An improved method for computing sequence correlations utilizes pre-calculated look-up tables to reduce computational burdens. A sample sequence of symbols, such as a received sequence of symbols, is divided into a series of subblocks. A look-up table of combinational values is built for each subblock wherein the combinational values are arithmetic sums of the symbols in the subblock, either as received or negated. Preferably, the combinational values are computed in Gray code order so as to take advantage of bit-shifting and sign changes to lessen computational burdens. Correlation factors with respect to a known sequence of symbols are then calculated using the combinational values from these pre-calculated tables whenever possible. The correlation factors are then used in a known fashion to reach a correlation result. This method increase correlation computational efficiency in many situations, particularly for joint demodulation, code acquisition, and/or interference cancellation in wireless communications systems.

In many communications systems, there is a need to compute correlations between a received signal and a known sequence. This is particularly true for wireless communications systems such as cellular telephone systems.
Correlation, as used herein, is a process by which a sample sequence is compared or matched against a known sequence to determine where, or if, the known sequence is present in the sample sequence. Examples of when correlation is used include synchronization and joint demodulation in many wireless systems such as GSM, D-AMPS, and TETRA, as well as code acquisition in CDMA systems such as IS-95. Proper correlation is very important for proper functioning of these systems.
Typically, the sample sequence is a received signal and the correlation process attempts to either determine the start of a communications frame (synchronization) or separate commingled signals (joint demodulation). The traditional correlation process is computationally intensive; the known sequence is compared against the sample sequence in an increment-by-increment fashion. For each incremental comparison, a correlation factor, or score, is obtained. The highest correlation factor identifies the best fit of the known sequence to the sample sequence, which should correspond to the location in the sample sequence where the known sequence appears.
Consider a simple synchronization example for a communications signal divided into groups known as communications frames. For a receiver to properly interpret a received signal, the receiver must be able to determine where one frame begins and another ends. In order to facilitate this, each frame contains a known synchronization sequence in addition to the communications data. For simplicity, assume that the synchronization (sync) sequence is at the beginning of each frame. At the transmitter, a frame is constructed using a block of data and the known sync sequence s=(s.sub.0, s.sub.1, . . . s.sub.L-1) having a length L to identify the boundaries of the frame. The transmitter combines one or more frames and transmits the frames as a communications signal to a receiver. The receiver assembles the received signal into a received sequence r=(r.sub.0, r.sub.1, . . . r.sub.F-1). The receiver then determines the boundaries of the frame by correlating the received sequence r with the known sync sequence s. The correlation of the received sequence to the sync sequence involves calculating a series of correlation factors C.sub.j, and then selecting the correlation factor having the highest value. The correlation factors are calculated according to the formula ##EQU1## for a range of values, say 0.ltoreq.j<N-1, where N=F-L+1 and F is frame length in number of elements. Note that it is always assumed that L.ltoreq.F, i. e., the known sync sequence length is no larger than the frame length. In FIG. 1, L is seven, F is fifteen, meaning N is nine. In simple terms, N represents the number of correlation factors that must be computed for each correlation.
The formula above is essentially the mathematical equivalent of laying the known sync sequence over the received signal to determine where the best fit is. When the fit is best, the correlation factor should be the highest, indicating the location of a frame boundary. Once the frame boundary is known, the data content of the frame can be properly interpreted.
Assuming the sync sequence is a bipolar (.+-.1) sequence, and the received sequence is comprised of real numbers, then the calculation of each correlation factor C.sub.j requires L-1 additions, for a total of N.times.(L-1) additions for all correlation factors C. If the received sequence is comprised of complex numbers, and assuming that adding two complex numbers requires two additions, the calculation of each correlation factor C.sub.j requires 2(L-1) additions, for a total of 2N.times.(L-1) additions for all correlation factors C. When the number of correlation factors N and the sync sequence length L are small, this prior art method for calculating correlation factors C does not impose a large computational burden. However, when number of correlation factors N and/or the sync sequence length L are large, then this traditional straightforward method of calculating correlation factors C is computationally burdensome. Further, where one received sequence is to be compared against a plurality of known sequences, such as in CDMA systems, the traditional straightforward method of calculating correlation factors is particularly inefficient.
Because many of the more advanced wireless communications systems rely on correlation schemes having large numbers of correlation factors N and large sync sequence lengths L, and because many compare a received sequence against a plurality of known sequences, there is a need for a more efficient method of computing sequence correlations.

Method for efficiently computing sequence correlations


A voice speed converter comprising a speech classifying unit for classifying an input speech signal into an unvoiced part and another part, a pitch frequency extracting unit for extracting a pitch frequency from the input speech signal and supplying it, a quasi-pitch frequency supplying unit for supplying a quasi-pitch frequency of fixed length, a voice speed converter for performing voice speed conversion processing on the input speech signal by the use of the pitch frequency or the quasi-pitch frequency, and a switch for controlling switching operations according to the classification result by the speech classifying unit, so as to send the quasi-pitch frequency to the voice speed converter when the input speech signal belongs to the unvoiced part, or so as to send the pitch frequency to the voice speed converter when the input speech signal belongs to another part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a voice speed converter that can change only the reproduction speed of speech without changing the pitch and tone of the speech, and more particularly to a voice speed converter improved in the accuracy of processing the fricative sound, explosive sound or other unvoiced sound in speech.
2 Description of the Related Art
The voice speed conversion technique is the technique for reproducing speech with the speed of the speech only changed without changing the pitch and tone of the speech as if the same talker were speaking slowly or fast. The article "Speech Speed Conversion Technique in the Practical Stage, Fundamental Function of the Speech Output Device" (NIKKEI ELECTRONICS, 1994. 11. 21, pp. 93-98) introduces a VTR, a hearing aid, and an answering machine by the use of this kind of voice speed conversion technique. Further there is the description of such fundamental principle of the voice speed converter that the fundamental speech waveform repeated periodically (frequency wave pattern) is extracted and the frequency wave pattern is inserted or deleted without affecting the frequency (pitch frequency). The article "4 kbps Low Bit Rate Speech Response System" (written by Funaki et al, NEC Technical Report, Vol. 48, No. 6/1995, pp. 10-13) describes an example in which the voice speed conversion technique is used in the speech encoding and decoding technique for storing the digitalized speech data.
As a concrete method of processing the waveform by the unit of pitch frequency, there are a method of repeating or thinning out the waveform of speech signal by the unit of pitch frequency and the TDHS (time-domain harmonic scaling) method of cutting out the speech signal in every pitch frequency for the window operation by the use of the window function and thereafter overlapping each other. By reference to the article "Digital Speech Processing" (written by Sadahiro Furui, Tokai University Publisher, pp. 122-124), the TDHS method compresses and decompresses the information by multiplying each adjacent pitch segment by the adequate weight that varies according to the position on the time axis with consideration of time continuity for the fusing.
In the voice speed converter employed for the waveform processing by the unit of pitch frequency, a speech signal is classified into some parts and the voice speed conversion processing is switched depending on the characteristic of the speech signal of the respective parts, for the purpose of the improvement in the sound quality. This kind of the conventional voice speed conversion technique is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication Laid-Open (Kokai) No. Heisei 1-93795, "Voice Speed Conversion Method of Speech". The voice speed conversion technique disclosed in the same publication divides an input speech signal into a sound part having the sound and a soundless part having no sound. If an input speech signal belongs to the sound part, the pitch frequency of the speech signal is required by the use of the autocorrelation method or the like, and the voice time length is made longer or shorter by the waveform repetition or the waveform thinning-out processing by the unit of the same pitch frequency. If an input speech signal belongs to the soundless part, the voice time length is made longer or shorter by the waveform repetition or the waveform thinning-out processing according to a predetermined ratio of making longer and shorter. Thereafter, a desired speech wave pattern is obtained by connecting the speech signal in each part having the voice time length adjusted.
Besides, another conventional voice speed conversion technique is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Laid-Open (Kokai) No. Heisei 5-80796, "Speech Speed Controlled Pacing Method and Its Device".
The voice speed conversion method disclosed in the same publication further divides the sound part of an input speech signal into a voiced part having the voice sound such as vowel and an unvoiced part having the unvoiced sound such as fricative sound and explosive sound. If an input speech signal belongs to the voiced part, the pitch frequency is extracted by the use of the autocorrelation method, the voice time length is made longer or shorter by performing the waveform processing by the unit of the resultant pitch frequency. If an input speech signal belongs to the soundless part, the voice time length is made longer or shorter by the waveform repetition or waveform thinning-out processing according to a predetermined radio of making longer and shorter. If an input speech signal belongs to the unvoiced part, the voice time length is left as it is, in order to maintain the personality and phonemic of a talker.
As mentioned above, the voice speed converter disclosed in the publication No. 1-93795 requires the pitch frequency also in the unvoiced part. Since there exists no pitch frequency in this part, the extracted pitch frequency results in an extremely large value or small value. Therefore, the waveform repetition or waveform thinning-out processing in every pitch frequency by the use of the extracted pitch frequency in this part results in the very extensive thinning-out or repetition processing, or the very intensive one, which causes the tone rough and spoils the sound quality extremely.
The voice speed conversion method disclosed in the publication No. 5-80796 performs no voice speed conversion processing in the unvoiced part, so that it can prevent from the deterioration in the sound quality caused by the extraction error of pitch frequency. However, since the voice time length is not changed in the unvoiced part, the voice speed changes partially, resulting in the unnaturally reproduced speech on hearing.
Further, unchanged voice time length in the unvoiced part causes the decrease in the possible parts of changing the voice time length on the whole, resulting in decreasing the freedom of controlling the voice speed conversion power.


