An improved lubricating grease composition is herein disclosed, which comprises a base oil and a thickening agent, wherein the base oil comprises 50 to 100% by weight of a carbonate ester compound represented by the following general formula (I):

The present invention relates to a lubricating grease composition and in particular to a lubricating grease composition for ball bearings.
As the grease for bearings, in particular, ball bearings conventionally used in spindle motors for, for instance, hard disks of computers and recording devices such as CD-R""s, there has been used, for instance, those comprising a base oil such as dioctyl sebacate or a pentaerythritol ester; and a thickening agent such as lithium stearate or lithium hydroxy stearate. However, the acoustic life of the bearing has recently become insufficient because of the improvement of bearing precision due to an increase in the recording density and because of the requirement for a higher use temperature of such devices due to an increase in the number of revolution.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a lubricating grease composition whose frictional coefficient is lower than those observed for conventional grease compositions and which can ensure a long acoustic life when applied to bearings and, in particular, to a lubricating grease composition suitably used for ball bearings.
The inventors of this invention have conducted various studies to solve the foregoing problems associated with the conventional grease compositions for bearings, have found that it is effective to use a specific carbonate ester compound as a part or the whole of the base oil component in a lubricating grease composition which comprises a base oil and a thickening agent and have thus completed the present invention based on this finding.
According to the present invention, there is provided a lubricating grease composition which comprises a base oil and a thickening agent, wherein the base oil comprises 50 to 100% by weight of a carbonate ester compound represented by the following general formula (I):
R1Oxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94OR2xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(I)
wherein R1 and R2 each independently represents a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched alkyl group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, on the basis of the total weight of the base oil.
In preferred embodiments of the grease composition of the present invention, the thickening agent is preferably at least one member selected from the group consisting of lithium soaps, sodium soaps, calcium soaps, aluminum soaps, complex soaps thereof and urea compounds.
The lubricating grease composition of the present invention is suitably used as a lubricating grease composition for ball bearings of, in particular, spindle motors.
The carbonate ester compound represented by Formula (I) and used as a part or the whole of the base oil component according to the present invention is preferably those represented by Formula (I) wherein the substituents R1 and R2 each independently represents a saturated or unsaturated, branched alkyl group having 7 to 25 carbon atoms. Examples of preferred branched alkyl groups include those represented by the formula: xe2x80x94CH2CHR3R4. In this Formula, R3 represents a saturated linear alkyl group having 1 to 7 carbon atoms and R4 represents a saturated linear alkyl group having 4 to 12 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred are those represented by Formula (I) wherein the total carbon atom number of R3 and R4 ranges from 11 to 13. In the lubricating grease composition of the present invention, the carbonate ester compound of Formula (I) is used in an amount ranging from 50 to 100% by weight, preferably 60 to 100% by weight and more preferably 70 to 100% by weight based on the total weight of the base oil.
As the base oil which can be used in combination with the carbonate ester compound of Formula (I), there may be listed, for instance, ester type synthetic oils such as polyol ester oils, ether type synthetic oils such as alkyl diphenyl ethers, synthetic hydrocarbon oils such as poly-xcex1-olefins, mineral oils such as paraffinic mineral oils.
The thickening agent used in the present invention is preferably selected from the group consisting of lithium soaps, sodium soaps, calcium soaps, aluminum soaps, complex soaps thereof and urea compounds. Particularly preferred are lithium soaps such as lithium stearate and lithium 12-hydroxystearate. Examples of urea type thickening agents are, for instance, aliphatic or alicyclic diurea compounds and polyurea compounds.
The amount of the thickening agent used in the grease composition preferably ranges from 3 to 30% by weight and more preferably 5 to 25% by weight based on the total weight of the grease composition.
The grease composition of the present invention may further comprise additives commonly used in this field such as an antioxidant, a rust proof agent and/or an anticorrosive agent, in addition to the foregoing essential components.
As has been described above in detail, the lubricating grease composition of the present invention can not only ensure a frictional coefficient substantially lower than those expected by the use of the conventional grease compositions, but also ensure a substantially improved acoustic life, because of the use of a novel base oil component, i.e., a carbonate ester compound of Formula (I).

Abstract: wherein R1 and R2 each independently represents a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched alkyl group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, on the basis of the total weight of the base oil. The lubricating grease composition shows remarkably improved acoustic life and an improved frictional coefficient, as compared with those observed for conventional grease compositions.


