An optical transmission device improved in quality and reliability of OADM function and permitting configuration of highly-flexible, economical OADM networks. A wavelength tunable filter variably selects a wavelength according to a control frequency. A filter controller applies the control frequency to the filter while scanning wavelength over an entire signal bandwidth, to detect, from a reference wavelength monitor signal supplied thereto, a reference control frequency which permits the filter to select a reference wavelength and according to which wavelength is matched. On receiving a wavelength selection request, the controller obtains a target control frequency from the reference control frequency and the position of a target wavelength relative to the reference wavelength, and applies the obtained frequency to the filter. A reference wavelength filter transmits the reference wavelength therethrough. A light-receiving element monitors the transmitted reference wavelength to generate the monitor signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to optical transmission devices, and more particularly, to an optical transmission device for transmitting an optical WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplex) signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a result of an explosively increasing demand for data communications chiefly via the Internet traffic, backbone networks are required to have larger capacity and to cover even longer distances. Also, because of diversification of services that users make use of, there has been a demand for networks which have high reliability and flexibility and yet are economical.
Especially, optical communication networks form the basis of the infrastructure of information communication networks. Thus, optical communication networks are required to provide wider coverage of even more sophisticated services and development thereof is currently rapidly advanced for an information-oriented society. In optical transmission systems, WDM technology is widely used as key technology. WDM is a technique whereby light beams of different wavelengths are multiplexed to allow multiple signals to be simultaneously transmitted over a single optical fiber.
In order for various processes to be performed separately on optical paths in an optical wavelength region, a WDM transmission node carries out OADM (Optical Add Drop Multiplex) control for dropping (Drop) or adding (Add) an optical signal of specified wavelength, without converting optical signals to electrical signals.
To achieve OADM, a wavelength tunable filter capable of variably selecting a desired one of the wavelengths multiplexed in a WDM signal is required. As such wavelength tunable filter, an AOTF (Acousto-Optic Tunable Filter) is widely used.
The AOTF filters out a desired wavelength by inducing a change in refractive index of an optical waveguide through an acousto-optic effect (diffraction of light by a sound wave excited in a substance or on the surface thereof), to rotate the polarization state of light propagated through the optical waveguide and thereby separate/select a spectral component. The AOTF can be tuned in over a wide wavelength range by varying the sound wave frequency (RF: Radio Frequency) applied thereto and thus is considered a potential device useful in configuring OADM.
Meanwhile, optical communication networks are subjected to an optical signal continuity test in order to maintain reliability of optical communication. The optical continuity test is performed to determine whether a specific optical signal reaches a predetermined spot or not, and an optical loopback test, for example, is conducted for the purpose. In the optical loopback test, an optical signal is sent out and redirected back at a predetermined spot, to determine whether the redirected signal can be received or not, thereby checking the continuity of a path up to the redirected spot. Such a continuity test permits a faulty device or a faulty spot in a communication line to be located from a remote place, making it possible to enhance the efficiency of maintenance and inspection.
As control techniques for conventional optical continuity tests, there has been proposed a technique wherein a 1×2 optical switch with one input and two branch outputs is provided in an optical communication path and a continuity test is performed with the optical switch switched to a loopback path (see Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. H09-18421 (paragraph nos. [0024] to [0026], FIG. 4), for example).
In conventional wavelength selection using an AOTF, wavelength is scanned with an RF signal based on wavelength channel information sent from a node, to count the number of peaks so that a desired wavelength may be tuned in for filtering. This procedure is followed because the temperature dependency of the wavelength selection by an AOTF is as large as about 0.7 nm per 1° C. and the AOTF does not have the function of detecting an absolute wavelength (a fluctuation-free, fixed wavelength on the wavelength axis).
Thus, in the conventional wavelength selection by means of an AOTF, the number of wavelength peaks is counted to detect a desired wavelength, and accordingly, there is a possibility that noise such as a side-peak is erroneously detected as a wavelength signal. If a side-peak is regarded as a substantial peak, then it is not possible to connect with a target node, giving rise to a problem that connection is established with a wrong node different from the target node, for example.
As regards absolute wavelength measurement, a device capable of detecting a desired absolute wavelength has been put on the market (e.g., WDM monitor (WD200) from Yokogawa Electric Corporation), and such a device may be used to carry out wavelength selection. However, the device uses the combination of a diffraction grating for wavelength dispersion and a PD array and thus is costly (over ¥1,000,000 per unit) as well as large-sized (170×220×28 mm). Accordingly, the device is not applicable to nodes which need to be reduced in cost and size, such as those used in a metropolitan area network or an access network.
According to the conventional optical continuity testing technique (Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. H09-18421), on the other hand, when a loopback test is performed, the communication path is cut off because of the switching of the optical switch, and therefore, it is not possible to conduct the continuity test on a specific wavelength only.
For example, suppose the case where only a wavelength λ1, among wavelengths λ1 to λ8 multiplexed in a WDM signal, is to be subjected to the continuity test. With the conventional technique, the communication line itself is switched by the optical switch, so that all the wavelengths λ1 to λ8 are redirected back, giving rise to a problem that the communication is disrupted if any node is communicating using the wavelengths λ2 to λ8.
For an OADM node, on the other hand, the capability to add and drop (Add/Drop) a desired wavelength is essential for flexible operation of networks. During operation of a network in which desired wavelengths are selected and separated, if a wrong wavelength is added, data is transmitted to a node different from the target node, possibly causing the node receiving the erroneously transmitted data to go down. Especially, in the case of in-service installation of an extension unit or the like, if an expansion slot is fitted with a wrong unit with different wavelength settings, the operation of the network becomes anomalous, which is fatal to the network.
Conventional OADM networks do not have a wavelength monitoring mechanism and thus are unable to automatically determine whether or not desired wavelengths have been added/dropped. Also, even if an extension unit with different wavelength settings is erroneously inserted at the time of in-service installation of the unit, no one may possibly notice that the unit is communicating with a node different from the settings, because of lack of a wavelength monitoring mechanism. Further, the conventional OADM networks do not have a protective mechanism (fail-safe mechanism) for providing protection in case a wrong unit is inserted, and thus the network goes down if the worst comes to the worst.


A fault analysis apparatus is an apparatus for measuring a reaction of a semiconductor device having a wiring extending in two directions orthogonal to each other. The fault analysis apparatus comprises a laser light source that outputs laser light, a control unit that sets a scan direction which is a direction of scanning an irradiation position of the laser light in the semiconductor device, a laser scanner that scans the laser light according to the scan direction, an electric signal detector that measures the reaction of the semiconductor device to the laser light and outputs a measured value, and an image processing unit that creates a two-dimensional map according to the irradiation position and the measured value. The control unit sets the scan direction such that the scan direction intersects the wiring extending directions at an angle greater than 0° but smaller than 90°.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fault analysis apparatus and a fault analysis method for a semiconductor.
Related Background Art
As a method for analyzing a fault of a semiconductor device, a method is known, in which laser light is irradiated to the semiconductor device so as to extract an electric signal from the semiconductor device, thereby analyzing the fault. Examples of such a method include OBIRCH (Optical Beam Induced Resistance Change) measurement which measures a change in resistance value accompanying heat caused by irradiation with laser light or the like (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,320,396), OBIC (Optical Beam Induced Current) measurement which measures a photovoltaic current generated by irradiation with laser light, and DALS (Dynamic Analysis by Laser Stimulation) which measures a reaction to a stimulation caused by laser light in a state where a test pattern is inputted to the semiconductor device.

Fault analysis apparatus and fault analysis method


An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier for bearing a visible image thereon, an endless transfer-fixing belt stretchedly disposed between a plurality of spanning members, a pressure member for pressing the transfer-fixing belt to the image carrier while contacting a backside of the transfer-fixing belt at the transfer nip, and a heater for heating the visible image. The visible image on the image carrier is transferred onto the front surface of the transfer-fixing belt at the transfer nip and is transported to the transfer-fixing nip while heated by the heater, where the visible image is transferred and fixed on a recording member. The transfer-fixing belt is stretchedly arranged such that the transfer-fixing belt travels in a direction substantially perpendicular to a pressure direction of the pressure member in the proximity of the transfer nip.

