A cemented carbide comprises a binder phase consisting essentially of an iron family metal, a first hard phase consisting essentially of WC having a hexagonal crystal structure, and a second hard phase consisting essentially of one or more types of a compound of a metal or metals of group 4, 5 or 6 of the periodic table having an NaCl-type cubic crystal structure. The cemented carbide is formed by a surface region with a thickness of 2 to 50 μm consisting of the binder phase and the first hard phase, and an inner region present underneath the surface region consisting of the binder phase, the first hard phase and the second hard phase. A ratio of an average grain size of the first hard phase in the surface region to an average grain size of the first hard phase in the inner region is 1 or less, and a ratio of an area of the binder phase in the surface region to an area of the binder phase in the inner region is greater than 1.

The present invention relates to a cemented carbide and a coated cemented carbide member, and more particularly, to a cemented carbide for a coated cemented carbide cutting tool capable of imparting superior wear resistance and chipping resistance to a tool that machines various types of material to be machined, such as steel, cast iron, heat-resistant alloys and non-ferrous metals, and a coated cemented carbide member in which a hard coating layer is coated onto a surface of the cemented carbide.
In a coated cemented carbide cutting tool of the prior art, numerous proposals have been made to improve the opposite properties of wear resistance and chipping resistance while also improving cutting performance. One of these proposes a cemented carbide substrate having a surface region free of NaCl-type cubic crystal structure grains consisting of one or more types of a compound of a metal or metals of group 4, 5 or 6 of the periodic table, such as carbide, nitride or carbonitride (β-free layer) (J. of Japan Institute of Metals, Vol. 45 (1981), p.95). However, since a WC phase of the surface region of this cemented carbide substrate is consisting of coarse grains, resulting in large irregularities in the surface, and an amount of an iron family metal at the boundary between the surface region and the inner region decreases considerably, chipping resistance is not significantly improved while wear resistance is remarkably decreased.
On the other hand, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-167640 discloses a coated cemented carbide member in which metal elements that form compounds of a metal or metals of group 4, 5 and 6 of the periodic table are nearly uniformly distributed in the surface region, although the metal elements excluding tungsten (W) are decreased in the surface region more than in the inner region of the substrate.
In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1995-180071 discloses a high-strength coated alloy comprising a cemented carbide substrate consisting of a three-layer structure. A first layer with a thickness of 0.5 to 5 μm comprises a WC phase, an NaCl-type cubic crystal structure phase consisting of carbide or carbonitride of a metal or metals of group 4, 5 or 6 of the periodic table and an iron family metal. A second layer with a thickness of 5 to 30 μm comprises the WC phase and a layer that is richer in the iron family metal than the inner substrate. A third layer with a thickness of 10 to 50 μm comprises the WC phase, the NaCl-type cubic crystal structure phase and a layer that is more deficient in the iron family metal than the inner substrate.
In the cemented carbide or the coated cemented carbide member, the NaCl-type cubic crystal structure phase having lower toughness than the WC phase is present in the surface region directly below the coating layer, resulting in improvement of wear resistance but decrease in chipping resistance.

Cemented carbide, coated cemented carbide member and production processes of the same


A semiconductor device includes a bit line connected to memory cells, a negative bias voltage generation circuit generating a negative bias voltage that is to be applied to the bit line during writing, and a negative bias reference voltage generation unit generating a negative bias reference voltage based on a resistance ratio between a first resistor and a second resistor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and, for example, to a semiconductor device that writes data into a memory cell in a negative bit line scheme.
2. Description of the Background Art
As the technology node has been developed, characteristic variations of a MOS (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) transistor (hereinafter referred to as a transistor) have also been increasing accordingly. These characteristic variations also occur in the single chip (local variations), which causes a decrease in the operation margin of an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), thereby making it difficult to achieve lowered operation voltage.
As a method of improving the writing operation margin of the SRAM, there have been several proposals including a scheme of lowering the power supply voltage that is to be supplied to memory cells in a write selection column (a memory cell power supply voltage lowering scheme), and a scheme of applying a negative voltage to a bit line on the low-level side among the bit line pairs in the write selection column (a negative bit line scheme).
In the memory cell power supply voltage lowering scheme, the load capacitance of the memory cell power supply (a diffusion capacitance, a gate capacitance and an interconnection capacitance) is relatively large, which lengthen the time required to lower the power supply voltage in the write selection column to a desired value. This arouses concern about an adverse influence on the cycle time in the case of the memory cell power supply voltage lowering scheme. Furthermore, in the case where the memory cell power supply voltage lowering scheme is applied to a multi-port SRAM, when different line access to the same column occurs (read access by activating a read word line and write access by activating a write word line simultaneously occur in the same column), there occurs a problem that the read margin for the read access line cannot be ensured due to power-down of the memory cell power supply.
As a negative bit line scheme, various configurations are disclosed. Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2009-295246 discloses a configuration in which a bit line potential on the low-level side among bit line pairs is detected, and when the bit line potential on the low-level side is lowered to a prescribed value, the negative voltage generated in a negative voltage generation circuit is applied to this bit line on the low-level side. In Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2010-218617, and "A Configurable SRAM with Constant-Negative-Level Write Buffer for Low-Voltage Operation with 0.149 μm2 Cell in 32 nm High-k Metal-Gate CMOS" (ISSCC 2010/SESSION 19/HIGH-PERFORMANCE EMBEDDED MEMORY/19.4, pp. 348 to 349) by Yuki Fujimura, Osamu Hirabayashi, Takahiko Sasaki, Azuma Suzuki, Atsushi Kawasumi, Yasuhisa Takeyama, Keiichi Kushida, Gou Fukano, Akira Katayama, Yusuke Niki, and Tomoaki Yabe, a bootstrap circuit is disclosed in which, when the potential on the replica bit line having the same capacitance as that on the bit line reaches a prescribed value, the bit line driven to a ground voltage is driven to a negative voltage in a prescribed timing. In "A 0.5-V 25-MHz 1-mW 256-Kb MTCMOS/SOI SRAM for Solar-Power-Operated Portable Personal Digital Equipment-Sure Write Operation by Using Step-Down Negatively Overdriven Bitline Scheme" (IEEE JOURNAL OF SOLID-STATE CIRCUITS, VOL. 41, NO. 3, MARCH 2006, pp. 728 to 742) by Nobutaro Shibata, Hiroshi Kiya, Shigehiro Kurita, Hidetaka Okamoto, Masa'aki Tan'no, and Takakuni Douseki, a negative voltage generation circuit is disclosed in which a negative voltage is overdriven onto a bit line for a prescribed time period.

Semiconductor device including negative bias voltage generation circuit


In one embodiment, a method includes generating a path validation packet at a network device, the path validation packet including a plurality of segment identifiers for use in segment routing and an operations, administration, and management (OAM) segment identifier for use in path validation, transmitting from the network device the path validation packet on a path having a plurality of routers associated with the segment identifiers, one of the routers associated with the OAM segment identifier, and validating the path if a return path validation packet is received. An apparatus is also disclosed herein.

Segment routing (SR) allows a node to steer a packet through a set of segments. Rather than depending on a hop-by-hop signaling technique, SR depends on a set of segments that are advertised by a routing protocol. These segments act as topological sub-paths that can be combined together to form a desired path.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Path validation in segment routing networks


A device and a method for short-cycle arc welding of elements (26) to components are disclosed, with a positioning mechanism (14) that holds a welding head (28) and can be positioned relative to a component (12), wherein the welding head (28) has a chucking mechanism (32) for holding an element (26), a linear motion mechanism (58) for advancing and retracting the chucking mechanism (32) relative to the welding head (28), and a feed channel (30) for feeding elements (26) to be welded into the chucking mechanism (32). The chucking mechanism (32) has radially movable chucking elements (34) that can be moved by a chucking means between an open position which permits axial passage of an element (26) from the feed channel (30) through the chucking device, and a chucking position in which an element (26) is chucked between the chucking elements (34).

Such a device and such a method are known from DE 3 218 886 C1. In this context, the stud to be welded to a component is conveyed by compressed air through a feed channel through an elastically expandable chuck until it contacts a movable stud stop that is located on the workpiece side on the device housing in front of the chuck. The stud is positioned correctly in the chuck by the stud stop. To close the chuck, a tubular actuator is pushed onto the chuck toward the stop by a pneumatic working cylinder, wherein mutually corresponding angled ramps produce the radial closing motion. The chuck can be moved axially to a limited extent by motor drive, and in its movement to the welding position it pushes the movable stud stop to the side so that the stud is freed for welding. A disadvantage of the known method and the known apparatus is the long axial stroke of the chuck and the relatively complicated construction resulting from the movable stud stop.
In the prior art, the welding stroke motion in short cycle arc welding is generally performed by a linear motor drive, while the advancing motion of the welding head as a whole toward the component is generally performed by a pneumatic drive such as a cylinder. It is disadvantageous here, firstly, that no regulation of any sort can take place, and secondly, that lines for the compressed air must be routed through the cable assembly and through the welding head.

