There is provided an output driver for use in a semiconductor device capable of remarkably improving linearity of impedance by reducing or minimizing a change of an impedance for output data caused due to a change of an external power supply. The output driver for outputting internal data of a semiconductor device to the exterior of a chip comprises a first driving section including a driving transistor to maintain an impedance for applied data at a certain level in response to the data; and a second driving section for compensating for linearity of the impedance in response to an operation signal from the driving transistor of the first driving section and providing an output terminal with the data.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and, more particularly, to an output driver for use in a semiconductor device capable of outputting internal data of the semiconductor device to the exterior of a chip.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Semiconductor devices, such as microcomputers, memory devices, gate arrays and the like, are used in a variety of electrical products such as personal computers, workstations and the like. Such semiconductor devices have input/output pins for transmitting and receiving data to and from external circuits, and an output circuit for providing internal data to external circuits, for example, an output buffer and an output driver circuit. When the semiconductor devices are incorporated in the electrical products, the input/output pins are connected to a transmission line such as a printed wiring on a mounted substrate, and the internal data of the semiconductor device is provided to other semiconductor devices through the transmission line as an interface. In this case, in order that output data of the semiconductor device is optimally transmitted via the transmission line, matching between an output impedance of the input/output pins and an impedance of the transmission line should be performed.
In particular, for a semiconductor device requiring a high-speed operation such as an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), small swing to reduce a swing width of a signal is employed in order to minimize a delay time required for signal delivery and to reduce consumption power. However, as the swing width of the signal is reduced, an effect due to an external noise increases and reflection of an output signal due to impedance mismatching in an interface stage becomes critical. The impedance mismatching is caused by an external noise or a change of power supply voltage, a change of operating temperature, a change of manufacturing process, or the like. Occurrence of impedance mismatching makes high-speed data transmission difficult and may distort a signal outputted from a data output terminal of, the semiconductor device, namely, output data. Accordingly, if a semiconductor device at a receiving side receives the distorted output signal at its input, it causes problems, such as setup/hold fail, determination miss for an input level, or the like.
Hereinafter, configurations and operations of an impedance control circuit and an output circuit for use in a semiconductor memory device will be discussed, in connection with an output driver for use in a semiconductor device in accordance with prior art.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an impedance control circuit (ZQ circuit) and an output circuit for use in a semiconductor device, and FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an output driver for use in a semiconductor device in accordance with prior art. The configuration and operation of the impedance control circuit for use in the semiconductor device will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
The impedance control circuit in FIG. 1 is composed of an impedance detector 110, an impedance comparator 120, a counter 130, a high-level code selector (HCS) 140, and a ZQ driver 150. The output circuit is composed of a data output buffer 160 and an off-chip driver 170 that is an output driver. An external resistor RZQ having a resistance value of about five times the impedance value of an external device is connected between an extra pad ZQPAD of the impedance detector 110 and ground, and the impedance ZQ detector 110 outputs a pad voltage ZQPAD and a reference voltage REFIO. Generally, a level of the reference voltage REFIO is preset to a level of half the output power supply voltage VDDQ/2. The impedance comparator 120 compares the level of the reference voltage REFIO with the level of the pad voltage ZQPAD, and outputs a resultant up-down control signal UDZQ. The counter 130 performs up or down counting in response to the up-down control signal UDZQ, and outputs a control code data CTQx for selectively, placing a MOS array composed of a plurality of MOS transistors at a turn-on or off state. Also, the counter 130 performs a counting operation that increases or decreases the control code data CTQx until the level of the reference voltage REFIO and the level of the pad voltage ZQPAD become the same. Accordingly, the selected MOS transistors are turned on or off, such that the level of the reference voltage REFIO and the level of the pad voltage ZQPAD become identical. In this case, the reference voltage REFIO and the pad voltage ZQPAD become at the same level of VDDQ/2, and a turn-on resistance value of the MOS array and a resistance value of the external resistance RZQ become identical with each other. Consequently, transistors in the off-chip driver 170 are turned on as MOS transistors in the MOS array that are determined to be turned on, resulting in the match of the output impedance with an external impedance. The high-level code selector 140 outputs high-level control code data CTQDx by selecting high-level control code data from a plurality of control code data CTQx that are received in the impedance matching process. The ZQ driver 150 generates driving code data CZQx in response to the selected control code data CTQDx and provides the data to the data output buffer 160 when the off-chip driver 170 is in a high impedance state. Accordingly, previous driving code data CZQx is newly updated according to a change of the selected control code data CTQDx. The updated driving code data CZQx is applied to the data output buffer 160, and only a unit buffer selected from unit buffers in the data output buffer 160 is enabled in response to the updated driving code data CZQx. Accordingly, the enabled unit buffer in the data output buffer 160 receives DATA/DATAB being internal data to be outputted to the exterior, generates pull-up output data DOUx and pull-down output data DODx, and applies them to the off-chip driver 170. Accordingly, a signal level of final output data is determined by the selected transistors in the off-chip driver 170 and is provided to the exterior via the output terminal DQ. An output impedance value for the output data becomes identical with an impedance of an external device through the above-stated impedance control process, thus achieving the impedance matching.
As shown in FIG. 2, the off-chip driver 170 is composed of a pull-up driving section including a first PMOS and a first NMOS transistors 172 and 174 for determining a state of a first node N1 in response to pull-up output data DOUx and a pull-up driving transistor 180 operating according to the state of the first node N1; and a pull-down driving section including a second PMOS and a second NMOS transistors 176 and 178 for determining a state of a second node N2 in response to a pull-down output data DODx and a pull-down driving transistor 182 operating according to the state of the second node N2. The pull-up driving transistor 180 is connected between a third node N3 and an external power supply VDDQ, and is turned on when the first node N1 is in a "L" state, serving to provide an output terminal with the output data. Further, the pull-down driving transistor 182 is connected between a third node N3 and a ground power supply VSSQ, and is turned on when the second node N2 is in a "H" state, serving to provide the output terminal with the output data.
The external power supply VDDQ of the output driver in accordance with the above-described prior art is provided in a voltage level lower than that used by other circuits in a chip in order to embody a small swing interface. In this case, a problem arises in that the external power supply voltage VDDQ provided to an output driver changes with a change of the external voltage, and in turn, an impedance for the output data changes correspondingly. Therefore, since the output data is distorted and outputted, problems arise, such as a setup/hold fail, determination miss for an input level, and the like when the external device receives the distorted output signal.

Output driver for use in semiconductor device


A functional composition is provided that comprises at least one multi-functional Michael acceptor, at least one multi-functional Michael donor, and at least one weakly basic catalyst.

One chemical reaction potentially useful as a curing reaction is Michael addition. For example, US Patent Application 20030083436 discloses a composition, useful as an adhesive, comprising a product of a reaction between an α,β-unsaturated multi-carboxylic acid ester and a particular polyester or polyamide compound with methylene groups adjacent to carbonyl groups, in the presence of a non-amine strong base catalyst such as an alkali alkoxide.
Use of strong base catalysts are well known for Michael addition reactions whereas the use of weak base catalysts for curing at 25° C. or lower is not known, as described by Clemens and Rector (Journal of Coatings Technology, Vol. 61, No. 770, 1989). U.S. Pat. No. 6,855,796 B2 discloses the use of tertiary phosphine weak bases to prepare oligomeric or low molecular weight polymeric, non-cross-linked curable resins which are further cured to high polymer by exposure to actinic radiation. These curable resins are prepared at elevated temperatures (50-90° C.). U.S. Pat. No. 6,855,796 B2, however, does not teach the use of the phosphine weak base catalysts to produce high polymer or cross-linked polymer and does not teach the use of weak bases to effect curing at ambient temperatures. Further, it does not teach the use of weak base catalysts to produce adhesives, including laminating adhesives, two-component or two-pack adhesives, sealants, foams, films or elastomers.
One drawback to previously known compositions is that some catalysts are undesirably toxic or corrosive. Another drawback to previously known compositions is that some catalysts are undesirably reactive with ubiquitous materials (like, for example, air and/or water) and/or with ingredients of the composition before cure and/or with products of the process of curing the composition. One example is the use of soluble strong base catalysts (pKa>11) that may lead to hydrolysis or otherwise degrade reactants or products. Another example is the use of amine bases that can cause discoloration or yellowing. It is desired to provide compositions that are curable with the Michael addition reaction; that cure at room temperature; that are two-pack compositions; and that eliminate the use of catalysts that are undesirably toxic, corrosive and/or undesirably reactive.
Accordingly, the invention provides a functional composition comprising:                (i) a first pack comprising at least one multi-functional Michael acceptor;        (ii) a second pack comprising at least one multi-functional Michael donor;        (iii) optionally, one or more non-functional ingredients;wherein at least one of said first pack and said second pack further comprises at least one weakly basic catalyst; wherein said first pack and said second pack are each storage-stable; and wherein a functional mixture formed by admixing ingredients comprising said first pack, said second pack, and is capable of curing at 23° C. in 7 days or less.
The present invention also provides a functional composition comprising:                (i) a first pack comprising at least one multi-functional Michael acceptor;        (ii) a second pack comprising at least one multi-functional Michael donor;        (iii) optionally, one or more non-functional ingredients;wherein at least one of said first pack and said second pack further comprises at least one weakly basic non-amine, non-phosphine catalyst; wherein said first pack and said second pack are each storage-stable; and wherein a functional mixture formed by admixing ingredients comprising said first pack, said second pack, and is capable of curing at 23° C. in 7 days or less.
The present invention also provides a functional composition comprising:                (i) a first pack comprising at least one multi-functional Michael acceptor;        (ii) a second pack comprising at least one multi-functional Michael donor;        (iii) optionally, one or more non-functional ingredients;wherein at least one of said first pack and said second pack further comprises at least one weakly basic catalyst; wherein said catalyst is selected from the group consisting of sodium salts of carboxylic acids, magnesium salts of carboxylic acids, aluminum salts of carboxylic acids, chromium salts of alkyl carboxylic acids that have 6 or fewer carbon atoms, chromium salts of aromatic carboxylic acids, potassium salts of alkyl mono-carboxylic acids that have 6 or fewer carbon atoms, potassium salts of multi-carboxylic acids, alkali metal carbonates, alkali metal bicarbonates, alkali metal phosphates, alkali metal hydrogen phosphates, alkali metal phosphate esters, and alkali metal pyrophosphates and mixtures thereof; wherein said first pack and said second pack are each storage-stable; wherein a functional mixture formed by admixing ingredients comprising said first pack, said second pack, and said optional non-functional ingredients is capable of curing at 23° C. in 7 days or less.


