A circuit for an acoustic wave switch or sensor having a resonant acoustic wave cavity detects a touch or sensed event using a time domain approach. The circuit includes a controller that drives an acoustic wave transducer to generate a resonant acoustic wave in the acoustic wave cavity during a first portion of a sampling cycle. In a second portion of the sampling cycle, the controller monitors the time that it takes for the acoustic wave signal from the transducer to decay to a predetermined level. Based on the decay time, the controller detects a sensed event, such as a touch on the acoustic wave switch/sensor.

There is a substantial need for finger touch actuated switches that are rugged and explosion proof, operate in the presence of liquids, have low power consumption, withstand aggressive sterilization procedures and are inexpensive. Known switches that attempt to meet these needs but fail include the following. A Qprox switch made by Quantum Research Group senses the presence of touch through a charge transfer effect. This switch is sensitive to conductive fluids and/or an ionizing atmosphere and can be made inoperable thereby. Further, the enclosure through which touch is sensed cannot be made of an electrically conducting material, so that metals and the like cannot be used. Piezoelectric switches such as supplied by Schurter or Wilson-Hurd, operate by transferring finger pressure via a metal overlay to a piezoelectric element which generates a voltage when compressed. This type of switch is expensive compared to a standard membrane switch and shares the disadvantages of membrane switches in that holes in the housing or enclosure are required to accommodate the switch. Further, the metal overlay is necessarily thin, so that the piezoelectric element is relatively unprotected against blows to the overlay. Another type of switch shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,149,986 is based on the absorption of sound in a glass, ball-shaped button when the button is touched. In operation, a transducer sends sound waves into the glass balls and then receives back the echoes in a sonar type fashion. A circuit analyzes the echoes to determine whether the echoes have been reduced indicating a touch. This type of switch is relatively expensive and again requires openings in the housing or enclosure in which the switch is to be mounted.
An acoustic wave switch such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,041 includes an ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer mounted on a surface of a substrate opposite a touch surface of the substrate. The transducer generates an ultrasonic wave that propagates in a direction across the thickness of the substrate to the touch surface and reflects off of the touch surface back to the transducer. The ultrasonic wave appears to be a compressional wave. A touch on the touch surface changes the acoustic reflectivity of the surface and changes the impedance of the transducer. The acoustic energy in this switch is not confined and spreads out into the plane of the substrate. As such, the ratio of the stored energy to lost or dissipated energy over a complete cycle, referred to as the Q of the switch, is inherently low and an extremely complex touch detection circuit is required to discriminate between a touch and the absence of a touch. Moreover, the use of compressional waves in this switch is undesirable due to their sensitivity to liquids and other contaminants which can render the switch inoperable.
Also known are acoustic wave touch panels that employ reflective gratings or arrays to reflect portions of an acoustic wave across a touch surface along parallel paths of differing lengths. These devices use a transparent substrate that can overlay a display to provide a touch screen or the like. Examples of such touch sensors are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,645,870 and 4,700,176 which utilize surface acoustic waves. These systems are undesirable, however, because surface acoustic waves are sensitive to liquids, sealing compounds and other contaminants that can render the panel inoperable and difficult to seal effectively. Another acoustic wave touch panel using reflective arrays is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,177,327. This touch panel uses shear waves and in particular the zeroth order horizontally polarized shear wave. Although this touch position sensor is insensitive to liquids and contaminants, touch position sensors that use reflective gratings or arrays and the associated touch detection circuitry are, in general, too expensive to use for an individual switch or for a small number of switches on a panel. Moreover, because the shear wave transducer in this latter system is mounted on a side of the panel to generate a shear wave that propagates in the plane of the substrate, an opening in the enclosure or housing is required to accommodate the panel. U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,077 also uses zeroth order horizontally polarized shear waves, but instead of reflective gratings, discrete transducers are used to propagate the shear waves along parallel paths extending across the substrate.
An acoustic wave switch that overcomes the above problems utilizes an acoustic wave cavity and an acoustic wave transducer to generate a resonant acoustic wave that is substantially trapped in the cavity as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/998,355 filed Nov. 20, 2001. As discussed therein, an analog touch detection circuit includes an oscillator coupled to the acoustic wave transducer wherein the oscillator is configured to oscillate in the absence of a touch. A touch on the touch surface of the acoustic wave cavity causes the transducer impedance to drop so that the oscillator stops oscillating. The state of the oscillator is determined and when the oscillator stops oscillating, a touch is detected. This circuit operates very well to detect a finger touch and a touch by a leather glove, for example. However, because it is desirable to detect a touch by contact of a synthetic blend glove, or the like, with the touch responsive area of the acoustic wave cavity and at the same time to not detect a touch when water alone contacts the touch responsive area, the sensitivity level of this touch detection circuit must be set within very narrow limits to meet these two competing requirements. As a result, small changes in the transducer impedance over time and/or with variations in temperature can result in a change in sensitivity that is outside of the requisite limits of the circuit.
Further, there is a need for a simple circuit that is not effected by drift for detecting sensed events in acoustic wave sensors other than touch detection sensors.

Acoustic wave touch detection circuit and method


In a method for making a data transmission connection from a computer to a mobile communication network for transmission of analog and/or digital signals, the computer is connected to the mobile communication network by means of a telecommunication terminal which is in local data transmission connection with the computer. The telecommunication terminal utilizes at least a first operation mode and a second operation mode for connection to different types of mobile communication networks. There is testing to determine which operation modes of the telecommunication terminal are available in the mobile communication network. One of the operation modes of the telecommunication terminal available in the mobile communication network is selected for connecting the communication terminal to the mobile communication network. The telecommunication terminals set in the selected operation mode, and a data transmission connnection is set according to the selected operation mode.

The invention relates to a method for making a data transmission connection from a computer to a mobile communication network for transmission of analog and/or digital signals, wherein the computer is connected with the mobile communication network with a telecommunication terminal which is in local data transmission connection with the computer. The telecommunication terminal utilises at least a first operation mode for connection with a first telecommunication network and a second operation mode for connection with a second telecommunication network.
The number of computers, such as personal computers (PC), is still increasing very rapidly. Computers are used in an increasing number of jobs to make tasks easier and faster to perform. Recently also the properties of so-called portable computers have been developed so that they correspond to desk-top computers in capacity but are considerably smaller in size. This has contributed to the popularity of portable computers particularly on travels. Increased use of computers has also resulted in the growing need for data transmission between computers. In many cases, computers between which data transmission is needed are located far from each other geographically, wherein advantageously a telecommunication network must be used for data transmission. Thus, the computer requires a connection device (data adapter, for example modem) for connecting the computer with a telecommunication terminal connected with a telecommunication network. In landline telecommunication networks, the data adapter can also be used as a telecommunication terminal which can be connected directly to the telecommunication network.
Landline telecommunication networks are primarily analog or digital telecommunication networks. Also mobile communication networks can be divided into analog and digital mobile communication networks. Because different types of telecommunication networks have different technical properties, this must be considered when connecting a data adapter with a computer. Generally, each telecommunication network type requires a data adapter designed precisely for that telecommunication network. Particularly in the case of portable computers, there is often a need for using the computer at different locations, whereby the user does not necessarily know what kind of a telecommunication network is available. For avoiding this problem, the portable computer should thus be equipped with a sufficient number of different data adapters to enable connecting the computer with the local telecommunication network.
Recently, mobile stations have been developed which can be connected with both analog and digital telecommunication networks. The range of use of such a mobile station can thus be expanded. Even in this case, problems may arise upon connecting a computer with the telecommunication network, because the type of network may change during the transmission from one telecommunication network area to another, whereby also the data adapter card connected with the computer should be replaced by one of the correct type. This may require unnecessary tries, because the user may not know what type of a telecommunication network is available in the area of the user.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,218 presents a data adapter by means of which a computer can be connected with both a landline telecommunication network and a mobile communication network. The data adapter is connected with a telecommunication terminal via a suitable connector and a cable. The data adapter identifies the type of the telecommunication terminal by signals received through the connector, if identification signals of the said telecommunication terminal are recorded in the memory of said data adapter. Next, a driver software is loaded in the data adapter, the driver software being compatible with the telecommunication terminal and allowing a data transmission connection from the computer to a telecommunication network. However, one disadvantage of the data adapter disclosed in the above U.S. Patent is that it does not take into account mobile stations which can be used in different types of mobile telecommunication networks, such as in analog and digital mobile telecommunication networks. In such a case a data transmission connection is not necessarily achieved.

