The present invention relates to a polymer composition which absorbs infrared (IR) radiation, containing a transparent thermoplastic plastic, an inorganic infrared absorber and at least one inorganic nano-scale pigment, and to the preparation and use of the polymer compositions according to the invention, and to products produced therefrom. In particular, the present invention relates to polymer compositions comprising                a. at least one transparent thermoplastic material;        b. at least one inorganic IR absorber which comprises a tungsten compound and wherein the IR absorber is present in an amount of from 0.0075 wt. % to 0.0750 wt. %, calculated as solids content of tungstate in the total composition; and        c. at least one inorganic, nano-scale pigment present in an amount of from 0.0005 wt. % to 0.0035 wt. %, based on the total composition; and        d. optionally further additives.

Glazing made from compositions containing transparent thermoplastic polymers such as, for example, polycarbonate offer many advantages over conventional glazing made of glass for use in the automotive sector and for buildings. Such advantages include, for example, increased break resistance and/or an increased weight saving, which in the case of automotive glazing permit greater safety for the occupants in the event of road traffic accidents and a lower fuel consumption. Finally, transparent materials containing transparent thermoplastic polymers permit substantially greater freedom in terms of design because they are easier to mould.
It is a disadvantage, however, that the high heat transmissibility (i.e. transmissibility for IR radiation) of transparent thermoplastic polymers leads to undesirable heating of the inside of motor vehicles and buildings under the action of the sun. The raised temperatures on the inside reduce the comfort for the occupants or residents and can involve increased demands in terms of air conditioning, which in turn increase the energy consumption and thus eliminate the positive effects again. In order nevertheless to meet the demand for low energy consumption coupled with a high degree of comfort for the occupants, glazing provided with appropriate heat protection is required. This is true for the automotive sector in particular.
As has long been known, the largest part of solar energy, apart from the visible range of light between 400 nm and 750 nm, is accounted for by the near-infrared (NIR) range between 750 nm and 2500 nm. Penetrating solar radiation is absorbed inside a car, for example, and emitted as long-wave heat radiation having a wavelength of from 5 μm to 15 μm. Because conventional glazing materials—in particular thermoplastic polymers that are transparent in the visible range—are not transparent in that range, the heat radiation is unable to radiate to the outside. A greenhouse effect is obtained and the interior heats up. In order to keep this effect to a minimum, the transmission of the glazing in the NIR should be minimised as far as possible. Conventional transparent thermoplastic polymers such as, for example, polycarbonate are, however, transparent both in the visible range and in the NIR.
Additives, for example, which exhibit as low a transparency as possible in the NIR without adversely affecting the transparency in the visible range of the spectrum are therefore required.
Of the transparent thermoplastic plastics, polymers based on polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and polycarbonate are particularly suitable for use as a glazing material. Because of its high strength, polycarbonate in particular has a very good property profile for such uses.
In order to impart infrared-absorbing properties to these plastics, corresponding infrared absorbers are used as additives. IR absorber systems which have a broad absorption spectrum in the NIR range (near-infrared, 750 nm-2500 nm) while at the same time having low absorption in the visible range (low inherent colour) are of particular interest for that purpose. The corresponding polymer compositions should additionally have high heat stability as well as excellent light stability.
A large number of IR absorbers based on organic or inorganic materials which can be used in transparent thermoplastics are known. A selection of such materials is described, for example, in J. Fabian, H. Nakazumi, H. Matsuoka, Chem. Rev. 92, 1197 (1992), in U.S. Pat. No. 5,712,332 or JP-A 06240146.
IR-absorbing additives based on organic materials frequently have the disadvantage, however, that they exhibit poor stability towards thermal stress or radiation. Accordingly, many of these additives do not have sufficient heat stability to be incorporated into transparent thermoplastics because temperatures of up to 350° C. are required for their processing. Moreover, during use, glazing is often exposed for prolonged periods to temperatures of more than 50° C., caused by solar radiation, which can lead to decomposition or degradation of the organic absorbents.
Furthermore, organic IR absorbers frequently do not have a sufficiently broad absorption band in the NIR range, so that their use as IR absorbers in glazing materials is inefficient, a pronounced inherent colour of such systems often also occurring, which is generally undesirable.
IR-absorbing additives based on inorganic materials are frequently markedly more stable as compared with organic additives. The use of such systems is often also more economical because in most cases they have a markedly more favourable price/performance ratio. Accordingly, materials based on finely divided borides, such as, for example, lanthanum hexaboride, have proved to be efficient IR absorbers because, in particular, they have a broad absorption band. Such borides based on La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Y, Sm, Eu, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Sr, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Ta, Cr, Mo, W and Ca are described inter alga, for example, in DE 10392543 or EP 1 559 743.
However, a disadvantage of these additives is their significant inherent colour. After incorporation, these boride-containing additives impart a characteristic green colour to the transparent plastic, which is frequently undesirable because it greatly limits the scope for a neutral colouring.
In order to compensate for the inherent colour, relatively large amounts of further colouring agents are often used, but this impairs the optical properties of the composition and leads to markedly reduced transmission in the visible range. This is undesirable in the case of motor vehicle glazing in particular or, in special cases in which the driver's view must not be impaired, is inadmissible.
It has been shown that IR-absorbing additives from the group of the tungstates have a lower intrinsic absorption in the visible spectral range as compared with the boride-based inorganic IR absorbers known from the prior art and yield thermoplastic materials having a low inherent colour. Moreover, they have a desirable broad absorption characteristic in the NIR range. Such tungstates are tungsten oxides based on WyOz (W=tungsten, O=oxygen, z/y=2.20-2.99) or based on MxWyOz (M=H, He, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, rare earths, Mg, Zr, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ru, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, Au, Zn, Cd, Al, Ga, In, Tl, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, Sb, B, F, P, S, Se, Br, Te, Ti, Nb, V, Mo, Ta, Re, Be, Hf, Os, Bi; x/y=0.001-1, z/y=2.2-3.0).
The preparation and use of these substances in thermoplastic materials is known in principle and described, for example, in H. Takeda, K. Adachi, J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 90, 4059-4061, (2007), WO 2005037932, JP 2006219662, JP 2008024902, JP 2008150548, WO 2009/059901 and JP 2008214596.
The low inherent colouring of these systems is advantageous because it permits a large degree of freedom in the colouring of the end product. The final colour is achieved by adding further pigments or colourants. Furthermore, the IR-absorbing polycarbonate compositions exhibit an economically acceptable or even valuable price/performance ratio.
The IR-absorbing additives from the group of the tungstates are suitable in principle for transparent thermoplastics such as polymethyl methacrylate and polycarbonate on account of the advantages described above. However, it has been shown that these additives lead to unexpected colour impressions in transparent thermoplastic compositions, irrespective of their inherent colour.
The colour impression of a non-transparent object is attributable to the reflected light. An object which, for example, absorbs the long-wave constituents of light appears blue because the remaining shorter-wave components of the spectrum are remitted. However, this application relates to transparent objects, such as, for example, window panels. Transparent objects in this application are understood as being bodies that exhibit a transmission (unweathered, not aged) of at least 10% and a haze of less than 3.0%, preferably less than 2.5%, more preferably less than 2.0% and particularly preferably less than 1.5%. In the case of transparent bodies, in contrast to non-transparent objects, it is normally not the remitted colour but the transmitted colour that is in the foreground. The object thus acts as a colour filter. In order not to impair the transparency of the panel there are preferably used colouring agents which dissolve in the polymer matrix or have such a small particle size that they cause no haze, no haze within the scope of the present invention meaning a haze of less than 3% at a given layer thickness, measured in accordance with ASTM D1003.
The tungstate-based IR absorber particles that are used do not in fact lead to haze of the corresponding glazing element (haze <3%).
However, it has been found that, above a certain concentration, these particles, whose size is preferably within the nanometre range, can cause scattering effects in the matrix in which they are embedded, regardless of the nature and other properties of the particles. While this scattering has only an unnoticeable effect on the transmission and accordingly the transparency of the article, the colour impression of the article is in some cases changed considerably by the scattered light, in particular in dependence on the viewing angle.
Consequently, the IR-absorbing additives from the group of the tungstates accordingly lead to undesirable colour reflexes in the finished part, that is to say, for example, in a transparent panel, under certain light conditions and viewing angles. Thus, corresponding panels exhibit a bluish to violet tinge according to the concentration of the inorganic IR absorber used. This colour impression does not arise from the inherent colour of the chosen added pigments and absorbers but is attributable to scattering effects of the nanoparticles, which are to be observed in particular at viewing angles of from 1 to 60°, which lie outside the angle of reflection. Such scattering can adversely affect the overall colour impression of the corresponding article, for example a vehicle or a building.
The scattering effect is, as described, frequently perceived as a bluish-violet colour impression. A neutral colour impression is frequently desirable, that is to say the natural colour impression is not disturbed by scattering effects. This means that the colour produced by the scattering effect must on the one hand be relatively close to the achromatic point and on the other hand close to the inherent colour of the component.
It must be emphasised that this colour effect does not result from the normal absorbed or transmitted colour. This phenomenon is only caused by scattered light. Colourants or colouring pigments do not normally contribute to this colour effect. Only certain additives, such as, for example, the nano-scale tungsten-based IR absorbers, cause this effect. Furthermore, it must be pointed out that the scattering effect is pronounced only under certain light conditions and defined viewing angles. This is the case, for example, when the article—preferably a panel—is viewed under good light conditions, that is to say under solar radiation and at observation angles of from 1 to 60°.
The bluish scattering is caused by the IR additive, which consists of fine particles. These particles, which on average have a size, which can be determined, for example, by means of TEM (transmission electron microscopy), of preferably less than 200 nm, particularly preferably less than 100 nm, cause a scattering effect and can accordingly also lead to undesirable colour impressions. In order to minimise that effect, the diameter of the particles could be reduced or the amount of particles in the matrix could be limited. However, this is complex because either the particles must be very finely ground and the risk of reagglomeration exists or, if the particle concentration is too low, the desired effect of IR absorption can no longer be achieved.
It is known that finely divided particles can cause so-called Rayleigh scattering. This Rayleigh scattering is described, for example, in C. F. Bohren, D. Huffmann, Absorption and scattering of light by small particles, John Wiley, New York 1983. The scattering behaviour of tungstate-based nanoparticles has not hitherto been described. The concentration ranges in which the described colour scattering effects occur in a thermoplastic matrix were likewise hitherto not known. Measures for attenuating the described effect were not obvious from the current prior art.
Further, thermoplastic moulding compositions are known which contain both IR absorbers and colouring pigments, inter alia carbon blacks, in order to influence both the heat-absorbing properties and the colouration. However, measures for reducing the scattered radiation caused by tungstate-based IR-absorbing particles are as rarely described in the literature as that undesirable effect.
Compositions based on polycarbonate containing tungstate-based inorganic IR absorbers are described in various publications.
Moulding compositions containing boride-based IR absorbers and specific carbon blacks are known from WO 2007/008476 A1, a synergistic effect in respect of the IR-absorbing properties being said to be achieved by the combination of these components.
US 2006/0251996 describes inorganic IR absorbers, including inter alia also tungstates, which can be used in conjunction with further pigments, for example also carbon black. However, neither the problem of colour scattering nor compositions having a specific ratio of IR absorber to carbon black are described in US 2006/0251996.
None of the documents described as prior art describes scattering or reflection effects of inorganic IR absorbers in thermoplastics and the problems resulting therefrom.

