The invention relates to compounds of Formula I and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof, compositions comprising an effective amount of a compound of Formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof, and methods for treating or preventing a condition such as pain, UI, an ulcer, IBD and IBS, comprising administering to an animal in need thereof an effective amount of a compound of Formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Pain is the most common symptom for which patients seek medical advice and treatment. Pain can be acute or chronic. While acute pain is usually self-limited, chronic pain persists for 3 months or longer and can lead to significant changes in a patient's personality, lifestyle, functional ability and overall quality of life (K. M. Foley, Pain, in Cecil Textbook of Medicine pp. 100-107 (J. C. Bennett and F. Plum eds., 20th ed. 1996)).
Moreover, chronic pain can be classified as either nociceptive or neuropathic. Nociceptive pain includes tissue injury-induced pain and inflammatory pain such as that associated with arthritis. Neuropathic pain is caused by damage to the peripheral or central nervous system and is maintained by aberrant somatosensory processing. There is a large body of evidence relating activity at vanilloid receptors (V. Di Marzo et al., Current Opinion in Neurobiology 12:372-379 (2002)) to pain processing.
Nociceptive pain has been traditionally managed by administering non-opioid analgesics, such as acetylsalicylic acid, choline magnesium trisalicylate, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, fenoprofen, diflusinal, and naproxen; or opioid analgesics, including morphine, hydromorphone, methadone, levorphanol, fentanyl, oxycodone, and oxymorphone. Id. In addition to the above-listed treatments, neuropathic pain, which can be difficult to treat, has also been treated with anti-epileptics (e.g., gabapentin, carbamazepine, valproic acid, topiramate, phenyloin), NMDA antagonists (e.g., ketamine, dextromethorphan), topical lidocaine (for post-herpetic neuralgia), and tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., fluoxetine, sertraline and amitriptyline).
Urinary incontinence ("UI") is uncontrollable urination, generally caused by bladder-detrusor-muscle instability. UI affects people of all ages and levels of physical health, both in health care settings and in the community at large. Physiologic bladder contraction results in large part from acetylcholine-induced stimulation of post-ganglionic muscarinic-receptor sites on bladder smooth muscle. Treatments for UI include the administration of drugs having bladder-relaxant properties, which help to control bladder-detrusor-muscle overactivity.
None of the existing commercial drug treatments for UI has achieved complete success in all classes of UI patients, nor has treatment occurred without significant adverse side effects.
Treatment of ulcers typically involves reducing or inhibiting the aggressive factors. For example, antacids such as aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, and calcium bicarbonate can be used to neutralize stomach acids. Antacids, however, can cause alkalosis, leading to nausea, headache, and weakness. Antacids can also interfere with the absorption of other drugs into the blood stream and cause diarrhea.
H2 antagonists, such as cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine, and nizatidine, are also used to treat ulcers. H2 antagonists promote ulcer healing by reducing gastric acid and digestive-enzyme secretion elicited by histamine and other H2 agonists in the stomach and duodenum. H2 antagonists, however, can cause breast enlargement and impotence in men, mental changes (especially in the elderly), headache, dizziness, nausea, myalgia, diarrhea, rash, and fever.
H+, K+-ATPase inhibitors such as omeprazole and lansoprazole are also used to treat ulcers. H+, K+-ATPase inhibitors inhibit the production of enzymes used by the stomach to secrete acid. Side effects associated with H+, K+-ATPase inhibitors include nausea, diarrhea, abdominal colic, headache, dizziness, somnolence, skin rashes, and transient elevations of plasma activities of aminotransferases.
Inflammatory-bowel disease ("IBD") is a chronic disorder in which the bowel becomes inflamed, often causing recurring abdominal cramps and diarrhea. The two types of IBD are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Crohn's disease, which can include regional enteritis, granulomatous ileitis, and ileocolitis, is a chronic inflammation of the intestinal wall. Crohn's disease occurs equally in both sexes and is more common in Jews of eastern-European ancestry. Most cases of Crohn's disease begin before age 30 and the majority start between the ages of 14 and 24. The disease typically affects the full thickness of the intestinal wall. Generally the disease affects the lowest portion of the small intestine (ileum) and the large intestine, but can occur in any part of the digestive tract.
Cramps and diarrhea, side effects associated with Crohn's disease, can be relieved by anticholinergic drugs, diphenoxylate, loperamide, deodorized opium tincture, or codeine.
When Crohn's disease causes the intestine to be obstructed or when abscesses or fistulas do not heal, surgery can be necessary to remove diseased sections of the intestine. Surgery, however, does not cure the disease, and inflammation tends to recur where the intestine is rejoined. In almost half of the cases a second operation is needed. Berkow et al., "Crohn's Disease," The Merck Manual of Medical Information, pp. 528-530 (1997).
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic disease in which the large intestine becomes inflamed and ulcerated, leading to episodes of bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever. Ulcerative colitis usually begins between ages 15 and 30; however, a small group of people have their first attack between ages 50 and 70. Unlike Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis never affects the small intestine and does not affect the full thickness of the intestine. The disease usually begins in the rectum and the sigmoid colon and eventually spreads partially or completely throughout the large intestine. The cause of ulcerative colitis is unknown.
Treatment of ulcerative colitis is directed to controlling inflammation, reducing symptoms, and replacing lost fluids and nutrients. Anticholinergic drugs and low doses of diphenoxylate or loperamide are administered for treating mild diarrhea. For more intense diarrhea higher doses of diphenoxylate or loperamide, or deodorized opium tincture or codeine are administered.
Irritable-bowel syndrome ("IBS") is a disorder of motility of the entire gastrointestinal tract, causing abdominal pain, constipation, and/or diarrhea. IBS affects three-times more women than men. In IBS, stimuli such as stress, diet, drugs, hormones, or irritants can cause the gastrointestinal tract to contract abnormally. During an episode of IBS, contractions of the gastrointestinal tract become stronger and more frequent, resulting in the rapid transit of food and feces through the small intestine, often leading to diarrhea. Cramps result from the strong contractions of the large intestine and increased sensitivity of pain receptors in the large intestine.
Treatment of IBS typically involves modification of an IBS-patient's diet. Often it is recommended that an IBS patient avoid beans, cabbage, sorbitol, and fructose. A low-fat, high-fiber diet can also help some IBS patients. Regular physical activity can also help keep the gastrointestinal tract functioning properly. Drugs such as propantheline that slow the function of the gastrointestinal tract are generally not effective for treating IBS. Antidiarrheal drugs, such as diphenoxylate and loperamide, help with diarrhea. Berkow et al., "Irritable Bowel Syndrome," The Merck Manual of Medical Information, pp. 525-526 (1997).
International publication No. WO 98/31677 describes a class of aromatic amines derived from cyclic amines that are useful as antidepressant drugs.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,326,705 to Ahmad et al. and international publication No. WO 01/27107 describe a class of heterocyclic compounds that are sodium/proton exchange inhibitors.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,612,075 to Ewing et al. and international publication No. WO 99/37304 describe substituted oxoazaheterocycly compounds useful for inhibiting factor Xa.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,248,756 to Anthony et al. and international publication no. WO 97/38665 describe a class of piperidine-containing compounds that inhibit farnesyl-protein transferase (Ftase).
International publication No. WO 97/28140 describes a class of piperidines derived from 1-(piperazin-1-yl)aryl(oxy/amino)carbonyl-4-aryl-piperidine that are useful as 5-HT1Db receptor antagonists.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,889 to Anthony et al. describes a class of substituted piperidine compounds that are useful as inhibitors of farnesyl-protein transferase, and the farnesylation of the oncogene protein Ras.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,150,129 to Cook et al. describes a class of dinitrogen heterocycles useful as antibiotics.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,091,227 to Cusack et al. and international publication No. WO 01/57008 describe a class of 2-benzothiazolyl urea derivatives useful as inhibitors of serine/threonine and tyrosine kinases.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,723,730 to Bakthavatchalam et al. and international publication No. WO 02/08221 describe aryl piperazine compounds useful for treating chronic and acute pain conditions, itch, and urinary incontinence.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,414,149 to Chu-Moyer et al. and international publication No. WO 00/59510 describe aminopyrimidines useful as sorbitol dehydrogenase inhibitors.
Japanese patent application No. 11-199573 to Iwaoka et al. describes benzothiazole derivatives that are neuronal 5HT3 receptor agonists in the intestinal canal nervous system and useful for treating digestive disorders and pancreatic insufficiency.
M. Chu-Moyer et al., J. Med. Chem. 45:511-528 (2002) describes heterocycle-substituted piperazino-pyrimidines useful as sorbitol dehydrogenase inhibitors.
B. G. Khadse et al., Bull. Haff. Inst. 1(3):27-32 (1975) describes 2-(N4-substituted-N1-piperazinyl)pyrido(3,2-d)thiazoles and 5-nitro-2-(N4-substituted-N1-piperazinyl)benzthiazoles useful as anthelmintic agents.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2004/0044003, International publication No. WO 2003/066595, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2004/0006091, International publication No. WO 2003/074520, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2004/0106625, International publication No. WO 2004/002983, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2004/0235853, International publication No. WO 2004/011441, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2005/0059671, International publication No. WO 2004/029031, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2004/0186111, International publication No. WO 2004/058754, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2006/0199824, International publication No. WO 2005/009987, U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. US 2006/0128717 and US 20060258669, International publication Nos. WO 2005/009988, WO 2005/004866, WO 2005/012287, WO 2005/030766, WO 2005/030753, WO 2005/066130, and WO2007/069773, U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. US 2009/0170868, US 2009/0170867, and US US2009/0176796, International publication Nos. WO 2008/132600, WO2008/133973, and WO 2004/035549 each describe classes of compounds that are useful for treating pain.
There remains, however, a clear need in the art for new drugs useful for treating or preventing pain, UI, an ulcer, IBD, and IBS. Citation of any reference in Section 2 of this application is not to be construed as an admission that such reference is prior art to the present application.