The present invention relates to an orally-administered gene carrier and a use thereof, and more specifically, to: an oral gene carrier comprising, at the C-terminus of an immunoglobulin Fc region, a linker formed from cationic arginine and enabling the condensation of an anionic gene; and an oral composition for preventing, ameliorating or treating metabolic diseases, the composition comprising the gene carrier and the GLP-1 gene as active ingredients. The gene carrier, according to the present invention, may be usefully employed as an orally-administered carrier for various genes, and especially, is expected to be usable for preventing, ameliorating or treating metabolic diseases, such as diabetes and obesity, by effectively transferring the GLP-1 gene.

Diabetes mellitus, which is known as a representative metabolic disease, is a metabolic disease occurring due to the absence of insulin secretion or action, and is characterized by hyperglycemia. Diabetes mellitus may be roughly divided into type 1 and type 2, type 1 diabetes mellitus is caused by the destruction of β cells in the pancreas by autoimmune mechanisms, viral infections, and the like, and in the case of type 2 diabetes mellitus (abbreviation: T2DM), a reduction in insulin secretion and the insulin resistance to insulin action in target organs such as liver, adipose tissues, and muscle are said to be representative causes. Type 2 diabetes mellitus may be partially improved through exercise therapy, weight loss, and the like, but it is difficult to easily improve type 1 diabetes mellitus due to a reduction in insulin secretion ability, so that a means to supplement insulin from the outside is used.
Drugs currently used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus include insulin agents and hypoglycemic agents, and the most commonly used oral hypoglycemic agents include biguanide which suppresses the synthesis of glucose in the liver, sulfonylurea and glinide which promote insulin secretion by β cells, thiazolidinedione which is an insulin sensitizer, and the like. However, despite combined treatment of these drugs, about ⅓ of patients can regulate blood sugar below the target level, and these hypoglycemic agents or insulin cannot ameliorate or completely treat diabetes mellitus. In addition, the current therapeutic agents for diabetes mellitus are therapeutic agents which are continuously administered because the therapeutic agents have problems such as side effects including induction of hypoglycemia, gastrointestinal disturbances, diarrhea, liver and cardiotoxicity, and the like, so that there is a problem in that strict management is required.
Obesity occurs when adipose tissues in the body are in excess and the amount of calories ingested is greater than the amount of calories consumed, and also occurs due to various causes such as mental and social factors, genetics, diseases, and drugs. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2010, it was reported that the overweight adult population was estimated at about 1.6 billion worldwide and the number of obese people was estimated at about 400 million, and 2.6 million people die from obesity or overweight every year. Even in Korea, according to the reports by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, adult obesity rates have continued to increase, and were shown to be 30% (36.3% male, 24.8% female) based on the year 2010. As described above, the obese population continues to increase worldwide, and the burden of medical expenses is also increasing.
The severity of obesity is more recognized due to various complications which may be induced by obesity than its own risks. Obesity is known to increase the risk of a metabolic syndrome such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus, fatty liver, dysarthrosis, and cancer development. According to an announcement released by the World Health Organization in 2010, the risk of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and the like in obese people is shown to be twice or more as high as that of people with normal body weight (2.5 times higher for hypertension, 2 times higher for diabetes mellitus, 2.3 times higher for hypercholesterolemia, and 2.4 times higher for hypertriglyceridemia). It is known that in addition to the above diseases, when the body fat of a woman is too high, the balance of sex hormones is lost, and when the body fat is severe, the body fat may cause infertility, and increases the risk of endometrial cancer and breast cancer. In addition, since obesity may induce not only physical diseases but also mental diseases such as social isolation or alienation, lack of self-confidence, and depression, the need for preventing and treating obesity is recognized to be very important.
Obesity may be treated through improvement in lifestyles such as behavioral therapy along with dietary therapy and regular exercise, and drugs such as appetite suppressants and fat absorption inhibitors. Since obesity is a chronic disease, long-term use of medication is required when drug therapy is attempted, and currently, products that have been approved for long-term use in Korea for three or more months include sibutramine as an appetite suppressant and orlistat as a lipase inhibitor. However, since most of these drugs for treating obesity are psychotropic drugs that act on the central nervous system to regulate appetite, these drugs are accompanied by side effects such as headaches and vomiting, and have problems such as concerns of abuse. Therefore, studies have been actively conducted to develop a material having high safety, which can solve the side effects of the aforementioned commercially available anti-obesity agents, and having an excellent anti-obesity effect.
Examples of a representative method which may be used to solve such a problem include a therapeutic method using nucleic acid delivery, examples of a method therefor include a method using a viral vector and a method using a non-viral vector. However, since the viral vector uses a carrier extracted from a virus as a raw material, there is a limitation in applying the viral vector in vivo, so that studies have been conducted as a method using a vector based on a polymer which is a non-viral vector. This method basically includes cationic compounds such as polymers, lipids, or inorganic materials, which are capable of binding or adsorbing negatively charged DNA to nano-sized particles. Further, a gene therapeutic method using such a nucleic acid carrier has been highlighted as a promising method for preventing and treating T2MD by treating the origin of T2MD.
Meanwhile, in gene therapy, it is known that a method by oral gene delivery can provide several advantages. First, gene therapy can provides the patient with the convenience because they can avoid injections, and second, gene therapy can deliver a gene to the intestinal epithelial cells using a shorter distance than a method of passing through the blood, so that it is advantageous to maintain the stability of a gene and express the gene after delivery. In addition, an effective oral gene delivery system may be used for systemic delivery of protein drugs because the effective oral delivery system can induce the circulation of proteins by expression and secretion of therapeutic proteins in epithelial cells. Although the concept of oral gene therapy has already been proved, non-viral gene delivery through an intestinal segment has a problem of low expression levels, which suffers from many difficulties. Furthermore, there remains a challenge of effectively controlling the degradation by intestinal enzymes, microorganisms, and digestive juices. However, a carrier preparation by an Fc receptor (FcRn) has the ability to pass through the intestinal epithelial cells, so that it is possible to solve the aforementioned problems due to uptake efficiency.
An Fc region of an antibody serves to recruit immune leukocytes or serum complement molecules, thereby allowing damaged cells such as cancer cells or infected cells to be removed. The site on Fc between the Cγ2 and Cγ3 domains mediates the interaction with a neonatal receptor FcRn and this binding recirculates an intracellularly introduced antibody from an endosome to the bloodstream. This process is associated with the inhibition of kidney filtration due to the enormous size of a full-length molecule, thereby having an advantageous antibody serum half-life ranging from 1 to 3 weeks. Further, the binding of Fc to FcRn also plays an important role in antibody transfer. Therefore, the Fc region plays an essential role in maintaining the prolonged serum persistence of an antibody because the antibody is circulated through an intracellular trafficking and recycling mechanism. Accordingly, in many ongoing clinical studies, many efforts have been made to introduce mutations into an Fc region in order to increase the half-life of the antibody, or to develop a next-generation anticancer antibody therapeutic agent or an anticancer protein therapeutic agent through an Fc domain into which mutations are introduced in order to maximize an antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) effect. However, the results are still incomplete.
Referring to American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines, a drug, which is primarily selected, is metformin, secondary and tertiary drugs are sulfonylurea-based drugs, glinide-based drugs, and thiazolidinedione-based drugs, DPP-4 inhibitors, and the like, and thereafter, an injection such as glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist or an insulin injection has been used. However, in the case of existing oral diabetes therapeutic agents currently used in clinical practice, in addition to the positive aspect of maintenance of sustained normalization of blood sugar, long term use causes various side effects such as induction of hypoglycemia, diarrhea, body weight gain, problems with the cardiovascular system, and liver toxicity and ultimately, the β cells of the pancreas are destroyed, and insulin needs to be finally injected. In addition, since insulin administration, which is the final treatment method, also needs to subcutaneously inject insulin two to three times daily, the method is uncomfortable and is likely to induce hypoglycemia, which is the greatest side effect.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has recently been in the limelight as a next-generation diabetes therapeutic agent to compensate for these problems. GLP-1 and analogs and derivatives thereof show good potential in clinical trials for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and induce numerous biological effects such as stimulation of insulin secretion, inhibition of glucagon secretion, inhibition of gastric emptying, inhibition of gastric or intestinal motility, and induction of weight loss. Further, GLP-1 and analogs and derivatives thereof have a pancreatic protective function even when GLP-1 and analogs and derivatives thereof are taken for a long period of time, have no risk of hypoglycemia, and can maintain suitable blood sugar for a long period of time.
In addition, it is known that the secretion of GLP-1 is stimulated by activation of TGR5 and GPR119, which are types of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), or activation of α-gustducin. In particular, activation of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) TGR5 (GPR131) expressed in brown adipose tissue and muscle exhibits an effect of treating obesity by increasing energy consumption, is known to be associated with amelioration of liver diseases, and is reported to inhibit arteriosclerosis.
However, in vivo, the GLP-1 is cleaved and inactivated by an enzyme called DPP-4, and thus has a very short in vivo half-life, which makes it difficult to be developed as a therapeutic agent, so that various approach methods have been conducted in order to prolong the half-life of GLP-1 or reduce the rate of peptide removal from the body while maintaining biological activity. That is, various GLP-1 analogs as described above have been actively developed, and an approach of fusing GLP-1 to an immunoglobulin Fc region has been attempted (U.S. Pat. No. 7,452,966 B2), but the technology has not progressed sufficiently.