Polymer composition having heat-absorbing properties and improved colour properties


A method for testing computer software is described. The method is intended for operation on software which may or may not have been previously subjected to unit and integration tests, to determine if it will meet the specific requirements of an end user. The method is applicable to internally developed, contractor developed, or vendor supplied software. The method includes application in six key process areas. The six key process areas are development of a test plan, development of test cases to support the plan, development of an environment to simulate the technical environment in which the program will operate, test execution in which the tests are executed in a technical environment, compiling and analyzing the results and finally reporting the results in a form whereby the end user can determine both the feasibility of the software system for the specific requirements and any areas where additional testing or modifications are necessary.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of testing computer software and in particular to a non invasive method for evaluating the effectiveness of computer software to perform the functions desired by the business user. The testing method of this invention is particularly suited for determining the level of effectiveness achieved by a computer program or software when tailored to a business requirement.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Within the advent of computer software for many different domestic, commercial and industrial uses a need has grown to test that software to determine whether it will achieve its intended or desired purpose. Certain software programs are sufficiently complex that separate computer software is needed to test and evaluate whether a special purpose program will perform satisfactorily under the conditions present in a specific user situation.
For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,111 there is described a procedure where the program source code is invaded to generate a complementary source code which includes external dependencies. The testing method, then, translates the source code and complementary code to produce a machine-executable program for testing the source code.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,061 an automatic testing technique generates an incremental coverage report for portions of the program that have been unreached by previous testing procedures. In that patent there is described a procedure whereby a computer program is xe2x80x9cparsedxe2x80x9d and instrument code is inserted in appropriate parts of the program. When the program is executed, the instrument code causes coverage results to be generated and stored. The output then is used to specify the value of a current test.
These types of procedures require access to the source code. However, when computer software is purchased the seller often does not provide access to source code because such code is proprietary. Therefore the purchaser must rely on testing procedures performed by the seller.
In unit testing, test data and various inputs to simulate various conditions under which the unit of software may operate are used. Test data are developed and a corrective action may be taken in response to test results. In integration testing software units are incrementally combined until the complete software system and the resulting integrated machine-executable programs are tested. Integration testing may involve integration of data, executable code and test result. As described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,111, in integration testing as in unit testing a machine-executable program is executed and the run time output or results are examined as a way to verify the correct functioning of the program being tested. Therefore, the external dependency problem of unit testing also exists for integration testing. In other words, in such testing, it is necessary to duplicate business external conditions under which the software may be expected to be called upon to function.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,600,789 a method for automated testing of computer application programs using a Graphic User Interface is described. Simulated user events such as keyboard or mouse actions are automatically inputted into the interface which is then monitored to observe changes in response to the input.
In that method, inputs to the interface that simulate user events, such as keyboard or mouse action, are provided and the changes to the interface in response to the input are observed. The simulated user input is described as appearing exactly as if the input came from the user. A test script is written in a high level programming language and contains the events to be simulated. The script is then executed and a driver is used to take specific references and perform the actual interface to Graphical User Interface objects: Logical Screen Elements are identified and are the objects used to interface with the user. The simulated user input is sent to the graphical user interface directed at a particular Logical Screen Element. Validation, then, concerns whether the Logical Screen Element has accepted the user and entered the expected state.
The test script is described as being written in a language called xe2x80x9cTxe2x80x9d, although any appropriate programming language could be used.
There remains a need however for a procedure for testing both new and revised computer application programs which is independent of any specific testing tool, operating system or technical platform to direct testing activity to determine the feasibility or practicality of the use of a specific program at the user level. There is a need for determining whether a program which has been cleared by the vendor through unit and integration or other testing will adequately meet the end users needs when subjected to realistic, rather than technical, conditions.
It has been discoverd that the end user requirements for a software program can be efficiently and reliably evaluated against a software program using actual production measurements and related information. The procedure of this invention, then, not only can determine how well a product has been tested by the vendor and/or creator, but rather if the product will reliably meet the user requirements in performing specific functions, and the quality of the performance. The process of this invention provides evaluation in a succession of six key process areas leading from creation of an initial test plan through a management report on the readiness of the software under test for production service.
In the first key process area a test plan is created which defines the scope of the software test, the approach to complete the test, resources required and the acceptance criteria for the test.
The second key process area is test case development where in the test cases that support the plan are created to validate software functions.
Third key process area is test environment preparation which is used to establish a controlled technical environment for the application of the test cases. The controlled environment simulates a business environment in which the application programs will operate so that results are not skewed by technical environment variables.
The fourth key process area is test execution wherein the test cases defined in the second key process area are executed in the technical environments defined in the third key process area.
The fifth key process area is results analysis wherein a review identifies the areas of the software that need to be repaired and ultimately re-tested and the collection and analysis of metrics used to measure the software system""s readiness as defined in the test plan are collected.
Finally, the sixth key process area is a management reporting function, wherein the readiness of the software system as measured by the test results collected in the fifth key process area is communicated to management.
The proper combination of the above key process areas will provide the information necessary for an organization to identify and potentially eliminate defects from software before it is implemented in a production environment.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to produce a non-invasive procedure for software testing to determine efficiently whether the software will meet the end user""s requirements.
It is another object of this invention to provide a method for testing software wherein previously designed software is evaluated against a user""s specific requirements and a determination made based upon testing specific activities on a percentage pass/fail basis to determine if a software program is suitable for a specific set of requirements.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a software testing methodology wherein specific functions to be performed can be evaluated without altering source code or rewriting the same whereby a requirement based evaluation process is used.