Device and method for short cycle arc welding


A cryogenic rectification system for producing lower purity oxygen comprising a double column with a third column reboiled by feed air at an intermediate level and, optionally, in a staged manner at the bottom level.

Many industries use both lower purity oxygen and high purity nitrogen in their operations. For example, in glassmaking the oxygen is used in the glass furnaces as part of an oxy-fuel combustion process and the nitrogen is used as an inerting atmosphere. The power costs to generate these products is high. In an attempt to lower the power cost of generating both lower purity oxygen and high purity nitrogen, the conventional double column system for separating air into high purity oxygen and high purity nitrogen has been modified by the addition of a side column driven by feed air condensing in a bottom reboiler. While this system is very effective, additional power cost reduction is desirable.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a cryogenic rectification system for producing lower purity oxygen and, optionally, high purity nitrogen, which operates with reduced power requirements over that of heretofore available systems.

Cryogenic rectification system with intermediate third column reboil


A relay long in service life aiming at higher reliability and lower cost is achieved by use of a technology of microelectromechanical•systems. The relay comprises a flow path having narrow chokes and wide chokes, formed by bonding two insulating members together, a plurality of liquid chambers formed by partitioning the flow path with the narrow chokes and the wide chokes, a plurality of electrodes disposed at the plurality of the liquid chambers, respectively, first and second gas chambers disposed so as to communicate with respective ends of the flow path, a gas sealed in the first and second gas chambers, respectively, heating means for heating the gas, and holes defined in one of the insulating members, communicating with the flow path, respectively, wherein a conductive fluid is introduced into the flow path through respective inlet ports of the holes, and the respective inlet ports are sealed.

As a conventional relay, there has been used a mechanical relay with a metal contact, and a contact type relay such as a mercury relay, a lead relay, and so forth.
A major problem with the relay is a service life of a contact. A relay long in service life, and highly reliable is much in demand in various sectors of the industry, however, the present situation is that a relay decisively meeting the demand is not available as yet. Meanwhile, the mercury relay is shunned by users because of problems of environmental pollution, and a high cost thereof although it has high reliability. Preceding Patent Documents concerning a mercury relay, and a semiconductor relay replacing a mercury relay, respectively, include the followings:
[Patent Document 1] JP 9-61275 A
[Patent Document 2] JP 11-74539 A
A technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 is concerned with an apparatus for detecting a drop in pressure of hydrogen gas sealed inside the mercury relay, and a technology disclosed in Patent Document 2 is concerned with the semiconductor relay wherein the product of an on-resistance at the time of conduction/shut-off of a contact, and capacitance at the time of shut-off/conduction of the contact is low, and a low on-resistance is achieved at a low capacitance between output terminals in a low voltage region, thereby enabling applications at a radio frequency to be developed.


A sample inlet device and methods for use of the sample inlet device are described that include an ion funnel having a plurality of electrodes with apertures arranged about an axis extending from an inlet of the ion funnel to an outlet of the ion funnel, the ion funnel including a plurality of spacer elements disposed coaxially with the plurality of electrodes, each of the plurality of spacer elements being positioned between one or two adjacent electrodes, each of the plurality of spacer elements having an aperture with a diameter that is greater than a diameter of each adjacent electrode. The ion funnel is configured to pass an ion sample through the apertures of the electrodes and the spacer elements to additional portions of a detection system, such as to a mass analyzer system and detector.

Atmospheric pressure ionization refers to an analytical technique that can be used to generate and identify ionized material, such as molecules and atoms, at or near atmospheric pressure. After ionization, a detection technique, such as mass spectrometry, can be used for spectral analysis of the ionized material. For instance, mass spectrometers (MS) separate ions in a mass analyzer with respect to mass-to-charge ratio, where ions are detected by a device capable of detecting charged particles. The signal from a detector in the mass spectrometer is then processed into spectra of the relative abundance of ions as a function of the mass-to-charge ratio. The atoms or molecules are identified by correlating the identified masses with known masses or through a characteristic fragmentation pattern. In general, atmospheric pressure ionization techniques allow use of selective chemistry and direct surface analysis for the preparation and detection of a sample. For example, atmospheric pressure ionization and detection techniques can be used for military and security applications, e.g., to detect drugs, explosives, and so forth. Atmospheric pressure ionization and detection techniques can also be used in laboratory analytical applications, and with complementary detection techniques such as mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography, and so forth.

Ion funnel for efficient transmission of low mass-to-charge ratio ions with reduced gas flow at the exit


An improved bug-proof and odor-proof draining outlet structure is particularly adapted for use on floors and is equipped with a pair of symmetric semi-circular blockage flaps that are pivotally fixed at the bottom periphery of the draining outlet and are one-way openable. At one side of each flap is disposed a counterweight so that as water is discharged via the blockage flaps, the same will be pushed opened, permitting water to be expelled out, and then automatically closed due to gravity exerted on the counterweights. Water is directly discharged into a duct without moving against the wall of the duct so as to make the discharge of the water in a more smooth and effective manner. Besides, the bottom periphery of the draining outlet is provided with a pair of supporting lugs each having a slot-like opening so that a pivot pin fixed to the underside of each blockage flap can be in snap engagement with each supporting lug with ease.

The present invention relates to a bug-proof and odor-proof draining outlet structure which is equipped with one or two one-way openable flaps pivotally secured with one side thereof to the periphery of a draining outlet so that bugs or mice can not get into a house via the draining outlets from discharge pipes or ducts in one aspect and odor in the pipes or ducts will be blocked from coming into a house through the discharge outlets in another.
In general, floors of bathrooms, kitchens are provided with draining outlets so as to permit water on the floors to be easily drained out. Such outlets are covered with a cap having a plurality of drainage holes thereon, as shown in FIG. 1. It is very annoying to find that bugs or insects can crawl into a house via the drainage holes; and odor from the draining pipes or ducts will also be spread over the house via such outlets.
As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, there is a prior art draining outlet having a fixing board 1 having a central draining outlet 2 associated therewith. At the top of the draining outlet 2 is disposed a common cap 3 having a plurality of drainage holes disposed thereon. A one-way openable blockage flap 4 pivotally secured to the bottom periphery of by way of a pin and lugs. A counterweight 41 is attached to the reverse side of the flap with respect to the pivot pin so that the flap can always resume its blocking position after each draining operation, and the periphery of the bottom of the draining outlet 2 is well sealed. Thus, bugs or odor in the ducts or pipes can be effectively blocked out. As further shown in FIG. 3, however, the one-flap outlet has a disadvantage that the discharged water will be led to flush against the wall of the pipe or duct, and some of the water will bounce back, causing turbulance in the flow which attributes to the slow-down of the discharged water at the draining outlet. Besides, the mounting of the one piece blockage flap to the bottom of the draining outlet is relatively difficult; the pivot pin of the flap must be associated with a number of lugs disposed on the periphery of the draining outlet.

Bug-proof and odor-proof draining outlet structure


A method, which may be implemented by an apparatus and/or computer program(s), for a data relay server comprises receiving a request to relay data for a videoconference between a videoconference server protected by a firewall and N videoconference clients not protected by the firewall, wherein N≧1; creating a connection pool in response to the request to relay the data for the videoconference comprising accepting a plurality of first connections from the videoconference server; accepting a plurality of second connections from each of the N videoconference clients after creating the connection pool; associating each of the second connections from each of the N videoconference clients with a different one of the first connections in the connection pool; and relaying the data for the videoconference between the videoconference server and the N videoconference clients over the first and second connections.

The present invention relates generally to data communications. More particularly, the present invention relates to videoconference data relay servers.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional videoconference system 100 comprising a videoconference (VC) server 102 and a plurality of internal videoconference clients 104A-N that are engaged in one or more videoconferences and protected from a wide-area network (WAN) such as the Internet 106 by a firewall 108. Videoconference system 100 also includes one or more external videoconference clients 110 that are connected to Internet 106, but that are not protected by firewall 108.
It is often desirable to include one or more external videoconference clients 110 in a videoconference hosted by videoconference server 102 protected by firewall 108. One approach is to open firewall 108 in order to allow external videoconference clients 110 to connect to videoconference server 102. Of course this approach requires trusting external videoconference clients 110 with the consequent security risks such trust entails.


Described are an apparatus and method for a martial arts device for holding at least one breaking board. The device includes a frame having at least four frame members, including two generally parallel and oppositely spaced apart lengthwise members, and two generally parallel and oppositely spaced apart widthwise members. Lateral edges of the frame members form an outside periphery and an inside periphery of the frame, the inside periphery surrounding an inside opening extending through the frame. At least two rabbets are positioned generally spaced apart and opposite each other on the frame members along the inside periphery of the frame for therein receiving edges of a breaking board so as to support the board positioned across the inside opening of the frame, and a plurality of adjustable fasteners is positioned on the frame members adjacent the at least two rabbets for fastening the breaking board on the frame.

