The present invention relates to complexes of the FOXC2 protein with other proteins, in particular complexes of FOXC2 with proteins designated p621, NOLP, HSC71, FTP3, CLH1, and Kinase A Anchor Protein 84/149 (AKAP). The protein complexes can be used in methods of identifying agents useful for the treatment of medical conditions that can be treated by modulated FOXC2 activity, such as obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, diet-induced insulin resistance, and/or type 2 diabetes.

Obesity, hyperlipidemia, and insulin resistance are common forerunners of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The human winged helix/forkhead transcription factor gene FOXC2 has been identified as a key regulator of adipocyte metabolism (Cederberg, A. et al. (2001) Cell 106:563–573). Increased FOXC2 expression, in adipocytes, has a pleiotropic effect on gene expression, which leads to a lean and insulin sensitive phenotype. FOXC2 affects adipocyte metabolism by increasing the sensitivity of the beta-adrenergic-cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway through alteration of adipocyte PKA holoenzyme composition. Increased FOXC2 levels, induced by high fat diet, seem to counteract most of the symptoms associated with obesity, including hypertriglyceridemia and diet-induced insulin resistance; a likely consequence hereof would be protection against type 2 diabetes.
The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the human FOXC2 protein (SEQ ID NO:1), also known as FKHL14, FREAC-11, or S12, as well as the corresponding mouse mesenchyme forkhead-1 (MFH-1) protein, are known in the art, see Miura, N. et al. (1993) FEBS letters 326: 171–176; Miura, N. et al. (1997) Genomics 41: 489–492; WO 98/54216 and WO 01/60853.
Various mechanisms have been proposed for how FOXC2 function to regulate gene expression. One possibility is that FOXC2 interact with factors that are downstream of the Notch-Delta signaling pathway (Kume, T. et al. (2001) Genes & Development 15:2470–2482). For example, Groucho proteins form transcription repression complexes with bHLH transcriptions factors. It has been shown that Groucho can bind to two FOX proteins, FOXG1 and FOXA2 (Wang, J. -C. et al. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 275: 18418–18423; Yao, J. et al. (2001) Mol. Cell. Biol. 21:1962–1972), and it was suggested that similar kinds of interactions may occur with FOXC proteins (Kume et al., supra). However, an interaction between the FOXC2 protein and Groucho has not previously been demonstrated. Further, interactions of FOXC2 with any of the proteins designated p621, NOLP, Heat Shock Cognate Protein-71 (HSC71), FTP3, CLH1, or Kinase A Anchor Protein 84/149 (AKAP) have not been previously described.

Complex of a human FOXC2 protein and a FOXC2-interacting protein


A passenger car has a roof which can be lowered in a rearward vehicle structure of the vehicle body. Each lateral roof frame part is foldably connected with the rearward roof area by way of a hinge arrangement. A securing device for fastening in the respective end position is assigned to an operative position of the roof frame parts in which these project toward the front as well as to an inoperative position in which these are folded in.

