The present invention discloses an apparatus for rotatably attaching a sensor to a cable. A cable mount having a groove about a substantial portion of its periphery is fixedly placed on the cable. A sensor mount having a key adapted to slide along the groove is rotatably placed on the cable in a manner which enables the key to remain in the groove when the sensor mount rotates about the cable.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the use of seismic sensors in geophysical exploration and more particularly to apparatus for attaching a seismic sensor to a cable.
2. Description of the Related Art
In geophysical (seismic) exploration, a seismic source is used to introduce a seismic signal into the earth. The seismic signal propagates through the earth in the form of a wavefront. As the wave front impinges upon the substrata layers (structural changes), a portion of the wavefront is reflected back to the earth's surface. The reflected waves are recorded by a plurality of spaced-apart sensors. The recorded data is processed to obtain geophysical information about the substrata.
To perform seismic exploration on land, in shallow water and marsh land, geophones are typically used as sensors for recording the reflected waves. Commercially available geophones for use in seismic exploration typically are magnetic type geophones. Such a geophone contains a coil and a magnet, wherein either the magnet or the coil is fixed to a housing, while the other element is freely suspended from the housing. The relative motion between the coil and the magnet produces an electromotive force between the coil and the magnet, which produces an electrical voltage (signal) that is proportional to the velocity of the motion. Such geophones require vertical or near vertical placement for optimal results.
In land seismic exploration, geophones are implanted on the earth's surface so that the geophones will remain vertical and move with the earth in response to seismic disturbances. In shallow waters and marsh lands spikes have been used to implant the geophones on the earth's surface. However, implanting geophones under water is time consuming and in many cases it is not feasible. Gimbal geophones have been designed which are fixedly attached to a cable that carries power and data signals (known in the art as the "bottom cable" or "bay cable") by metal straps and tape. Gimbal geophones ensure proper orientation of the geophone, but attaching such geophones to the cable does not ensure that the geophones will always be in contact with the earth's surface when the cable is placed on the earth's surface under water.
Tests have shown that when a geophone is in contact with the earth's surface, the quality of the signal produced is improved and the signal contains less noise compared to a geophone that is attached to the cable and which geophone is not in contact with the earth's surface.
It is therefore desirable to have an apparatus for mounting a geophone to the bay cable which will ensure that the geophone will be in contact with the earth's surface when such a cable is deployed (placed on the earth's surface), regardless of the bay cable orientation.
The present invention addresses the above-noted problem and provides apparatus for attaching geophones to a cable which ensures that the geophones will remain in contact with the earth's surface regardless of the orientation of the cable itself.


A vitrectomy probe includes a housing, a fluidic motor disposed within the housing, a needle extending from the housing, and a cutter assembly. The cutter assembly includes an inner cutting member disposed within and axially moveable relative to the needle, a drive shaft disposed within the housing and axially moveable relative to the housing, and a coupler disposed within the housing coupling the drive shaft and the inner cutting member. The motor is associated with the drive shaft in a manner that drives the cutter assembly in an oscillating manner. The probe also includes two or fewer seals within the housing in contact with the cutter assembly for sealing against fluid leakage.

The present invention relates to vitrectomy probes and more particularly, to vitrectomy probes structurally arranged to operate with a reduced level of friction.
Microsurgical procedures frequently require precision cutting and/or removing various body tissues. For example, certain ophthalmic surgical procedures require cutting and removing portions of the vitreous humor, a transparent jelly-like material that fills the posterior segment of the eye. The vitreous humor, or vitreous, is composed of numerous microscopic fibrils that are often attached to the retina. Therefore, cutting and removing the vitreous must be done with great care to avoid traction on the retina, the separation of the retina from the choroid, a retinal tear, or, in the worst case, cutting and removal of the retina itself In particular, delicate operations such as mobile tissue management (e.g. cutting and removal of vitreous near a detached portion of the retina or a retinal tear), vitreous base dissection, and cutting and removal of membranes are particularly difficult.
The use of microsurgical cutting probes in posterior segment ophthalmic surgery is well known. These cutting probes typically include a hollow outer cutting member, a hollow inner cutting member arranged coaxially with and movably disposed within the hollow outer cutting member, and a port extending radially through the outer cutting member near the distal end thereof Vitreous humor and/or membranes are aspirated into the open port, and the inner member is actuated, closing the port. As the port closes, cutting surfaces on both the inner and outer cutting members cooperate to cut the vitreous and/or membranes, and the cut tissue is then aspirated away through the inner cutting member.
Since vitrectomy probes operate by axial oscillation of one cutting member relative to the other, friction generated by or applied against the oscillating components can affect the efficiency and the performance of the vitrectomy probe. For example, friction may affect or even limit the achievable cut rates with a particular vitrectomy probe. Friction results from a number of factors, including contact points between moving and fixed components within the probe. One example of this includes, for example, movement of the inner cutting member and its driving components relative to fluid and pressure seals within the probe.
One known pneumatic probe system that operates in a suitable manner incorporates four o-ring type seals disposed around an axially oscillating inner cutting member and its driving components, introducing some level of restraining friction. In this known system, the driving components include an aspiration motor tube connected to the inner cutting member. The aspiration motor tube extends through and is driven by a pneumatic diaphragm. Because the aspiration tube extends through the diaphragm, four seals are used to seal the different fluid pressure areas of the probe.
Despite the above described probe system, a need still exists for improved vitrectomy probes. In particular, a need exists for vitrectomy probes that are structurally arranged to have increasingly relatively low friction between components that affect the axial displacement of the cutter.
The present disclosure is directed to addressing one or more of the deficiencies in the prior art.


A frequency sensor includes at least one a resistor element and a capacitor. A frequency is detected according to a charging/discharging time to/from the capacitor, thereby realizing a frequency sensor with reduced power consumption and reduced circuit scale. Further, plural resistors and plural capacitors can be provided, along with switches connected to the respective resistors and capacitors. Additionally, a time constant can be adjusted after production, whereby variations in production can be reduced. Furthermore, a self-diagnosis circuit can be included for determining whether the frequency sensor itself operates normally or not. Thus, a highly-reliable frequency sensor can be realized.

In recent years, the progress of semiconductor integrated circuits is remarkable, and data processing functions and data that can be embedded in a chip are dramatically increasing. However, as for a semiconductor device that requires confidentiality of data or the like, such as an IC card equipped with an IC chip, it is important to ensure the security thereof in promoting full-scale spread of this kind of semiconductor device.
To be specific, it is a great threat that this type of LSI for which security is required is operated with a frequency out of an allowable range being inputted to the LSI, and thereby secret information is leaked out. As a countermeasure against such threat, a frequency sensor that detects frequencies of an input clock signal and the like has increasingly become important (for example, refer to Patent Document 1: European Patent No. 1136830 (Pages 2-4, FIGS. 1-4), and Patent Document 2: Japanese Published Patent Application No. Hei. 9-16281 (Pages 5-8, FIGS. 1-2)).
Hereinafter, an example of a conventional frequency sensor will be described.
FIGS. 17 and 18 are diagrams illustrating a conventional frequency sensor and signal waveforms.
In FIG. 17, this frequency sensor includes an edge detection circuit 171, an n-bit counter (n: integer not less than 2) 172, and a state storage unit 173.
A reference clock signal 174 is inputted to the n-bit counter 172 and the state storage unit 173. A clock input signal 175 is inputted to the edge detection circuit 171. Further, an edge detection output signal 176 is outputted from the edge detection circuit 171 to the state storage unit 173. A reset signal 177 is inputted to the edge detection circuit 171, the n-bit counter 172, and the state storage unit 173. A state reset signal 178 is outputted from the n-bit counter 172 to the state storage unit 173.
Hereinafter, a description will be given of the operation of the frequency sensor constituted as described above, with reference to FIGS. 17 and 18.
First of all, when it is assumed that the limit values of the allowable frequency range of a system equipped with this frequency sensor are Fmin and Fmax, the allowable time for one cycle is within Tmin=1/Fmin and larger than Tmax=1/Fmax, that is, the count value of the n-bit counter 172 is within nL and larger than nH (nL>nH).
The edge detection circuit 171 detects rising edges of the clock input signal 175. The n-bit counter 172 is reset by the reset signal 177, and counts up by "1" at each rising edge of the reference clock signal 174. The state storage unit 173 checks whether the count value reaches nL or not, and continues count-up at the rising edges of the reference clock signal 174 when the count value has not yet reached nL. When the count value has reached nL due to the continued count-up, it means that the time for one cycle is larger than Tmin. That is, since the frequency is smaller than Fmin, the n-bit counter 172 outputs a state reset signal 178, whereby the state storage unit 173 outputs a low frequency detection signal LF_Alarm. When a rising edge of the clock input signal 175 is detected although the count value has not yet reached nL, the state storage unit 173 checks whether the count value is smaller than nH or not. When the count value is larger than nH, it means that the clock input signal 175 is within the allowable frequency range, and the n-bit counter 172 is reset. When the count value is smaller than nH, it means that the clock input signal 175 is higher than the allowable frequency range, and the state storage unit 173 outputs a high frequency detection signal HF_Alarm. Then, the processing is repeated from the first step by the reset signal 177.
As described above, it is detected as to whether the clock input signal is within the allowable frequency range or not, by generating a reference clock and counting the same with the counter.
Setting of detection frequencies is changed by changing the values of nH and nL.

