In the semiconductor device of the present invention, there are provided output terminals on two sides perpendicular to one of four sides which is nearest output outer leads of a liquid crystal driver chip mounted to a flexible substrate. The wires extending from the inner leads connected to the output terminals to the output outer leads do not need to travel around a liquid crystal driver chip. The flexible substrate can be scaled down. Yields can be increased.

Recent years have seen CRTs being replaced by display panels contained in display panel modules (electronic devices). The latter are typically liquid crystal panels because of their numerous advantages, such as low power consumption and compactness.
However, a liquid crystal panel still costs 10 times a CRT. To create a greater market for the liquid crystal panel, it is essential to cut costs for the liquid crystal panel and its peripherals.
The conventional liquid crystal driver chip (semiconductor chip) driving a liquid crystal panel is packaged on a flexible substrate which is an insulating base member provided with a wiring layer thereon. The package chip, or semiconductor device, is connected to an edge of a liquid crystal panel.
Packaging methods for the semiconductor device, by which the semiconductor chip is packaged on the flexible substrate, include COF (chip on FPC (flexible print circuit)) and TCP (tape carrier package).
In a TCP, the base member of the flexible substrate has holes (device holes) for mounting a semiconductor chip. The semiconductor chip is connected at contact terminals on its electrodes to inner leads/wires which stick out from the device holes. In contrast, for COF, the flexible substrate has no device holes. The inner leads, connected to a semiconductor chip, are formed on the base member.
Today's focus is on COF methods because it is easy to reduce the width of the semiconductor device. Narrow-width devices well meet demands for reductions in the frame size of display panel modules in which the semiconductor device is disposed in the frame.
The inner leads stand on the base member in COF, whereas in TCP, the inner leads stick out from the device holes for connection to the semiconductor chip. COF therefore more readily accommodate reductions in the width of the semiconductor device than TCP.
FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary liquid crystal panel module in which a semiconductor device is packaged. In the figure, 41 indicates the liquid crystal panel. Along an edge of the liquid crystal panel 41 are provided COF semiconductor devices 44 in which the chip is packaged by a COF method. The devices 44 are connected to the panel 41 via anisotropic conducting film, or ACF, for example. Each semiconductor device 44 contains a flexible substrate and a liquid crystal driver chip (semiconductor chip) 45 mounted on the substrate.
The flexible substrate of the semiconductor device 44 has external contact terminals formed thereon: i.e., output outer leads 42 and input outer leads 43. The semiconductor device 44 is connected to the liquid crystal panel 41 through the output outer leads 42 and to a circuit board 46 through the input outer leads 43. The semiconductor device 44, connected to the liquid crystal panel 41, exchanges signals and turns power on/off through the circuit board 46.
The liquid crystal driver chip 45 feeds analog signals to the liquid crystal panel 41 through the flexible substrate in the semiconductor device 44. The analog signals travel from the liquid crystal driver chip 45 via the flexible substrate to the liquid crystal panel 41. On the liquid crystal panel 41, those contact terminals for connection to the flexible substrate usually align parallel to an edge of the liquid crystal panel 41. Therefore, the output outer leads 42 of the flexible substrate, to which the contact terminals of the liquid crystal panel 41 are connected, are similarly arranged.
From these design points of view, the semiconductor device can be best reduced in width by: aligning the output terminals of the liquid crystal driver chip 45 along a long side of the liquid crystal driver chip 45 so that the terminals are parallel to the length of the liquid crystal driver chip 45 and straightening the wires between the output terminals of the liquid crystal driver chip 45 and the flexible substrate of the output outer leads 42 to the extent possible. The same modifications are required with the input terminals of the liquid crystal driver chip 45 to render the semiconductor device narrow and long. The input terminals are in many cases also arranged along a long side of the liquid crystal driver chip 45.
As a result, the conventional liquid crystal driver chip 45 naturally has a very high external aspect ratio with the short sides extremely shorter than the long sides.
There is another demand to reduce the size of the liquid crystal driver chip 45 as much as possible. The objective of doing so is to reduce the cost of the semiconductor device.
Apart from these demands for narrower, longer semiconductor devices and smaller liquid crystal driver chips, a notable trend is happening recently. Traditional line-reversal drive schemes for liquid crystal in a liquid crystal panel module are mostly replaced by dot-reversal drive schemes. Liquid crystal driver chips which drive source signal lines are designed for dot-reversal schemes.
A liquid crystal driver chip 45 for source signal lines needs nine grayscale power supply terminals to achieve a 64 grayscale level display, for example. The dot-reversal scheme would need double that number, that is, 18 grayscale power supply terminals, because the scheme utilizes both positive and negative reference grayscale levels.
Another technology trend as noteworthy as the dot-reversal scheme is RSDS (reduced swing differential signaling) for liquid crystal driver chips. RSDS retains low noise levels for digital signals in the liquid crystal driver chip 45 until analog signals are output to the liquid crystal panel 41. RSDS is based on differentials on two signal lines and needs double the number of signal lines for traditional single signal wiring.
With these mainstream dot-reversal driving and RSDS technologies, the liquid crystal driver chip 45 now has 40 or more input signal lines. As for the output signal lines, the liquid crystal driver chip 45 has 1024×3 (R, G, B)=3072 of them for an XGA (1024×768) liquid crystal panel 41, for example. To drive the panel with eight liquid crystal driver chips, each liquid crystal driver chip 15 drives 384 source signal lines. Each liquid crystal driver chip for source signal lines has 384 output signal lines.
Now, let us consider how long the liquid crystal driver chip 45 should be on its long sides, one for output and the other for input. If 384 outputs are needed with 50-μm pitches, for example, the long side for output where output terminals will be formed needs be at least 384×0.05=19.2 mm long. On the other hand, if 45 inputs are needed with 75-μm pitches, the long side for input where input terminals will be formed needs be no longer than 3.375 mm, less than one-fifth for the long-side for output.
Ideally, the output and input terminals should be separated: the output terminals should be on the long side for output opposite the output outer leads connected to the liquid crystal panel 41, and the input terminals on the long side for input opposite the input outer leads connected to the circuit board 46. This design however would allow the output terminals, which outnumber the input terminals by far, to place constraints on the long sides of the liquid crystal driver chip 54, which in turn would restrict the downscaling of the chip for lower cost.
In view of these circumstances, News Release, No. 2001-103 (made public on Dec. 11, 2001) by Sharp Co., Ltd. among other publications suggests to place some of the output terminals along the long side for input of the liquid crystal driver chip to provide the long side for output and the long side for input with an equal number of electrodes, thereby minimizing the length of the long side of the liquid crystal driver chip.
FIG. 5 illustrates the COF semiconductor device described in News Release, No. 2001-103 in which some of the output terminals are placed along the long side for input where the input terminals of the liquid crystal driver chip are arranged. FIG. 5 is presented as a plan view so as to clearly show differences between the device and the present invention. In the figure, the semiconductor device 61, along with others (not shown), is yet to be individually punched off the long and narrow tape carrier 50. They are still lined end to end on the tape carrier 50. The liquid crystal driver chip 54 and the solder resist 53 giving protection to wires 52 on the flexible substrate 51 are depicted as being transparent so as to visualize how the wires 52 are routed.
Referring to FIG. 5, in the semiconductor device 61, the liquid crystal driver chip 54 sitting on the flexible substrate 51 has some of its output terminals formed, as indicated by Xs, on the long side for input which is opposite the side where input outer leads 57 are provided. Those of the wires 52 on the flexible substrate 51 which are connected to the liquid crystal driver chip 54 at the output terminals on the long side for input (indicated by 52c) are routed to turn 180° from the inner leads 55 toward the output outer leads 56.
Those of the wires 52 on the flexible substrate 51 other than the ones indicated by 52c are formed linearly. Specifically, those indicated by 52a which are connected to the input terminals on the long side for input of the liquid crystal driver chip 54 are formed to run linearly to the input outer leads 57. In addition, those indicated by 52b which are connected to the output terminals on the long side for output of the liquid crystal driver chip 54 opposite the side where the output outer leads 56 are provided are formed to run linearly to the output outer leads 56.
As mentioned earlier, ideally, wires on the flexible substrate connected to the liquid crystal driver chip should run linearly to the input outer leads if they are intended to be coupled to the input terminals and linearly to the output outer leads if they are intended to be coupled to the output terminals.
However, as shown in FIG. 5, in this conventional design of the liquid crystal driver chip 54 in which the input terminals and the output terminals X are both placed on the same long side of the liquid crystal driver chip 54 for the purpose of size reduction, the wires 52c connected to the output terminals X on the long side for input travel around the liquid crystal driver chip 54 by making a 180° turn before ultimately reaching the output outer leads 56.
The wire extending from the output terminal X which is nearest the corner of the liquid crystal driver chip 54 takes the shortest path because it has to skirt only the liquid crystal driver chip 54. Meanwhile, the wire extending from an adjacent terminal X has to skirt not only the liquid crystal driver chip 54, but the wire connected to the output terminal X nearest the corner. Further, the wire extending from a next output terminal X has to skirt these two wires too. The more the output terminals X formed on the input side, the more wires each wire has to travel around in addition to the liquid crystal driver chip 54, and the longer path it has to take.
These paths in the conventional design require increasingly more space to accommodate the wires 52c on the flexible substrate 51, adding to the size of the flexible substrate 51. The increased size of the flexible substrate 51 would be an obstacle in the efficient use of the tape carrier. This could kill off the cost savings on the semiconductor device achieved by the downscaling of the semiconductor chip (liquid crystal driver chip).
Further, the design involves many curves to make the 180° turn. Curves are not desirable for etching which is a method typically used for patterning on the flexible substrate 51, because etching often cannot sufficiently remove materials from curves. Resultant reduced yields might also lower the cost saving benefits.

