to a two-layer structure in which a hole-injecting layer is formed by a water-dispersion liquid of polythiophene:polystyrene sulfonic acid (PEDOT:PSS), and an emitting layer is formed by using an aromatic organic solvent such as toluene. Since the PEDOT:PSS layer is not dissolved in toluene, it is possible to fabricate such two-layer structure.
Accordingly, this method cannot be applied to a case where a hole-transporting layer is formed on a hole-injecting layer, and an emitting layer is further formed.
As represented by PEDOT/PSS, in many cases, a water-soluble or an alcohol-soluble material is used in a hole-injecting layer. Therefore, a hole-transporting material is formed into a hole-transporting layer and stacking on a hole-injecting layer by using an organic solvent other than a water-based or an alcohol-based organic solvent (e.g. toluene, xylene, dioxane and cyclohexanone).
Here, as the hole-transporting material, use of a heat- or light-cross-linking polymer is proposed (see Patent Document No. 1). However, a light-cross linking material has a problem that it deteriorates by exposure to light, and its hole-transporting property, luminous efficiency and device life are lowered. On the other hand, a heat-cross-linking material has a problem that it shrinks or suffers pinhole generation after the heat-cross-linking.
Further, if shrinkage does not occur after the heat-cross linking, it may be dissolved in a film-forming solvent used for stacking an emitting layer (Patent Document Nos. 2 to 4).
In addition, there is a technology in which a material obtained by bonding a polymerizable substituent to a low-molecular compound is used, and the material is applied, followed by polymerization to lower the solubility in a coating solvent for other layers, whereby a multi-layer structure is formed (see Patent Document 5). However, a low-molecular compound has a tendency that it is likely to be crystallized. Therefore, it has a problem that a high-quality thin film is unlikely to be formed.
As a hole-transporting material which can be used in a coating type multilayer organic EL device, a polymer in which a cross-linking group is introduced into the main chain is disclosed. However, as for these materials, if a cross-linking group unit is included, it becomes a ternary, or a quaternary (in the greatest case) compound, and as a result, it has a significantly complicated structure. Therefore, performance reproducibility may be difficult (Patent Document Nos. 6, 7 and 8). In addition, a material in which a cross-linking group is introduced into its terminal is disclosed. However, due to copolymerization of the same carbazole group as that of a soluble unit, minor adjustment of film-forming properties, adhesiveness, and further, electronic properties or the like by introducing a plurality of substituents becomes difficult. Further, since this material is an oligomer material having a molecular weight of about 2000 to 3000, adverse effects exerted by unreacted cross-linking groups on the lowering of device properties are concerned (Patent Document 9).

Cross-linking polymer and organic electroluminescent element using same

Abstract: In the formula (A), P is a group derived from a compound represented by the formula (P). L1 is a linkage group. In the formula (B), Q is a group derived from a compound represented by the formula (Q). L2 is a linkage group. In the formula (B), at least one of “c”Qs and “d”L2s includes a cross-linkable group.


A method for producing a permanent magnet for a motor, including a step of producing a slurry of a magnet powder, a step of molding the slurry into a sheet form to prepare green sheets of the magnet powder, and a step of alternately laminating the green sheets of the magnet powder and an insulating layer and sintering the laminated plural layers.

In recent years, a reduction in size and weight, an increase in power and an increase in efficiency have been required for permanent magnet motors used in hybrid vehicles, hard disk drives or the like. Such a permanent magnet motor has a configuration in which permanent magnets are buried in the outer periphery of a rotor and coils are arranged in the inner periphery of a stator, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1 (JP-A 2007-306735).
In realizing the reduction in size and weight, the increase in power and the increase in efficiency of the permanent magnet motor, further improvement of the magnetic characteristics is required for the permanent magnets to be buried in the permanent magnet motor. The permanent magnet includes ferrite magnets, Sm—Co-based magnets, Nd—Fe—B-based magnets, Sm2Fe17Nx-based magnets, etc.; and in particular, Nd—Fe—B-based magnets having high coercive force are used as the permanent magnets for permanent magnet motors.
Here, as a method for producing permanent magnets for use in permanent magnet motors, a powder sintering method is generally used. In the powder sintering method for use herein, a raw material is first pulverized with a jet mill (dry pulverization) to produce a magnet powder as shown in FIG. 9. Thereafter the magnet powder is placed in a mold, and press-molded to a desired shape while applying thereto a magnetic field from the outside. Then, the solid magnet powder thus molded to the desired shape is sintered at a predetermined temperature (for example, 1100° C. in the case of the Nd—Fe—B-based magnet), thereby producing the permanent magnet.
Recently, the demand for reducing the size and the weight of a permanent magnet motor is increasing; and in case where a permanent magnet motor is down-sized and in order to make the down-sized permanent magnet motor keep the same torque as before, the rotor must be rotated at a high speed. In high-speed rotation, eddy current is generated in the permanent magnets buried in the motor. When permanent magnets integrally molded according to the above-mentioned powder sintering method are used in such a permanent magnet motor, the eddy current shall be generated throughout all the permanent magnets.
When the eddy current is generated in the permanent magnets, the temperature of the permanent magnets rises. With the increase in the temperature thereof, the coercive force of permanent magnets lowers, and therefore the motor torque also lowers.
Patent Document 2 (JP-A 2001-25189) describes a permanent magnet as integrally so formed that a highly-insulating ferrite magnet is arranged between plural Nd magnets. Even when eddy current has occurred in the permanent magnet having the constitution, the eddy current could stay inside the individual Nd magnets as divided by the ferrite magnet, and therefore the eddy current may be reduced.
Patent Document 1: JP-A 2007-306735 (Pages 4 to 6, FIG. 1)
Patent Document 2: JP-A 2001-25189 (Pages 3 to 4, FIG. 2)