This application claims the priority of 196 34 507.3, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention relates to a passenger car having a vehicle roof which can be lowered into a rearward structure of the vehicle body and which has a rearward roof area. Two lateral roof frame parts project from the rearward roof area in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle toward the front and flank and guide a roof part arrangement which can be moved between an opened and a closed end position in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
DE 42 03 228 C2 describes a passenger car having a vehicle roof which can be lowered into a rear of the vehicle body and which is provided with a stable rearward roof part and two stable lateral roof frame parts which project from the rearward roof part in the longitudinal direction toward the front and which laterally flank and guide a folding roof. The rearward roof part and the lateral roof frame parts are carried by B-columns and C-columns which are swivellably linked to the vehicle body. Lateral parts project downward from the rearward roof part in the area of the C-columns and are configured of a flexible material so as to be foldable. The B-columns and C-columns form a four-bar device for displacing and lowering the vehicle roof into a storage space in the rearward vehicle structure. As an alternative, when the vehicle roof is closed, only the folding roof can be changed into its open end position. In the lowered condition, the vehicle roof requires a relatively large space.
The Mercedes SLK Roadster has a lowerable vehicle roof as a two-part hardtop, in which the two hardtop parts can be folded together about a folding axis which extends above a rear window transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and horizontally. The roof can be lowered by corresponding kinematics in the rearward vehicle structure.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a passenger car which has a vehicle roof which can be changed into variable opening conditions while the safety and the comfort are simultaneously increased, and which requires a comparatively small storage space for the vehicle roof in its opening position.
This object has been achieved according to the present invention by providing that each lateral roof frame part is foldably connected with the rearward roof area by way of a hinge arrangement. A securing device for fixing the respective end position is associated with an operating position of the roof frame parts in which these project toward the front as well as to an inoperative position in which these are folded in. Thereby, the lateral roof frame parts, which otherwise conventionally project in a space-consuming manner from the rearward roof area, are folded toward the interior in a simple manner for the opening position. This results in a significantly reduced required depositing space, particularly with respect to the axial length, within the vehicle body.
The folding-in of the lateral roof frame parts, the vehicle roof, in its opening position, achieves a compact size. The integration of a movable roof part arrangement into the vehicle roof, which can be constructed as a lamella roof arrangement or as a folding roof arrangement, allows the vehicle interior to be changed into a comfortable opening condition even when the vehicle roof is closed.
With its rearward roof area and the lateral roof frame parts, the vehicle roof constitutes a one-part hardtop whose stability provides sufficient protection against break-ins or vandalism, increased safety with respect to intrusions in an accident, a noise and heat insulation which is improved in comparison to fabric tops and a suitability for car wash installations which is increased in comparison to fabric tops. Nevertheless, the movable roof part arrangement achieves an increased functionality because also, when the hardtop is closed, an opening condition for the vehicle interior can be achieved. In addition to being configured as a lamella roof or as a folding top, the roof part arrangement may also be constructed as a firm-lifting or a sliding roof.
As a further aspect of the present invention, the hinge arrangements of the roof frame parts are positioned on the rearward roof area at a distance from an outer contour of the roof part arrangement moved into an opening position such that the roof frame parts are arranged in an inoperative position folded in at a right angle with respect to the roof center in parallel in front of the outer contour of the roof part arrangement. This is particularly advantageous and space-saving because the roof frame parts are folded toward the interior into the area which has been vacated by the roof part arrangement displaced or moved into its opening position.
According to a yet further aspect of the present invention, each roof frame part can be folded at a right angle toward the roof center to the inside. The hinge arrangements of the two roof frame parts are arranged in a mutually offset manner in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle such that the roof frame parts in their inoperative position are positioned parallel, i.e. side-by-side in the transverse direction of the vehicle. Because the roof frame parts are not aligned with one another in the transverse direction of the vehicle but are offset with respect to one another, i.e., can be positioned behind one another in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the roof frame parts can have an increased axial length which simultaneously also provides a longer guide for the movable roof part arrangement. Consequently, when the roof part arrangement is open, a relatively large roof opening is exposed which offers a large opening condition for the vehicle interior.
According to a further modification of the present invention, the rearward roof area has two C-columns which are pulled in a wing-type manner toward the rear in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. At the beginning of the wing-type course, the C-columns lead into two cross members which are arranged at a distance above one another at least approximately at the same axial level and extend along the width of the vehicle roof. The cross members frame a rigid rear window which extends steeply with respect to a horizontal plane. The entire rearward roof area constitutes a firm component, so that the C-columns also have a correspondingly stable configuration. The wing-type course of the C-columns in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle toward the rear and the simultaneous steep arrangement of the rear window already at the beginning of the wing-type course provide a clearance between the wing-type areas of the C-columns. When the vehicle roof is lowered into the rearward vehicle structure, this clearance offers an additional storage volume and thus an enlarged trunk.
A further aspect of the present invention is the movable roof part arrangement being configured as a lamella roof. The lamella roof parts, in a pushed-together opening condition, including lateral guides, can be swivelled about a swivelling axis, which extends horizontally and transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, toward the rear to the rearward roof area into a deposited position. A detent for securing the lamella roof in the rearward roof area is associated with the depositing position of the lamella roof. Swivelling of the lamella roof from its displacement plane to the rear toward the rearward roof area arranges the hinge arrangements for the roof fame parts still farther toward the rearward roof area and thus further reduces the axial size of, the vehicle roof in the folded-in condition of the roof frame parts.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the lamella roof is provided with a drive transmission unit which has at least one coupling member which compensates for the swivel movement of the lamella roof parts between the open end position and the depositing position. As a result, the drive transmission unit, during the swivelling of the lamella roof parts into its depositing position which is inoperative, must not be separated from the lamella interconnection of the lamella roof parts so that, with repeated swivelling of the lamella composite into its operating position, the lamella roof can be operated again without significant expenditures by a corresponding drive.
Furthermore, the hinge arrangements can have axially symmetrically configured and installable lifting/swivelling hinges which, in a constructionally identical manner, can be used for left and right roof frame parts. This advantageously reduces the expenditures for the manufacturing and assembly of the vehicle roof.