A data-output-control apparatus is provided which can easily acquire detailed information on a network and which, for outputting the detailed information, does not require a portable terminal to increase memory and is suitable to reduce a processing load on the portable terminal. A data-output-control terminal links by the Internet so as to communicate with a portable terminal carried by a user, printers located in areas, and WWW servers, and performs, when receiving a data-printing request from the portable terminal, acquiring data according to the data-printing request from the WWW server, selecting any one of a plurality of printers, and outputting the acquired data to the selected printer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to apparatus and methods in which a portable terminal carried by a user, and a plurality of printers located in various areas, are linked by a network so as to communicate with one another, and data according to a data-printing request is output to any one of the printers when the data-printing request is received from the portable terminal. In particular, the invention relates to a data-output-control apparatus and a data-output-service providing method which enable detailed information on a network to be easily obtained, and which are suitable for eliminating the need for increasing the memory of a portable terminal and for reducing a processing load on the portable terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, information on the Internet can be easily obtained anywhere by using, for example, the i-mode (registered trademark) provided by NTT Mobile Communications Network, Inc. (NTT DoCoMo).
Although a portable terminal of the above type can easily obtain information on the Internet anywhere, displayed information is greatly simplified compared with that displayed by an ordinary personal computer, since a display has a simplified structure for the purpose of size reduction and power saving of the portable terminal, so that a use is not satisfied with the displayed information.
Accordingly, in order to obtain detailed information while maintaining size reduction and power saving of the portable terminal, a structure can be provided which combines a portable terminal and a printer, wherein outline information is displayed by the portable terminal and detailed information is displayed by the printer. However, in combining the portable terminal and the printer, there are some problems that must be technically solved.
For example, it is difficult to carry the printer together with the portable terminal since the printer is large in size. Accordingly, to print the detailed information, it is possible that printers installed in homes and offices be ordinarily used. Nevertheless, in a case in which a particular fixed printer is used, information cannot be easily obtained anywhere. To realize this, it is necessary to reduce the size of the printer so as to be carried, or to enable the use of an arbitrary printer. It is extremely difficult to technically achieve the former case with presently available technology, and the former case is not realistic. In the latter case, each printer needs its own driver, and drivers for all printers to be used must be installed in the portable terminal, so that the latter case is also not realistic.
In addition, in the case of displaying detailed information by a printer, it is possible that a portable terminal reads print data to be printed, and converts the read print data into data printable by the printer before outputting the read print data. In this case, the print data and the data printable by the printer require relatively large capacity, so that memory having sufficient capacity for reading and generating the data must be provided in the portable terminal. Also, conversion into the data printable by the printer relatively causes a processing load, so that the portable terminal must be provided with a processor having a sufficient function of converting data within an effective time. Both cases not only require costs but also make it difficult to achieve size reduction and power saving of the portable terminal.
Accordingly, the present invention overcomes the above problems with the conventional technology, and an object thereof is to provide a data-output-control apparatus and a data-output-service providing method which enable detailed information on a network to be easily obtained, and which are suitable for eliminating the need for increasing the memory of a portable terminal and for reducing a processing load on the portable terminal.
To achieve the foregoing object, a data-output-control apparatus in accordance with the present invention is a data-output-control apparatus for linking, so as to communicate with, a communication terminal, which transmits a data-output request, and an output terminal, which outputs data. The data-output-control apparatus receives the data-output request from the communication terminal and outputs data according to the data-output request to the output terminal. The data-output-control apparatus further links so as to communicate with a data-storage terminal to store data, and the data according to the data-output request is acquired from the data-storage terminal and the acquired data is output to the output terminal.
In this structure, when a data-printing request is received from a communication terminal, data according to the data-output request is acquired from a data-storage terminal, and the acquired data is output to an output terminal. Next, the data is output by the output terminal.
Here, the output terminal may have any structure if it can output data, and includes, for example, a display that displays data, a sound-output device that outputs data as sound, etc., and a printer that prints data. This applies to a data-output-control apparatus as set forth above and below.
Also, the communication terminal may have any structure if it has at least a function of communicating with the apparatus, and includes, for example, a portable terminal which can be carried, such as a portable telephone, a personal computer, or a telephone. This applies to a data-output-control apparatus as set forth above and below.
A data-output-control apparatus in accordance with another aspect of the present invention is data-output-control apparatus for linking, so as to communicate with, a communication terminal, which transmits a data-output request, and a plurality of output terminals, which output data. The data-output-control apparatus receives the data-output request from the communication terminal and outputs data according to the data-output request to the output terminals. From among the plurality of output terminals, any one is selected, and the data according to the data-output request is output to the selected output terminal.
In this structure, when a data-printing request is received, any one of a plurality of output terminals is selected, and data according to the data-output request is output to the selected output terminal. The data is output by the output terminal.
Here, to select an output terminal, from among a plurality of output terminals, for example, an output terminal designated by a portable terminal may be selected, and an output terminal which is considered closest in distance or time when the position of the portable terminal is used as a reference may be selected.
Also, the data according to the data-printing request may be obtained by receiving it from, for example, a communication terminal, and may be acquired from a place other than the apparatus and the communication terminal. In the latter case, more specifically, the following structure is provided. That is, it includes an acquiring device which links by a network so as to communicate with a data-storage terminal that stores data and which acquires data according to the data-printing request, and outputs the data acquired by the acquiring device to a selected output terminal.
In this structure, when a data-printing request is received from a communication terminal, data according to the data-printing request is acquired from an acquiring device, and the acquired data is output to a selected output terminal.
According to the data-output-control apparatus in accordance with the present invention, concerning outputting detailed information on a network, processing on the output of data is performed in a place other than a communication terminal. Thus, increase of memory in the communication terminal is unnecessary, and a processing load on the communication terminal is reduced. Since it is not necessary to load data into the communication terminal, communication time is reduced, and the time required to receive provision of output data decreases. Therefore, an advantage is obtained in that a service provider can provide a user with an output service establishing a comfortable output environment irrespective of the function of the communication terminal.
According to the data-output-control apparatus in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, compared with a conventional case, detailed information on a network can be easily obtained. Therefore, an advantage is obtained in that a service provider can provide a user with an information service from which a feeling of great satisfaction is obtained.
According to the data-output-control apparatuses in accordance with other aspects of the invention, compared with a conventional case, detailed information on a network can be easily obtained, and when detailed information is printed, processing on the output of data is performed in a place other than a communication terminal, so that increase of memory in the communication terminal is unnecessary, and a processing load on the communication terminal is reduced. Also, since it is not necessary to load data into the communication terminal, communication time is reduced, and the time required to receive provision of output data decreases. Therefore, an advantage is obtained in that to a user, a service provider can provide an information service from which a feeling of great satisfaction is obtained and can provide an output service establishing a comfortable output environment irrespective of the function of the communication terminal.
According to the data-output-control apparatus in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a user is allowed to easily receive provision of output data, so that the user can easily obtain detailed information on a network. Therefore, an advantage is obtained in that a service provider can provide a user with an information service from which a feeling of much great satisfaction is obtained.
According to the data-output-control apparatus in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, detailed information in all data-storage terminals linked to a network can be obtained. Therefore, an advantage is obtained in that a service provider can provide a user with an information service from which a feeling of much great satisfaction is obtained.
According to the data-output-control apparatus in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a portable terminal displays outline information and an output terminal prints detailed information, so that a portable terminal can obtain detailed information on a network and comfortable processing is realized. Therefore, an advantage is obtained in that to a user, a service provider can provide an information service from which a feeling of much great satisfaction is obtained and can provide a printing service establishing a much comfortable printing environment.
According to the data-output-control apparatus in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, printing by a user of wrong data can be prevented. Therefore, an advantage is also obtained in that a service provider can provide a user with an information service from which a feeling of much great satisfaction is obtained.
According to the data-output-control apparatus in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a service charge, as a cost for provision of a printing service, can be clearly calculated, and it is not necessary to fully calculate a service charge whenever a printing service is provided. Therefore, an advantage is also obtained in that a service provider has a facilitated business procedure for settlement of the service charge and can provide an information service from which a feeling of much great satisfaction is obtained since a clear service charge can be shown to a user.
According to the data-output-control apparatus in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, if a new output terminal is provided, a service provider side simply needs to change only the setting of the new output terminal, and the new output terminal can be used without changing any setting by the service provider side. Therefore, an advantage is obtained in that the service provider side has a facilitated operation concerning additional provision of an output terminal, and can provide a user with an information from which a feeling of much great satisfaction is obtained.
According to the data-output-control apparatus in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a user can go, in accordance with guidance information, to an installation place where an output terminal is installed. Therefore, an advantage is obtained in that a service provider can provide a user with an information service from which a feeling of much great satisfaction is obtained.
In addition, according to the data-output-service providing method of the present invention, detailed information on a network can be easily obtained, and when detailed information is printed, processing on the output of data is performed in a place other than a communication terminal, so that increase of memory in the communication terminal is unnecessary, and a processing load on the communication terminal is reduced. Also, since it is not necessary to load data into the communication terminal, communication time is reduced, and the time required to receive provision of output data decreases. Therefore, an advantage is obtained in that to a user, a service provider can provide an information service from which a feeling of great satisfaction is obtained and can provide an output service establishing a comfortable output environment irrespective of the function of the communication terminal.
According to the data-output-service providing method in accordance with the present invention, a user is allowed to easily receive provision of output data, so that the user can easily obtain detailed information on a network. Therefore, an advantage is obtained in that a service provider can provide a user with an information service from which a feeling of much great satisfaction is obtained.

Data-output-control apparatus and data-output-service providing method


A reactor which may be employed in an inverter for automotive vehicles. The reactor includes a coil, a core, a casing, and a positioning member. The core is made of a solidified magnetic powder/resin mixture and has the coil embedded therein. The positioning member is disposed in the casing to position the coil relative to the casing and equipped with fins configured to stir the magnetic powder/resin mixture before solidified. Specifically, the positioning member is designed to perform two functions: one is to fix the location of the coil within the casing, and the other is to stir the magnetic powder/resin mixture through the fins, thus eliminating the need for removing a portion of the magnetic powder/resin mixture adhered to the fins, which leads to improved productivity of the reactor.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates generally to a reactor which is made up of a core made of a mixture of magnetic powder and resin and a coil wound in the core and a production method thereof.
2. Background Art
FIG. 23 illustrates a reactor 9 for use in an inverter for automotive vehicles. The reactor 9 includes a core 93 made of a mixture of magnetic powder and insulating resin and a coil 92 installed in the core 93. For example, Japanese Patent First Publication Nos. 2010-212632 and 2010-118574 disclose such a type of reactor.
The production of the reactor 9 is, as illustrated in FIG. 24, achieved by putting resin material and magnetic powder in a casing 94 and kneading them so that the magnetic power may be dispersed in the resin material to make a magnetic powder/resin mixture 930 (see an arrow P1). Subsequently, the coil 92 is embedded in place within the magnetic powder/resin mixture 930 (see an arrow P2). The magnetic powder/resin mixture 930 is solidified to make the core 93. This forms the reactor 9, as illustrated in FIG. 23, made up of the coil 93 which is embedded in the core 93 made of the magnetic powder/resin mixture 930 within the casing 94.
The production of the reactor 9 requires, as described above, kneading of the magnetic powder/resin mixture 930 using a stirring blade 95. After the magnetic powder/resin mixture 930 is kneaded, the magnetic powder/resin mixture 930 will be partly adhered to the stirring blade 95 in the form of layers of reactor material 931. It is, thus, necessary to remove the reactor material 931 from the stirring blade 931. Such removal requires solvent, the washing bath 992, and the drying box 993 as well as consumption of the operator's time.
Specifically, after the magnetic powder/resin mixture 930 is kneaded, the stirring blade 95 is, as indicate by the arrow Q1, detached from the stirring motor 991 and then put, as indicated by the arrow Q2, in the washing bath 992. The reactor material 931 is removed from the stirring blade 95 using solvent within the washing bath 992. Subsequently, the stirring blade 95 is, as indicated by the arrow Q3, put in the drying box 993 and then dried to remove the solvent therefrom. The stirring blade 95 is, as indicated by the arrow Q4, taken out of the drying box 993 and then used, as indicated by the arrow Q5, in kneading the magnetic powder/resin mixture 930 in the next production process. A sequence of the operations, as indicated by the arrows Q1 to Q5, are performed cyclically to knead the magnetic powder/resin mixture 930 for mass-producing the reactor 9.
The removal of the reactor material 931 from the stirring blade 95, as just described, consumes much of the operator's time and effort, and requires the use of solvent, the washing bath 992, and the drying box 993, thus resulting in an increase in production cost of the reactor 9.
After removed from the stirring blade 95, the reactor material 931 is usually discarded, thus resulting in a decrease in yield of the reactor 9.
If the solvent remains accumulated on the surface of the stirring blade 95, it may adversely affect the kneading of the magnetic powder/resin mixture 930 in the following production process, which results in degradation of the performance of the core 93. Additionally, a variation in amount of the reactor material 931 adhered to the stirring blade 95 will result in a variation in volume of the core 93, that is, a unit-to-unit variation in size of the reactor 9, which usually leads to a decrease in reliability in operation of the reactor 9.


A method and apparatus for managing a missed-call list in a telephone device by flagging a missed-call entry as “called-back” when a telephone call is placed to or received from the party listed in a missed-call list. The telephone device may still maintain the missed-call in the missed-call list after being flagged. A user may view the missed-call list to see which missed-calls (if any) the user has returned and which missed-call (if any) the user has not returned. Beneficially, the invention enables a user to retain valuable information about a missed-call and is therefore advantageous to the user of a telephone.