Frequency sensor and semiconductor device


A solid state imaging device has a global shutter structure and includes: a photodetector; a wiring layer; a first transparent insulating film disposed immediately above the photodetector and penetrating the wiring layer; a transparent protective film covering the wiring layer and the first transparent insulating film, and having a higher refractive index than the first transparent insulating film; a first projection provided on the transparent protective film and having a quadrilateral shape in top view; and a second transparent insulating film having a lower refractive index than the first projection.

The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device having a global shutter structure.
Shutter methods for image sensors (solid-state imaging devices) include a rolling shutter method in which rows are exposed to light sequentially from an upper one to a lower one, and a global shutter method in which all rows are simultaneously exposed to light. For CMOS solid-state imaging devices, the rolling shutter method has been widely adopted. However, a solid-state imaging device having a rolling shutter structure causes image distortion (so-called focal plane distortion) when capturing the image of an object moving at a high speed.
In view of this problem, CMOS solid-state imaging devices with a global shutter structure have been proposed recently. In such a solid-state imaging device having the global shutter structure, memories are formed on a semiconductor substrate, apart from photodiodes. Signals are simultaneously read from all the photodiodes to the memories, and then, the signals are sequentially read out from the memories. In this manner, an image without distortion can be captured. For this reason, it is required to employ the solid-state imaging devices with the global shutter structure as industrial cameras that need to identify an object moving at a high speed, high-end cameras, and similar cameras.
On the other hand, in order to obtain high-quality images without increasing the size of the solid-state imaging device, the size of each of cells included in the solid-state imaging device tends to be reduced. However, as the cell size is reduced, it becomes difficult to condense light that has entered in the cell. It is therefore needed to realize a high-sensitivity solid-state imaging device capable of efficiently collecting incident light despite a decrease in the cell size.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. H11-040787 and 2006-73882 each describe a solid-state imaging device including an intra-layer lens provided above a plurality of wiring layers and covering a region above a photodetector, and an on-chip lens provided above the intra-layer lens. In the solid-state imaging device described in each of these patent documents, the incident light condensed by the on-chip lens is more effectively collected to the photodetector by the intra-layer lens having a substantially hemispherical shape which is upwardly convex.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-192951 describes a solid-state imaging device including an optical waveguide disposed between a photodetector and an intra-layer lens and penetrating a plurality of wiring layers. In the solid-state imaging device described in this patent document, since light that has entered the optical waveguide is guided to the photodetector while being confined in the optical waveguide, the light-gathering efficiency is improved.

TowerJazz Panasonic Semiconductor Co., Ltd.


The subject invention provides a silicon membrane material made from silicon that is epitaxially deposited at low temperatures greater than or equal to 500.degree. C. and doped with controlled amounts of boron and germanium. A silicon membrane structure is provided and made by one or more layers of ultra thin epitaxially deposited silicon layers that are precisely controlled in both thickness and composition. At least one of the layers is doped with boron in a concentration range greater than 2.times.10.sup.20 atoms of boron per cubic centimeter of silicon, or with germanium in a concentration range greater than 5.times.10.sup.20 atoms of germanium per cubic centimeter of silicon, or with a combination of boron and germanium in these concentration ranges. A silicon membrane fabrication process is also provided which requires no additional masking film to protect the membrane surface during KOH etching of the bulk silicon substrate.

X-ray lithography is a technology which is competing with photolithography in the manufacture of semiconductor devices. X-ray lithography enables the formation of minute patterns on the order of sub-micron levels by utilizing rays of a shorter wavelength than the ultra violet rays which are used in photolithography. These rays of a shorter wavelength, x-rays, are subject to less diffraction and therefore can be used to produce much finer features on semiconductor devices. The ability to produce much finer features using x-rays allows the creation of denser circuitry than was previously possible with photolithography. A description of fundamental x-ray lithography techniques is given in U.S. Pat. No. 3,743,842, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
In furthering the x-ray lithography technology, suitable membranes for the fabrication of x-ray masks are required. These membranes are a critical element in applying x-ray lithography.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,866,746 discloses an x-ray mask membrane material made of boron nitride and silicon nitride in a composition range which results in optimum hardness and toughness.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,152,601 discloses a membrane material consisting of multiple layers of silicon nitride and silicon oxide.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,600 discloses an x-ray lithography mask made on an organic plastic film and then transferred and bonded to a support. The support has a groove which facilitates the flow of adhesive and the patent is directed to the transfer process and the advantages of the groove.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,841 discloses a membrane for use in an x-ray mask which comprises boron, silicon and nitrogen in a preferred composition range and made under specific preparation conditions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,517 discloses a mask for x-ray lithography which uses epitaxially grown membranes of silicon doped with boron and germanium. The epitaxial membrane film is grown by conventional methods, i.e. at high temperature (at or above 1,000.degree. C.), and on one side of the wafer only. The process is limited in the range of boron and germanium concentrations, allowing concentrations of boron up to only 2.times.10.sup.20 atoms/cm.sup.3 (approximately 1 atom of boron per 250 atoms of silicon) and of germanium up to only 5.times.10.sup.20 atoms/cm.sup.3 (approximately 1 atom of germanium per 100 atoms of silicon).
None of these references discloses a membrane material suitable for x-ray lithography comprising silicon doped with boron and/or germanium in high concentrations and prepared at low temperature. Such high dopant concentrations and preparation at low temperatures allows greater control of the membrane tensile and compressive stress, resulting in superior membranes.
A genuine need thus exists in the art for a membrane material which can be doped with boron and/or germanium in high concentrations.

International Business Machines Corporation


The stiffness and topology of ultra-small circular DNAs and DNA/peptide hybrids are exploited to create a transducer of enzyme activity with low error rates. The modularity and flexibility of the concept are illustrated by demonstrating various transducers that respond to either specific restriction endonucleases or to specific proteases. In all cases the output is a DNA oligo signal that, as we show, can readily be converted directly to an optical readout, or can serve as input for further processing, for example, using DNA logic or amplification. By exploiting the DNA hairpin (or stem-loop) structure and the phenomenon of strand displacement, an enzyme signal is converted into a DNA signal, in the manner of a transducer. This is valuable because a DNA signal can be readily amplified, combined, and processed as information.

Enzymes are protein catalysts vital to nearly all biology, allowing nature to perform the myriad room-temperature or near-room-temperature biochemical syntheses that make life possible. A measure of the importance of these processes is that enzymes constitute one quarter of the translation products of the human genome (roughly 500 genes). Furthermore, enzymes are not only key elements of healthy cell activities, but they are also crucial for disease processes and can thus serve as markers for these disease states. As a result, the ability to detect and monitor enzymes such as proteases, esterases, kinases, etc. is a crucial task in a multitude of applications in biology and medicine.
A wide range of enzyme detection systems exist for use in applications in biomedicine, food, etc. Such methods, almost entirely in vitro, can be grouped by the nature of their readouts and the two main classes have optical and electrical outputs. Performance and cost are the two main criteria, and new approaches that have the potential to impact/improve in either of these areas are always welcome. In addition, ideas that have the potential to function in vivo, and can add significant sophistication are of much interest for their potential to broaden capabilities.
A need exists for new techniques for detecting enzyme activity.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Detection of enzyme activity with DNA loops

