A wireless communication device in a wireless communication network system that includes a plurality of wireless communication devices, the inside of the system being divided into zones each having a predetermined geographic area, includes a processing unit that, upon receiving a disaster warning message including predicted position information on an occurrence source of a disaster and disaster-influencing information indicating an area to be influenced by the disaster, calculates a disaster-stricken zone including the occurrence source based on the predicted position information, and an affected zone to be influenced by the disaster based on the disaster-influencing information, and performs any one of a process to transfer data that the own device has and a process to change a transfer route from the own device to a destination device, according to the relationship between a zone in which the own device is positioned, and the disaster-stricken zone and the affected zone.

For example, in a region such as mountain region where it is difficult to build wired communications equipment such as a fiber-optic line due to its landform or environment, a wireless communication network may be constructed using access points (APs) of Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) or the like. In addition, in the wireless communication network, for example, the APs may collect and accumulate log information from security cameras and the like, or may collect log information on user access for a coupon distribution service or the like.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a landform of a mountain region where a wireless network is constructed. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the mountain region includes portions used as ski areas, and predicted hazardous zones where an avalanche is expected to occur, an off-limits zone that common people are forbidden to enter, a no-entry zone, and the like. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the wireless communication network is constructed so as to cover the ski areas.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the system configuration of a wireless communication network that is constructed so as to cover the ski areas illustrated in FIG. 1. The wireless communication network includes, in addition to the ski areas, a plurality of APs P1 that are installed at predetermined positions in the predicted hazardous zones and the like around the ski areas, and a monitoring operation server P2 located at a position that is away from the ski areas and is not influenced by an avalanche.
In accordance with the intended use, for example, the AP may operate as an access point that transmits monitoring signals such as a beacon signal and connects a user terminal, or may operate as a bridge that transmits no monitoring signal and relays wireless communication between access points. The AP operating as a bridge is denoted by "BR (BRidge)" in the drawing. Hereafter, an AP denoted by merely an "AP" means that there is no distinction between an AP operating as an access point and an AP operating as a bridge. When these are distinguished, these are denoted by, for example, "AP#1" or "BR#1" with signs used to identify the devices.
The monitoring operation server P2 monitors the wireless communication network. For example, the monitoring operation server P2 periodically performs the process of fault detection, and upon detecting a fault in any AP in the wireless communication network, notifies APs in the wireless communication network of the fault. This enables each AP receiving the fault detection to switch from a route in operation to a backup route to maintain a service for a user terminal or the connection.
In addition, upon receiving an avalanche warning message from an avalanche predicting system P3, the monitoring operation server P2 notifies the APs in the wireless communication network of the avalanche warning message. The avalanche predicting system P3 is, for example, a system that predicts the occurrence of an avalanche from a landform, climate, the states of snow, and the like. In addition, the monitoring operation server P2 also takes the role of connecting the wireless communication network and the Internet.

Wireless communication device, wireless communication network system, information processing method, and recording medium recording information processing program


A membrane electrode assembly for a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and a polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched by the electrodes, the catalyst layer of the cathode electrode containing a catalyst supporting particle in which a precious metal is supported on heat-treated carbon black or activated carbon, an ion conductive material, and a crystalline carbon fiber. Heat treatment is preferably applied at 2,500 to 3,000° C. (degrees Celsius).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a membrane electrode assembly for a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell, and in particular, relates to a membrane electrode assembly which provides high output with a graphitized catalyst.
2. Description of Related Art
Fuel cells use hydrogen gas as a fuel gas and generate energy by an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen. There are various types of fuel cells, including a phosphoric acid fuel cell, a molten carbonate fuel cell, a solid electrolyte type fuel cell, and a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell. Among these, a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell can start operation at a normal temperature and can also provide higher output with a small structure, and it thus holds great promise as a power source for two-wheeled or four-wheeled vehicles, or as a portable power supply. In the case in which such a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell is actually used, an electrode structure, which is a basic unit of a fuel cell, is held between separators to form a single cell, and then several tens to hundreds of single cells are combined from a stack (battery).
A single cell generally includes an anode electrode and a cathode electrode that are provided with a diffusion layer and a catalyst layer, a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) that is formed from a polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched by these electrodes, and a separator that sandwiches this membrane electrode assembly.
The catalyst layer contains catalyst supporting particles in which a catalyst metal is supported on a carrier. As a means for improving the durability of this catalyst layer, it is disclosed that the durability of the catalyst carrier is improved by previously applying high temperature heat processing to a carrier. In addition, carbon is usually used as a catalyst carrier; however, it is also disclosed that water repellency and the anti-corrosion characteristics of the catalyst layer are improved by applying heat treatment to the carbon to be graphitized. (For example, see Patent Documents 1 to 4)
Patent Document 1
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-268828
Patent Document 2
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-357857
Patent Document 3
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-015745
Patent Document 4
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-036859
According to Patent Documents 1 to 4, it is disclosed that durability is improved by using graphitized carbon as a catalyst layer. However, when carbon black whose specific surface area is 300 m2/g or more is heat-treated as a graphitized catalyst carrier, in particular, when it is heat-treated at 2,500° C. (degrees Celsius) or more, the specific surface area is greatly reduced. Therefore, when a precious metal catalyst supports platinum or a platinum alloy, sufficient power generation performance cannot be obtained.
In addition, when carbon black is graphitized by high temperature heat processing, a sintering of carbon particles occurs, and then a large and firm aggregate having a diameter of 10 μm (micrometers) or more is formed. When a membrane electrode assembly is formed, an aggregate like this alters a polymer electrolyte membrane and reduces the durability. Furthermore, the thickness of an electrode catalyst layer becomes uneven, and generating efficiency is reduced.
Conventionally, while there has been an advantage in that durability can be improved by applying heat treatment to carbon black, there has been a problem in that performance as a catalyst is adversely reduced because the reduction or the flocculation of the specific surface area occurs by heat treatment.

Membrane electrode assembly for solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell

Abstract: The membrane electrode assembly provides superior power generation performance.


Endohedral metallofullerene compounds, which in water has a relaxivity of about 30 mM−1 S−1 to about 300 mM−1 S−1 and forms a dispersion in water with entities having an average hydrodynamic radius of less than about 20 nm.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used in various medical diagnosis procedures. In general, MRI is based on measuring radio frequency (RF) emissions of water protons in a magnetic field following exposure to an external RF pulse. Parameters used in constructing an image during MRI include the time that it takes for the water protons to relax to their equilibrium state following an RF pulse. The relaxation of water protons following an external RF pulse has two component parameters, designated T1 and T2. Paramagnetic contrast agents affect the T1 component in the relaxivity of water protons, effectively enhancing the contrast during the MRI procedure. On the other hand, ferromagnetic contrast agents affect the T2 component in the relaxivity of water protons. For many applications, agents affecting T1 are preferred because the enhancement provides a brighter image relative to the background.
Elements that have magnetic or paramagnetic properties and cause nearby protons to have a short relaxation time, such as various transition metals, can be used to enhance contrast during MRI procedures. Gadolinium (Gd), with seven unpaired electrons, is particularly effective at enhancing the relaxivity of water during MRI.


A method and system to off-load motive torque from a clutch to execute a transmission shift is provided. The powertrain includes torque-generative devices operably connected to a two-mode, compound-split, hybrid electro-mechanical transmission. The method includes determining a commanded output torque, and a shift command. A first torque is transmitted by electrical motors, and is limited by their torque capacities. A supplemental motive torque is transmitted from an oncoming clutch. The supplemental motive torque is limited by a torque capacity of the oncoming clutch. Output torque of an internal combustion engine to the transmission is adjusted by an amount substantially equal to a difference between the commanded output torque and the first and the supplemental motive torques.

