Provided is a display apparatus that includes a panel assembly having a front panel and a rear panel coupled to the front panel and a plurality of discharge electrodes to which power is applied; a chassis base assembly that is combined with the panel assembly and on which a driving circuit unit is formed; a plurality of signal transmitting units that electrically connect the discharge electrodes and the driving circuit unit; and a silicon protection member which is formed on at least an end of each of the signal transmitting units to surround connection portions between the signal transmitting units and the discharge electrodes of the driving circuit unit, and comprises a silicon layer that seals the connection portions from the outside and an electromagnetic wave shielding material that is mixed in the silicon layer to block electromagnetic waves generated by the discharge electrodes or the driving circuit unit and has an electromagnetic wave shielding range from 1 to 200 dB. The display apparatus can prevent yellowing, and at the same time, can block electromagnetic waves.

1. Field of the Invention
The present embodiments relate to a display apparatus, and more particularly, to a display apparatus having a structure that can prevent electronic parts from being corroded at portions where a signal transmitting unit is electrical connected and can block electromagnetic waves.
2. Description of the Related Art
Display apparatuses can typically be categorized as emissive display devices and passive display devices.
Emissive display devices include cathode ray tubes (CRTs), plasma display panels (PDPs), electro luminescent displays, vacuum fluorescent displays, and light emitting diodes, and passive display devices include liquid crystal display (LCD) devices.
Of the devices, the PDP is a flat panel display device that displays desired numbers, letters, or graphics using visible light emitted from phosphor layers which are excited by ultraviolet rays generated during a gas discharge which is generated by a direct or alternate current voltage applied to a plurality of electrodes formed on a plurality of substrates after a discharge gas is sealed between the plurality of substrates.
A conventional PDP includes a panel assembly, a chassis base assembly combined with the panel assembly, and a case that accommodates the panel assembly and the chassis base assembly. Also, the conventional PDP includes discharge electrodes disposed in the panel assembly and a signal transmitting unit that transmits electrical signals to a driving circuit unit included in the chassis base assembly. An end of the signal transmitting unit is electrically connected to terminals of the discharge electrodes of the conventional PDP and another end of the signal transmitting unit is connected to circuit devices of the driving circuit unit.
However, the conductive material that constitutes the discharge electrodes of the conventional PDP often corrodes since the conductive material sulfurizes as time passes due to sulfur compounds in the air or exhaust gases. Furthermore, electromagnetic waves are generated during operation at the portion where the signal transmitting unit is connected to the discharge electrodes of the conventional PDP or to the driving circuit unit.


An insulated-gate field-effect transistor formed in a substrate of a first conductive type or in a well of the first conductive type formed in the substrate is provided. The transistor includes a channel region containing an impurity of the first conductive type; and a source-drain region containing an impurity of a second conductive type. The source-drain region further contains an impurity of the first conductive type; and a concentration of the impurity of the first conductive type contained in the source-drain region is greater than a concentration of the impurity of the first conductive type contained in the channel region but is less than a concentration of the impurity of the second conductive type contained in the source-drain region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an insulated gate field-effect transistor. More particularly, the present invention relates to an insulated gate field-effect transistor in which a short-channel effect is suppressed.
2. Description of the Related Art
The insulated-gate field-effect transistor has been mainly used for semiconductor integrated circuits. Recently, there has been a demand for a smaller and faster insulated-gate field-effect transistor. Accordingly, the transistor device has been miniaturized. However, when the miniaturization of the transistor device is accompanied by a shortened channel length, the short-channel effect may result. That is, as the transistor device is miniaturized, the ratio of the gate depletion layer charge to the total depletion layer charge is accordingly reduced, thereby causing problems such as lowering of the threshold voltage, deterioration of the subthreshold performance, or generation of a punchthrough.
Particularly, in an nMOS transistor, when crystal defects are generated in the impurity implanted region while forming a source-drain region (high concentration impurity region) by implanting arsenic .sup.75 As.sup.+ as an n-type impurity into a p-type substrate at a high concentration, boron .sup.11 B.sup.+ contained in the p-type substrate in the vicinity of the source-drain region is segregated in the crystal defects. As a result, in the vicinity of an n.sup.+ /p junction of the source-drain region, the concentration of B as a p-type impurity is reduced (i.e., the B-depletion phenomenon occurs). The depletion layer at the source-drain junction becomes larger due to the B-depletion phenomenon, whereby the short-channel effect may occur more easily. A commonly-employed method to avoid this effect is to increase the B concentration in the substrate in such a manner that the high concentration region surrounds an LDD (Lightly Doped Drain) region.
Hereinafter, a method for producing a conventional nMOS transistor will be described with reference to FIGS. 9A to 9H. FIGS. 9A to 9H are cross-sectional views illustrating the method for producing the conventional nMOS transistor.
First, as illustrated in FIG. 9A, a p well 92, a device separation film 93, and a gate insulating film 94 are formed on a silicon-substrate 91. Thereafter, a gate electrode 95 is formed by depositing polycrystalline silicon and then photo-etching the deposited layer.
Next, as illustrated in FIG. 9B, a thin insulating film 96 is formed by deposition so as to entirely cover the surface of the substrate. Then, an n-type LDD region 97 is formed by ion implantation of the .sup.75 As.sup.+ ion, for example, as an n-type impurity.
Subsequently, as illustrated in FIG. 9C, .sup.11 B.sup.+ as a p-type impurity is implanted at a large oblique angle of about 20 to 60.degree.. Thus, a p-type semiconductor region 98 is formed surrounding the n-type LDD region 97. The resulting p-type semiconductor region 98 has the same conductive type as that of the p well 92 (or the substrate 91) and has an increased p-type impurity concentration.
Then, as illustrated in FIG. 9D, a thick insulating film 99 is formed to be about 150 nm in thickness. Thereafter, as illustrated in FIG. 9E, a sidewall oxide film 100 is formed on each sidewall of the gate electrode 95 by anisotropic etching.
Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 9F, the .sup.75 As.sup.+ ion is implanted at a concentration (e.g., about 3.times.10.sup.15 cm.sup.-2 at an energy of about 80 keV) greater than that of the n-type impurity (.sup.75 As.sup.+) ion implantation for forming the LDD region 97. Thus, a source-drain region 101 as an n-type impurity region is formed while the gate electrode 95 is doped to be n.sup.+.
Then, as illustrated in FIG. 9G, an annealing process is performed in order to activate the LDD region 97, the source-drain region 101 and the gate electrode 95 and to restore the crystal defects. In this step, an annealing process for 10 minutes at about 850.degree. C. in a nitrogen atmosphere, an RTA (Rapid thermal annealing) process for 20 seconds at about 1000.degree. C., or the like, may be performed.
Then, as illustrated in FIG. 9H, a high melting point metal film is deposited by sputtering, which is then thermally processed by a 2-step RTA process, thus forming silicide portions 102a and 102b in a self-alignment manner. The insulated-gate field-effect transistor is thus produced.
According to the above-described method, the p-type semiconductor region 98 having an increased p-type impurity concentration is formed surrounding the n-type LDD region 97 by implanting an impurity of the same conductive type (i.e., p-type: this conductive type will be referred to as the "first conductive type") as that of the p well 92 (i.e., the channel region). This, however, may cause the following problems.
Since the LDD region 97 is surrounded by the p-type semiconductor region 98, in which the p-type impurity concentration is increased, the electric field near the drain region is particularly intensified, thereby lowering the hot carrier resistance.
Moreover, as the channel length is shortened, the influence of the p-type high concentration impurity in the p-type semiconductor region 98 on the high concentration impurity region in the channel region accordingly increases. Thus, a reverse short-channel effect occurs, i.e., the threshold voltage of the channel region increases.
Furthermore, boron .sup.11 B.sup.+, which is implanted as a p-type impurity, diffuses faster than arsenic .sup.75 As.sup.+, which is implanted as an n-type impurity for forming the source-drain region 101. Therefore, a region having a high boron concentration is formed beneath the source-drain region 101, thereby increasing the source-drain junction capacitance. This lowers the operation speed of the circuit and increases the power consumption while the driving power is lowered due to the mobility deterioration.

Insulated-gate field-effect transistor and method for producing the same


Disclosed herein are systems and methods for an intelligent and context-aware reading system. The method comprises generating a graphical user interface comprising a plurality of fields configured to receive input from a computing device. The method comprises generating an instruction to initiate an eye-tracking sensor device configured to track eye movement or an expression sensor device configured to monitor micro expressions of a user operating the graphical user interface. The method comprises receiving ocular engagement data or expression sensor data, wherein the received data is associated with a portion of a first field on the graphical user interface. The method comprises generating supplemental content data for the portion of the first field in response to an ocular engagement value or the expression state satisfying a pre-determined threshold.

As the processing power of computers allow for greater computer functionality and the Internet technology era allows for interconnectivity between computing systems, many view an ever-increasing amount of electronic content using a variety of electronic display platforms. Numerous efforts have been undertaken to improve the electronic display platforms to allow users to view the electronic content more quickly while sustaining a high level of comprehension. Even though conventional methods have attempted to provide better tools for displaying the electronic content, they have failed to modify the content based on user's desires or comprehension level. This shortcoming is sometime due to the challenging nature of dynamic generation of electronic content, which may exist on different networks or computing infrastructure. Managing such information may be difficult due to a number or size of the data. Furthermore, many conventional methods have failed to provide an efficient method to modify the electronic content because of the difficult nature of gaging user's experience or variations in user's comprehension levels while viewing the electronic content.

