In the case where the number of pixels is increased in a display device making use of electron source elements, a period, in which one pixel is caused to continue to emit light, shortened, and so there is caused a need of applying a high voltage between upper and lower electrodes of an electron source element in a short period. Therefore, there is caused a problem that a drive circuit is made severe in operating condition and so the display device is degraded in reliability. Two TFTs are arranged on each of pixels. Also, a time gradation system is used, in which one frame period is divided into a plurality of sub-frame periods, a light emitting or non-emitting state of each of the pixels is selected in the respective sub-frame periods, and gradation is represented by adding up periods, in which the light emitting state is selected in the respective sub-frame periods. Thus it is possible to provide a display device having a high reliability and a method of driving the same.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a display device (referred below to an FED (Field Emission Display)), which makes use of electron source elements (electron emitting elements). Also, the invention relates to a method of driving the FED. Further, the invention relates to an electronic equipment making use of the FED.
2. Description of the Related Art
An explanation will be given to an FED (Field Emission Display) making use of an electron source element. Here, an element emitting electrons owning to the electric field effect is referred to as an electron source element.
Electron source elements arranged on respective pixels of the FED emit electrons from electrodes due to the electric field effect. Electrons thus emitted are accelerated to be incident upon a fluorescent body. The fluorescent body in a region, upon which electrons are incident, emits light. A quantity of electrons emitted from the electron source elements on the respective pixels is controlled by a video signal input into the FED. The more electrons emitted, the higher emission luminance of the fluorescent body in the case where these electrons are incident upon the fluorescent body. Thus the FED represents gradation.
Electron source elements have various configurations. There are typically given an FE (Field Emission) type element for causing electrons to be emitted from a tip end of a convex electrode where an intense electric field is locally generated, a surface conduction type element for causing generation of electrons through flowing of an electric current in parallel to a thin film surface broken locally, an MIM (Metal-Insulator-Metal) type element composed of a first electrode, a second electrode and an insulating film interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and for emitting electrons upon application of voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode.
Here, what is regarded as important in electron source elements used in FEDs is whether elements can be made minute, or whether elements having a uniform performance can be fabricated, or whether elements can be driven with low voltage. Hereupon, MIM type electron source elements meeting these qualifications have been developed.
FIG. 6 shows an example of an MIM type electron source element. Its structure is described in SID 01 Digest page 193-195 "Novel Device Structure of MIM Cathode Array for Field Emission Displays".
In FIG. 6, formed on a substrate 20 with an insulating surface are a lower electrode 21, an upper electrode 23, and an insulating film 22 interposed between the lower electrode 21 and the upper electrode 23. Also, the reference numeral 24 denotes a protective insulating layer, 25a a contact electrode, 25b an upper electrode bus line, and 26 a protective electrode. In addition, a region where the upper electrode 23 overlaps an opening of the protective insulating layer 24 is referred to as an electron emission region and denoted by the reference numeral 27 in the figure.
Application of voltage between the upper electrode 23 and the lower electrode 21 causes injection of a hot carrier into the insulating film 22. That hot carrier of the hot carrier thus injected, which has a greater energy than a work function of a material of the upper electrode 23, passes through the upper electrode 23 to be emitted into the vacuum.
An MIM type electron source element having the structure shown in FIG. 6 emits electrons when voltage of around 10 V is applied between the upper electrode 23 and the lower electrode 21. In electron source elements, voltage applied between an upper electrode and a lower electrode when electrons are emitted is referred to as a drive voltage of an electron source element. An upper electrode of electron source elements is set to be high in electric potential as compared with a lower electrode thereof. In this manner, electrons are emitted from the upper electrode.
FIG. 7 shows an example of a display (FED) making use of the electron source element shown in FIG. 6. In addition, the same parts as those in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
The FED shown in FIG. 7 has on the first substrate 20 with an insulating surface x (natural number) signal lines S1 to Sx arranged in a row direction, and v (natural number) scanning lines G1 to Gy arranged in a column direction. Electron source elements are arranged on respective points of intersection of the x signal lines S1 to Sx and the y scanning lines G1 to Gy. One electron source element, and that part of the signal lines and the scanning lines, to which the electron source element is connected, constitute one pixel. In FIG. 7, the reference numeral 300 denotes one pixel. The lower electrode 21 of the electron source element is connected to one of the y scanning lines G1 to Gy, and the upper electrode 23 is connected to one of the x signal lines S1 to Sx.
In addition, the lower electrode 21 may be connected to one of the x signal lines S1 to Sx and the upper electrode 23 may be connected to one of the y scanning lines G1 to Gy.
A second substrate 19 is provided to face that surface of the first substrate 20, on which the electron source element is provided. The second substrate 19 is light-transmissive. Arranged on the second substrate 19 is a fluorescent body 18 opposite to the electron source element. A black matrix 15 is arranged around the fluorescent body 18. In addition, the fluorescent body 18 is formed on a surface thereof with a metal-backed layer 17. Vacuum is kept between the first substrate and the second substrate.
A signal input into the scanning lines and a signal input into the signal lines cause emission of electrons from the upper electrode 23 in the electron source element of the pixel, in which voltage is applied between the upper electrode 23 and the lower electrode 21. Electrons thus emitted are accelerated in the vacuum 16 by voltage applied between the metal-backed layer 17 and the upper electrode. Electrons thus accelerated are incident upon the fluorescent body 18 provided on the second substrate 19 through the metal-backed layer 17. Thus the fluorescent body 18 in a region where electrons are incident emits light.
Here, a signal input into, for example, the scanning lines are kept constant in amplitude, and a signal input into the signal lines is varied in amplitude. A quantity of electrons emitted from the electron source element 28 is increased in accordance with voltage applied between the upper electrode 23 and the lower electrode 21. The more electrons emitted, the higher emission luminance can be represented in the case where these electrons are accelerated to be incident upon the fluorescent body 18 on the second substrate 19.
FIG. 8 shows a timing chart in the case where the display having the structure shown in FIG. 7 is driven. In the timing chart, one frame period (F) is a period, in which one picture image is displayed.
First, a scanning line G1 is selected. Here, other scanning lines G2 to Gy are put in a state, in which they are not selected. In addition, selection of a scanning line in FIGS. 7 and 8 means putting a scanning line connected to one of electrodes of an electron source element in a certain electric potential so that a quantity of electrons emitted from the electron source element is varied in accordance with an electric potential input into a signal line connected to the other of the electrodes of the electron source element.
For example, suppose that an electric potential of −8 V is input into a scanning line as selected in the case where a scanning line is connected to the lower electrode 21 of the electron source element and a signal line is connected to the upper electrode 23. On the other hand, suppose that an electric potential of 8 V is input into scanning lines as not selected. Also, suppose that an electric potential of −8 to 8 V is input into a signal line. Here, suppose that the upper electrode 23 of the electron source element emits electrons when the upper electrode 23 of the electron source element is higher about 10 V in electric potential than the lower electrode 21. At this time, the electron source element emits electrons when a signal electric potential of 5V from the signal line is input into the upper electrode 23 of the electron source element, of which the lower electrode 21 is connected to a scanning line in a selected state. Meanwhile, even when a signal electric potential of 5 V is input into the upper electrode 23 of the electron source element, of which the lower electrode 21 is connected to a scanning line in a non-selected state, the upper electrode 23 of the electron source element is lower in electric potential than the lower electrode 21 and so electrons are not emitted.
A period, in which the scanning line G1 is selected, is referred to as a first line period (L1). At this time, signals are successively input into the signal lines S1 to Sx. The electron source element emits electrons from the upper electrode 23 in accordance with signals as input. Thus emitted electrons cause the fluorescent body 18 provided on the opposed substrate 19 (second substrate) to emit light. In this manner, pixels in the first column emit light in accordance with signals as input. Subsequently, a scanning line G2 is selected. Here, G1. G3 to Gy are in a non-selected state. A period, in which the scanning line G2 is selected, is referred to as a second line period (L2). At this time, signals are successively input into the signal lines S1 to Sx. The electron source element 28 emits electrons from the upper electrode 23 in accordance with signals as input. Thus emitted electrons cause the fluorescent body 18 provided on the opposed substrate 19 (second substrate) to emit light. In this manner, pixels in the second column emit light in accordance with signals as input. The same action is repeated for all the gate signal lines, and so the one frame period is terminated. Thus the FED represents a picture image.
Since the above drive method is a passive type one, however, signals are directly input into electrodes of electron source elements of those pixels, on which display device should not be made. Therefore, there is involved a problem that power consumption is increased.
Hereupon, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 84927/2001 proposes an FED, in which a thin-film transistor (referred below to as a TFT) is arranged on each pixel. The constitution of this FED is shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 9 schematically shows electron source elements 902. The reference numeral 903 denotes lower electrodes, and 904 upper electrodes.
In FIG. 9, one of a source region and a drain region of a TFT 901 (referred below to as a pixel TFT) arranged every pixel is connected to one of x (natural number) signal lines S1 to Sx, and the other of the regions the lower electrode 903 of the electron source element 902. Also, a gate electrode of the pixel TFT 901 is connected to one of y (natural number) scanning lines G1 to Gy. The upper electrode 904 of the electron source element 902 is kept at a certain electric potential Vcom.
A selection signal is input into the scanning lines G1 to Gy. A pixel TFT 901 connected to a scanning line, into which a selection signal is input, is made ON. A signal input into a signal line is input into the lower electrode 903 of the electron source element 902 through the pixel TFT 901 having been made ON.
The electron source element 902 emits electrons due to a difference between an electric potential of the signal input into the lower electrode 903 and an electric potential of the upper electrode 904. Thus emitted electrons cause the fluorescent body to emit light, and so the pixel emits light. In addition, when the electron source element 902 emits electrons from the upper electrode 904, the upper electrode 904 is kept higher in electric potential than the lower electrode 903.
Power (reactive power) consumed in those pixels, in which display device should not be made (signals are not input into both scanning lines and signal lines), can be significantly reduced in a display device constructed such that the pixel TFT 901 is arranged in each pixel and a signal from a signal line is input into the lower electrode 903 of the electron source element 902 only in a pixel, in which the pixel TFT 901 is made ON.
An MIM type electron source element emits electrons when voltage is applied between an upper electrode and a lower electrode. Therefore, with pixels of a display device constructed in the manner described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 84927/2001, voltage is applied between the upper electrode 904 and the lower electrode 903 of the electron source element 902 in a pixel, in which a signal is input into a scanning line to make the pixel TFT 901 ON, only for a period of time, during which a signal is input into a signal line, whereby electrons are emitted. Electrons are input into a fluorescent body only for a period of time, during which electrons are emitted, to cause a pixel emitting light.
For example, in the case where signals are input one pixel by one pixel from signal lines (dot sequential drive), a period of time, during which one pixel emits light, becomes equal to or less than 1/L of one frame period where the number of pixels possessed by a display device is L. Also, in the case where signals are input into all pixels in one column at the same time, that is, signals are input into pixels in one column at the same time from source signal lines S1 to Sx (line sequential drive), a period of time, during which one pixel emits light, becomes equal to or less than 1/y of one frame period assuming that a display possesses pixels of y columns.
Here, in the case where a display device such as large-sized displays, highly fine displays, or the like has a large number of pixels, a period of time, during which one pixel continues to emit light, becomes short in a display, in which pixels are constructed in the above mariner. Therefore, when it is tried to represent an adequate luminance during one frame period, it becomes necessary to apply a high voltage between an upper electrode and a lower electrode of an electron source element in a short period of time. Therefore, a drive circuit is increased in drive voltage and load on elements, which constitute the drive circuit, becomes large. Therefore, there is caused a problem that a display device is degraded in reliability.
Also, in order to input analog signals into signal lines S1 to Sx, a plurality of signal voltages must be set to meet respective graduations. Therefore, there is caused a problem that such construction is not suited to multi-graduations.