Various hybrid powertrain architectures are known for managing the input and output torques of various prime-movers in hybrid vehicles, most commonly internal combustion engines and electric machines. One such hybrid powertrain architecture comprises a two-mode, compound-split, electro-mechanical transmission which utilizes an input member for receiving motive torque from a prime mover power source, typically an internal combustion engine, and an output member for delivering motive torque from the transmission to a driveline of the vehicle. First and second electrical machines are operatively connected to an electrical energy storage device for interchanging electrical power therebetween. The first and second electrical machines comprise motor/generators operable to transform the electrical power to motive torque for input to the transmission, independent of torque input from the internal combustion engine. The first and second electrical machines are operable to transform vehicle kinetic energy, transmitted through the vehicle driveline, to electrical energy potential that is storable in the electrical energy storage device. A control unit is provided for regulating the electrical power interchange between the electrical energy storage device and the first and second motor/generators.
Engineers implementing powertrain systems including transmissions are tasked with developing gear shifting schemes. Such transmission systems typically include devices able to operate in one of a plurality of fixed-gear modes, wherein shifting between gears occurs in response to predetermined operating conditions, and often not involving an overt request for shift from a vehicle operator.
An exemplary transmission includes a plurality of torque-transmitting clutches. When a shift change is commanded, torque must be off-loaded from a currently operating clutch associated with operation in a current gear and on-loaded to another clutch associated with operation in another gear.
An ongoing concern for designers of transmission devices is to develop torque-transmitting clutches that are sufficiently large enough to transmit required torque, able to manage temperatures, and meet durability targets, but meet constraints related to packaging envelope, size, and cost. Furthermore, engineers must be cognizant of thermal energy generated during clutch slippage, and effect of such thermal energy on transmission performance and durability.
Therefore, there is a need to for a method and apparatus to offload torque from a currently operating clutch associated with operation in a current gear to address concerns mentioned hereinabove.


A steel cable eyelet construction for a looped steel cable end is protected against corrosion by a tubular member of synthetic material that extends all the way around the loop and partially into the ground when the steel cable end is formed as an anchor that is cemented into the ground. The synthetic material tubular member in turn is protected against mechanical wear and tear by a tubular metal jacket such as a stainless steel jacket. This construction is especially suitable for anchors that are used to secure protection nettings against falling rocks and avalanches. Providing the corrosion protection and the mechanical wear and tear resistance by different elements assures a prolonged serviceability of such steel cable eyelets forming anchors cemented into the ground.

Anchoring devices of the above type are known and constructed so that one end thereof is secured in the ground, for example, in a hole drilled into a rock and then secured therein by cementing. The portion of the anchor extending out of the ground is provided with the eyelete that in turn is connected to the protection netting made, for example, of steel wires or cables or the like. Such netting provides protection against falling rocks or avalanches or the like.
Conventional anchors of this type are exposed to long term corrosion which poses a substantial problem with regard to the strength of such anchoring devices, especially since such anchoring devices are expected to remain functional for many years, even decades under all weather conditions.
Conventionally, corrosion protection is provided by using galvanized steel wires for forming the steel cables that are part of the anchoring device. However, galvanized wires have not been satisfactory, because the movements to which these anchors are exposed during service cause the removal or damage of the galvanized surface. Such movements occur when the effective forces change directions, for example, under the influence of a snow load or when temperature variations cause a lengthening or shrinking in the netting. As a result, the anchor, especially its eyelet is also exposed to motions which adversely affect the anchor's ability to resist corrosion. This adverse influence is especially effective on that portion of the anchor that extends out of the ground and is exposed to the effects of alternating loads. Additionally, the area of the steel cable close to the ground is particularly exposed to corrosion advancing influences, such as oxygen in the air close to the ground, moisture and water in the ground, heat influences and acidic soil or rock characteristics. These influences eventually cause corrosion damage of the individual wires in the cable, thereby reducing their strength individually and of the cable. Such corrosion damage will accumulate over time to such an extent that these anchors are no longer capable of performing their intended purpose of holding the protection systems.

Steel cable eyelet construction for a looped steel cable end


Plant disease caused by soil-borne fungus Gaeumannonyces graminis (Gg) is controlled by applying to the seed or the soil a fungicide which has the following general formula: ##STR1##

Take-all disease is a serious problem in the production of cereals, particularly wheat and barley. It is caused by the soil-borne fungus Gaeumannomyces graminis (Gg). The fungus infects the roots of the plant, and grows throughout the root tissue, causing a black rot. The growth of the fungus in the roots and lower stem prevents the plant from obtaining sufficient water and/or nutrients from the soil, and is manifested as poor plant vigor and, in severe instances of disease, by the formation of "whiteheads," which are barren or contain few, shriveled grains. Yield losses result. Gaeumannomyces species also infect other cereal crops, for example, rice and oats; and turf.
Currently the primary means of avoiding crop loss due to infestation of the soil by Gg has been to rotate the crop grown to one which is resistant to Gg. However, in areas where the primary crops are cereals, rotation is not a desirable practice, and an effective control agent is greatly desired.
A chemical means to control Gg and compounds useful for control of Gg are disclosed in co-pending U.S. Ser. No. 07/951,997, filed Oct. 2, 1992, (Phillion, et al.), hereby incorporated by reference.
It is an object of this invention to provide an effective method for control of Take-all disease in plants. It is a further object of this invention to provide compounds that control the growth of Gg in the soil so as to reduce crop loss. It is still a further object of this invention to provide fungicidal compositions that may be used for control of Take-all disease.
A process to prepare the compounds of this invention is analogous to the process disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 08/207,508 filed on Mar. 8, 1994 which issued as Pat. No. 5,482,974 on Jan. 9, 1996.

Fungicides for the control of take-all disease of plants


The invention pertains to a sulfur cross-linkable unvulcanized rubber mixture for the manufacture of treads, in particular for winter tires. The rubber mixture contains polyisoprene, polybutadiene and styrene-butadiene copolymer as well as further fillers and additives. In order to prepare vehicle pneumatic tires which exhibit excellent traction on ice and snow while at least maintaining their wet-gripping ability, the rubber mixture preferably contains, relative to 100 parts of total rubber, 20-100 parts by weight cis-1,4 polyisoprene; 0-65 parts by weight polybutadiene with a cis content of greater than about 90 mole %; and 0-65 parts by weight solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene copolymer; as well as 65-120 parts by weight silicic acid.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sulfur cross-linkable unvulcanized rubber mixture for the production of treads, in particular for snow tires, which contains the rubber mixture components polyisoprene, polybutadiene and styrene-butadiene copolymer as well as further fillers and additives.
2. Discussion of Background Information
Since the driving characteristics of a tire depend to a great degree on the rubber composition of the tread, particularly high demands are placed thereon. Optimizing these characteristics is difficult, in particular for snow tires which, on the one hand, must exhibit good traction capabilities on snow and ice as well as on wet road surfaces, but on the other hand should show little roll resistance and little abrasion. It has been determined that the fillers which are used have a critical effect on the driving-behavior characteristics of the winter tire.
Rubber mixtures for treads containing only carbon black exhibit a balanced relationship between their behavior on wet and wintery road surfaces, but not, however, at a satisfactory level. In addition, winter tires are known in prior art whose treads consist of rubber mixtures which contain silicic acid as part of the fillers material. With these mixtures, winter tires with improved wet characteristics are created--an improvement in the winter characteristics is, however, not possible, so that such mixture systems are also not optimally suited.
In DE 44 42 691 and DE 44 42 692, rubber mixtures for treads are disclosed whose rubber components are emulsion- or solution- polymerized styrene-butadiene copolymer, polyisoprene, and polybutadiene. Silicic acid (25-90 weight parts) or carbon black should be used as the filler. It has been shown, however, that these rubber mixtures are not sufficiently suited for winter tires, since the use of emulsion-polymerized styrene-butadiene copolymer causes a worsening of the winter characteristics and further causes greater abrasion.