Permanent magnet for motor, and method for manufacturing the permanent magnet for motor


A Single-In-Line molded resin package for a medium-power semiconductor device destined to receive an external heat sink mounted thereon is provided with one or more parallel open ended slots, perpendicular to the coupling face with the heat sink and open on the side of the package opposite to the side from which the pins projects.. The stems of the fastening screws which may be conveniently pre-arranged on the coupling face of the heat sink are slidingly received in the respective open ended slots or notches of the various devices aligned on the printed circuit card thus simplifying the assembly operations and making them more compatible to automation.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a molded plastic package for semiconductor devices of the so-called Single-In-Line (SIL) type to be associated with an external heat sink.
2. Description of the prior art
There are many known molded plastic packages for medium power semiconductor devices of the so-called Single-In-Line type which normally comprise a metal backing plate, often only partially embedded in the molded encapsulating plastic body and to which the semiconductor die encapsulated within the package is thermally connected. The die may be bonded directly on an internal surface of the metal backing plate, the opposite face of which remains exposed at least partially on a major surface of the encapsulating plastic body, which major surface forms a dihedral angle width and is normally perpendicular to a minor surface of the plastic body through which emerge the pins of the device. The generally polyhedric package is most commonly a flat parallelepiped, the major surface of which, where the surface of said partially embedded metal backing plate remains coplanarily exposed, is normally in contact with a flat coupling surface of an external heat sink, which is commonly a finned aluminum body. In order to ensure good heat conduction between the external heat sink and the device or the devices electrically connected through their plurality of pins to a printed circuit card, it is necessary to provide for mechanical fastening means between the devices and the external heat sink. These fasteners are generally screws, the stem of which passes through holes formed through the thickness of the flat package or of said metal backing plate onto which the encapsulating resin is molded.
Often the assembly of integrated devices and other circuit components on printed circuit cards and the execution of the tin soldering which is commonly carried out by the socalled wave-bath technique utilizes highly automated handling techniques of the various pieces which are incompatible with the presence of heavy and cumbersome metal heat sinks on the printed circuit cards. This makes it necessary to process the cards without the heat sinks which must be mounted later in a coupling relationship with generally a plurality of SIL devices which have been purposely mounted in a line on the card. The fact that the soldering of the pins of the devices on the card has already taken place and that departures from a perfect alignment between the fastening holes of the devices and the respective threaded holes pre-formed in the heat sink are inevitable, makes the assembly of the heat sink and the fastening thereof to the single devices difficult. These operations frequently must be carried out manually and the assembler must often cope with mismatchings among respective assembly holes. In other words the critical aspect is represented by the fact that the external heat sink has a plurality of threaded holes for the fastening screws of the devices which must be presented in a perfect alignment to the respective fastening holes of the devices which have already been soldered onto the printed circuit card. Moreover the various fastening screws must be singularly inserted and screwed in.

Single-In-Line plastic package with open ended slots for slidingly accommodating fasteners' stems prearranged on an external heat sink


A comparator unit is used to compare an actual transmission time signal with a nominal transmission time signal and to produce a difference signal from the discrepancy, from which difference signal a correction signal is produced in a control unit. This correction signal is used to control a correction unit, which compresses or extends an applied input data signal, thus changing the phase angle of the output data signal so as to minimize the discrepancy between the transmission times. The discrepancy is corrected independently of the system clock, and the correction speed is set variably.