Display device using electron source elements and method of driving same

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


An antenna selection diversity apparatus capable of shortening, when antennas are switched in frame units, a measuring time of antennas and shortening the time of selecting an optimal antenna from among a plurality of antennas on standby. In this apparatus, an antenna selection section (109) selects one of three antennas as an antenna in actual use for a period of a plurality of frames consecutively according to selection priority stored in an antenna information storage section (108) and gives an instruction for selecting one of two antennas on standby as an antenna to be measured once at a period of a plurality of frames to an antenna selection switch (104). When the reception level of the antenna in actual use measured by a reception level measuring section (107) falls below the reception level of the antenna to be measured a predetermined number of times consecutively, the antenna selection section (109) gives an instruction for selecting the antenna to be measured as the antenna in actual use to the antenna selection switch (104).

A mobile communication is often subject to fading which causes the level of a received signal to fluctuate depending on various radio wave propagation environments. An effective measure against this fading is antenna selection diversity. The antenna selection diversity is implemented normally by installing a plurality of antennas and carrying out communication by selecting an antenna with good conditions when a reception condition deteriorates due to fading. As such an antenna selection diversity apparatus, for example, those disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are conventionally known.
Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose antenna selection diversity apparatuses based on a TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) communication scheme time-sharing a common frequency by a plurality of users, which realizes diversity by sampling intensity of received signals through antennas during a time slot period irrelevant to a receiver and selecting an optimal antenna before receiving a time slot relevant to the receiver. An overview of such an antenna selection diversity apparatus will be explained below.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional antenna selection diversity apparatus. FIG. 1 shows an antenna selection diversity apparatus in a minimum configuration with two antennas. That is, the conventional antenna selection diversity apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 is provided with antennas 11, 12, a switch 13, an antenna duplexer 14, a reception section 15, a reception level measuring section 16, a timing control section 17, an antenna selection section 18 and a transmission section 19.
In such a configuration, the timing control section 17 controls timings for transmitting/receiving data, measuring antenna reception levels and selecting an antenna to realize antenna selection diversity, gives an antenna selection instruction to the antenna selection section 18 and a measurement instruction to the reception level measuring section 16.
The antenna selection section 18 causes the switch 13 to perform switching operation at the timing instructed from the timing control section 17. That is, the switch 13 selects the antenna 11 during a certain antenna reception level measuring time, connects the antenna to the reception section 15 through the antenna duplexer 14 or selects the antenna 12 during another antenna reception level measuring time and connects the antenna to the reception section 15 through the antenna duplexer 14.
As a result, the received signal at the antenna 11 and the received signal at the antenna 12 are input to the reception level measuring section 16 through the reception section 15. The reception level measuring section 16 measures the reception level at the antenna 11 and the reception level at the antenna 12 and sends both measured antenna reception levels to the antenna selection section 18.
The antenna selection section 18 compares the reception level of the antenna 11 and the reception level of the antenna 12 sent from the reception level measuring section 16, determines the antenna having the greater reception level as the antenna to be used during a data transmission/reception time and causes the switch 13 to select the antenna. The reception section 15 and transmission section 19 use the antenna selected by the antenna selection section 18 during a data transmission/reception time. Using this antenna selection diversity apparatus 10 makes it possible to carry out communication using an antenna suitable for a radio wave propagation environment, and is therefore expected to improve the communication performance.    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2719575    [Patent Document 2] Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-140971