Many telephones today include a "call-log" function that maintains a record of call activity for convenient reference by a user. A typical call-log keeps separate lists of outgoing-calls, answered calls, and missed-calls, with each list specifying for each call a respective telephone number and/or name. In a typical arrangement, the telephone will then provide an on-screen menu through which a user can opt to view a desired list and, in turn, the details regarding a particular call. In most cases, a user can further opt to initiate a call from the call-log, by selecting a listed call and then invoking a call-initiation function.

Method and apparatus for managing missed-call lists


An illuminated multi-position rotary selector/control switch assembly for switching substantial direct current (20 amps) at low voltages (12 V). A lower plastic housing shell is molded in a two-stage process with the first stage comprising molding platable thermoplastic resin strips and molding thereover second stage unplatable thermoplastic with exposed surface portions of said first first stage subsequently plated to form conductive strips having stationary switching contacts attached. The connector terminal pins are formed integrally with the strips in the first stage molding. The second stage thermoplastic molded thereover forms the part outline. The upper housing shell has a transparent arcuate window molded integrally therein for collecting and feeding light from a lamp to a light pipe carried by the user rotatable actuation knob.

The present invention relates to switches having a knob rotatable by the user for switching between a plurality of desired control positions for controlling the operation of an electrically operated appliance. The invention relates particularly to rotary switches of the type intended for switching loads such as motors operating on relatively low voltage direct current supplies as, for example, a 12-volt supply typically encountered on board automobiles.
In automotive selector or control switch applications, it has been desired to provide a user control knob actuator which is readily and easily rotatable between a plurality of control positions, and to provide for detented action in each of the desired control positions, and also to provide for illumination of indicia indicating the state of switch actuation and the control function selected at each position to facilitate nighttime operation.
Furthermore, it is often required to switch substantial current as, for example, 20 amps motor load at 12-volt DC, which is typical of starting currents in an automobile passenger compartment climate control blower motor. Thus it has been desired to provide an illuminated reliable low cost rotary selector switch for relatively high current, low voltage applications such as those encountered in automobiles, and to provide such a switch which is capable of high volume mass production, which is reliable in service, and which is low in manufacturing cost.


A congestion control system provided in a connection portion between a network for an Internet provider and the Internet estimates a processing capability of a Web server on the basis of states of TCP/IP such as a window size of connection being connected, a cancellation rate of packet, a response time, a throughput and the like in a congestion state of the Web server to be requested and a network to the Web server and calculates a regulation duration for each Web server on the basis of the processing capability and the number of clients being in a waiting state for a re-request to the Web server so that the client is regulated when a response for regulating the re-request with the regulation duration is returned to the client. Consequently, since the number of re-requests per unit time can be made fixed, congestion due to re-requests can be prevented and the user can necessarily utilize the Web server upon re-request. Further, the service utilizable hour can be grasped to utilize the Web service deliberately.

The present invention relates to a congestion control system of a network and more particularly to a congestion control system in services and applications utilizing the Web.
In the Web service, Web clients of users and Web servers for providing services are connected through a network constructed by a plurality of relay apparatuses to provide the services to the Web clients. When requests are concentrated at the Web servers or the relay apparatuses constructing the network to the extent of exceeding the processing performance thereof, the quality of the whole Web service is degraded even if it is partial congestion.
The Web can be utilized by means of a portable telephone, a portable terminal or the like without temporal and geographical restriction and it is considered that utilization of the Web service is concentrated on specific contents, Web server, time and utilization place in response to a specific time or occurrence of any event.
There is congestion control technique in order to prevent network resources such as processing performance and the like of the Web servers and the relay apparatuses from being exhausted due to the concentration of utilization. The congestion control technique in the Web service is mainly classified into two systems as follows:
A first system is a system in which when requests exceeding an amount of utilizable resources are issued, the requests are cancelled. In this system, control means is provided in a network resource or between the network resource and the clients to relay requests from the clients usually. The control means grasps or monitors an amount of resource to be controlled and an amount of utilization thereof and when the utilization amount exceeds the resource amount or a previously defined value, the control means does not relay requests and cancels the requests.
A second system is a system in which when requests exceeding an amount of utilizable resources are issued, a command is transmitted to the clients issuing the requests to prevent the clients from utilizing the same resource for a fixed time so as to perform connection request regulation. The second system has the same network structure and the congestion judgment method as those of the first system and is different therefrom in that a response for instructing the connection request regulation is returned to the clients instead of cancellation of the requests. The clients which have received the connection request regulation perform the instructed regulation.

Congestion control system and method for web service


Data synchronization techniques are provided that effectively isolate data transfer over the network from actual interpretation of data. The data synchronization techniques include a protocol designed to work based on a “size” (amount) of data transferred over the network, irrespective of the content represented by the data that is transferred. The size itself may be determined, for example, by the client, backend system, an agreed-upon configuration that is maintained for a predetermined period of time, etc. In certain embodiments, a client transmits a request to the server that indicates a “requested payload size.” Using the requested payload size, the server generates a response (i.e., one or more messages) that provides the client with data, referred to herein as synchronization data, for storage at the client device.

A client is computer hardware or software that operates in conjunction with a backend system. In other words, as part of its operation, the client exchanges data with, or receives data from, the backend system via a network. A client may reside in, on, etc. any combination of one or more of inter alia a wired device, a wireless device, a mobile phone, a feature phone, a smartphone, a tablet computer (such as for example an iPad™), a mobile computer, a handheld computer, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a server computer, an in-vehicle (e.g., audio, navigation, etc.) device, an in-appliance device, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a game console, a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) or Personal Video Recorder (PVR), cable system or other set-top-box, an entertainment system component such as a television set, etc. A device that includes a client is referred to herein as a client device.
Certain clients may operate in an offline state (i.e., when the client device does not have an active network connection). As such, relevant data from backend systems is synchronized with the client such that, even in an offline state, the client can perform its intended operations. Conventionally, during data synchronization, messages (e.g., packets for related information) are sent one by one to the client. In the case of a large number of small messages, one network connection might be opened per message per user. In a typical mobile landscape with thousands of mobile users, a large number of connections create a load on the network that reduces the efficiency of the backend system and increase the overall bandwidth consumed and response time for the synchronization.


Embodiments disclosed herein include systems and methods for voltage detection. One embodiment of a method includes receiving, at a voltage detection device, a power command, implementing a power conditioning stage, where the power conditioning stage provides power to electrical components of the voltage detection device, and performing an internal battery charge state built in test (BIT) function. Some embodiments include providing device function, control, sensing, signal processing, and user output functions, sampling a state of charge of a power supply of the voltage detection device, and outputting test result information. Still some embodiments include receiving, via an antenna of the voltage detection device, an indication of an ambient voltage and outputting a warning signal that identifies presence of the ambient voltage.

Many voltage detectors are configured as parallel connection devices. Specifically, if a voltage reading is desired across a point in a circuit, a voltage detector is generally connected in parallel with that point in the circuit. As voltage is equal across parallel segments of a circuit, such a configuration often yields accurate voltage readings. Problems exist however, when the voltage to be detected is ambient voltage, which is not associated with (or which radiates from) a physical circuit. As an example, when power lines are severed, live wires often produce large high voltage areas in the surrounding air. Because rescue workers and others may be required to enter that area to attend to victims, extinguish fires, and/or perform other actions, those rescue workers do not want to subject themselves to potentially dangerous voltage levels. As a result, voltage detection in the surrounding areas is desired.

Systems and methods for voltage detection


A system and method for imaging underbodies of moving vehicles have a stationary source of radiation to radiate energy upwardly on underbodies of moving vehicles. A stationary video camera adjacent the radiation source on a roadway has an upwardly facing field of view for creating image signals representative of sequential portions of each underbody as each moving vehicle passes overhead. A control station activates the camera and radiation source to create the image signals and creates mosaic signals of all of each underbody from the image signals. A display screen provides a mosaic image of each underbody from its mosaic signals. A virtually real-time inspection or a comparison can be made with previously taken underbody images of the same moving vehicle or with vehicle manufacturers' data for the same vehicular models. Moving cars, trucks, marine vessels, aircraft, can be quickly imaged for inspection and/or comparison by fewer security personnel.

This invention relates to devices and methods for imaging a moving vehicle. More particularly, the imaging device and method of this invention provides mosaic images of the undersides of moving vehicles on a roadway.
Presently, vehicles entering a secure area are randomly selected for inspection. During the inspection, a designated vehicle is stopped, a mirror is rolled beneath the underside, and security personnel make visual inspections. This procedure usually requires several inspectors, is time consuming, and may not enable a full view of all portions of the underbody. At best, this hit-or-miss procedure has questionable value, and, as fiscal and personnel resources become even more strained, the effectiveness of this course of action is further compromised.
Thus, in accordance with this inventive concept, a need has been recognized in the state of the art for a system that provides security personnel a mosaic image of the entire underside of each moving vehicle entering a secure area or going past an inspection checkpoint.