Intelligent and context aware reading systems

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company


The drive and guide device for a needle bar of a needle loom having a machine stand includes a first crankshaft rotatably supported in the machine stand; a needle bar supported in the machine stand; a first connecting rod supported on a first cam of the first crankshaft and connected to the needle bar; and a guide device for guiding the needle bar along a path extending perpendicular to the needle-punching support surface. The first connecting rod and/or the guide device comprises a leaf spring, which is rigidly connected to the needle bar to transmit a drive or guide force. As a result, lubrication points on elements of the needle loom which move from place to place are eliminated.

The needle bar of a needle loom must be guided during its movement in the machine stand in a direction perpendicular or essentially perpendicular to the needle-punching support surface. The guide devices provided for this purpose, whether these be rails or rods, lead to problems with heat, lubrication, and sealing. Wear must be avoided as much as possible, because otherwise the punching accuracy during operation suffers. This is disadvantageous especially at high needle-punching densities.
A guide device for the needle bar in a needle loom containing at least one pair of rocker arms, which are arranged on opposite sides of the needle bar, is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,241,479 A. One end of each of these arms is hinged to the needle bar, while a support device is present on the other end, which supports the rocker arm in question on the machine stand so that it is free to rock. For this purpose, a first bearing surface is formed on the machine stand for each rocker arm; this first bearing surface faces a second bearing surface on the end of the rocker arm. The bearing surface on the machine stand is designed in the manner of an involute gear recess, into which a tooth designed in complementary fashion on the opposite end of the associated rocker arm engages, the tooth thus being free to rock in the gear recess. In this way, the needle bar can be guided along a straight path, wherein the elements participating in its guidance perform exclusively rolling movements.
A needle loom in which the lateral guidance of the needle bar during its up and down stroke is provided by a symmetrically designed four-bar linkage, which is hinged to the needle bar or its carrier and to the machine stand, is known from DE 10 2006 008 485 A1. The dimensions of the four-bar linkage are chosen in such a way that the Ball's point which it forms and which lies on the needle bar describes a straight path within the stroke range of the needle bar.
Although the two previously described designs avoid the sliding type of guides, which are vulnerable to wear, they are relatively complicated mechanically. The two designs contain pivot bearings on the needle bar, which must be lubricated, and the latter design also has an additional number of non-stationary pivot bearings, which increases the difficulty of lubrication even more, because the lubricant must be supplied to these non-stationary pivot bearings continuously for as long as they are in operation.


A method, an electronic control unit, a vehicle control system and a working machine for controlling an power source adapted to drive at least one ground engaging element of the working machine are provided. The method includes receiving an operator control input indicative of the control of the power source, receiving a state input indicative of an operating state of the machine, determining an operation signal in the response to the operator control input and the operating state input, and sending the determined operation signal for controlling the power source accordingly. An accelerator signal converter adapted to perform any of the method steps is provided, as is an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) including the accelerator signal converter, a vehicle control system including the ECU, and a working machine including the vehicle control system.

The invention relates to a method, an accelerator signal converter, an electronic control unit, a vehicle control system and a working machine for controlling a power source adapted to drive at least one ground engaging element of a working machine. The term "power source" is in the following exemplified by an internal combustion engine, such as a diesel engine. This should be regarded as a non-limiting example of such a power source.
Some drivers experience that working machines, such as wheel loaders, are hard to operate. The reason is that the engine in the working machine is used for powering both the hydraulic system and the traction system of the machine. Since the implement of the machine (such as a bucket) acts on a gravel pile or any other object that the machine works with, there will be a strong force coupling via both systems to the engine.
Consequently, the engine will counteract itself since the traction force counteract with the hydraulic forces. The traction force is transmitted to the pile from the engine to the wheels of the machine and further to the ground on which the pile rests. The hydraulic forces are transmitted from the engine to the implement and further to the pile This means that with higher traction force, the lifting force is reduced. In a similar way, the tilt operation by the hydraulic system is counteracted by the traction system.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example. The traction force (Force [kN]) is dependent on the engine speed. When the engine speed is increased, the traction force will as described reduce the effective lift force (LF) and tilt force (BF). The hydraulic force reduction is proportional with the traction force and quadratically proportional with the engine speed (in a driveline with hydrodynamic torque converter). The driver is therefore constantly challenged to balance the hydraulic system and the traction system by controlling the hydraulic levers and the accelerator pedal of the working machine.
Today there are solutions available which reduce the traction, so that the engine speed is limited to avoid that a certain traction force is exceeded. With such a solution the driver will not be able to increase the engine speed over a certain limit. That is, the driver's possibilities to manoeuvre the machine are restricted so that he is not able to decide fully how to operate the machine.
Another phenomena when for instance loading gravel is wheel skidding. When the torque/power, transmitted via the traction systems, exceeds the friction (connection between wheel and ground) the wheel/-s skid. This also influences the maneuvering possibilities for the driver in a negative way.
Furthermore, when the driver drives the machine at a constant speed, the machine may start oscillating. The reason for this is a coupling of accelerator pedal angle to engine speed demand and thus engine speed, and further via engine torque to machine traction force. The normal mapping of the accelerator pedal is a compromise. It may be that this mapping works very well when the driver drives the machine at low speed and low gear. The angle of the accelerator pedal results in a suitable machine speed. However, this mapping may work worse at higher engine speed and especially at a low gear. The high speed may cause the driver's chair to start swing which results in that the drivel's foot and therefore the pedal angle starts changing. The changed angle will inevitably results in a changed engine speed demand, which the engine will fulfil by increasing torque until the higher speed is reached.
In a driveline of the working machine without torque converter or with a torque converter with activated lock-up, the engine's oscillating torque is directly transferred to the wheels and creates an oscillating traction force. In both situations, this will finally result in the negative effect that the whole machine starts oscillating.
It is desirable to solve at least one of the above-mentioned problems by balancing the hydraulic system and the traction system, without restricting the possibility to operate the machine. It is also desirable to avoid oscillations when driving the machine at a high speed and to avoid wheel skidding when for instance loading gravel.
According to an aspect of the present invention a method is provided for controlling an power source adapted to drive at least one ground engaging element of a working machine. The method comprises the step of receiving an operator control input indicative of the control of the power source. What particularly characterizes the method is that it comprises the steps of:                receiving a state input indicative of an operating state of the machine,        determining an operation signal in the response to the operator control input and the operating state input,        sending the determined operation signal for controlling the power source accordingly.
An aspect of the present invention also relates to an accelerator signal converter being adapted to perform any of the method steps according to the method. Furthermore, an aspect of the present invention relates to an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) comprising the accelerator signal converter, a vehicle control system comprising the ECU, and a working machine comprising the vehicle control system.
The main advantage with an aspect of the present invention is that the accelerator signal converter ultimately modifies the relationship between the accelerator pedal angle and the engine speed, which assists the driver when maneuvering the machine. This results in that the balancing of the engine torque between the hydraulic system and the traction system is easier to handle. The mapping can thereby be adapted for particular operating states, which gives the effect that that the engine control unit/entity is able to assist the driver in different working conditions.
Other preferred embodiments and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description below.


A fail safe hydraulic system which includes a pressurized fluid storage which is capable of delivering fluid to the actuator to return it to its inoperative position should the actuator system suffer a loss of power and a apparatus for signaling a controller when the pressurized fluid storage has been charged with fluid, wherein fluid from the reservoir cannot be delivered to the actuator until the pressurized fluid storage has been charged with fluid.

Linear actuators with piston means displaced by fluid or air pressure are typically used to control the opening and closing of valves, e.g., gate valves, globe valves, sluice gates and cone valves.
Many situations exist where electrically operated control mechanisms, such as the valves just noted, and the like, if locked in an operative position by an interruption of electric power, can create awkward, difficult, and even hazardous conditions.
The present inventor has created a fail safe hydraulic actuator system, particularly one featuring a linear actuator, which upon loss of electric power instantly and automatically returns the control mechanism which is being monitored to the inoperative position (i.e., either open or closed). Moreover, the present invention provides a unique means for controlling the fail safe means whereby fluid can not be delivered to the linear actuator until a pressurized storage means has been charged with sufficient fluid so as to enable the storage means to return the linear actuator to its inoperative position in the event of a power loss.
The present inventor is not aware of any other fail safe electric linear actuator which automatically returns the control mechanism to its inoperative position during a power loss. U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,684 (Wright), which issued on Jul. 19, 1988, discloses the use of a reversible means for storing energy as a fail safe means on a rotary actuator. The reversible means for storing energy is attached to the fluid-driven vaned torque actuator by a shaft such that as the torque actuator is rotated by means of a fluid, the reversible means simultaneously stores energy. When the electric power supply is interrupted, a valve means is de-energized and opened, permitting energy stored in the reversible means to return the shaft, thereby restoring the fail safe actuator device and the control mechanism to their initial inoperative position. The reversible means for storing energy mechanically is a torsion spring. For space conservation, a flat clock type spring could be substituted for the torsion spring. It is also suggested that an accumulator having reverse power be used in place of the torsion spring. However, this patent does not describe how the flat clock type spring or accumulator would function as a fail safe device.
The present invention also provides many additional advantages which shall become apparent as described below.