Method for making a data transmission connection from a computer to a mobile communication network for transmission of analog and/or digital signals


A physical layer transceiver, for connecting a host device to a wireline channel medium in which a signal component occurring at a particular time may cause interference at other times, includes a host interface for coupling to a host device, a line interface for coupling to the channel medium, and filter circuitry operatively coupled to the line interface to filter the interference caused by the signal component at the particular time and at the one or more other times. The filter circuitry includes at least one filter segment configured to operate at a first rate derived from a channel operating frequency to filter the signal component at the particular time, and at least one respective filter segment configured to operate at a respective additional rate different from the first rate. Respective delay elements allow each respective filter segment to filter the signal component at a one of the other times.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the inventors hereof, to the extent the work is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted to be prior art against the subject matter of the present disclosure.
Physical layer (PHY) devices for high-speed wireline serial communications, such as 1000 Base-T or 10G Base-T lines, typically use adaptive filters for equalization, as well as cancellation of echo, crosstalk and/or radiofrequency (RF) interference. A typical adaptive filter may include feed-forward equalizer (FFE) circuitry, echo cancellation (EC) circuitry, near-end crosstalk (NEXT) cancellation circuitry, and/or far-end crosstalk (FEXT) cancellation circuitry. The adaptive filter may have a plurality of taps, with each tap filtering a portion of the signal. The coefficients of each segment are adapted with an algorithm such as, e.g., least-mean-squares, to maximize the effectiveness of the filter circuitry.
Any particular signal portion that first appears at a particular time may appear again at a later time as a form of interference. For example, a signal—particularly a transmitted signal—may be reflected one or more times from the ends of the channel or from some other discontinuity, appearing in attenuated form as an echo, which has to be cancelled. As another example, a received signal representing a symbol may spread temporally into a later symbol, manifesting as interference that has to be equalized by subtraction.
In order to filter out these forms of interference—whether, e.g., by echo cancellation in the former example or by equalization in the latter example—filter segments typically are deployed to cover the entire duration of the interference. That is, in the echo example in, e.g., a transmit channel, echo canceller segments are deployed, using suitable delay lines, throughout the duration during which echoes may occur, to cancel those echoes. Similarly, in the symbol spread example in, e.g., a receive channel, equalizer segments are deployed, using suitable delay lines, throughout the duration during which a symbol may spread temporally. However, providing such filter segments—whether echo cancellers or equalizers—throughout such a duration, may result in significant expense and increased power consumption.

Multi-rate filtering in high-speed data channel


A method for monitoring a process in which a feature is formed on a substrate. A plurality of dimensions of the feature are measured using a tool. An edge width of the feature is calculated based on the plurality of dimensions. The edge width is used to determine whether the process is operating within a desired specification. The calculated edge width is compared to a baseline edge width measurement to determine a difference between them. The process is determined to be operating within the specification if the difference is less than a threshold value. If the difference is greater than or equal to the threshold value, the method determines whether the difference is caused by a change in resolution of the tool. A plurality of diagnostic measurements of the edge width may be performed. The tool is adjusted to have a respectively different focus for each respective one of the plurality of diagnostic measurements. The method includes determining that the difference between the calculated edge width and the baseline edge width is caused by a change in resolution of the tool if any one of the plurality of diagnostic measurements of the edge width differs from the baseline edge width by less than the threshold value. The method also includes determining that the process is not operating within the specification, if the difference is greater than or equal to the threshold value, and the difference is not caused by a change in resolution of the tool.

Most modern electric circuits are formed as "printed" circuits on a substrate, either through an additive process (e.g., plating or growing) or a subtractive process (e.g., etching). In the field of circuit fabrication, one of the more critical functions is the ability to control the size (length and width) of features, or critical dimensions (CDs). Any deviation in the dimensions of a feature can adversely impact on the performance of the resulting circuitry.
As metrology scanning electron microscopes (SEMS) are becoming more and more complicated, complex pattern recognition routines, measurement, and focusing algorithms are quickly making SEMs one of the most complicated tools on the production line. One problem associated with the use of SEMs that has been known for a long time is the need to obtain best focus and stigmation at a high degree of accuracy. Any improvement in focus and stigmation control techniques would enhance the quality of the CD SEM measurements.
Typically, conventional SEM tools have their focus checked manually. An operator looks at an image provided by the SEM. The operator adjusts the focus till he or she subjectively perceives that the tool is best focused. Conventional SEM process and tool control may not, however, be sensitive enough.
A second conventional focus method uses an optical microscope to map the "z" position of the features being measured optically, then uses a calibration equation, transposing the "z" position values to objective lens current values that correspond to a SEM focus value for each of the sites that was focused on optically. The assumption in this method is that the optical focusing technique is repeatable enough that errors are not introduced when the calibration process takes place. This method suffers from poor repeatability due to many variables that may contribute to poor calibration. Other optical techniques may also be used. For example, a laser may be directed onto the surface of the wafer and collected by a photodiode. The distance between the wafer and the light source may thus be determined. An optical focusing technique may not provide the most accurate focus or resolution, however, for tools (e.g., SEM or atomic force microscope (AFM)) other than optical microscopes.
Assuming that the tool is properly focused, the manufacturing process is monitored by performing line width measurements on a daily basis, to determine whether the CD SEM is reporting within the allowable statistical process control (SPC) limits for a given workpiece, such as a semiconductor wafer. Implicit in this method is the assumption that the tool has retained its focus. If, in fact, the tool is not at its optimal focus, and the line width measurements deviate from the baseline, the data are confounded, and it is not possible to accurately determine whether the process itself is operating within its normal specifications (and the tool resolution has changed) or the tool resolution is correct but the process is fabricating products that are out of specification.
For some SEM process and tool control methods, the SPC limits are extremely close to the limit of precision of current metrology techniques. New techniques are needed, therefore, to control CD in SEM metrology at increasingly more stringent levels. In addition, new techniques are required to accommodate new measurement tools, such at the AFM.

Method and apparatus for critical dimension and tool resolution determination using edge width

International Business Machines Corporation


A method for determining a gaze point mapping function includes that: all parameters to be solved in a gaze point mapping function are combined to obtain a parameter vector of the gaze point mapping function, and the parameters to be firstly solved and parameters to be secondly solved corresponding to the parameter vector are determined; the parameters to be firstly solved for a first user are solved according to an eye image of the first user and corresponding gaze point information; solutions of the parameters to be secondly solved for the first user are determined according to the parameter vector which is solved by each of multiple second users respectively; and the gaze point mapping function of the first user is determined according to solutions of the parameters to be firstly solved for the first user and the solutions of the parameters to be secondly solved for the first user.

Along with development of a human-computer interaction technology, a technology of controlling at least one operation of a display screen by use of an eyeball movement (called an eye-tracking technology for short) has become mature gradually. During application of this technology, when a user looks at a certain position of the display screen with eyes, an icon at the position on the display screen may be opened, closed and deleted, etc.
When the eye-tracking technology is implemented, the user is required to stare at a plurality of calibration points on the display screen for user calibration. A specific principle for the user calibration is as follows. A Virtual Reality (VR) system acquires an eye image when the user stares at each calibration point on the display screen, and determines a gaze point mapping function according to at least one image feature of each eye image and a position of a calibration point corresponding to each eye image. The role of the gaze point mapping function is to establish a mapping relationship between an eye image of the user and gaze point information of the user. After the user calibration is completed by the user and when the user uses the VR system, the VR system may calculate the gaze point information of the user according to the at least one image feature of the eye image of the user and the determined gaze point mapping function, thereby implementing the eye-tracking technology.
In the related art, the user is required to stare at M calibration points on the display screen for calibration, and the VR system solves N parameters to be solved in the gaze point mapping function according to the eye images obtained by user calibration. And a value of M is usually 9 or 16 and 2M>N. Thus it can be seen that, in the related art, the user is required to stare at multiple calibration points to determine the gaze point mapping function by use of the M calibration points, which brings a high workload to the user and is unfavorable for a user experience.

Method and device for determining gaze point mapping function, and method and device for determining gaze point


A lightning strike alarm system using a Bipolar Conventional Air Terminal (BCAT) is provided. The lightning strike alarm system using BCAT including a rod element to which a ground charge is electrified and an electrification plate-cone or an electrification plate-tube electrified by a thunderstorm cloud, includes a luminescence unit to be electrically connected to the rod element and the electrification plate-cone or the electrification plate-tube and emits light by electric energy electrified to the electrification plate-cone or the electrification plate-tube by the thunderstorm cloud. The lightning strike alarm system enables a user to find that an impulse current of the thunderstorm is normally and safely flown to the ground, and thus, the user may have psychological security.