A belt tensioner and method of making the same are provided, the tensioner comprising a support for being fixed relative to a belt, a belt engaging unit carried by the support and being movable relative thereto, a spring operatively associated with the support and the belt engaging unit for urging the belt engaging unit relative to the support and against the belt with a force to tension the belt, and a frictional dampening unit operatively associated with the support and the belt engaging unit to dampen the movement of the belt engaging unit relative to the support, the dampening unit comprising a pair of frictionally engaging first and second parts with the first part comprising an annular pad of friction material that is coaxially disposed and axially movable on a shaft of the support relative to the second part, and a second spring urging the first part against the second part with a certain spring force, the first part of the dampening unit having a guide thereon, one of the support and the belt engaging unit having an opening therein that receives the guide therein to guide axial movement of the first part, the annular pad and the guide of the first part of the dampening unit comprising a one-piece homogeneous member.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a new tensioner for a power transmission belt or the like and to a new method of making such a tensioner.
2. Prior Art Statement
It is known to provide a tensioner for a power transmission belt that is adapted to be operated in an endless path, the tensioner comprising a support means for being fixed relative to the belt, a belt engaging means carried by the support means and being movable relative thereto, first spring means operatively associated with the support means and the belt engaging means for urging the belt engaging means relative to the support means and against the belt with a force to tension the belt, and frictional dampening means operatively associated with the support means and the belt engaging means to dampen the movement of the belt engaging means relative to the support means in at least one direction of movement thereof, the dampening means having a longitudinal axis, the support means comprising a shaft means having a longitudinal axis and being fixed from movement relative to the belt engaging means, the belt engaging means having a portion thereof being rotatably carried by the shaft means so as to rotate relative to the shaft means, the dampening means comprising a pair of frictionally engaging first and second parts with the first part comprising an annular pad of friction material that is coaxially disposed and axially movable on the shaft means relative to the second part, and second spring means urging the first part against the second part with a certain spring force, the first part of the dampening means having guide means thereon, the portion of the belt engaging means having opening means therein that receive the guide means therein to guide axial movement of the first part wherein the first part of the dampening means rotates in unison with the portion of the belt engaging means, the annular pad and the guide means of the first part of the dampening means comprising a one-piece homogeneous member, the second part of the dampening means comprising an end plate secured to the shaft means whereby the end plate remains stationary with the support means as the first part rotates with the belt engaging means relative thereto, the end plate having a cylindrical outer periphery, the portion of the belt engaging means having a cylindrical part disposed substantially concentrically about the cylindrical outer periphery of the end plate, the first part of the dampening means comprising a tubular sleeve-like means disposed between the cylindrical outer periphery of the end plate and the cylindrical part of the belt engaging means to act as a bushing therebetween. For example, see the aforementioned parent U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,734 to Green et al.

Belt tensioner and method of making the same


A liquid crystal display (LCD) overdriving method, an LCD overdriving device and an LCD are disclosed. The LCD overdriving method improves displaying quality and a response speed of the LCD comprising the following steps of: receiving by a scaling controller, a previous frame image grayscale value stored into a frame buffer of the scaling controller; receiving a next frame image grayscale value by the scaling controller and sending the previous frame image grayscale value and the next frame image grayscale value to a time schedule controller so that the time schedule controller looks up a lookup table and outputs an overdriving grayscale value. The present disclosure can effectively save the cost by eliminating the need of providing an additional frame buffer in the time schedule controller. Furthermore, as image grayscale values of only two pixels need to be stored in the time schedule controller, it can save more memory spaces.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to driving of liquid crystals, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal display (LCD) overdriving method, an LCD overdriving device, and an LCD.
2. Description of Related Art
How to shorten the response time of liquid crystals in driving of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) has always been a challenge in the LCD industry. Particularly in presentation of a dynamic image, smearing of the dynamic image will have a serious influence on quality of the image displayed. For example, when the image changes from a previous frame to a next frame, the grayscale value of the image may increase; however, because of the low response speed of liquid crystals, it requires a relatively long time for the grayscale value of the image to reach the expected luminance of the next frame. In order to increase the response speed of the liquid crystals, a practice that is the most commonly used at present is to adopt overdriving; that is, by correcting a grayscale value of the next frame, a corresponding overdriving grayscale value is obtained and then converted into an increased driving voltage to increase a voltage difference across the liquid crystals. In this way, the response speed of the liquid crystals can be increased to shorten the response time thereof.
In a conventional LCD overdriving method, pixel grayscale values of the previous frame are stored in a time schedule controller and pixel grayscale values of the next frame are stored in a scaling controller. Because of the large scale of the pixel data, an additional frame buffer has to be provided between the time schedule controller and the scaling controller to store a whole frame, which considerably increases the area of the printed circuit board (PCB). Furthermore, when the number of pixels increases, the memory space that is needed shall be increased correspondingly. This imposes higher requirements on capacity of the frame buffer and, therefore, leads to a higher cost.

LCD overdriving method and device and LCD

Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.


A loudspeaker enclosure is formed with fins that may be extended to support the enclosure on a surface and retracted into mating recesses to comprise a cosmetically appealing outer surface when the enclosure is suspended.

The present invention relates in general to loudspeaker enclosure mounting above listener, and more particularly concerns novel apparatus and techniques that allow the loudspeaker enclosure for use above the listener""s location to be mounted in a surface, such as the ceiling, or be flown from suspended cables while allowing the flown enclosure to have a pleasing cosmetic appearance.
Loudspeaker enclosures for use above the listener""s location are typically mounted in a surface, such as the ceiling, or flown from suspending cables. A typical prior art approach for maintaining a pleasing cosmetic appearance for a flown enclosure is to use an extra cosmetic casing to present a pleasing cosmetic appearance.
It is an important object of the invention to provide a loudspeaker enclosure for use above the listener""s location that can be readily mounted in a surface, such as the ceiling, and flown from suspending cables with a cosmetically pleasing appearance.
According to the invention, a loudspeaker enclosure includes foldable extendable fins that are extended when mounting in a surface, such as the ceiling, and retracted into mating recesses flush with the sides of the enclosure when flown from suspending cables.
Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Loudspeaker enclosure mounting above listener


Devices, structures, and methods for enhancing devices using dual-doped polycrystalline silicon are discussed. One aspect of the present invention includes a p-type strip having a top, a bottom, two sides, and two ends; an n-type strip having a top, a bottom, two sides, and two ends; and a conductive inhibitor strip that adjoins a portion of one of the two sides of the p-type strip and a portion of one of the two sides of the n-type strip so as to inhibit cross-diffusion between the p-type strip and the n-type strip while electrical connection between n-type and p-type polycrystalline silicon is maintained.