In radio communications systems, for example the second generation European Mobile Radio System GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication), information (speech, images or other data) is transmitted via a radio interface with the aid of electromagnetic waves. The radio interface relates to a connection between a base station and one or more subscriber stations, in which case the subscriber stations may be mobile stations or fixed-position radio stations. The electromagnetic waves are in this case emitted at carrier frequencies which are in a frequency band specified for the respective system. Frequencies in the frequency band around 2000 MHz have been provided for future radio communications systems, for example the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) or other third generation systems. Two modes are envisaged for this third mobile radio generation, with one mode being referred to as FDD (Frequency Division Duplex) operation, and the other mode being referred to as TDD (Time Division Duplex) operation. Both modes support a so-called CDMA subscriber separation method (Code Division Multiple Access).
In the case of radio stations, particularly in the case of mobile stations for digital mobile radio, which, for example, support the GSM or UMTS standard, one major precondition is the capability to set the transmission time of the transmission signal. This is necessary in order to comply with the time references specified in the respective Standard.
For example, the transmission time of a mobile station is determined by the base station to which the mobile station has been synchronized. The transmission time of the mobile station is in this case corrected with respect to the data received from the base station. No information may be added to or removed from the transmission signal during the correction of this transmission time. This is associated with the requirement that only relatively minor corrections may be carried out to a symbol to be transmitted, and that large sudden time changes during the correction of the transmission time of the transmission signal must be avoided.
Furthermore, the rate of change with which a correction must be carried out is specified in the respective Standard, and must be complied with during the correction. In order to match the transmission time of the transmission signal to the nominal transmission time as well as possible, it is necessary to minimize the phase fluctuations in the signals, for example the so-called jitter, which refers in general to phase fluctuations.
German Laid-Open Specification DE 198 58 358 A1 discloses a method for time synchronization of radio stations in a radio communications system, in which case the radio stations may be base stations or moving mobile stations. The matching between the radio stations is carried out alternately. A second radio station receives transmissions from at least one first adjacent radio station via a radio interface. This second radio station uses the received transmissions to determine a reception time, and compares this reception time with the transmission time of its own transmissions. The result of the comparison is transmitted as synchronization information to the first radio station, which once again matches its own transmission time to the transmission time of the second radio station, in the sense of the received synchronization information.
This method is complex, and both the transmission time and reception time must be changed and taken into account in each of the radio stations.
A further method for synchronization of the timebase of a receiving unit to the timebase of a transmitting unit in a telecommunications device is known from German Laid-Open Specification DE 195 25 426 C1. The receiving unit and the transmitting unit may each be a base station or a mobile station, and may be used for signal transmission. The base station and mobile station timebases, which are generally not the same as one another, are continuously synchronized while a connection is in existence, in order to neutralize this discrepancy. The transmitting unit transmits synchronization data, for example a synchronization word, for clock recovery, and data for synchronization of the receiving unit, in each channel time slot of a transmission frame in a data burst to the receiving unit. The data received in the receiving unit is compared until the correct synchronization data is identified. The actual synchronization bit contained in the received synchronization word is determined, and its position is compared by means of a comparator with the nominal synchronization bit, which is used as a reference bit in the receiving unit. If the two bit positions differ, the comparator produces an error signal. An error counting unit, which is connected downstream from the comparator, counts the error signals in a predetermined time period, which is governed by the clock frequency for data burst transmission, and by the number of counting steps of a frame counting device. The time sequence of the error signals that are determined is a measure of the difference between the timebases of the receiving unit and of the transmitting unit. The receiving unit uses the number of stored error signals to produce a correction signal, which is used for synchronization during reception during a connection, or during a connection interruption in the event of reception failure.
The synchronization of the timebases of the receiving unit and of the transmitting unit in the known method is relatively complex, and relatively inaccurate.

Device and method for regulating a transmission moment of a continuous transmission signal


A semiconductor light emitting structure including a substrate, a second type electrode layer, a reflecting layer, an insulating layer, a first type electrode layer, a first type semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second type semiconductor layer is provided. The second type electrode layer formed on the substrate has a current spreading grating formed by several conductive pillars and conductive walls, which are staggered and connected to each other. The reflecting layer and the insulating layer are formed on the second type electrode layer in sequence, and cover each conductive pillar and each conductive wall. The first type electrode layer, the first type semiconductor layer and the active layer are formed on the insulating layer in sequence. The second type semiconductor layer is formed on the active layer, and covers each conductive pillar and each conductive wall.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to a semiconductor light emitting structure, and more particularly to a semiconductor light emitting structure with current spreading grating.
2. Description of the Related Art
The light-emitting diode (LED) emits the light mainly by way of converting electrical energy into optical energy. The LED is mainly formed by semiconductors, wherein the semiconductor including higher ratio of holes carrying positive charges is referred as a P type semiconductor, and the semiconductor including higher ratio of electrons carrying negative charges is referred as a N type semiconductor. The joint between the P type semiconductor and the N type semiconductor forms a PN joint. When a voltage is applied to the positive electrode and the negative electrode of an LED, the electrons and the holes are combined together and emitted in the form of a light.
Due to the advantages such as long lifespan, low temperature and high energy utilization rate, LED has been widely used in backlight modules, lamps, traffic lights, and vehicle brake light in recent years, and gradually replaces conventional light sources.
Additionally, the luminance of an LED has much to do with the density of the current applied thereto. In general, the larger the current density, the higher the luminance. Therefore, how to make the current density uniformly distributed so as to increase the quantum efficiency inside the LED has become an imminent task for the industries.


A casing has a circular cylindrical internal surface delimiting an operating chamber. An orbiting piston is mounted so as to orbit about a chamber axis which is the axis of the internal surface. The orbiting piston has a circular cylindrical external surface, a generatrix of the external surface being adjacent to the said internal surface, and a diametrically opposite generatrix spaced form the internal surface. A vane member has a tip face which faces the external surface of the orbiting piston and which has a length substantially equal to that of the orbiting piston. A linkage connects the vane member to the orbiting piston to keep the tip face adjacent the external surface. At least one of the external and internal surfaces has individual compliant strips distributed around the one surface, which run parallel to one another, and project above the one surface.

