The present invention relates to a method for the adaptation of infectious bursal disease viruses (IBDV) to growth in CEF cell culture. Changing the codons for amino acid residues 253 (Gln) and 284 (Ala) to 253 (His) and 284 (Thr) allowed bursa adapted Classical and Variant-E IBDV to grow in CEF cell culture. For GLS IBDV only a change of the codon for amino acid residue 284 was necessary.

The present invention is concerned with a method for the preparation of an infectious IBDV mutant capable of replication in CEF cell culture, a genetically engineered IBDV mutant as well as with a vaccine such a IBDV mutant.
Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) IS a member of the Birnaviridae family. Viruses in this family have a very similar genomic organisation and a similar replication cycle. The genomes of these viruses consist of 2 segments (A and B) of double-stranded (ds) RNA. The larger segment A encodes a polyprotein which is cleaved by autoproteolysis to form mature viral proteins VP2, VP3 and VP4. VP2 and VP3 are the major structural proteins of the virion. VP2 is the major host-protective immunogen of birnaviruses, and contains the antigenic regions responsible for the induction of neutralising antibodies. The VP4 protein appears to be a virus-coded protease that is involved in the processing of a precursor polyprotein of the VP2, VP3 and VP4 proteins. The larger segment A possesses also a second open reading frame (ORF), preceding and partially overlapping the polyprotein gene. This second open reading frame encodes a protein VP5 of unknown function that is present in IBDV infected cells. The smaller segment B encodes VPI, a 90 kDa multifunctional protein with polymerase and capping enzyme activities.
For IBDV, two serotypes exist, serotype 1 and 2. The two serotypes may be differentiated by virus neutralisation (VN) tests. Furthermore, subtypes of serotype 1 have been isolated. These so-called xe2x80x9cvariantxe2x80x9d viruses of serotype 1 can be identified by cross-neutralisation tests, a panel of monoclonal antibodies or RT-PCR. These subtypes of serotype 1 of IBDV have also been described in literature, for example: classical, variant-E, GLS, RS593 and DS326 strains (Van Loon, et al. Proceedings of the International symposium on infectious bursal disease and chicken infectious anaemia, Rauischholzhausen, Germany, 179-187, 1994).
Infectious Bursal disease (IBD), also called Gumboro disease, is an acute, highly-contagious viral infection in chickens that has lymphoid tissue as its primary target with a selective tropism for cells of the bursa of Fabricius. The morbidity rate in susceptible flocks is high, with rapid weight loss and moderate mortality rates. Chicks that recover from the disease may have immune deficiencies because of the destruction of the bursa of Fabricius which is essential to the defence mechanism of the chicken. The IBD-virus causes severe immunosuppression in chickens younger than 3 weeks of age and induces bursal lesions in chicks up to 3 months old.
For many years the disease could be prevented by inducing high levels of antibodies in breeder flocks by the application of an inactivated vaccine, to chickens that had been primed with attenuated live IBDV vaccine. This has kept economic losses caused by IBD to a minimum. Maternal antibodies in chickens derived from vaccinated breeders prevents early infection with IBDV and diminishes problems associated with immunosuppression. In addition, attenuated live vaccines have also been used successfully in commercial chicken flocks after maternal antibodies had declined.
Recently, very virulent strains of IBDV have caused outbreaks of disease with high mortality in Europe. The current vaccination programs failed to protect chicks sufficiently. Vaccination failures were mainly due to the inability of live vaccines to infect the birds before challenge with virulent field virus.
Therefore, a constant need exists to improve existing vaccines and to develop new types of vaccines. For the development of live vaccines IBD viruses in attenuated form are required. Conventionally, this can be achieved by serial passaging of IBDV field isolates on an appropriate substrate. For the development of inactivated IBDV vaccines, an appropriate substrate is necessary for the generation of high amounts of IBDV antigen mass resulting from the propagation of IBD viruses on the substrate.
It is known that field IBDVs can readily be propagated in vivo in the bursa of infected birds or in embryonated eggs. However, although, the successful adaptation an propagation of some IBDV strains to in vitro cell culture of chicken embryo origin has been reported, it is generally acknowledged that most IBDV strains isolated from infected bursa in the field, in particular the so-called virulent- or very virulent IBDV strains cannot be adapted to cells of chicken embryo origin, such as chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) or cells from other organs such as the kidney and liver (Brown et al., J. Gen. Virology 75, 675-680, 1994; van Loon, et al., 1994, supra).
The drawbacks of the in vivo culture substrates are obvious. Such culture methods are animal unfriendly, need a lot of animals, are time consuming and cannot be carried out under standardised and stringent conditions. In addition, the limited number of IBDV strains which are not refractory to adaptation to in vitro cell culture substrates, suffer from the disadvantage that as a result of the serial passaging process leading to the adaptation of the IBDV strains, random mutations are introduced in the genome of the virus in an uncontrolled manner. Such mutations may influence properties of the virus other than that associated with the adaptation of the virus to the cell culture, e.g. properties related to the immunogenicity of the virus. Such additional, random mutations are not desired. The adaptation of the IBDVs by passaging of the virus in vitro in CEF cell cultures has been associated with attenuation of the virulence as demonstrated by a reduction of the virus"" ability to induce lesions in the bursa of the infected bird. Yamaguchi et al. (Virology 223, 219-223, 1996) investigated the molecular basis for the virulence of IBD viruses and the attenuation of these viruses as a result of the adaptation of bursa IBDVs to CEF cell culture. It was concluded that from the studies carried out by Yamaguchi et al. the precise mutations involved in attenuation of the wild-type IBDV could not be identified. It was suggested that the amino acid residues at position 279 (Asp/Asn) and 284 (Ala/Thr) of the polyprotein encoded by the long open reading frame of the segment A are important for virulence or propagation of the IBDV in CEF cells. The latter was confirmed by Lim, B-L (Proceedings of the 4th Asia Pacific Poultry Health Conference, 22-26 November, 1998, Melbourne, Australia, Abst. 79). It is disclosed therein that substitution of the amino acid residues 279 (Aspxe2x86x92Asn) and 284 (Alaxe2x86x92Thr) in the VP2 protein of an IBDV results in a IBDV mutant which can be propagated in CEF cell culture. However, the prior art does not teach an alternative of type and minimal number of amino acid mutations which are required and sufficient to allow the adaptation of bursa IBDV to CEF cell culture.
It is an object of this invention to provide a generally applicable method for adaptation of IBDV isolates which only grow in vivo in the bursa of infected birds to growth in cell culture.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for preparing attenuated IBDV mutants by introducing mutations in the IBDV genome in a controlled manner.
Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a genetically engineered IBDV mutant comprising the appropriate amino acid residues which allow the mutant to grow

Genetically engineered cell culture adapted infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) mutants


In order to generate an output signal delayed compared to an input signal and with a defined mark-to-space ratio, it is useful to produce at least first and second intermediate signals delayed differently with respect to the input signal and to combine them to form the output signal so that a rising (or negative) edge of the first intermediate signal determines a rising edge of the output signal, and a rising (or negative) edge of the second intermediate signal determines a falling edge of the output signal. In particular a plurality of successive versions of an input timing signal delayed by an equal amount can be generated with a mark-to-space ratio of 50%.

The present invention relates to a method and a device for producing an output signal that is delayed compared to an input signal. In particular the invention relates to a method and a device for producing a plurality of output signals that are in each case delayed by a defined phase angle compared to an input signal, and that have a mark-to-space ratio of for example 50%.
For the purposes of data recovery by oversampling, many versions of an input timing signal delayed by identical times or phase angles are required, with which various sampling elements can be controlled. In order not to let the number of signals become too high, it is desirable to be able to initiate a sampling procedure with the rising edge as well as with the falling edge of each signal. For this purpose it is necessary that the signals have an accurately defined mark-to-space ratio, in particular a mark-to-space ratio of 50%.
In order to delay the input timing, delay elements are generally employed. On account of process-conditioned differences between the components in the delay elements, however, the mark-to-space ratio deviates from the desired value, however, for example by 50%. This deviation becomes increasingly larger in the course of a chain of delay elements since the errors to some extent add up. In addition, there is the deviation that arises if the input signal of the chain already deviates from the desired value, for example by 50%.
With a relatively large number of delay elements, the mark-to-space ratio at the end of the chain deviates to such an extent from the desired value that it is no longer possible to use the rising edge as well as the falling edge of the signal since the result would be too inaccurate.
In principle, it would be possible to regulate the mark-to-space ratio actively. This means, however, a high switching expenditure in the case of high frequencies in some cases above 1 GHz, as are required for oversampling at high data rates.

Method and device for producing delayed signals


An adjustable star wheel device for the indexing of items of differing sizes for use in a manufacturing process such as the attaching of outserters to containers.