Semiconductor device, flexible substrate, tape carrier, and electronic device including the semiconductor device


A ball repair tool has a plurality of fingers which extend first vertically into the surface of the green. After extending into the green vertically a specified distance, the plurality of fingers are forced conically inward to force both dirt and grass into the unrepaired ball mark. Once repaired, the fingers are retracted leaving a repaired ball mark. The holes made by the blades of the fingers aid in the repair of the ball mark by aerating the area around the repaired ball mark. The vertical extension of the fingers into the green before the conical motion to force dirt and grass into the ball mark provides sufficient depth of the repair area to adequately support the green area.

Golf ball marks are a continuous problem for greenskeepers. Unrepaired ball marks detract from the appearance of the greens as well as significantly shortening their lives. When a golf ball lands on the surface of a green, especially from a high trajectory, the momentum of the golf ball puts a dent or ball mark in the green. The area of the ball mark at the bottom of the mark is more compressed than the area near the top of the ball mark. The ball mark must be repaired in order to maintain the smooth contour of the green, to maintain appearance of the green in particular and the golf course in general, and to extend the life of the green.
A majority of golfers will attempt to repair their own ball marks while playing their round of golf. The individual golfer uses a wide variety of ball mark repair tools which range from the pointed end of a golf tee to the specially made green repair tools designed to be carried in the golfer's pocket. While these efforts to repair ball marks go a long way towards improving the problems associated with unrepaired ball marks, not every golfer fixes his or her ball marks. Even though a majority of golfers do repair their own ball marks, not every golfer does an adequate and complete job of repairing ball marks.
The greenskeeper is provided with a number of ball mark repair tools to repair the unrepaired ball marks as well as the ball marks partially repaired by the individual golfers. These prior art devices have a plurality of fingers which penetrate the surface of the green and lift the dirt and grass back into place. These prior art repair tools are normally provided with a vertically extending handle which activates the plurality of fingers through various linkage systems pushing them into the ground. The vertically extending handle enables the greenskeeper to repair ball marks without bending over or crawling around on the green.
The problem associated with the prior art ball mark repair tools is that the linkage systems are designed such that a single action of the tool forces the plurality of fingers into the ground in an angular or conical manner around the ball mark. Thus, when these prior art circular tools are placed around a ball mark, the plurality of fingers extend into the ground in a generally conical manner with the ball mark. Thus, when these prior art circular tools are placed around a ball mark, the plurality of fingers extend into the ground in a generally conical manner with the ball mark being located on the base of the formed cone. This single action of the tool which produces an angular or conical motion of the fingers does not provide an adequate depth to reach the bottom of the ball mark where the highest compression of soil is located. Rather than extending the fingers into the ground in a cylindrical manner to provide adequate depth and then changing the fingers to a conical shape, the prior art tools attempt to repair the ball marks by using only the upper material or surface of the green without providing any significant depth to the repair area. This shallow repair technique does not get sufficiently below the bottom or highest compressed area of the ball mark and thus does not adequately repair the greens day after day.
Accordingly, what is needed is a ball mark repair tool which extends deeply into the green prior to lifting the dirt and grass back into place. The deeper penetration of the ball repair area will provide a much more stable repaired area.


A reservoir tank for use with an apparatus to provide liquid thereto, which includes a cylindrical tank open at one end with an end cap removably engaged therewith, which has a spring urged arm with a stem and stopper which normally closes off an opening in the cap, the arm is depressed to allow liquid to enter the tank for filling, and the arm is engaged by an upstanding pin from the apparatus when the tank is inverted and placed in the liquid receiving portion to allow liquid to flow out to fill the apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a reservoir tank assembly for an apparatus, of the type which has an end cap, which can be removed for cleaning and which has a spring loaded arm, which is manually depressed for filling, and which arm is also depressed when the tank is inverted and in place in a apparatus by an upstanding pin from the apparatus liquid receiving portion, to supply liquid to the apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is well known in the reservoir tank art to use a spring urged stem connected to a stopper, which closes off an opening in a reservoir tank, and which permits liquid which may be water, kerosene or other liquid to flow thereout when the tank is inverted, and the stem is contacted by an upstanding pin from a fluid receiving portion of an apparatus, which moves the stopper to allow liquid to flow into the fluid receiving portion.
The prior art structures are difficult to clean as they do not provide complete access to the tank.
Various structures which use similar construction are shown in the U.S. patents to Crockett No. 2,685,978; Kappler No. 3,123,107; Mulgrive No. 3,201,012; Sawyer, III No. 5,131,170; Weber No. 5,154,212; Baker, et al., No. 5,222,531, and Feer No. 5,706,985, but none of them has provisions for filling the tank without removing a cap.
None of the prior art structures provides an end cap which is removable for cleaning the tank, with an arm carried by the end cap, which has a spring urged stem with a stopper closing off an opening into the tank, which arm is depressed by the user to permit filling of the reservoir tank, and which when the tank is inverted and in place in an apparatus, the arm is depressed by an upstanding pin to unseat the stopper to allow water flow out the tank opening into the apparatus.


A slice set for a specific period of time is acquired from a storage area of a memory which is a ring buffer while changing the read position, and the signal strength total value of each slice set is calculated. The signal strengths of the slices included in the maximum strength slice set and the signal strengths of the slices preceding or subsequent to the maximum strength slice set are calculated, and the final signal read position is determined based on a read offset of the maximum strength slice. A GPS satellite signal is acquired and tracked based on the slice read from the determined signal read position, and a specific positioning process is performed.

The present invention relates to a positioning device, an electronic instrument, and a storage medium storing a program.
A global positioning system (GPS) is widely known as a satellite positioning system, and is utilized for a car navigation system and the like. The GPS allows the present position to be located by acquiring/tracking a GPS satellite signal from signals received from a plurality of GPS satellites, and performing positioning calculations based on a navigation message acquired from the GPS satellite signal and the like.
The GPS satellite signal is a spread-spectrum-modulated signal called a coarse and acquisition (C/A) code. A method has been widely used which improves the signal reception sensitivity by correlating a pseudo spread code (code replica) generated by a receiver and the received signal over a long period of time when acquiring the GPS satellite signal.
However, since the polarity of the received signal is reversed every 20 milliseconds (ms) according to the navigation message, when the signal used for the correlation calculation is acquired across the polarity inversion portion, the signal component is necessarily cancelled (hereinafter called "cancellation portion"). This hinders an appropriate correlation process, whereby the signal reception sensitivity (hereinafter simply called "sensitivity") decreases.
JP-A-2005-321298 discloses technology which sequentially acquires signals while changing the signal acquisition timing from the signal reception start timing by a predetermined unit time, and selects the signal with the smallest cancellation portion.
However, since the technology disclosed in JP-A-2005-321298 uses a fixed unit time, the selected signal is cancelled to a large extent when the unit time is increased. For example, since a cancellation portion of up to 2.5 milliseconds occurs when the unit time is set at five milliseconds, the sensitivity cannot be increased.
On the other hand, the cancellation portion of the signal decreases by reducing the unit time. However, since the number of signals which must be calculated increases, the processing time increases to a large extent.

Positioning device, electronic instrument, and storage medium storing program


Diazepinoindoles of formula (I), ##STR1## wherein A is mono- to trisubstituted aryl or heteroaryl, and B is an --OR.sub.1 or --NR.sub.2 R.sub.3 group where R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are particularly hydrogen, and racemic forms, enantiomers and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, as phosphodiesterase IV inhibitors, are disclosed.