Requirements based software testing method


A gas lighter with a safety device which is composed of a lock lever and a resilient leaf. The resilient leaf is defined, on the upper portion of a lighter body and on the path of a depressible actuating means, by a pair of slits formed parallel to each other and longitudinally. The resilient leaf, which is slidably surrounded with the lock lever, is at the upper end thereof incurved towards the lighter body. When the lock lever is positioned at the lowermost end of the slits, i.e., a locked position, the incurved portion of the resilient leaf is engaged with a recess at the lowermost end of the actuating means, thereby preventing the depression of the actuating means. When the lock lever is thrust uppermost along the slits, i.e., up to an unlocked position, the incurved end of the resilient leaf is forcibly straightened, whereby the disengaged actuating means can be depressed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a gas lighter ignitable upon depression of an actuating means and, more particularly to a lighter with a safety device which remains deactivated by the engagement of a resilient member with an actuating means but can be activated by rendering the resilient member deformed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Though a gas lighter is a convenient tool which can easily be ignited by the depression of the service end of an actuating lever, it can be a safety hazard for those who, like children, are unfamiliar with the proper use of the lighter. In addition, the lighter may be ignited by the unintentional depression of the service end happenly upon contact with stuffs.
In response to the demands for a gas lighter which is improved in safety in such a manner that inadvertent ignition by those who are unfamiliar with the proper use of the lighter can surely be prevented and the unintentional ignition can be prevented, child resistant gas lighters with several types of safety devices have already been known. Most of the safety devices built into these child resistant gas lighters have a lock mechanism which prevents depression of the actuating lever and which must be released to allow the actuating lever to be depressed. However, any of the conventional-type child resistant gas lighters will have drawbacks in their usage and thus it is desirable that the gas lighter be improved for practical use.
For instance, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,859,172, 4,786,248, and 4,784,602 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3(1991)-35971, any one of the disclosed safety devices is provided with a lock member for deterring depression of the actuating lever. Since the lock member is manually movable between a locked position and a released position, the lock member tends to stay at the released position without a manual recovery from the released position to the initial position after the use of the lighter, whereby the safety device remains unlocked. Leaving the lock member at the released position permits the actuating lever to be depressed, rendering the safety device inoperable. Specifically then, to ensure safety, the existing safety devices always require a manual re-locking operation after the use of the lighter with the lock mechanism unlocked, and hence there were expected further improvements of the lock mechanism in terms of safety.
To solve the drawbacks set forth above, there have been proposed, as a safety device having a lock member to impede the depression of the actuating lever, safety devices with what is called an auto-return function wherein the lock member automatically returns to the locked position in response to the ignition operation after the lock member has been manually moved to the released position. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,002,482, and 3,898,031, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3(1991)-25215, for instance, disclose such safety devices as having the autoreturn function which allows automatic return of the lock member to the locked position in response to the ignition operation. With these safety devices, however, releasing the lock mechanism is only achieved by the motion of a finger along an L-shaped path, thereby resulting in the lock mechanism being inferior, in terms of operability, in the ease of releasing the lock member such that a lighter of this type generally requires operation with a single finger, such as a thumb, thus leading to different results depending on the users. Therefore, safety devices of this type can be said to be disadvantageous in practical use. Further, the operation of these safety devices is unreliable because of a probability that the lock member will return to the locked position by its own reactive force which is due to the resilience of the material constituting the lock member.
Furthermore, there have been proposed safety devices wherein the lock member is released by the motion of a finger not along the L-shaped path, but along a simple linear path, but any of those have drawbacks in practical use. The safety device as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication of Translated Version (PCT) No. 3(1991)-501647, for instance, is provided with an automatic return function wherein the part of a lock member being composed of a spring is moved along an arcuate path to the released position and held there, then it automatically returns to the locked position in response to the ignition operation. In this type of safety device, the arrangement for guiding the release of the spring-like lock member is not satisfactory, and accordingly the lock member cannot be steadily released. This adversely affects the ease of releasing the lock mechanism in the gas lighter, which is generally operated with a single finger, and, as with the preceding example, the resulting operations will be different depending on the users. Since the lock member itself is formed of a spring, the lock member may become deformed and cause failure of the lock mechanism after repeated use of the lighter.
In the safety device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,596, the lock member is moved to the released position along a linear path, but automatically returns to the initial position unless it is held at the locked position with a finger other than the one used for actuating the ignition mechanism. Thus, the lock member cannot steadily be released. This adversely affects the ease of releasing the lock mechanism in a gas lighter, which is generally operated with a single finger, e.g. the thumb, and, as with the preceding examples, leads to different operational results depending on the users.
In order to overcome such problems, there has been proposed an autoreturn safety device in which the lock member is moved along a linear path to the released position, thereby facilitating the release of the lock mechanism, and at the same time, the lock mechanism can be held in the released position with the finger which actuates the ignition mechanism, thus not requiring another finger. However, the safety device also has drawbacks in its practical use. That is, in the safety device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 1(1989)-178456, the lock member is incorporated in the actuating lever which is actuated to ignite the lighter and the actuating lever can be operated with use of the same finger that has been used in releasing the lock member, i.e. the thumb which is generally used in an ignition operation, thus facilitating the releasing operation. However, when the actuating lever is actuated with the same finger (usually the thumb) which previously moved the lock member to the released position, the lock member may inadvertently be released from the thumb and may return to the locked position. Accordingly, also in this safety device, the lock member cannot be steadily released. This adversely affects the ease of releasing the lock mechanism in the gas lighter, which is generally operated with a single finger, e.g. the thumb, and, as with the preceding examples, this leads to different operational results depending on the users.
As can be seen from the description above, any one of the existing child resistant safety devices has drawbacks in practical use, and hence there has been a demand for a child resistant safety device which is improved in both safety and operability.
Further, in manufacturing gas lighters with such a safety device, it is required to rationalize the assembling steps, to improve assembling accuracy, thereby further enhancing the handling of the safety device, and to reduce the manufacturing cost.


In an image forming device, in a case where a storage medium is connected to an input output interface, and a storage medium stores import instruction information including a plurality of setting values, a controller imports a target value from the storage medium to a memory. The plurality of setting values is associated with respective ones of a plurality of pieces of device-specific information. The target value is a setting value selected from the plurality of setting values and is associated with a piece of device-specific information unique to the image forming device. Each of the plurality of setting values associated with respective ones of a plurality of pieces of device-specific information is for setting a prescribed parameter of a corresponding device. After the target value is imported, the controller operates according to the target value set for the prescribed parameter.

An information processing device (image-forming device) known in the art imports device configuration information stored in a USB memory or another storage medium as its own device configuration information. The image-forming device determines a reflecting level of the configuration information based on device identification information (a manufacturing number or a device code) of a device to which the configuration information is to be imported.

Image forming device importing setting value associated with device-specific information unique thereto


A printed game card, sheet or ticket set can incorporate multiple individual tickets separated by perforation, scoring or folds, for example. In various embodiments, the game card or sheet is printed with at least one playable game on each individual ticket, wherein the games can be instant win games with game indicia and one or more layers of varnish or rubber-based material that is removable to reveal the indicia. Each ticket on the game card, sheet or ticket set can include individual validation and/or activation indicia. The indicia can be human-readable and/or computer readable. Further, the entire game card, sheet or ticket set can include game or sheet activation indicia, such that when the entire sheet is sold, the entirety of individual game tickets can be activated simultaneously. When the individual game ticket validation codes are read, embodiments of the present invention can operate to individually assess whether the ticket is a winner, as well as whether the ticket has previously been redeemed.

Regulated wagering games are common throughout the world. Typical examples are various games offered by state lotteries. Those games, which are offered on a large scale, are operated using centralized transaction processing systems to collect and/or redeem wagers. Most state lotteries and similar entities operate their own central host computing system, or have it operated by a contractor such as IGT, for example. The host computing systems are typically located within the jurisdiction of the lottery provider. The state lotteries also deploy their own client equipment to operate various channels for delivering games to player customers, such as agent-operated lottery game sales terminals, unattended lottery game sales terminals, vending machines, kiosks, electronic access via the Internet from personal computers, mobile phone access, and interactive TV terminal access, for example. They also operate, or have operated on their behalf by a contractor, their own customized administration computing systems, such as accounting, reporting, fraud control, loyalty programs, second chance games and prize redemption systems, for example.
Lottery ticket games are known and are provided in different formats, including instant-win type games and online or drawing-based games. With an instant ticket game, a player typically scratches one or more places on a ticket to determine if he or she is a winner. With drawing-based games, a player typically selects several numbers from a pool of numbers, and a lottery drawing of numbers (such as from a bin of ping pong balls, for example) is conducted later to determine whether there are any winners. Lottery tickets can be physical tickets purchased at retailers or virtual tickets purchased and played online.
In various embodiments of the present invention, a physical game card or sheet is printed as a connected collection of individual ticket games, wherein individual tickets are connected to other individual tickets along one or more edges, and with at least one playable game on each individual ticket. In various embodiments, the games can be instant win games with game indicia and one or more layers of varnish or rubber-based material that is removable to reveal the indicia. In some embodiments, each ticket on the game card or sheet can be printed so as to include individual validation and activation indicia. In other embodiments, all of the tickets contained in a given package or set can be activated once received by the retailer/distributor, such as by the retailer opening the packages and scanning a single activation code found somewhere within the package, whether on a box, inside the box, on an invoice or loose item within the box, or on the ticket packaging itself. In still other embodiments, the entire game card or sheet can be printed so as to include game or sheet activation indicia, such that when the entire sheet is sold, the entirety of individual game tickets can be activated simultaneously. When the individual game ticket validation codes are read, embodiments of the present invention can operate to individually assess whether the ticket is a winner, as well as whether the ticket has previously been redeemed. Individual tickets joined as part of a set can be independently and individually validated, such that if only a subset of the tickets in any given ticket set includes winning tickets, then only those winning tickets require validation before winnings can be paid.
One implementation of a method in accordance with embodiments of the present invention comprises printing indicia on a game card or sheet, wherein the indicia represent multiple game tickets sharing common edges, printing at least one removable layer on the card so as to cover at least a portion of the printed indicia, printing individual game validation indicia or codes on multiple areas of the game card or sheet corresponding to the multiple individual tickets or games, and forming a perforation on the game card or sheet along one or more of the common ticket edges to permit manual separation of individual game tickets from the game card or sheet. A global activation indicia or code can also be printed, and can extend across multiple tickets and one or more perforations or can be printed on an article separate from the tickets, in various embodiments.
In various aspects, the present invention provides a ticket set/package, system and method whereby tickets can be mass produced, connected but separable via perforation at more than one edge, and coded for particular activation and validation protocols as desired.
In various embodiments of the present invention, a game card or sheet is printed as a connected collection of individual ticket games, wherein individual tickets are connected to other individual tickets along one or more edges, and with at least one playable game on each individual ticket. In various embodiments, the games can be instant win games with game indicia and one or more layers of varnish or rubber-based material that is removable to reveal the indicia. In some embodiments, each ticket on the game card or sheet can be printed so as to include individual validation indicia. Further, the entire game card or sheet can be printed so as to include a single game or sheet activation indicia, such that when the entire sheet is sold, the entirety of individual game tickets can be activated simultaneously. When the individual game ticket validation codes are read, embodiments of the present invention can operate to individually assess whether the ticket is a winner, as well as whether the ticket has previously been redeemed.
The detachability of the tickets can be provided such as through perforation, scoring or other method of structural weakening that permits the tickets to be manually separated from one another.