A method of designing a golf club head, including the steps of using a golf club head model and a golf ball model both of which are composed of a plurality of finite elements; impacting the head model against the ball model; and measuring a time period T2 in which the face of the head model is in contact with the ball model and a time period T1 from the time of contact between the head model and the ball model until the time when a vertical force acting on the face of the golf club head model takes a peak value; setting the ratio of the time period T2 to the time period T1 high and increase a frictional force acting in a direction in which the backspin of a golf ball decreases and a period of time in which the frictional force acts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of designing a golf club head and the golf club head. More particularly, the present invention is intended to decrease the backspin amount of a golf ball and increase the hitting angle thereof by analyzing the situation of contact between the golf club head and the golf ball in a computer when the golf club head impacts against the golf ball, and altering the thickness, material, and configuration of the golf club head in the computer. Especially, the present invention is intended to efficiently design a golf club head which can be suitably used for low-number woods' head and low-number irons' head.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is very important to design a golf club head so that the golf club head is capable of hitting the golf ball a long distance efficiently, although there is a difference in the flight distance of the golf ball in dependence on the kind and the number of a golf club.
It is known that a wood club head and a low-number iron club head demanded to have performance of hitting the golf ball a long distance are capable of doing so efficiently, if they are capable of decreasing the backspin amount of the golf ball and hence increasing the hitting angle thereof.
On the other hand, it is known that high-number iron clubs demanded to have high controllability of the golf ball while maintaining performance of hitting the golf ball to some extent are capable of doing so efficiently, if they are capable of increasing the backspin amount of the golf ball.
Various proposals have been made on the relationship between the backspin of the golf ball and the flight distance thereof as well as the golf club head which impacts against the golf ball. As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2001-346907 and 2002-263216, the present applicant proposed a golf ball having the construction in which the force acting in the backspin-decreasing side during the contact between the golf club head and the golf ball is relatively increased to decrease the backspin amount and make the hitting angle large.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-253584, the present applicant also proposed a set of iron club heads in which the surface condition of the face of the iron club head is controlled to increase the coefficient of friction between the golf ball and the head by roughening the surface of the golf club head. Thereby the force acting in the backspin-decreasing side during the contact between the golf club head and the golf ball is relatively increased to decrease the backspin amount and make the hitting angle large. It is disclosed in the patent document 3 that the set of iron club heads is particularly effective when the heads are used for golf clubs whose lofts are less than 30 degrees.
However, even though the golf ball disclosed in the patent documents 1 and 2 has excellent performance, it is conceivable that there is a difference in the degree of the effect of the excellent performance of the golf ball in dependence on the construction of a golf club head which strikes against the golf ball. As described above, it is preferable to hit the golf ball with a golf club head capable of decreasing the backspin. But it is not easy to estimate a golf club head having a construction suitable for the golf ball disclosed in the patent documents 1 and 2.
In the set of the iron club heads disclosed in the patent document 3, the friction coefficient of the face of the head is altered according to the number of a golf club, and the backspin amount is adjusted in dependence on the number of the golf club. Only specifying the friction coefficient is insufficient for driving the golf ball a long distance. The condition of the face of the head may change as the head impacts against the golf ball repeatedly. Therefore there is room for improvement to hit the golf ball a long distance stably.
To grasp the relationship between the backspin amount of the golf ball and the golf club head which strikes against the golf ball, it is necessary to make a large number of heads and the like on an experimental basis and measure the backspin amount by making experiments. But much labor and cost are required to make such a trial manufacture. In addition, apparatuses having complicated constructions are required to measure a frictional force and the like necessary for analyzing the backspin at the time of impact of the golf club head against the golf ball. Further it is very difficult to measure the frictional force and the like accurately. Accordingly the conventional art is incapable of accurately and easily designing the golf club head demanded to have the above-described performance.

Method of designing golf club head and golf club head


The present disclosure provides a method for preparing an extract of Chrysanthemum morifolium with an effect of treating skin diseases, including: (a) performing an extraction procedure on Chrysanthemum morifolium with an extraction solvent to obtain an extract solution; and (b) adding at least one glycoside hydrolases to the extract solution to make an enzyme reaction occur to produce a precipitate, wherein the precipitate is the extract of Chrysanthemum morifolium with an effect of treating skin diseases.

Skin diseases are the most common disease in the world, and about one-third of the population has a pathological skin problem during his or her lifetime. In terms of health care spending, skin-related medical costs can reach as high as 25%.
Skin diseases can be divided into four major categories, namely dermatitis (such as allergic and contact), cancer (such as melanoma), immune disease (such as psoriasis), and infectious skin disease (such as bacterial, fungal, and viral infections).
Topical steroids have been used extensively in various skin conditions, especially atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, and in severe dermatitis patients, steroids are used in higher doses. Many compounds classified as steroids, such as betamethasone or prednisolone, are very effective in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. However, long-term use of these compounds may also cause skin atrophy in patients. Patients who suffer from skin atrophy during steroid treatment are generally considered as steroid responders. The influence of skin atrophy on patients already suffering from skin disease symptoms (such as psoriasis patients) is a concern. However, even with normal skin, in the case of long-term use of steroids, there can be side effects including skin damage.
Therefore, development of safe dermatological drugs that can replace steroids, especially botanicals, is an important issue.

INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE


An image reading device including (1) a transparent member having an image reading area, (2) a line sensor that moves in a line sensor moving direction, which is perpendicular to a reading line direction of the line sensor, (3) a first supporting structure that supports, at opposite ends of the image reading area in the line sensor moving direction, the transparent member such that the transparent member is not deformed with respect to the reading line direction when an external force is applied to the transparent member, and (4) a second supporting structure that supports, at opposite ends of the image reading area in the reading line direction, the transparent member such that the transparent member is movable between a first posture, where the transparent member is in a flat plate shape, and a second posture, where the transparent member is bent with respect to the line sensor moving direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present application relates to an image reading device in which a line sensor reads an image of a document by moving along a transparent member, which defines an image reading area, in a direction perpendicular to a reading line of the line sensor.
2. Description of Related Art
A flatbed scanner is known as an image reading device that reads an image of a stationary document. A line sensor of the flatbed scanner reads an image of a document placed on a contact glass while reciprocating along the contact glass.
The contact glass may be bent when an external force is applied, such as a pressing force of a document against the contact glass. The bending of the contact glass may cause (1) deterioration in quality of a image read by the line sensor, (2) a collision between the contact glass and the line sensor, or (3) a breakage of the contact glass.
To address the foregoing problems, several structures have been proposed for an image reading device. JP2001-235814A discloses a structure in which a rigid reinforcing frame and a dolly plate are disposed under a contact glass, and the distance between the reinforcing member and the dolly plate are adjusted using screws to correct the bend of the contact glass.
JP2001-203841A discloses a structure in which a contact glass is previously bent with respect to the sub-scanning direction of a line sensor, and the line sensor is moved while being urged toward the contact glass. Accordingly, the bending of the contact glass with respect to the main scanning direction is lessened, and the distance between the line sensor and a document is kept uniform.
JP8-228266A discloses a structure in which a middle part positioning member is provided in a support member for the line sensor. The middle part positioning member supports a contact glass being bent, thereby reducing the deviation in the focal depth of the line sensor.
However, in the structure disclosed in JP2001-235814A, the dolly plate supports only the center of a side of the contact glass, and thus the contact glass is likely to be bent at a corner portion thereof.
In the structure disclosed in JP2001-203841A, if a rigid document is placed on the previously bent contact glass, the document may float with respect to the sub-scanning direction. Or, if a document cover, when closed, does not conform to the contact glass, ambient light may enter the inside of the image reading device.
In the structure disclosed in JP228266A, because the middle part positioning member contacts a document reading area of the contact glass, the document reading area may be soiled. The middle part positioning member supports the contact glass by making a point contact with the contact glass. Thus, the load due to an external force may be applied intensively to a contact point, causing a breakage of the contact glass.
Therefore, a need has arisen for an image reading device that can maintain the quality of an image read by a line sensor even when an external force is applied to a contact glass.


