A system and related method are disclosed for rendering a set of words linked to an n-dimensional vector space in a word cloud rendered from a two-dimensional projection of the vector space, where the user can click and drag a word, and the subspace and projection thereon will shift to place the word where the user has dragged it in a new projection, and the other words in the cloud will shift correspondingly, offering the user new insights. The importance of words in a document set is represented by word size, and relatedness between words demonstrated by color similarity.

Word clouds exist to aid in the problem of comprehending extremely large and complex masses of information concerning the words they display. Examples abound of sets of data of sufficient complexity to be unimaginable in their entirety. Human intuition works very well when comparing two or three categories of data; for example, the relationship between height and weight in a population, which can be depicted with a two-dimensional Cartesian graph, or the relationship between height, weight, and longevity, which requires a three-dimensional graph; it may be hard to draw, but it is not particularly taxing to the imagination. However, it is quite common to encounter a database table that contains a hundred or more columns, each recording a different category of facts about the subject of study. To depict every relationship between all of the categories of data in a hundred-columned table would require a hundred-dimensional graph, or a graph with not only an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis, but 97 other axes; even if there were a way to draw such a graph in its entirety, the result would be totally incomprehensible to even the most adept mind at spatial reasoning.
One way to respond to this level of complexity is to project the multiplicity of dimensions onto a two or three-dimensional space, in such a way as to preserve some aspect of the relationship between the many dimensions. The two or three dimensional space in itself may be depicted in two or three dimensions, and thus is amenable to human comprehension. By way of analogy, imagine a light shining on a cube so that its shadow is cast on a sheet of paper. When the light is shone on a single face of the cube, and the paper parallels the cube's opposite face, the shadow of the cube on the paper, or its two-dimensional projection, would be a square. If the paper faced one corner of the cube and the light shone upon the opposite vertex, the projection might appear hexagonal. A person viewing a series of such projections, while understanding how they were produced, could use them to deduce the shape of the overall cube.
Of course, to analyze a cube in this way would be unnecessary, but one way to explore a four-dimensional "cube," defined as a four-dimensional polyhedron in which all edges are the same length and join orthogonally, is to view a series of three-dimensional figures that represent projections of the hypercube onto three dimensions. The same approach could be used to study a 100-dimensional "cube." Likewise, while it is impossible to depict the relationship between 100 categories of data in a single comprehensible drawing, it is possible to draw relationships between any two or three categories in the set. Similarly, one may use this approach to depict relationships between two or three combinations of categories. For instance, in a data set made up of physical and demographic data concerning a group of people, one could graph height to weight ratio against blood pressure, which would be a projection of the data set onto two dimensions, one of which was a combination of two dimensions in the data set. To explore the relationships between other categories in the data set would require a different projection. The foregoing example is extremely simple. The selection of a projection, and the number of relationships that the projection can produce, can be far subtler and involve much more sophisticated mathematics.
Once the data has been projected onto a manageable set of dimensions, the challenge is to portray the information in that projection in a way that is intuitively meaningful to a person viewing the depiction. One efficient way to depict a three-dimensional set of relationships between categories of data, particularly data pertaining to texts, is with a "word cloud." A word cloud is a kind of weighted list in which a set of words, often words taken from a particular text, is displayed as on a page, and in which at least the font size of each depicted word varies depending on some attribute concerning the word. For example, the positions of the words in the word cloud could be determined by alphabetical order, and the sizes of the words in the word cloud could depend on how frequently each word appears in a text. The positions of the words in the cloud could also be determined by size of the words, by aesthetic considerations, or by further information about relationships between the words that the designer of the word cloud wished to convey. Some word clouds use colors as well as numbers to show something about the words; a bi-chromatic word cloud, for example, could allow the viewer to see which person in a dialogue uttered a given word. A more subtle use of coloring is exemplified by collocate clouds, which use shades of color to depict how frequently a given word appears only with the word the user has provided, while the size of a given word indicates how frequently the word appears in a text within a given distance of the word provided by the user. A cloud that uses all of the attributes mentioned above to display some piece of information about a word can depict a surprising amount of data in an intuitively clear way, if properly designed.
It is hardly surprising that word clouds, which necessarily involve a lot of searching, sorting, and computation involving large volumes of data, are generally created by software, and are most often encountered in internet applications. There are many software programs available on the web or on stand-alone computers that generate various kinds of word clouds, using the design parameters described above among others. The extant word cloud generation programs have in common a tendency to produce a single view of a given word cloud, reflecting one particularly interesting way of analyzing the textual or other data the program is designed to display. While the results can be fascinating, the programs currently in existence do not permit the user to explore the underlying data sets more fully by customizing the word clouds and manipulating the data projections that form the clouds' internal basis. Thus, there remains a need for a word cloud generating program that fully exploits the word clouds' potential to bring complex data within the reach of intelligent comprehension.

Word cloud rotatable through N dimensions via user interface


To form a polycrystalline silicon film having a grain size of 1 μm or greater by means of laser annealing. A beam emitted from a laser apparatus (101) is split in two by a half mirror. The split beams are processed into linear shapes by cylindrical lenses (102) to (105), and (207), then simultaneously irradiate an irradiation surface (209). If an amorphous silicon film formed on a glass substrate is disposed on the irradiation surface (209), an area will be irradiated by both a linear shape beam entering from a front surface and a linear shape beam that has transmitted through the glass surface. Both linear shape beams irradiate the same area to thereby crystallize the amorphous silicon film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device having a circuit comprising thin film transistors. For example, the invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing an electro-optical device, typically a liquid crystal display device, and the structure of electric equipment mounted with such an electro-optical device as a component. Note that throughout this specification, the semiconductor device indicates general devices that may function by use of semiconductor characteristics, and that the above electro-optical device and electric equipment are categorized as the semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the technique of crystallizing and improving the crystallinity of an amorphous semiconductor film or a crystalline semiconductor film (a semiconductor film having a crystallinity which is polycrystalline or microcrystalline, but is not a single crystal), in other words, a non-single crystal silicon film, formed on an insulating substrate such as a glass substrate by laser annealing, has been widely researched. Silicon film is often used as the above semiconductor film.
Comparing a glass substrate with a quartz substrate, which is often used conventionally, the glass substrate has advantages of low-cost and great workability, and can be easily formed into a large surface area substrate. This is why the above research is performed. Also, the reason for preferably using a laser for crystallization resides in that the melting point of a glass substrate is low. The laser is capable of imparting high energy only to the non-single crystalline film without causing much change in the temperature of the substrate.
The crystalline silicon film is formed from many crystal grains. Therefore, it is called a polycrystalline silicon film or a polycrystalline semiconductor film. A crystalline silicon film formed by laser annealing has high mobility. Accordingly, it is actively used in, for example, monolithic type liquid crystal electro-optical devices where thin film transistors (TFTs) are formed using this crystalline silicon film and used as TFTs for driving pixels and driving circuits formed on one glass substrate.
Further, a method of performing laser annealing by processing a high output pulse laser beam, such as an excimer laser, by means of optical system into a square spot of several centimeters, or into a linear shape of 10 cm or more, on the surface to be irradiated, and scanning the laser beam (or by moving the laser beam irradiation position relatively to the surface to be irradiated), has been preferably used because it has a high degree of mass productivity and is industrially excellent.
In particular, if a linear shape laser beam is used, a high degree of mass productivity can be obtained because laser irradiation can be performed on the entire surface to be irradiated by merely scanning at a right angle to the longitudinal direction of the linear shape laser, unlike the case of using a spot shape laser beam in which it is necessary to scan forward, back, left, and right. Scanning is made at a right angle to the longitudinal direction because it is the most efficient scanning direction. On account of this high mass productivity, the use in laser annealing of a linear shape laser beam in which a pulse oscillation excimer laser beam is processed by a suitable optical system, is now becoming a mainstream.
A polycrystalline silicon film can be obtained for the case of processing the pulse emission excimer laser beam into a linear shape and irradiating the linear shape laser beam while scanning, for example, on a non-single crystal silicon film.
The consequences of carefully studying or examining the obtained polycrystalline silicon film lead to a known fact that the polycrystalline silicon film is formed of a single crystal made of an infinite number of crystal grains with a grain size of several hundred nanometers. A large number of lattice defects exist in the grain boundary of these crystal grains causing substantial damages to the characteristics of a semiconductor device.
This problem can be resolved by making the grain size larger so that the lattice defect density may be reduced.
Laser irradiation has been performed on the non-single crystal silicon film under various possible conditions to resolve the above problem. However, the average grain size of the polycrystalline silicon film obtained could not be larger than 500 nm.
For example, irradiating a laser under a nitrogen atmosphere, or under a vacuum state, or under a heated state. A method of combining these methods in which the conditions are optimized was also tried. In any case, the grain size could not be made markedly bigger by any of the methods.