In contrast to the properties disclosed by the present invention, the prior art is based on is [1,4]diazepino[6,7,1-hi]indoles for which antagonist properties with respect to cholecystokinin (CCK) and/or gastrin are described, and which are proposed for complaints of the digestive tract: stomach, intestine, pancreas and gall bladder, and in particular eating disorders.
Thus, European patent application No. 340,064 describes compounds of formula: ##STR2## in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are hydrogen or halogen, Ar is indolyl or phenyl and n is 2 or 3. These compounds are peripheral cholecystokinin antagonists (CCK.sub.A).
European patent application no. 360,079 describes peripheral and/or central CCK-antagonist compounds of formula: ##STR3## in which R.sup.1 is optionally substituted aryl, X is oxygen or methylene optionally substituted with a lower alkyl radical, A is a bond or lower alkylene which may have one or more lower alkyl groups, and R.sup.2 is hydrogen or acyl. Unpublished French patent application No. FR 94/12282 describes the application of diazepinoindole derivatives of formula ##STR4## in which R is hydrogen, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy, and A is an optionally substituted aromatic ring, some of which derivatives are novel, for the preparation of medicinal products intended for the treatment of complaints that fall within the scope of a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor.
As regards the inhibition of phosphodiesterases, it is recalled that adenosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) is a ubiquitous intracellular second messenger, which is intermediate between a first messenger (hormone, neurotransmitter or autacoid) and the functional responses of the cell: the first messenger stimulates the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of cAMP; depending on the cells under consideration, the cAMP then becomes involved in a great many functions: metabolic, contractile or secretory.
The effects of cAMP come to an end when it is degraded by cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases, intracellular enzymes which catalyze its hydrolysis into inactive adenosine 5'-monophosphate.
In mammals, it is possible to distinguish at least five major classes of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) numbered from 1 to 5 according to their structure, their kinetic behavior, their substrate specificity or their sensitivity to effectors (Beavo J. A. et al. (1990) Trends Pharmacol. Sci. 11, 150-155. Beavo J. A. et al. (1994) Molecular Pharmacol. 46, 399-405). The PDEs 4 are specific for cAMP.
Nonspecific phosphodiesterase inhibitor compounds are known, these inhibiting several classes of enzymes. This is the case for certain methylxanthines such as theophylline. These compounds have a low therapeutic index, in particular on account of their action on types of PDE present in cells other than the target cells. In contrast, certain classes of PDE can be selectively inhibited by various pharmacological agents: hydrolysis of the cyclic nucleotides is slowed down and thus their concentration increases only in those cells containing the type of PDE which is sensitive to the inhibitor.
Particular interest is evident for phosphodiesterases 4 (PDEs 4), which have been identified in many tissues including the central nervous system, the heart, vascular endothelium, vascular smooth muscle and that of the airways and the myeloid and lymphoid lines.
An increase in cAMP in the cells involved in inflammation inhibits their activation: inhibition of the synthesis and of the release of mediators at the level of mastocytes, monocytes, eosinophil and basophil polymorphonuclear leukocytes, inhibition of chemotaxis and of the degranulation of neutrophil and eosinophil polymorphonuclear leukocytes and inhibition of lymphocyte division and differentiation.
Cytokines, in particular TNF and interleukins, produced by various types of leukocyte such as T lymphocytes and eosinophil polymorphonuclear leukocytes, play an important role in the triggering of inflammatory manifestations, in particular in response to stimulation by an allergen in the respiratory pathways.
Moreover, cAMP reduces the tonus of smooth muscle fibers in the airways; PDE 4 inhibitors bring about bronchial relaxation.
It is thus possible to expect that PDE 4-selective inhibitors will possess a therapeutic activity as antiinflammatory, antiallergic and bronchodilatory medicinal products, and in the treatment of asthma, in which infiltration of the airways by inflammatory cells and bronchoconstriction are observed.
Theophylline has been very widely used for a long time in the treatment of asthma, and, although its mechanism of action is complex, the inhibition of PDE contributes to its action, but also to certain undesirable effects such as nausea and headaches.
In recent years, extensive research has been carried out in order to obtain and develop powerful PDE 4 inhibitors. This proves to be difficult on account of the fact that many potential PDE 4 inhibitors are not devoid of activity on the phosphodiesterases of other classes.
At present, the lack of selectivity of PDE 4 inhibitors thus represents a considerable problem, given the extent of the functions regulated by cAMP, the said problem still needing to be considered as poorly resolved or unresolved. There is thus a need for powerful and selective PDE 4 inhibitors, that is to say inhibitors which have no action with respect to the PDEs belonging to other classes.
Thus, rolipram (INN), a pyrrolidone derivative first synthesized in 1975, is considered to be representative of PDE 4-specific inhibitors. Many compounds related to rolipram have been synthesized with a view to their use as PDE 4 inhibitors. In vitro, rolipram inhibits the activity of inflammatory cells in rodents: inhibition of the synthesis of mediators by mastocytes, eosinophil and basophil polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes; inhibition of chemotaxis and of the degranulation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Rolipram has been proposed as an antidepressant; however, its use is accompanied by undesirable effects of the type involving nausea and vomiting.

Diazepinoindoles as phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors


System and method for automatic fault-testing of a logic block and the interfaces of macros with logic gates inside a chip, using an at-speed logic-BIST internal to the chip. Following an initialization of internal storage elements, a set of test signals are generated and processed by the logic block. The output of the logic block is accumulated into a signature and compared to a reference signature to detect faults. Testing can be performed on an ATE (Automatic Test Equipment) using a simple test vector, or can be performed by a field engineer on the actual board comprising the chip.

The present invention relates generally to hardware testing and, more particularly, to automatic at-speed fault-testing of logic blocks using logic-BIST (Built-In Self Test) circuits.
Testing of digital logic blocks is commonly performed using automatic testing equipment (ATE) and scan-chains in the digital logic block. Although this approach works, the tests are performed at speeds that are slower than the intended operational speed of the digital logic block under test. Thus, logic which fails at-speed or at desired speeds but passes at low speeds is not detected. In addition, such tests generally do not test the macros interface to the digital logic. Hence, since the interfaces between macros and logic are generally tested individually, failures of the connectivity may not be detected. Furthermore, a complex ATE interface does not allow for convenient testing of a chip in the field by a field engineer.
Accordingly, a system and method is needed for at-speed testing of an entire logic block using a simple ATE interface.

Automatic fault-testing of logic blocks using internal at-speed logic-BIST


A device to regulate current produced by a permanent magnet machine responsive to a plurality of phase current signals. The motor produces torque for application on a shaft. A processing and drive circuit responsive to a direct current command signal and a quadrature current command signal produces phase current signals for input to the motor. A command circuit responsive to the phase current signals, an angular position of said shaft, and a voltage input command signal to produce a direct current error signal and a quadrature current error signal. A control circuit responsive to the direct and quadrature current error signals produces the direct voltage signal command and the quadrature voltage signal command. The control circuit has a direct and quadrature proportional gain, integrator and clamp circuits. An algorithm produces limited or clamped voltage modulation index signals to obtain maximum efficiency and maximum torque per ampere in the speed range. The algorithm ensures that the current regulator does not run out of voltage by limiting the voltage vector to the achievable voltage vector range that provides maximum torque per ampere and maximum efficiency.

1. Technical Field
The present invention is directed generally to electromechanical machines, and, in particular, to a system and a method for current regulation in the field-weakening operation of permanent magnetic (PM) machines.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the control of inverter-driven permanent magnet (PM) machines, field-weakening is often used to lower the inverter voltage rating for a given application. That is, without field-weakening the inverter manufacturer would have to use components rated to handle higher levels of voltage for that given application. This would undesirably add incremental costs to the drive system. Field-weakening may be accomplished by configuring the machine windings to provide a greater torque per amp ratio, and thus achieve a lower base speed for a given torque load. During high speed operation, the phase current may be applied to the machine windings in advance of the phase electromotive force. To control the electromotive force, the d-axis current is decreased inversely with speed.
Above the base speed of the machine, i.e., where the line-to-line electromotive force voltage due to the magnets has become greater or equal to the source voltage, a field-weakening current is applied to the machine in order to maintain torque. The flux created by this current is in opposition to the rotor flux, and thus reduces the effective electromotive force seen by the inverter. It should be stressed that this current should be carefully regulated to a target value set by the commanded torque and rotor speed. Failure to control the current to an appropriate value will likely result in the application of excessive voltage to the inverter, which is undesirable.
It is known to provide a flux weakening algorithm by the use of a number of look-up tables to produce the reference Q-axis and D-axis currents. However, the use of look-up tables requires the creation of numerous and cumbersome data structures within the look-up tables themselves to handle all possible situations in the system and its environment.
As further background, as alluded to, operation in the field-weakening region of PM machines may involve commanding the required D-axis current (Ids) as a function of speed. This can be implemented as a look-up (noted above) or as a mathematical function. Another disadvantage, however, of this approach is that if the magnetic characteristics of the PM machine change due to rotor temperature variations and/or the DC-link voltage change, the look-up table or function may no longer be valid.
This may cause the current regulator to exceed the voltage limit, which results in the loss of machine control, which is undesirable.
Accordingly, there is a need for a control system that minimizes or eliminates one or more of the above-mentioned shortcomings.

