A mobile communication terminal comprising: a key input unit including a one-touch message key and outputting a signal requesting one-touch message transmission when the one-touch message key is pressed; a display unit for displaying menus for one-touch message transmission; a memory for storing a message corresponding to the one-touch message key; and a control unit for sending the stored message corresponding to the one-touch message key when a user inputs a demand for one-touch message transmission.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal, and more particularly to a mobile communication terminal and a method for sending a message using a single key input.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the development of telecommunication technologies, mobile communication terminals have been widely proliferated and developed to offer various functions with ever higher performance. Particularly, various methods have been conceived to facilitate transmission of messages using a mobile communication terminal.
Currently available mobile communication terminals can provide messaging services, such as a short message service (SMS), an enhanced messaging service (EMS) and a multimedia messaging service (MMS). SMS transmits a message in a text form only. MMS transmits a text message together with a picture, photograph or moving picture file. EMS transmits a text message together with simple picture data.
It therefore follows that a user has to take multiple steps to send a message using any of the above messaging services in a mobile communication terminal. For example, when the user wishes to send a message using a mobile communication terminal, he or she selects a messaging function from a menu or using a short key, input a message to be sent and store the inputted message in a memory of the mobile communication terminal. The user must then input, or retrieve from memory of the mobile communication terminal, the telephone number of the intended recipient of the message and finally press a send/OK key to send the message.
Moreover, when using a conventional mobile communication terminal, the user must take multiple steps of selecting menus to enter a message input mode in addition to inputting a desired message and pressing keys to send the message. Because of the amount of steps involved, the user may feel inconvenient when trying to urgently send a message, especially in critical circumstances.

Mobile communication terminal and method for one-touch message transmission


An electrical busbar arrangement has provision for connecting a single feeder cable to a plurality of branch cables within an insulating housing. A branch port is provided for each branch cable, and a spring-loaded slidable support plate is arranged to receive the branch cable and to retain it in an aperture thereof. The support plate moves within a cable holder that is driven by a rotatable cam by means of a switch. Operation of the switch between OFF and ON positions is effective to move the branch cable into and out off contact respectively with the busbar. The switches of each port are selectively operable independently of each other. In this way, branch cables may be independently and selectively mounted in the housing and brought into electrical connection with and disconnected from the busbar.

This invention relates to an electrical interconnection arrangement, which finds particular, though not exclusive, application in providing connection to a busbar having a current capacity greater than 30 A, preferably greater than 50 A, more preferably greater than 100 A. Capacities of 250 A or 400 A may be encountered in practice of the present invention.
It is known, for example, from Brazilian Patent Number P19706273, to provide for the electrical connection of a plurality of cables, for example, branch or tap cables, to a single feeder cable, using a busbar mounted in an insulating housing. In this patent, an array of metal support plates is slidably mounted, under the reaction of return springs, within a plastics housing. The support plates are apertured, and can be raised against the action of the springs by a screwdriver such that the apertures are aligned with respective inlet apertures of the housing so that conductors of the cables can be passed thereinto and secured in place in contact with a common busbar retained within the housing.


A detachable, adjustable headrest device for a folding chair can be used either with a recreational vehicle or on a lawn chair. The headrest device comprises a U-shaped tubular bracket supporting a corresponding geometric plate having two vertical parallel slots. A planar rectangular plate having two threaded bolts supports a rectangular block of foam padding covered by a plastic sheet. The plate and covered padding fasten to the bracket through the parallel slots, which provide for vertical adjustment. The bottom portions of the tubular bracket are adapted to fit onto the top portion of a folding chair with a tubular metal frame by friction-fitting cutouts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to headrests and, more specifically, to a detachable, adjustable-height headrest device for a folding chair.
2. Description of Related Art
The related art describes various headrests for chairs and the like. The art of interest will be discussed in the order of perceived relevance to the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,030,781 issued on Jun. 21, 1977, to Harold P. Howard describes a headrest for a lawn chair having an adjustable height means and a quick release design. A rectangular pillow block is supported by a plastic or metal rectangular plate attached by a pair of welded brackets and screws to two vertical parallel flat strips or rods formed from two sets of rods. The rods are adjustable in height due to the selection and fastening by screws and nuts of two apertures in a row of apertures in the rear rod and two apertures in the front rod. The bottom pair of rods end in a hook member cutout and bent to engage the horizontal rear member of the tubular seat frame. The rods are further interlaced with the webbing of the seatback. The headrest is distinguishable for the difference in the point of attachment to a lawn chair and the use of adjustable rods rather than the slotted panel behind the headrest of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,886 issued on Aug. 26, 1986, to Mike S. Mazhar describes a headrest for placement against the rear window and its support plate behind a truck seat. A septehedronal foam plastic head cushion is supported on its lower edge by a flange of the support plate. Below the cushion, two vertical slots are present in the support plate for fastening of the plate to the rear panel of a truck cab by a pair of knobbed screws. The upper rear edge of the support plate has a pair of pads for resting the support plate against the cab window. The headrest is distinguishable for the difference in the height adjustment of the support plate relative to the seat back rather than the height adjustment of the headrest relative to the support plate as in the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,483 issued on Oct. 28, 1986, to Donna J. Dickey et al. describes a shoulder support for attachment to a chair back for a physically handicapped person. A support plate shaped like a silhouette of a flat-faced human head and neck supports a padded headrest and an elongated pad for a hip bolster. The support plate is either hung by rod connectors on the back of a reclining chair or by bolts to a side of the chair. The headrest can be adjusted in height by bolts in a slot in the support plate. The shoulder support is distinguishable for its reliance in positioning the headrest and its support plate to a side of a chair instead of on the back of a chair.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,638,152 issued on May 12, 1953, to Newell B. Pulsifer describes a headrest for a chair back to rest a side of a head. An adjustable seatback bracket consists of a rear leg and a forward leg which supports an L-shaped bracket in a vertical slot. The L-shaped bracket then supports an oval-shaped pad by, a removable fastener. The headrest is distinguishable for its plurality of brackets for alignment with the side of a head.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,905,230 issued on Sep. 22, 1929, to Edward J. Gabriel describes a chair with an adjustable headrest. The headrest can be adjusted in height by being contained by a pair of loops in a pair of vertical channels in a seatback closed by zippers. The headrest is distinguishable for the structure bears little resemblance to that of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,492 issued on Dec. 8, 1987, to Svein Ashjornsen et al. describes a split chair back for a slidable knobbed headrest and a back rest. The headrest is distinguishable for a structure dissimilar to the structure of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,851,919 issued on Dec. 3, 1974, to James P. Nagy describes an automobile headrest which is hung on the inside of a window from a vertical bracket having a slot for adjustment in height of an upper positioned spacer (resting against the window) and of a curved head support positioned below. The headrest is distinguishable for its different structural features.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,828,287 issued on May 9, 1989, to Joseph Siler describes a safety head protector for vehicles. A square pad of foam plastic or rubber on a wooden back is covered by a plastic cover and attached to the rear window of a truck cab by hook and loop fasteners. The protector is distinguishable for its different structural features.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

Detachable adjustable height headrest for a folding chair


A wind turbine-permanent magnet synchronous generator (WT-PMSG) system includes a variable speed permanent magnet synchronous generator and utilizes a static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) connected on the grid side of the system. A PI/PID controller is designed to apply modulation index control signals to the generator side-converter since the modulation index of the generator side-converter has been determined to have the higher controllability to damp the oscillatory modes of the system when the STATCOM is located at the grid side converter. The controller gains are tuned through a frequency based optimization procedure. This configuration dampens voltage instabilities to provide LVRT compliance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wind power generation systems, and particularly to a variable speed wind turbine PMSG system utilizing a static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) connected on the grid side of the system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Some of the major concerns of variable speed wind generating systems are the stability issues, power quality and voltage instability problems occurring in a power system that are not able to meet the reactive power demand during faults and heavy loading conditions. Low voltage ride through (LVRT) is a recently introduced requirement that transmission operators demand from wind farms.
Among the energy storage elements STATCOM is a relatively popular device. The main motivation for choosing STATCOM in wind farms is its ability to provide voltage support either by supplying/absorbing reactive power into the system. A STATCOM is reported to be effective in providing LVRT for wind turbines in a wind farm but its application in terms of PMSG systems is not fully explored. For example, the ideal location of the device needs careful investigation. Stability studies in variable speed wind turbine generating systems are required to ensure a safe operation with good performance.
Thus, a PMSG wind generator using static synchronous compensation (STATCOM) for control damping solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