The present invention provides a rotary positive displacement machine comprising:
a casing having a circular cylindrical internal surface delimiting an operating chamber;
an orbiting piston in the operating chamber, the orbiting piston being mounted so as to orbit about a chamber axis which is the axis of the said internal surface, the orbiting piston having a circular cylindrical external surface, the chamber axis passing through the orbiting piston, a generatrix of the external surface being adjacent to the said internal surface, and a diametrically opposite generatrix being spaced from the said internal surface;
a vane member mounted on the casing, the vane member having a tip face which faces the external surface of the orbiting piston and which has a length substantially equal to that of the orbiting piston; and
a linkage which connects the vane member to the orbiting piston so as to keep the tip face of the vane member adjacent the external surface of the orbiting piston.
In one aspect the invention provides a machine wherein at least one of the said external and internal surfaces is provided with individual compliant strips which are distributed around the said one surface, run parallel to one another, and project above the said one surface.

Rotary positive displacement machine with orbiting piston


A cathode ray tube display apparatus having a protection circuit which cuts off supply of a synchronization signal, i.e., the horizontal and/or vertical synchronization signals, to a cathode ray tube driving circuit in response to a state signal indicating when frequencies of the synchronization signals exceed a limited range. The protection circuit prevents the cathode ray tube driving circuit from being damaged by abnormal variations in the frequencies of the synchronization signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display apparatus having a cathode ray tube (CRT), and more particularly to a protection circuit and method for protecting a cathode ray tube driving circuit therein against abnormal frequencies of synchronization signals.
2. Background Art
As is well known, a cathode ray tube display apparatus is used as a peripheral apparatus having such a function that a user can see information displayed on its cathode ray tube screen in a personal computer system. It is also known to mute the first grid of the cathode ray tube during a mode conversion or power-on state to prevent a distorted of the raster as contemplated by U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,289 to Moon J. Song and entitled First Grid Muting Circuit.
Additionally, a cathode ray tube display apparatus has a display function which is operated in a text mode or a graphic mode in accordance with the sort of data for display. Thus, when text data is displayed in the cathode ray tube display apparatus, i.e., in a text mode, the computer transfers the text data to the display apparatus, while outputting horizontal and vertical synchronization signals corresponding to the text mode. On the other hand, when there is a necessity of displaying graphic data, the computer transfers the graphic data to the display apparatus, while outputting horizontal and vertical synchronization signal corresponding to the graphic mode to the display apparatus.
I have found that when the frequencies of the synchronization signals H_SYNC and V_SYNC are changed over limited ranges, in the typical contemporary design, a microcomputer will interrupt generation of horizontal and vertical synchronization signals. The microcomputer however, still permits the synchronization signal generator to provide the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals. If the frequencies of these synchronization signals grossly exceeds the limited ranges within a particular interval, the microcomputer will be unable to immediately interrupt the abnormal frequencies. I have noticed that consequently that the microcomputer will not be able to prevent the generation of these abnormal frequencies until expiration of a predetermined period. This may, unfortunately, results in the cathode ray tube driving circuit being damaged by the abnormal frequencies.

Cathode ray tube apparatus having a protection circuit for protecting a cathode ray tube driving circuit and a method therefor


A method and apparatus for controlling pre-fetching in a processor. A processor includes an execution pipeline and an instruction pre-fetch unit. The execution pipeline is configured to execute instructions. The instruction pre-fetch unit is coupled to the execution pipeline. The instruction pre-fetch unit includes instruction storage to store pre-fetched instructions, and pre-fetch control logic. The pre-fetch control logic is configured to fetch instructions from memory and store the fetched instructions in the instruction storage. The pre-fetch control logic is also configured to provide instructions stored in the instruction storage to the execution pipeline for execution. The pre-fetch control logic is further configured set a maximum number of instruction words to be pre-fetched for execution subsequent to execution of an instruction currently being executed in the execution pipeline. The maximum number is based on a value contained in a pre-fetch threshold field of an instruction executed in the execution pipeline.

Conditional constructs, such "if-then" and "if-then-else" are commonly used in programming to control the sequence of instruction execution. Such constructs are typically implemented using conditional jump or branch instructions. In pipelined processors jump and branch instructions can cause control hazards. That is, immediately after the jump or branch instruction enters the execution pipeline, subsequent instructions are not executed. Instead, a condition specified by the jump or branch instruction is evaluated (to determine whether to redirect program flow) and if the condition is satisfied, then the instruction at a destination address specified by the jump or branch instruction is fetched. Depending on the system architecture (pipeline depth, instruction bus/memory latency) the number of cycles the pipeline is stalled to resolve the hazard can vary. Staffing reduced processor performance.
Because many if-then and if-then-else instruction sequences include only a few instructions per branch, a pre-fetch buffer that contains instructions fetched in advance serves as a way to reduce the stall cycles caused by conditional constructs. If the target instruction of a branch or jump has been pre-fetched, the target instruction can be read from the pre-fetch buffer instead of fetching the instruction from memory. Thus, pre-fetching can reduce the number of stall cycles associated with conditional execution and increase overall processor performance.