Passenger car having a lowerable vehicle roof


A tire and sensor system and method includes a tire having an inflatable radially inward tire casing and a radially outward tire tread ring situated on the casing and a sensor system. The sensor system includes a first conductive medium affixed to a radially inward surface of the tread ring and a second conductive medium affixed to a radially outward surface of the casing. The second conductive medium operatively contacts the first conductive medium in a desired, relative orientation between the tire casing and the tread ring and operatively separates from the first conductive medium when tire casing and the tread ring depart from the desired orientation. A sensor is connected to the second conductive medium for operatively detecting separation of the second conductive medium from the first conductive medium.

It is important in multi-piece tire construction, particularly in two piece off-the-road (OTR) tires, to maintain tire structural integrity. Such is particularly important since proper tire inflation pressure may not always be maintained at the recommended level. The need to maintain tire structural integrity throughout the product life is, accordingly, an ongoing objective of both tire manufacturers and tire users.


An antenna assembly includes a plurality of antenna elements, a microstrip feed network that is configured to supply power to the plurality of antenna elements, and one or more resistors disposed within the microstrip feed network proximate to one or more of the plurality of antenna elements. The resistors are configured to control sidelobes of the antenna assembly.

An antenna typically includes an array of conductors electrically connected to an electronic receiver or a transmitter. An electronic transmitter provides a time-varying voltage to terminals of the antenna, which, in response, radiates electromagnetic radio waves at a frequency corresponding to the time-varying voltage. Alternatively, as radio waves are received by the antenna, a time-varying voltage corresponding to the frequency of the radio wave is generated at the terminals, which, in turn is provided to the electronic receiver. Various types of known passive antennas are configured to transmit and receive radio waves with such a reciprocal behavior.
In some aerospace applications, there is a need for antennas that are capable of being positioned on conformal or non-planar surfaces, such as wings and fuselages of aircraft. Small aircraft, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones, in particular, have surfaces with low radii of curvature. Such aircraft typically need light weight antennas with low aerodynamic drag and low visibility. Further, various surfaces of aircraft may be formed from conductive or carbon fiber materials, which are known to change the electrical behavior of antennas, such as monopole and dipole antennas and derivatives (for example, whip, blade, Yagi, and other such antennas).
In certain applications, such as radar and imaging, an antenna is configured to direct energy in a particular direction. A typical antenna array generates a main beam and sidelobes. However, the sidelobes may emit power in undesired directions.
Active electronically steerable antennas (AESAs) are electronically configured to reduce sidelobes. However, AESAs typically consume substantial power and are costly.