Wind turbine permanent magnet synchronous generator (WT-PMSG) system

KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS


Liquid detection sensors are attached to both sides of a robotic arm end effector of a semiconductor wafer process system. The sensor mechanism or probe is situated on the front side and backside of the end effector, designed with electrical lines that are traced onto a polyester base material. The electrical lines are positioned in a serpentine formation. The high conductance of the sulfuric acid in the copper sulfate solution acts as the conductor between the traced lines. When the conductive liquid comes in contact with the traced lines, the lines short and the sensor activates or turns on.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor wafer processing, and specifically to the detection of conductive solutions in semiconductor fabrication equipment used to process semiconductor wafers. More specifically, the present invention relates to detecting conductive fluids, including copper plating solution, which may destructively interact with the wafer during fabrication.
2. Description of Related Art
The semiconductor wafer fabrication process is vulnerable to destructive processing fluids that may inadvertently come in contact with the silicon wafer. Metal-containing fluids, a by-product of the fabrication process, have been shown to be extremely harmful to the wafer. In the instance of copper plating, the unintentional transfer of copper via plating solution to the back of a wafer can cause contamination in other process equipment, exposing a semiconductor wafer to contamination and degradation. This contamination can potentially shutdown an entire production line while steps are taken to eliminate the contaminant and mitigate the damage caused. Migration and diffusion of copper into the silicon wafer destroys the silicon devices during fabrication. Current fabrication tools, such as the SABRE Copper Electrofill System, and the like, do not currently make use of an apparatus or method for sensing acidic fluid excursions, such as copper sulfate.
Most semiconductor fabrication processes are automated with robotics to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient production techniques. The automated machinery includes a robotic arm to hold, manipulate and control the wafer, i.e., an end effector. The end effector is the chief handling feature of the robotic instrument. Wafers can be subjected to contaminants during handling and processing. Enhancing production efficiency while eliminating unwanted contaminants during wafer handling presents technical challenges to equipment modifications and implementation.
During normal operation, it is desirable to have copper plating solution contained within and by the plating cells. However, backside contamination of the wafer by copper sulfate may happen through a number of means. In the Sabre Copper Electrofill System, for example, a semiconductor wafer is taken out of its cassette, and placed face-side down in the clamshell. The clamshell is a fixture used to hold the wafer during copper electroplating. The clamshell clamps the wafer, seals the periphery of the face, makes electrical contact with the wafer, and seals the wafer's backside. When the wafer is dropped into the plating solution, it becomes vulnerable to contamination. One form of contamination, called Lip Seal or Clamshell contamination, occurs when the seal around the outer diameter of the wafer, i.e., the lip seal, fails. The clamshell submerges into the plating cell during the electroplating process. Wafers are transferred to and from the clamshell and secured to the clamshell using a vacuum. The solution commonly used for electroplating copper, acid-copper, is composed primarily of dilute sulfuric acid (˜0.01-20%), copper ions in the form of copper sulfate (15-55 g/l), chloride ions in the form of HCl (10-100 ppm), and ppm-levels of organic additives to control film properties. The plating solution may traverse around the seal in a failure mode, and ultimately come in contact with the edge of the silicon wafer. The copper in the plating solution can contaminate the wafer upon contact. In this failure mode, most of the copper sulfate will be concentrated on and about the circumference of the wafer. The robot end effector could then be contaminated when picking the wafer from the clamshell after the failure. This type of failure is a potentially destructive failure mode that must be addressed during the fabrication process.
A second form of contamination is spray out from plating cells. A plating cell is a reservoir that contains copper sulfate. The clamshell submerges into the plating cell during the electroplating process. Spray out is a main pathway for contaminating the end effector on a regular basis. The wafer is rotated after plating at high speed. During the wafer rinse, the rotations can generate a mist, or spray out. This spray out can cause copper contamination on the end effector at any location in the system. Normally, the spray out is contained at the plating cell shields; however, when this containment breaks down, destructive contamination can occur. One safety mode that may be employed requires software algorithms to command the fabrication robot to retreat to a safe location between processes. In this situation, the end effector is flipped when the robot begins an idle mode.
The robotic instrument itself can become contaminated once copper sulfate is introduced into the vacuum chamber. The robotic arm or end effector uses an injection of nitrogen (an "N2 puff") to release the wafer; however, the nitrogen gas is capable of carrying copper particles and placing them on the backside of the wafer. Usually, when the end effector reaches this state of contamination, excessive spray out or lip seal contamination has already been realized.
Edge or backside copper contamination is an unwanted by-product of the semiconductor wafer fabrication process. A sensor that detects the presence of copper plating solution and other conductive solutions can reduce the likelihood of this kind of contamination.
Bearing in mind the problems and deficiencies of the prior art, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a sensor that can be easily adapted to an end effector of an automated semiconductor process robot for detection of conductive fluids.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a sensor that is capable of covering the acid path for both sides of an end effector of a semiconductor process robotic instrument.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide detection of copper sulfate at the source of the contamination in a semiconductor wafer fabrication process.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a sensor for a semiconductor wafer processing system capable of detecting failure from clamshell or excessive spray out from the plating cell.
It is a further object of the invention to provide for a method of operation to eliminate acid contamination in a wafer transfer robotic arm.
Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Sensor for measuring liquid contaminants in a semiconductor wafer fabrication process


A display interface (interface device) of a mobile telecommunication terminal is provided. The mobile telecommunication terminal includes a main body having a processor, and a display coupled to the main body. The processor is configured to implement mobile telecommunication terminal functions. The interface device includes a digital-to-analog converter configured to convert digital pixel information to an analog color signal. The interface device also includes graphic signal lines operatively connected to the digital-to-analog converter, configured to carry the analog color signal to the display. The interfere device also includes a clock line operatively connected to the digital-to-analog converter, configured to provide a timing reference used to sample the analog color signal. The interface device also includes a data enable line operatively connected to the digital-to-analog converter, configured to control transmission of the analog color signal through the graphic signal lines based on a selective switching operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a mobile telecommunication terminal, and more particularly to a display interface of a mobile telecommunication terminal.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a related art mobile telecommunication terminal. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a related art liquid crystal display interface. FIG. 3 is a signal timing diagram according to the related art liquid crystal display interface.
Referring to FIG. 1, a folding type mobile telecommunication terminal 100 includes a main body 110 and a liquid crystal display (LCD) 120. Using a 16-bit bus, data is transmitted between the main body 110 and the LCD 120. Referring now to FIG. 2, the 16-bit bus includes a plurality of signal lines to control sixteen data lines used to transmit data. The control signals include a chip select (CS) signal, a write enable (WE) signal, an output enable (OE) signal, and an address (Add) signal. The CS signal is used to enable the LCD 120. The WE signal is used to write data from the main body 110 to the LCD 120. The OE signal is a read signal to read information from the main body 110. The Add signal is an address signal to select a color signal (i.e., red (R), green (G), and blue (B)) (color signal information). As described above, the 16-bit bus LCD interface requires twenty signal lines.
In the 16-bit bus, the color information (R, G, and B) in a pixel of an LCD is transmitted by n-bits in a digital form. Therefore, a data width of 3×n is required for the transmission. When the required data width exceeds 16 bits, the data is divided and transmitted by units of 16 bits. For example, when using an LCD screen displaying 256k colors, 6 bits for each color R, G, and B are allotted, thereby requiring a data width of 18 bits. The 18-bit packed data is divided into a 16-bit data packet and a 2-bit data packet, to be transmitted to the LCD through the bus using two cycles, as shown in FIG. 3.
Therefore, when a 16-bit bus is used, twenty signal lines, including a data signal and a control signal are required to transmit the data. In the folding type mobile telecommunication terminal, the LCD 120 is connected to the main body 110 by a hinge 130. The signal lines are connected to one another through a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) 140. The width of the FPCB 140 is limited due to structural limitations of such a connection. Furthermore, folding type communication devices are frequently opened and closed, which applies structural stress to the FPCB 140.
In order to prevent a deficiency in the signal line from occurring, such as a break, the width of the signal line must be of at least some minimum width. In one such minimum pattern width, forty signal lines are used in the FPCB 140. The forty signal lines are used as signal lines between the main body 110 and the LCD 120, as well as to a receiver, a vibrating mechanism, a light emitting diode (LED), and a power source. Thus, additional signal lines are not available to perform other functions. Furthermore, by allotting a maximum number of signal lines into a limited width FPCB 140, the reliability of each signal line may be decreased.
In addition, as the functions of the recently introduced mobile telecommunication terminals are becoming more diverse, consumers need to open and close the hinge 130 more often. Consumers now also demand more sophisticated designs and structures for the hinge 130, such as those used in LCDs of camcorder type devices and slim type communication devices. Therefore, in order to satisfy these consumer demands, the width of the FPCB 140 needs to be reduced. However, since the 16-bit bus requires 20 signal lines, it is not possible to reduce the width of the FPCB 140.

Display interface of mobile telecommunication terminal


A data processing apparatus includes floating-point adder circuitry and floating-point conversion circuitry that generates a floating-point number as an output by performing a conversion on any input having a format from a list of formats including: an integer number, a fixed-point number, and a floating-point number having a format smaller than the output floating-point number. The floating-point conversion circuitry is physically distinct from the floating-point adder circuitry.

The present disclosure is concerned with the field of data processing.
In a data processing apparatus, numbers can be represented in one of several different formats. For example, the 32-bit integer format uses 32 bits to represent a whole number in binary. A further example is the 64-bit integer format, which uses 64 bits to represent a whole number in binary. The increased number of bits used in the 64-bit format can allow much greater range of values to be represented than may be possible with the 32-bit integer format.
Another example format is a floating-point number. A floating-point number can be used to represent any real number rather than simply any integer. As in the case with integer formats, increasing the number of bits used to represent the floating-point number typically increases the range of values that can be represented. Additionally, increasing the number of bits used to represent a floating-point number may increase the accuracy with which a number can be represented.
Often, in a data processing apparatus, it is desirable to be able to convert from numerous different formats to floating-point formats. For example, if a programmer wishes to add an integer to a fractional number, one approach is for the integer to first be converted to a floating-point number. Alternatively, it may be desirable to increase the number of bits used to represent a floating-point number if more precision is required and in this situation an input floating-point number represented by fewer bits provides the input format.
It would be desirable to allow a direct conversion between multiple different formats, since this may decrease the latency as a consequence of converting to intermediate formats, which would necessitate two or more conversions. However, circuitry that handles multiple direct conversions is typically more complicated, and therefore requires more space, than circuitry that supports few direct conversions. Bigger circuits can lead to bigger devices with higher power consumptions, which can be undesirable in low power devices.