Compounds having TRPV1 antagonistic activity and uses thereof


A manufacturing method of a chip package structure is provided. A circuit substrate having a first surface, a second surface, and a through hole connecting the first surface and the second surface is provided. A chip having an active surface and bonding pads disposed on the active surface is provided. The chip is fixed on the circuit substrate, wherein the second surface is opposite to the active surface and the bonding pads are exposed to the through hole. Bonding wires connecting the bonding pads and the first surface are formed through the through hole. A film having an opening is formed on the first surface. The bonding wires, the bonding pads, the through hole, and part of the first surface are exposed by the opening. An encapsulant is formed to encapsulate part of the active surface, the bonding wires, and part of the first surface. The film is removed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly, to a chip package structure and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
The production of IC devices can be mainly divided into three stages, including IC design, IC process and IC package.
During the IC process, a chip is fabricated by the steps of wafer process, IC formation and wafer sawing and so on. A wafer has an active surface, which generally means the surface comprising active devices. After the IC on the wafer is formed, the active surface of the wafer further includes a plurality of bonding pads so that the chip formed by wafer sawing can be externally electrically connected to a carrier through the bonding pads. The carrier may be a lead frame or a package substrate. The chip can be connected to the carrier by wire bonding or flip chip bonding, so that the bonding pads on the chip are electrically connected to the contact pads of the carrier, thereby forming a chip package structure.
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional chip package structure. The conventional chip package structure 100 includes a circuit substrate 110, a chip 120, a plurality of bonding wires 130, an encapsulant 140 and a plurality of solder balls 150. The circuit substrate 110 has a first surface 112, a second surface 114 and a through hole 116. The through hole connects the first surface 112 and the second surface 114. Furthermore, the chip 120 has an active surface 122 and a plurality of bonding pads 124, wherein the bonding pads 124 are disposed on the active surface 122, and the second surface 114 of the circuit substrate 110 is opposite to the active surface 122 of the chip 120. The through hole 116 exposes the bonding pads 124.
The bonding wires 130 respectively connect the bonding pads 124 and the first surface of the circuit substrate 110, and the bonding wires 130 pass through the through hole 116. The encapsulant 140 encapsulates a part of the active surface 122, the bonding wires 130 and a part of the first surface 112. The encapsulant 140 has a top surface 142, a bottom surface 144 and a side wall 146 on the first surface 112. The top surface 142 of the encapsulant 140 is away from the first surface 112, and the bottom surface 144 is in contact with a part of the first surface 112. Besides, the area of the bottom surface 144 is larger than the area of the top surface 142, so that a draft angle θ is formed between the perpendicular line of the side wall 146 and the first surface 112.
In the molding process, the shape of the encapsulant 140 is the same as the shape of the mold cavity of the mold, and the function of the draft angle θ is to facilitate the encapsulated chip package structure 100 to be smoothly removed from the mold. Therefore, different sizes of chip package structures 100 require different shapes of the molds, which greatly increases the manufacturing cost of the molds. In addition, overflow may sometimes occur during the molding process, resulting in contamination of the first surface 112 of the circuit substrate 110.

Chip package structure and manufacturing method thereof


An electric motor includes an insert member situated within an insert bore formed in a rotor in order to adjust a balance of the rotor. The insert member has a body part provided with a cutout portion in a part of its circumference to define a gap extending therebetween. The insert member also has a pair of inner protrusions protruding radially inwardly from the opposite side edges of the gap. The size of the gap is determined such that the gap is not closed when the insert member elastically deforms and as a result, the outer diameter of the insert member becomes smaller than the diameter of the insert bore.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric motor and a manufacturing process thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electric motor for rotating a rotor requires a balance of the rotor with high precision. For example, if the center of gravity of the rotor is shifted from a rotational axis, the electric motor generates vibration during rotational movement of the rotor, resulting in an unstable operation. JP-B-3621929 has proposed a method for adjusting a balance of the rotor.
There is a need for an electric motor which allows a balance of a rotor to be adjusted in a simple way and a process for manufacturing such an electric motor.

Electric motor with balance adjustment mechanism for rotor and manufacturing process thereof


A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes in a following order: a first forming step where a gate electrode is formed on a first main surface side of a semiconductor base substrate with a gate insulation film interposed therebetween and, thereafter, an interlayer insulation film is formed to cover the gate electrode; a second forming step where a metal layer in a state of being connected with the gate electrode is formed over the interlayer insulation film; an irradiating step where a lattice defect is formed inside the semiconductor base substrate by irradiating an electron beam to the semiconductor base substrate in a state where the metal layer is set to a ground potential; a dividing step where the metal layer is divided into a plurality of electrodes; and an annealing step where the lattice defect in the semiconductor base substrate is repaired by heating the semiconductor base substrate.

Conventionally, there has been known a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device which includes a step where lattice defects are introduced into the inside of a semiconductor base substrate by irradiating an electron beam to the semiconductor base substrate (see patent literature 1, for example).
As shown in FIG. 17, the conventional method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: an MOS structure forming step; a surface metal layer forming step; a patterning step; an electron beam irradiating step; and an annealing step in this order. That is, the conventional method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: the MOS structure forming step (see FIG. 18A and FIG. 18B) where a gate electrode 924 is formed on a first main surface side of a semiconductor base substrate 910 with a gate insulation film 922 interposed therebetween and, thereafter, an interlayer insulation film 926 is formed so as to cover the gate electrode 924; the surface metal layer forming step (see FIG. 19A and FIG. 19B) where a surface metal layer 928′ is formed over the interlayer insulation film 926; the patterning step (see FIG. 20A and FIG. 20B) where the surface metal layer 928′ is patterned; the electron beam irradiating step (see FIG. 21A and FIG. 21B) where lattice defects are formed in the inside of the semiconductor base substrate 910 by irradiating an electron beam to the semiconductor base substrate 910; and the annealing step (not shown in the drawing) where the lattice defects in the semiconductor base substrate 910 are repaired by heating the semiconductor base substrate 910 in this order. In the electron beam irradiating step in the conventional method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, an electron beam is irradiated to the semiconductor base substrate 910 from a second main surface side of the semiconductor base substrate 910.
In this specification, "lattice defects are repaired" in the annealing step does not mean that the all lattice defects are repaired, but means that a predetermined number of lattice defects necessary for properly controlling a lifetime of a carrier at the time of turning off a parasitic built-in diode are made to remain and other lattice defects are repaired.
In the conventional method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, in the electron beam irradiating step, the lattice defects are formed in the inside of the semiconductor base substrate 910. Accordingly, a lifetime of a carrier at the time of turning off the parasitic built-in diode is properly controlled and hence, it is possible to manufacture a semiconductor device where a parasitic built-in diode recovery loss is small.

Method of manufacturing semiconductor device

SHINDENGEN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.