1. Field of the Invention
Exemplary aspects of the present invention generally relate to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus which transfers and fixes a visible image on a recording medium such as paper.
2. Discussion of the Background
Conventionally, it has been known that an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a facsimile and a printer forms an image on a recording medium, for example, a recording sheet in a following manner.
The visible image, for example, a toner image carried on an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum and an intermediate transfer medium is electrostatically transferred to the recording medium by the effect of the transfer electric field.
Subsequently, the recording sheet is nipped by a fixing nip formed by abutting a heating roller and a pressure roller, for example.
Accordingly, at least one of the abutting members is heated so that the temperature thereof is relatively high. The heat and the nip pressure of the abutting members act on the surface of the recording sheet nipped by the fixing nip. Accordingly, the visible image is fixed thereon.
With an advancement of a high-quality image in recent years, an enhancement of gloss on the visible image on the recording sheet has been desired.
Consequently, the fixing temperature tends to be high so that image forming materials are sufficiently fused, and the gloss of the visible image is enhanced.
In order to realize the fixing process at a high temperature, a fixing power source with a large output capacity is used. Consequently, an increase in an energy consumption and cost is most likely to occur.
Furthermore, the recording sheet is overheated at the fixing nip causing recording sheets to easily stick with one another at a sheet stacking portion.
Conventionally, an image forming apparatus which substantially heats a visible image prior to fixing the visible image on the recording sheet has been proposed.
In the related art image forming apparatus, the transfer-fixing roller abuts against a front surface of the intermediate transfer belt for transferring a toner image or a visible image formed on the photosensitive drum. Accordingly a secondary transfer nip is formed.
Furthermore, a transfer-fixing nip is formed by abutting a pressure roller against the secondary transfer nip. After the toner image primarily transferred from the photosensitive drum to the intermediate transfer belt is secondarily transferred to the surface of the transfer-fixing roller, the toner image is transported to the transfer-fixing nip in conjunction with rotation of the transfer-fixing roller.
At this time, a heater in the transfer-fixing roller or a heater disposed opposite to the transfer-fixing roller or the like substantially heats the toner image. In synchronization with the toner image on the transfer-fixing roller, the toner image is transferred and fixed on the recording sheet nipped by the transfer-fixing nip.
According to this configuration, the toner is heated separately from the recording sheet, and subsequently adhered to the recording sheet.
Thus, it may be able to prevent the recording sheet from being excessively heated and from sticking to a stack of recording sheets at the sheet stacking portion.
Furthermore, when the heater is disposed across from the transfer-fixing roller, it is possible to suppress a heat conduction to the transfer-fixing roller so that an energy consumption is reduced when compared with installation of the heater in the transfer-fixing roller.
However, according to the image forming apparatus configured in the above manner, when the temperature of the surface of the transfer-fixing roller is increased by the heater, and the surface thereof comes into contact with the intermediate transfer belt at the transfer nip described above, the intermediate transfer belt is heated by a small amount. Consequently, it is possible to promote deterioration of the intermediate transfer belt.
Another related art image forming apparatus using a transfer-fixing belt stretchedly arranged between a plurality of rollers instead of the transfer-fixing roller and endlessly travels has been proposed.
A heater disposed across from the transfer-fixing belt heats a toner image on the belt.
According to this configuration, after the belt surface heated by the heater advances to the transfer-fixing nip in order to transfer or fix the toner image on the recording sheet, it is possible to cool down the belt surface while traveling to the transfer nip.
Accordingly, it is possible to suppress deterioration of the intermediate transfer belt due to heat.
However, according to experiments performed by inventors of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus configured in the above-described manner, a disturbance or a hollow portion may easily be generated in the toner image when secondarily transferring the toner image from the intermediate transfer belt to the transfer-fixing belt. This phenomena is hereinafter referred to as a hollow defect.
In the image forming apparatus, the pressure roller in contact with the rear surface of the transfer-fixing belt presses the transfer-fixing belt against intermediate transfer belt so as to form a secondary transfer nip.
Conventionally, it has been known that when the pressure at the transfer nip, for example, a secondary transfer nip (hereinafter referred to as a fixing nip pressure) is excessively high, the hollow defect is most likely be generated in the toner image.
According to the above-described related art image forming apparatus, when the recording sheet is nipped by the transfer-fixing nip separately provided from the secondary transfer nip, a rapid stress is applied to the transfer-fixing belt, and thus a speed of the transfer-fixing belt slows down for a brief moment.
When the recording sheet is ejected from the transfer-fixing nip, the speed of the transfer-fixing belt increases for a brief moment due to the rapid decrease in the stress.
Consequently, when the speed of the transfer-fixing belt fluctuates, a tension of the transfer-fixing belt in the proximity of the secondary transfer nip temporarily fluctuates by a large amount.
As a result, with this configuration in which the transfer-fixing belt is stretchedly arranged in a proximity of the secondary transfer nip in a manner as illustrated in FIG. 1, for example, the belt tension in directions shown by arrows A or B temporarily fluctuates by a large amount due to the rapid fluctuation of the speed of the transfer-fixing belt 21.
When the tension in the directions A and B is loosened, the pressure of a pressure roller 24 in a direction shown by an arrow C may increase. Consequently, a nip pressure formed by abutting an intermediate transfer belt 11 serving as an image carrier and the transfer-fixing belt 21 increases.
As a result, the hollow defect is induced in the toner image.


An integrated circuit device includes one or more calibration paths including one or more devices. A signal generator is coupled to at least one calibration path and configured to provide the calibration path with a calibration signal having known characteristics. A controller is coupled to the signal generator and the calibration path and configured to adjust the signal generator and at least one parameter associated with at least one device in the calibration path.

The performance of many integrated circuits (ICs) can be improved by using on-chip, self-calibration techniques. On-chip, self-calibration techniques are desirable because they typically do not consume expensive production time and can track physical changes in a system due to aging, temperature changes and the like. Moreover, self-calibration techniques can perform accurate calibration on-line in normal operating environments.
Applying on-chip, self-calibration techniques to ICs used in high-speed data communication applications is especially desirable due to the many sources of non-linearity and errors (e.g., offset, device mismatch, common-mode sensitivity, pre-amp gain compression, etc.). A typical high-speed data link receiver can include many receiver samplers for sampling data values (for example, in quadrature) and edges, and for adjusting equalization (i.e., adaptation) and testing data eye size. Each receiver sampler can include one or more digital-to-analog converters (DACs) for adjusting sampling threshold voltage levels and providing other functionality (e.g., adaptation and performance monitoring). Each of these DACs can be a source of errors, which, if uncompensated, could result in a degradation of the overall system performance. Performance degradations can include, without limitation, loss of voltage margins due to imperfect offset cancellations or threshold voltage settings and instability of adaptation algorithms, which, in part, rely on the overall system being linear (i.e., having a linear transfer function).


The present invention provides a hydrophilic resin composition which is obtained by adding, to a hydrophilic resin selected from a carboxyl group-containing hydrophilic acrylic copolymer resin, a carboxyl group-containing hydrophilic polyester resin and a carboxyl group-containing hydrophilic polyurethane resin, a hydrophilic carbodiimide represented by the following general formula (1): ##STR1## (wherein n is an average polymerization degree and is an integer of 1-30; m is an integer of 4-30; R.sub.1 is a lower alkyl group; and R.sub.2 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group) and which has an acid value based on the carboxyl group of the hydrophilic resin, of 10-400 mg KOH/g and a molar ratio of the carbodiimide group to the carboxyl group, of 0.2-5.0.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hydrophilic resin composition, and more particularly to a hydrophilic resin composition which has good storage stability at room temperature, which is cured at a relatively low temperature in a short time and which can form a film superior in water resistance, solvent resistance, adhesivity to base material, etc.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Acrylic copolymer resins, polyurethane resins and polyester resins, which are water-soluble, water-dilutable or water-dispersible, are hydrophilic resins and accordingly free from fire hazard and pollution of working environment and, moreover, give a coating film superior in mechanical strengths, flexibility and solvent resistance. Therefore, they are in wide use as a resin component of coating, ink, surface treating agent, coating agent, adhesive, sealing agent, etc. The above resins, however, each contain a large amount of a hydrophilic group for making them water-soluble, water-dilutable or water-dispersible and have been low in water resistance.
In order to solve the above problem, there were made in recent years, attempts of adding to the above hydrophilic resin, a crosslinking agent such as aminoplast resin (e.g. water-soluble melamine resin), epoxy resin, aziridine compound or the like to allow the hydrophilic resin to be able to give a coating film of improved properties (e.g. improved water resistance). In curing the above composition of the hydrophilic resin and the crosslinking agent to obtain a cured film, however, there are disadvantages, for example, a high temperature is required for heating them and the crosslinking agent gives a problem to the working environment.
Meanwhile, there were reported production of an aliphatic polycarbodiimide resin which is cured at a relatively low temperature and which gives a working environment of high safety, and utilization of such a polycarbodiimide resin. For example, in JP-A-59-187029 and JP-B-5-27450 are disclosed an isophorone diisocyanate-derived polycarbodiimide resin and a method for crosslinking a hydrophilic resin using the polycarbodiimide resin.
The above crosslinking of a hydrophilic resin utilizes a reaction between the carbodiimide group of polycarbodiimide and the active hydrogen of active-hydrogen compound. The reaction includes, for example, one between carbodiimide group and a carboxylic acid residue present in hydrophilic acrylic resin.
Conventional aliphatic polycarbodiimides (e.g. a polycarbodiimide derived from isophorone diisocyanate), however, are highly reactive. Therefore, they give rise to a reaction even after their addition to a hydrophilic resin, providing a resin of poor storage stability.
Hydrophilic resins to which a conventional aliphatic polycarbodiimide resin is added, further have a problem in that when they are coated on an olefinic base material such as polypropylene, polyethylene or oriented polypropylene, the resulting film tends to be peeled off.
Further, conventional aliphatic polycarbodiimides, when added to a resin for aqueous coating, etc., must be emulsified beforehand together with a surfactant, mechanically by the use of an expensive high-shear mixer, making complicated the emulsification operation. Moreover, conventional aliphatic polycarbodiimides, when emulsified, inevitably generate urea owing to the reaction with water, making short the storage stability of the emulsion.


In an encryption storage apparatus (data storage apparatus) (1), when entered an allocation request signal (a1), a key management section (7) outputs a generation request signal (b) to a random number generation section (3). The random number generation section (3) generates a pseudorandom number as an encryption key (c) at the entering timing of the generation request signal (b), and the key management section (7) causes a volatile key storage section (4) to store the encryption key (c) and returns a corresponding key number (a2) to a user side. When the user enters an encryption instructing signal (a3) and the key number (a2) to the key management section (7), the key management section (7) reads out the corresponding encryption key (c), and an encryption section (5) converts entered data (d1) into encrypted data (d2) and stores the encrypted data (d2) in a nonvolatile storage section (2). When the user enters decryption instructing signal (a4) and the key number (a2) to the key management section (7), the key management section (7) reads out the corresponding encryption key (c) and a decryption section (6) converts the encrypted data (d2) to decrypted data (d3). This can prevent non-interested persons from recognizing stored data in a nonvolatile storage apparatus in chain manner.