The invention relates generally to semiconductor devices. More particularly, it pertains to enhancing devices that are made from diverse polycrystalline substances so as to inhibit undesired cross diffusion and provide a gate electrode connection.
A semiconductor has a conductivity that can be increased by introducing impurities into the semiconductor. Impurities that add more holes to a semiconductor are called acceptors. A semiconductor with an abundance of holes is called a p-type semiconductor. Impurities that add more electrons are called donors. A semiconductor with an abundance of electrons is called an n-type semiconductor.
One useful electronic device is the diode. The diode is made by forming a p-type semiconductor material adjacent to an n-type semiconductor material. Holes reside in abundance in the p-type semiconductor material but not in the n-type semiconductor material. Electrons reside in abundance in the n-type material but not in the p-type material. This situation creates a discontinuity in the concentration of holes and electrons and allows holes and electrons to diffuse. A metallurgical bond between the p-type and n-type regions forms a depletion region with an electromagnetic field of a magnitude that inhibits the further diffusion of electrons and holes. This effect can be overcome when desired to allow the diode to act as an electronic switch from which other electronic devices can be built.
Modern semiconductor processes may require a p-type semiconductor material to be adjoined to an n-type semiconductor material, but not for the purpose of forming a diode. Such a situation occurs in CMOS inverters where a n-type polycrystalline silicon must connect with a p-type polycrystalline silicon in a diode-free fashion (i.e., short to one another). This is typically done with a metal deposited on both n/p-type of polycrystalline silicon connection said materials. Unfortunately, this connection allows holes and/or electrons to move from their respective starting points through the metal into the oppositely doped material; this cross diffusion is undesirable.
FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view taken from the front of a semiconductor structure 100 and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken from the top of the semiconductor structure 100 according to the prior art. The semiconductor structure 100 includes a gate oxide layer 108 that overlies an n-channel active area 102, a field region 118, and a p-channel active area 120. The n-channel active area 102 includes a p-type well 122 containing highly doped n-type areas 104, as shown in FIG. 1B. These highly doped areas 104 form a drain region and a source region of an n-channel transistor. The highly doped n-type areas 104 are doped with donor impurities. The p-channel active area 120 includes an n-type well 124 containing highly doped p-type areas 104, as shown in FIG. 1B. The highly doped p-type areas 104 are doped with acceptor impurities, and these highly doped p-type areas 104 form a drain region and a source region of a p-channel transistor.
The n-channel active area 102 also includes an n-type polycrystalline silicon strip 110A forming a transistor gate for the n-channel transistor, and the p-channel active area 120 includes a p-type polycrystalline silicon strip 110B forming a transistor gate for the p-channel transistor. A gate cap 112, which is formed from a nonconductive material, overlies both the n-type polycrystalline silicon strip 110A and the p-type polycrystalline silicon strip 110B. A spacer 114 surrounds a portion of the semiconductor structure 100 as shown in FIG. 1B. Both the spacer 114 and the gate cap 112 electrically isolate and structurally support the transistor gates from other conductive layers (not shown) in the semiconductor structure 100
In complementary semiconductor structures, such as CMOS, dual-doped polycrystalline silicon is used to simultaneously form p-channel and n-channel devices. Particularly, an SRAM cell uses a single polycrystalline line to form a gate electrode for both the pull-up device and the pull-down device. This single polycrystalline line is dual-doped with both acceptor impurities and donor impurities shown as portions 110A, B in FIG. 1A.
The n-type polycrystalline silicon strip 110A abuts against the p-type polycrystalline silicon strip 110B. As explained hereinbefore, a diode may undesirably form from the contact of the n-type polycrystalline silicon strip 110A and the p-type polycrystalline silicon strip 110B.
To prevent diode formation, a conductive material 113 is deposited on top of the n-type polycrystalline silicon strip 110A and the p-type polycrystalline silicon strip 110B. This conductive material 113 shorts the two types of polycrystalline silicon strips 110A, B so they are at the same potential.
The problem with this approach is that placing the conductive material 113 on top increases the height of the semiconductor device. Another problem is that the conductive material 113 can create undesired cross-diffusion. Cross-diffusion occurs when impurities from one type of polycrystalline silicon diffuse up through the conductive material 113 and diffuse down to the other type of polycrystalline silicon. This movement of impurities undesirably transforms the designed semiconductor characteristic of the polycrystalline silicon. A further problem is that certain conductive materials may decompose during processing, which forms an undesired dielectric layer that may create parasitic effects.
Typical structures of conduction material 113 result in cross diffusion. This cross diffusion is proportional to the amount of surface area between the doped polycrystalline silicon and conductive material. Therefore, the less contact area between doped polycrystalline silicon and conductive layers the lower the cross diffusion.
Thus, what is needed are structures, devices, and methods for enhancing semiconductor devices to inhibit cross diffusion and enable solutions for gate electrode connections.
An illustrative aspect of the present invention includes a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a dual-doped polycrystalline silicon layer, which comprises a p-type strip and an n-type strip. The p-type strip has a top, a bottom, two sides, and two ends. The n-type strip also has a top, a bottom, two sides, and two ends. One of the ends of the p-type strip abuts against one of the ends of the n-type strip. The semiconductor structure also includes an inhibitor strip that adjoins a portion of one of sides of the p-type strip and a portion of one of the sides of the n-type strip.

Sidewall strap for complementary semiconductor structures and method of making same


A re-entrant radio frequency cavity geometry for a low-pressure microwave electrodeless lamp such as a compact fluorescent lamp is described. The re-entrant cavity makes use of the properties of a re-entrant coaxial cavity resonator. The electrodeless lamp may be fabricated to have a constant input impedance in both the on and off states. In addition, the lamp starts at a lower drive power than present high efficacy, compact fluorescent lamps.

For incandescent lamps, energy is expended in bringing the filament up to its operating temperature The energy supplied to the filament is converted into visible light (short wave radiation) and heat (long wave radiation). The majority of the energy is emitted as heat. Filamented lamps then are necessarily inefficient producers of visible light.
Typical metal halide lamps for commercial lighting produce from 80 to 100 lumens per watt. Even at powers as low as 30 watts, the efficiency can be greater than 50 lumens per watt.
The advantages of an efficient source extend beyond reduced energy consumption. With less heat being generated low cost materials, and assemblies may be used to form the reflectors and lens for the lamps. Smaller, more compact devices are more easily integrated into difficult design conditions, such as those for an aerodynamic lamp.
FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a conventional low pressure electrodeless lamp 10 as known in the prior art. A coupling probe 12 in the form of a rod having an input end and a radiant end is positioned axially in a cylindrical outer conductor 14. Intermediate, and possibly at the axial ends of the center and outer conductors is a volume of gas 16 contained in a transmissive envelope 18, such as a glass envelope. When a radio frequency signal is applied between the coupling probe and the outer conductor, the enclosed gas 16 can be caused to radiate visible, or ultraviolet light. In the later case, the glass envelope may be phosphor coated to generate visible light in the same fashion as a fluorescent lamp. Presently, electrodeless lamps in demonstration are capable of efficiencies of about 110 lumens per watt for an input of about 10 to 20 watts of radio frequency power.
One application of an electrodeless lamp is as a replacement for a standard incandescent lamp. To fabricate a compatible replacement lamp, a suitable power source is needed to convert the alternating current line power to microwave power. If a solid-state power source is used, a serious potential problem may occur in interfacing the lamp with the power source. Since present low-pressure electrodeless lamps require approximately 10 watts of incident power to start, the solid state power source must be capable of delivering a power wave of 10 watts to the off state impedance of the lamp. This power requirement is true even if the starting power wave is the result of multiple reflections. There is then a need for an electrodeless lamp with a low impedance for starting.
Since the off state impedance of existing low-pressure electrodeless lamps is approximately a pure reactance, the power source is required to deliver power to the lamp load with an infinite voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) unless a buffer, such as an attenuator or ferrite isolator is inserted between the power source and the load. Once the lamp starts, the gas is excited and conducts, with the result that the lamp impedance drops dramatically. The demand for an infinite VSWR for starting followed by a normal or low impedance means the power source must be able to withstand the large impedance mismatch, while providing high output power. The conventional electrodeless lamp design then results conflicting needs for high power and large impedance mismatch, which is conventionally resolved by designing an expensive power supply. There is then a need to for an electrodeless lamp that has low starting impedance, and good impedance matching at full power.
Examples of the prior art are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,763,392; 3,942,058; 3,943,401; 4,001,631; 4,001,632; 4,002,943; 4,002,944; 4,041,352; 4,063,132; 4,266,166; 4,266,167; 4,427,921; 4,189,661; 4,427,923; and 4,812,702.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,763,392 Hollister broadly shows a light transmissive sphere containing a high pressure gas that is induced to radiate by an induction coil surrounding the sphere.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,942,058 Haugsjaa shows an electrodeless lamp with means for controlling the discharge to prevent attachment to the envelope.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,943,401 Haugsjaa shows an electrodeless lamp with means for moving a conductor to thereby alter the impedance of the lamp between starting and operating states.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,001,631 McNeill shows an electrodeless lamp with means for adjusting the axial penetration of the inner conductor to thereby alter the impedance of the lamp between starting and operating states.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,001,632 Haugsjaa shows an electrodeless lamp with a network means for impedance matching.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,266,166 Proud shows an electrodeless compact fluorescent lamp with a pear shaped envelope described as being a re-entrant cavity. The cavity is considered a re-entrant gas cavity, but not an electrically resonant cavity. This particular patent is considered a good reference of the technology in general and the discussion therein is hereby included by reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,921 Proud shows an electrodeless ultraviolet light source with a pear shaped cavity denoted as a re-entrant cavity. The cavity is considered a re-entrant gas cavity, but not an electrically resonant cavity.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,189,661 Haugsjaa for Electrodeless Fluorescent Light Source shows a lamp with an outer conductor that is tubular, with and inner rod shaped probe. The gas containment cavity is shown as a cup like structure. The cavity is described as being re-entrant. The cavity is considered a re-entrant gas cavity, but not an electrically resonant cavity.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,002,943 Regan shows an electrodeless lamp with an adjustable microwave cavity. The cavity is designed to be expandable or contractible by threading two wall portions together.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,002,944 McNeill discloses an electrodeless lamp using a resonant cavity to contain the lamp capsule. A tuning element is inserted in the cavity to adjust the cavity resonance.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,041,352 McNeill shows an electrodeless lamp with an included capacitor to assist in lamp starting. On ignition, a switch disconnects the capacitor, allowing full power to flow to the discharge gas.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,063,132 Proud shows an electrodeless lamp with a means for rapidly, and repetitively charging the lamp electrodes.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,923 Proud shows an internal electrodeless lamp for radiating ultraviolet light in combination with an exterior envelope with a fluorescent coating material to transform the ultraviolet light to visible light.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,812,702 Anderson discloses a toroidal coil for inducing a toroidal discharge in a containment vessel. Anderson emphasizes the use of a V shaped torus cross section.