System and method for clamp current regulation in field-weakening operation of permanent magnet (PM) machines


A scroll compressor may include a casing configured to receive a rotation shaft and a driving unit; a compression unit provided with a frame configured to rotatably support the rotation shaft, a first scroll fixed to the casing, and a second scroll configured to be connected to the rotation shaft and engaged with the first scroll. An oldham ring is provided with a plurality of key portions to guide the second scroll to perform an orbiting movement, wherein at least one of the frame, the first scroll, and the second scroll includes a respective key groove formed to receive a respective key portion; and a respective wear-resistant member mounted to cover an inner surface of the respective key groove in contact with the respective key portion.

In general, compressors for performing the role of compressing refrigerant in automotive air-conditioning systems have been developed in various forms, and in recent years, the development of electromotive compressors electrically driven using a motor have been actively carried out according to the trend of using electrical auto parts.
A scroll compression method suitable for a high compression ratio operation is mainly applied to electromotive compressors. Such a scroll compressor is provided with a motor unit composed of a rotary motor inside an enclosed casing, and a compression unit composed of a fixed scroll and an orbiting scroll is provided on one side of the motor unit. Furthermore, the motor unit and the compression unit are connected to each other by a rotation shaft to transmit a rotational force of the motor unit to the compression unit. A rotational force transmitted to the compression unit causes the orbiting scroll to perform an orbiting movement with respect to the fixed scroll to form a pair of two compression chambers comprising a suction chamber and an intermediate pressure chamber, and a discharge chamber so that refrigerant is sucked into both the compression chambers, respectively, and compressed and discharged simultaneously.
In the scroll compressor, an orbiting movement of the orbiting scroll with respect to the fixed scroll is implemented by the rotation shaft eccentrically coupled to an orbiting scroll to transmit a rotational force, and an oldham ring guiding an orbiting movement while preventing the rotation of the orbiting scroll.
Typically, the oldham ring is mounted such that a key portion protruded to one side is inserted into a key groove of the orbiting scroll, and a key portion protruded to the other side is inserted into a key groove of the fixed scroll (or frame). Furthermore, when an eccentric rotational force is transmitted to the orbiting scroll by the rotation shaft, the key portion is operated to slide in the key groove to prevent the rotation of the orbiting scroll.
In other words, since the key portion and the key groove are operated while being slid in contact with each other, the wear of the contact surfaces during the continuous operation of the scroll compressor may be a problem. In particular, a scroll, a frame or an oldham ring may be typically made of aluminum or the like in order to lighten the weight, but the contact surfaces of the same material are susceptible to friction, which may lower reliability.
As a result, there has been prior art for improving abrasion resistance through material selection and surface treatment of the oldham ring. However, the selection of high-strength materials and additional surface treatment could result in increased weight and increased manufacturing cost, and the like of the oldham ring.
Here, Patent Document 1 of the prior art discloses a structure in which a surface having a high abrasion resistance is treated with a coating or the like, and moreover, the material of the key portion is made of a material having a higher strength than that of the ring portion. However, it may cause problems such as increased cost of adding a surface coating process or adopting different materials, securing of strength at the time of coupling between the key portion and the ring portion of different materials, and the like.
Accordingly, it is desired to derive a design capable of alleviating wear between the oldham ring and the scroll structure without increasing the manufacturing cost of the oldham ring itself, and in particular, it is preferable to derive a structure that can be easily mounted on a friction surface while using an oldham ring in the related art as it is.
(Patent Document 1) KR 10-1718045 (Registered on Mar. 14, 2017)

Scroll compressor with wear-resistant members


An analysis of radar signals, in particular of radar signals, which are received by a plurality of ULA antennas. By applying different beam formations to the radar signals of the individual ULA antennas, beamforming is used to compensate for dips in the gain.

In the automotive sector, radar sensors are increasingly being used for a greater number of tasks. For example, they supply data from the driving environment of a vehicle that a driving assistance system can analyze and further process. Moreover, radar sensors are vitally important, in particular in the field of automated driving as well. Especially decisive in this connection is the angular resolution, combined with high sensitivity, i.e., for a large positioning field.
To reduce computational outlay, antenna arrays having regularly arrayed antennas, what are generally referred to as Uniform Linear Arrays (ULA), can be used for such radar systems. An efficient beam formation can be realized here by a Fast Fourier Transform, FFT.
German Patent Application No. DE 10 2011 084 610 A1 describes an angularly resolving radar sensor for motor vehicles having an antenna that includes a plurality of antenna elements. Each antenna element is thereby switchable to one of a plurality of analysis channels and is coupled to an evaluation device to determine the angle of incidence of a received signal.

Apparatus and method for analyzing radar signals


A machine tool comprises a spindle that rotates about a spindle axis and that comprises a receptacle for toolholders. There is further provided a number of tool changers distributed around the spindle, the gripper arm of each tool changer carrying a toolholder that can be transferred, by means of the gripper arm on which it is mounted, between a magazine position spaced from the spindle above the receptacle, and a working position on the receptacle. The toolholders are arranged in their magazine position with their longitudinal axes extending at an angle relative to the spindle axis so that they point away from the spindle obliquely in downward direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a machine tool having a spindle that rotates about a spindle axis and that comprises a receptacle for toolholders, and a plurality of tool changers distributed around the spindle, the gripper arm of each tool changer carrying a toolholder that can be transferred, by means of the gripper arm on which it is mounted, between a magazine position located at a distance from the spindle above the receptacle, and a working position on the receptacle.
2. Related Prior Art
A machine tool of this kind is known from DE 38 29 105 A1.
In the case of the known machine tool a sleeve surrounding the spindle can be displaced relative to the longitudinal axis of the spindle. Mounted on the sleeve are a plurality of tool changers with gripper arms each of which terminated at its lower end by a gripper carrying a toolholder. By means of the gripper arms, and by displacing the sleeve, the toolholders can selectively be brought into a working position or transferred from the latter into the sleeve.
The gripper arms are part of a parallelogram suspension which ensures that the toolholders are held with their axes substantially in vertical direction during the swinging movement between the working position and a magazine position. In the magazine position, the gripper arms are pivoted vertically upward so that the toolholders occupy a position above the receptacle, in the area of the sleeve, with the tapers of the toolholders accommodated in cavities formed in a radial projection on the sleeve. The cavities serve as space to receive the toolholder and to protect them from metal chips that may fly around in the working space of the known machine tool. It is ensured in this way that during a machining operation no metal chips can get onto the toolholders that are to be used next, and may stick to them because of the drilling fluid attaching to them, which otherwise could result in problems when changing-in and clamping the respective toolholder.
Further, with the known machine tool each gripper arm is provided with a cover serving to close the cavity when the arm is pivoted into its working position and the toolholder, consequently, is removed from the cavity. This prevents any metal chips from entering the cavity associated to that toolholder while the latter is in its working position.
The design of the grippers of the known machine tools is such that the toolholders are rotatably seated in them so that the respective gripper can remain in engagement with the toolholder even when the latter is in its working position. The grippers, consequently, have quite considerable radial dimensions.
It is a disadvantage of the known machine tool, on the one hand, that the circumferential space requirement is relatively large, due to the before-mentioned gripper dimensions, so that the machine tool may have considerable lateral dimensions in the presence of a given number of toolholders.
On the other hand, it is a disadvantage that the tool changer must perform a relatively long stroke in order to ensure that during transfer from the working position to the magazine position the tools, being aligned with their axes in vertical direction, are moved a sufficient length in upward direction so that in their magazine position they will not interfere with the machining operations that are carried out with the tool mounted in the spindle. This relatively long stroke is achieved by the fact that the parallelogram suspension comprises two relatively long bars which, in the magazine position, extend substantially transversely to the spindle axis, while in the working position they extend substantially in parallel to the spindle axis. The longer these bars, the longer is the stroke that can be achieved by pivoting the bars by approximately 90.degree. during the tool-changing operation.
This design leads to the condition that the known machine tool not only has a considerable width, but also requires a considerable height in order to permit the tool change to take place without interfering with the work flow.


This present disclosure relates to an atomic layer etching method for graphene, including adsorbing reactive radicals onto a surface of the graphene and irradiating an energy source to the graphene on which the reactive radicals are adsorbed.

1. Field
The various embodiments described herein pertain generally to an atomic layer etching method for graphene, including adsorbing reactive radicals onto a surface of the graphene and irradiating an energy source to the graphene on which the reactive radicals are adsorbed.
2. Description of Related Art
Exfoliated graphene has excellent physical and electrical characteristics. Due to these advantages, research on graphene has been actively conducted. In conventional methods of producing an exfoliated graphene, however, adjustment and positioning of graphene layers have been impossible. Thus, the exfoliated graphene produced by conventional methods has a problem in that it is less suitable to be commercialized for various purposes.
In this regard, recently, graphene produced by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method is attracting attention. The graphene produced by the CVD method has physical and electrical characteristics very similar to those of the exfoliated graphene produced by conventional methods and can be deposited on a wafer scale. Thus, research for the purposes of applying the graphene produced by the CVD method to a channel device or the like has been conducted in various ways.
However, in case of a device having only a channel portion of which is formed of graphene produced by the CVD method or the like, there may occur a contact failure between the graphene of the channel portion and a metal of source/drain electrodes. A metal [Au (25 nm)/Ti (10 nm)] electrode usually used as the source/drain electrodes in recent days has a very high contact resistance ranging from about 450Ω to about 800Ω against the graphene. Thus, degradation of a device characteristic may be caused. As an example of this conventional technique, Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2012-0048241 titled "Semiconductor device including graphene and manufacturing method thereof" describes a device including metal source/drain electrodes and a graphene channel.
Meanwhile, in order to solve the problems of the conventional methods of producing an exfoliated graphene, various new methods for etching an atomic layer of graphene have been under development. By way of example, an atomic layer etching method for graphene using HeIM (Helium Ion beam Microscopy), and an atomic layer etching method for graphene using O2 plasma, etc., have been reported. According to these atomic layer etching methods for graphene, however, adjusting a graphene layer is not easy. Particularly, the atomic layer etching method for graphene using O2 plasma has a drawback in that oxygen may remain at the edge of the graphene after the graphene is etched, thus affecting characteristics of the graphene.