A plurality of different kinds of reagents are supported at different positions on a reagent layer. A humoral testing apparatus irradiates measuring light which has a wavelength adapted to one of the plurality of the reagent areas which forms a color, and detects the intensity of the light reflected from the reagent areas with the photodetector with respect to each of the reagents, and thus detects the optical densities of the reagent areas.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a humoral testing unit for use in performing tests on bodily fluids of humans and other animals. This invention also relates to a humoral testing apparatus using the humoral testing unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
As blood testing units for use in performing tests on blood of humans and other animals, blood testing units comprising a slide-shaped support and a reagent layer carried on the slide-shaped support, which reagent layer is capable of undergoing a reaction with blood plasma or blood serum and forming a predetermined color, have heretofore been proposed. The blood testing units are proposed in, for examples U.S. Pat. No. 5,051,901.
In cases where the blood testing units described above are utilized, the blood plasma or the blood serum is spotted onto the reagent layer of the blood testing unit. Thereafter, light is irradiated to the reagent layer having formed a color, and an intensity of light reflected from the reagent layer is measured. In this manner, a concentration of a specific substance contained in the blood plasma or the blood serum, or the like, is capable of being quantitatively analyzed in accordance with the intensity of the reflected light. An example of an analysis apparatus for performing the blood tests in the manner described above is also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,051,901.
In order to quantitatively analyze the densities of specific constituents in the bloodplasma or the blood serum, analysis is often performed for a plurality of the specific constituents. In cases of testing bodily fluids other than blood of animals, such as urine, sweat, and cerebrospinal fluid, a plurality of specific constituents in blood sample are often analyzed.

Humoral testing unit and a humoral testing apparatus


A solution is provided that allows end users to search documents in multiple remote content repositories in an enterprise environment, while maintaining security of those documents. Additionally, end users are able to search for a document without knowing which server or directory it is stored under. This is accomplished by installing a search agent on the end user's machine. The search engine collects the metadata of authorized documents located in different repositories via a web protocol (such as Hypertext Transfer Protocol, or HTTP) and stores them in the user's local memory as “searchable links”. This solves the enterprise content search problem through the creation of searchable links of remote content objects in an end user's local machine while allowing emerging desktop-search technology to index them.

The Internet has become a popular tool for locating relevant information. Through the World Wide Web and other publicly available databases, vast amounts of information are now accessible to users throughout the world. Search engines and directories are utilized to aid the user in the search for the most relevant information pertaining to a given query. Examples of such search engines and directories include Google™, Yahoo™, and Excite™, among many others. These search engines and directories work by building centralized index databases and directories, which can be queried quickly and reliably.
Recently, several companies have introduced Desktop Search tools, which integrate traditional search engines with the capability to search a user's local machine or network. For example, a vendor such as Google™, Microsoft™, or Yahoo™ might provide a downloadable program which a user may install on his machine. The program may then provide a single search tool where the user can search for information from the Internet at large as well as from his local machine or network with a single search.
These Desktop Search tools, however, do not solve the problem of security associated with enterprise contents. Namely, while a user searching his own hard drive may not present a security concern, a user searching hard drives of others within an enterprise, or accessible server content within an enterprise, may present security concerns. Most enterprises have certain document that are confidential, and many enterprises have complex security hierarchies limiting access to many different documents, directories, servers, etc.
While Desktop Search tools may have some security features, they all rely on general security policies to determine which files to index. Thus, an administrator may restrict certain files from being indexed, thus rendering them unsearchable by others. There is no way to allow a document to be indexed and searchable to only selected users. While the underlying document itself could still be password-protected, in order to allow those with the password to find the document, the document must be indexed and searchable to all users in the Enterprise. This presents security problems because the index information can sometimes contain information that is confidential, and sometimes the mere fact that a file exists is confidential.
What is needed is a solution that allows enterprise users to search documents in multiple remote content repositories in an enterprise environment while addressing security concerns.

Enterprise content search through searchable links


A method in a mobile station (120) for enabling more than eight mobile stations to share one uplink Packet Data Channel (PDCH) in a GSM network (100) is provided. A combination of Uplink State Flag values in a set of two or more downlink radio blocks is received. The received Uplink State Flag values of the combination are jointly interpreted. Packet data are only transmitted (706; 1402) when an assigned combination of Uplink State Flag values has been received. Conventionally in GSM only a maximum of 8 unique mobile stations can share one PDCH using one timeslot (of eight conventionally available). By the combination of the USF values and joint interpretation thereof, more than 8 unique mobile station can share the same PDCH. Compatibility is also enabled with legacy mobile stations supporting only a single USF value.

Communication devices such as Mobile Stations (MS) are also known as e.g. mobile terminals, wireless terminals and/or user equipment. A mobile station is enabled to communicate wirelessly in a cellular communications network, wireless communications system, or radio communications system, sometimes also referred to as a cellular radio system, cellular network or radio access network (RAN), to mention some examples. The communication may be performed e.g. between two mobile stations and between a mobile station and a regular telephone.
The mobile station may further be referred to as a mobile telephone, cellular telephone, laptop, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), tablet computer, surf plate, just to mention some further examples. The mobile station in the present context may be, for example, portable, pocket-storable, hand-held, computer-comprised, or vehicle-mounted mobile devices, enabled to communicate voice and/or data, via the RAN, with another entity, such as another mobile station or a server.
The cellular communications network covers a geographical area which is divided into cell areas, wherein each cell area being served by a Base Station (BS), which sometimes may be referred to as Radio Base Station (RBS), Base Transceiver Station (BTS), just to mention some examples. The base stations may be of different classes based on transmission power and thereby also cell size. A cell is the geographical area where radio coverage is provided by the base station at a base station site. Further, each base station may support one or several communication technologies. The base stations communicate over the air interface operating on radio frequencies with the mobile station within range of the base stations.
Several base stations may be connected, e.g. by landlines or microwave, to a radio network controller, e.g. a Base Station Controller (BSC) in GSM. GSM is an abbreviation for Global System for Mobile Communications (originally: Groupe Special Mobile). The BSC may supervise and coordinate various activities of the plural base stations connected thereto.
When nothing else is indicated, the expression downlink (DL) generally refers to transmission from the base station to the mobile station and the expression uplink (UL) generally refers to transmission in the opposite direction i.e. from the mobile station to the base station.
In General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced GPRS (EGPRS) and EGPRS phase 2 (EGPRS2), the packet data bearers of the GSM radio access network, data connections for several users are multiplexed onto shared channels, aka Packet Data Shared Channels (PDCHs). A PDCH is a physical channel using one timeslot in each Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) frame on the radio interface. Four consecutive timeslots on the PDCH (sent in four consecutive TDMA frames) form a radio block. The radio block is the smallest entity that can be used for transmission and reception of data for a GPRS/EGPRS/EGPRS2. In the downlink, each radio block is addressed to a particular MS. Similarly, in uplink a particular mobile station is allowed to transmit during a given radio block. The duration of a radio block is approximately 20 ms.
The TDMA frame of GPRS/EGPRS/EGPRS2 has eight timeslots. Therefore, up to eight PDCHs can be transmitted in parallel on one GSM carrier. Radio blocks, one for each PDCH, that is, one for each of the eight TDMA frame timeslots, numbered 0-7, are schematically illustrated in FIG. 1. Units along a horizontal axis in FIG. 1 is thus TDMA frame timeslot and unit along a vertical axis is thus radio block periods. Mobile stations with multislot capability may transmit and/or receive several PDCHs in parallel.
The multiplexing of mobile stations on the uplink is controlled by the network as follows. In each downlink radio block, an mobile station address field is transmitted. This is known as the Uplink State Flag (USF). For a given PDCH, each MS has been given a unique USF value. When that USF value is received by the mobile station on a downlink PDCH it has been assigned, it is allowed to transmit during the next radio block on the corresponding uplink PDCH. If USF granularity is used (signaled to the MS when it was assigned the PDCH), the mobile station is also allowed to transmit during the three subsequent radio blocks on the same PDCH, i.e., in total during four radio blocks.
This multiplexing method is referred to as Dynamic Allocation (DA) and is illustrated by examples in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.
For example, in FIG. 2 mobile station MS X has been assigned USF value 1. This USF value is transmitted on downlink timeslot 2 during radio block period N and allows MS X to transmit a radio block on the corresponding uplink timeslot during next radio block period N+1. Units along horizontal and vertical axis in FIG. 2 corresponds to what was shown and discussed above in connection with FIG. 1. Mobile station MS Y has been assigned USF value 2. This USF value is transmitted on timeslot 3 and allows MS Y to transmit a radio block on uplink timeslot 3. In FIG. 3 MS X has been assigned USF value 1. This USF value is transmitted on downlink timeslot 2 and allows MS X to transmit four consecutive radio blocks on the corresponding uplink timeslot. MS Y has been assigned USF value 2. This USF value is transmitted on timeslot 3 and allows MS Y to transmit four consecutive radio blocks on uplink timeslot 3.
Sometimes it is necessary to use an extension to this multiplexing method, called Extended Dynamic Allocation (EDA). This is similar to DA, with the difference that when an MS receives its assigned USF value on a given PDCH, it is allowed to transmit not only on the corresponding uplink PDCH, but also on all uplink PDCHs it has been assigned with higher timeslot numbers in the TDMA frame. USF granularity may be used also together with EDA. For example, in FIG. 4 mobile station MS X is assigned USF value 1 and uplink timeslots 2, 3 and 4. This USF value is transmitted on downlink timeslot 2 and allows MS X to transmit a radio block on each of uplink timeslots 2, 3 and 4.
The existing solutions are described in further detail in 3GPP TS 44.060 "RLC/MAC protocol", where multiplexing principles are described in clause 5.2 and DA and EDA in clause 8.1.1, and in 3GPP TS 45.002 "Multiplexing and multiple access on the radio path", where clause 188.8.131.52.1 describes DA and EDA to some extent.
The USF is a three bit field and hence it can address eight unique mobile stations per PDCH.
With an increasing amount of users, devices to be provided with internet access and in order to realize the vision of "50 billion" users, it is desirable or even necessary to be able to multiplex many mobile stations on each PDCH. However, since the USF can only address eight unique mobile stations, no more than eight mobile stations can share one uplink PDCH.