Packaging equipment is commonly used for the filling of containers, the closure of the containers, and the labeling of containers. Examples of containers in frequent use are the bottles or boxes found on the shelves in the marketplace. The bottles are used to package food and other items for both the home and in industry. Such packages are provided with labels to identify the contents of the package, as well as to provide instructions in the use of the material contained within the package.
A problem arises in that there are occasions wherein there is insufficient room on a package label to provide all of the necessary data and instructions on the use of the material contained within the package. For example, in the distribution of medicinal products, literature or "outserts" in the nature of a multifolded paper are attached to the package; unlike the usual label, such multifolded paper has adequate space to fully describe the material being packaged and/or its use. The outsert has the description of the drug, side effects and all of the necessary legal information that must be provided by the pharmaceutical company to the end user. However, the securing of literature, such as the foregoing multifolded paper or a brochure of bound sheets of paper, is not readily accomplished by the type of mechanism utilized for applying a simple, single layer label. The bulkiness of the literature and its tendency to open, necessitates the use of specially constructed equipment which can handle the folded or bound literature. The known literature-applying machines have a number of problems. One such system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,853,063 which utilizes a web of pressure sensitive tape to move literature from a literature magazine to the target container. Web breaks and adjustment of the literature stop pins create constant attendance. Tension of the web is critical because too much tension causes web breaks, while not enough tension may cause the web to sag.
An additional problem with prior art outserters centers on the step of removing the literature from a magazine hopper and placing it on the web in a consistent manner. Such conventional literature-applying machines use a reciprocating or rotary mechanism that takes the literature out of a hopper using a vacuum, turns the literature at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the web, and then releases the vacuum, thus adhering the literature to the web. One such machine utilizes a vacuum star wheel to pull the outsert out of a magazine hopper. However, this type of mechanism does not apply the literature to the web with consistent accuracy, and must be rebuilt frequently due to constant mechanical wear. Literature may also be applied to containers using glue machines. The literature is removed from a hopper and placed on a rotary drum. The drum holds the literature by vacuum and is rotated to a station that applies glue to the back of the literature. The drum is then rotated to another station where the literature is applied directly onto a container. This method of applying a piece of literature to the container, however, is messy and inaccurate. In an alternative to this procedure, a container is positioned on a platform that is eccentric. The hotmelt glue is applied to the side of the container. When the containers nears the outsert, dual feed screws accelerate the outsert to meet the glue on the containers. When the containers nears the outsert, the container is rotated on the platform and the glue pulls the outsert out of the hopper. In this method the container actually hits the outsert at the magazine discharge and the only thing that actually pulls the outsert out of the hopper is the adhesive strength of the glue. The system described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,359 (the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference) overcomes many of the disadvantages inherent in the above described literature-applying machines by providing a rotatable member which receives literature from a hopper and is rotated to a station that applies the literature to an adhesively coated web. The rotatable member of that device is rotated such that only a single piece of literature is received by each literature receiving area on the rotatable member. The system includes a hopper having an exit for dispensing literature one piece at a time and a rotatable member having a plurality of literature-receiving areas disposed around the periphery thereof. Each literature-receiving area receives one piece of literature from the exit. The member is positioned such that a portion of the periphery thereof is in facing relationship with the exit of the hopper for allowing one of the literature-receiving areas to be aligned with the exit for receiving the one piece of dispensed literature. Drive means is drivingly associated with the member for rotating the member in a first direction such that the literature-receiving areas pass by the exit one at a time to correspondingly receive a piece of literature from the exit of the hopper. A web having an adhesive coating on one side thereof is provided for receiving and carrying pieces of literature. Guide means guide the web past a literature-receiving area of the member having a terminal piece of literature positioned thereon such that the adhesive coating on the web is in facing relationship with the terminal piece of literature. First transfer means transfers the terminal piece of literature from the literature-receiving area having the terminal piece of literature therein into adhering contact with the adhesive coating on the web. Moving means moves the web past the first transfer means toward an object which is to receive a piece of literature. Second transfer means transfers a piece of literature from the web to the object. Means receive the web after removal of literature therefrom by the second transfer means.


A semiconductor device has a through electrode formed in a through hole which penetrates a Si substrate from one surface to the other surface of the Si substrate, wherein a rectangular electrode pad is provided on the other surface with an insulation film laid between the electrode pad and the other surface, an opening of the through hole on the one surface side is circular, an opening of the through hole on the other surface side is rectangular, and the area of the opening on the other surface side is made smaller than the area of the opening on the one surface side.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to semiconductor devices and, in particular, to a semiconductor device having a through electrode formed therein, a circuit substrate incorporating the semiconductor device, and an electronic device incorporating the semiconductor device.
2. Related Art
Electronic information devices, as typified by cellular telephones, have become more compact and lighter, and the function thereof has become more sophisticated and faster. As a result, the IC which is the heart of such a device is also required to achieve miniaturization and weight reduction and to have more sophisticated function, and it is necessary to increase the added value thereof including shorter TAT (turn around time) and cost reduction.
Generally, it requires time and cost to commercialize what is called a system LSI. In addition, a region where a device element such as a SAW (surface acoustic wave) element and an IC are mounted together has also become smaller and lighter, making it difficult to meet systematization.
The existing system packaging technique has used the wire bonding technique to lay chips one on top of another three-dimensionally, thereby reducing the footprint, making the package lighter and more compact, and achieving sophisticated function. However, it has been believed that the dependence on the wire bonding technique makes it difficult to achieve further miniaturization, weight reduction, and more sophisticated function.
Under these circumstances, in recent years, a through hole has been formed in a silicon substrate forming an IC by a technique called TSV (through Si via), and a through electrode has been formed by using the through hole. By doing so, the wiring distance in obtaining electrical continuity between the multilayer chips is minimized, whereby the system package is made lighter and more compact.
As for TSV, various techniques have been disclosed as described in Japanese Patent No. 3,879,816, Japanese Patent No. 3,970,211, JP-A-2007-311584 and JP-A-2006-128172 (Patent Documents 1 to 4). For example, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, a depression is formed on the surface of a Si substrate by dry etching, a through hole is formed by a laser beam, and an intermediate part of the through hole is widened by wet etching.
Moreover, Patent Document 2 describes that, when a through hole is formed from the front surface of a Si substrate by a laser beam or dry etching, the side wall of the through hole is formed in a tapered shape so that an opening area is decreased from an opening on one surface to an opening on the other surface in order to make it easy to form an insulation film.
In addition, Patent Document 3 describes that the side wall of a through hole is formed perpendicularly by forming the through hole in a Si substrate by using the Bosch process.
Furthermore, Patent Document 4 describes that poor connection due to deformation of an electrode pad associated with distortion caused by the formation of a through hole is prevented by making the width of the bottom of the through hole greater than that of an intermediate part of the through hole by performing overetching when the through hole is formed in a Si substrate by dry etching.
Of the patent documents described above, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 may make it difficult to form an insulation film on the inside surface of a through hole, and an enlarged intermediate part of the through hole makes the technique unfit to obtain a layout configuration with a narrow pitch by miniaturization. On the other hand, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 makes it easy to form an insulation film on the inside surface of a through hole. However, a large opening makes this technique also unfit to obtain a layout configuration with a narrow pitch by miniaturization.
Moreover, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 3, overetching at the time of formation of a through hole is considered to become necessary for commercial mass production due to, for example, variations in the etching rate. In this case, as disclosed in Patent Document 4, a notch directed outward is formed between the bottom of the through hole and the insulation film. The notch in an insulation film interface part becomes a shadow for the opening, making it difficult to form the insulation film on the inside wall surface of the through hole. Moreover, since the amount of overetching varies depending on variations in the thickness of a Si substrate or variations in the etching rate, it is difficult to control the notch shape. Incidentally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,187,685 B1 (Patent Document 5) proposes a method for releasing electric charges at an insulation film interface part, the electric charges which cause a notch at the time of dry etching. However, this method does not promise the effect thereof in a laminated substrate such as a laminated chip because, in such a laminated substrate, a surface to which a pulse is applied is not a subject to be etched.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Semiconductor device, circuit substrate, and electronic device


A display device includes a drawing processing unit displaying a status of a device mounted on a train car, and a data collection unit including a signal definition holding unit holding signal definitions to be bases of first signals requesting information on the status of the device, a signal mapping management unit acquiring configuration information on the number of cars and a traveling direction, and generating the first signals, based on the signal definitions and configuration information to request information on the device status, a signal data storage unit holding a value of a second signal as information on the device status acquired by the signal mapping management unit's request, and a signal mapping generation unit generating signal mapping information for specifying the order of the cars on a display screen, based on the configuration information, and outputting the signal mapping information to the signal data storage unit.

A display device mounted on a driver's cab of a train displays the statuses and the like of devices mounted on cars on a display screen. Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique of automatically generating a display screen with changing the number of cars to be displayed depending on a train composition when the statuses and the like of devices mounted on the cars are displayed in a display device.