A system and method for operating a policy aware unification file system within a computer system that takes into account the security requirements of each file system as each file system is unified into the unified file system are provided. As the application is compatible with existing run time policies of files and directories within each file system that is to be unified, the application supports the enforcement of security policies or requirements of each file and/or directory that has been unified into the unified file system.

Presently, computer systems utilize file systems to manage files that are stored within storage devices such as hard disk drives, solid state disks, memory cards, etc. Most file systems (which we also call branches) organize the directories contained within a hierarchical structure or a tree format. For example, the most basic directory within such a branch would be the root directory, which would in turn have a plurality of sub-directories. Each of these sub-directories would then in turn have their own sub-directories. As more sub-directories are added, the size of the hierarchal tree would then expand accordingly. Each file stored within this file system is typically referenced by a pathname which sets out the hierarchical sequence of directories that lead to the file. For example, a file, "example.txt", that is referenced by a pathname such as "/directory1/backup/example.txt" would be stored within a directory named "backup". The directory named "backup" in turn would be stored within a directory named "directory1". As the "directory1" directory is the last named directory in the pathname, this would mean that "directory" is located at the root directory of the file system.
Each file within the file system will typically comprise of two parts. The first part would comprise the file's disk blocks that contain the actual data stored by the file and the second part would be the file's metadata that contains all the necessary information for accessing and managing the file. In UNIX based file systems, a file's metadata is commonly stored in an index node which is usually referred to as an "inode". The index node contains all the necessary information about a particular file such as the ownership and permissions of the file (read, write, execute permissions), file types, the addresses of the data blocks of the file, the size of the file, the dates and times of when the file was created, accessed or modified, etc. Furthermore, from the index node number of a file, a file system driver may gain access to the contents of the index node, including the location of the file to gain access to the file.
Each directory within the UNIX based file system may also include metadata that maps the names of the files and sub-directories in that directory to their corresponding index nodes. As such, a software application may access a file within a directory if the application is provided with the reference to the file, such as the pathname of the file. The application may then traverse the hierarchy of directories until the application arrives at the location of the file and the directory's metadata may be consulted to map the name of the file to the file's corresponding index node. The file's index node may then be accessed by the file system driver to allow the application to gain access to the file. For example, as the address of the data blocks of the file is stored within the file's index node, the application may utilize this information to access the file's stored data. Further, if the index node of a file indicates that the file has been assigned with a read-only permission, the application will only be accorded with the read-only permission when accessing the file's stored data. Thus, when a file is accessed by an application, the means of accessing the file and the level of access accorded to the application is determined by the information contained within the file's index node.
A convenient way of managing a plurality of separate file systems is to form a single coherent file system. An example of a single coherent file system known in the art would be a unification file system that transparently overlays files and directories of separate file systems into a single unified file system. This means that after a group of separate file systems have been unified, it would appear to a software application that all the files and directories contained within the group of separate file systems are now contained within a single unified file system. In other words, existing unification file systems can implement the unification of a group of separate file systems such that a software application need not be aware that the files appearing in the unified file system are actually located in separate file systems even if the file is subsequently accessed by the application.
For example, assume that a file system named "/root_A" has been unified with a separate file system named "/root_B" to form unified file system named "/unif". This would mean that when an application requests to access a file "sample.txt" contained within the "/root_A" file system, e.g. "/root_A/sample.txt", the application may actually request to access the file using the pathname "/unif/sample.txt" instead. The unification file system would automatically intercept and subsequently redirect the request to the "sample.txt" file in the "/root_A" file system.
An existing file system service for mounting a mix of read-only and read-write file systems that may be implemented on Linux operating systems is "Unionfs". Unionfs allows the merging of the contents of several file systems into a single coherent file system while keeping the physical files and directories of these file systems separate. In Unionfs, each file system is assigned with a priority. A file system having a higher priority overrides a file system with a lower priority when the file systems are unified. This means that if two files with the same name exist in two separate file systems, the file contained within the file system with the higher priority will be presented to the software application while the other file will be hidden. Contents of directories which have the same path within the single coherent file system will be seen together in a single merged directory within the new coherent file system.
Existing unification file system services typically merge separate file systems into one unified view in a transparent manner. This means that when separate file systems are merged, the individual security policies for each file system are not taken into account. Furthermore, when a file system with higher priority overrides a file system with lower priority, files with similar names in these two file systems would tend to adopt the security policy of the file system with the higher priority, even though the file in file system with the lower priority might have a more stringent security requirement. As such, it can be said that existing unification file system services are not wholly compatible with the security requirements associated with the various file systems. This may result in the unexpected granting of access to sensitive documents within the unified file system or the sudden disappearance of files from the unified file system. Further, existing unification file system services tend to implicitly unify files and/or directories from various file systems without providing information about the file system from which the file and/or directories originated from. This can produce an inconsistent file system view to software applications and as a result, makes the unified file system incompatible with security policies that require fine-grained access control over files in the unified file system.
For the above reasons, those skilled in the art are constantly striving to come up with a system and method that allows multiple separate file systems to be unified into a single coherent file system without sacrificing each file system's individual security policy. Further, the unified file system should also include metadata that sets out the relationship between the various file systems that have been unified to form the unified file system.


A conductive composition and a CRT bulb employing the conductive layer. The conductive composition includes from about 0.4 to about 10 wt % of tin oxide, from about 4.5 to about 7.0 wt % of a dispersing agent, from about 3.5 to about 7.0 wt % of an antiabsorbent, from about 0.8 to about 4.0 wt % of a vaporization inhibitor, and from about 0.020 to about 0.25 wt % of a surfactant, based on the total weight of an alcoholic solvent. The conductive composition exhibits good solubility, coating performance, and heat stability, and a conductive layer formed of the conductive composition exhibits low surface resistance and enhanced luminance.

The present invention relates to a conductive composition and a bulb for a cathode ray tube (CRT) employing a conductive layer formed of the same, and more particularly, to a conductive composition exhibiting good coating performance and solubility and capable of forming a conductive layer exhibiting enhanced luminance due to little residue left after a sintering process, and a CRT bulb employing a conductive layer formed of the same.
Conductive compositions have been used in various fields applying electrophotographic techniques, such as photocopiers and laser printers, and especially for the phosphor screen of a color cathode ray tube. Here, the phosphor screen used for a color cathode ray tube can be manufactured by a slurry coating method (hereinafter, referred to slurry method) or an electrophotographic process.
In the slurry method, the panel is cleaned and then three phosphor slurries (corresponding to the primary colors, i.e., green, blue and red) are respectively applied to on the panel. Each phosphor slurry contains polyvinylalcohol (as a main component), ammonium dichromate, and one of green-, blue-, and red-emitting phosphors.
In more detail, the first (e.g., green) phosphor slurry is applied to on the inner surface of the panel. The resultant panel is exposed to ultraviolet light and developed, to form a phosphor pattern (dotted or striped) which is then dried to yield the green portion of a final pattern. The same procedure is applied for the blue-emitting phosphor slurry and the red-emitting phosphor slurry, in turn, to thereby complete the phosphor pattern.
The slurry method, however, has some serious problems. First, the phosphors are not completely developed and thus remain at an exposed portion in a relatively large amount so that the remaining phosphor is mixed with the phosphor applied later. Second, a reaction between the polyvinylalcohol and ammonium dichromate contained in the slurry produces a coloring substance, which deteriorates color purity.
On the other hand, another method for manufacturing the phosphor screen of the color cathode ray tube using an electrophotographic technique is not only simpler than the slurry method, but can also provide a color cathode ray tube having better luminance properties. In this method, first, the panel is treated with chemicals and a surfactant, rinsed with distilled water and then dried. Thereafter, a conductive layer is formed on the inner side of the panel by a spin-coating method or spraying method, and a photoconductive layer is then formed thereon. The photoconductive layer is electrified with a corona electrifier and a predetermined portion thereof is exposed through a shadow mask. Finally, the exposed portion of the photoconductive layer is controlled to be in an electrically neutral state, and green-, blue- and red-emitting phosphor compositions are respectively adhered to the unexposed portion thereof, to form a phosphor screen.
In the case of an electrophotographic photocopier, since aluminum cylinder is a conductor, a photoconductive material can be directly applied to the aluminum cylinder for use as a photoconductor. Meanwhile, in the case of a color cathode ray tube of which the front panel is made of insulating material, e.g., glass, the conductive layer should be formed prior to forming a photoconductive layer because the photoconductive material cannot be directly applied to the CRT's glass panel.
However, since a conventional conductive composition such as polybrene-propanol exhibits poor solubility and coating performance, and the conductive layer formed of the conventional conductive composition has a high surface resistance of 10.sup.9 .about.10.sup.11 .OMEGA./.quadrature.. Furthermore, the conventional conductive composition has a poor pyrolysis property and thus generates a large amount of residue during a sintering process. The residue should be removed in order to increase luminance.
Owing to the above-described physical and chemical limitations, the conventional composition is not suitable for the electrophotographic technique.