Unvulcanized rubber mixture for treads of vehicle pneumatic tires


A single mode optical waveguide having reduced polarization mode dispersion and a method for making such a waveguide is disclosed. Perturbations are introduced into the waveguide core to couple power between the two polarization modes. A model calculation shows that the perturbation length may be of the order of the correlation length. The inventive waveguide is robust in that polarization mode dispersion is reduced even if perturbations are impressed on the fiber after manufacture.

The invention is directed to an optical waveguide fiber having reduced polarization mode dispersion (PMD), and a method for making such a waveguide fiber.
High performance telecommunications systems, i.e., those having transmission rates above about 5 Gb/s, or long regenerator spacing, with or without optical amplifiers, require waveguide fibers designed to limit all sources of signal distortion or signal power loss.
In particular, in high data rate transmission systems, essentially all sources of signal dispersion, including PMD, become potential data rate limiting factors, and must be controlled to enable such systems.
PMD may be controlled by controlling the birefringence of the waveguide fiber which causes the two polarization modes to propagate at different speeds in the waveguide fiber.
There will be no polarization mode dispersion if the waveguide fiber has perfect geometric symmetry and is free of stress which causes random birefringence.
However, it is impractical to pursue making a waveguide fiber essentially free of birefringence from the standpoint of cost and process control. Further, given a perfect glass waveguide fiber, birefringence, and thus PMD, can be induced in any of the several additional process steps required to put the glass waveguide into a usable form. Thus, birefringence can be induced in the coating, buffering, stranding or cabling process.
A practical alternative method for limiting PMD is to introduce birefringence into the waveguide fiber in a controlled way so that the polarization modes are mixed and therefore have travel times in the waveguide which may differ only slightly. An alternative statement is, the two polarization modes experience essentially little or no net birefringence over a pre-selected waveguide fiber length.
One approach to introducing birefringence into a waveguide fiber is discussed in "Applied Optics", Ashkin et al., Vol. 20 (13), page 2299. In that article a particular birefringence is impressed on the fiber by spinning the draw preform during draw.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,298,047, Hart et al., a method for impressing a spin on the fiber during draw is disclosed. The number of required spins/meter is stated as being related to the beat length of the waveguide fiber.
It is noteworthy that both cited references teach that the periodicity of the spin must be less than the beat length of the wavelength.
The major drawbacks in a spinning technique during draw are:
at a reasonable draw speed the spinning rate is very high, thereby introducing perturbations into a drawing process which is already a complex and sensitive step in the waveguide manufacturing process; PA1 an additional draw control loop is required; and, PA1 waveguide costs are increased as percent good waveguide length decreases, at a step which occurs after significant investment in raw material and energy has already been made. PA1 substantially all of the perturbation must be impressed on the core of the waveguide fiber; and, PA1 the waveguide fiber must be drawn to an essentially uniform diameter.

Polarization mode coupled single mode waveguide


A composite resin material particle is produced by a method including the steps of: forming a mixed slurry containing a resin material particle and carbon nanotubes; supplying the mixed slurry to a pressure vessel, followed by supplying carbon dioxide with stirring an inside of the pressure vessel; holding the inside of the pressure vessel at a temperature and at a pressure which allow the carbon dioxide to be maintained in a subcritical or supercritical state; and transferring the carbon dioxide to the outside of the pressure vessel.

Carbon nanotubes are a tubular material in which a single- or multi-walled graphene sheet formed of carbon atoms is rolled into a cylinder. These carbon nanotubes have different properties, depending on the way the graphene sheet is rolled into a tube, and on the shape of the carbon nanotubes themselves, such as the diameter and crystallinity of the tube, and others, and are expected as a material that is highly attractive in characteristics of the material itself, such as electrical and mechanical properties, and specific gravity, in comparison with metallic materials.
In order to make effective use of mechanical and electrical properties of carbon nanotubes in producing composite materials in combination with other materials, it is necessary to mix carbon nanotubes uniformly into other materials. For example, when a solid material and a liquid material having carbon nanotubes dispersed therein are mixed, it is necessary to employ a liquid material in which the carbon nanotubes are individually and separately dispersed (which is referred to as a "dispersion"). However, carbon nanotubes have the property of attracting each other by van der Waals forces, and are known to form bundles or agglomerates with one another.
As methods for producing carbon nanotubes, there are known vapor-phase synthesis methods using thermal CVD in which a catalyst and a raw-material gas are simultaneously placed into a reactor to synthesize carbon nanotubes, and on-substrate synthesis methods in which a raw material gas is applied onto a substrate coated with a catalyst.
Among these methods, on-substrate synthesis methods allow the formation of carbon nanotubes in which the carbon nanotubes assemble each other and are vertically oriented, by applying a catalyst to a very smooth surface of a substrate, such as silicon and silicon oxide in particular, and growing the carbon nanotubes on the surface at a high density.
Carbon nanotubes which are produced by an on-substrate synthesis method are uniform in their diameter, layer number, and length, and exhibit high crystallinity, and therefore it is expected that carbon nanotubes having a very small number of defects can be obtained. In addition, carbon nanotubes which are produced by an on-substrate synthesis method have longer lengths and exhibit higher crystallinity, in comparison with those which are produced by a vapor-phase synthesis method, and thus have an advantage that when a composite material with other materials is formed, it is easy to obtain various properties, such as improvements in the electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and mechanical strength, and a suppression of the linear expansion of the composite material.
In particular, composite resins of carbon nanotubes and resins are used in various applications in many fields such as electronic parts and automobile parts. These composite resins require the properties including electrical conductivity in order to achieve antistatic performance and high thermal conductivity in order to avoid thermal expansion in a molding process and a cutting process. In the past, there have been supposed resin composite materials in which to resins are added spherical carbon materials or carbon fibers such as carbon black and Ketjen Black, or fibrous carbon materials such as carbon nanotubes, as a filler used in imparting electrical or thermal conductivity to resin moldings (See, for example, Patent Literatures 1 to 3).
As methods for kneading carbon nanotubes and a resin, methods are known in which kneading is usually carried out under high shearing force using a mill or the like. In these methods, however, a high shear operation will be required in order to achieve homogeneous mixing of a fibrous carbon material, such as carbon nanotubes, into a resin using a mill or the like.
Such methods present a problem of reducing performance in electrical conductivity and others because in the resin, the carbon nanotubes are subjected to shearing force, so that they are broken into short pieces, resulting in a decreased number of contacts with one another in the resin. Further, such methods cause the carbon nanotubes to separate away from each other in the resin, leading to the destruction of nanonet structures in which the carbon nanotubes are entangled with one another in the resin, and thus do not allow the strength, an intrinsic property of carbon nanotube, to be exhibited in the composite resin, and as a result, present a problem that the strength of the composite resin is not increased.
When short carbon nanotubes are dispersed in isolation in a resin, binding at the interface between the resin and the carbon nanotube is weak, and there is presented a problem that a phenomenon is observed in which the carbon nanotubes are released easily out of the resin.
Since carbon materials such as carbon nanotubes are expensive, on the other hand, there is a desire to reduce material costs. Therefore, it is required that carbon nanotubes be homogeneously dispersed to obtain high electrical and thermal conductivities at concentrations as low as possible. For carbon nanotubes which are to be added, it is also known that the narrower the diameters and the longer the lengths of the carbon nanotubes, the lower concentrations at which they are added provide high degrees of electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, strength, and others.
Incidentally, Patent Literature 4 discloses a method for the modification of the surface of a resin molded article with carbon nanotubes by immersing the resin molded article in a dispersion of the carbon nanotubes, followed by treatment under an atmosphere of carbon dioxide in a subcritical or supercritical state.
However, the method disclosed in Patent Literature 4 presents a problem that the modification of a resin molded article with carbon nanotubes is affected by gravity because in this method, the carbon nanotubes are poorly dispersive, resulting in carbon nanotube agglomeration, sedimentation, or the like during the treatment under an carbon dioxide atmosphere. In addition, there is presented a problem that the resin surface of a resin molded article is swollen under an atmosphere of carbon dioxide in a subcritical or supercritical state, whereby its shape and color are affected and additional processing of the resin surface is required. Here, the "modification" refers to a state where carbon nanotubes have been attached to or fixed on the resin surface.
In addition, Patent Literatures 5 and 6 each disclose a process in which the surface of resin particles is impregnated with supercritical carbon dioxide, thereby to soften the resin surface and an ultrasonic vibration method is used to disperse and fix the carbon nanotubes in a dispersion uniformly on the resin particle surface. For stirring with ultrasonic vibration, a high-pressure generator itself is required to be placed under high-pressure carbon dioxide, resulting in a problem of increasing the cost. Transmitting of ultrasonic vibration from the outside of the high pressure vessel poses a problem that its transmitting to a fluid inside the vessel is not necessarily adequate. Thus, there is a problem that the cost is increased, in order to achieve a device capable of sufficient stirring.