Various data storage apparatuses for storing secret data in a nonvolatile storage medium have been proposed.
For example, in order to restrict the reading of the data stored, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 107352/1987 (Tokukaisho 62-107352; published on May 18, 1987) discloses an "encryption ROM device" which includes a ROM for storing data, and a volatile memory or a volatile register into which an encryption key is written. In the case when data is stored in the encryption ROM device, the encryption key is written into the volatile memory or the volatile register, and data is encrypted with the encryption key to store in the ROM. Meanwhile, in the case when data is read out from the encryption ROM device, the encryption key is written into the volatile memory or the volatile register, and data in the ROM is decrypted with the enciyplion key. The encryption key written into the volatile memory or the volatile register is easily erased by turning off the power of the encryption ROM device, and it is arranged so that data stored in the ROM cannot be read out only by turning on the power again.
Moreover, as to the secret data which is not needed any more, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 223061/1997 (Tokukaihei 9-223061; published on Aug. 26, 1997) discloses "information processing device" in which upon completion of the reading of the secret data, not only an index including FAT which manages data storage locations but also secret data are erased from the information storage area, such as a hard disk storing secret data, for enhancement of confidentiality.
However, in the "encryption ROM device" of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 107352/1987, there is the possibility that when the content of the ROM storing easily analyzable data is analyzed by the outsider who has smuggled it out, the encryption key that has been erased might be guessed. There is the danger that when the encryption key was known by non-interested persons, they might sequentially decrypt the data stored in the encryption ROM device. This threatens not only other data stored in the analyzed ROM, but also data that will be stored in the encryption ROM device in the future.
Moreover, in case of the "information processing device" of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 223061/1997, secret data itself, in addition to the index, is erased, so that the data to be erased has a large volume. Consequently, the time required for erasing increases, which might result in the decrease in efficiency of data input and output with respect to the information storage area.


A non-highway vehicle including an engine, a DC power source driven by the engine and providing DC power via a DC bus, a traction motor, a circuit for connection to the DC bus for providing power to the traction motor, and a controller. The circuit includes at least two inverters which share the power supplied to the traction motor. A first inverter connects between the DC bus and the traction motor and a second inverter connects between the DC bus and the traction motor. The second inverter is in parallel connection with the first inverter. The controller coordinates operation of the first and second inverters.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to inverters for supplying power to motors and, in particular, to two or more balanced or matched inverters for supplying power to AC traction motors, particularly traction motors of non-highway vehicles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Off highway vehicles with electric propulsion used for heavy duty are typically equipped with DC power source such as a diesel engine supplying power to an alternator. The output of the alternator is rectified to form a DC link which supplies power to a variable frequency, variable voltage inverter. The inverter drives a three phase induction motor connected to the rear wheels of the vehicle. As the requirements for haulage capability of such vehicles increases, a corresponding increase in the power required to propel such vehicles is needed. This in turn increases the power rating requirements of the semiconductors which provide the switching of the variable frequency, variable voltage inverter.
FIG. 1A illustrates a typical prior art three phase single inverter including a DC bus and six electronic switches which are selectively opened and closed to feed power to a three phase AC motor. The electronic switches S1–S6 consist typically of IGBT or GTO switches and their associated diode and snubber components.
FIG. 1B illustrates a prior art timing diagram of the individual commands for six step operation of the six switches S1–S6 illustrated in FIG. 1A. This timing diagram is referred to as an "ideal" timing diagram because the timing illustrated assumes instantaneous switching of the switches so that the switches transition from on to off or off to on instantaneous. As will be noted below with regard to the invention, in practice such switches have timing delays and such timing delays can be problematic if not controlled and/or compensated. In the square wave or six step operation illustrated in FIG. 1B, the six electronic switches S1–S6 are turned on every 60° in the proper order to produce a three phase balanced waveform. For example, when switch S1 is commanded ON, its IGBT is gated on ON and the current will flow through the IGBT or through its anti-parallel diode. If the current is positive (into the AC traction motor), then the IGBT of S1 will be conducting. If the current is negative (from the motor), then the anti-parallel diode connected to the IGBT of S1 will conduct. In either case, the switch S1 which is commanded will be conducted.
FIG. 1C illustrates prior art phase commands for pulse width modulated (PWM) operation of the inverter of FIG. 1A. PWM is used to vary the power supplied to the AC motor. During PWM operation, the six electronic switches S1–S6 are turned ON and OFF at a much higher switching frequency than the fundamental frequency of ON and OFF operation as illustrated in FIG. 1B. In FIG. 1C, the exemplary commands that may go to one of the switches is illustrated. The commands provided to its corresponding switch in the same phase would be opposite the commands illustrated in FIG. 1C, except for minimum ON/OFF and snubber reset times required. For example, when the top switch S1, S3, S5 is ON, its corresponding bottom switch S4, S6, S2, respectively, is OFF and vice versa. FIG. 1C shows firing pulses for a given phase. Other phases are delayed by 120 degrees and 240 degrees.
FIG. 2 illustrates a prior art block diagram of a control logic for a single inverter. The traction motor control logic illustrated in FIG. 2 generates the firing commands f4 and f5 to phase A. The frequency and timings are controlled such that the AC motor generates the desired amount of torque. Thus, the control logic varies the flux, frequency, voltage, current etc in the machine. The control logic also functions to protect the traction motor and the traction inverter components. The output of this logic is a three phase command, one to each of the phases A, B and C. When a firing command signal is high, its corresponding top (positive) switch is turned ON and when the signal is low the bottom (negative) switch is turned ON. Signal f1 is the phase A command signal so that FIG. 2 illustrates the details of phase A. Phases B and C are similarly configured. The phase A firing command is split into the top and bottom switch command signals f2 and f2. The gate driver/switch receives signals f2 and f3 and the status feedback is sent back to the control logic. Signals f4 and f5 are the status feedback from the top and bottom switches. Operation of phase B and C are similar.
FIG. 3 is a prior art timing diagram of the logic commands. This figure illustrates the timing diagrams of the various signals for phase A described in FIG. 2. At time t0, the phase A command signal f1 transitions from 0 to 1 indicating that the top switch of phase A should be ON and the bottom switch should be OFF. Since previously the bottom switch was ON, the first event is at t1 where switch command signal f3 (which is the command to the bottom switch) goes low, commanding the bottom switch to turn OFF. At time t2, the bottom switch turns OFF and the status feedback signal f5 transitions to a low value indicating such turn off. This f5 transition is detected by the phase A firing command logic which then commands the top switch ON at time t3 as indicated by the switch command signal f2 going high. This occurs after a short period of time to allow any snubber settling time or margin. As a result, the status feedback signal f4 transitions to a high value at t4 indicating the top switch is ON. This completes a 0 to 1 transition of a phase A command signal f1. Similar timings are illustrated in FIG. 3 for a transition from 1 to 0. In particular, at t5, the phase A command signal f1 transitions to 0, at t6 the top switch command signal f2 transitions to OFF, at t7 the top switch status feedback signal f4 transitions to OFF, at t8 the bottom switch command signal f3 transitions to ON and at t9 the bottom switch status feedback signal f5 transitions to ON. This complete cycle is repeated again starting at time t10.
Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 1A wherein a single inverter supplies all power to an AC motor, it is apparent that the amount of power supplied to the AC traction motor is controlled by and related to the amount of power that can be supplied through a single switch of each phase of the single inverter. As a result, the total power that can be supplied to the AC traction motor is limited by the power rating or the maximum power that each switch can handle. In order to increase the load bearing capacity of a non-highway vehicle, for example, an off highway vehicle, a freight locomotive or a passenger locomotive, the AC traction motor and the power supply to it must be increased to provide more torque for handling the additional load. This in turn requires an increase in the power handled by each of the switches. Unfortunately, IGBTs or GTOs have a limited power handling capability and the cost of designing and manufacturing higher power switches can be prohibitive. Therefore, there is a need for an inverter for supplying power to AC traction motors which can handle additional power requirements and which has a reasonable manufacturing and replacement cost. There is also a need for employing similar components in such inverters as the components presently in use in existing non-highway vehicles in order to reduce the inventory necessary to supply spare parts for such vehicles. There is also a need for a multiple inverter configuration for supplying power to traction motors in which the inverters are balance or matched so that the inverters operate with disparity such that one inverter carries significantly more current than the other, which could cause overheading or burnout.