A NAND Flash memory device is described that can reduce circuitry noise during program operations. The memory includes bit lines that can be electrically coupled together to charge share their respective voltage potentials prior to performing a discharge operation on the bit lines.

Flash memory is non-volatile, which means that it stores information on a semiconductor in a way that does not need power to maintain the information in the chip. Flash memory stores information in an array of transistors, called "cells," each of which traditionally stores one or more bits of information. The memory cells are based on the Floating-Gate Avalanche-Injection Metal Oxide Semiconductor (FAMOS transistor) which is essentially a Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) Field Effect Transistor (FET) with an additional conductor suspended between the gate and source/drain terminals. Current flash memory devices are made in two forms: NOR flash and NAND flash. The names refer to the type of logic used in the storage cell array.
A flash cell is similar to a standard MOSFET transistor, except that it has two gates instead of just one. One gate is the control gate (CG) like in other MOS transistors, but the second is a floating gate (FG) that is insulated all around by an oxide layer. The FG is between the CG and the substrate. Because the FG is isolated by its insulating oxide layer, any electrons placed on it get trapped there and thus store the information.
When electrons are trapped on the FG, they modify (partially cancel out) an electric field coming from the CG, which modifies the threshold voltage (Vt) of the cell. Thus, when the cell is "read" by placing a specific voltage on the CG, electrical current will either flow or not flow between the cells source and drain connections, depending on the Vt of the cell. This presence or absence of current is sensed and translated into 1's and 0's, reproducing the stored data.
Memory cells of memory devices are typically arranged in an array with rows and columns. Generally, the rows are coupled via a word line conductor and the columns are coupled together with a bit line conductor. During data read and write functions, voltage coupling between bit lines can influence proper memory operation.
For reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need for methods and devices to program non-volatile memory devices.

NAND memory device and programming methods


This invention relates to a medical implant, which comprises an outer envelope and a gel filler material, wherein the gel comprises water and a cellulose gelling agent. The gel in the implant may further contain a lubricating agent. The components of the gel are a biocompatible and do not adversely affect human beings. Implants containing the lubricating agent have a decreased tendency of failure caused by internal friction on the envelope. The implants of the present invention have similar characteristics of the human breast.

The reconstruction or cosmetic variation of a breast, such is often performed following mastectomy, has become an increasingly frequent surgical procedure. The development and use of silicon-gel and silicon-filled implants have contributed to the popularity of this procedure. Recent concern over the effects of the filler of these implants, e.g. silicon-gel, on the health of women has lead to a decrease in their use.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a filler material for an implant which simulates or duplicates the characteristics of a natural breast. Further, it is desirable to provide a material that does not have an adverse effect on the human body containing the implants.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,772,284 relates to a breast prosthesis with improved biocompatibility and methods of making the same. The breast prosthesis is a single lumen implantable and biocompatible breast prosthesis composed of an outer membrane of silastic, medical grade silicon, and an inner material selected from the group consisting of purified reconstructive collagen gel and a purified gel of polyalpha amino homopolymers or random copolymers having a molecular weight of from 5,000 to 400,000.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,905 relates to gel for breast prosthesis. The gel is a mixture of hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene resin, diundecylphthalate, polymethylenepolyphenyl isocyanate, and dibutyltin dilaurate catalyst, wherein the mixture is cured to form the gel.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,848 relates to a breast prosthesis with multiple lumens. The implant comprises an inner lumen of substantially spherical shape. The inner lumen is unattached, or free-floating. The lumens are filled with silicon gel or similar fluid material.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,885 relates to a radiolucent breast implant. The radiolucent breast implant is composed of a silicon envelope filled with any biocompatible triglyceride such as peanut oil or sunflower oil or any other material having an effective atomic number of 5.9, which is the effective atomic number of fat. This breast implant is radiolucent in that it duplicates the photo-electric interference of fat which is the major effect producing subject at low radiation levels as used in mammography.


Described herein is a base isolation system utilising a pier-like assembly comprising intermediary elements such as pillars isolating a first member and a second member, the second member above the first member and the members in a spaced apart relationship with intermediary elements therebetween. In one aspect, a base isolation system is provided comprising a first member and a second member, the second member being above the first member, the members being in a spaced apart relationship separated by pillars; and wherein each pillar comprises a pillar fixed end and an opposing pillar movable end. In the event of relative movement between the first and second member, the pillars dampen transfer of movement between the members by the movable pillar end moving relative to a movable first or second member thereby reducing the degree of energy transfer between the members. A method of installing a base isolation system is also described herein.

In the art, various base isolation systems have been manufactured to isolate or dampen movement between two members. Examples include the way a commercial building (a second member) may use rubber pads to absorb seismic energy from ground (first member) movement and therefore lessen the degree of movement imposed on the building. A common theme behind art designs is the separation of the first member e.g. a substrate, from a second member above the first member using an intermediary element that supports the first and second members in a spaced apart relationship yet also dampens or retards energy transfer between the members. Primary dampening or isolation is movement about a horizontal plane. The intermediary element(s) must also accommodate both dynamic (e.g. seismic movement) and non-dynamic movement. Non-dynamic movement may include for example, expansion and contraction caused by ambient temperature changes and/or wind loading on a building.
Reference is made hereafter to use of base isolation systems in building structures to address seismic activity however, as noted above, the same principles may be used in other applications and to address forces other than those generated from seismic activity.
Base isolation systems have become more common in commercial buildings as a means to protect the building and occupants in the even of an earthquake. Earthquakes or seismic activity can generate high acceleration (>0.5 G) dynamic forces in a horizontal plane, a vertical plane, or both horizontal and vertical planes. Besides the movement associated with the earthquake itself, subsequent ground movement can occur such as ground slumping, ground uplift, ground cracking, liquefaction of subsoils, flooding, sometimes many months after the initial earthquake event.
Existing art base isolation systems are typically designed for large steel and concrete commercial buildings in earthquake prone locations typically at least five or more storeys high. These systems are designed to reduce the amount of movement that the commercial building experiences during earthquakes to protect the integrity of the structure, and minimise damage to the building structure, its contents and occupants. They are effective and becoming widely used in commercial buildings however, these systems are costly and not commercially viable for smaller dwellings or structures such as one or two storey dwellings (or paths, bridges, docks and the like). As a result, smaller structures like those listed rarely utilise base isolation technologies and are therefore prone to damage in earthquakes or other ground movement.
It may be useful to provide an alternative base isolation system to help isolate new and/or existing, buildings, not limited to, but including single or two storey lightweight detached buildings, from movements, or at least provide the public with a choice.
Further aspects and advantages of the adjustable base isolation system will become apparent from the ensuing description that is given by way of example only.


The invention provides a positive-working photosensitive resin composition comprising an alkali soluble resin (A), a diazoquinone compound (B) and a compound (C) which contains a —CH2OH group but not a phenolic hydroxyl group, a method for producing a pattern-formed resin film using the composition, a semiconductor device and a display device using the composition, and a method for producing the semiconductor device and the display device. Also, the present invention provides a positive-working photosensitive resin composition comprising an alkali soluble resin (A), a diazoquinone compound (B) and a mixture solvent of two or more kinds (D), wherein the mixture solvent (D) contains γ-butyrolactone and propylene glycol monoalkyl ether and the total amount of γ-butyrolactone and propylene glycol monoalkyl ether is about 70 wt % or more of the total amount of solvent, a method for producing a pattern-formed resin film using the composition, a semiconductor device and a display device using the composition, and a method for producing the semiconductor device and the display device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a positive-working photosensitive resin composition, a method for producing a pattern-formed resin film using the composition, a semiconductor device and a display device using the composition, and a method for producing the semiconductor device and the display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A polyimide resin having high heat resistance, excellent electrical and mechanical properties or the like was conventionally used for a surface protective film or an interlayer insulation film of a semiconductor element. However, a resin of further improved performance has been lately required to satisfy the requirement for marked improvement in properties such as resistance against repeated heat or thermal shock due to higher integration and larger scale of a semiconductor element, thinning and down-sizing of a semiconductor device, shift to surface mounting by reflow of solder or the like.
On the other hand, there is a technology to give photosensitivity to a polyimide resin itself, for instance, a photosensitive polyimide resin represented by the formula (2) below.

