A method is provided for well printing a specified pattern even when the exposure treatment using a resist mask uses exposure light with a wavelength over 200 nm. When exposure treatment is applied to a semiconductor wafer by using exposure light with a wavelength over 200 nm, a photomask is used. The photomask is provided with an opaque pattern of a resist layer on an organic layer which is photoabsorptive in reaction to exposure light.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for manufacturing a semiconductor device. More specifically, the present invention concerns a technique effectively applicable to lithography using a photomask (hereafter simply referred to as a mask) during a semiconductor device manufacturing process.
2. Prior Art
In semiconductor device manufacturing, lithography is used as a method of forming a fine pattern on semiconductor wafers. The mainstream lithography is the so-called optical projection exposure method which repeatedly prints a mask-formed pattern on semiconductor wafers via the reduction projection optics. The basic configuration of a stepper is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-91192.
Generally, resolution, R, on a semiconductor wafer according to the projection exposure method is expressed as R=kxc3x97xcex/NA. In this formula, k is a constant dependent on a resist material or a process; xcex is an illumination light wavelength; and an NA is a numerical aperture for a projection exposure lens. As seen from this formula, a finer pattern is necessary when using the projection exposure technique, using a light source with a shorter wavelength. Presently, the semiconductor device manufacture uses a stepper whose illumination light source is a mercury lamp""s i-line (xcex=365 nm) or a KrF excimer laser (xcex=248 nm). Further fining patterns require a light source with a shorter wavelength, making the use of ArF excimer laser (xcex=193 nm) or F2 excimer laser (xcex=157 nm) under consideration.
An ordinary mask used for this type of lithography is fabricated by processing a transparent mask plate. On this plate, there is formed an opaque metal layer such as chromium (Cr) and the like, or a dimming or opaque inorganic film such as MoSi, ZrSiO, SiN, and the like. An ordinary mask comprises the above-mentioned transparent mask plate on which the above-mentioned metal or inorganic film with a specified shape is formed. However, the thus configured mask causes problems; it requires many manufacturing processes, involves increasing costs, and decreases processing accuracy. The reason is that an opaque pattern is processed with isotropic etching. Considering these problems, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 5-289307 discloses the technique of using a resist layer for an opaque pattern on the mask plate. This technique is based on the characteristic that the ArF excimer laser decreases transparency of a specified resist layer.
However, the inventors found that the technique of using the resist layer for an opaque pattern is subject to the following problems.
First, an opaque pattern comprising the resist layer cannot sufficiently shield the light with a wavelength over 200 nm. Generally, the exposure light such as KrF excimer laser (xcex=248 nm) or i-line (xcex=365 nm) is used for manufacturing a volume zone on a semiconductor integrated circuit device. An applicable wavelength for the resist layer is critical for the opaque pattern formation.
Second, no sufficient consideration is given about more efficiently manufacturing masks in a short period. In recent years, reflecting a trend of system LSI (Large Scale Integrated) circuits, there is an increasing need for developing and manufacturing a small quantity of, and many types of LSI chip in a short period. The manufacture of these LSI chips uses, for example, 20 to 40 masks. The TAT (turn-around time) for manufacturing masks is a driving force for the LSI development competition. As an advanced feature is requested for this type of LSI chips, the product development requires more processes and a longer period. By contrast, the existing product becomes obsolete soon and the product life is short. It is expected to shorten a period for the product development and manufacture. Especially, a system LSI chip is subject to a high debug ratio for the wire layer. It is important to supply masks for wire layer in a short period and at a low cost for shortening a period and reducing costs for the LSI development. Accordingly, a significant problem is how to efficiently manufacture masks used for this product manufacture in a short time.
Third, no sufficient consideration is given concerning reduction of mask costs. Elements and wires are further fined along with a request to increase integration of elements in a semiconductor integrated circuit device and to increase an operation speed. In addition, strict accuracy is requested for processing mask patterns. An increase in the amount of pattern data remarkably increases mask production costs. Generally, as mentioned above, a plurality of masks is used for one type of semiconductor integrated circuit device. An increase in mask production costs is a serious problem. The technological development progresses with the intention of shortening the exposure light wavelength along with fining of elements and wires. However, shortening the wavelength requires rare and precious lens materials such as CaF2 and the like. Moreover, optical members are subject to great irradiation damage, shortening the parts life. Hence, the short-wavelength exposure is expensive. When the exposure process for semiconductor integrated circuit devices simply uses a mask having the opaque pattern comprising the above-mentioned resist layer, the ArF excimer laser exposure needs to be used in many cases. Consequently, though the mask cost decreases, the total production cost rather increases.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique capable of efficiently printing a specified pattern even if the exposure process using a resist mask uses exposure light with a wavelength over 200 nm.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a technique capable of shortening a period for developing semiconductor devices.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a technique capable of shortening a period for manufacturing semiconductor devices.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a technique capable of decreasing semiconductor device costs.
These and other objects and new features will become more apparent as the description in this specification proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.
The following summarizes representative inventions disclosed in this specification.
Namely, the present invention comprises a process of printing a specified pattern on a semiconductor wafer by exposing the semiconductor wafer through the use of a photomask provided with an opaque pattern comprising a photoabsorptive organic layer in reaction to exposure light with a wavelength over 200 nm.
Further, according to the present invention, the organic layer comprises a photosensitive organic layer formed on a photoabsorptive organic layer in reaction to exposure light with a wavelength over 200 nm.
Moreover, the present invention selectively uses a photomask provided with an opaque pattern comprising a first photoabsorptive organic layer in reaction to exposure light with the wavelength of 200 nm or shorter and a photomask provided with an opaque pattern comprising a second photoabsorptive organic layer in reaction to exposure light with a wavelength over 200 nm according to a pattern to be exposed.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, the first organic layer is a photoabsorptive photosensitive organic layer reactive to exposure light with the wavelength of 200 nm or shorter. The second organic layer comprises a photosensitive organic layer formed on the photoabsorptive organic layer reactive to exposure light with a wavelength over 200 nm.
Still further, the present invention selectively uses a photomask provided with an opaque pattern comprising a metal layer and a photomask provided with an opaque pattern comprising a photosensitive organic layer formed on the photoabsorptive organic layer reactive to exposure light with a wavelength over 200 nm, according to a pattern to be exposed.

Manufacturing use of photomasks with an opaque pattern comprising an organic layer photoabsorptive to exposure light with wavelengths exceeding 200 NM


The invention provides a circuit to drive a light source capable of lengthening the life span of the light source and of coping with both a rated power mode and a power saving mode. A circuit to drive a light source includes a control device to drive the light source, which is composed of a discharge tube, and to switch the light source to a plurality of lighting modes including a rated power mode and a power saving mode. The control device includes a lighting mode setting unit to set the lighting mode to one of the plurality of lighting modes, and a rated power supplying unit to supply a rated power to the light source at the lighting starting time of the light source until a halogen cycle of the discharge tube is stabilized. The control device switches the light source to the lighting mode set by the lighting mode setting unit after the halogen cycle of the discharge tube is stabilized.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a circuit to drive a light source which includes a control device to drive the light source, which is composed of a discharge tube, and to switch the light source to a plurality of lighting modes including a rated power mode and a power saving mode. The invention also relates to a projector including the same; a method of controlling a light source which is executed in the circuit to drive the light source including the control device to drive the light source, which is composed of the discharge tube, and to switch the light source to the plurality of lighting modes including the rated power mode and the power saving mode; and to a program which executes the method of controlling the light source using the control device.
2. Description of Related Art
The related art includes projectors that can be used to modulate beams emitted from a light source according to image information, and to enlarge and project the modulated beams. The related art also includes projectors that can been used, for example, when a company makes presentations through a personal computer or a home user watches a movie.
In the company presentation, the light source needs to be lighted at high brightness, in order that every viewer can easily view the projected image. On the other hand, because the home user sees the image at a relatively short distance, the light source does not need to be lighted at high brightness.
Accordingly, a related art projector uses plural kinds of lighting modes including a rated power mode for presentations and a power saving mode for home theaters.
On the other hand, a related art high-pressure mercury lamp or related art metal halide lamp in which halogen gas is charged in a discharge tube can be employed as the light source for the projector to stably emit light at high brightness and stability (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-297268, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-274886).

Circuit for driving light source, projector, method for controlling lighting of light source, and computer readable program for executing the same


An iterative logic circuit for iteratively performing a logic function includes a two-input logic gate and a D-type flip-flop. The flip-flop receives and time-delays the output signal from the logic gate to provide a feedback signal as one of the input signals to the logic gate. By sequentially processing the feedback signal together with a serial input data signal, the logic gate iteratively performs an associative logic function (e.g. EXCLUSIVE-OR) upon the serial input data signal, thereby performing a parallel logic function by executing a serial logic operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to logic circuits for performing a parallel logic function by executing a serial logic operation, and in particular, to such logic circuits which perform iterative logic functions.
2. Description of the Related Art
A number of digital logic processes require a parallel processing of multiple logic signals. One example of such a process is "hashing" whereby long, and sometimes variable length, streams of data are transformed into shorter versions thereof. One such common parallel logic operation in hashing is that of performing an EXCLUSIVE-OR function upon multiple parallel signals. Conventionally, this has been done by using a logic gate with multiple parallel inputs or, alternatively, multiple logic gates which are cascaded and have fewer inputs per gate. A problem with such an approach, however, is that a significant amount of circuitry is required. As a result, and of particular concern with respect to integrated circuit implementations, such circuitry often becomes quite large and cumbersome, and uses a significant amount of power.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a technique by which parallel logic operations could be performed with significantly less circuit area, thereby reducing the amount of area and power required.