Game ticket sets and system and method for producing same


A lead frame has a first sink, an island, and a control terminal. The lead frame is bent, and at a rear surface, the island is positioned closer to one surface of a resin molded body than the first sink and a passive component mounting portion of the control terminal. A passive component is mounted on the passive component mounting portion of the control terminal through a bonding material, the passive component mounting portion being a part of one surface.

There has been known a semiconductor device which includes semiconductor chips including switching elements (hereinafter referred to as first semiconductor chips), a resin molding for sealing the first semiconductor chips, and heat sinks disposed both surfaces of the first semiconductor chips, and connected to main electrodes via soldering, as described in Patent Literature 1.

Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing same


The invention discloses a high strength nodular cast iron pole and a preparation technology thereof. The preparation technology is characterized by comprising the following steps: (1) preparation before pole casting, to be specific, preparation of raw materials, smelting of iron, adding of alloying elements and nodulizing; (2) a pole casting procedure, to be specific, casting and inoculation treatment; and (3) heat treatment. The invention also provides the high strength nodular cast iron pole prepared by adopting the preparation technology, comprising multiple tower poles which are sequentially connected in an inserted manner, wherein each tower pole is a cone-frustum hollow column which has the conicity of 1000:11-26; the top end of the high strength nodular cast iron pole is equipped with a tower cap. The high strength nodular cast iron pole has the advantages of high bearing capacity, thin wall thickness, light weight, low manufacturing cost and the like.

The nodular cast iron poles in the existing technology are mostly made of common nodular cast iron which has the tensile strength of 420 MPa, the yield strength of 280 MPa and the elongation of 10%, so the poles are easily bent by ice and snow in case of extremely severe ice or snow weather to cause power outage. Moreover, the common nodular cast iron poles cannot reach required bearing capability until certain wall thickness is met, thus leading to increase of weight and cost of the common nodular cast iron.

High strength nodular cast iron pole and preparation technology thereof


A pneumatically operated percussion apparatus for compacting soil, or other material. The apparatus includes a gear case that supports a percussion unit that is adapted to engage the soil to compact the same. A pneumatically operated motor is mounted on the gear case and air is supplied to the motor via a manually-operated "deadman" valve unit. A centrifugal clutch connects the output shaft of the motor to the percussion unit. The air flow to the motor is controlled by a governor to obtain a substantially uniform rotational speed for the motor output shaft.

Manually operated percussion units or rammers are frequently employed to compact soil or other material. A rammer is particularly adapted for use in narrow trenches which, in some instances, can be several feet deep.
A conventional rammer includes a gear case or frame having a handle to be grasped by the operator and a percussion unit is suspended from the gear case. The percussion unit is composed of a reciprocating ram which is held in a neutral position by two pair of opposed compression springs enclosed in a tube. The lower end of the tube carries a shoe which is adapted to engage the soil while the upper end of the ram is connected through a connecting rod and gear drive to the output shaft of a gasoline engine that is mounted on the gear case. With this construction, operation of the engine will reciprocate the ram and tube to compact the soil.
The conventional rammer, as used in the past, has been powered by a two-cycle gasoline engine and if the rammer is used in an enclosed environment, the atmosphere can be readily polluted by the exhaust gas from the engine. Similarly, if the rammer is used in a relatively deep trench, the exhaust fumes can pollute the trench causing a hazard to the operator.
As the rammer is normally operated in dusty conditions, it is necessary to frequently clean the air cleaner of the gasoline engine and due to the dusty conditions of operation, the conventional rammer is subject to high maintenance and repair cost.


A method for loading a model of Meta Object Facility (MOF) includes creating a first MOF instance including a model of MOF that is based upon a stored definition of MOF, rebuilding the first MOF instance to make it a metamodel of itself, instantiating the first MOF instance to create a second MOF instance, loading the stored definition of MOF into the second MOF instance and rebuilding the second MOF instance to make the second MOF instance a metamodel of the second MOF instance.

The present invention relates to the field of computer science. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for Meta Object Facility (MOF) repository bootstrap.
Today""s Internet-driven economy has accelerated users"" expectations for unfettered access to information resources and transparent data exchange among applications. One of the key issues limiting data interoperability today is that of incompatible metadata. Metadata is information about other data, or simply data about data. Metadata is typically used by tools, databases, applications and other information processes to define the structure and meaning of data objects.
Unfortunately, most applications are designed with proprietary schemes for modeling metadata. Applications that define data using different semantics, structures and syntax are difficult to integrate, impeding the free flow of information access across application boundaries. This lack of metadata interoperability hampers the development and efficient deployment of numerous business solutions. These solutions include data warehousing, business intelligence, business-to-business exchanges, enterprise information portals and software development.
An improvement is made possible by establishing standards based upon XML Document Type Definitions (DTDs). However, DTDs lack the capability to represent complex, semantically rich, hierarchical metadata.
A further improvement is made possible by the Meta Object Facility (MOF) specification. MOF is described in a text entitled xe2x80x9cMeta Object Facility (MOF) Specificationxe2x80x9d, Object Management Group, Inc., version 1.3, March 2000. The MOF specification defines a standard for metadata management. The goal of MOF is to provide a framework and services to enable model and metadata driven systems. The MOF is a layered metadata architecture consisting of a single meta-metamodel (M3), metamodels (M2) and models (M1) of information. Each meta level is an abstraction of the meta level below it. These levels of abstraction are relative, and provide a visual reference of MOF based frameworks. Metamodeling is typically described using a four-layer architecture. These layers represent different levels of data and metadata. Layers M1, M2 and M3 are depicted in FIG. 1A. FIG. 1B includes a summary and example of each layer.
The information layer (also known as the M0 or data layer) refers to actual instances of information. These are not shown in FIG. 1A, but examples of this layer include instances of a particular database, application data objects, etc.
The model layer 100 (also known as the M1 or metadata layer) defines the information layer. The model layer 100 describes the format and semantics of the data. The metadata specifies, for example, a table definition in a database schema that describes the format of the M0 level instances. A complete database schema combines many metadata definitions to construct a database model. The M1 layer 100 represents instances (or realizations) of one or more metamodels.
The metamodel layer 105 (also known as the M2 or meta-metadata layer) defines the model layer. The metamodel layer 105 describes the structure and semantics of the metadata. The metamodel specifies, for example, a database system table that describes the format of a table definition. A metamodel can also be thought of as a modeling language for describing different kinds of data. The M2 layer represents abstractions of software systems modeled using the MOF Model. Typically, metamodels describe technologies such as relational databases, vertical domains, etc.
The meta-metamodel (M3) layer 110 defines the metamodel layer. The meta-metamodel layer 110 describes the structure and semantics of the meta-metadata. It is the common xe2x80x9clanguagexe2x80x9d that describes all other models of information. Typically, the meta-metamodel is defined by the system that supports the metamodeling environment. In the case of relational databases, the meta-metamodel is hard-wired by the SQL standard.
In addition to the information-modeling infrastructure, the MOF specification defines an Interface Definition Language (IDL) mapping for manipulating metadata. More specifically, for any given MOF compliant metamodel, the IDL mapping generates a set of Application Program Interfaces (APIs) that provide a common IDL programming model for manipulating the information contained in any instance of that metamodel. The MOF model itself is a MOF compliant model. Therefore, the MOF model can be described using the MOF. Consequently, APIs used to manipulate instances of the MOF Model (i.e., metamodels) conform to the MOF to IDL mapping.
Other mappings may be used to manipulate metadata. The mappings define how to generate a set of APIs that provide a common programming model for manipulating metadata of any MOF compliant model. Using the mappings, applications and tools that specify their interfaces to the models using MOF-compliant Unified Modeling Language (UML) can have the interfaces to the models automatically generated. Using this generated set of APIs, applications can access (create, delete, update and retrieve) information contained in a MOF compliant model.
The MOF also defines a set of reflexive APIs. Similar to Java(trademark) reflection, MOF reflection provides introspection for manipulating complex information. The MOF reflexive interfaces allow a program to discover and manipulate information without using the tailored APIs rendered using the MOF to IDL mapping (or the mapping of MOF to another programming language).
Metamodel and metadata interchange via XML is enabled by XML Metadata Interchange (XMI) specification, an XML-based mechanism for interchanging metamodel information among applications. The XML Metadata Interchange (XMI) standard provides a mapping from MOF to XML. That is, information that has been modeled in MOF can be rendered in XML DTDs and XML documents using the XMI mapping.
Object repositories typically include methods for adding, updating and reading object information maintained in the repository. A MOF repository is more flexible. Initially, a MOF repository includes methods for manipulating MOF objects. An implementor of a MOF repository typically hard-codes the implementation of these methods. Once this is done, a user may create MOF objects and the MOF repository can create methods to manipulate objects of the metamodel that is described by the MOF objects. However, a change to the model of MOF typically requires reimplementing the methods for manipulating MOF objects. This is described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2.
Turning now to FIG. 2, a typical method for implementing a MOF repository is illustrated. At 200, the developer of a MOF repository hard-codes the implementation of methods for accessing MOF objects. This is required in order for users to create metamodels. At 205, the repository user creates objects describing or modeling a language. At 210, the repository user indicates that the classes added at reference numeral 205 describe a particular metamodel. At 215, the metamodel is instantiated, creating a new xe2x80x9crepository contextxe2x80x9d or instance of the metamodel. Instantiating a metamodel creates helper objects or proxies for each package, association and class in the model. These proxies may be used to create instances of metamodel elements until the model of MOF changes.
At some point, a new version of the MOF model is promulgated. At 220, a determination is made regarding whether the model of MOF has changed. When the model of MOF changes, a repository developer may continue using the old MOF version or the repository developer may decide to use the new MOF version. If the repository developer decides to use the new MOF version, at 225, the repository implementation must be rewritten to comply with the new MOF version.
Reimplementing an entire MOF repository when the model of MOF changes requires significant coding efforts. What is needed is a solution that reduces the amount of coding required when the model of MOF changes.
A method for loading a model of Meta Object Facility (MOF) includes creating a first MOF instance including a model of MOF that is based upon a stored definition of MOF, rebuilding the first MOF instance to make it a metamodel of itself, instantiating the first MOF instance to create a second MOF instance, loading the stored definition of MOF into the second MOF instance and rebuilding the second MOF instance to make the second MOF instance a metamodel of the second MOF instance. An apparatus for loading a model of Meta Object Facility (MOF) includes a boot loader to create a first MOF instance including a model of MOF that is based upon a stored definition of MOF, a rebuilder to rebuild a MOF instance to make it a metamodel of itself, an instantiator to instantiate the first MOF instance to create a second MOF instance and a loader to load the stored definition of MOF into the second MOF instance. The instantiator is further configured to dynamically implement interfaces.