With the increase in intensity of typhoons and local heavy rain due to global warming, the frequency of lightning strikes has increased accordingly. As lightning strike damage increases along with an increase in outdoor activities such as golf and mountain climbing, related countermeasures are required.
A thunderstorm cloud which causes lightning, is electrically charged and includes an upper portion made of ice crystals having positive electric charges and a lower portion made of water droplets having negative electric charges. A thunderstorm is a phenomenon in which thunderstorm charge is discharged to the earth through air insulation breakdown. In this process, an electromagnetic field is generated and propagates through the atmosphere. A technique of analyzing positions of thunderclouds may be used to predict thunderstorm activity, movement paths of thunderstorm clouds, and lightning strike occurrences, and therefore, is adopted in meteorological observations and preventing lightning strike damage in various fields such as meteorological observations for launching spacecraft, setting safety measures for building structures and electric power facilities, and ensuring security on golf courses and in playgrounds.
A lightning strike alarm system is equipment which may be used to decrease loss of life by predicting and issuing alerts in order to prevent damage from the lightning strikes in advance. In general, conventional lightning strike alarm systems issue alerts or predict lightning strikes by measuring ground electric fields. In these cases, the lightning strike alarm systems use high frequency and low frequency interference phenomenon, issue alarms by performing local electrical field sensing, or issue an alarm when lightning strikes a Franklin lightning rod.
However, the conventional art just have functions of sensing and issuing alarms when using the interference phenomenon or local alert sensors. Also, since the Franklin alarm system includes lightning strike induction, there is a high possibility that people nearby may be hurt.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Lightning strike alarm system using bipolar conventional air terminal


A safety valve for a preventing over pressure in a fluid processing system utilizing a fluid pressure regulator in a fluid supply line upstream from the processing vessel is formed by a valve, normally maintained open by a pressure responsive collapsible pin, interposed in the fluid supply line upstream or downstream from the pressure regulator. Fluid pressure above a predetermined limit in a tube connecting the safety valve with the downstream side of the pressure regulator axially moves a piston in the safety valve toward and axially collapses the pin to close the safety valve and vent pressure downstream from the valve.

This invention relates to fluid processes and more particularly to a pressure shutoff valve monitoring fluid pressure in a fluid process vessel.
1. Field of the Invention
A fluid process contained by a vessel is continually supplied with fluid at a predetermined pressure regulated by a pressure regulator interposed in the fluid supply line. However, fluid regulators sometimes fail, and usually fail in the open position, thus allowing pressure above the predetermined limit to enter the pressure fluid processing vessel. Even if a second regulator is interposed in tandem in the line leading to the vessel it does not solve the problem for the reason that when one regulator fails a second companion downstream regulator usually also fails, and in the open position.
This invention solves the problem of a failed pressure regulator by a normally open pressure shutoff and relief valve, interposed in the fluid supply line upstream or downstream from a fluid pressure regulator connected with a process vessel. The shutoff valve monitors fluid supply pressure on the downstream side of the fluid pressure regulator, and is biased closed by fluid pressure above a predetermined limit and bypasses the fluid to a suitable line or receptacle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
I do not know of any patents disclosing this feature.


The bulk material feeder of the present invention, because of the need for cleaning the inside of the feeder, jets out pressurized clean air into the equipment. The air is supplied through the piping used to supply resin pellets and nozzle to carry out the cleaning action, utilizing turbulent flow generated when the air current jetted out collides with baffles installed in the equipment. The air and pellets are easily aspirated and cleans fines adhered to internal walls of the hopper since, naturally, resin pellets remaining in the equipment are destroyed by the turbulent flow. Also resin pellets are destroyed a little by the impact when colliding with internal walls of the hopper, and due to other causes. Residual pellets aspired to the outside and fines adhered to the inside are collected, and internal cleaning can be accomplished in an extremely short time. A bulk material feeder is thus provided with an internal cleaning mechanism.

The present invention relates to a bulk material feeder constituted such that, in particular, a cleaning mechanism of a loader inside is provided inside the feeder. The invention is related to a bulk material feeder (in general referred to as loader) used to supply plastic materials for molding, in an adequate quantity, to a plastic molding machine.
In carrying out the plastic molding, it is widely known to employ a bulk material feeder, called, in general, a loader, as a unit to feed materials for molding to a molding machine.
The above-mentioned bulk material feeder is known to be public and is combined with a plastic molding machine, concretely, as exemplified in FIG. 9.
Such units are constituted by an aspirator, composed of a filter 1 and a blower 2, a molding machine 3 and a material hopper 4, a target tube section 5, a bulk material quantity detection sensor 6, a cyclone separator 7 and, a material tank 8, etc., as a bulk material feeder.
The filter 1 and the cyclone separation 7 of the above-mentioned aspirator are linked by a suction pipe 11, and the cyclon 7 and the material tank 8 are linked by a transportation piping 12.
The above-mentioned equipment operates as follows:
First, negative pressure is formed in the section of the cyclon 7 through the section pipe 11 by driving the blower 2 installed in the aspirator.
Resin pellets 9 as plastic material are aspired and transported, together with the air, through the transportation piping 12, and reaches the section of the cyclone separator 7.
Resin pellets 9 are aspired from the material tank 8 together with the air, since they have proper weight. The pellets are separated from the air in the cyclone separator 7, dropped, stored in the material hopper 4 on the molding machine 3 through the target tube section 5, and continuously fed to the molding machine in the required quantity.
The supply quantity control of resin pellets 9 is carried out by supervising the resin pellet quantity in the target tube section 5 with the sensor 6. Part of the raw pellets used is micronized by an impact at the time of supply, or for other reasons. This part of the raw pellets adheres to internal walls of the hopper, resulting in not easily attaining the object of changing of resin materials used by only supplying and transporting new resin material pellets.
As a means to cope with these problems, conventionally, as exemplified in FIGS. 9 and 10, many operations to dismantle the section of the hopper 4, where fines of raw materials adhered to internal walls of the hopper, are required, and, using an air gun 10, fines of resin adhered must be blown off by blowing pressurized air on the hopper walls or the surface coated with raw resin must be wiped off and cleaned manually.
In case such a measure is taken, however, in a large-sized molding machine, the dismantling and cleaning work required for the equipment is not easy.
In particular, in terms of the equipment construction, there are many places where scaffolding is not good, and so on, and a long time is also required for the cleaning work. Also, during cleaning work, the molding work must be stopped. Further, effective cleaning is not often able to be expected.
Besides, in case the pressurized air is jetted out so as to produce an excessively strong air current, causing strong pressure, static electricity is generated inside the hopper. Moreover, there are also difficult points because of the adhesion of fines to the inside of the hopper, and so on, and there is a limit also in the rise of air pressure.

Bulk material feeder provided with internal cleaning mechanism


The present invention provides a sheet conveying apparatus including a supporting unit for supporting a convey unit conveying a sheet for draw-out movement in a direction intersecting with a sheet conveying direction. The sheet conveying apparatus also includes a guide unit disposed upstream or a downstream of the convey unit to guide the sheet drawn out together with the draw-out convey unit so as not to be caught by any part of the apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet conveying apparatus used with an image forming apparatus such as an electrostatic copying machine, printer, facsimile and the like.
2. Related Background Art
In a conventional image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. 6, there is provided a both-face image forming function or a multi image forming function in which a sheet on which an image was formed in an image forming portion is conveyed again to the image forming portion, where an image is formed on the other surface of the sheet or on the same surface.
In a both-face copy mode or a multi copy mode, the sheet on which the toner images were formed and fixed are temporarily stacked on an intermediate tray. Thereafter, the sheets are separated one by one, and the separated sheet is introduced into a regist introduction path 116 through a both-face convey path 115. The regist introduction path 116 serves to send the sheet to a regist rollers in which, after being temporarily stopped, the sheet is sent to the image forming portion in synchronism with the operation of the image forming portion. Thereafter, the toner image is formed on the sheet again in the image forming portion. Then, the image is fixed to the sheet, and then, the sheet is discharged out of the image forming apparatus.
With this arrangement, if the sheet P is jammed or trapped between the both-face convey path 115 and the regist introduction path 116, a tip end of the sheet is detected by a sheet detection means 157 disposed in the vicinity of an outlet of the both-face convey path 115 or/and a sheet detection means 158 disposed in the vicinity of an inlet of the regist introduction path 116, thereby displaying (for an operator) a removal direction of the jammed sheet on an operation display portion (not shown).
For example, if the tip end of the sheet P is detected by the sheet detection means 157 associated with the both-face convey path 115 but is not detected by the sheet detection means 158 associated with the regist introduction path 116, on the basis of information displayed on the operation display portion, the both-face convey path 115 supported by a guide rail 118 for shifting movement in a horizontal direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction can be shifted or retracted, by the operator, toward a front side of the image forming apparatus along the guide rail 118. On the other hand, if the tip end is also detected by the sheet detection means 158 associated with the regist introduction path 116, on the basis of information displayed on the operation display portion, the operator can remove the jammed sheet from a right side of the image forming apparatus by opening a convey portion opening means (not shown) disposed at a right side of the regist introduction path 116.
However, in the above-mentioned conventional apparatuses, if the tip end of the sheet P is detected by the sheet detection means 157 associated with the both-face convey path 115 but is not detected by the sheet detection means 158 associated with the regist introduction path 116, when the both-face convey path 115 is retracted toward the front side of the apparatus, since a trail end of the sheet is pinched between convey rollers 154 and the like, the sheet itself will be retracted together with the both-face convey guide 115. As a result, if the tip end of the sheet is entered into a pre-introduction path 116A in front of the sheet detection means 158, the tip end of the sheet will be caught by a frame 102A for supporting the regist introduction path 116, thereby causing damage (folding or tearing) of the sheet. As a result, the jam treatment becomes more difficult.
As the case may be, a torn portion of the sheet P remains in the convey path. Under such a condition, if the copying operation is re-started, the sheet jam may occur again.
Further, in the above mentioned conventional apparatuses, it was devised that, by partially removing the frame 102A for supporting the regist introduction path 116, the tip end of the sheet P is prevented from being caught by the frame. In this case, however, the rigidity of the frame is decreased, thereby increasing vibration and noise of the apparatus and worsening the appearance of the apparatus.