Laser irradiation apparatus, laser irradiation method, semiconductor device, and method of manufacturing a semiconductor device

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


Socket-type wrenches using a magnetic ratchet/clutch-type apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus preferably employs several pawls, as well as a ratchet-type wheel for engaging the pawls. The apparatus also utilizes the wrench's body which defines a chamber in which the wheel is received for rotation relative to the wrench body. The chamber also defines pockets for positioning the pawls adjacent the wheel to facilitate their movement between a drive position and a release position. In the drive position, at least one pawl is sandwiched between the wheel and a wall of the pocket to prevent the wrench body and the wheel from rotating relative to each other which enables a drive stroke to be made with the wrench. In the release position, the pawl is disengaged from the wheel which permits one to make a return stroke with the wrench. The apparatus further includes a ring magnet mounted on at least one side of the wheel for magnetically attracting the pawls to facilitate their movement into the drive position. Finally, the apparatus includes abutments which are utilized during the return stroke of the wrench to move the pawls out of engagement with the wheel.

The prior art is replete with ratchets and ratcheting mechanisms which are employed in a variety of uses. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,063,626; 5,386,747; and 4,404,773 disclose ratcheting mechanisms for socket wrenches and other types of tools using ratchets, or ratcheting mechanisms. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,893 discloses a ratcheting mechanism for a seat belt retractor and U.S. Pat. No. 4,480,802 discloses a ratcheting mechanism for a fishing reel, the latter also being indicated to provide a silencer for the clicking sound typically associated with ratchets which occurs during the ratchet's release state and is caused by the ratchet's pawl clicking against the teeth of the ratchet wheel as the wheel rotates. U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,790 also discloses a silent ratchet-like apparatus for preventing rollback in a rail vehicle, which also provides a mechanism for reducing or eliminating the clicking noise associated with pawls moving over a tooth rack or ratchet.
While all of the above ratcheting apparatus undoubtedly work as indicated, none is believed to provide the advantages provided by the ratchet/clutch-type apparatus of the present invention which uses a magnet and which include the following:
(1) Less or no clicking noise during the ratchet/clutch-type apparatus' release or return stroke.
(2) Stronger and able to withstand and transmit much more force than a conventional ratchet or clutch due to the use of components, particularly pawls, which are much stronger than those used in conventional ratcheting mechanisms.
(3) Longer life due to the use of no springs for pushing a pawl or clutch roller into engagement with the ratchet wheel. The magnet employed in the present invention replaces the springs found in many conventional ratchets and roller clutches which typically break or wear out over a period of time.
(4) Less expensive to manufacture as will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art.
(5) When used in a socket wrench, the magnet of the present invention can also be utilized to magnetize the socket wrench's drive so that the drive holds a socket on the wrench by magnetic attraction, thereby eliminating the need for spring loaded pin-like mechanisms for holding the socket. As will be appreciated, the elimination of these pin-like mechanisms will not only reduce manufacturing costs but will also result in a longer lasting wrench since these mechanisms often jam or fail in one way or another.
(6) The present invention also provides a new type of magnetic ratchet/clutch-type wrench which not only replaces a conventional ratchet-type socket wrench but expands thereon by providing a ratchet/clutch-type wrench having a drive hole which receives and magnetically holds a removable drive member of the present invention. As those skilled in the art will appreciate the removable drive member is preferably provided in three different sizes, i.e. with a 1/2 inch drive, a 3/8 inch drive and a 1/4 inch drive, all of which can be received and magnetically held in the drive hole of the wrench. That is, the drive hole of the wrench can receive and magnetically hold a 1/2 inch removable drive, a 3/8 inch removable drive and a 1/4 inch removable drive and these drives in turn magnetically hold conventional female type wrench sockets. Thus, it will be appreciated that such a wrench can replace a full ratchet set which typically has three separate ratchet wrenches, i.e. one with a 1/2 inch drive, one with a 3/8 drive and one with a 1/4 drive. In addition, this wrench can receive and magnetically hold many other types of tools as long as the tool is provided with a drive end of the present invention which is receivable and capable of being magnetically held in the drive hole of the wrench. Such tools include a novel male socket of the present invention as well as a novel chuck of the present invention which in turn receives conventional drill bits, screw bits and the like. Novel screw bits and drill bits having the drive end of the present invention are also provided in accordance with the present invention.
(7) The ratchet/clutch-type apparatus may also be incorporated into a bearing to provide a one-way bearing.


A protective and decorative coating composition including about 2 to 10 different colorants which in combination with a resinous composition produce a desired visible coating. A majority of the colorants has a maximum haze of about 10% and exhibits an absorbance peak in the visible spectrum wherein at least about 50% of the total absorbance in the visible spectrum occurs at wavelengths within about 50 nm of the wavelength of the peak absorbance.

1. Field of the Invention
2. Prior Art
The present invention relates to coating compositions containing nanosized colorants, more particularly to coating compositions containing a plurality of nanosized colorants having low haze (high transparency) and a narrow absorbance bandwidth in the visible spectrum.
Paint compositions typically include colorant particles dispersed in a resinous binder. The paint composition may further include reflective pigments such as aluminum flake or mica or other color effect pigment compositions or substrate-hiding materials such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide or lead oxide. The colorant particles used in conventional paints are typically on the order of 0.5 micron in size. Particles of this size absorb light at certain wavelengths and scatter light at other wavelengths. This partial absorption and partial scattering creates a degraded coloration effect when viewed by an observer. Selection of a particular color for a paint requires blending of such colorants and is difficult to achieve using conventional colorants because the colorants have spectral characteristics that overlap one another and because the degrading scattering effects are compounded. As a result, conventional paint compositions typically require blending mixtures selected from tens or even hundreds of various colorants in order to achieve a desired paint color. To create a paint color on demand, paint suppliers maintain numerous colorants on hand to be able to blend any combination of colorants.
When a new color of a paint composition is desired, several colorants are mixed together and balanced in order to achieve the desired color. This process of producing a colored paint is significantly complicated when the end product is intended to match an existing paint composition. For example, in automotive refinish paints, it is desirable to produce a paint composition that closely matches the paint on an automobile. The color of a paint formulation originally painted on the vehicle during production may change over time and with weathering. In addition, the spectral characteristics of the colorants of the original paint formulation may not be the same as the spectral characteristics of later available colorants. Due to these variabilities, the process of preparing a paint composition that closely matches that of an existing automobile is complicated and often requires trial and error until the desired color is achieved.
Accordingly, a need remains for a method of preparing a protective and decorative coating for applying to a substrate and having a color which is either prespecified or matches a preselected coating composition selected from a minimum quantity of colorants.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Use of nanoparticulate organic pigments in paints and coatings


Data is accessed from a network via a wireless communication link. A determination is made as to whether payload data has been received from a subscriber's terminal. If so, then a request is sent for a first set of traffic channels, and the payload data is transmitted over the first set of traffic channels.

The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. In particular, the present invention relates to systems and methods for providing wireless connections between a wireless access device and a network.
Wireless access for computing networks is known in the art. Typically such systems are implemented by a layered wireless communication system. Layered communication systems are characterized by levels of processing that are performed for transmission and reception of a data signal. For example, a "physical layer" typically refers to processing that is performed to package a signal for radio transmission; it may include error coding, data interleaving digital code modulation, and other conventional processing. The physical layer can be contrasted with, for example, a "data layer" that performs processing to format a signal into a format appropriate for delivery for the wireless device to the subscriber terminal.
Prior-art systems are disadvantageous because the wireless access device maintains a channel on a physical layer when the subscriber terminal needs to maintain an active channel, even if there is no payload data being transferred over the physical channel. This system is bandwidth inefficient because data transmissions in computer networks are "bursty," characterized by a short transfer of high-rate data, followed by a relatively long period in which no data are transferred. This inefficiency reduces the number of subscribers that can be working on a system.
Thus a need exists for a system in which a subscriber and a wireless-access device can communicate along a layer of the connection, without activating the physical layer until payload data is intended to be sent.

Maintenance of channel usage in a wireless communication system


A tunable LD with reduced number of the butt joint is disclosed. The tunable LD includes the reflector and a waveguide core. The reflector includes a plurality of segments each having a grating region and a space region adjacent to the grating region. The waveguide core includes a gain region extending in two segments adjacent to each other and a tuning region extending in two segments adjacent to each other and also adjacent to the segment for the gain region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor laser diode (hereafter denoted as LD), in particular, the invention relates to a tunable LD.
2. Related Prior Art
A Japanese Patent Application published as JP-H07-273400A has disclosed a tunable LD having a sampled grating (hereafter denoted as SG) and an optical waveguide in which a plurality of gain regions and tuning regions are alternately arranged along the optical axis of the LD. Such a tunable LD may shift peak wavelengths appeared in the discrete spectrum caused by the SG by modifying the refractive index in the tuning region.
The tunable LD in the prior patent inevitably includes many interfaces between the gain region and the tuning region. Such an interface is often called as the butt-joint derived from the manufacturing process thereof. The butt-joint generally has an optically disarranged or discontinued interface to cause unintentional internal reflection thereat, which degrades the performance of the tunable LD. Accordingly, the number of the butt-joint should be reduced as possible.