The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A human private parts washing apparatus is provided with a nozzle supporter, a washing nozzle and a washing water supply tube which extends in the washing nozzle with one end protruding into the washing nozzle. The washing nozzle includes an outer nozzle operated slidably back and forth by a washing nozzle driving device and an inner nozzle operated slidably by the hydraulic pressure of the supplied washing water. An auxiliary washing nozzle driving device operates the washing nozzle over an additional stroke. Thus, the washing water is supplied independent of the washing nozzle's operation positions. The washing nozzle reaches the bidet washing position ahead of the anus region washing position by 30 to 35 mm without any trouble, and the washing nozzle can be advanced and retracted by 10 to 30 mm additionally with respect to the bidet washing position.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a human private parts washing apparatus installed to a toilet bowl.
2. Discussion of the Background
A washing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent Application (KOKOKU) No. 13450/1987 has been known as one of the the washing apparatuses of this type. This conventional washing apparatus will be hereinafter described with reference to FIG. 1. The drawing mainly illustrates a washing nozzle driven by a motor. A nozzle supporter is designated at 10, and installed on the top of a toilet bowl 1 at the rear, and disposed in an enclosure 3. A washing nozzle is designated at 20, and is held in the nozzle supporter 10. The washing nozzle 20 is supported in the nozzle supporting bore 11' slidably back and forth in a forward inclining manner toward the toilet bowl 1 inside.
The washing nozzle 20 has a channel 49 inside thereof, an inlet opening 50 at the rear end thereof and splashing openings 22 on the top at the front end thereof. The nozzle supporter 10 has an annular concave 52 sealed in a water-proof manner with O-rings 51 and connected to a channel 53. The annular concave 52 is formed in the nozzle supporting bore 11', and the channel 53 is connected to a washing water supply source (not shown).
A flexible driving member 131' is fixed to a rotary drum 130 at one end thereof, and to the rear end of the washing nozzle 20 at the other end thereof. The rotary drum 130 is fixed to a motor shaft 33' of a motor (not shown). The flexible driving member 131' is guided in a guide track 132 formed in the nozzle supporter 10, and advances and retracts the washing nozzle 20 in the nozzle supporting bore 11' by a predetermined distance as the motor turns the rotary drum 130. As the flexible driving member 131', a flat spring is proposed in Japanese Examined Patent Application (KOKOKU) No. 13451/1987.
When the splashing openings 22 of the washing nozzle 20 reaches a washing position, the inlet opening 50 communicates with the annular portion 52 to introduce washing water, and washing is performed. In FIG. 1, alternate long and two dashes line "E" shows a contour of a human body when a user sits on a toilet seat. An anus region washing position is designated at "D", and a bidet washing position is designated at "F".
However, the conventional washing apparatus described above has the following problems:
A user cannot adjust the operation positions of the washing nozzle 20 to one's desired positions when the operation positions are not one's desired positions, since the operation positions of the washing nozzle 20 are limited by the position of the annular concave 52 formed in the nozzle supporter 10. In addition, this limitation makes impossible an additional back and forth sliding washing preferable for the bidet wishing.
The rotary drum 130 and the washing nozzle 20 are disposed adjacent each other and the guide track 132 is formed with a relatively small radius of curvature in order to make the washing nozzle guide portion compact. Accordingly, especially when the washing nozzle advances, the sliding friction force increases, and the output of the motor must inevitably be great. Here, the sliding force is a resultant force of the sliding friction force exerted between the flat spring and the guide track 132, and the sliding friction force exerted between the washing nozzle 20 and the nozzle supporting bore 11'.
As can be seen from FIG. 7, the washing apparatus 54 cannot have a large dimension in the lateral direction, since a washing water supply tank 55 is provided in the rear. Thus, a sufficient advance and retract stroke is not available for the washing nozzle 20. However, regarding a proper washing, it is preferred to splash the washing water at an elevation angle of 70 deg. with respect to human private parts to be washed. Considering this condition, the anus region washing can be done, but the bidet washing can hardly be done with the conventional washing apparatus. This is because the washing nozzle 20 cannot advance and retract by a sufficient stroke as mentioned earlier, so that the bidet washing cannot be done at a preferred position, i.e., the bidet washing should preferably be done at a position by 30 to 35 mm ahead of the anus region washing position at an elevation angle of 70 deg.


Disclosed herein are antibiotic BU-4164E A and B isolated from Streptomyces sp. These compounds are prolyl endopeptidase inhibitors.

Prolyl endopeptidase, a serine protease, plays an important role in the degradation of biologically active peptides such as vasopressin, oxytocin, angiotensins I and II, substance P, bradykinin, neurotensin, etc. Prolyl endopeptidase hydrolyzes these peptides and regulates their biological activities. D. De Wied and coworkers previously suggested and recently gave some evidence that vasopressin was involved in the process of learning and memory of animals..sup.1-4 In addition, the Nippon Roche group found an anti-amnestic agent aniracetam to inhibit PED..sup.5 T Yoshimoto (Nagasaki Univ.) synthesized specific PED inhibitors such as Z-Gly-Pro-CH.sub.2 Cl, Z-Pro-prolinal and Z-Val-prolinal based on the specificity of substrate for this enzyme and demonstrated correlation between their anti-amnestic activity in rats and PED inhibitory activity..sup.6 H Kaneto, et al. also confirmed anti-amnestic activity of vasopressin and the above synthetic PED inhibitors using several mouse models..sup.7
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,857,537, 4,857,524, 4,826,870, 4,810,721, 4,772,587, 4,757,083, 4,743,616, and 4,701,465 relate to the synthetic production of compounds which are PED inhibitors.
Taking into consideration the above information, PED inhibitor screening was initiated by the present inventors with an intention to discover new anti-amnestic and/or anti-dementia compounds from microbial products.

BU-4164E - A and B, prolyl endopeptidase inhibitors


A power supply system includes a digital power manager and multiple power blocks each conveying regulated power to a respective load. The power blocks include the power part of non-isolated DC/DC converters, signal sampling and conversion circuits to provide analog voltage signal representing output voltage, output current, temperature, etc., and driving circuits to receive pulse width modulation (PWM) signals and drive switching devices. Closed-loop voltage control and protection functions for the power blocks are integrated into the digital power. The digital power manager includes a non-volatile memory containing registers, including a digital power manager configuration register, a power block set-up register, and a power block monitor register, as well as a user-definable space. The digital power manager programs and monitors operation of each power block, and may also include a user interface, such as an I2C interface, for receiving programming data from a host user system and send monitoring data thereto.

The present invention relates to management of a distributed power supply system, and more particularly to the control and monitoring of an array of point-of-load regulators or other non-isolated DC-DC converters within a distributed power supply system.
With the development of the electronic and communication technology, the power supply system is becoming more complex. As a result, the requirements of power density and reliability of the power supply system are getting higher as well. It is common for an electronic system to require several different relatively low voltage levels, such as 3.3V, 2.5V, 1.8V, 1.2V, etc., and the voltage should be regulated precisely. At the same time, relatively high current levels (e.g., 100 A) and high current changing rates (e.g., 1000 A/μs) are also required. It's not a good way to deliver such a high current to electronic devices over a long distance, because the impedance of the lines carrying the high current tends to dissipate a large part of power and deteriorate the load regulation. So, the physical distance between the power supply and its load should be as short as possible to avoid significant power loss and to make sure of the system stability. That means the traditional multi-output power supplies which are not close enough to different loads can't satisfy the requirements.
In order to solve the problems above, at present the distributed power supply system with an intermediate bus configuration is widely used. This system comprises two stages. In the first stage, the AC input voltage for the whole system is rectified, then converted to the intermediate bus voltage level (the typical value is 8-12V), and electrical isolation is also realized in this stage. There are multiple non-isolated point-of-load (POL) regulators in the second stage, and each of them converts the intermediate bus voltage to each of the multiple levels required by the electronic system. This configuration that each relatively low power POL regulator is located close to a particular electronic device will help improve the system efficiency and reliability.
A typical distributed power supply system includes multiple POL regulators. With this approach, the management of these POL regulators becomes very important. There is a need to control and monitor different operating parameters accurately, and diagnose fault conditions quickly of every POL regulator to get excellent performance of the whole distributed power supply system. At present, there are mainly three kinds of manager to control the POL regulators in the distributed system: analog controller, digital power system sequencer and multi-digital controllers.
In a conventional power supply system, all POL regulators are controlled by analog control methods. Analog control is a very mature technology and has relatively low cost, and therefore it has wide applications in distributed power supply system architectures. One drawback of an analog control system is that it is difficult for a host computer to get the working status of each POL regulator and to realize on-line control.
In order to make up for the shortcomings of conventional analog control, a control configuration which includes a digital signal processor (DSP) or micro control unit (MCU) based digital power system sequencer is utilized. In this approach, the POL regulators closed-loop voltage control is also implemented by analog devices, and a host computer manages all POL regulators through the digital power system sequencer. The instructions transmitted from the host computer to program POL regulators operating parameters and the monitoring data sent from the digital power system sequencer are all transferred via the power management bus (PMBus) which is based on the PMBus protocol—an open standard communication protocol. The digital power system sequencer is capable of sensing the output voltage, controlling the ON/OFF state, and sequencing and margining the output voltage of each POL regulator via various kinds of peripherals integrated on the DSP/MCU. The digital power system sequencer further comprises a PMBus interface adapted to communicate with the host computer. The number of POL regulators can be managed depends on the amount of the peripherals integrated on the DSP/MCU. Although the on-line management is implemented, the closed-loop voltage control is not flexible because of the analog closed-loop voltage control.
With the increasing calculation speed of the DSP/MCU, a kind of distributed power supply system with multiple digital controllers is also used. In this system, each of the multiple digital controllers is responsible to each of the multiple POL regulators for individual closed-loop control and various protections, and furthermore, as a slave device, each digital controller can have bidirectional communication with the host computer. This control implementation has on-line management functions similar to the above-described approach, and it also improves the system design flexibility. However, for every POL regulator a corresponding digital controller is required with adequate integrated peripherals and communication interfaces. Overall system cost may be high, and the communication efficiency may be low due to too many devices in the system.
Thus, it would be advantageous to have a management system and method for controlling and monitoring power converters within a distributed power supply system.