A wired circuit board having terminals that can ensure large electrical connection areas while preventing shorting of adjacent terminals, to ensure that the terminals are electrically connected with external terminals through molten metal. An insulating base layer 3 is formed on a supporting board 2 so that insulating concave portions 13 are formed at portions thereof where external connecting terminals 8 are to be formed. A conductive pattern 4 is formed on the insulating base layer 3 so that a number of lines of wire 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, the magnetic head connecting terminals 7, and the external connecting portions 8 are integrally formed, and conductive concave portions 9 are formed in the external connecting terminals 8. Thereafter, an insulating cover layer 10 is formed on the insulating base layer 3 so that the magnetic head connecting terminals 7 and the external connecting terminals 8 are exposed from the insulating cover layer 10. In the suspension board with circuit 1 thus formed, when the external connecting terminals 8 are connected with connecting terminals of a read/write substrate via the solder balls 21, reliable connection therebetween can be ensured.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wired circuit board and, more particularly, to a wired circuit board having terminals to be connected to external terminals through molten metal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A wired circuit board usually has terminals to be connected to external terminals as a part of a conductive pattern of the wired circuit board.
Molten metal, such as, for example, solder balls, is often used for connecting the terminals of the wired circuit board to the external terminals. The solder balls are placed on the terminals and are melted on the surfaces of the terminals, whereby the terminals of the wired circuit board are electrically connected to the external terminals through the solder balls.
When the terminals have flat surfaces, the solder balls can roll around the surfaces of the terminals. Prior art proposes an attempt solution that electrodes (terminals) formed on the substrate are provided, at center portions thereof, with cavities to place the solder balls on the electrodes stably (Cf. JP Laid-open (Unexamined) Patent Publication No. Hei 11-266066, for example).
In addition, the prior art proposes a solution that a solder plating layer of ring form is laminated on those electrodes formed in ring form by solder plating, to secure a large connection area for the solder ball (Cf. JP Laid-open (Unexamined) Patent Publication No. Hei 11-266066, for example).
However, in the electrodes formed in ring form described by JP Laid-open (Unexamined) Patent Publication No. Hei 11-266066, the substrate is exposed from lower ends of the cavities. Due to this, when the solder balls are placed in the cavities, electrical connection areas for the solder balls to be electrically connected with the electrodes are ensured only by around the inside of the cavities, so there may be cases where insufficient electrical connection areas are provided for the solder balls.
In addition, when the solder plating layer of ring form is laminated on the electrodes formed in ring form, larger electrical connection areas can be ensured, but such a solder plating layer may be melted accompanied by the melting of the solder balls, then causing, especially when the conductive pattern is a fine pattern, adjacent electrodes to be shorted with the spilled solder.


Generally discussed herein are systems, apparatuses, and methods that relate to reducing crosstalk in a differential signal pair. According to an example, a device may include a first pair of differential signal lines comprising a first signal line and a second signal line proximate the first signal line, the first signal line and the second signal line separated from each other along a first line, and a second pair of differential signal lines comprising a third signal line proximate a fourth signal, the third signal line and the fourth signal separated from each other along a second line generally perpendicular to the first line.

Routing in a die and on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) may be quite complex. Difficulties encountered in routing include managing functional blocks of a circuit or die, different functional blocks running at different frequencies and creating crosstalk, signal degradation, such as high frequency signal degradation, and providing a sufficient ground plane to help in stabilizing sensitive signals, among others. A problem that may cause an error in circuit operation includes crosstalk between differential signal pairs. As electric and electronic components become able to resolve finer differences in a signal, it may become more important to reduce crosstalk between signal lines in a die or a PCB.

Devices and methods to reduce differential signal pair crosstalk


A processing step is added to an existing catalytic reforming unit to increase the yield of aromatic product. The additional processing comprises separation of product from the reforming unit into an aromatic concentrate and a low-octane recycle stream which is upgraded by aromatization. The separation preferably is effected using a large-pore molecular sieve, and the aromatization with a nonacidic L-zeolite contained within the hydrogen circuit of the existing catalytic reforming unit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an improved process for the conversion of hydrocarbons, and more specifically for the catalytic reforming of gasoline-range hydrocarbons.
2. General Background
The catalytic reforming of hydrocarbon feedstocks in the gasoline range is an important commercial process, practiced in nearly every significant petroleum refinery in the world to produce aromatic intermediates for the petrochemical industry or gasoline components with high resistance to engine knock. The widespread removal of lead antiknock additive from gasoline and the rising demands of high-performance internal-combustion engines, increasing the required knock resistance of gasoline components as measured by gasoline "octane" number, have been a major factor in the growth of catalytic-reforming capacity and continue this trend in many areas of the world. The market for petrochemicals derived from gasoline-range aromatics continues to grow substantially, creating a need for incremental reforming capacity, severity and/or efficiency. Many producers of aromatics are looking for ways to use or upgrade existing reforming capacity through more effective reforming processes and catalysts in order to meet this incremental need without building expensive new catalytic-reforming process units.
Catalytic reforming generally is applied to a feedstock rich in paraffinic and naphthenic hydrocarbons and is effected through diverse reactions: dehydrogenation of naphthenes to aromatics, dehydrocyclization of paraffins, isomerization of paraffins and naphthenes, dealkylation of alkylaromatics, hydrocracking of paraffins to light hydrocarbons, and formation of coke which is deposited on the catalyst. Increased aromatics and gasoline-octane needs have turned attention to the paraffin-dehydrocyclization reaction, which is less favored thermodynamically and kinetically in conventional reforming than other aromatization reactions. Considerable leverage exists for increasing desired product yields from catalytic reforming by promoting the dehydrocyclization reaction over the competing hydrocracking reaction while minimizing the formation of coke.
The effectiveness of reforming catalysts comprising a non-acidic L-zeolite and a platinum-group metal for dehydrocyclization of paraffins is well known in the art. The experimental use of these reforming catalysts to produce aromatics from paraffinic raffinates as well as naphthas has been disclosed by a number of companies active in technology development. Commercialization of this dehydrocyclization technology nevertheless has been slow, probably due at least in part to the reluctance of aromatics producers to spend large sums of money on entirely new processing units in order to expand capacity. The present invention represents a novel approach to the use of this technology in the context of an existing catalytic-reforming process unit.
Separation and recycle of a paraffinic fraction to reforming is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,853,437 (Haensel). Naphtha is split into low-boiling and a high-boiling fractions, with the low-boiling naphtha being combined with a high-boiling paraffinic recycle and the high-boiling naphtha combined with low-boiling paraffinic recycle. Each combined stream preferably is charged alternately to catalytic reforming, and the reformate is solvent-extracted to separate a paraffinic fraction; the paraffinic fraction is fractionated to obtain the low-boiling and high-boiling paraffinic recycle to reforming. U.S. Pat. No. 2,915,453 (Haensel et al.) teaches reforming of naphtha and heavy paraffinic raffinate, separating a raffinate from the reformate by solvent extraction, and fractionating the raffinate to recover a low-boiling paraffinic fraction which is sent to a separate reforming zone.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,001,928 (Grote) discloses reforming of a gasoline fraction, subjecting the heavier reformate product to solvent extraction to recover a non-aromatic raffinate, and reforming the raffinate. The raffinate is reformed at a pressure at least 75 pounds per square inch lower than that at which the gasoline fraction is reformed.
Selective adsorption of multibranched paraffins from a feed mixture also containing singly-branched and/or normal paraffins using a crystalline aluminosilicate is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,706,813. The zeolite must contain a certain percentage of water, and preferably is X or Y zeolite modified with barium cations. U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,052 teaches the adsorptive separation of dimethylparaffins from an isomerate comprising C.sub.4, C.sub.5 and C.sub.6 hydrocarbons using a zeolite or aluminophosphate isostructural with AIPO.sub.4 -5.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,648,961 (Jacobson et al.) discloses dehydrocyclization of a naphtha feedstock with a monofunctional large-pore zeolite catalyst, separating normal and single-branched paraffins from the aromatics product, and recycling the paraffins to the dehydrocyclization step. The paraffins are extracted for recycle using a molecular sieve, which adsorbs normal paraffins and some of the isoparaffins.

Catalytic reforming process with increased aromatics yield


A backlight assembly includes a receiving container, a light-generating unit and a reflective sheet. The receiving container includes a bottom plate and a sidewall. The sidewall extends upwardly from an edge portion of the bottom plate to form a receiving space. The light-generating unit includes a light-emitting substrate disposed in the receiving space, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a driving circuit. The light-emitting substrate includes a light-emitting region and a peripheral region. The LEDs are disposed in the light-emitting region. The driving circuit disposed in the peripheral region controls the LEDs. The reflective sheet includes a center portion and a cover portion. The center portion is disposed on the light-emitting region. The cover portion is disposed on the peripheral region to cover the driving circuit.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a backlight assembly and a display device having the backlight assembly. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to a backlight assembly including light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a display device having the backlight assembly.
2. Discussion of Related Art
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device is typically thinner and uses less power as opposed to conventional cathode ray tube (CRT) display devices. Thus, LCD devices may be widely employed in monitors, notebook computers, mobile phones, large screen televisions, etc. An LCD device may include an LCD panel to display an image using light transmissivity of liquid crystal and a backlight assembly disposed under the LCD panel to provide the LCD panel with light.
An LCD panel may include an array substrate having a plurality of thin-film transistors (TFTs) disposed in a matrix shape, a color filter substrate facing the array substrate and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the array substrate and the color filter substrate.
The backlight assembly may employ cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) as a light source. However, backlight assemblies employing a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as a light source may use less power and may have higher color reproducibility. Such a backlight assembly may include a light-emitting substrate, LEDs disposed on the light-emitting substrate, and current balance devices.
The LEDs may be disposed in a light-emitting region of the light-emitting substrate and the current balance devices may be disposed in a peripheral region of the light-emitting substrate that is outside of the light-emitting region. The current balance devices control the LEDs to maintain current balance of currents applied to the LEDs.
Since the current balance devices do not generate light, the current balance devices can be covered. A side mold disposed on the peripheral region of the light-emitting substrate may be employed to cover the current balance devices. However, use of the side mold can increase the manufacturing cost of the backlight assembly. Thus, there is a need for a backlight assembly that does not require the side mold, and a display device having the backlight assembly.