Composite resinous particles, method of producing composite resinous particles, composite resin molded body, and method of producing same


According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes: a first housing; a second housing; and a hinge. The first housing is substantially flat, substantially rectangular and substantially parallepiped shaped, and includes a display comprising a screen. The second housing is substantially flat, substantially rectangular and substantially parallelepiped shape, and includes a keyboard. The hinge rotatably connects a first corner of the first housing and a second corner of the second housing with each other. The electronic device is capable of taking at least: a first configuration in which the first housing covers the keyboard and in which the first housing and the second housing are overlapped in a thickness direction; and a second configuration in which a shorter side of the first housing is aligned with a longer side of the second housing and in which the first housing and the second housing intersect each other.

Conventionally, there are known electronic devices comprising a housing with a display and a housing with a keyboard that are rotatably connected to each other through a hinge.
In this type of electronic devices, it is desirable to couple the two housings with each other in a nonconventional form results in advantages such as improvement in usability.


A high frequency module for transmitting and receiving, for example, communication signals of GSM/DCS/PCS/WCDMA systems through a single antenna, is provided at a relatively small size and low cost. The high frequency module includes a diplexer arranged to separate communication signals from the antenna into GSM communication signals in lower frequency bands and POS/DOS/WODMA communication signals in higher frequency bands, a diode switch circuit that is connected to a input and output terminal of the GSM communication signal of the diplexer and is arranged to switch transmission and reception of the GSM communication signal, and a multipoint GaAsIC switch that is connected to the GSM/DCS/PCS/WCDMA communication signals of the diplexer and is arranged to switch transmission and reception of these signals. The high frequency module switches the four types of communication signals by changing the patterns of controls signals VcG, VC1, and Vc2 that are applied to the diode switch circuit and the GaAsIC switch.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to high frequency modules for transmitting and receiving transmission and reception signals of at least four communication systems having different frequency bands as transmission and reception bands through a single antenna.
2. Description of the Related Art
Currently, multiple wireless communication systems for mobile phones, such as a CDMA system and a TDMA system, exist. The TDMA system includes for example, a GSM system using an 850 MHz band and a 900 MHz band, a DCS system using a 1,800 MHz band, and a PCS system using a 1,900 MHz band, whereas, the CDMA system includes, for example, a WCDMA system using a 2,000 MHz band.
When transmitting and receiving such multiple types of communication signals with a single antenna, the signals other than those in the frequency band used for the actual communication is not needed. For example, when carrying out transmission and reception using the GSM system (900 MHz band), the communication signals for the DCS system (1,800 MHz band) and the PCS system (1,900 MHz) and the communication signals for the WCDMA system (2,000 MHz) are not needed.
As a high frequency module for transmitting and receiving multiple types of communication signals through a single antenna when the communication signals are according to, for example, three types of systems, GSM, DCS, and PCS, a high frequency module including a diplexer for separating the GSM communication signals and the DCS and PCS communication signals that are in significantly different frequency bands, a diode switch circuit for switching between the GSM transmission signals and the GSM reception signals, a diode switch circuit for switching between the DCS and PCS transmission signals and the DCS and PCS reception signals, and a diode switch circuit for switching between the DCS reception signals and the PCS reception signals has been proposed (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-165288).
As such a high frequency module for transmitting and receiving multiple types of communication signals through a single antenna, a high frequency module capable of selecting each communication signal using a semiconductor switch, such as a GaAsIC switch and switching the connection between a plurality of ports for an antenna has been proposed (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-160724).
However, the diode switch circuit for the high frequency module according to the above-mentioned Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-165288 uses two diodes to switch between two ports (input unit and output unit) corresponding to one port (input and output unit). For example, according to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-165288, the diode switch circuit (high frequency switch 3 shown in a drawing of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-165288) switches the connection between a port that connects to a diplexer and inputs and outputs DCS and PCS transmission and reception signals, and a port that connects to a PCS and DCS transmission signal input terminals and inputs DCS and PCS transmission signals or that connects to another diode switch circuit (high frequency switch 4 shown in a drawing of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-165288) and outputs DCS and PCS reception signals. The diode switch circuit (high frequency switch 4 shown in a drawing of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-165288) is connected to another diode switch circuit (high frequency switch 3 shown in a drawing of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-165288) and switches the connection between and a port for inputting DCS and PCS reception signals and a port for outputting a PCS reception signal connected to a PCS reception signal output terminal or a port for outputting a DCS reception signal connected to a DCS reception signal output terminal. Since, in this way, the high frequency module according to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-165288 requires at least two diodes to switch the connection between one port and two ports, many circuit components are required to construct a high frequency module for switching between transmission and reception of communication signals of a plurality of communication systems.
Therefore, it is difficult to reduce the size of the high frequency module, and costs increase because of an increase in the number of components. Since, in this way, many circuit elements are connected to the transmission system, the loss of the transmitted signal increases. Since the loss significantly increases as the number of types of the communication system for transmitting the signal increases, it is difficult to construct a high frequency switch for switching the transmission of signals of many different types of communication systems so that the high frequency switch has low loss.
On the other hand, since the high frequency module according to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-160724 is capable of switching signals of many types of communication systems using one GaAsIC switch, a small-size, low-loss high frequency module is realized. However, GaAs is expensive, and, in particular, the price increases as the number of switching points of a GaAsIC increases since the scale of the circuitry increases. Moreover, GaAs is susceptible to static electricity. Therefore, when using such an IC, a separate circuit must be provided as a counter measure against static electricity. As a result, if a high frequency module is constructed using a multipoint GaAsIC for switching signals of many types (for example, more than four types) of communication systems, cost significantly increases and size cannot be decreased because an additional circuit is required.