A compound having the structure set forth in Formula (I) and Formula (II):

The family of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerases (PARP) includes approximately 18 proteins, which all display a certain level of homology in their catalytic domain but differ in their cellular functions (Ame et al., BioEssays., 26(8), 882-893 (2004)). PARP-1 and PARP-2 are unique members of the family, in that their catalytic activities are stimulated by the occurrence of DNA strand breaks.
PARP has been implicated in the signaling of DNA damage through its ability to recognize and rapidly bind to DNA single or double strand breaks (D'Amours, et al., Biochem. J., 342, 249-268 (1999)). It participates in a variety of DNA-related functions including gene amplification, cell division, differentiation, apoptosis, DNA base excision repair as well as effects on telomere length and chromosome stability (d'Adda di Fagagna, et al., Nature Gen., 23(1), 76-80 (1999)).
Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) is a lipid and protein phosphatase. PTEN functions as a protein phosphatase by dephosphorylating protein substrates on serine, threonine, and tyrosine residues (Myers et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 94:9052-9057 (1997)). PTEN functions as a lipid phosphatase by dephosphorylating phophoinosital 3,4,5-triphosphate (PIP3), a key signaling component of the phosphoinositol-3-kinase (PI3-kinase) pathway (Maehama and Dixon, J Biol Chem 273:13375-13378 (1998)).
PTEN is a known tumor suppressor that has been implicated in cellular processes including mediation of the MAP kinase signaling pathway, centromeric maintenance, and is implicated in DNA repair pathways through mediation of Rad51 gene expression. (Gu et al., J Cell Bio 143:1375-1383 (1998); Weng et al., Hum Mol Genet (2001); and Shen et al., Cell 128:157-170 (2007)).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Dihydropyridophthalazinone inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) for use in treatment of diseases associated with a PTEN deficiency

Abstract: wherein the substituents Y, Z, A, B, R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are as defined herein. Provided herein are inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase activity. Also described herein are pharmaceutical compositions that include at least one compound described herein and the use of a compound or pharmaceutical composition described herein to treat diseases, disorders and conditions associated with a PTEN deficiency that are ameliorated by the inhibition of PARP activity.


A dust removing device includes: a dust position estimating unit which estimates a position of a dust area which is an area in which there is dust; an air blow determining unit which determines, based on the estimated position, an air blow mode which causes a predetermined airflow in the dust area; an air blower which performs an air blow in the determined air blow mode; and an air intake unit which takes in air from a space in which the air blow is performed. Note that the dust removing device may include an information storage which stores a control table in which air blow control information defining the air blow mode is written for a position of each dust area, and the air blow determining unit may determine, based on the control table, the air blow mode in accordance with the air blow control information corresponding to the estimated position of the dust area.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a dust removing device which removes dust attached to a person or an object or dust floating in air, and relates to a method for removing dust.
2. Description of the Related Art
In PTLs 1 and 2, for example, there are proposed techniques as a technique for removing dust (hereinafter, referred to as "dust removal") which is attached to a person or an object or is floating in air.
In the technique described in PTL 1, air taken in through an air intake port provided on a side of a main body case facing a person or through a movable air inlet device connected to the main body case is cleaned by a filter in the main body case and is blown out from an air discharge hole provided on a rear side of the main body case. With this arrangement, in the technique described in PTL 1, an airflow is generated on a surface on which dust is attached; thus, the dust is separated from the person and is removed.
In the technique described in PTL 2, air cleaned by a filter is sent (blown out) to an entire air shower room, and the air in the air shower room is taken in. With this arrangement, a stronger airflow is generated on a surface on which dust is attached; thus, the dust is separated from a person and is removed.

Dust removing device and method for removing dust

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A train traffic control system which automatically prepares a shuttle service diagram based on a partial simulation of each train, at each station, etc., executed only by setting such initial data of the shuttle service as current states of trains in operation and possibility of service extension to other line, that is, other company line, a branch line or the like, when the shuttle service is required in a limited train section due to railroad accident or the like during the traffic control by a normal diagram, and controls the train route according to the shuttle service diagram.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a train traffic control system.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 shows a structural diagram of a conventional train traffic control system. In the figure, the numerals designate the parts as follows: 1 a central processing unit for governing and controlling the entire system; 2 a display unit connected with the central processing unit 1 for displaying the day's diagram, train operating conditions and the like; 3 an input device provided adjacent to the display unit 2; 6 an interlocking device for controlling signals in operation, points and the like; 5 a station control device connected with the interlocking device 6 for controlling the same; and 4 a local area network (hereinafter referred to as LAN) serves as a transmission line between the station control device 5 and the central processing unit 1.
FIG. 2 shows an internal structural diagram of the devices constituting the train traffic control system shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, numerals 11 through 18 represent the internal structure of the central processing unit 1, and numerals 51 through 54 the internal structure of the station control device 5, as follows, respectively: 11 a change data receiving part; 12 a diagram memory for storing the day's diagram or an updated diagram inputted beforehand; 13 diagram sectioning means for sectioning the day's diagram of each station; 14 diagram changing means for changing the day's diagram according to diagram change data received from the input device 3; 15 a diagram transmitting part for transmitting the sectioned diagram of each station and the day's diagram; 16 an on-track data receiving part for receiving on-track data transmitted from the station control devices 5; 17 on-track data arranging means for arranging the received on-track data for each train; 18 an on-track data transmitting part for transmitting the on-track data; 51 a diagram receiving part for receiving the day's diagram of the station transmitted from the central processing unit 1; 52 route controlling means for instructing a route control of trains according to the received the day's diagram to the interlocking device 6; 53 an on-track data receiving part for receiving the on-track data of the train obtained from the interlocking device 6; and 54 an on-track data transmitting part for periodically transmitting the received on-track data.
An operation will be described with referring to the internal structural diagram of FIG. 1 and an flowchart of information of the entire train traffic control system shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b). A diagram information of trains operating on the day is inputted beforehand to the central processing unit 1, and saved in the diagram memory 12. The diagram sectioning means 13 sections the diagram information to station diagrams before the trains operate and prepares the day's diagram of each station (ST 11). The diagram transmitting part 15 transmits the day's diagram of each station through the LAN 4 to each station control device 5 (ST 12). The route controlling means 52 of each station control device 5 controls the route of the train which approaches the station to be controlled by the device according to the day's diagram received by the diagram receiving part 51 (ST 22) by controlling the signals, points or the like through the interlocking device 6. On the other hand, the day's diagram is transmitted to the display unit 2 via the diagram transmitting part 15 in response to a display instruction from an operator through 'the input device 3 (ST 13), and the day's diagram is displayed (ST 20).
The on-track data receiving part 53 of the station control device 5 receives on-track condition data including train data such as types and arrangement of trains obtained from the interlocking device 6, station data such as arrival and departure times and the like according to operation results (ST 24), and periodically transmits the data from the on-track data transmitting part 54 through the LAN 4 to the central processing unit 1 (ST 25). Accordingly, in the central processing unit 1, the on-track data receiving part 16 receives the on-track conditions data transmitted from the station control devices 5 (ST 15), the on-track data arranging means 17 arranges the train data and the station data for each train (ST 16), and the on-track data transmitting part 18 transmits the data to the display unit 2 (ST 17). The display unit 2 displays the operating conditions on the basis of the transmitted on-track data, according to a display instruction from the operator through the input device 3 (ST 21).
The display unit 2 is capable of graphically displaying a schematic drawing of the route controlled by the system and trains together with control numbers which are currently on the route, for example, and also capable of graphically displaying an actually operated diagram within a certain period by managing the operational conditions of the trains in relation to the arrival and departure times at each station. The displaying contents can be changed also through the input device 3. The operator can monitor train operational conditions via those man-machine interfaces.
When judging it is impossible to operate under the scheduled diagram owing to disorder in the train operation, the operator inputs diagram change data through the input device 3 to stabilize the train operation (ST 50). The diagram change data includes such items as: (a) sequential change of the train operation to change the sequence of the train departures in a train section between specified stations; (b) train operation switching to switch a specified train to another specified train at a specified station; (c) train type change to change a specified train to a specified type (special express, express, local, etc.) in a section between specified stations; (d) time change to advance or postpone the departure time of a specified train in a section between specified stations by a specified length of time; (e) suspension of service to suspend operation of a specified train at a specified station; (f) restoration to restore a specified train (suspended) into operation; (g) train setting to newly start operation of a train at a specified time in a section between specified stations; (h) track change to change a track number for a specified train to a specified track number at a selected station; (i) destination change to change the destination of a specified train.
The change data receiving part 11 of the central processing unit 1 receives the diagram change data including the diagram change items, specified train data, specified station data, and the like inputted through the input device 3 (ST 9) and transmits the data to the diagram changing means 14. The diagram changing means 14 updates the day's diagram saved in the diagram memory 12, stores the updated the day's diagram in the diagram memory 12 and transmits the updated the day's diagram to the diagram sectioning means 13 (ST 10). Simultaneously, the diagram changing means 14 transmits the updated day's diagram to the display unit 2 (ST 13) via the diagram transmitting part 15, and the display unit 2 displays the transmitted diagram in response to a display instruction from the operator (ST 20). The diagram sectioning means 13 sections the updated diagram to newly prepare the day's diagram of each station (ST 11), and transmits it from the diagram transmitting part 15 through the LAN 4 to the station control device 5 (ST 12). The diagram receiving part 51 of the station control device 5 receives the updated day's diagram (ST 22), and the route controlling means 52 controls train routes through the interlocking device 6 according to the received the day's diagram by controlling the signals and points relative to trains that approach the station to be controlled by the station control device (ST 23).
As a matter of fact, a railroad service in the suburbs of a large city plays an important role as a commuter transport means, so that a disorder in train operation seriously affects the society. When a critical disorder occurs in the train operation such as a train accident at a station or between stations far from any railway yard and it is impossible for the succeeding trains in operation to avoid the troubled train, a new diagram for the shuttle service (hereinafter referred to as a shuttle diagram) is required from the current on-track positions of trains in train sections which sandwich the section where the troubled train is, between stations having shuttling installations and both of the end stations. However, in the conventional traffic control system, the operator has to change the day's diagram for the shuttle service for every train by combining the predetermined diagram change items, so that, practically, the operator often controls the train routes manually after suspending the traffic control system of automatically controlling the train operation according to the diagram, by using a man-machine interface because of a lot of the diagram change items, of a long time required for processing to change the diagram and the like.