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


A choke coil is provided having a highly efficient normal-mode inductance component. The choke coil comprises a bobbin, a magnetic core, and a pair of windings. The bobbin has a core portion, and flanges which are respectively provided at both outer ends and at the center of the core portion. The forward end of the central flange, placed near the magnetic core, extends longer than the forward ends of the other flanges located at the ends of the core portion. In one embodiment, the forward end of the central flange is provided with a hole for receiving the magnetic core.

This application corresponds to Japanese Patent Application No. 8-328543, filed on Dec. 9, 1996, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to choke coils and more particularly relates to a choke coil used for suppressing noise generated in or entering electronic equipment.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typically, since a common-mode choke coil has a slight leakage inductance component in the normal mode, this choke coil is effective against normal-mode noise, as well as against common-mode noise. If, however, the normal-mode noise is too strong, a normal-mode choke coil should be independently used to reduce such noise.
To address the above-described needs, the choke coil shown in FIG. 11 has been proposed as a coil for effectively suppressing both common-mode noise and normal-mode noise. This choke coil is formed of a magnetic bobbin 100, a pair of windings 105 and 106, and a magnetic core 110. The magnetic bobbin 100 has a core portion 101, and flanges 102, 103 and 104 which are respectively provided at both outer ends and at the center of the core portion 101. The windings 105 and 106 are wound around the core portion 101. One side of the magnetic core 110 is inserted into a hole 101a formed in the core portion 101.
In the choke coil configured as described above, a common-mode noise current flows into the pair of windings 105 and 106 so as to generate a magnetic flux in each of the windings 105 and 106. The sets of generated magnetic flux are combined and are converted into thermal energy in the form of eddy current loss in the magnetic core 110, and then attenuated. The common-mode noise is thus reduced.
Furthermore, a normal-mode noise current flows into the windings 105 and 106 so as to generate a magnetic flux in each of the windings 105 and 106. The generated magnetic flux is converted into thermal energy in the form of eddy current loss in the magnetic bobbin 100, and, as a result, then attenuated. The normal-mode noise is thus suppressed.
In the above known type of choke coil, since the windings 105 and 106 are wound around substantially the overall peripheral area of the core portion 101, the flange 104 is thickened (e.g., widened) in order to reliably establish an insulation between the windings 105 and 106. For example, the thickness of the flange 104 is set so that the distance L from one end of the winding 105 to one end of the winding 106 along the exposed surface of the flange 104 is approximately 3.2 mm. On the other hand, the heights T of the flanges 102, 103 and 104 of the bobbin 100 have heretofore not been a consideration in the design of these bobbins, and the heights T are generally set so as to have the same value.
In the conventional choke coil, the gap D between the forward end of the flange 104 and the magnetic core 110 is comparatively large, as illustrated in FIG. 12. Consequently, the magnetic flux generated due to the flow of the normal-mode noise current hardly passes through the magnetic core 110. This design therefore fails to use the magnetic core 110 to provide a magnetic flux path formed by the flow of the normal-mode noise current. As a result, the above-described conventional choke coil obtains a normal-mode inductance component having low efficiency.


A torque limiter to be operatively coupled to an engine is secured to the outer periphery of a driving shaft through screwing-engagement. The driving shaft and the torque limiter are screw-engaged and fixed to each other so that the torque limiter is pushed or urged against a seating face formed at the outer periphery of the driving shaft. The seating face abuts against the torque limiter restricting the screwing-movement of the driving shaft. Rotation force is transmitted between the driving shaft and the torque limiter via the seating face. A cylindrical member is disposed between the torque limiter and the seating face of the driving shaft. The cylindrical member is press-fitted and fixed to the outer periphery of the driving shaft, so that the power transmission between the driving shaft and the torque limiter is also performed through the press-fit portion between the cylindrical member and the driving shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a power transmission device constituting a power transmission path.
2. Background Art
As an example of such a kind of power transmission device, there is one as shown in FIG. 6. Such an example has a shaft 101 and a rotation body 102, both constituting a power transmission path. A thread surface 101a is formed at the outer peripheral surface of the tip end of the shaft 101. The rotation body 102 has a cylindrical portion 103 to be fitted on the outer surface of the shaft 101. A thread surface 103a to be engaged with the thread surface 101a of the shaft 101 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 103. A seating face 101b is provided at the position adjacent to the thread surface 101a of the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 101 so that the rotation body 102 abuts against the seating face 101b thereby to restrict the screwing movement of the shaft 101 in an axial direction shown by L.
Thus, due to the screwing engagement of the shaft 101 with the rotation body 102, the rotation body 102 is pushed at the abutment surface 103b thereof as the tip end surface of the cylindrical portion 103 against the seating face 101b of the shaft 101, whereby the shaft 101 and the rotation body 102 are fastened and fixed to each other so as to be able to transmit power therebetween. That is, the seating face 101b of the shaft 101 and the abutment surface 103b of the rotation body 102 serve as power transmission surfaces between the shaft 101 and the rotation body 102.
However, in order to perform the fastening and fixing operation surely between the shaft 101 and the rotation body 102, in other words, to surely transmit power between the shaft 101 and the rotation body 102, it is required to secure a wide contact area between the seating face 101b and the abutment surface 103b. However, each of the seating face 101b and the abutment surface 103b, is formed by a surface perpendicular to the shaft line L of the shaft 101. Thus, particularly, the widening of the seating face 101b directly results in the enlargement of the diameter of the shaft 101.
When the shaft 101 is the driving shaft of a fluid-machine, the diameter of the driving shaft 101 greatly influences on various kinds of members operatively coupled to the driving shaft and so on a housing for containing the various kinds of members. Accordingly, the enlargement of the diameter of the driving shaft 101 results in the enlargement of the axial size of the fluid machine.


An anonymous credit card has a unique identification number and a card value, which is exhausted when the cash amount of the card is expended. The card is sold by a first vendor and accepted by a second vendor when presented by the user. It is managed by an issuing institution, which verifies the presence of sufficient funds to cover the cost charged and deducts the charge cost from the card value. The card has a limited monetary value, which is advantageous if it is lost or stolen. No connection exists between the card and its owner. As a result, the owner's credit rating cannot be tarnished by actions of a third party.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electronic monetary systems used to process the electronic equivalent of cash or other currency; and more particularly, to an anonymous credit card purchasing system and method.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various credit card systems are described in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,121 to Yacobi discloses an electronic cash system that protects the privacy of users in legitimate transactions while at the same time enabling the detection of a double spender of the same electronic coin. The electronic cash system takes advantage of a unique property of El Gamal signatures to achieve these results. This system requires the user to use electronic money modules, and requires a processor that makes it a complicated and costly system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,084 to De Rooij relates to a method for tracing payment data in an anonymous payment system having electronic payment means, such as so-called "smart cards". According to the invention, the user commits himself to a value, which may later be used for the tracing by a payment institution. The value is preferably recorded with the help of a so-called one-way function and an electronic signature, so that the payment institution does not dispose of the value itself, but is able to verify it on the basis of the stored derivative of the value. The invention further relates to a payment means and a payment system for application of the method. This system requires the user to use a smart card having a processor, resulting in a complicated and costly system.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,971,916 to Moreno relates to a data-transfer system. Data, for example, relating to a bank account, is carried on the person in the form of a small portable means such as a flat card containing encapsulated logic microstructures. The circuitry includes a memory and its control circuits, with inhibitor means preventing access to predetermined sections of the memory. This system, like that of De Rooij, requires the presence of a smart card having a processor, making it complicated and costly.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,864,830 to Armetta, et al. discloses a data-processing method by which one or more prepaid satellite spending cards are configured and linked to a cardholder's host credit card or card account such that a predetermined available spending capacity of each satellite card is selectively determined by the cardholder of the host credit card. The prepaid amount is deducted from the available balance of the host card or card account and limits the total spending capacity of the satellite card. The main cardholder may also remotely selectively increase the available spending capacity of the one or more satellite cards by deducting the desired additional spending capacity of each satellite card from the available balance of the host credit card as a purchase against the host card account. Although this method does not require a smart card, it necessitates use of a host credit card. Accordingly, it cannot guarantee anonymity of the user.
There remains a need in the art for a simple anonymous credit card system. Such a system, if provided, would be especially suited for purchasing gifts, drugs, services such as pregnancy tests and items having adult oriented content.