Distributed power supply system with digital power manager providing digital closed-loop power control

Bel Fuse (Macao Commercial Offshore) Limited


According to examples, an apparatus may include a processor and a memory on which is stored machine readable instructions that may cause the processor to access data about an environment of an agent, identify an actor in the environment, and access candidate models, in which each of the candidate models may predict a certain action of the identified actor. The instructions may also cause the processor to apply a selected candidate model of the accessed candidate models on the accessed data to determine a predicted action of the identified actor and may implement a recursive reinforcement learning model using the predicted action of the identified actor to determine an action that the agent is to perform. The instructions may further cause the processor to cause the agent to perform the determined action.

Autonomous devices may use or include computing systems to determine actions that the autonomous devices may perform. Some of the actions may include, for instance, navigating from one location to another, actuating a manipulator, maintaining a position of a vehicle within a lane along a road, and/or the like. In many instances, the computing systems may determine the actions to be actions that may prevent the autonomous devices from performing actions that may deviate from a specified set of operations.

Using a recursive reinforcement model to determine an agent action


Uplink overhead is significantly reduced in a MU-COMP wireless communication network by exploiting the dissimilarity of received signal strength in signals transmitted by geographically distributed transmit antennas, as seen by receiving UEs. Each UE calculates a quantized normalization measure of channel elements for a channel weakly received from a first transmitter to that for a channel strongly received from a second transmitter. The quantized normalization measure may be modeled as a ratio of complex Gaussian variables, and quantized in phase and amplitude by making simplifying assumptions. The ratios are quantized, and transmitted to the network using far fewer bits than would be required to transmit the full channel state information. The network uses the quantized normalization measures to set the transmitter weights.

A predecessor to Coordinated Multipoint Transmission/Reception (COMP), then denoted Distributed Antenna System (DAS), was originally introduced for coverage improvement in indoor wireless communications, as described by A. A. M. Saleh, A. J. Rustako Jr., and R. S. Roman, in a paper titled "Distributed antennas for indoor radio communications," published in the IEEE Transactions on Communications, vol. 35, no. 12, pp. 1245-1251, 1987. Their approach was directed towards transmission to a single user through a discrete implementation of a leaky feeder. The notion of COMP in contrast enables multiple data streams to be transmitted over an interconnected network of radioheads (or basestations) where the different signals representative of the multiple data streams may be controlled by weightings and distributed to the different radio heads. The idea of COMP may be used in downlink as well as uplink. In this invention we are concerned with downlink only. Recent studies indicate that COMP can provide not only coverage improvement but also capacity enhancement, as described by J. Gan et al., in a paper titled "On sum rate and power consumption of multi-User distributed antenna system with circular antenna layout," published in the EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking, vol. 2007, Article ID 89780.
Techniques exploring the advantages of COMP can be classified into two categories: Single-User COMP (SU-COMP) and Multi-User COMP (MU-COMP). SU-COMP techniques attempt to improve the link quality for a single user by means of spatial multiplexing, or spatial diversity. However, SU-COMP techniques can not manage the mutual interference among users. Accordingly, Radio Resource Management (RRM) schemes are needed for geographically separated users that are using the same time/frequency resources. The reuse distance restricts the capacity increase of SU-COMP.
MU-COMP techniques jointly process signals to/from multiple users and attempt to improve the overall system performance. MU-COMP is quite similar to Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) systems. Accordingly, techniques developed for MU-MIMO system, such as Zero-Forcing (ZF) beamforming and Dirty Paper Coding (DPC), can be directly applied to MU-COMP. Some of these techniques are described by G. J. Foschini et al., in a paper titled "The value of coherent base station coordination," published in the Proceedings of the 39th Annual Conference on Information Sciences and Systems (CISS '05), March 2005.
MU-COMP techniques can achieve the capacity limit provided by a COMP, as there is no need to separate users in time/frequency to avoid mutual interference, as in SU-COMP. However, for the downlink transmission, the transmitter needs to know all channel state information (CSI), which is impractical to implement. For MU-COMP, the direct application of traditional MU-MIMO techniques has two main drawbacks.
First, all channel elements are fed back, i.e. transmitted in uplink from the UE. This generates excessive uplink overhead and reduces the available resources for other desired uplink traffic. One example method of MU-COMP for downlink where the full channel knowledge is available (such as via feedback) at the transmitter is in zero forcing (ZF) beamforming, with the beamweight matrix W=HH(HHH)−1. In this case the received signal can be expressed asy=H(HH(HHH)−1)x+n=x+n  (1)As equation (1) indicates, ZF beamforming not only eliminates the interferences, but also normalizes the channel response of the desired signal to be 1. Since the UE can adjust the phase of the received signal before detection, such transmitter-side normalization is not necessary. Further, the amplitude normalization to one for every user is not always desired since different link qualities and rates may be desired. Hence, the transmit power may also be set individually for each, after ZF, interference free link.
Second, the characteristics of MU-COMP channel are not fully explored. More specifically, for MU-MIMO, the channel between the transmitter and the receiver can be modeled using Independent and Identically Distributed (IID) random variables. However, for MU-COMP, since the antennas are geographically distributed, the channel elements between each transmitter and a receiver are not identically distributed. In most cases, the channel response of an undesired signal is much weaker than that of the desired signal.

MU-COMP channel state normalization measure quantization and transmission


A system for automatically controlling shut-off of a vehicle includes: a sensor that senses existence of a user in the vehicle; and a vehicle controlling device that determines whether the vehicle is in an idle state, determines whether a user exists in the vehicle based on a sensing value of the sensor, controls the vehicle to automatically shut off, and notifies a user of a vehicle state.

To address problems such as occurrence of carbon monoxide from unintended vehicle idling, generation of unnecessary exhaust gas, deterioration in fuel efficiency, and the like, an auto shut-off function is applied to vehicles.
In the existing technology, such an auto shut-off function is to automatically turn off a power source of a vehicle after a certain time after a gearshift enters a parking (P)-state. However, even if a user does not want to perform the auto shut-off function, it is impossible to disable the auto shut-off function.
When the conventional auto shut-off function is applied, it is vulnerable to monitoring whether a user rides in the vehicle and undesirable auto shut-off occurs frequently in the state where the user rides in the vehicle.
Furthermore, because the existing technology does not provide a service for notifying a user outside the vehicle of the auto shut-off function, the user outside the vehicle does not know a vehicle state.
The information included in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the present disclosure and may not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

System for automatically controlling shut-off of vehicle and method therefor


Aspects of the present invention include a method, system and computer program product for handling a split condition within a computer cluster configuration. The method includes determining by a processor of a node, for each of a number of other nodes within a plurality of nodes whether each of the number of other nodes is in a DOWN state or an UP state; adding each node that is an UP state to a list of nodes that are in an UP state; adding each node that is a DOWN state to a list of nodes that are in a DOWN state; and generating a split event having two islands.

The present invention relates to multiple computers connected together in a cluster configuration, and more specifically, to a method, system and computer program product for handling a split condition within a computer cluster configuration.
In the field of computer processing, it is known to connect together a plurality of computers in a cluster having a certain configuration or topology. Each computer within a cluster is typically referred to as a node. This cluster configuration is utilized in part to divide software processing tasks among the computers in the cluster, which leads to improvements in efficiency in completing the oftentimes complex software processing tasks.
A common cluster configuration or topology is a symmetric one in which the various nodes are all connected to each other and to other devices such as, for example, a data storage device or repository. In addition, for redundancy purposes, the nodes may be connected together using more than one connection scheme, including using different types of wired or wireless mediums or protocols such as, for example, Ethernet, TCP/IP, TCP, a storage area network (SAN), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a data information service center (DISK.), or a direct connection.
Nodes within a cluster commonly use "heartbeats" to communicate with each other on a regular basis (e.g., twice per second). This allows the node sending the heartbeat signal to determine if one or more receiving nodes, including the communication interfaces of the nodes and the communication medium(s) or protocol(s) between the nodes, are functioning properly. Often, a "gossip" heartbeat may be communicated which includes not only information about the sending or transmitting node (e.g., that it is active), but also includes information that the sending node has received from other nodes indicating, for example, which of the other nodes are available and the topology sensed by each of the other nodes, i.e., which of the other nodes each other node thinks are available.
Although transmitting heartbeats over multiple interfaces may improve reliability, a partial loss of connectivity between one or more nodes to other nodes within the cluster may cause asymmetric topological views among the nodes, i.e., different nodes may have different views of which other nodes are connected and functioning. Asymmetric topologies may lead to cluster inoperability issues. For example, cluster-wide locks may be erroneously granted, thereby leading to repository corruption and confusion among upper network layers.