Apparatus for Meta Object Facility repository bootstrap


A method for polishing the edge of a semiconductor wafer comprises (a) providing a semiconductor wafer which has been polished on its side surfaces and which has a rounded edge; (b) polishing the edge of the wafer by fixing the semiconductor wafer on a centrally rotating chuck, delivering the wafer to a centrally rotating polishing drum, which is inclined with respect to the chuck and to which a polishing pad containing fixedly bonded abrasives is applied, and pressing semiconductor wafer and polishing drum onto one another while a polishing agent solution containing no solids is continuously supplied.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for polishing the edge of a semiconductor wafer.
2. Background Art
Semiconductor wafer conventionally used are usually silicon wafers or a substrate having layer structures derived from silicon (e.g. silicon-germanium). These silicon wafers are used in particular for producing semiconductor components such as memory chips (DRAM), microprocessors, sensors, light emitting diodes and many more.
The quality requirements for the edge of a semiconductor wafer are ever increasing, in particular for large diameters of the semiconductor wafer (diameter≧300 mm). In particular, the edge of the semiconductor wafer should be as far as possible free of contamination and have a low roughness. Moreover, it should be resistant to increased mechanical stresses during handling. The untreated edge of a semiconductor wafer sliced from a single crystal has a comparatively rough and non-uniform surface. It often experiences spalling under mechanical loading and is a source of disturbing particles. It is therefore customary to regrind the edge in order thereby to eliminate spalling and damage in the crystal and to provide it with a specific profile.
Suitable grinding equipment is known from the prior art. It is customary for the semiconductor wafer to be fixed on a rotating table and to be delivered by its edge against the likewise rotating working surface of a machining tool. The machining tools used in this case are generally in the form of discs which are secured to a spindle and have circumferential surfaces serving as working surfaces for machining the edge of the semiconductor wafer. The material-removing grain is usually fixedly anchored in the working surfaces of the machining tools. The grain used normally has a coarse granulation. The grain size is usually specified in mesh in accordance with Japanese Industrial Standard JIS R 6001:1998. An average particle size can be calculated from the mesh figures.
If grinding discs having fine granulation are used, the term fine grinding is often also employed. Such fine grinding discs have a granulation of from 1000 mesh up to 4000 mesh, e.g. those commercially available from Disco Corporation. It emerges during the conversion into particle sizes that, by way of example, 1200 mesh corresponds to an average particle size of 9.5 μm, 5000 mesh corresponds to an average particle size of 2.5 μm and 8000 mesh corresponds to an average particle size of 1.2 μm.
The average particle sizes during fine grinding are from approximately 3 μm up to 10 μm. If grinding discs having coarse granulation are used, the average grain size is greater than 10 μm and usually up to 15 μm. These grinding machining tools are suitable for providing the semiconductor wafer with a rounded edge. It is usual, however, for a certain minimum roughness to remain on the edge surface after the edge rounding.
In a subsequent machining step, the wafer edge that has been ground and treated with an etching medium is therefore usually polished. For polishing, the edge of a centrally rotating semiconductor wafer is pressed against a centrally rotating polishing drum with a specific force (contact pressure). U.S. Pat. No. 5,989,105 discloses an edge polishing method of this type, in which the polishing drum comprises an aluminum alloy and a polishing pad is applied to the polishing drum. The semiconductor wafer is usually fixed on a flat wafer holder, a so-called "chuck." The edge of the semiconductor wafer projects beyond the chuck, such that it is freely accessible to the polishing drum.
In these customary edge polishing methods, in particular the local geometry in the edge region of the semiconductor wafer is adversely influenced. This is associated with the fact that with the relatively "soft edge polishing pads" used in this case (relatively soft polishing pads to which silica sol is applied are usually used), not only the edge itself but also an outer part on the front and/or rear side of the semiconductor wafer is polished as well, which can be explained by the hard edge "dipping" into the polishing pad to which polishing agent slurry is applied. This has the effect that removal is indeed effected not only in the region of the actual edge but also in the adjoining region on the front and/or rear side.

Method for polishing the edge of a semiconductor wafer


In a document personalization production system, an application framework is provided between a production manager and one or more machines to enable new hardware and/or new functions for the creation, production, printing, attachment, and delivery of personalized documents. The application framework provides the application program interfaces, the graphical user interfaces, and the plugins required to implement the new hardware and/or new function into an existing document personalization production system without having to reprogram the production manager. The application framework may comprise or connect a number of service modules so that production manager applications are compatible across multiple machines or stations of the document personalization production system.

The industry of manufacturing and delivering personalized documents such as identification and financial cards, the likes of which include credit cards, drivers' licenses, and passports, requires a number of hardware devices, also called platforms. There are several different functions of the machines and there may be separate machines or mechanisms within the same machine to perform these functions. One such machine and/or function creates the personalized documents, and the actual structures may vary from high-volume central-issuance personalization systems to low-volume or individualized desktop personalization machines. These machines, manufactured by a number of different companies, may have proprietary configurations and production managers, and are capable of performing one or more of the following examples of personalization: multi-color and monochromatic printing, magnetic stripe encoding, integrated circuit chip programming, embossing, indent printing, laser engraving, and laminating, among others.
Another type of machine and/or function is primarily associated with the delivery of these personalized documents and includes a printer that produces forms, often called mailer forms. The personalized document is either contained within or attached to these mailer forms. The document and the mailer form are then sent to an intended recipient, often by mail. The mailer form may also have printed personalized information, such as the recipient's name and address. The form printer may be integrated with the document creation and personalization machine, in which case the personalized document is attached to its respective mailer form by the machine system.
Additional machines exist for the fulfillment and delivery of the mailer forms and the attached personalized document(s) that may actually fold and insert the folded forms into an envelope for delivery to the recipient.
Heretofore, the operations of the various machines have been controlled by one or more production managers, control software that manages the entire system and is programmed to operate only with specific machines. If the user wants to utilize a new machine(s) for the creation, personalization, creation and/or printing a mailer form, or attachment of the personalized document to the mailer form, extensive reprogramming of the production manager was required to coordinate the functions among the different machines. The difficulties to incorporate existing production managers with new machines can be exasperating, difficult and expensive, and often discourages such changes.
Needed are a system, method, a product, and a service to facilitate the integration of new machines with an existing production manager(s).