Backlight assembly and display device having the same


The invention includes a method of reducing drag in a pipeline and/or improving the combustion efficiency of a fuel burning device by adding a grafted polymer to a hydrocarbon product. The invention also includes a method of improving the combustion efficiency of a gasoline engine by adding a grafted polymer to fuel and combusting the fuel within the gasoline engine, the grafted polymer having a viscoelastic effect in gasoline in the gasoline engine to generally correspond to a duration of the intake stroke/compression stroke/fuel burn sequence in a gasoline engine.

A drag-reducing agent (DRA) is one that substantially reduces the friction loss that results from the turbulent flow of a fluid, and thereby increases the flow capability of pipelines, hoses and other conduits in which liquids flow. Certain polymers are known to function as DRAs, particularly in hydrocarbon liquids. Such polymers may be dissolved in hydrocarbon liquids in order, for example, to increase liquid flow, to provide for the use of a smaller diameter pipe for a given flow capacity, or to reduce the cost of pumping hydrocarbon liquids.
A method of improving the combustion efficiency of a fuel-burning device is to add an appropriate polymer to the fuel of the fuel-burning device and to burn the fuel with the polymer in the fuel-burning device. In general, the improvement in combustion efficiency of a four-cycle diesel engine operating on traditional polymeric-additive-treated diesel fuel vs. neat diesel fuel is superior to the improvement in combustion efficiency of a four-cycle gasoline engine operating on traditional polymeric-additive-treated gasoline vs. neat gasoline. Whereas the superior improvement in combustion efficiency of a diesel engine operating on traditional polymeric-additive-treated diesel fuel depends in part upon the molecular weight of the polymer, the efficiency of a polymer fuel additive, as well as the efficiency of a polymer DRA, depends more specifically upon the polymer's viscoelastic properties.

Grafted polymer drag-reducing agents, grafted polymer fuel additives and production methods therefor


A system clock reference is transmitted to user devices over a short range communication channel and used to calculated a clock offset. The clock offset is stored together with a user identifier in a server memory, from which the clock offset can be retrieved when receiving the user identifier together with a video stream of video frames tagged with respective timestamps. The timestamps are converted into capture times according to a system clock using the retrieved clock offsets. Video streams from multiple user devices thereby have video frames timestamped using a same clock reference and can be time aligned.

The advance of high-speed mobile Internet and capacity of user devices, such as mobile phones, smartphones and tablets, has given rise to a new way of consuming mobile live video streaming services. There is also a high demand from users to film a social event, e.g. a football game or a music festival in order to present the users' own version of storytelling. The emerging applications allow users to produce videos collaboratively using multiple mobile cameras, in a manner similar to how professional live TV is produced. As shown in FIG. 1, the scenario includes three user roles, namely producers, directors and consumers. The producers are users with user devices 1, 2, 3 who collaboratively record and stream video feeds, for example, in a stadium to application servers or a server system 10. A mixed view of video feeds enables the directors to conduct video direction and rich-content assertion. The consumers, thus, are able to watch live broadcast of the event from different viewpoints based on the directors' selection rather than only few options provided by traditional TV broadcasting.
In a social multimedia environment, it is desirable for directors to monitor synchronized video streams from the producers. Simply simultaneously sending each video stream to its physical output hardware will not necessarily ensure synchronization. In professional live video production, the synchronization among multiple camera feeds is done by specialized hardware. However, this approach is not practical when streaming video from user devices 1, 2, 3 via wireless connection. The reason being that delay is an inherent feature of wireless networks and network congestion often happens when the volume of data traffic goes up. This implies that each user device 1, 2, 3 experiences different network delays, which may further vary for a given user device 1, 2, 3 over time. As a consequence, the differences and variations in network delay cause the arrival time of each video stream at the server system 10 to be different. The divergence in arrival time has great impact on the perceived video frames resulting in asynchrony in the live feeds presented to the directors. This means that the directors will not be able to edit the multiple video streams in synchrony. As shown in FIG. 2 illustrating video streams 21, 22, 23 from user devices 1, 2, 3, the marked video frames 31, 32, 33 are taken by the cameras of the user devices 1, 2, 3 at the same time. Due to the network delay, the time when the marked video frames 31, 32, 33 arrive at the server system 10 is different. Thus, one of the most import requirements of social video streaming is adequate synchronization so that each video stream is aligned to each other. The multi-producer video filming turns out to be a problem of asynchrony, which has to be solved.
Various techniques for achieving synchronization among video streams have been proposed in the art.
In a solution clock synchronization is used. Synchronization offsets are calculated using timestamps generated by the cameras' internal clocks on the user devices 1, 2, 3. This solution is one of the most processing efficient methods. However, some user devices 1, 2, 3 do not have an internal high-resolution clock. Thus, clock drift and skew may cause the user devices 1, 2, 3 out of synchronization. In addition, the solution requires all the user devices 1, 2, 3 to synchronize with a centralized Network Time Protocol (NTP) server. The transmission delay between each user device 1, 2, 3 and the server system 10 would also vary from each other, especially when wireless network is highly congested.
In another solution audio fingerprints are extracted from audio streams and compared to find a match among all the audio streams when multiple cameras are recording the same event. By comparing the occurrence of similar sound matches, it may be possible to calculate the synchronization offset. However, this solution requires all the user devices 1, 2, 3 to be close enough to the event since the speed of sound is much slower than the speed of light. The sound, recorded by a user device 1, 2, 3 that is closer to the sound source, could be up to one second ahead as compared to the sound recorded by another user device 1, 2, 3, when watching a sport game in large stadium. Furthermore, the noise generated by the crowds would also decrease the accuracy of finding suitable audio fingerprints. This means that audio fingerprinting will generally not be very reliable to achieve video stream synchronization involving multiple user devices 1, 2, 3.
In a further solution external hardware synchronized cameras or so-called inter-camera synchronization is assumed. Such a solution requires physically connecting the cameras of the user devices 1, 2, 3 to external synchronization hardware. It is often used in professional live video production. However, in the social video streaming scenario, synchronizing all users' user devices 1, 2, 3 in a social event is not practical and nearly impossible.
In yet another solution timestamps are added to the video streams by having new features implemented in base stations in mobile communication networks. However, a problem is that not all user devices 1, 2, 3 are connected to the Internet via same network provider, and some of them may be connected via Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) provided by the event organizer. In order to overcome such a problem, this solution has to access each base station and WLAN access provider, which introduces complicated management issues in heterogeneous networks and increases corresponding cost.
A further solution involves analyzing the incoming video streams, and monitoring the sequence of video frames for the occurrence of at least one of a plurality of different types of visual events. The occurrence of a selected visual event should be detected among all the video streams and taken as a marker to synchronize all video streams. However, this solution requires all user devices 1, 2, 3 recording at least one common visual event in order to find the marker among all the video streams from each user device 1, 2, 3. If the user devices 1, 2, 3 are focusing on different parts of the event, there is no way for this solution to identify the marker.
US 2011/0043691 discloses a method for synchronizing at least two video streams originating from at least two cameras having a common visual field. This solution requires studying trajectories of objects of a scene. It is not adapted for a situation where multiple users are filming at the same time but at different parts of an event.
There is therefore a need for an efficient solution to achieve synchronization of video streams originating from different user devices 1, 2, 3.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A method of removing a paint film formed on the surface of a resin material, and an apparatus therefor are disclosed. The method comprises heating the resin material having the paint film formed on the surface thereof to deform the resin material, and peeling the paint film from the resin material, and the apparatus comprises a heating means for heating the resin material having the paint film formed on the surface thereof, and a deformation means for deforming the heated resin material and peeling the paint film from the resin material. The method and the apparatus enable one to remove the paint film formed on the surface of the resin material uniformly without deterioration of the resin material and contamination with foreign materials of the resin material even in a resin material having any shape.

In recent years, investigations are made to recycle spent resin materials from the standpoint of environmental protection. If a paint film is formed on the surface of the spent resin materials, when the resin materials are processed for recycling, the resin materials are contaminated by the paint film, resulting in great reduction in mechanical properties of the resin materials. Therefore, it is necessary to previously remove the paint film from the surface of the resin materials prior to process for recycling. For this reason, in recycling resin materials having a paint film formed on the surface thereof, proposals have been made for a method of removing a paint film by shot blasting, a method of melting the resin materials with an extrusion molding machine and filtering the molten resins through a filter to remove a paint film, or a method of rolling the resin materials using rolls and the like and removing a paint film by shearing action due to circumferential speed difference between rolls, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Application 7-214558 and Japanese Laid-open Patent Applications 7-256640, 7-256641, 7-256642 and 7-256643.
However, when removing the paint film by the methods as described above, there arises the following problems:
(1) Shot blasting method
a) If a molding shape of the resin material is complicated, it is difficult to uniformly remove the paint film, thereby taking much time.
b) If shot used in blasting is increased in order to enhance processing efficiency, the resin material burns, resulting in deterioration of quality of the resin material, or the blast is embedded in the resin material, causing contamination with foreign materials.
(2) Filtration method with filter
a) If a filter having fine mesh is used, the paint film is substantially removed, but if the paint film has a small thickness, the elongated cut paint film may not be filtered off, resulting in contamination with such a paint film.
b) Since it takes much time for filtration, if its extrusion force is increased, excessive compression load is applied to the resin material, resulting in deterioration of the resin material.
(3) Rolling method with rolls
Since the rolling is conducted at a temperature of less than 70.degree. C., such a temperature is too low to deform the resin material. Therefore, it is difficult to introduce the resin material into the rolls, and also the resin material may not sufficiently be deformed by the rolls. For this reason, the resin material must be flattened with a specific press, or the resin material must be finely divided so as to relatively increase flat portions, thus requiring complicated procedures and taking much time.