Methods, mobile station and base station, for extended sharing of uplink packet data channels in a GSM network


A system for analyzing a probe card comprises a signal generator adapted to generate a radio frequency test signal. a connector for inputting into the probe card the radio frequency test signal, and a detector assembly. The detector assembly comprises an RF chuck for receiving a radio frequency signal from the probe card, and a sensor configured to receive the radio frequency signal from the RF chuck. The sensor is configured to measure a magnitude of the radio frequency signal and to output a measurement signal that represents only the magnitude of the radio frequency signal. The RF chuck and the sensor are mechanically coupled.

In the manufacture of semiconductor devices such as integrated circuits, generally, the single components of the semiconductor devices are manufactured on a wafer-level. After the manufacture of the single devices has been completed, the components and the semiconductor devices are tested. For example, integrated circuit may be tested for functional defects by applying special test patterns to the integrated circuit. After testing, the wafer is diced into single dies and the functioning dies are further packaged and sold.
Usually, probe cards are used for testing the components and the semiconductor devices. In particular, the probe cards serves as an electro-mechanical interface between the component to be tested and the testing apparatus. As there is a growing requirement for RF components and devices, the need to characterize the RF performance of a probe card increases.
The performance and the electrical characteristics of the probe cards are important for assessing the real characteristics of the components to be tested. Accordingly, there is a need for a method and a system for measuring and quantifying the RF performance of a probe card.

Method for analyzing the RF performance of a probe card, detector assembly and system for analyzing the RF performance of a probe card


Computer-implemented methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for recasting a legacy web page as a motion picture with audio. Embodiments include retrieving a legacy web page; identifying audio objects in the legacy web page for audio rendering; identifying video objects in the legacy web page for motion picture rendering; associating one or more of the video objects for motion picture rendering with one or more of the audio objects for audio rendering; determining in dependence upon the selected audio objects and video objects a duration for the motion picture; selecting audio events for rendering the audio objects identified for audio rendering; selecting motion picture video events for rendering the video objects identified for motion picture rendering; assigning the selected audio events and the selected video events to playback times for the motion picture; rendering, with the selected audio events at their assigned playback times, the audio content of the each of the audio objects identified for audio rendering; rendering, with the selected motion picture video events at their assigned playback times, the video content of the video objects identified for motion picture rendering; and recording in a multimedia file the rendered audio content and motion picture video content.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention is data processing, or, more specifically, methods, apparatus, and products for recasting a legacy web page as a motion picture with audio.
2. Description of Related Art
Many users enjoy content in web pages served up by web servers. Such content typically must be viewed through conventional web browsers installed on larger computer devices. While some users have portable devices with micro-browsers that allow a user to conveniently view web pages on those portable devices, even more users have portable digital media players and digital media applications for rendering multimedia files. Furthermore, viewing content as a motion picture is often more enjoyable than viewing content as a static web page.

Recasting a legacy web page as a motion picture with audio

International Business Machines Corporation


The assay devices, assay systems and device components of this invention comprise at least two opposing surfaces disposed a capillary distance apart, at least one of which is capable of immobilizing at least one target ligand or a conjugate in an amount related to the presence or amount of target ligand in the sample from a fluid sample in a zone for controlled fluid movement to, through or away the zone. The inventive device components may be incorporated into conventional assay devices with membranes or may be used in the inventive membrane-less devices herein described and claimed. These components include, flow control elements, measurement elements, time gates, elements for the elimination of pipetting steps, and generally, elements for the controlled flow, timing, delivery, incubation, separation, washing and other steps of the assay process.

Over the years, numerous simplified test systems have been designed to rapidly detect the presence of a target ligand of interest in biological, environmental and industrial fluids. In one of their simplest forms, these assay systems and devices usually involve the combination of a test reagent which is capable of reacting with the target ligand to give a visual response and an absorbent paper or membrane through which the test reagents flow. Paper products, glass fibers and nylon are commonly used for the absorbent materials of the devices. In certain cases, the portion of the absorbent member containing the test reagents is brought into contact, either physically or through capillarity, with the sample containing the target ligand. The contact may be accomplished in a variety of ways. Most commonly, an aqueous sample is allowed to traverse a porous or absorbent member, such as porous polyethylene or polypropylene or membranes by capillarity through the portion of the porous or absorbent member containing the test reagents. In other cases, the test reagents are pre-mixed outside the test device and then added to the absorbent member of the device to ultimately generate a signal.
Commercially available diagnostic products employ a concentrating zone methodology. In these products, such as ICON.RTM. (Hybritech Incorporated), TESTPACK.TM. (Abbott Laboratories) or ACCULEVEL.RTM. (Syva Corporation), the device contains an immunosorbing or capture zone within a porous member to which a member of a specific binding pair is immobilized. The surface of the porous member also may be treated to contain one or more elements of a signal development system. In these devices, there is a liquid absorbing zone which serves to draw liquid through the immunosorbing zone, to absorb liquid sample and reagents and to control the rate at which the liquid is drawn through the immunosorbing zone. The liquid absorbing zone is either an additional volume of the porous member outside of the immunosorbing zone or an absorbent material in capillary communication with the immunosorbing zone. Many commercially available devices and assay systems also involve a wash step in which the immunosorbing zone is washed free of non-specifically bound signal generator so that the presence or amount of target ligand in the sample can be determined by examining the porous member for a signal at the appropriate zone.
The devices described herein do not use bibulous or porous materials, such as membranes and the like as substrates for the immobilization of reagents or to control the flow of the reagents through the device. A disadvantage of, for example, membranes in diagnostic devices is that on both microscopic and macroscopic scales the production of membranes is not easily reproducible. This can result in diagnostic devices which have differential properties of non-specific binding and flow characteristics. The time gates of this invention can, however, be embedded in membranes or used in devices with membranes. Membranes are very susceptible to non-specific binding which can raise the sensitivity limit of the assay. In the case of immunochromatographic assay formats such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,879,215, 4,945,205 and 4,960,691, the use of membranes as the diagnostic element requires an even flow of reagents through the membrane. The problem of uneven flow of assay reagents in immunochromatographic assays has been addressed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,756,828, 4,757,004 and 4,883,688, incorporated herein by reference. These patents teach that modifying the longitudinal edge of the bibulous material controls the shape of the advancing front. The devices of the current invention circumvent these membrane associated problems by the use of defined surfaces, including grooved surfaces, capillarity, time gates, novel capillary means, including channels and novel fluid flow control means alone or in various combinations, all of which are constructed from non-absorbent materials. In a preferred mode of this invention, the capillary channel of the diagnostic element is composed of grooves which are perpendicular to the flow of the assay reagents. The manufacture of grooved surfaces can be accomplished by injection molding and can be sufficiently reproducible to provide control of the flow of reagents through the device.
In addition to the limitations of the assay devices and systems of the prior art, including the limitations of using absorbent membranes as carriers for sample and reagents, assay devices generally involve numerous steps, including critical pipetting steps which must be performed by relatively skilled users in laboratory settings. Accordingly, there is a need for one step assay devices and systems, which, in addition to controlling the flow of reagents in the device, control the timing of the flow of reagents at specific areas in the device. In addition, there is a need for assay devices which do not require critical pipetting steps but still perform semi-quantitative and quantitative determinations. The inventive devices and methods of this invention satisfy these needs and others by introducing devices which do not require precise pipetting of sample, which do not use absorbent members, which include novel elements called time gates for the controlled movement of reagents in the device and which are capable of providing quantitative assays.