Train traffic control system with diagram preparation


The invention provides A toy vehicle comprising a body being divided into two parts on front and rear sides, a chassis being divided into two parts on front and rear sides on which the front and rear side body parts are mounted respectively, the front and rear side chassis parts being so coupled with each other as to bend those at its coupling portion in upward and downward directions, driving mechanisms for coupling front and rear tires on left side with front and rear tires on right side respectively which are provided to the chassis, driving motors being engaged with the left and right side driving mechanisms respectively and a controller for controlling the driving motors to allow the left side front and rear tires and the right side front and rear tires to rotate mutually in the same direction or in opposite directions.

This invention relates to a toy vehicle designed to be capable of showing attractive performances in traveling, and more particularly to a toy vehicle controlled by a radio-remote control means or a wire-remote control means, which is quickly permitted to turn left and right directions to improve its performance of travelling on a bad road or against obstacle.
In a conventional toy vehicle, it was known that a toy vehicle is designed to have attractive shapes and capability of showing attractive performances in traveling, in which a chassis of the toy vehicle is divided into two parts which are coupled with each other and front and rear tires are separately controlled by a control means. For instance, there was proposed the toy vehicle that its chassis is divided into front and rear parts which may be slightly bent each other, thereby improving a suspension mechanism of the rear chassis. This toy vehicle has general functions which make the toy vehicle go toward and backward and turn left and right directions. Notwithstanding, any further special function is not provided to the conventional toy vehicle.
However, if the conventional toy vehicles hit or face to a body-sized obstacle or an escarpment, it is absolutely prevented to have the toy vehicle go forward, for which reason it is immediately needed to have the toy vehicle go back by changing the direction in traveling. For the conventional toy vehicle, there is such the limit in the travelling performance on off road. In case of dividing the chassis of the toy vehicle, for obtaining a structure of four wheel drive (4WD), it is necessary to contrive a structure for coupling a driving mechanisms of the tires to each divided parts of chassis since a timing for driving front and rear tires must be synchronized with each other. Thus, there are disadvantages in adopting the above structure to the toy vehicle in that steps for fabricating the toy vehicle become complicated and costs therefor are increased. On the other hand, it can be proposed that individual driving motors are provided to the front and rear tires respectively. However, a control means becomes complicated for synchronizing the individual driving motors associated with the front and rear tires and a vehicle weight is increased because of increasing the number of the motors to be used therein.

Toy vehicle with a chassis-bending mechanism


An arrangement for passing an electrical signal between first and second areas includes a body disposable between the first and second areas and having an aperture. A first sleeve is at least partially disposed in the aperture and defines a first opening. A second sleeve is also at least partially disposed in the aperture and defines a second opening. The arrangement further includes an electrically conductive element having a first portion disposed in the first opening, and a second portion disposed in the second opening.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an arrangement for permitting the transmission of an electrical signal between areas of different pressure.
2. Background Art
A need arises in many applications for transmitting an electrical signal between areas of different pressure. In a tank that contains a fluid under pressure, for example, it is often necessary to conduct such a signal into the tank to control a solenoid-operated valve disposed inside the tank. Because the tank must be breached in order to pass a wire through to the valve, some provision must be made for maintaining a seal so as to prevent leakage of contents out of the tank, or to prevent contaminants from passing into the tank.
Various structures are known for establishing such a seal. U.S. Pat. No. 3,352,963, for instance, discloses a fitting including a high pressure side conductor rod and a low pressure side conductor rod that are joined together by a connector, which is received in an insulating sleeve. The sleeve and the connector are disposed within a pair of nested metal sleeves having complementary tapered sealing surfaces and seats. A hollow loading nut houses the sleeves and connector, and draws them together into sealing relation when the nut is threadably secured to a vessel wall. While this fitting is adequate for transmitting an electrical signal between areas of different pressure, the fitting is complex, bulky and costly to produce.
The invention addresses the shortcomings of the prior art by providing an arrangement for passing an electrical signal between different areas that is simple, compact and inexpensive.
Under the invention, an arrangement for passing an electrical signal between first and second areas includes a body disposable between the first and second areas and having an aperture. A first sleeve is at least partially disposed in the aperture and defines a first opening. A second sleeve is also at least partially disposed in the aperture and defines a second opening. The arrangement further includes an electrically conductive element having a first portion disposed in the first opening, and a second portion disposed in the second opening.
Preferably, each sleeve is non-threadingly engaged with the body. As a result, the sleeves can be provided with a simple, low cost configuration.
The electrically conductive element may be a terminal having a radially extending projection disposed between the first and second portions. The arrangement also preferably includes a seal disposed between the sleeves and engaged with the body and the projection.
The arrangement also preferably includes a first conductive member in electrical communication with the first portion and adapted to extend into the first area, and a second conductive member in electrical communication with the second portion and adapted to extend into the second area.
Further under the invention, an arrangement is provided for passing an electrical signal between a first area having a first pressure and a second area having a second pressure, wherein the first pressure is normally greater than the second pressure, thereby creating a pressure differential. The arrangement includes a body disposable between the first and second areas and defining a passage having a shoulder. A first sleeve is non-threadingly engaged with the body and at least partially disposed in the passage. The first sleeve also defines a first terminal opening. A second sleeve is non-threadingly engaged with the body and disposed in the passage between the first sleeve and the shoulder. Furthermore, the second sleeve defines a second terminal opening. The arrangement also includes a terminal having a radially extending projection and first and second shank sections extending from the projection. The first shank section is disposed in the first terminal opening, and the second shank section is disposed in the second terminal opening. When the terminal is exposed to the pressure differential, the projection is urged toward the second sleeve, thereby urging the second sleeve toward the shoulder.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Electrical signal pass through arrangement


A portable electronic device includes a touch input apparatus including a touch panel installed on a surface of a display, the touch panel has a lead part projecting at the end of a detecting section, which includes a matrix area A where X value detection lines and Y value detection lines are arranged in matrix, and a lead area B where a plurality of lead lines extending from the matrix area A in the same direction as the X value detection lines to reach the lead part are arranged, wherein a first touch input section is formed by the matrix area A of the touch panel, and a second touch input section is formed by the lead area B.

Generally, a portable telephone includes a small potable housing in which a thin display such as a liquid crystal display or the like and a plurality of operation keys such as a numerical keypad or the like are arranged. A wide range of information can be displayed by the display, and a wide range of information can be inputted by operating the operation keys.
Also, in a portable telephone, in order to improve its operability, a touch panel is placed so as to cover a screen of the display, so that, for example, by performing a touch operation of a key image displayed on the display, a function corresponding to the key image can be activated (e.g., Japan Patent Laid-Open 2000-78252).
As shown in FIG. 3, a touch panel 6 comprises a detecting part 61 on an end part of which a lead part 62 projects. The detecting part 61 includes a transparent matrix area A where X value detection lines 63 extending in a Y-axis direction and Y value detection lines 64 extending in an X-axis direction are arranged in matrix, and a nontransparent lead area B comprising a plurality of lead lines 65 extending from the matrix area A in the Y-axis direction to reach the lead part 62. The matrix area A functions as a two-dimensional input apparatus.
In a case where the touch panel 6 is installed in a portable telephone, as shown in FIG. 3, the touch panel 6 is placed so that the matrix area A is superposed on an image display area 41 of a display 4. When the portable telephone is in operation, a plurality of key images are displayed on a screen of the display 4. By performing a touch operation at a position where a certain key image is displayed, obtained are an X value output and a Y value output according to a touch position.
In the touch panel 6 shown in FIG. 3, the lead area B comprising the plurality of lead lines 65 does not function as a two-dimensional touch input apparatus, and therefore, in a case where the touch panel 6 is installed in a portable telephone, the lead area B of the touch panel 6 is covered by a cover panel to expose on a front face only the matrix area A where a two-dimensional output is obtained.