A structural improvement on a carburetor for motorcycles, and more particularly relating to a carburetor provided with an oil re-atomizing device intends to ensure an almost complete atomization of injected oil before delivery into a combustion chamber of an engine. Near the middle of a horizontally extended air passage of the carburetor is disposed a smoothly enlarged section having an increasingly expanded diameter so as to permit a re-atomizing device to be mounted to the end of the section. The re-atomizing device is made up of a cone-shaped head portion and a circular supporting bracket that are fixed together by a screw. Oil sucked into the air passage via a needle controlled oil supply passage is brought into direct collision against the round ended cone-shaped head portion of the re-atomizing device. The bottom of the head portion is provided with a flanged skirt which has a peripheral recess so that the mixture of air and oil will produce eddy current pressure at the flanged skirt, resulting in full and effective atomization of the mixture flow before it enters the combustion chamber of an engine.

The present invention relates to a structural improvement on a carburetor for motorcycles and more particularly to a carburetor provided with an oil re-atomizing device so as to ensure an almost complete atomization of injected gasoline before delivery into a combustion chamber of an engine. Near the middle of a horizontally extended air passage of the carburetor is disposed a section having an increasingly expanded diameter so as to permit a re-atomizing device to be mounted to the end of the section. The re-atomizing device is made up of a cone-shaped head portion and a circular supporting bracket that are fixed together by a screw. Oil sucked into the air passage via a needle controlled oil supply passage is brought into direct collision against the cone-shaped head portion of the re-atomizing device. The bottom of the head portion is provided with a flanged skirt which has a peripheral recess so that the mixture of air and oil will produce eddy current pressure at the flanged skirt, resulting in full and effective atomization of the mixture flow before it enters the combustion chamber of an engine.
Referring to FIG. 1, a first conventional carburetor 10 has a horizontal air passage 11 and a vertical vacuum-operated valve member 12 having a needle 13 disposed at the bottom end of the piston member 12. The piston member 12 partially housed in the air passage 11 is disposed near the front portion of the carburetor. The needle 13 is movably inserted into an oil supply path 15 in communication with an oil reservoir 14 located at the bottom of the carburetor 10. At the rear portion of air passage 11 is placed a throttle valve 16. Air can be led into the air passage 11 from the front end thereof. The speedy flow of air into the air passage 11 results in the suction of gasoline from the oil reservoir 14 into the air passage 11 via the clearance between the needle 13 and the oil supply path 15. As shown in FIG. 2, the supplied gasoline or oil is delivered axially forward along with air in the air passage 11 in atomized particles.
Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, the second prior art carburetor 20 has a horizontal air passage 21 in which an adjustable Venturi-tube 22 including a round-ended cone member 221, a bell-shaped cover 222, a supporting bracket 223, a spring 224 and a central shaft 225 is housed. An oil reservoir 23 is located under the carburetor 20 and 4 nozzles 24 are used to inject oil to the adjustable Venturi-tube 22 from the reservoir 23. In operation, air is introduced into the air passage 21 from the front end thereof, and the injected oil from the 4 nozzles will be guided along the contour of the round-ended cone member 221 of the Venturi-tube 22 so as to make the oil atomized into particles, as shown in FIG. 5.
The above listed prior arts have the following disadvantages: the carburetors 10, 20 can not get the oil atomized effectively, resulting in incomplete combustion of the gasoline injected into combustion chambers of an engine and oil consumption is high in such carburetor-associated engines and air pollution as a result of producing massive amount of carbon monoxide is another serious problem.

Structural improvement on a carburetor for motorcycles

An-Hsi Tsun, Hsiu-Shui Hsiang, Changhua Hsien


The theft protection system includes a base unit which is sufficiently compact that it may be positioned in a pocket of a golf bag and sense unauthorized removal thereof by a thief. The base unit has a housing containing a tilt sensor which includes an electrically conducting ball positioned within a hemispherically split chamber which in response to tilt or other movement of the sensor (and golf bag) rolls into a position in which it allows current to flow through the sensor and into either just an alarm in a first embodiment or into both an alarm and a transmitter in a second embodiment. The transmitter emits a signal to a remote unit which is sufficiently compact that it may be carried by a user and which includes a receiver and an auditory or vibration alarm. The receiver activates the auditory or vibration alarm in response to receipt of the signal from the transmitter thereby alerting the user to theft or attempted theft of the golf bag.

The invention relates generally to theft protection systems for personal property and, more particularly, to such systems which may be removably positioned in or on various types of property. The system deters and/or thwarts theft by utilizing an alarm and a radio transmitter/receiver subsystem to alert the owner of the property of an attempted theft.
With the proliferation of leisure time activities designers of equipment for such activities have sought to make substantial improvements in the performance of such equipment. The performance improvement has been brought about at least partly by the utilization of increasingly more sophisticated designs and more expensive materials used in equipment used for such activities which have resulted in increasingly more expensive equipment. Consequently, the high performance and/or high tech aspect of many types of such equipment which has made them much more expensive than previous versions has produced increasingly higher incidence of theft of such equipment. Moreover, the increased popularity of such activities has produced a burgeoning demand for such types of equipment which are priced relatively inexpensively. Consequently, this burgeoning demand in combination with the high cost of such equipment has caught the attention of both amateur and professional thieves. Since such types of equipment are often designed so that they are compact or relatively light weight, they may be easily picked up and carried away by a thief. In addition, such equipment is often at a golf course or other recreational area where it is impractical to lock up the equipment. The lack of serial numbers on such equipment also makes it more difficult to identify such property as stolen and thus more attractive for would be thieves and also makes thievery of such equipment much more lucrative. In addition, this characteristic makes it not only more difficult to retrieve stolen property and return it to its rightful owner but also makes it more difficult to convict the thief. Consequently, a burgeoning black market for such equipment comprising stolen property has proliferated.
In an attempt to thwart theft of such equipment, many theft protection system and device designs have been marketed. Some of these systems and devices have been designed specifically for certain types of sporting equipment. An example of such a system designed specifically for protecting golf bags is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,041,815 to Newton. The Newton system is portable and adapted for positioning thereof in a golf bag and sounding an alarm when the bag is moved. The Newton system utilizes a mercury switch (and a weight sensitive switch) which results in activation of the alarm when the bag is moved or when one or more of the golf clubs is removed from the bag. However, a primary disadvantage of such a system is that it is designed for connection to a golf cart battery and thus is limited to those applications and situations in which such a battery is available. In addition, such systems are not able to alert the owner of the golf bag of an attempted theft if the owner is too remote from the golf bag to hear the alarm. Moreover, the mercury used in the tilt switch of such systems presents a health hazard to those who use or carry such systems. Also, such mercury tilt switches may not respond effectively to changes in all possible angles of tilt and consequently might not be able to respond to all manner of removal by a thief. In addition, such mercury switches may produce false alarms because they cannot reliably distinguish between actions of the golf bag being lifted and carried away and being simply jarred as when someone innocently bumps into the golf bag or cart.
Some other types of alarm systems have remote capabilities for alerting a person who may be at a remote location. An example of such a device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,931,772 to Bechtold which utilizes a radio frequency transmitter adapted to be worn by a worker and a radio frequency receiver for positioning at a location remote from the worker. The transmitter includes a mercury switch which senses when the worker gets out of his normal working position thereby indicating that the worker is in jeopardy or is ill and activates the transmitter to transmit a signal to the receiver and activate an alarm. However, as with the Newton design, such mercury switch components are not safe and may produce false alarms. In addition, the Bechtold system does not have a provision for setting the angle of tilt needed to activate the alarm. Moreover, as with the Newton system, the Bechtold system is not capable of distinguishing between accidental bumping and the desired activating movements.
Other types of theft protection systems enable the user to set the tilt angle of the mercury switch of the device. An example of such a system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,778 to Williamson. The Williamson mercury switch enables the user to set the rest position of the sensor at a desired tilt angle so that the degree of tilt required to activate the alarm may be set. However, the Williamson switch subsystem is not able to distinguish between accidental bumping and the desired activating movements and is more likely to give false alarms when the rest position of the switch is set so that less tilt is required to activate the alarm.
The above described prior art patented systems do not have the capability of distinguishing between movements of the alarm device comprising a theft and movements of the alarm device not comprising a theft i.e., accidental bumping. In addition, since these prior art patented systems and other typical prior art theft protection systems rely on mercury switches to provide tilt and motion detection, these systems are not safe because there is the possibility that the mercury may leak out of the switch due to damage thereto or by other means and thereby present a highly toxic chemical threat to the user or to others. What is thus needed is a theft protection system that is relatively safe and that provides more reliability in detection of attempted theft.


A driving circuit outputs driving waveforms to operation signal lines. The waveforms are formed by combining a first-mode waveform for charging a node capacitor with a positive voltage and a second-mode waveform for charging the node capacitor with a negative voltage in a predetermined binary sequence. A sensing circuit is electrically connected with a plurality of sense signal lines and measures sense voltages delivered to one integration capacitor from a plurality of node capacitors which are electrically connected with the sense signal lines. A sense detector adds or subtracts the sense voltages which are measured by the sensing circuit at driving time points to measure capacitances of the node capacitors. Accordingly, an autocorrelation technique which is generally used in communication systems is applied to driving a touch screen device.