Display device and on-board information display method


An image sensing device operates in a first and a second picture image mode. The image sensing device includes a pixel area having a first vertical transferring CCD to transfer a first electric charge converted from an optical image and a second vertical transferring CCD to transfer a second electric charge of optical black level respectively. The image sensing device includes a block portion for selectively blocking the first and second electric charge, wherein the first and second electric charges are outputted without block operation of the block portion and transferred to the horizontal CCD in the first picture image mode and wherein the block portion selectively blocks the first electric charge, and the first electric charge unblocked and the second electric charge are transferred to the horizontal CCD at different timing in a second picture image mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to transferring method of electric charge from an image sensing device and the image sensing device preferable for obtaining image data of different picture size in accordance with still picture image mode and moving picture image mode.
2. Description of the Related Art
A solid-state image sensing device for an image sensing device is used for a video camera. FIG. 1 is a partial plan view of an image sensing device. In FIG. 1, the image sensing device is composed of a plurality of photoelectric converters 1 for converting optical light into an electric charge, a vertical charge coupled device (hereinafter referred to as "VCCD") 2 for transferring an electric charge from the photoelectric converter 1 towards the arrow direction vertically, and a horizontal charge coupled device (hereinafter referred to as "HCCD") 3 for transferring the electric charge from the VCCD 2 towards the arrow direction horizontally.
The photoelectric converter 1 is disposed in horizontal and vertical direction of a predetermined pixel area in an array. A timing generator not shown provides the photoelectric converter 1 with a readout pulse to transfer the electric charges to adjacent VCCD 2. The VCCD 2 has a plurality of stages in vertical direction corresponding to vertical arrangement of the photoelectric converter 1. The VCCD 2 transfers electric charge to the next stages one by one in the timing of a vertical pulse generated from the timing generator not shown.
The HCCD 3 has a plurality of stages in horizontal direction corresponding to horizontal arrangement of the photoelectric converter 1. An electric charge transferred from the VCCD 2 is shifted to the horizontal direction by the timing of a horizontal pulse generated from the timing generator.
The electric charge generated in the photoelectric converter 1 is transferred to the VCCD 2 in predetermined timing, and is shifted to the HCCD 3. The electric charge transferred to the HCCD 3 is shifted to the horizontal direction to output all electric charges generated in the photoelectric converter 1, so that a single picture of an image signal is obtained.

Transferring method of electric charge from image sensing device and the image sensing device


A small D.C. motor (1) provided with a flat circular or square PTC thermistor (8) between an input terminal (7) and phosphor bronze plate (6) connected to the motor brush (5). The thermistor has electrodes on both faces and an opening provided substantially in its central portion, and it is fitted on the inside or outside of the motor casing (2). The motor shaft (9) or an extension thereof is passed through the opening in the thermistor in such a manner that the plate surface of the PTC thermistor (8) is nearly perpendicular to the shaft (9).

Mainly a bimetal, a PTC thermistor, etc. are known as over-current protection elements to be used as a counter measure an overload of a small-sized DC motor, and there is a tendency that those elements are particularly used in the automobile industry.
Of those elements, a bimetal is connected in series mainly to a motor having a diameter of 40 mm or more, that is, having an overload current of about 5 A or more, and usually used as the motor built-in type.
Generally, when an overload current is not larger than 5 A, the accuracy of switching operation of a bimetal is low so that the bimetal fails to perform stable operation. Accordingly, a PTC thermistor having a cost lower than that of the bimetal is broadly used.
As is known, a PTC thermistor is a resistor element having a positive temperature coefficient, and although the resistance value thereof is low at an ordinary temperature, the value suddenly increases to be 10.sup.4 -10.sup.7 times as large as the value at an ordinary temperature if the element reaches or exceeds a predetermined switching temperature because of self heating due to an over-current or heat transfer from a certain heat source.
A PTC thermistor made of BaTiO.sub.3 ceramics is most generally known, and a PTC thermistor of V.sub.2 O.sub.3 ceramic, a resin PTC thermistor in which conductive particles such as carbon black or the like are contained in polyolefin resin, and the like, are known in addition to the BaTiO.sub.3 PTC thermistor.
Conventionally, a PTC thermistor to be used in a small-sized DC motor is made of semiconductor ceramics containing BaTiO.sub.3 as the principal component. Because of limitation in the material characteristic that the resistivity of the material must be not lower than 8 .OMEGA.cm and the withstand voltage be in a range of 30-50 V, in use, a PTC thermistor is usually connected in series to a motor as a disk-like part provided with a lead wire having a diameter not thinner than 10-12 mm. Since a PTC thermistor cannot be incorporated into a motor because of its shape and its size, however, it is general that a separate PTC thermistor is mounted on the outside a motor through a printed wiring board or the like.
Consequently, there has been a problem that it takes a long time to mount a PTC thermistor, and development of a small-sized motor, even a small-sized motor having a diameter smaller than 40 mm, provided with an overload protection element is desired by a car industrial field, etc., who seek reduction in size and in weight.
In such a background, the inventors of this application previously proposed "A small-sized DC motor" (Japanese Patent Application No. Hei-1-292397) and "A small-sized DC motor (Japanese Patent Application No. Hei-1-292398). They are those structured fundamentally with materials having characteristics considerably improved than those of the conventional materials. Next, those motors will be described.
The first small-sized DC motor disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. Hei-1-292397 is characterized in that a BaTiO.sub.3 ceramic in which the ratio (V.sub.B /.rho..sub.25) of the withstand voltage V.sub.B (V) to an ordinary-temperature resistivity .rho..sub.25 (.OMEGA.cm) is not smaller than 7 and not larger than 20 is connected in series to an armature winding and the PTC thermistor is incorporated in a motor casing. The BaTiO.sub.3 ceramic is formed of, as starting raw materials, a mixed crystal or a solid solution of BaTiO.sub.3, SrTiO.sub.3, PbTiO.sub.3, and CaTiO.sub.3 synthesized through a liquid-phase solution reaction method, and a valency control agent and Mn and Si which are added to the above principal components by predetermined amounts. Further, as the arrangement position of the PTC thermistor made of the foregoing materials, places such as a position between a phosphor-bronze plate connected to a brush of the small-sized DC motor and input terminals, a position between the brush and the phosphor-bronze plate connected to the input terminals, etc. have been proposed.
The small-sized DC motor disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. Hei-1-292398, on the other hand, is characterized in that a resin PTC thermistor is connected in series to an armature winding and incorporated in a casing of the motor. The material of the PTC thermistor a mixture of polyolefin or halogen-insulating resin and a high conductive material of a carbon group, the mixture generally having ordinary-temperature resistivity of 1-2 .OMEGA.cm and withstand voltage not lower than 100 V. Further, as the position where the PTC thermistor made of the foregoing material is to be provided, a position between a phosphor-bronze plate connected to an input terminal and a brush of the small-sized Dc motor, a position between the brush and the phosphor-bronze plate connected to the input terminal, etc., have been proposed.
Both the above small-sized DC motors are characterized in that the PTC thermistor is formed into a small-sized or thin plate-like chip or into a cylindrical shape or a shape according the foregoing shape and disposed in the inside of the motor, on the basis of the fact that the material characteristic of the PTC thermistor, particularly, the withstand voltage and the ordinary-temperature resistivity have been considerably improved.
Each of the above proposed small-sized DC motors, however, has the following problems, while the PTC thermistor superior in material characteristic is formed like a chip and incorporated into the motor so as to make the motor have an overload protecting function itself and be reduced in size as well as in weight/:
(1) With respect to the position where the PTC thermistor is incorporated in the small-sized DC motor and the shape of the PTC thermistor, a plate-like PTC thermistor having electrodes at its opposite surfaces and being arranged between the input terminal and the phosphor-bronze plate connected to the brush, a PTC thermistor having electrodes at its opposite surfaces and being arranged between the input terminal and the phosphor-bronze plate connected to the brush, a cylindrical PTC thermistor having electrodes at its opposite end surfaces and being arranged on a terminal board, etc. have been proposed. In each of the cases, there is a possibility of occurrence of problems that the space for position of arrangement is very small so that the size of the chip-shaped PTC thermistor is limited because of the foregoing limitation of the space, the mounting is not easy, the PTC thermistor may be allowed to come off or damaged by vibrations and/or shocks. PA1 (2) In a motor having internal resistance not larger than about 4 .OMEGA. even if the motor has a diameter not larger than 40 mm, the PTC thermistor which matches with the motor must have a resistance value not larger than 1 .OMEGA.. Assuming that such a PTC thermistor is formed by using the materials proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. Hei-1-292397, then the size of the thermistor is not smaller than about 5 mm.times.5 mm in the case of the square chip, and in order to mount the PTC thermistor in the casing with no problem, a considerable device is required in view of space and vibration-resistance. PA1 (3) Although detailed description will be made later with respective to the embodiment, a PTC thermistor is a heating resistor, and the resistance value of the thermistor under a predetermined condition is determined by a balance between the heat generation of the thermistor itself owing to Joule heat and the heat radiation to the circumference. That is, the resistance value relates to not only the shape of the thermistor and the circumferential heat environment but the heat capacity of the thermistor, that is, the size thereof. In other words, this fact means that the smaller the size of the thermistor becomes the smaller the heat capacity thereof becomes so that thermistor becomes more sensitive against a circumferential influence. PA1 (4) The fundamental point of the foregoing proposals is in the material in which the ratio of the withstand voltage to the ordinary-temperature resistivity is remarkably improved in comparison with the conventional one. The material is a BaTiO.sub.3 PTC ceramic synthesized through the liquid-phase solution reaction method, or PTC resin. Those materials are higher in cost than BaTiO.sub.3 ceramic prepared by the conventional solid phase method, and therefore such a PTC thermistor that can be incorporated in a motor even if it is made of the conventional material has been desired.
Consequently, in the case where a thermistor is merely decreased in size by using a material having a large ratio of withstand voltage to resistivity at ordinary temperatures and is incorporated in a motor as shown in the preceding proposal, when an overloaded state occurs in the motor, heat generation of a motor coil is transferred to the PTC thermistor through a phosphor-bronze plate or the like by the heat coupling effect so that the temperature of the PTC thermistor is raised easily and there is an advantage that the response of the switching operation of the PTC thermistor is made high, and in the current limiting state, on the contrary, the withstand voltage is made high as if a radiation plate is provided. There is, however, a defect in that the Joule heat of the PTC thermistor is transferred to the motor to thereby increase the limitation current value. Consequently, if the PTC thermistor is merely reduced in size, a bad influence is rather generated in view of heat capacity.