Using the above polyimide resin poses a problem in safety and handling due to necessity of spraying a solvent such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone or the like in development, while a part of procedures to make a pattern can be simplified resulting in shorter process and improved yield.
Therefore, a positive-working photosensitive resin that can be developed by an alkaline aqueous solution has been lately exploited. For instance, a positive-working photosensitive resin comprising a polybenzoxazole precursor as a base polymer and a diazoquinone compound as a photosensitive material has been disclosed in JP-B-1-46862. This resin has high heat resistance, superior electrical properties and fine processability, and a potential of resin not only for wafer coating but also for interlayer insulation. With regard to a development mechanism of this positive-working photosensitive resin, a diazoquinone compound in an exposed area is subjected to a chemical change to become soluble in an alkaline aqueous solution, while the diazoquinone compound in an unexposed area remains insoluble in the aqueous solution of the alkali. Utilizing the difference of solubility between the exposed area and the unexposed area, a pattern of coating film only in the unexposed area can be obtained by dissolving and removing the resin in the exposed area.

Positive-working photosensitive resin composition, method for producing pattern-formed resin film, semiconductor device, display device, and method for producing the semiconductor device and the display device


A cradle conversion system having a cradle moveable between at least one sofa position and a bed position. The system comprised of a cradle having a first and second deck and a locking mechanism for selectively securing the decks in a set angular position to one another.

Furniture that is convertible between a sofa position to a bed position are well known in the art as sofa-beds and futons. These devices typically use some type of a pawl or dog which lockingly engages one part of a folding frame with a second part of a folding frame. Generally, these members require gravity to force the pawl or dog into a position which causes latching between the two parts of the folding frame. Additionally, the prior art convertible furniture require several movements of various parts to accomplish the transition from a sofa position to a bed position. Further, the prior art convertible furniture is limited to conversion from a single sofa position to a bed position. Additionally, these prior art convertible furniture require multiple movements by a user to perform the conversion. These movements can be very difficult for many people, in particular women and those of smaller physical stature.
It would be a benefit therefore to provide a cradle conversion system that facilitates converting a cradle between a sofa position and a bed position in a substantially single movement. It would be a still further benefit to provide a locking mechanism that maintains the cradle in a set angular position in sofa positions.


A conveyor coupler system for efficiently increasing the longevity and productivity of the conveyor. The conveyor coupler system generally includes a coupler including a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion extends from the second portion. The first portion includes a first connecting portion, wherein the first connecting portion extends within the first portion and includes at least one slot. The second portion includes a second connecting portion extending within the second portion and including a plurality of ridge members. The first connecting portion connects to a first planetary gear structure of a conveyor unit and the second connecting portion connects to a second planetary gear structure of the conveyor unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to aggregate material conveyors and more specifically it relates to a conveyor coupler system for efficiently increasing the longevity and productivity of the conveyor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
Aggregate material conveyors have been in use for years. Typically, aggregate material conveyors or apron feeders are utilized in transporting aggregate material (i.e. sand, gravel, etc.) from a stationary pile to a vehicle, wherein the vehicle transports the aggregate material away for use. Because of the large amounts of aggregate material generally needed to be conveyed at one time, the conveyors are generally very large in size.
Many methods have been utilized to circulate the track or belt mechanism upon the conveyor, wherein one common method is to utilize a plurality of specially manufactured sprockets to drive a chain link assembly mechanism. These sprockets generally require large amounts of maintenance to keep in working order. It may also be difficult to find replacement parts when needed, because these sprockets are not utilized in a wide variety of industry. Because of the general lack of efficiency and practicality in the prior art there is the need for a new and improved conveyor coupler system for efficiently increasing the longevity and productivity of the conveyor.


A construction laser with at least one laser beam (4) defining a plane (3) has a laser unit (6) which is tiltable with respect to a housing (5) around at least one swiveling axis (9a) and includes at least one leveling sensor (10a) which is sensitive to the swiveling axis (9a) for a highly precise orientation to the gravitational field (G), and at least one tilt sensor (11a) which is sensitive to the swiveling axis (9a) for direct measurement of an inclination angle [alpha] relative to the gravitational field (G).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to a tiltable construction laser, particularly a tiltable rotating construction laser with a laser beam that is moved within a plane at least by segments.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Construction lasers with a fanned out laser beam or with a plurality of laser beams defining a plane and rotating construction lasers with a laser beam that is moved within a plane at least by segments, are used primarily in the building industry to determine horizontal planes, vertical planes, or planes at defined inclinations on walls, ceilings and floors. In this connection, particularly when leveling horizontal planes and vertical planes, strict requirements are imposed for orientation to the earth's gravitational field with maximum deviations of less than 10″ (angular seconds) for the total error of the system. The sensors themselves account for about 3″ to 5″ of this total error. On the other hand, at inclinations relative to the gravitational field of up to 20% or more (depending on the inclination), a maximum deviation of about 50 angular seconds to 200 angular seconds is practically sufficient.
European Publication EP0715707 discloses a multiaxial laser which is oriented to the earth's gravitational field. Two of the five laser beams define a horizontal plane and a vertical plane, respectively. According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,990, each individual laser beam is additionally fanned out horizontally and vertically.
According to German Publication DE4406914, a rotating construction laser has a laser unit which is arranged in a mounting frame and whose laser beam can be deflected by approximately 90° by a deflecting device which is supported in a rotating part so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation intersecting the beam axis of the deflected laser beam. The plane can be tilted in any manner about a swiveling axis in a swiveling plane perpendicular thereto.
In a tiltable rotating construction laser, according to U.S. Pat. No. 6,804,892, having a stationary part that is tiltable about two tilt axes perpendicular to one another, a leveling sensor for highly precise orientation of a tiltable measurement frame to the gravitational field and an angle sensor for highly precise measurement of the angle of inclination are arranged, per tilt axis, between the stationary part and the measurement frame. The measurement frame, as additional tiltable subassembly, is complicated. In addition, the errors of the leveling sensor and angle sensor accumulate to a total error in this indirect determination of inclination.
According to German Publication DE10325859, the plane of the laser beam is tiltable in two swiveling planes which are perpendicular to one another, while the rotatable axle which is supported in a universal ball support in the mounting frame is tilted along with the laser unit and the deflecting device by two actuating drives relative to the housing which is usually oriented horizontally. A stationary part with exactly one integrated bubble leveling instrument can be guided in a positive-locking manner by a tilt guide which is fixedly connected thereto, on two tilt guide contours which are arranged at right angles in the mounting frame. Since only small angles of inclination to the gravitational field can be measured directly by the high-precision bubble leveling instrument, large inclination angles are determined indirectly by a known displacement path of the actuating drives.
In addition, conventional sensors are known that are sensitive to the inclination relative to the gravitational field and are based on bubble leveling instruments which are sensitive in one dimensions or in two dimensions and which have different angular resolutions and tilt measurement ranges, with the angular resolution and tilt measurement range usually being defined relative to one another in opposite directions.