The present invention relates to touch screen devices, and driving devices and driving methods for a touch panel, and in particular, to a touch screen device, and a driving device and driving method for a touch panel having advantages of reducing a driving time.
Display devices such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) and an organic light emitting display (OLED), portable communication devices, and information processing devices perform functions using various input devices. Recently, touch screen devices are being widely used as input devices in electronic devices such as cell phones, smart phones, palm-size personal computers (PCs), and automated teller machines (ATMs).
Touch screen devices perform desired commands by recognizing an input such as a finger, a touch pen, or a stylus on screens of the touch screen devices to write text, draw shapes, or select and execute icons.
Touch screen devices may resistive type or capacitive type touch screen devices depending on the method employed to sense inputs.
A resistive type touch screen device has a configuration where a glass or transparent plastic plate is coated with resistive material and then is covered with a polyester film. The resistive type touch screen device detects resistance variation to sense a touch point when the screen is touched. Resistive type touch screen devices have a drawback of being incapable of sensing a touch when touch pressure is weak.
A capacitive type touch screen device has electrodes on both or one side of a glass or transparent plastic plate and applies a voltage between the electrodes. The capacitive type touch screen device analyzes capacitance variation to sense a touch point when an object such as a finger touches the screen of the capacitive type touch screen device.
The capacitive type touch screen device requires a driving device for measuring capacitance between the electrodes and sensing capacitance variation to sense a touch point. Such a driving device includes a driving circuit for driving respective node capacitors and a sensing circuit for sensing capacitance variations of the respective node capacitors.
Typical driving devices for a touch panel sequentially drive respective node capacitors and then sequentially measure capacitance variations of the node capacitors. Accordingly, conventional driving devices suffer from a problem in that a driving time for sensing a touch point is long. Also, external noise causes touch panels to malfunction.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is provided to enhance understanding of the background of the invention, and therefore it may contain information that may not be prior art.

Touch screen device, and driving device and driving method for touch panel using predetermined binary sequences


This invention relates to the synthesis of chemical compounds and particularly to methods for the preparation of (4,6-dihalo-pyrimidin-5-yl)-acetaldehydes. The methods involve preparing a compound of the following general formula V from a compound of the following general formula IV through hydrolysis under the action of mercury dichloride and calcium carbonate, according to the following equation:

G protein-coupled receptor 119 (GPR119) is a new diabetes drug target. GPR119 agonists have been the focus of new drug development efforts of many multinational pharmaceutical companies. Among a series of small-molecule GPR119 agonists developed by GlaxoSmithKline, GSK252A of the following formula has the most outstanding performance:

The GSK252A molecule includes a novel pyrrolopyrimidine bicyclic structure. One important method of constructing such a bicyclic structure is a ring-closing reaction using (4,6-dichloro-pyrimidin-5-yl)-acetaldehyde. Therefore, the synthesis of (4,6-dichloro-pyrimidin-5-yl)-acetaldehyde is of remarkable importance to the subsequent development of GSK252A and other similar active substances based on the pyrrolopyrimidine bicyclic structure.
Current synthesis of (4,6-dichloro-pyrimidin-5-yl)-acetaldehyde, the compound of the following formula I, relies mainly on an oxidation reaction for creating an oxoethyl group in position 5. One example of this approach is disclosed in WO2010/9195, in which the synthesis is based on the compound of the following formula II and uses potassium osmate as an oxidant, according to the following equation:

WO2003/105770 discloses the synthesis from the compound of the following formula III, in which osmium tetroxide is used as an oxidant, according to the following equation:

However, oxidation reactions are generally associated with a high risk and low controllability and thus have unsatisfactory final yields. In addition, osmium tetroxide and potassium osmate are not suitable for use in the production of pharmaceutical intermediates and industrialized production because they are less water soluble, creates difficulties in post-processing, and tends to remain in the final products.

Methods for preparation of (4,6-dihalo-pyrimidin-5-yl)-acetaldehydes

Abstract: wherein X is Cl or Br. The methods offer the benefits of use of highly available materials, high step yields, moderate reaction conditions, simply post-processing and purification, and suitability to industrialized production.

SUZHOU JONATHAN NEW MATERIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


The disclosed architecture is an application program interface (API) that includes a collection of class members defined in a single class for accessing mailboxes in messaging storage locations in an enterprise organization. Each mailbox in the organization has an identity that primarily encapsulates at least a mailbox server name, a unique mailbox database GUID (globally unique identifier), and a unique mailbox GUID. By encapsulating information associated with a mailbox into one class, database lookups can be optimized and a single source of mailbox information provided for both authentication and display purposes. Other information can also be encapsulated.

The advances in both IP and cellular networks serve as the catalyst for enormous amounts of information exchange. Users can utilize many different types of devices such as portable computers and cell phones to access and disseminate information from most any location. In particular, wireless and mobile capabilities are becoming principal forms of communication and data access. With the widespread deployment of wireless services mobile information workers play a key role in many corporate business operations. Employees that travel, such as sales representatives and field service technicians, for example, require access to mail, contacts information, calendar, etc., from anywhere.
Businesses realize that communications is a very important investment not only for promoting products and services, but also for maintaining employee productivity. More recent developments include enterprise-class solutions that provide security and policy-driven solutions for messaging and data exchange for computing and mobile devices. For example, collaboration systems allow employees to communicate in shared environments to discuss topics of interest and exchange information on related topics.
However, these conventional attempts at unified solutions are only partially successful. Corporate systems can typically include a blend of legacy backend and communications systems some of which are sufficiently compatible to facilitate a partial solution to existing needs. Niche vendors provide patchwork interfaces to make these systems work in some basic fashion. However, it is desirable to have a software component that provides a universal solution to the wide variety of systems and data that enterprises employ. Such a system could deliver a significant reduction in total-cost-ownership and a significantly improved user experience whether online, across a range of network connections, or offline.

API for representing a mailbox in a message system


A color printing system with reduced bleed includes a computer and a color printer. The computer has a digital processor and memory accessed by the digital processor, where the memory stores printable objects selected from the group comprising graphic objects and non-graphic objects and pixel maps corresponding to the graphic objects and the non-graphic objects. The color printer is coupled to the computer and is capable of printing the pixel maps using color pixels and black pixels. An image processor implemented on the computer identifies the graphic objects among the printable objects, adjusts pixel densities of the graphic objects, and renders the printable objects as the pixel maps, such that black pixel densities of pixel maps of the graphic objects are reduced without reducing black pixel densities of pixel maps of the non-graphic objects. A method of the present invention includes the steps of identifying graphic objects among printable objects, adjusting color information of the graphic objects if bleed reduction criteria are met, and developing printer control information from the printable objects that can provide for a lower black pixel density for the graphic objects due to the adjustment of the color information of the graphic objects.