Those skilled in the martial arts understand that the exercise of breaking boards helps the martial artist not only hone his or her skills and increase confidence, but also aids in building the strength necessary for delivering effective blows to an opponent or other target. Accordingly, it is common practice in the martial arts for one or two assistants to hold boards for breaking, while a practitioner takes aim and delivers a blow to the boards.
These exercises are also known to be dangerous and prone to causing injuries not only to the practitioner delivering the blow, but also possibly to the assistants holding the breaking boards. These injuries often occur when a blow is misdirected and lands on the fingers of the assistants holding the board, or on support equipment being used to hold the board. Injuries may also occur when the broken board does not readily clear away from the practitioner's fist, foot, or other body part employed in delivering the blow. For example, with certain types of board support equipment it is possible for the broken edges of the board to close back on the practitioner's fist or foot to thereby cause injury. Additionally, the typical assistant is able to hold approximately about three boards, so that when the breaking boards are held by an assistant, the number of boards to be broken by the practitioner is limited by the hand span of the assistant.

Martial arts device for holding breaking boards and associated methods


A high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation of tissue using minimally invasive medical procedures is provided.

The present invention relates to instruments to conduct minimally invasive medical procedures with the aid of laparoscopic techniques, and to such procedures themselves. More particularly, the present invention relates to high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation of tissue using minimally invasive medical procedures.
Several minimally invasive and non-invasive techniques for the treatment of living tissues and organs with ultrasound, including high-intensity, focused ultrasound, sometimes referred to hereinafter as HIFU, are known. There are, for example, the techniques and apparatus described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,084,582; 4,207,901; 4,223,560; 4,227,417; 4,248,090; 4,257,271; 4,317,370; 4,325,381; 4,586,512; 4,620,546; 4,658,828; 4,664,121; 4,858,613; 4,951,653; 4,955,365; 5,036,855; 5,054,470; 5,080,102; 5,117,832; 5,149,319; 5,215,680; 5,219,401; 5,247,935; 5,295,484; 5,316,000; 5,391,197; 5,409,006; 5,443,069; 5,470,350; 5,492,126; 5,573,497; 5,601,526; 5,620,479; 5,630,837; 5,643,179; 5,676,692; 5,840,031. The disclosures of these references are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
HIFU Systems for the treatment of diseased tissue are known. An exemplary HIFU system is the Sonablate® 500 HIFU system available from Focus Surgery, Inc. located at 3940 Pendleton Way, Indianapolis, Ind. 46226. The Sonablate® 500 HIFU system uses a dual-element, confocal ultrasound transducer which is moved by mechanical methods, such as motors, under the control of a controller. Typically one element of the transducer is used for imaging and the other element of the transducer is used for providing HIFU Therapy.
Further details of suitable HIFU systems may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,762,066; U.S. Abandoned patent application Ser. No. 07/840,502 filed Feb. 21, 1992, Australian Patent No. 5,732,801; Canadian Patent No. 1,332,441; Canadian Patent No. 2,250,081; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,685,640, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein.
As used herein the term "HIFU Therapy" is defined as the provision of high intensity focused ultrasound to a portion of tissue. It should be understood that the transducer may have multiple foci and that HIFU Therapy is not limited to a single focus transducer, a single transducer type, or a single ultrasound frequency. As used herein the term "HIFU Treatment" is defined as the collection of one or more HIFU Therapies. A HIFU Treatment may be all of the HIFU Therapies administered or to be administered, or it may be a subset of the HIFU Therapies administered or to be administered. As used herein the term "HIFU System" is defined as a system that is at least capable of providing a HIFU Therapy.
The laparoscopic probe of an illustrated embodiment of the present invention is targeted for minimally invasive laparoscopic tissue treatments of the kidney and liver. The probe is light weight, easy to use, and adaptable to the current Sonablate® 500 HIFU system. The laparoscopic probe, with the Sonablate® 500 system, illustratively provides laparoscopic ultrasound imaging, treatment planning, treatment and monitoring in a single probe. The probe fits through a trocar (illustratively an 18 millimeter diameter trocar). A removable, sterile, and disposable probe tip includes a coupling bolus which covers the tip of the probe. The bolus is very thin and illustratively expands to about two or three times its size when water is introduced. This provides a water medium surrounding the probe which is needed for ultrasonic imaging and treatment. Cooling the transducer that provides the imaging and treatment is achieved through a sterile, distilled, degassed passive recirculating water system. The entire probe is ethylene oxide (EO) sterilizable, and the cooling system is gamma-sterilizable.
The laparoscopic probe of the present invention provides an alternative solution to invasive surgery. As a result, recovery time is reduced and hospital visits are considerably shorter. In addition the ablation provided by the laparoscopic probe permits the surgeon to target tissue without stopping the blood supply to the organ. For example, to perform a partial nephrectomy in a conventional manner, the surgeon illustratively shuts off the supply of blood to the kidney and has a limited amount of time to excise the targeted tissue, seal the blood vessels and restart the blood supply to the kidney. If the surgeon takes too long, damage to the kidney and possible organ death may occur. Thus being able to treat large and small volumes of tissue while permitting blood flow to the organ is a significant contribution.
Additional features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.


A data collection station with movable second floor walls adjacent stationary first floor walls, wherein the data collection station can have climate control equipment and various devices for data collection while allowing three hundred degree viewing from a load bearing second floor.

A need exists for a moveable data collection station that is climate controlled and capable of being doubled in size while providing three hundred and sixty degrees of viewing.
A further need exists for a moveable data collection station with a housing that can be factory built and be loadable on a conventional flatbed or barge for transport.
A further need exists for a moveable data collection station that can be self-propelled with a bus or truck without the need for a special vessel or road permits.
The present embodiments meet these needs.
The present embodiments are detailed below with reference to the listed Figures.


An example operation may include one or more of identifying a smart contract, processing the smart contract to create a smart contract definition, determining whether the smart contract has been accepted by identified parties, when the smart contract has been accepted by the identified parties, generating a smart contract definition hash, and forwarding the smart contract definition hash to one or more blockchains.

A blockchain may be used as a public ledger to store any type of information. Although, primarily used for financial transactions, a blockchain can store any type of information including assets (i.e., products, packages, services, status, etc.). A decentralized scheme transfers authority and trust to a decentralized network and enables its nodes to continuously and sequentially record their transactions on a public "block", creating a unique "chain" referred to as a blockchain. Cryptography, via hash codes, is used to secure an authentication of a transaction source and removes a central intermediary.
Current blockchain systems rely on massively replicated execution of smart contract code, which is wasteful and unnecessary. Massively replicated execution leads to loss of privacy because execution has to happen on decrypted data. Preserving privacy and not executing unnecessary code may provide for increased optimization when processing smart contracts in a blockchain.

Smart contract creation and monitoring for event identification in a blockchain

International Business Machines Corporation


In a manufacturing method of a solid-state image pickup device according to an embodiment, a transfer gate electrode is formed in a predetermined position on an upper surface of a first conductive semiconductor area, through a gate insulating film. A second conductive charge storage area is formed in an area adjacent to the transfer gate electrode in the first conductive semiconductor area. A sidewall is formed on a side surface of the transfer gate electrode. An insulating film is formed to extend from a circumference surface of the sidewall on a side of the charge storage area to a position partially covering the upper part of the charge storage area. A first conductive charge storage layer is formed in the charge storage area by implanting first conductive impurities from above, into the charge storage area which is partially covered with the insulating film.

Conventionally, in solid-state image pickup devices, electrons which are excited regardless of incident light may sometimes be a dark current and read out, due to crystal defect or metal contamination on the light receiving surface of a photodiode. This dark current causes white defects appearing in a picked-up image.
Thus, according to an applicable method, in a step of manufacturing the solid-state image pickup device, the dark current is reduced by storing positive holes through ion implantation into the part of the light-receiving surface of the photodiode, and rejoining electrons excited regardless of incident light and positive holes.
However, when there is an increased amount of positive holes stored in the light receiving surface part of the photodiode, it is difficult to read the photoelectrically-converted electrons from the photodiode. This results in a problem that some electrons without being read and remaining in the photodiode cause so-called afterimages.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Novel microbial host strains are provided which are transformed by a vector molecule comprising a DNA fragment encoding a lipolytic enzyme and a marker for selection, capable of producing active lipase. Said DNA fragment is preferably derived from a Pseudomonas species.