Antenna selection diversity apparatus and reception method

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A machine for driving inserts into pieces of sheet metal includes an automatic loading device having a plurality of cartridges containing inserts of different types. Each cartridge can be connected selectively to an insert-supply duct integral with the punch.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure is related to the disclosures provided in the following U.S. applications filed concurrently herewith: "A Device For Driving Inserts Into Pieces Of Sheet Metal", filed in the names of M. SCAVINO et al. (U.S. Ser. No. 08/613,142); and "A Machine And A Method For Driving Inserts Into Pieces Of Sheet Metal", filed in the name of K. ITO (U.S. Ser. No. 08/63,171); and the disclosures of the aforementioned applications are hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
The present invention is related to a machine and to a method for driving inserts into pieces of sheet metal.
2. Description of Background Information
In the field of the production of elements formed by bent or pressed metal sheets, there is often a need to form threaded or non-threaded fixing or anchoring points on the internal or external surface of the sheet-metal element. This need is experienced particularly in the case of aluminum sheets in which it is difficult to produce threaded holes because of the mechanical properties of aluminum.
The inserts are generally formed of metal and are driven into preformed holes in sheets of metal (aluminum, steel or other materials). The inserts may be of various shapes and dimensions according to the function which they are intended to perform. The most common inserts have a hole or a shank which is generally threaded in order to form anchor equipment, components and the like to the sheet metal, by screwing the equipment, component or the like to the metal sheet via the insert.
A press is normally used to drive the inserts into the preformed holes in the metal sheets. Generally, the press includes a punch and a die which cooperate with one another, and between which a driving zone is defined. The inserts are anchored to the sheet when they are force-fitted into the respective holes in the sheet, so as to bring about plastic deformation of the portion of the metal sheet adjacent the hole into which the insert is force-fitted.
In the machines currently available, the press is operated manually by an operator who holds the piece of sheet metal during the driving of the inserts and moves the piece after each driving operation. Some machines have an automatic supply device, which generally has vibration feeders that send the inserts to the driving zone by various systems. Devices having the vibration feeder type automatic suppliers are useful only when repeatedly performing insertion of a large number of inserts which are all of the same type and size.
In practice, there is often a need to successively drive a plurality of different inserts, which differ from one another in function, shape or size, into the same piece. When there is such a need, the operator of some known machines must position the inserts in the driving zone of the press manually.
This results in a high labor cost of production, low productivity, a high risk of error and a high risk of accidents to the operator, because of the dangerous nature of the operation.
In cases where machines with automatic insert-supplies are used, it is still necessary to manually empty the insert container and fill it with the new inserts each time a requirement for a different type or size insert is required. Moreover, if the new inserts are significantly different in shape and/or size from the inserts being removed from the container, it is often necessary to replace the supply duct which transfers the inserts from the container to the driving zone.
This results in a long tooling time which makes it economically unfeasible to drive different inserts into the same piece in succession.

Machine and a method for driving inserts into pieces of sheet metal


A heat transfer arrangement for one or more heat-generating components (18a) on a printed-circuit board (16) includes a heat transfer plate (316) defining an aperture (416) registered with the components. A "vertically" movable heatsink adapter (410) is adjusted to juxtapose its "lower" surface with the "upper" surface of the components to be heat-sunk. A heat-transfer pad (318) may be used between the heatsink adapter (410) and the component (18a). In various embodiments, the heatsink adapter takes the form of circular (410) or rectangular (410R) plugs, a draw-tube (808) arrangement, or a bellows (1010).

Semiconductor devices rely for the most part on the properties of germanium, silicon, and gallium arsenide materials. These materials are subject to significant molecular diffusion at temperatures as low as 100.degree. C. Such diffusion tends to adversely affect the integrity of the microscopic patterns required for proper operation of the semiconductor device. Such semiconductor devices are minuscule and delicate, and must be protected against the environment by a device carrier such as a metal can, or a plastic or ceramic encapsulant. The device carrier acts as a barrier which tends to impede heat transfer away from the semiconductor device. As the complexity and speed of semiconductor devices has increased, the internal heat generated by such semiconductor devices has tended to increase. In many applications, simple "heat sinks" which transfer heat from the semiconductor device carrier to the ambient air may be sufficient to maintain the temperature of the semiconductor device at a level providing satisfactory performance and reliability. In some applications such as personal computers, recent microprocessors generate sufficient heat that an integral heat-sink/air-circulating fan is required for reliable performance. In some applications, however, which include industrial and military applications, the ambient air temperature may be high enough so that sufficient heat cannot be effectively transferred from the device carrier by convection alone, and/or fan reliability itself is not high enough. Also, the air may be contaminated in which case it cannot be allowed to come into contact with the electronic interconnections. In those cases, direct conduction of the heat to a remote heat sink may be required.
In FIG. 1, an electronic assembly 10 includes a peripheral, thermally conductive frame 12. Frame 12 defines an enclosed space 14, which is occupied, at least in part, by a printed circuit board or printed wiring board 16, the upper surface 16u of which is visible. A plurality of electrical or electronic components, some of which are designated as 18a and 18b, are mounted on the upper or component side 16u of board 16. The frame 12 of the assembly 10 defines a pair of flanges 22, only one of which is visible, which allow the assembly to be easily slid into position in a rack (not illustrated) or other holder. A set of "card locks" 26 extends along at least a portion of the upper surfaces of flanges 22 to provide clamp pressure for tending to hold the flanges in position in the rack. A "mezzanine" printed-circuit board 20 is mounted above some of the components 16. A pair of electrical connectors 24a, 24b provide electrical interconnection between the printed circuit boards 16 and 20 and related external electronic circuitry (functions). The assembly 10 also may include covers (not illustrated), which protect the printed-circuit boards and the components. The presence of the mezzanine board makes space in the assembly critical.
FIG. 2 is a cross-section of a portion of the assembly of FIG. 1 near the frame, showing how the flanges connect to the surrounding rack or frame, and illustrating heat conduction paths. In FIG. 2, the rack is illustrated in cross-section as 210, and includes bosses or protuberances 210p1 and 210p2, which provide support for the illustrated edge of the module or assembly 10. As illustrated, flange 22 has a lower surface lying against a surface of boss 210p2, and card lock 26 extends between the upper surface of flange 22 and the lower surface of upper boss 210p1. In this context, the terms "upper" and "lower" refer to position as referred to the FIGURE, and do not necessarily relate to the position of the actual mounted assembly 10.
In FIG. 2, component or device 18a is electrically and mechanically connected to the upper surface 16u of printed circuit board 16 by electrically conductive wires or leads 19. The lower surface 161 of printed circuit board 16 is visible in FIG. 2. There will always be some space or gap 209, however small, between the lower surface of component 18a and the upper surface 16u of printed circuit board 16. The gap dimension is exaggerated in FIG. 2 for clarity. During operation of the component 18a, heat is necessarily generated. If the heat were allowed to accumulate, the temperature of the component would rise continuously, until it was destroyed. Heat may be removed or transferred away from the component by radiation, convection, or conduction, as known. In the illustrated context, heat removal by radiation and convection may not be sufficient to maintain the component at a temperature within its reliable operating range. Additional heat transfer is provided by thermal conduction through gap 209 between component 18a and the upper surface of printed circuit board 16u, as illustrated by dashed arrow 220. The heat entering the upper surface of printed circuit board 16 flows laterally, as indicated by dash arrow 222, and through the joint between the upper surface 16u of printed wiring board 16 and frame 12, as indicated by dash arrow 224. Within frame 12, the heat which enters from printed circuit board 16 flows by a short path through the interface with lower boss 210p2 of rack 210. Rack 210 is deemed to be a heat sink, meaning that it is large enough, or has sufficient surfaces for loss of heat, so that it remains at a relatively constant or low temperature. Those skilled in the art know that the printed circuit board 16 is not a good conductor of heat, and gap 209 tends to impede heat transfer, and that, as a consequence, the temperature rise of components such as 18a may still exceed that desired.
FIG. 3 is a simplified cross-section of another arrangement, similar to that of FIG. 2, but which provides superior conductive heat transfer. Elements of FIG. 3 which correspond to those of FIG. 2 are designated by like reference numerals. FIG. 3 differs from FIG. 2 in that it includes an upper or top heat transfer plate 316, which is supported by frame 12, and fastened thereto by a set of screws, one of which is illustrated as 330. An efficient thermally conductive heat transfer device or pad 318 is located between the upper surface of component 18a and the lower surface 316l, to improve the thermal conduction of what would otherwise be an air gap of poor thermal conductance. In addition to heat transfer as described in conjunction with FIG. 2, as illustrated by dash arrows 220, 222, 224, and 226, the presence of the heat transfer plate 316 and device 318 provides additional paths including the path between the upper surface of the component 18a and the lower surface 316l of heat transfer plate 316 by way of device 318, which is illustrated by dash arrow 320, a lateral path through heat transfer plate 316, as illustrated by dash arrow 322, and a further path through the juncture between heat transfer plate 316 and frame 12, as illustrated by dash arrow 324. All of the heat entering frame 12, and represented by arrows 224 and 324, is conducted to boss 210p2, as suggested by dash arrow 226. The arrangement of FIG. 3 provides superior heat transfer by comparison with the arrangement of FIG. 2, because there are two parallel paths for transfer of heat over much of the path, and because the additional path through heat transfer plate 316 is likely to have greater capacity for thermal conduction than the path through printed circuit board 16.
One problem with the arrangement of FIG. 3 is that the device 318 must fill the gap between the lower surface 316l of the heat transfer plate 316 and the upper surface of the component 18a. The dimension of this gap cannot be minimized because of tolerance build-ups, and possibly because of the presence of a mezzanine circuit board as illustrated in FIG. 1, or because of other mechanical constraints, as might occur if the components to be heat sunk have different heights above the printed-circuit board. Another problem with the arrangement of FIG. 3 is that the thermal path from the component 18a to the lower surface 316l of heat transfer plate 316 must be capable of disassembly without damage to component 18a, because the heat transfer plate is likely to need removal to repair some other portion of the printed circuit board 16, and it would be too costly and inefficient if all of the heat-sunk components (assuming that there are more heat-sunk components than only 18a) were to be damaged by the removal of the heat transfer plate for repair. Consequently, device 318 cannot be bonded to both the upper surface of component 18a and to the lower surface 316l of heat transfer plate 316. At least one of the thermal/mechanical connections must be readily breakable; this may be either the connection between device 318 and the lower surface 316l of top plate 316, or between the lower surface of device 318 and the upper surface of component 18a. In order to identify the breakable joint or connection, a heavy dash line 340 is illustrated at the upper surface of component 18a. Devices such as 318 tend to be flexible pads of various sorts, which must be somewhat compressed to provide adequate heat transfer, but which cannot be excessively compressed. These pads, in general, do not have thermal properties approximating those of a fusion bond or a metallic connection. In general, the tolerances will not allow the thinnest devices 318 to be used, which are simple interface layers of thermally conductive grease. Such greases, even though they may not have thermal characteristics matching those of metals, are so thin that their heat transfer performance is good.
Improved heat transfer arrangements are desired.