Touch input apparatus and portable electronic device including same


An apparatus for magnetically modifying fluid, capable of uniformly forming high magnetic field over the interior of a pipe through which the fluid passes, to activate the fluid with a high efficiency. A ring-like magnetic block (13) includes a ring-like core (15) of magnetic material and a pair of ring-like magnets (14, 14) disposed on opposite sides of the core, and fitted over a pipe (11) extending through a casing (19), fluid flowing through said pipe, each of said magnets having on its one side the north pole and on its other side the south pole, the south poles of the magnets in pair being oriented opposite to each other, and a P-type semiconductor on the inner peripheral surface of said ring-like core.

This invention relates to an apparatus for magnetically modifying fluid and more particularly, to such an apparatus for magnetically modifying fluid passing through a pipe.
It has been known for a long time that magnetic fields are applied to water passing through a pipe to break the bonds of the molecular of water, thereby activating their motion, and this makes the water tasty. It has been found and defined by many physicists for a long time that the south and north poles of a magnet have positive and negative electric charges, respectively and the south pole is effective in modification of properties of weak fluidic magnetic material.
An example of an invention created on the basis of such a theory includes Japanese Patent 2,804,458. This patent discloses an apparatus for magnetizing water wherein as shown in FIG. 7 of the accompanying drawings, magnets 2 and 3 are disposed along the length of a pipe 1 on its opposite sides, the south and north poles of the magnets being oriented opposite to each other so that the magnetic lines of force are generated perpendicularly to a direction of flow of water through the pipe 11.
Another example is Japanese Utility Model Publication Hei 6-1232 which discloses an apparatus for modification of fluidic material comprising a barrel 1 of magnetic material, a block 4 including annular magnets 2 and annular pole pieces 3 of magnetic material arranged alternatively and disposed within the barrel 1, the same poles of the two adjacent magnets being oriented opposite to each other, and a fastening means for retaining the block 4 in it""s assembled relation. The block 4 also includes a plurality of legs 5 of non-magnetic material and projecting from the periphery thereof for abutting the inner wall of the barrel 1 to define a passage 6 around the block 4 and between it and the barrel 1. Closed magnetic circuits are formed from the annular magnets through ones of the annular pole pieces 3, and the barrel 1 to the other adjacent annular pole pieces 3 to define magnetic paths across the fluid passage.
In the arrangement as shown in FIG. 7, the magnetic field id formed horizontally rather than over the entire interior of the pipe 11. For this reason, the activation of water is effected with a low efficiency. In the arrangement as shown in FIG. 8, troublesome assembly is required because the block 4 includes many components and the plurality of legs 5 are acquired to support the block 4 within the barrel 1. In addition, the apparatus is of a weak construction incapable of resisting shock from the exterior.
A main object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for magnetically modifying fluid, capable of forming high magnetic field over the entire interior of the pipe through which the fluid flows, and efficiently activating the fluid.
Another object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus having simpler construction and which is easy to assembly and is strong enough to resist any shock from the exterior.
These objects can be achieved by providing an apparatus comprising a ring-like magnetic block including a ring-like core of magnetic material and a pair of ring-like magnets disposed on opposite sides of the core, and fitted over a pipe extending through a casing, fluid flowing through the pipe, each of the magnets having on its one side the north pole and on its other side the south pole, the south poles of the magnets in pair being oriented opposite to each other, and a P-type semiconductor on the inner peripheral surface of the ring-like core.
With this arrangement, as weak fluidic magnetic material such as water passes through the interior (magnetic field) of the magnets, induced electricity occurs (according to the Faradic law) and this induction phenomenon is amplified by the ring-like magnetic block so that many positive charges can be supplied to the magnetic field. In addition, high magnetic field can uniformly be formed over the interior of the pipe extending through the ring-like magnetic block.
A N-type semiconductor is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the casing in which the ring-like magnetic block is contained. This functions to absorb the N-pole magnetic field which is not required for modification of water. The ring-like core serve to prevent demagnetization of the magnets and may be of a different thickness to enlarge a range of electric field (Lorentz electric field). From these reasons.
The casing containing the ring-like magnetic block is filled with weak magnetic oil such as vegetable oil, animal oil, CH oil or mixture of these oils. Thus, the apparatus is unlikely to be affected by magnetic action from the exterior. Thus, stabilization of the magnetic field is achieved and in addition, any oxidation of the ring-like magnets 14 and the casing 19 can be prevented.


Complex tool kit including a foldable tool assembly and another tool assembly. The foldable tool assembly includes a main body having a passage on top face and several tools one end of which is pivotally connected with one end of the main body, The tools can be folded and collectively arranged under the main body. The other tool assembly includes an elongated flat board body, a chain-disassembling mechanism disposed on the board body for disassembling/assembling a chain and a clamping mechanism disposed on the board body. The clamping mechanism defines a clamping hole adjustable in size for driving a nut. The board body of the other tool assembly is detachably fitted into the passage of the main body and connected with the foldable tool assembly.

The present invention is related to a hand tool, and more particularly to a complex tool kit composed of two tool assemblies. The complex tool kit can be easily carried and used to drive screwed connecting members of a bicycle frame.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,042 discloses a tool combination for bicycle as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The tool combination includes two kits of foldable tools 10, 20 locked with each other by a fixing device 11. Each foldable tool kit has a main body 12, 22 and several tools pivotally connected with the main body 12, 22 by a bolt.
The tool kits are used to assemble/disassemble or repair or adjust the structure of the bicycle.
Many parts of the bicycle frame are fixed thereon by a set of screwed connecting members including a hexagonal bolt and a nut. The two tool kits are used to respectively drive the bolt and nut. However, the two tool kits 10, 20 have large volume and after connected by the fixing device 11, the volume will be even larger so that such tool kits can be hardly conveniently carried. Furthermore, multiple hexagonal wrenches 13xcx9c17 with different sizes are pivotally connected with one tool kit 10 for driving hexagonal bolts. Three fixing wrenches 23, 24, 25 with different sizes and two hexagonal wrenches 26, 27 are pivotally connected with the other tool kit 20 for driving nuts. However, the number of the fixing wrenches is limited so that they can drive only a few sizes of nuts and can be hardly applied to all kinds of nuts of the bicycle frame. Especially, in the case that a user himself/herself adds articles to the bicycle frame, the nuts used for such articles will have various sizes to which the fixing wrenches cannot be applied.
In addition, the above tool kits have another shortcoming as follows: It often takes place that the hexagonal wrench and fixing wrench suitable for a certain set of bolt and nut are mounted on the same tool kit 20. For example, the hexagonal wrench 26 and the fixing wrench 25 must be cooperatively used. At this time, it is impossible to at the same drive the bolt and the nut and only one of the bolt and nut can be driven. Under such circumstance, the bolt and nut are often synchronously driven and cannot be tightened or untightened. Also, it is quite inconvenient to use the chain-cutting tool 28 of the tool kits.
FIG. 3 shows another conventional tool 30 for bicycle. The tool 30 has multiple fitting holes 32 with different sizes. The top end of the tool 30 is detachably connected with a chain cutter 34. The number of the sizes of the fitting holes 32 is limited so that the tool 30 can be hardly applied to all sizes of nuts. Moreover, the tool is one-piece tool so that it is still impossible to drive the bolt at the same time and effectively tighten or untighten the screwed connecting members.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a complex tool kit composed of two tool assemblies which have simple structure and can be easily carried.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a complex tool kit composed of two tool assemblies which are able to effectively drive all screwed connecting members of the bicycle frame and assemble/disassemble the chain of the bicycle.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a complex tool kit which are applicable to all sizes of nuts of the bicycle frame.
The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:


The present invention relates generally to a nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus and method for substantially eliminating the effects of phase coherent acoustic ringing in borehole logging. A series of cycles of measurement pulse sequences are applied to the formation surrounding the borehole. Each pulse sequence includes an RF excitation pulse and several RF refocusing pulses. Spin echoes are received that contain spurious ringing signals from the excitation and refocusing pulses. Spin echo signals from corresponding spin echoes of each cycle are combined and substantially cancel the spurious ringing from the excitation and refocusing pulses of the pulse sequences.