This invention relates generally to color printing systems and, more particularly, to color printing systems and methods which address the problem of the bleeding of black ink into adjacent color areas of a page.
The use of computers has proliferated to such an extent that computers are readily available to people from all walks of life. It is not uncommon to enter an office and see a personal computer system on virtually every desk. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the typical computer system 8 has a computer housing 10, a keyboard 12 for user interface with the computer, a color display 14, and (optionally) a printer 16. The printer 16 is sometimes shared with other computers over a local area network (LAN). The computer housing 10 typically contains a central processing unit (CPU), read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), long term memory (such as a hard disk or a PCMCIA card), and other logic, peripherals, interfaces, and drivers well known to those skilled in the art of computer design.
The computer system can store image information in its permanent (e.g. hard disk) or temporary (e.g. RAM) memory. Logically, there is very little difference between permanent and temporary memory during the operation of the computer and, therefore, all forms of read/write memory accessible by the CPU of the computer will be collectively referred to herein as "memory." Since many color displays are RGB (red, green, blue) type monitors, image information is typically stored in memory in the form of an electronic document containing an RGB pixel map and corresponding information regarding the nature of "objects" in the document. As is well known to those skilled in the art, "objects" are collections of code and data which represent a logical entity, such as a text object, a graphic object, or a picture object. In the RGB model or "space", the three colors are additive such that the more of each color that is added, the closer the color in the image is to white. This corresponds to the way color displays work: saturating the red, green, and blue phosphors of a color display produces white, turning the three phosphors completely off produces black, and mixing the three colors produces other colors.
For cost and other reasons, the printer 16 is often a monochrome printer which is capable of printing in only one color. Since the "color" is usually black and since most paper is white, monochrome printers are often called "black-and-white" printers. The computer provides the printer with image information to cause the printer to print an image on a printed paper 18. This image can be represented in the electronic document by objects corresponding to the graphic object OG, the text objects OT, and the picture object OP printed on the page.
Color printers are also available, although at a higher cost (and sometimes lower resolution) than monochrome printers using the same technology. Most color printers are "CMYK" type printers which use utilize cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) to produce color images. In other words, most color printers use a CMYK model and therefore operate in CMYK "space." With CMYK printers, the colors CMY are subtractive. That is, the more of cyan, magenta, or yellow added, the closer the color in the image is to black.
With CMYK printers, black can be theoretically achieved by mixing full density cyan, magenta, and yellow. However, the C, M, and Y inks that are used cannot produce a truly dark, dense black, so a separate black ink is also provided. Since the display operates on in RGB space, the computer converts the RGB pixel map of the electronic document into a CMYK pixel map to create a printed image. However, in the prior art, when the CMYK pixel map is created from the RGB pixel map, the information regarding the nature of objects in the image is not maintained. Therefore, it is not possible to distinguish various objects in a CMYK encoded image.
Due to material limitations, it is difficult to create a black ink which both has the desired printing qualities (darkness, drying time, viscosity, etc.) and yet does not migrate or "wick" into adjacent areas on a page. As illustrated in FIG. 2a, a color image 20 on a page 21 may include a black area 22 and a color area 24. The ink of black area 22 wicks along the fiber in the paper and creates a number of "bleed lines" 26, which are often quite visible in the lighter color area 24 portion of the printout 20. The result of this effect is referred to as "bleed." Excessive bleeding will degrade the image 20.
Since the amount of bleed is directly related to the capillary action or "wicking" of the fibers in the paper, a partial solution to this problem is to use a coated paper to reduce wicking. However, this solution requires the purchase and storage of expensive and sometimes scarce coated paper, as opposed to relatively cheap and readily available standard papers. Furthermore, since different printers may have different ink chemistries, it is often necessary to buy coated paper that is specifically made for that printer. This, of course, again tends to increase cost and reduce availability.
One attempt to avoid bleed without using a special, coated paper is illustrated in FIG. 2b. In this solution the computer system 8 analyzes the CMYK pixel map and alters it by placing a band of white pixels 30 (i.e. where no color is present) between black pixels 32 and the color pixels 34. This reduces the amount of black that bleeds into an adjacent color by providing a buffer zone between the two areas. However, this solution creates a white "halo" surrounding the color areas, which noticeably degrades the quality of the image.
Another attempted solution is illustrated in FIG. 2c. Here the computer system analyzes the CMYK pixel map and alters it by placing a mixed cyan, magenta, and yellow band of pixels 36 at the intersection of black pixels 32' and other color pixels 34'. This reduces black bleed but has the image corrupting side-effect of visibly distorting the color of the perimeter of the color area.
FIG. 2d illustrates yet another partial solution to the bleeding problem. In this solution, the computer system analyzes the CMYK pixel map and alters the map by placing a reduced pixel density black band 38 between the black pixels 32" and other color pixels 34". This reduces black bleed but has the image corrupting side effect of creating a visible band of gray adjacent to the color area.
Yet another approach of the prior art is to replace all the black ink on the page with either reduced pixel density black or with a CMY pixel mix which, as explained previously, can produce a less dense black. While this creates an image without apparent halos or bands, the lack of true black, especially in any text on the image, is noticeable and reduces the contrast and resolution of the image.

Color printing system and method with reduced bleed


The invention encompasses DRAM constructions, capacitor constructions, integrated circuitry, and methods of forming DRAM constructions, integrated circuitry and capacitor constructions. The invention encompasses a method of forming a capacitor wherein: a) a first layer is formed; b) a semiconductive material masking layer is formed over the first layer; c) an opening is etched through the masking layer and first layer to a node; d) a storage node layer is formed within the opening and in electrical connection with the masking layer; e) a capacitor storage node is formed from the masking layer and the storage node layer; and f) a capacitor dielectric layer and outer capacitor plate are formed operatively proximate the capacitor storage node. The invention also includes a DRAM cell comprising: a) a bitline node and a capacitor node electrically connected together through a transistor gate; b) a capacitor electrically connected to the capacitor node, the capacitor comprising; i) a storage node, the storage node in lateral cross-section comprising an outer surface extending over a top of the storage node, along a pair of opposing lateral surfaces of the storage node, and within laterally opposing cavities beneath the storage node; ii) a dielectric layer against the storage node outer surface and extending within the opposing cavities beneath the storage node; and iii) a cell plate layer against the dielectric layer and extending within the opposing cavities beneath the storage node; and c) a bitline electrically connected to the bitline node.

This invention pertains to semiconductor capacitor constructions and to methods of forming semiconductor capacitor constructions. The invention is thought to have particular significance in application to methods of forming dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cell structures, and to DRAM cell structures.
A commonly used semiconductor memory device is a DRAM cell. A DRAM cell generally consists of a capacitor coupled through a transistor to a bitline. A continuous challenge in the semiconductor industry is to increase DRAM circuit density. Accordingly, there is a continuous effort to decrease the size of memory cell components. A limitation on the minimal size of cell components is impacted by the resolution of a photolithographic etch during a fabrication process. Although this resolution is generally being improved, at any given time there is a minimum photolithographic feature dimension of which a fabrication process is capable. It would be desirable to form DRAM components having at least some portions which comprise a cross-sectional dimension of less than a given minimum capable photolithographic feature dimension.
Another continuous trend in the semiconductor industry is to minimize processing steps. Accordingly, it is desirable to utilize common steps for the formation of separate DRAM components. For instance, it is desirable to utilize common steps for the formation of the DRAM capacitor structures and the DRAM bitline contacts.
A semiconductor wafer fragment 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1 showing a prior art DRAM array 83. Wafer fragment 10 comprises a semiconductive material 12, field oxide regions 14, and wordlines 24 and 26. Wordlines 24 and 26 comprise a gate oxide layer 16, a polysilicon layer 18, a silicide layer 20 and a silicon oxide layer 22. Silicide layer 20 comprises a refractory metal silicide, such as tungsten silicide, and polysilicon layer 18 typically comprises polysilicon doped with a conductivity enhancing dopant. Nitride spacers 30 are laterally adjacent wordlines 24 and 26.
Electrical node locations 25, 27 and 29 are between wordlines 24 and 26 and are electrically connected by transistor gates comprised by wordlines 24 and 26. Node locations 25, 27 and 29 are diffusion regions formed within semiconductive material 12.
A borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG) layer 34 is over semiconductive material 12 and wordlines 24 and 26. An oxide layer 32 is provided between BPSG layer 34 and material 12. Oxide layer 32 inhibits diffusion of phosphorus from BPSG layer 34 into underlying materials.
Conductive pedestals 54, 55 and 56 extend through BPSG layer 34 to node locations 25, 27 and 29, respectively. Capacitor constructions 62 and 64 contact upper surfaces of pedestals 54 and 56, respectively. Capacitor constructions 62 and 64 comprise a storage node layer 66, a dielectric layer 68, and a cell plate layer 70. Dielectric layer 68 comprises an electrically insulative layer, such as silicon nitride. Cell plate layer 70 comprises conductively doped polysilicon, and may alternatively be referred to as a cell layer 70. Storage node layer 66 comprises conductively doped hemispherical grain polysilicon.
A conductive bitline plug 75 contacts an upper surface of pedestal 55. Bitline plug 75 may comprise, for example, tungsten. Together, bitline plug 75 and pedestal 55 comprise a bitline contact 77.
A bitline 76 extends over capacitors 62 and 64 and in electrical connection with bitline contact 77. Bitline 76 may comprise, for example, aluminum.
The capacitors 62 and 64 are electrically connected to bitline contact 77 through transistor gates comprised by wordlines 26. A first DRAM cell 79 comprises capacitor 62 electrically connected to bitline 76 through a wordline 26 and bitline contact 77. A second DRAM cell 81 comprises capacitor 64 electrically connected to bitline 76 through wordline a 26 and bitline contact 77. DRAM array 83 comprises first and second DRAM cells 79 and 81.
The invention includes a number of methods and structures pertaining to semiconductor circuit technology, including: methods of forming DRAM memory cell constructions; methods of forming capacitor constructions; methods of forming capacitor and bitline constructions; DRAM memory cell constructions; capacitor constructions; capacitor and bitline constructions, and integrated circuitry.
The invention encompasses a method of forming a capacitor wherein a first layer is formed over a node location and a semiconductive material masking layer is formed over the first layer, wherein an opening is etched through the semiconductive material masking layer and first layer to the node location using the semiconductive material masking layer as an etch mask, wherein a storage node layer is formed within the opening and in electrical connection with the masking layer, and wherein at least the masking layer is patterned to form a capacitor storage node comprising the masking layer and the storage node layer.
The invention also encompasses a method of forming a capacitor wherein a first layer is formed over a node location, wherein a semiconductive material masking layer is formed over the first layer, wherein an opening is etched through the semiconductive material masking layer and first layer to the node location using the semiconductive material masking layer as an etch mask, wherein a storage node layer is formed to substantially fill the opening and in electrical connection with the masking layer, and wherein the masking layer and the storage node layer are patterned to form a capacitor storage node.
The invention also encompasses a DRAM cell comprising a capacitor electrically connected to a bitline through a transistor gate, wherein the capacitor comprises a storage node which, in lateral cross-section, has an outer surface extending over its top, along a pair of its opposing lateral surfaces, and within laterally opposing cavities beneath it. The capacitor further comprises a dielectric layer against the storage node outer surface and extending along the lateral opposing surfaces of the storage node and within the opposing cavities beneath the storage node. Additionally, the capacitor comprises a cell plate layer against the dielectric layer and extending along the lateral opposing surfaces of the storage node and within the opposing cavities beneath the storage node.