Electronic module with conductively heat-sunk components


A method and a device for leading media in a thermal treatment system for a liquid product where, determining the led-in volume of the expelling medium while a medium is being expelled from the treatment system and by setting the determined volume of the expelling medium in a ratio to a nominal capacity of the treatment system, the shutting off of a product pipe on the outlet side following a medium change on the inlet side can be accomplished independent in time of the performance of the medium change on the inlet side. This reduces product losses and permits the treatment of residual amounts remaining in the treatment system.

Systems for the thermal product treatment of beverages usually have a capacity of about 1,000-5,000 liters. Experience shows that a product quantity at least corresponding to the capacity of the treatment system is required for a successful product treatment. For example, residual amounts at the end of a production batch which are smaller than the capacity of the treatment system cannot be processed. It is neither possible to treat a batch that is smaller than the capacity of the treatment system. However, it would be desirable to be able to utilize as much as possible of the product to be treated.
Moreover, during a medium change on the inlet side, for example when the product to be treated has completely flown into the treatment system and the product still present in the treatment system is expelled with water, it is common to switch the product outlet depending on the state. Thus, in the worst case, a product quantity corresponding to the capacity of the treatment system is lost at the end of the treatment. Therefore, there is a demand to reduce product loss during a medium change.
Moreover, a product return pipe which is provided for circulating the product in case of a standstill of a downstream production unit is usually filled already at the beginning of the treatment before the treated product is forwarded for intermediate storage. However, this requires that the product return pipe is also filled in case of a trouble-free operation of the downstream production system, although this would not be necessary with respect to production. The treated product led into the product return pipe must then be rejected after treatment. It would be desirable to minimize this product loss, too.
Another problem with the medium change in a thermal product treatment system arises in systems in which a degassing apparatus is integrated. During a medium change, the product flow at the degassing apparatus is usually interrupted, so that the medium present in a heat exchanger upstream of the degassing apparatus will dwell therein for an undesired long time and will be excessively heated. This will impair product quality. Moreover, the degassing apparatus must be subsequently refilled at a highly increased flow rate, resulting in a reduced thermal absorption of the medium passed through it, which in turn can have a negative influence on product quality, for example due to a reduced effectiveness of degassing.
Therefore, there is a demand for a method and a device by means of which the above mentioned problems can be moderated or even eliminated.

Method and device for leading media through a treatment system for a liquid product


A vacuum dustpan having a housing with an inlet to the level of the floor surface into which dust and debris can be directed. A vacuum motor induces a vacuum to transfer the debris to a collection chamber within the housing. The vacuum dustpan is usable in locations such as shops, hair salons, kitchens and other environments where debris collects and periodically swept.

Many work areas such as hair salons, wood shops and assembly areas are periodically swept using a broom or vacuum cleaner. Locations such as these having hard floor surfaces collect hair, sawdust and other items that must be periodically collected by sweeping these materials into a dustpan. The dustpan is then emptied into a waste container. This operation requires a considerable amount of time and also considerable physical effort. The manual sweeping cleaning operation requires the individual to sweep the debris and dust into a pile or a number of piles and then using a collection device, such as a dustpan, to pick up the debris and transfer it to a waste container. Considerable bending occurs and it is easy for the individual to fail to collect all of the dust and debris that has been accumulated in the pile or piles leaving residual debris.
In order to make the collection of dust and debris on a hard surface is more efficient, various vacuum devices can be found in the prior art.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,721 shows an automatic dustpan apparatus for use with a central vacuum system whereby debris on the floor may be swept into the vicinity of the automatic dustpan and directed into the central vacuum cleaning system. A valve within the dustpan closes when the dustpan is not in use.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,077 shows a wheel housing which encapsulates a vacuum motor assembly. The housing interior forms vacuum ducting joining a vacuum chamber to nozzles on the underside of the housing. The nozzles extend peripherally and sufficient suction is generated that allows the device to collect dirt swept near it from any direction. During non-use, the device is parked in a charging nest.
There nevertheless exists the need a need for a simple, effective vacuum dustpan for locations such as hair salons, shops and the like.


A pet care article is provided which maintains excellent sanitary conditions and is not prone to causing bedsores. This pet care article (1) is provided with an absorbent sheet (2) having liquid retention properties, and a liquid-permeable cushion material (3) arranged on the top surface of the absorbent sheet and having a thickness of greater than or equal to 5 mm. The cushion material (3) comprises a fibrous structure configured from continuous fibers made from a thermoplastic resin and having a fiber diameter of 0.01-3 mm. No ends of the continuous fibers are contained in the top of said fibrous structure, and the continuous fibers are bonded together at intersections between the continuous fibers.

With increasing ages of pets such as dogs and cats in recent years, the number of people nursing their pets has increased. Various nursing products are used for pet nursing, as suited for the situation, and for nursing of bedridden pets that are unable to stand on their own, for example, it is common to use an absorbing sheet for pets such as disclosed in PTL 1 as a bed mat.


An ultrasonic wave is sent from a transmission element to a test element to produce a plate wave in the test element, and the plate wave propagating through the test element is received by a reception element to thereby test the test element on the propagation route of the plate wave. The other probe that is the other reception element or transmission element is disposed between the transmission element and the reception element. A probe holding mechanism that has support legs contacting the surface of the test element and keeps constant an angle of the other probe with respect to the surface of the test element is allowed to support the other probe. And, the other probe is allowed to cross over in non-contact the propagation route of the plate wave extending from the transmission element to the reception element by means of support legs.

One of such ultrasonic testing devices as described above is known where a sensor head is provided comprising two or more of the transmitters and the receivers disposed at both ends of the center point and particularly held at a uniform angle (the incident angle) to the test piece for scanning the surface of the test piece with no direct contact (See Patent Document 1). It is essential for maintaining the incident angle to a uniform degree to match different modes of the relationship between the incident angle of the ultrasonic wave and the product of ultrasonic frequency and test piece thickness with their respective characteristic curves.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2005-055197.
However, if the surface of the test piece is undulated or waved, the incident angle between the transmitter or receiver and the surface of the test piece may hardly be maintained at a uniform degree during the scanning action with no direct contact of the sensor head, thus interrupting the inspecting action with the plate wave.
Alternatively, another testing method is known for inspecting a test piece with the transmitter and receiver placed directly on the test piece. However, the another method also fails to propagate the plate wave up to the receiver after the point on the propagation path of the plate wave where the transmitter or receiver is placed directly on the test piece, hence permitting no use of two or more of the receivers.
More specifically, the conventional methods allows the transmitter or receiver to be disposed across the propagation path of the plate wave which extends through the target region of a test piece to be inspected when the inspection depend fundamentally on the leak wave or the reflection of the ultrasonic wave. As a result, the degree of freedom of the testing action will be limited due to a limited target area of the test piece. Also, with no use of two or more transmitters or receivers, the testing action may hardly be improved in the efficiency.