Method for etching atomic layer of graphene

Research & Business Foundation Sungkyunkwan University


A table tennis robot system characterized in that all the motion control mechanisms of the robot are digitally controlled and fully user programmable and the robot can be positioned in a wide space range of the machine side of the playing field using a unique design of ball catching and recycling net (MB).

For decades, types of table tennis robots have been invented, patented, and manufactured These devices sequentially project table tennis balls from the machine side of the playing table (or playing court) to the top of the table on the players side at various time intervals and trajectories with different ball flying speeds and ball spinning rates for the player to practice As some examples, attention is directed to the following patents (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,794,011, 4,116,438, 4,325,351, 4,917,380, 4,844,458, 5,009,421, 5,335,9054, 5,383,658, 5,485,995, 5,533,722, 6,186,132, 6,202,236, 6,371,872, 6,604,517, Chinese Patents Nos. 02217946, 03218645, 87214545, 93213663, 93244555, 94217832, 97240522, 98230401, 99207740)

Digitally controlled, user programmable and field relocatable table tennis robot


A hydraulic switch body (1) has a metal plate (10) and a resin main portion (20) molded on a first surface (13) of the metal plate (10). A hydraulic switch (2) and busbar circuits (30) are mounted in recesses (21) of the main portion (20). Grooves (22) connect the recesses (21) and the outer peripheral edge of the main portion (20) to release a tensile stress created at the outer surface (14) of the main portion (20) due to a difference between shrinkage ratios of resin and metal during the resin molding to prevent the hydraulic switch body (1) from warping. The lengths of the grooves (22) are shortened by using the recess portions (21). Therefore, the grooves (22) are less likely to hinder the arrangement of other structural parts.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a plate fitted resin molded article and to a molding method therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H08-300401 discloses an integral article obtained by molding a resin around at least partly around a metal plate. The resin and the metal both shrink when the resin cools and solidifies. However, the shrinkage ratios of the metal and the resin differ. As a result, the integral metal/resin article may warp during cooling. Warping presents particular problems if this technology is applied to an elongated object.
Thought has been given to forming a groove over the entire width of a shorter side of the molded article to prevent warping. However, the groove restricts the placement of other parts and structures, thereby impairing a degree of freedom of design.
The present invention was developed in view of the above problem, and an object thereof is to eliminate a problem of warping while increasing a degree of freedom of arrangement.

Plate fitted resin molded article and method of molding it


A fiber optic communication system is provided that includes a light source adapted to emit a system optical signal and an electrical signal source adapted to provide a data input electrical signal. Additionally, the fiber optic communication system includes a feed forward photonic modulation circuit adapted to receive the data input electrical signal and the system optical signal and output a final modulated optical signal substantially free from residual error.

At least some links within communication systems of a mobile platform, such as an aircraft, bus, ship or train, transmit signals at very high frequencies, e.g. greater than 1 GHz. Signals at such high frequencies can not be digitally sampled and therefore must be transmitted as an analog signal. Additionally, these high frequency signals often require a very high degree of transmission accuracy between various points of the mobile platform. For example, electronic warfare systems of an aircraft require a high degree of transmission accuracy. Currently, coaxial cable is typically used to provide such communication links. However, coaxial cable is costly and very heavy and thus adds production costs and weight to the mobile platform. To reduce this cost and weight, attempts have been made to incorporate fiber optic links in some known mobile platform communications systems. To date, implementation of fiber optics has been impeded by the inability to maintain linearity, i.e. transmission accuracy, between the high frequency electrical signal input to the communication system and the optical signal output from the communication system. That is, fiber optic communication systems within the mobile platform are generally not capable of converting such high frequency electrical signals to optical signals without degradation of the signal.
More specifically, in order to modulate a laser source at high frequencies, an external modulator is generally employed, for example a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. When using a modulation device, such as a Mach-Zehnder interferometer, the optical signal is modulated across one arm of the interferometer, thereby delaying the phase of the optical signal through that arm with respect to the other arm of the interferometer. As a result of the constructive or destructive interference, the optical signal output from the interferometer is amplitude modulated. However, the modulation of optical signals at high frequencies within a broad range of amplitudes is generally non-linear, i.e. the optical signals are generally distorted with respect to the electrical signal used to modulate the optical signal.
Therefore, it would be desirable to employ a fiber optic communication system within a mobile platform, wherein optical signals can be modulated within a wide range of frequencies and amplitudes without distortion. Thus, there would be very little degradation or distortion of the optical signals with respect to the electrical signal use to modulate the optical signal. Employing such fiber optics in certain mobile platform communication systems would save costs and considerably reduce the payload of the mobile platform.


Compositions for accurately assaying a glycated protein by: 1) avoiding effects of globulin and ascorbic acid components, 2) siabilizing proteases and at least enzymes acting on glycated amino acids; 3) accurately assaying albumin; and 4) assaying glycated albumin while avoiding the effects of glycated hemoglobin, and an assay method are provided. Thus, the contents of a glycated protein and glycated albumin can be more accurately determined.