Processor with variable pre-fetch threshold


A warning flag assembly is disclosed for attachment to an overhanging load on a roadway vehicle. The flag assembly is generally cylindrical and has one margin secured to a holder that may be releasably attached to the overhanging load using conventional hardware whereby the flag assembly can be used with a variety of loads, re-used and conveniently stored when not in use.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a warning flag and flag carrier assembly for use with loads carried by a roadway vehicle.
2. Background Art
It is a known practice to use warning flags for use on roadway vehicles with over-length loads. The flags are used to satisfy statutory requirements that apply to loads that protrude beyond the rearward extremity of a roadway vehicle, such as a truck. Warning flags are required if a load protrudes from the rear of the vehicle beyond a specified length, but it is desirable and prudent from a safety standpoint to use warning flags on extended loads even if the statutory overhang load limit is not exceeded.
It is preferable to use warning flags that are readily attachable to an extended load and to the design warning flag assembly so that it can be reused easily and easily stored when it is not in use. Known warning flag assemblies have been disclosed in prior art patents such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,979,355 and 3,678,886, which are representative of the prior art relating to the present invention.
The design disclosed in the '355 patent comprises an array of individual flags mounted on individual supporting staffs that extend in a generally radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of an extended load. Each flag staff is secured to a load by a radial screw that extends through a metallic anchor ring. The screw is threaded into the load, such as a wooden pole extending beyond the rearward extremity of a highway truck. The design of the '355 patent is specifically intended to be used with a utility truck that transports wood utility poles. It is not feasible for use with other types of loads that overhang the rearward extremity of a roadway vehicle. Further, the metallic ring must be adjusted to accommodate the circumference of the utility pole, which is non-uniform. A design such as that disclosed in the '355 patent, furthermore, cannot readily be stored when the flag is not in use because of the complexity of the design. It also requires the use of specialized parts that are not readily available to a trucker in normal hardware retail outlets. The requirement for specialized hardware in the design of the '355 patent may present a cost penalty that would discourage its widespread use with overhanging loads other than utility poles.
The design of the '886 prior art patent, like the design of the '355 patent, also is intended for use only with a specialized class of loads, such as utility poles and logging truck loads. The design has limited versatility because of the requirement for a chain-like band to which a hem of a warning flag can be attached. The band comprises multiple links, the ends of the band having metallic hooks for securing together the ends of the band after the band encircles a load, such as a power line pole. Band links can be added or eliminated by using fastening members that extend through eyelets formed at the ends of each link of the band. Again, the versatility of the warning flag of the design shown in the '886 patent is limited and it requires the use of specialized hardware.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a warning flag assembly of simplified construction and that is readily useable on any type of load without the use of specialized hardware and that is readily reusable. The flag will draw the attention of drivers of other vehicles on the highway to the overhanging load because of the high visibility of the flag. It is a further objective to provide a warning flag assembly that can readily be attached to an overhanging load and readily detached and stored. It is a further objective of the invention to provide a warning flag assembly for overhanging loads on roadway vehicles wherein the assembly consists of readily available hardware, and wherein the assembly can be manufactured with minimal cost.

Warning flag assembly for use with elongated loads on a roadway vehicle


Various embodiments of the present disclosure improve existing multi-layer and other network technologies by routing and processing client requests that require machine learning based on the machine learning capabilities of each network device and/or other computer resource characteristics of different network devices. This ensures that network latency and throughput, among other computer resource consumption characteristics, will be improved as machine learning processing can occur at the most suitable network device or be distributed among various suitable network devices.

Multi-layered computer networks include multiple layers of multiple networks or devices that interact with each other to service client requests. For example, Broadband Access Networks can include an Internet of Things (IoT) layer of IoT devices (e.g., a smart television or a sensor), a customer-premises equipment (CPE) layer of telecommunications hardware typically located in a home or business of a customer (e.g., residential gateways, set top boxes, etc.), an edge layer of devices (e.g., mobile devices, micro servers, etc.) where the customer resides (or closer to the customer or IoT device relative to the cloud) and which controls and processes data at the boundary between two or more networks, and a cloud layer of computing nodes in a data center that performs most of the heavy processing and computing. In order to service a client request, the request is typically routed to a device at each layer and then data is returned back to the IoT device.
Existing multi-layer computer networks and other computer networks do not provide functionality for sharing machine learning processing capabilities among each other and intelligently routing and processing client requests that require machine learning functionality. Moreover, existing technologies unnecessarily consume computing resources, such as memory, CPU, and network resources, among other things.

Distributed machine-learning resource sharing and request routing

Avago Technologies International Sales Pte. Limited


A heat-resistant moistureproof film having a first layer (A), a second layer (B) bonded to one side of the first layer, and a third layer (C) bonded to the other side of the first layer. The first layer (A) is a single or a laminate of a transparent laminated film having a base film composed of PVA having a saponification degree of not less than 99 mol % and a transparent silicon oxide thin film (SO thin film) 2 formed on at least one side thereof. The second layer (B) is a single or a laminate of a transparent plastic film other than a PVA film, having at least one layer of the plastic film with a transparent SO thin film 4 having a thickness of 100 to 5000 .ANG. formed on at least one side thereof, and at least one layer of a transparent heat-resistant film having the sum of the absolute values of the percentages of heat-shrinkage in the machine direction and transverse direction when heated at 150.degree. C. for 30 minutes, of not more than 1% and a light transmittance of not less than 85% by ASTM D-1003. The the third layer (C) is a heat-sealable resin layer.