Ultrasonic testing method and ultrasonic testing device using this

Independent Administrative Institution Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

Non-Destructive Inspection Company Limited


Methods and systems for synchronizing distributed databases are provided. In one aspect, a method includes transmitting a request to determine a schema of a first database and updating a metadata store with the schema. The method includes generating at least one database query. The method includes, responsive to the database query, selectively determining a data block size for a second database; segmenting a data source stored in the second database into sink data blocks; processing the data source into sink hashes; and transmitting, to an agent, at least one selected sink hash, wherein the agent transmits instructions to segment a table associated with the first database into source data blocks; process the table into source hashes; and generate, in response to a determination that the at least one selected sink hash differs from a corresponding source hash, query results. The method includes updating the data source with the query results.

Within some organizations, database synchronization is often performed between databases with homogeneous technology over a network or via a managed point-to-point link that is controlled by the organization. When data is shared between two different organizations, often times, however, the databases are not connected via a common private network, but are merely connected via the Internet, which may not be secure. Moreover, in some instances, the databases, for example, a remote source database and a synchronization database (e.g., destination database), may be heterogeneous database technologies, which may include different database schema.
The description provided in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely because it is mentioned in or associated with the background section. The background section may include information that describes one or more aspects of the subject technology.

System and method for synchronizing distributed databases

VILLAGE PRACTICE. MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLC


A flash drive including a storage element, a housing, and an integrating member is provided. The storage element has a first connector and a second connector. The integrating member is pivoted to the storage member and coupled to the housing, wherein the integrating member and the housing move relatively in a first path or a second path. The integrating member and the housing move relatively along the first path, such that the first connector is extended outside or hidden inside the housing. The integrating member and the housing move relatively along the second path and drive the storage element to move relative to the integrating member, such that the second connector is extended outside or hidden in the integrating member. An operating method of flash drive is also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a flash drive and more particularly, to a flash drive having a plurality of connectors.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventional floppy disk in 1.44 MB features in its portable characteristic but still fails to meet the requirement of large storage capacity. Although a conventional hard disk provides a large storage capacity, it still suffers in bulk size which leads to inconvenient carrying. Rewritable non-volatile memory has the characteristics of data non-volatility, low power consumption, compact size, and non-mechanical structure. Hence, rewritable non-volatile memory is adapted for portable appliances, especially portable products powered by batteries.
A flash drive is a storage device adopting NAND flash memory as storage medium and features in large storage capacity, plug-and-play, compact size and portability for substituting for the floppy disk. Nevertheless, with the variety of connection and transmission standards of present electronic apparatuses, the flash drive having a connector with only one connection format is losing its applicability. Therefore, how to increase the applicability range of the flash drive as well as keep the convenience have become a problem to be solved for person skilled in the art.
Nothing herein should be construed as an admission of knowledge in the prior art of any portion of the present invention. Furthermore, citation or identification of any document in this application is not an admission that such document is available as prior art to the present invention, or that any reference forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art.

Flash drive and operating method thereof


A Web advertising measurement system that correlates the number of impressions of Web advertisements with post-impression transactional activity to measure the effectiveness of the advertisements. When a user clicks on a banner advertisement, an impression is established and the user's identification is recorded. Then, when the user undertakes post-impression transactional activity such as downloading software related to the advertisement, ordering products and services related to the advertisement, and so on, the transactional activity along with the user's identification is recorded. Based on the user identifications, the number of impressions associated with the advertisements are correlated to the post-impression transactional activity as a measure of effectiveness of each advertisement.

Commerce over the portion of the Internet known as the World Wide Web, or "Web" for short, is growing. As part of the growth of Web commerce, advertisements on the Web are becoming more commonplace, sophisticated, and elaborate, and Internet advertising expense is expanding accordingly.
In advertising, consumers gain "impressions" of advertisements when they see the advertisement. As recognized by the present invention, to understand whether a particular advertisement is effective, it is important to know how many people gained an impression of the advertisement, and then to know how many subsequent sales or other transactions related to the advertisement resulted. The present invention further recognizes that as Internet advertising expands apace and more resources are spent on such advertising, it is desirable to assess the effectiveness of Internet advertisements, to more efficiently allocate Internet advertising resources.
In many Web applications, advertisements are presented as banners that are displayed prominently on a Web display, referred to as a Web page. If a user is attracted by the banner advertisement, the user can click on such a banner (i.e., by positioning a screen cursor on the banner and then depressing a button on a mouse or other input device). When the user clicks on the banner, an underlying "hyperlink" to another Web site that is associated with the banner, usually the home site of the advertiser, invokes a path to the advertiser's designated page. Typically, the name of the path is presented to the user in the form of a uniform resource listing ("URL"), such as "ABC.sub.-- Inc.com", followed by a directory path designating the particular page in the site that the advertiser wishes to be displayed, such as "/directory.sub.13 name/page.sub.-- name".
In any case, when a user clicks on a banner advertisement, the user indicates that he or she has gained an "impression" of the advertisement. Because a single advertiser might use several banner advertisements that appear on various Web pages on the Internet, it is important for advertisers to correlate the number of times an advertiser's Web page is accessed from each banner, and then to correlate subsequent transactional activity to particular banners, so that it can be ascertained which banners are and are not effective in causing a user to make a transactional decision.
As still further recognized herein, an advertiser's Web site can include product or service order forms. Or, the Web site might enable the user to download computer software necessary for an online service, and/or to directly order the service or products, all of which information should ideally be correlated to advertising when appropriate. Accordingly, the present invention recognizes the desirability of correlating potentially many types of transactions to user impressions of advertising.
It unfortunately happens that current methods for tracking users around the Web cannot adequately render the information discussed above that is sought by advertisers. More specifically, one method of tracking users--depositing a software "cookie" on the user's browser--requires the intrusive if transparent downloading of an unasked--for piece of software onto the user's computer system to identify the user whenever the user accesses the cookie-depositing site. Moreover, users can erase or disable "cookies", rendering longitudinal tracking of such users problematic.
Users can also be tracked by recording the user identifications that are unique to each computer that directly accesses the Internet. However, in the case of groups of users who might collectively use a single proxy server to gain access to the Web for, e.g., security reasons, only the user identification of the proxy server is discoverable. In contrast, the user identifications of the potentially thousands of individual user computers served by the proxy server are not easily discoverable. It will readily be appreciated that as a consequence, subsequent transactional activity undertaken by individual users served by the proxy server cannot be correlated with certainty to the banner advertisements that attracted the individual users.
Moreover, because post-impression transactional activity might be undertaken off-line, the principles disclosed herein recognize the importance of using both online and off-line information to gain an important understanding of Internet advertising effectiveness. In light of the above discussion, it will be appreciated that such an understanding becomes ever more important in the burgeoning world of electronic commerce.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for assessing the effectiveness of Internet advertising. Another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for assessing the effectiveness of Internet advertising that can be used with conventional Web page formats. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for assessing the effectiveness of Internet advertising that automatically correlates buyer interactions on the World Wide Web with a seller's in house marketing data. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for assessing the effectiveness of Internet advertising that is easy to use and cost-effective.