This invention relates to techniques and apparatus for determining characteristics of earth formations surrounding a borehole and, more particularly, to nuclear magnetic resonance borehole logging that utilizes pulse sequences which improve performance.
General background of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) well logging is set forth, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,551. Briefly, in NMR operation the spins of nuclei polarize along an externally applied static magnetic field, assumed to be in the z direction. The vector sum of the magnetic moment from individual nuclei is a macroscopic magnetic dipole called the magnetization, M0. The magnetization is normally aligned with the static magnetic field, but the equilibrium situation can be disturbed by a pulse of an oscillating magnetic field (e.g. an RF pulse generated by an RF antenna), which rotates the magnetization away from the static field direction. The length of the RF pulse can be adjusted to achieve a prescribed rotation angle, such as 90 degrees, 180 degrees, etc. After rotating, two things occur simultaneously. First, the spins precess around the static field at the Larmor frequency, given by xcfx890=xcex3B0, where B0 is the strength of the static field and xcex3 is the gyromagnetic ratio. For hydrogen nuclei, xcex3/2xcfx80=4258 Hz/Gauss, so, for example, for a static field of 235 Gauss, the frequency of precession would be 1 MHz. Second, the spins return to the equilibrium direction according to a decay time T1, the spin lattice relaxation time. Also associated with the magnetization is a second relaxation called the spin-spin relaxation with a decay time T2.
A widely used technique for acquiring NMR data both in the laboratory and in well logging, uses an RF pulse sequence known as the CPMG (Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill) sequence. As is well known, after a wait time that precedes each pulse sequence, known as polarization time, a ninety degree pulse rotates the magnetization to the x-y plane. The spins begin to precess around B0 and dephase. After a certain time delay, a one hundred eighty degree pulse is applied to cause the spins which are dephasing in the transverse plane to refocus. Refocusing leads to an echo that is detected by the NMR instrument. By repeated application of one hundred eighty degree pulses, a series of xe2x80x9cspin echoesxe2x80x9d appear, and the train of echoes is measured and processed.
It has been recognized that xe2x80x9cringingxe2x80x9d is a problem encountered when using pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. There are two types of spurious ringing in pulsed NMR. The first type is electronic ringing which arises from the transient effects of a resonance electronic circuit, and is determined by the characteristics of the resonance circuit. The electronic ringing can be substantially reduced using time-controlled hardware such as Q-switching approaches. The second type of spurious ringing arises from exciting the acoustic resonances in or around the RF antenna structure. [See A. A. V. Gibson and R. E. Raab, xe2x80x9cProton NMR and piezoelectricity in tetramethylammonium chloride,xe2x80x9d J. Chem. Phys. 57, 4688-4693, (1972); M. L. Buess, and G. L. Peterson, xe2x80x9cAcoustic ringing effects in pulsed magnetic resonance probes,xe2x80x9d Rev. Sci. Instrum., 49, 1151-1155, (1978); E. Fukushima, and S. B. W. Roeder, xe2x80x9cSpurious ringing in pulse NMR,xe2x80x9d J. Mag. Resonance, 33, 199-203, (1979); and R. L. Kleinberg, A. Sezginer, D. D. Griffin, and M. Fukuhara, xe2x80x9cNovel NMR Apparatus for Investigating an External Sample,xe2x80x9d J. Mag. Res., 97, 466-485, (1992).] This is magnetoacoustic ringing, and can last up to several milliseconds. It appears whenever the frequency of the applied RF current matches at least one of acoustic resonance modes of the RF antenna or its surrounding structure. Both types of ringing are phase coherent with the applied RF pulse and therefore can not be canceled, unlike incoherent noise, by stacking repeated measurements. [Techniques for dealing with the problems of ringing in laboratory equipment are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,438,400 and in the following publications: I. P. Gerothanassis, xe2x80x9cMethods Of Avoiding The Effects Of Acoustic Ringing In Pulsed Fourier Transform Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopyxe2x80x9d, Progress in NMR Spectroscopy, Vol. 19, pp. 276-329, 1987 (see Section 9.3 and see Note Added In Proof with regard to sequences of interest as used in laboratory spectrometry with single echo sequences); and S. Zhang, X. Wu, and M. Mehring, xe2x80x9cElimination Of Ringing Effects In Multiple-Pulse Sequencesxe2x80x9d, Chemical Physics Letters, Vol. 173, No. 5.6, pp. 481-484, 1990.]
The amplitude of the ringing signal can be large enough to saturate the receiver circuitry, making its response to the CPMG echo signal nonlinear. Magnetoacoustic ringing can be reduced by selecting proper material for the RF antenna and its surrounding structure (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,153,514), but it is very difficult to completely eliminate acoustic ringing by mechanical methods alone, particularly in well logging equipment that has design constraints relating to its adaptability for the borehole environment. This ringing can be a major obstacle for measuring parameters such as total porosity in magnetic resonance logging.
It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a technique and apparatus for substantially eliminating the effects of phase coherent acoustic ringing in nuclear magnetic resonance well logging.
In accordance with a form of the method of the invention, there is disclosed a technique for obtaining nuclear magnetic resonance measurements from formations surrounding an earth borehole, comprising the following steps: providing a logging device that is moveable through the borehole and through formations in which a static magnetic field is present; producing, from the logging device, a series of cycles of pulse sequences in the formations, each of the pulse sequences including an RF excitation pulse and several RF refocusing pulses; receiving, at the logging device, spin echoes from the formations to produce spin echo signals that may include spurious ringing signals from the excitation and refocusing pulses; and combining spin echo signals from corresponding spin echoes of each of the cycles of pulse sequences to obtain combined spin echo signals in which spurious ringing from the excitation pulses and refocusing pulses of the pulse sequences is substantially cancelled. The static magnetic field can be earth""s magnetic field or a static magnetic field produced at the logging device.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the steps of producing cycles of pulse sequences and combining spin echo signals include manipulating the polarities of the excitation and refocusing pulses to obtain the substantial cancellation of the spurious ringing from the excitation and refocusing pulses.
Also in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the series of cycles of pulse sequences comprises four cycles of pulse sequences. In a form of this embodiment, the step of combining spin echo signals from corresponding spin echoes of each of the cycles of pulse sequences to obtain combined spin echo signals comprises combining corresponding spin echo signals from two of cycles and subtracting the spin echo signals from the other two of the cycles. Also in this form of the embodiment, all the spin echo signals of two of the four cycles have a polarity that is opposite to that of all the spin echo signals of the other two of the four cycles.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the step of producing a series of cycles of pulse sequences in the formations further includes producing an RF inverting pulse in some of the cycles of pulse sequences, and the step of receiving spin echoes from the formations to produce spin echo signals includes receiving spin echoes to produce spin echo signals that may includes spurious ringing signals from the inverting pulses, and the combining step includes combining spin echoes of each of the cycles of pulse sequences to obtain combined spin echoes in which spurious ringing from the inverting pulses of the pulse sequences is also substantially cancelled. In a form of this embodiment, the inverting pulses are implemented before the excitation pulses of their respective cycles. The excitation and inverting pulses can be combined into a single pulse in each of a plurality of the pulse sequences.
In one preferred form of the invention, the excitation pulses are 90 degree pulses and the refocusing and inverting pulses are 180 degree pulses.
In an embodiment of the invention, the four sequences are constructed using a set of specific construction rules (detailed hereinbelow) that define the phase relationships of the RF pulses used in the sequences. One example of a four phase cycle that satisfies these rules, is
x[y]n+1, x[y]n+1, xx[y]n, xx[y]n,
where the first letter represents the rf carrier phase of the RF excitation pulse and subsequent letters represent the rf carrier phases of the RF refocusing pulses (x=0 degrees, y=90 degrees, x=180 degrees, y=270 degrees). All phases are measured relative to an (arbitrarily chosen) reference phase. Examples of other possible forms of this embodiment include:
x[y]n+1, x[y]n+1, xx[y]n, xx[y]n
x[y]n+1, x[y]n+1, xx[y]n, xx[y]n
x[y]n+1, x[y]n+1, xx[y]n, xx[y]n
x[y]n+1, x[y]n+1, xx[y]n, xx[y]n
x[y]n+1, x[y]n+1, xx[y]n, xx[y]n
x[y]n+1, x[y]n+1, xx[y]n, xx[y]n
xe2x80x83x[y]n+1, x[y]n+1, xx[y]n, xx[y]n
x[y]n+1, x[y]n+1, xx[y]n, xx[y]n
x[y]n+1, x[y]n+1, xx[y]n, xx[y]n
and
0xc2x0 45xc2x0 [0xc2x0]n, 180xc2x0 45xc2x0 [0xc2x0]n, 0xc2x0 xe2x88x9245xc2x0 [0xc2x0]n, 180xc2x0 xe2x88x9245xc2x0 [0xc2x0]n
Further features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Nuclear magnetic resonance well logging method and apparatus