A special problem associated with laundry cleaning is the removal of stains of a fatty nature. Currently, fat-containing dirt is emulsified and removed using a combination of elevated temperature and high alkalinity. However, there is a recent strong tendency toward the use of relatively low washing temperatures, namely about 40.degree. C. or lower, conditions particularly unsuited for fatty stain removal. There is therefore a need for detergent additives which are effective at the lower washing temperatures, stable in high alkaline detergent solutions and stable under storing conditions in both solid and liquid detergent compositions. A group of enzymes which hydrolize triglycerides are lipases (E.C. 220.127.116.11). Lipases are widely distributed, occurring in many different prokaryotic organisms, as well as eukaryotic cells. Depending upon the source of the enzyme, substrate specificity as well as other characteristics including stability under various conditions, varies widely. Lipases have been used in detergent compositions, however those used exhibited low cleaning efficiency under washing conditions and in addition, did not meet the stability requirements for detergent use.
Lipolytic enzymes which are capable of exhibiting lipase activity under modern washing conditions, i.e., they are stable and effective at high detergent concentrations, at high pH and at low washing temperatures, are produced by certain strains belonging to the species of Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes, Pseudomonas stutzeri and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (see European Patent Application EP-A-0218272). However, these species are potentially pathogenic for plants and animals, and few data are available on the fermentation conditions required for an effective production process for lipases using these microorganisms.
It is therefore desirable to develop an efficient and safe way to produce lipolytic enzymes having the desired characteristics for detergent additives. Moreover, it is desirable that the lipases be secreted by the host organism so that the enzyme may be recovered directly from the extracellular fluid of the fermentation mixture.

Molecular cloning and expression of gene encoding lipolytic enzyme


The present application relates to an automotive tent for fastening to a vehicle. The tent includes a base for fastening to the vehicle. A retractable cover is provided for retracting during transport, and expanding from the base to define a sleeping space. Advantageously, the cover may be readily erected by expanding the cover from the base to define the sleeping space. The cover may be collapsible.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.
Automotive roof tents are fitted to four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicles when camping. The roof tent is stored in a canvas bag for transport. In practice, it is difficult or awkward to remove the roof tent from the bag during erection of the tent, and to return the tent to the bag afterwards. The bag zipper is difficult to use in cold weather when hands are also cold and often breaks, leading to the undesirable ingress of dust and water.
Embodiments of the preferred embodiment provide a means for improving erection and/or storage of the roof tent.


The present invention relates to a display device comprising: a display panel having a plurality of pixels and a plurality of source lines, wherein each of the pixels is electrically connected to a respective source line; and an SD IC for providing pixel voltages and receiving a noise storage control signal and a noise output control signal; characterized in that the SD IC further comprises a noise reduce module to store voltage levels of the pixel voltages as compensating voltages based on the noise storage control signal and to output the compensating voltages based on the noise output control signal, wherein during a normal period, the SD IC outputs the pixel voltages to the pixels; during a compensation period, the SD IC outputs the compensating voltages to the pixels; wherein the noise output control signal is phased-delayed with respect to the noise storage control signal.

Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) have been widely used in variety applications due to its outstanding advantages such as low voltage driving, low power consumption and so forth. Especially for portable electronic products, the application of liquid crystal displays, such as STN and TFT, etc., has made them develop rapidly. The analog output of a LCD driver IC directly drives a LCD panel to perform a controlling operation of a pixel array of a LCD, so the LCD driver IC is a core device of the LCD. The LCD driver IC comprises a source driver IC (SD IC) which stores the input digital video signal in a buffer, and converts the digital video signal into pixel voltages to be output to the pixels in response to the activation of a source scanning signal, to drive the source lines of the LCD panel.
A touch pen provides better experience to users due to its precision and the improvement of the related technologies, so that more and more manufacturers adopt it. Because panels manufactured by panel factories are different in architecture and manufacture procedure, there must be the same specifications for a touch IC with respect to testing and calculation to be followed by the panel factories, in order to facilitate the matching and application of the touch pen with each panel. At present, the low temperature poly-silicon (LTPS) technology adopts architecture of a multiplexer (MUX), which has a product positioning of high-end product, so it is necessary to tie a touch pen to it. However, as for the specifications defined currently for the touch IC, actual measurements show that the noise might be larger than what is specified in the specifications.


In a directional loudspeaker, an audible sound signal that is modulated with a carrier wave in the ultrasonic wave band is input to a piezoelectric element, and thereby a diaphragm having the piezoelectric element is vibrated and a sound wave is generated. In such a directional loudspeaker, the diaphragm is fixed to a fixed part via a plurality of beams disposed along the outer circumference of the diaphragm.

In order to transmit audio information only to a specific subject, a directional loudspeaker has conventionally been used. In the directional loudspeaker, an audible sound signal as audio information that is modulated with a carrier wave in the ultrasonic wave band is input to a piezoelectric element, and thereby a diaphragm provided with the piezoelectric element is vibrated and a sound wave is generated. A structural sectional view of this directional loudspeaker is shown in FIG. 12.
Piezoelectric element 105 as a vibration source adheres to diaphragm 103 of directional loudspeaker 101. Diaphragm 103 is bonded, using insulating adhesive agent 111, to the tips of electrodes 109 that are fixed to base 107. Further, piezoelectric element 105 is connected to each of electrodes 109 via respective lead wire 113. In order to increase the sound pressure from directional loudspeaker 101, directional loudspeaker 101 may include resonator 115 (see Patent Literature 1, for example).
With such a configuration, a signal obtained by modulating an audible sound signal with a carrier wave in the ultrasonic wave band is input from an external electrical circuit (not shown) to piezoelectric element 105 via electrodes 109 and lead wires 113. Thereby, piezoelectric element 105 and diaphragm 103 are vibrated, and audio information is transmitted only to a specific subject, i.e. the user of the electronic device, for example.

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.


An air cleaner assembly for capturing and filtering fumes is provided which comprises a housing having an inlet and an outlet, a pair of filter cartridges supported therein and a blower. A channel and baffle assembly direct the flow of air drawn into the housing in a vortical pattern around the filter cartridges to separate heavier particles in the air and to efficiently draw the air through the filter cartridges. The separated particles collect in a pair of dust trays that are provided with flow directional lips to prevent the vortical air flow from disturbing the deposited particles. A backflushing assembly cleans the filter cartridges of the particles that are collected thereon by pulsing the particles away with a blast of air directed through the entire length of the filter cartridges.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for filtering particles from gaseous fumes, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an improved air cleaner assembly for capturing and filtering gaseous fumes at their source.
2. Discussion of Related Art
In the past, it was common to use large exhaust hoods or fans to remove indoor industrial pollutants, such as welding smoke, grinding dust and other gaseous fumes. In recent years, however, it has become more common to remove these pollutants with localized exhaust fans or blowers provided with maneuverable capture arms or with fixed and portable air cleaners.
Focusing on the latter, air cleaners typically include a housing, a blower and an air filter. The blower draws the fumes into the housing and through the filter where the suspended particles are collected. The blower then exhausts the filtered air from the housing. Often a receptacle or dust tray is provided in which heavier particles, such as sparks, are collected. It is also common to provide an air cleaner with a backflushing system with which to clean the filter after an extended period of use. The particles removed from the filter by the backflushing system are collected in the dust tray and subsequently disposed of along with the heavier particles previously collected.
While several prior art air cleaning devices have met with some success, problems have nevertheless been encountered with the use of such devices. For example, as a result of the configuration and positioning of the dust trays, heavier particles are not effectively collected in the dust tray, thereby resulting in such particles being collected in the filter and in turn shortening the life of the filter. Further, backflushing systems employed in prior art devices do not efficiently flush the particles from the filter; that is, typical backflushing systems flush only a small portion of the filter. An additional problem with prior art devices is that the particles that are flushed from the filter are sucked back into the filter once the filtering process is resumed, thus requiring that the dust trays be removed and emptied after each cleaning.
Therefore, it has long been recognized that a need exists for an improved air cleaner assembly which operates more efficiently and which overcomes the deficiencies of prior art air cleaners. It is to such an improved air cleaner assembly that the present invention is directed.


A planer board device for carrying a tether line at a generally lateral distance from a moving boat whereby a releasable connection of a fishing line to an outboard point on the tether line can be made for running the bait at a desired distance from the boat. The device has a running axis and a backing plate adapted to lie generally in a vertical plane and having a leading bow section, a top section and a keel section. A tether plate is adapted to lie generally in a horizontal plane attached to one side of the backing plate intermediate its top and keel sections and extending outwardly substantially perpendicular to the vertical plane of the backing plate, tether line connector holes on the tether plate positioned outwardly of the backing plate flotation affixed to the backing plate above and below the tether plate, and a sinker strip affixed to a lower portion of the keel section, the flotation sinker strip and tether plate combining to maintain a substantially even keel of the device when being dragged through the water.