Sheet conveying apparatus having a guide unit for guiding a sheet when drawing out a convey unit


A bicycle comprising a front triangle and a rear wheel having a rear wheel axis, a rear wheel suspension system further comprising a link further comprising a first pivotal axis for connection to said front triangle and a second pivotal axis for connection to a rear wheel swingarm, wherein the distance from said second pivotal axis to a first vertical plane decreases during a first portion of suspension compression and increases during a second portion of suspension compression; and wherein said first vertical plane is defined as a plane which is perpendicular to the ground and offset in the direction of the rear wheel with respect to the first and second pivotal axis. During the first portion of suspension compression and during the second portion of suspension compression the front triangle remains stationary with respect to the first vertical plane.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a new bicycle rear suspension system, and in particular to a four-bar suspension system that offers improved pedaling and bump absorption performance by means of controlling the rate of chainstay lengthening through the use of a small eccentric mechanism located in close proximity to the bicycle chain line.
2. Background of the Invention
There are numerous bicycle suspension systems in use today to improve bicycle performance. A suspension system allows the rear wheel of the bike to better track the terrain resulting in improved traction while pedaling, turning, and braking. Additionally, the absorption of bump forces by the suspension system increases rider comfort. These systems range from the simple to the complex.
3. Description of Related Art
One of the simplest bicycle suspensions is the single pivot system in which a rear triangle swingarm is attached to a main front triangle at a single pivot point. With this type of suspension, the rear wheel of the bike may track the terrain but must do so while moving in a simple circular arc about the pivotal connection.
While the single pivot systems are very simple, relatively easy to design, and adequately handle small bumps, they fail to address many performance issues. Both their pedaling performance and their bump absorption capabilities are controlled by the location of the single pivotal connection between the front triangle and the rear triangle swingarm. In this type of suspension, the rear axle of the bike rotates about a single axis, and as a consequence the bike's rear suspension is either compressed or extended by the forces imparted to the pedals by the bike rider, dependent upon the specific configuration of the bike suspension. Likewise, compression and extension of the suspension can impart torque on the pedals and supply unwanted force to the rider's legs. Thus, some of the energy expended by the rider of the bike is used needlessly wasted, either compressing or extending the suspension of the system, or resisting unwanted pedal rotation imparted by the suspension.
One solution to the above problem is through the use of adjustments to the length of the chainstay during the course of compression of the bike's suspension. The chainstay length of a bicycle is the distance from the rear wheel axle to the center of the bottom bracket shell. The chainstay length of a bicycle with real wheel suspension may be variable, the length being dictated by the location of the pivotal connection between the front triangle and the rear triangle swingarm and the motion of the rear triangle swingarm. In single pivot systems there is no means for varying the rate of chainstay lengthening through the travel of the suspension. Thus, if the rate of chainstay lengthening is high, so as to decrease unwanted pedal rotation and increase the anti-squat characteristics of the suspension system, the result will be excessive chainstay lengthening at full compression and the application of excessive torque to the pedal crankarms.
In single pivot systems, the shock rate is only controlled by the single pivot point between the front triangle and the rear triangle swingarm. As a result, ineffective compromises in the suspension system's performance must always be struck. These compromises include excessive chainstay lengthening resulting in unwanted torque applied to the bicycle's pedal crankarms, extension or compression of the suspension system due to pedal forces, and extension or compression of the suspension system during acceleration and braking due to weight transfer. Additionally, as may be apparent from the above, any system that articulates the rear wheel along an arc forfeits the performance benefits associated with articulating the rear wheel along a controlled, and preferential travel path. A controlled travel path allows for, among other benefits, chainstay lengthening to occur at varying rates through the compression of the suspension.
A more complex form of bicycle suspension is a linkage system. Such systems attach the rear wheel swingarm to the main front triangle through a plurality of links to improve the performance of the suspension system by manipulating both shock rate and wheel travel path, and thus chain stay lengthening. These systems provide challenges to the suspension designer, in that there is typically a tradeoff between optimally manipulating the rear wheel travel path and controlling the change in the shock rate. In order to make some linkage suspension systems perform well, the variation in the rear wheel travel path has typically been small throughout the range of travel. Systems that vary the rear wheel travel path to a greater extent generally must also vary the shock rate to a great extent, which leads to undesirable bump absorption characteristics.
Various forms of linkage systems have been developed in an attempt to resolve the above limitations. Some linkage systems use a single pivot swingarm and a linkage to activate the shock absorber, such as the Turner 5-Spot by Turner Suspension Bicycles, Inc. in Murrieta, Calif. These systems allow for more complicated leverage ratios than a single pivot system, which results in increased tunability of the shock absorber leverage rate. However, even with this improved system, the rear wheel still moves in an arc, resulting in many of the same compromises in performance from which the single pivot suspension systems suffer.
While there is a great variety in these linkage systems, most are four-bar systems that articulate the rear wheel in a more complicated manner than is allowed with a single pivot system. Stated generally, there are two classes of four-bar linkage systems. The first class comprises systems that use a long first linkage member that places a pivot point near the rear axle. The long link systems generally have separate chainstay and seat stay assemblies that are bolted together at a pivot. An example of a long link four-bar linkage system is the Stumpjumper by Specialized Bicycle Components out of Morgan Hill, Calif., and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,480 to Leitner. Because this class of four bar linkage systems articulates the rear wheel in a large radius arc, the employment of an optimal amount of chainstay lengthening in the early part of the rear wheel's travel results in an unacceptable total amount of chainstay lengthening when the system is fully compressed. In order to cope with this deficiency, this style of suspension system typically employs the minimal amount of chainstay lengthening that is acceptable, so as to consequently minimize the total amount of lengthening when the system is fully compressed. Firmer shock absorber spring and damping rates are required to allow for acceptable pedaling performance.
The second class of four-bar linkage systems uses a short first linkage member where the connection between the seat stays and the chainstays is generally rigid, thereby resulting in a rear triangle wherein a swingarm is connected to two short links. Due to the short linkage members rotating with greater angular velocity when compared to the first type of four bar linkage system there is greater ability to tune the axle path of this suspension system.
The short link designs making up the second class of four-bar linkage systems can be further separated into two sub-classes. The first sub-class is one in which the two links rotate in the same direction as the suspension is compressed. U.S. Pat. No. 7,128,329 to Weagle discloses a rear wheel suspension system that falls into this first class of short link four bar linkage systems. This design utilizes anti-squat behavior to mitigate the unwanted effects of the suspension system compressing and extending due to forward acceleration when pedaling. This design suffers from the drawback that chainstay lengthening effects are minimally utilized and instead the suspension system is designed to provide an optimized anti-squat behavior for an arbitrary constant pedaling input force and gear. In practice, both the pedaling input force and gear are greatly variable and thus an assumption that they are an arbitrary constant is invalid and suboptimal.
The Rockrider by Decathlon out of Villeneuve d'Ascq, France is an example of a bicycle of the first sub-class that uses an eccentric as a link in a short link four bar linkage system. The eccentric rotates only in one direction as the suspension compresses. The distance between the pivots on the small link is significantly larger than 15 mm, and thus suffers from a weight disadvantage. This design moves the rear wheel in a very large arc, and as such suffers from the typical performance drawbacks experienced by other similar systems, such as the inability to control the chainstay lengthening effect and provide for an optimized rear wheel travel path that reduces pedaling induced compression and extension of the suspension.
In the second sub-class of short link four-bar systems the links rotate in opposite directions as the system is compressed. That is, one link rotates in a first direction and a second link rotates in a second direction. An example of the second type of short link system is the Blur by Santa Cruz Bicycles out of Santa Cruz, Calif. and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,397 to Klassen and Calon. These systems employ an S-shaped wheel travel path to selectively apply chainstay lengthening. The net result, however, is that as the suspension moves from its statically loaded sag point (to either a direction of further compression or a direction of reduced compression), chainstay lengthening occurs. Because chainstay lengthening occurs during extension from the suspension's statically loaded sag point, the suspension if prevented from utilizing negative travel to allow the wheel to follow drops in the terrain and thus maintain traction.
Further, due to the interaction between the linkage members of the suspension system, the suspension system once tuned to provide the described s-shaped rear wheel travel path, produces a shock rate with detrimentally high rates of change. Finally, due to the length requirements of the lower linkage member, it is impractical to utilize a small eccentric as a linkage member and benefit from the significant weight saving advantages that go along with a small eccentric linkage member.
As an example of yet another different attempt to eliminate the above common problems with bike suspensions, U.S. Pat. No. 6,099,010 to Busby discloses a bicycle having an independent equilibrium sensing suspension system for its crank assembly. This system is essentially a four bar system in which the pedal crank arm is connected to the first linkage member instead of to the front triangle. This system allows for greater rearward motion of the rear wheel without a corresponding increase in chainstay lengthening. This is accomplished by the rearward motion of the entire pedal crank assembly when the suspension is compressed. However, this motion of the pedal crank axis relative to the seat of the bicycle is perceptible to the rider, and also affects pedaling performance as the relationship between the seat and the pedals changes as the suspension is compressed.
Thus, all of the prior art suffers from a serious performance drawback: when the suspension system is configured in such a manner that the overall chainstay lengthening effect is small enough to prevent unwanted feedback to the rider's pedaling motion when the suspension system is fully compressed, the system does not offer enough chainstay lengthening effect when the suspension system is in its statically loaded sag state. None of the linkage systems currently in use or previously described drastically alter the rear wheel path to quickly move from a high rate of chainstay lengthening in the early portion of the rear wheel's motion and to the statically loaded sag point to a rate of very low chainstay lengthening after a specified point in the rear wheel's travel in close proximity to the sag point.
It is therefore a primary object of the invention to provide a suspension system offering minimal overall chainstay lengthening during full suspension compression while simultaneously offering an appropriately high level of chainstay lengthening effect when the suspension system is statically loaded.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a short link suspension system that uses a link shorter than that in conventional four bar suspension systems.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a short link suspension system comprising a link that changes its direction of rotation as the system is compressed, and more specifically comprising a short link that rotates in a first direction and then in the opposite direction as the suspension system is compressed.
It is a further object of the invention to advantageously alter the rate of chainstay lengthening in the preferential manner disclosed herein.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an optimized rear wheel travel path that allows for better pedaling performance throughout the range of suspension travel.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an optimized shock rate that advantageously provides for small changes in rate.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an optimized shock rate that advantageously changes sign more than once and articulates the rear wheel in a controlled and preferential non-arc travel path.