Apparatus for separating solid materials from mixtures having solid materials therein, including a wire mesh screen the two opposing edges of which are retained by elongated rigid retainer assemblies against which oppositely directed forces may be applied for placing the screen in tension. Each of the rigid retainer assemblies may comprise: a first rigid retainer member having an elongated flat base portion from one edge of which upwardly projects a curved rib portion providing an elongated arcuate convex surface; a second rigid retainer member having an elongated base portion from one edge of which upwardly projects a curved rib portion providing an elongated arcuate concave surface; and a third rigid retainer member including a flat elongated base portion from one edge of which upwardly projects a rib portion for disposition between the elongated arcuate convex surface of the first retainer member and the elongated arcuate concave surface of the second retainer member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to apparatus for separating solid materials from mixtures having such solid materials therein. In particular, it pertains to separating apparatus in which the two opposing edges of a wire mesh screen are retained by elongated retainer assemblies against which oppositely directed forces may be applied for placing the screen in tension. Specifically, the present invention pertains to rigid retainer assemblies for use with such separating apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are many methods and apparatus for separating solid materials from mixtures having such solid materials therein. In some of these methods, a wire mesh screen is provided for separating the solid materials from dry or wet mixtures containing such solid materials. For example, such screens are frequently used in shale separation and in separating cuttings from drilling muds being circulated in oil and/or gas wells. The wire mesh screen is usually placed in tension and may even be vibrated to aid in the separation process.
Since the wire screen is preferably placed in tension, it is necessary that some means be provided for retaining or holding the edges thereof and placing the screen in tension. For this reason, various types of retainer assemblies have been developed for attachment to opposing edges of the screen. These retainer assemblies may then be engaged by some means for applying forces thereto to place the screen in tension. Since a considerable force may be applied thereto, one of the problems associated with such apparatus is tearing of the screen or separation of the edges thereof from the retainer assemblies.
In recent years, a two-piece retainer assembly has been developed, between the two pieces or members thereof which the edges of the screen are tightly clamped. One of these members may comprise an elongated flat base portion from one edge of which upwardly projects a curved rib portion providing an elongated arcuate convex surface. Another member may also include an elongated base portion from one edge of which upwardly projects a curved rib portion providing an elongated arcuate concave surface. The edge of the screen is sandwiched between the curved rib portions of the respective retainer members for gripping thereby. When forces are applied to the retainer assemblies, the edges of the screen are tightly gripped by the respective retainer members and the screen placed in tension.
Even though the two retainer members and the screen may be welded together by spot welding, it is not uncommon for the screen to tear and disengage the retainer assemblies, or to become so loose therein that tension cannot be retained on the screen. This, of course, reduces the separation efficiency thereof.


A power converter comprises an inductor coupled between a switching terminal and an output terminal of the power converter, a high side switching element coupled between an input terminal of the power converter and the switching terminal, a low side switching element coupled between the switching terminal and a reference terminal, and a feedback circuit comprising a continuous comparator unit configured to compare a ramp signal with an error signal using a first enable signal, a latched comparator unit configured to compare the ramp signal with the error signal using a second enable signal, wherein the error signal is based on a difference between a reference voltage and an output voltage at the output terminal of the power converter.

A buck converter is a DC-to-DC power converter, which belongs to the class of Switched-Mode Power Supplies (SMPS). It is widely used throughout the industry to convert a higher input voltage into a lower output voltage. It is well-known in the art that this behavior may be achieved by alternatingly connecting an inductor according to a variable duty cycle (a) to the input terminal of the power converter using a high side switching element or (b) to ground using a low side switching element. In case the output voltage drops too fast below a pre-determined reference voltage, the power converter will attempt to maximize its duty cycle. This may happen during a load transient or when drawing too much current from the output of the power converter. In an synchronous valley mode current control architecture, for example, the maximum duty cycle may be limited by the minimum on-time of the low side switching element. This minimum on-time of the low side switching element severely depends on the delay of the continuous comparator used to compare an error voltage (indicating a difference between the actual output voltage and the reference voltage) and a ramp voltage.
Moreover, the maximum duty cycle of the power converter also sets the maximum speed at which the inductor current may be increased. It eventually also limits the maximum current that can be drawn from the output of the power converter if resistive losses are taken into account.
A similar limitation exists for the synchronous peak mode current control architecture. In this case, the minimum on-time of the high side switching element limits the minimum duty cycle of the power converter, and thereby limits the power converter's capability to decrease the inductor current, and eventually also to sink current at the output of the power converter.
To cope with these problems, the comparator delay has to be minimized. However, reducing the delay of a continuous comparator usually requires more bias current, and hence decreases the power efficiency of the converter. Therefore, delay minimization is only possible up to a certain extent. Another solution in conventional converters is to skip clock edges and thereby reduce the frequency of the output stage. This causes a higher current ripple, and also makes the frequency dependent on load conditions, which may not be desired in some applications.


An accumulator is provided for use with a vehicle air conditioning system. The accumulator comprises a housing having first and second sections, an outlet tube integral with the second section, and a desiccant container. Inlet and outlet openings are formed in the housing through which refrigerant enters and exits the interior chamber defined by the housing. The outlet tube extends from the outlet opening into the interior chamber and terminates in a free end. The desiccant container is mounted in the interior chamber between the housing and the free end of the outlet tube to define a first path between the housing and the desiccant container through which incoming refrigerant may flow. The desiccant container also has a second path therethrough through which incoming refrigerant may flow.

A vehicle air conditioning system conventionally includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and an accumulator arranged as a refrigerant circuit. The compressor compresses gaseous refrigerant for delivery to the condenser, where the state of the refrigerant changes from gaseous to liquid. The liquid refrigerant then passes to the evaporator, where an air blower circulates air over the evaporator to the vehicle passenger compartment. The consequent heat transfer from the ambient air to the evaporator causes the refrigerant to change to a mostly gaseous state.
The refrigerant then passes from the evaporator to the accumulator. The function of the accumulator is to separate any remaining liquid refrigerant from the gaseous refrigerant, allowing only gaseous refrigerant to return to the compressor. The residual liquid refrigerant eventually turns to a gaseous state and is then returned to the compressor. The accumulator also provides for recovery of lubricating oil contained in the refrigerant, returning a metered amount of the oil to the inlet side of the compressor.
The accumulator normally is an upright cylindrical housing with an inlet opening formed therein and having an outlet tube with its mouth near the top of the accumulator. Refrigerant from the evaporator is introduced into the accumulator through the inlet opening, which may be in the top or in the side of the accumulator housing. Suction created by the compressor draws gaseous refrigerant out of the accumulator through the outlet tube. A desiccant is usually provided to dry the refrigerant as it circulates through the accumulator.
To prevent any liquid refrigerant from entering the outlet tube and being drawn back into the compressor, some structure is typically provided to act as a shield for the mouth of the outlet tube. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,355 to Breuhan et al., assigned to the assignee of the present invention, discloses an accumulator with a domed baffle which encloses a desiccant for drying the refrigerant. The incoming refrigerant deflects off the domed baffle and flows around the desiccant. The liquid refrigerant pools in the bottom of the accumulator. Gaseous refrigerant exits the accumulator through either of two flow paths, one through the desiccant and a filter, the second through the filter only.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,737 to Smith et al., also assigned to the assignee of the present invention, discloses an accumulator having dual flow paths. One of the paths passes through a filter and a pressure regulator assembly, and the other passes only through the pressure regulator assembly. The function of the alternative flow path in this design is to allow for an unrestricted passage for the gaseous refrigerant out of the accumulator in case the filter becomes clogged with contamination. The filter and pressure regulator assembly both add a measurable pressure drop in the flow path, however.
Because the incoming flow of refrigerant has a relatively high velocity, turbulence can be created when the refrigerant contacts the outlet tube shield or other structure provided as an incoming flow deflector. This turbulence may hamper the efficient separation of the liquid from the gaseous refrigerant.
It has been proposed to dampen the incoming flow by filtering the refrigerant through the desiccant, which is mounted for this purpose in the upper part of the accumulator. An example of this design is U.S. Pat. No. 4,354,362 to Schumacher et al., in which all the incoming refrigerant passes through the desiccant. With this design, the liquid level may rise in the desiccant container or in a chamber provided upstream of the desiccant container, for instance when the vehicle air conditioning system is operating under low loads. This may temporarily hinder the passage of gaseous refrigerant through the accumulator.