A method and device for automatically estimating a degradation in fuel consumption and in drag of an aircraft. The device comprises a device for calculating a numerical value of the effect of a degradation in performance on the fuel consumption and/or the drag of the aircraft, and an arrangement for displaying this numerical value on a screen in the cockpit of the aircraft.

The present invention relates to a method and a device for automatically estimating in real time a degradation in performance of an aircraft that can lead to negative effects on the fuel consumption and the drag of the aircraft.
More precisely, the object of the present invention is to provide a pilot of the aircraft with a numerical value of the effect of the degradation of said aircraft on the fuel consumption and/or the drag, combined with a warning when the degradation in fuel consumption and/or in drag is judged to be too high with respect to the type of mission to be accomplished.
It is known that many functions onboard an aircraft, in particular a cargo plane, use performance data. These functions notably relate to the guidance of the aircraft over a vertical flight path, or else the calculation of the predictions on consumption of fuel at the destination.
The performance calculations carried out by these functions use reference performance models. These models are formed from databases and from simplified equations of the mechanics of the flight. The databases relate to a standard aircraft, being representative of an average level of performance. The nominal fuel consumption and drag of an aircraft may be deduced from these models.
Thus, when the aircraft exhibits a degraded aerodynamic behavior or engine efficiency, the calculation of the flight path or of the fuel consumption may be optimistic and may no longer correspond to that of the real aircraft.
Accordingly, with the aim of re-adjusting the model used, correction factors from the performance of each aircraft type may be applied during the flight, such as for example penalties on the fuel consumption or on the drag. The operational procedures provided advises pilots against modifying these correction factors during the flight, except in cases for which the cause of a degradation is well identified. Moreover, the correction factors provided to the pilots are, in general, over-estimated in order to take into account the worst case scenario. Two types of possible corrections exist:                corrections which allow the aging of the aircraft to be taken into account. These factors are determined by the airline thanks to a monitoring of the fleet carried out by means of tools that the aircraft manufacturer makes available. These factors can never be modified by the pilot in flight. They are automatically loaded onto the aircraft by the airline or by an intervention of the maintenance crews; and        corrections associated with a given flight. These corrections are inserted by the pilots and are those which are considered by the present device.
Aside from a manual monitoring of the fuel consumption, the pilots do not possess any automatic means that can assist them in estimating the impact on the performance in real time of a degradation that occurred during the flight. This manual monitoring allows the identification of the importance of the degradation after a time depending on the flightplan, but which remains in any case of the order of several tens of minutes, generally around thirty minutes.
Thus, as regards the fuel consumption:                the fuel predictions along the flightplan consider the aircraft to be in a state comparable to that which it was in at the start of the flight, in other words virtually nominal; and        the means for monitoring the correct level of fuel consumption during the flight are essentially manual.
It is known that a significant degradation in the current state of the aircraft can have very significant impacts on its flight. Several cases are possible, and notably:                A/ during a civilian mission, the pilot becomes aware of a degradation of the current state of the aircraft. The real degradation from the fault is, in general, over-estimated by the means available to the pilot, which may lead to a diversion. This situation is of no consequence for safety, but involves high costs for the airline;        B/ during a civilian mission, the pilot becomes aware very late of a degradation of the current state of the aircraft;        C/ during a mission following a pre-calculated flight path, a degradation occurs. The pilot becomes aware of a degradation when the latter generates an effect to which it is sensitive, such as for example a decrease in the margin with respect to the stall or a reduction in its climbing capacities. Certain types of degradation take effect in a gradual manner, when the aircraft is still far from its limits. If the automatic pilot system is active, the pilot does not necessarily notice a change in the behavior of the aircraft. He will have to wait until the maximum performance is requested in order to become aware that the aircraft is degraded; and        D/ during a civilian mission, the cruising phase may be reduced to a minimum. Over the majority of the flight, the aircraft will be climbing or descending, will undergo modifications in true airspeed, will engage turns in order to follow its route and will be subjected to the atmospheric conditions. There is a risk of never (or very rarely) encountering stable conditions, which will accordingly delay the information on the situation to the pilot.

Method and device for automatically estimating a degradation in fuel consumption and in drag of an aircraft


An electronic control device includes a substrate, a plurality of component-mounted wires disposed on the substrate, a plurality of electronic components mounted on the respective component-mounted wires, a common wire coupled with each of the electronic components, an interrupt wire coupled between one of the component-mounted wires and the common wire, and a heat release portion. The interrupt wire melts in accordance with heat generated by an overcurrent. The heat release portion is attached to the common wire and is disposed at a position where a wiring distance from the interrupt wire is shorter than a wiring distance between the interrupt wire and any of the electronic components except for one of the electronic components mounted on the one of the component-mounted wires.

Conventionally, an electronic control device includes a fuse in case of a fault in the electronic control device. In an electronic control device in which small components are densely arranged, because a short-circuit current generated at a short-circuit fault in the small components does not reach a high current, it takes a long time to interrupt by the fuse. Especially when a large fuse is used for protecting a plurality of electronic control devices so as to reduce the number of fuses and a cost, it takes a longer time. Thus, temperatures of the components may be increased at an interruption and a voltage drop in a power supply wire and the like may be caused for a long time. In contrast, in a common wire, such as a power supply wire (e.g., a battery path and a ground path), that supplies electric power required for operating many circuits and many components mounted in accordance with advancement and diversification of electronic control, a relatively high current flows. Thus, an interrupting current of a large fuse disposed in a common wire path is further increased, and the electronic control device does not secure a sufficient interruption performance at a short-circuit fault in each circuit or each component. The above-described issue becomes noticeable, for example, in an electronic control device for a vehicle used at a higher temperature and including many mounted devices.
JP-A-2007-311467 discloses a printed circuit board control device in which an interrupt wire is disposed in a power supply wire in each substrate. If an overcurrent flows, the interrupt wire melts and the power supply wire is interrupted in each substrate or each device.
On a substrate in which components are densely mounted, a component-mounted wire, such as a land, on which an electronic component is mounted, and a common wire shared by the electronic component and a plurality of other electronic components are disposed adjacent to each other. Thus, heat generated at melting of the interrupt wire may be transmitted to the other electronic components through the common wire and the heat may have adverse effects on other electronic components. For example, a solder that couples the common wire and one of the electronic components may be melt by the heat.
In addition, on a substrate in which components are densely mounted, a wire, such as a land, on which an electronic component is mounted, and a plurality of other electronic components are disposed adjacent to each other. Thus, when an interrupt wire is simply provided to the wire, high temperature generated at the interrupt wire by an overcurrent may be transmitted to the adjacent electronic components, for example, via the substrate, and the adjacent electronic components may be subjected to the high temperature. As a result, adverse effects such as a decrease in performance and a decrease in life may be caused in the adjacent electronic components. In particular, in cases where characteristics of the electronic components change with temperature, the electronic components may operate abnormally.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Electronic control device including interrupt wire


A storage case is provided for power tool accessories. The storage case comprises a first frame member having an inner surface and an edge defining a hinge portion, and a second frame member having an inner surface and an edge defining a hinge portion. A rod is positioned along a longitudinal axis of the storage case. The hinge portions of the first and second frame members are coupled to the rod to define a hinge positioned along a longitudinal axis of the storage case. The first and second frame members are pivotal with respect to each other between an open position and a closed position. An accessory receptacle, including a hinge boss, is received by the rod. When the first and second frame members are in the open position, the accessory receptacle is slidable along the rod between a plurality of axial positions. When the first and second frame members are in the closed position, the accessory receptacle is fixed in one of the axial positions within an interior cavity defined by the inner surfaces of the first and second frame members.

The present invention relates to power tools, and more particularly to a storage case for accessories for power tools.
Interchangeable accessories are generally used with power tools. The accessories can be of various dimensions and utility. Such accessories are typically stored in a tool box or other storage case separate from the power tool. Storing the accessories together in a storage case minimizes the risk of misplacing the accessories or damaging the accessories. Since the accessories may be of various length, it is desirable to provide a storage case that is adjustable for different size accessories.