Framework for enhanced production of personalized documents


A compiling method and a processor using the same are provided. The compiling method includes simulating a first program code which includes at least one first operation command to generate a first operation result, compiling the first program code to generate a second program code which includes at least one second operation command, simulating the second program code to generate a second operation result, and comparing the first operation result with the second operation result to verify whether the second program code is valid.

Generally, a compiler transforms a program code described in programming languages, such as, Formula Translator (Fortran), C, C++ (CPP), and the like, to an appropriate command to be executed in a processor. The operations of a compiler may be divided into a front-end, a machine-independent transformation, a machine-dependent transformation, and the like.
The front-end operation transforms a program code described with programming languages to an intermediate representation (IR), which may be easily processed in the compiler. The machine-dependent transformation is also referred to as a back-end operation, and may be easily affected by a configuration of a processor where the program code is executed.
Since a new algorithm may be used or algorithms updated every time a processor is developed or upgraded, a new compiler may be required to be developed or upgraded for the back-end operation.
Where a compiler is newly developed or upgraded, a compiler developer may need to verify the accuracy of the compiler. The verifying operation of the compiler is referred to as 'debugging the compiler'. Since a code that is transformed during the back-end operation is a machine-friendly code, it may be difficult for a person having an ordinary skill in the art to verify the accuracy of a compiler by observing the compiling operations.
Also, a certification scheme based on a formal theory may be used for debugging a compiler. However, while the certification scheme may accurately verify the compiler in theory, which is based on a mathematic model, the certification scheme is difficult to implement due to its complexity.

Compiling method and processor using the same


Disclosed is an actuator comprising a plate-shaped output member including a shape memory alloy, which is disposed between two bodies capable of relative movement. The output member comprises a shape memory alloy having such shape memory characteristics that a wave plate shape having at least one wave which extends in the direction orthogonal to the line connecting the attachment ends of the output member to be attached to the two bodies is formed in a specific temperature region. By utilizing the force of the output member for restorign the memorized shape in this specific temperature region, relative movement is caused between the two bodies constructing an articulated arm. The two bodies are turnably supported on a shaft and the above-mentioned actuator is arranged in the state set off from one side relatively to a plane including this shaft so that two bodies are relatively turned around this shaft.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an actuator which is used for a robot or the like to cause relative displacement between two bodies. More particularly, the present invention relates to an actuator fabricated by using a shape memory alloy. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an articulated arm for a robot or the like, which comprises this actuator.
(2) Description of the Related Art
A robot moving on a wall surface of a building, a conduit or a cable, unlike a robot moving on the ground, should always move while assuming a correct posture thereof. Accordingly, an actuator used for an articulated arm of this moving robot is required to have a high output and a high torque. In general, however, as the output and torque increase, the weight of the actuator proportionally increases. Ideally, an actuator having such a high output/weight ratio as that of the muscle of a man is desirable.
Actuators heretofore used for robots or the like are mainly servo motors, hydraulic cylinders and pneumatic cylinders, and in these actuators, the output/weight ratios are much lower than that of the human muscle and from the viewpoint of the efficiency, these actuators are not adequate as the actuator for a moving robot.
Investigations have recently been made to reduce the size and weight of an actuator and simplify the mechanism by using a shape memory alloy (hereinafter referred to as "SMA") which is a dynamic mechanical material (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Specification No. 61-177179, No. 61-84427, No. 62-77882 and 63-57977). However, most of these investigations are directed to the use of linear or coil springtype SMA, and even if the output/weight ratio is improved, there arises a problem as regards the space occupied by the mechanism).

Actuator utilizing shape memory alloy and articulated arm comprising this actuator


A sense amplifier includes a first P channel MOS transistor connected between a power source terminal and a bit line, and a CMOS inverter for inverting the logic level of the potential in the bit line. The sense amplifier further includes a second N channel MOS transistor connected in series to the first P channel MOS transistor between the power source terminal and the bit line. The second N channel MOS transistor is switch-controlled by an output signal of a CMOS inverter. When in an off state, the second N channel MOS transistor prohibits the first P channel MOS transistor from transferring a power source potential to the bit line. When in an on state, the second N channel MOS transistor allows the first P channel MOS transistor to transfer the power source potential to the bit line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sense amplifier in use with a semiconductor memory device, such as a read only memory (ROM) and a random access memory (RAM).
2. Description of the Related Art
In a semiconductor memory device, such as a read only memory (ROM) or a random access memory (RAM), the potential in a bit line is varied by data read out of a memory cell. The variation of this bit line potential is very slow and difficult to detect. To cope with this, a sense amplifier is coupled with a bit line, and senses and amplifies variations in that bit line. The output signal of the sense amplifier is outputted as read out data.
A typical arrangement of the sense amplifier is shown in FIG. 1. In this figure, N channel MOS transistors N1 to N6 serve as memory cells, and their gates are respectively connected to word lines WL1 to WL6. Drive signals IN1 to IN6 are externally applied to the word lines WL1 to WL6. A sense amplifier SA is connected to a bit line BL, and is made up of P channel MOS transistors TP1 and TP2, and CMOS inverters IV1 and IV2.
An operation of the sense amplifier SA will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.
FIG. 2 shows a timing chart describing a transient state of the arrangement of FIG. 1 in which the potential in the bit line BL drops, viz., an output signal OUT changes its level from a high (H) level to a low (L) level. As shown in FIG. 2, in an initial state of a period A, all of the drive signals IN1 to IN6 are in an L level state. All of the transistors N1 to N6 are in an off state. A precharge signal PR is H level. Under this condition, the transistor TP1 is in an off state. The transistor TP2 is in an on state due to the L level output signal of the CMOS inverter IV1. By means of this transistor TP2, the potential in the bit line BL is maintained at an H level.
During a period B, the precharge signal PR first goes low (L), and one of the word line drive signals IN1 to IN6, for example the signal IN1, is pulsed from a low level to a high level. Consequently, the transistor TP1 is turned on, and the cell transistor N1 is turned on. The potential of the bit line BL gradually drops through the turned on transistor N1. When the potential of the bit line BL falls below the threshold voltage VTH1 of the inverter IV1, the output signal of the inverter IV1 starts to change its level from the L level to the H level. When the output signal of the inverter IV1 rises and exceeds the threshold voltage VTH2 of the inverter IV2, the output signal OUT of the inverter IV2 starts to change its level from the H level to the L level. The transistor TP2 is turned off by the H level output signal of the inverter IV1.
As can be seen, when the output signal OUT changes its potential level from the H level to the L level, the operating speed of the sense amplifier SA is determined by the propagation delay time TpHL from the instant that the drive signal IN1 has gone high, till the output signal OUT has gone low.
FIG. 3 shows a timing chart describing a transient state of the arrangement of FIG. 1 in which the potential in the bit line BL rises, viz. the output signal OUT changes its level from the low level to the high level. In an initial state of period A, one of the drive signals IN1 to IN6, for example the signal IN1, is in the H level. Accordingly, of the transistors N1 to N6, the transistor N1 alone is in an on state. The precharge signal PR is also in the H level. The transistor TP2 is placed in an off state by the H level output signal of the CMOS inverter IV1.
Subsequently, during period B, the precharge signal PR first goes low (L), and the word line drive signal IN1 goes low. Accordingly, the transistor TP1 is turned on, and the cell transistor N1 is turned off. In turn, the potential of the bit line BL starts to rise until it exceeds the threshold voltage VTH1 of the first inverter IV1. At this time, the output potential of the first inverter IV1 starts to change its potential level from a high level to a low level. When the output potential of the first inverter IV1 falls below the threshold voltage VTH2 of the second inverter IV2, the output signal of the second inverter IV2, viz. the output signal OUT, goes high. The low output signal of the inverter IV1 causes the transistor TP2 to be turned on, as a result of which, the potential of the bit line BL is kept high.
As can be seen, when the output signal OUT changes its potential level from low to high, the operating speed of the sense amplifier SA is determined by a propagation delay time TpLH from the instant that the precharge signal PR has gone low, till the output signal OUT has gone high.
In the sense amplifier SA, the propagation delay times TpLH and TpHL are both large, and hence the operating speed is low.
This problem will be discussed in more detail. It is assumed now that the on-resistance of the transistor TP1 (the resistance between the source and drain of the transistor TP1 when TP1 is in a conductive state) is RP1, the on-resistance of the transistor TP2 is RP2, the on-resistance of each of the cell transistors N1 to N6 is RN, the high level potential is VCC, the low level potential is 0 V, and the threshold voltage VTH1 of the first CMOS inverter IV1 is 2.5 V. In order that during the period B in FIG. 2, the potential VBL of the bit line BL is below the threshold voltage VTH1 of the first inverter IV1, the following relation must hold ##EQU1## To solve the above relation, we have The inequality (1) teaches that in order that the bit line potential VBL is lower than the threshold voltage VTH1, the parallel resistance ##EQU2## of the transistors TP1 and TP2 must be larger than the on-resistance RN of the cell transistor N1.
Generally, in semiconductor memory devices, the geometrics of the cell transistors, which are formed on the chip, are the smallest allowable within the design rules. Therefore, the on-resistance RN is relatively large. Therefore, to set the parallel resistance of the transistors TP1 and TP2 to be larger than the on-resistance RN of the cell transistor, it is necessary to set the on-resistances RP1 and RP2 of the transistors TP1 and TP2 so as to be relatively large.
In the case of the sense amplifier SA of FIG. 1, the on-resistance of each of the cell transistors N1 to N6 to lower the potential of the bit line BL, and the on-resistance of each of the transistors TP1 and TP2 to raise the bit line potential are both relatively large. It is for this reason that much time is required for charging and discharging the bit line BL, the propogation delay times TpLH and TpHL are long, and consequently the operation of the sense amplifier SA is slow.