Accumulator for vehicle air conditioning system


A drawing device includes a pen that applies a liquid material to a drawing surface and a cap that covers a tip side of the pen and is arranged at a standby position of the pen. The cap includes: an inner cap that has an opening and covers the tip side of the pen when a periphery of the opening is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the tip side of the pen; an outer cap that has an opening, is arranged outside of the inner cap, and covers the tip side of the pen that is covered by the inner cap when the pen is locked into the outer cap; and an elastic member that is arranged between the outer cap and the inner cap and energizes the inner cap towards an opening side of the outer cap. The pen and the outer cap each have an interlockable locking mechanism.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cap mechanism, a drawing device, and a method of drawing.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various technologies have been developed for use in conventional drawing devices for drawing nail designs on fingernails.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-194838 discloses a nail art device for drawing nail designs on the fingernails that includes a holder for locking the finger in place.
This nail art device utilizes an inkjet printer to print nail designs on the fingernails.
In this type of device, using a pen plotter or the like makes it possible to draw using inks that contain glitter, which have a large particle size and are difficult to use as inkjet inks. However, in consideration of safety of use on the human body, it is preferable that any inks filled into the liquid material applicator (pen) used in a pen plotter be water-soluble. With these types of inks, if the tip of the pen is not covered when the pen is not in use, the ink on the tip of the pen tends to dry and quickly render the pen unusable.
In conventional pens, pushing a cap onto the pen with a force of approximately 2 kgf attaches the cap to the pen in a locked state sufficient to prevent drying of the pen tip.
However, to avoid an increase in the overall size of the device, the motors used in the mechanism that moves the pen must be small. This makes it difficult to press a cap onto the pen with sufficient force.
To solve this problem, the device configuration illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B includes a cap 100 that can house a pen tip 33 of a pen 30. As illustrated in FIG. 6A, when the pen 30 is not in use, the pen 30 is moved to the cap 100. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 6B, the pen 30 is simply placed on the cap 100 to insert the pen tip 33 into the cap 100.
In this case, although the pen tip 33 is covered by the cap 100, the pen 30 is simply resting on the cap 100 under the weight of the pen 30 itself. Therefore, the strength of the resulting seal is poor, and only a limited anti-drying effect is achieved.
The present invention was made in view of the abovementioned problems and aims to provide a cap mechanism, a drawing device, and a method of drawing that make it possible to achieve an exceptional anti-drying effect for the pen tip while minimizing any increases in the overall size of the device.


The invention discloses a power mesh arrangement method utilized in an integrated circuit having multiple power domains. The arrangement method includes: forming a first partial local power mesh according to a position of a first power domain; forming a second partial local power mesh according to a position of a second power domain; forming a global power mesh, utilized for providing powers needed by the first and the second power domains; coupling the first partial local power mesh to the global power mesh and the first power domain; and coupling the second partial local power mesh to the global power mesh and the second power domain.

(a) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a power mesh arrangement method, particular to a power mesh arrangement method applied in an integrated circuit having multiple power domains.
(b) Description of the Related Art
As the circuitry of the integrated circuit becomes more and more complicate, there are possibilities that different portions of the circuitry of a chip need different voltages (powers) at the same time. For example, the chip circuitry may have two kinds of operating modes: the normal operating mode and the sleeping mode. During the normal operating mode, the entire chip circuitry uses the operating voltage for its normal operation. But during the sleeping mode, only part of the chip circuitry needs to be maintained in the normal operating mode. Therefore, the normal operating voltage is still used by these circuits for its operation while the other circuits of the chip only need a lower voltage for maintaining the sleeping mode operation.
Therefore, different powers need to be supplied to the different circuits inside the chip so that the circuits can perform different operations during the sleeping mode. Hence, it is common practices to arrange multiple power domains in the chip circuitry. In other words, circuits in different power domains are coupled to different powers respectively so that the circuits of different power domains use different powers to support the different operations that are just mentioned.
But, the traditional circuit design approach does not provide a simple rule or step for the circuit designer to plan and design the power routing of a circuit having multiple power domains. For example, the well-known automatic placement and routing (APR) tool can only support circuits having single power domain. Therefore, a circuit designer can only rely on the most primitive method to design the power routing of multiple power domains, such as the manual routing. Obviously, such design approach is not only complicated but also inefficient.

Power mesh arrangement method utilized in an integrated circuit having multiple power domains


An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a method for calculating at least one confidence interval. The method comprises a set of instructions that activate a calculator. The user selects input data, which the calculator reformats to generate output data. The calculator then generates both a calibration summary and specific calibration summary containing calibration standard measurements from the output data. A linear calibration curve and residual calibration value plot are derived from these calibration standard measurements. The calculator calculates a back-calculated unknown sample value using the information gathered from the linear calibration curve and residual calibration value plot. The calculator can then calculate the confidence interval for the back-calculated unknown sample value.

This invention relates to prediction interval calculators and, more particularly, to a prediction interval calculator that performs a complete statistical analysis of the output of an atomic absorption instrument in accordance with Six Sigma.
With the advent of the worldwide marketplace and the corresponding consumer demand for highly reliable products, quality has become an increasingly important issue. The quality of a company""s product line can therefore play a decisive role in determining the company""s reputation and profitability. As a result of this pressure for defect-free products, increased emphasis is being placed on quality control at all levels; it is no longer just an issue with which quality control managers are concerned. This has led to various initiatives designed to improve quality, such as the Total Quality Management (TQM) and the Six Sigma quality improvement programs. An overview of the Six Sigma program is presented by Mikel J. Harry and J. Ronald Lawson in xe2x80x9cSix Sigma Producibility Analysis and Process Characterization,xe2x80x9d Addison Wesley Publishing Co., pp. 1-1 through 1-4 5, 1992. The Six Sigma process is also thoroughly discussed by G. J. Hahn, W. J. Hill, R. W. Hoerl, and S. A. Zinkgraf in xe2x80x9cThe Impact of Six Sigma Improvementxe2x80x94A Glimpse into the Future of Statisticsxe2x80x9d, The American Statistician, 53, 3, August, pages 208-215; and by G. J. Hahn, N. Doganaksoy, and R. Hoerl in xe2x80x9cThe Evolution of Six Sigmaxe2x80x9d, to appear in Quality Engineering, March 2000 issue.
Six Sigma analysis is a data driven methodology to improve the quality of products and services delivered to customers. Decisions made regarding direction, interpretation, scope, depth or any other aspect of quality effort should be based on actual data gathered, and not based on opinion, authority or guesswork. Key critical-to-quality (CTQ) characteristics are set by customers. Based on those CTQs, internal measurements and specifications are developed in order to quantify quality performance. Quality improvement programs are developed whenever there is a gap between the customer CTQ expectations and the current performance level.
The basic steps in a quality improvement project are first to define the real problem by identifying the CTQs and related measurable performance that is not meeting customer expectations. This real problem is then translated into a statistical problem through the collection of data related to the real problem. By the application of the scientific method (observation, hypothesis and experimentation), a statistical solution to this statistical problem is arrived at. This solution is deduced from the data through the testing of various hypotheses regarding a specific interpretation of the data. Confidence (prediction) intervals provide a key statistical tool used to accept or reject hypotheses that are to be tested. The arrived at statistical solution is then translated back to the customer in the form of a real solution.
In common use, data is interpreted on its face value. However, from a statistical point of view, the results of a measurement cannot be interpreted or compared without a consideration of the confidence that measurement accurately represents the underlying characteristic that is being measured. Uncertainties in measurements will arise from variability in sampling, the measurement method, operators and so forth. The statistical tool for expressing this uncertainty is called a confidence interval depending upon the exact situation in which the data is being generated.
Confidence interval refers to the region containing the limits or band of a parameter with an associated confidence level that the bounds are large enough to contain the true parameter value. The bands can be single-sided to describe an upper or lower limit or double sided to describe both upper and lower limits. The region gives a range of values, bounded below by a lower confidence limit and from above by an upper confidence limit, such that one can be confident (at a pre-specified level such as 95% or 99%) that the true population parameter value is included within the confidence interval. Confidence intervals can be formed for any of the parameters used to describe the characteristic of interest. In the end, confidence intervals are used to estimate the population parameters from the sample statistics and allow a probabilistic quantification of the strength of the best estimate.
In the case of the invention described herein, the calculated prediction intervals describe a range of values which contain the actual value of the sample at some given double-sided confidence level. For example, the present invention allows the user to change a statistically undependable statement, xe2x80x9cThere is 5.65 milligrams of Hg in sample Xxe2x80x9d, to, xe2x80x9cThere is 95% confidence that there is 5.65+/xe2x88x920.63 milligrams of Hg in sample Xxe2x80x9d. A prediction interval for an individual observation is an interval that will, with a specified degree of confidence, contain a randomly selected observation from a population. The inclusion of the confidence interval at a given probability allows the data to be interpreted in light of the situation. The interpreter has a range of values bounded by an upper and lower limit that is formed for any of the parameters used to describe the characteristic of interest. Meanwhile and at the same time, the risk associated with and reliability of the data is fully exposed allowing the interpreter access to all the information in the original measurement. This full disclosure of the data can then be used in subsequent decisions and interpretations of which the measurement data has bearing.
Current generation atomic absorption instruments use a linear calibration scheme to back calculate sample concentrations based on known calibration samples. After specifying acceptable tolerances for read back samples, a typical batch run may contain several calibrations performed during the course of the run. For example, calibration samples can be run a total of six times for a particular data set. Each sample concentration must then be back calculated for each calibration. However, the calculations routinely performed by these instruments do not calculate confidence intervals for the back calculations of each sample concentration.
To calculate these parameters can be cumbersome, even if a hand-held calculator is used. To avoid the inconvenience of using calculators, look-up tables are often used instead, in which the various parameters of interest are listed in columns and correlated with each other. Nevertheless, these tables do not provide the user with enough flexibility, e.g., it is generally necessary to interpolate between the listed values. Furthermore, the user is not presented information in a way that is interactive, so that a xe2x80x9cfeelxe2x80x9d for the numbers and the relationship of the various quantities to each other is lost.
Accordingly, there is a particular need for a method and apparatus for calculating confidence intervals under Six Sigma.
In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method for calculating confidence intervals-comprises a set of instructions that activate a calculator. The user selects input data, which the calculator reformats to generate output data. The calculator then generates both a calibration summary and specific calibration summary containing calibration standard measurements from the output data. A linear calibration curve and residual calibration value plot are derived from these calibration standard measurements. The calculator calculates a back-calculated unknown sample value using the information gathered from the linear calibration curve and residual calibration value plot. The calculator then calculates the confidence interval for the back-calculated unknown sample value.
In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, an apparatus comprises a set of instructions for calculating at least one confidence interval value.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following brief description of the drawings, detailed description, and appended claims and drawings.