Standalone floating-point conversion unit


The object of the present invention is to provide a color correction process designed for enabling all the hues in the image properly corrected without leaving any uncorrected range; the inputted image data represented by the combination of 3 color signals is divided into a plurality of ranges by the hue so that color correction can be made by the range of each hue; in the color correction processing circuit by each hue, in order for the peripheral area of the range set for color correction to be prevented from being left uncorrected, the color correction process is designed so that correction ranges peripherally overlap with one another.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a data processing applicable to the display devices, such as the television sets and the monitors, as well as the image processing devices for creating the images of the computer graphics, more particularly to a color correction processing circuit designed to be capable of correcting the colors of the image data based on the 3 colors, i.e., the red color, the green color and the blue color, in consideration of the difference in the system of various image processing devices.
2. Background Art
Conventionally, in displaying the color according to the inputted color signal on a display device such as a monitor screen, it has been a common practice to adjust the color tone depending on the operating conditions of the display devices so that the image having the desired color can be reproduced. The color tone adjusting process can be divided broadly into the 2 processes, namely the table conversion process and the matrix operation process.
According to the table conversion process, the image data corresponding to the red color, the green color and the blue color (hereinafter referred to as R, G and B respectively) are inputted so that the optimal image data selected out of the image data for R, G and B, which have undergone the color tone adjustment process and stored in the memory such as a ROM or the like, can be outputted responding to the inputted image data; the table conversion method permits to adopt any color tone adjusting characteristic and thus is advantageous in realizing the color tone adjustment for good color reproduction. This conventional process, however, has a problem such that the process, which is designed simply for storing the data for each combination of the image data, requires a memory of a large capacity as large as about 400 M bits, and the similar problems still occurs even when the memory capacity is compressed to a certain extent; thus, it is difficult to permit the application of the LSI to such a process, and such process has another problem that the system of the process is not sufficiently elastic to the alteration of the operating conditions or the like.
In contrast, the color tone adjusting process employing the matrix operation method is designed so that the color tone adjusting values (amounts) to be outputted are calculated directly on the bases of the luminance signals and the color difference signals, Y, Cr and Cb, converted from the inputted R, G and B signals, or the originally inputted R, G and B signals. For instance, there is an operation method for obtaining the output signals, R′, G′ and B′, by multiplying the inputted R, G and B signals by the matrix coefficients arranged in 3 rows and 3 columns. This operation formula can be expressed as given hereunder.
                              [                                                                      R                  ′                                                                                G                  ′                                                                                B                  ′                                                              ]                =                              [                                                                                a                    11                                                                                a                    12                                                                                a                    13                                                                                a                    21                                                                                a                    22                                                                                a                    23                                                                                a                    31                                                                                a                    32                                                                                a                    33                                                                        ]                    ·                      [                                                            R                                                                              G                                                                              B                                                      ]                                              (        1        )
This color tone adjusting process by using the matrix operation method does not require the large-capacity memory, which has been discussed previously in connection with the table conversion process, and thus permits the application of the LSI. Further, (the color tone adjusting process) can be adapted flexibly to the alteration of the operating conditions by properly adjusting each of the elements a11-a33 of the coefficients of the matrix given in the above equation (1). As the color tone adjusting process by using the matrix operation method, there are the following references, i.e., the Reference 1 or the Reference 2.
Patent Reference 1: Laid-Open Patent Application No.2003-111091
Patent Reference 2: Laid-Open Patent Application No.2001-223911
In the conventional color tone adjusting process by using the matrix operation method, the hue made available by the combination of the inputted R, G and B signals is determined to calculate the amount of adjustment required for the hue to be adjusted. For instance, as shown in FIG. 3, (in the case of the conventional color correction process,) the given color is divided into the 6 color ranges, namely the red range, the green range, the cyan range, the blue range, the magenta range, for the fine correction of the colors; however, such a conventional color correction method is not good enough because of that the peripheral area of each color range is left almost uncorrected as being uncorrectable range.
Besides, there have been the conventional circuit designed for the color tone adjustment and the white balance adjustment in parallel; however, in the case of such a conventional color tone adjustment circuit, the white balance adjustment is made by adjusting the gains of the R, G and B, and it is known that using such a conventional circuit for the white balance adjustment results in the deterioration of other colors. Further, both in the case of the previously mentioned color correction process and in the case of the white balance adjustment process, the final adjustment has to be made by the user who is supposed to determine the degree of the necessary corrections while watching the condition of the image on the display screen; however; such conventional circuit is not designed to permit each user to make necessary adjustment while observing the condition of the image displayed on the screen before adjustment, so that the user is unable to make the fine settings for adjustment.
The present invention is proposed for resolving such problem of the conventional color correction process by providing a color correction processing circuit for each hue designed not only for enabling the user to make appropriate color correction for each of the hues in any given image without leaving any uncorrected ranges but also for enabling the white balance adjustment to be made without sacrificing other colors, as well as for enabling the user to make desired color correction by each hue while watching the condition of the image before correction.