Method of removing paint film on resin surface and apparatus therefor


A below-knee orthotic device in which dorsal flexion and plantar flexion are enabled by a support spring connecting a lower leg sleeve and a foot sleeve. The support spring is clamped in the foot sleeve, so that a gap is formed between the heel part and the foot sleeve, wherein bending of the support spring in stepping direction is limited through a stop on the foot sleeve.

The disclosure relates to a below-knee orthotic device and a support spring provided therefor.
The like orthotic devices are used, for instance, for patients afflicted with a deep paralysis, in muscular disorders, infantile cerebral pareses, pathological disorders, neurological changes, or also with healthy persons in order to support the function of the human foot. By the orthotic device, the foot is contained relative to the lower leg while determinably releasing a forward and backward movement, i.e., movement in the longitudinal direction. Forward mobility here is generally established over a larger range than rearward mobility. Relative mobility of the foot in a transverse direction relative to the lower leg is to be reduced to a minimum in most cases.
Previously utilized orthotic devices include a foot sleeve and a lower leg sleeve connected to each other through ankle joints of metal. It is a drawback in this construction that the ankle joints are subjected to a considerable strain and thus to a considerable wear, and therefore need to be of a comparatively sturdy design. Freedom of movement is predetermined by stops formed in the ankle joint.
Owing to the comparatively sturdy design of the ankle joints, these known orthotic devices have a considerable weight which restricts patients' mobility. It is another drawback that sturdy ankle joints require considerable construction space, with the orthotic device accordingly conveying a rather awkward impression.
In accordance with utility model 29908981.9, a below-knee orthotic device including a support spring in a lower leg sleeve and foot sleeve formed in a single piece is known, with an articulation slot being formed in the transitory range.
It is, however, a disadvantage in this utility model that, due to the integral design, slight pendulum motions of the patient bring about unintended initiation of a step, resulting in considerable problems of equilibrium.


An initial channel access message such as a Random Access Channel (RACH) preamble is used to mean that not only that a channel access has been requested by a mobile station (500) but also that a particular type of service has been requested. By associating a type of service (e.g., Dispatch, web browsing, etc.) with the particular signature that is used to form the RACH preamble it speeds up the service negotiation process. Both the communication system (600) and the MS (500) know what service is associated with which signature, so as soon as a RACH preamble is received by the system, it can determine if it has the resources available to accommodate the request.

In a wireless communication system such as a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system, Mobile Stations (MSs) operating in the system negotiate a certain Quality of Service (QoS) with the system before they are granted a dedicated data channel. The negotiation process may differ from one particular system to another, however, common to all communication systems is the fact that most service request negotiations include a repetition of information such as data rates, spreading factors, mean packet delay requirements, packet loss, etc.
An MS commencing a negotiation for service does not guarantee a service request will be granted, which is certainly true in congested geographic areas. In addition, the time it takes a MS to realize success or failure in a service negotiation is usually long enough to cause wasted battery life for the MS and an overall increase in system noise due to the number of service requests that ultimately will not be successful that are transmitted.
A typical prior art service request negotiation in a Universal Mobile Telephone Service (UMTS) WCDMA system is shown in FIG. 1. In a UMTS system, when a MS requests a particular service, it will begin the service negotiation by sending an access attempt in the form of a Random Access Channel (RACH) preamble 102 to the system. Each access preamble 102 in the example shown in FIG. 1 is made up of a signature repeated 256 times to form a 4096 bit wide preamble frame 104. The signature is selected randomly for each access preamble from a group of signatures stored in the MS. The MS receives the set of available signatures during system initialization or registration of the MS into the system from the communication system. The preamble corresponds to a signature S that includes 256 repetitions of a length 16-signature (Sx, 15 to Sx, 0). In the UMTS system, the signature is from a set of 16 Hadamard codes of length 16. There exist a total of 16 signatures to randomly choose from for the RACH preamble transmission 102 for each RACH channel, and there are a maximum of 16 RACH channels, corresponding to the maximum available preamble scrambling codes. What distinguish the preamble transmission of two different mobile stations on the uplink path is the unique scrambling codes assigned for each user by the base station (cell site).
Depending on the MS's access class, it can use certain time slots ("access slots") 106 for its preamble transmissions. If the system properly receives the access request, it will acknowledge it by resending the same signature as a downlink acquisition indicator (AI) 108 on the Acquisition Indicator Channel (AICH) by the base station. The MS decodes the system acknowledgment, and proceeds to send its RACH message 110 to the system.
In FIG. 2 there is shown a prior art service negotiation between the communication system and an MS. In Step 202, the MS sends an uplink RACH 202 followed by a response by the system in the downlink path. This RACH process takes approximately 300 milliseconds (ms) to complete as shown. A Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling 204 follows the RACH signaling 202. If the system successfully decodes the RACH message, it will inform the MS of the establishment of the signaling link. At this point, the MS initiates its service request 206, followed by authentication 208 and identity check 210 signaling sequences. The overall service negotiation process takes approximately 5 to 8 seconds to complete. At the end of the negotiation, the MS realizes whether or not the system is willing to grant it a channel for the service requested.
As more and more services that require faster access times to system resources (e.g., real time services like dispatch calls, etc.) are introduced, a need exists for a way of accelerating the service negotiation process in order to provide faster system access times and help improve some of the problems previously noted.

Method and apparatus for service negotiation acceleration


A transverse elevator system having generally horizontal and generally vertical components in a building with horizontal pathways guiding first passenger vehicles on each floor that connect to a plurality of vertical pathways guiding second passenger vehicles intersecting the horizontal pathways at stops at the points of intersection, wherein passenger transfer from horizontal to vertical movement is achieved by locking the first vehicles to the second vehicles with passenger chutes defining panels that extend from the vertical pathways and lock the first vehicles to the vertical pathways. In a second embodiment, passengers are carried in a separate enclosed CAPULSEs that shift from the first vehicles to the second vehicles obviating the need for complex horizontal to vertical drive transfer mechanisms.

Those rare individuals and silicon valley dreamers that have long been second guessing the future of transportation systems, many ideas percolates unsteady futures of our present day automobile and transport systems replaced with autonomous vehicles replacing present day sleek luxurious and self gloating expensive driver only cars, such as the Bentley Continental GT, the Mercedes S550 sedan, the Lexus LC500, and Ferrari and Lomborgini sports cars many in the ½ million US dollar range. Yet the dichotomy of this in part that is the manufacturers of these expensive ones are the very same perpetrators of the advancement of autonomous vehicles-a strategy that will no doubt spell the death of those car and transport companies in the 2025 to 2040 time frame as these autonomous vehicles vastly reduce the need for 2 or 3 fancy cars in each family replaced by ride sharing in these self driving vehicles. As electric cars are already replacing internal combustion cars and trucks, the innovators of the autonomous technology have prompted their egos to move to other fields such as orbital passenger flights, electric airplanes with VTOL, and city to city vacuum tunnels dug by small diameter earth diggers—the later with difficult success in the Los Angeles to San Francisco route, or the Downtown Chicago to Ohare path although the Las Vegas convention center one-way circle has some support now. Unfortunately, these forward thinkers have not completely solved problems of the future much better than many visionist of the past such as Michelangelo, Leonardo de Vinci(Leonardo) and to some extent Edison and Franklin and Tesla, although study hints at cross currents in many of their guesses at the future, such as the light bulb and the bulk direct current transmission by Edison. We have seen similar technical or human deficiencies in the development of elevator technology over the last decade. This may be due in part by to a lack of technical expertise, but more likely by the reticence of building developers and government agencies to promote with sufficient funds those necessary to spur elevator technology ahead of what we know now in early 2019.
Because elevator systems require heavy and complex structures they define the basic structure of entire buildings, which are more likely dictated in shape by the cost of the underlying land resulting in very high structures with small footprints in for example, Manhattan N.Y., downtown Chicago, Dubai, Tokyo, and Hong Kong.
This resistance to new elevator technology is also dictated in part by the belief that the future requires both horizontal and vertical movement of passengers throughout the building structures. Now horizontal passenger systems including above and underground ones are almost always limited to horizontal only movement. And vertical elevator systems such as in the Willard tower in Chicago or the Empire State building in New York City are limited to vertical only movement. Some of the above forward thinkers have suggested systems with elevator cars shifting directions 90 degrees, but they offer no solution to the specific mechanisms the can efficiently make this direction change.
One of the reasons for the inhibition of efficient new designs of combined horizontal and vertical systems is the complexity of even modern day vertical only systems. Elevators for safety reasons and speed efficiency require, a plurality of heavy cables, 5 ton motors and heavy counterbalance mechanisms. Even low rise elevators use heavy hydraulic drives. If one were to design a right angle turn system using these drives, it would require the disconnection from these cables or hydraulics from the vertical shaftway and the reconnection to the horizontal pathway mechanisms. To automate such a system would require 90 degree transition times of at least 20 minutes, making even short passenger trips of one turn over ½ hour, such that passengers would prefer a slow walk to be the preferred option.
If one reviews the literature, one leader of elevator design and manufacturing, Otis Elevator Company of Farmington Conn. has not solved this problem even with highly skilled engineers Zbigniew Piech, Tadeusz Witczak and Jose Pasini and others. The Otis recent patents such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 10,017,354, 10,118,799 10,202,259 show these innovators have only ignored these problems. For example when describing its systems for changing elevator car directions they gloss over the problem by saying it can be done by a simple "carriage" without explaining how this simple device could actually accomplish this complex problem. For example in the U.S. Pat. No. 10,017,354 Ginsberg et al describe with reference to FIG. 3 in the patent that a transfer of vertical elevator car 14 can be accomplished from one vertical elevator shaft 17 to a parallel elevator shaft 15, and in column 2 lines 11 to 16 with the statement "The transfer supervisor 130 can enable or disable portions of the transfer station 32 to allow or prevent horizontal movement of the elevator car 14 in the transfer station 32. A carriage 33 may be employed to move the elevator car 14 in a horizontal direction bidirectionally between lanes 17 and 15" Not a word in this patent about how the car 14 is disconnected from path 14 or how car 14 is reconnected to path 17. In short, these Otis appear not to know how to accomplish those tasks-at least not efficiently. Why is it also, that Otis has no patents or publications attempting that task. But there are others who have tried.
A German company has designed and actually built a 90 degree turn system that it calls "the biggest development in the elevator industry since the invention of the safety elevator some 165 years ago". Nothing could be further from the truth. What the German company ThyssenKrupp has done is use the century old railroad turnabout to change directions of an elevator car. A video can be seen are www.wired.com/story/the-sideways-elevator-of-the-future-is-here/. The elevator car moves along rails and slows down and stops at a turret some 3 feet in diameter with tracks aligned with car rails. The turret rotates 90 degrees while the car remains stationary and after rotation the car attaches to the turret and follows the new rails.
While this system works. It takes over 22 seconds to complete a single turn, so if the horizontal loop of the system were ½ mile or 2,640 feet and there were only four stops, the delay of a single car in the loop would be over 100 seconds, bearing in mind that a car traveling at only ½ miles per hour would traverse such a loop without slowing in 14.6 seconds and the resulting 100 second additional delay would be unacceptable. While some developers may adopt the ThyssenKrupp system, there has to be a more efficient solution.
In Italy, in the Ascensore Castello d'Albertis-Montegalletto located in Genova(Genoa) just East of Arenzono, a railroad like horizontal trackway carries a removable car on a pallet to a vertical chute to which the car slowly and noisy, crudely attached after a long wait to cables in the chute. This system is too inefficient and slow to work in a modern building environment. See www.gizmodo.com/this-elevator-moves-both-horizontally-and-vertically-1776894453.
In short, elevator technology to date, is pale compared to other current technologies such as the Space-X first and unbelievable vertical undamaged landing of a main booster on the deck of a moving vessel in an open ocean. With that bright and recent event, there must be paths to more efficient, faster and lower cost elevator systems than the crude attempts thus far.