An infusion catheter includes a catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, and two or more lumens extending therethrough. The infusion catheter also includes an infusion tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and one or more ports disposed therethrough. The first lumen of the catheter body is in fluid communication with the lumen of the infusion tube. A central member has a distal end connected to the distal end of the infusion tube, a proximal end, and a proximal portion slidably received in the second lumen of the catheter body. The infusion tube is disposed relative to the central member such that axial advancement of the central member relative to the catheter body radially collapses the infusion tube over the central member and axial retraction of the central member relative to the catheter body radially expands the infusion tube about the central member.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to medical devices and methods. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an infusion catheter and methods for its use in delivering substances to vasculature.
2. Description of the Related Art
Catheters are used for delivering drugs through vasculature and other body lumens for a wide variety of purposes. It is often desirable to deliver thrombolytic and other substances to the peripheral vasculature, in particular the peripheral venous vasculature, in order to lyse and help remove clots in patients suffering from deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and other conditions. A number of catheters have been proposed for this purpose. For example, the catheter illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,114 includes a pre-shaped spiral coil at its distal end, where the coil can be reduced to a smaller diameter by axially advancing a core wire to facilitate introduction into the vasculature. Although the benefits of such a pre-shaped coil are clearly evident, since the maximum diameter of the coil is fixed, the coil may be too small to treat relatively large blood vessels and may have difficulty in adequately conforming to and delivering thrombolytic and other agents throughout the length of the vessel to be treated especially in vessels of varying diameters. Thus, it would be desirable to provide alternative and improved catheters and methods for delivering thrombolytic agents to the venous and other vasculature.


A pager/ringer system for permitting co-operative emission relay between a plurality of user terminals of a satellite personal communication network (S-PCN) service. Each user terminal includes a receiver, a transmitter, a memory storage device and a unique address. By permitting relay between user terminals, the S-PCN will achieve improved dependability in signal-blocking environments by exploiting the spatial diversity of satellite signal strength.

The present invention relates to improving the success of satellite personal communications network (S-PCN) services, such as paging and call-notification, especially in dense urban areas. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for permitting user terminals (UT's) to transmit and respond to requests for co-operative forwarding of pages or rings. These UT's may be, for example, a pager or telephone.
S-PCN services utilize geostationary or non-geostationary orbit satellites to transmit messages. The transmitted messages are received by UT's which generally decode the message and alert the user to the receipt of the message. A transmitted message is usually a brief sequence of data which generally includes the unique address of the intended UT followed by alpha-numeric information. When the UT is a pager, this information may be, for example, a number to call, an agreed code, or a short sentence. When the UT is a telephone, this information may be, for example, an instruction to activate the UT's ringer. Current satellite power limitations, however, prevent the transmission of signals of sufficient strength to ensure penetration into ferro-concrete-glass buildings. These buildings, however, house a very important customer group for S-PCN services. Further, this customer group must be served with high dependability to ensure the success of the S-PCN service.
Therefore, a system must be developed to permit high dependability messaging into such an environment. One alternative would be to place high-power paging and ringing repeaters into selected high-density cities. However, in addition to its own technical drawbacks, this alternative would produce a negative image for a global satellite system. Although traditionally pagers are one-way devices, another alternative would present a two-way UT for messaging. However, this alternative is impractical because of battery-power limitations, as messages would be required to reach back to the satellite. It would therefore be desirable to utilize some form of two-way paging, without the need to send messages back to the satellite.

Pager (ringer) amplification by co-operative emission relay (pacer/racer)

Board of Regents, The University of Texas System


A ball bonding method on a chip mainly comprises steps of: a wire is burned to form a ball on a capillary; the capillary is moved down to a second bonding point for ball bonding; and the capillary is moved up in a vertical direction thereby pulling the tip of the ball to be cut such that the ball has a uniformly body shape and tip height. Therefore, the ball provides uniform body shape and tip height for wire bonding at a second bonding point under lower variability conditions thus increasing the reliability of products.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a ball bonding method on a chip and more particularly to the configuration of the ball or bump on the second bonding pad such that all of the balls or bumps have a uniform shape and size of vertical tips.
2. Description of the Related Art
For many years wire bonding prevented damage to the bonding pad from the capillary hitting the bonding pad directly by forming a ball on the bonding pad prior to wire bonding so that the capillary would hit the ball during wire bonding. The ball-forming process comprises the following steps: ball formation on a capillary; thermocompression bonding on a bonding pad; capillary horizontal movement for stitch bonding; and capillary vertical movement for wire cutting.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,079, issued on Jul. 12, 1994 to Mathew et al., discloses method for bond wire connection and a conductive bump thereof prior to stitch bonding. As shown in FIG. 1, U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,079, a substrate 100 is attached to a chip 110 which has a second bond point as well as a bonding pad 111. A capillary 120 of the thermosonic or thermocompression ball bonding tool forms a bump on each bonding pad 111 and connections are made to the bonding pads 111 of the chip 110 by means of stitching bonding in a way which does not damage the chip 110. A bump 121 is formed at the free end of the wire in the capillary 120. Then, the clamp 130 is closed to hold the wire.
As shown in FIG. 2, the capillary 120 is moved down in a vertical direction to the second bonding point so as to let the bottom of the bump 121 weld to the bonding pad 111. Then, the capillary 120 does not hit the bonding pad 111 and the clamp 130 of the capillary 120 is opened to release the wire.
As shown in FIG. 3, the capillary 120 is moved in a horizontal direction thereby moving the tip as well as connection part 122 to the side. Then the capillary 120 is moved down again in a vertical direction so as to press the tip 122 of the bump 121 to form a thin neck. Then, the capillary 120 is opened to hold the wire.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the capillary 120 is moved up in a vertical direction and then the clamp 130 is closed thereby cutting the thin neck portion which connects to the tip 122 of the bump 121 such that the bump 121 is left on the bonding pad 111. Because the bump 121 on the bonding pad 111 is pressed by the capillary 120, the tip 122 of the bump 121 is formed in a particular direction and collapse shape. The direction and collapse shape of the tip 122 determines the parameter (e.g., the movement) of the wire bonding tool for the second bonding so as to increase quality and reliability of products. However, the direction and collapse shape of the tip 122 of each bump 121 are various and parameter adjustment of each wire bonding is impossible in this circumstance. Thus only one set of parameters can be used in each wire bond, and we are unable to control the quality and reliability of wire bonding of products under these parameter controls.
The present invention intends to provide a ball with a uniform shape and height for wire bonding at a second bonding point to decrease the variability of the ball and increase work window range in such a way as to mitigate and overcome the above problem.


There is disclosed a semiconductor device having an electrode for wire bonding, comprising a first aluminum layer, a nickel-aluminum alloy layer, and a second aluminum layer. The electrode is suitable for bonding with copper wire, since the electrode withstands a wide range of bonding conditions--mechanical pressure, ultrasonic wave power and such, and permits a reliable electrical connection to be maintained.

This invention relates to a semiconductor device and more specifically to an electrode on the semiconductor chip for connecting a semiconductor element thereon with an outside lead by means of a thin bonding wire.
A semiconductor device comprising a semiconductor chip and lead frame is well known. A semiconductor chip having one or more semiconductor elements such as diodes or transistors is mounted on a mounting area of a lead frame, and each region of the element such as the emitter, base or collector is connected with a lead of the lead frame by a thin bonding wire of gold or aluminum. For connection with the bonding wire each region of the semiconductor device is provided with an electrode. In an integrated circuit chip, regions are usually connected to each other by interconnection on the chip and, for connection with a lead outside, a special part of the interconnection called a bond pad or electrode is prepared. The bonding wire is connected with the electrode or the bond pad by means of thermocompression or thermosonic bonding. In carrying out this bonding, a small ball is formed at the end of a bonding wire by passing a H.sub.2 torch over the end of the wire or by capacitance discharge. Then the ball is pressed onto the electrode under high temperature while the wire is excited ultrasonically.
As material of the bonding wire, copper is preferred rather than gold or aluminum, since gold is expensive and with aluminum it is difficult to make the ball, thus requiring a wide area of the substrate.
In the course of developing copper wire application to a semiconductor chip with conventional aluminum electrodes, however, two kinds of failure have been experienced. One type of failure is disconnection of the copper ball from the aluminum layer of the electrode due to insufficient pressure or temperature. The other type of failure is the destruction of the semiconductor substrate under the electrode. Bonding depends upon various conditions--mechanical pressure, temperature, strength of the ultrasonic wave, time, etc. As copper is rather hard, to make the ball at the end of the wire flat for bonding requires much pressure, and this frequently brings about the destruction of the substrate. Thus connecting a copper wire to an aluminum electrode can only be accomplished under very limited conditions, and small fluctuations of pressure, temperature or such often lead to detrimental failure.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor device having a reliable connection with a lead outside the chip. It is another object of the invention to provide an electrode of a semiconductor chip which is suitable and easy for bonding with copper wire.
It is still another object of the invention to provide a method of manufacturing such electrodes.

Semiconductor device including an electrode


A turbine casing includes circumferential walls delimiting an annular stream for the flow of gases. The radial arms traversing the stream are completed by a channeling part on the downstream side which is bolted to the arms. The walls are formed of butt-joined tiles assembled together and joined to collars situated on the arms and the channeling parts by riveted ridge tiles. The invention results in a reduction of resistance to the flow of gases, as well as absorption without the production of excessive stresses of the original thermic dilations in the walls.

These type of structures are encountered in certain turbojet engines with counter-rotating propellers between the gas generator and the free outlet turbines. Radial arms frequently extend to this location dividing the annular stream into several arcs of a circle. Reference may be made here to U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,007 which shows the structure most closely resembling that of the invention. The stream is actually delimited by two internal and external circumferential walls resting respectively on internal and external collars disposed around each arm. However, the plates or sheets (known as "tiles" in this application) constituting the circumferential walls are welded together and to the arms, this having the drawback of resulting in providing an excessively rigid structure.