Handling a split within a clustered environment

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A system for determining an instruction in a first time limit that can be executed by an executing system is disclosed. The system is configured to request proposed action regarding an event from each of a plurality of operator systems. In some embodiments, the system can calculate a score for each of the proposed actions received from the plurality of operator systems. The system can then automatically determine an instruction in a first time limit based on the calculated scored and command the executing system to execute the instruction.

Strategies are typically developed by a plurality of decision makers. However, in nearly all cases the final decision may be left to a single individual. For example, an operator of an unmanned aerial vehicle or drone may be acting upon general instructions determined at a meeting of numerous decision makers, but ultimately the operator is left with the final decision by virtue of being the person charged with actually executing the decision. If the operator is provided with instructions to do action A when the operator observes condition B, it is the operator, and not those who provided the instructions, charged with determining when condition B exists and when to do action A.

Decision making using algorithmic or programmatic analysis


Disclosed is an assembly to be mounted at an end portion of an axle of a vehicle, the axle including a differential carrier housing containing a differential and drive shafts, each having one end connected to the differential and a second end to connect to a wheel of the vehicle. The assembly includes a cover to be mounted at the end portion of the axle and fastened to a wheel hub, and a stop elastically compressible in the axial direction and fastened to the cover so as to face and contact one end face of a drive shaft. The stop includes a first part having a first cross-section S1 and configured to absorb in compression axial movements of the drive shaft, and a second part having a second cross-section S2 smaller than the first cross-section S1 and configured to provide a substantially point contact with the drive shaft end face.

A vehicle such as a truck is generally equipped with one or several differential units on its driven axles.
Typically, such an axle comprises a differential carrier housing which contains a differential and two drive shafts each having one end connected to the differential and a second end connected to a wheel of the vehicle via a wheel hub. Furthermore, a cover is mounted at each end portion of the axle. A stop is provided between the cover and the facing end of the drive shaft, in order to limit the movement of the drive shaft along the axle axis, and to ensure proper operation of the axle.
Such stops are under significant constraints:                in use, and in particular during gearshifts, a drive shaft can move along the axle axis towards the corresponding wheel, which causes shocks on the cover and can ultimately result in the cover breakage;        as the stop is fastened to the cover and in contact with the drive shaft end face, which rotates with respect to the cover, the stop is subjected to high friction efforts. This leads to premature wear, unless expensive specific treatments of the pieces or expensive specific intermediate components (such as a ball bearing) are provided.
Therefore, many stops of the prior art have a fairly low durability, which requires maintenance.
Another weakness of the stops of the prior art is that they require complex adjustments during production to provide an appropriate clearance between the drive shaft end face and the stop arranged on the cover.

Assembly for a vehicle axle including a differential


A window displaying at least one video clip and at least one highlight element is presented in a graphical user interface on a mobile device having a touch screen interface. Thereafter, user-generated input is received via the graphical user interface selecting one of the at least one highlight element during display of the at least one video clip. In response to the user-generated input, at least one thumbnail is displayed (concurrently with the window in the graphical user interface) that corresponds to a segment of the video clip being displayed. A video file is then generated or modified that includes for at least one thumbnail, the corresponding segment of the video clip. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

The proliferation of video-enabled smart phones and tablet computers has resulted in individuals accumulating large collections of video files. As is typical with most video footage, significant post-processing effort is required to assemble and/or edit important clips from such footage. Resources for such post-processing on touch screen computing devices are limited and/or not user-friendly. As a result, most video editing is performed on laptop/desktop computers using specialized video editing software.

Video editing, enhancement and distribution platform for touch screen computing devices


The invention relates to a device composed of a plurality of strips of randomly oriented nanofibers, wherein said strips are arranged along their longitudinal axes. In addition, the surface of the device's nanofibers are covalently modified with fibroblast growth factor-2. A method for using the instant device for facilitating axonal regeneration in spinal cord injury is also provided.

During development of and following injury to the nervous system, the growth and regeneration of axons is strongly influenced by astrocyte-derived extracellular matrix molecules (Silver & Miller (2004) Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 5:146-156) and Schwann cell-derived basement membrane molecules (Chernousov & Carey (2000) Histol. Histopathol. 15:593-601). The basement membrane is a structurally compact form of the extracellular matrix. Examples of such molecules include thrombospondin in the extracellular matrix (Adams & Tucker (2000) Dev. Dyn. 218:280-299) and laminin-1 in the basement membrane (Chernousov & Carey (2000) supra). In this regard, the extracellular matrix produced by astrocytes includes both positive (e.g., thrombospondin, fibronectin) and negative (e.g., chondroitin and keratan sulphate proteoglycans) effectors of neuronal growth (Lein (1992) Brain Res. Dev. Brain Res. 69:191-197; Kearns, et al. (2003) Exp. Neurol. 182:240-244; Silver (1994) J. Neurol. 242:S22-4; Silver & Miller (2004) supra).
Electrospun nanofibers have been suggested as providing a scaffold that mimics the extracellular matrix (Li, et al. (2002) J. Biomed. Mater. Res. A 60:613-621). Nanofibers produced via the process of electrospinning have unprecedented porosity, a high surface to volume ratio, and high interconnectivity, all physical properties that are ideal for cellular attachment and growth (Li, et al. (2002) supra). The nanofiber aggregates can be deposited in either a random or aligned array, to result in random or oriented axonal growth (Yang, et al. (2005) Biomaterial 26:2603-2610). Nanofibers electrospun from a variety of synthetic and naturally occurring polymers have generated tremendous interest due to their potential as scaffolds for regenerating tissue (Kidoaki, et al. (2005) Biomater. 26:37-46; Ma, et al. (2005) Tissue Eng. 11:1149-1158; Venugopal & Ramakrishna (2005) Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol. 125:147-158; Schindler, et al. (2006) Cell Biochem. Biophys. 45:215-228), with a recent study indicating that silk nanofibers improved bone regeneration in the rabbit (Kim, et al. (2005) J. Biotechnol. 120:327-339).
Tenascin-C, a multi-domain, multi-functional extracellular matrix glycoprotein with neuro-regulatory actions (Gotz, et al. (1996) J. Cell Biol. 132:681-699; Dorries, et al. (1996) J. Neurosci. Res. 43:420-438; Meiners & Geller (1997) Mol. Cell Neurosci. 10:100-116; Meiners & Mercado (2003) Molec. Neurobiol. 27:177-196; Meiners, et al. (2001) J. Neurosci. 21:7215-7225) has also been shown to provide a chemical cue that might enhance the function of a nanofibrillar scaffold. Research has also focused on the growth-promoting actions of the alternatively spliced fibronectin type III region of human tenascin-C. The active site for neurite outgrowth in this region was localized from cerebellar granule, cerebral cortical, spinal cord motor, and dorsal root ganglion neurons to a peptide with amino acid sequence Val-Phe-Asp-Asn-Phe-Val-Leu-Lys-Ile-Arg-Asp-Thr-Lys-Lys (SEQ ID NO: 1) (Meiners, et al. (2001) supra; Ahmed, et al. (2006) J. Biomed Mater. Res. A 76:851-860), called the D5 peptide. It was recently demonstrated that covalent modification of electrospun polyamide nanofibers with the D5 peptide promoted more in vivo-like growth patterns for neurons, with long, well elaborated processes (Ahmed, et al. (2006) supra).
Moreover, chitosan nanofibers modified with bone morphogenetic protein-2 enhanced adhesion and proliferation of and calcium deposition by osteoblastic cells; the effect on adhesion was dose-dependant with the amount of bone morphogenetic protein-2 attached to the nanofiber surface (Park, et al. (2006) Biotehnol. Appl. Biochem. 43:17-24). Furthermore, derivatization of poly(caprolactone) nanofibers with gelatin increased endothelial cell proliferation and allowed the cells to maintain their expression of platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 in culture (Ma, et al. (2005) supra).