Apparatus for fabricating blister packs comprising a first support for a web of plastic material located at the input end of the apparatus; a feeder to feed the web of plastic material along a path of travel through the apparatus to the output end thereof; a former means along the path of travel to form wells in a conveyed web of plastic material; dispensers means along the path of travel to dispense pills into the wells; a second support for a web of rupturable material located above the linear path of travel to feed rupturable material onto the plastic material for movement therewith in a two part laminate; a tray for a stack of cards laterally offset from the path of travel; a conveyor to sequentially feed cards from the support means to a location adjacent to the web of plastic material and then into contact therewith; a coupler along the path of travel to couple the plastic material with the cards to form a three part laminate; and a cutter along the linear path of travel to cut the laminate for forming individual blister packs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to blister packing machinery and, more particularly, to apparatus for first creating a two-layer laminate constituting a blister pack for pills or the like and additional apparatus to feed information-bearing cards into association with the two-layer laminate and to ultrasonically weld the cards onto the two-layer laminate to thereby form a three-part laminate which is then cut to size, all in a continuous and automatic cycle of operation.
2. Description of the Background Art
One common technique for packaging and merchandising pills or the like is the blister pack. A blister pack is a card containing a plurality of pills which may be individually pushed out from the card for consumption. In association with such blister packs, it has been a common practice to attach an information-bearing card with data relating to the contents of the particular pill or pills to be dispensed therefrom. Since each pill within the blister pack may be different than all others, there is an increased need to place the information-bearing card onto the blister pack in the proper orientation to insure proper consumption.
Conventional blister packaging machinery includes an automatic assembly line which generates the blister pack. The blister packs are formed from two continuous webs of material. A base or lower web is formed from a sheet of plastic material which is deformed to create wells, each for receiving one pill. Coupled thereto is a web of rupturable material, the lid, through which the pills in the wells may be dispensed. It is a common practice for machinery to generate such blister packs in a continuous cycle of operation. It is also a common practice to cut the blister packs into a proper size as they come off the line and then to manually attach a single information-bearing card to each blister pack.
Various attempts have been made to automate fabrication of blister packs to one extent or another. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,970,414 to Rohdin discloses apparatus for forming, filling and sealing blister packs. Such apparatus includes a card feeding station which deposits a single information-bearing card over each set of pills of a single blister pack. The blister packs are then cut by a device separating each blister pack from its next following blister pack, transverse to the path of travel through the apparatus. There is no teaching of continuous and automatic machinery which feeds information-bearing cards onto the lower surface of a two-layer blister pack laminate and which then seals together the three-layer blister pack laminate.
A second prior patent, U.S. Pat. No. 3,464,182 to Nichols also discloses a machine for forming blister packs. The blister packs are formed by a base sheet and a cover sheet with pills therebetween. The cover sheet is preferably formed of cardboard with printed material preformed on the surface of the sheets.
Other patents and interests include U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,588 to Scott and U.S. Pat. No. 4,918,907 to Roach. The Scott patent discloses a method for forming a reclosable packaging system while Roach discloses packaging apparatus for forming and filling flexible packages. The apparatus includes a cover unit and cutter. Other prior patents disclosing blister packaging machinery include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,118,262 to Messick; 3,874,143 to Braber and 4,506,495 to Romagnoli.
All of the known background patents disclose one technique or another for improving blister packages or machines for fabricating blister packs. No prior art patent, however, discloses efficient, reliable, inexpensive apparatus for fabricating three-layer blister packs with information bearing cards secured by ultrasonic welding in the improved continuous and automatic manner as disclosed herein.
The present invention achieves its intended purposes, objects, and advantages through a new, useful and unobvious combination of component elements, with the use of a minimum number of functioning parts, at a reasonable cost to manufacture, and by employing only readily available materials.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a system for fabricating blister packs containing pills to be individually dispensed therefrom, the system comprising a first reel for supporting a web of plastic material located adjacent to the input end of the system, the plastic material constituting the lid material of the blister packs; intermittent drive means located adjacent to the output end of the system to feed the plastic material and associated material in a step and repeat manner along a linear path of travel through the system; well forming means along the path of travel downstream from the first reel adapted to form individual pill receiving wells in a conveyed web of plastic corresponding to a plurality blister packs extending transversely across the web of plastic material; dispensing means along the path of travel downstream from the well forming means adapted to dispense individual pills into the individual wells: a second reel for supporting a web of rupturable material located above the path of travel downstream from the dispensing means to feed rupturable material onto the web of plastic material for movement therewith, the rupturable material constituting the lid material of the blister pack; heating means located along the path of travel downstream from the second reel to fuse the plastic material to the rupturable material with pills therebetween and thereby form a two-part laminate; support means downstream from the heating means and laterally offset from the path of travel for retaining a stack of apertured information-bearing cards in an operative orientation for being fed therefrom; pick and place means with associated rail means located between the support means and the path of travel adapted to sequentially pick information-bearing cards from the support means and to place the picked card onto the rail means adjacent to, but offset from, the path of travel; piston means located beneath the rail means adapted to shift the placed card to a location beneath the web of plastic material with the wells of the plastic material vertically aligned with the apertures of the card; ultrasonic welding means along the path of travel adapted to raise the shifted card into contact with the plastic material and to couple the plastic material, with the rupturable material thereabove, with the raised card therebeneath to form a three part laminate: punching means along the path of travel downstream from the ultrasonic welding means to cut the laminate along the path of travel and transverse thereto for forming blister packs in a continuous and automatic cycle of operation; and third reel means located along the path of travel adjacent to the output means to receive the remaining material of the three-part laminate after the cutting of the blister packs therefrom.
It is a further object of the present invention to continuously and automatically couple information-bearing cards to blister packs by ultrasonic welding.
It is a further object of the present invention to ensure the proper placement of information-bearing cards on a blister pack so that the specific information properly represents the particular pills in the blister pack.
It is a further object of the present invention to abate errors of card placement onto blister packs through an automated process.
The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of this invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the present invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or by modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


Apparatus for reducing a vibration of a television set which reduces a vibration and an interference between various components installed therein. The apparatus has a mounting plate forming a bottom part of the front casing and on which a couple of rails for installing a PCB are mounted, and a resonance frequency converting section for setting a resonance frequency of the television set to a relatively high frequency. The resonance frequency converting section has a reinforcement strip provided along an underside circumferential portion of the mounting plate, a rib group having a cross-shaped pattern which is provided at the underside of the mounting plate in such a manner that the rib group is surrounded by the reinforcement strip, and a couple of support brackets provided in the rib group. By installing the apparatus, the television set has a high frequency resonance so that the vibration is reduced, thereby reducing a noise and the interference thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a television set, and more particularly to an apparatus for reducing a vibration of a television set which can reduce a vibration and an interference produced by a low frequency resonance between a speaker and a casing holding the speaker therein.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, a speaker of a television set is an apparatus for transforming an electric signal to an audio signal and includes a magnetic circuit, a voice coil, and a vibration system.
FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of a television set including a speaker 5. Referring to FIG. 1, a diaphragm 4 for generating a sound pressure is attached to speaker 5. A front casing 1 is formed at a predetermined position thereof with a duct 3 for guiding a sound reproduced by speaker 5 to the outside thereof. Speaker 5 is secured to one end of duct 3, and a speaker grill 2 is installed at the other end of duct 3. Reference number 6 indicates buttons for selecting operation modes of the television. In general, speaker 5 has a capacity of 3 Watts.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of front casing 1. Referring to FIG. 2, a couple of rails 14 for mounting a PCB (not shown) are installed at a bottom plate 12 of front casing 1. Front casing 1 is formed at a front portion thereof with a plurality of thruholes 9 for inserting buttons 6.
FIGS. 9 and 10 shows an acceleration and a displacement of speaker 5 secured to front casing 1 in response to a frequency. As shown in these graphs, the speaker has a resonance frequency of 168 Hz in which the speaker resonates with a maximum amplitude. Also, in FIG. 11, a sound pressure level detected from outside of the television set including speaker 5 in response to a frequency is represented by a continuous line.
As shown in FIG. 11, the television set represents a maximum sound pressure level at 216 Hz, and accordingly, the resonance frequency of the set is 216 Hz.
However, this low frequency resonance generates a relatively high vibration, so an interference in the sound and the image is frequently produced. So, the sound pressure generated from the television set at 216 Hz is caused mainly by the vibration of the television set itself.
The vibration is transmitted along front casing 1 so as to vibrate a couple of rails 14, buttons 9, and various components installed in the television set. This vibration may disturb a viewer.
Also, since the PCB mounted at the couple of rails 14 vibrates, in some cases, the coil at the PCB may by disconnected. Furthermore, due to the vibration of buttons 9, an interference in the image of a monitor or a change in the operation mode of the television set is produced.


A device may be configured to determine a type of traffic, received by the device from a user device; identify a radio resource control (“RRC”) timeout value associated with the type; start an RRC dormancy timer based on the RRC timeout value; and modify, based on expiration of the RRC dormancy timer, an RRC channel between the device and the user device.

Wireless telecommunications networks allow user devices, such as cellular telephones, to communicate with other devices or networks. Base stations in wireless networks may include wireless transceivers with which user devices may communicate. A base station may establish a Radio Resource Control ("RRC") channel for each user device, via which the base station and the user device may perform control signaling. RRC channels may be associated with modes (e.g., one or more active modes or an idle mode), which may consume different levels of power or other resources. For each RRC channel, the base station may maintain a dormancy timer (also referred to as an inactivity timer), based on which the base station may change the mode of the RRC channel (e.g., switch from an active mode to an idle mode).

Radio resource control dormancy timer based on traffic type


A trailer mounted and adjustable mirror assembly for attachment to a trailer or hitch being towed by a towing vehicle. The assembly, when secured, helps facilitate securement of the trailer to the towing vehicle while the driver/operator remains in the towing vehicle. The assembly comprises a removable clamp mounting a pair of adjustable, telescopic tubular members on which is mounted a pivotal mirror mechanism pivotal throughout 360° and countless angles relative to the plane of the pivotal mirror mechanism.