Turbine casing delimiting an annular gas flow stream divided by radial arms

Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation "S.N.E.C.M.A."


Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for automatically generating and updating a list of previously visited locations that are popular to a user. The method includes receiving a data point belonging to a series of data points generated from periodically sampling a position of an electronic device, automatically determining if the data point represents a destination of the electronic device based upon metadata of the data point, and automatically updating a visited locations list based upon the data point, the visited locations list including an entry associated with a previously visited location of the electronic device, wherein the data point is combined with the entry when the position associated with the data point and the previously visited location are correlated.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to location-based services and more specifically to automatically identifying frequently visited locations of a location-aware device. Location-aware devices may be mobile phones, portable Global Positioning System (GPS) units, and other devices capable of determining the geographic location of a user.
2. Introduction
Today, people take on more professional and personal responsibilities than ever before. This leads to some tasks not being completed due to insufficient time, poor planning or lapse in memory. Computerized personal organizers have become an increasingly popular mechanism to remind people of tasks that need to be completed. By placing upcoming or recurring tasks in a to-do list, the user can quickly review tasks for the upcoming hour, day, or week. Sometimes, the order that the tasks should be completed is also specified. For example, a person may enter a reminder into a personal organizer that milk needs to be picked up at the supermarket and that dry cleaning needs to be picked up at the dry cleaners. The person may even specify that for efficiency purposes, the dry cleaning should be picked up before the milk. These reminders may be placed in a sorted to-do list to ensure that tasks are completed in an efficient manner. Currently, computerized personal organizers are present in mobile devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), media players, email devices, and others.
One limitation of conventional computerized personal organizers is that the personal organizer does not alert the user when it would be practical, convenient, or efficient for the user to perform a specific task. For example, the user above who sets a reminder to pick up the dry cleaning would not be reminded by the personal organizer to perform the task even though the user has just driven by the dry cleaners. The user is only reminded by the personal organizer to perform the task if the user manually reviews the to-do list or sets an alert at a specified date and time that he or she needs to go pick up the dry cleaning. However, neither of these reminders provides dynamic alerts to the user based upon the current position of the user.
Another limitation of conventional computerized personal organizers is that the personal organizer does not have a convenient way of associating a physical address with a task to be performed. In the example above, a user has entered a specific task into the personal organizer such as, "Pick up dry cleaning at Sandy's Cleaners." However, a geographic location has not been associated with the task and therefore, driving directions to the location where the task is to be performed is not readily available. A user may search for the physical address of "Sandy's Cleaners" on the Internet or other address look up service and subsequently enter the address into a navigation program of the personal organizer or a GPS navigation unit for directions to the dry cleaners. However, this procedure is rather cumbersome. Alternatively, the user may bookmark (i.e., save in memory) the names and physical addresses of the locations of commonly performed tasks and subsequently associate specified tasks with one of the bookmarked locations. However, this procedure is time consuming and requires the user to be aware of all the locations he or she frequents most often.
Thus, a solution for an improved to-do list (i.e., task manager) without the limitations of conventional techniques is desired.

Automatic identification and storage of frequently visited locations


This invention relates to a metallocene compounds represented by formula:

Various processes and catalysts exist for the homopolymerization or copolymerization of olefins. For many applications, it is desirable for a polyolefin to have a high weight average molecular weight while having a relatively narrow molecular weight distribution. A high weight average molecular weight, when accompanied by a narrow molecular weight distribution, provides a polyolefin with, among other things, high strength properties.
Traditional Ziegler-Natta catalysts systems—a transition metal compound co-catalyzed by an aluminum alkyl—are typically capable of producing polyolefins having a high molecular weight, but with a broad molecular weight distribution.
More recently a catalyst system has been developed wherein the transition metal compound has two or more cyclopentadienyl ring ligands—such transition metal compound being referred to herein as a "metallocene—which catalyzes the production of olefin monomers to polyolefins. Accordingly, titanocenes, zirconocenes and hafnocenes, have been utilized as the transition metal component in such "metallocene" containing catalyst system for the production of polyolefins and ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymers.
Organometallics 1998, 17, 4897 discloses exo,exo-bis(isodicyclopentadienyl)titanium and zirconium dichloride derivatives with PR2 substitutions on the Cp ring. The paper includes use of the compounds as olefin polymerization catalysts.
WO 98/07760 discloses bis(1-diphenylphosphanylindenyl)zirconium dicloride.

Phosphorus substituted metallocene compounds for olefin polymerization

Abstract: wherein    M is a group 3, 4, 5 or 6 transition metal atom, or a lanthanide metal atom, or actinide metal atom;    E is an indenyl ligand that is substituted with a PR2 group in the two position of the indenyl ligand, where each R is, independently a hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, halocarbyl, or substituted halocarbyl substituent, and additionally, E may be substituted with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 Rn where each Rn is, independently, a hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, halocarbyl, substituted halocarbyl, silylcarbyl, substituted silylcarbyl, germylcarbyl, or substituted germylcarbyl substituent, and optionally, two or more adjacent Rn substituents may join together to form a substituted or unsubstituted, saturated, partially unsaturated, or aromatic cyclic or polycyclic substituent;    A is a substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl ligand, a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclopentadienyl ligand, a substituted or unsubstituted indenyl ligand, a substituted or unsubstituted heteroindenyl ligand, a substituted or unsubstituted fluorenyl ligand, a substituted or unsubstituted heterofluorenyl ligand, or other mono-anionic ligand, or A may, independently, be defined as E or as X;    each X is, independently, an univalent anionic ligand, or both X are joined and bound to the metal atom to form a metallocycle ring, or both X join to form a chelating ligand, a diene ligand, or an alkylidene ligand.


Circuitry includes a multiplexer to output first data and second data in response to a clock signal, the clock signal having rising and falling clock edges, where the multiplexer outputs first data at a rising clock edge and outputs second data at a falling clock edge. The circuitry includes a DAC to receive the first data and the second data and to generate, therefrom, complementary first and second signals, a filter to filter the complementary first signals and second signals and thereby produce first and second filtered signals, and a voltmeter to measure a difference between the first and second filtered signals, the difference corresponding to a duty cycle error in the clock signal.

Automatic test equipment (ATE) refers to an automated, usually computer-driven, system for testing devices, such as semiconductors, electronic circuits, and printed circuit board assemblies. A device tested by ATE is referred to as a device under test (DUT).
ATE is capable of providing different types of signals to a DUT. Among these signals are test signals, which are used to test the DUT. The test signals may be analog signals that are generated based on digital signals received from a computer or other processing device. A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) (or several DACs) in the ATE is typically used to perform conversion(s) from digital to analog.
A DAC produces an analog signal by sampling a digital signal. A DAC may sample the digital signal using one edge of a clock—the rising or falling edge—or both edges of the clock. Sampling using both edges means that the digital signal is sampled at both the rising and falling edges of the clock. This type of sampling produces a higher sampling rate, and thus a more accurate analog signal. Sampling using both edges of the clock, however, can be quite sensitive to duty cycle errors in the clock.
The duty cycle of a clock is a ratio of the amount of time that the clock is high to the time of one clock cycle. In some systems, an error in the duty cycle occurs if the ratio is anything other than 50%, meaning that the clock is high half of the time and low half of the time. For DACs that sample using both edges of the clock, an error in the duty cycle can result in frequency spurs in output analog signals.