1. Field
This invention concerns planer boards or skis, often termed "otter boards", used for outboard attachment of fishing lines for trolling. A problem of fishing behind a boat is that only so many lines may be cast out at any one time before they become entangled, either together or in the prop. Planer boards were divised to carry a fishing line away from the boat, i.e., outboard thereof, and keeping it there while trolling so that many more lines may be utilized.
2. Prior Art
Planer devices have heretofore been developed for the purposes described, e.g., such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,548,919; 3,949,512; and 3,507,068. These devices teach a configuration, however, such that a fishing line is directly attached to the body of the device or in such a way that when a fish is hooked, retrieval of the fish must accompany the retrieval of the device, thereby exacerbating an already difficult task of fighting the fish. Also, many of these devices have a blocky structure which encourages the device to roll over in choppy or wavy water conditions, and which also increases the drag or resistance of movement through the water thereby negatively affecting the planning and flotation characteristics of the device. To overcome the negative effects of this construction, these devices must be pulled at a higher speed then that which would be most desirable for effective coverage of a certain productive fishing ground.


A home network system for controlling one or more home appliances connected to a network and a method for operating the same. If an alive message or a connection termination message is normally generated from the home appliance, or if the alive message or the connection termination message is not normally transmitted to a network manager due to a transmission failure in a communication path, the network manager automatically recognizes a network connection state of the home appliance using a network search process, performs a connection termination operation according to the recognized information, and updates network information, resulting in increased reliability and user's convenience of the home network system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a home network system for controlling one or more home appliances over a wired- or wireless-network implemented in a building, and more particularly to a home network system and a method for operating the same, which can automatically recognize a network connection state of the home appliance even though a network manager for controlling the flow of signals over the network abnormally receives an alive message or a connection-termination message from one or more home appliances connected or unconnected to the network, and can update a network information DB (database), resulting in increased reliability of control operations of the home appliance.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a conventional home network system.
Referring to FIG. 1, a network N has been implemented in a building, and has widely used a variety of lines, for example, power lines and LAN (Local Area Network) lines, etc.
One or more home appliances C1˜C4, and a home server HS for centrally controlling the home appliances C1˜C4 are interconnected over the network to establish data communication between the home appliances C1˜C4 and the home server HS, such that the home server HS can control operations of the home appliances C1˜C4, and can monitor their states.
For example, the home appliances C1˜C4 may be determined to be a washing machine, a microwave oven, and a TV, etc., and is indicative of a home appliance capable of performing a corresponding operation upon receiving a control signal from the home server HS.
The home server HS act as a server for controlling the flow of signals communicating with the network N, can centrally control operations of the home appliances C1˜C4, and can also monitor states of the home appliances C1˜C4. It should be noted that the home server HS is substantially equal to a network manager.
As shown in FIG. 1, an Internet refrigerator operated to perform predetermined signal processing operations 24 hours a day is adapted as a server for illustrative purposes.
In this case, if the home appliances C1˜C4 are initially connected to the network N, they transmit an alive message informing the network N of the initial connection to a network manager HS.
If the home appliances C1˜C4 are disconnected from the network, a connection termination message informing the network N of the non-connection state is transmitted to the network manager HS, such that a user can easily recognize network connection states of individual home appliances using the network manager HS.
If the network N is implemented with a wired network, the alive message or the connection termination message having been received from the home appliances C1˜C4 can be transmitted to the network manager HS without losing data on a transmission path at high success probability. If the network N is implemented with a wireless network, it has different transmission rates according to variable communication network states, and considerably reduces the probability of transmitting data to the network manager HS due to noise.
In more detail, if the home appliances C1˜C4 are initially connected to or disconnected from the network when a wireless network such as a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) is used, an alive message or a connection termination message is wirelessly transmitted to the network manager HS.
However, the message wirelessly transmitted from the home appliances C1˜C4 may encounter transmission delay or loss data according to wireless communication network state information, such that the network manager HS cannot correctly recognize whether the home appliances are connected to or disconnected from the network.
The aforementioned problems unavoidably arise even when the network N is configured in the form of power lines. Particularly, it is impossible to block signal transmission between neighbors, the conventional home network system cannot transmit the alive message or the connection termination message to the corresponding network manager HS in a building causing mutual interference of signals, resulting in reduced control reliability.
Also, even in the case of using power lines connected to the network N, the home appliances cannot transmit the connection termination message to the home server home-appliance HS when the connection between the home appliances C1˜C4 and the network is compulsorily severed because power lines of the home appliances C1˜C4 are disconnected from a power-supply socket receiving power source, such that the network manager cannot recognize a non-connection state between the home appliances and the network.

Home networking system having alive and connection termination messages and method for operating same


A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array divided into a plurality of blocks respectively having bit lines, word lines, and memory cells coupled to the bit lines and word lines. A plurality of sense amplifiers, which are provided for the blocks and connected to the bit lines, sense and amplify information stored in the memory cells. A first unit selects one of the word lines for each of the blocks so that at least one of selected word lines is located at a distance from a corresponding one of the plurality of sense amplifiers. The above distance is different from distances from other sense amplifiers at which other selected word lines are located. A second unit sequentially activates the plurality of sense amplifiers, starting from one of the blocks having one of the selected word lines located at a shortest distance from a corresponding one of the plurality of sense amplifiers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to semiconductor memory devices, and more particularly to improvements in connections between word lines and memory cell array blocks.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, there has been considerable effort towards increasing memory capacity. As the memory capacity increases, charging and discharging of currents flowing in bit lines increases. This increases an instantaneous or peak current flowing in the memory when sense amplifiers operate. Hence, the potential of a power supply decreases and the ground potential increases. These phenomena cause erroneous detection of the logical levels of input signals and cause the device to malfunction.
In order to eliminate the above disadvantages, an improved arrangement has been proposed in which a memory cell array is divided into a plurality of blocks, and sense amplifiers and active pull-up circuits respectively related to the memory cell blocks are activated at different operation timings. With the above arrangement, it becomes possible to reduce the instantaneous current flowing in the memory when the sense amplifiers and/or the active pull-up circuits operate.
The above arrangement is proposed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 62-114193. FIG. 1 shows the arrangement shown in the above publication. The entire memory cell array is equally divided into four memory cell blocks MA1-MA4, which respectively include peripheral circuits, such as sense amplifiers, address decoders and input/output buffers. Each of the memory cell blocks MA1-MA4 has a memory capacity equal to 1/4 the memory capacity of the entire memory cell array. An active pull-up circuit driving system 20 supplies active pull-up operation starting signals .phi.R1, .phi.R2, .phi.R3 and .phi.R4 to the memory cell blocks MA1, MA2, MA3 and MA4, respectively. These signals .phi.R1-.phi.R4 are applied, as clock signals .phi.R, to active pull-up circuits in the memory cell blocks MA1-MA4, respectively. Hence, the active pull-up circuits in the memory cell blocks MA1-MA4 start respective active pull-up operations in response to receipt of the clock signals .phi.R1-.phi.R4.
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing the periphery of a sense system in a conventional DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory). FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram of signals observed at nodes in the circuit configuration shown in FIG. 2. Symbols shown in FIG. 3 have the same meanings as corresponding symbols shown in FIG. 2. A signal /RAS ("/" means a low active signal and /RAS corresponds to RAS in FIG. 3).
A pair of bit lines BL and XBL are connected to data buses I/O and XI/O via transistors Q00 and Q01, which are turned ON and OFF in response to an output signal of a column decoder 10. Memory cells MC, each having one transistor and one capacitor, are alternately connected to the bit lines BL and XBL. The memory cells MC connected to the bit line XBL are called dummy memory cells DMC. Word lines WL are respectively connected to the memory cells MC connected to the bit line BL, and dummy word lines WLDM are respectively connected to the dummy memory cells DMC connected to the bit line XBL. When one of the word lines WL is selected, the capacitor of the corresponding memory cell MC is connected to the bit line BL. When one of the dummy word lines WLDM is selected, the capacitor of the corresponding dummy memory cell DMC is connected to the bit line XBL. The bit lines BL and XBL are coupled to a precharge power supply line VPR via transistors Q.sub.PR0 and Q.sub.PR1, respectively. These transistors Q.sub.PR0 and Q.sub.PR1 are concurrently turned ON and OFF in response to a precharge clock signal .phi.PR.
A sense amplifier SA and an active pull-up circuit AP are connected to the bit lines BL and XBL. The sense amplifier SA senses and amplifies the difference between the potentials of the bit lines BL and XBL. The operation of the sense amplifier SA is controlled by a sense amplifier driving signal .phi.S. The active pull-up circuit AP comprises transistors QAP0, QR0 QAP1, and QR1, and capacitors CR0 and CR1. The transistors QAP0 and QR0, and the capacitor CR0 function to pull up the potential of the bit line BL. The transistors QAP1 and QR1, and the capacitor CR1 function to pull up the potential of the bit line XBL. More particularly, the transistor QAP0 pulls up the potential of the bit line BL, and is connected between the bit line BL and a power supply line VCC. The capacitor CR0 is used to boost the gate potential of the transistor QAP0. One end of the capacitor CR0 is connected to the gate of the transistor QAP0, and the other end thereof receives the active pull-up clock signal .phi.R. The transistor QR0 functions to charge the capacitor CR0 up to a precharge voltage of the bit line BL, and is connected between the bit line BL and the capacitor CR0. The transistors QAP1 and QR1, and the capacitor CR1 are configured in the same manner as the above. The clock signal .phi.R is applied to the gates of the transistors QR0 and QR1.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the active pull-up circuit driving system 20 shown in FIG. 1. The system 20 comprises a clock signal generator 30 generating the clock signal .phi.R, which is the same as the clock signal .phi.R1 used in the circuit shown in FIG. 2. The clock signal .phi.R generated by the generator 30 is applied, as the clock signal .phi.R, to the memory cell block MA1, and is applied to a delay circuit D11. The delay circuit D11 delays the clock signal .phi.R, and outputs, as the clock signal .phi.R2, a delayed clock signal to the memory cell block MA2. The above delayed clock signal is applied to a delay circuit D12, which delays it by a delay time identical to that of the delay circuit D11. A delayed clock signal generated by the delay circuit D12 is output, as the clock signal .phi.R3, to the memory cell block MA3, and is applied to a delay circuit D13. The delay circuit D13 has the same delay time as the delay time of each of the delay circuits D11 and D12, and delays the delayed clock signal from the delay circuit D12. A delayed clock signal generated by the delay circuit D13 is output, as the clock signal .phi.R, to the memory cell block MA4.
As shown in FIG. 5, the clock signals .phi.R1-.phi.R4 are generated, in that order, at different times. The pull-up operations of the memory cell blocks MA1-MA4 are respectively controlled by the clock signals .phi.R1-.phi.R4, and are activated at the different times. In this case, the instantaneous current can be greatly decreased, as compared with the case where the pull-up operations of the memory cell blocks MA1-MA4 are concurrently started. Hence, the load applied to the power supply can be reduced, and a small-scale power supply can be used.
FIG. 6 shows another control method similar to the method shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. A sense amplifier activating signal .phi.LE is applied to a sense amplifier in one of a plurality of memory cell blocks. As shown in FIG. 12B, sense amplifier activating signals .phi.LE11, .phi.LE12, .phi.LE13 and .phi.LE14 are respectively applied to four memory cell blocks at different times in order to reduce the instantaneous current. That is, the instantaneous current flowing in the memory when the sense amplifiers in one of the four memories start to operate is less than the instantaneous current passing in the memory when the sense amplifiers of the entire memory cell array start to operate.
However, the above-mentioned conventional methods have the following disadvantages. As is well known, parasitic capacitors are coupled to bit lines. Hence, it takes a certain time for pieces of information stored in memory cells to be read therefrom after the corresponding word line is selected and to reach the corresponding sense amplifiers. The above time is longest when the word line furthest from the alignment of the sense amplifiers is selected. Hence, it is necessary to select the operation timing of the memory cell block which starts to operate first (the operation timing at which the clock signal .phi.LE11 is activated) so that the above memory cell block starts to operate after pieces of information stored in the memory cells connected to the word line furthest from the sense amplifiers are completely read therefrom. Further, the clock signals .phi.LE12, .phi.LE13 and .phi.LE14 are activated after the clock signal .phi.LE11 is activated. Hence, it takes a long access time for all the memory cell blocks to start to operate. As a result, it is very difficult to reconcile the suppression of instantaneous current flowing when the sense amplifiers start to operate and the reduction in access time.