Sense amplifier having pull-up circuit controlled by feedback


A personal conferencing device (12) having a base unit (14) and a headset/handset (5), wherein the base unit (14) comprises a first interface (4) to a telephone system, a headset/handset receiving part (19) for receiving a headset/handset (5), and the headset/handset (5) comprises a base connection (31) adapted to be received by the receiving part (19), at least a first microphone (7) for receiving audio from a headset/handset user, and at least a first headset/handset speaker (8) for providing audio to a headset/handset user, a position detecting device (10) for detecting a position and/or a state of the headset/handset (5), and a second headset/handset speaker (9), wherein audio is provided to a headset/handset user via the second headset/handset speaker (9) in response to a first signal provided from the position detecting device (10) whereby the user can choose between a private mode using the at least first headset/handset speaker and a conference mode using the second headset/handset speaker.

It is known in the art of conference calling to have a telephone with a speaker and a microphone integrated in the base of the phone for receiving audio from the surroundings and providing audio to the immediate surroundings, such as in a meeting room or an office environment. It is also known to provide a special conference calling hub connected to a standard phone for providing conference call functionality. Typically, the separate conference calling hubs will have a number of microphones and speakers distributed around the hub to obtain an improved reception of audio from the surroundings and further provide a better quality audio in multiple directions.
It is further disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,110,789 to provide an interface from a conference calling hub to a cellular phone, so that the conference calling hub is connected to the wireless network when the cellular phone is engaged in the docking station or conference calling hub. The cellular phone may be controlled via the conference calling hub. The conference calling hub also comprises a handset which can be used in substitution of the microphone and the speaker in the cellular phone, when the cellular phone is engaged with the hub.
Such conference calling hubs are typically bulky and expensive and only provided in e.g. meeting rooms.
In U.S. Pat. No. 7,574,239, a docking station having passive components, such as speaker and microphone is disclosed. A headset communicating with a cellular or mobile telephone may be positioned in the docking station. When the headset is positioned in the docking station, the headset microphone and speaker are deactivated and the docking station microphone and speaker are used to communicate audio to and from a user. This is an advantage for use with e.g. a hands free operation of a car.
It is furthermore known to have a system of headsets with base units, wherein the base units are able to receive a number of headsets. Hereby, a number of users can connect to a current conversation by docking their headset in the base unit of the caller for a short time period (typically a few seconds) to establish a temporary pairing and connection to the callers' base unit. These users may then take part in the call through their own headsets.
However, it is a disadvantage of the above described systems that a base unit or conference calling hub is necessary for providing conference calling functionality for a headset, thus limiting the portability of the systems.


A process and product for treating benign positional vertigo with anti-epileptic drugs such as divalproex sodium or gabapentin.

Benign positional vertigo (BPV) is the most common cause of pathological vertigo. The cause of about half of the cases of BPV is unknown, particularly in the elderly, while the remaining cases are linked to causes such as head injury, vascular occlusion and viral labyrinthitis. Patients suffering from BPV develop brief episodes of vertigo. This particularly occurs while the patient is changing position in such tasks as bending over and standing up, extending the neck to acquire a more elevated view, getting in and out of bed, and turning over in bed. In most patients the symptoms spontaneously remit, but recurrence is frequent.
A possible cause of BPV is thought to be free-floating calcium carbonate crystals, normally attached to the utricular macule, which accidently enter the long arm of the posterior semicircular canal. One therapy for alleviating the symptoms of BPV has been a bedside positioning maneuver used to remove the debris from the posterior canal on the affected side. This manipulation of the head; however, does not cure all symptoms and requires the patient to visit the office of a medical practitioner capable of performing such a manipulation. BPV has also be treated with the administration of meclazine; however, few patients respond to meclazine.

Method of treating benign positional vertigo


A vehicle behavior control apparatus is provided which is designed to estimate the state of behavior of a vehicle body and to apply the brakes to wheels for suppressing an unwanted change in behavior of the vehicle body. The apparatus determines a lateral momentum of the vehicle body during traveling to estimate the state of behavior of the vehicle body based on the speeds of the wheels and calculates a target braking effort to be produced by each of the brake actuators based on the state of behavior of the vehicle.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a behavior control apparatus for vehicles which monitors the behavior of a vehicle body and automatically regulates the braking effort applied to each wheel to control the behavior of the vehicle body.
2. Background Art
Japanese Patent First Publication No. 9-226555 discloses an automatic brake control system for vehicles designed to control brake pressure (i.e., wheel cylinder pressure) applied to each wheel as a function of traveling conditions of the vehicle. This system monitors the lateral acceleration acting on the vehicle, the direction of a turn, and the brake pedal effort produced by a vehicle operator to determine a target wheel speed of a compliance one of outside wheels during turning based on the speed of a front one of inside wheels and the lateral acceleration when no brakes are applied and to determine a target wheel speed of a front one of inside wheels during turning based on the speed of a front one of the outside wheels and the lateral acceleration when the brakes are being applied and the braking force applied to the wheels according to one of the target wheel speeds. In brief, a control reference value used in controlling a speed difference between the outside and inside wheels during turning based on the lateral acceleration is switched between states of applying the brakes and applying no brakes, thereby bringing the rotation of the right and left wheels into a preselected condition, e.g., by adjusting the speeds of the right and left wheels to have the same slip ratio for stability of vehicle motion.
The above conventional system, however, does not estimate a vehicle condition in the automatic brake control and may encounter the problems that the automatic brake control causes the deterioration of vehicle behavior and/or the lack of braking force. Specifically, when the automatic brake control is carried out without taking a dynamic balance of the whole of a vehicle body into account in determining a target controlled state of each wheel, it may cause the dynamic balance of the vehicle body or vehicle behavior to be deteriorated.

Apparatus for controlling behavior of vehicle using brakes


An organic light emitting device, an organic light emitting display device, and a method of manufacturing a sub-organic light emitting device, the device including a first sub-organic light emitting device; and a second sub-organic light emitting device on the first sub-organic light emitting device, wherein the first sub-organic light emitting device includes a first lower electrode, a first organic light emitting layer on the first lower electrode, and a first upper electrode on the first organic light emitting layer, and the second sub-organic light emitting device includes a second lower electrode insulated from the first lower electrode, a second organic light emitting layer on the second lower electrode and entirely overlapped with the first organic light emitting layer when viewed in a plan view, and a second upper electrode on the second organic light emitting layer.

1. Field
Embodiments relate to an organic light emitting device, an organic light emitting display device having the same, and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
An organic light emitting diode, which is a self-emissive device, has advantages, such as a wide viewing angle, a superior contrast, a fast response time, a high brightness, a low driving voltage, etc.
In general, the organic light emitting diode includes an anode, a hole transport layer, a light emitting layer, an electron transport layer, and a cathode. The hole transport layer, the light emitting layer, and the electron transport layer are sequentially stacked on the anode and are organic thin layers, each including an organic compound.
When voltages different from each other are respectively applied to the anode the cathode, holes injected from the anode move to the light emitting layer through the hole transport layer and electrons injected from the cathode move to the light emitting layer through the electron transport layer. The electrons are recombined with the holes in the light emitting layer to generate excitons, and the organic light emitting device emits the light by the excitons that return to a ground state from an excited state.