A method for determining a distance from an object may include emitting an emission light beam from a light emitter, receiving a reception light beam at a light receiver, and determining the distance on the basis of a propagation time of the emission and reception light beams. The reception light beam may arise as a result of reflection of the emission light beam at the object. The emission light beam may be amplitude-modulated with a rectangular-waveform modulation signal. The modulation signal may have a multiplicity of rectangular pulses which occur in a multiplicity of groups. The groups may occur at varying temporal intervals with respect to one another and have changing numbers of rectangular pulses.

A method and a device of this type are known from DE 40 27 990 C1.
At least an embodiment of the invention relates to a so-called laser scanner that is designed to measure a spatial region and/or an object three-dimensionally. Such a laser scanner is described e.g. in DE 103 61 870 A1. This known laser scanner has a measuring head that can be rotated about a vertical axis. The measuring head contains a rotor that can be rotated about a horizontal axis. The rotor emits an emission light beam and receives a reception light beam reflected from an object. (Reflection within the meaning of the present invention need not necessarily be a total reflection, but rather can also be a diffuse reflection or scattering of the emitted light beam.) The distance between the measuring head and the object is determined from the propagation time of the emission light beam and of the reception light beam. The rotation of the rotor and of the measuring head makes it possible to move the emission light beam by 360° in Azimut and by approximately 270° in elevation. In this way it is possible to measure virtually the entire space all around the known laser scanner. Typical applications for such laser scanners are the measurement of buildings (inside and/or outside), tunnels or the measurement of large objects such as ships' hulls, for instance.
The propagation time of the emission and reception light beams can be determined in various ways. In principle, a distinction is drawn between pulse propagation time methods and CW (Continuous Wave) methods. In the pulse propagation time methods, the emission light beam contains only a short emission pulse for each measuring operation. The time until the reflected pulse arrives in the receiver is measured. In the CW methods, an (at least substantially) continuous emission light beam is emitted and the propagation time is determined on the basis of a phase shift between the emission and reception light beams. In this case, the emission light beam is typically amplitude-modulated with the aid of a modulation signal and the phase shift of the modulation signal in the emitted and received light beams is used for determining the propagation time. The higher the modulation frequency, the more accurately the distance can be determined here. However the unambiguity range decreases as the modulation frequency increases; since the phase shift between emission and reception light beams is repeated after a phase cycle of 360°.
DE 40 27 990 C1 cited in the introduction therefore proposes a distance measuring device with a modulated emission light beam according to the CW method, wherein the emission light beam is amplitude-modulated with a rectangular-waveform modulation signal having a first, relatively high modulation frequency, and wherein said emission light beam is interrupted after a specific number of periods of the modulation signal for a relatively long time period. This interruption can be interpreted as amplitude modulation with a second modulation signal having a second, lower modulation frequency. In other words, the emission light beam in this case is amplitude-modulated with a first, higher and with a second, lower modulation frequency, wherein the two different modulation frequencies determine the unambiguity range. The latter is significantly larger than when just one modulation frequency is used.
In DE 43 03 804 A1 the method according to DE 40 27 990 C1 is deemed to be disadvantageous insofar as the emission light intensity averaged over the duration of the entire signal period is reduced by the amplitude modulation with the lower, second modulation frequency. This is said to lead to a reduction of the signal/noise ratio and, consequently, to have the effect that objects having a low reflectivity can no longer be measured. In order to avoid this disadvantage, DE 43 03 804 A1 proposes modulating the emission light beam alternately with the higher first and the lower, second modulation frequency, that is to say that in each time interval the emission light beam is modulated with only one of the two modulation frequencies in each case. However, this method results in lengthened measuring times since each object has to be measured twice. The higher measuring time is disadvantageous particularly in the case of a laser scanner, because the emission light beam can then only be pivoted relatively slowly.

Method and device for determining a distance from an object


The present invention exhibits a remarkable effect of making it possible to provide a famotidine injection solution containing famotidine at a high concentration, being stable for a long period of time at room temperature, and having a low viscosity without impairing the absorption of famotidine, which can be hardly provided so far.

Famotidine is a pharmaceutical agent excellent in inhibitory action of gastric acid secretion based on a histamine H2-receptor antagonistic action and generally used in the form of an oral or injection preparation as an agent for treating gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, and other digestive diseases (cf. Merck Index thirteen edition, page 696 and so on). With regard to famotidine injection preparations, two kinds of preparations, i.e., a solution preparation and a freeze-dried preparation are present. The solution preparation is commercially available in United States and Europe for intravenous administration, and the freeze-dried preparation is commercially available in Japan as an administration system mainly for intravenous administration and is also used for intramuscular administration. However, an injection solution capable of being preserved at room temperature and capable of being administered intramuscularly is not commercially available.
Famotidine is a basic compound having a pKa value of about 7.1, and it is soluble in water but exhibits a low stability at an acidic side while the solubility extremely decreases at a neutral range where the stability is high.
Hitherto, in the vicinity of a neutral pH range where famotidine exhibits a good stability, various attempts to develop an injection preparation wherein famotidine is solubilized and stable have been made. However, in the case of intramuscular administration, since the administration is physically difficult when a dose is a large amount, the liquid amount to be administered is limited. Usually, the amount is about 4 ml at most. A famotidine injection solution for intramuscular administration requires that solubilization and stabilization of famotidine are achieved even in a small liquid amount (e.g., 3 ml) and further the absorbability does not decreases. Such famotidine injection solution capable of being administered intramuscularly is not yet known.
With regard to famotidine injection preparations, the following technologies are known.
JP-B-63-65047 (or CA1184495) describes the following: a low water-solubility (solubility of 0.1 w/v % or lower) of famotidine makes development of its injection preparation difficult; selection of a substance capable of solubilizing famotidine in a high concentration is necessary for developing the injection preparation; although selection of an acid is considered, selection of an acid capable of not only solubilizing famotidine but also stabilizing is necessary since it is unstable in an acidic region; a stable injection preparation dissolving famotidine in a high concentration (10 mg/ml) can be first provided when a specific acid, L-aspartic acid is mixed; and so forth. The famotidine injection preparation in clinical use at present is a freeze-dried preparation produced based on the patented invention and it main administration route is intravenous administration. However, in general, a freeze-dried preparation should be prepared before use employing a physiologically allowable dissolution liquid such as physiological saline, and thus it can be said that the preparation is a preparation accompanied by vexatious complication.
In this connection, the pH of the solution obtained by dissolving the freeze-dried preparation in water for injection is about 5.2.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,650,421 discloses an injection preparation wherein the concentration of famotidine or it salt is from 0.1 mg/ml to 0.8 mg/ml, the pH is adjusted to from 5.7 to 6.4 by adding an acid such as L-aspartic acid, and the preparation is mixed with physiological saline in advance. However, when application to a preparation capable of being administered intramuscularly is considered, a preparation having a high concentration which is adjusted to a volume for intramuscular administration requiring a minimum volume, i.e., it is necessary to be a preparation having a concentration of 6.67 mg/ml or higher (a concentration calculated based on the assumption that the liquid amount capable for intramuscular administration is about 3 ml or less and 20 mg of famotidine, which is a single dose thereof, is contained).
JP-A-11-193233 describes a famotidine injection preparation having a pH of about 5.5 to about 7.5 which contains famotidine or its salt in an amount of about 1 mg/ml to about 40 mg/ml in terms of famotidine, especially which comprises famotidine or its salt, an acidic substance, and a water-soluble non-aqueous solvent.
The above invention using a water-soluble non-aqueous solvent is an excellent technology which solves the above problem and especially achieves a drug concentration of about 6.67 mg/ml or higher enabling intramuscular administration and a long-term stability at room temperature, but owing to the characteristic property of the water-soluble non-aqueous solvent such as polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, or glycerin, viscosity of the formulated drug solution increases and its absorption after intramuscular administration is delayed as compared with the conventional preparation because of the factors such as the viscosity, so that the improvement has been desired.
Thus, a famotidine injection solution containing famotidine or its salt in a high concentration of from 1 to 40 mg/ml, having a good stability, and excellent in absorbability after administration, which may be capable of being administered intramuscularly, has been highly desired.