Semiconductor memory device having improved connections between word lines and memory cell array blocks


An antenna coupler for testing mobile transmitters and/or receivers, especially mobile telephones, comprises a mounting surface for the mobile transmitter and/or receiver and an antenna element. A mounting bracket is disposed on the mounting surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an antenna coupler for testing transmitters and/or receivers, especially mobile telephones or devices, which operate according to the Bluetooth standard.
2. Related Technology
An antenna coupler for testing mobile telephones is known from DE 197 32 639 C1. With the known antenna coupler, a mounting element for a mobile telephone is attached to a printed circuit board. A rod antenna, which acts, in particular, as a dipole antenna, is formed on the printed circuit board using stripline technology. One substantial property of the antenna coupler is the coupling factor, which specifies the ratio of the received power relative to the total radiated power. Since the known arrangement reacts in an extremely sensitive manner to changes of position of the antenna of the mobile telephone, the coupling factor for each type of mobile telephone attached to the mounting element is different.
Moreover, an antenna coupler for testing mobile transmitters and/or receivers, especially mobile telephones, is known from DE 101 29 408 A1. This antenna coupler provides a mounting element and/or a mounting surface for the mobile transmitter and/or receiver and at least one antenna element. In this context, the antenna element is formed as a loop, which is at least substantially closed in spatial terms.
The particular disadvantage of the antenna couplers described above is that mobile telephones of different structural shapes cannot be arranged in the respective mounting elements in such a manner that a satisfactory coupling to the antenna couplers is guaranteed. As a result, high levels of coupling attenuation occur, which obstruct or completely prevent the testing of the mobile telephones.


A clutch device includes a rotor, a first sub-clutch, a second sub-clutch, and a first actuation device. The rotor has a first axial side and a second axial side. The sub-clutches are arranged within the rotor and each include an outer disk carrier with outer disks and an inner disk carrier with an inner disk engaged between two of the outer disks. The first actuating device is for actuating the first sub-clutch or the second sub-clutch. The first actuating device has a first housing. The rotor first axial side is rotatably mounted on the first housing via a first support.

As is known, a clutch device of this kind is used to couple the drive of a driving device, e.g., an internal combustion engine, to a transmission. In modern motor vehicles having a hybrid drive, an electric motor, which can likewise be coupled to the transmission by means of a clutch device of this kind in order to enable an electric driving mode, is additionally provided. However, it is furthermore also coupled or capable of being coupled to the internal combustion engine via the output thereof in order to assist or drive said engine when starting, for example.
In order to implement these individual couplings, a clutch device of this kind comprises at least two sub-clutches. By means of the first sub-clutch, the rotor of the electric machine can be connected to a driving hub that can be driven by means of an internal combustion engine or the like. This is accomplished by means of a first inner disk carrier of said first sub-clutch, which is connected or can be connected to the driving hub. The rotor itself is connected to a first outer disk carrier of said first sub-clutch. At least two outer disks, generally steel disks, into which there engages an inner disk, generally a friction disk, having a support and friction linings on both sides, which is arranged on the first inner disk carrier, are generally arranged on said outer disk carrier. This disk pack consisting of at least these three disks can be compressed and brought into frictional engagement by means of a suitable actuation element. Thus, the rotor of the electric machine is connected to the driving hub, allowing rotation of the rotor to be transmitted to the driving hub. Since, for its part, the hub is coupled to the internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine can be driven for starting by this means.
To couple both the internal combustion engine and the electric motor to the transmission, at least one second sub-clutch is provided, said clutch likewise having an outer disk carrier, on which a multiplicity of second outer disks is arranged in an axially movable manner. This outer disk carrier can be the first outer disk carrier, which is coupled to the rotor of the electric machine. In other words, the first and the second outer disks are arranged on the same outer disk carrier. As an alternative, however, it can be a separate, second outer disk carrier.
Also provided is a second inner disk carrier having a multiplicity of second inner disks, wherein, in this case too, the second outer disks are steel disks and the second inner disks are friction disks, for example. The second outer and inner disks likewise form an axially compressible, second disk pack, which can be compressed by means of a suitable actuation element. The second inner disk carrier is connected to a driving hub that is coupled or can be coupled to the transmission. By this means, a rotation of the outer disk carrier of the second sub-clutch, brought about by the internal combustion engine or the electric machine, can be transmitted to the driving hub coupled to the transmission.
The additional integration of a third sub-clutch having an outer and an inner disk pack is known, wherein, in this case too, the outer disks are arranged on the common first outer disk carrier or on a separate, third outer disk carrier, which is likewise coupled to the rotor, while corresponding inner disks are provided on the inner disk carrier. This disk pack too can be compressed by means of a suitable actuation device. Different transmission stage groups can be connected up in a manner known per se by means of the second and third sub-clutches. However, such a third sub-clutch is optional.
A hybrid drive of this kind can be operated in different ways.
In the case of a pure electric drive, the rotation of the rotor is passed to the driving hub via the second and, where applicable, the third sub-clutch, thereby passing the torque to the transmission. During this process, the first sub-clutch is open, and therefore there is no coupling to the internal combustion engine. Consequently, the outer disk carrier of the second and/or the third sub-clutch can be driven by means of the rotor. If this is the first outer disk carrier, which is connected to the rotor in any case, said carrier is necessarily rotated as the rotor rotates. If the second or the third sub-clutch has a separate second or third outer disk carrier, this is coupled in a corresponding manner to the rotor.
If driving is to be performed by the internal combustion engine, the first sub-clutch is closed, that is to say that the driving hub associated with the internal combustion engine is coupled to the rotor. Owing to the coupling thereof with the second or sub-clutch, the torque produced by the internal combustion engine can be transmitted via the first and second and/or third sub-clutch to the driving hub and hence to the transmission. In this case, the rotor of the electric machine, which is not operated in this case, corotates. If there is an integrated third sub-clutch, this is selected in addition thereto alternately with the second sub-clutch, independently of the selected driving mode.
To actuate the sub-clutches provided, corresponding actuation elements are provided, e.g., in the form of pressure pots, which each press against an outer disk situated axially on the outside in order to push the respective disk pack against a stop and bring it into frictional engagement. If the respective disk pack is relieved of load, the compressed disks are supposed to separate from one another, this being referred to as "release" of the disk pack, thereby canceling the frictional engagement and hence torque transmission. The respective sub-clutch is then open.
In order to achieve a clutch device which is as compact as possible and takes up as little installation space as possible, especially in the axial direction, there is a known practice of arranging the sub-clutches within the rotor, that is to say that they are arranged axially in series or optionally also in a radially nested fashion but, in either case, are situated within the rotor. It is thereby possible to use the installation space surrounded by the rotor.
The rotor itself is rotatably mounted, for which purpose it is generally supported or mounted by means of supports provided on both axial sides and by means of corresponding bearing devices, usually on bearing mounts associated with the housing. Since the housing houses the electric motor with an axial clearance, it is consequently necessary to provide these bearing points at an axial distance from the rotor, wherein, in addition, corresponding bearing mounts have to be formed on the housing.