System and method for assessing effectiveness of internet marketing campaign


Anthranilate synthase allele fragments for increasing rice yields and uses thereof. A method of differentiating rice materials with a superior allele associated with high yield includes: (1) detecting a genotype of rice to be detected based on a specific gene fragment; where the specific gene fragmentOsASA1 is located in rice genome, and there are typically two allelic forms of OsASA1, OsASA1_a shown as SEQ ID NO. 1 and OsASA1_b shown as SEQ ID NO. 2; and (2) determining and comparing the average yield of a rice population with a genotype of homozygous OsASA1_b and that of a rice population with a genotype of homozygous OsASA1_a under the same growth conditions in different geographical regions. The rice population with the genotype of homozygous OsASA1_b shows a higher average yield than the rice population with the genotype of homozygous OsASA1_a.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is consumed as a staple food for more than half of the world's population. There is an increasing need to cultivate high-yield rice varieties with the growth of population. Knowing genomic components of rice for determining the traits contributing to high yield is critical for the targeted selection of parental materials in the breeding process and cultivation of rice varieties with high-yield traits.
In practice, the basic goal of rice breeding is to introduce good traits into the same variety, so that it can provide high-yield and good-quality rice in a wide range of geographical conditions. Currently, most breeding methods rely on observable traits or/and molecular markers. While factors affecting rice traits are often diverse and complex, methods to improve such traits rely on the evaluation of single or multiple reported genes. Little is known of particular allelic effects of genome on desired traits.
The significance of gene functional analysis to agricultural breeding lies in whether or not the research is conducted under the field condition to be relevant to the typical rice-growing practice. Typical studies of natural variation in rice populations have focused on single nucleotide polymorphisms, and studies using genome-wide association have identified some correlations between phenotypes and single nucleotide polymorphisms. However, effects of the studies on agricultural breeding remain to be assessed.
The development of molecular biology in recent decades has given rise to molecular breeding. Breeding with specific genes or molecular markers as selectors has improved the success rate of traditional breeding. In terms of yield, one of the constraints of molecular breeding is determining which genes or molecular fragments are most suitable as selectors.

Anthranilate synthase allele fragments for increasing rice yield and uses thereof

Institute of Botany, The Chinese Academy of Scienc


A driver circuit or controller flexibly drives either a half-bridge or a full-bridge switching network in a backlight inverter without modification, redundant circuitry or additional components. The driver circuit includes four outputs to provide four respective driving signals that establish a periodic timing sequence using a zero-voltage switching technique for semiconductor switches in the switching network.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to a driver circuit in a backlight system for powering fluorescent lamps, and more particularly, relates to a driver circuit with a power efficient timing schedule that can flexibly drive either a half-bridge or a full-bridge switching network in the backlight system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fluorescent lamps are used in a number of applications where light is required but the power required to generate the light is limited. One particular type of fluorescent lamp is a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL). CCFLs are used for back or edge lighting of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) which are typically found in notebook computers, web browsers, automotive and industrial instrumentation, and entertainment systems.
A power converter (e.g., an inverter) is typically used to power a fluorescent lamp. The inverter includes a controller and a switching network to convert a direct current (DC) source into an alternating current (AC) source to power the fluorescent lamp. In a half-bridge switching network, a pair of transistors is coupled to the DC source and the transistors alternately conduct to generate the AC source. In a full-bridge switching network, an arrangement of four transistors is coupled to the DC source and the transistors conduct in pairs to generate the AC source. The controller controls transistors in the switching network. Controllers designed for half-bridge switching networks typically cannot operate full-bridge switching networks, and controllers designed for full-bridge switching networks typically do not have outputs compatible for operating half-bridge networks.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Full-bridge and half-bridge compatible driver timing schedule for direct drive backlight system


The inventive subject matter provides devices and methods for improving driving safety using information obtained from images taken by a camera in a device. Among other things, contemplated devices and methods can produce alarms when it appear from rates of speed and acceleration/deceleration, that a vehicle will likely go through a red light, or fail to stop or sufficiently slow down at a stop sign. A significant feature of preferred devices and methods is that they are not dependent on WI-FI, cellular, satellite and radio signals, or any other external data transmission, and are not even dependent on speed, acceleration, or other information native to the vehicle.

The following description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
Approximately 1.35 million people die each year as a result of road traffic crashes. Traffic intersections can be especially dangerous. Statistics show that approximately 33 percent of all traffic accidents occurs at an intersection, and a staggering number of these accidents occur when a driver passes through the intersection under a red or yellow traffic light. A common problem is that drivers are distracted by the use of a smartphone or radio, and are not paying attention to nearby stop signals.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,248,832 to Huberman describes an alarm system that alerts a driver when his/her vehicle passes through an intersection under a yellow or red traffic light. The status (red/yellow/green) of the traffic light is obtained from the traffic light controller, which of course means that data from the traffic controller is transmitted to the vehicle, in most cases using cellular, Wi-Fi, or satellite signals. There are several problems with such a system, including that the data signals can be weak, or even completely unavailable.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,083,607 to Ginsberg et al. describes an autonomic driving system that uses satellite derived information such as GPS, and has similar concerns to that described above.
Huberman, Ginsberg, and all other publications identified herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.
Thus, there is still a need to improve driving safety by alerting drivers to stop signals.


A narrow, thin, metal strip is arranged around the periphery of the end portion of at least one of two pipes arranged in axial alignment for forming a coupled joint. The adjacent pipe end portions are provided with circumferential grooves. A coupling surrounds the end portions of the pipes and has radially inwardly extending keys for fitting into the grooves in the pipes. The strip has a groove formation for fitting into and lining the groove formed in the end of the pipe upon which it is arranged. The localized pressure of the key fitted into the strip groove is dispersed through the strip into the adjacent pipe areas which the strip overlies to protect the pipe groove walls and base and the pipe-end portions from being damaged by engagement with the coupling key. The strip permits coupling a pair of relatively easily damaged plastic pipes or coupling a plastic pipe and a stronger metal pipe by resisting damage to plastic pipes caused by coupling key pressure.

This invention relates to a protective sleeve for use with a pipe coupling that couples together the ends of grooved pipes.
An example of such a type coupling is disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,395 issued Oct. 30, 1990 for a "Rigid or Flexible Coupling for Pipes." Similar types of couplings used for coupling adjacent pipe ends are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,418 issued Oct. 10, 1990 to Josef Palatchy for a "Hinged Pipe Coupling," and U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,768 issued May 28, 1991 to Josef Palatchy for a "Pipe Coupling Hinge." Numerous other prior patents disclose commonly used pipe coupling formed of two or more curved segments which are connected together end-to-end to form a circular coupling which is arranged to surround a pair of aligned pipe ends for joining the pipe ends together. This type of coupling device is U-shaped in cross-section to provide parallel, radially inwardly extending legs whose continuous, free, edges form keys. These free edges or keys fit into circumferentially arranged grooves provided near the free ends of the pipes to hold the pipes together. Normally, a rubber-like gasket is arranged within the coupling and surrounds the adjacent ends of the pipes for sealing them together.
Such couplings are commonly used in water distribution systems, as for example, for sprinklers systems within buildings, and other systems for conveying liquid. The pipes used in the particular system may be formed of metal or plastic materials. The couplings are normally formed of metal.
The keys of the couple engage locations on the walls or base of the pipe grooves and exert a pressure against these locations. The pressure may be exerted in a longitudinal direction against the walls forming the grooves in the pipes or in a radially inwards direction against the bases of the grooves in the pipes, depending upon the size and shape of the keys of the coupling or the grooves in the pipes. When the coupling segments are fastened together, such as by bolts securing adjacent ends together, the radially inwardly directed forces of the keys against the bases of the pipe grooves or the longitudinally directed forces of the keys against the walls of the couplings, are readily absorbed with normally no damage to the pipes as long as the forces exerted by the keys are limited.
Where plastic pipes are used, the plastic materials that form the grooved pipes normally do not have sufficient strength to resist key pressures resulting from overtightening the fasteners of the segments. That is, excessive key pressure on the pipe groove walls or bases can damage the pipes at or near the locations engaged by the keys. Thus, the amount of manually applied force used to connect the segments by bolts or other fasteners, must be carefully controlled to avoid overtightening which would otherwise damage the pipe ends and their grooves. Normally, the installer of a piping system limits the amount of forces applied to the fastening bolts or other types of fasteners to the point where the couplings do not damage the pipes themselves. But, there are instances where overtightening inadvertently occurs and damage results.
Similarly, this problem arises where thin wall metal pipes are used in a piping system. Moreover, it is normally not feasible to connect together a relatively stronger metal pipe with a relatively weaker plastic or metal pipe because normally, frequently, more forces are applied to the coupling segment fasteners when a stronger metal pipe is involved. That may be due to the need for tighter clamping around a heavier metal pipe or may be due to carelessness or inattentiveness on the part of the installing tradesman in overlooking the need to carefully limit the forces because of the weaker pipe. In any event, coupling a weak plastic to a strong metal pipe frequently results in the coupling device damaging the plastic pipe because the forces that would normally be absorbed by the metal pipe are sufficient to cause damage to the plastic pipe groove walls or bases or crack or crush the plastic pipes.
Thus, there is has been a need for a means to protect plastic pipes against damage caused by overtightening of coupling segments around the plastic pipe and, particularly, to protect relatively weaker plastic or metal pipes sufficiently so that they may be cou0led to relatively stronger metal pipes without damage to the weaker pipes.