Randomly oriented, FGF-2-modified nanofiber device for use in spinal cord repair

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey


A method of matching image color and or luminance characteristics in an image processing system. In order to match an input image with a reference image, a color transformation M is initialized (601). An output image is copied (602) from the input image. The following sequence of operations is then repeated: Output and reference images are displayed on a system monitor. The user identifies (603) a highlight, shadow or overall region in both images. These regions are processed (604) to identify a difference (605). The difference is concatenated (606) onto transformation M. The output image is updated (607) by processing the input with M.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to apparatus for processing image data, the method of processing image data and a computer-readable medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Film editing and processing has historically been performed without the aid of digital image processing systems. In the past, the appearance of different film batches was controlled by a film colorist, whose job it is to ensure that when different film clips are spliced and edited together, their characteristics are not noticeably different. In order to achieve this, exposure times, negative types, and lighting conditions during a shoot have to be carefully controlled, and this is a highly specialised aspect of cinematography.
At the present time, increasing amounts of film editing and processing are being performed within a digital environment. The transfer of film processing to the digital domain has been relatively slow due to the enormous amounts of data that are required to be stored. Up to forty megabytes of data per frame of film is required in order to achieve equivalent film resolution in a digitised image. Slowly, however, as the cost of computer hardware and storage reduces, film processing is moving into the digital domain.
Once images have been digitised, it is possible to mix image data from a variety of formats, for example video mixed with film images, and to composite and edit these images together. It is known to imitate the film look by applying certain non-linear processing to video-sourced images, and so it may be possible to mix video and film images without the changeover being obvious between the two.
However, even though images can be freely mixed, composited and arranged in the digital domain, high quality editing still requires the same attention to detail that was performed by the film colorist. It is still necessary to control color matching between different image sources, whether they be from different reels of film, or from unrelated sources such as video. While it is widely known to employ controls such as contrast, color look-up tables, and various types of color manipulation, none of these methods provides an easy way of achieving a color match between images. A skilled colorist may be able to manipulate known systems in order to achieve a high degree of color matching. However, this remains a skilled and time consuming job. It is also a task that needs to be performed many times within a typical editing session.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for processing image data, including memory means for storing image data and processing instructions, and processing means for performing said image processing, wherein said instructions define operations to be performed by said processing means in order to process said image data, and said processing means is configured by said instructions such that: an input image is to be matched with a reference image, an initial output image has been generated from said input image and a matching transformation for processing image data has been initialised; and said operations include repeated steps of: identifying a first region in said output image and a reference image in said reference image, wherein said regions have a similar characteristic; comparing said regions to identify a difference transformation for said output image; updating said matching transformation by applying said difference transformation to it; and processing said input image with said matching transformation to update said output image.


A display device includes pixel units. Each pixel unit includes a driving transistor, a switch transistor, a reset transistor, a light-emitting element, and a control unit. The driving transistor has a control terminal, a first terminal coupled to a first operation voltage source and a second terminal. The reset transistor is coupled to the control terminal of the driving transistor. The light-emitting element is coupled to the switch transistor in series between the second terminal of the driving transistor and a second operation voltage source. The control unit stores a threshold voltage of the driving transistor and a driving voltage of the light-emitting element according to a voltage level of the second terminal of the driving transistor. The control unit changes a voltage level of the control terminal of the driving transistor according to the stored threshold voltage, the stored driving voltage, and a corresponding data signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a display device, and more particularly to a display device which is capable of providing a driving current, which is irrelevant to a threshold voltage of a transistor and a driving voltage of a light-emitting diode, to drive the light-emitting diode.
2. Description of the Related Art
Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display devices have some advantages, such as a slight size, light weight, high light-emitting efficiency, low driving voltage, and a simple process. Thus, recently, OLED display devices are one of the popular types of flat display devices. According to driving methods, OLED display devices are divided into passive-matrix OLED display (PM-OLED) devices and active-matrix OLED (AM-OLED) display devices. AM-OLED display devices emit light by current driving and use at least one thin-film transistor (TFT) to serve as a switch. The TFT adjusts a current according to the voltage stored in a storage capacitor to control gray levels in different pixel areas.
Further, according to panel process techniques, AM-OLED display devices are divided into P-type driving display devices and N-type driving display devices. However, threshold voltages of TFTs and driving voltages of OLEDs in an active matrix vary as time goes by, resulting in a mura phenomenon to occur in the AM-OLED display devices.

Display devices for providing driving currents irrelevant to threshold voltages of driving transistors and driving voltages of light-emitting diodes


A small-sized motor equipped with a worm reducer according to the present invention includes a cavity portion 10 formed in a gear case 17, which accommodates a worm 6 mounted on a motor shaft 4 and a worm wheel 7. The cavity portion 10 receives a front end of the motor shaft 4 and does not communicate with the exterior thereof. A bearing holder 22 holding a bearing device is disposed in the cavity portion 10 such that a metallic-fiber-containing resin spacer or metallic spacer 30 is disposed between the bearing holder 22 and the gear case 17. Thrust adjustment for the motor shaft 4 is performed through application of thrust to the motor shaft 4 after the resin spacer is softened through induction heating effected electromagnetically from outside the gear case, or after a gear case protrusion, which is in contact with the metallic spacer, is softened through application of heat transmitted from the metallic spacer heated through induction heating effected electromagnetically from outside the gear case. Thus, the motor shaft can be fixedly positioned accurately with respect to the thrust direction.

Conventionally, the position with respect to the thrust direction of the shaft of a small-sized motor equipped with a worm gear reducer is fixed, for example, as shown in FIG. 8 (Japanese Patent Publication (kokoku) No. 60-11536/1985). Reference numeral 1 denotes a motor body; reference numeral 6 denotes a worm coupled with a motor shaft 4; and reference numeral 7 denotes a worm wheel engaged with the worm 6. As shown in FIG. 8, an adjustment screw 43 is attached to a gear case 17 at a position corresponding to a front end portion of the motor shaft 4. After thrust is adjusted by means of the adjustment screw 43, the adjustment screw 43 is fixed by means of a nut 44. In thrust adjustment, the motor is rotated, while a specially machined front end of the adjustment screw 43 is brought in contact with the end of the motor shaft 4. While a no-load current of the motor is being observed, the adjustment screw 43 is positioned where the no-load current assumes a value as small as possible and the motor shaft 4 has no play in the thrust direction. The adjustment screw 43 is fixed in the position by means of tightening the nut 44. Such a manner of fixation of the motor shaft 4 with respect to the thrust direction requires skill in fixing the adjustment screw 43 and the nut 44 together, thus consuming much time.
Japanese Patent Publication (kokoku) No. 60-11536/1985 also discloses a technique for positioning with respect to the thrust direction by use of a spacer to be heated through electromagnetic induction. In addition to a shaft insertion hole, a square hole is provided. The spacer is inserted through the square hole and toward the front end portion of the shaft. The front end portion of the shaft is brought into direct contact with the spacer and is heated through electromagnetic induction. The front end portion of the shaft is then pressed against the softened spacer to thereby be positioned with respect to the thrust direction.
Since this positioning mechanism requires formation of the square hole in addition to the shaft insertion hole, an associated gap may allow entry of water from the outside. Also, frictional heat generated through shaft rotation during motor operation or heat generated from windings and a commutator during motor operation is transmitted to the spacer through the shaft, potentially re-softening the spacer. Further, since the spacer by itself bears a radial force and a thrust force, wear or breakage of the spacer is likely to cresent a problem.
Other conventional techniques for fixing a motor shaft with respect to the thrust direction include the following. As shown in FIG. 9, resin 46 is injected into a cavity portion located between a gear case 17 and a motor shaft 4 through an injection inlet 45 extending between the cavity portion and the exterior of the gear case 17, thereby fixing the position of the motor shaft 4 with respect to the thrust direction (Japanese Patent Publication (kokoku) No. 61-56701/1986). Similarly, as shown in FIG. 10, the resin 46 is injected into a cavity portion located between the gear case 17 and a bearing holder 22 equipped with a bearing device (radial bearing 5 and steel ball 9) for the motor shaft 4, through the injection inlet 45 extending between the cavity portion and the exterior of the gear case 17, thereby fixing the position of the motor shaft 4 with respect to the thrust direction (Japanese Patent Publication (kokoku) No. 7-106044/1995).
Such resin-injection practice requires labor and time for curing of the applied resin. Also, deformation, such as shrinkage, or time-course change of the resin causes a decrease in adhesion between the resin and the gear case with a resultant formation of a gap between the resin and the gear case at an injection inlet portion. Water may enter the gear case through the gap from the outside.
A certain kind of resin may require control of injection pressure or injection temperature. In the case of a resin that requires mixture and reaction of two components before use, a mixing process requires labor, and resin control must be performed before and after the mixing process. In addition, at the time of resin injection, the amount of resin to be injected must be controlled or adjusted, and care must be taken in order to prevent mixing of bubbles into the resin. In a configuration where resin to be used directly supports a motor shaft, a problem may arise due to wear or breakage of the resin caused by a thrust of the motor shaft.