Color correction processing circuit by each hue


A method for producing an aromatic carbonate, comprising:                (1) performing a reaction between an organometal compound and carbon dioxide to obtain a reaction mixture containing a dialkyl carbonate formed by the reaction,        (2) separating the dialkyl carbonate from the reaction mixture to obtain a residual liquid,        (3) reacting the residual liquid with an alcohol to form at least one organometal compound and form water and removing the water from the organometal compound, and        (4) reacting the dialkyl carbonate separated in step (2) with an aromatic hydroxy compound to obtain an aromatic carbonate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for producing an aromatic carbonate. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with a method for producing an aromatic carbonate, comprising: (1) performing a reaction between an organometal compound and carbon dioxide to obtain a reaction mixture containing a dialkyl carbonate formed by the reaction, (2) separating the dialkyl carbonate from the reaction mixture to obtain a residual liquid, and performing the following steps (3) and (4) in either order, or partially or wholly simultaneously: (3) reacting the residual liquid with an alcohol to form at least one organometal compound and form water and removing the water from the organometal compound, and (4) reacting the dialkyl carbonate separated in step (2) with an aromatic hydroxy compound to obtain an aromatic carbonate.
The method of the present invention is advantageous not only in that the method does not require any toxic substances and is free from the generation of any corrosive substances, but also in that the amounts of by-products are very small and the intermediate products generated during the production of the desired aromatic carbonate can be recycled. Thus, the method of the present invention is favorable from the viewpoint of protection of the environment, and enables a simple and efficient production of a high purity aromatic carbonate.
2. Prior Art
An aromatic carbonate is widely used as carbonyl sources, such as raw materials for producing a polycarbonate, an isocyanate and a pharmaceutical, and it has been desired to develop a method for producing an aromatic carbonate at a low cost.
As methods for producing an aromatic polycarbonate on a commercial scale, there can be mentioned the following methods (i) and (ii):
(i) an interfacial polymerization method (method in which phosgene and a bisphenol are polymerized at the interface between a dichloromethane phase and an aqueous phase in the presence of an appropriate chlorine acceptor); and
(ii) a melt method (method in which diphenyl carbonate and a bisphenol are polymerized by a transesterification/dephenolation reaction).
The above-mentioned method (i) (i.e., interfacial polymerization method) uses dichloromethane, whereas the above-mentioned method (ii) (i.e., melt method) does not use dichloromethane. Recently, the problem of water pollution due to an alkyl halide has arisen and, hence, the melt method which does not use dichloromethane has been attracting attention.
As well-known methods for producing an aromatic carbonate (e.g., diphenyl carbonate) used as a raw material in the above-mentioned melt method, there can be mentioned the following five methods 1) to 5):
1) a method for producing an aromatic carbonate using phosgene as a carbonyl source (see, e.g., patent document 1 below);
2) a method for producing an aromatic carbonate using carbon monoxide as a carbonyl source;
3) a method for producing an aromatic carbonate from a diaryl oxalate;
4) a method for producing an aromatic carbonate using urea (or a derivative thereof) as a carbonyl source; and
5) a method for producing an aromatic carbonate using carbon dioxide as a carbonyl source.
With respect to method 1), an explanation is given below. Examples of specific modes of method 1) include an aqueous solution mode in which phosgene is introduced into an aqueous solution of a metal phenoxide; an interface mode in which the production of an aromatic carbonate is performed in a two-phase system comprising an organic solvent phase and an aqueous phase; and a gaseous phase mode in which phenol is reacted with phosgene in a gaseous phase. By each of these modes, an aromatic carbonate can be easily produced. However, since method 1) employs phosgene which is extremely toxic and highly corrosive, method 1) is disadvantageous in that the transportation and storage of phosgene needs great care, and the maintenance of production equipment is costly, which maintenance is indispensable for assuring safety. Further, in method 1), hydrochloric acid which is highly corrosive is by-produced in a large amount, thereby causing difficulty in the waste disposal and the like. Moreover, since the aromatic carbonate (e.g., diphenyl carbonate) obtained by method 1) inevitably contains a chlorine-containing compound as an impurity, method 1) also poses the following serious problem. When such an aromatic carbonate containing a chlorine-containing compound is used for producing a polycarbonate by the melt method, the chlorine-containing compound, even if the amount thereof in the aromatic carbonate is very small, causes the deactivation of a catalyst used for producing a polycarbonate and the discoloration of the polycarbonate produced. For removing the chlorine-containing compound which is contained in the aromatic carbonate in a very small amount (generally, a few ppm by weight, based on the weight of the aromatic carbonate), an additional purification step becomes necessary (see, e.g., patent document 2 below).
As seen from the above, method 1) has a number of serious problems, such as the use of a toxic substance as a raw material, the by-production of a corrosive compound, and the impurity (such as a chlorine-containing compound) contained in the aromatic carbonate produced.
With respect to method 2), an explanation is given below. Method 2) is an oxidative carbonylation method in which an aromatic carbonate (e.g., diphenyl carbonate) is produced from oxygen and an aromatic hydroxy compound using carbon monoxide as a carbonyl source. Carbon monoxide used in method 2) is extremely toxic. Therefore, the transportation and handling of carbon monoxide require great care, and the maintenance of the production equipment is costly, which maintenance is indispensable for assuring safety in the production of the aromatic carbonate. Further, method 2) employs a chlorine or a chlorine-containing compound as a part of a catalyst or as a co-catalyst. Therefore, as in the case of the above-mentioned method 1) using phosgene, the aromatic carbonate produced by method 2) inevitably contains a chlorine-containing compound as an impurity. Moreover, method 2) employs, as a catalyst, palladium which is expensive and difficult to recover. Therefore, method 2) inevitably becomes an extremely expensive and complicated method.
Thus, method 2) also has a number of serious problems, such as the use of a toxic compound as a raw material, the corrosion caused by chlorine, the chlorine-containing impurities contained in the aromatic carbonate produced, and a high production cost.
As a conventional method similar to method 2), there can be mentioned a method in which dimethyl carbonate is obtained from carbon monoxide, oxygen and methanol by an oxidative carbonylation reaction, and the obtained dimethyl carbonate is reacted with an aromatic hydroxy compound to obtain an aromatic carbonate. However, this method also poses a problem in that a large amount of a chlorine-containing compound is used in the oxidative carbonylation reaction, so that the chlorine-containing compound is contained in the dimethyl carbonate produced by the oxidative carbonylation reaction or corrodes the production equipment used in this method (see, e.g., patent document 3 below).
With respect to method 3), an explanation is given below. Method 3) is a method in which a diaryl oxalate is produced from carbon monoxide as a raw material, and the produced diaryl oxalate is subjected to a decarbonylation reaction to produce a diaryl carbonate (e.g., diphenyl carbonate). The diaryl carbonate produced by method 3) contains a large amount of impurities, such as a furan-type compound and a chlorine-containing compound derived from a raw material. Therefore, if the produced diaryl carbonate as such is used without purification for producing a polycarbonate, the polycarbonate produced is inevitably discolored to assume a yellow color. For obviating such a problem, it is necessary to perform a number of additional steps for removing impurities from the diaryl carbonate so as to obtain a purified diaryl carbonate (see, e.g., patent document 4 below).
With respect to method 4), an explanation is given below. Method 4) is a method in which urea as a carbonate source is reacted with an alcohol to obtain a dialkyl carbonate, and the obtained dialkyl carbonate is reacted with an aromatic hydroxy compound to obtain an aromatic carbonate (e.g., diphenyl carbonate). When compared with the above-mentioned methods 1) to 3), method 4) is improved in that urea used as a raw material has substantially no toxicity. However, in the reaction for producing the dialkyl carbonate from urea and an alcohol, an allophanic ester is inevitably by-produced, thereby lowering the selectivity for the dialkyl carbonate. Therefore, the production of the aromatic carbonate (e.g., diphenyl carbonate) by method 4) inevitably becomes costly. Further, an alkyl carbamate generated as an intermediate product and the dialkyl carbonate together form an azeotropic mixture and, hence, the isolation of the dialkyl carbonate is very difficult. For obtaining a pure dialkyl carbonate which contains no alkyl carbamate, an additional step involving cumbersome operations is necessary (see, e.g., patent document 5 below). Further, an apparatus for the disposal of by-products, such as the above-mentioned allophanic ester, is also necessary. Therefore, the production of the aromatic carbonate by method 4) inevitably becomes complicated.
With respect to method 5), an explanation is given below. Method 5) is a method in which carbon dioxide as a carbonyl source is reacted with ethylene oxide or the like to obtain a cyclic carbonate, the obtained cyclic carbonate is reacted with an alcohol to obtain a dialkyl carbonate, and the obtained dialkyl carbonate is reacted with an aromatic hydroxy compound to obtain an aromatic carbonate (see, e.g., patent document 6). This method is advantageous in that carbon dioxide which has substantially no toxicity and is inexpensive is used as a raw material. However, in method 5), ethylene glycol is co-produced with a diaryl carbonate (e.g., diphenyl carbonate), and it is very difficult to regenerate ethylene oxide from ethylene glycol. Therefore, it is necessary to produce the above-mentioned ethylene oxide used as a raw material separately from the above-mentioned reactions involved in method 5).
Thus, method 5) has problems, for example, in that the production of ethylene oxide used as a raw material is necessary, and the ethylene glycol co-produced with the diaryl carbonate cannot be recycled in the production of the aromatic carbonate.
As a method similar to the above-mentioned method 5) in which carbon dioxide as a carbonyl source is reacted with ethylene oxide to obtain a cyclic carbonate, the obtained cyclic carbonate is reacted with an alcohol to obtain a dialkyl carbonate, and the obtained dialkyl carbonate is reacted with an aromatic hydroxy compound to obtain an aromatic carbonate, there is known a method in which a dialkyl carbonate is produced directly from carbon dioxide and an alcohol without production of a cyclic carbonate as an intermediate product (see patent documents 7, 8 and 9 below). When the alcohol used in this method is produced using acetal as an organic dehydrating agent, water formed in the reaction of carbon dioxide with an alcohol to produce a dialkyl carbonate is consumed in the reaction to produce alcohol, thereby promoting the above-mentioned reaction to produce a dialkyl carbonate. More specific explanation is given below, referring to formulae (4) and (5) below (in which Me represents a methyl group, which is a representative example of an alkyl group) which represent reactions involved in the above-mentioned method. Water by-produced in the equilibrium reaction represented by formula (4) below (i.e., reaction to produce an alkyl carbonate) is used in the equilibrium reaction represented by formula (5) (i.e., reaction to produce an alcohol). Therefore, the amount of water by-produced in the reaction to produce an alkyl carbonate is reduced, thereby displacing the equilibrium of formula (4) in the direction of the desired product formation. Thus, a dialkyl carbonate (i.e., dimethyl carbonate) can be obtained from carbon dioxide and an alcohol (i.e., methanol). However, in the method involving the reactions of formulae (4) and (5), acetal is consumed in an amount equimolar to the dialkyl carbonate produced and, therefore, acetone (derived from acetal) is co-produced with a dialkyl carbonate. It is difficult to convert the co-produced acetone to acetal because the reaction converting acetone to acetal (organic dehydrating agent) is a dehydrating reaction which is difficult to proceed. Therefore, the use of a large amount of acetal as a raw material is necessary, and the energy efficiency is poor. For this reason, the above-mentioned method has not been commercialized.

Even when an inorganic dehydrating agent is used in place of an organic dehydrating agent (such as acetal), the same problems as mentioned above arise, i.e., problems that an inorganic compound used as a dehydrating agent absorbs water, and it requires a large amount of energy to dehydrate the water-absorbed inorganic compound so as to regenerate an inorganic compound usable as a dehydrating agent, so that a dialkyl carbonate cannot be produced at a low cost. Therefore, the method using an inorganic dehydrating agent has also not been commercialized.
As mentioned above, a number of methods for producing an aromatic carbonate have been proposed; however, these methods have various problems, such as the use of a toxic substance as a raw material; the corrosion of the production equipment due to a chlorine-containing compound; the cumbersome operation for the removal of a by-product (such as a chlorine-containing compound); and the difficulty in (or impossibility of) the conversion of a co-product to a raw material. Even when carbon dioxide (which has substantially no toxicity and contains no chlorine compound) is used as a carbonyl source, there still are problems, such as the generations of a co-product and a by-product derived from a dehydrating agent used, and the need for regeneration or disposal of a dehydrating agent.
Thus, it has been desired to develop a method for producing an aromatic carbonate, which is advantageous not only in that the method does not need the use of any toxic substance and is free from the generation of any corrosive substances, but also in that the amounts of co-products and by-products are very small, so that the method is favorable from the view point of protection of environment, and enables a simple and efficient production of a high purity aromatic carbonate.
Patent document 1: Japanese Patent No. 3071008
Patent document 2: Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Specification No. Hei 8-198816
Patent document 3: Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Specification No. Hei 7-145109
Patent document 4: Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Specification No. 2002-47251
Patent document 5: Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Specification No. 2000-1461
Patent document 6: Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Specification No. Hei 9-40616
Patent document 7: Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Specification No. 2001-247519
Patent document 8: German Patent No. 4310109
Patent document 9: Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Specification No. 2001-31629

Method for producing an aromatic carbonate


A toenail hammer includes a head connected to a handle by a shank, where the shank is substantially bent such that, when toenailing in a confined space or around an obstacle the bent shape allows the nail being driven to be struck by the normal striking face of the hammer instead of the side face. The head and handle are in substantially the same relative alignment as in an ordinary hammer. An alternative embodiment positions the claw on the bent shank instead of the head.