A semiconductor chip includes a plurality of pads; input/output circuits connected with the plurality of pads, respectively; a product data storage section configured to store a product data; and a setting section configured to set to an active state, each of the input circuits which is connected to one of the plurality of pads used for input to an internal circuit, and each of the output circuits which is connected to one of the plurality of pads used for output from the internal circuit, and set remaining input/output circuits to an inactive state, based on the product data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor chip and a semiconductor device including the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A package for a semiconductor chip to be installed is sometimes different depending on a user, even if the semiconductor chip is same. For this reason, a designer of the semiconductor chip needs to consider the arrangement of pads in advance so as to permit the semiconductor chip to be installed in various packages. Usually, the pad on the semiconductor chip and a lead of the package is electrically connected through a bonding wire. When the same semiconductor chip is installed on the packages in which the numbers of leads (pins) are different, the numbers of the pads to be connected through the bonding wires to the leads of the packages are different. Thus, there are the pads that are not connected through the bonding wire to the leads of the package, namely, so-called free pads. Since this free pad is in an electrically floating state, a signal applied to the adjacent wiring or other pad may be picked up as noise. Therefore, an international circuit may be erroneously operated through an input circuit or output circuit connected to the free pad. For this reason, the erroneous operation can be prevented by changing the wiring pattern to be used and pulling up or down a signal line connected to the free pad, depending on the package. However, the position of the free pad is different for each package on which the semiconductor chip is installed, or for each user even if the packages are same. The change of a wiring pattern on the semiconductor chip for each package to be used to pull up and down the free pad increases the manufacture cost of the semiconductor chip. Also, the management cost and delivery time of the semiconductor chip are also increased.
As the technique related to a process for the free pad, a so-called bonding option circuit is known. For example, Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-A-Heisei, 11-17119) discloses a technique in which leakage current is decreased in the bonding option circuit. A bonding option selecting circuit includes an input for receiving a first signal, an output for outputting the first signal, and a switching circuit connected between the input and the output. This switching circuit includes a section for generating a second signal. Also, the switching circuit provides a current path for the first signal. When the second signal is given, the first signal is transferred along the current path. That is, in a case of a free pad being not bonded, in the bonding option selecting circuit, a potential of the pad is fixed by a pull-down circuit composed of a transistor, and a signal of a low level is sent to the internal circuit. When the pad is bounded to a power source, the bonding option selecting circuit operates so as to hold the signal of a high level applied to the pad through a flip-flop in response to a timing signal sent from the internal circuit and send the signal of the high level to the internal circuit, in order to decrease the leak current. Therefore, the bonding option selecting circuit fixedly outputs to the internal circuit, the signal of the level corresponding to the bonded state of the pad. In this way, the signal level of the signal line connected to the free pad can be fixed to prevent an erroneous operation. However, in this circuit, the signal line that is not at the fixed level cannot be connected to the pad.

Semiconductor chip and semiconductor device including the same


An electrical switch comprising a casing, an operator, a plurality of fixed contacts and a moving contact. The moving contact is movable by the operator to come into contact with and out of contact from the fixed contacts. The casing has a hole for insertion of an electric cable. At least one of the fixed contacts has a resilient end positioned behind the hole and deflectable inwards by an end of the cable upon insertion, a part integral with the contact end, and a separate conductor in electrical contact with the contact part and positioned adjacent the contact end. The contact end is operable to press the cable end, while being deflected thereby, against the conductor, together providing a double-aided electrical contact to the cable end.

The present invention relates to an electrical switch and, more particularly but not exclusively, to a rotary switch.
Electrical switches are normally connected by electric cables to other parts of an electrical circuit. For those switches having external terminals, the cables are often connected thereto by soldering. Cable connection of the self-gripping type is known, in which an internal fixed contact is configured to have a resilient end behind a hole. Upon insertion of an electric cable into the hole, the contact end is deflected inwards to thereby grip the cable end against a surface on the opposite side. As the grip of the contact end upon the cable end is often small in area, the resulting contact may not be satisfactory in terms of contact resistance.
The invention seeks to mitigate or at least alleviate such a problem by providing an improved electrical switch.
According to the invention, there is provided an electrical switch comprising a casing, an operator supported by the casing for movement, and a plurality of fixed contacts and a moving contact in the casing. The moving contact is movable by the operator to come into contact with and out of contact from the fixed contacts. The casing has a hole for insertion of an electric cable. At least one of the fixed contacts has a resilient end positioned behind the hole and deflectable inwards by an end of the cable upon insertion, a part integral with the contact end, and a separate conductor in electrical contact with the contact part and positioned adjacent the contact end. The contact end is operable to press the cable end, while being deflected thereby, against the conductor, together providing a double-sided electrical contact to the cable end.
Preferably, said at least one fixed contact, including the conductor, has a generally triangular structure.
More preferably, said at least one fixed contact has one section providing the contact end and another section providing the contact part, the two sections together with the conductor representing respective sides of the structure.
In a preferred embodiment, said at least one fixed contact comprises a generally Z-shaped body having a front section for contact by the moving contact, a rear section providing the contact end, and a middle section extending therebetween.
More preferably, the fixed contact body includes a bend between the front and middle sections, the bend providing the contact part.
It is preferred that the casing includes a side wall having an inner surface, lying against which the conductor is fixed.
It is further preferred that the conductor has one end engaged by a recess adjacent the inner surface and an opposite end pressed by the contact part against the inner surface.
In a specific construction, the operator is supported within the casing for rotation, the fixed contacts are disposed around the operator, and the moving contact is mounted on the operator for rotation therewith.
More specifically, the electrical switch is a rotary switch with the operator being rotatable over 360xc2x0 in opposite directions.


The cardiac pulmonary resuscitator improved patient valve has a top and bottom portion joined together forming a cylindrical housing. A diaphragm is mounted between the housing top and bottom portions through which air passes to and from the patient. A rigid tubular port integral with the top portion has a first opening outside the housing and a second opening inside the top portion. A pair of stops on each side of the second opening prevents the diaphragm from blocking air into the rigid tubular port so that some air to and from the patient flows through the rigid tubular port to an air sampling device for making a reading.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a cardiac pulmonary resuscitator apparatus, More particularly it relates to a cardiac pulmonary resuscitator apparatus having an improved patient valve with an integral air sampling port.
2. Description of Prior Art
Cardiac pulmonary resuscitator apparatus is known and used frequently in emergency medical procedures and in hospital or patient care settings, Medical technicians use the resuscitator apparatus to restore a patient's breathing pattern or to assist a patient who can not breath on their own.
An emergency medical technician squeezes a resuscitator bag attached at a first end to a valve causing air to flow through the valve and into the patient's lungs via a face mask or endotracheal tube attached to the valve, An oxygen reservoir bag may be attached to the resuscitator bag at a second end to administer air flow to the patient, Various air sampling devices are used with the resuscitator apparatus to make readings of the air pressure and carbon dioxide level that is emanating from the air source and patient's lung, The air sampling devices are attached to the resuscitator apparatus intermediate the face mask or endotracheal tube and the valve by way of a connector, This type of external attachment necessitates additional components and expending time for proper connection of those additional components as well as adding dead space in the patient cycle. In many emergency situations the expenditure of time for proper connection of the air sampling device could be critical. There is a need for a cardiac pulmonary resuscitator apparatus with an integral air sampling port in the valve portion of the apparatus for quick and efficient engagement with an air sampling device.
In a hospital or patient care setting patients are often administered air continuously through a ventilator circuit which must be serviced every forty-eight hours. The resuscitator apparatus is used to assist a patient's breathing while the ventilator circuit is being serviced. The patient is placed back on the ventilator circuit after it is fully serviced whereby the resuscitator apparatus is disposed of. The disposal of the resuscitator apparatus causes excessive material waste as well as additional cost to the hospital or patient care facility. There is a need for a filtering attachment intermediate the resuscitator bag and patient valve that will prevent contamination of the resuscitator bag and enable the resuscitator bag to be reused thereby limiting hospital material waste and lowering costs.

Cardiac pulmonary resuscitator apparatus valve with integral air sampling port


A display device includes an image forming unit, a projection unit, a main body, and a position correcting unit. The image forming unit includes a display surface and forms an image on the display surface. The projection unit projects a virtual image corresponding to an image on a target space by using output light from the image forming unit. The main body is equipped with an image forming unit and a projection unit. The position correcting unit changes a display position of a virtual image relative to the main body on the basis of an orientation signal representing an orientation of the main body. The position correcting unit includes a plurality of correcting units that change a display position of a virtual image by using different means. The position correcting unit selects at least one correcting unit from a plurality of correcting units in accordance with a frequency component of an orientation signal, and causes the selected correcting unit to change a display position of a virtual image.

Conventionally, there has been known, as a vehicle display device, a head-up display device that superimposes and displays an information image from an image forming unit (image display) into a visual field of a driver (see, for example, PTL 1).
A display device disclosed in PTL 1 is configured to cause light generated by a display surface of an image forming unit to enter a windshield (window member) through a projection lens and guide the light from the display surface to a driver by causing the windshield to reflect the light. The display device disclosed in PTL 1 includes means for detecting a vibration state of a vehicle and a driving device that drives a projection lens, and changes a superimposition position of an image (virtual image) within a visual field of a driver by displacing the projection lens in accordance with a direction of vibration displacement. PTL 1 discloses a technique of reducing vibrations of a virtual image due to vibrations of a vehicle equipped with a display device.