The present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring pressure inside a vessel using a magnetostrictive acoustic transducer. The apparatus includes a magnetostrictive acoustic transducer, including an exciting coil unit wound on a first magnetization yoke disposed on an outer position of a vessel, a receiving coil unit wound on the first magnetization yoke, and a vibration unit disposed on an inner position of the vessel in which the first magnetization yoke is installed; a control unit for supplying a predetermined excitation current signal to the exciting coil unit; and a pressure measuring unit for measuring an internal pressure of the vessel based on an ultrasonic wave signal received by the receiving coil unit and an excitation current signal into the exciting coil unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pressure measuring apparatus based on magnetostriction, and more particularly, to an apparatus in which a coil is constructed outside a vessel whose pressure will be measured, and ultrasonic waves necessary for pressure measurement are directly generated and measured inside the vessel using a magnetostrictive ultrasonic transducer having a vibration unit placed inside the vessel, so that an internal pressure of the vessel can be measured even in a low vacuum or high vacuum and under high atmospheric pressure or higher. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an apparatus that can transmit ultrasonic waves necessary for pressure measurement without damage or modification of a vessel.
2. Background of the Related Art
In general, in various manufacturing process such as the semiconductor and LCD fabrication, the measurement of the internal pressure of a vessel plays an important role in parameter control in process. When it is sought to measure the degree of vacuum, that is, the pressure of a vessel, a capacitance diaphragm gauge (CDG) is generally used.
Such a capacitance diaphragm gauge is configured such that it is mounted inside a vessel whose pressure will be measured and measures the pressure of the vessel. However, this method using the capacitance diaphragm gauge is complicated in that, before the degree of vacuum or pressure inside the vessel is measured using the capacitance diaphragm gauge, the degree of leakage of vacuum must be checked and, after the capacitance diaphragm gauge is constructed, the inside of the vessel must be made vacuum-tight. Furthermore, the capacitance diaphragm gauge has a limitation in that it can be used only in a low vacuum state.
A pressure measuring apparatus, which generates and receives ultrasonic waves outside the vessel by solving the problems, has a merit in that it is not required to check the degree of leakage of the vessel. However, a vessel is generally made of metal material, such as stainless steel, so as to withstand a difference between an internal pressure and an external pressure. Thus, when it is desired to transmit ultrasonic waves from the outside of the vessel to the inside thereof in order to measure the pressure inside the vessel, there is a disadvantage in that the ultrasonic waves are hardly transmitted to gas inside the vessel due to a great difference in acoustic impedance between the material of the vessel and the internal gas. Similarly, there is also the same problem in that the ultrasonic waves are rarely transmitted from the inside to the ultrasound measurement device at the outside of the vessel. Therefore, there are problems in that it is difficult to transmit ultrasonic waves as described above and pressure measurement is difficult since the transmitting efficiency of ultrasonic waves between the outside and the inside of the vessel is very low. Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus which can efficiently transmit ultrasonic waves so as to measure pressure inside a vessel using the ultrasonic waves.

Apparatus for measuring pressure in a vessel using magnetostrictive acoustic transducer

Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science


A video encoding method is provided, which includes: deciding a first search window of a first macroblock in a reference image, and deciding a second search window of a second macroblock in the reference image, wherein the first search window is at least partially overlapped with the second search window; reading the first search window and the second search window from a memory and executing a first encoding stage having motion estimation and binarization encoding; storing an encoding result of the first encoding stage in the memory; reading the encoding result from the memory and executing a second encoding stage. The second encoding stage has a context entropy coding, and an encoding order of the context entropy coding is different from that of the motion estimation, and the first encoding stage is executed in parallel with the second encoding stage. Accordingly, a bandwidth demand of the memory is decreased.

Technical Field
The invention relates to a video encoding method and a video encoding device using the same.
Related Art
Generally, when a segment of video is to be encoded, the video is divided into a plurality of frames, where each frame includes a plurality of slices, each slice includes a plurality of macroblocks, and each macroblock is further divided into one or a plurality of blocks. When a temporal redundancy between the frames is calculated, a motion vector between a current frame and a reference frame is calculated. Calculation of the motion vector is to use pixel values on the reference frame to predict a macroblock of the current frame, and a prediction result is processed with discrete cosine transform, quantization, run length coding and entropy coding. When a motion vector of a macroblock in the current frame is calculated, pixel values in a corresponding search window in the reference frame are obtained. Generally, the reference frame is stored in a memory, and when the motion vector is calculated, the corresponding search window is read from the memory.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of reading a search window.
Referring to FIG. 1, a current frame 110 includes macroblocks 111 and 112. A reference frame 120 includes search windows 121 and 123. When a motion vector of the macroblock 111 is calculated, the search window 121 has to be read from the memory. When a motion vector of the macroblock 112 is calculated, the search window 123 has to be read from the memory. A region 122 is an overlapped portion between the search window 121 and the search window 123. Therefore, after the motion vector of the macroblock 111 is calculated, the motion vector of the macroblock 112 may be calculated as long as the portion of the search window 123 that is not overlapped to the search window 121 is read. After the macroblocks of the same row are encoded, the search window 121 is probably not in the memory. Therefore, when the motion estimation is executed on the macroblocks of a next row, a search window has to be further read from the memory, and such search window probably partially overlapped to the search window 121. In this way, a part of the pixel values in the search window is read twice, which may increase a bandwidth demand of the memory.
Calculation of the motion vectors requires a large amount of computations and a large memory bandwidth. Therefore, how to decrease a bandwidth demand of memory and increase a video encoding speed is an important issue to be studied in the related field.

Video encoding method and video encoding device


An assembly supporting a display shelf at a non-transverse angle to a support includes at least one elongate support, at least one transversely-extending display shelf and angling brackets. Each elongate support defines a plane, an upright front surface and a plurality of longitudinally spaced first engaging elements facing forwardly in the support front surface. Each transversely-extending display shelf defines a generally upright back surface and at least one plurality of longitudinally spaced second engaging elements facing rearwardly from the shelf back surface. The plurality of second engaging elements are configured and dimensioned for cooperation and interconnection with the first engaging elements for releasable maintenance of the shelf in a plane transverse to the plane of the support. The angling brackets are interposed between the shelf back surface and the support front surface. The angling bracket defines an upright first surface and an angled second surface, the angling bracket second surface defining a single predetermined angle of about 5 to 15 degrees with respect to the angling bracket first surface for releasable retention of the shelf in a single predetermined plane angled to the plane of the support, but not transverse thereto.

The present invention relates to an assembly for supporting a display shelf at a non-transverse angle to a support and to a bracket useful in such assembly.
A conventional assembly for supporting a display shelf on a vertical support includes at least one elongate support (typically at least a pair of such supports) and at least one transversely-extending display shelf. Each elongate support defines an upright front surface and a plurality of longitudinally spaced first engaging means facing forwardly in the support front surface. Each shelf defines a generally upright back surface and at least one plurality of longitudinally spaced second engaging means facing rearwardly from the shelf back surface. The plurality of second engaging means are configured and dimensioned for cooperation and interconnection with the first engaging means for releasable maintenance of the shelf in a plane transverse to the plane of the support.
Such assemblies are well-known in the prior art, the supports and shelves typically being kept in reserve by a store, ready for use in maintaining the shelves transverse (perpendicular) to the supports. On the other hand, where the articles to be sold from a display tray are to be gravity fed along a track as a result of the angular disposition of the top surface of the shelf upon which the display shelf rests, the store must also store at least one additional transversely-extending display shelf having the second engaging means thereof configured and dimensioned for cooperation and interconnection with the support first engaging means for releasable maintenance of the shelf in a non-transverse plane to the plane of the support.
Thus, if a retailer is to display both non-gravity fed and gravity-fed products, he must store a rather large quantity of shelves, some of the shelves being suitable for the non-gravity-fed products and the other ones for the gravity-fed products. The storage of this large quantity of shelves may not be possible due to space considerations and, in any case, increases the necessary financial investment in the shelves. Thus, it would be desirable to provide a support assembly which utilized conventional supports and conventional shelves, with the shelves being releasably maintained in a plane either transverse or non-transverse to the plane of the support, as desired by the retailer at a given time.
In certain instances, the thickness of the shelf may vary from the front thereof to the back thereof so that, when the bottom of a display shelf is disposed in a horizontal plane, the upper surface of the shelf is inclined forwardly and downwardly to provide for a gravity-feed orientation. Alternatively, the display tray to be placed on the display shelf may contain its own means for inclining the article-supporting tracks thereof so as to provide for a gravity-feed orientation despite a horizontal shelf top. Such variable thickness shelves and self-inclining display trays are not within the scope of the present invention as they always provide for a gravity-feed orientation.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an assembly for supporting a display shelf at an angle to a support, the shelf being releasably maintained by the support in either an inclined orientation (for gravity-fed displays) or in a horizontal orientation (for non-gravity-fed displays).
Another object is to provide an assembly which reduces the number of shelves which must be stored by the retailer.
A further object is to provide a bracket or angling means which may be used in such an assembly in order to releasably maintain the shelf in a plane non-transverse to the plane of the support.