Small-sized motor equipped with worm gear reducer and method of manufacturing the same


In an ingredient analysis method and an ingredient analysis apparatus in accordance with the present invention, high-frequency power is supplied from a power source 4 while helium gas is supplied to an atmospheric pressure plasma source 2 disposed near a substance to be analyzed, whereby plasma 5 is generated, and the substance to be analyzed is exposed to the plasma 5 and emits light. The light is guided to a filter 7 and a photodiode 8 via an optical fiber 6 and subjected to photoelectrical conversion. The signal obtained by the photoelectrical conversion is sent to a controller 9. The controller 9 judges whether a specific element is present or not in the substance to be analyzed.

The present invention relates to an ingredient analysis method and an ingredient analysis apparatus for analyzing the ingredients of a substance.
In general circuit boards for use in electrical and electronic products, various circuit components mounted on printed-circuit boards and film circuit boards are connected by using solder. As solder for connecting these circuit components on circuit boards, tin-lead eutectic solder containing a large amount of lead has conventionally been used widely to ensure workability and product reliability.
However, in the case when used electrical and electronic products including circuit boards on which this kind of lead-containing solder is used are left out of doors as waste or dumped for landfill, groundwater is contaminated with lead melted from the waste and then mixed into drinking water. Hence, there is a fear of adversely affecting the human body. Therefore, such electrical and electronic products including circuit boards on which this kind of lead-containing solder are dumped for landfill at controlled landfill sites being controlled so that contaminated water containing lead does not leak.
In order that environmental contamination is prevented more securely, it is preferable that used electrical and electronic products are dismantled and separated, and circuit boards are retrieved, and then lead is separated and recovered from the circuit boards. However, the separation and recovery of lead requires time and effort, and as a result, considerably high cost for separation and recovery is involved in the resultant recycled lead.
Furthermore, in recent years, a chemical recovery method has been used wherein used electrical and electronic products are dismantled, circuit boards to be disposed (hereinafter referred to as waste circuit boards) are retrieved therefrom and crushed, and the crushed pieces obtained in it is dry distilled and recovered. With this chemical recovery method, recycling has begun to be used to recover relatively expensive metals (valuable metals), such as gold, silver, copper and palladium, being used as wiring and plating materials. In this case, silicides, such as glass, usually contained in waste circuit boards are recovered as slag. This slag can be effectively recycled as a cement material or the like. However, in the case that the waste circuit boards contain lead, the lead is mixed into the slag. Hence, in order that this slag is effectively utilized as a cement material or the like, the lead is required to be separated and recovered. However, at present, this kind of slag containing lead is not recycled but dumped for landfill at controlled landfill sites because of the cost for lead separation and recovery.
Therefore, in recent years, in order that environmental contamination can be prevented more securely and that recycling can be performed easy, it is desired that tin-lead eutectic solder is switched to solder not containing lead so-called lead-free solder. Therefore, circuit board manufacturing companies are energetically advancing the switching from tin-lead eutectic solder to lead-free solder. When waste circuit boards on which lead-free solder is used are crushed and dry distilled, valuable metals can be recovered and slag not including lead can also be recovered. Therefore, the recovered slag can be utilized effectively as a cement material or the like.
However, lead-free solder being known at present and used practically has a melting point higher than that of tin-lead eutectic solder. For example, Sn—Ag—Cu lead-free solder, being most prospective as lead-free solder at present, has a melting point of 216 to 220° C.; and tin-lead eutectic solder has a melting point of approximately 183° C. Since the lead-free solder has higher melting points, soldering is required to be carried out at higher temperatures. Hence, some circuit components have a problem in thermal resistance against such high soldering temperatures, even though they have thermal resistance against conventional soldering temperatures. In addition, circuit components are occasionally required to be checked individually by reliability tests after soldering, depending on the material and shape of the leads in the circuit components.
Therefore, it is difficult to completely replace solder included in circuit boards and products comprising such circuit boards with lead-free solder. Hence, lead-containing solder is still used for some circuit boards. Moreover, there exist numerous products that use lead-containing solder among electrical and electronic products having already been produced and used. Hence, it is inevitable situation that circuit boards on which lead-containing solder is used and circuit boards on which lead-free solder is used are mixed up at worksites where used electrical and electronic products are dismantled and separated and then circuit boards are retrieved.
If there is no effective means for separating waste circuit boards on which lead-free solder is used, recycling and waste dumping are carried out in a state wherein circuit boards on which lead-containing solder is used and circuit boards on which lead-free solder is used are mixed up. This results in causing some problems described below.
First, if only the waste circuit boards on which lead-free solder is used are present, slag obtained by crushing and dry distilling the waste circuit boards can be utilized effectively as a cement material or the like, for example. However, if some circuit boards on which lead-containing solder is used are mixed into waste circuit boards on which lead-free solder is used, lead is mixed into the slag, and the slag cannot be utilized effectively as a cement material or the like. Hence, even the circuit boards on which lead-free solder is used with much effort have no option but to be dumped for landfill at controlled landfill sites together with the waste circuit boards on which lead-containing solder is used, after valuable metals are recovered.
Furthermore, if lead-free solder is mixed into lead-containing solder when lead is recovered from slag obtained by crushing, dry distilling waste circuit boards, and recovering valuable metals, the content of lead is reduced, and the cost for lead separation and recovery becomes rather higher.
For the above-mentioned reasons, it is desired that a method capable of separating lead-containing boards from lead-free boards easily at low cost is realized.
Since both the lead-containing solder and the lead-free solder primarily consist of tin, they have a slight difference in luster; however, it is difficult to distinguish them visually.
Hence, a method for separating circuit-board including lead-containing solder from circuit-board including lead-free solder, by providing identification marks, bar codes or the like has been disclosed in the Official Gazette of Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-269614, for example.
However, in the separation method using identification marks, bar codes or the like, it occurs occasionally that space for the identification marks, bar codes or the like cannot be obtained on the circuit boards of electrical and electronic products being required to be reduced in size, thickness and weight. In addition, it may be assumed occasionally that the identification marks, bar codes or the like are reduced in size and become difficult to identify. Furthermore, it is necessary to add a step for providing the identification marks, bar codes or the like in a circuit board manufacturing process, thereby causing a problem of manufacturing cost increase.
Moreover, in the work of dismantling and separating used electrical and electronic products and retrieving circuit boards, various products and circuit boards made by numerous manufacturing companies are mixed up. Therefore, in the separation method disclosed in the Official Gazette of Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-269614, it is essential that the identification marks, bar codes or the like should be standardized. However, this standardization cannot be attained easily. The method is thus not a secure method that can be attained promptly.
Still further, the terminal wires of numerous circuit components are plated with lead-containing solder even though the circuit components themselves are soldered with lead-free solder. It is realistically impossible that the lead-containing solder on all of these terminal wires is replaced with lead-free solder at a certain time simultaneously. Hence, it is likely that circuit components plated with lead-containing solder and circuit components plated with lead-free solder are mixed up inevitably. However, it is realistically impossible to represent these by using only the identification marks, bar codes or the like.
Still further, in addition to the problem of lead, waste circuit boards have a problem regarding bromine that is in danger of generating dioxin in the stage of waste incineration.
Insulating materials primarily consisting of synthetic resin are usually used for printed-circuit boards on which circuit components are mounted. Generally speaking, most of these insulating materials contain flame retardants based on halogen (including bromine), i.e., brominated diphenyl ether compounds, brominated biphenyl compounds, etc., so as to satisfy the flame retardation requirements specified in standards for safety during usage, for example, the UL Standards (Unites States Safety Standards). When circuit boards are incinerated as waste, such flame retardants based on halogen (including bromine) are in danger of generating dioxin during imperfect combustion. Therefore, such circuit boards containing bromine are required to be dumped for landfill without being incinerated or required to be incinerated under strict combustion control conditions so as not to generate dioxin.
Recently, the development of halogen-free printed-circuit boards, not containing bromine, has been proceeded. These printed-circuit boards have no danger of generating dioxin.
However, halogen-based flame retardants are used in numerous electrical and electronic products having already been produced and used. Hence, it is inevitable that circuit boards in which flame retardants based on halogen (including bromine) are used and halogen-free circuit boards are mixed up at worksites where used electrical and electronic products are dismantled and separated and then circuit boards are retrieved.
If circuit boards in which flame retardants in which flame retardants based on halogen (including bromine) are used are mixed into halogen-free circuit boards, there is in danger of generating dioxin during incineration. Furthermore, if processing not generating dioxin is carried out, processing cost increases.
Therefore, in order that the generation of dioxin is prevented and that processing cost is reduced, it is desired that circuit boards containing bromine and circuit boards not containing bromine are separated and then dumped at the stage of dumping circuit boards.
As a conventional method for separating waste, a separation method using fluorescent X-rays is known. For example, a material identification apparatus wherein waste is irradiated with primary X-rays and identified on the basis of characteristic X-rays generated therefrom is proposed in the Official Gazette of Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 10-267868. Furthermore, the Official Gazette of Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2002-310952 proposes a method wherein the surface of a waste circuit board is analyzed with a fluorescent X-ray analyzer, a judgment as to whether lead is present or not is made on the basis of the result of the analysis. The separation between a waste circuit board containing lead and a waste circuit board not containing specific elements on the surfaces is thus carried out according to the judgment. These conventional apparatuses are large-size apparatuses for analyzing and identifying waste materials on belt conveyors in a hermetically closed room.
The Official Gazette of Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-258347 discloses ICP (Inductively Coupled Plasma) emission spectrometry technology. In this emission spectrometry technology, a solder sample serving as an analysis object is prepared. Plasma is generated by passing a carrier gas in which the prepared solder sample is mixed through a pipe and by passing a high-frequency current in the coil wound outside the pipe, whereby light is emitted from the sample to carry out spectroscopic analysis.
However, the conventional analysis technologies have problems. For example, the procedure for analysis operation is complicated and takes a long period of time for analysis, and expensive analysis instruments are required. In addition, since vacuum processing is required for analysis, there is a problem of requiring a sturdy vacuum vessel and a pump.