The work movement analysis method for dividing a moving picture of a worker's work movement into a plurality of movement sections in an apparatus having display, storage, and processing units includes in the processing unit the steps of: defining a plurality of movement section classification buttons and providing the buttons to an operator; reproducing the moving picture in the display unit; allocating movement section identification information defined by a specific movement section classification button to a moving picture of a work; storing a position of a moving picture in the storage unit as an end position of a movement section; defining an end position of a previous movement section as a start position of the movement section and a reproduction start position of a moving picture of the work movement as the start position in a case of no end position, and dividing the work movement into the movement sections.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a work movement analysis method, a work movement analysis apparatus, and a work movement analysis program for analyzing a validity, skill level, and problem of a worker's movement in such a work process.
2. Description of the Related Art
At a job site where one or more workers perform a work such as a supply, process, assembly, and packaging of a part by manpower, it is necessary to optimize a work procedure, estimate a standard work time, and converge the work to the standard work time from a viewpoint of production control. In a non patent document "Work Study and Work Control" (Shoji Kawashima, first edition, p. 303 to 311, published by JAPAN MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, Apr. 30, 1979), as a method of estimating a time required for a work is shown using a rating coefficient as a rating of a work speed and converting it to a normal speed. A worker is different in work speed depending on such a skill level, age, and gender thereof. For example, in the method, with respect to a worker inferior in skill and slow in work speed, a standard work time is obtained by multiplying an actual work time by a rating coefficient.
A method of optimizing a work procedure and simulating a standard work time, in which an actual work is recorded as video data and then analyzed, is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. H06-168246 and a non patent document "Computer Aided Construction Engineering System for Nuclear Power Plants" (corresponding to the Japanese Patent H06-168246) (Toshiaki Yoshinaga and other three persons, p. 27 to 38, No. 10, vol. 72, published by Hitachi Hyouron, Hitachi Hyouron Co., Oct., 1990). The video data is subdivided and grouped into smaller movement unit data, and a work speed is adjusted with respect to individual pieces of the grouped movement data, considering a work efficiency of individual workers; thereby, an image reproduction speed of a human movement is modified like a movement image of a standard worker. By appropriately combining these pieces of the movement data after adjustment based on a scenario of an optimized work procedure, it is possible to simulate by a moving picture a manner of a standard worker performing the specific work procedure.
By a production manager to an end worker sharing such a simulation result, it becomes possible to make them understand a work speed and a work procedure based on an optimized scenario and for the manager to train workers.
In the Japanese Patent H06-168246 and the non patent document "Computer Aided Construction Engineering System for Nuclear Power Plants," because a work object is a plant before installation and the work is simulated based on information of a three-dimensional CAD (Computer Aided Design) of the plant, movement data of a worker is sampled at a certain time interval and made into an animation. On the other hand, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. H06-231137 is disclosed a technology in which a series of work videos is divided at a transition of a certain work in a real video. This provides an area for displaying a video image and an area for displaying a button for specifying a work kind, gives a name of the work kind by clicking the button by mouse, and divides the video. Although this technology uses video data of a video tape itself, it has become possible to easily divide and edit the video data as MPEG (Moving Picture Expert Group) on a personal computer without relying on the video tape thanks to a highly-developed computer, a large capacity of a hard disk, and a pervasion of an image compression technology in recent years.
In a case of reproducing a real video as a video tape or MPEG data, an operator analyzing a work has to face a movement ever-changing before her/his eyes, being different from the sampling in the case of the Japanese Patent H06-168246.
In the Japanese Patent H06-231137, watching a video image, selecting a work item name at a time T1, continuing reproducing the image, selecting the work item name by clicking the image one after another at a transition of the work, and defining a work image reproduced hereafter, the work image is divided. Accordingly, a time T required for a work of a certain work item name is obtained by T2-T1 if a next work item name is selected at a time T2.
However, although in the operation an analysis operator of a work has to input information for identifying the work with respect to a worker's movement inspected hereafter, it is necessary to partly rewind and inspect the movement in a case of the worker's movement being different, contrary to an expectation of the operator. In order to evade such a thing, it is necessary to once look through a video image, to have understood a worker's behavior, and then to start the analysis.

Work movement analysis method, work movement analysis apparatus, and work movement analysis program


The present invention relates to a single-resistor-foil pressure sensitive coordinate input system, which comprises: a resistor foil surrounded by a frame, and a base with a copper plate covered by the resistor foil and an control circuit. The frame has four corners, which each have an electrode. The base has four corners, which respectively contact the electrodes of the four corners of the resistor foil and connect to the control circuit. The control circuit has transistors as electronic switches, and the copper plate has a terminal, which is connected to the electronic switches. When the resistor foil contacts the base and a voltage is applied on the resistor foil, by switching the electronic switches, a coordinate measurement is performed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a single-resistor-foil pressure sensitive coordinate input system, particularly to a pressure sensitive coordinate input system with a single foil of resistant material and a transistor circuit.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventional resistor pressure sensitive input systems, as shown in FIG. 1, comprise an upper resistor foil X, a lower resistor foil Y and a control circuit. A pair of electrodes X+, X- are connected to the upper resistor foil X on the X-axis. A pair of electrodes Y+, Y- are connected to the lower resistor foil Y on the Y-axis. A certain voltage is applied to the electrodes of both foils. When the surfaces of the foils are pressed on, on an edge without electrodes the voltage is measured, from which the coordinates of the pressure point is derivable.
The control circuit has four terminals X+, X-, Y-, Y- for controlling the conducting behavior of the transistors Q1-Q4. The electrodes X+ and X- on the upper resistor foil X are connected to the transistors Q1 and Q2, respectively. The electrodes Y+ and Y- on the lower resistor foil Y are connected to the transistors Q3 and Q4, respectively. The electrodes X+ and Y+ are via the transistors Q1, Q3 respectively connected to a voltage Vcc. To perform a coordinate measurement on the area of the resistor foils a pressure point on the foils is pressed on. For measuring the X coordinate, the transistor Q1 opens, and a positive voltage is fed to the electrode X+. The transistor Q2 opens, too, and the electrode X- is grounded. The transistors Q3, Q4, connected to the electrodes Y+, Y- of the lower resistor foil Y, block, and no current flows through the lower resistor foil Y. By pressing on the foils, the upper and lower resistor foils X, Y are connected, and from the resulting voltage at AD-X the X coordinate of the pressure point is derived.
For measuring the Y coordinate, the transistor Q3 opens, and a positive voltage is fed to the electrode Y+. The transistor Q4 opens, too, and the electrode Y- is grounded. The transistors Q1, Q2, connected to the electrodes X+, X- of the upper resistor foil X, block, and no current flows through the upper resistor foil X. By pressing on the foils, the upper and lower resistor foils X, Y are connected, and from the resulting voltage at AD-Y the Y coordinate of the pressure point is derived.
Since in this arrangement the voltage Vcc is permanently switched, the voltages VX at the electrode X- and VY at the electrode Y- are not stable. Furthermore, the voltages VX and VY are transmitted via the upper and lower resistor foils X, Y, with a linear dependence on the distance of the pressure point PX, PY to the electrode X-, Y-, and the supply voltage Vcc is permanently switched between the upper and lower resistor foils, therefore both resistor foils have to be made of the same, uniform material, which is difficult to achieve. Noise and unstable voltage easily occur.

Single-resistor-foil pressure sensitive coordinate input system


The present application discloses computing platforms and methods for performing location-based restriction of content transmission. In one implementation, such a computing platform includes a hardware processor and a memory storing a content protection software code. The hardware processor is configured to execute the content protection software code to obtain a media content including a cue for restricting broadcast of the media content, and to detect the cue in the media content. The hardware processor is further configured to execute the content protection software code to interpret the cue to identify a usage rule constraining the broadcast of the media content, and to restrict the broadcast of the media content based on the usage rule.

In-person attendance at a live performance, movie premier, or invitation only event, for example, can be an exciting and enjoyable experience for attendees. That experience may be rendered even more special because attendees know that they are part of an exclusive audience privileged to share the experience in the moment. However, the ubiquity of personal communication devices and the ease with which audio and video can be recorded and transmitted using those devices has enabled real-time streaming of live performances and other content intended to be available exclusively to a limited audience. Unfortunately, such unrestrained distribution of content intended for a limited audience can diminish the value of that content to its intended audience, the artists presenting the content, and the owners of the content.

Location-based restriction of content transmission


This invention provides an aluminum nitride based composite body comprising aluminum nitride crystal grains and .gamma.-alumina type crystals in which the aluminum nitride crystal grains has a specified oxygen content as measured by means of an X-ray microanalyzer and a specified spin amount per unit mg of aluminum obtained from a spectrum measured by an electron spin resonance method as well as a method of producing the same.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an aluminum nitride based composite body mainly composed of aluminum nitride crystal grains, an electronic functional material and electrostatic chuck employing the same, and a method of producing an aluminum nitride based composite body.
2. Description of Related Art
At present, an electrostatic chuck is used for attracting and holding a semiconductor wafer in film forming processes for the semiconductor wafer such as transportation, light exposure, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), sputtering and the like, or steps of micro-machining, cleaning, etching, dicing and the like. As a substrate for the electrostatic chuck, dense ceramics have been watched. Particularly, a halogenous corrosive gas such as ClF.sub.3 or the like is frequently used as an etching gas or a cleaning gas in an apparatus for the manufacture of the semiconductor. A dense aluminum nitride has a high corrosion resistance against the above halogenous corrosive gas. And also, the aluminum nitride is known to be a high thermal conductive material and to be high in the thermal shock resistance. Therefore, it is considered that it is preferable to make the substrate of the electrostatic chuck for a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus from an aluminum nitride sintered body.
In general, when the aluminum nitride is used as a substrate material for the electrostatic chuck, it is preferable that a volume resistivity is within a range of 10.sup.8 -10.sup.13 .OMEGA..multidot.cm at operating temperatures. However, the volume resistivity of aluminum nitride extremely decreases, for example, from 10.sup.16 .OMEGA..multidot.cm to 10.sup.7 .OMEGA..multidot.cm over a range of from room temperature to 600.degree. C., so that it is impossible to stably develop the operation as an electric chuck in such a wide temperature range. Therefore, a service temperature of the electrostatic chuck is limited to a range of, for example, 200-400.degree. C.