A method and system for transferring content to a communication device or other destination are described. In one embodiment, the system comprises a subscription service to create and store subscriptions to a channel; a channel queue to obtain a multimedia message associated with the channel; and a delivery engine to cause an alert notification containing the multimedia message to be delivered to an eligible subscriber's mobile phone.

Mobile phone usage has reached the point where the majority of people in developed nations own one. Many people today have access to information via a personal computer or other Web-enabled device and also own a cell phone or personal digital assistant (PDA). Modern mobile phones are loaded with a variety of features such as a digital camera, messaging features, and an ability to download and playback multimedia files, in addition to more traditional features such as storing the user's address book or a contact list.
Some providers offer alerts service that allows mobile phone users to receive emails or text messages on their mobile phone notifying them, for example, of local events, weather forecast, or business news. Text messages are typically SMS messages. SMS, Short Message Service, usually refers to wireless alphanumeric text messages sent to a mobile phone. While a mobile phone user may be interested in viewing particular content in multimedia format, the alerts are delivered to the user's mobile phone as text messages.
With the advent in the versatility of the mobile phones it is becoming more and more desirable for a user to be able to subscribe to and receive alerts in a multimedia format.

Method and system to deliver multimedia alerts to a mobile phone


A vehicle is provided which enables rear occupants to sit on a rear seat in a vehicle provided with seats arranged in a substantially longitudinal direction while simultaneously securing the comfort and safety of the rear occupants in a relatively small vehicle. The seat structure of the vehicle includes a wide rear seat provided with right and left seated parts for rear occupants M2, M2 at a rear side of a front seat for a driver. A backrest corresponding to the right and left seated parts is provided on the rear seat that extends diagonally rearward from a center portion thereof toward sides of the vehicle body. Raised, convex portions for regulating the lateral movement of the occupants are provided between each seated part in the rear seat, at the center of the backrest and in the front seat.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for the improvement of a vehicle provided with seats arranged in a generally longitudinal direction.
2. Description of the Background Art
A vehicle of the background art is provided with a rear seat for rear occupants who are positioned sitting behind a front seat of a driver's seat. This seating arrangement is further described in Japanese Patent Document No. JP-A-3-67287, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. In this type of vehicle seating arrangement, a scooter-type double motorcycle or a scooter-type three-wheeled vehicle is provided in which a rider that steers a handlebar sits in a front seat and a rear occupant(s) sit in a rear seat(s).
In these types of seating arrangements, the present inventors have determined that it is desirable in a vehicle such as a motorcycle or a three-wheeled vehicle to provide for a maximum number of occupants without substantially increasing the size of the required seating area and the vehicle itself. Therefore, it will be desirable to enable the seating of more than one rear occupants on a single rear seat while simultaneously ensuring the safety and comfort of the rear occupants.


An integrated circuit device for use in an automobile. The integrated circuit device includes a first oscillator configured to generate a first clock signal, a second oscillator configured to generate a second clock signal, a comparator circuit configured to compare a frequency of the first clock signal with a frequency of the second clock signal, and configured to generate a selection signal for selecting either of the first clock signal or the second clock signal, and a selector configured to output an output clock signal that is selected from among a plurality of outputs including the first clock signal and the second clock signal in response to the select signal.