A polyaxial pedicle screw device for use with rod implant apparatus, which utilizes a rod mounted ferrule, includes a screw having a curvate head and a rod receiving body. The body has a rod receiving channel and an axial bore into which the head of the screw is inserted. The interior surface of the bore is inwardly curvate at the lower end thereof to form a socket for polyaxially retaining the curvate head of the screw. In an initial position the screw head remains polyaxially free with respect to the body. The rod mounted ferrule seats into a small curvate recess in the upper portion of the screw head such that the rod may enter the body at a variety of angles while maintaining a secure seating against the head of the screw. The insertion of a top set screw compresses down on the ferrule, locking the rod in position, and onto the screw head, locking it and the body in position, thus completely securing the assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a pedicle screw having polyaxial rod coupling means for use with orthopedic fixation systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a screw assembly for use in the immobilization of a sequence of spinal bones, including a threaded screw element and coupling mechanism for polyaxially aligning and mounting a rod within a top body portion of the screw.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The spinal column is highly complex system of bones and connective tissues which houses and protects critical elements of the nervous system and the arterial and venous bodies in close proximity thereto. In spite of these complexities, the spine is a highly flexible structure, capable of a high degree of curvature and twist through a wide range of motion.
Genetic or developmental irregularities, trauma, chronic stress, tumors, and disease, however, can result in spinal pathologies which either limit this range of motion, or which threaten the critical elements of the nervous system housed within the spinal column. A variety of systems have been disclosed in the art which achieve this immobilization by implanting artificial assemblies in or on the spinal column. These assemblies may be classified as anterior, posterior, or lateral implants. As the classification suggests, lateral and anterior assemblies are coupled to the anterior portion of the spine, which is the sequence of vertebral bodies. Posterior implants are attached to the back of the spinal column, generally hooking under the lamina and entering into the central canal, attaching to the transverse process, or coupling through the pedicle bone. The present invention relates to spinal fixation devices for immobilizing and altering the alignment of the spine over a large number, for example more than three or four, vertebra by means of affixing at least one elongate rod to the sequence of selected bones.
Such "rod assemblies" generally comprise a plurality of screws which are implanted through the posterior lateral surfaces of the laminae, through the pedicles, and into their respective vertebral bodies. The screws are provided with coupling elements, for receiving an elongate rod therethrough. The rod extends along the axis of the spine, coupling to the plurality of screws via their coupling elements. The aligning influence of the rod forces the spine to which it is affixed, to conform to a more proper shape.
It has been identified, however, that a considerable difficulty is associated with inserting screws along a misaligned curvature and simultaneously exactly positioning the coupling elements such that the receiving loci thereof are aligned so that the rod can be passed therethrough without distorting the screws. Attempts at achieving proper alignment with fixed screws is understood to require considerably longer operating time, which is known to increase the incidence of complications associated with surgery. Often such alignments, with such fixed axes devices could not be achieved, and the entire instrumentationing effort would end unsuccessfully.
In addition, for many patients specific pathology it is desirable that the rod extend down into and beyond the lumbar portion of the spine, and for the end of the rod to be coupled to the sacral bone. Providing such an end to the assembly in the sacral bone has been understandably suggested inasmuch as it provides superior support to the full extent of the assembly. The most suitable position for the insertion of the screws into the sacral body may not, however, conform to the direction extent of the rod as it is affixed to the entirety of the assembly. Misalignment of the rod with respect to the screw and the coupling element is often a source of considerable disadvantage for the surgeon, often requiring considerable efforts to be expended bending and aligning the rod with the receiving locus of the coupling element. These additional efforts are a considerable difficulty associated with the proper and expeditious affixation, and over the long term, the offset of the rod can have a deleterious effect on the overall performance of the entire implantation assembly.
The art contains a variety of attempts at providing instrumentation which permit a freedom with respect to angulation of the screw and the coupling element. These teachings, however, have generally been complex, and inadequately reliable with respect to durability. The considerable drawbacks associated with the prior art systems include complexity, difficulty properly positioned the rod and coupling elements, and the tedious manipulation of the many parts associated with the complex devices.
It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide a pedicle screw and coupling element assembly which provides a polyaxial freedom of implantation angulation with respect to rod reception.
In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide such an assembly which comprises a reduced number of elements, and which correspondingly provides for expeditious implantation.
Accordingly it is also an object of the present invention to provide an assembly which is reliable, durable, and provides long term fixation support.
Other objects of the present invention not explicitly stated will be set forth and will be more dearly understood in conjunction with the descriptions of the preferred embodiments disclosed hereafter.

Polyaxial pedicle screw having a rod clamping split ferrule coupling element


The present invention relates to a system and methodology to facilitate extraction of information from a large unstructured corpora such as from the World Wide Web and/or other unstructured sources. Information in the form of answers to questions can be automatically composed from such sources via probabilistic models and cost-benefit analyses to guide resource-intensive information-extraction procedures employed by a knowledge-based question answering system. The analyses can leverage predictions of the ultimate quality of answers generated by the system provided by Bayesian or other statistical models. Such predictions, when coupled with a utility model can provide the system with the ability to make decisions about the number of queries issued to a search engine (or engines), given the cost of queries and the expected value of query results in refining an ultimate answer. Given a preference model, information extraction actions can be taken with the highest expected utility. In this manner, the accuracy of answers to questions can be balanced with the cost of information extraction and analysis to compose the answers.

Over the years, computer systems designers have pursued the challenge of developing computational architectures that have the ability to generate answers to freely-posed questions. General question-answering systems typically depend on automated processes for analyzing questions and for composing answers from a large corpus of poorly structured information. In recent years, systems have been developed that employ the resources of the Web as a corpus of information for answering questions. Web-based question answering systems typically employ rewriting procedures for converting components of questions into sets of queries posed to search engines, and converting query results received from the search engines into one or more answers.
Many text retrieval systems, for example, operate at the level of entire documents. In searching the web, complete web pages or documents can be returned. There has been a recent surge of interest in finer-grained analyses focused on methods for obtaining answers to questions rather than retrieving potentially relevant documents or best-matching passages from queries—tasks information retrieval (IR) systems typically perform. The problem of question answering, however, hinges on applying several key concepts from information retrieval, information extraction, machine learning, and natural language processing (NLP).
Automatic question answering from a single, constrained corpus is extremely challenging. Consider the difficulty of gleaning an answer to the question "Who killed Abraham Lincoln?" from a source which contains only the text "John Wilkes Booth altered history with a bullet. He will forever be known as the man who ended Abraham Lincoln's life." As can be appreciated, however, question answering is far easier when the vast resources of the Web are brought to bear, since hundreds of Web pages contain the literal string "killed Abraham Lincoln."
Most approaches to question answering use NLP techniques to augment standard information retrieval techniques. Systems typically identify candidate passages using IR techniques, and then perform more detailed linguistic analyses of the question and matching passages to find specific answers. A variety of linguistic resources (part-of-speech tagging, parsing, named entity extraction, semantic relations, dictionaries, WordNet, etc.) can be employed to support question answering.
In contrast to these rich natural language approaches, others have developed question answering systems that attempt to solve the difficult matching and extraction problems by leveraging large amounts of data. In one such system, redundancy provided by the web can be exploited to support question answering. Redundancy, as captured by multiple, differently phrased answer occurrences, facilitates question answering in two key ways. First, the larger the information source, the more likely it is that answers bearing close resemblance to the query can be found. It is quite straightforward to identify the answer to "Who killed Abraham Lincoln?" given the text, "John Wilkes Booth killed Abraham Lincoln in Ford's theater." Second, even when no exact answer can be found, redundancy can facilitate the recognition of answers by enabling procedures to accumulate evidence across multiple matching passages. In order to support redundancy however, a plurality of variously phrased queries may have to be submitted to one or more search engines. This type of approach may place an unacceptable performance burden or load on search engines responding to the query especially considering the number of users that potentially utilize network resources.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Cost-benefit approach to automatically composing answers to questions by extracting information from large unstructured corpora


A CAN microcontroller that supports a plurality of message objects, including a processor core that runs CAN applications, a CAN/CAL module that processes incoming messages, and a data memory space. The data memory space includes a plurality of message buffers associated with respective ones of the message objects, and a dedicated RAM memory space that contains a plurality of memory-mapped registers associated with each of the message objects. The plurality of memory-mapped registers associated with each message object correspond to respective command/control fields for facilitating configuration and setup of that message object. Each of the memory-mapped registers is mapped to a respective storage location within the dedicated RAM memory space. In one embodiment, the dedicated RAM memory space encompasses a plurality of separate RAM modules, each RAM module being dedicated to a respective one of the command/control fields. The memory-mapped registers corresponding to a respective one of the command/control fields are located in respective, designated addressable memory storage locations within the separate RAM module dedicated to that command/control field, with/a different addressable memory storage location being designated for each respective one of the message objects. In one particular implementation, all of the memory-mapped registers corresponding to a respective one of the command/control fields are located in a respective one of the separate RAM modules dedicated to that command/control field.