An apparatus for allowing any initiating host to establish communications with any receiving host in a computing network using a Multi-path channel communication protocol. The computing environment also having a gateway device that is electronically connected from one end to at least one initiating host and at the other end to at least one local area network through which a plurality of hosts are connected to the gateway device. The apparatus comprises means for first performing an initialization step during information and addresses of all present hosts are determined and stored in a port-sharing table which is kept up to date by regular monitoring of availability status. All host communications is performed entirely through the gateway device. Upon the receipt of a special IP address certain information is obtained from the datagram. Then the address and information of the initiating host is compared to the entries in the portsharing table and if no match is found a new entry is made. All necessary information for the establishment of a successful communication between the two hosts are then provided to the initiating host.

Personal computers are gaining widespread popularity as the state of technology is improving. Over the past few decades, their utilization has profilerated both for personal purposes and for use in business and scientific communities. Establishing good computing communications have become a necessity as individual users try to connect to one another for exchange of information, and to larger computers to take advantage of their higher processing capabilities. This need to communicate between different computing hosts or nodes have evolved into the creation of distributed networks. A distributed network is an aggregate of individual systems that are connected to one another electronically. Distributed networks can be organized in a number of ways, either remotely extending over great distances using wide area networks or WANs, or locally through the use of a Local Area Network, better known as a LAN.
A LAN usually consists of a number of nodes or hosts located within an office, a building or at other close proximations. Being a type of a distributed network, a LAN loosely couples processors and workstations. Generally, workstations on a LAN do not share a central memory but do share common servers. In this way a LAN increases the power and flexibility of workstations by enabling them to access shared data without jeopardizing the security of each individual resource.
A LAN system that has been in wide use in recent years is produced by Novell, Inc. of Provo, Utah. In a Novell system, a LAN device driver is implemented on top of the local operating systems to be coupled and device driver commands at the LAN workstations are directed to and from the workstations onto the LAN to the target servers.
As networks have grown and particularly as LANs have come into widespread use, many businesses and organizations have faced the necessity of interconnecting and managing a confederation of networks and LANs. Each network itself can in turn comprises of a plurality of logical networks which in turn run independent and different networking protocols. The challenge has not become only to interconnect local area networks to one another, but to do so and still provide remote server access through WANs or other devices.
Three basic methods are now available to interconnect both local and remote area networks to one another as to provide wide used access and remote information exchange capabilities. These three methods are 1) bridges or data-link devices that connect similar networks together; 2) routers that perform routing services by maintaining a routing table in each host; and 3) gateway devices that carry out protocol conversions and other connectivity functions. Typically, a device driver for the gateway is provided with modems or other physical ports that can be linked to switched communication WANs.
A gateway facility allows the interconnection of multiple independently controlled communication networks to one another in a way that logical units in the network can communicate with one another without any changes to the network. A logical network runs a single networking protocol, but a processing organization can be composed of a dozen of logical networks running six or seven networking protocols. A gateway provides transparent interconnection of these single networking protocols, so that a single multiport transport network is formed.
In the existing mechanisms, gateway devices are implemented on top of the LAN device drivers as a switched communications device interface. The user initialization of the communication link-up procedure redirects the user hardware commands to the gateway. The communications interface in the gateway driver then institutes and maintains the switched communications link, diverting hardware resources of the driver to do so. The connection and access procedures are then executed using the gateway ports and modems in order to link the user's system with the switched communications network. A remote connection is established through the LAN/WAN which sets up a point to point configuration through the port along the communication line between the user and the communications device in use.
The procedure described above have many complexities associated with it. The complexities connected with the configuration assessment of gateway devices is an on-going concern of the designers of such devices today. These configuration concerns contributes to many limitations that exist with today gateway devices. These limitations often make the interconnection of networks running different protocols non-transparent. Because many of the present gateways are transport layer protocol-specific, it is possible that a gateway cannot interconnect a network running for example a TCP/IP protocol and a network running the SNA protocol. Furthermore, a variety of gateway devices have been developed which connect TCP/IP to different operating system and give connectivity to the LAN/WAN environments, but each time the configuration has to be redefined and reassessed before connectivity is accomplished successfully. Furthermore, each gateway device can usually implement only a subset of the TCP/IP functions. Most currently existing gateway devices do not support many of the TCP/IP functions and performance problems have been encountered due to increased bandwidth of the LAN/WAN arenas. One of the communication protocols used to communicate with the gateway is LCS or LAN Channel Station. A control command interface exists in the LCS protocol that requires all the configuration information to be set prior to the TCP/IP connect sequence. Nonetheless, the control interface does not have a command sequence to enable the use of the TCP/IP functions which have been implemented in the gateway devices. To reduce the complexity of configuring gateway devices, an expanded control command interface is needed.
This application is being filed with the following related applications on the same date--attorney dockets:08/921,432; 08/921,845; 08/921,433; 08/921,441; 08/924,007; 08/924,006; 08/920,533; 08/924,018; 08/924,022; 08/920,587; and 08/920,588.

Internet protocol assists using multi-path channel protocol


Provided is a curable composition for an electronic component that can be quickly cured and furthermore can have increased storage stability. The curable composition for an electronic component according to the present invention contains an epoxy compound, an anionic curing agent, a flux, and a basic compound excluding the anionic curing agent.

An epoxy resin composition has a high adhesive power of a cured product and has a property of being excellent also in moisture resistance and heat resistance of the cured product. For this reason, the epoxy resin composition is widely used for various purposes such as electronics, architecture, and vehicles. Also, in order to connect various connection object members electrically, a conductive particle may be blended in the above epoxy resin composition. An epoxy resin composition containing a conductive particle is referred to as an anisotropic conductive material.
The above anisotropic conductive material is used for connection between an IC chip and a flexible printed circuit board, connection between an IC chip and a circuit board having an ITO electrode, or the like. For example, by heating and pressurizing after disposing an anisotropic conductive material between an electrode of an IC chip and an electrode of a circuit board, these electrodes can be electrically connected by the conductive particle.
As one example of the aforementioned epoxy resin composition, the following Patent Document 1 discloses a composition containing (A) a phenoxy resin, (B) a multifunctional epoxy resin, and (C) an inorganic filler. In Patent Document 1, a flux is raised as an example of an arbitrary component.
The following Patent Document 2 discloses a composition containing an episulfide compound, an amine curing agent, an inclusion imidazole curing agent, a storage stabilizer, and a conductive particle.
The following Patent Document 3 discloses a composition containing a binder resin and a conductive particle having a solder layer. This composition may contain a flux.

Curable composition for electronic component and connection structure


The present invention discloses a combined starting power supply, comprising a lead acid battery, a lithium battery and a lithium battery protection circuit, wherein the lithium battery protection circuit comprises a first input, a second input, a first output and a second output; a negative electrode of the lithium battery is connected to the first input, and a positive electrode of the lithium battery is connected to the second input; and a negative electrode of the lead acid battery is connected to the first output, and a positive electrode of the lead acid battery is connected to the second output. The combined starting power supply of the present invention increases the safety thereof by adopting a lithium battery; and the lithium-ion battery is always put in a safe working state by means of the lithium battery protection circuit during charging and discharging processes. The purposes of the present invention are to remedy the defects of low specific energy and specific power of a lead acid battery, and to provide a starting power supply which has a small volume and a light weight and which is capable of providing an ultra-high power output for various transportation tools, so as to meet the working requirement that a transportation tool, such as a vehicle, can be started instantaneously, while extending the service life of the battery.