A method for recovering errors on a multiple disk system. The method including the steps of (a) determining a location and type for one or more errors in a plurality of blocks on the multiple disk system, (B) determining a current error of the one or more errors that is closest to a start of the plurality of blocks, (C) recovering data for the current error using data read from drives other than the drive containing the current error and (D) determining whether any further errors are present on the drive that contained the current error.

In computing, one type of data storage scheme using multiple hard drives to share or replicate data among the drives is referred to as a RAID system. The acronym RAID stands for redundant array of inexpensive disks, or redundant array of independent disks. Depending on the configuration of the RAID system, typically referred to as the RAID level, the benefit of RAID can include one or more of increased data integrity, fault tolerance, throughput or capacity when compared to single drives. One of the most popular RAID levels is RAID5. RAID5 has achieved popularity due to its low cost of redundancy. RAID systems can combine multiple low cost older technology devices into an array that offers greater capacity, reliability, speed, or a combination thereof, than is affordably available in a single device using the latest technology.
At the simplest level, a RAID system combines multiple hard drives into a single logical unit (or drive). The operating system sees a single logical drive instead of multiple different hard drives. RAID is typically used on server computers and is usually, but not necessarily, implemented with disk drives having the same size. With decreases in hard drive prices and wider availability of RAID options built into motherboard chip sets, RAID can also be found as an option in more advanced personal computers, especially in computers dedicated to storage intensive tasks such as video and audio editing. RAID5 writes are expensive in terms of disk operation and traffic between the disks and the controller.
It would be desirable to have an error recovery scheme for a RAID5 system that reduces the number of IOs and can handle multiple errors on different drives at different sectors.


Provided is a tape cartridge that smoothly delivers a tape-shaped member having detection convex portions from a tape delivery port. In addition, provided is a tape cartridge that prevents the detection convex portions from being falsely detected. The tape cartridge includes a label tape 101, a cartridge case in which the label tape 101 is accommodated, and a platen roller that is accommodated in the cartridge case and pays out the label tape 101 by rotation. The label tape 101 has a print tape 106 and a backing surface exposed portion 153 provided on the peripheries of the label portions 105 and causing the backing surface 107a to be exposed. The print tape has a backing tape having a plurality of backing convex portions partially projecting from an end in a width direction, a plurality of label portions 105 releasably affixed to a backing surface 107a of the backing tape excluding the plurality of backing convex portions, and a non-label portion 120 releasably affixed to the backing surface 107a of the backing convex portions and constituting the plurality of detection convex portions 109 with the backing convex portions.

Conventionally, there has been known an adhesive label sheet for a semiconductor manufacturing process. The adhesive label sheet includes a sheet in which a label film is laminated on the upper surface of a release substrate via an adhesive layer. In the adhesive label sheet, annular punching portions are formed at a plurality of places in the length direction of the sheet, and the label film of the punching portions is removed. Thus, a plurality of concave grooves by which the upper surface of the release substrate is exposed is provided along the length direction of the tape with margins remaining on both sides in the width direction of the tape. Of the adhesive label sheet, the label film includes a plurality of adhesive labels provided inside the respective concave grooves and the label film remaining on both sides in the width direction of the tape of the plurality of concave grooves (see Patent Document 1). Since the adhesive label sheet has the concave grooves on the peripheries of the respective label portions, the label portions are easily released from the backing tape.
In addition, the present applicant has proposed a sheet cartridge including: a backing sheet; a label sheet in which only a plurality of label portions is releasably affixed to the front surface of the backing sheet; and a cartridge case in which the label sheet is accommodated so as to be capable of being paid out, the cartridge case having a tape delivery port that delivers the paid-out label sheet to an outside (see Patent Document 2).
[Patent Document 1] JP-Y-6-018383
[Patent Document 2] JP-A-2012-171079
In the above related-art documents, consideration has not been given to light-shielding performance for detection light emitted from a light sensor that detects a label position and the strength of detection convex portions. Accordingly, there is a likelihood that jamming occurs when the detection convex portions get stuck on a tape delivery port while being ejected to the outside of a cartridge case from the tape delivery port or the light sensor falsely detects a label position due to insufficient light-shielding performance.
The present invention has an object of providing a tape cartridge that smoothly delivers a tape-shaped member having detection convex portions from a tape delivery port. In addition, the present invention has another object of preventing the detection convex portions from being falsely detected.


Semiconductor layers useable for minimizing or preventing the growth of metal whiskers, as well as devices and methods utilizing the same and kits for making the same, are described. The semiconductor layers may be nickel oxide layers. In some embodiments, an electronic device may include a substrate, a first metal layer on the substrate, a semiconductor layer comprising NiO on the first metal layer, and a second metal layer on the semiconductor layer. In some embodiments, an electronic device may include a substrate, a semiconductor layer comprising NiO directly on the substrate, and a metal layer directly on the semiconductor layer. A method for making an electronic device may include depositing a semiconductor layer comprising NiO on a substrate, and depositing a metal layer on the semiconductor layer, where the semiconductor layer substantially prevents the growth of whiskers on the metal layer.

Metals commonly used in electronics manufacturing, such as tin and zinc, as well as related alloys, often show electrically conductive hair-like crystalline structures on their surfaces, referred to as whiskers. Whiskers can lead to current leakage and short circuits in sensitive electronic equipment, causing significant losses and, in some cases, catastrophic failures in industries such as the automotive and aerospace industries. There is a need in the art for new and improved methods for mitigating or eliminating whisker-related failure.

Sn whisker growth mitigation using NiO sublayers


An apparatus and a method for performing a point-to-multi point communication in a communication system are provided. The apparatus includes a base station configured to receive and transmit at least one of data on a mobile station, control information of the mobile station, schedule information on the mobile station, and control information on a communication link with at least one base station with respect to at least one base station in which a communication link is not set up through a core network. The base station services at least one mobile station at the same time together with a base station in which a communication link is set up through a core network.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method of performing a point-to-multi point communication in a communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and a method of performing a point-to-multi point communication among a plurality of base stations.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a communication system, a base station and a base station, or a base station and a gateway can be connected point-to-point through a core network, and the connection requires much hardware.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a connection between base stations point-to-point in a communication system according to the related art.
With reference to FIG. 1, each of the base stations may be connected through a backhaul link in a communication system 10. Herein, the backhaul link refers to a link between one base station and another point-to-point through a core network. For example, a Base Station 1 (BS1) and a BS11 can be connected through a backhaul link. If the two base stations are connected point-to-point, each of the base stations may use different hardware. In this case, in order to connect the BS1 with the other eighteen base stations 2 to 19 in a 3-tier, the BS1 needs 18 items of hardware.
Accordingly, if a base station is connected to another base station through a backhaul link, hardware requirements excessively increase.
Therefore, a need exists for an apparatus and a method that can perform a point-to-multi point communication in a communication system among a plurality of base stations.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present invention.