An apparatus for detecting abnormal air-fuel ratio variation among cylinders of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine includes: a catalyst element that oxidizes hydrogen contained in exhaust gas to remove the hydrogen; a first air-fuel ratio sensor that detects an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas that has not passed through the catalyst element; a second air-fuel ratio sensor that detects an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas that has passed through the catalyst element; and a unit that determines whether abnormal air-fuel ratio variation among the cylinders has occurred based on an amount by which a value detected by the second air-fuel ratio sensor is leaner than a value detected by the first air-fuel ratio sensor.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for detecting abnormal air-fuel ratio variation among cylinders of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine. More specifically, the invention relates to an apparatus and method for detecting relatively great air-fuel ratio variation among cylinders of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an internal combustion engine provided with an exhaust gas control system that uses a catalyst, it is usually necessary to control a mixture ratio between air and fuel, which constitute an air-fuel mixture that is burned in the internal combustion engine, that is, an air-fuel ratio, in order to remove toxic substances in the exhaust gas using the catalyst with high efficiency. To control the air-fuel ratio, an air-fuel ratio sensor is provided in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine, and feedback control is executed so that the air-fuel ratio that is detected by the air-fuel ratio sensor matches a predetermined target air-fuel ratio.
In a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, air-fuel ratio control is usually executed using the same control amount for all the cylinders. Therefore, even if the air-fuel ratio control is executed, the actual air-fuel ratio may vary among the cylinders. If the variation range is narrow, such small air-fuel ratio variation is absorbed by executing the air-fuel ratio feedback control, and toxic substances in the exhaust gas are removed by the catalyst. Therefore, such small air-fuel ratio variation does not exert an influence on the exhaust emission, and, therefore, does not cause a problem. However, if the air-fuel ratio greatly varies among the cylinders due to, for example, a malfunction of a fuel injection system of part of the cylinders, the exhaust emission deteriorates, which may cause a problem. Preferably, such great air-fuel ratio variation that may cause deterioration of the exhaust emission should be detected as an abnormality. Especially, in the case of an internal combustion engine for an automobile, detecting abnormal air-fuel ratio variation among cylinders using an on-board device is required in order to prevent a vehicle that emits deteriorated exhaust emission from running. Recently, there are moves for legislating for provision of an on-board device that detects abnormal air-fuel ratio variation among the cylinders.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 04-318250 (JP-A-04-318250) describes an apparatus which determines that a fuel supply system malfunctions when an air-fuel ratio feedback correction coefficient that is used in air-fuel ratio feedback control is equal to or larger than a predetermined value. The apparatus is able to determine that some sort of malfunction has occurred somewhere in the fuel supply system. However, the apparatus is not able to detect abnormal air-fuel ratio variation, that is, abnormal deviation of the air-fuel ratio in at least one cylinder from the air-fuel ratio in the other cylinders.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-220489 (JP-A-2000-220489) describes an engine control apparatus that calculates air-fuel ratios in respective cylinders and individually controls the air-fuel ratios in the cylinders, in a multi-cylinder engine in which a single air-fuel ratio sensor is arranged in an exhaust pipe gathering portion of the engine. The engine control apparatus calculates an air-fuel ratio based on a signal output from the air-fuel ratio sensor, analyzes the calculated air-fuel ratio into frequency components in a predetermined range, and estimates the air-fuel ratios in the respective cylinders based on the analyzed frequency components.
If the air-fuel ratios in the respective cylinders are estimated using, for example, the apparatus described in JP-2000-220489, it may be possible to determine whether abnormal air-fuel ratio variation among the cylinders has occurred by comparing the air-fuel ratios with each other. However, with the apparatus described in JP-A-2000-220489, it is necessary to detect the fluctuations of the air-fuel ratio that is in synchronization with engine rotation in short cycles using the air-fuel ratio sensor. Therefore, a considerably highly-responsive air-fuel ratio sensor is required. Even when such an air-fuel ratio sensor is available, if the sensor deteriorates and therefore the response becomes slower, the sensor may fail to function properly. In addition, a high-speed processing data sample and a powerful ECU are required. It is difficult to separate fluctuations of the air-fuel ratio and noise from each other to detect only the fluctuations of the air-fuel ratio using a highly-responsive sensor. Further, restrictions are imposed on the engine operating condition, for example, the engine operating condition is restricted to the steady operating condition to minimize disturbance. It is preferable to arrange the sensor at a position as close as possible to a combustion chamber in order to detect the fluctuations of the air-fuel ratio that is in synchronization with engine rotation. However, in this case, a crack may be caused in a sensor element due to moisture in the exhaust gas. Therefore, it is necessary to select an exhaust manifold having an appropriate shape and to arrange the sensor at an appropriate position so that the gas contacts the air-fuel ratio sensor appropriately. As described above, even if the air-fuel ratios in the respective cylinders are estimated to determine whether abnormal air-fuel ratio variation among the cylinders has occurred, there are many problems to be solved. Therefore, it is difficult to actually implement the above-described technology.

Apparatus and method for detecting abnormal air-fuel ratio variation among cylinders of multi-cylinder internal combustion engine


An interconnect for engaging a rectifier module with a rectifier cabinet has a first portion which includes AC output contacts, DC input contacts, a cabinet data signal connector and sidewalls which define an enclosed space of the rectifier cabinet. A second portion of the interconnect includes DC output contacts, AC input contacts, a module pin data signal connector and a housing which encloses a rectifier unit. A guide member is mounted to one of the first and second portions of the interconnect. A guide member hole is included with the other of the first and second portions of the interconnect for engaging with the guide member to align the first portion of the interconnect with the second portion of the interconnect. A pair of guide pins are mounted to one of the data signal connectors for engaging within sockets of the other of the data signals connectors for aligning the data signal connectors. One of the data signal connectors is moveably attached to a respective one of the rectifier module housing and the rectifier cabinet for moving to matingly engage with the other of the data signal connectors. Inserting the rectifier module within the rectifier cabinet engages the housing of the rectifier module with the sidewalls of cabinet, which aligns the guide member for engagement within a guide member hole to align the DC input and output connectors, the AC input and output connectors and the data signal connectors.

Prior art rack mounted rectifiers have been provided for mounting in rectifier cabinets. Such rectifiers have AC inputs and DC outputs. Rectifier cabinets have found extensive use in the rapidly expanding telecommunications industry, providing power for telephone switch gear and the like. Rectifier cabinets have been provided of modular design, in which rectifier modules were removably mounted within the cabinets. Typically, the rectifier modules may be "hot swapped;" that is, a portion of the rectifiers may be removed from the rectifier cabinets without having to shut down the entire cabinet such that power may be maintained by the equipment powered by the rectifier cabinet being serviced.
The mounting of rectifier modules within rectifier cabinets requires the proper alignment of various AC input and DC output contacts, and various signal connectors to enable operation of the rectifier modules. Once the modules are aligned and properly inserted into the racks of the rectifier cabinets, they are secured in place by a latch such that they cannot be removed from the cabinets while the latch is secured. Additional space is taken up by the latching mechanism and alignment members which are utilized for installing prior art rectifier modules into prior art rectifier cabinets. The industry for power equipment has generated predetermined modular unit sizes for determining the space utilized for modular rectifier components. The usage of additional space for alignment members and latching mechanisms prevents the size of rectifier cabinets from being reduced to more compact sizes.

Interconnection system for rack mounted rectifier


A liquid diagnostic contact lens includes a main body having a concave lens, and a supporting element disposed at a bottom of the main body. A heavy fluid is placed on a top surface of the concave lens. A transparent plate is sealed over the top surface of the concave lens so as to define an encapsulating room and encapsulate the heavy fluid therein. In operation, an ophthalmologist places the supporting element onto the eye, and examines various interior spots of the eye by adaptively adjusting the eye. The liquid diagnostic contact lens is tilted along with the eye and the top surface of the heavy fluid is kept horizontal so the heavy fluid is formed as prisms of different diopters. Thus, the liquid diagnostic contact lens can examine various spots of the interior of the eye.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a magnification device for ophthalmic examination and surgery.
2. The Prior Arts
When conducting a diagnostic examination or a therapeutic procedure to an eye, an ophthalmologist often needs to use opthalmoscope, diagnostic contact lens, slit lamp, or ultrasound device, etc. to diagnose the eye condition and then treat thereby.
A conventional diagnostic contact lens is a flat lens, a concave lens, or a prism. A flat lens is often used for examining a posterior pole of the eye. However, in viewing a peripheral retina, various prisms of different diopters are often required. The ophthalmologist directly places the prism onto the eye. The prism is turned or replaced with another one having a different diopter according to the position to be examined. It is inconvenient to use and may even accidentally cause eye injuries.


An integrated circuit includes a load circuit and an electrostatic discharge (ESD) circuit. The load circuit includes a first and a second I/O terminal. The ESD circuit is coupled to the first and the second I/O terminal. The ESD circuit includes a first protection circuit configured to conduct a first ESD current from the first to the second I/O terminal. The first protection circuit includes a first, a second, a third doped region, and a well. The first doped region is coupled to the first I/O terminal, and has a first conductive type. The well is coupled to the first doped region, and has a second conductive type different from the first conductive type. The second doped region is coupled to the well, and has the first conductive type. The third doped region couples the second doped region to the second I/O terminal, and has the second conductive type.