The present invention relates generally to the field of data communications, and more particularly, to the field of serial communications bus controllers and microcontrollers that incorporate the same.
CAN (Control Area Network) is an industry-standard, two-wire serial communications bus that is widely used in automotive and industrial control applications, as well as in medical devices, avionics, office automation equipment, consumer appliances, and many other products and applications. CAN controllers are currently available either as stand-alone devices adapted to interface with a microcontroller or as circuitry integrated into or modules embedded in a microcontroller chip. Since 1986, CAN users (software programmers) have developed numerous high-level CAN Application Layers (CALs) which extend the capabilities of the CAN while employing the CAN physical layer and the CAN frame format, and adhering to the CAN specification. CALs have heretofore been implemented primarily in software, with very little hardware CAL support. Consequently, CALs have heretofore required a great deal of host CPU intervention, thereby increasing the processing overhead and diminishing the performance of the host CPU.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a CAN hardware implementation of CAL functions normally implemented in software in order to offload these tasks from the host CPU to the CAN hardware, thereby enabling a great savings in host CPU processing resources and a commensurate improvement in host CPU performance. One of the most demanding and CPU resource-intensive CAL functions is message management, which entails the handling, storage, and processing of incoming CAL/CAN messages received over the CAN serial communications bus and/or outgoing CAL/CAN messages transmitted over the CAN serial communications bus. CAL protocols, such as DeviceNet, CANopen, and OSEK, deliver long messages distributed over many CAN frames, which methodology is sometimes referred to as xe2x80x9cfragmentedxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9csegmentedxe2x80x9d messaging. The process of assembling such fragmented, multi-frame messages has heretofore required a great deal of host CPU intervention. In particular, CAL software running on the host CPU actively monitors and manages the buffering and processing of the message data, in order to facilitate the assembly of the message fragments or segments into complete messages.
Based on the above and foregoing, it can be appreciated that there presently exists a need in the art for a hardware implementation of CAL functions normally implemented in software in order to offload these tasks from the host CPU, thereby enabling a great savings in host CPU processing resources and a commensurate improvement in host CPU performance.
The assignee of the present invention has recently developed a new microcontroller product, designated xe2x80x9cXA-C3xe2x80x9d, that fulfills this need in the art. The XA-C3 is the newest member of the Philips XA (eXtended Architecture) family of high performance 16-bit single-chip microcontrollers. It is believed that the XA-C3 is the first chip that features hardware CAL support.
The XA-C3 is a CMOS 16-bit CAL/CAN 2.0B microcontroller that incorporates a number of different inventions, including the present invention. These inventions include novel techniques and hardware for filtering, buffering, handling, and processing CAL/CAN messages, including the automatic assembly of multi-frame fragmented messages with minimal CPU intervention, as well as for managing the storage and retrieval of the message data, and the memory resources utilized therefor.
The present invention relates to a CAN microcontroller that utilizes a dedicated RAM memory space, e.g., dedicated RAM modules, to store setup and configuration information (command/control fields) for each of a plurality of message objects supported by the CAN microcontroller. A significant amount of die area is conserved by implementing these memory-mapped registers in RAM modules as opposed to conventional flip-flop based registers. The use of conventional flip-flop based registers also would result in increased power consumption and radiated noise due to tremendously increased parasitic loading on clock lines, as well as entailing significant additional costs. Thus, the present invention achieves enhanced performance, lower cost, and smaller size relative to the presently available technology.
The present invention encompasses a CAN microcontroller that supports a plurality of message objects, including a processor core that runs CAN applications, a CAN/CAL module that processes incoming messages, and a data memory space. The data memory space includes a plurality of message buffers associated with respective ones of the message objects, and a dedicated RAM memory space that contains a plurality of memory-mapped registers associated with each of the message objects. The plurality of memory-mapped registers associated with each message object correspond to respective command/control fields for facilitating configuration and setup of that message object. Each of the memory-mapped registers is mapped to a respective storage location within the dedicated RAM memory space.
In one embodiment, the dedicated RAM memory space encompasses a plurality of separate RAM modules, each RAM module being dedicated to a respective one of the command/control fields. The memory-mapped registers corresponding to a respective one of the command/control fields are located in respective, designated addressable memory storage locations within the separate RAM module dedicated to that command/control field, with a different addressable memory storage location being designated for each respective one of the message objects. In one particular implementation, all of the memory-mapped registers corresponding to a respective one of the command/control fields are located in a respective one of the separate RAM modules dedicated to that command/control field.
In a presently preferred embodiment, the CAN microcontroller supports a number n of message objects each having a number m of associated memory mapped registers corresponding to m respective command/control fields, with n different addressable storage locations being designated in each separate RAM module, one for each of the n respective message objects. In this embodiment, the dedicated RAM memory space encompasses m separate RAM modules, each of the separate RAM modules corresponding to a respective one of the m command/control fields.
Preferably, the memory-mapped registers appear as special function registers to the CAN applications that run on the processor core, but are accessed as RAM by hardware within the CAN microcontroller.

Can microcontroller that utilizes a dedicated RAM memory space to store message-object configuration information


A non-majority magnetic logic gate device for use in constructing compact and power efficient logical magnetic arrays is presented. The non-majority magnetic logic gate device includes a substrate, symmetrically aligned magnetic islands (SAMIs), at least one misaligned magnetic island (MAMI), magnetic field inputs (MFIs), and at least one magnetic field output (MFO). The SAMIs and MAMI are electrically isolated from each other but are magnetically coupled to one another through their respective magnetic fringe fields. The MAMI is geometrically and/or angularly configured to exhibit a magnetization ground state bias which is dependent upon which direction the applied magnetic clock field is swept. Non-majority logic gates can be made from layouts containing the SAMIs and the MAMI which contain a smaller number of components as comparable majority logic gate layouts.