Diagnostic devices and apparatus for the controlled movement of reagents without membrances


The present invention relates to charging of rechargeable batteries built into electronic devices and is configured to constrain heat generation during the charging. A charging IC used for charging a rechargeable battery built into an electronic device is disclosed that comprises a power source unit which can be fed with power from an external power source with a drooping characteristic to pick up a constant current; and a control unit which applies a first constant current from the external power source to the rechargeable battery through a circuit element installed on a charging path of the rechargeable battery, the control unit applying a second constant current smaller than the first constant current from the power source unit to the rechargeable battery after the rechargeable battery is charged with the first constant current to a predetermined voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a charging apparatus of rechargeable batteries built into electronic devices such as mobile terminals, and, more particularly, to a charging IC (Integrated Circuit), charging apparatus and an electronic device using as a charging source of the rechargeable batteries an external power source such as an AC (Alternating Current) adaptor or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) host such as a personal computer connected with a USB cable.
2. Description of the Related Art
In charging of a rechargeable battery built into an electronic device such as a mobile terminal, which uses an AC adaptor or a personal computer as a charging source, preliminary charging, constant-current charging or constant-voltage charging is selected depending on a voltage level of the rechargeable battery, and even in the constant-current charging, a current value may be gradually switched.
In regard to such charging of a rechargeable battery, known propositions are a charging circuit having a drooping characteristic depending on a output current (For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 1999-327671 (paragraph number 0020, FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and the like)), a method and apparatus used for constant-voltage charging after constant-current charging for charging a battery of a cellular phone (For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-274570 (paragraph number 0016, FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and the like))
By the way, a description is made for the charging which switches to constant-voltage charging after constant-current charging with an external power source having a drooping characteristic. FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a charging apparatus using a PMOS (P-channel Metal Oxide Semiconductor) transistor for charging control; FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the charging control; and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a charging operation.
This charging apparatus 2 is configured to use an AC adaptor 8 as a charging source to charge a rechargeable battery 6 built into an electronic device 3 along with an apparatus load 4. The charging apparatus 2 is provided with a charging IC 10, and the charging IC 10 integrates circuit units such as a charging control unit which can be integrated into an IC. As an external circuit of the charging IC 10, a charging path 11 is formed for passing a charging current between the AC adaptor 8 and the rechargeable battery 6; the charging path 11 is equipped with a PMOS transistor (Tr) 12 as a charging control element; and the PMOSTr 12 is connected serially with a backflow prevention diode 14 and a sense resistor 16. The sense resistor 16 converts the charging current flowing through the charging path 11 to a voltage to be detected and the detected current is applied to the charging IC 10 as control information. Control output obtained in the charging IC 10 is applied to a gate of the PMOSTr 12 to execute charging-current control or constant-voltage control.
In the charging of the rechargeable battery 6 with the charging apparatus 2, as shown in FIG. 2, when the AC adaptor 8 is detected as the charging source, the output voltage of the AC adaptor 8 is detected, and then, a battery status check is performed for a battery temperature and a battery voltage which indicate a battery status (step S1). If the result of the battery status check is normal, a charging operation is started. At the start of the charging operation, first constant-current charging CC1 is performed as fast charging (step S2), except the case that a battery voltage is too low (an over-discharge state), and the battery voltage is raised by the first constant-current charging CC1 to a start voltage of constant-voltage charging (step S3). After the battery voltage is raised, second constant-current charging CC2 is performed (step S4), and when full charging is achieved through constant-voltage charging (step S5), the charging is completed. To a constant current Icc1 of CC1, a constant current Icc2 of CC2 is in a relationship of Icc2<Icc1.
In this charging process, as shown in FIG. 3, after the rechargeable battery 6 is raised to a predetermined voltage (e.g., 3 [V]) through preliminary charging (PR) with a preliminary current Ipre, a charging current Ic is increased to a constant current Icc1 to utilize the drooping characteristic of the AC adaptor 8 to perform the first constant-current charging CC1 and second constant-current charging CC2, and after constant charging CV, the charging of the rechargeable battery 6 is reaches to, for example, 4.2 [V] and completed. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing transitions of charging forms, charging currents and charging voltages. In this case, the output voltage of the AC adaptor 8 is set higher than the charging completion voltage, and maximum heat generation happens at the point of time when the second constant-current charging is switched to the constant-voltage charging.
The heat generation amount due to the charging operation is described with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing transitions of the heat generation amount in each portion during the charging operation.
In the charging operation, for the heat generation in the PMOSTr 12, diode 14 and sense resistor 16 in the first constant-current charging CC1 region (t1 to t2), the heat generation of the diode 14 is largest and accounts for one-half of the total heat generation amount. In the second constant-current charging CC2 region (t2 to t3), the total heat generation amount is larger than the constant-current charging CC1 region (t1 to t2), and the heat generation amounts of the diode 14 and sense resistor 16 is smaller than the CC1 region (t1 to t2), while the heat generation amounts of the PMOSTr 12 accounts for two third of the total heat generation amount. In the constant-voltage charging CV region (t3 to t4), the heat generation amount is reduced dependently on reduction of the charging current. In the total heat generation amount of the region (t1 to t4), the heat generation amount of the PMOSTr 12 is largest. In this heat generation, when making the shift to the constant-current charging CC2, PMOSTr 12 generates heat depending on electric power applying a voltage. Such heat generation leads to energy loss.
By the way, a start voltage of the constant-current charging CC1 is set to, for example, about 3 [V], and the charging current Ic is dependent on the output of the AC adaptor 8 because the drooping characteristic of the AC adaptor 8 is used. Therefore, in the CC1 region, the charging current Ic is on the order of 670 [mA]. Assuming that an output voltage of the AC adaptor 8 is Voa and a battery voltage is Vb, the output voltage Voa is as follows:Voa=Vb+(external part resistance [Ω]×Ic)  (1)
The external part generates heat depending on this acceptable loss.
In this case, assuming that a voltage drop of the diode 14 is 0.3 [V], the heat generation amount Pd is as follows:Pd=0.3 [V]×Ic  (2)
When a constant current Icc2 in the CC2 region is set to, for example, 350 [mA], if the output voltage Voa is about 5.4 [V], a large portion of a difference voltage ΔV (=Voa−Vb) between the battery voltage Vb and the output voltage Voa of the AC adaptor 8 is concentrated on the PMOStr 12, and the heat generation amount of the PMOStr 12 accounts for a large portion of the total heat generation amount. Assuming that the loss due to the external part is about 456 [mW], about 318 [mW] is lost by the heat generation of the PMOSTr 12. Since the charging current Ic comes down below CC1 at the time of the shift to CC2, the battery voltage Vb comes down to on the order of 3.9 [V] and then, the battery voltage Vb is raised by the constant-current charging CC2 to make the shift to the constant-voltage charging CV at the battery voltage Vb=4.2 [V].
In the constant-voltage charging CV, constant-voltage control is performed such that the battery voltage Vb will be 4.2 [V], and as the rechargeable battery 6 approaches full charge, the charging current Ic is reduced. In the CV region, since the charging current is small, the heat generation is lower than the CC2. The charging is completed and the charging operation is terminated if the charging current Ic reduced to on the order of 50 [mA].
A charging apparatus 2 in FIG. 5 is a case that a PMOSTr 18 is used as a backflow prevention element, instead of the diode 14 described above. In FIG. 5, the same symbols are added to the same portions as FIG. 1. In the charging apparatus 2, the PMOSTr 18 is operated by a control signal applied from the charging IC 10 to a gate to regulate the direction of the charging current Ic passing through the charging path 11.
In regard to the heat generation amount of the charging apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 5, as shown in FIG. 6, in the first constant-current charging CC1 region (t1 to t2) the heat generation of the sense resistor 16 is largest and accounts for one-half of the total heat generation amount. The total heat generation amount in the second constant-current charging CC2 region (t2 to t3) is about twice larger than the constant-current charging CC1 region (t1 to t2), and the heat generation amounts of the PMOSTr 18 and the sense resistor 16 are dropped to on the order of one-fifth of the total heat generation amount, while the heat generation amount of the PMOSTr 12 accounts for four-fifth of the total heat generation amount. In the constant-voltage charging CV region (t3 to t4), the heat generation amount is reduced dependently on reduction of the charging current. In this heat generation, when making the shift to the constant-current charging CC2, PMOSTr 12 generates heat depending on electric power applying a voltage. As described above, such heat generation leads to energy loss.
In a charging apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 7, a switching power source 20 is disposed with in the charging IC 10, and the output of the switching power source 20 is picked up after passing though a filter circuit 26 consisting of an inductor 22 and capacitor 24 and is supplied to the rechargeable battery 6 through the charging path 11. In this case, although the PMOSTr 18 for backflow prevention is disposed in the charging path 11, the PMOSTr 18 may be omitted.
In the charging apparatus 2, the AC adaptor 8 is used as a charging source, and the output of the AC adaptor 8 is applied to the switching power source 20 to generate constant currents Icc1, Icc2 and a constant voltage Vc which achieve a first constant-current charging CC1, second constant-current charging CC2 and constant-voltage charging CV. Therefore, in regard to the heat generation amount of the charging apparatus 2 (FIG. 7), as shown in FIG. 8, in the first constant-current charging CC1 region (t1 to t2) the heat generation of the switching power source 20 is largest and accounts for one-half of the total heat generation amount. The total heat generation amount in the constant-current charging CC2 region (t2 to t3) is reduced to on the order of one-half of the constant-current charging CC1 region (t1 to t2); the heat generation amount of the switching power source 20 also comes down to on the order of one-half of the total heat generation amount as compared to the region of the constant-current charging CC1 (t1 to t2); and in the constant-voltage charging CV region (t3 to t4), the heat generation amount is reduced dependently on reduction of the charging current.
By using such a switching power source 20, when the charging current Ic of the constant-current charging CC1 is enlarged, the heat generation amount is increased, and although the capacity of the switching power source 20 may be increased in order to constrain the heat generation, the cost is increased. In other words, if a DC-DC conversion efficiency ηof the switching power source 20 is η=90 [%], the heat generation amount Ph is Ph=about 347 [mW] and the heat generation amount is increased. By increasing the output current of the switching power source 20 to on the order of 700 [mA] in order to ensure the charging current Ic, the cost is increased.
Therefore, in regard to electronic devices, such as cellular phones, equipped with rechargeable batteries, device chassis are miniaturized and thinned as well as equipped batteries are planned to be large capacity, and it is requested to constrain the heat generation when the devices are operated for phone calls and the like during the charging operation.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication Nos. 1999-327671 and 2003-274570 do not disclose such issues and not disclose or indicate any configurations for solving the issues.