Assaying glycated proteins is very important in diagnosing and controlling diabetes. Glycated hemoglobin (GHb) that reflects an average blood glucose value in the past about 1 to 2 months, glycated albumin (GA) that reflects an average blood glucose value in the past about two weeks, fructosamine (FRA) which generally indicates glycated proteins exhibiting reduction capability in blood serum, and the like are measured every day. GHb is a glycated product of hemoglobin, i.e., the α-amino group of N-terminal valine on the β-chain of hemoglobin is glycated. GA and FRA are glycated products of albumin and blood serum protein respectively, i.e. the ε-amino group on a lysine residue of albumin or blood serum protein is glycated.
An enzymatic method is given as a simple, easy, and inexpensive method for accurately assaying glycated proteins. Japanese Patent Applications Laid-open No. 6-46846, No. 5-192193, No. 2-195900, and No. 2-195899, and International Patent Application Publication Number WO 98/48043, and WO 97/13872 are given as examples of documents disclosing the enzymatic method.
However, to provide a composition for precisely assaying glycated proteins, it is essential 1) to avoid the effect of globulin components and ascorbic acid and 2) to stabilize protease, at least the enzyme that reacts with glycated amino acids. In addition, in the case where the glycated protein is a glycated albumin, it is important 3) to precisely assay albumin and 4) to avoid the effect of glycated hemoglobin.
1) Conventional Methods for Avoiding the Effect of Globulin Components and Ascorbic Acid
It is known that the amount of globulin proteins of a diabetic changes and affects the value of FRA [Rodrigues, S. et al., Clin. Chem. 35: 134-138 (1989)]. The present inventors have developed a method of selectively inhibiting the action of a protease on globulin components by adding a specific metal ion and a protein A or G to a protease reaction solution (Japanese Patent Application No. 11-231259). Glycated proteins can be assayed without being affected by globulin components using this method of the present invention. As a globulin-selective protease inhibitor used in the method, metals, protein A, and protein G are mentioned. Among the metals specified in this patent application, highly effective metals are heavy metals that may have environmental safety problems. Less effective metals may make a reagent solution turbid if combined with other reagents (or compositions). In addition, protein A and protein G are very expensive reagents.
As a method for selectively adsorbing globulin in blood, a blood-treating agent adsorbing endotoxins and globulin in blood utilizing the principle of chromatography and a vinyl copolymer introduced a ligand having a steroid skeleton is known (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 61-94663). However, the results shown in Table 1 of Examples of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 61-94663 indicate that only α1-globulin and α2-globulin have been confirmed to be adsorbed, but γ-globulin that makes up 70% or more of globulin components was not adsorbed. Supposing that γ-globulin was adsorbed, the capability of the blood-treating agent of inhibiting protease activity on γ-globulin cannot be anticipated.
Occasions of a large amount of ascorbic acid intake as a supplement are increasing in recent years. Clinical samples containing ascorbic acid at a high concentration are also increasing. Ascorbic acid induces a variety of effects on clinical examinations due to the strong reducing action.
As a method for obviating the effects of ascorbic acid, a method of eliminating the ascorbic acid in samples chemically or enzymatically using an ascorbic acid oxidase has been known. When glycated amino acids produced by fragmenting glycated proteins with a protease are assayed using an enzyme which reacts at least with a glycated amino acid, a method of previously eliminating ascorbic acid using an ascorbic acid oxidase (ASOx) at the time of reaction with a protease is preferable in view of a small effect on the coloring system.
As an example of eliminating ascorbic acid in samples using ASOx in the presence of a protease, an experiment of reacting ASOx with a sample solution in a 2-[4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethane sulfonic acid (HEPES) buffer solution at pH 8.0 has been reported (Clinical Chemistry, 27: 99-106, 1998). The report describes that the ascorbic acid treating capability did not change after cold storage for two weeks.
However, the investigation made by the present inventors has revealed that when a HEPES buffer solution at pH 8.0, a protease, and ASOx are present, the ascorbic acid treating capability has been lost almost entirely in one day when stored at 37° C. or in two weeks when stored at 10° C.
2) Prior Art for Stabilizing Proteases and Enzymes Reacting at Least with a Glycated Amino Acid
A solution of protease at an inconceivably high concentration of a level which cannot be seen in another field such as the food industry is used in clinical assay of glycated proteins. Proteases are known to self-digest in an aqueous solution. It is difficult to assume that a protease remains stable in an aqueous solution at such a high concentration. Therefore, proteases used for a composition for assaying glycated proteins have been supplied as a freeze dry product.
There has been no composition for assaying glycated proteins nor a method of assaying glycated proteins in which a protease is stabilized in a liquid state storable for a long period of time. There has also been no composition for assaying glycated proteins nor a method of assaying glycated proteins in which the enzyme reacting at least with a glycated amino acid was stabilized in a liquid state storable for a long period of time.
3) Prior Art Relating to a Method for Precisely Assaying Albumin
Anti-albumin antibody immunization and a dying method using bromocresol green (BCG), bromocresol purple (BCP), or the like are given as the method for assaying albumin. The dying method is widely used in everyday inspections due to the simple procedure and low cost. Although the effect of BCG on globulin component has been confirmed, BCG has disadvantages of low specificity to albumin.
On the other hand, BCP is easily affected by coexisting substances in spite of the high specificity to albumin. In particular, BCP is affected by SH compounds giving rise to a problem of variation in the assay results according to oxidation-reduction conditions of albumin. As a means for solving this problem, a method of reacting BCP in the presence of a protein denaturing agent and/or an SH reagent has been proposed (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 10-232233) However, there have been no examples on the study of the reactivity of BCP to GA and non-glycated albumin (NGA).
4) Prior Art for Avoiding the Effect of Glycated Hemoglobin
As mentioned above, GA is derived from albumin by glycation of the ε-amino group, whereas GHb is obtained by glycating α-amino group of N-terminal valine on the β-chain of hemoglobin. Therefore, in case GA is applied as measuring object it is desirable to determine only amino acids in which the ε-amino group has been glycated.
Although several enzymes exhibiting high specificity to ε-amino group but no action on glycated valine has been known (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 11-243950), none of them are supplied at a sufficiently low cost for the enzymes to be used in practice. Of these enzymes, a fructosyl amino acid oxidase (FOD) derived from Fusarium oxysporm possesses high reactivity and is useful. The inventors have reported separately the gene of FOD (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 10-201473). Although the process using the gene exhibits high productivity and can produce FOD at a low cost, the reactivity with glycated valine of which the α amino group has been glycated confirmed by the inventors does not exhibit satisfactory specificity.


In a process for producing a thermoplastic resin by emulsion polymerization using a conjugated diene rubber, an aromatic vinyl compound and a vinyl cyanide compound, and by successive flocculation and direct pelletizing, the direct pelletizing is effected in the presence of a phenolic compound represented by ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.4 are each hydrogen or methyl, and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each an alkyl of 1 to 9 carbon atoms. The use of the phenolic compound is effective to prevent the resin from thermal deterioration during the direct pelletizing, thereby producing the thermoplastic resin excellent in properties such as impact resistance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for producing a thermoplastic resin by means of emulsion polymerization using a conjugated diene rubber, an aromatic vinyl compound and a vinyl cyanide compound, followed by flocculation and subsequent direct pelletizing. More particularly, the invention relates to a process for producing a thermoplastic resin having improved impact resistance by adopting the direct pelletizing to omit a drying step which causes oxidation deterioration of the resin, and further by effecting the direct pelletizing in the presence of a particular phenolic compound to prevent the resin from thermal deterioration in the absence of oxygen.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, ABS resins are known to be graft polymers prepared by polymerizing an aromatic vinyl compound and a vinyl cyanide compound in the presence of a conjugated diene rubber or to be the mixtures of such graft polymer further blended with a copolymer of an aromatic vinyl compound and a vinyl cyanide compound. Because they have excellent properties in processability, mechanical strength, gloss, chemical resistance and so forth, they are widely used in many fields today. In recent years, for the purpose of imparting heat resistance to the resins, there have been some attempts for improvements such that a part of the aromatic vinyl compound is replaced with an unsaturated carboxylic acid alkyl ester compound or an imide compound.
The graft polymers are known to be produced by emulsion polymerization, bulk polymerization, suspension polymerization, solution polymerization or the like, but the emulsion polymerization is widely adopted because of its contribution to the properties of the resin such as gloss and impact strength of the products, its safety in the process and so forth. The graft polymers obtained by the emulsion polymerization is, if necessary after being mixed with a copolymer of an aromatic vinyl compound and a vinyl cyanide compound, usually subjected to the steps of flocculation, solid-liquid separation and hot air drying to make powdery products.
However, this process has a problem in that the impact resistance which is characteristic of the ABS resins is not sufficiently revealed. This is because the graft polymers or the optionally added copolymers undergo oxidation deterioration during the hot air drying. In order to stabilize the resins during the hot air drying, there have heretofore been applied such methods as incorporating a phenolic antioxidant of various kinds, or incorporating one or more other antioxidants including sulfur-containing antioxidants, phosphorus-containing antioxidants and amine antioxidants in addition to the phenolic antioxidant.
For example, the phenolic antioxidants conventionally applied are n-octadecyl 3-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate, 4,4'-butylidenebis(3-methyl-6-t-butylphenol), 4,4'-thiobis(3-methyl-6-t-butylphenol), 2,2'-methylenebis(4-methyl-6-t-butylphenol), a formalin condensation product of nonylated para-cresol, 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-methylphenyl and the like. The sulfur-containing antioxidants conventionally applied are pentaerythrityl tetrakis(3-laurylthiopropionate), dilauryl 3,3'-thiodipropionate, dimyristyl 3,3'-thiodipropionate, distearyl 3,3'-thiodipropionate, lauryl stearyl 3,3'-thiodipropionate and the like. The phosphorus-containing antioxidants conventionally applied are tris(nonylphenyl) phosphite and the like.
Although the application of such antioxidants considerably improves the stability of the resins during the hot air drying, it has still some problems in that the ABS resins after drying become discolored, and further in that the resins is not necessarily satisfactory for producing shaped articles of high impact resistance. As a method for resolving such problems, there has been proposed a direct pelletizing process which is conducted after flocculation by eliminating the hot air drying step which causes severe oxidation deterioration to the resin. However, since the aforementioned phenolic antioxidants, phosphorus-containing antioxidants, sulfur-containing antioxidants, amine antioxidants or the like are scarcely effective to the thermal deterioration which occurs in the absence of oxygen during the direct pelletizing, for example, inside an extruder, the direct pelletizing still has a problem in that it hardly controls the failure of the impact resistance.

Production of thermoplastic resin having high impact resistance

Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited and Sumitomo Dow Limited


A system comprised of a one or more rapidly flashing thermal image beacons, a plurality of sensors, a control subsystem, input means, and a power source. Each beacon being comprised of a precision machined and polished parabolic or elliptical mirror. A resistive heating element is nominally positioned at the mirror focal point. The heating element is mounted on a carriage which can be moved backwards and forwards by a microprocessor-controlled mechanism. The resulting oscillatory action creates a rapidly changing coded flashing thermal image.

This invention relates to thermal identification, and more particularly, to a thermal image identification marker utilizing infrared (IR) energy.
The inability of reconnaissance to determine friend or foe in low light or total darkness is a major failing in battlefield and law enforcement operations. The worst effect is that fratricide (the inadvertent killing of friendly forces by other friendly forces) occurs, and at best is a waste of time and resources attempting to confirm identification. Accurate intelligence allows deployment effort to be maximized and focused.
Present marking and identification systems are limited to either Near IR range (1010 nano meters or less) beacons for use with night vision glasses or thermal panel identification marking equipment. Present thermal panel identification marking equipment is passive and only provides identification by temperature or emissivity differences between adjacent areas and the marking equipment. Passive marking equipment is easily masked by surrounding operations, and is difficult to differentiate from adjacent targets.
There is a need to provide a thermal image, which can change state rapidly so as to provide a clear signal in the heat transmission of the spectrum, normally within the range of 2-12 micrometers.
The thermal image can be achieved by means of a system with a heat source than can be made to rotate and produce a flash of heat at every rotation relative to a point of view with the speed of rotation determining the flash repetition rate. However, this type of system has the disadvantage of being omni-directional and inefficient. The image can also be confused by other nearby heat sources producing a pulsating heat image output.
A thermal image, as produced by a heat source, cannot be made to switch on and off rapidly. There is always a time lag created by heating and cooling cycles. In addition, ambient temperature has an effect. It is difficult to control power input to prevent an additional visual input.