The liquid crystal display devices have a distinguishing characteristic allowing operation at a low electric power comsumption and due to this advantage, liquid crystal devices are used in various fields including OA machines.
Use of organic dispersing electroluminescent devices (hereinunder referred to as "EL devices"), which are thin and light-weight, is becoming wide spread for inexpensive lights (auxiliary light sources) of plane-luminescence used for liquid crystal devices.
Since EL devices include fluorecent materials such as Zns:Mn, Zns:Cu etc., the EL devices are packaged in a transparent film which has a high resistance to moisture because the luminance is greatly lowered by moisture.
Two laminated moistureproof films each having a sealant layer on one side thereof which can be heat-sealed, are generally used as a packaging film for EL devices. An EL device which is inserted between the sealant layers of the two laminated moistureproof films, is passed through a vertical pair of heated rollers at an appropriate nip pressure so as to heat-seal the sealant layers surrounding the EL device.
A laminated film having a fluorinated resin film, especially, a film containing polychlorotrifluoroethylene (hereinunder referred to as "PCTFE") as the main ingredient is often used as a packaging film due to its excellent resistance to moisture and transparency.
Such a laminated film is generally produced by laminating polyolefin having 20 to 100 .mu.m in thickness as a sealant for heat-sealing on a PCTFE film having 70 to 300 .mu.m in thickness, and it is said to have the highest resistance to moisture of all the existent transparent films because it hardly allowing steam to permeate.
A transparent laminated plastic film produced by forming a transparent metal oxide especially, silicon or aluminum oxide thin film on the surface of a transparent plastic base film, has recently been commercialized as a packaging material having a gas barrier-property.
However, the laminated film having a film containing PCTFE as the main ingredient is so expensive that the manufacturing cost of a back light becomes high. In addition, since the moisture resistance of such a laminated film is lowered when the ambient temperature exceeds 50.degree. C., the life of the EL device packaged therein is extremely shortened when it is used at a high temperature.
On the other hand, the moisture resistance of the transparent laminated plastic film having a transparent metal oxide thin film on the surfaces thereof is insufficient, so that it has not been used as a packaging film for an EL device yet. In addition, the present inventors have found that the packaging films are treated by heat-rollers of 110.degree. to 150.degree. C. in the EL device sealing process, however according to some of the base films used for these packaging films, the moisture resistance thereof deteriorates by the heat-treatment.
Development of a transparent plastic film which is suitable to a packaging film and which is cheaper and has higher moisture resistance than a PCTFE film, has therefore been demanded.


A wagering system comprises a race providing system facilitating wagering on race events and providing information regarding the race events, and at least one wagering terminal in communication with the race providing system. The at least one wagering terminal includes a race event selector to select next race events for wagering, a display to present information regarding the selected race events, a user interface to place a wager on an elected race event of the selected race events displayed, and a wagering value mechanism to provide a wager amount for the wager on the elected race event. Further, at least one of the race providing system and the at least one wagering terminal includes a quick pick race contestant(s) selector receiving handicapping information and odds information from the race providing system to select one or more race contestants of an elected race event for the wager in accordance with the received handicapping information and odds information.

The present invention relates to gaming. In particular, the present invention relates to facilitating wagering on race events.
Wagering on race events, such as horse races and dog races, typically takes the form of either fixed odds wagering or the more common parimutuel wagering. Fixed odds wagering is a system by which the return for a particular wager is determined in accordance with the payout odds assigned to the associated bet. Fixed odds wagering is popular from the perspective of wager recipients (e.g., betting parlors) since it places a limit on the magnitude of the payout in the event of a win. Fixed odds wagering is also popular from the perspective of wagerors since it provides a measure of certainty on the possible payout.
Parimutuel wagering is a system by which a wagering pool is established for the receipt of bets, and the proceeds of the pool are divided amongst holders of winning wagers in accordance with the number and types of winning wagers and the magnitude of each wager. Parimutuel wagering is popular from the perspective of the wager recipients (e.g., race track owners), since the recipient typically receives a fixed percentage of the pool prior to the payout to the winning wager holders. Also, parimutuel wagering is popular from the perspective of the wageror since the return on a particular wager is proportional to the size of the wagering pool and, therefore, can exceed the fixed odds return of the bet. However, parimutuel wagering also suffers from a number of disadvantages.
Firstly, parimutuel wagering often requires detailed knowledge of betting terminology (e.g., win, place, show, exacta, triacta, etc. wager types). Secondly, parimutuel wagering often requires the wageror to be conversant with betting forms, and to have knowledge of race contestant handicapping. For example, for horse racing, successful handicapping requires a consideration of several factors, including track conditions, horse record, and jockey record for each contestant horse. Consequently, parimutuel wagering may not provide wager recipients with a significant return since novices may be intimidated by the knowledge required and either make only minimal wagers or no wagers at all.
Therefore, attempts have been made to improve on the conventional parimutuel wagering systems to encourage wagering. For instance, AmTote International, Inc. markets video terminals which remove the need for a wageror to interact with a human wager recipient. The video terminal consists of a touch-sensitive CRT display, a card reader, and a central processing unit in communication with the CRT display, the card reader and a remote wagering computer for processing desired wagers. To place a wager, the wageror purchases a wager card, inserts the wager card into the card reader, and then selects the desired track, the desired horse(s), the wager type (e.g., win, place, show, exacta, triacta, etc.), and the amount of the wager. Although the video terminal allows the novice to conceal to a very limited extent his/her lack of familiarity with betting terminology and handicapping, it does little to encourage the novice to make wagers.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a wagering system and method which encourages wagering on race events.