A dead bolt lock cover for a dead bolt lock assembly comprises a cover and a lock assembly. The cover is sized to enclose the lock casing of the dead bolt lock assembly to prevent unauthorized tampering therewith. The lock assembly fixes the cover to the dead bolt lock base or a separate base member. With the lock assembly, only an authorized person can gain access to the lock casing of the dead bolt lock.

In the lock industry, the use of dead bolts for security purposes are well known. U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,519 to Miller, discloses a dead bolt lock assembly for use with a combination dial lock assembly. The dead bolt lock assembly includes a housing structure adapted to receive a combination dial lock assembly. The housing structure includes a bolt holdback assembly which prevents extension of a dead bolt into a door strike. The bolt holdback assembly is operable from the inside of the door preventing manipulation of the combination dial on the outside of the door. Arranging the bolt holdback assembly in the housing permits the use of replacement and/or repair of standard or off the shelf type combination locks with the dead bolt assembly.
The Miller dead bolt lock assembly is shown in FIG. 1 and designated by the reference numeral 10. The dead bolt lock assembly includes a base 1 which has as part thereof the dead bolt lock 6. A lock casing 3 of a lock (not shown) is shown supported by the base 1 and positioned between the side walls 5. The dead bolt lock assembly includes a strike 7, a dead bolt operating knob 9 and the bolt holdback knob 11. The lock casing 3 has a lock cover 13 which is removable to gain entry to the lock components of the lock within the lock casing 3.
FIG. 2 shows another prior art dead bolt lock assembly which is manufactured by the Mas-Hamilton group of Lexington, Ky. This dead bolt lock assembly is identical to the lock shown in FIG. 1 in terms of the bolt holdback feature described above. The dead bolt lock assembly of FIG. 2 functions in the same way to obtain the same result as that shown in FIG. 1, i.e., hold the dead bolt back by operation of the knob 11, see FIG. 1 or the dead bolt holdback knob 11' in FIG. 2 (the only difference being the base configuration which does not alter the lock functions). The dead bolt lock assembly 20 of FIG. 2 also includes a base 1' supporting a lock casing 3, the lock casing 3 having the lock cover 13 attached thereto. The dead bolt lock assembly 20 also includes a strike 7 and a dead bolt operating knob 9. The base 1' of the dead bolt lock assembly 20 includes openings 15 which receive fasteners (not shown) to attach the base 1' to a surface. The openings 15 are similar to the FIG. 1 dead bolt lock assembly openings 17 in the sidewalls thereof.
One problem with these types of dead bolt locks is the vulnerability of the access cover 13 to unauthorized removable. Since the access cover 13 is usually secured to the lock casing 3 by screws, the access cover can be removed in a short period of time. The lock within the lock casing can then be altered to permit unauthorized operation of the lock and compromise any secured area that the lock is intended to protect.
Even if other persons may be in the secured area, an individual could quickly remove the lock cover 13 and alter the lock while the other persons are distracted or not paying attention. With an altered lock an unauthorized person could gain access to the secured area at a later time.
In view of the security problem that exposed lock covers present, a need has developed to prevent or protect unauthorized access to the lock components of the lock casing. The present invention solves this need by providing a dead bolt lock access cover which is designed to be removed by an authorized person.


The present invention relates to methods of identifying putative antibiotic resistance genes. According to one embodiment, this is carried out by first isolating a microbial DNA molecule or cDNA which encodes a putative antibiotic resistance protein or polypeptide and then determining whether the microbial DNA molecule or cDNA confers resistance against an antibiotic agent. According to another embodiment, this is carried out by first determining whether a microbial DNA molecule or cDNA confers resistance against an antibiotic agent when the microbial DNA molecule is expressed in its native cell following transformation of the cell and then isolating the microbial DNA molecule or cDNA which confers resistance against the antibiotic agent.

Antibiotics have proven to be one of medicine's most effective tools in combating disease, but their utility is constantly being challenged by the emergence of antibiotic-resistant target organisms and their future effectiveness is now in doubt. The pharmaceutical industry responds to a newly-emerged resistant strain by developing a modified version of the drug that was effective against a predecessor of the newly-emerged resistant strain, and in turn pathogens evolve resistance to the new drug. Some of the best evidence that drug resistance genes can evolve by mutation to confer resistance to newer drugs comes from the TEM/SHV β-lactamases in which genes that originally did not confer resistance to 2nd and 3rd generation cephalosporins evolved the ability to do so as the result of base substitution mutations. The products of those evolved genes are called extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL's). The example of ESBL's has led to a paradigm according to which the acquisition of resistance to new drugs will almost always involve evolution of known drug resistance genes as the result of selectively advantageous mutations.
This paradigm ignores the issue of the ultimate source of antibiotic resistance genes. Understanding the origins of antibiotic resistance genes may be an essential key to predicting how resistance to new drugs will arise.
In most cases, the source of resistance genes is unknown. Most resistance genes were originally detected on plasmids and, although they spread from plasmid-to-plasmid and via plasmids from one bacterium to another, their original source cannot readily be determined. The ampC β-lactamase genes, whose products are the Class C β-lactamases, provide a rare exception to the ignorance of resistance gene origins.
Class C β-lactamases are generally quite active toward cephalosporins, including the third generation derivatives, but have not been taken as a serious threat until recently, because the genes for Class C β-lactamases are typically located on chromosomes rather than on plasmids. The chromosomal ampC genes are found in a variety of Gram negative bacteria, including both the Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas species. ampC genes are typically expressed at a low level, as in E. coli, or are inducible by penicillins and early generation cephalosporins but not inducible by third and fourth generation cephalosporins. Over the last decade, however, it has been found that Gram negative pathogens that are hyper-producers of ampC β-lactamases are resistant to all but a few of the most recently introduced β-lactam antibiotics (Livermore, "Are all Beta-lactams Created Equal?" Scand. J. Infect. Dis. Suppl. 101:33–43 (1996)). By now 25–50% of Enterobacter isolates from intensive care unit patients in many major Western and Far Eastern hospitals are AmpC hyper-producers and are resistant to all penicillins and cephalosporins except imipenem, meropenem and temocillin (Livermore, "Are all Beta-lactams Created Equal?" Scand. J. Infect. Dis. Suppl. 101:33–43 (1996)). Even more worrying are several recent reports of de-repressed ampC genes located on plasmids found in pathogenic Gram negative bacteria (Bauernfeind et al., "Characterization of the Plasmidic Beta-lactamase CMY-2, which is Responsible for Cephamycin Resistance," Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 40:221–224 (1996); Horii et al., "Characterization of a Plasmid-borne and Constitutively Expressed blaMOX-1 Gene Encoding AmpC-type Beta-lactamase," Gene 139:93–98 (1994); Jacoby and Medeiros, "More Extended-spectrum Beta-lactamases," Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 35:1697–1704 (1991); Papanicolaou et al., "Novel Plasmid-mediated Beta-lactamase (MIR-1) Conferring Resistance to Oxyimino- and Alpha-methoxy Beta-lactams in Clinical Isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae," Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 34:2200–2209 (1990)). Although Amyes ("Genes and Spectrum: The Theoretical Limits," Clin. Infect. Dis. 27 Suppl 1:S21–28) suggests that AmpC β-lactamases presently do not seem efficient enough to cause widespread clinical problems, others are quite concerned that the AmpC β-lactamases constitute a pool from which clinically significant resistant strains may well emerge (see Lindberg and Normark, "Contribution of Chromosomal Beta-lactamases to Beta-lactam Resistance in Enterobacteria," Rev. Infect. Dis. 8 Suppl 3:S292–304 (1986); Morosini et al., "An Extended-spectrum AmpC-type Beta-lactamase Obtained by in vitro Antibiotic Selection," FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 165:85–90 (1998); Pitout et al., "Antimicrobial Resistance with Focus on Beta-lactam Resistance in Gram-negative Bacilli," Am. J. Med. 103:51–59 (1997)). That concern is exacerbated by the finding that in a clinical isolate of Enterobacter cloacae, the AmpC β-lactamase has extended its substrate range to include the oxyimino β-lactams as the result of a tandem duplication of three amino acids (Nukaga et al., "Molecular Evolution of a Class C Beta-lactamase Extending its Substrate Specificity," J. Biol. Chem. 270:5729–5735 (1995)(erratum published at J. Biol. Chem. 270(36):21428)). More recently, Morosini and colleagues ("An Extended-spectrum AmpC-type Beta-lactamase Obtained by in vitro Antibiotic Selection," FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 165:85–90 (1998)) applied direct selection to isolate a mutant of an Enterobacter cloacae AmpC β-lactamase in which the activity toward a 4th generation cephalosporin had increased 267-fold as the result of a single amino acid replacement.
Together, the facts that mutations to hyper-expression of AmpC occur readily and hyper-expressed ampC β-lactamases (a) already confer resistance to penicillins and 3rd generation cephalosporins, (b) are moving onto plasmids, and (c) can easily mutate to significant activity against 4th generation cephalosporins suggest that AmpC β-lactamases may very well constitute a potentially serious clinical threat.
The above observations make it clear that new antibiotic resistance can arise when more or less primitive, chromosomal, antibiotic genes are mobilized onto plasmids. Thus, a need exists to identify putative antibiotic resistance genes before they become effective and can cause great damage to the public health. With the genome sequences of literally hundreds of microorganisms now being determined, opportunities are now available to identify those suspected resistance genes, to determine whether they can, in fact, become clinical antibiotic resistance determinants, and to design drugs that can remain effective in the presence of those determinants. What is lacking is a systematic approach for doing so.
The present invention is directed to overcoming the above-identified deficiencies in the art.