Display device and moving body having display device

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


Method for operating a soldering device and soldering device, wherein a graphic representation of at least part of the soldering device is captured, wherein an instantaneous operating state of the soldering device is determined by means of automated processing of the graphic representation dependent on information about the soldering device from the graphic representation, characterized in that the information about the soldering device is determined dependent on a reference representation of at least part of the soldering device, wherein the reference representation is captured as a graphic representation or wherein the reference representation is read as a graphic representation from a memory, and in that the reference representation characterizes a degree of oxidation of solder (122) when the solder (122) flows out over at least part of a surface (124) of a soldering nozzle (116).

The invention relates to a method for operating a soldering device and to a soldering device which is designed to carry out this method.
Conventional soldering devices comprise a crucible for solder and a soldering nozzle that protrudes from the crucible. Solder heated in the crucible is pumped through an opening of the soldering nozzle by means of an induction pump in a direction opposite to gravity. The solder flows along an outer surface of the soldering nozzle and back into the crucible due to gravity. This produces a solder wave.
In soldering operations, it is important to ensure the use of a suitable soldering nozzle and solder wave having suitable properties such as solder wave height and uniform outflow of the solder over a surface of the soldering nozzle.
JP H07-131143A and EP 2 138 259 A1 disclose methods for operating a soldering device and associated soldering devices having features of the preamble of claim 1.

Method for operating a soldering device, soldering device


According to one implementation an apparatus for bacterially disinfecting a surface is provided. The apparatus includes a flexible body that contains therein at least one radially emitting optical fibers that is configured to emit bacterial disinfecting light. The radially emitting fibers having an axial and/or radial freedom of movement within a channel in which it is housed inside the flexible body such that when the flexible body changes shape the axial and/or radial freedom of movement reduces the amount of tensile stress applied along the length of the radially as compared to an amount of tensile stress that would otherwise be applied to the radially emitting fiber in an absence of the axial and/or radial freedom of movement of the radially emitting fiber inside the channel.

Unwanted and dangerous bacteria growth can occur on or in devices that are commonly used to treat patients. These devices may include tracheal intubation devices that are susceptible to bacteria growth at the intubation tube and ventilator tubing set connection location, and externally on the external surface of the intubation tube, bite block and ventilator tube holder. Hospital acquired infections account for a substantial yearly expense to hospitals and insurance companies, and are a major cause of extending hospital stays for patients.
Unwanted and dangerous bacteria growth can occur on or in devices outside the medical field. Examples of non-medical devices include equipment or components of water processing plants, food processing plants, dairies, livestock habitation facilities, etc.


The present disclosure is directed towards a system and method for reducing tandeming effects in a communications system. The method may include receiving, at a speech decoder, an input bitstream associated with an incoming initial speech signal from a speech encoder. The method may further include determining whether or not coding is required and if coding is required, modifying an excitation signal associated with the bitstream. The method may also include providing the modified excitation signal to an adaptive encoder.

In the areas of telephony, data networking, and telecommunications there has been a shift from analog to digital, wired to wireless, and a continuous migration of some voice calls from conventional time division multiplexing ("TDM") networks to packet based internet protocol ("IP") networks. In a typical communication application such as a wireless cellular system and Voice over Internet Protocol ("VoIP") system, the speech signal might be encoded and decoded several times.
Codec tandeming is a challenging problem in the field of voice quality assurance ("VQA"). The voice quality degradation due to codec tandeming has been a significant problem over the past few decades in the fields of speech coding, speech recognition, and voice enhancement.
If the same coder is involved, it is generally referred to as self-tandeming. If other coders are involved, it is generally referred to as cross-tandeming. In the case of self-tandeming of two G.729 coders as an example, typical voice quality degradation in terms of the Perceptual Evaluation of Speech Quality ("PESQ") mean opinion score ("MOS") for a clean speech file is about 0.2 to 0.5 depending on the test speech files.
Due to the voice quality degradation caused by codec tandeming, the effect on codec tandeming over speech recognition accuracy has been widely studied. It is noted that for medium bit rate or low bit rate coders below 13 kbps, the speech recognition accuracy rate is significantly impacted by codec tandeming. For example, for an FS-1016 CELP coder with a 4.8 kbps bit rate the speech recognition word accuracy rate is decreased from 81.86% for one coder to 41.54% for five coders in tandem. The word error rate ("WER") for clean speech using a GSM Full Rate ("GSM-FR") coder with a bit rate of 13 kbps is changed from 13.30% for one coder to 23.75% for three coders in tandem.

System and method for reducing tandeming effects in a communication system


The present invention discloses a non-pyrotechnic, light emitting projectile for marking and illuminating a target. The projectile generally contains a main body having frangible side walls, at least one frangible ampoule containing chemiluminescent reactant components, a substantially incompressible filler material positioned between the frangible side walls and ampoule, and a first and second end cap. The first end cap is designed to be traversable between a first position and a second position upon impact with an object, thus provides a force sufficient to rupture the frangible side walls and ampoules. Rupture of the ampoules causes intermixing of the chemiluminescent reactant components and formation of a chemiluminescent slurry. The second end cap provides sufficient energy transfer to the chemiluminescent slurry upon impact with a target to disperse the chemiluminescent slurry radially and outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the main body.

Military and law enforcement personnel worldwide employ a variety of grenade devices, both hand thrown and rifle launched. Payloads include lethal and non lethal explosive charges, chemical agents such as tear gas, smoke, and combinations of elements to create a blinding light and loud noise to disrupt the target ("flash-bang"). Other versions provide a pyrotechnic light source to illuminate an area or target for remote reconnaissance. In addition, in the training of military and law enforcement personnel, a need exists for detecting the accuracy and effectiveness of the trainee's ability to strike an intended target in daylight or darkness. This is important not only for personnel training, but also to determine the effectiveness of various equipment systems, and as a means of calibrating such systems. Training with explosive or pyrotechnic devices present health and safety hazards to the training personnel. While the use of reduced energy devices lessens these hazards, an inherent risk of injury remains as these products employ pyrotechnic reactions or other potentially dangerous stored energy means of activation.
Any grenade that incorporates pyrotechnics is inherently dangerous and presents the risk of unintended ignition of the target or nearby materials. This is problematic in law enforcement deployments where collateral damage is typically undesirable. In many situations the risk of ignition or secondary explosion exceeds the benefits of illuminating the target area, such as when chemicals, flammables, munitions, or other explosive materials may be in or near the target area. Alternative means of illumination, such as use of incandescent lighting can be effective. However, use of direct incandescent lighting is disadvantageous because it reveals the position of the light source and can only illuminate the objects or surfaces it contacts directly. Such directed lighting cannot bypass an opaque barrier, thereby leaving a shadowed area available for concealment.
To overcome the deficiencies of pyrotechnic systems, non-pyrotechnic systems, such as chemical light, has been utilized in both training and real life situations. Typical chemiluminescent light systems produce light by employing a two-component system to chemically generate light. Chemiluminescent light is produced by combining two components, a chemical solution referred to as the "oxalate" component and a chemical solution referred to as the "activator" component. The two components are kept physically separate by a sealed, frangible, glass vial containing one component which is housed within an outer flexible container containing the other component. Typically, this outer container is sealed to contain both the second component and the filled, frangible vial. Forces created by intimate contact with the internal vial, e.g. by flexing, cause the vial to rupture, thereby releasing the first component, allowing the first and second components to mix and produce light. Since the objective of this type of device is to produce usable light output, the outer vessel is usually composed of a clear or translucent material, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, which permits the light produced by the chemiluminescent system to be transmitted through the vessel walls.
Systems utilizing chemiluminescent light output may be designed so as to transmit a variety of colors by addition of a dye or fluorescent compound to one or both of the chemiluminescent reactant compositions or to the vessel. Furthermore, the device may be modified so as to only transmit light from particularly chosen portions thereof. A remotely deployable chemiluminescent system allows the user to easily change positions without affecting the lighting location. Moreover, deployment of chemiluminescent materials provides an illumination that can adhere to it adheres to a target an individual or vehicle so marked is easily and readily identified.
Although pyrotechnic devices have been used to provide colored smoke detections systems, the color and types of illumination is limited. In practice, the ability to use different colors of light and marking by law enforcement and military personnel to indicate differing meanings is vital to the development of an effective system. Moreover, in many situations it is highly desirable for military and law enforcement personnel to have the capability of marking a target non-visibly so that targeted individuals remain unaware of the illumination. To achieve such a goal, invisible radiation in the infrared and ultraviolet can be produced by chemiluminescent reactions.


A robot arm for an industrial robot, including a first arm part and a second arm part, where the second arm part is rotatably journalled in the first arm part for rotation about a first axis of rotation, characterized in that the second arm part includes a tubular member, rotatably journalled in the first arm part, so that the tubular member is configured to support the robot arm.