As the technology of integrated circuits (ICs) becomes advanced, the space between elements in the ICs becomes smaller. Therefore, it is increasingly easier for the electrostatic charge accumulating in the ICs due to various reasons to affect the peripheral elements. In order to avoid electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage, the function of ESD in the ICs becomes critical.

Integrated circuit and electrostatic discharge protection method


A map display apparatus includes: road network information in which integrated traffic signal information is provided in an intersection configured of a plurality of nodes having attribute information of traffic signal available; a display unit which performs map displaying using map image data generated based on the road network information; and a signal displaying controller which performs switching whether a traffic signal icon is displayed at the node of the map image data or the traffic signal icon is displayed at a position to display the integrated traffic signal information according to a display scale of the map displaying.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a map display apparatus, a map display method, and a map display program product, which are used for a navigation device and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
A navigation device which is generally mounted on a vehicle or the like grasps a position of the vehicle using a GPS (Global Positioning System), and guides a route to a destination which is instructed by a user. A typical navigation device performs a displaying of the vehicle position, the guiding of the route, and the like using a map display apparatus mounted in the navigation device. When a request for the map displaying is issued for a region where the navigation device or the like is positioned, the map display apparatus reads out map data on the requested region from a recording unit in which the map data is recorded, generates map image data, and then displays the map image data in a display unit.
A general map data used in the map display apparatus includes detailed city map data in which roads, traffic signals, buildings, and the like are recorded in detail as data, and simply digitized road network information by making intersections as nodes and the straight lines (links) connecting the nodes as roads. The map display apparatus performs the map displaying while appropriately switching a map displaying using the detailed city map data and another map displaying using the road network information. For example, when the detailed city map data is present in a target region of the map displaying, the map display apparatus basically performs the map displaying using the detailed city map data. In this case, however, a display scale of the requested map displaying is a broad display mode of which the scale exceeds an allowable range of the map displaying of the detailed city map data, the map displaying is performed using the road network information instead of the detailed city map data. In addition, since the detailed city map data is provided by only a part of an area of high population density zone but not covers all areas, when the map displaying is applied to an area having no detailed city map data, the map display apparatus performs the map displaying using the road network information. The traffic signal in the map displaying using the road network information is displayed depending on whether a node representing the intersection has attribute information of traffic signal available. In other words, when the node representing the intersection has the attribute information of traffic signal available, a traffic signal icon is displayed at the position of the node.
In this case, however, for the improvement of accuracy in map matching between the subject vehicle position and roads in the road network information, wide roads as illustrated in FIG. 6A are not digitized using one link; for example, as illustrated in FIG. 6B, a plurality (two in FIG. 6B) of links L, each of which is separated into an upper lane and a lower lane, may be digitized.
However, when the above described digitization is being performed, for example, the intersection between the roads digitized into two links L is constituted by four nodes denoted by "" in FIG. 6B. When a traffic signal is present in such an intersection, each of the four nodes has the attribute information of traffic signal available, and four traffic signal icons are displayed in one intersection. For this reason, a plurality of traffic signal icons may be densely displayed or may be displayed in an overlapping manner depending on the display scale of the map displaying, and thus it may be difficult to grasp the map displaying. In addition, for example, a user may misunderstand the intersection as a complex intersection, and thus it may be difficult to grasp the traffic signal positions and the road conditions.
In this regard, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2001-125702 discloses an invention relating to a display control method in which a representative icon is displayed instead of individual icons when a plurality of icons are displayed in an overlapping manner.

Map display apparatus, map display method, and map display program product


Disclosed a process for preparing a xanthophyll crystal, comprising: dissolving the plant extract containing a xanthophyll ester in n-hexane, then filtering the mixture; adding acetone to the filtrate, filtering and collecting a filter cake; mixing the filter cake with soybean oil and ethanol uniformly; saponifying the mixed solution with alkaline aqueous solution; then adding an acidic solution thereto until the mixed solution becomes acidic, concentrating under reduced pressure to obtain a pasty substance; adding n-hexane to the pasty saponified product, standing still and then conducting a solid-liquid separation; washing the resulting solid substance with deionized water; adding a mixed solvent to the washed solid substance, dissolving it with stirring; and then adding n-hexane thereto and standing still to recrystallize. According to the application, organic solvents are used to treat the plant extract and remove non-xanthophyll ester compounds in order to improve the efficiency of the saponification reaction; the saponified solution is concentrated under acidic condition at reduced pressure, then extracted with an organic solvent for saving water; purifying a xanthophyll crystal with a mixed solvent in order to significantly increase the purity of a xanthophyll crystal and proportion of trans-xanthophyll.

Xanthophyll is a kind of carotenoid, which generally exists in flowers, leaves and fruits of plants as well as certain kinds of algae, especially exists in great quantity in marigold petals. Xanthophyll exists in plants in the form of a xanthophyll ester. Xanthophyll is generally obtained by saponifying an extract of plants in this industry. Recently, the biological functions of xanthophyll are drawn more attention. Xanthophyll has a strong effect of antioxidation and removes the harmful "free radicals" produced during the physiological metabolism process in human body. The "free radicals" are found to lead to lesions such as tissue damage, cell aging and the like. Early in 1995, xanthophyll is approved by FDA to be a supplement in food and drink. In the "list of new food additives and food flavorants (No.8 public announcement of the Ministry of Health of China in 2007)" announcement recently published in China, xanthophyll can be used in food as a colorant and nutrient supplement.
Since xanthophyll has a complex molecular structure, the industrial synthesis thereof is very difficult. However, natural xanthophyll in plants has a lot of advantages such as natural, nonhazardous, relatively low cost for extracting and purifying and being suitable for production in large scale. Although currently the production of xanthophyll resin achieves a large scale, most of the xanthophyll is produced in form of oleoresin with impurities. Therefore, they are suitable to be used only as animal food but lack safety for using in human food as colorants and nutrient supplements.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,648,564 discloses a process for extracting a xanthophyll crystal from plants, wherein xanthophyll oleoresin is dissolved with propylene glycol, alkali solution is added thereto for saponification at a higher temperature, water is added thereto and the crystals formed are filtered, and then the crystals are washed and dried to obtain a xanthophyll crystal. Since the propylene glycol used in the process has a higher boiling point, it is difficult to recover the solvent; and the final product has a purity of about 70% only and yield of about 60% only, which are relatively lower.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,743,953 discloses a process for separating and purifying xanthophyll from marigold oleoresin, wherein the oleoresin or xanthophyll ester is firstly saponified and then concentrated to obtain a concentrated solution, water is added thereto to dilute the concentrated solution, the resulting solution is extracted with ethyl acetate, and then concentrated to obtain a xanthophyll crystal. The xanthophyll obtained in this process has low purity, and large amount water used in the process is apt to cause environment pollution, and the yield of xanthophyll is relatively low.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,890 discloses a process for extracting xanthophyll from marigold petals, comprising the following steps: saponifying the dried petals; diluting the saponified liquid with water; adding metallic halide to the mixture in order to adjust the pH value of the mixture; filtering the pH-adjusted mixture to get a resultant solid; and then washing the resultant solid with a polar solvent to provide xanthophyll. Since the dried marigold petals are saponified directly in the process, the efficiency and yield of saponification is relatively low; the marigold flowers needs to be dried before extraction, and the time period for drying is too long and thus affects the production scale; using metallic halide to adjust the pH value leads to a extracting solution containing a large amount of metallic ions, which is apt to an environment pollution.
Process for preparing a xanthophyll crystal disclosed in China comprise: adding water or alcohol for crystallization after saponification, filtering the mixture to obtain coarse xanthophyll, and then recrystallizing the xanthophyll. A large amount of waste water is produced in the process, and the time period of the preparing process is prolonged, which is unfavorable for the stability of xanthophyll.

Process for preparing xanthophyll crystal


An image processing apparatus is disclosed by which correction of convergence and correction of distortion of an image can be performed with a high degree of accuracy. Correction data to be used for correction of position errors of the three colors of red, green and blue obtained by an adjustment apparatus in advance are stored in a storage section. The stored correction data are outputted to a correction waveform outputting section through a control circuit when necessary. The correction waveform outputting section produces correction waveforms based on the correction data inputted thereto and outputs the correction waveforms to a clock signal generation circuit. The clock signal generation circuit generates clocks, and the video data of red, green and blue stored in the memory are read out in response to the clock signals.

This invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method as well as a recording medium, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus and method as well as a recording medium suitable for use with an apparatus which has functions for convergence correction, correction of video distortion and correction of non-uniform brightness or chromaticity of a video.
In recent years, a cathode ray tube display apparatus of the raster scanning system has been popularized as a display apparatus for displaying an image. The cathode ray tube display apparatus corrects images of three colors of, for example, red, green and blue against displacement in superposition to display an image. In the following description, such correction against displacement is referred to as xe2x80x9cconvergence correctionxe2x80x9d.
In such a cathode ray tube display apparatus as described above, convergence correction is performed with a high degree of accuracy popularly using a method wherein convergence correction current is supplied to a convergence correction coil. FIG. 1 shows an example of configuration of a convergence correction apparatus that effects such convergence correction. Referring to FIG. 1, the convergence correction apparatus 1 shown includes an adjustment apparatus 2, a storage apparatus 3, a control apparatus 4, a corrected waveform outputting apparatus 5, an output amplifier 6 and a correction coil 7.
In the convergence correction apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, convergence adjustment data are produced by the adjustment apparatus 2 in advance and stored into the storage apparatus 3. The stored convergence adjustment data are read out by the control apparatus 4 and outputted to the corrected waveform outputting apparatus 5 together with synchronization frequency information, raster scan position information and other necessary information determined by the control apparatus 4. The convergence adjustment data inputted to the corrected waveform outputting apparatus 5 are worked based on the synchronization frequency information, raster scan position information and other information so as to allow optimum convergence correction, and then are converted into a convergence correction waveform and outputted to the output amplifier 6. The convergence correction waveform inputted to the output amplifier 6 is amplified in voltage and amplitude and supplied to the correction coil 7 attached to the cathode ray tube so that convergence correction is performed.
Conventionally, roughly two correction waveform generation methods are available including a function generation method and a memory mapping method. The function generation method approximates a convergence correction waveform to a finite function based on information such as convergence correction data at a convergence adjustment point and a synchronization frequency to generate a convergence correction waveform in synchronism with raster scanning of the cathode ray tube. According to the function generation method, the memory capacity for storing adjustment data may be smaller than that of the memory mapping method. Therefore, the function generation method is advantageous in that it can be produced at a comparatively low cost, but is disadvantageous in that it is low in degree of freedom in correction.
Meanwhile, according to the correction waveform generation method of the memory mapping method, a display screen is divided into gratings, and regarding each grating point as an adjustment point, a convergence correction amount necessary for the adjustment point is stored into a memory in advance. Then, at each grating point, the corresponding adjustment data stored in the memory is read out, but at any other point, correction data is obtained by interpolation processing using a straight line or a quadratic curve based on the correction data at the grating points, and is used to generate a convergence correction waveform. The memory mapping method exhibits a higher degree of freedom in correction and allows correction of convergence with a higher degree of accuracy than the function generation method. Therefore, particularly a display unit for which a high display quality is required such as, for example, a display unit for a computer frequently uses the memory mapping method.
It is popularly known that a position error of a video displayed on a cathode ray tube can be corrected by adjusting the output timing of video signal data. FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate horizontal linearity correction by adjustment of the output timing of video data in a horizontal period. Particularly, FIG. 2A illustrates a displayed video when a position error is not corrected, and FIG. 2A illustrates a displayed video when the output timing of video signal data is adjusted to perform horizontal linear correction. Where the horizontal deflecting current is distorted, when no correction is performed, the horizontal linearity is distorted as seen in FIG. 2A, but when the video signal is adjusted in a direction of the time base so as to correct the distortion of the horizontal deflecting current, the horizontal linearity can be corrected as seen in FIG. 2B.
In the example illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the output timing of video signal data is adjusted in a horizontal period. However, if the output timing is adjusted in a vertical period, then correction of image distortion in a vertical period can be performed in a similar manner.
FIG. 3 shows an example of a display apparatus which performs such deflection correction as described above with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B. Referring to FIG. 3, the display apparatus 10 shown includes a memory 11, a digital/analog (D/A) conversion circuit 12, a correction circuit 13, a clock (CLK) generation circuit 14 for generating an adjustment clock signal, a video circuit 15, a deflection circuit 16, a horizontal deflecting coil 17, a measuring resistor 18 for detecting horizontal deflecting current, a vertical deflecting coil 19, and a cathode ray tube 20.
An input video signal is written into the memory 11 at a timing of a first clock signal clk1. Then, the image data written in the memory 11 are read out at another timing of a second clock signal clk2 and converted into an analog video signal by the D/A conversion circuit 12, whereafter they are inputted to the video circuit 15. The image signal inputted to the video circuit 15 is amplified by the video circuit 15 and applied to the cathode of the cathode ray tube 20.
On the other hand, the correction circuit 13 produces a reference signal for horizontal deflecting current in synchronism with a synchronizing signal. The reference signal produced is written into the memory 11 at a timing of the first clock signal clk1 similarly to the video signal, and is then read out from the memory 11 at another timing of the second clock signal clk2, converted into an analog video signal by the D/A conversion circuit 12 and inputted to the clock generation circuit 14.
Meanwhile, the synchronizing signal inputted to the deflection circuit 16 to drive the horizontal deflecting coil 17 and the vertical deflecting coil 19 to form a raster on the cathode ray tube 20. The measuring resistor 18 is a detecting resistor for measuring the horizontal deflecting current, and a voltage which increases in proportion to the horizontal deflecting current is inputted from the measuring resistor 18 to the clock generation circuit 14. The clock generation circuit 14 compares the detection voltage of the horizontal defection current inputted thereto from the measuring resistor 18 with the reference waveform of the adjusted horizontal deflecting current inputted thereto from the D/A conversion circuit 12 through the memory 11 and supplies an amplified waveform of a difference between the two input waveforms to a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). The VCO generates a second clock signal clk2 adjusted in accordance with the difference between the two input waveforms and supplies the second clock signal clk2 to the memory 11 and the D/A conversion circuit 12.
Through the series of operations described above, the second clock signal clk2 is adjusted so that the difference between the reference waveform of the horizontal deflecting current and the waveform of the actual deflecting current may be minimized. Consequently, the video signal inputted to the cathode of the cathode ray tube 20 is adjusted in the direction of the time base so as to correct the distortion of the horizontal deflecting current thereby to correct the position error of the video.
In the system described above, a reference waveform of horizontal deflecting current and the waveform of actual horizontal deflecting current are compared with each other, and the difference between the waveforms is fed back to adjust the clock signal so that the difference may be eliminated. As a result, also the output timing of video signal data is adjusted to correct the position error of the video.
In the convergence correction described above, the output amplifier 6 is used to supply correction current to the convergence correction coil 7 with reference to a convergence correction waveform produced by the function generation method or the memory mapping method to correct the convergence. However, in order to perform such convergence correction, high current must be supplied to the correction coil 7 for convergence correction. Therefore, it is difficult to miniaturize the correction coil 7, the output amplifier 6 for driving the correction coil 7 and pertaining elements, and there is a subject to be solved in that miniaturization of the convergence correction apparatus 1 itself is difficult.
Also it is a subject that the power loss of the output amplifier 6 is great. Further, in order to correct the convergence with a high degree of accuracy, a system is required which has an increased number of adjustment points like the memory map method and has a high degree of freedom in correction. Actually, however, phase delay of convergence correction, interference between adjustment points and so forth are caused by a limitation to the slew rate characteristic of the output amplifier, eddy current loss in the inside of the cathode ray tube and other parameters. Thus, there is a subject to be solved in that further augmentation of the accuracy in correction of the convergence is difficult.
On the other hand, where such a method of correcting the position error of a video on the display of the cathode ray tube by adjusting the output timing of video signal data as described above is used to perform correction of distortion of an image, a raster which is not uniform in density appears as seen in FIG. 4 and makes the brightness non-uniform. Further, since the position error is detected from the waveform of horizontal deflecting current, although correction of distortion of an image can be performed, the position errors of the three colors of red, green and blue cannot be detected, and there is a subject to be solved in that the convergence cannot be corrected.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus and method by which miniaturization and reduction in power consumption of a convergence correction circuit and a deflection circuit can be achieved.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus and method by which correction of convergence and video distortion and correction of non-uniformity of the brightness and the chromaticity can be performed with a high degree of accuracy.
In order to attain the objects described above, according to the present invention, the output timings of video signals of red, green and blue are adjusted independently of one another to correct the position errors of the three videos individually.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus, comprising inputting means for inputting a plurality of video signals corresponding to different colors therethrough, storage means for storing the video signals inputted through the inputting means, production means for producing correction data to be used for correction of convergence, generation means for generating a clock signal for each of the video signals corresponding to the different colors based on the correction data produced by the production means, and readout means for reading out the video signals stored in the storage means in response to the clock signals generated by the generation means.
The video signals inputted through the inputting means may correspond at least two of a video signal of red, another video signal of green and a further video signal of blue.
The video signals inputted through the inputting means may be digital video signals which are digital video signals obtained by conversion of analog video signals, digital video signals transmitted and decoded by transition minimized differential signaling (TMDS), digital video signals transmitted and decoded by low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) or digital video signals transmitted and decoded by giga-bit video interface (GVIF).
The image processing apparatus may further comprise arithmetic operation means for arithmetically operating a correction parameter to be used for correction of image distortion from data which include at least one of synchronizing signal data, video size data and video phase data, the generation means generating the clock signals further based on the correction parameter.
In this instance, the image processing apparatus may further comprise conversion means for converting the video signals inputted through the inputting means into video signals whose non-uniformity in brightness and chromaticity are corrected based on the correction parameter arithmetically operated by the arithmetic operation means.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing method, comprising a storage control step of controlling storage of a plurality of video signals corresponding to different colors, a production step of producing correction data to be used for correction of convergence, a generation step of generating a clock signal for each of the video signals corresponding to the different colors based on the correction data produced by the processing in the production step, and a readout control step of controlling reading out of the video signals, whose storage has been controlled by the processing in the storage control step, in response to the clock signals generated by the processing in the generation step.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium on which a computer-readable program is recorded, the program comprising a storage control step of controlling storage of a plurality of video signals corresponding to different colors, a production step of producing correction data to be used for correction of convergence, a generation step of generating a clock signal for each of the video signals corresponding to the different colors based on the correction data produced by the processing in the production step, and a readout control step of controlling reading out of the video signals, whose storage has been controlled by the processing in the storage control step, in response to the clock signals generated by the processing in the generation step.
With the image processing apparatus, the image processing method and the recording medium, a plurality of video signals corresponding to different colors are stored, and correction data to be used for correction of convergence are produced. Then, a clock signal is generated for each of the video signals corresponding to the different colors based on the correction data, and the stored video signals are red out in response to the generated clock signals.
Consequently, miniaturization of a convergence correction circuit and a deflection circuit and reduction of the power consumption can be anticipated, and besides convergence correction can be performed with a high degree of accuracy.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts or elements denoted by like reference symbols.