Method of identifying putative antibiotic resistance genes


A modular plastic conveyor belt constructed of flexible belt modules molded out of a material such as a flexible elastomeric compound that enables the belt to wrap closely around drive sprockets. Drive elements in the bottom of the belt are uniformly spaced in the direction of belt travel. The distance between consecutive drive elements is the drive pitch, which is less than the pitch, roughly the length, of each module. A belt constructed of these modules has fewer joints between modules than a typical modular conveyor belt of the same length.

The invention is related generally to power-driven conveyors and, more particularly, to modular plastic conveyor belts constructed of a series of rows of long, flexible modules connected together by hinge rods.
Modular plastic conveyor belts are widely used to convey raw meat and poultry in processing plants. These belts are typically constructed of many stiff plastic belt modules arranged in a bricklay pattern. Each row of modules has leading and trailing hinge eyes that interleave with the hinge eyes of leading and trailing rows. The rows are connected serially together into an endless belt by hinge rods received in passageways formed through the aligned interleaved hinge eyes. The belt can articulate at hinge joints so formed between rows. These belts are looped between drive and idler sprockets or drums, which have driving structure, such as drive teeth, that engages drive members at drive locations spaced apart along the length of the belt. The spacing between consecutive drive locations in the direction of belt travel along the length of the belt defines the drive pitch of the belt. Typically, the drive pitch of a modular belt equals the length of each row to allow the modular belt made of stiff modules to wrap closely around the sprocket with good sprocket-belt engagement.
Belt sanitation is an important consideration in meat and poultry applications. Blood, fat, and other contaminants can hide in nooks and crannies in the structure of the belt. The hinged joints between belt rows and the seams between side-by-side modules in each row are two areas of a belt that can harbor these contaminants. Frequent washing by cleansers and water directed into these areas is necessary to attain the required degree of cleanliness that is so important in these food applications. But frequent washing is messy, time-consuming, and expensive. That's why there is an ongoing need for conveyor belts that are easier to clean.

Long, flexible conveyor belt modules in modular plastic conveyor belts


The disk drive, which is used for performing at least a reproducing operation for a disk-shaped recording medium having a PEP region where information relating to the at least a reproducing operation is recorded, includes: a rotator for rotating the recording medium; a pickup for reading a signal from the recording medium; processing circuits for thresholding a length of a period in which the level of the signal remains unchanged; a demodulating circuit for receiving the thresholding result and for demodulating the signal to reproduce the information based on the thresholding result; a detector for detecting the rotation speed of the recording medium and for outputting a rotation speed signal indicative of it; correcting circuits for receiving the rotation speed signal, and for supplying a discrimination value in accordance with the rotation speed of the recording medium. The discrimination value is used for thresholding the length of the period. In the disk drive of the present invention, the signals are demodulated based on the thresholding result obtained using the discrimination value, whereby allowing the information to be reproduced correctly while the rotation speed of the recording medium changes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disk drive for reproducing information from a disk-shaped recording medium, such as a magnetooptical disk, an optical disk and the like, and/or recording information thereon. More specifically, the present invention relates to a signal processing section for processing a signal read from the recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
On a recording surface of a disk-shaped recording medium (hereinafter, simply referred to as a disk), for example, a magnetooptical disk having a diameter of 130 mm (hereinafter, simply referred to as a 130 mm magnetooptical disk), a region is provided for storing various kinds of information, including: servo methods; a rotation mode; the type of disk, i.e., whether the disk is of a read-only type, a write-once type, or a rewritable type; a modulation method; an error correction code; a number of user bytes in one sector, and the like. This region is called a "PEP region".
The data format of the PEP region is determined in accordance with the standard. As shown in FIG. 5, three gap parts where no signal is recorded and three sector parts where various kinds of information are recorded are alternately arranged per one rotation of the disk. The PEP region is composed of 561 to 567 bit cells per one rotation of the disk. A "bit cell" herein refers to a unit length of the region in which one unit of information representing either "0" or "1" is recorded.
As shown in FIG. 6, a sector part includes: a preamble section composed of 16 bit cells and used as a sector start buffer; a sync section composed of 1 bit cell and used for the detection of synchronization; a sector number section composed of 8 bit cells and used for the identification of a sector number; a data section composed of 144 bit cells and used for writing data therein; and a CRC section composed of 8 bit cells and used for the error detection.
The units of information recorded in the PEP region are discriminated one by one, as shown in FIG. 7, thereby various kinds of information are reproduced. More specifically, when the state where a recording mark is present (hereinafter, referred to as a "mark-present state") is turned into a state where a recording mark is absent (hereinafter, referred to as a "mark-absent state") in one bit cell, or when the level of a reproduced signal falls in a period corresponding to one bit cell, the unit of information carried by the reproduced signal is discriminated as "0". On the other hand, when the mark-absent state is turned into the mark-present state in one bit cell, or when the level of a reproduced signal rises, the unit of information carried by the reproduced signal is discriminated as "1".
For example, in the preamble section following the gap part where no signal is recorded, 16 units of information representing "0" are successively recorded, as shown in FIG. 8. In the sync section following the preamble section, one unit of information representing "1" is recorded.
In the PEP region, it depends upon the presence of the recording mark in one bit cell whether the unit of information corresponding to the one bit cell represents "0" or "1". The units of information are obtained by dividing the signal reproduced from the disk into a plurality of portions each of which corresponds to one bit cell and then interpreting each of the divided portions. Therefore, unless the signal reproduced from the PEP region (hereinafter, simply referred to as a "PEP signal") is correctly divided, the information recorded in the PEP region cannot be correctly reproduced.
In a conventional disk drive, in order to correctly reproduce the information recorded in the PEP region, the PEP signal starts to be read after the rotation speed of the disk increases and is stabilized at a constant value. While the rotation speed of the disk is constant, the time period required for reading the signal corresponding to one bit cell is also constant. Therefore, by starting to divide the PEP signal into a plurality of portions immediately after the unit of information representing "1" in the sync section is detected, the PEP signal can be correctly divided. As a result, various kinds of information recorded in the PEP region can be correctly reproduced.
However, in the case where the reproduction of the PEP signal is not started until the rotation speed of the disk becomes constant, as in a conventional disk drive, the period after the disk starts to rotate until the rotation speed of the disk becomes constant is a waste for reproducing the information recorded in the PEP region. Accordingly, such a period prevents the reproduction speed or the recording speed for the disk from being increased.
Instead, if an attempt is made to reproduce the information recorded in the PEP region during a period after the disk starts to rotate until the rotation speed of the disk becomes constant, then the period corresponding to one bit cell changes in accordance with the increase in the rotation speed of the disk. Therefore, the PEP signal cannot be correctly divided. As a result, it is also impossible to correctly reproduce various kinds of information recorded in the PEP region.

Disk drive including recording medium having disk operation information recorded thereon