A lighting apparatus, particularly for the use as lighting elements in signage or as backlighting apparatus, which comprises a cavity formed by a light emitting front side, a reflective backside arranged opposite to the front side and a sidewall, and a plurality of light emitting semiconductor components mounted on the sidewall in such a way that their light is irradiated in the cavity. The reflective backside of the cavity is formed in such a way that the cavity is divided into at least two partitions directing the light to the front side.

For lighting elements, for example for use in signage or as backlighting apparatus of displays, in particular of liquid crystal displays (LCD-displays), lighting apparatus providing a light emitting surface with a homogeneous light distribution are required. Furthermore, thin and light-weight lighting apparatus are required to obtain thin and light-weight lighting elements.


A traction control system has a plurality of wheel speed sensor means for producing wheel speed indicative signals respectively representative of wheel speeds of associated vehicular wheels. Wheel slippage is detected by comparing wheel speed measured by the wheel speed sensor means and an approximated vehicle speed indicative value. The approximated vehicle speed indicative value is derived based on one of wheel speed selected depending upon a vehicle speed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a traction control system for an automotive vehicle, for detecting wheel slippage, such as spinning, skidding and so forth, to adjust driving torque to apply on vehicular wheels. More specifically, the invention relates to an automotive traction control system which can precisely detect vehicle speed. Further particularly, the invention relates to a traction control system which is applicable for controlling traction of four-wheel drive vehicle.
2. Description of the Background Art
In general, wheel slippage is reflected in a difference of an actual vehicle speed and an assumed vehicle speed at the vehicle derived based on a wheel speed. When the actual vehicle speed is lower than the assumed vehicle speed, it means that the driven wheel is spinning. When the actual vehicle speed is higher than the assumed vehicle speed, it means that the vehicle wheel causes skidding. Wheel-spinning is caused by loss of road/tire traction. Therefore, in such case, traction control has to be performed in order to prevent the vehicular wheel from spinning. Wheel-skidding occurs during application of abrupt brake and is caused by locking of the wheel. For example, such traction controls have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,893,535, issued on Jul. 8, 1975, to M. H. Burckhardt, et al. and in Japanese Patent First Publication No. (Tokkai Showa) 59-68537, published on Apr. 18, 1984. In both cases, a rotation speed of a driven wheel which is driven by an engine output is compared with a rotation speed of a non-driven wheel which rotates freely. The rotation speed of the non-driven wheel is treated as a parameter reflecting an actual vehicle speed.
The detection of the wheel slippage as disclosed in the aforementioned prior art is not applicable for anti-skid or traction control for a four-wheel drive vehicle.
Furthermore, when traction control is performed in a substantially precise manner upon starting the vehicle running on a slippery muddy road, driving torque tends to be reduced to a at which no wheel-spin occurs for any wheels. This results in a lack of driving torque which makes the vehicle impossible to run. In order to allow the vehicle to start-up on a slippery or muddy road, precision of the traction control has to be lowered. Lowering of precision will allow wheel-spin on the wheels. This degrades drivability when the vehicle is running at relatively high speed.

Automotive traction control system with feature of selecting wheel slippage indicative parameter depending upon vehicle speed


The invention provides pipette tip columns and automated methods for the purification of nucleic acids such as plasmids from unclarified cell lysates containing cell debris as well as methods for making and using such columns. The columns typically include a bed of medium positioned in the pipette tip column, above a bottom frit and with an optional top frit.

Commercially-available formats for nucleic acid purification include spin columns, magnetic beads in a tube or the use of vacuum to draw liquids through a column or plate. In these formats, nucleic acids are isolated as follows. The cells are grown in a suitable medium, the culture is centrifuged to collect the cells and the growth medium is discarded. Next, the cells are lysed, e.g., with an alkali solution followed by the addition of a neutralizing solution. Traditionally, a second centrifugation step is performed after lysis to pellet the cell debris and the nucleic acids are purified from the supernatant.
When the spin column format is employed, several additional centrifugations are performed. Because all these methods require at least two centrifugation steps, they are time-consuming, laborious and difficult to fully automate. They require significant human intervention and cannot be performed in a walk-away fashion. Methods involving removal of the particulate from the cell lysate by filtration are not reliable. There exists a need for automated, high-throughput nucleic acid purification in a pipette tip column format. Furthermore, there exists a need for purifying plasmids from unclarified cell lysates and other samples containing particulates and cell debris.