Method and apparatus for controlling convergence of color signals


A semiconductor component performing interface functions between the controller and the power components of a power inverter, is designed for the control of semiconductor components, in particular for the control of IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) and MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) power switches in different circuit topologies for intermediate and high power capacity. The component carries a monolithically integrated circuit performing the functions of signal processing (12), level transformation (13, 14), gate driver amplification, generation and monitoring of operating voltages, short-circuit monitoring by means of collector-emitter voltage detection, as well as the processing, storing and transmission of error signals for a power semiconductor switch.

The invention relates to a semiconductor component with interface functions between the controller and the power components of power inverters, suitable for the control of semiconductor components, in particular for the control of IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) and MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) power switches.
Hybrid control circuits are well-known from the state of the art. In xe2x80x9cApplikationsbuch IGBT- und MOSFET- Leistunsmodulexe2x80x9d (Applications Book for IGBT and MOSFET Power Modules (ISBN 3-932633-24-5) as well as in the catalog ""99 of SEMIKRON Electronics GmbH, circuit arrangements of this kind are described for the control of semiconductor power switches. In the following, the problems involved in controlling these elements will be discussed on the basis of block diagrams.
FIG. 1 represents the principal structure of a power electronics system for the control of high voltage IGBTs according to the state of the art. In detail, the power electronics system consists of:
a controller (1) with, e.g., a microprocessor, memory and A/D and/or D/A converter,
a control circuit (2) with digitalxe2x80x94, analogxe2x80x94and power components for signal processing as well as power supply and error processing,
a separation (3) between the low and high voltage parts,
the driver circuit (4) with power supply, gate driver and monitoring elements,
the intermediate circuit (5),
the power switches (6),
a consumer device (7), and
sensors with signal-processing circuits (8).
The connection to the power semiconductor switches is illustrated through a partial representation of an inverter circuit showing two IGBTs of a half bridge, the intermediate circuit of the converter, and the consumer device (symbolically represented by a motor).
Sensors (which may include signal-processing circuits) for all relevant operational variables are used to acquire the characteristic operating variables of the consumer device and of the power switches (e.g. rpm rate, position, torque of the consumer device, and temperature, current, and short-circuit condition of the power switches) and to transmit the values of the variables to the control circuit or the controller to generate the corresponding data for determining the operating state of the converter during its operation.
Semiconductor technologies are now available for low-voltage applications (e.g. applications in batteries, applications in automobiles with intermediate circuit voltages smaller than 100V), so that controller circuits, control- and driver circuits as well as circuits for the separation between potentials and for the acquisition of data characterizing an operating state can to a large extent be monolithically integrated. With higher intermediate circuit voltages, the integration of the separation of potentials (and/or level converter stage) becomes more and more difficult because of isolation problems. At the current state of the art, solutions are available for the integration of level-converter stages up to 600V and recently also up to 1200V. They are described in International Rectifier Data Sheets IR2130 and IR2235. The advantages of these solutions lie in their high degree of integration and the associated cost savings. The drawbacks of these solutions lie in the restricted voltage range and the limited driver power which decreases if voltage range is increased, and in the sensitivity to interference in a rough electromagnetic environment.
Applications possibilities for this technology are limited because of the required bootstrap power supply and the lack of a true galvanic separation, which represents a severe disadvantage of the existing state of the art. For intermediate and high power levels, it is therefore necessary to use additional opto-couplers, transmitters or post-amplifiers.
A monolithic integrated potential separation is made possible only by using dielectric isolation technologies, as for example an auxiliary carrier technology that has been described by C. Y. Lu (IEEE Trans. On E.D. ED 35 (1998), pp. 230-239), by wafer bonding with trench isolation according to K. G. Oppermann and M. Stoisiek (ISPSD 1996, Proc. S. 239-242) and/or by the SIMOX technology according to Vogt et al (ISPSD 1997, Proc. pp. 317-320). These technologies are limited to isolation voltages of less than 1200 V (in most cases less than 600 V) because of the realizable oxide thicknesses of less than 2 xcexcm, and they are furthermore very cost-intensive.
In practice, for voltages above 100V, discrete opto-couplers or transmitters are used for the potential separation between the low and high voltage side. The advantage of transmitters in comparison to opto-couplers lies in the bi-directional data flow for control signals and/or error signals. In addition, a power transmission with a floating potential for the current supply of the high voltage side is possible only with transmitters.
If discrete opto-couplers or transducers are used, it is necessary to use separate, discrete or integrated circuits both on the low and high voltage side. In certain cases (e.g., at low power levels and with few analog functions), a monolithic integration of the functions of the low-voltage side with the controller is possible.
Another possibility according to the state of the art is offered by the hybrid integration circuit of opto-coupler components with an integrated circuit including driver- and monitoring functions (on the high voltage side) in a special housing (Hewlett-Packard Data Sheet HCPL-316, December 1997). In this case, a high degree of integration is realized for high voltages (from 600V to 1200V), as well as suitability for intermediate and high power levels.
The only discrete components that have to be added to the driver circuit are the high voltage diode for the monitoring of the votage between collector and emitter (VCE), because of a possible short-circuit at the IGBT, the current supply for the high voltage side and some difficult-to-integrate passive components and/or elements for optional functions.
In hybrid IGBT control circuits with galvanic separation of the primary side by means of opto-couplers, a fast coupler is used for the signal path, and usually a second, slower coupler to return the error signal.
For the monitoring of the VCE and the supply voltage on the high voltage side (secondary side), integrated components (Motorola Data Sheet MC 33,153) are already available. The secondary, floating voltage supply is realized with a DC/DC converter because of the higher power requirement. The stabilization of the supply voltage is usually made through a longitudinal regulator circuit. For the voltage supply of the secondary side with a DC/DC converter, the three BOTTOM switches of a three-phase-current half-bridge circuit can generally be combined into a voltage supply.
According to the state of the art, the functions of the low-voltage side (as for example signal processing, error processing, current supply) are realized by using discrete elements, or in particular the digital functions are taken over by the controller.
In DE 198 51 186, a circuit arrangement is proposed, where all functions of the primary side for the control, monitoring and current supply of power components (MOSFET or IGBT) are realized in a three-phase bridge circuit for an intermediate power range. This integrated circuit must perform all interface functions between the controller as well as the six drivers and the IGBT switches of the high voltage side. According to the state of the art, opto-couplers (for control signals) are used for the potential separation of the secondary side (high voltage side), and for the driver- and monitoring functions on the secondary side, one circuit is used for each power switch.
In DE 100 14 269.9, a circuit arrangement is proposed, where the level transformation as well as the driver- and monitoring functions of the 3 BOTTOM switches of the respective three IGBT half-bridges as well as an additional seventh switch are combined, so that the result is a monolithically integrated quadruplex gate driver IC. This driver IC for 4 semiconductor switches is on the same potential as the primary control IC and the controller. A common potential of the BOTTOM switches with the control circuit and the controller is possible only under the condition that the interference voltages caused by parasitic effects in the system are relatively small. This is the case in power components for low and intermediate power levels (voltage up to 1200V, current smaller than 150 A per switch) and in three-phase bridge circuit modules of a very compact design, where the internal inductances and resistors can be kept very small. Depending on the switching state, the separate driver stages of the 3 TOP switches of the respective three half bridges can be at the positive intermediate circuit voltage (e.g., 300V . . . 1200V DC). For reasons of isolation, they need to have potential separation (e.g. by means of opto-couplers).
The present invention has the objective to provide a monolithically integrated semiconductor component for a direct gate control and monitoring of a semiconductor switch in a an inverter circuit.
A semiconductor component for the control of a power semiconductor switch in a power inverter, as proposed by the present invention to meet the foregoing objective, has a monolithically integrated circuit arrangement of functional blocks that are operable to perform all of the following functions for the power semiconductor switch:
input interface with Schmitt trigger,
pulse flank memory,
multiple level transformation,
start-up logic with voltage-controlled power on reset,
driver logic,
gate driver for switching-on of the power semiconductor switch,
gate driver for switching-off of the power semiconductor switch,
gate driver for gentle switching-off of the power semiconductor switch,
internal generating and monitoring of an operating voltage and reference voltage,
short-circuit monitoring of the power semiconductor switch by dynamic collector-emitter voltage detection,
error detection/storage and driver for transmission of the error signal to a primary side of the semiconductor component.