The hammer was perhaps Mankind's first tool. Designed simply for pounding, the original hammer was a stone held in the hand. Vase paintings demonstrate that the ancient Greek bronzesmiths were using stone "hammers" in this way as late as the fourth century B.C. With the Romans came the use of the recognizable claw hammer useful for carpenters in their efforts to build and secure wooden structures.
Contemporary hammers useful in carpentry are generally composed of a straight handle disposed at right angles to a hammerhead. Of these, the claw hammer remains ubiquitous, being designed so that the hammerhead itself, most often composed of iron, or a hard metal alloy, has a relatively flat striking area designed to make contact with a nail or other fastener. The end opposite this striking area is designed to remove nails through the use of a curved split peen or "claw."
While using the hammer, the holder employs the full movement of the arm and wrist to strike a nail with the hammerhead striking area with sufficient force to drive the nail into a given media, typically wood. When the hammerhead makes contact with the nail, the handle portion is generally parallel to the planar working surface.
On a modern construction site, carpenters and others have many opportunities to employ the claw hammer, or other similar hammers, to complete many tasks. In addition, many of the operations for which hammers are used can now be completed through the use of a variety of pneumatic tools. These tools include nail guns that make securing or building wooden structures considerably easier and faster than previously possible.
However, though many operations in rough framing or carpentry generally are completed with a standard claw hammer, the construction of a home typically entails the creation of working surfaces that are in confined spaces or otherwise difficult to get to. In particular, toenailing joists is not easy. In these difficult operations, standard hammers are clumsy and inefficient. Similarly, pneumatic tools often cannot be employed at odd angles or in confined spaces. The expense of these pneumatic tools also makes them less than efficient on the job site when confronted with the need to secure floor joists, box ribbons, ceiling joists, rafters or other jobs in which nails must be put in at difficult angles.
Accordingly, a need exists for a hammer that can be easily employed to reach the confined spaces that typically are difficult to reach.


Stimulation of the facial nerve system (e.g., electrically, electromagnetically, etc.) in ischemic stroke patients will cause dilation of occluded arteries and dilation of surrounding arteries, allowing for blood flow to circumvent the obstruction and reach previously-deprived tissue. The device approaches the facial nerve and its branches in the vicinity of the ear. In use, the device can be inserted into the ear canal and/or placed in proximity to the ear in order to stimulate the facial nerve system non-invasively (e.g., using an electromagnetic field). The device can be used in the emergency treatment of acute stroke or chronically variations for long-term maintenance of blood flow to the brain and stroke prevention. Additional embodiments of the device may be adapted for use on different regions of the body.

1. Field of the invention
The invention relates to apparatuses and methods for treatment of conditions caused directly or indirectly by functions of the vasculature. More specifically, the invention relates to apparatuses and methods for treatment of conditions related to the cranial vasculature, and even more specifically to modulating the function of particular neural structures in the vicinity of the ear for treatment of stroke and other conditions.
2. Description of the Related Art
Stroke is the most common cause of physical disability and the third most common cause of death in the United States. Nearly 900,000 cases of stroke occur each year in the United States, costing $69 billion in healthcare costs. Worldwide, there are nearly 15 million cases of stroke annually; the cost of healthcare services and lost productivity on such a scale is incalculable.
Most cases of stroke are caused by loss of blood flow to the brain because of occlusion of a cerebral artery or carotid artery. Artery occlusion commonly results from (1) a blood clot that is carried by the blood flow into an artery in which it becomes lodged or (2) by formation of a blood clot upon an area of atherosclerotic plaque inside the artery. Loss of blood flow by either mechanism, or by any of several less-common mechanisms, deprives areas of the brain fed by the artery of nutrients and oxygen, leading to cell death and tissue necrosis.
The emergency treatment of stroke is limited. Only one drug, the thrombolytic tissue plasminogen activator (tPA; Alteplase), has been approved for the treatment of acute stroke in the United States. Alteplase acts to dissolve blood clots such as those that occlude cerebral and carotid arteries, causing stroke. As a result, Alteplase can also cause severe intracranial hemorrhage, which is its most serious complication. In order to reduce the chance of intracranial hemorrhage, Alteplase is subject to numerous restrictions that ultimately limit its use to only about 5% of all ischemic stroke patients.
In addition to Alteplase, endovascular techniques employing intra-arterial catheters are used to treat acute stroke. Endovascular techniques, based largely on retrieval of the blood clot from the cerebral or carotid artery or else local administration of thrombolytic drugs directly onto the blood clot, are costly and dangerous, and their use is limited to large hospitals that have highly-trained endovascular physicians on staff. Accordingly, only several thousand stroke patients are treated with endovascular techniques each year in the United States.
A possible treatment of stroke currently under development is electrical stimulation of the sphenopalatine ganglion. This potential treatment involves placement of a metal rod through the roof of the mouth (hard palate) into the vidian canal, which leads to the sphenopalatine ganglion. This device and method has a number of drawbacks. First, placement of the rod requires specialized training and equipment that will restrict its use to the largest and best-equipped hospitals. By inserting the rod through the mouth into the vidian canal, there is a risk of introducing dangerous oral bacteria into the bones of the face. In addition, the blind insertion of the rod into the confines of the vidian canal (which not only leads to the sphenopalatine ganglion but also contains the vidian artery and nerve) risks inducing bleeding or nerve injury. Stroke patients also commonly have difficulty swallowing as part of their neurological injury. Procedures implanting foreign bodies in the mouth, as required by this method, may lead to aspiration in patients who have airways already compromised by the neurological injury from stroke. Finally, this device and method only stimulates the sphenopalatine ganglion and its immediate connections, which in animals has a small effect on blood flow to the brain compared to stimulation of the nerve trunk. Furthermore, this device under development is only applied to one of the two sphenopalatine ganglia, neglecting the potentially additive effect of stimulating both ganglia.
Because of the magnitude of the disease and the limited treatments for it, a significant unmet medical need exists in acute stroke. Thus, there is a need for a solution that solves the problems with current acute stroke treatments noted above, and that: (a) does not require highly-trained endovascular physicians or specialized training for use; (b) does not risk intracranial hemorrhage, aspiration injury, bleeding and nerve injury, or facial bone infection; and (c) is non- or minimally-invasive.

Modulating function of neural structures near the ear


A fuse for interfacing electrical current with electronic components and for shielding the electronic components from potentially damaging electrostatic discharge. The fuse includes a fuse body having an edge and first and second electrical contacts. A fuse indicator is connected to one electrical contact and a fuse element extends between the indicator and the other contact for providing a conduit for operating current to reach the interfaced electronic components. A window is disposed on the edge of the fuse body and positioned over the fuse indicator. Sealant is disposed between the window edge and the fuse body edge to prevent the accumulation of air therebetween and, thereby, preventing such accumulated air from functioning as a transmission medium through which an electrostatic discharge can travel and reach the electronic components.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to electronic circuitry protection devices. More particular, the present invention pertains to a fuse for interfacing a power source with components on a printed wiring board while protecting the components from electrostatic discharges.
2. Description of the Related Art
Protection devices such as fuses are well known and are used to safeguard electrical equipment from current surges delivered by a power source. Such fuses are typically connected between a power source and the electrical equipment and become open circuits when a current surge predeterminantly exceeding the maximum current rating of the fuse is received. Fuses may also be exposed to voltage surges such as electrostatic discharges or arcs that are often generated when electrical equipment is touched by, for example, a person.
As is known in the art, when voltage spikes, in general, and electrostatic discharges in particular are generated, the spikes will travel along a path of least resistance. Fuses are designed with this principle in mind to allow a generated spike to be discharged without damaging the electrical equipment interfaced with the fuse, i.e. to provide a low resistance path to common ground. Because electrostatic shocks are fairly common, such as those caused by human interaction with electronic equipment, such equipment as well as the fuses connected thereto must be tested to determine whether they can withstand such voltage spikes.
For example, in the telecommunications industry miniature fuses are commonly used to interface power supplies with electrical components mounted to a printed wiring board. Specifically, each fuse seats within a fuse holder connected to the printed wiring board and consists of a fuse body, typically of plastic material, to which a fuse element and a fuse indicator are connected. A transparent indicator window is positioned over the fuse indicator and is friction-fitted to the fuse body.
Prior to commercial use, telecommunications equipment as well as the fuses through which power is supplied thereto are administered an electrostatic discharge test to determine whether the equipment meets predetermined standards in the industry or otherwise dictated by manufacturer or user demands. Such tests are administered by applying electrostatic shocks of approximately 15 KV to various regions of the devices under test. For example, as a part of such testing, electrostatic shocks are applied to various regions of the fuses such as the fuse holder and fuse window to determine whether the shocks are safely discharged or dissipated, e.g. to ground, without damaging the electrical components connected to the fuse. When the test is administered to the fuse holder, the shock is typically discharged without damaging the electrical components. However, when the test is administered to the fuse window or to the fuse body of currently utilized fuses at a location proximate the fuse window, an air gap inherently present between the window and body serves as a conduit which detrimentally directs the shock to the fuse element and, consequently, to the electronic equipment. The result, of course, is equipment damage.
Prior art techniques employed to alleviate this problem involve placing a small metal door or panel in close proximity to the window to provide a discharge path for the arc. Such a technique, however, is costly, burdensome and obstructs the view of the fuse indicator, thus making difficult visual inspection of the condition of the fuse.