A data path in a memory device is configured by selecting a data path configuration configured to at least partially maintain data bit order between the memory device and a chip carrier. The memory data path is arranged based on the data path configuration for memory operations where maintaining data bit order between the memory device and the chip carrier is required.

Maintaining data bit order between a memory device such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM) or Flash device and the package to which the memory device is mounted has been irrelevant until recently. That is, the ordering of data within a memory device may be different from the order in which the data is read from or written to the package without compromising data integrity. For example, the most significant data bit at the package may not correspond to the most significant data bit at the DRAM device and vice-versa. As such, data bit order between a memory device and package is conventionally lost during memory operations such as reads and writes. The data input/output (I/O) layout or 'footprint' of a memory device may be selected independent of the data I/O layout of a package when data bit order is not required, thus allowing independent optimization of memory and package data I/O layouts.
Some new types of memory operations require data bit order to be preserved as data propagates between a package and memory device. One such memory operation is a DRAM register readout operation. During a register readout operation, data is read from a register included in a DRAM device and propagates through a package to another device for analysis. The register contains one or more parameters of interest written into the register by the DRAM device. The state of each parameter is indicated by one or more particular register bits. Accordingly, data bit order must be preserved as data propagates between a package and DRAM device during a register readout memory operation. Otherwise, information read from the register is useless.
One type of register readout memory operation is the status register read (SRR) method proposed by the JEDEC Solid State Technology Association (ballot number JC-42.3-05-357). During an SRR operation, one or more registers in a DRAM device are read. The proposed SRR register is at least 16 bits in width. SRR bits <3:0> indicate device ID, bits <7:4> indicate manufacturer's revision number, bits <10:8> indicate refresh rate, bit <11> indicates device width, bit <12> indicates device type, and bits <15:13> indicate device density. Accordingly, data bit order must be maintained between a DRAM device and package during an SRR memory operation. That is, the nth bit read from the SRR register must correspond to the nth data bit at the package, the n-1 SRR register bit must correspond to the n-1 package data bit, etc.
DRAM-to-package data bit ordering is conventionally forced upon the package. That is, the package data I/O layout must mate with the DRAM data I/O layout in a manner that maintains data bit order between the package and DRAM device. Electrical performance of the package is degraded and cost increases when data bit ordering constraints are placed on the package. For example, many signals may undesirably cross paths in the package, resulting in noise. Wiring traces may be longer than otherwise necessary when data bit ordering is a concern. Additional substrate levels may be required if data bit ordering cannot be maintained using fewer levels.
DRAM-to-package data bit ordering requirements become more difficult to accommodate in light of the various types of packages available for use with DRAM devices. For example, JEDEC specifies numerous types of DRAM packages such as multi-chip package (MCP), package-on-package (PoP), ball grid array (BGA), etc. Each package type has a different data I/O layout. That is, the mth data bit for a PoP package is not located at the same x-y coordinate as the mth data bit for an MCP package. Thus, a DRAM device that supports memory operations where data bit order is required must account for the data I/O layout of each type of package for which the DRAM device is compatible. Otherwise, DRAM-to-package data bit ordering requirements are forced upon each of the different package types.


An update synchronizer includes a two-stage synchronization unit for generating enable signals to select an output signal from among multiple input clock signals of a clock delay multiplexer. The enable signals originate from an asynchronous control signal having a phase different from that of the clock signals. A pre-synchronization logic stage transforms the asynchronous control signal into complementary synchronous control signals for use by the clock synchronization units; these synchronous control signals, in turn, are transformed into complementary selection enable signals having phases within the domains of the input clock signals. This ensures that transitions of the enable signals occur during the same clock period.

A bus is commonly employed to interconnect modules of a computer system and to transfer signals between them so that desired operations may be carried out by the system. One of the signals transferred between the modules is a clock signal used to control the timing of the desired operations. Specifically, the clock signal synchronizes the transmission and reception of data between the bus interface circuitry on each module.
For proper operation of the computer system, clock signals should arrive at the interface circuitry of the various modules at the same time; otherwise, reliable data transmission is not ensured. For example, if a module receiving data is "clocked" later than others, data placed on the bus by an earlier-clocked module may disappear before the receiving module has retrieved it from the bus. In order to avoid this problem, the data may be maintained on the bus long enough to ensure that even the late-clocked modules can receive it. However, the lack of simultaneity in reception of the clock signals at the modules, i.e., clock skew, directly impacts the performance of the synchronous computer. That is, the greater the skew, the longer the time required for each bus transfer in order to ensure proper reception of data transferred over the bus.
The amount of clock skew introduced into a computer system is a direct function of the variations in propagation delays among clock receiver chips of the system. These chips typically receive the clock signals and buffer, i.e., amplify, them. However, buffering of low-level signals with semiconductor chips to develop high-level digital pulse signals is very susceptible to propagation delay variations due to process, voltage, temperature and loading (PVTL) variations. Differences in propagation delay between clock "buffer" chips in a system directly translate into skew.
The problem of clock skew is addressed partly by employing a system clock source and distributing the clock signals to the respective modules. Distribution is accomplished in a manner such that the clock signals arrive essentially simultaneously at the modules. However, in each module the incoming clock signals must be processed, i.e., shaped, amplified and regenerated into multiple copies, before use by various circuits on the module. Such processing necessarily delays the signals; the delays can be expected to vary from module to module because of PVTL variations. These variations contribute significantly to clock skew, which must be reduced prior to further distribution of the clock signals.
One approach to reducing skew involves the use of an absolute delay regulator, which performs a precise measurement of the propagation delay of the clock signal in passing through the processing circuitry and then adjusts that delay so as to maintain a fixed-phase relationship between a non-processed input clock signal and the processed clock signal. An absolute delay regulator of this type is disclosed in patent application titled, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLOCK SKEW REDUCTION THROUGH ABSOLUTE DELAY REGULATION, by Watson, Jr. et al. filed herewith, which application is expressly incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.
Specifically, the absolute delay regulator employs two delay adjusting units configured such that one adjusts an input clock signal by adding a desired amount of delay, while the other compensates for previously-measured propagation delays encountered by the input signal. The regulator then selects the updated clock signal from the proper delay unit and distributes it to circuitry external to the regulator. Thereafter, the roles of the delay adjusting units are switched and the regulator selects the updated clock signal from the other delay unit.
Selection of the updated clock signals is controlled by logic external to the processing circuitry. The logic thus generates a control signal that is asynchronous to the clock signals processed by the delay regulator. Timing problems may result from the lack of synchronization between the control and clock signals. The present invention is directed to the synchronization of the asynchronous control signal to the clock signals; in addition, the present invention enables distribution of the updated clock signal without interruption of system operation.
Therefore, it is among the objects of this invention to provide an arrangement for selecting an updated output clock signal from among various input clock signals without interrupting computer system operation.
Another object of the invention is to synchronize the clock signals with an asynchronous control signal having a phase that is different from that of the clock signals.
Yet another object of the present invention is to redistribute multiple copies of an updated, low-skew clock signals to circuitry on a module without disrupting the continuous flow of output clock signals.