Charging IC, charging apparatus and electronic device


A back light module includes light tubes being disposed on a vertical axial line to form an arrangement of the light tubes aligning with each other vertically and an intermediate light tube being disposed on another vertical axial line and between two neighboring ones of the light tubes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a panel display, and particularly to a back light module in a liquid crystal display.
2. Description of Related Art
The liquid crystal display as an output of information has been a mature technique applied by the manufactures and in order to comply with various applications, the liquid crystal display can be made big size for being used in the field of liquid crystal television or small size for being used in the field of mobile phone or PDA.
It is necessary for the liquid crystal display to prepare a light source and the back light module is provided as the light source part. The back light module is equipped with light tube set as the light source in case of large size back light module. The light tube set has a plurality of light tubes being aligned with each other vertically in a horizontal direction so that an identical distance between each light tube and the reflection plate can be obtained. The purpose of this arrangement is that the optical distribution (the brilliance distribution) is more uniform while the produced light source projects to the panel.
However, heat is generated during the light tubes emitting light and the back light module is closed to prevent dirty points from entering the back light module. Therefore, how to avoid overheat in the display module is worth us to care.
A conventional heat dissipation as disclosed in the Japanese Patent publication No. 2001-297623, entitled BACK LIGHT MODULE, provides convection holes and fan with a dust free net. But, the prior art is costly in setting up expense thereof and is noisy resulting from the fan. Hence, the prior art is not a perfect design.
Further, the Japanese Patent publication NO. 2001-216807, entitled DIRECT DOWN TYPE BACK LIGHT MODULE, discloses the metal casing of the electrodes attached to the light tubes is treated with corrugation to increase the heat dissipation area so as to bring the generated heat away. However, this type of heat dissipation removes part of the heat generated by the electrodes of light tubes.


An electrical circuit and method to compare contents of counter circuits. The electrical circuit comprises a first counter circuit and a second counter circuit electrically connected to a flip-flop circuit through a logic circuit and OR gates connected to the flip flop circuit. The first counter circuit is for receiving a first enable signal and generating a first output signal. The second counter circuit is for receiving a second enable signal and generating a second output signal. The first enable signal and the second enable signal are for comparing the first output signal to the second output signal. The flip-flop circuit is for generating a first status signal defining a first relationship between the first output signal and the second output signal. The logic circuit is for generating a second status signal defining a second relationship between the first output signal and the second output signal.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a circuit and associated method to compare contents of counter circuits.
2. Related Art
Electrical circuits are typically required to compare different electrical signals comprising data. Comparing different electrical signals comprising data may be time consuming and require extensive circuitry which may be costly. Therefore there is a need to provide a simple low cost electrical circuit to compare different electrical signals comprising data.

Comparing counter contents for timing critical applications


A data head is provided which includes a slider having a transducer formed in a thin film structure at a trailing edge end of the slider. The data head also includes transducer overcoat protection which protects the transducer without increasing a spacing between the transducer and a surface of a data storage disc for a given fly height of the data head above the surface of the data storage disc. In addition, a method of fabricating the data head is disclosed.

In disc drives, digital data are written to and read from a thin layer of magnetizable material on a surface of one or more rotating discs. Write and read operations are performed through a transducer which is carried in a slider body. The slider and transducer are sometimes collectively referred to as a head, and typically a single head is associated with each disc surface. When the transducer is an MR type sensor, the combination of the slider and the transducer are frequently referred to as an MR head. The heads are selectively moved under the control of electronic circuitry to any one of a plurality of circular, concentric data tracks on the disc surface by an actuator device. As the disc rotates, the heads "fly" several microinches above the surface disc.
Currently, head sliders frequently include a diamond-like carbon (DLC) overcoat of the air bearing surface (ABS). This overcoat serves several functions, including: providing for improved contact start-stop (CSS) durability; protecting the read/write transducer element(s) from incidental contact with the disc surface; and preventing corrosion of the read/write transducer element(s). However, the DLC overcoat in existing head slider designs requires that tradeoffs be made which can adversely effect the performance of the head. Generally, DLC overcoats in existing designs have resulted in an increase in the spacing between the transducer element pole tips and the disc surface for a given fly height of the head slider. In the alternative, to maintain the same magnetic spacing of the transducer element pole tips from the disc surface in a DLC coated head slider as compared to a non-coated head slider, the fly height of the DLC coated head slider must be reduced. Avoiding this problem by eliminating the DLC coating could result in damage to the read/write transducer element from incidental contact or corrosion.
The present invention provides a solution to this and other problems, and offers other advantages over the prior art.

Selective carbon overcoat of the trailing edge of MR sliders


An absorbent article having at least one belt part with a first end secured to the absorbent article, and a second end, wherein the belt part has a feature for cooperating with an application aid so that the belt and the application aid cooperate when guided under the user.

Each year, considerable resources are invested in developing absorbent articles such as diapers, pant diapers, belt diapers, panty-liners and tampons. The products are adapted to young children and incontinent adults so that they are as comfortable as possible and secure against leaking.
A number of inventions, such as leakage barriers on diapers, have helped give some of these individuals a more tolerable existence. The leakage barriers provide extra protection against leakage of urine and excrement via the leg openings, which can happen when the user is walking, turns in bed, or performs some other manoeuvre which can make the diaper change position.
Other inventions such as breathable materials are developed to minimize the moisture content of absorbent articles. Minimized moisture content of an absorbent article means that the skin is drier because moisture in the article dries out more quickly. Dry skin is less likely to be damaged by external action such as chafing or growth of bacterial flora.
A number of elastic threads in the waist region of diaper pants constitutes another invention which gives a better fit and improved comfort for the user. The transverse elastic threads hold the diaper in the right place during use and prevent the diaper from sliding out of position.
However, corresponding resources are not invested on those individuals who are expected to change the absorbent articles on the users. For example, caretakers such as nurses, assistant nurses and the like, whose daily work involves dealing with incontinent individuals, have a very difficult job. In the text below, "users" refers to the individuals on whom the absorbent articles are applied. Those commonly using absorbent articles include, for example, children, incontinent individuals, or menstruating women. "Caretakers" means the persons who apply the absorbent articles on the users.
Each day, the caretakers may have to move several users in order to change the absorbent article on them. They sometimes have to roll a user into the right position before the absorbent article can be applied. The problems of moving a heavy weight are sometimes exacerbated even further when, for example, the caretaker is a woman of short build and she is expected to move a large man. The caretakers often perform tasks which place a heavy strain on their backs and arms. In the long term, the heavy strain can cause injuries to the back, shoulders and joints. Moving heavy weights, in combination with a stressful working environment, means that caretakers may also experience psychological frustration at not being able to cope.
Absorbent articles with belts, so-called belt diapers, are one way of providing caretakers and users with advantageously configured products. Belt diapers are described in detail in WO 03/017903 and WO 02/22065. Despite the fact that the belt diapers have given caretakers an alternative to the customary incontinence diapers, the belt diaper is far from satisfactory. The caretaker still has to roll the patients over in order to be able to place the belt diaper under the patient's body. Such a manoeuvre often results in the caretaker having to stand leaning forward over the patient. This position, with the caretaker leaning forward, often places a weight on the back muscles, which can be tiring and can even strain the muscles.

Absorbent article for use with an application aid


The present invention discloses a non-irritating tea tree oil (TTO)-based topical therapeutic composition useful for both veterinary and human dermatology. The composition comprises a homogeneous mixture of TTO, 0.05 to 1.0% (wt/wt); at least one hypertonic composition providing the said TTO-based composition to 1700 to 2500 mOsm/L, 10 to 60% (wt/wt); and inorganic salts, 0.01% to 0.50% (wt/wt) and it is characterized by an effective, rapid & wide spectrum of action while being non-irritant to patient skin.