The present invention relates to an integrated circuit device, and relates in particular to an integrated circuit device having multiplexed oscillators.
Integrated circuit devices require a high level of functional safety. In-vehicle ICs (integrated circuits) for example require a high level of functional safety, and functional safety relating to automobile electrical and electronic functions are established as an international standard in IS026262.
Functional safety generally includes the following stages. Stage 1: detect abnormalities and stop operation. Stage 2: Maintain operation by switching to a correctly operating circuit when an abnormality is detected. Manufacturers of automobiles and electrical equipment are currently proceeding to achieve stage 1 while aiming to attain stage 2 in the future and to achieve those functions.
Amidst these circumstances, in-vehicle IC is also currently required to have functional safety when an abnormality occurs in the internal circuits. Progress is being made among in-vehicle IC for example towards (circuit) redundancy and so on, with designs that stop operation if there is an abnormality in one (circuit). Moreover, even higher safety performance is being demanded for in-vehicle IC and the goal is to achieve the second stage.
The oscillator is one of the main elements in the integrated circuit and demands are also being made for functional safety in the oscillator. This state has led to proposals for semiconductor devices configured from multiplexed oscillators.
A multiplexed timer device containing three oscillators for example is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-252086. The multiplexed timer device disclosed in this publication contains three oscillators and three timer counters coupled to the respective oscillators. The timer device is designed to compare the count values from each of the timer counters with an average count value for the three timer counters, and select the count value nearest the average value for use as a timer output signal. The timer device is capable of detecting a breakdown or lower accuracy in one timer counter, and also utilizing the timer counter among the three timer counters having the highest accuracy to continue operation.
The above multiplexed timer device however operates by comparing the count value with the average value so that the structure requires three or more oscillators. This larger number of oscillators is not preferable due to the resulting increased circuit scale.
A technology on the other hand disclosing an information processing device having a multiplexed clock system utilizing two oscillators is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-205154. The information processing device in this publication contains two clock boards respectively including the clock source, and a plurality of system boards. One of the two clock boards is utilized to generate operation clock (pulses) and other clock board is utilized to generate standby clock. These generated operation clocks and standby clocks are supplied to each system board. Each system board contains a clock detector circuit to detect whether or not operation clocks are being supplied. When the clock detector circuit detects that there are no operation clocks (or stoppage of the operation clock), the information processing device switches the clock being used from the (current) operation clock to the standby clock.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An apparatus for inserting and extracting an integrated circuit package (IC) of the type having pins from terminals of a socket installed on a circuit board. The apparatus includes a package support member positioned between the package and socket, a cover attached over the package, and a socket support member between the socket and the circuit board to support the socket. The package support member has thru-holes to permit the package pins to extend through the member and engage terminals installed in the socket. The apparatus further includes an insertion/extraction member coupled to the package support member. The insertion/extraction member can be placed in a position between the package support member and the socket support member such that movement of the insertion/extraction member causes the pins to engage corresponding terminals of the socket and when placed in a position between the socket support member and the circuit board, movement of the insertion/extraction member causes pins to withdraw from the terminals.

This invention relates to the insertion and extraction of integrated circuit packages from circuit boards.
As is known in the art, integrated circuit (IC) packages can have anywhere from a few to in excess of one thousand pins. The IC packages are often soldered directly to a circuit board to assure a relatively permanent connection between the IC package and board. However, in some applications, it may be desired that the package be mounted indirectly to the board through an electrical socket. In this way, the integrated circuit can be replaced or removed for testing without the need for reheating solder joints which may, in some cases, cause damage to the integrated circuit and board.
Inserting and removing IC packages from a socket is generally not a problem if the package has a small number of pins, because the forces associated with each pin and socket terminal are relatively insignificant. However, for IC packages having a larger number of pins, such as many of the pin grid array (PGA) packages introduced in the last few years, the aggregate force of the many pin/socket terminal connections can become so high that insertion and particularly extraction of the integrated circuit is difficult. In such situations, insertion and extraction can cause damage (i.e., cracking, nicking) to the PGA package.
A number of tools are available for inserting and extracting integrated circuits from sockets. One type of insertion tool is operated by positioning the tool over the package and rotating a knob in a first direction to allow a pair of claws to grip the package. Continued rotation of the knob causes a plunger to apply a downward force on the package, inserting it into the socket. Rotation of the knob in the opposite direction releases the package from the claws of the tool. An extraction tool similarly has a knob and a pair of claws which are positioned over the package. Rotation of the knob causes the claws to grip the package and to move away from the socket and extract the package.
Another extraction tool is simply a lever member having an end with gripping teeth. The teeth are positioned between the package and the board and a downward force is applied to the lever member so that the package is pried away from the board.
Still another apparatus for extracting an IC package is discussed in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,985,989, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Removing a Multi-Pin Component Installed in Sockets on a Circuit Board", issued on Jan. 22, 1991. Rotation of a screw provides an upward force on the lower surface of the integrated circuit extracting it from the socket.