The present invention relates to an improved remote trailer hitch alignment mechanism that features an adjustable mirror pivotal throughout a 360° plane, while being further adjusted within countless angled positions to said plane.
Boat, camper and recreational vehicle trailers and the like are commonly transported by hitching the trailers to towing vehicles by means of a ball and socket type hitch assembly, in which a hitch ball is mounted on the rear frame portion of the towing vehicle, and the trailer is provided with a hitch socket which is adapted to securely receive the hitch ball. A common problem inherent in the ball and socket hitching operation is difficulty in obtaining the necessary alignment of the hitch ball with the hitch socket to effect coupling, since the hitch ball is typically out of view of the driver of the towing vehicle as the vehicle is backed toward the trailer. Consequently, the driver typically experiences substantial difficulty in maneuvering the vehicle to effect proper alignment of the hitch ball with the hitch, since it is virtually impossible to manually maneuver the mounted trailer into a position over the hitch ball.
One technique that is frequently used to effect proper alignment of the hitch ball with the hitch involves positioning an observer at the rear of the towing vehicle to indicate to the driver the proper maneuvering of the towing vehicle needed for the alignment. However, an observer is not always available to assist in the hitching operation. Consequently, various mirror devices have been designed for indicating to the driver of a towing vehicle whether the hitch ball of the vehicle is located in proper alignment with the trailer hitch for successful hitching. However, most of these mirrors are designed to be fixedly mounted on the frame of the trailer and are incapable of convenient removal and adjustment for use with other trailers of various sizes and designs.
There are a number of prior art mechanisms offering some assistance to the towing operator, where certain of such prior art is found in the following U.S. patents:
a.) U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,851, to Kelly et al., teaches a trailer back-up mirror which can be-removably attached to the frame of a boat, camper, recreational vehicle or other trailer for facilitating alignment of the hitch ball on a towing vehicle with the trailer hitch as the vehicle is backed toward the trailer, in order to couple the trailer hitch to the hitch ball. In a preferred embodiment the trailer back-up mirror is characterized by a support shaft which is magnetically and removably attached to the trailer frame. An adjusting shaft is adjustably extendible from the support shaft and a flexible gooseneck shaft extension projects from the extending end of the adjusting shaft. A rectangular mirror mount plate terminates the shaft extension and a flat mirror and convex mirror are mounted on the mirror mount plate. In use, the gooseneck shaft extension is initially adjusted to position the mirror mount plate such that the trailer hitch and hitch ball appear in the convex mirror, and the trailer hitch appears in the flat mirror.
b.) U.S. Pat. No. 6,446,999, to Davis, Jr. discloses a trailer hitch alignment system for providing a driver of a vehicle the ability to visually align the hitch of the vehicle with the tongue of a trailer. The trailer hitch alignment system includes a hitch including a base portion and a joint member extending from the base portion. The hitch assembly further includes a set rod extending upwardly from the base portion. The set rod is positioned proximate the joint member. A mirror assembly is removably couplable to the set rod. The mirror assembly includes a mirror pivotally coupled to a mirror connection frame. The mirror is pivotal about a generally horizontal axis.
c.) U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,608, to Osgood, relates to a viewing mirror device to assist a vehicle driver when connecting the vehicle to a trailer. The mirror device comprises a viewing mirror, an attachment tube or channel for attaching the device to the vehicle hitch, and a mast that connects the viewing mirror to the attachment tube or channel. The position of the viewing mirror can be adjusted so that the vehicle driver can see both the vehicle hitch connection point and the trailer tongue connection point in the mirror.
d.) U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,847, to Thornton, is directed to a trailer hitch mechanism that includes an elongate post removably supported on a towed vehicle and extending upwardly therefrom; a traveler removably fitted to the post and movably positionable along a length thereof throughout a range of fixed, adjusted positions and including opposing arm members surrounding and gripping the post when in a relaxed state to thereby hold the traveler fixed to the post at the adjusted positions, and the arm members being structured to be urged outwardly from the relaxed state to release the grip, thereby permitting sliding movement of the traveler along the post; and a mirror device pivotally fitted to the traveler member and being angularly adjustable for positioning the mirror in a manner which presents a reflected image of a hitch component on the towed vehicle viewable by the operator in the rear view mirror of a towing vehicle, to thereby allow the operator to maneuver the towing vehicle so that a hitch component on the towing vehicle moves toward and into alignment with the hitch component on the towed vehicle, facilitating attachment thereof.
e.) No. 5,309,289, to Johnson, teaches an optical target system for facilitating a vehicle operator's effecting alignment of the respective hitch assembly components of a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle. The system includes first and second targets that are removably positionable in referencing relationship to respective ones of the hitch assembly components and a viewing mirror that is removably positionable on the towed vehicle to provide the vehicle operator positioned in the towing vehicle with a reflected view of the two targets. Each of the two targets includes a longitudinal guidance element that is disposed in alignment with the longitudinal axis of its respective vehicle and a transverse guidance element that is transversely oriented to the respective longitudinal guidance element and located above the hitch assembly component to provide a visual reference to a vertical axis extending through those components.
Though the prior art is replete with a number of patents and commercial devices for use by the operator of a towing vehicle to facilitate the alignment of the towed trailer to the towing vehicle, none offer the ease nor accuracy one needs and desires in making the alignment. The manner by which the present invention achieves the goals hereof will become more apparent in the description which follows, especially when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Trailer mounted and adjustable mirror assembly


Devices and circuits for high voltage switch (HVS) configurations. HVS may pass high voltage without suffering voltage drops. HVS may also guarantee safe operations for p-mos transistors. HVS may not sink current in its steady state. Further, HVS may select between two or more different voltage values to be passed onto the output node even after the high voltage has already been fully developed on the high voltage supply line.

In many electronic devices and applications, high voltages may be found in high demand. For example, for a flash memory, a high voltage can be used to execute operations such as read, write and erase flash memory cells. This high voltage level can be typically generated inside an integrated circuit by using a high voltage generator and routed to appropriate destination points inside the chip. This routing can be done by using a switch inside the chip, and this switch used for routing the high voltage inside the chip to appropriate destination points is called a high voltage switch (HVS).
A high voltage generally means a voltage level higher than a device's power supply level. As explained above, a high voltage can be useful and sometime necessary for many electronic devices nowadays. Since a high voltage generally has a voltage level higher than that of the device's power supply, usually the high voltage is generated and managed inside the chip. For example, a high voltage generator can be embedded on a chip. This can optimize the high voltage generation as well as simplify the design of the circuit board on which the integrated circuit is to be employed. To this purpose, a charge-pump circuit or a voltage doubler circuit can be used. There can be other circuits used, but all of individual elements are not explained here because one of ordinary skill in the art would understand and know how to implement a state-of-art high voltage generator.
Once a high voltage is generated, it usually needs to be routed to a specific destination point inside the chip, such as a specific block or a specific line, in order to perform a given operation. For example, a high voltage level of around ˜18 v may be needed for a flash memory to perform program-operation, and this voltage needs to be delivered to a specific flash memory cell in order to program such cell. This routing of a high voltage inside the chip is typically managed by a high voltage switch inside the circuit. There are several state-of-art analog high voltage switch architectures that have been used or employed in most of state-of-art electronic integrated devices.
FIGS. 1a and 1b show examples of two different types of state-of-art high voltage switch configurations. FIG. 2 shows an example of a state-of-art level shifter circuit schematic, which may be employed in the examples shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b.
FIG. 1a shows an example of a p-mos switch. This switch can be used to connect the high voltage line, SUPPLY_HV to the high voltage output line, OUT_HV. Alternatively, this switch can leave the high voltage output line, OUT_HV, floating so as to allow another switch to pass a different voltage level to high voltage output line OUT_HV. Block LEVEL SHIFTER represents a level shifter circuit. This level shifter can be used to drive the gate of the p-mos switch transistor, MP. The gate of MP is connected to output node of the level shifter, OUT_INT_HV. When the output of the level shifter is 0, p-mos switch transistor MP is turned on. Then, the switch can connect high voltage line SUPPLY_HV to high voltage output line OUT_HV. Alternatively, when the output of the level shifter is high (e.g., at SUPPLY_HV), p-mos switch transistor MP is turned off. Then, the switch does not connect high voltage line SUPPLY_HV to high voltage output line OUT_HV. Instead, high voltage output line OUT_HV is left floating. A bulk of p-mos switch transistors MP may be connected to the highest voltage available in the switch (not shown in the figure for simplicity).
FIG. 1b shows an example of n-mos switch. This switch can also be used to connect the high voltage line, SUPPLY_HV to the high voltage output line, OUT_HV. Alternatively, this switch can leave the high voltage output line, OUT_HV, floating so as to allow another switch to pass a different voltage level to high voltage output line OUT_HV. Block LEVEL SHIFTER represents a level shifter circuit. This level shifter can be used to drive the gate of the n-mos switch transistor, MN. The gate of MN is connected to output node of the level shifter, OUT_INT_HV. When the output of the level shifter is high (e.g., at SUPPLY_HV), n-mos switch transistor MN is turned on. Then, the switch can connect high voltage line SUPPLY_HV to high voltage output line OUT_HV. Alternatively, when the output of the level shifter is 0, n-mos switch transistor MN is turned off. Then, the switch does not connect high voltage line SUPPLY_HV to high voltage output line OUT_HV. Instead, high voltage output line OUT_HV is left floating. A bulk of n-mos switch transistors MN are connected to ground, which is not shown for simplicity.
In the state-of-art n-mos switch configurations, such as the one shown in FIG. 1b, the high voltage level supplied needs to be higher than the desired voltage level to be outputted. That is, when the high voltage supplied from SUPPLY_HV passes the n-mos switch transistor to reach high voltage output line OUT_HV, it suffers a voltage drop. That voltage drop can be attributed to the threshold voltage of the n-mos switch transistor. Therefore, if the desired high voltage output level to be detected at OUT_HV is, for example, V1, the voltage level supplied at SUPPLY_HV needs to be at least V1+Vth, when Vth represents the threshold voltage of the n-mos. However, sometimes such high voltage level is not available inside the chip. For example, it may not be within the voltage range that can be generated by the high voltage generator inside the chip. Therefore, the requirement that the high voltage supply level be greater than the desired high voltage output level has been conceived as one of important disadvantages associated with the state-of-art n-mos high voltage switch configurations.
On the other hand, the state-of-art p-mos switch configurations can have several drawbacks as well. One of the main drawbacks can be attributed to their inherent limitation in technology. That is, some p-mos transistors cannot sustain a certain voltage difference higher than the maximum set by the technology, between their drain/source and bulk terminal.
FIG. 3 shows an example of a cross section of a typical p-mos high voltage transistor. The voltage difference between p+ and high voltage n-well HV_NWELL may be limited in some technologies, so as not to exceed a maximum voltage level permitted/allowed by the technology (e.g., transistor specification), Vmax. If the voltage difference between p+ and HV_NWELL exceeds Vmax, then the transistor may suffer a junction breakdown and may not operate properly. Accordingly, if the supply high voltage level greater than Vmax is passed to the p-mos switch, the switch may break down and not operate properly. This can be an inherent limitation to the maximum voltage level that can be supplied to the switch, therefore to the device. Accordingly, the p-mos switch may not work well in the case when the device needs a high voltage output level greater than the maximum allowed by the technology associated with the p-mos.
To mitigate the problem associated with the p-mos transistors identified above, some have employed a local boosting circuit using n-mos transistors.
FIG. 4 shows an example of state-of-art switch configuration with a local boosting circuit.
FIG. 5 shows an example of simplified circuit schematic for a local boosting circuit. When enable signal EN_B is 0, the circuit is enabled. When the circuit is enabled, output line OUT_INT_HV is pre-charged to the voltage level substantially equal to "VDD−Vth(MN1)." Then, MN2 switch is turned on, which allows node B to pre-charge to the voltage level substantially equal to "VDD−Vth(MN1)−Vth(MN2)." During the first falling-edge of signal CLK, node B is boosted up through capacitor C2. Ideally, node B may be boosted up to the voltage level substantially equal to "2VDD−Vth(MN1)−Vth(MN2)." Then, diode D1 can become forward biased, and output line OUT_INT_HV can charge up to the ideal voltage level substantially equal to "2VDD−Vth(MN1)−Vth(MN2)−Vth(D1)." During the subsequent rising-edge of signal CLK, output line OUT_INT_HV is boosted up through capacitor C1. Ideally, OUT_INT_HV may be boosted up to the voltage level substantially equal to "3VDD−Vth(MN1)−Vth(MN2)−Vth(D1)." Then, node B can ideally charge up as well to the voltage level substantially equal to "3VDD−Vth (MN1)−2Vth(MN2)−Vth(D1)." Ideally, this loop may repeat until node B reaches the voltage level substantially equal to "SUPPLY_HV." This may allow output line OUT_INT_HV to reach an ideal voltage level that is substantially equal to VSUPPLY_HV+2VDD−Vth(D1).
If that voltage value substantially equal to "VSUPPLY_HV+2VDD−Vth(D1)," is greater than VSUPPLY_HV reduced by the threshold voltage with body effect of n-mos switch transistor, then the n-mos switch configuration in FIG. 4 is able to fully pass SUPPLY_HV voltage value to output node OUT_HV.
Diodes D2 and D3 of FIG. 5 are used to clamp the voltage value of node OUT_INT_HV to the level substantially equal to "VSUPPLY_HV+2Vth(D2,3) to reduce breakdown risks.
Further, the circuit in FIG. 5 may be switched off by setting signal EN_B to logic 1 and simultaneously switching off signal CLK. When the circuit is switch off, node OUT_INT_HV may be discharged to ground through MN1 and INV1.
However, there can still be a drawback with this type of state-of-art switch architecture employing a local booster circuit. That is, these circuits such as the one shown in FIG. 5 may incur a large DC current consumption due to their continuous boosting operations. This DC current consumption problem may be worsened by the intrinsic low efficiencies of the employed boosting schemes.