Capacitor structures, DRAM cell structures, and integrated circuitry, and methods of forming capacitor structures, integrated circuitry and DRAM cell structures


An apparatus for providing an interactive service during a broadcast service includes a transmitting element and a processing element. The transmitting element is capable of communicating broadcast content of the broadcast service to a plurality of receiving terminals. The processing element is configured to at least partially control the transmitting element. The processing element is configured to communicate with a network device in order to request a program specific group for communication of the interactive service to a receiving terminal that is a member of the program specific group. The interactive service is communicated to the receiving terminal that is a member of the program specific group with reception of the broadcast service. The content associated with the interactive service originates from the receiving terminals.

The modern communications era has brought about a tremendous expansion of wireline and wireless networks. Computer networks, television networks, and telephony networks are experiencing an unprecedented technological expansion, fueled by consumer demand. Wireless and mobile networking technologies have addressed related consumer demands, while providing more flexibility and immediacy of information transfer.
Current and future networking technologies continue to facilitate ease of information transfer and convenience to users. One area in which there is a demand to increase ease of information transfer relates to processing and display of video streams at a mobile terminal. Accordingly, digital broadband data broadcast networks have been developed such as, for example, digital video broadcasting (DVB), Japanese Terrestrial Integrated Service Digital Broadcasting (ISDB-T), Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS), and those networks provided by the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC). In this regard, digital broadband data broadcast networks enjoy popularity in Europe and elsewhere for the delivery of television content as well as the delivery of other data, such as Internet Protocol (IP) data. Several variants of the DVB standard exist, for example, DVB-T (terrestrial), DVB-H (handheld), DVB-C (cable) and DVB-S (satellite). DVB-H (handheld), for example, can provide increased performance particularly for wireless data delivery to handheld devices.
With the development of improved means for delivery of video data, a demand has grown for services that offer interactive aspects incorporated along with aspects of television viewing. Thus, a need exists for providing interactive services transmitted as part of or along with a video data stream.

System, method, mobile terminal and computer program product for providing push-to-talk chat in interactive mobile TV


The invention is based on a method for detecting slip in the driving of generator or starter-generator systems. The alternators of these systems are equipped with electronic control components such as pulse-width-modulated inverters or rectifier bridges. The drive torque of the alternator is transferred to this by means of a belt drive of an internal combustion engine. When slip is detected in a comparison step (3), to which speed-dependent input variables (1, 2) are forwarded, the maximum transferrable drive torque is determined in a torque limiting step (18, 20), and a closed-loop control (23) adjusts the generator output power to said maximum transferrable drive torque.

Alternators installed in motor vehicles are driven directly by the vehicle engine. The driving is generally realized with belt drives. High requirements in terms of force transmission are placed on belt drives, whether they are V-belts or ribbed V-belts. The belt material must have extensive bending strength. Moreover, the linear extensional strain over the course of ageing must be as minimal as possible in order to prevent slip—combined with excessive heating-up and wear—of the belt.

Method for detecting slip in generator and starter-generator systems


A radiation imaging system includes a radiation head with a radiation source and an adjustable angular orientation. A radiation image detection device has a photostimulable medium that records an image according to radiation emitted from the radiation source. A measurement sensor apparatus, preferably inertial, is coupled sequentially to the photostimulable medium to provide three-dimensional data for determining the angular orientation of the photostimulable medium and to the radiation source for determining its angular orientation. There is at least one indicator responsive to the orientation data from the measurement sensor apparatus for indicating an orientation adjustment of the radiation source is needed in at least one direction.

When an x-ray image is obtained, there is generally an optimal angle between the x-ray source and the usual two-dimensional receiver or image detection device that records the image data. In most cases, the x-ray source preferably provides radiation in a direction that is perpendicular to the surface of the recording medium of the receiver. For this reason, large-scale radiography systems typically mount the radiation head containing the x-ray source at a specific angle relative to the recording medium. Orienting the head and the receiver typically requires a mounting arm of substantial size, extending beyond the full distance between these two components. Unwanted tilt or skew of the receiver is thus prevented by the mounting hardware of the imaging system itself.
With the advent of portable radiation imaging apparatus, such as those used in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) environments, a fixed angular relationship between the radiation source and two-dimensional radiation receiver usually is no longer imposed by the mounting hardware. Instead, a technician or operator is required to aim the radiation source toward the surface of the recording medium, providing as perpendicular an orientation as possible using a visual assessment. In computed radiography (CR) systems, the two-dimensional radiation receiver or image detection device itself is a portable cassette that stores the readable recording medium.
There have been a number of approaches to the problem of providing methods and tools to assist the technician with aiming the radiation source. One approach has been to provide mechanical alignment in a more compact fashion, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,948 entitled "Mobile Radiography Alignment Device" to MacMahon. A platform is provided with a pivotable standard for maintaining alignment between an imaging cassette and radiation source. However, complex mechanical solutions of this type tend to reduce the overall flexibility and portability of these x-ray systems.
Other approaches project a light beam in order to achieve alignment between source and receiver. Examples of this approach include U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,143 entitled "Alignment Method for Radiography and Radiography Apparatus Incorporating Same" and No. 5,241,578 entitled "Optical Grid Alignment System for Portable Radiography and Portable Radiography Apparatus Incorporating Same", both to MacMahon. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,154,522 entitled "Method, System and Apparatus for Aiming a Device Emitting Radiant Beam" to Cumings describes the use of a reflected laser beam for alignment of the radiation target.
One solution for maintaining a substantially perpendicular relationship between the radiation source and the two-dimensional radiation receiver or image detection device is described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0058244 entitled "Portable Radiation Imaging System and a Radiation Image Detection Device Equipped with an Angular Signal Output Means" by Tanaka et al. This published application discloses an angular sensing device atop or along an edge of the image detection device. The angular sensing device sends a signal to adjust either the tilt angle of the image detection device or the orientation angle of the radiation source in order to maintain a perpendicular relationship of the image detection device to the radiation source. This same approach had previously been used in a number of X-ray products, such as the Siemens Mobilett XP hybrid portable X-ray source, for example, that used built-in tilt sensors.
Similar to the earlier approaches that also used tilt relative to gravity, the solution proposed by Tanaka et al. has limited value for achieving alignment between the image detection device and the radiation source. Measuring tilt with respect to gravity is suitable for one particular case: that is, where the image detection device is intended to be level and where the radiation source is to be perpendicular to the surface of the image detection device. In any other orientation, however, solutions of this type become increasingly less effective as the surface of the image detection device moves away from a perfectly level orientation. There is not enough positioning information with this type of solution for aligning the central ray of the radiation source with the normal to the surface of the image detection device. In the worst-case position, with the image-detection device in a near-vertical or vertical orientation, there is little or no information that can be obtained from tilt sensors as to whether or not the surface of the image detection device is perpendicular to the path of x-rays from the radiation source. Moreover, the particular solution proposed by Tanaka et al. does not assist the technician in making manual adjustments for tilt, but requires a more costly and trouble-prone system having motion control components.
Portable radiation imaging apparatuses allow considerable flexibility for placement of the CR cassette by the technician. The patient need not be in a horizontal position for imaging, but may be at any angle, depending on the type of image that is needed and the ability to move the patient for the x-ray examination. The technician can manually adjust the position of both the cassette and the radiation source independently for each imaging session. Thus, it can be appreciated that an alignment apparatus for obtaining the desired angle between the radiation source and the surface of the image detection device must be able to adapt to whatever orientation is best suited for obtaining the image. Tilt sensing, as has been conventionally applied and as is used in the device of Tanaka et al. and elsewhere, does not provide sufficient information on cassette-to-radiation source orientation, except in the single case where the cassette is level.
Thus, it is apparent that conventional alignment solutions may be workable for specific types of systems and environments; however, considerable room for improvement remains. Portable radiation imaging apparatus must be compact and lightweight, which makes the mechanical alignment approach such as that given in the '948 MacMahon disclosure less than desirable. The constraint to direct line of sight alignment reduces the applicability of reflected light based methods to a limited range of imaging situations. The complex sensor and motion control interaction required by Tanaka et al. would add considerable expense, complexity, weight, and size to existing designs, with limited benefits. Many less expensive portable radiation imaging apparatuses do not have the control logic and motion coordination components that are needed in order to achieve the necessary adjustment. None of these approaches gives the technician the needed information for making a manual adjustment that is in the right direction for correcting misalignment.
Significantly, none of the conventional solutions just described is particularly suitable for retrofit to existing portable radiation imaging apparatus. That is, implementing any of these earlier solutions would be, in practice, prohibitive for all but newly manufactured equipment and would have significant cost impact.
Yet another problem not addressed by many of the conventional solutions relates to the actual working practices of radiologists and technicians. A requirement for perpendicular delivery of radiation, given particular emphasis in Tanaka et al., is not optimal for all types of imaging. Rather, there are some types of diagnostic images for which an oblique (non-perpendicular) incident radiation angle is most desirable. For example, for the standard chest anterior-posterior (AP) view, the recommended central ray angle is oblique from the perpendicular (normal) by approximately 3-5 degrees. Conventional alignment systems, while they provide for normal incidence of the central ray, do not adapt to assist the technician for adjusting to an oblique angle.
Thus, it can be seen that there is a need for an apparatus that enables proper angular alignment of a radiation source relative to an image detection device for recording a radiation image.