Apparatus for extracting an integrated circuit package installed in a socket on a circuit board


A multiplexer for use in conjunction with a cell-based network, which includes a plurality of access terminals each of which receives respective cells, each of the cells having one of a plurality of different classifications, a plurality of FIFO buffers each of which is coupled to a respective one of the access terminals for queuing the cells received at the respective access terminals, a plurality of decoding elements each of which is coupled to a respective one of the FIFO buffers, and, an allocation circuit which generates a coded selection signal that is applied to each of the decoding elements, wherein the decoding elements each decode the coded selection signal for selectively reading the cells out of the FIFO buffers in a manner whereby the cells are read out of the FIFO buffers in an order which is dependent upon their classification. In the disclosed embodiment, the allocation circuit includes a memory which stores indexed connection time and date data at addressable storage locations in the memory, wherein the connection time and date data is stored in a hierarchical fashion according to respective connection priority levels, and is organized in different blocks each comprised of groups of connections having the same priority level, an addressing circuit which cycles through the memory addresses in such a manner that the connection time and date data of the highest priority level group is read out first and the connection time and date data of the lowest priority level group is read out last, a current date generating circuit which generates a current date at an allocation circuit cycle rate, a comparison circuit which compares the data and time of a currently addressed connection with the current date and which issues a validation signal upon detecting a match, and, a selector circuit which generates the coded selection signal in response to the validation signal.

The present invention relates to a multiplexer for an ATM network, e.g., such as the one described in European Patent Specification No. 0 618 749.
The ATM technique (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) makes it possible to transmit data of different types (sound, image, files etc.) on the same carrier. These data are arranged in packets called cells which have a standardized length of 53 bytes. An address contained in the header and formed by two fields, the VPI (Virtual Path Identifier) and the VCI (Virtual Channel Identifier) ensures the routing of the cells within the ATM network and thus permits of setting up a connection between a calling subscriber and a called subscriber. The payload of the transmission frame is called the ATM path. A succession of ATM cells which have the same VPI constitutes a virtual path VP. The route followed by a succession of ATM cells for the same VPI and the same VCI forms a virtual channel VC.
However, although the basic format of the cell is the same for all the data of different kinds, each of the connections one has to provide for each kind has its own characteristics in terms of traffic and Quality of Service (QoS). The characteristics, (including price . . . ) of each connection are to be specified in a detailed manner in the contract which binds the user of the ATM connection and the operator of the network. This contact binds both the user and the network provider:
The network provider agrees to transmit the user's data (ATM cells) with a certain service quality (specified in terms of average or maximum cell transmission time, number of error cells, number of lost cells etc. . . . ), for a traffic pattern specified in the contract and at a price fixed in the contract.
The user undertakes to pay for the data transmission service provided for him by the network, and is advised that if he does not comply with the traffic pattern specified in the contract, the network will no longer guarantee the service quality (for example, the network may destroy cells which are "outside" the traffic pattern fixed by the contract),
For accessing the ATM network, one is thus confronted with rate constraints and with problems of jitter both as regards the virtual path VP and as regards the virtual channel VC. The jitter which manifests itself by an irregularity in the time of appearance of the cells is particularly annoying for applications called real-time applications, for example, for video services.