Electro-static discharge (ESD) hardened fuse


The subject invention reveals a new three terminal canonical cell for non-isolated power conversion. The canonical cell achieves reduced semiconductor component stresses for applications with limited line voltage range for small step up and step down ratios or for large step up and step down ratios. Some of the canonical cells can be used to form buck, boost, and buck boost converters. The new canonical cell achieves zero voltage switching over a broad range of line and load voltages and is self limiting without the addition of additional components to sense and respond to over load current.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention generally pertains to electronic power conversion circuits, and, more specifically, to high frequency, switched mode electronic power converters. The subject matter relates to new non-isolated power conversion networks which provide high efficiency power conversion under special conditions where more conventional power conversion networks do not work as well.
2. Description of Related Art
The solution to the problem of converting power where the input to output or output to input voltage ratio is either very small or very large has traditionally relied upon tapped inductor power converters. New tapped inductor power conversion networks have been introduced that achieve reduced semiconductor and magnetic circuit element component stresses. An example of a circuit that achieves improved efficiency over the known alternatives for large input to output step down ratios is illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a minimum voltage tapped inductor buck converter. Compared to a simple buck converter the component stress factors for the FIG. 1 circuit are superior to the simple buck converter. M1 in FIG. 1 operates at higher duty cycle and lower current than the high side switch of the simple buck converter and M3 operates at lower duty cycle and higher current than the low side switch of the simple buck converter. The FIG. 1 circuit does not achieve zero voltage switching unless the coupled inductor has inherent to it a large amount of leakage inductance. The leakage inductance will create the potential for electromagnetic interference (emi) unless additional remedies are taken to avoid the emi problem. What is needed is a circuit that can accommodate large step down ratios without the requirement for a tapped inductor that also readily achieves zero voltage switching.

Self limiting zero voltage switching power conversion networks


Speech fluency evaluation and feedback tools are described. A computing device such as a smartphone may be used to collect speech (and/or other data). The collected data may be analyzed to detect various speech events (e.g., stuttering) and feedback may be generated and provided based on the detected speech events. The collected data may be used to generate a fluency score or other performance metric associated with speech. Collected data may be provided to a practitioner such as a speech therapist or physician for improved analysis and/or treatment.

Many people may wish to evaluate fluency or other metrics related to speech or auditory performance. In addition, the scientific field of stuttering requires an accurate, real-world environment, metric related to stuttering.
Therefor there exists a need for a speech fluency evaluation and feedback tool that is available in real-time.


A tapered load plate transfers loads across a joint between adjacent concrete floor slabs. The top and bottom surfaces may taper from approximately 4 inches wide to a narrow substantially pointed end over a length of approximately 12 inches. The tapered load plate accommodates differential shrinkage of cast-in-place concrete slabs. When adjacent slabs move away from each other, the narrow end of the tapered load plate moves out of the void that it created in the slab thus allowing the slabs to move relative to one another in a direction parallel to the joint. Tapered load plates may be assembled into a load-plate basket with the direction of the taper alternating from one tapered load plate to the next to account for off-center saw cuts. A tapered load plate and an end cap may be used to provide load transfer across an expansion joint.

Referring to FIG. 1, when a concrete floor slab 100 is first placed and the concrete starts to cure the volume of the concrete decreases causing the slab to shrink (usually on the order of ⅛ of an inch per 20 feet). Concrete has a relatively low strength when in tension. When the internal stresses due to shrinkage 104 reach a point greater then the tensile strength of the concrete, random stress-relief cracks 102 occur.
These random cracks 102 are undesirable as they detract from the performance of the floor slab 100 and reduce its life span. Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, a typical method of controlling where these cracks 102 occur is to induce a weakened plane by saw cutting the top surface 200 of the concrete slab 100 into small panels, as depicted by saw cut 202.
Referring to FIG. 3, an undesirable side effect of having the floor slab 100 made up of numerous small sections is that when the floor is loaded, such as with the wheels of a moving fork lift 300, each section of the floor may be deflected 302 relative to its neighbor causing damage 304 to the joint edge, as depicted in FIG. 3.
Referring to FIG. 4, a conventional technique for reducing this type of deflection 302 is to span the joint 400 with steel bars 402 each having a round cross-section. These bars 402 are commonly referred to as dowel bars.
Referring to FIGS. 5A-5C, dowels of this type are typically assembled into a wirework frame 500 that holds the dowels at a desired depth 502 and orientation. This assembly is generally known as a dowel basket.
Using circular-cross-section dowel bars is associated with various drawbacks. For instance, if the dowel bars 402 are misaligned 600 such that they are not oriented totally perpendicular to the joint, the dowel bars 402 can lock the joint 400 thereby undesirably restraining the joint from opening, which in turn may cause random cracks 102.
Referring to FIG. 7, if a concrete floor slab, such as slabs 100-1 or 100-2, tries to move along the line of the joint 400 relative to the next panel (for instance due to shrinkage or thermal contraction), the dowel bars 402 will restrain this type of movement 700, thereby causing random cracks 102.
Referring to FIG. 8, at an intersection of two joints, movement 800, which is a combination of the two types of movement discussed above in connection with FIGS. 6 and 7, can cause a situation known as corner cracking 802.
Referring to FIGS. 9A and 9B, the round-dowel-bar drawbacks discussed above have been addressed in the past by using dowel bars 900 having a square or rectangular cross-section in conjunction with a plastic or steel clip 902 that places a compressible material 904 on the two vertical faces of the dowel bar 900. These clips 902 produce a void in the concrete wider than the dowel bar 900 allowing for sideways movement and a slight degree of misalignment. The clips 902, however, undesirably add to the expense associated with using dowel bars 900 having square and/or rectangular cross-sections. A more cost-effective solution that overcomes the misalignment problem to a greater extent, therefore, would be advantageous.
Under certain conditions, such as outdoor applications, concrete slab placement should be able to withstand concrete expansion, which is typically due to thermal changes, such as colder winter temperatures changing to warmer summer temperatures. Referring to FIG. 10, conventionally, a piece of compressible material 1000, such as foam, fiberboard, timber, or the like, is placed in an expansion joint 1002 between concrete slabs 100-1 and 100-2. A round-cross-section dowel bar 402 and an end cap 1004 may be used for transferring a load across the expansion joint 1002. As the slabs 100 expand, they move together, as indicated by arrows 1006, the joint 1002 closes, and the dowel bar 402 goes farther into the end cap 1004. This use of round-cross-section dowel bars, however, is associated with the misalignment drawback discussed above in connection with saw-cut control joints. A cost-effective way of dealing with the misalignment situation while transferring loads between concrete slabs across expansion joints 1002 would therefore be desirable.
Applicants' U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,760 discloses a load plate that overcomes the drawbacks discussed above, namely misalignment and allowing relative movement of slabs parallel to the joint. Referring to FIG. 11, the '760 patent discloses using a load plate 1100 rotated such that the load plate has a widest portion (i.e., opposite corners) of the load plate positioned in the joint between slabs 100-1 and 100-2. Using such a load plate 1100 at a construction joint works well because the load plate can be reliably centered at the construction joint between the slabs 100.
A load plate 1100 is not, however, ideally suited for use at saw-cut control joints. As described above, this type of joint results from cracking induced by a saw cut in the upper surface of a concrete slab. The saw cut may be off center with respect to any load plate embedded within the cement, as shown by the dashed line 1200 in FIG. 12. If the saw cut and joint are off-center, the load plate will not function as intended because more than half of the load plate will be fixed within one of the slabs and less than half of the load plate will be available for transferring loads to and from the other slab. Another situation for which a load plate 1100 is not ideally suited is when a construction joint, formed by an edge form, for instance, is expected to be relatively wide open. Under such circumstances, an undesirably large area of load plates 1100 may undesirably be removed from slabs on either or both sides of the joint thereby reducing the ability of the load plate 1100 to transfer loads between the slabs. For these reasons, a load transfer device that provides the advantages of the load plate of the '760 patent and that is well suited to use in saw-cut control joints and construction joints, which may become relatively wide open, would be desirable.

Tapered load plate for transferring loads between cast-in-place slabs


A drum pedal system for independently actuating two drum beaters. In one embodiment, the pedal is split into a toe and a heel portion, each independently connected to a beater oriented adjacent a drum head. The drummer may independently actuate one or both beaters.