Tea tree oil, or melaleuca oil, is a pale yellow color to nearly colorless and clear essential oil with a fresh camphoraceous odor. Tea tree oil composition, as per ISO 4730 (2004) is as follows: terpinen-4-ol 30-48%; γ-terpinene 10-28%; α-terpinene 5-13%; 1,8-Cineole 0-15%; α-terpinolene 1.5-5%; α-terpineol 1.5-8%; α-pinene 1-6%; and p-cymene 0.5-8%. For sake of clarity, the terms Tea tree oil and TTO will interchangeably refer hereinafter the various possible TTO compositions as a whole, and to each of its ingredients separately.
Many patents disclose the use of TTO in medicine, some of the recent ones are US 20120009284, Antimicrobial composition and method for using same; US 20110293757, Compositions comprising tea tree oil and methods for the prevention and treatment of cancer; US 20100273870, Compositions and methods for treating demodex infestations; US 20100247376, Antibacterial toothbrush spray; US 20100178284, Composition for the skin, specifically for inhibiting ingrown hair; US 20100173007, Compositions and methods for treating skin conditions in mammals; US 20100056430, Treatment and method for eliminating or reducing foot odor etc.
TTO is known to be active against Staphylococcus aureus, including MRSA. TTO is less successful for application in the nose. Also, there is clinical evidence that topical dermatological preparations containing tea tree oil may be more effective than conventional antibiotics in preventing transmission of CA-MRSA. Recent studies support a role for the topical application of TTO in skin care and for the treatment of various diseases and conditions. TTO appears to be effective against bacteria, viruses, fungal infections, mites such as scabies, and lice such as head lice. In the treatment of moderate common acne, topical application of 5% TTO has shown an effect comparable to 5% benzoyl peroxide, albeit with slower onset of action. TTO is a known antifungal agent, effective in vitro against multiple dermatophytes found on the skin. In vivo, shampoo with 5% tea tree oil has been shown to be an effective treatment for dandruff due to its ability to treat Malassezia furfur, the most common cause of the condition. One clinical study found that 100% TTO administered topically, combined with debridement, is comparable to clotrimazole in effectiveness against onychomycosis, the most frequent cause of nail disease. The effectiveness of topical tea tree oil preparations for the treatment of the yeast infection Candidiasis is supported by its ability to kill Candida in vitro. There is some very limited research that has shown that TTO may have topical antiviral activity, especially against the herpes virus (cold sores), chicken pox, shingles blisters, etc. One study has shown a 5% tea tree oil solution to be more effective than commercial medications against the scabies mite in an in vitro situation.
Nevertheless, despite a remarkable clinical efficiency suggested to TTO, its acute irritation hinders its daily use at high concentrations. Hence, according to the American Cancer Society: "Tea tree oil is toxic when swallowed. It has been reported to cause drowsiness, confusion, hallucinations, coma, unsteadiness, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach upset, blood cell abnormalities, and severe rashes. It should be kept away from pets and children." A small number of people experience allergic contact dermatitis as a reaction to dermal contact with TTO. In an Italian study of 725 consecutive patients, patients were patch tested with undiluted, 1%, and 0.1% TTO. For undiluted TTO, nearly 6% of the patients observed positive reactions of skin irritation. Only one of 725 patients observed a positive reaction of skin irritation with the 1% dilution. None of the 725 patients observed adverse reactions with the 0.1% dilution. Allergic reactions may be due to the various oxidation products that are formed by exposure of the oil to light and/or air. Moreover, external application of TTO undiluted and/or at inappropriate high doses has been associated with toxicity, including death, in cats and other animals, due to ingestion during grooming. A highly disputed case study reported in The New England Journal of Medicine concluded that repeated topical exposure of lavender and tea tree oils may have caused prepubertal gynecomastia in three young boys, see Henley, Derek V.; Lipson, Natasha; Korach, Kenneth S.; Bloch, Clifford A. (2007). "Prepubertal Gynecomastia Linked to Lavender and Tea Tree Oils". New England Journal of Medicine 356 (5): 479-85. The study involved just three individuals and found lavender to be the only common ingredient used by the boys in the study. While all three cases involved the use of products containing lavender oil as an ingredient, only one boy also used products containing TTO. It was noted that in all cases, the prepubertal gynecomastia reversed after several months. If used in concentrations below 4% or particularly below 0.25%, TTO may fail to kill bacteria and create selection pressure, which may result in them becoming less sensitive to tea tree oil and even some antibiotics in vitro. Undiluted tea tree oil can cause some hearing loss when used in the ears of animals; however, a 2% concentration has not been shown to have any lasting effect. It is not known whether the same is true for humans.
Hence, as one can see TTO efficiency in treating skin conditions increases from above approximately 0.25%, whilst its irritation is found concentration greater than 0.1%.
Skin treatment by hypertonic solutions and compositions thereof are known in the art. As an example, WO/2009/125383, A MEDICAL COVERING FOR HEALING WOUNDS AND SKIN DISEASES, which is incorporated herein as a reference, discloses a medical covering used for dermatological diseases and topical pathogeneses. The range of this treatment and the time required for achieving a complete cure is moderate.
Use of honey in the cosmetic industry in known in the art. Hence for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,145 discloses use of 0.1 to 10 weight percent honey as keratolytic agent for improving the radiance and the complexion of the skin and treating wrinkles U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,367 discloses a cosmetic composition wherein honey present is in an amount between 0.005 to 0.01 parts per 1 part carrier medium. U.S. Pat. No. 6,551,606 discloses a cosmetic product that contains enzymes and has an intensive skin action, especially a regenerative effect The inventive cosmetic product contains 0.01 to 5 wt. % of a concentrate of the coconut milk of Cocos nucifera, containing peroxidase, lipase and protease; 0.1 to 10 wt. % of a plant milkwater, and 0.01 to 5 wt. % of a glycerol extract of a mixture consisting of honey, rice hulls, rice hull oil and/or rice germ oil; with the remainder consisting of cosmetic auxiliary agents, active agents and carrier substances.
The use of honey and its alternatives in combination with TTO was rarely discussed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,863 "Honey bee repellent composition comprising tea tree oil" discloses a social stinging insect repellent composition comprises effective repelling amounts of tea tree oil and benzaldehyde. U.S. Pat. No. 7,147,876 "Compositions for removal of toxins" discloses a medicinal or cosmetic composition comprising Aloe vera in combination with at least one vitamin, a minerals concentrate, an organic oils concentrate, at least one Chinese Herb, at least one essential oil and at least one spice. The invention shows, in one of its embodiments, that the Aloe vera-based composition may also comprise a honey product such as royal jelly or bee propolis. US20110135746 "Protective lip balm composition" discloses a lip balm formulations which comprise a combination of anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal substances, including: bees wax, cocoa butter, Shea butter, Jojoba oil, Naroli oil, myrrh, tea tree oil, lavender oil, Blue Moroccan chamomile, and vitamin E and, optionally, Manuca honey and Aloe vera either singularly or together with the other ingredients.
Hence, a cost effective non skin irritating TTO-based therapeutic composition useful for cosmetics and both veterinary and human medicine which is characterized by a wide spectrum of effective biocidic and dermal action and yet is generally regarded as safe and non-irritant is still a long felt need.


An electrical connector includes a housing, a number of contacts received in the housing and a spacer for holding the contacts. The housing includes a mating portion and a pair of extensions extending from the mating portion. The pair of extensions and the mating portion jointly form a receiving space to receive the spacer. The spacer includes a horizontal portion and a vertical portion perpendicular to the horizontal portion. The horizontal portion defines a slot through which the contacts extend. The vertical portion includes an inner wall, an outer wall and a channel extending through the inner wall and the outer wall. The outer wall defines a recess opening in communication with the channel. When the contacts are associated with the spacer, the contacts are partly exposed to the recess opening via the channel for robust heat dissipation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector for being mounted to a circuit board, and more particularly to an electrical connector with an improved spacer for heat dissipation.
2. Description of Related Art
With rapid development of electronic technologies, electrical connectors have been widely used in electronic devices for exchanging information and data with external devices. A conventional QSFP connector usually includes an insulative housing, a plurality of contacts received in the insulative housing, a spacer for organizing the contacts and a metallic shielding cage enclosing the insulative housing. Each contact includes a soldering portion extending beyond the insulative housing for being soldered to a circuit board.
However, since the spacer and the contacts are wholly embedded, the air permeability of spacer of the conventional QSFP connector is poor. As a result, heat generated by the contacts cannot be easily dissipated to the air, thereby decreasing the working life of the QSFP connector.
Hence, an electrical connector with an improved spacer for robust heat dissipation is desired.