Nanomagnetic logic (NML), also known as, Magnetic Quantum-Dot Cellular Automata (MQCA) consists of using nanomagnetic islands arranged in such a way that allows logic functions to be performed by using NML circuits. Wires, gates, and inverters have already been demonstrated to function at room temperature. It is estimated that if 1010 magnets switch at 108 times/second, then the magnets would only dissipate about 0.1 W of power. These nanomagnet based devices can remain non-volatile provided that their size/shape remains above the superparamagnetic limit which means that these nanomagnets devices can be used to realize both logic and memory devices. If non-volatility can be sacrificed, research suggests that binary state in nanomagnets with feature sizes below the superparamagnetic limit should also be stable for around 1 millisecond. This retention time is sufficient to perform logic operations. Device switching times could also be reduced.
The fundamental building blocks for NML circuits can (i) be made with standard lithographic techniques and (ii) have all been experimentally demonstrated at room temperature. Wires that exhibit ferromagnetically ordering (FIG. 1a-c) can be formed by orienting rectangular magnets next to each other so that their magnetic poles are within a commonly shared axis as shown in the FIG. 1a-c. Likewise anti-ferromagnetically coupled bit wires can be formed by orienting rectangular magnets next to each other so that their magnetic poles are parallel to each other and not within a commonly shared axis as shown in FIG. 2a-c.
Because the energy difference between magnetization (binary) states in an NML device can be hundreds of kT at room temperature, an applied magnetic clock is needed to facilitate the re-evaluation of an NML ensemble subsequent to when input states are changed. The applied magnetic clock provides the necessary energy that modulates the barrier between magnetization states so that fringing fields from individual magnets can quickly bias neighboring magnets into their respective thermodynamically favorable magnetization state that corresponds to the logically correct output states associated with the input(s). This reordering of magnetization states is guided by either antiferromagnetic or ferromagnetic coupling which is dependent upon the relative positions of how the particularly adjacent magnets are geometrically arranged.
For example, reordering of magnetization states in an antiferromagnetic coupled horizontal line would proceed as shown in FIG. 3-i to FIG. 3-iii (where just 3 devices are shown for simplicity). After the field of the left most magnet is externally driven by an Input (not shown) to flip its magnetic state, the applied magnetic clock field (H) is then subsequently imposed on all of the magnets (e.g., in an antiferromagnetically ordered line) which drives the internal magnetic fields (sideways arrows) of the center and right most magnets to be biased along their hard (shorter) axes (as shown in the transition from FIG. 3-i to FIG. 3-ii). Note that the internal magnetic field (up arrow) of the left most magnet is unaffected by the applied magnetic clock field (H) because it remains biased along its easy (long) axis driven by the continued imposition of the external magnetic field at the Input (not shown). As a result of imposing the applied magnetic clock field which drives the internal magnetic fields of the center and right most magnets pointed towards their hard axes (i.e., nullify), the energetic barriers of the center and right most magnets needed to reach their new energetically favorable magnetization state are considerably lowered. Flux from neighboring magnets can then efficiently bias these magnets into a new magnetically stable state (FIG. 3-iii) when the applied magnetic clock field (H) is removed.
It is known that fringing field-based interactions between single domain magnets with nanometer feature sizes can be used as a driving force to perform Boolean logic operations. With NML, logic functionality results from a complex interplay of shape anisotropy and magnet-to-magnet coupling. Magnet shape anisotropy, i.e., an elongated easy axis, creates a bi-stable system, and binary values (1/0) can be arbitrarily assigned to different magnetization directions. For many magnet shapes, the easy axis states are energetically equivalent for a magnet in isolation. When considering magnet ensembles, in clocked systems, fringing fields from individual devices can set the state of a neighboring device when that device is in a metastable logic state. It is known that these fringing field interactions can be used to implement majority voting gates and, in principle, implement any Boolean function.
To date, all known proposals for Boolean logic designs using NML architecture have either been majority gate based or assumed magnets with a uniform shape. Majority gates can be transformed into AND/OR or NAND/NOR gates and can be used to implement any Boolean function (as for AND/OR gates, inversion is possible with an antiferromagnetically ordered wire with an odd number of devices). One way of transforming a majority gate into either a AND/OR or NAND/NOR gate configuration is to permanently fix one of the inputs to a logic 0 or logic 1. Thus, Boolean logic can be realized using majority voting gates by arbitrarily setting one input of a majority gate to a logic '0' or '1', to transform the gate to a two input AND/OR gate. However, reducing a clocked majority gate to a 2-input AND/OR gate is non-trivial. The fixed/held input must be designed such that it does not impede the switching of the compute magnet (e.g., by providing too strong of a bias). If this does happen, a stuck-at fault will ensue as the two other inputs will not be able to drive the gate to a logically correct state.
Some advantages of NML designs include high scalability with ultra-low active power and essentially zero leakage power. NML are also thought to be inherently radiation resistant. To date, known NML designs have utilized elementary symmetrical shapes, i.e., rectangular and ellipsoid devices, have been used for majority gate logic designs.
As depicted in FIGS. 4-5, majority logic gates (MLG) have been used as a basis to demonstrate that magnetic quantum-dot cellular automata (MQCA) can be used to successfully implement various Boolean logic functions. Magnetic logic manipulates spin-polarized electrons in the magnetic material where information can be arbitrarily correlated with either "spin up" or "spin down" electrons. However, not all Boolean functions map well to majority voting gates (i.e. XOR). More specifically, an XOR gate constructed from majority gate-based AND/OR logic will likely require a relatively large footprint.
The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures.

Non-majority MQCA magnetic logic gates and arrays based on misaligned magnetic islands


A track for a wall construction for use in building construction is disclosed. Embodiments can include a track having a plurality of bendable tabs that can be manipulated to grip or release wall studs to prevent lateral or side to side movement of the studs. Embodiments can include tracks which incorporate various geometries capable of receiving fire-retardant material, including but not limited to intumescent material.

Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a metal stud and track framing system for use in building constructions, particularly for use in the interior and/or exterior wall of a building. In particular, the present invention relates to a fire-rated and non-fire rated track having a stud retention feature.
Description of the Related Art
A wall assembly commonly used in the construction industry includes a header track, bottom track, a plurality of wall studs and a plurality of wall board members, possibly among other components. A typical header track resembles a generally U-shaped (or some other similarly shaped) elongated channel capable of receiving or covering the ends of wall studs and holding the wall studs in place. The header track also permits the wall assembly to be coupled to an upper horizontal support structure, such as a ceiling or floor of a higher level floor of a multi-level building.
Header tracks generally have a web and at least one flange extending from the web. Typically, the header track includes a pair of flanges, which extend in the same direction from opposing edges of the web. The header track can be a slotted header track, which includes a plurality of slots spaced along the length of the track and extending in a vertical direction. When the wall studs are placed into the slotted track, each of the plurality of slots accommodates a fastener used to connect the wall stud to the slotted track. The slots allow the wall studs to move generally orthogonally relative to the track. In those areas of the world where earthquakes are common, movement of the wall studs is important. If the wall studs are rigidly attached to the slotted track and not allowed to move freely in at least one direction, the stability of the wall and the building might be compromised. With the plurality of slots, the wall studs are free to move. Even in locations in which earthquakes are not common, movement between the studs and the header track can be desirable to accommodate movement of the building structure due to other loads, such as stationary or moving overhead loads, as described above.
Slotted track has become a staple product for providing vertical deflection movement across the U.S. within head-of-wall assemblies. The slots are generally ¼ inch by 1-½ inch spaced 1 inch on center vertically along the length of the track leg. These slots have become a source for sound flanking as unsealed slots at the head-of-wall joint will allow sound, smoke, or light to pass from one side of the wall to the other through the unsealed slot. During installation, extra labor is required as mechanical framing screws are used through the slotted track into the stud on both sides of the wall. When the drywall is installed over this framing attachment point, the drywall humps up around the framing screw causing the drywall to flare out away from the framing. When the drywall flares out away from the framing, it no longer maintains a tight seal to the framing and can provide smoke or sound flanking paths through and or around the slots. This flared out drywall around the framing screw also creates an uneven wall surface and requires extra joint compound to create the illusion of an even wall surface.
It is also desirable or even mandatory to provide fire block arrangements at one or more linear wall gaps, which may be present between the top, bottom or sides of a wall and the adjacent structure. The fire block arrangements often involve the time-consuming process of inserting by hand a fire resistant material into the wall gap and then applying a flexible sealing layer to hold the fire resistant material in place. More recently, heat-expandable intumescent fire block materials have been integrated into the top or bottom track of the stud wall assembly.

Header track with stud retention feature

California Expanded Metal Products Company


A filter element arrangement is provided which includes a media pack comprising Z-filter media, a preform and an overmold sealing a portion of the interface between the preform and the media pack, and also forming an air cleaner seal for the filter element. The overmold preferably comprises molded, foamed, polyurethane. A variety of media pack shapes can be used.