Apparatus for point-to-multi point communication in communication system and method thereof


A computer system, more generally a master-slave system, may be configured with interrupt handling capability without additional dedicated interrupt lines. An interrupt condition may be bound with its relevant cause information and transmitted by a slave device during a typical response to any operation that a master device may have issued, such as a read or a write. In addition, a link level protocol may be configured in the bus interface of the master device to continually poll specified addresses, or to issue a unique command targeted at interrupts. The master device may be unaware of the unique requests, as the bus may remain idle as seen by the master device. The response to the unique requests may be similar to the interrupt message information transmitted as part of a response to a standard request that may be made by the master device. A master device may thus also receive interrupts without having to configure a slave device with the ability to make requests, or without the master device having to poll for interrupts.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to digital interface design, and more particularly, to bus interface design.
1. Description of the Related Art
Interrupts provide principal functionality in many computer systems. Generally, interrupts comprise asynchronous hardware signals and/or software flags indicating when respective subsystems or routines require attention. A hardware interrupt to a processor or a master controller typically causes the processor or controller to save its current execution state, and begin executing an interrupt handler. A software interrupt typically comprises instructions in an instruction set, configured to enable a context switch to the interrupt handler in a manner similar to that of a hardware interrupt. In general, interrupts provide a means to eliminate the need for a processor to use polling loops for checking/waiting for external events, by signaling the processor that an event has occurred, all the while the processor carries on executing other tasks while that event is pending.
Interrupts may be implemented in hardware with control lines, otherwise known as interrupt lines, or they may be integrated into memory subsystems, and fall into a variety of categories. Examples of interrupts include software interrupt, interprocessor interrupt, maskable interrupt, non-maskable interrupt, and spurious interrupt. Many processors will typically have an internal interrupt mask that, when set, allows software to ignore all external hardware interrupts, which provides faster access than disabling interrupts in the device itself. Sometimes, disabling and enabling interrupts on the processor itself may actually be slower. Interrupts are typically used for system timers, disk Input/Output (I/O), traps, and power-off signals, or to transfer data using various transfer protocols (e.g. Ethernet), and are often also used in type-ahead features for buffering events like keystrokes.
One key issue associated with interrupts is interrupt latency, which indicates the time period from the generation of an interrupt to the servicing of that interrupt. In many operating systems interrupts are serviced as soon as the interrupting device's interrupt handler is executed. Interrupt latency may be affected by a variety of factors, including interrupt controllers, interrupt masking, and the methods by which the operating system responds to and processes the interrupt. There is typically a tradeoff between interrupt latency, throughput, and processor utilization. Many times, design techniques that emphasize improving interrupt latency might decrease throughput and increase processor utilization. Conversely, increasing throughput may increase interrupt latency and processor utilization, while, reducing processor utilization may increase interrupt latency and decrease throughput.
For example, when a computer communicates with a secondary system, such as an Input/Output device, the computer may initiate requests—e.g. reads and writes—as a bus master. In such a system the secondary device may be configured to simply respond to these requests by returning requested data to the computer for a read, or by acknowledging a write operation. If,the secondary system needs to be serviced by the computer, or needs to notify the computer of an event that the secondary system requires the computer to service, the notification will typically occur via the interrupt line, which would be considered an out-of-band signal line. In other words, in such a system, the interrupt line would comprise an additional signal line that is not the signal line, or part of the signal lines, that convey the computer's requests and the secondary device's responses.
FIG. 1 shows a typical master-slave system, in which the master device 102 controls the clock source and provides clock signal 106. The slave device 104 in this configuration does not initiate any transactions. Data for regular transactions is transmitted via bidirectional bus 108. Control interrupts are signaled by the slave device 104 asserting the interrupt signal 110. The master device 102 may read the various status registers to determine the interrupting source. Interrupts may occur during data transactions, and can typically be serviced after a current transaction completes. As part of a response to such interrupts, the master device 102 (e.g. computer or controller) would typically have to make specific read requests to the slave device 104 over bus 108 after it [master device 102] has received the interrupt, in order to gather information about the interrupting event.
Oftentimes, systems may need to limit interconnect wires due to device size or number of I/O pins available on the device. Configuring such systems with requisite interrupt lines may be costly, or even non feasible, despite a need for the system to have interrupt handling capabilities. The removal of an interrupt line in a 2-wire bus interconnection scheme—for example, the removal of line 110 in the system of FIG. 1—may represent potential cost savings by eliminating a pin from both the computer and the secondary device(s).
Many other problems and disadvantages of the prior art will become apparent to one skilled in the art after comparing such prior art with the present invention as described herein.

Method for a slave device to convey an interrupt and interrupt source information to a master device


A visor extender for use in combination with a vehicle visor which has a visor defining an internal cavity for housing a sheath which defines a channel and an opening. A blade which has a first end and a second end is movable along the channel between a retracted position substantially within the cavity and an extended position outside of the cavity. A grip means is located adjacent the first end of the blade for selectively moving the blade between the retracted position and the extended position. A limiting means is provided which cooperates with an opening in the sheath to limit movement of the blade in the extended position. A guide means is provided on the blade adjacent the second end for guiding movement of the blade on the sheath as the blade moves in the channel between the retracted position and the extended position.

Visors are included as original equipment furnished with a motor vehicle to be disposed for extension across the windshield area of a motor vehicle in order to shield the driver and other occupant from the glare of the sun or alternative sources of light. Conventional visors do not provide uncomplicated and reliable methods of providing such protection from the sun's rays or other sources of light.
Numerous approaches have been taken in an attempt to address the problem. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,275 to Lutz discloses a housing having an auxiliary visor connected at two locations to the o visor originally mounted on the motor vehicle. Limiting stops having a lug sliding in an associated slot is used to prevent complete withdrawal of the auxiliary visors. In this construction, modification of the original visor is required to properly mount the housing containing the auxiliary visors. Furthermore, the mounting of the additional housing increases the thickness of the visor, thereby interfering with the positioning of the visor in the stored position.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,829 to Matheopoulos discloses an adjustable bi-directional vehicle visor pivotally mounted to the vehicle adjacent the windshield allowing horizontal rotation between a stored position and an operating position. The device has an opaque first visor and a second transparent tinted visor which overlays the first visor in the stored position and is selectively pivotable about the first visor when in an operating position to permit shielding both at the front and sides simultaneously. The second visor may also be positioned in parallel alignment below the first visor. In this construction, the visor is incapable of providing additional glare protection axially from the visor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,728,142 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,828,314 to Gavagan discloses a visor assembly having one or more retractable glare screens integrated with the visor so as to be extended and retracted from the visor as required. The glare screens are guided for retracted movement by slot followers travelling in elongated guide slots formed in the visor center board member. In this configuration, a slot follower is required to limit travel of the blades. In addition, such a configuration is intended for use with a visor having a center board member.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,176 to Karford discloses a visor extension unit which is adapted for releasable attachment to a conventional visor of a motor vehicle. The device includes a support frame having opposed surfaces and means for attaching one of the surfaces to the body of the visor. A pair of guide passages at opposite ends of the unit enable the visor panel to be manually moved in a horizontal direction extending either from the left side or the right side based on the location of the sun. In this construction, no limiting means exists for preventing the visor from being pulled completely outside the visor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,161 to Lee discloses an automobile visor having a vertical series of pivotally connected shield plates which are suspended from a horizontal hanging portion of a hanging rod rotatably mounted on a roof panel. The shield plates are in horizontal alignment when unfolded, each containing a side slot having a side plate horizontally extendable therefrom. In this construction, it is necessary to unfold at least one plate and then extend the insert horizontally to protect against glare. Furthermore, in this construction, no limiting means is provided for retaining the blade within one of the connected shield plates.
German Patent No. 23 32 613 to Vreeswijk discloses a vehicle visor having a handle to extend secondary blades in both the horizontal and vertical planes simultaneously by movement of a single lever. This construction is incapable of enabling movement of the single blade without simultaneous movement of the other blade.
German Patent No. DE 3421 850 to Heuckmann discloses an extra blade for an automobile visor which provides additional glare protection below the visor in the use position. In this configuration, the blade is retained within the slot by means and extensions on the secondary blade which abut shoulders adjacent the opening providing access to an internal section.
An alternative approach has been adopted by Prince Corporation which utilizes a follower on the blade cooperating with a track integrally formed in the opposing shell half. The predetermined length of the track controls the extension of the blade.
The present invention incorporates many of the known benefits of an extendable visor while improving the internal components used to manufacture the visor as well as improving the ease of use for the occupant.