Display shelf assembly and bracket useful therein


Methods and systems for improved integration functions for applications are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes receiving a request to execute an application. The request may specify a primary container image for the application and a secondary container image for an integration function used by the application. A primary container may be created for execution of the primary container image and a secondary container image may be created for execution of the secondary container image. The primary and secondary containers may be executed to implement the application.

Software applications may be configured to execute within containers, which may virtualize one or more computing resources (e.g., processors and/or memory) for use in executing the software applications. In particular, software applications may be executed within containers within shared computing environments, such as cloud computing environments, where multiple software applications are configured to share the computing resources of one or more computing devices.

Sidecar-based integration capabilities for containerized applications


A position detecting apparatus includes a linear magnetic-field generator that generates a linear magnetic field in an area inside the subject; a diffuse magnetic-field generator that generates a diffuse magnetic field having position dependency on magnetic field direction in the area; a magnetic-field line orientation database in which a correspondence between magnetic field direction and position of the diffuse magnetic field in a reference coordinate axis is recorded; an orientation calculator that calculates orientation information of a body-insertable device introduced into a subject in the reference coordinate axis based on linear magnetic-field information and the earth magnetism direction; and a position calculator that calculates a magnetic field direction of the diffuse magnetic field at the position of the body-insertable device based on the linear magnetic-field information, orientation information, and diffuse magnetic-field information, and calculates the position of the body-insertable device based on the magnetic field direction and correspondence recorded.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a position detecting apparatus that uses a position detecting magnetic field having position dependency regarding strength to detect a position of a detected object, at least at a first time instant and a second time instant when a predetermined time has passed since the first time instant, and a body-insertable apparatus system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, in the field of endoscope, a swallowable capsule endoscope has been proposed. The capsule endoscope is provided with an imaging function and a radio communication function. This capsule endoscope has a function of moving in a body cavity, for example, internal organs such as a stomach and a small intestine with peristalsis thereof, during a period after it is swallowed from a mouth of the subject for observation (examination) until it is naturally discharged from the subject, and of sequentially imaging intra-subject images.
While the endoscope is moving in the body cavity, image data imaged in the body by the capsule endoscope is sequentially transmitted to the outside by radio communications, and stored in a memory provided in an external device. If the subject carries a receiving device having the radio communication function and the memory function, the subject swallows the capsule endoscope and then can freely move until the endoscope is discharged. After the capsule endoscope is discharged, a doctor or a nurse can perform diagnosis by displaying the images of the internal organs based on the image data stored in the memory (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-19111).
Further, in the conventional capsule endoscope system, one having a mechanism for detecting the position of the capsule endoscope in the body cavity has been proposed. For example, a magnetic field is generated, which has the position dependency regarding strength inside the subject into which the capsule endoscope is introduced, and the position of the capsule endoscope in the subject can be detected based on the magnetic field strength detected by a magnetic field sensor incorporated in the capsule endoscope. In such a capsule endoscope system, a configuration in which a predetermined coil is arranged outside the subject is adopted to generate the magnetic field, and by allowing predetermined electric current to flow to the coil, the magnetic field is generated inside the subject. Since it is difficult to detect the position of the capsule endoscope beforehand, the magnetic field to be generated needs to be generated so that the capsule endoscope has detectable strength in all areas where the capsule endoscope can be present inside the subject. Specifically, in the conventional capsule endoscope system, a magnetic field capable of detecting the capsule endoscope is generated in all the digestive organs from an oral cavity to an anus.
However, the conventional capsule endoscope system including a position detecting mechanism has a problem in that power consumption greatly increases. That is, to generate the magnetic field having the position dependency regarding the strength in the subject, large current needs to be continuously supplied to the coil over several to ten and odd hours, during which the capsule endoscope stays in the subject. Particularly, in the conventional capsule endoscope system, since the magnetic field having the strength capable of detecting the capsule endoscope is generated with respect to all the digestive organs in the subject, the power required for generating the magnetic field becomes huge, which is not appropriate from the standpoint of reducing the power consumption.
Further, the conventional capsule endoscope system including the position detecting mechanism has another problem in that the power consumption in at least the capsule endoscope increases. Specifically, in the conventional capsule endoscope system, position detection is performed at a constant time interval, and the power consumption increases by a portion of the magnetic field sensor incorporated in a capsule endoscope 2 and driving power of a transmitting mechanism for wirelessly transmitting a detection result of the magnetic field sensor.
Particularly, there is an assumption that it is preferable to form the capsule endoscope as small as possible, to reduce a burden on the subject. Therefore, a small battery or the like incorporated in the capsule endoscope is used, and there is generally a limitation on electric energy to be held. Accordingly, the influence due to an increase of power consumption in the capsule endoscope is larger than in the general electronic equipment, and suppression of increase in power consumption is quite important in the capsule endoscope system.

Position detecting apparatus using the magnetic field direction of the earth's magnetic field


The claimed subject matter provides a system that trains or evaluates ranking techniques by employing or obtaining relative preference judgments. The system can include mechanisms that retrieve a set of documents from a storage device, combine the set of documents with a query or judgment task received via an interface to form a comparative selection panel, and present the comparative selection panel for evaluation by an assessor. The system further requests the assessor to make a selection as to which document included in the set of documents and presented in the comparative selection panel most satisfies the query or judgment task, and thereafter produces a comparative assessment of the set of documents based on the selections elicited from the assessor and associated with the set of documents.

Information retrieval is the science of searching for information in documents, searching for documents themselves, searching for metadata which describes documents, or searching within databases, whether relational standalone databases or hyper textually linked databases, such as the World Wide Web. Automated information retrieval systems are typically used to reduce information overload. Many universities and public libraries use information retrieval systems to provide access to books, journals, and other documents. Web search engines (e.g., Live Search) also use information retrieval techniques and are one of the most visible and commonly utilized manifestations of an information retrieval application.
An information retrieval process typically begins when the user enters a query into an information retrieval system. Queries are typically formal statements of information need, for example, search strings in web search engines. In information retrieval a query does not necessarily uniquely identify a single object in the collection; rather several objects may match the query, perhaps with different degrees of relevancy.
An object can be an entity that keeps or stores information in a database, for instance. User queries can thereafter be matched to the objects stored in the database where, depending on the application, the data objects can be, for example, text documents, images, or videos. In order to facilitate efficient query matching, most information retrieval systems compute a numeric score reflecting how well each object in the database matches the query, and ranks the objects according to this value or in combination with other information. The top ranking objects can then be shown to the user and the process can be iterated should the user wish to further refine the query.


There are provided a radical polymerizable composition having a low viscosity suitable for coating, a cured product obtained by curing the composition, the cured product having a high refractive index and high toughness and being not easily cracked or chipped when cutting, and a plastic lens obtained by curing the composition. A radical polymerizable composition includes phenylbenzyl(meth)acrylate (A), a urethane(meth)acrylate (X) having an aromatic ring in its molecular structure, and a radical polymerization initiator (Y) as essential components.

Various plastic lenses such as prism lenses are produced by a method in which a resin material is poured into a die, a transparent plastic substrate is placed on the resin material, and the resin material is cured by being heated or by being irradiated with an active energy ray. Therefore, the resin material used to produce plastic lenses needs to have a low viscosity without using a solvent so that the resin material completely fills every cavity of a die and thus has the same shape as that of the die. The resin material also needs to form into a cured product having good physical properties, e.g., optical properties such as a refractive index and transparency, workability such as good releasability from a die, prevention of curling after curing, high flexibility, prevention of cracking and chipping caused by external forces, and good adhesiveness to a transparent plastic substrate.
Among resin materials used for plastic lenses, a compound having a fluorene skeleton has received attention because such a Compound forms into a cured product having a high refractive index. However, the cured product is brittle and has low toughness. When the compound having a fluorene skeleton is used, it is difficult to achieve both toughness and a high refractive index of the cured product. For example, a technology has been known in which the adhesiveness of a cured film to a substrate film, the releasability from a die, solvent resistance, and curling resistance are achieved by using, as a resin composition for plastic lenses, a resin composition including a diacrylate compound having a fluorene skeleton and ortho-phenylphenoxyethyl acrylate (refer to PTL 1). However, since the monoacrylate compound having a fluorene skeleton forms into a brittle cured product as described above, a cured product composed of the resin composition disclosed in PTL 1 has low toughness, and a film composed of the cured product is cracked or chipped when cutting. Furthermore, a compound having a fluorene skeleton generally has a high viscosity. If the resin composition contains such a compound having a fluorene skeleton, only compounds having a relatively low viscosity can be used as other components of the resin composition.

Radical polymerizable composition, cured product, and plastic lens


Fertilizer formulations comprising polysulfonic acid together with inorganic fertilizers or slurry or liquid fertilizers and one or more nitrification inhibitors.