Air streams carry contaminant material therein. In many instances, it is desired to filter some or all of the contaminant material from the air stream. For example, air flow streams to engines for motorized vehicles or for power generation equipment, construction equipment or other equipment, gas streams to gas turbine systems and air streams to various combustion furnaces, carry particulate contaminant therein. It is preferred for such systems that the selected contaminant material be removed from (or have its level reduced in) the air or gas. A variety of air filter arrangements have been developed for contaminant reduction. In general, however, continued improvements are sought.

Seal arrangement for filter element; filter element assembly; and, methods


An optical navigation method includes: detecting inertia of an image of a feature point; and determining an effective sensing region of an image sensing array according to the detected inertia for reducing power consumption. Besides, an optical navigation apparatus includes a detecting circuit and a determining unit. The detecting circuit is arranged for detecting a moving inertia of a feature point. The determining circuit is coupled to the detecting circuit, and arranged for determining an effective sensing region of an image sensing array according to the detected moving inertia for reducing power consumption.

1. Field of the Invention
The disclosed embodiments of the present invention relate to an optical processing mechanism, and more particularly, to an optical navigation method and related apparatus thereof which adjust the size of an image sensing region dynamically to reduce power consumption.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, an optical navigation system has at least an image sensing array utilized to detect an image moving location of a feature point. In the prior art, all of the sensing units in the image sensing array are turned on for detecting the image location of the feature point. However, the optical navigation system is usually disposed in a portable device. Turning on all of the sensing units/components would greatly consume the power of the portable device, resulting in high power consumption issues.

Optical navigation method for dynamically adjusting size of image sensing region and related apparatus thereof


A card connector includes a body, multiple terminals accommodated and positioned in the body, a housing covering the body, and a containing space is defined by the housing and the body and extending along a length direction of the body, a card holder with a cooperating portion positioned in the containing space, and the card holder is capable of moving forward and backward in the containing space, and an adjusting element located at the front of the card connector, including a positioning portion arranged for positioning the adjusting element to the card connector, an actuating portion corresponding with the cooperating portion, and an operation portion. When the operation portion is driven, the actuating portion actuates the cooperating portion, thereby the card holder exiting from the containing space. The structure is simple, and takes up less space, which improves miniaturization progress of the card connector.

Electronic card connectors of electronic devices are installed directly on a circuit board in the early, so a housing of the electronic device must be removed firstly to place an electronic card in the electronic card connector. While electronic card connectors of some electronic devices, such as mobile phones, are installed under batteries, in this case, the housing and the battery of the mobile phone all need to be removed sequentially, and then the electronic card can be placed in the electronic card connector, said removing and placing will bring a lot of trouble to consumers.
In order to comply with the development trend of simplifying electronic device, a drawer card connector appears recently, it usually includes an insulation body, multiple conductive terminals positioned at the insulation body, and a covering housing masking the insulation body. The insulation body and the covering housing coordinate with each other so as to form an accommodating space therebetween, and a sliding holder is accommodated in the accommodating space. An exiting mechanism is fixed on the insulation body for sliding the sliding holder forward and backward in the accommodating space. The exiting mechanism further includes a pop-up element, a pivoting element and a pushing rod, wherein, the pop-up element and the pivoting element are located at back of the insulation body, and at least part of the pop-up element exposes in the accommodating space and presses against the sliding holder elastically. The pivoting element has an actuating portion and a pushing portion, the pushing rod extends forward and backward at a side of the insulation body, a back end of the pushing rod presses against the pushing portion, a leading end of the pushing rod is extended to the front of the accommodating space.
The electronic device has an accommodating cavity defined at a side thereof, and the accommodating cavity has an opening communicating with outside, the drawer card connector is installed in the accommodating cavity, the electronic card can be placed in the drawer card connector without removing the housing of the electronic device. Just need pushing the leading end of the pushing rod with a tool that firstly enters into the opening, and the leading end of the pushing rod drives the back end of the pushing rod to press against the pushing portion backward, and then the pushing portion drives the actuating portion to rotate and thereby press against the sliding holder forward. Meanwhile, the pop-up element applies a forward thrust to the sliding holder, thereby the sliding holder exits outward, and then the electronic card can be put in the sliding holder, finally the sliding holder is pressed backward into the accommodating space, and the sliding holder can be positioned therein.
Though the exiting function of the drawer card connector is easy, which can overcome the removing and placing problem of the conventional electronic card connector, but it doesn't comply with the development trend of miniaturization and low cost for electronic devices nowadays, that is because the exiting mechanism includes three separate elements, the pop-up element, the pivoting element and the pushing rod, which are disposed at back of and a side of the insulation body respectively, and occupy much space of the insulation body, thereby prevent miniaturization progress of the drawer card connector. In addition, the processes of manufacturing and assembly are complex, which increase the cost of manufacturing, thereby fail to achieve the goal of low cost.
Hence, it is desired to provide a new card connector to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks.


A rotary type sheet counter disc gradually counts corner portions of stacked-up sheets from the top sheet to the bottom sheet. The sheet counter disc includes an upper disc and a lower disc on which the upper disc is placed, the lower disc having a plurality of sheet suction fins equally spacedly arranged on a peripheral edge portion thereof. The sheet suction fins each have a sheet suction port which is open at a lower surface thereof, and the lower disc has a plurality of sheet loosening claws projecting in a rotating direction of the sheet counter disc from leading ends of the sheet suction fins. A plurality of sheet introduction slits are formed between upper surfaces of the sheet loosening claws and a lower surface of a portion of the upper disc which covers the sheet loosening claws. The sheet introduction slits each have a sheet introduction port opening at a distal end portion of each sheet loosening claw, and the upper disc has a plurality of sheet outlet slits equally spacedly arranged on a peripheral edge portion thereof. The sheet outlet slits each have a sheet outlet port communicating with each sheet introduction slit and opening at an upper surface of the upper disc, and the sheet suction fins each draw an upper surface of each stacked-up sheet thereto by suction. Each of the sheet loosening claws is inserted under and takes up a lower surface of a corner portion of each sheet drawn by suction, so as to introduce the same into each sheet introduction slit through each sheet introduction port. The sheet corner portion introduced into the sheet introduction sheet is introduced into the sheet outlet slit and taken up onto the upper surface of the upper disc through the sheet outlet port.

Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a rotary type sheet counter disc and more particularly to a construction of a rotary type sheet counter disc for taking up the corner portions of stacked-up sheets from the top sheet to the bottom sheet for the purposes of counting a predetermined number of the sheets and separating them from the rest.
FIGS. 3 and 4 of Japanese Patent Publication No. 1661/1984 illustrate a sheet counter comprising a sucker for sucking an upper surface of a corner portion of each stacked-up sheet from the top sheet to the bottom sheet, a separate bar for taking up the sheet sucked by the sucker, and a motor for controlling them.
The sucker constituting the sheet counter repeats a vertical whirling action at a constant cycle and takes up a sheet each time the whirling action is made. On the other hand, the separator rotates around the periphery of the sucker in one direction and takes up and supports the lower surface of the sheet sucked by the sucker during the rotating process of the separator. By repeating the above motion, a required number of sheets are counted and separated from the rest.
The above conventional sheet counter has the following shortcomings. The sheet counter sucks up a comer portion of a sheet each time the sucker performs a whirling motion. Therefore, the speed for sucking up the stacked sheets is limited and difficult to be improved. This means that the ever-increasing requirement for higher speed is difficult to be fulfilled. If the whirling speed is overly increased, there is a possibility that each stacked-up sheet cannot be sucked in a reliable manner.
The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above situation.

Construction of rotary type sheet counter disc