Orientation sensing apparatus for radiation imaging system


A magnetic disk device comprises a magnetic disk in which a data zone is formed. An actuator has a voice coil and a head slider carrying a magnetic head, the actuator being swung to move the magnetic head over the disk between an innermost position of the data zone and an outermost position of the data zone. A magnet has a magnetization center and is opposed to the voice coil so that a voice coil motor which swings the actuator is formed, the magnet having a north pole and a south pole confronting each other via the magnetization center. The magnetic disk device is provided so that a deviation of a center of the voice coil from the magnetization center when the magnetic head is in the innermost position of the data zone is substantially equal to a deviation of the center of the voice coil from the magnetization center when the magnetic head is in the outermost position of the data zone.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a magnetic disk device, and more particularly to a magnetic disk device which includes an actuator moving the magnetic head between the innermost positions of the data zone of the magnetic disk and the outermost position of the data zone thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a magnetic disk device that performs recording or reproduction of information to the magnetic disk, it is necessary to avoid wearing of the head slider (the magnetic head) by the contact between the head slider and the magnetic disk surface.
Therefore, the contact start-stop (CSS) method is adopted in which the head slider contacts the disk surface only at the time of non-operation of the magnetic disk device, and the head slider is raised over the surface of the magnetic disk during its rotation at the time of operation of the magnetic disk device (or the time of recording or reproduction of information).
In the magnetic disk device of the CSS method, the head slider which carries the magnetic head which performs recording or reproduction of information to the magnetic disk surface is raised by receiving the air flow which is created by the rotation of the magnetic disk at the time of operation of the magnetic disk device.
And when recording or reproducing information to the magnetic disk, the head slider is moved with the actuator while being raised over the surface of the rotating magnetic disk and the head slider is positioned on the predetermined track of the magnetic disk.
Specifically, a data zone is formed in the magnetic disk, and the magnetic head is moved between the innermost position of the data zone of the disk and the outermost position of the data zone of the disk by the actuator. For example, this is known from Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2001-035103.
On the other hand, when the magnetic disk device is in the non-operating state, the head slider is located on the CSS zone which is formed in the surface of the magnetic disk. Moreover, the rotation of the magnetic disk is stopped when the magnetic disk device is in the non-operating state, the air flow which serves to raise the head slider is not created, and the head slider is in contact with the CSS zone of the disk.
The CSS zone may be formed at either the disk inner peripheral position that is located inside the innermost position of the data zone of the magnetic disk, or the disk outer peripheral position that is located outside the outermost position of the data zone of the magnetic disk. Usually, the CSS zone is formed at the disk inner position.
A description will now be given of a conventional magnetic head device 100 by using FIG. 1 through FIG. 7.
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the conventional magnetic head device 100 when the head slider is located in the innermost position of the data zone of a magnetic disk. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the conventional magnetic head device 100 when the head slider is located in the outermost position of the data zone of the magnetic disk. Only the portion of the conventional magnetic head device 100 near the actuator 122 is illustrated.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the actuator 122 which supports the head slider 104 on which the magnetic head is carried is rotatably supported on the supporting shaft 140 such that the actuator 122 is capable of being swung around the center of the supporting shaft 140.
The head slider 104 is formed with the support arm 124 and the support spring 125 in the front-end portion of the actuator 122 which is located in the front direction from the supporting shaft 140.
On the other hand, in the rear-end portion of the actuator 122 which is located in the rear direction from the supporting shaft 140, the coil arm 152 is formed with the actuator 122. The voice coil 151 is mounted on the coil arm 152.
As shown in FIG. 4, the voice coil 151 is provided so that the voice coil 151 is located in the magnetic field which is created with the upper magnet 156 provided on the undersurface of the upper yoke 154 and the lower magnet 155 provided on the upper surface of the lower yoke 153.
The voice-coil motor (VCM) 123 is constituted to swing the actuator 122 by means of the voice coil 151, the lower yoke 153, the upper yoke 154, the lower magnet 155, and the upper magnet 156.
Moreover, the magnetic disk 101 is rotated at the predetermined rotational speed by the spindle motor 112.
The data zone 132 is formed in the magnetic disk 101. Therefore, the head slider 104 is moved between the outermost position "Po" of the data zone 132 of the disk and the innermost position "Pi" of the data zone 132 of the disk. Moreover, the CSS zone 131 is further formed in the disk inner peripheral position that is located inside the innermost position Pi of the magnetic disk 101.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the actuator 122 which is provided in the conventional magnetic head device 100. As shown in FIG. 3, the voice coil 151 which constitutes part of the voice-coil motor 123 is attached to the coil arm 152, and the voice coil 151 is arranged in a generally trapezoidal configuration. The actuator 122 of FIG. 3 is provided so that the intersection of the extension lines (indicated by the arrows B1 and B2 in FIG. 3) of the side section coils 151A and 151B of the voice coil 151 is in agreement with the rotation center (or the center of the supporting shaft 140) of the actuator 122.
FIG. 6 shows the composition of the upper and lower magnets 155 and 156 which constitute part of the voice-coil motor 123 in the conventional magnetic head device 100. In FIG. 6, only the lower magnet 155 is shown for the sake of convenience of illustration, but the upper magnet 156 which has the same composition as the lower magnet 155 is also provided.
The lower magnet 155 is composed of the north-pole magnet section 155N and the south-pole magnet section 155S, and this north-pole magnet section 155N and this south-pole magnet section 155S confront each other (hereinafter, the position where the north-pole magnet section 155N and the south-pole magnet section 155S confront each other is called the magnetization center 158).
Conventionally, the magnet 155 is provided such that the north-pole magnet section 155N and the south-pole magnet section 155S are arranged in a symmetrical formation with respect to the magnetization center 158. That is, the deviation (which is indicated as the rotational angle TN in FIG. 6) of the right side section of the lower magnet 155 from the magnetization center 158 and the deviation (which is indicated as the rotational angle TS in FIG. 6) of the left side section of the lower magnet 155 from the magnetization center 158 are equal to each other (TN=TS).
In addition, the stoppers 127A and 127B are arranged at both the side positions of the voice-coil motor 123, and the voice-coil motor 123 is provided to prevent the excessive swinging of the actuator 122 around the center of the supporting shaft 140 to exceed the predetermined stop position.
As shown in FIG. 4, the lower magnet 155 and the upper magnet 156 are arranged so that the north-pole magnet section 155N of the lower magnet 155 and the south-pole magnet section 156S of the upper magnet 156 are opposed to each other, and the south-pole magnet section 155S of the lower magnet 155 and the north-pole magnet section 156N of the upper magnet 156 are opposed to each other.
For this reason, fundamentally, the perpendicular magnetism in the vertical direction in FIG. 4 is created between the lower magnet 155 and the upper magnet 156. When the voice coil 151 is located within this perpendicular magnetism, the force (the driving force) in the horizontal direction in FIG. 4 occurs on the voice coil 151 according to Fleming's left-hand rule. The actuator 122 is swung around the center of the supporting shaft 140 in accordance with this driving force.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the magnetization centers 158 and 159 of the upper and lower magnets 155 and 156. In FIG. 5, the arrow indicates the line of the magnetic force of the magnetism generated with the magnets 155 and 156.
As is apparent form FIG. 5, in the vicinity of the magnetization centers 158 and 159 of the magnets 155 and 156, the lines of the magnetic force are not formed exactly in the vertical direction (or the vertical direction in FIG. 5), and the magnetic field is slightly inclined to the vertical direction.
Therefore, when the voice coil 151 passes through the region where this inclined magnetic field is formed, the driving force generated according to Fleming's left-hand rule may contain not only the component in the horizontal direction but also the component inclined to the vertical direction (hereinafter, such a component of the driving force will be called the unnecessary driving force). Therefore, when the unnecessary driving force is applied to the voice coil 151, some vibration may occur in the actuator 22.
In the conventional magnetic head device 100, as shown in FIG. 1, when the head slider 104 is located at the innermost position Pi of the data zone, the center C of the voice coil 151 is deviated slightly upward from the magnetization center 158 (the angle "T1i" in FIG. 1 indicates the amount of deviation).
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, when the head slider 104 is located at the outermost position Po of the data zone, the center C of the voice coil 151 is deviated slightly downward from the magnetization center 158 (the angle "T1o" in FIG. 2 indicates the amount of deviation).
The conventional magnetic head device 100 is provided such that these amounts of deviation are set to meet the condition: T1o>T1i. That is, the conventional magnetic head device 100 is provided such that, when the head slider 104 is located at the innermost position Pi, the right side section coil 151A (which is shown in FIG. 7) is located nearer to the magnetization center 158 than the left side section coil 151B.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the problem of the conventional magnetic head device 100.
In FIG. 7, both the position (indicated by the solid line) of the voice coil 151 on the magnet 55 when the head slider 104 is located at the innermost position Pi, and the position (indicated by the one-dot chain line) of the voice coil 151 when the head slider 104 is located at the outermost position Po are shown.
As shown in FIG. 7, the deviation (T2o) between the magnetization center 158 and the side section coil 151A when the head slider 104 is located at the outermost position Po is smaller than the deviation (T2i) between the magnetization center 158 and the side section coil 151B of the voice coil 151 when the head slider 104 is located at the innermost position Pi (T2i>T2o).
Thus, in the conventional magnetic head device 100, when the head slider 104 is located at the outermost position Po, the side section coil 151A is located within the region in which the lines of magnetic force generated near the magnetization center 158 are inclined to the vertical direction.
For this reason, in addition to the horizontal force (the driving force for the actuator 122), the unnecessary driving force will be applied to the side section coil 151A, and some vibrations occur on the actuator 122.
Thus, when the vibrations occur on the actuator 122, the head slider 104 may be impacted with the magnetic disk 101. Hence, the problem arises in that there is the possibility that the information recorded in the data zone 132 may be damaged in the worst case.