Semiconductor component for direct gate control and monitoring of power semiconductor switches


A vehicle wheel suspension is provided having a hydraulic vibration damper, which is connected in parallel to a suspension spring which proportionally supports the vehicle body. A rebound spring is provided, which preferably and typically becomes effective in the event of larger spring deflection distances. The support point of the rebound spring is displaceable in relation to the damper housing by way of a spring support piston, which is provided therein and is displaceable by fluid externally supplied with pressure via pump. In this case, the pump is connected to a pressure accumulator for the fluid and delivers fluid out of the pressure accumulator into the damper housing or out of the damper housing back into the pressure accumulator. The absolute value of the spring constant of the pressure accumulator is at least in the order of magnitude of the spring constant of the associated suspension spring or springs, or is greater.

The invention relates to a vehicle wheel suspension having a hydraulic vibration damper, which is connected in parallel to a suspension spring that proportionally supports the vehicle body, and in which vibration damper a rebound spring is provided, which preferably and typically first becomes effective in the event of larger rebound travel. The support point of the rebound spring is displaceable in relation to the damper housing by a spring support piston, which is provided therein and is displaceable from the outside by a fluid supplied with pressure via a pump. With respect to the prior art, reference is made to DE 10 2004 019 991 A1, as well as DE 101 21 918 B4.
In the above first-mentioned DE 10 2004 019 991 A1 document, a vibration damper of a wheel suspension having an auxiliary spring made of an elastomeric material is described, which is connected in parallel to the typical suspension spring and the support of which in relation to the vehicle body is adjustable via an activatable piston arrangement in relation to the longitudinal axis of the piston rod of the damper, which is referred to hereafter in the present case as the damper rod. This adjustment is performed hydraulically with delivery of the hydraulic medium using a pump driven by a motor, which can be assisted in particular by a hydraulic pressure accumulator, to display a high system dynamic response. A level-regulating intervention is possible using such an adjustment of the auxiliary spring, i.e., the vehicle body is to be able to be raised or lowered as needed.
A spring-damper system having a springy stop is also described in the second-mentioned DE 101 21 918 B4, wherein both an auxiliary spring, which acts as a pressure stage stop and is formed by an elastomeric body, and also a rebound spring for the traction stage of the damper, can be influenced by way of so-called stop distance in such a manner, or are concretely displaceable within the damper housing along the damper rod, such that the tendency of the vehicle body to roll in relation to the wheels when cornering is counteracted.
In the present case, it has been recognized that in any case when a suspension spring, which is in parallel to the damper, is implemented in the form of a typical mechanical coiled spring, solely a displacement ability of the rebound spring, as disclosed in the above-explained document, which comes into effect in the event of stronger spring deflection of the vehicle body in relation to the wheels, i.e., in the event of a larger body movement away from the roadway, opens up the possibility of intentionally lowering the vehicle body, without, as specified in DE 101 21 918 B4, a change of the suspension spring, which is implemented in this document as an air spring, having to be performed for this purpose.
It is hereby to be disclosed for such a vehicle wheel suspension, how the energy demand of the pump required to change the height level of the vehicle body above the roadway can be kept low or how, if the minimization of the energy demand is not a paramount goal, such a wheel suspension can be designed particularly safely with respect to the parking of the vehicle. The solution to this object is characterized in that the pump is connected to a pressure accumulator for the fluid and fluid is delivered out of this pressure accumulator into the damper housing or out of the damper housing back into the pressure accumulator, wherein the absolute value of the spring constant of the pressure accumulator is at least in the order of magnitude of the spring constant of the associated suspension spring or, in the case of multiple suspension springs having associated vibration dampers, which are associated with one pressure accumulator, of the spring constants of these suspension springs, or greater.
If a pressure accumulator is provided for the fluid, which is delivered with overpressure by a pump for a desired displacement of the spring support piston in the damper housing, from which pressure accumulator this pump continuously already acquires the fluid under overpressure, of course, less energy is thus required for this fluid delivery than if the pump had to suction the fluid from an "unpressurized" collection container. Energy is also required for the pressure buildup in the pressure accumulator, however, in the event of reasonable activation, a part of the power, which reaches the rebound spring in the event of a spring deflection movement of the vehicle body and is quasi-released in this case, can be used for this purpose. Furthermore, the time factor is a significant advantage of such a pressure accumulator, in that with the aid of its stored energy, a desired displacement of the spring support piston can be displayed within a relatively short time span, while the renewed pressure buildup in the pressure accumulator can be performed extended over time, so that the required delivery power of the pump can be kept relatively low.
According to the invention, the absolute value of the spring constant of the pressure accumulator is at least in the order of magnitude of the spring constant of the associated suspension spring, or greater. A pressure accumulator for a fluid always has a spring element in the broadest meaning, which is tensioned further upon charging of the pressure accumulator with a pressurized fluid. For example, this spring element can be a coiled compression spring element, which is supported on a displaceable piston, which delimits the pressure chamber of the pressure accumulator. Alternatively, a gas spring volume is also possible. Of course, such a spring element of a pressure accumulator has a defined spring constant (also called spring rate or spring stiffness). If this spring constant has the same absolute value as the spring rate of the suspension spring assigned to this pressure accumulator, via which the vehicle body is proportionally supported on the respective wheel of the vehicle, theoretically, in any case, no pump power is required for the displacement of the spring support piston, which is provided in the respective vibration damper, in the sense of tensioning the rebound spring provided therein. However, friction losses are actually to be overcome, for which a small pump power is required. Of course, however, it is then relatively small.
In the explanation of the preceding paragraph, it was presumed that a single vibration damper having a spring support piston, with which a single suspension spring is associated, is associated with a pressure accumulator according to the invention, i.e., this explanation relates to the spring-damper unit in the wheel suspension of a single vehicle wheel. However, this also applies for an arrangement which is optimized with respect to the construction expenditure, in which a single pressure accumulator according to the invention is associated with all wheels of the vehicle (in the case of a passenger automobile, these are the two front wheels and the two rear wheels). Four suspension springs are then active in a parallel arrangement to one another. However, simultaneously four vibration dampers according to the invention, each having one spring support piston, are also provided, which are also active in parallel to one another. Thus, if the spring constants of all suspension springs are equal, such a parallel circuit of the suspension springs to the respective associated vibration dampers thus remains without an effect with respect to a single associated pressure accumulator, i.e., the relationships explained in the preceding paragraph also apply in unchanged form for this purpose. For this reason, it is discussed, that in the case of multiple suspension springs having associated vibration dampers, which are associated with one pressure accumulator, the absolute value of the spring constant of the pressure accumulator is at least in the order of magnitude of the spring constants of the suspension springs or greater. These explained relationships also apply in this case if the spring constants of the multiple suspension springs only differ slightly from one another. However, if significantly harder (or softer) suspension springs (i.e., those having substantially higher or substantially lower spring constant) are installed on one axle of the vehicle than on the other axle of the vehicle, it could be advisable to provide a separate pressure accumulator according to the invention for each of these axles of the vehicle.
Heretofore, only the advantage was explained which results from a substantially equal absolute value of the spring constant of the pressure accumulator and the spring constant of the associated suspension spring(s). If the absolute value of the spring constant of the pressure accumulator is greater than the spring constant of the suspension spring(s) associated with this pressure accumulator, a safety function is provided, with the aid of which, in the event of suitable switching of a valve, which is provided in the hydraulic (or fluidic in general) connection between the pressure accumulator and a chamber (so-called support chamber), which is provided in the damper housing and is delimited by the spring support piston, it can be ensured that the vehicle body moves into its completely lowered position when the vehicle is shut down and also maintains this position until the vehicle is put back into operation. This can be necessary, for example, in low garages or on decks of ferries having a low ceiling height. This mentioned valve must only be opened and remain open and therefore allow a fluidic connection between the pressure accumulator and said support chamber in the damper housing, which can be provided easily and without energy demand using a solenoid valve which is open when deenergized (or an arbitrary bistable valve).
In the sense of an advantageous refinement, the mentioned spring support piston, which, while displaceable in the damper housing, delimits a support chamber fillable with the fluid, is held by a spring element, which is preferably supported on the rebound spring, in such a starting position that the volume of the support chamber, which essentially has ambient pressure, is minimized. With an intentional displacement of this spring support piston and a buildup of over pressure required for this purpose in the support chamber, the force of this mentioned spring element must then be overcome, however, the energy demand required for this purpose can be kept relatively small, if the spring force of this spring element is selected to be as small as possible.
Furthermore, it is proposed, as an operating method for a wheel suspension according to the invention, that a support chamber in the damper housing, which is fillable with the fluid (as which, in addition to a hydraulic medium, a gaseous medium and preferably air can also expressly be used), and via which the spring support piston is supported, is always to be set substantially free of overpressure by delivering fluid back to the pressure accumulator by use of the pump, when the height level of the vehicle body is not to be changed by targeted pre-tension of the rebound spring. Therefore, friction losses in the vibration damper are kept as small as possible. However, it is to be ensured that no overpressure is generated in the support chamber, in particular to avoid an undesired penetration or suctioning of air via piston seals or the like, in particular if a hydraulic medium is used as the fluid. In particular, a corresponding valve can be provided for this purpose in the line from the support chamber to the suction side of the pump, which valve blocks this line upon the presence of ambient pressure in the support chamber and simultaneous suction operation of the pump. Alternatively thereto, a so-called compensation volume can be provided, which can also prevent ambient air from being suctioned into the damper during emptying of the support chamber.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Vehicle wheel suspension with a hydraulic vibration damper