Method and apparatus for calculating confidence intervals


This document relates to protocol translation for remote control of various devices. One example is a technique that includes identifying a controlled device that has a controlled device communication protocol for controlling the controlled device. The technique also includes obtaining translation data that conveys translations of commands from another protocol into the controlled device protocol. The technique also includes configuring a delay for transmitting the translated commands, and performing translation between the another protocol and the controlled device protocol using the translation data and the configured delay.

Different types of electronic devices can be controlled remotely by other devices, and sometimes different devices use different protocols. As a consequence, an electronic device may sometimes receive a command in a protocol that the device cannot properly interpret. In some cases, receiving such a command can cause the electronic device to exhibit unexpected behavior.


An offset cancellation circuit corrects DC offset appearing at the input of a comparator circuit. The first input of a summing junction receives an input signal containing DC offset. The output of the summing junction drives the input of the comparator and a feedback amplifier, the latter of which returns to the second input of the summing junction. Any DC offset is processed through the feedback amplifier where it subtracts from the input signal for providing zero DC offset at the input of the comparator.

This invention relates in general to offset cancellation circuits and, more particularly, to an offset cancellation circuit for reducing pulse pairing.
In computer disk drive applications, an analog signal received from the read/write head as it passes over the disk platter is converted to a digital signal for further processing by the microprocessor. To obtain maximum signal-to-noise ratio for the analog-to-digital conversion, a signal level qualification is performed on the analog signal to ensure its amplitude is sufficient to distinguish over any noise present and to convert it to a digital logic level. Furthermore, it is desirable to generate a clock pulse corresponding to the peak of the analog signal for timing qualification to ensure the corresponding digital signal is sampled at mid-pulse.
Accordingly, the analog signal from the read/write head of the disk drive is typically processed through a differentiator circuit to detect the peak of the analog signal which corresponds to a zero-crossing of the differentiated signal. A comparator circuit changes state at each zero-crossing of the differentiated signal, while a zero-crossing detector is responsive to the output signal of the comparator for generating the clock pulse used to sample the converted digital signal at mid-pulse.
A common problem with the prior art timing qualification circuit is the introduction of a DC offset at the output of the differentiator circuit which has the effect of shifting the zero-crossing point of the differentiated signal and providing inaccurate timing information. The DC offset tends to shift adjacent clock pulse pairs closer together, commonly known as pulse pairing, which causes the digital signal to be sampled off mid-pulse. The clock pulse pairing reduces the margin of identifying in which time window a pulse has occurred. It is desirable to minimize pulse pairing and maintain equal temporal spacing between the clock pulses.
A typical solution for the DC offset problem is to AC-couple the output of the differentiator circuit with capacitors inserted in series to the input of the comparator circuit. The AC-coupled capacitors require values in the range of 0.1 microfarads to effectively remove the DC offset. Such large valued capacitors must be placed external to the integrated circuit (IC) chip, and for differential operation, require four IC pins to connect two external capacitors.
Furthermore, the large value AC-coupled capacitors have an associated long time constant to charge to an operational level. It is common for the differentiator and comparator circuits to be placed in an inoperative sleep mode to conserve power when the disk drive is not being accessed. Yet, the timing qualification circuit must begin operating very rapidly once a disk read request is issued. The large value capacitors tend to limit the operating speed of the disk drive by nature of the charge time for the external capacitors when returning to operation from sleep mode.
Hence, what is needed is an improved offset cancellation circuit for removing DC offset while reducing pin allocation for external capacitors and reducing the circuit start-up time after periods of non-operation.

Offset cancellation circuit and method of reducing pulse pairing


The problems identified above are in large part addressed by an docking assembly including an electronic device, a base piece, and a rotating piece. The base piece is electrically connected to at least one peripheral device. The rotating piece is intermediate between the electronic device and the base piece. The rotating piece enables rotational movement of the electronic device with respect to the base piece while maintaining electrical contact between one or more signal carriers of the electronic device and corresponding signal carriers of one or more peripheral devices. The assembly may include a set of conductive bearings at an upper surface of the base piece. In this embodiment, each conductive bearing is in electrical contact with a corresponding signal carrier in the base piece. The rotating piece may include an annular conductive element at a lower surface of the rotating piece. The conductive element is in contact with a corresponding bearing element. The base piece may include a set of conductive axial elements that provide a connection between the conductive bearing at a first end and a corresponding signal carrier in the base piece at a second end. The base piece signal carrier may be connected to a corresponding axial element through an intermediate base piece conductive element. The conductive bearing may comprise a material selected from the metals including aluminum, copper, and gold. In one embodiment, a lower surface of the rotating piece includes at least one annular tongue protrusion and an upper surface of the base piece includes at least one annular groove corresponding to each of the tongue protrusions. The tongue protrusions of the rotating piece are seated within corresponding grooves of the base piece thereby preventing translational movement between the rotating piece and the base piece when the rotating piece is rotated with respect to the base piece.

1. Field of the Present Invention
The present invention generally relates to the field of electro-mechanical interfaces and more particularly to the design of a mechanism suitable for enabling rotational movement of an electronic device relative a base piece connecting the electronic device with one or more external peripheral devices.
2. History of Related Art
Laptop style personal computers (laptops) are well known in the field of microprocessor based computer systems. Laptops provide a portable data processing system in a relatively small and typically foldable package that is suitable for transporting from place to place. Typically, such systems are capable of operating on batteries for an extended period such that the system can be operated when the user is away from a source of AC power, such as when the user is in an airplane or automobile. Typically, smaller and lighter laptop systems are preferred to larger and heavier systems. Unfortunately, some features of laptops systems that would otherwise be larger for ease of use, such as keyboards and display screens, are intentionally reduced in size to achieve the desired laptop footprint. When a laptop user has access to a source of AC power, such as when the user is in his or her home or office, it is frequently desirable to connect standard sized peripheral devices to the laptop system to facilitate system use. Docking stations are typically employed to achieve this connection between externally supplied peripheral components and a laptop personal computer. A docking station includes facilities for connecting various peripheral devices to a laptop system. Unfortunately, when the laptop is connected to the docking station, the user is typically unable to move the laptop system except within a very limited range. Under some conditions, such as when multiple people are working on a project, it would be desirable to be able to rotate the laptop system even when the laptop system is connected to its docking station to enable multiple users, for example, to view the display screen of the laptop system without difficulty. Therefore it would be desirable to implement a docking station or other suitable device that would enable the free rotation of an electronic device such as a laptop personal computer when the electronic device is connected the docking station.

Rotatable docking station for an electronic device

International Business Machines Corporation


An acoustic wave device includes a substrate, an acoustic wave element, an electrode pad, a resin portion and a metal post. The acoustic wave element is provided on the substrate. The electrode pad is provided on the substrate, is electrically coupled to the acoustic wave element, and has an Au layer and an adhesive layer formed on the Au layer and having an opening. The resin portion is provided on the substrate so as to cover the acoustic wave element and the electrode pad, and has a through-hole formed to expose a surface of the electrode pad. The metal post is provided in the through-hole and contacts with the Au layer through the opening of the adhesive layer. The adhesive layer is provided between the Au layer and the resin portion.

There is used a surface acoustic wave device as an acoustic wave device that has an IDT (Interdigital Transducer) formed with a comb electrode on a surface of a piezoelectric substrate and uses an acoustic wave excited with an implied electrical power to the comb electrode. The acoustic wave device such as the surface acoustic wave device is being widely used for a circuit treating a radio signal such as a band pass filter for transmission, a band pass filter for reception or an antenna duplexer.
There is developed a WLP (Wafer Level Package) technology for downsizing a package to a size of an acoustic wave element in order to downsize a surface acoustic wave device. An IDT 12 and an electrode pad 13 are formed on a wafer-shaped piezoelectric substrate 10, with reference to FIG. 1 of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-352430. A first insulating layer and a second insulating layer are formed on the piezoelectric substrate 10 so as to have a through-hole on the electrode pad 13. It is therefore possible to electrically couple an upper face of the insulating layer and the IDT 12 via the through-hole.
There is, however, a problem that adhesiveness is not high between a resin portion acting as the first insulating layer and the electrode pad.

Acoustic wave device with adhesive layer and method of manufacturing the same