Stacked organic light emitting device and method of manufacturing the same


Hexahydro-1,4-diazepine derivatives represented by general formula (I); pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; and drugs containing the same as the active ingredient, such as activated blood coagulation factor X inhibitor, wherein A: phenylene, pyridylene, or the like; B: a 5- or 6-membered aryl or heteroaryl ring; X: --CO--, --CONH--, --CSNH--, --SO.sub.2 --, --SO.sub.2 NH--, or the like; Y: a bond or alkylene; R.sup.1 : hydrogen, alkyl, --Y--(hetero) aryl, or the like; R.sup.2 : hydrogen, alkoxy, --COOH, or the like; R.sup.3 : amidino or a group capable of being converted into amidino; and R.sup.4, R.sup.5 : each independently hydrogen or lower alkyl. ##STR1##

Recently, thromboembolic disorders, such as myocardial infarction, cerebral thrombosis and peripheral arteriothrombosis, are increasing year by year with the popularization of Western life-styles and the increase in aged population, and there is much increasing social demand for the treatment of such disorders.
Anticoagulant therapy as well as adenolytic therapy and antiplatelet therapy is a part of medical therapy for treatment and prevention of thrombosis (Sogo Rinsho, 41: 2141-2145, 1989). In particular, anticoagulants for prevention of thrombosis indispensably require high safety for long-term administration and the ability of surely and appropriately expressing the anticoagulation activity.
However, the anticoagulating ability of warfarin potassium, which is only one oral anticoagulant now being popularly used in the world, is difficult to control because of the characteristic of itself based on the action and the mechanism thereof (J. Clinical Pharmacology, 32, 196-209, 1992; and N. Eng. J. Med., 324 (26), 1865-1875, 1991), and the drug is extremely difficult to use in clinics.
It is known that thrombin acts to convert fibrinogen into fibrin in the final stage of coagulation, while deeply participating in the activation and the coagulation of platelets. At present, however, no oral thrombin inhibitor is commercially available because of its low bioavailability in oral administration and of its low safety (Biomed. Biochim. Acta, 44, 1201-1210, 1985).
On the other hand, the activated blood coagulation factor X is a key enzyme existing in the junction of intrinsic and extrinsic coagulation cascade reactions, and inhibiting this factor is more efficient than thrombin inhibition, and could bring about specific inhibition of coagulation systems (THROMBOSIS RESEARCH (19), 339-349, 1980).
As compounds having the ability of inhibiting the activated blood coagulation factor X, known are amidinonaphthylbenzene derivatives or their salts (JP-A-5-208946; Thrombosis Haemostasis, 71 (3), 314-319, 1994; Thrombosis Haemostasis, 72 (3), 393-396, 1994); and WO96/16940 discloses amidinonaphthyl derivatives of the following general formula or their salts. ##STR2##
[In the formula, B represents a lower alkylene group, etc.; R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a group of a formula, --A--W--R.sup.4 [where A represents --CO--, --SO.sub.2 --, etc.; W represents a single bond or an --NR.sup.5 -- group (where R.sup.5 represents a hydrogen atom, a --CONH.sub.3 group, etc.); R.sup.4 represents an optionally-substituted lower alkyl group, etc.]; R.sup.2 represents a lower alkyl group; R.sup.3 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, etc.; and n=0 or 1.]
As so mentioned above, inhibitors for the activated blood coagulation factor X are more effective than thrombin inhibitors in anticoagulant therapy, and are expected to bring about specific inhibition of coagulation systems.
Accordingly, it is desired to create selective activated blood coagulation factor X inhibitors, which are different from the known compounds noted above in the chemical structure, can be orally administered and are more effective.

Hexahydro-1,4-diazepine derivatives or salts thereof


A high frequency transmitter-receiver which can prevent an antenna pattern from being broken. A radar apparatus is provided with a high frequency antenna, a base plate and a module. The antenna is comprised of an organic substrate and a metal pattern formed on the organic substrate. The high frequency antenna is adhered to the base plate astride the module. Here, the gap between the base plate and the module where the antenna is adhered is configured to satisfy the expression (an amount of change in gap size with respect to a change in use temperature)÷(an original gap size)xe2x89xa66%.

The present invention relates to a high frequency transmitter-receiver, and more particularly to a high frequency transmitter-receiver employing an antenna-equipped system suitably used for vehicle-mounted radar equipment.
The high frequency transmitter-receiver used for a conventional vehicle-mounted radar equipment has a base plate, on which a circuit board is mounted, and an antenna substrate adhered astride an antenna base. It is because the base plate is advantageous to be smaller in terms of costs, while the antenna substrate is a flat antenna and desired to be large to obtain directivity of the radar.
The conventional high frequency transmitter-receiver has a base plate which is made of a metal having a low coefficient of linear expansion, such as a Kovar, to form a glass coaxial cable. Meanwhile, an antenna base 102 is made of iron, aluminum or the like. As a result, there is a disadvantage that a difference of the coefficient of linear expansion between the base plate and the antenna base is large, so that a thermal stress is produced in the antenna substrate at a position corresponding to the boundary part between the antenna base and the base plate, and an antenna pattern formed on the antenna substrate is distorted and broken.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a high frequency transmitter-receiver which can prevent an antenna pattern from being broken.
(1) In order to achieve the object of the invention, the present invention is directed to a high frequency transmitter/receiver which has a high frequency antenna comprised of an organic substrate and a metal pattern formed on the organic substrate and a base to which the high frequency antenna is fixed by adhering, wherein the base is formed of a plurality of bases and the high frequency antenna is fixed by adhering to cover the plurality of bases; and a gap between the plurality of bases to which the antenna is adhered satisfies the expression (an amount of change in gap size to a change in operating temperature)÷(an original gap size)xe2x89xa66%.
By configuring as described above, the antenna pattern can be prevented from being broken.
(2) In the above item (1), it is preferable that the metal pattern having an aspect ratio (width/thickness) of a width and a thickness of the metal pattern is 3 or more or a width of 100 xcexcm or more may be formed to cover the plurality of bases.
(3) In the above item (1), it is preferable that the metal pattern is formed on the side of the antenna within the boundary where the antenna is adhered to and to cover the plurality of bases.
(4) In the above item (1), it is preferable that a high frequency transmitter/receiver, which has a high frequency antenna comprised of an organic substrate and a metal pattern formed on the organic substrate and a base to which the high frequency antenna is fixed by adhering, comprising a high frequency circuit mounted on the base; an external circuit for supplying power to the high frequency circuit and processing a signal; a plurality of conducting pins which are supported by an insulator in an opening formed through the base and electrically connect the high frequency circuit with the antenna and the high frequency circuit with the external circuit; and a recess which is formed in the base to have the conducting pin located at back of the antenna surface with respect to a direction of transmitting and receiving a signal to and from the antenna and which is covered by the antenna.
By configuring as described above, effects of a power supply line and a signal processing line on the antenna can be reduced.
(5) In order to achieve the aforementioned object, the present invention is also directed to a high frequency transmitter/receiver, which has a high frequency antenna comprised of an organic substrate and a metal pattern formed on the organic substrate and a base to which the high frequency antenna is fixed by adhering, comprising an opening formed through the base; and a module which is mounted on one side of the base having the high frequency antenna mounted on the other side and which has a high frequency circuit for supplying a signal to the antenna made airtight; wherein the antenna is connected to a power supply line formed on the module through the opening.
By configuring as described above, the antenna pattern can be prevented from being broken.
(6) In the aforementioned item (5), it is preferable that the power supply line is a coaxial cable having an impedance of about 50xcexa9 and made of glass and a core; the opening forms a coaxial cable having an impedance of about 50xcexa9 by the core and air in the opening; and a circuit with a matching impedance is formed on the antenna or the high frequency circuit.
(7) In order to achieve the aforementioned object, the present invention is also directed to a high frequency transmitter/receiver, which has a high frequency antenna comprised of an organic substrate and a metal pattern formed on the organic substrate and a base to which the high frequency antenna is fixed by adhering, comprising an opening formed through the base; and a module which is mounted on one side of the base having the high frequency antenna mounted on the other side and which has a high frequency circuit for supplying a signal to the antenna made airtight; wherein the antenna has a power supply line formed on the module and the opening electromagnetically connected to form an impedance matching circuit on the antenna or the high frequency circuit.
By configuring as described above, the antenna pattern can be prevented from being broken.
(8) In the above item (7), it is preferable that the antenna is electromagnetically connected by a waveguide structure formed on the module to form an impedance matching circuit on the antenna or the high frequency circuit.
(9) In order to achieve the aforementioned object, the present invention is also directed to a high frequency transmitter/receiver which has a high frequency antenna comprised of an organic substrate and a metal pattern formed on the organic substrate and a base to which the high frequency antenna is fixed by adhering, wherein the base is a ceramic substrate and has a module which is mounted on one side of the base opposite of the side to which the high frequency antenna is mounted and which has a high frequency circuit for supplying a signal to the antenna; and the module is electrically connected to the antenna through the ceramic substrate by a coplanar line.
By configuring as described above, the antenna pattern can be prevented from being broken.
(10) In order to achieve the aforementioned object, the present invention is also directed to a high frequency transmitter/receiver, which has a high frequency antenna comprised of an organic substrate and a metal pattern formed on the organic substrate and a base to which the high frequency antenna is fixed by adhering, wherein the base is a ceramic substrate and has a module which is mounted on one side of the base opposite of the side to which the high frequency antenna is mounted and which has a high frequency circuit for supplying a signal to the antenna; and the module is electrically connected to the antenna through the ceramic substrate by a coplanar line, and the antenna substrate is adhered to the ceramics substrate without extending off the ceramics substrate.
By configuring as described above, the antenna pattern can be prevented from being broken.