Technologies are disclosed for providing stream media content and/or metadata indicating stream media content. A media control device may receive a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) hypertext transport protocol (HTTP) request from a media content device. The DLNA HTTP request may have a header created by the media content device. The media control device may interpret the DLNA HTTP request header. A first metadata may be identified in the DLNA HTTP request header that may indicate a request for stream media content information. The media control device may send a DLNA HTTP response to the media content device. The DLNA HTTP response may have a header that may include a second metadata indicating the stream media content information. The second metadata may include information enabling construction of a HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) master playlist, a program map table, and/or a program association table associated with the stream media content.

Media content may be provided by a plurality of media content network operators to home and/or business subscribers/viewers. Media content network operators (e.g., cable network operators, or satellite operators, etc.) may provide subscribers/viewers with various forms of media content, such as movies, concerts, premium media content, broadcast media content, and/or pay-per-view (PPV) media content, and/or the like.
At times, user may view media content at a device, such as a mobile/wireless device (e.g., a cellphone, and/or a tablet, etc.) while connected to a home and/or private communication network. One or more communication standards/protocols may facilitate the interconnection of the wireless device and the home communication network. For example, using such communication standards/protocols, the user may view streamed media content provided by another device on the communication network.
One such communication standard/protocol is provided by the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA). DLNA uses universal plug-and-play techniques to facilitate communication among communication network devices (e.g., set-top boxes, televisions, etc.), mobile devices in communication with the network (e.g., smartphone, tablets, etc.), and network infrastructure devices (e.g., routers, etc.).

Technologies for providing stream metadata to clients


The invention relates to a system and a method for controlling physical activity while dieting. A computer (14) with a screen (20) and a connected scale (24) providing a plate (26) used for intake of food by a user (28) is used to determine a best level of dieting for the user (28). The dieting level is correlated with a level for warming or cooling the body of a user. This provides that additional physical activity for a certain level of dieting is prevented and raised, respectively, in order to achieve a best possible and healthy diet mode.

The present invention pertains to a system and a method for controlling physical activity during dieting in order to achieve a good mode of dieting.
There are lots of people in our society today who are in need of an aid for dieting in a controlled manner. These are, for example, athletes, overweight and obese persons and others who have to care about a controlled way of eating. A specific problem while dieting relates to a correct or suitable physical activity in combination with the dieting. People tend to overdo with more physical activity than required for a specific level of dieting.
A problem is that there are plenty of methods and devices on the market to keep a diet, such as athletic training equipment, drugs, designed food for dieting, associations for dieting etc. If a person dieting shall be able to succeed in doing so and achieve an intended goal she/he should be supervised by people experienced in this art, for example, experts on nutrition, doctors and the like. But it is also important that experts have a reliable aid to make use of when supervising during a time period of dieting. Also, persons under diet should have an aid that they can rely on when they are without supervision from specific experts in the field.
It is known that a controlled diet gives an as good result as the combination of physical activity and dieting, at least for people with ordinary needs of physical activity, i.e., non athletes, who should combine dieting with ordinary daily activities such as a daily walk. Athletes on the other hand do have to take the same care of their body when preparing for major sporting events, whereby they have to be careful with their food intake in correlation with their training effort.
There are unfortunately also lethal diseases related to a wrong dieting and such related to unhealthy dieting, such as anorexia, bulimia, and disorders related to digestion or gastrointestinal discomfort. Therefore, people at risk and/or their doctors should appreciate an aid for a good and healthy dieting.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,817,006 by Bergh and Sxc3x6dersten, hereby incorporated in the description of the present invention, is based on the development of the measurement of eating rate, whereby different rates of ingestion correspond to a biologically determined degree of satiety. Eating rate is measured utilizing the variables (weight of food, time). For the quantification of satiety the interval scale of Borg is used. The invention makes use of reference standards (standard curves or curves of normality), obtained from research on a population of individuals. These curves reflect the average rate of ingestion that has been found statistically significant through the investigation of groups, differing in, for example, age and weight, within the population of men and women. The interval scale of Borg is used to record satiety.
One aim of the invention according to the U.S. Pat. No. 5,817,006 by Bergh and Sxc3x6dersten, is to develop a measuring device that allows, among others, obese people to gain access to a method for weight control. Overweight and obesity is a major health problem, and the overweight, therefore, have an obvious interest in such a device. Furthermore, the control of body weight and ingestive behaviour is of considerable importance to athletes and those engaged in sports. A method for the control of body weight and eating behaviour is also needed within clinical medicine to care for patients suffering from anorexia, bulimia and gastrointestinal discomfort, that is to say disorders related to the intake of food. Use of the present method and device is likely to be of importance to those within the general public who are at risk to develop disorders of body weight control.
A device, according to the U.S. Pat. No. 5,817,006 by Bergh and Sxc3x6dersten, mentioned provides assistance in the control of body weight for the individual with a possibility to control eating behaviour and the perception of satiety and, therefore, a method to control body weight. This is accomplished by the display of the reference standards on a monitor/screen. The reference standards for eating behaviour and satiety as a function of eating rate are derived from biologically based mean values obtained through research on samples of individuals from the general population. Using this device, the individual is in a position to adapt her/his eating behaviour and perception of satiety to what, by definition, is normal through the selection of the proper reference values and by adapting her/his rate of ingestion to the reference value displayed on a medium, for example a monitor, in real time. The rate of ingestion of the individual is displayed simultaneously with the reference standard and the two are to overlap.
Persons participating in the development of the invention and displaying deviations from the reference standards with respect to eating behaviour and perception of satiety have considered themselves unable or ignorant as to how to eat and how to feel satiated.
However the U.S. Pat. No. 5,817,006 by Bergh and Sxc3x6dersten, does not teach how to correlate an efficient amount of physical activity to a certain level of dieting. Especially there is no teaching of how to avoid unnecessary physical activity in combination with the eating training.
It is an aim of the present invention to provide a system and a method to be used for controlling the amount of physical activity when dieting. In order to accomplish an aid for this, the present invention makes use of the teachings in the above mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,817,006 by Bergh and Sxc3x6dersten, by combining it with the use of heating and/or cooling means warming or cooling a human body. Thereby the invention makes use of the knowledge of applying heat to a body in order to reduce physical activity. People who are freezing are moving their limbs in order to warm the body with the energy they are consuming during the movement. Hence, the vice versa should apply, i.e., heating the body from an external heat source such as a fire, thus being able to ignore freezing without additional physical activity.
Hence there is a close relation between dieting, which reduces the source of energy to be consumed, and the providing of heat to a dieting person""s body.
In general the following rule prevails throughout the present invention. For an obese person the body temperature should be lowered and the physical activity should be raised in order to lose weight, and for a person with low weight, the body temperature should be raised and physical activity should be reduced in order to gain or keep weight. Of course there are weights between obese and low weight where a fairly low weight person should lose weight.
The present invention thus proposes a system for controlling physical activity during dieting. It comprises:
a scale with a plate for food intake situated on it;
a computer with a screen, and an input device connected to the scale which calculates and stores the weight loss of the food when eating from the plate, whereby a dieting user eating from the plate should eat in accordance with a rating illustrated on the screen in order to receive a correct response of food intake for a determined level of dieting; and
a heating or cooling means providing a determined level of heat to the body of the user for the level of dieting, thus adapting physical body activity to a level corresponding to the dieting level, whereby physical activity is being correlated to the level of dieting.
One embodiment of the system of the present invention provides that a determined level of dieting is correlated to a minimum degree of heating temperature or a maximum degree of cooling temperature applied to the body from the means for heating or cooling.
Another embodiment provides that the duration of applied heat or cooling is correlated with the determined level of dieting.
A further embodiment provides that the level of dieting is determined from a self-rating questionnaire displayed on the screen with at least one scale relating to a body condition of a user.
A still further embodiment provides that a filled out questionnaire is compared with a questionnaire manual stored in the computer providing reference values for body conditions for different body parameters, in order to determine a best level of dieting for a user.
Yet another embodiment provides that a heating and/or cooling means is controlled by the computer.
Yet still another embodiment provides that the control is regulated in accordance with body condition parameters stored in the computer for the user.
In one embodiment the heating means is an electrically heated body-wear.
In another embodiment the heating means is a heated room.
A further embodiment provides that a heating means is an electronically heated blanket, cushion or other bed-wear.
A still further embodiment of the invention provides that a user updates a diary in the computer for a time period of dieting, thus entering at least body condition parameters. Additionally, the body condition parameters are used by a computer dieting means to determine a next level for dieting.
Further the present invention sets forth a method for controlling physical activity during dieting, thereby comprising the steps of:
using a scale with a plate for food intake situated on it;
using a computer with a screen, and an input device connected to the scale which calculates and stores the weight loss of the food when eating from the plate, whereby a dieting user eating from the plate should eat in accordance with a rating illustrated on the screen in order to receive a correct response of food intake for a determined level of dieting; and
using a heating or cooling means providing a determined level of heat to the body of the user for the level of dieting, thus adapting physical body activity to a level corresponding to the dieting level, whereby physical activity is being correlated to the level of dieting.
It is appreciated that the embodiments of the system are provided with the method of the present invention in accordance with the attached set of method sub-claims.