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


A method and a network node (130) for managing a geo-fence for use by a source radio network node (120) are disclosed. The network node (130) receives (A010) indications about signal quality at respective positions of user equipments (110), wherein the user equipments (110) have been subject to hand-overs from the source radio network node (120) at the respective positions, wherein the hand-overs are based on signal quality measured for the user equipments (110). The network node (130) defines (A040) the geo-fence based on the respective positions and the indications about signal quality, wherein the geo-fence defines a geographical area. The network node (130) supports (A050) a hand-over of a user equipment (110) from the source radio network node (120) to a target radio network node (121) while using the geo-fence, wherein the hand-over is performed without measurements, by the user equipment (110), of signal quality towards the target radio network node (121) for the user equipment (110). Moreover, a computer program and carrier therefor are also disclosed.

Within wireless communication, efforts in improving existing systems are currently focused on specifying the so called 5th generation (5G) system architecture.
Disadvantages of existing systems, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Global System for mobile communications (GSM) and the like, include insufficiently efficient power consumption, insufficient capability of handling massive amounts of terminals, and insufficient data rates and coverage in various scenarios.
In an exemplifying scenario, a first radio network node is capable of beam-forming and broadcasts reference signals in a cell representing a coverage area of the first radio network node. A second network node, neighboring to the first radio network node, is also capable of beam-forming and does also broadcast reference signals in a cell representing a coverage area of the second radio network node. In order to reduce power consumption, the first and second radio network nodes may be configured to only sparsely transmit the reference signals, and when possible may be configured to transmit control information using beam-forming. In this scenario, a problem may be how to manage mobility of a user equipment, served by the first radio network node, due to missing reference signals from the second radio network node, which in particular occurs when the second radio network node attempts to save power.
To overcome this problem, it has been proposed to turn on the reference signals for the second radio network node when the user equipment is detected to be located at outskirts of a coverage area for the first radio network node. Then, the user equipment measures the signal quality for the second radio network node. Subsequently, the handover may be performed if the measurement of signal quality is above a threshold value for triggering handover. A disadvantage is that the reference signals consume power.

Method and network node for managing a geo-fence for use by a source radio network node


Provided is an apparatus and method for tracking a position of a fixed node. The position tracking apparatus of the fixed node may include: an interface to extract, from a database in response to the occurrence of an event about tracking the position of the fixed node, packet data corresponding to a mobile node associated with the event; and a processor to analyze a received signal strength of the packet data and a position of the mobile node from the packet data, and to track the position of the fixed node using the analysis result.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus and method that may analyze a position of a mobile node and a received signal strength of packet data using packet data received from the mobile node, and may track a position of a fixed node based on the analysis result.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a node of which a position is to be tracked (hereinafter, an unknown node) in a wireless network may predict a distance from a reference node and may predict the position of the unknown node based on the predicted distance.
A distance prediction scheme may include a Time of Arrival (TOA) scheme for measuring a travel time of an ultrasonic signal, a Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) scheme using a time difference of arrival between two signals of which speeds are different from each other, and a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) scheme using a signal strength.
However, the TOA scheme and the TDOA scheme may require additional hardware for distance measurement or a high performance sight measurement apparatus. Also, in the case of the RSSI scheme, a distance prediction may be inaccurate due to a change in the signal strength according to an environment, a different antenna pattern according to a direction, an obstacle, and the like. In addition, to employ the RSSI scheme, a plurality of reference nodes being aware of their own positions may need to be arranged in a network arrangement area. In general, an installer may directly input the positions of the reference nodes, thereby increasing an arrangement cost and an arrangement time in the substantial arrangement.
Accordingly, there is a need for technology that may track positions of a plurality of reference nodes and also decrease an arrangement cost of a network without using additional hardware.

Apparatus and method for tracking position of fixed node

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods for detecting characteristics of an unhatched egg. A set of images of an unhatched egg are obtained, where each of the spectral images is obtained in a particular wavelength range. The set of images is processed to extract image features, where the image features includes an image texture feature. The extracted image features are processed to classify the unhatched egg according to at least one characteristic. The at least one characteristic may include fertility and/or gender.

Only about 60 to 90% of incubated eggs hatch in commercial hatcheries. Non hatching eggs include infertile eggs or fertile eggs in which the embryos had died during incubation. Infertile eggs, usually comprising up to 25% of all eggs, can find useful applications as commercial table eggs or low grade food stock if they are detected early and isolated accordingly prior to incubation. Discarding of non-hatching eggs has consistently posed significant disposal problems for hatcheries, especially in the case of exploder eggs in a hatching cabinet, resulting in high tendency of transferring molds and bacteria infestation to other eggs. Thus, identification and isolation of infertile eggs have significant economic and safety implications for commercial broiler breeders.
Candling is a technique which illuminates the interior of the egg for the purpose of detecting dead or infertile eggs. However, candling is laborious and prone to errors. Studies have shown that only 5% of total eggs can be candled after ten days of incubation. The difficulty of separating the non-fertile eggs from the remaining non-candled 95% of eggs makes this technique unadoptable to industrial and large scale operations.
The sex of fertile eggs is also among the egg characteristics of interest for the poultry industry. In the layer egg industry, chicks are sexed at hatch and the female birds (that will lay eggs) are considered paramount while the male birds are culled. The opposite is the case with the broiler industry in which the male species are crucial. In either case, discarding of the unwanted chicks creates serious bottlenecks as far as waste disposal and animal welfare issues are concerned.
Several approaches have been used to determine the gender of fertile eggs based on molecular and hormone assays that are laborious and invasive in nature. The techniques are of limited use in the industry as they are unsuitable for automated, high throughput applications.
Other approaches have used computer vision and spectroscopy to determine gender and/or fertility of unhatched eggs. However, such approaches have suffered from various drawbacks, including for example, poor performance on brown eggs, being limited in the data considered (e.g., limited to spatial data or limited to spectral data), being tested only on artificially fertilized eggs, etc.
Therefore, there is a need for improved technology for detecting gender and/or fertility of unhatched eggs.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems, devices, and methods for detecting fertility and gender of unhatched eggs