The present invention relates to fertilizer formulations comprising polysulfonic acids together with inorganic fertilizers or slurry or liquid fertilizers and one or more nitrification inhibitors.
The fertilizers which are employed to provide plants in agriculture with the nitrogen they require are essentially ammonium compounds.
Ammonium compounds are converted in the soil microbially within a relatively short time into nitrate (nitrification). However, nitrate can be leached from the soil and thus reach the groundwater. The leachate is no longer available for plant nutrition, which is why rapid nitrification is undesirable. This is why nitrification inhibitors are added to the fertilizer to improve fertilizer utilization. A known group of nitrification inhibitors are, for example, pyrazoles.
However, pyrazoles are highly volatile. Thus, when fertilizer products comprising pyrazoles are stored, the active ingredient is lost continuously by evaporation. This is why suitable measures are required to formulate the pyrazoles in a nonvolatile form.
DE-A-196 31 764 discloses the use of inorganic and organic polyacids for the treatment of inorganic fertilizers comprising a nitrification inhibitor. Inorganic polyacids which are described are, inter alia, polyphosphoric acid and polysilicic acid, and organic polyacids which described are exclusively polycarboxylic acids such as poly(meth)acrylic acid.
These fertilizer formulations were still in need of improvement.
DE-A-198 49 496 discloses nonvolatile alkyl derivatives. The latter are based on the alkyl pyrazoles and their production requires additional chemical manipulation, thus making the production complicated when compared to the simple alkyl pyrazoles and their salts.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the abovementioned disadvantages, thus arriving at improved, yet simple to produce, fertilizer formulations.
We have found that this object is achieved by novel and improved fertilizer formulations comprising polysulfonic acids together with inorganic fertilizers or slurry or liquid fertilizers and one or more nitrification inhibitors.
The fertilizer formulations can be produced as follows:
Inorganic fertilizers, slurry or liquid fertilizers can be treated with one or more, preferably one to three, especially preferably one or two, in particular one nitrification inhibitor(s) and one or more, preferably one to three, especially preferably one or two, in particular one, polysulfonic acid(s). The polysulfonic acid can exist in neutral or, preferably, in acid-stabilized form. Polysulfonic acid(s) and nitrification inhibitor(s) can be mixed with the inorganic fertilizer, the slurry or the liquid fertilizer in succession in any desired sequence or jointly. It is also possible to apply, to the soil to be treated, a mixture comprising inorganic fertilizers, slurry or liquid fertilizers and nitrification inhibitor(s) and to apply, to the soil to be treated, polysulfonic acid(s) subsequently, yet within the same fertilizing period. Application in reverse order, where first polysulfonic acid(s) and only then the mixture comprising inorganic fertilizers, slurry or liquid fertilizers and nitrification inhibitor(s) is/are applied, is also possible.
In the case of inorganic fertilizers, nitrification inhibitor(s) and polysulfonic acid(s) can be applied to the granule surface as a thin layer or film, for example by soaking, spraying, dropwise application or during the granulation process, preferably by dropwise application or spraying on, especially preferably by dropwise application. The inorganic fertilizer can be treated with (the) nitrification inhibitor(s) and (the) polysulfonic acid(s), for example, in a liquid preparation, for example a solution of suspension of the polysulfonic acid(s) and the nitrification inhibitor(s) in succession in any desired sequence or jointly, for example by soaking, spraying on, dropwise application or during the granulation process, preferably dropwise application or spraying on, especially preferably dropwise application (DE-A-41 28 828). To achieve a more rapid removal of the solvent or suspending agent, for example water,xe2x80x94and this is preferredxe2x80x94, it is possible to preheat the inorganic fertilizer and/or the solution or suspension, or the solvent or suspending agent can be stripped off from the fertilizer formulation by evaporation in vacuo. It is also possible to use melts of polysulfonic acid(s) and nitrification inhibitor(s).
The preparation of the pyrazoles I is disclosed, for example, in EP-A-474 037, DE-A-3 840 342 or EP-A-467 707. To prepare N-hydroxymethylpyrazoles, the pyrazoles in question can be reacted in methanol with formalin solution, excess solvent can be evaporated, and the N-hydroxymethylpyrazoles can be obtained as solids. 3,4-dimethylpyrazole can be prepared as described in J.Org.Chem. 20, (1955), 1681 to 1682.
Acid addition salts of the pyrazoles I can be obtained by reacting the pyrazoles I for example with an equivalent of a corresponding acid. The preparation of the hydrochloride of 4-chloro-3-methylpyrazole is known from Liebigs Anm. Chem. 598, (1956), pages 186 and 194.
If the fertilizer formulation involves an inorganic fertilizers, the nitrification inhibitor can be present in a mixture or on the surface of the inorganic fertilizer. The nitrification inhibitor is preferably present in a mixture with the polysulfonic acid.
As a rule, fertilizer formulations comprise inorganic fertilizers, slurry or liquid fertilizers as main constituent and 0.001 to 5% by weight, preferably 0.005 to 3% by weight, especially preferably 0.01 to 1.5% by weight, in particular 0.05 to 1% by weight, of nitrification inhibitor and 0.001 to 5% by weight, preferably 0.005 to 3% by weight, especially preferably 0.01 to 1.5% by weight, in particular 0.05 to 1% by weight, of polysulfonic acid.
The following are suitable as polysulfonic acids:
Poly[C1- to C8-alkyl]sulfonic acids, preferably poly[C1- to C4-alkyl]sulfonic acids such as poly[methyl]sulfonic acid, poly[ethyl]sulfonic acid, poly[n-propyl]sulfonic acid, poly[isopropyl]sulfonic acid, poly[n-butyl]sulfonic acid, poly[isobutyl]sulfonic acid, poly[sec-butyl]sulfonic acid and poly[tert-butyl]sulfonic acid, poly[aryl]sulfonic acids such as poly[phenyl]sulfonic acid, poly[tolyl]sulfonic acid, poly[xylyl]sulfonic acid, poly[1-naphthalene]sulfonic acid and poly[2-naphthalene]sulfonic acid, poly [1,n-naphthalene]disulfonic acids (where n=2 to 8), 2-, 3- or 9-methylnaphthalenesulfonic acid, condensates of 1- or 2-naphthalenesulfonic acid with formaldehyde.
Examples of suitable inorganic fertilizers are fertilizers comprising ammonium and/or urea. Examples of fertilizers compromising ammonia are nitrogen/phosphorus/potash (NPK) fertilizers, nitrochalk, ammonium sulfa-nitrate (ASM), ammonium sulfate and ammonium phosphate, ammonium nitrate or diammonium phosphate.
The inorganic fertilizers can exist in the form of a powder or granules.
The following are suitable as liquid fertilizers:
All nutrient mixtures comprising NH3xe2x80x94N or NH4xe2x80x94N such as ammonium nitrate, ammonium nitrate/urea solutions, aqueous ammonia, ammonium sulfate, monoammonium phosphate, diammonium phosphate, in each case as solution or suspension.
A suitable slurry is any type of slurry, independently of its origin and its source.
Suitable nitrification inhibitors are all nitrification inhibitors.
It is especially expedient to employ the polyacids used in accordance with the invention for treating inorganic fertilizers comprising in particular pyrazole compounds as nitrification inhibitors. xe2x80x9cPyrazole compoundsxe2x80x9d are to be understood as meaning all pyrazole compounds which have a nitrification-inhibiting action, as they are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,635,690, 4,522,642 and DE-A 4 128 828.
Preferred pyrazoles are those of the formula I
in which R1, R2 and R3 independently of one another are hydrogen, C1-C20-alkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, aryl, C7-C20-alkylaryl which is unsubstituted or mono- to trisubstituted by C1-C20-alkyl, halogen and/or hydroxyl, or else halogen or nitro, and R3 is additionally C1-C8-hydroxyalkyl or C2-C8-hydroxycarbonylalkyl.
The substituents R1, R2 and R3 in formula I have the following meanings:
hydrogen,
C1-C20-alkyl, preferably Cl-C8-alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, sec-pentyl, neopentyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, n-hexyl, iso-hexyl, sec-hexyl, n-heptyl, iso-heptyl, n-octyl, iso-octyl, especially preferably C1-C4-alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, iso-butyl, sec-butyl and tert-butyl, in particular methyl and ethyl,
C3-C8-cycloalkyl such as cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl and cyclooctyl, especially preferably cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl,
aryl such as phenyl, 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, 1-anthryl, 2-anthryl and 9-anthryl, preferably phenyl, 1-naphthyl and 2-naphthyl, especially preferably phenyl,
C7-C20-alkylaryl, preferably C7-C12-alkylphenyl such as 2-methylphenyl, 3-methylphenyl, 4-methylphenyl, 2,4-dimethylphenyl, 2,5-dimethylphenyl, 2,6-dimethylphenyl, 3,4-dimethylphenyl, 3,5-dimethylphenyl, 2,3,4-trimethylphenyl, 2,3,5-trimethylphenyl, 2,3,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2-ethylphenyl, 3-ethylphenyl, 4-ethylphenyl, 2-n-propylphenyl, 3-n-propylphenyl and 4-n-propylphenyl,
halogen such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine, preferably fluorine, chlorine and bromine, especially preferably fluorine and chlorine, nitro,
R3 is additionally
C1-C8-hydroxyalkyl, preferably C1-C4-hydroxyalkyl such as hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxy-n-propyl, hydroxy-iso-propyl and hydroxy-n-butyl, especially preferably hydroxymethyl and hydroxyethyl, in particular hydroxymethyl,
C2-C8-hydroxycarbonylalkyl, preferably C2-C4-hydroxycarbonylalkyl such as hydroxycarbonylmethyl, hydroxycarbonylethyl, hydroxycarbonyl-n-propyl and hydroxycarbonyl-iso-propyl.
Particularly suitable as nitrification inhibitors are pyrazoles of the formula I in which R1 is hydrogen, halogen or C1-C4-alkyl, R2 is C1-C4-alkyl and R3 is hydrogen or CH2OH, and pyrazoles of the formula I in which R1 is halogen or C1-C4-alkyl, R2 is C1-C4-alkyl and R3 is hydrogen, CH2CH2COOH or CH2CH(CH3)COOH.
The pyrazoles I can be employed in the basic form or in the form of acid addition salts with inorganic mineral acids and organic acids. Inorganic mineral acids which are suitable are, for example, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid or mixtures of these, preferably phosphoric acid. Examples of suitable organic acids are C2-C8-carboxylic acids such as formic acid and acetic acid or fatty acids or monoethylenically unsaturated mono- or dicarboxylic acids with 3 to 6 C atoms or their corresponding anhydrides, such as, for example, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, ethylacrylic acid, allylacrylic acid, crotonic acid, vinylacetic acid, maleic acid, itaconic acid, mesaconic acid, fumaric acid, citraconic acid, methylenemalonic acid, and their esters, such as, for example, monoalkyl maleate or mixtures of these. In the case of monoalkyl dicarboxylates, the indicated number of C atoms refers to the dicarboxylic acid skeleton, while the alkyl group in the ester residue can have 1 to 20 C atoms, preferably 1 to 8 C atoms, in particular 1 to 4 C atoms, independently of the former. Suitable monoethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic anhydrides are maleic anhydride, itaconic anhydride, citraconic anhydride and mixtures of these. Substances which are preferably employed are acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, itaconic acid and maleic anhydride. Acrylic acid is especially preferably employed.
These monomers which comprise carboxyl groups or carboxylic acid groups can be homopolymerized or copolymerized with other vinylic monomers such as, for example, C1-C8-alkylenes, preferably C1-C4-alkylenes, in particular ethylene or propylene.
The inorganic or organic polyacids can be employed as free acids or as partially neutralized ammonium, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salts. Preferably, the polyacids are employed as free acids.
Examples of suitable salts are also hydrochlorides and phosphoric acid addition salts.
The pyrazole compounds can be employed singly or in the form of mixtures.
Especially preferred pyrazole compounds are 3,4-dimethylpyrazole, 4-chloro-3-methylpyrazole, N-hydroxymethyl-3,4-dimethylpyrazole, N-hydroxymethyl-4-chloro-3-methylpyrazole and the phosphoric acid addition salts of 3,4-dimethylpyrazole and 4-chloro-3-methylpyrazole, or else hydrochloride of 3,4-dimethylpyrazole.
The fertilizer formulations according to the invention are suitable in a fertilization method for application to soils, preferably application to arable soils, especially preferably to arable soils for maize, cotton, wheat, rice, barley and/or sugar beet crops.
The amount of applied fertilizer formulations according to the invention can vary within wide limits and is, as a rule, 50 to 6,000 kg/ha, preferably 150 to 3,000 kg/ha, especially preferably 300 to 2,000 kg/ha.