Ingredient analysis method and ingredient analysis apparatus

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A swiveling joint for use in a pole such as a light pole is disclosed. The swiveling joint connects a first member mounted to a lower leg of a pole with a second member mounted to an upper leg of the pole. The second leg has a skirt which sits around an annular portion of the first member, with a bearing member located between the first and second members. The bearing member can be moved from outside the second member between a locked position where the joint is fixed, and a released position where the joint can rotate.

The Swivelpole™ is described in the International Patent Application published as WO0125687 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,957,832, the contents of which are incorporate herein by reference. This product consists of a light pole which has a swivelling joint along its length. The swivelling joint allows for safer and easier changing and repair of lights than had previously been available.
The Swivelpole™ has proved highly successful, and has become an important safety feature in many industrial, mining, and oil-and-gas installations. Nonetheless, it is considered that improvements may be possible in both the manufacture and use of the product.
The Swivelpole™ requires precise welding of flat plates onto tubing. Such welding requires considerable expertise, in addition to costly equipment. Inexpert welding can lead to distortion of the flat plates, resulting in an underperforming joint. It is considered desirable to have a joint which could be formed without welding, for instance by casting and machining. The Swivelpole™ cannot be easily formed by such a method.
In addition, by the nature of its design, the Swivelpole™ includes an open joint into which water and dust can locate. This is problematic in some applications.
The present invention seeks to improve some features of the previous Swivelpole™ design, particularly to allow for easier manufacture, whilst retaining the key concept of the swiveling joint.


A bearing with a magnetic fluid seal, wherein a plurality of rolling elements are interposed between an inner ring and an outer ring, and a ring-shaped magnet is arranged at an opening side of the inner and outer rings so as to retain magnetic fluid for sealing the plurality of rolling elements, and                wherein the ring-shaped magnet is magnetized such that magnetic poles are oriented in an axial direction, the bearing comprising:        a ring-shaped pole plate arranged so as to be in contact with an outer side surface of the ring-shaped magnet in the axial direction;        outer-ring-side magnetic fluid retained between the outer ring and the ring-shaped pole plate and/or between the outer ring and the ring-shaped magnet; and        inner-ring-side magnetic fluid retained between the inner ring and the ring-shaped pole plate and/or between the inner ring and the ring-shaped magnet.

In general, rotating shafts installed in various drive power transmission mechanisms are rotatably supported by bearings. In this case, so-called ball bearings are often used. Ball bearings include a plurality of rolling elements (rolling members) arranged in a circumferential direction in a space between an inner ring and an outer ring. The rotational performance of rotating shafts can be increased by using bearings of this type.
This type of bearing is used as means for supporting a rotating shaft in a drive power transmission mechanism for various drive devices. Some drive devices are required to prevent foreign matter, such as dust and moisture, from intruding into an inner region thereof through a bearing section. If foreign matter intrudes into the bearing itself, there will be a problem that the rotational performance will be degraded or abnormal noise will be generated. To solve this problem, a seal member made of an elastic material may be arranged on the outer periphery of the rotating shaft in the vicinity of the bearing, so that the bearing section is waterproof and dustproof. However, in this case, the rotational performance of the rotating shaft is degraded due to the influence of a contact pressure applied by the sealing member made of an elastic material.
Bearings having magnetic fluid seal mechanisms in which magnetic fluid is used (hereinafter referred to as bearings with magnetic fluid seals) are known structures that prevent foreign matter from intruding into the bearing section without reducing the rotational performance of the rotating shaft. For example, PTL 1 discloses a ball bearing in which rolling elements are retained between an outer ring and an inner ring and in which a magnetic member is interposed between the outer ring and the inner ring that rotate relative to each other, the magnetic member being fixed at one side thereof and magnetic fluid being disposed in a seal gap provided at the other side of the magnetic member. More specifically, the magnetic member is disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring so as to block the rolling elements, the magnetic member being fixed at one side thereof and the magnetic fluid being disposed in the seal gap provided at the other side of the magnetic member. Accordingly, the rolling elements are tightly sealed and intrusion of foreign matter into a rolling element section, which affects the rotational performance, is prevented.


A hydrophobic treatment method is used in which at least one sheet filled with a gelled silicic acid is tilted at least two degrees with respect to a horizontal direction in a hydrophobizing solution, and the gelled silicic acid is hydrophobized. A manufacturing method for a sheet-like member is also used. The manufacturing method includes: a sol preparing step of adjusting the pH of a water glass aqueous solution to obtain a sol solution of silicic acid; an adding step of adding the sol solution to a fiber; a gel step of polymerizing and gelling the sol solution; a hydrophobic treatment step of hydrophobizing the gel with the hydrophobic treatment method; and a drying step of drying the hydrophobized gel.

Porous materials, for example, silica aerogel, are composed of a silicon dioxide skeleton, and 90% or more of air. Silica aerogel has an extremely low density of 10 to 150 mg/cm3, and has potential use in a wide range of applications, including acoustic absorbents.
Silica aerogel has a surface hydroxyl group, which makes the silica aerogel highly hydrophilic, and moisture adsorbing. By absorbing moisture, silica aerogel undergoes structural changes such as contraction, and deteriorates through, for example, discoloration. Such deterioration can be prevented by making the silica aerogel hydrophobic.
Another property of silica aerogel is that this material is very brittle. For example, in Japanese Patent No. 3897125, silica aerogel is embedded in a single sheet of fiber. In this way, this related art produces a fiber-reinforced aerogel sheet of 0.5 to 5 mm thick. Specifically, silica gel is embedded in a single sheet of fiber in a gel form. The gel is then allowed to react with a silylation agent to effect silylation, that is, hydrophobization.

Hydrophobic treatment method and manufacturing method for sheet-like member using method

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


An apparatus and method for forming a self-limiting etchable layer on a workpiece. The apparatus comprises: a chamber adapted for holding a workpiece; a distribution plate within the chamber, wherein the distribution plate includes channels for introducing a first fluid (e.g., ammonia) and a second fluid (e.g., hydrogen fluoride) into the apparatus, such that the first and second fluids may be directed into the apparatus at the angles θ1 and θ2 with respect to an exposed surface of the distribution plate, wherein the channels for each type of fluid may be arranged respectively in alternating rings, and wherein each angle θ1 and θ2 are at least 45 degrees and less than 90 degrees, offset by α2 and β2 and α1 and β1 by analogy. The method for forming the etchable layer on the workpiece comprises introducing a first fluid and a second fluid into the chamber through the channels.

1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to an apparatus and method for forming a surface film, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for performing a non-plasma chemical reaction to form the surface film.
2. Background Art
The ability to control etching by hydrogen fluoride (HF) to a given thickness of a surface layer of a workpiece that has been adapted for etching is an important prerequisite for accurate etching in the manufacture of an integrated circuit (IC). The surface layer of the workpiece may be adapted for etching by forming a surface layer that is an oxide of the material of the workpiece. If the workpiece comprises silicon or germanium, the surface layer of the workpiece may be adapted for etching by forming the surface layer of silicon dioxide (SiO2) or germanium dioxide (GeO2). Pure hydrogen fluoride (HF) may etch the adapted surface layer by forming gaseous silicon tetrafluoride (SiF4). The gaseous SiF4 is very volatile such that exposing the surface layer to HF readily etches the surface layer, thereby exposing a remaining layer of oxide to etching by the HF. Etching to the given thickness is difficult to control because the formation of SiF4 continues until the surface layer, i.e., the oxide layer, has been completely etched due to formation and evaporation of SiF4.
In view of the need to control the etching thickness when the adapted surface layer of a workpiece is exposed to HF, there is a need for an apparatus and method that provides controlled etching of the adapted surface layer with HF.

Non-plasma reaction apparatus and method

International Business Machines Corporation