The modern drummer has been called upon to produce an increasingly challenging and complex selection of sounds in order to remain competitive in a field that not only includes other drummers but computer-driven electronic percussion synthesizers. In order to compete, the modern drummer must be able to play an array of several different percussion instruments virtually simultaneously. The drummer must also be able to supply a steady beat for an extended length of time without tiring.
The modern drummer frequently relies on both his hands and feet to play a variety of different drums and other percussion instruments. This allows the drummer to quickly switch back and forth from instrument to instrument. It is to the drummer's advantage to be able to spread his workload over as many limbs and muscle groups as possible to prolong his endurance and resist fatigue and injury. It is to his further advantage to be able to produce as many diverse combinations of sounds as possible. Instrumentation allowing the drummer to spread his workload over different muscle groups while also giving him additional musical options is valuable to the drummer.
One well-known device that allows a drummer to use his feet to play a drum (usually a bass) is the foot-pedal actuated drum beater. A number of different foot-pedal actuated drum-beaters have been devised, each offering some advantages to the drummer. These prior art devices include those described in the following: U.S. Pat. No. 1,508,390 issued to Gladstone et al. on Sep. 16, 1924; U.S. Pat. No. 2,484,302 issued to Laverents on Oct. 11, 1949; U.S. Pat. No. 3,618,441 issued to Fearns on Nov. 9, 1971; U.S. Pat. No. 3,677,128 issued to Simpson on Jul. 18, 1972; U.S. Pat. No. 3,988,957 issued to Escamilla on Nov. 2, 1976; U.S. Pat. No. 4,188,853 issued to Bills on Feb. 19, 1980; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,803 issued to Norwood on Aug. 7, 1990.
Gladstone discloses a single double-acting mallet actuated by the forward depression of a foot pedal. Laverents shows a pair of beaters that alternately strike a single drumhead, actuated by the heel-to-toe rocking motion of the drum pedal. Fearns relates a single double-acting beater that may be driven by the rocking motion of a foot pedal. Simpson discloses a pair of mallets, each striking its own drum, actuatable respectively by the toe and heel of a single split pedal. Escamilla shows a drum pedal assembly wherein a split foot pedal operates a pair of drumsticks against a single drum head. Bills relates a pair of drum beaters that alternately strike a single drum head, the beaters being activated by the forward depression of a single toe pedal. And Norwood similarly shows a pair of mallets that alternately strike a single drum head upon the forward depression of a single toe pedal.
While these devices have proven somewhat helpful, they suffer from some disadvantages. Some require two separate drums, which take up space that could be used for different percussion instruments. Others are limited in that the pair of mallets disclosed may only operate alternately and not independently of each other. Still others employ rough mechanical means that generate an unwelcome level of noise. And all of the above devices are limited to a single type of sound generated by beating a rigid drumstick or mallet against an unobstructed drum head.
Despite the above advances, there is still a need for a foot-pedal actuated drum beater system that gives the drummer a greater variety of musical options while optimizing instrument space and minimizing muscle fatigue on the part of the drummer.
Hence, there is a need for an improved foot pedal device for playing a drum. The present invention satisfies this need.

Double-mallet heel-toe drum pedal system with hinged mallets


A device includes a communications circuit configured to communicate with a storage device controller and a host device. The device further includes a processing device configured to receive a request from the storage device controller through the communications circuit. The request requests encrypted data be written to a memory address of the host device. The processing device is further configured to identify a key associated with the write request based on the memory address. The processing device is further configured to generate a decrypted version of the data based on the key. The processing device is further configured to initiate transfer, through the communications circuit, of the decrypted version of the data to the host device.

Many companies and individuals store sensitive data on computer storage systems. Accordingly, information security data stored in storage systems has become very important in recent years. Examples of situations in which data may be at risk include loss or theft of a storage device, sharing of a storage device between multiple users, etc.

Systems, methods, and devices for key per input/output security


Input handwritten characters are classified as print or cursive based upon numerical feature values calculated from the shape of an input character. The feature values are applied to inputs of an artificial neural network which outputs a probability of the input character being print or cursive. If a character is classified as print, it is analyzed by a print character recognizer. If a character is classified as cursive, it is analyzed using a cursive character recognizer. The cursive character recognizer compares the input character to multiple prototype characters using a Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) algorithm.

Computers accept human user input in various ways. One of the most common input devices is the keyboard. Additional types of input mechanisms include mice and other pointing devices. Although useful for many purposes, keyboards and mice (as well as other pointing devices) sometimes lack flexibility. For example, many persons find it easier to write, take notes, etc. with a pen and paper instead of a keyboard. Mice and other types of pointing devices do not generally provide a true substitute for pen and paper. Traditional input device limitations are even more acute with regard to East Asian languages. As used herein, "East Asian" includes, but is not limited to, written languages such Japanese, Chinese and Korean. Written forms of these languages contain thousands of characters, and specialized keyboards for these languages can be cumbersome and require specialized training to properly use.
Electronic tablets or other types of electronic writing devices offer an attractive alternative to keyboards and mice. These devices typically include a stylus with which a user can write upon a display screen in a manner similar to using a pen and paper. A digitizer nested within the display converts movement of the stylus across the display into an "electronic ink" representation of the user's writing. The electronic ink is stored as coordinate values for a collection of points along the line(s) drawn by the user. Software may then be used to analyze the electronic ink to recognize characters, and then convert the electronic ink to Unicode, ASCII or other code values for what the user has written.
There are many handwriting recognition systems in use employing various algorithms to map handwritten data to characters. One such system is described in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,729,629 ('629 patent), titled "Handwritten Symbol Recognizer," which patent is incorporated by reference herein. The described recognizer is useful for, e.g., recognition of East Asian language characters. The recognizer implements template matching for characters written in multiple strokes so as to map the features for all strokes of an input character to a Unicode or other value for the ink character. Each input stroke of a character is described by a five-dimensional feature vector representing the x and y coordinates of the stroke start and end points, together with a feature code corresponding to the overall shape of the stroke (e.g., vertical line, horizontal line, counterclockwise arc, etc.). The recognizer measures a Euclidian Vector Distance between each input stroke and a stroke of a stored reference character (or "prototype"). The database of prototypes is divided into multiple groupings (or "spaces") based on the number of strokes in the prototype. For example, a 5-space contains prototypes having five strokes.
Another recognizer, which is similar in many respects to the recognizer described in the '629 patent, is described in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,094,506 ('506 patent), titled "Automatic Generation of Probability Tables for Handwriting Recognition Systems," which patent is also incorporated by reference herein. In that recognizer, each stroke of an input character is also described by a five-dimensional vector representing a feature code for the stroke and the x and y coordinates of stroke start and end points. The input character is then compared against every prototype in a database having the same number of strokes as the input character. To perform this comparison, a Shape Feature Probability Matrix (SFPM) is created in which each possible shape feature corresponds to a row and to a column. Each entry in the SFPM represents a probability that, for any two characters having s strokes and having shape features fi and fj at position p (where fi is the feature code for the input stroke, fj is the feature code for the prototype stroke and p=1, 2, . . . s), the characters are the same. A Position Feature Probability Table is also generated. The PFPT is a one-dimensional array containing one entry for each possible feature distance, and which is indexed by feature distance. The feature distance is calculated as (xjp1−xip1)2+(xjp2−xip2)2+(yjp1−yip1)2+(yjp2−yip2)2, where (xjp1,yjp1) and (xjp2,yjp2) are the start and end points for stroke p of the model, and where (xip1,yip1) and (xip2,yip2) are the start and end points for stroke p of the input ink. Each entry in the PFPT represents a probability that, for any two characters having s strokes and a feature distance D between strokes at the same position p, the characters are the same. During recognition, each input character is compared to each prototype by comparing the strokes of the input character and of the prototype; the first stroke of the input character is compared to the first stroke of the prototype character, the second stroke of the input character is compared to the second stroke of the prototype character, etc. Using the SFPM, a first number is computed by summing values obtained by indexing the first input and prototype strokes, by indexing the second input and prototype strokes, etc. Using the PFPT, a second number is computed by summing values indexed by the feature distances between the first input and prototype strokes, between the second input and prototype strokes, etc. A Match Probability value equals the sum of these first and second numbers. The prototype for which a comparison against the input character results in the highest probability of a match is considered the best match. As described in the '506 patent, the SFPM and PFPT values are based on a negative logarithmic function of the probability. Thus, the lowest Match Probability value corresponds to the highest probability of match.
For characters written in print form, few problems are presented when using one of the above-described recognizers when an input ink character having s strokes is compared to prototypes having the same number of strokes, i.e., in the s space. As used herein, "print" refers to a writing style in which a user attempts to create a character so as to mimic a standardized format, and is distinguished from machine-printed characters (e.g., typed, computer generated font, etc.). Although there are variations in the relative position and shape of strokes for a given handwritten printed character, different users generally print the character using the same number of strokes.
Challenges arise in connection with recognizing cursive handwriting. Often, a cursive representation of a particular character will connect two or more strokes into a single stroke. Strokes may also be skipped and/or rounded in cursive handwriting. In theory, a character written in s strokes in print form can be written in 1 to s strokes in cursive form. This is illustrated in FIG. 1, which shows the Simplified Chinese character having Unicode code point U+9752 (phonetically "qing," meaning "green"). The character is shown in standard form on the left side of the figure, and in progressively more cursive variations toward the right side of the figure. Although there are various techniques that may increase accuracy of cursive character recognition, these techniques typically require significantly more processing time than is required for various techniques that work well for print recognition.
In many cases, users create ink with a combination of cursive and printing (or cursive that is very similar to printing) styles of handwriting. If a recognizer could distinguish between these two styles and only apply the more time-consuming techniques where needed, substantial performance improvements could result. Accordingly, there remains a need for improved handwriting recognizers able to distinguish between cursive and print (or near-print) styles and to then apply different recognition techniques to the different styles.