At present, it is well known that the lead acid battery has numerous advantages, such as a low price, a stable working voltage, large starting and discharging current, and re-usability of metal resources, thus having long been the primary starting power supply for transportation tools, such as vehicles, ships, airplanes and trains. However, the lead acid battery has low specific energy and specific power and it is usually suitable to start and discharge at current below a power of 10, while space left for built-in batteries in a variety of modern transportation tools gets narrower, and therefore it is necessary to find a new type of power supply system to meet the requirement of ultra-high power starting and discharging.
After entering into the 21st century, the fastest-growing chemical power supply is absolutely the lithium-ion battery, which has a small volume and a light weight and which is the chemical power supply with the highest specific energy nowadays.
However, the existing current power supplies still have the following defects:
the safety issue has not been fundamentally solved, and at present, there is no precedent of using a large-capacity lithium-ion battery as a power supply for starting large-scale transportation tools yet.

GUANGZHOU KAIJIE POWER SUPPLY INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.


Method of producing a piezoelectric thin film device comprises a step of forming an insulating layer (12) capable of being etched by a specific chemical substance on the upper surface of a substrate (11); a step of forming a sacrificial layer (13) made of a substance having a higher etching rate by the specific chemical substance than the insulating layer on a partial region of the insulating layer; a step of forming a lower electrode (15) on a region including the sacrificial layer; a step of forming the piezoelectric thin film (16) on a region including a part of the lower electrode; a step of forming an upper electrode (17) on a region including a part of the piezoelectric thin film; a step of forming via hole (18), which penetrates the piezoelectric thin film and lower electrode, so as to expose a part of the sacrificial layer; and a step of forming a space (20) for oscillation by etching both the sacrificial layer and the insulating layer with the same specific chemical substance by introducing the specific chemical substance through the via hole.

Devices using a piezoelectric phenomenon have been used in various fields. In the progress of miniaturization and power saving of portable equipment, the application field of surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices as RF filters or IF filters used for the above equipment is being enlarged. Enhancement of the design and producing technologies of SAW filters have satisfied user's strict requirements to specifications. However, as the frequencies being used are shifted to a higher frequency band, the enhancement of the characteristics is approaching to its upper limit, so that great technical innovation has been required for both of the microstructure of electrodes to be formed and securement of stable output.
Further, a thin film bulk acoustic resonator (hereinafter referred to as "FBAR"), and stacked thin film bulk acoustic resonators and filters (hereinafter referred to as "SBAR") using the thickness vibration of piezoelectric thin film are each constituted of a thin film mainly composed of piezoelectric element and electrodes for driving the thin film on a thin support film provided on a substrate so that they can perform fundamental resonance in gigahertz band. When a filter is constructed by FBAR or SBAR, the filter can be formed in a remarkably compact size, and also it can be operated with low loss and in a broad band. In addition, it can be manufactured integrally with a semiconductor integrated circuit. Therefore, it is expected that FBAR and SBAR will be applied to future ultraminiature portable equipments.
A piezoelectric thin film resonator such as FBAR or SBAR applied to a resonator, a filter, or the like, using such elastic wave is produced as follows.
By using various thin film forming methods, a base film comprising a dielectric thin film, a conductive thin film or a stacked film of the dielectric thin film and the conductive thin film is formed on the surface of a single crystal semiconductor substrate of silicon or the like, on the surface of a substrate constructed by forming polycrystalline diamond film on silicon wafer, or on the surface of a substrate of constant modulus metal such as elinvar or the like. Further, a piezoelectric thin film is formed on the base film, and a desired upper structure is formed. After each film is formed or after all the films are formed, each film is subjected to physical processing or chemical processing to perform micro-fabrication and patterning. After a portion of the substrate located below the oscillation portion is removed by anisotropic etching based on a wet process to form a suspended structure, the resultant product is separated every device to obtain piezoelectric thin film resonators.
For example, one of methods of producing a piezoelectric thin film resonator known heretofore is a method for forming a via hole by forming a base film, a lower electrode, a piezoelectric thin film and an upper electrode on an upper surface of the substrate, and then removing a substrate portion under a portion which will act as an oscillating portion from a lower surface side of the substrate (for example, refer to Pat. Document 1: JP(A)-58-153412 and Pat. Document 2: JP(A)-60-142607). If the substrate is made of silicon, a part of the silicon substrate is etched away from the backside thereof by using a heated KOH water solution, thereby forming via hole. Thus, there can be produced a resonator having such shape that the edge of the structure in which a piezoelectric thin film is sandwiched between a plurality of metal electrodes is supported at the front surface side of the silicon substrate by the silicon substrate at a portion surrounding the via hole.
However, since etching is advanced in parallel with a (111) plane if wet etching using alkali such as KOH, etc. is performed, the etching is advanced obliquely at inclination angle of 54.7° with respect to the front surface of the (100) silicon substrate, and a distance between the adjacent resonators must be set remarkably far. For example, a device having a planar size of about 150 μm×150 μm and constructed on a silicon wafer having a thickness of 550 μm needs a backside etching hole of about 930 μm×930 μm, and a distance between centers of the adjacent resonators becomes 930 μm or more. This disturbs the integration of the piezoelectric thin film resonators. Further, a metal electrode for connecting the adjacent piezoelectric thin film resonators becomes long, and also its electric resistance increases. Therefore, an insertion loss of the piezoelectric thin film device produced by combining a plurality of the piezoelectric thin film resonators becomes remarkably large. A large via hole of an opening size of 930 μm is not only easy to be damaged, but also an acquired quantity of the final product, that is, a yield of the piezoelectric thin film device on the substrate is limited, and a region of about 1/15 of the substrate can be used for a device production. On the other hand, it is considered to form a large via hole bridging over a plurality of resonators. However, the via hole is further increased in size, a strength of the device is remarkably reduced, and the resonators are further easy to be damaged.
A second method of conventional art for producing a piezoelectric thin film resonator such as FBAR, SBAR, etc. applied to the piezoelectric thin film device is to form an air bridge type FBAR device (for example, refer to Pat. Document 3: JP(A)-2000-69594, Pat. Document 4: JP(A)-2002-509644 and Pat. Document 5: JP(A)-2003-32060). Normally, a sacrificial layer is formed, and then a piezoelectric thin film resonator is produced on this sacrificial layer. The sacrificial layer is removed at the end or near the end of the process, and a space for the oscillation is formed. Since the overall processing is executed on an upper surface side of the substrate, this method does not need an alignment of a pattern on both the surfaces of the substrate and an opening of a large area at the lower surface side of the substrate.
The Pat. Document 3 describes a construction of an air bridge type FBAR/SBAR device, and a method of producing it using a phospho-silicate glass (PSG) as a sacrificial layer.
However, this method requires long and complicated steps. That is, in this method, after a series of steps of forming a cavity on an upper surface of a substrate by etching, depositing a sacrificial layer on an upper surface side of the substrate by a thermal CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) method, planarization and smoothing of the upper surface of the substrate by a CMP (Chemical Mechanical Polishing) method, and depositing and forming a lower electrode, a piezoelectric element and an upper electrode on the sacrificial layer, a via hole penetrating to the sacrificial layer is opened, a piezoelectric laminated structure formed on the upper surface side of the substrate is protected with a resist or the like, and the sacrificial layer is removed from the cavity by permeating an etchant through the via hole. In addition, the number of masks used for forming the pattern is remarkably increased. Since the manufacturing steps are long and complicated, the method itself increases the cost of the device as well as reduces a yield of the product, and further the device becomes highly costly.
The Pat. Document 4 describes a construction of an air bridge type FBAR/SBAR device, and a method of producing it. In this method, a metal or a polymer is used as sacrificial layer, and a space for oscillation is formed in a relatively simple process without the steps of forming a cavity on an upper surface of a substrate and planarization of the upper surface of the substrate by CMP.
However, in order to form the space for oscillation excellently without contact of the piezoelectric laminated structure having a size of about 150 μm×150 μm with the substrate, the thickness of the sacrificial layer needs about 2000 nm. When a metal of 2000 nm is deposited, the surface roughness of the sacrificial layer is deteriorated by a growth of particle of metal crystal. When the piezoelectric laminated structure is formed on this sacrificial layer, a decrease in an electromechanical coupling factor Kt2 associated with a decrease in a crystal orientation of the piezoelectric thin film itself, and a decrease in a resonant sharpness Q associated with an increase in a surface roughness of the piezoelectric laminated structure itself, occur, and production of the piezoelectric thin film device having good characteristics becomes difficult. It is described that a polymer is used as the sacrificial layer, but in order to form the piezoelectric thin film having good crystal orientation, it is normally necessary to deposit the piezoelectric thin film at a temperature of 300° C. or higher in high vacuum. Thus, there is a problem in stability of the polymer. Further, since a bend of 2000 nm arises at ends of the piezoelectric laminated structure, there is a severe problem of remarkable deterioration of reliability by cracking or a decrease in strength of the piezoelectric thin film.
In the Pat. Document 5, it is described that a construction of an air bridge type FBAR/SBAR device, and a method of producing it. This method does not require steps of forming a cavity on an upper surface of a substrate and planarization the upper surface of the substrate by the CMP and can reduce a bend at ends of a piezoelectric laminated structure.
However, in this method, the sacrificial layer is etched in advance with a first etchant, and further a second etchant is introduced by using the resultant gap to etch a supporting film. Thus, a space for oscillation is formed. Accordingly, it is necessary to form the device with use of a material durable to two types of etchants, which restricts the material to be used and which makes the process complex, thereby increasing the production cost. Further, as the sacrificial layer, substances such as a magnesium oxide, a zinc oxide, etc., are used. When these substances form a film by a vapor-depositing method, etc., the surface roughness of the sacrificial layer is large, and crystal orientation of the lower electrode and the piezoelectric thin film formed on the sacrificial layer is deteriorated. For example, in the case of the magnesium oxide thin film having a thickness of 50 nm, its surface roughness (RMS variation in height) becomes normally 10 nm or more.
Since FBAR and SBAR obtain a resonance by propagation of elastic wave generated by a piezoelectric effect of a piezoelectric element in the piezoelectric laminated structure, the characteristics of the device are greatly affected by a crystal quality of a lower electrode, a piezoelectric thin film, an upper electrode, or the like on the substrate as well as an accuracy of forming a space for oscillation. Further, when the bend of the piezoelectric thin film is large, the strength of the piezoelectric thin film decreases, and reliability remarkably decreases. Therefore, it becomes remarkably difficult to stably obtain the piezoelectric thin film device having excellent characteristics and high reliability.
By such a reason, a piezoelectric thin film device which performs sufficient performance in gigahertz band has not been obtained. Therefore, establishment of a method of producing a piezoelectric thin film device having excellent characteristics and high reliability with a simple process and realization of the piezoelectric thin film device produced by the method are strongly desired.