Multiplexer for an ATM network which employs a hierarchical cell allocation scheme


A CAD/CAM unit data generating process which allows machining control data to be generated efficiently, and independently of the sequence of shape definition. Machining sequence information is derived from shape defining information and machining information generated in correspondence with machining conditions. The machining sequence information is rearranged in accordance with selected conditions for rearranging the machining sequence information, such as machining type, height priority, tool sequence, and other operator inputs. The results are stored for future access.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a CAD/CAM unit data generating process which allows data for efficient machining to be generated independently of a shape defining sequence.
2. Description of the Background
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a CAD/CAM unit known in the art. The unit has an input device 1, comprising one or more of a keyboard 2, a mouse 3 and a tablet 4, that is employed for entering shape information (e.g., round, square, height etc.), character information, etc. A shape defining section 5 is used for converting the entered shape information into data corresponding to an internal storage format. A machining defining section 6 is where machining information, used for starting and finishing a shape in correspondence with the entered shape information, is generated in response to character information from input device 1. A shape information memory 7 is used for storing the output of the shape defining section. A machining information memory 8 is used for storing the output of the machining defining section 6. A process analyzer 11 sequentially analyzes the shape information and machining information output by the shape information memory 7 and machining information memory 8, respectively. The analyzer 11 then determines how the workpiece is to be machined. A NC information generator 12 decides upon an appropriate machining path in accordance with the information analyzed by the process analyzer 11 and generates NC control data. A NC data file 13 is used for storing the NC data generated by the NC information generator 12. A machining path display 14, that performs display processing of the NC data, is also operative to control the display on a CRT 15 of the machining path.
Operation of the conventional CAD/CAM unit will now be described. First, an operator controls the keyboard 2, mouse 3 and tablet 4 of the input device 1 to enter shape information (geometric information such as coordinate values, depths, heights, etc). The input shape information is converted into data corresponding to an internal storage format by the shape defining section 5, then stored in the shape information memory 7. At this time, the shape information is arranged on the basis of one or more machining units. Where plural units are required for a single shape, they are stored in a shape defining sequence.
Information concerning the machining conditions (information such as tool names and feed rates) for each machining unit for a shape, as described previously, also is entered from the input device 1 by the operator. The entered machining information is converted into data corresponding to the internal storage format by the machining defining section 6, then stored in the machining information memory 8 on a machining unit basis and in a shape defining sequence.
The information is stored in the shape information memory 7 and machining information memory 8 in the manner shown in FIG. 10. That Figure illustrates the organization and sequence for storing shape information and machining information so that NC information corresponding to the three-step pocket machining, illustrated in FIG. 11, can be effectively generated. Specifically, the shape information has been entered by the operator in order of shape a, shape b and shape c, and the machining information also has been input in the order a, b, c. The machining information is arranged to have a direct correspondence to its respective shape. As seen in the Figure, it is linked to the shape information and is arranged in a list structure in the same order. In this manner, geometric information such as the coordinate values, depths, etc. of each shape is stored in the shape information memory 7, and tool names, feedrates, etc. employed for the machining of each shape are correspondingly stored in the machining information memory 8.
The information in the shape information memory 7 and machining information memory 8 is then analyzed by the process analyzer 11, sequentially. At this time, retrieval is made in accordance with the list structure and therefore the information is analyzed in order of shape a, shape b and shape c. The analysis identifies relative heights, sizes and geometries of the several shapes and may prioritize or weight the several shapes.
A machining path is then determined by the NC information generator 12 in accordance with the analysis results of the process analyzer 11. The selected machining path is written to the NC data file 13 in the sequence from shape a to shape c. The data defining the selected machining path may be processed by the machining path display 14 for display of the selected machining path on the CRT 15.
In the conventional CAD/CAM unit data generating process carried out as described above, the machining sequence is set according to the shape defining sequence. However, in practice, shapes alone cannot determine the machining sequence, particularly where the shapes are complex. To carry out efficient machining, shapes often are defined after the machining sequence has been examined in detail. Because of this interrelationship between the shape and machining sequence, a significant amount of time is required for the generation of NC data, thus resulting in an inefficient operation. Moreover, when the shapes are complex, or closely similar in size or contour, errors can occur such that the proper order of machining is not followed, e.g., the highest point in a workpiece is not machined last.
It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages in the conventional unit by providing a CAD/CAM unit data generating process which allows data to be generated efficiently, independently of the sequence of shape definition.