Electrical connector with improved spacer for heat dissipation


To provide a dielectric thin with a high dielectric constant, a low leakage current, and stable physical properties and electrical properties and to provide a thin film capacitor or other thin film dielectric device with a high capacitance and high reliability and a method of production of the same, a dielectric thin film containing oxides such as barium strontium titanate expressed by the formula (BaxSr(1-x))aTiO3 (0.5<x≦1.0, 0.96<a≦1.00) and having a thickness of not more than 500 nm and a method of production of a thin film dielectric device including a step of annealing the dielectric thin film in an atmosphere of an oxidizing gas after forming a dielectric thin film on a conductive electrode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dielectric thin film, a thin film dielectric device, and a method of production of the same, more particularly relates to a dielectric thin film, thin film dielectric device, and method of production of the same giving a high dielectric constant and able to reduce the leakage current.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, in the field of electronic devices, along with the higher densities and integrations of electronic circuits, increasingly smaller size, thinner layers, and greater capacitance are being demanded from the circuit devices required for various electronic circuits such as capacitors.
To reduce the size and thickness of layers and increase the capacitance of capacitors, dielectric materials with high dielectric constants are being used. As these dielectric materials, lead titanate (PbTiO3), lead zirconium titanate (PZT), barium titanate (BaTiO3: BT), stronium titanate (SrTiO3: ST), barium strontium titanate (BaSrTiO3: BST), and other perovskite-type oxides may be mentioned.
Among these, barium titanate (BT), strontium titanate (ST), and barium strontium titanate (BST) have high dielectric constants and long life time and are superior in properties. In particular, the full solid solution of barium titanate (BT) and strontium titanate (ST), barium strontium titanate (BST), can be adjusted in Curie temperature by changing the ratio between BT and ST and can be made a paraelectric substance having a high dielectric constant even at room temperature.
Further, such a capacitor, for example, a capacitor device used as a circuit device essential for various electronic circuits, sometimes has to be made a thin film device. Therefore, the BT, ST, and BST used as the dielectric layers of the capacitor device also have to be made thinner to be made dielectric thin films. When making the above dielectric materials the dielectric thin film, it is desirable that the dielectric constant be high and the leakage current be reduced.
However, in such a dielectric thin film, achievement of both a high dielectric constant and low leakage current is generally considered difficult. To solve this problem, the method of doping an additive in the BST has been performed. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 8-198669 proposes an Er-doped BST comprised of BST doped with erbium (Er). However, when making the BT, ST, BST, or other dielectric a thin one of less than about 500 nm, it is difficult to uniformly add the additive Er and the distribution of the additive becomes varied, so it is difficult to obtain stable characteristics.
Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 7-17713 discloses a dielectric thin film comprised of a perovskite type oxide expressed by the chemical formula (Ba,Sr)yTiO3 where 1.00<y≦1.20. A higher dielectric constant and a lower leakage current are achieved. In the examples of this document, the composition of BST forming the dielectric thin film is made (Ba0.5, Sr0.5)yTiO3 where the ratios of barium and strontium are equal and the value of "y" is made 1.00<y≦1.20. However, when making the composition of BST the above range of composition, both a high dielectric constant and low leakage current cannot be said to be sufficiently achieved yet. In particular, when making a dielectric thin film even thinner (for example, when making it less than 100 nm), both the dielectric constant and the low leakage current characteristic cannot be said to be sufficient.

Dielectric thin film, dielectric thin film device, and method of production thereof


The present invention concerns a padding for a cushion (1), such as a cushion for a seat, comprising foam material (100), with modified resilience provided by recesses (101), in at least one section of the cushion, the size and/or density of the recesses being different in adjacent sections providing a varying softness or collapsibility in the foam material (100) in one surface direction of the cushion, wherein the recesses (101) may be non-transient and a frame (410) may be completely or partly embedded in the foam. The invention also concerns a seat cushion or furniture comprising such padding and the method for producing such padding.

In the padding of furniture, different types of foam are normally used, such as foam rubber, polyurethane, latex etc, in the outer layer bordering to the cover of the furniture which may be of textile, leather or a synthetic material. The padding of the seat of furniture, such as a seat in the chair, may for example lie over other types of spring systems, such as slats, spiral springs or rib springs, or the padding material may make out the entire suspension in itself.
It may be difficult to adapt the suspension of furniture to different users, and in such an adaptation must usually be performed as a consequence of the user's weight. A hard or soft suspension will be experienced differently in relation to how heavy the user is. However, it is difficult to adjust such suspension in an automated system without using spring material of different density and/or stiffness.
An accompanying problem concerns the structure of a seat in furniture, such as a chair or a sofa seat, wherein the padding normally should be harder towards the sides of the seat in order to provide support, and possibly softer towards the front edge in order to make it easy to sit down and get up, simultaneously as a flexible support is achieved when the user leans forward. In order to obtain such effects it has been common to provide different types of springs under the seat of the chair, or to build up the seat with different types of foam with different properties. However, it is difficult and expensive technically in production to perform such a build up, and several lines of production are necessary.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,755,475 discloses a cushion structure with several internal volumes created by inflatable containers. The containers provide free volumes in the mould during moulding and may be filled with foams of different property such as resilience, after the moulding of the cushion or at the same time, through pin holes. The technique is however complex and requires inflatable containers of varying sizes that will withstand hot liquid foam moulded around the containers. The precision of the size and position of the containers is also limited, and the combinations are limited to a minimum size.
DE 296 21 190 discloses a mattress comprising a foam material with channels running over the entire width of the mattress, the channels having an inverted T-shaped cross sectional shape. The channels may have different spacing and dimensions to provide varying resilience. However, variation in resilience will only be provided in the length direction of the mattress, and will not provide increased side support, such as needed in a seat.
From prior art, continuous holes in upper mattresses of foam or latex are known in order to provide ventilation of the mattress during use. GB 1 445 561 discloses a mattress of foam material with drilled cavities going through the mattress. The cavities are arranged in limited length sections with a varying density of holes per area to provide varying resilience over the length of the mattress. However, holes going through the foam product may lead to tearing the product during stress especially if the density of number of holes per area is high.
DE 200 19 161 discloses devices for mounding cavities into a foam element such as a mattress. The device comprises a stem connected to a main body with a larger dimension than the stem around which foam is moulded, the shape of the main body may be of different shapes. The device also comprises a cutting device for extracting the main body out of the cured foam after moulding. The cutting of the foam material after curing will however also degrade the product as it may give rise to rupture during use when subjected to stress.
Further, foam mattresses are known with even "wave top patterns" in order to increase the softness of mattresses in relation to the stiffness of the foam. However, no variation in the stiffness is provided by the padding in the different parts of the furniture where they are used.
Therefore, there is a need for a padding wherein the resilience of the padding varies locally, preferably with smooth transitions without straining the foam material causing ruptures. The padding should be produced in a simple, quick and cost effective manner, preferably integrated with modern elements for furniture.


A handle assembly for a wheeled luggage case includes two outer tubes, two inner tubes respectively and retractably received in the two outer tubes, a rotated handle connected between the two inner tubes, two actuating means respectively in the inner tubes, and two rods received in the inner tubes and operatably engaged with the actuating means. The rotated handle has two ends to push the two rods to actuate the actuating means when the rotated handle is rotated. The actuating means each have a positioning member received therein so as to position the inner tubes corresponding to the outer tubes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a handle assembly and, more particularly, to an improved collapsible handle assembly for a wheeled luggage case. The assembly includes a rotatable handle to actuate positioning members disposed in two inner tubes of the assembly so that the inner tubes can be pulled or retracted corresponding to the outer tubes.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
There are many kinds of wheeled luggage cases in the market for carrying of baggage during traveling. Most of such wheeled luggage cases are collapsible to save space requirement for their storage. However, the security and contractibility of their contractible rods are always problems of the conventional wheeled luggage cases, because the contractible rods have to be retracted with enough strength, but they will be damaged when the strength is too much; which means they are not easy to be controlled to a proper position. Hence, use of the conventional contractible luggage cases is not convenient, and their use is not sufficiently safe. In view of the above defects, the inventor has created a new structure of a handle assembly for a wheeled luggage case.
The present invention intends to provide an improved handle assembly to mitigate the above mentioned problems. The handle assembly of the present invention comprises a rotated handle has two base members respectively covering the two ends thereof, two inner tubes each are retractably disposed in a respective outer tube and connected to a respective base member of the rotated handle at one end thereof, and two actuating means are respectively disposed in the other end of the inner tubes; so that the inner tubes can be moved corresponding to the outer tubes by rotating the handle.

Handle assembly for a wheeled luggage case


A spar platform is provided comprising an essentially vertical cylindrical buoyant vessel, and a shroud surrounding the essentially vertical cylindrical vessel wherein the shroud comprises two essentially perpendicular intersecting sets of foam-filled fiberglass elements. In a preferred embodiment, the perpendicular intersecting elements form a grid having openings of 0.05 a dimension of between about 0.05 and about 0.35 vessel diameters and wherein each set of elements contains elements where the centerlines of the elements are separated by about 0.06 to about 0.60 vessel diameters. The shroud is preferably fabricated in panels that can be secured to the vessel using standoffs.

Many different types of platforms have been provided for drilling of oil wells offshore. In shallow waters, ridged platforms are most often used. In deeper water spar platforms may be more suitable. A spar platform is a floating vessel that is held at the location by anchor lines. Spar platforms typically have a long vertical cylindrical hull that supports a platform above the water line. When the platform provides space for drilling and maintaining oil or gas wells, the production wells may be provided along the outside edge of the platform or the production wells may be located in the center of the platform with a "moon bay" through the center of the spar.
Designs for spar platforms must consider vortex induced vibrations of the spar hull and may, depending on the prevailing currents and the dimensions and stiffness of the spar, utilize some method to suppress vibrations caused by vortex shedding. Typically, helical strakes have been proposed to suppress vortex induced vibrations. Helical strakes are commonly included on smoke stacks and other vertical cylinders in air to reduce vibrations caused by vortex shedding, but the effectiveness of helical strakes in water, and on shorter cylinders such as spars, is less than what is desired.
A variety of shrouds and fairings have been proposed or used to reduce vibrations caused by shedding of vortices from tubulars in water. These shrouds and fairings may be considerably more effective in reducing vibrations caused by vortex shedding than helical strakes, but are typically difficult and expensive to provide on a tubular as large as the hull of a spar platform.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a spar platform that is less susceptible to vortex induced vibrations than prior art spar platforms. It is a further object to provide such a platform having, over at least a portion of its axial length, a perforated shroud. It is another object to provide such a platform wherein the perforated shroud can be easily installed and is relatively inexpensive.