Magnetic head actuator with centered deviation


Methods are described for processing and clearing derivative products such as interest rate swaps (IRSs). A swap value factor (SVF) may be generated to calculate the mark-to-market value of an IRS. The SVF may be a function of interest rates derived from a yield curve. Cash flow may be generated between the buyer and the seller to reflect the change in the market price of the derivative, i.e., the mark-to-market process. The results of a cleared swap may be used to determine or alter the margin deposit required by the buyer or seller.

Over-the-counter (OTC) products include financial instruments that are bought, sold, traded, exchanged, and/or swapped between counterparties. Many OTC derivatives exist to fill a wide range of needs for counterparties, including limiting or mitigating exposure to risks and/or maximizing cash flow. After an exchange of an OTC product, counterparties may expend resources managing the product for the duration of its life. Management may be complicated based on the number of exchanges and/or the specific terms of the contract.
An interest rate swap (IRS) is an example of a type of OTC product where the parties agree to exchange streams of future interest payments based on a specified principal or notional amount. Each stream may be referred to as a leg. Swaps are often used to hedge certain risks, for instance, interest rate risk. They can also be used for speculative purposes.
An example of a swap includes a plain fixed-to-floating, or "vanilla," interest rate swap. The vanilla swap includes an exchange of interest streams where one stream is based on a floating rate and the other interest stream is based on a fixed rate. In a vanilla swap, one party makes periodic interest payments to the other based on a variable interest rate. The variable rate may be linked to a periodically known or agreed upon rate for the term of the swap such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR).
In return for the stream of payments based on the variable rate, the other party may receive periodic interest payments based on a fixed rate. The payments are calculated over the notional amount. The first rate is called variable, because it is reset at the beginning of each interest calculation period to the then current reference rate, such as LIBOR published rate. The parties to an IRS swap generally utilize these exchanges to limit, or manage, exposure to fluctuations in interest rates, or to obtain lower interest rates than would otherwise be unobtainable.
Usually, at least one of the legs to a swap has a variable rate. The variable rate may be based on any agreed upon factors such as a reference rate, the total return of a swap, an economic statistic, etc. Other examples of swaps include total return swaps, and Equity Swaps.
A total return swap (also known as total rate of return swap, or TRORS) is a swap where one party receives interest payments based on an underlying asset (plus any capital gains/losses) over the payment period, while the other receives a specified fixed or floating cash flow. The total return is the capital gain or loss, plus any interest or dividend payments. The specified fixed or floating cash flow is typically unrelated to the credit worthiness of the reference asset. The underlying asset may be any asset, index, or basket of assets. The parties gain exposure to the return of the underlying asset, without having to actually hold the asset. That is, one party gains the economic benefit of owning an asset without having the asset on its balance sheet, while the other (which does retain that asset on its balance sheet) has protection against a potential decline in its value. An equity swap is a variation of a total return swap. The underlying asset in an equity swap may be a stock, a basket of stocks, or a stock index.
The expiration or maturity of the future streams of payments may occur well into the future. Each party may have a book of existing and new IRSs having a variety of maturity dates. The parties may expend substantial resources tracking and managing their book of IRSs and other OTC products. In addition, for each IRS, the party maintains an element of risk that one of its counterparties will default on a payment.
Currently, financial institutions such as banks trade interest rate payments and/or IRSs OTC. Steams of future payments must be valued to determine a current market price. The market value of a swap is the sum of the difference between the net present value (NPV) of the future fixed cash flows and the floating rate.
It would be desirable to provide a system and method for managing a centrally cleared international monetary market (IMM) dated swap such that the mark-to-market (MTM) process for the IMM dated swap is simplified while considering the variation amounts inherent in IMM dated swaps.

Factorization of interest rate swap variation


A light source apparatus includes a light source which emits light, a response improving part which generates a response improving signal based on a first dimming control signal having a first rising period, a first operation part which generate a second dimming control signal which has the first rising period based on the first dimming control signal, a second operation part which generates a third dimming control signal by performing an arithmetic operation based on the second dimming control signal and the response improving signal, the third dimming control signal having a second rising period shorter than the first rising period and a light source driver which generates a light source driving signal based on the third dimming control signal to drive the light source based on the light source driving signal.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate generally to display devices, and more particularly to light source apparatuses, display apparatuses including the light source apparatuses and methods of driving the light source apparatuses.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, it is desirable to provide a liquid crystal display ("LCD") apparatus with a relatively small thickness, a relatively light weight and a relatively low power consumption so that the LCD apparatus can be broadly used for mobile and other applications such as for a monitor, a laptop computer, a cellular phone, a television and so on. The typical LCD apparatus includes an LCD panel configured for displaying an image using a light transmittance characteristic of a liquid crystal and using a light source apparatus providing a light to the LCD panel. The light source apparatus may be a backlighting assembly that provides light to a back side of the LCD panel, for example.
The light source apparatus typically includes a plurality of light sources generating a light required to display an image on the LCD panel. The light sources may include at least one of a cold cathode fluorescent lamp ("CCFL"), an external electrode fluorescent lamp ("EEFL"), a flat fluorescent lamp ("FFL"), and one or more light emitting diodes ("LEDs"), for example.
Recently, LED's having a relatively low power consumption and those being eco-friendly has been developed. The typical light source apparatus therefore includes a string of LEDs connected for example in series with each other, and an LED driver configured for driving the LED string.
A brightness of the light source may be controlled by a dimming method. The dimming method may be an analogue dimming or a pulse width modulation ("PWM") dimming, for example.

Light source apparatus, display apparatus including the same and method of driving the same


A handheld applicator (1) for absorbing liquids for medical and personal hygiene purposes. The applicator (1) including at least one elongated support member (2) having a longitudinal axis (3) and an initially thin liquid absorbant pellet (6) securely fastened thereto at its distal end. The applicator (1) having a thin profile at least in the region of its distal end in an end view thereof in the direction of its associated longitudinal axis (3). The pellet (6) capable of absorbing liquid whereupon it expands significantly in at least one direction perpendicular to its associated longitudinal axis (3) in its associated end view to form a swab-like member (7).

This invention relates to a handheld applicator for absorbing liquids for medical and personal hygiene purposes.
Handheld applicators for absorbing liquids for medical and personal hygiene purposes, in particular ear cleaning, are illustrated and described inter alia in U.S. Pat. Nos. 92,980, 147,660, 102,351, 2,510,490, 2,842,790, 4,804,362, 5,147,288 and U.S. Des. 318,531. Such applicators generally include an elongated support member with a cotton or brush-like swab and suffer from the fact that they tend to push ear wax subsisting in an ear canal deeper thereinto on their insertion and thereby have a detrimental affect on a subject""s hearing.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a handheld applicator for absorbing liquids for medical and personal hygiene purposes, the applicator comprising at least one elongated support member having a longitudinal axis and an initially thin liquid absorbent pellet securely fastened thereto at its distal end, the applicator having a substantially thin profile at least in the region of said distal end in an end view thereof in the direction of its associated longitudinal axis, said pellet capable of absorbing liquid whereupon it expands significantly in at least one direction perpendicular to its associated longitudinal axis in its associated end view to form a swab-like member.
The applicator of the present invention provides a convenient handheld device for a number of medical and personal hygiene purposes hitherto performed by conventional devices. In particular, the applicator of the present invention is suitable for absorbing water from a subjects ear canal whilst not pushing any earwax deeper thereinto on its initial insertion by virtue of its thin planar profile. Moreover, after its expansion, the swab-like member typically draws out subsisting earwax on its withdrawal from the ear. The pellet preferably contains alveolar cellulose known for its ability to absorb a volume of liquid considerably larger than its initial volume.

Device with hand grip for absorbing liquids, in particular for ear cleaning