Method of manufacturing piezoelectric thin film device and piezoelectric thin film device


A method for protecting an electronic entity such as a smart card, against simple/differential power analysis, by integrating a current accumulator in said entity. The current accumulator (19) powers a processor (P) via a multiplexer (20) when the processor is loaded to execute so-called sensitive operations.

The invention relates to a method of protecting an electronic entity including a microcircuit, in particular a microcircuit card with encrypted access, said protection being aimed more particularly at forms of attack known as "current analysis". The invention also relates to an electronic entity including a microcircuit, in particular a microcircuit card with encrypted access, equipped with means for obtaining the protection offered by said method.
The person skilled in the art knows that some electronic entities with encrypted access, in particular microcircuit cards, are vulnerable to certain forms of attack based on analyzing certain parameters during a phase of their operation. It is said that information can "leak" from a computation carried out in said electronic entity (the card), typically the execution of a cryptographic protocol instigated by a fraudster in illegal possession of the card. The parameters analyzed during the execution of this kind of protocol can typically be computation time differences or differences in electromagnetic radiation during execution of the computation, but above all are the current consumed by the electronic entity itself during the execution of a cryptographic protocol.
Thus a standard attack consists in having the electronic entity that has fallen into the hands of the fraudster execute a certain number of cryptographic protocols based on random messages, which are therefore bound to fail, but cause the entity (the microcircuit card) to execute each time a cryptographic algorithm, for example the DES (DATA ENCRYPTION STANDARD) algorithm, and analyzing the current consumed during each execution of said DES algorithm. The object of this attack is to discover the secret key of said entity. The DES algorithm is very widely used at present in the field of bank cards, SIM (GSM) cards, pay per view television access cards, and access control cards.
In the case of fraud, i.e. when the fraudster has the card and is seeking to determine the key, the fraudster can connect said card to a reader by means of which he can transmit messages to it and connect it to means for recording the current consumed by the microcircuit during the execution of the operations that it carries out. The fraudster instigates multiple execution of the DES algorithm and the current consumption is detected and memorized each time. From all of this data, and in particular from the current consumption measurements, it is possible to mount attacks whose principle is well known. These SPA-DPA (Simple Power Analysis/Differential Power Analysis) attacks can reconstitute the key of the electronic entity.
In a paper presented on 17 Aug. 2000 at the CHES 2000 conference and published by SPRINGER under the N° 1965, the use of a battery integrated into the electronic entity to supply power to the microcircuit is envisaged. However, the author of the paper finishes by setting aside this solution, deeming it somewhat impractical and difficult to put into practice. The invention solves the problems referred to by the author of this paper.


A vacuum housing is provided for an electron tube having an anode and a cathode, the vacuum housing having a region containing a volume for the acceptance of the anode that is connected to a chamber for the acceptance of the cathode via a shaft-shaped housing section made of weldable material. A first part of the shaft-shaped housing section is integrally formed with a portion of housing which contains the volume for the acceptance of the anode. A second part of the shaft-shaped housing section is integrally formed with the chamber for the acceptance of the cathode. A laser weld connects the first and second parts of the shaft-shaped housing section together vacuum-tight.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a vacuum housing for an electron tube having comprising an anode and a cathode, the vacuum housing being of the type having a volume containing a space for the acceptance of the anode that is connected via a shaft-shaped housing section to a chamber for the acceptance of the cathode, with the chamber and the volume for the acceptance of the anode being connected to one another via a weld.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In an X-ray tube with such a vacuum housing, it is possible to arrange means for the deflection of the electron beam, which propagates through the shaft-shaped housing section during the operation of the X-ray tube, in the region of the shaft-shaped housing section, and, thus close to the electron beam to be deflected.
The capability of deflecting of the electron beam and thus also deflecting the focal spot, is especially important in the context of computed tomography since this allows an improvement of the image quality by the known measure known of displacing the focal spot between two limit positions, thereby doubling the data available for the computation of the image of a body slice.
When, during the operation of the X-ray tube of the type initially described, the vacuum housing the X-ray tube lies at a more positive potential than the cathode which is for example, at ground potential, a large portion of the electrons scattered back from the anode (secondary electron bombardment) is captured by the shaft-shaped housing section and at the adjacent regions of the vacuum housing. Apart from its purpose as a housing, the vacuum housing therefore also performs the function of a diaphragm that serves to decrease the extra-focal radiation, especially in the region of the shaft-shaped housing section.
An X-ray tube with a vacuum housing of the type initially described is disclosed in European Application 0 460 421. The shaft-shaped housing section in this vacuum housing is bonded by a weld to an approximately planar wall of the volume of the vacuum housing containing the space for the acceptance of the anode. This weld is conventionally made by TIG-welding and does not always resist the thermomechanical stress to which it is exposed as a result of the aforementioned secondary electron bombardment. Total failures of X-ray tubes therefore frequently occur as a result of inadequate vacuum tightness of the vacuum housing.


Provided herein, inter alia, is a modular-functional technology for the expression of a functional heterologous polyketide synthases (PKS) system in a photosynthetic cyanobacteria.

Human society has always depended on biomass-derived carbon and energy for nutrition and survival. In recent history, we have also become dependent on petroleum derived carbon and energy for commodity chemicals and fuels. However, the nonrenewable nature of petroleum stands in stark contrast to the renewable carbon and energy present in biomass, where biomass is essentially a temporary storage unit for atmospheric carbon and sunlight-derived energy (Ingram et al. 2010). At present, many bioindustrial processes rely on the fermentation of heterotrophic bacteria to produce various fine chemicals such as vitamins, enzymes, and amino acids. Nevertheless, the economic viability of these production schemes is limited by the cost of carbon substrates used in the fermentation processes.
Polyketide synthases (PKSs) are large multienzyme systems that are responsible for the stepwise biosynthesis of extraordinarily complex natural products from simple 2-, 3-, and 4-carbon building blocks such as acetyl-CoA, propionyl-CoA, butyryl-CoA, and their activated derivatives, malonyl-, methylmalonyl-, and ethylmalonyl-CoA. These polyketide natural products are known to possess a wealth of pharmacologically important activities, comprising antimicrobial, antifungal, antiparasitic, antitumor, and immunosuppressive properties (Khosla et al. 1999). Moreover, reduced polyketides are also a good source of hydrocarbons that can be used as biofuels or biolubricant-like molecules, as was recently shown in our laboratory (Menendez-Bravo et al. 2014). A potential barrier for the production of many important polyketides in large-scale manufacturing is the lack of tractable fermentation hosts. Native polyketide producers can have characteristics that limit their utility for large-scale polyketide production: they sometimes grow slowly and are often difficult to manipulate genetically (Murli et al. 2003).
Provided herein, inter alia, are solutions to these and other problems in the art.

Engineering polyketide synthase in cyanobacteria

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