Systems and methods for controlling physical activity during dieting


A wireless communication method, and a wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication system using the same. The wireless communication method includes pairing with a specific device, extracting a media access control (MAC) address of the specific device, and communicating with the specific device. Accordingly, even when a MAC address of a counterpart device is not known, pairing with the counterpart device can be performed without interference with other devices.

1. Field of the Invention
Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate to wireless communication, and more particularly, to wireless communication by which communication between devices is performed using a media access control (MAC) address.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a wireless communications environment provides greater convenience than a wired communications environment, since in a wireless communications environment installation and movement are easy and spatial restrictions are small. Devices used for wireless communication have a media access control (MAC) address which is a unique physical address, through which data can be transmitted.
A MAC address consists of a manufacturer code of 3 bytes and a serial code of 3 bytes, and is assigned to each device. That is, all devices may be distinguished by the manufacturer code and serial code of their MAC addresses.
Wireless communication apparatuses need to be paired with counterpart devices in order to carry out communications.
In the related art, in order to pair a wireless communication apparatus with a counterpart device, a method of physically inputting a MAC address of a counterpart device to a memory using an input device was used. However, such a method requires various processes for pairing between devices, and general users who do not use the input device cannot perform pairing.
In addition, if pairing is performed wirelessly, a pairing request signal and a pairing approval signal are broadcast to neighboring devices since a MAC address of a counterpart device is not known, so interference with neighboring devices may lead to malfunctioning.
Therefore, there is a need for methods for wireless communication with a counterpart device even when a MAC address of the counterpart device is not known.

Wireless communication method, and wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication system using the same


An air conditioner indoor unit includes a chassis, an air duct assembly detachably connected with the chassis, a face frame including a detachment opening configured to allow the air duct assembly to pass through, a first panel configured to open or close the detachment opening, and a second panel configured to cooperate with the first panel to cover a surface of the face frame.

With the popularization of air conditioner, users have been increasingly concerned about the health problems caused by air conditioning. For an indoor unit of a split-type air conditioner, indoor air typically is blown back into the room passing in sequence through a filter, an evaporator, a fan wheel, an air duct and the like. If the above parts are not cleaned in time or thoroughly, bacteria and even mildew are easily grown, contaminating the cold air blown out by the air conditioner. However, in the assembly of the related indoor air conditioners, only the front panel covering the filter installation opening can be opened at a certain angle to take out the filter for cleaning. Other components, especially the air duct assembly, cannot be removed and cleaned by the user, due to the assembling complication. This makes the user using these indoor air conditioner suffer from health risks.

Air conditioner indoor unit, and air conditioner

GD MIDEA AIR-CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT CO., LTD


A reclining chair which includes a pivotal connection between the seat support, the arm support and the back support. The connection allows for the seat support to be raised during reclining operation to allow a user to maintain a consistent eye level at all times. The pivotal connection includes links which are pivotally connected at the sides of the chair to their corresponding supports and are actuated by the weight of the user.

Chairs with reclining backs have been popular for more than one hundred years. Typical chairs of this type normally used a pivotal connection of the back support to an immovable part of the chair to allow for selective movement of the back support at an angle relative to the rest of the chair. In some cases, the pivotal connection was accomplished by the use of links and linkage systems as shown in the patents which accompany the enclosed information disclosure statement.
In each of the prior patents, a chair is disclosed with a reclinable back support which is connected by linkages to the chair base, arm supports, or seat supports. As the back support reclines, the vertical displacement between the top edge and the support surface lessens and the angle between the seat and back support gradually increases. This causes the vertical eye level of a user seated in the chair to be lowered which effectively changes the field of vision and often requires adjustments to be made to the surroundings.
Some of the prior art designers recognized the problems associated with eye level change and designed chairs whose seat supports also has mechanisms connected between the seat and the chair base. This allowed the user to selectively raise and lower the seat in response to eye level change caused by reclining the back support.
The prior art chairs identified above also did not address the mechanical balance of the chair to allow for the chair's tilt action tension to automatically adjust to all variations of a user's weight. Typically, when one of the prior chairs was shifted into the reclined position it was unbalanced until it reached its full reclined position or it was necessary to lock the chair in various tilting degrees. The unbalanced design of these chairs is annoying for users of different body weight especially in offices, vehicles, and theaters where chairs are used by so many different users daily.


A method for fabricating a semiconductor package, includes the steps of forming a first terminal at a first substrate; mixing a polymer resin and solder particles to provide a mixture; covering at least one of an upper surface and side surfaces of the first terminal with the mixture; and heating the first substrate at a temperature higher than a melting point of the solder particles of the mixture to form a solder layer that covers the at least one of an upper surface and a side surface of the first terminal. The solder particles flow or diffuse toward the terminal in the heated polymer resin to adhere to at least some of the exposed surfaces of the terminal thereby forming the solder layer. The solder layer improves the adhesive strength between the terminals of the semiconductor chip and the substrate in the subsequent flip chip bonding process.

The present invention disclosed herein relates to a method for fabricating semiconductor package and a semiconductor package fabricated using the same.
As semiconductor integrated circuit applied to electronic devices is highly densified and integrated, the multiplying of pin and the narrowing of pitch progress rapidly in the electrode terminal of semiconductor chip. In mounting on the interconnection substrate of the semiconductor chip, moreover, a flip chip bonding is widely used for decreasing interconnection delay. This flip chip bonding brings the external electrode pad of the semiconductor chip in contact with the pad of a mounting substrate, and by applying heat, allows the two pads to be bonded in a reflow process. In such a flip chip bonding process, since heat is applied and compression is performed simply, the bonding strength between the electrode pad of the semiconductor chip and the pad of the mounting substrate is very low. Accordingly, the electrode pad of the semiconductor chip and the pad of the mounting substrate are easily disconnected by a physical impact.

Method for fabricating a semiconductor package

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


A device for actuating electric functional groups, in particular horns on the steering wheels of motor vehicles is disclosed. The device includes at least two opposing contacts which can be brought into contact with one another to actuate the functional group and which clean themselves by sliding against one another during contact. The opposing contacts are fixed to a respective support element with both of the elements being elastically deformable.

WO 01/66383 A1 discloses a steering wheel for motor vehicles having a device for activating an electric functional group of a motor vehicle, in which a contact element is mounted on an assembly of the skeleton of the steering wheel and the other contact element, lying opposite, is mounted on an assembly which can move with respect to the skeleton of the steering wheel. The contact element which is mounted on the movable assembly is spring-mounted and can therefore slide along the other contact element when it is depressed. Owing to the friction which is caused in this way, soiling is cleaned from the contact elements and/or a layer of oxide is removed from them.
The disadvantage of this device is that, as in other devices according to the prior art, the contact elements are divided in two since they are attached to the abovementioned different assemblies. For this reason, both assemblies must be matched to one another in an optimum way in order to bring about satisfactory functioning.
A further disadvantage is that, in order to bring about the sliding movement of the movable contact, said contact must be mounted in a complex way since, for example, a supporting device for the movable contact is necessary.

Device for activating electric functional groups, in particular horns on steering wheels of motor vehicles