Cascaded high voltage switch architecture


A robotic arm control system including a robotic arm configured to deploy one or more tools in an operating space, one or more sensors, and a control system operably configured to: scan the operating space with the one or more sensors, identify a surface of the operating space based at least in part upon information sensed by the one or more sensors, establish a virtual barrier offset from the surface, and limit movement of the robotic arm based at least in part upon the virtual barrier.

Certain industrial project environments are hazardous to humans, and generally require workers to wear protective clothing and a breathing apparatus to enter and work in the area. Also, the space or area for certain projects is often not designed with human movement in mind, meaning the space can be too small, too hot, too cold, or generally difficult or impossible for humans to navigate. Some industrial project areas are so hazardous and difficult to access that human entry and repairs are altogether unfeasible. To gain access to such areas, and to reduce human exposure to hazardous conditions, remote robotic manipulators are a necessity.
Currently, most off-the-shelf remote manipulators are built for a specific need and are limited in capabilities and versatility. Therefore, a need exists for an all-in-one manipulator with increased capability, versatility, and reliability for carrying out operations in difficult to access and/or hazardous spaces.
Elements and acts in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and have not necessarily been rendered according to any particular sequence or embodiment.

System and method for a robotic manipulator system


A liquid filtering and dispensing system can be formed as an integral unit and configured for placement within an appliance compartment. The system can have a manifold with a filter connection including inflow and outflow attachments for a filter cartridge, an inlet, at least one outlet forming a dispenser and a valve to control flow through the integral system. The system can include a cooling reservoir fluidly located prior to the dispenser. The system can include a removable carafe and a carafe mount configured such that the carafe can receive liquid from the dispenser. The carafe mount can be configured to supply liquid from the carafe to a remote dispensing assembly such as a refrigerator door dispenser. The carafe mount can be positioned within the refrigerator compartment or within the refrigerator door.

Water filtration systems designed for use in the home, such as refrigerator-based systems and under-sink systems, can be used to remove contaminants from water supplies. Due to increasing quality and health concerns with regard to municipal and well-water supplies, the popularity of such filtrations systems has increased markedly in recent years. For example, the inclusion of water filtration systems in refrigerators, once considered a luxury feature, is now included as a standard feature in all but entry level refrigerator designs.
A typical residential water filtration system generally can include a distribution manifold configured to accept a prepackaged cartridge filter. The distribution manifold is typically adapted to connect either directly or indirectly to a residential water supply and to points of use and may even allow for a drain connection. Generally, the prepackaged cartridge filter sealingly engages the distribution manifold such that an inlet flow channel connecting the residential water supply and the cartridge filter is defined, and at least one outlet flow channel connecting the cartridge filter and the points of use and/or the drain is defined.
By associating a liquid distribution assembly with an appliance having cooling capability, a cooled liquid can be supplied to the end user. Cooled liquids can be a desirable feature for a consumer. In general, the liquid distribution assembly may or may not have an associated filtration capability. Suitable appliances can be, for example, a refrigerator with a refrigeration compartment for storage of consumables and a freezer compartment.

Liquid dispenser assembly for use with an appliance


In a golf ball composed of a resilient solid core and a resin cover which encloses the core and has on an outside surface thereof numerous circular dimples, the cover has a maximum thickness of 0.5 to 1.5 mm and is made of a polyurethane elastomer having a Shore D hardness of 40 to 58; the total number of dimples on the cover is from 390 to 420, of which 40 to 80 are small-diameter dimples with a diameter of 2.0 to 2.7 mm; and the dimples are arranged so that total planar surfaces circumscribed by dimple edges which delineate boundaries between individual dimples and surrounding land areas that form an outermost surface of the ball account for 74 to 84% to an imaginary sphere defined by the surface of the ball having no dimples thereon. The golf ball of the invention does not readily lose lift even near the highest point in the trajectory of the ball when it has been hit, and thus can beneficially increase the distance of travel.

The present invention relates to a golf ball having an excellent flight performance.
In the past, to improve both the feel of solid golf balls on impact and their controllability, such balls were optimized for properties such as core and cover hardness under high-trajectory conditions owing to a relatively high spin rate.
However, it was later found that a golf ball hit at a low spin and a high launch angle will travel a longer distance. Hence, greater effort has come to be devoted to increasing the distance of travel in a manner which is in keeping with these findings. With recent advances in golfing equipment such as balls and clubs, designs are being worked out on drivers and other golf clubs built for distance that greatly reduce the amount of backspin taken on by a golf ball when hit.
Under low-spin conditions, the ball that has been hit will have a small coefficient of drag, which tends to increase its distance of travel. Yet, when the dimples that have been used in earlier golf balls are used unchanged in these more advanced golf balls, a drop occurs due to insufficient lift in the region of diminishing speed after the highest point of the ball's trajectory, resulting in a loss of distance.