Fertilizer formulations comprising polysulfonic acids


Disclosed is a CMP slurry comprising a Cu oxidizing agent, a complexing agent for forming a Cu organic complex, a surfactant, an inorganic particle, and a resin particle containing polystyrene, having on the surface thereof a functional group of the same kind of polarity as that of the inorganic particle and having an average particle diameter of less than 100 nm, the resin particle being incorporated at a concentration of less than 1% by weight.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a slurry to be used for CMP (Chemical Mechanical Polishing), a polishing method using the slurry, and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is expected that the integration of semiconductor elements in high performance LSIs of the next generation would be inevitably further enhanced. For example, the design rule of damascene wirings to be formed by CMP is expected to become so severe that the line width of wirings is confined within the range of 0.07 to 30 μm and the film thickness of wirings is confined to 100 nm or less. In the manufacture of such high performance LSIs, the magnitude of dishing to be generated on the occasion of CMP is required to be suppressed to 30 nm or less.
In the formation of Cu damascene wirings, a Cu film is ordinary deposited by a process employing plating. Due to the characteristics of plating, it is impossible to deposit the Cu film with uniform film thickness, so that in a region where a wiring trench having a width of 0.07 μm is arranged at a high density (coverage ratio: 50%), the Cu film is deposited thickly because of over-plating. In the region other than the aforementioned region, for example in the region where a wiring trench having a width of 30 μm is formed, a Cu film is deposited up to a film thickness reflecting the projected/recessed surface of underlying substrate. On the occasion of flattening the surface of the Cu film deposited in this manner by CMP, it is required, for the purpose of avoiding the short circuit of wirings, to prevent as much as possible the residue of Cu in the region of over-plating. At the same time, it is also required, in the regions other than that of over-plating, to suppress the magnitude of dishing to 30 nm or less.
With a view to minimize the dishing and scratch and to polish the Cu film at a high polishing rate, there has been proposed a slurry containing a first surfactant which is capable of interacting with Cu and a second surfactant which is incapable of interacting with Cu. In this case, the residue of Cu in the aforementioned region of over-plating would be about 33 nm for example (in the case of CuCMP, an over-polish of just+30%). On the other hand, the dishing in the region of 30 μm wirings would be 30 nm or so.
With a view to further enhance the hydrophilicity of a Cu surface-protecting film, there has been proposed a slurry containing two kinds of heterocyclic compounds. In this case, the residual Cu film in the aforementioned region of over-plating can be improved up to 15 nm or so (in the case of CuCMP, an over-polish of just+30%). In the region of 30 μm wirings, the dishing can be reduced to 25 nm or so.
With a view to enhance the polishing rate of Cu, there has been proposed a slurry containing chelate resin particles and inorganic particles. In this case, the ratio in particle size between the resin particle and the inorganic particle is 30 or more. Namely, it is impossible, with employment of this slurry, to suppress the dishing and to improve the residual Cu in the region of over-plating.
In the CMP of next generation, it is now desired that in the region where the width of wirings is set to 0.07 μm and the coverage ratio is set to 50%, the residual Cu after CMP should be confined to 2 nm or less, and in the region where the width of wirings is set to 30 μm, the dishing should be suppressed to 30 nm or less. At present however, it is considered very difficult to achieve these desirable features.

Slurry for CMP, polishing method and method of manufacturing semiconductor device


A new Illuminated Fence System for providing lighting in a fence such that the light is activated upon command by a sensor. The inventive device includes modular, prefabricated fence system, which includes a plurality of uprights and rail sections. The uprights feature slots on their sides that can be fitted with clear or tinted lenses. Disposed in these members are lighting apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fence assemblies and more particularly pertains to a new Illuminated Fence System for providing lighting in a fence such that the light is activated upon command by a sensing means.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of fence assemblies is known in the prior art. More specifically, fence assemblies heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art fence assemblies include U.S. Pat. No. 4,357,000; U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,340; U.S. Pat. No. 4,371,869; U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,811; U.S. Pat. No. 273,333.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new Illuminated Fence. The inventive device includes modular, prefabricated fence system, which includes a plurality of uprights and rail sections. The uprights feature slots on their sides that can be fitted with clear or tinted lenses. Disposed in these members are lighting means.
In these respects, the Illuminated Fence Systemaccording to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing lighting in a fence such that the light is activated upon command by a sensing means.


A wide-angle projection lens module is provided, including a reflective convex aspheric mirror and a refractive lens group of positive refractive power. The following Conditions (1) to (2) are satisfied:15<|Freflective/F|<25   Condition (1),and1.5<|Frefractive/f|<2.0   (Condition (2),                wherein, F is a focal length of the wide-angle projection lens module, Freflective is a focal length of the reflective convex mirror, and Frefractive is a focal length of the refractive lens group.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wide-angle projection lens module, and in particular relates to a wide-angle projection lens module for a short throw distance.
2. Description of the Related Art
Digital projectors have been widely used to display video or electronic generated images. Digital projectors require an appropriate display device whether used in education, home entertainment, advertising, or videoconferences.
Throw ratio is a key factor to determine an appropriate display device. In general, the term "throw ratio" can be defined as the throw distance over the picture size (i.e. picture width). Typical throw ratio of conventional projectors is about equal to 2. However, when projection size of the display device increases, the thickness thereof increases with the increased projection size. Therefore, reduced throw ratio is required for large-sized display device.

Optical engine and wide angle projection lens module thereof


A protection device to close the gun slit (or opening) of a mount, such gun slit delimited by two lateral flanges and two end flanges and in which pivots or moves a mobile organ carrying a mobile wall positioned between the exterior and interior of the mount, device which comprises at least one flexible bellows integral on one side with an end flange of the gun slit and on the other with the mobile organ (3), such device wherein the bellows and wall delimit an intermediate chamber that is linked to the internal space (10) of the mount, such space being pressurized by pressurization means.

1. Field of the Invention
The technical scope of the invention is that of protection devices to close the gun slit (or opening) of a mount.
2. Description of the Related Art
A mount is classically designed in which there is a mobile organ that extends between an internal part of the mount and the exterior through a gun slit (or opening).
When a weapon system or turret, for example, is defined for an armoured vehicle, a gun slit must be provided to enable the passage of the gun barrel. This gun slit must enable to barrel to move, generally a pivotal movement to enable it to be positioned in elevation with respect to the turret.
The gun slit is an opening that is substantially rectangular and is delimited by two lateral flanges and two end flanges. The dimensions of the gun slit are chosen according to the clearance required for the gun barrel.
It is, however, more often than not necessary for sealing to be provided for the gun slit. In fact, any water run-off from the exterior must be prevented from entering the interior of the mount. Any projections of mud or gravel likely to deteriorate the gun's positioning capacity must also be prevented.
Another major problem occurs when the vehicle or weapon system is obliged to circulate through a contaminated environment (be it nuclear, bacteriological, or chemically, such environment being commonly designed "NBC").
It this case it is vital to prevent the passage of any contaminated materials into the vehicle or turret. This protection must not be such, however, as to prevent the weapon from pivoting and must continue to be effective during operational use.
It is also preferable for the decontamination of the terrain to be enabled, and thus any passage of liquid from the exterior to the interior of the vehicle to be prevented.
It is known to use flexible bellows integral with both the gun barrel and the flanges of the gun slit. However, these devices can not be adapted to all forms of gun slit encountered on military vehicles, and namely when the clearance angles are high (for example over 45°).


An apparatus for clamping a cassette containing a photosensitive element. The apparatus includes a frame and a stop bar movably mounted to the frame for movement between an operative position and a non operative position. The stop bar has a registration surface for registering the forward end of cassette. A first jaw member is secured to the frame and has a second registration surface for engagement with a first side of the cassette. A second movable jaw member is provided movable between a clamping position and a non clamping position. The second jaw member having a clamping surface for engaging a second side of the cassette opposite the first side of the cassette so as to clamp the cassette between the first and second jaw members when the second jaw member is in the clamping position. A mechanism is provided for moving the second jaw member between the clamping and non clamping positions. Sensors are also provided for sensing if the cassette is properly positioned within the clamping mechanism and position of the stop bar.

Storage phosphorus film is read by photoelectrically detecting an image formed by scanning with stimulating radiation. An example of such a scanner/reader is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,782 to O'Hara. Typically, the cassette is fed to the reader either individually, or by an autoloader such as that described in copending application Ser. No. 981,719, filed Nov. 25, 1992 entitled "Autoloader for Cassettes and/or Pallet", by John Boutet, Roger Brahm, Darryl DeWolff and Jeffrey Yaskow, which is incorporated herein by reference. The autoloader typically presents cassettes in seriatim to the reader. The reader then takes the cassette and firmly clamps it in position and then removes the photosensitive element therein. Whether cassettes are being automatically fed by an autoloader, or manually by an operator into the reader, it is important that the clamping mechanism within the reader help guide the cassettes into position for extraction of the photosensitive element, that the mechanism not interfere with the extraction of the photosensitive material, and also isolate the cassette from the adjacent autoloader. In addition, the clamping mechanism must be able to receive a variety of different size cassettes and/or pallets containing cassettes and be able to precisely position the cassette within the reader in substantially the same position each time a cassette is presented. It is also important that the clamping mechanism provide feedback to the microprocessor control unit of the reader as to whether the cassette is properly positioned within the clamping mechanism.
Applicants invented a reader which utilizes a relatively simple mechanism for clamping the cassette and/or cassette and pallet within the reader that is able to constrain the cassette and/or pallet containing a cassette in such a manner so as not to interfere with the extraction of the photographic element therein, allows quick and easy registration of the cassette within the clamping mechanism, is reliable, easy and low cost to manufacture, and assists in isolating the transmission of vibrations through the cassette when in the clamped position. This and other advantages will be set forth in the detailed description of the present invention.


A heat sink module for light and thin electronic equipment, where the module includes a concave top cover, and a bottom cover having on its top surface several equidistantly spaced heat conducting fins of a certain height separated by gaps. Copper powder may cover the concave side of the top cover, and in the gaps between the fins on the top surface of the bottom to form a heat conductor. The top cover and the bottom cover are fit and brazed together to form a unit, where the gaps between the fins form a plurality of connected heat-circulating chambers that are evacuated of air and completely filled with a working fluid. Also, a method of making a heat sink module for light and thin electronic equipment is described.

Notebooks are known for their convenience and portability. To be convenient and portable, notebooks need to be thin and light; hence, the internal space of the notebooks is limited. With the increased heat given out by the integrated circuits ("IC") of the Central Processing Unit ("CPU") and the decrease in the notebooks' volume, heat density rapidly rises and this heat cannot be dissipated in the narrow and small space provided. If the heat cannot be effectively dissipated, it will affect the performance and reliability of the product, and it can even shorten its lifespan. Accordingly, making electronic products more compact affects the components and the system. The functions of the IC chips have increased, but the area of the chips has not increased much. It has become a challenge for engineers to deal with the increasing number of transistors in the limited space and the resultant increasing heat because, unlike desktop personal computers, notebooks do not have many parts with open designs.
Generally speaking, notebook manufacturers use heat sinks, heat pipes and fans (collectively referred to as a "thermal module") to lower the heat generated during operation. After thermal modules were first incorporated into notebooks in 1997, they have become indispensable and essential components. They can come in different designs and materials to match different notebook models. The design concept of thermal modules is to bond metals of high heat transfer coefficient, such as copper or aluminum, to the surface of the CPU and to transfer the heat generated by the CPU through heat pipes to heat sinks. The heat is then circulated by convection using fans to maintain the operating CPU at a certain working temperature. Normally the thermal modules of the notebooks must be designed to maintain satisfactory convection and conduction in a narrow, limited space. The design must also take into consideration the system environment, conditions, operating temperature permitted by the system, etc. during usage to ensure that the thermal module of the CPU meets these requirements.
Whether or not a notebook will crash will greatly depend on the operating temperature of the notebook. Manufacturers of processing units such as Intel and AMD normally require the internal temperature of the notebook's CPU not to exceed 100° C. when the room temperature is 35° C. to maintain the normal operation of the CPUs. When the temperature exceeds 100° C., there are risks of the processing unit burning out.
The existing traditional heat dissipation method of a notebook system is mainly to conduct the extreme heat generated by the CPU or VGA components through a sealed surface to the heat sink first or to high heat-conducting metal pieces. The heat is then conducted through heat pipes to heat dissipating devices, such as fans, heat sinks, etc. However, the traditional method of heat dissipation through many components has resulted in relative increases in thermal resistance and cost. Furthermore, because traditional heat sinks are mostly made of aluminum alloy, heat conductivity is only average, and with the increasing heat-generating power of modern notebook components, there are blind spots to overcome.
It is foreseeable that in the future the number of the transistors will increase with the coherency of the IC chips, and functions will be more completed. Therefore, heat dissipation in notebooks during operation will be a big obstacle to be overcome.
The present invention provides a new design for a heat sink module suitable for light and thin electronic equipment that reasonably and effectively ameliorates the aforementioned deficiencies.

Heat sink modules for light and thin electronic equipment


Provided is a damper configured so that a compact pedal unit can be obtained using the damper and so that the damper can be easily retrofitted to a pedal unit. A damper (1) comprises elements such as: a pair of cams (slide cam (4) and stationary cam (5)) which rotate relative to each other about the axis (O1) to cause the sloped cam surfaces (4132, 5211) thereof to make sliding contact with each other; a coiled spring (3) which presses the sloped cam surface (4132) of the slide cam (4) against the sloped cam surface (5211) of the stationary cam (5); a case (2); and a resin roller (8) which is fitted in a rotatable manner on the shaft (7A). The rotational motion of the slide cam (4) about the axis (O1) is restrained by the case (2), and as a result, the slide cam (4) rotates about the axis (O1) relative to the stationary cam (5) in association with the rotation of the case (2) about O1.

Patent Literature 1 describes an accelerator pedal unit that uses the hysteresis characteristic of a damper having a pair of cams to applies a suitable load to depressing of an accelerator pedal so that excessive depressing of the accelerator pedal is prevented and to reduce the burden on a foot of a driver who holds the accelerator pedal at an almost-constant position.
In this accelerator pedal unit, rotation of an accelerator pedal arm is transmitted to a rotating shaft of the damper through a transmission mechanism including a link member and the like so that bidirectional rotations of the accelerator pedal arm are damped. In detail, one end portion of the link member is fixed to the rotating shaft of the damper so that rotation of the link member causes rotation of the rotating shaft of the damper. On the other hand, an engaging member is fixed to the accelerator pedal arm at its opposite end portion across a rotating shaft of the accelerator pedal arm from the accelerator pedal. This engaging member is slidably held by the link member. Because of this, when the accelerator pedal arm rotates, the rotating shaft of the damper is rotated through the link member in the direction depending on the rotational direction of the accelerator pedal. Owing to the hysteresis characteristic of the damper, an appropriate load is given at the time of depressing the accelerator pedal while the load is reduced at the time of return of the accelerator pedal.