Template-based cursive handwriting recognition


A method for decreasing the effective magnetic filament sizes for high current internal tin Nb3Sn superconductors. During processing composite rods preferably comprised of copper clad Ta rods of approximately the same dimensions as the hexes in the designed filament billet stack are used as dividers in the subelement. Along with the Ta rods, Ta strips are strategically situated against the Nb or Nb alloy barrier tube which surrounds the subelement. The use of Ta as a spacer instead of copper prevents any reasonable likelihood of bridging of the superconducting phases formed after final reaction.

The effective filament size of a Nb3Sn conductor in a high field magnet is an important parameter in reducing the magnetization hysteresis losses while charging and discharging the magnet and increasing the stability of said magnet. In a "low" current internal tin conductor (as used in fusion magnets), the individual filaments of a multifilamentary, multiple restacked billet are separated by copper far enough from each other that they do not bridge after reaction (reaction of Nb alloy filaments to A15 results in a volume expansion of ˜30%), and the effective filament dimension is the size of the individual filaments. In a "high" current internal tin conductor, copper is minimized and so all the Nb filaments grow into each other, merging, and forming large rings of superconductor. In this case, the effective filament diameter (deff) is equal to that of the entire subelement instead of the individual filament. As will be further evident in the following, the term "subelement" refers to the subassembly which when tightly grouped (packed) with like subassemblies forms a precursor assembly for the final superconductor wire.
Some applications require both high current and small effective filament diameters. To date, there have been several basic approaches to decreasing the filament sizes for high current internal tin conductors. The first is to decrease the subelement size by either packing more subelements in a restack (lessening the ratio of the subelement size to wire diameter size) or drawing to a small wire diameter. The drawbacks of these approaches are as follows:    (1) Fabrication of a restack with a large number of small size subelements is difficult to accomplish. More subelements results in more surface area to keep clean and free of inclusions. This negatively affects wire piece length and yield.    (2) The use of wire drawn to a smaller size is only feasible if the end use application of the wire is flexible in that regard. Most of the time, an application (magnet design) requires wire of a specific strand diameter and hence the subelement size needs to be achieved for that diameter.    (3) The large amount of strain required to draw the individual subelements small can cause the filament components to work harden and thin to such an extent that they fail, resulting in wire breaks and poor piece length and yield.
A further prior art approach is to subdivide a subelement by copper spacers or bent plates of Ta40% Nb sheets. The problems with these prior art divider techniques are as follows:    (1) Copper spacers tend to deform to such an extent that the reacted sections bridge the copper separated section. In addition, the inclusion of these excess copper channels lowers the relative Sn to Cu ratio, which hinders A15 reaction and results in a lower current density. The ˜30% volume expansion of Nb upon conversion to Nb3Sn also cause the filaments to grow across the copper spacers and merge.    (2) Ta40% Nb sheets, while not highly reactive, do react enough to form an A15 superconducting layer that causes some bridging problems.    (3) Ta40% Nb sheets prevent diffusion of the Sn across them, which inhibits uniform distribution of tin throughout the wire cross-section, resulting in non-optimal filament reaction and lower Jc.    (4) The use of sheets (e.g., Ta40% Nb) can cause yield/wire breakage problems because sheets are difficult to clean and inspect for flaws.    (5) Inserting tantalum, Ta40% Nb, or Cu sheets in the midst of a stack is difficult in the manufacturing process, disrupting the orderly stacking of the hexes.

Method for using divider rods for separating superconducting regions in fine filament internal tin wire


A circuit for detecting a jitter of an image signal reproduced from a recording media, comprises a variable oblique wave generating circuit for generating an oblique wave at timing according to the phase of the output pulse of a frequency dividing circuit wherein a tilt of the oblique wave is varied by an input control signal a sample-hold circuit for sampling and holding the tilt portion of the variable oblique wave in dependence upon reception of a horizontal synchronizing signal as a sample pulse.

This invention relates to a jitter detection circuit, and more particularly to a circuit for detecting a jitter of an image signal reproduced from a recording media.
When an image signal is reproduced from a recording media such as a magnetic tape, magnetic disc and optical disc, the reproduced signal includes a variation component of time base (jitter) due to a variation of transit speed of a recording media and other cause. Such a jitter deteriorates a reproduced picture quality. A reproduced image signal without the jitter can be generated by reading it after writing the reproduced image signal on a time base corrector (hereinafter called as `TBC`) utilizing a memory. In this case, it is necessary to apply a jitter detection signal to the TBC as a writing clock by detecting a jitter of the reproduced image signal.
FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of an example of the conventional circuit for detecting a jitter. The conventional jitter detection circuit is used as an automatic frequency control (hereinafter called as AFC) circuit of a processing circuit for a reproduced carrier color chrominance signal in a home VTR using a helical scan method.
In helical a home VTR of helical scan method, there is widely used a VTR of low band conversion color recording and reproducing method, wherein a color image signal is separated into a luminance signal and a carrier chrominance signal, the luminance signal is converted as frequency-modulated luminance signal, the carrier chrominance signal is modulated in a band lower than that of the frequency-modulated luminance signal, and a signal formed by a frequency division multiplex of the two signals is recorded on a magnetic tape and reproduced by a rotating head.
Accordingly the VTR employing this method comprises a processing circuit of a reproduced carrier chrominance signal for converting a reproduced low band conversion carrier chrominance signal in an original frequency band, and an AFC circuit for generating a frequency conversion signal having a jitter as same as that of the reproduced low band conversion carrier chrominance signal in order to reduce a jitter included in a reproduced low band conversion carrier chrominance signal in converting the frequency of the reproduced low band conversion carrier chrominance signal.
With reference to FIG. 9, a reproduced luminance signal is fed to a horizontal synchronizing signal separation circuit 2 through an input terminal and a horizontal synchronizing signal separated by the separation circuit 2 is supplied to one input terminal of a phase comparator 3. The phase comparator 3 compares a phase of the reproduced horizontal synchronizing signal from the horizontal synchronizing signal separation circuit 2 with that of a horizontal scanning frequency signal from a frequency divider 6, with the result that the phase comparator 3 generates an error voltage corresponding to the phase difference therebetween.
A loop filter 4 integrates the error voltage and applies its result to a voltage control oscillator 5 (hereinafter called as `VCO`) as a control voltage.
The VCO 5, for example, has a self oscillating frequency of 320 f.sub.H (f.sub.H is a horizontal scanning frequency and 15.73426 KHz in a NTSC method). The frequency divider 6 divides an output oscillating frequency of the VCO 5 by 320 and transmits its result, a horizontal scanning frequency f.sub.H, to other input terminal of the phase comparator 3.
Therefore the VCO 5 generates an output oscillating signal of 360 f.sub.H or close to 360 f.sub.H phase-synchronized with a reproduced luminance signal put into the input terminal 1. Because the reproduced luminance signal has the same jitter as the reproduced low band conversion carrier chrominance signal, the output oscillating signal comes from an output terminal 7 and becomes a frequency conversion signal for converting the frequency band of the reproduced low band conversion carrier chrominance signal into an original frequency band after being converted into a given frequency.
Considering a dubbing in a carrier chrominance signal recorder, the circuit as illustrated in FIG. 9 is installed for producing a carrier of a low band conversion chrominance signal phase-synchronized with a horizontal synchronizing signal extracted from an input image signal by the horizontal synchronizing signal separation circuit 2. In the circuit of FIG. 9, the low band conversion carrier chrominance signal is inserted at a given period (1/4 in a NTSC and 1/8 in a PAL) within a horizontal scanning cycle.
In a VTR of low band conversion color recording and reproducing method, a low band conversion carrier chrominance signal is demodulated into an original frequency band by a reproduced carrier chrominance signal process circuit having a AFC circuit, and meanwhile a reproduced color image signal is generated by multiplexing a reproduced carrier chrominance signal having a reduced jitter and a reproduced luminance signal demodulated by a reproduced luminance signal process circuit.
The reproduced color image signal is transmitted to a color monitor, and is displayed as the reproduced color image signal which is practical and free of a jitter visually by utilizing a feature of a AFC and a APC (Automatic Phase Control) of the color monitor.
However a jitter of the reproduced luminance signal of the reproduced color image signal is not reduced at moreover not all and all jitter of the reproduced carrier chrominance signal is eliminated completely. So a TBC is used so as to completely eliminate jitter included in a reproduced color image signal in order to secure a picture image of high quality or a complete frequency interleaving between the reproduced luminance signal and the reproduced carrier chrominance signal.
But if an output oscillating signal of the VCO 5 which is a jitter detection signal detected by a conventional jitter detection circuit is used as a writing clock of the TBC, a the conventional jitter detection circuit is a sampling system of a horizontal scanning period and a feed back control circuit, and a visibility of the loop filter 4 requires a comparatively great value of 15 H (H is a horizontal scanning period). With the result that the follow-up of the jitter detection circuit is inferior.
In the conventional jitter detection circuit, a tape/head impact error jitter of high frequency occurred caused by a vibration of a magnetic tape just after contacting a rotating head or a skew occurred by an elasticity of a magnetic tape are not followed up sufficiently and a jitter detection signal can not be used as the writing clock.