Methods and devices for nucleic acid purification


An air filter including an annular base mounting a porous filtration member medially thereon, with a forward mesh grid and a rear perforated cylindrical plate, wherein the filtration member includes a semi-annular groove mounted medially throughout a top portion thereof, wherein the groove receives a continuous tubular reservoir. The reservoir includes through-extending apertures including an overlying removable tape thereon, whereupon removal of the tape, the reservoir includes a quantity of solvent directed interiorly of the carburetor during operation of the vehicle to effect a cleansing of the carburetor in use.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to automotive air filters, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved automotive air filter construction wherein the same permits directing of automotive solvent during usage of the air filter to effect a cleaning of the carburetor and internal components of the engine during operation of the engine and vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Automotive air filters, as well as filtration devices of various types, have been utilized in the prior art. Heretofore, however, automotive air filters utilizing a solvent utilized during use of the automobile has not been provided in efficient and coordinated organization, as set forth by the instant invention. Examples of prior art air filtration organizations are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,091 to Borja providing a multi-chambered air cleaning device wherein one of the chambers includes a fluid overlying a chamber, wherein the fluid, such as water, is directed within the particulated chamber to enhance cleansing of air directed through the filter.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,224,042 to Garigioli sets forth an oil bath-type air cleaner wherein air directed through a central conduit of the filter is directed through an oil bath at a lowermost portion of the filter to assist in cleansing of the air directed through the filtration system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,316,726 to Hopper provides a manner of cleansing fluids wherein a spray is directed upon a filtration medium utilized in an air stream.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,235,609 to Garigoli sets forth a further example of a lowermost pool of fluid utilized to cleanse air directed through the fluid and subsequently, exteriorly of the filtration member.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,957,468 to Voth, et al., provides a carburetor utilizing a baffled inlet of air, wherein the air is directed through a filtration member.
As such, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for a new and improved automotive air filter construction wherein the same permits utilizing selectively a carburetor solvent type cleanser directed interiorly of the air filter body for directing the solvent into the internal components of an automotive engine during use of the engine and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


A Plasma Display Panel (PDP) has a high aperture ratio of a discharge cell, a high light transmittance, and a high luminous efficiency and a stable and efficient discharge occurs uniformly at a low driving voltage on inner sidewalls of the discharge cell and concentrates in the center of the discharge cell. The PDP includes: a front substrate and a rear substrate facing each other and separated from each other; barrier ribs of a dielectric material arranged between the front substrate and the rear substrate to define discharge cells together with the front substrate and the rear substrate; discharge electrodes arranged within the barrier ribs, the discharge electrodes being separated from each other and surrounding the discharge cells and having at least one corner portion for surrounding the discharge cells; fluorescent layers arranged in the discharge cells; a discharge gas contained within the discharge cells; and an attenuator adapted to reduce a strength of an electric field generated between at least one pair of corner portions of the discharge electrodes, the corner portions facing each other, to be less than a strength of an electric field generated between portions of the discharge electrodes facing each other, other than the corner portions, in the discharge cells.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a Plasma Display Panel (PDP), and more particularly, to a PDP having a high aperture ratio of a discharge cell, a high light transmittance, and a high luminous efficiency and in which a stable and efficient discharge occurs uniformly at a low driving voltage on inner sidewalls of the discharge cell and concentrates in the center of the discharge cell.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an AC, triode-type, surface discharge PDP, the PDP comprises a front panel and a rear panel. The front panel comprises a front substrate, pairs of sustain electrodes composed of Y electrodes and X electrodes on a rear surface of the front substrate, a front dielectric layer covering the sustain electrodes, and a protective layer covering the front dielectric layer. Each of the Y electrodes is composed of a transparent electrode and a bus electrode, and each of the X electrodes is composed of a transparent electrode and a bus electrode. The transparent electrodes are made of Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) or the like. The bus electrodes are connected to connection cables (not shown) disposed at right and left sides of the PDP.
The rear panel comprises a rear substrate, address electrodes disposed on a front surface of the rear substrate and intersecting the pairs of sustain electrodes, a rear dielectric layer covering the address electrodes, barrier ribs disposed on the rear dielectric layer and dividing a discharge space into discharge cells, and fluorescent layers disposed in the discharge cells. The address electrodes are connected to connection cables (not shown) disposed at upper and lower sides of the PDP.
In the PDP, in addition to the pairs of the sustain electrodes which generate a discharge, the front dielectric layer and the protective layer are formed on the rear surface of the front substrate through which visible light generated by the fluorescent layers in the discharge cells is transmitted. The transmittance of visible light is significantly reduced and the brightness of the PDP is therefore also reduced.
Furthermore, since the pairs of sustain electrodes are formed on the rear surface of the front substrate in the PDP, the majority of the sustain electrodes (i.e., the transparent electrodes, excluding the bus electrodes) must be formed of ITO, which is highly resistive, in order to allow the generated visible light to be transmitted through the front substrate. Thus, a driving voltage of the PDP increases and since the high resistance of the ITO electrodes causes a voltage drop, images cannot be uniformly displayed when the PDP is large.
In the PDP, the pairs of sustain electrodes are formed on the rear surface of the front substrate, and the discharge occurs behind the protective layer and diffuses within the discharge cells. In other words, the discharge occurs only on a portion of the discharge cells and a space in the discharge cells cannot be efficiently utilized. As a result, a driving voltage for discharging must be increased, and thus, the cost of a driving circuit, which is the most expensive piece of equipment in a PDP, increases. Furthermore, due to the concentration of the discharge in a limited space in the discharge cell, the luminous efficiency of the PDP is reduced. When the PDP is used for a long time, a charged discharge gas induces ion sputtering of the fluorescent material in the fluorescent layers due to the electric field, thereby resulting in permanent after-images.