Aluminum nitride based composite body electronic functional material, electrostatic chuck and method of producing aluminum nitride based composite body


The awning has an awning case (2) of sheet metal having a wider slot (11) extending father upward, compared to conventional awnings. The upper and lower edges (12, 13) of the slot are beaded. A drop-blade (8) having a similar curvature as the case, and also made of sheet metal, in rolled-up state of the awning fits closely over the slot (12) with an overlap at top and bottom. Wall brackets (5) are constructed in form of several interfitting parts and provided with a hinge connected on one end to articulated arms (9, 32, 33). The other ends of the arms are hinged to holders suspended from the drop-blade (8). When the awning is rolled-up the arms fold unobtrusively below the awning case. In the rolled-up condition the awning looks like a closed cylinder. A sealing element (83) prevents water from getting into the awning case.

An awning of the above mentioned kind is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,805, Clauss, to which German published patent application 25 14 941 corresponds. It has a generally tubular awning case which is closed at its ends. Bearings are located in end pieces of the awning case in which a roll-up shaft of the awning is rotatably mounted. The mounting of the awning case on the facade of a building is provided by two hoop-like wall brackets which surround about 270.degree. of the circumference of the awning case. The brackets also provide hinges for articulated arms at the ends that remain near the wall. At the other ends these arms are hinged to the drop member.
In awnings heretofore known, the cloth-feed slot of the awning case is more or less symmetrical with respect to a plane which contains the axis of the roll-up shaft and along which the awning cloth extends out in the spread-out state of the awning. The upper edge of the cloth-feed slot is relatively close to that plane. In consequence, when the awning cloth unrolls downwardly, it continually ribs the upper edge of the cloth feed slot or is deflected by that edge.
In order to prevent any portion of the awning cloth, when the awning is rolled-up, to be exposed to weather without protection and to prevent from dripping onto the water cloth from the awning case, the drop-rod in the above mentioned prior art awning is provided with a protruding flange directed towards the awning case and which is engaged under the upper edge of the cloth-feed slot when the awning is rolled-up. In that state the articulated arms are folded together and located between the lower part of the drop-rod and the awning case. In consequence, in the rolled-up state of the awning, the drop-rod projects distinctly from the outer contour of the awning case.

Awning having a convex drop blade which fits on an awning case when the awning is rolled-up


Systems and methods are described for determining playback points in media assets based on both a keyword and a context of a current playback point in a media asset. For example, in response to user input of a keyword (e.g., “Matt Damon”) while the user is consuming a media asset, a current playback point in the media asset is determined. Context of the media asset at the current playback point is then determined (e.g., the current playback point involves a car chase). Playback points in the media asset are determined that match both the context and the keyword and are presented to the user (e.g., playback points with Matt Damon in a car chase).

Given the plethora of media content available to consumers, many consumers may desire to watch only portions of media content that are interesting to them. For example, a user may enjoy scenes with a particular actor, such as Tom Cruise. Conventional systems may identify playback points where the particular actor (e.g., Tom Cruise) appears in a media asset and present the playback points to the user. The conventional systems may allow the user to skip to one of the playback points where the particular actor appears and play the media asset from that point. However, in many cases the number of playback points may be overwhelming to the user. For example, Tom Cruise may appear in the vast majority of a particular media asset and thus the user may have trouble choosing a playback point that he or she is interested in.

Systems and methods for determining playback points in media assets


A magnetic fiber comprises a core comprising a spinel ferrite of formula Me1-xMxFeyO4, wherein Me is Mg, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, or a combination thereof, x=0 to 0.25, and y=1.5 to 2.5, wherein the core is solid or at least partially hollow; and a shell at least partially surrounding the core, and comprising a Me1-xMxFey alloy, wherein when the core is solid with Me=Ni and x=0 the magnetic fiber has a diameter of greater than 0.3 micrometer. A magneto-dielectric material having a magnetic loss tangent of less than or equal to 0.03 at 1 GHz comprises a polymer matrix; and a plurality of the magnetic fibers.

This disclosure relates generally to magnetic core-shell fibers, magneto-dielectric materials, methods of making the fibers and materials, and uses thereof.
Newer designs and manufacturing techniques have driven electronic components to increasingly smaller dimensions, for example, components such as inductors on electronic integrated circuit chips, electronic circuits, electronic packages, modules, housings, and antennas. One approach to reducing electronic component size has been the use of magneto-dielectric materials as substrates. In particular, ferrites, ferroelectrics, and multiferroics have been widely studied as functional materials with enhanced microwave properties. However, these materials are not entirely satisfactory in that they often do not provide the desired bandwidth and they can exhibit a high magnetic loss at high frequencies, such as in the gigahertz range.
However, current magneto-dielectric composites often exhibit various undesirable characteristics that have limited their adoption or utility, including one or more (or all) of low effective permeability for composites at frequencies greater than 1.0 gigahertz (GHz), high magnetic loss for composites at frequencies greater than 1.0 GHz, mismatched impedance for composites (primarily permittivity being much greater than permeability), low mechanical strength with large size magnetic filler, and high weight due to density of ferrite fillers or magnetic alloy fillers.
There accordingly remains a need in the art for a magneto-dielectric material with a low magnetic loss in the gigahertz range.

Magneto-dielectric materials, methods of making, and uses thereof


A two way gate valve includes a valve chamber having a first entrance coupled with a first chamber, a second entrance coupled with a second chamber, and an openable and closable chamber cover; a moving module having a first sealing plate for sealing the first entrance, a second sealing plate for sealing the second entrance, and a moving module body to which the first and the second sealing plates are mounted; a push-pull module having a push-pull module body coupled with the moving module body such that the moving module body can linearly move, a first operating body for moving the moving module in a first entrance direction such that the first sealing plate seals the first entrance, and a second operating body for moving the moving module in a second entrance direction such that the second sealing plate seals the second entrance.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a gate valve used for a vacuum processing apparatus, and more particularly to a gate valve used for a substrate processing apparatus for processing a semiconductor substrate and a substrate processing system having the same.
2. Background Art
Generally, a semiconductor substrate is manufactured through several steps of vacuum processing processes. Various types of vacuum processing processes such as a deposition, an etching, and an ashing are performed in a process chamber having a vacuum state lower than a predetermined air pressure. A yield is one of very important elements in a semiconductor manufacturing process. In order to increase a yield in a semiconductor manufacturing process, a substrate processing system with various structures is used. For example, the substrate processing system includes an in-line type substrate processing system in which a plurality of process chambers are successively arranged and a cluster type substrate processing system in which a plurality of process chambers are radially arranged.
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an example of a convention cluster type substrate processing system.
Referring to FIG. 1, a cluster type substrate processing system 70 includes a first transfer chamber 75 having a polygonal cross section structure. A plurality of process chambers 76, 77, 78, 79, and 80 and one loadlock chamber 74 are radially arranged to be coupled with the first transfer chamber 75. Each of gate valves 92, 93, 94, 95, and 96 is disposed between the first transfer chamber 75 and each of the plurality of process chambers 76, 77, 78, 79, and 80. Similarly, a gate valve 91 is disposed between the first transfer chamber 75 and the loadlock chamber 74. A second transfer chamber 73 is coupled with another surface of the loadlock chamber 74 and the gate valve 90 is disposed between the loadlock chamber 74 and the second transfer chamber 73. An EFEM (Equipment Front End Module) 71 equipped with a plurality of cassettes 72 is disposed in front of the second transfer chamber 73.
A transfer robot (not shown) operating in a vacuum state is installed in the first transfer chamber 75, and a transfer robot (not shown) operating in an atmospheric pressure state is installed in the second transfer chamber 73. The loadlock chamber 74 maintains an atmospheric pressure state while performing a substrate exchanging operation with the second transfer chamber 73, and maintains a vacuum state while performing a substrate exchanging operation with first transfer chamber 75. The first transfer chamber 75 maintains a vacuum state and performs a substrate exchanging operation with the plurality of chambers 74, 76, 77, 78, 79, and 80 connected to circumferences of the first transfer chamber 75.
Such a cluster type substrate processing system 70 has a structure, which can increase a yield by simultaneously processing a plurality of substrates to be processed through the plurality of process chambers 76, 77, 78, 79, and 80 radially arranged in the circumferences of the first transfer chamber 75. However, when one of the plurality of process chambers 76, 77, 78, 79, and 80 is broken, there is a disadvantage in that a broken chamber should be replaced or the substrate processing system 70 should be totally stopped in order to repair the broken chamber.
Meanwhile, in general, a substrate entrance provided between chambers is locked through the gate valve as described above. The gate valve uses a sealing member such as an O-ring. The sealing member corresponds to a consumable member and is replaced after using the sealing member during a certain period. However, when it is required to replace the sealing member, an operation of the substrate processing system should be stopped, so that it also causes a yield reduction. In a case of the in-line type substrate processing system, there exists the same problem as described above as well.
As described above, in a case where two chambers are coupled with each other through the gate valve, when it is necessary to stop an overall operation of the substrate processing system for maintenance of one of the chambers or to stop an overall operation of the substrate processing system for maintenance of the gate valve, a main problem causing a yield reduction occurs.

Two way gate valve and substrate processing system having the same