The invention relates to a device for setting at stand-by a bias source through a stand-by control signal, including an inverter with an active load controlled by the bias source. The inverter includes a first p-channel MOS transistor, whose source is connected to a positive terminal of the supply voltage of the bias source, whose drain constitutes the inverter output connected to a control input of the bias source, and whose gate constitutes the input of the inverter receiving the stand-by inducing control signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for setting a bias source at stand-by. It more specifically applies to a device using an inverter for controlling the deactivation of a bias source.
This application is related to an application U.S. Ser. No. 08,493,753 entitled DEVICE FOR SETTING A BIAS SOURCE AT PARTIAL STAND-BY AND CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR SUCH A SOURCE and to an application U.S. Ser. No. 08/493,851 entitled BIAS SOURCE CONTROL CIRCUIT, both filed on even date herewith, and incorporated herein by reference.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Stand-by devices are used to reduce power consumption in a circuit during periods of non-use by deactivating the bias source, without it being necessary to switch off the circuit. They are of particular interest for systems with an independent power supply, consisting of, for example, ordinary or rechargeable batteries, such as remote sensors. The role of such sensors is, for example, to transmit data to a control panel in the case of a change in the state of the sensor. In such devices, it is essential to limit the consumption of the sensor during periods when its state is stable. In order to do this, the bias source of its emission units is set at stand-by when the sensor is in a stable state for a predetermined time interval. This enables the consumption of the device to be reduced during these periods. The bias source is reactivated as soon as the stand-by control signal changes state, giving an indication that the sensor no longer is in a stable state.
Conventionally, a device for setting a bias source at stand-by is constituted by an inverter including two MOS transistors connected between two bias source supply terminals.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional stand-by device. A bias source 1 is supplied by a supply voltage between two terminals A and B at potentials Vcc and Vss, respectively.
The bias source may, as an example, be constituted by a .DELTA.Vbe/R current source. Its known detailed constitution is not shown. It will only be noted that it consists in, for example, two branches of transistors connected as current mirrors between supply voltage terminals A and B. Each branch is constituted by a bipolar NPN type transistor and two MOS transistors, with a first p-channel transistor and a second n-channel transistor, a biasing resistor being interposed between the bipolar transistor and the first MOS transistor of the second branch. An example of the bias source is described in the copending application filed on even date herewith and entitled DEVICE FOR SETTING A BIAS SOURCE AT PARTIAL STAND-BY AND CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR SUCH A SOURCE.
A control input E is constituted by the drains of the MOS transistors of the first branch. This control input E receives a stand-by control signal "Stand-by" through a CMOS inverter constituted by two MOS transistors, MP1, MN2. These two transistors MP1, MN2 are connected between the two supply terminals A, B. The source of p-channel transistor MP1 is connected to the positive supply terminal A at potential Vcc, whereas its drain is connected to the drain of n-channel transistor MN2. The source of transistor MN2 is connected to the negative supply terminal B at potential Vss. The two transistors MP1, MN2 receive a "Stand-by" control signal on their gates, whereas their drains constitute the inverter output provided to the control input E of bias source 1.
The inverter provides an interface between the rest of the circuit and bias source 1. It additionally inverts the state of the "Stand-by" control signal, which usually is a logic signal whose low state V- represents a request for setting bias source 1 at stand-by. When a request for stand-by is issued, that is, when the "Stand-by" signal passes from its high state to its low state, the signal is inverted by the output of the stand-by device, constituted by CMOS inverter MP1, MN2. Since the inverter output is provided to the drains of the MOS transistors of the first branch of bias source 1, this output will turn off the upper MOS transistor of the branch by bringing its gate to potential Vcc, minus the voltage drop in the series resistance of transistor MP1. At this point, bias source 1 is at stand-by.
The output S of such a bias source 1 is constituted by the drains of the MOS transistors of the second branch. Its purpose is to activate the biasing of circuit units in which bias source 1 is implanted by means of current sources 2 controlled by bias source 1. These current sources are, for example, constituted by n-channel MOS transistors connected as current mirrors with the lower n-channel MOS transistors of bias source 1.
FIGS. 2A-2B show two timing diagrams of the current Iinv which flows through the CMOS inverter in connection with an example of a "Stand-by" signal, as well as the control potential E of bias source 1.
As can be seen, current Iinv attains a peak at the switching of the "Stand-by" signal to a stand-by state. The peak drops following the "Stand-by" signal. Voltage E is effectively inverted to switch off bias source 1, but the current flowing through the inverter causes a consumption which diminishes the autonomy of the devices in which it is implanted. Indeed, if the peak amplitude of current Iinv can be set by selecting the surface of the CMOS transistors constituting the inverter, its duration depends on the "Stand-by" signal. As a matter of fact, it depends on the switching time of the "Stand-by" signal between its two logic states.
Moreover, as can be seen on the figure, the "Stand-by" control signal usually does not switch between the two bias source supply potentials Vcc and Vss, but between two intermediate potentials V+ and V-. In this case, there is a continuous conduction in the inverter during the stand-by state of bias source 1, which causes a significant residual consumption during bias source stand-by periods. It should be noted that the value of potential V+ must be higher than Vcc-Vgsp, where Vgsp is the gate-source threshold voltage of transistor MP1, or else bias source 1 will be continuously at stand-by.

Device for setting a bias source at stand-by


Devices for automatically feeding sample containers into and out of an analyzer. The device may include (1) a first station that receives and initiates transport of a sample container into an analyzer for analysis, (2) a second station where the sample container is handed off to a transporter that carries the sample container to and from an examination site inside the analyzer, and (3) a third station that collects the sample container after examination. The device also may include a singulation mechanism configured to separate a sample container from a stack of sample containers, and/or a stacking mechanism configured to add a sample container to a stack of sample containers. The singulation and stacking mechanisms may include lifter and latch components.

The invention relates to a device for high-throughput screening. More particularly, the invention relates to a device for automatically feeding microplates into an analyzer for high-throughput screening.
High-throughput screening instruments (or analyzers) are critical tools in the pharmaceutical research industry and in the process of discovering and developing new drugs. High-throughput analyzers are used to assess the efficacy of candidate drug compounds. Dramatic increases in the number of these compounds and in the number of targets against which they may be directed have created a bottleneck in the development of new drugs and a need for analyzers that can operate with a high degree of analytical flexibility and speed. Analytical flexibility and speed are necessary because high-throughput applications may involve repeating the same operations hundreds of thousands of times, greatly magnifying even the smallest shortcomings.
One way to increase speed and analytical flexibility is to house a variety of small-volume samples in a single container. Toward this end, high-density containers known as microplates have been developed. Microplates are generally rectangular containers that include a plurality of sample wells for holding a plurality of samples. Microplates enhance speed by reducing transit time between samples and reduce cost by employing small amounts of reagents. Unfortunately, microplates also have a number of shortcomings. For example, microplates do not conform to any exact standard, so that their size, shape, and construction materials may vary, depending on vendor or batch. In addition, microplates may vary from opaque to transparent, so that analytical approaches developed for some microplates will not work for other microplates. Moreover, preferred microplates may differ, depending on application. Furthermore, microplates may allot only a small volume for each sample, so that signal is reduced and sample is more easily spilled during transit.
Another way to increase speed and analytical flexibility is to use robots and other devices to automate high-throughput screening procedures. For example, robots permit analyzers to run 24 hours a day. Unfortunately, current robotic systems have a number of shortcomings. For example, robots commonly are used to deliver samples to an analyzer for analysis. However, the robot typically must make separate trips to drop off a sample container, such as a microplate, before analysis, to retrieve the sample container after analysis, and then to drop off another sample container for analysis. In this approach, the analyzer is idle during the time that the robot is retuning the analyzed microplate and bringing the new microplate. As time and the number of sample containers analyzed increases, the total down time due to robotic transport may become quite significant.
Another way to increase speed and analytical flexibility problem is to permit manual or automated feeding of sample containers. Unfortunately, switching between manual and automated feeding modes with current analyzers has a number of shortcomings. For example, automated microplate feeding systems may not permit manual feeding while the automated feeder is connected to the analyzer. To use such an analyzer in a manual mode, the automatic feeder must be disconnected.
The present invention addresses these and other shortcomings by providing a sample feeder that includes (1) a first station that receives and initiates transport of a sample container into an analyzer for analysis, (2) a second station where the sample container is handed off to a transporter that carries the sample container to and from an examination site inside the analyzer, and (3) a third station that collects the sample container after examination. The sample feeder may include a singulation mechanism positioned at the first station and configured to separate a sample container from a stack of sample containers for transport to the analyzer, and/or a stacking mechanism positioned at the third station and configured to add a sample container to a stack of sample containers. The sample feeder further may include a preprocessing bin positioned at the first station for holding a stack of sample containers to be analyzed, and/or a postprocessing bin positioned at the third station for holding a stack of sample containers after they have been analyzed.
The invention also provides a sample feeder that includes (1) a lifter configured to raise or lower a sample container relative to the bottom of a stack of sample containers, and (2) at least one latch having a pick portion, the latch being mounted so that the pick portion moves in and out of gaps between adjacently stacked sample containers in response to up and down movement of the lifter. The lifter and latch may be designed to remove a single sample container from the bottom of a stack of sample containers, or to add a single sample container to the bottom of a stack of sample containers. The latch may include a pick portion that is urged toward the bottom of the stack by gravity, a spring, or other mechanisms.
The invention also provides a sample feeder that includes (1) a lifter configured to impart a raising or lowering motion to a sample container to transfer the sample container to or from a stack of sample containers, and (2) a drive motor configured to generate a driving motion, wherein the lifter includes a cam operatively connected to the drive motor and configured to convert the driving motion into the raising or lowering motion.
The invention also provides an automated analyzer system that includes (1) an analyzer unit having an internal examination site, and (2) first and second external loading stations, the first external loading station configured to receive a sample container before analysis, the second external loading station configured to receive the sample container after analysis. The automated analyzer system may include a robot programmed to deliver a sample container to the first external loading station, and to retrieve a different sample container from the second loading station in the same trip.
The invention will be understood more readily after consideration of the drawings and the detailed description of the invention that follow.