When designing industrial robots, it is common to arrange the cable harness, necessary for the robot, internally of the robot. For welding robots, it is equally common for the cable harness to be arranged so as to extend outside the upper arm of the robot up to an offset welding gun. This provides a space-demanding arrangement. In the case of internally extending cable harnesses, there is always a risk of hooking onto, for example, a workpiece, such as a car body. The risk of hooking is especially great if the cable harness is running freely outside the upper arm of the robot up to the tool.
In both externally and internally extending cable harnesses, problems with deformation and torsion of cables and wires arise. Problems arise in particular when the robot is to be able to bend its wrist more than 90°. Cables, for example for electric power to welding electrodes, power supply to tools and robot, electric signal cables for transmission of information from sensors at the welding head, hoses for compressed air and coolant etc. are to manage the necessary bending while simultaneously rotating in spite of the fact that they provide considerable resistance to such bending and rotation.
When positioning the working tools of an industrial robot, problems arise when the cable harness extends externally. The rapid movements of the robot result in an externally extending cable harness flinging round the upper arm of the robot and result in a deterioration of the working accuracy of the robot. The solution so far has been to control the speed and hence reduce the speed of the robot before, for example, welding operations in order to reduce the unwanted movements of the cable harness and hence to attempt to maintain an acceptable welding accuracy.
The term cable harness here refers to a process cable harness, which may be surrounded by a casing for, for example, welding electrodes, power supply for the tool itself and/or power supply to the robot. In addition, the term comprises spare wires for, for example, the various requirements of the client.
The prior art comprises industrial robots for, for example, welding applications, which are arranged with the process cable harness extending with a considerable offset with respect to the three axes of rotation in the upper arm. These solutions are space-demanding.
One long-felt need is that of a space-saving robot. The need primarily applies to a space-saving upper arm and wrist, which may enter into narrow spaces. To this is to be added the robot user's need of a flexible robot design that facilitates replacement of robot application. When manufacturing car bodies, for example, there is a need of a compact robot arm for welding applications, that is, a robot arm provided with a welding cable harness.
This need cannot be fulfilled by any of the industrial robots disclosed in the cited documents.

Industrial robot with tubular member for a cable harness


A diode structure and a manufacturing method are disclosed. The diode structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer and an epitaxy layer. The semiconductor substrate includes a first surface. The first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer are extended toward the interior of the semiconductor substrate from the first surface by implanting a dopant. Both of the semiconductor types of the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer are opposite to the semiconductor type of the semiconductor substrate. The epitaxy layer is formed on the first surface, connected with the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer and extended outwardly from the first surface. The first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer are connected with each other, continuously. The concentration distribution of the dopant within the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer is in a discontinuous curve.

Diodes are one of the common components in circuit systems and are widely utilized in various devices. Diodes in different structures can be applied for different purposes. For example, transient voltage suppressions (TVS) are used for protecting the circuits from voltage peaks transmitted through the wires. One of the parameters affecting the performance of TVS is junction capacitance (Cj). More specifically, if the junction capacitance of TVS is too high, the current withstand ability of TVS will be affected and cause signal attenuation. Therefore, how to achieve low junction capacitance is one of the necessary considerations when manufacturing TVS.
Generally, TVS has higher doping concentration than other diodes. However, when implanting and driving in antimony (Sb) into the heavily-doped P+ type substrate by current TVS manufacturing process, the N+ type buried layer often has a problem of poor uniformity. This problem causes the junction capacitance between the N+ type buried layer and the P+ type substrate to be high and difficult to be controlled in a stable range, which means the margin of error is large. Consequently, TVS does not work well enough to effectively provide the function of protecting the circuit.
Therefore, there is a need of providing a diode structure and a manufacturing method thereof to address the above-mentioned issues in prior arts, so as to improve the stability of diodes and achieve the efficacy of effectively protecting the circuits.

Diode structure and manufacturing method thereof


A biological tissue equivalent phantom unit to be used by the specific absorption rate measuring system for evaluating absorption of electromagnetic wave energy includes a biological tissue equivalent phantom for absorbing an electromagnetic wave. In addition, two or more electro-optical crystals are arranged at two or more measurement points in the biological tissue equivalent phantom. The electro-optical crystals have a dielectric constant that is approximately equal to that of the biological tissue equivalent phantom. Two or more optical fibers are laid in the biological tissue equivalent phantom for optically connecting each of the electro-optical crystals to an external destination.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a biological tissue equivalent phantom unit (phantom unit) used by a specific absorption rate measuring system for evaluating absorption of electromagnetic wave energy; a specific absorption rate measuring system using the phantom unit; and a method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years and continuing, requirements are increasing for quantitatively evaluating a thermal effect caused by an electromagnetic wave emitted by a wireless radio transmitter; and a system that is capable of accurately and swiftly measuring a specific absorption rate (SAR), which is an index of the reaction of the electromagnetic wave on a living body, such as a human, is desired.
A SAR value is proportional to an electric field (|E|2), and is often used for evaluating the energy absorbed by a human body when a cellular phone is used near the human body, SAR being defined by the following Equation 1.SAR=σ|E|2/ρ  [Equation 1]
Here, σ and ρ represent conductivity [S/m] and density [kg/m3], respectively, of the biological tissue equivalent phantom.
Usually, when measuring SAR, an electric-field measuring method is used, wherein a short dipole detects an electric field generated in a medium (live body), which electric field is converted into SAR using Equation 1.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional specific absorption rate measuring system 100 that includes                a simulated body (phantom) 101 that simulates an electric constant of a human body with liquid,        a container 102 into which the liquid is provided,        a probe 103 for detecting an electric field,        a probe scanner 104,        a signal cable 105,        an electric field detection apparatus 106, and        a processor apparatus 107 for measurement operations and data analysis.
Here, the electric field generated in the phantom is measured by arranging a measuring target instrument 108, such as a cellular phone, near the specific absorption rate measuring system 100 as shown in FIG. 1. The probe 103 for detecting the electric field is scanned in three dimensions by the probe scanner 104, and SAR is measured.
FIG. 2 shows another specific absorption rate measuring system 200 that includes                a phantom 121 that simulates the electric constant of the human body with a solid-state object,        a probe 122 for detecting the electric field,        a cable 123 for signal transmissions,        an electric-field detection apparatus 124,        a processor apparatus 125 for measurement operations and data analysis, and        a scanner 126.
The electric field generated in the phantom is measured by arranging a measuring target instrument 127, such as a cellular phone, near the specific absorption rate measuring system 200 as shown in FIG. 2. However, unlike the conventional example shown by FIG. 1, the cellular phone 127 is moved by the scanner 126, and SAR is measured.
In either of the conventional examples, the probe 103 or 122, as applicable, for detecting the electric field is required. Each of the probes 103 and 122 for detecting the electric field includes a detecting element 110 as shown in detail on the right-hand side of FIG. 1. There, an electric field is detected by short dipole elements 111 and 112. Then, the electric field is detected by a Schottky diode 113 inserted in a gap, and a detected result in the form of an electrical signal is provided to the corresponding electric-field detection apparatuses 106 and 124 through high resistance wires 114. That is, the Schottky diode 113 detects a voltage generated by the short dipole elements 111, 112 formed with conductors, the length of which is about 2 to 5 mm.
However, since the short dipole antenna and the high resistance wires, both being conductive, are present in the electric field to be measured, the electromagnetic field distribution near the detecting element 110 is disturbed. This is a problem of the electric-field measuring method. Further, since it is difficult to reduce the length of the dipole elements 111, 112, it is expected that the disturbance will become greater as the frequency becomes higher.
Then, in an attempt to reduce the disturbance to the electromagnetic field generated by the measuring target 108, 127 (e.g. a cellular phone), the disturbance being due to the probe 104, 122 for detecting the electric field, an electric-field sensor 300 using an optical waveguide type modulator and a laser beam has been developed as shown in FIG. 3.
The electric-field sensor 300 includes a laser luminous source 131, an electric-field probe 132, an optical waveguide type modulator 133, a minute dipole 134 that consists of metal, and an optical receiving unit 135.
Since the electric-field sensor 300 is configured only by dielectric materials, except for the minute dipole 134, it is capable of measuring the electric field with a precision that is higher than the electric-field detecting methods that use the high resistance wires.
Nevertheless, since the short dipole is used according to the electric-field measuring method using the electric-field sensor 300, wherein the optical waveguide type modulator and the laser beam are used, the disturbance remains, although the disturbance becomes smaller than in the case of the electric-field measuring methods using the high resistance wires. Further, since the probe for detecting the electric field, or a 3-dimensional electric-field sensor, is moved in the liquid phantom for measuring SAR, the liquid (a phantom solvent) is agitated, and noise is generated by vibration of the probe or sensor. If a time until the solvent settles into a steady state is waited for in order to avoid the noise, measurement will take a long time. If two or more electric-field sensors are arranged in two dimensions or three dimensions in the phantom in order to shorten the measuring time, the aggregate of the sensors (short dipoles) will behave as a conductor, and will generate a great disturbance to the electromagnetic field to be measured. Consequently, a SAR distribution that is different from actual may be measured, which is a problem.

Specific absorption rate measuring system, and a method thereof

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation