A monopole antenna is formed of a ground plane, a flat conductor faced to the ground plane and separated from it by a clearance “H”, and a linear conductor that is connected to the flat conductor, extended on the ground plane side in an insulated state from the ground plane, and connected to a signal source. The flat conductor is formed of an inner conductor, and outer conductors disposed on the outer periphery of the inner conductor at a predetermined interval. Set regions of the outer edge of the inner conductor and the inner edges of the outer conductors are interconnected through one or more coupling conductors.

Recently, services such as a car telephone, the Internet connection of navigation, an information service, and an emergency reporting system have been commercialized in a mobile such as an automobile.
The frequency bands used for the car telephone are a 0.8 GHz band and a 1.5 GHz or 2 GHz band in Japan, and a 0.8 GHz band and a 1.9 GHz or 2 GHz band in other countries, for example.
For providing these services, an on-vehicle antenna that operates in a plurality of frequency bands in these systems is increasingly required.
The configuration and operation of a conventional monopole antenna that can support three operating frequencies are described with reference to FIG. 8, FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B.
FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of the conventional monopole antenna. FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B are characteristic diagrams of the monopole antenna. The monopole antenna 800 includes antenna element 5400 and feeding point 5200 for supplying high-frequency signals to flat conductor 6000 of antenna element 5400.
Antenna element 5400 has flat conductor 6000, resonance circuits 7100 and 7200, linear conductor 5300 of which one end is connected to inner conductor 6100, and ground plane 5100. Flat conductor 6000 is made of conductive material such as copper, and has inner conductor 6100, first outer conductor 6200, and second outer conductor 6300. Conductors 6100, 6200 and 6300 are formed concentrically from the inside on the same plane. Second outer conductor 6300 has the longest outer diameter D. In flat conductor 6000, the outer edge of inner conductor 6100 is connected to the inner edge of first outer conductor 6200 via resonance circuit 7100, and the outer edge of first outer conductor 6200 is connected to the inner edge of second outer conductor 6300 via resonance circuit 7200.
Resonance circuits 7100 and 7200 are formed so as to provide a resonance frequency set by a parallel circuit of a coil and a capacitor, for example. At this set resonance frequency, the impedance is high. Therefore, in resonance circuit 7100, for example, inner conductor 6100 is insulated from first outer conductor 6200. The impedance is low at a frequency other than the set resonance frequency, so that inner conductor 6100 is substantially electrically connected to first outer conductor 6200. The same is true of resonance circuit 7200.
The other end of linear conductor 5300 connected to flat conductor 6000 of antenna element 5400 penetrates ground plane 5100 and is connected to feeding point 5200. High-frequency signals from a signal source (not shown) are fed to flat conductor 6000 via feeding point 5200 and linear conductor 5300.
In monopole antenna 800 having such a configuration, when highest first frequency f1, intermediate second frequency f2, and lowest third frequency f3 are fed from the signal source to antenna element 5400 via feeding point 5200, antenna element 5400 operates as follows.
Firstly, when first frequency f1 is fed, resonance circuit 7100 has high impedance at first frequency f1 because resonance circuit 7100 is set to resonate with first frequency f1. As a result, inner conductor 6100 is electrically insulated from first outer conductor 6200, and only linear conductor 5300 and inner conductor 6100 resonate.
Next, when second frequency f2 lower than first frequency f1 is fed, resonance circuit 7100 has low impedance. Therefore, inner conductor 6100 is substantially electrically connected to first outer conductor 6200, and second frequency f2 is transmitted to first outer conductor 6200. While, resonance circuit 7200 has high impedance at second frequency f2 because resonance circuit 7200 is set to resonate with second frequency f2. First outer conductor 6200 is, therefore, electrically insulated from second outer conductor 6300. At second frequency f2, not only linear conductor 5300 and inner conductor 6100, but also first outer conductor 6200 resonates.
Next, when third frequency f3 lower than second frequency f2 is fed, resonance circuit 7200 also has low impedance, and first outer conductor 6200 is substantially electrically connected to second outer conductor 6300. As a result, third frequency f3 is transmitted to second outer conductor 6300, and not only linear conductor 5300, inner conductor 6100, and first outer conductor 6200, but also outer conductor 6300 resonates.
Monopole antenna 800 can thus operate at three frequencies. Directivity, namely one of characteristics of monopole antenna 800 is shown in FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B. FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B show characteristics obtained when XYZ orthogonal coordinate system is set using the center of ground plane 5100 as the origin as shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 9A shows the characteristic in the XY coordinates, and FIG. 9B shows the characteristic in the XZ coordinates.
In a typical monopole antenna, the directivity has a circular shape (hereinafter called omni direction) in the XY coordinates and a figure eight shape having right and left shapes that are substantially the same in the XZ coordinates. In the XY coordinates, the radio wave can be transmitted or received longitudinally and laterally in any direction. The figure eight shaped directivity in the XZ coordinates means that dented ellipse is substantially symmetric with respect to the axial line of the Z-axis and the radio wave can be transmitted or received especially in the X-axis direction.
In monopole antenna 800 shown in FIG. 8, the directivities at both second frequency f2 and third frequency f3 have a circular shape in the XY coordinates as shown in FIG. 9A, indicating omni direction. When second frequency f2 and third frequency f3 lie in the 1.9 GHz band on the high frequency side and the 0.9 GHz band on the low frequency side for a car telephone, respectively, for example, the directivity has a circular shape, namely the omni direction, at either frequency.
As shown in FIG. 9B, it is difficult that the directivities at both second frequency f2 and third frequency f3 have a figure eight shape in monopole antenna 800. In FIG. 9B, the directivity at third frequency f3 has a figure eight shape, but the directivity at second frequency f2 has no figure eight shape. The difference between the directivities at second frequency f2 and third frequency f3 in the XZ coordinates in FIG. 9B causes a difference between intensities (hereinafter called radio emission intensities) of the directivities in the Xy coordinates in FIG. 9A. In other words, since the directivity at third frequency f3 has the figure eight shape and the directivity at second frequency f2 has no figure eight shape, circles indicating the radio emission intensities at second frequency f2 and third frequency f3 have a different diameter in FIG. 9A. In monopole antenna 800, the radio emission intensity at second frequency f2 is about 3 dBi lower than that at third frequency f3.
A configuration similar to that of conventional monopole antenna 800 is disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2000-059129.
The radio emission intensities at two operating frequencies, namely second frequency f2 and third frequency f3 in the example discussed above, are different from each other in conventional monopole antenna 800. Therefore, when two operating frequencies are required due to a difference in communication company and communication method in a system such as a car telephone, the following problem arises. In other words, required radio emission intensity can be secured and transmitting/receiving sensitivity is high at one frequency, but required radio emission intensity cannot be sufficiently secured and transmitting/receiving sensitivity is low at the other frequency.
The present invention addresses the conventional problem, and provides a monopole antenna that can operate at a plurality of frequencies and can secure required radio emission intensity at any operating frequency.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The present invention relates to novel uses of compounds from Antrodia cinnamomea mycelia and mixtures comprising the compounds. The novel uses comprise whitening skin, combating skin ageing, reducing scar formation, inducing or enhancing liver regeneration, or treating fibrosis or a fibrosis-associated disorder in a subject in need thereof. The compounds have the formula

The fruiting body of Antrodia cinnamomea T. T. Chang & W. N. Chou (a taxonomic synonym of Antrodia camphorate, referring to Wu et al., 1997, Antrodia camphorate ("niu-chang-chih"), new combination of a medicinal fungus in Taiwan. Bot. Bull. Acad. Sin. 38: 273-275) is a highly valued folk medicine in Taiwan. It is used as an antidote and for diarrhea, abdominal pain, hypertension, itchy skin, and liver cancer. Some bioactive constituents from the fruiting body of Antrodia cinnamomea have been isolated and characterized as a series of polysaccharides, steroids, triterpenoids, and sesquiterpene lactone (Lin et al., 2007, Factors affecting mycelial biomass and exopolysacharide production in submerged cultivation of Antrodia cinnamomea using complex media. Bioresource Technology 98: 2511-2517). In previous studies, five new maleic and succinic acid derivatives (Compound 1-5) are isolated from the mycelium of Antrodia cinnamomea (Nakamura et al., 2004, Five new maleic and succinic acid derivatives from the mycelium of Antrodia comphorata and their cytotoxic effects on LLC tumor cell line. J Nat Prod 67: 46-48).
U.S. Pat. No. 7,109,232 discloses Compounds 1-5 from Antrodia cinnamomea mycelia and their uses such as hepatoprotection, anti-inflammation or anti-tumor activity and preparation. The above Compounds 1-5 are further named as Antrodins A-E in another article (Phuong do T et al., 2009, inhibitory effects of antrodins A-E from Antrodia cinnamomea and their metabolites on hepatitis C virus protease. Phytother Res. April; 23(4):582-4). According to the prior arts, it is noted that these Compounds 1-5 from Antrodia cinnamomea mycelia not only have similar structures but also have similar activities.

Abstract: and preferably are selected from            3-isobutyl-4-[4-(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy)phenyl]furan-2,5-dione,    3-isobutyl-4-[4-(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy)phenyl]-1H-pyrrol-2,5-dione,    3-isobutyl-4-[4-(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy)phenyl]-1H-pyrrol-1-ol-2,5-dione,    3R*,4S*-1-hydroxy-3-isobutyl-4-[4-(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy)phenyl]pyrrolidine-2,5-dione, and    3R*,4R*-1-hydroxy-3-isobutyl-4-[4-(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy)phenyl]pyrrolidine-2,5-dione.


A separable bridge, particularly useful for military purposes, having bridge modules which can be coupled together and whose roadway elements, diagonal elements and lower chords form a vertically adjustable framework. The lower chords of the bridge modules are shorter than the roadway element of that bridge module, and the diagonal elements are fastened to ends of the lower chords. The roadway elements have a plurality of fastening points for the diagonal elements and the lower chords. These fastening points are located at different distances from an end of the roadway element. The roadway element, the lower chords and the diagonal elements have constant lengths.

The present invention relates to a separable bridge, particularly useful for military purposes, and having one or more bridge modules which can be coupled together to form the bridge, with each bridge module having at least one roadway element, lower chord and diagonal element, with the height of the framework formed by the roadway elements, the lower chords and the diagonal elements being adjustable.
A separable bridge is known from the German Patent Document DE-AS 12 07 948 and comprises several bridge elements that can be coupled. The bridge elements each contain a bridge floor (or roadway) plate, lower chords and struts. The bridge elements are designed either as center elements with a horizontally extending roadway or as ramp elements with a sloped roadway. The ramp elements cannot be used as center elements so that, when the bridge is transported, a relatively large number of parts must be carried along.
A separable bridge of the same type is known from the German Patent Document DE-OS 38 14 502 and comprises several bridge elements that can be coupled. The bridge elements represent a framework of bridge floor (roadway) plates, lower chords and diagonal struts Since the lower chords and the diagonal struts can be telescoped or can be fastened at specific coupling points, the height of the structural elements can be adjusted.
It is an object of the invention to provide a bridge of this type in such a manner that is lighter and simpler in its construction.
This and other objects are achieved by the present invention which provides a separable bridge comprising a plurality of bridge modules coupled together to form the bridge, each bridge module having at least one roadway element, lower chords and diagonal elements, with the height of a framework of each bridge module formed by the roadway elements, the lower chords and the diagonal elements being adjustable. The lower chords of a bridge module are shorter than the roadway elements of that bridge module, and the diagonal elements are fastened to ends of the lower chords. The roadway elements have a plurality of fastening points for the diagonal elements and the lower chords, these fastening points being located at different distances from an end of the roadway element. The roadway element, the lower chords and the diagonal elements have constant lengths.
The bridge according to the invention retains the advantages of the bridge described in the German Patent Document DE-OS 38 14 502. These advantages include exposure of a small area to wind, as well as to bombardment. Also, a high variability is provided. This means that either one very long or several short bridges can be built simultaneously by one vehicle. No front end support is required up to approximately 45 meters. The bridge has a low weight and a low transport volume. Additionally, the bridge construction allows a good view of the bridge for a tank driver when driving onto the bridge. When one bridge section fails, only the overall length is reduced and the overall system will not fail. The bridge structure is an open structure, so that the view to coupling points and other critical points is unimpaired. Also, assembly behind the front line is not necessary because all elements are exchangeable. There is no tactical limitation (i.e., decision concerning the length of the bridge is made at the destination).
In addition to these advantages, the bridge according to the present invention is lighter and simpler in its construction than the known bridge since telescoping parts are no longer required (which must have a double-walled design). The height and the slope of the bridge modules are freely selectable within a wide range. The linking of the diagonal elements to the ends of the lower chords allows a lighter construction of the lower chords than in the case of a linking in the center. The very short diagonal elements (shorter than half the lower chords) of the present invention again reduces the overall weight. As a result of the shortness of the lower chords with respect to the roadway, a larger height of the bridge (an arch) is obtained which automatically has a larger length.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


A networking/communication chip having a receiving buffer or FIFO whereby it receives data from a data source across a network and transfers the data to a host system. The memory in the host system acts as a logical extension of the receiving buffer in the chip; in this way, the host system controls the flow of data from the source, rather than the control flow being based on the capacity of the receiving buffer in the networking/communication chip. The networking/communication chip may be a controller, such as a 10 Gigabit Ethernet controller, wherein data received from the source in one protocol is transformed to a second protocol input to the host. If either or both the networking/communication chip or the host system is/are made of FPGAs, it/they can be reprogrammed to disable the flow control in the networking/communication chip and enable flow control in the host system. Data flow is enhanced because memory in the host system typically is much larger than memory in the networking/communication chip.

Increasingly so, the world relies on data communication over networks of computers wherein two or more computer systems are connected and communicate with each other. There are large networks that span the globe, such as the Internet, and there are smaller networks, such as a between adjacent desks in the same room. There are many types of networks but some of the most common classifications of network are based on the distances between the computers or microprocessor driven devices in the network. A home-area network (HAN) is a network contained within a user's home that connects a person's digital devices. A local-area network (LAN) is one wherein the computers are geographically close together, for instance, in the same building. Most LANs connect workstations and personal computers. Each individual computer in a LAN may have its own CPU with which it executes programs, but it also is able to access data and devices anywhere on the LAN. This means that many users can share expensive devices, such as laser printers, storage resources, software applications, etc. Users also use the LAN to communicate with each other and share data. Storage area networks (SAN) are those networks connected to massive digital data storage banks. A campus-area network (CAN) is where the computers are within a limited geographic area, such as a campus or military base. A metropolitan-area network (MAN) is a data network designed for a town or city. A wide-area network (WAN) is where the computers are farther apart and are connected by telephone lines or radio waves.
Not only the distance, but also the following characteristics are used to categorize different types of networks. Computers on a network are sometimes called nodes. Computers and devices that allocate resources for a network are called servers. The topology refers to the geometric arrangement of a computer system, such as a bus, star, and ring. A bus topology is like a long street with computers or nodes each have access to the server. A star is like a cul-de-sac where the nodes access the center, like a hub. A ring topology is where data flows through the nodes between the source and destination. Protocol defines a common set of rules and signals that computers on the network use to communicate; one of the most popular protocols for LANs is called Ethernet. Architecture can use either a peer-to-peer architecture wherein each node has direct access to another node or client/server architecture wherein communication is through a server than to another node. Networks vary from one another by the media connecting the node, such as twisted-pair wire, coaxial cables, fiber optic cables, wireless, satellite, etc.
A challenging problem in network is the delay effects. The time to read data and to send a control signal to a transmitter through the network depends on the characteristics of the network as above. The overall performance of a networked system can be significantly affected by network delays, and the severity of the problem is aggravated when data loss occurs during a transmission. Delays not only degrade the performance of a network, but also can destabilize the network.
One mode of data transmission is a full-duplex mode that allows two nodes to simultaneously exchange data over a point to point link, or peer-to-peer link, connecting exactly two stations to avoid contention for the medium. Full duplex further provides independent transmit and receive paths. Because each node can simultaneously transmit and receive data, the aggregate throughput of the link is effectively doubled. Thus, a 10 megabit per second (Mbps) node operating in full-duplex mode provides a maximum bandwidth of 20 Mbps, i.e., 10 Mbps going out and 10 Mbps coming in. Full-duplex operation requires a physical medium capable of supporting simultaneous transmission and reception without interference.
The addition of full-duplex mode to the Ethernet protocol standard includes an optional flow control operation known as PAUSE frames. PAUSE frames permit one end station to temporarily stop all traffic from the other end station, except for certain control frames. For example, a full-duplex link connects two devices called "A" and "B". Suppose A transmits frames at a rate faster than B can either process or receive them because B has no remaining buffer space to receive additional frames. B now transmits a PAUSE frame to A requesting that A stop transmitting frames for a specified period of time. Upon receiving the PAUSE frame, A suspends further frame transmission until the specified time period has elapsed to allow B time to catch up and/or recover from the congestion state. At the end of the specified time period, A resumes normal transmission of data frames. Note that the PAUSE frame protocol is bidirectional; A may send frames to pause B, and B may send frames to pause A. A PAUSE frame is the one type of frame that a node is allowed to send even if it is currently in the paused state.
The format of a PAUSE frame conforms to the standard Ethernet frame format and includes a unique type field and other parameters. The destination address of the frame may be set to either a unique node, or to the globally assigned multicast address reserved by the IEEE 802.3 standard for use in MAC Control PAUSE frames and the IEEE 802.1D bridging standard as an address that will not be forwarded. This ensures the frame will not propagate beyond the local link segment. The Type field of the PAUSE frame indicates the frame is a MAC Control frame. The MAC Control opcode field indicates the type of MAC Control frame being used is a PAUSE frame; it being the only type of MAC Control frame currently defined. The MAC Control Parameters field contains a 12-bit value that specifies the duration of the PAUSE event in units of 512-bit times. If an additional PAUSE frame arrives before the current PAUSE time has expired, its parameter replaces the current PAUSE time, so a PAUSE frame with parameter zero allows traffic to resume immediately. A 42-byte reserved field (transmitted as all zeros) is required to pad the length of the PAUSE frame to the minimum Ethernet frame size.
PreambleStartDest. MACSourceLength/TypeMACMACReservedFrame(7-bytes)FrameAddress (6-MAC(2-bytes) =ControlControl(42-CheckDelimiterbytes) =Address802.3OpcodeParametersbytes) =Sequence(1-byte)(01-80-C2-(6-MAC(2-bytes) =(2-bytes) =all(4-bytes)00-00-01)bytes)ControlPAUSE(00-00 tozerosor unique(88-08)(00-01)FF-FF)DA
Predominantly, in the 10 Gigabit Ethernet protocol, network processor units/framers//MACs/etc., use either SPI4.2, SPI4.1/CSIX, or SFI interfaces to go between chips. SPI4.2 interfaces are parallel interfaces and in the case of SPI4.2 specifically it is sixteen differential data lines each running at ˜700 Mbps. While not trivial to design, SPI4.2 is relatively stable technology and is available in field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) today. Thus, SPI4-2 is a flexible system-level interface, suitable for point-to-point connections between MACs and network processor units (NPUs), or switch fabric devices for converged systems in LAN/WAN/MAN/SAN environments.
Flow control refers to the techniques to throttle the flow of data to minimize data loss. In a node, the receiving and transmitting integrated circuit or chip may have several functions, one of which is to generate and/or receive the signals through hardware referred to as a PHY. A PHY is the actual transceiver. After the PHY is a media access controller (MAC). For Ethernet, the MAC sublayer is required to perform two main functions: data encapsulation, and media access management. To perform these functions, first-in, first-out (FIFO) queues are created and used in the MAC to store frame data. In an ideal world there would be no data loss resulting from the limitations in network performance or FIFO sizing but in the real world data is lost without a mechanism to limit frame transmission. Data is lost when packet data is received faster than it is transmitted, resulting in filling of the FIFOs. MAC devices either overwrite data in the FIFOs to lose the oldest data or stop writing to the FIFOs and lose the newest data. To avoid data loss, MAC devices must slow down the receive-data stream until the transmit stream has caught up. Flow control is the methodology used to throttle the receive data stream to keep from completely filling the FIFOs. This has created an industry challenge to balance the amount of throughput loss due to flow control versus the amount of data loss without flow control.
In current technology, the flow control mechanism is accomplished within the MAC control sublayer. The FIFO fills as packets are received. Once the FIFO has reached a preprogrammed threshold, the MAC control sublayer signals an internal state machine to transmit a PAUSE frame. This signal informs the link partner to halt transmission for a specified length of time, referred to as "TxOFF" where Tx is an abbreviation for transmit and Rx is an abbreviation for receive. The MAC continues to transmit PAUSE frames with the programmed idle time as long as the threshold has been exceeded. If the FIFO level falls below the threshold prior to the expiration of this time, another PAUSE frame is sent with a zero time specified to re-enable transmission, referred to as "TxON."
To determine the FIFO threshold, the prior art devices MAC devices have per-port programmable FIFO high and low thresholds. The high threshold is the threshold above which flow control is implemented, and the low threshold is the threshold below which the flow control is terminated. Proper FIFO threshold selection determines the effectiveness of the implemented flow control. To ensure no data is lost, the FIFO threshold should be set low enough to allow for storage of the maximum amount of data that could be received prior to the flow control taking effect. To ensure maximum throughput, the FIFO threshold should be set high enough to not empty the FIFO prior to the flow control being released, and high enough to limit the percentage of time that flow control needs to be activated. Many system constraints must be considered when implementing flow control, such as packet size, duplex mode, link speed, media link segment length and type, the MAC-PHY latency.
To avoid an overflow condition, the FIFO typically stores the amount of data that can be received prior to the flow control taking effect. This amount of data is quantified as the combination of the amount of time for data transmitted from the link partner to reach the MAC receiver after the FIFO threshold is exceeded and corresponds to data currently traveling along the media, i.e., data that has been transmitted but not received. All media has an inherent time delay and the length of the delay is dependent upon the type and length of the media. Also to be considered is the preparation time for the MAC latency to respond to over threshold and send out a PAUSE frame that is dependent upon duplex and supported packet size. There are a number of small time periods to be considered in order calculate the appropriate thresholds: the time to wait between transmissions, the time to transmit the pause packet that needs to be accounted for, the time for the pause packet to reach the link partner, the time to transfer the pause packet through the PHY to the MAC, the time for the receiving MAC to react to the PAUSE frame, and the packet delay in that the receiving MAC could have just started transmission of another packet, which has to be completed before flow control takes effect, etc.
To avoid an underflow condition, the FIFO must have enough stored data to continue transmitting for the time to terminate the flow control. The amount of stored data must exceed the combination of the following: the preparation time to send out the new PAUSE frame with zero time, the time to wait for the current transmission to end, the required time to wait between transmissions, the time to transmit the pause packet that needs to be accounted for, the time for the pause packet to reach the link partner, the time to transfer the pause packet through the PHY to the MAC, the time for the receiving MAC to react to the PAUSE frame, and the delay through the media once the link partner has decided to re-start transmission before the data reaches the other end. For example, for an optical fiber or other media of a distance of two kilometers and a 1030 byte frame, the FIFO depth would be on the order of 10 kilobytes. For a distance of approximately 40 kilometers, a FIFO might have to accommodate one-half megabytes of data. Thus, as distances between nodes increase in a network, the size of this FIFO also gets larger, and the cost of memory becomes prohibitive. There is thus a need in the industry to accommodate larger distances in networks without fear of losing data during the transmission of a PAUSE frame while still maintaining low costs.


In a spark plug, a cylindrical metal shell is provided whose inner wall has a ledge portion on which an insulator rests through its seat portion. The insulator has an axial bore in which a center electrode is placed whose front end has a heat-resistant metal tip. A ground electrode is provided to form a spark gap with the noble metal tip of the center electrode. The insulator forms an insulator nose which measures less than 15 mm in length. The heat-resistant metal tip measures less than 0.8 mm in diameter. A space between an outer surface of the center electrode and an inner wall of a front open end of the axial bore is defined to be more than 0.1 mm in width.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a spark plug for an internal combustion engine which is capable of reducing a voltage required to induce spark discharges while reducing carbon-related deposit even when using a shorter insulator nose.
2. Description of Prior Art
In a high compression type engine and a lean burn type engine each recently put into a practical use, the ignitable conditions come to worsen so that remnant of carbon, oil or the like (unburned material) tends to deposit on a front end surface of the insulator so as to induce carbon smoldering in the spark plug. In order to alleviate the carbon smoldering, it has been demanded to effectively remove the unburned material deposited on the front end surface of the insulator to impart a fouling resistant property.
In a spark plug disclosed by a laying-open application No. 2-181383, the carbon deposit on the insulator is burningly removed by subjecting the carbon deposit to inductive spark discharges. That is to say, it is possible to burningly remove the carbon deposit which is exposed to an ionization area of the inductive component among the spark discharges established across the center and ground electrode.
In a spark plug disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,845,400 and 5,159,232, the carbon deposit on the insulator is burningly removed by subjecting the carbon deposit to inductive spark discharges in the same manner as described in the laying-open application No. 2-181383.
However, in the laying-open application No. 2-181383, it is necessary to extend the front end of the center electrode by 1.1 mm or less beyond that of the insulator when considering a relationship between a diametrical dimension of the front end of the center electrode and an inner diameter of the axial bore. Furthermore, the front end of the center electrode is likely to be excessively heated for the lack of its heat-drawing effect when heated by the spark discharge energy.
In the reference of U.S. Pat. No. 4,845,400, it is necessary to extend the front end of the center electrode by 1.0 mm or less beyond that of the insulator when considering a relationship between a diametrical dimension of the front end of the center electrode and an inner diameter of the axial bore. Furthermore, the front end of the center electrode is likely to be excessively heated for the lack of its heat-drawing effect when heated by the spark discharge energy.
In the reference of U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,232, it is necessary to define a diameter (d) of the front end of the center electrode as 0.6 mm.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.1.55 mm when considering a space between the front end of the center electrode and a front open end of the axial bore of the insulator. Furthermore, it is necessary to define how long the front end of the center electrode should extend beyond the insulator.
Therefore, it is a main object of the invention to provide a spark plug which is capable of preventing the carbon smoldering while improving the ignitability with a low voltage required to induce the spark discharges even when an insulator has a shorter insulator nose. This is realized by combining a very thinned front end of the center electrode and a space (referred often to as "air-pocket" hereinafter) between an outer surface of the center electrode and the inner wall of the front open end of the axial bore of the insulator.

Spark plug for an internal combustion engine


Apparatus and associated methods relate to a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) probe. The LVDT probe includes a plunger rod and a metal sheet formed into a cylinder with a C-shaped cross-section, the metal sheet configured to couple to the plunger rod. In an illustrative example, the coupling may be an interference fit aided by spring retention forces of the metal sheet. The metal sheet may be stamped, formed and applied to the plunger rod without annealing. In another example, the C-shaped metal sheet may be welded to the plunger rod at a distal and/or proximal end. The ratio of relative electromagnetic permeability of the metal sheet to the plunger rod may be greater than 10.

Electronic sensors may detect various environmental parameters and generate a response signal. For example, pressure sensors may detect pressure in industrial pipelines. Temperature sensors may detect an ambient environmental temperature or may detect, for example, a temperature in a chamber. Accelerometers may detect vibration or shock, and may, for example, deploy automobile airbags. Displacement sensors may detect linear or angular displacement. Motion sensors may turn on lights in response to detecting the motion of people, for example.
Displacement sensors may be implemented in a variety of applications. In pressure measurement applications, a pressurized vessel, for example, an oil line, may include a diaphragm that moves outward in response to pressure and inward in response to vacuum. A displacement sensor may be coupled to the diaphragm to measure the pressure in the line, by measuring the displacement of the diaphragm.

C-shaped cylindrical core for linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) probes


A multimode antenna structure is provided for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals in a communication device. The communication device includes circuitry for processing signals communicated to and from the antenna structure. The antenna structure includes a plurality of antenna ports for coupling to the circuitry; a plurality of antenna elements, each operatively coupled to a different one of the antenna ports; and a plurality of connecting elements. The connecting elements each electrically connect neighboring antenna elements such that the antenna elements and the connecting elements are arranged about the periphery of the antenna structure and form a single radiating structure. Electrical currents on one antenna element flow to connected neighboring antenna elements and generally bypass the antenna ports coupled to the neighboring antenna elements such that an antenna mode excited by one antenna port is generally electrically isolated from a mode excited by another antenna port at a given desired signal frequency range, and the antenna structure generates diverse antenna patterns.

The present invention relates generally to wireless communications devices and, more particularly, to antennas used in such devices.
Many communications devices have multiple antennas that are packaged close together (e.g., less than a quarter of a wavelength apart) and that can operate simultaneously within the same frequency band. Common examples of such communications devices include portable communications products such as cellular handsets, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and wireless networking devices or data cards for personal computers (PCs). Many system architectures (such as Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO)) and standard protocols for mobile wireless communications devices (such as 802.11n for wireless LAN, and 3G data communications such as 802.16e (WiMAX), HSDPA, and 1xEVDO) require multiple antennas operating simultaneously.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An HEMS 500 that performs a power management in a consumer 1 that includes one or more loads 40 that consume power and an SOFC unit 100 that performs a load following operation calculates, for each time zone, predicted power consumption, and thereafter, displays information indicating an exceeding time zone in which the predicted power consumption in the consumer exceeds a first threshold value of the SOFC unit 100 and information indicating a non-exceeding time zone in which the predicted power consumption falls short of a second threshold value.

In recent years, in a power consumer (house, etc.), a fuel cell unit provided with a fuel cell and a power conversion equipment (power conditioner) is becoming popular as an auxiliary power source for a commercial power grid.
Further, Patent Literature 1 discloses a technology of displaying a message prompting to ventilate a room when a temperature in a room where an air conditioner is provided is lower than an outdoor air temperature.

Power management system, power management apparatus, and display control method


A mechanical load fuse assembly, particularly designed for lifting cables used with helicopters, consists of first and second end assemblies. An axial shear pin is releasably secured between the first and second end assemblies; and this shear pin is calibrated to have a breaking point of a pre-established amount when axial forces are applied to it. A protective sleeve is located over the shear pin between the first and second end assemblies when the shear pin is releasably secured. This protective sleeve has first and second positions of operation. A coil spring is used to normally bias the protective sleeve to the first position. In this position, radially projecting pins on the first and second end assemblies engage corresponding slots on the protective sleeve to prevent relative rotation of the first and second end assemblies relative to one another, so long as the sleeve is in the first position. The protective sleeve may be moved to the second position against the force of the spring to allow the first and second end assemblies to be rotated relative to one another to facilitate the removal and insertion of axial shear pin devices.

In various mechanical devices, a need exists for a mechanical fuse or shear pin to sever a connection between two mechanical components when stress in excess of some pre-established amount occurs between the two parts. Shear pins, for example, are used to connect a propeller of an outboard motor to the drive shaft of the motor; so that if the propeller should strike an obstruction, the shear pin will break before damage to the drive train of the motor takes place. Typically, shear pins of this type are used to secure a propeller with a shaft-receiving portion on it by inserting the shear pin radially through a cylindrical extension on the propeller and through the drive shaft which is inserted into this extension. Thus, if an excessive rotational force should be generated between the propeller and the drive shaft, the shear pin is broken or "sheared"; and the drive shaft can spin free within the propeller extension without damage to the motor drive train.
Devices using shear pins which are oriented transversely to the direction of pull are disclosed in three United States patents to Smith U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,007, McCall U.S. Pat. No. 4,330,926, and Shearar U.S. Pat. No. 5,466,082. All of these patents employ essentially the same general principles of operation. The devices of the Smith and Shearar patents both are capable of relatively easy insertion and replacement of the shear pins. In the Smith device, the shear pin is held in place by means of a rubber "O" ring which encircles the device and extends across both ends of the shear pin. In the device of the Shearar patent, the shear pin has cotter pin retainers in both ends of it; so that a bit more effort is involved in replacing and changing the shear pin of this device than is required for that of the Smith device.
Some applications exist where a load fuse or a shear pin oriented in a longitudinal direction, or in the direction of pull, is preferred over the transversely oriented shear pins of the above patents. For example, for load lifting cables used with helicopters, it is desired to provide some type of link in the lifting cable which will break when an excessive load is applied to the cable. Lifting cables, which are used with helicopters to lift and deliver loads while the helicopter is airborne, are subject to situations where either the load or the cable become entangled with an obstruction. If the force exerted on the cable exceeds the load capabilities of the helicopter, a catastrophic accident may occur. Consequently, applications exist for an axial longitudinal mechanical load fuse for such situations.
The United States patent to Clifton U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,129 is directed to a load limited conductor using an axially oriented breakaway pin (or multiple pins). The pin or pins of this device are in the form of bolts which are used to interconnect the two connector portion of the assembly in which they are used. These bolts are simple threaded into place to interconnect the assemblies; and the bolts have a pre-established breaking tension. These devices are broken along their axial length or upon the application of axial tension to them.
The U.S. patent to Walker U.S. Pat. No. 3,185,415 is directed to an integral tension bar retainer for aircraft. The device of this patent employs a shear pin which is axially located within the retainer and is held in place by means of a spring-loaded retainer cam. Rotation of the cam allows insertion and replacement of different shear pins. There is nothing to prevent accidental rotation of the cam in this device.
It is desirable to provide a mechanical load fuse or shear pin device which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art, which permits easy removal and insertion or replacement of different load fuses, which is simple to construct, and which functions to prevent accidental removal of a load fuse element in a completed assembly.


A method is provided for interfacing telecommunication devices. A base unit is connected to a landline for wireless communication. The base unit has a power supply operating at a power supply frequency. A mobile unit is provided for wireless communication with the base unit. The base unit is interfaced to the mobile unit using an interface protocol that has a plurality of frames. Each frame is for transmitting signals from the mobile unit to the base unit and from the base unit to the mobile unit. The frames have a specified frame length. An interference frequency is detected at either the base unit or the mobile unit. The interference frequency is compared with the power supply frequency. The frames are synchronized with the power supply and the specified frame length is adjusted based on the power supply frequency when the interference frequency and the power supply frequency are substantially the same.

This invention relates generally to the field of telecommunications and, more specifically, to a method and system for avoiding periodic bursts of interference in wireless communication between a mobile unit and a base unit.
As society grows more complex and operates at an ever accelerating pace, there has been a growing need for better and more flexible communication devices. One area that has experienced substantial development activity is the area of wireless communication. Wireless telephone systems are also known as portable, cordless or mobile telephone systems. A typical wireless communication system has a base station located at a customer""s or user""s premises. The base is connected to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) over a wireline interface and communicates with a mobile unit or handset over an air interface that permits the user to communicate remotely from the base station. While users desire the freedom and flexibility afforded by mobile wireless communications systems, they typically do not want to sacrifice the numerous features, such as caller ID, that are available through the wireline service over the PSTN. In addition, users of wireless systems increasingly demand a voice quality that is as good as the voice quality available over a wireline link.
In the past, the enhanced features and high voice quality demanded by users have been achieved by the use of sophisticated and complex algorithms and methods that require substantial processor resources and large amounts of memory. These processing and memory resources are not only expensive but also place a substantial drain on battery power, therefore shortening the effective use of the mobile unit. Other technical problems associated with the need for using faster and more powerful processors include larger packaging to accommodate the larger-sized components and to dissipate the heat generated by such units. In the past, wireless systems have been large and bulky and have weighed more than what is satisfactory to many users.
While wireless communication devices and methods have provided an improvement over prior approaches in terms of features, voice quality, cost, packaging size and weight, the challenges in the field of wireless telecommunications have continued to increase with demands for more and better techniques having greater flexibility and adaptability.
Therefore, a need has arisen for a new method and system for avoiding periodic bursts of interference in wireless communication between a mobile unit and a base unit.
In accordance with the present invention, a method and system for interfacing a mobile unit and a base unit of a wireless communication system in the presence of a periodically bursted interferer are provided that substantially eliminate or reduce disadvantages and problems associated with previously developed systems and methods.
A method for interfacing telecommunication devices is disclosed. A base unit is connected to a landline for wireless communication. The base unit has a power supply operating at a power supply frequency. A mobile unit is provided for wireless communication with the base unit. The base unit is interfaced to the mobile unit using an interface protocol that has a plurality of frames. Each frame is for transmitting signals from the mobile unit to the base unit and from the base unit to the mobile unit. The frames have a specified frame length. An interference frequency is detected at either the base unit or the mobile unit. The interference frequency is compared with the power supply frequency. The frames are synchronized with the power supply and the specified frame length is adjusted based on the power supply frequency when the interference frequency and the power supply frequency are substantially the same.
Technical advantages of the present invention include providing for interfacing a mobile unit and a base unit in the presence of a periodically bursted interferer. In particular, the interference frequency of the interferer is compared to the power supply frequency for the base unit. Accordingly, the system is able to determine that the interference is due to a periodically bursted interferer. As a result, the frame length of frames for communicating data between the units may be adjusted in accordance with the power supply frequency such that the interference is avoided.
Other technical advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions and claims.

Method and system for avoiding periodic bursts of interference in wireless communication between a mobile unit and a base unit

Siemens Information and Communication Mobile LLC


The present invention provides a wheel-immobilizing device that does not require holes or indentations in the wheel in order for the device to be secured around the wheel or caster being immobilized. Additionally, a wheel-immobilizing device according to the invention is configured such that it may be placed on the ground in front of a cabinet, and the cabinet simply rolled into position with one of its casters between side walls of the device. The wheel-immobilizing device is then secured around the caster by passing a cross member or, in some embodiments, two cross members through the side walls on either side of the caster stem and then securing the cross member or members in position, thereby locking the wheel-immobilizing device to the caster of the cabinet and hampering rolling movement of the cabinet.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to wheel-immobilizing devices. More particularly, the invention relates to a wheel-immobilizing device that is particularly suited to inhibit rolling movement of a wheeled cart or cabinet or other caster-supported item.
2. Background of the Invention
There are various instances in which it is desirable to prevent a wheeled item from moving. For example, it is known to immobilize cars for which violations have not been paid using what is referred to as a "Denver boot." A Denver boot has a clam-shell-type body and a blocking arm that protrudes from the body. The body is clamped around the wheel of a car and locked in place, and the blocking arm prevents the wheel from rolling by striking the ground or the underside of the car if moving the car is attempted. The Denver boot utilizes holes or indentations in the wheel in order for it to be secured to the wheel. The wheels or casters on many carts and cabinets, however, have no holes or indentations; therefore, a Denver boot-style device can not be used to immobilize them.
Various other immobilizing devices in which a wheel is enclosed within a clamshell-type arrangement are also known. In many of these devices, the wheel being immobilized must be raised off the ground in order for the device to be secured around it. If the cabinet to be immobilized is heavy, however, it may not be easy or possible to lift it. Therefore, a clamshell-type device that requires the wheel to be lifted from the ground in order to be installed is not suitable for immobilizing very heavy carts or cabinets.


An electronic tax declaration system includes an input unit that receives financial information data to be declared; a data conversion unit that converts the received financial information data according to specifications of declaration data; a declaration data generation unit that adds a digital signature to the converted financial information data for generating declaration data and stores it into a storage; a declaration transmission unit that sends the declaration data to a regulator handling a tax; a declaration result reception unit that receives a declaration result of the declaration data from the regulator and stores it into the storage associated with the declaration data; and a loan application unit that creates loan application data by extracting the declaration data and the associated declaration result from the storage and adding a digital signature to them and sends the created loan application data to an external unit.

The present invention relates to a system for electronically declaring a tax, a method for electrically declaring a tax, and a software program for the system and the method.
Today, to declare a tax, a declarer, a tax accountant, or an accountant fills in a form with data to declare and mails or brings the filled-in form to a government agency or a regulator responsible for the tax. A system for declaring a tax by transmitting electronic data via a network is now under study. An example of such an electronic tax declaration system is disclosed in JP-A-2002-373226.
On the other hand, when applying to a third party, such as a financial institution, for a loan, a tax declaration form accepted by a government agency is sometimes used as a form that proves the income of a person or the financial status of a company that applies for the loan.
XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) is available for use as a language for electronically describing financial information data. XBRL, an XML (extensible Markup Language) based language for describing information used for finance and management, is suitable for describing financial statements, such as a balance sheet and a profit and loss statement of a company, or financial information data such as internal accounting reports. XBRL is introduced at a web site at http://www.xbrl.org/.


A flexible cable including an outer sheath having an inner surface, the inner surface forming a channel to receive at least one conductor and a support member. At least one conductor and support member are positioned within the channel to substantially resist deformation of the outer sheath.

Rigid members such as conduit, pipe and tubing of standard trade sizes are oftentimes used for holding electrical conductors therein. For example, conduit sections are typically purchased from local stock, bent to the desired configuration and coupled together to form a channel for holding the conductors. However, using such rigid materials can be time consuming and cumbersome to install. Furthermore, while utilizing standard trade sizes enables conduit to be readily available through local stock, these standard trade sizes in many instances are not efficiently sized. For example, conduit that is larger than necessary results in material waste, increased weight and higher costs. Conversely, conduit that is too small can increase the likelihood of damage to the conductors during conductor installation and/or replacement within the conduit channel.
As an alternative, flexible cable with pre-installed conductors are oftentimes used in lieu of standard trade size rigid conduit or tubing in order to eliminate the tedious installation and inaccurate sizing as described above; however, such flexible cable configurations currently are not effective to enable easy removal and replacement of the conductors. While the outer jacket, sheath or armor can be sized to provide the requisite amount of free space or channel within the cable to facilitate removal and replacement of conductors, such flexible cable configurations are susceptible to damage during packing, shipping, installation, and/or removal and replacement of conductors since the outer sheath is provided with little or no support. For example, when a flexible cable is wound onto a storage reel, the weight of the cable can compromise and/or otherwise deform the cable's outer sheath thereby interfering with, and/or otherwise reducing the area of, the channel. This deformation can prevent and otherwise hinder the removal and replacement of the conductors within the flexible cable after it has been installed.
In addition, no effective methodology exists, other than utilizing trade size conduits or raceways, for increasing the size of the jacket, sheath or armor of a flexible cable to provide an adequately sized channel within the cable for removing and replacing the conductors contained within it. Moreover, with standard trade size conduits and raceways, the outer diameter or dimensions are fixed, which can limit available space to safely remove and replace the conductors or result in excessive or unnecessary space to safely remove and replace the conductors.

Flexible cable with structurally enhanced outer sheath


A method and apparatus for resolving both the angular (nx,ny) and spatial (x,y) dependence of the effective source coherence matrix for lithographic steppers and scanners is described. First an in-situ source metrology instrument is combined with in-situ polarization elements to create an in-situ source imaging polarizer or ISIP. The ISIP is loaded into a photolithographic exposure tool, aligned, and then exposed onto a suitable recording media or recording sensor. The recording sensor comprising either resist coated wafers or electronic sensors capture the image intensity at a multiplicity of different field points. The resulting measurements are entered into a computer program that reconstructs the source coherence matrix as a function of direction cosine at multiple field points. Alternative ISIP configurations are discussed in some detail. Applications of the ISIP include polarization source mapping for deep-UV and EUV lithography, process optimization, process monitoring, and chip manufacturing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of semiconductor manufacturing and particularly to characterization of light sources utilized in ULSI lithography.
2. Background
Photolithography plays a vital role in semiconductor manufacturing by defining the ultimate features that are etched or deposited within each layer of the device. Projection imaging machines, usually of the stepper (see, for example, Bruning et al., "Optical Lithography—Thirty Years and Three Orders of Magitude", Proc. of SPIE, Vol. 3051, pp. 14-27, 1997) or step and scan (see, for example, "Optical Lithography—Thirty Years and Three Orders of Magnitude", supra) variety, typical use effective light sources that can be varied over a wide range of configurations. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a typical projection imaging system as would be found in a stepper or scanner. Effective source, ES, is responsible for generating and shaping the light incident on the reticle. It includes a light source, LS, (typically an excimer laser), two blocks of beam shaping optics (IIO and OIO) that produce spatially and angularly uniform light incident on reticle R. The spatial uniformity requirement is simple; it must be constant across reticle R. Angular uniformity means the angular spectrum of radiation (dE/do(nxr,nyr)) needs to be the same at all field points (e.g., x,y transverse positions on R). FIG. 2a shows in plan view the angular distribution (direction cosine coordinates nx, ny shown) of a typical source (annular quadrupole). The exact angular distribution of light within this source, the radiant intensity or dE/do(nx,ny) (energy per unit solid angle), can be measured by in-situ methods according to see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,356,345, McArthur et al. "InSitu Source Metrology Instrument and Method of Use" McArthur et al., "In-Situ Source Metrology Instrument and Method of Use", U.S. Pat. No. 6,741,338, May 25, 2004, and Smith et al., "Apparatus and Method for High Resolution In-Situ Illumination Source Measurement in Projection Imaging Systems", U.S. Patent Publication No. U.S.20050231705, Oct. 20, 2005.
As photolithography pushes to k1 values below the well known Rayleigh resolution limit (k1=0.5) image enhancement techniques among which are polarized sources become crucial (see, for example, Sheppard et al., "Annular pupils, radial polarization, and superresolution", Applied Optics, Vol. 43, No. 22, pp. 4322-4327, Aug. 1, 2004). The effective source in FIG. 2a is polarized for enhanced resolution. Poles P2 and P4 consist of linearly polarized light in the X direction (indicated by direction of arrows in these poles) while poles P1 & P3 are Y polarized. Again, for low k1 semiconductor applications the state of polarization of the effective source is critical to lithographic performance since imaging contrast for X and Y (p and s) polarization states differ dramatically as the numerical aperture of the optical system is increased above ˜0.7 (see, for example, Smith et al., "Challenges in high NA, polarization, and photoresists", Proc. of SPIE, Vol. 4691-2, pp. 11-24, 2002). Therefore it is desirable to have a technique that could determine the state of polarization of the effective source in a projection tool.
Exposure Sources; General Description
Quite generally, light exiting from an excimer laser or filtered mercury source, is typically described in terms of the exposure wavelength, bandwidth, and polarization. For example, 248 nm excimer laser sources have FWHM bandwidths (full wave half maximum) approaching 0.1 pm and depending on application can take on several different polarization states. Following the laser (or arc lamp) the exposure light is again modified (polarized or un-polarized) and shaped for imaging using custom illuminators. For most applications the polarization of the light impinging on the reticle is un-polarized although the industry is rapidly making use of polarized source configurations as discussed above. However, since laser beams (or filters) are never monochromatic and due to various interactions of the beam with the optical system, the polarization state of any light source is never perfect and always contains a mixture of polarized and un-polarized light; by un-polarized we mean a component that can be represented as a superposition of waves with a rapidly varying succession of different polarization states.
Polarized Light
Here, we will be mainly concerned with both polarized and un-polarized exposure sources. Polarized (or un-polarized) light can be completely characterized by four Stokes parameters S0, S1, S2, S3 (see, for example, Born et al., "Principles of Optics, Coherence Matrix and Stokes Parameters", Principles of Optics, 7th (expanded) Edition, pp. 619-632, 1999) or equivalently by it's 2×2 polarization matrix (see, for example, "Principles of Optics, Coherence Matrix and Stokes Parameters", supra) (sometimes called a coherence matrix) Pij:Pij=<Ei*conjg(Ej)>=|P11P12|(i,j=1:2)  (Equation 1)|P21P22|where Ei is the time varying electric field component,  denotes time averaging, and conjg( ) denotes complex conjugation. P has four components which we hereafter utilize as a four vector:P=(P1,P2,P3,P4)=(P11,P22,Re(P12), Im(P12))  (Equation 2)Where Re/Im denote real and imaginary parts. In our apparatus, various components will be employed to further polarize or otherwise alter the state of the incident. The physical polarizing action of these components is most concisely expressed using Jones matrices (see, for example, Hecht, "Polarization", Optics, Third Edition, Chapter 8, pp. 319-376, 1998). To better understand this invention it is helpful to review some concepts and notation concerning the mathematical representation of polarization (see, for example, "Principles of Optics, Coherence Matrix and Stokes Parameters", supra, "Polarization", supra) and the interaction of the fields with material objects (lens, optical systems).The transverse electric field can be defined by Equation 3:Ej=ej(Δν)ei(kz−wt+Δνt) j=1,2  (Equation 3)Effect of polarizing element is to change ej→e′j where
                                          e            k            ′                                          (                          Δ                                                                                v                        )                          =                              ∑                          j              =              1                        2                                                        J              kj                                                                  e                j                                                          (                                  Δ                                                                                v                                )                                                                        (                  Equation                                                              4                )            where Jkj is the 2×2 Jones matrix.The effect of successive polarizing elements is accounted for by multiplying the Jones matrices, e.g.,
                                          e            l            ″                                          (                          Δ                                                                                v                        )                          =                                            ∑                              j                                                                                1                                                                J                                                                                2                                  l                                                                                j                                                                                1                                                                          e                                  j                                                                                1                                ′                                              =                                                    ∑                                                      j                                                                                1                                    ,                                      j                                                                                2                                                                                J                                                                                2                                      lj                                                                                1                                                                  J                                                                                1                                      j                                                                                1                                        j                                                                                2                                                                                e                                      j                                                                                2                                                                        =                                          ∑                                  j                                                                                2                                                                                (                                          J                                                                                2                      *                      J                                                                                1                                        )                                                        lj                                                                                2                                                                                e                                      j                                                                                2                                                                                (                  Equation                                                              5                )            Equation 5 is diagrammatically shown in FIG. 2b where light with polarization vector e is incident first on optical element 1 with Jones matrix J1 and then on optical element 2 with Jones matrix J2, the result of all this being the net system; element 1 followed by element 2, is represented by the Jones matrix J3=J2*J1 which is the matrix product of J2 and J1.
The measurable quantities are intensities and the contribution of light color νc+Δν (νc=center or nominal frequency) is:
                              dI          =                                                    ∑                k                                                                                e                    k                    ′                                                                          (                                          Δ                                                                                v                                        )                                                                                e                  k                  ′                                *                                  (                                      Δ                                                                                v                                    )                                                dv                                      =                                          ∑                                  k                  ,                                      j                                                                                1                                    ,                                      j                                                                                2                                                                                J                                      kj                                                                                1                                                                                J                                      kj                                                                                2                                    *                                                                                e                              j                                                                                1                                                                (                              Δ                                                                                v                            )                                                                    e                              j                                                                                2                            *                                                  (                              Δ                                                                                v                            )                                          dv                                    (                  Equation                                                              6                )            Integrating over frequencies, the measured intensity is:
                              I          =                                                    ∑                                  K                  ,                                      j                                                                                1                                    ,                                      j                                                                                2                                                                                J                                      kj                                                                                1                                                                                J                                      kj                                                                                2                                    *                                                                  P                                      j                                                                                1                                        j                                                                                2                                                                        =                                                            ∑                                                            j                                                                                1                                        ,                                          j                                                                                2                                                                                J                  *                                      S                                          j                                                                                2                                                                                j                                                                                1                                                                                P                                          j                                                                                1                                            j                                                                                2                                                                                =                              Trace                                                  (                                      JS                    *                    P                                    )                                                                                where                                :                                              (                  Equation                                                              7                )                                                                                P                                  j                                                                                1                                    j                                                                                2                                            =                                                          〈                                                      e                                          j                                                                                1                                                                                e                                          j                                                                                2                                        *                                                  〉                                                                                =                                                          polarization                                                                                matrix                                                                                of                                                                                the                                                                                light                                                                                =                                                          equivalent                                                                                to                                                                                the                                                                                Stokes                                                                                Parameters                                                                        (                  Equation                                                              8                )                                          JS                      jj            ′                          =                                            ∑              k                                                                  J                kj                *                                                          J                                  kj                  ′                                                              =                                                    ∑                k                                                                            J                  jk                  t                                                                  J                                      kj                    ′                                                                        =                                                            (                                                            J                      t                                                            J                                    )                                                                  jj                  ′                                            =                              Hermetian                                                                                matrix                                                                        (                  Equation                                                              9                )            and
t denotes complex conjugate, transpose or Hermetian conjugate matrix.
The intensity (I) is expressed as:I=JS11*P11+JS22*P22+JS12P12*+JS12*P12  (Equation 10)writing I in terms of independent components of JS and P we get:
                    I        =                              [                                          JS                11                                                          JS                22                                          2              *                                                R                  e                                                                  (                                      JS                    12                                    )                                                          2              *                                                I                  m                                                                  (                                      JS                    12                                    )                                                      ]                                          [                                                                                P                    11                                                                                P                    22                                                                                R                      e                                                                                (                                              P                        12                                            )                                                                                I                      m                                                                                (                                              P                        12                                            )                                                                                ]                                              (                  Equation                                                              11                )
Now, if we do, a=1:n separate intensity measurements of the light using n different arrangements of the elements, then the net result written in matrix form is:
                              [                                                                      I                  1                                                                                ⋮                                                                                I                  a                                                                                ⋮                                                                                I                  n                                                              ]                =                                                       [                                                                                JS                        11                        1                                                                                JS                        22                        1                                                                                2                      *                                                                        R                          e                                                                                (                                                      JS                            12                            1                                                    )                                                                                2                      *                                                                        I                          m                                                                                (                                                      JS                            12                            1                                                    )                                                                                ⋮                                                                                JS                        11                        2                                                                                JS                        22                        2                                                                                2                      *                                                                        R                          e                                                                                (                                                      JS                            12                            2                                                    )                                                                                2                      *                                                                        I                          m                                                                                (                                                      JS                            12                            2                                                    )                                                                                ⋮                                                                                JS                        11                        n                                                                                JS                        22                        n                                                                                2                      *                                                                        R                          e                                                                                (                                                      JS                            12                            n                                                    )                                                                                2                      *                                                                        I                          m                                                                                (                                                      JS                            12                            n                                                    )                                                                                ]                                                                                [                                                                                P                        11                                                                                P                        22                                                                                R                          e                                                                                (                                                      P                            12                                                    )                                                                                I                          m                                                                                (                                                      P                            12                                                    )                                                                                ]                                                                        (                  Equation                                                              12                )            or
The elements of ID can be related to rows of a Mueller matrix (see, for example, Azzam et al., "Propagation of Polarized Light", Elsevier Science B.V., ISBN 0 444 870164, 1999). Additional formulations can be found in see, for example, "Propagation of Polarized Light", supra: Propagation of Polarized Light, R. Azzam, chapters 2 and 3.In-Situ Source Metrology
A technique that will be used in the practice of this invention is in-situ source metrology (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,356,345, supra and U.S. Pat. No. 6,741,338, supra and "Apparatus and Method for High Resolution In-Situ Illumination Source Measurement in Projection Imaging Systems", supra). This is required for recovering the polarization matrix, P, as a function of incident light direction (P=P(nx,ny)). Referring to FIG. 1, it generally consists of replacing reticle, R, with attached pellicle PE with either an array of pinhole cameras (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,356,345, supra and U.S. Pat. No. 6,741,338, supra) (pinhole is either above or below the reticle face) or an array of in-situ source imaging objectives (see, for example, "Apparatus and Method for High Resolution In-Situ Illumination Source Measurement in Projection Imaging Systems", supra). These three different arrangements are shown in FIG. 3 as ISMI1 (reticle backside pinhole), ISMI2 (pellicle plane pinhole), and ISMI3 (in-situ source imaging objective). Another configuration, (not shown) works in a reflective system as a transmissive pinhole array placed either prior to or after the reticle (blank, reflective reticle). In the following, the provided in-situ source metrology instrument (ISMI) will typically be combined with the polarizing elements into an integrated arrangement.
Ellipsometry
One common technique for characterizing the optical and solid-state properties of thin-films, surfaces, and material microstructure using polarized light is, ellipsometry. The basic principles (and apparatus) are described fairly easily with reference to FIG. 4a which shows a typical PCSA (Polarizer, Compensator, Sample, Analyzer) system—a more detailed discussion can be found in see, for example, "Propagation of Polarized Light", supra. First, the polarization state of an incoming inspection light (L—FIG. 4a) is typically known and possibly adjustable through the use of a polarizer (P) and compensators (C). The input light (L) is then reflected (or transmitted through) from the material (S—FIG. 4a) of interest. The interaction of the light (L) with the sample interface causes a polarization (including possible changes in phase and amplitudes) change in the input, from linear to elliptical polarization (see above discussion on polarization). The polarization change or change in the ellipse of polarization is then measured by analyzing the light reflected from the sample using a system of analyzers and detectors (A and D in FIG. 4a). In general, ellipsometry measures two values, Psi and Delta, which describe the polarization change upon interaction with the sample or optical system. For reflective systems these two values are related to the ratio of Fresnel reflection coefficients, Rp and Rs for p- and s-polarized light, respectively. Material characteristics such as film thickness, optical constants, refractive index are found by using the measured values of Psi and Delta with various material (oscillator models for example) models and algorithms to produce a system of non-trivial equations that describe the interaction of light (change in polarization) with the sample.
Polarimetry
While ellipsometry is commonly used for determining the optical properties of bulk semiconductor materials, thick layers, thin-films, and optical components as described above, it is more generally defined as a technique that can measure the state of polarization of an electromagnetic vector wave (see, for example, "Propagation of Polarized Light", supra)—also known as polarimetry. For our present discussion we will be interested in describing the novel ellipsometry/polarimetry configuration shown in FIG. 4b (compare with FIG. 4a); since, for our present work we will describe a method for determining the state of polarization of an input light source (L) using an arrangement of polarizing element groups (PEGs with known and possibly unknown properties), a reticle camera (C), and a optical system (O) with a known polarization and transmission properties (for example the Jones-pupil) for many different field points. Put another way, we seek to describe a method and apparatus for in-situ photolithographic polarimetry with the ability to determine the state of polarization of the input light source (L) as a function of direction cosine after passing through a reticle and optical system (PIO—possibly polarizing). The method of the present invention is illustrated in a flow diagram (FIG. 4c) and can easily be compared with FIGS. 4a and 4b in terms of the symbols just discussed.
It would be desirable to have a technique for determining the actual state of polarization of light incident on a reticle in a projection imaging tool that is capable of providing the polarization matrix resolved into both its transverse spatial (x,y) and angular (nx,ny) components (P=P(nx,ny;x,y)) without the use of phase shifting masks and time consuming calibrations. That is, there is a need in the art for improved methods and apparatus for determining a source polarization matrix.

Method and apparatus for determination of source polarization matrix


The present disclosure provides a high-flux sensor suitable for corrosion big data monitoring and a method of manufacturing the same. The sensor includes a first metal sheet, a second metal sheet and an insulating sheet therebetween. The two metal sheets are laminated. The metal sheets and the insulating sheet form a test piece group. A through hole is drilled in the test piece group.

Assessing corrosivity of environment is of great significance to corrosion research and protection of materials. At present, atmospheric corrosion evaluation method is to obtain a corrosion rate of typical metals such as carbon steel through a long-term field sheet corrosion test, and to evaluate an environmental corrosivity based on the corrosion rate. This evaluation method can only obtain average corrosion rate of the environment over a period of time, and cannot continuously monitor change of the environmental corrosivity in real time.
Another common method for monitoring atmospheric corrosion is to use an atmospheric corrosion sensor for monitoring. However, the sensor is difficulty to manufacture and thus a large error is caused when manufacturing it. In addition, as it is difficult to ensure a consistency of the sensors, accuracy and reliability of the data obtained by the sensors cannot be guaranteed in the actual environment. Traditional sensors have a service life that is not more than 2 years, and are not adapted to many situations (such as bridges, deserts, oceans, islands, reefs, etc.) where installation is inconvenient or excellent durability and stability are required.

High-flux sensor suitable for corrosion big data monitoring and manufacturing method

University of Science and Technology Beijing


An electrical connector includes a first terminal fixed on a tubular housing and extending radially into the housing, a second terminal fixed in the housing and having an annular flange, and a conductive ring sleeved movably on the second terminal. The conductive ring has a curved inner annular abutting face. A biasing member biases the conductive ring to move toward the annular flange such that the annular flange comes into electrical contact with the inner annular abutting face of the conductive ring and that the conductive ring contacts electrically the first terminal. The conductive ring is pushed by an actuating sleeve sleeved movably on the second terminal to move away from the first terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an electrical connector, more particularly to an electrical connector capable of being switched between two states.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a conventional electrical connector 1 disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,547,592. The conventional electrical connector 1 includes a tubular housing 11, a first terminal 14 fixed on and extending radially into the housing 11, an insulating elastic member 12 anchored in the housing 11, a second terminal 13 disposed in the housing 11 and extending in an axial direction (X′) through the elastic member 12, a conductive sleeve 15 sleeved movably on and contacting electrically the second terminal 13, and an insulating actuating sleeve 16 sleeved movably on the second terminal 13.
The conventional electrical connector 1 is normally operated in a first state, where the conductive sleeve 15 contacts electrically the first terminal 14 such that the first terminal 14 is connected electrically to the second terminal 13 via the conductive sleeve 15. When an external terminal 100 is inserted into the housing 11 so as to be coupled electrically to a female end portion of the second terminal 13, the actuating sleeve 16 is pushed by the external terminal 100 to move toward the conductive sleeve 15. Hence, the conductive sleeve 15 is pushed by the actuating sleeve 16 to move away from the first terminal 14 and to compress the elastic member 12. As a result, the conventional electrical connector 1 comes into a second state, where the external terminal 100 is connected electrically to the second terminal 13, as shown in FIG. 2.
In such a configuration, when the conventional electrical connector 1 is switched from the second state to the first state, i.e., the external terminal 100 is removed from the housing 11, the conductive sleeve 15 is pushed by the elastic member 12 due to the restoration force thereof to move toward the first terminal 14 until the conductive sleeve 15 contacts electrically the first terminal 14. It is noted that, during movement of the conductive sleeve 15 toward the first terminal 14, since a part of the conductive sleeve 15 is stopped by the first terminal 14, inertia of the conductive sleeve 15 results in deviation of the conductive sleeve 15 from the axial direction (X′), as shown in FIG. 1. As a result, an annular outer surface of the second terminal 13 is easily scratched by the conductive sleeve 15, thereby affecting adversely high-frequency signal transmission of the second terminal 13 and electrical contact between the conductive sleeve 15 and the first terminal 14 after a period of use.

Coaxial connector with two different outputs


Embodiments relate to method and program product enabling collaborative social coding. Social networking functionality is embedded and via that social networking functionality information relating to a particular function across a computing network is tracked. The tracked information is then accumulating and organized as relating to a particular function. Upon request receipt, information is then provided relating to the particular function including a list of those accessing that function.

The present disclosure relates generally to social coding and particularly to techniques that can facilitate collaborative social coding.
An integrated development environment or an IDE is a software application that provides programmers and designers of software the ability to provide multiple development utilities in a single cohesive unit. The facilities are comprehensive and can include source code editors, debuggers, compilers and interpreters, build automations and the like. Various tools are integrated in many IDEs to help simplify construction of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and other components that help enable its use with object oriented software development.
IDEs are designed to maximize programmer productivity by providing components with similar user interfaces. The program typically provides many features for authoring, modifying, compiling, deploying and debugging software. IDEs help reducing setup time which can increase developer productivity. More comprehensive integration of all development tasks has the potential to improve overall productivity beyond helping with setup tasks. For example, code can be continuously parsed while it is being edited, providing instant feedback when syntax errors are introduced. That can speed learning a new programming language and its associated libraries.
Some IDEs are dedicated to a specific programming language but many have multiple language capabilities. In addition, while many IDEs are graphical based, text based IDEs also exist. The IDE may be a standalone application or may be included as part of one or more existing and compatible applications. In recent years, both web based and mobile device based IDEs have been gaining popularity. IDEs for developing hypertext markup language (HTML) applications are commonly used. Many web-site designers use an IDE that automates many of the tasks involved.

Techniques to facilitate collaborative social coding

International Business Machines Corporation