CAD/CAM unit data generating apparatus and process


A method of verifying a condition of a single-crystal pressure sensor is provided. The method includes providing a single-crystal pressure sensor that has at least one electrical characteristic that varies with applied pressure being coupled to a first output and a second output. The pressure sensor also has at least one resistive element therein. A current is applied through the resistive element to heat the pressure sensor. At least one output of the pressure sensor is monitored to determine a response of the pressure sensor to current-induced heat. A verification output is provided based on the response.

Pressure sensors are used to measure pressures in a number of industrial applications. One type of pressure sensor is known as a deflectable-diaphragm pressure sensor. In these pressure sensors, a pressure is applied, either directly or through an incompressible fill fluid, to a deflectable diaphragm. An electrode, such as a capacitive plate, is coupled to the deflectable diaphragm such that movement of the diaphragm plate changes an electrical characteristic, such as capacitance, which can be measured and related to the pressure. Deflectable-diaphragm based pressure sensors are used in differential, absolute, and gage pressure sensors.
Pressure sensors frequently operate in harsh environments such as high process temperatures or corrosive process fluids. One technique which has been used under such harsh conditions is to separate and isolate the pressure sensor from the process fluid whose pressure is being measured. One technique uses an isolation diaphragm which has process fluid on one side and an isolation fluid is on the other side. The isolation fluid couples the isolation diaphragm to the sensing diaphragm of the pressure sensor. As the process fluid pressure changes, the isolation diaphragm responsively deflects which causes the change in pressure to be transferred through the isolation fluid to the pressure sensor diaphragm. Pressure sensors with isolation diaphragms are well known in the art. However, to create such an isolated system adds cost and complexity. Further, the fluid can leak due to over pressure or mechanical damage resulting in loss of fluid volume or fill fluid which has been contaminated by process fluid.
In some applications, it is desirable to use a single-crystal pressure sensor. Single-crystal pressure sensors offer a number of advantages over other types of deflectable-diaphragm pressure sensors. The single-crystal pressure sensor provides extremely low hysteresis, high frequency response, and extreme resistance to both chemical attack and thermal breakdown. One particular single-crystal pressure sensor is constructed from sapphire. Since the single-crystal pressure sensor has such extreme resistance to chemical attack and thermal breakdown, it can be used in applications where no fill fluid is used. Thus, the process fluid may directly contact the single-crystal pressure sensor diaphragm. Accordingly, for some applications, single-crystal pressure sensors are a primary choice for process fluid pressure measurement.
While the process control measurement industry has developed significant diagnostic capabilities for determining the health and operational status of process communication, process device electronics, and even some process sensors, such diagnostics for single-crystal pressure sensors have not been developed. U.S. Pat. No. 7,918,134 provides a thermal-based diagnostic system for a pressure transmitter where a heat pulse is applied to a fill fluid in a process fluid pressure transmitter. The heat pulse affects the volume of the fill fluid and the changing volume can be measured with the pressure sensor in order to diagnose and/or verify operation of the pressure sensor. While such diagnostics are highly useful for fill fluid-based process fluid pressure sensor systems, they do not address applications where no such fill fluid is provided. Specifically, in some single-crystal pressure sensor applications, the process fluid itself is applied directly to the deflectable diaphragm of the pressure sensor. Accordingly, there is no fill fluid, and thus the diagnostics of the '134 patent are not usable.
Providing enhanced diagnostics and verification relative to single-crystal pressure sensors would increase the reliability and enhance field maintenance relative to applications where such sensors are employed.

Thermal diagnostic for single-crystal process fluid pressure sensor


An arrangement for producing a fibrous mat from a heated die source wherein the produced mat includes a first layered, preselected fiber portion of substantially straight fibers produced by directing such fibers directly to a collector source and a second layered preselected fiber portion of substantially curled fibers produced by diverting and exerting an external vortically creative curling force thereon before reaching the collector source.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method, apparatus and product relating to fibrous mat and more particularly to a unique and novel arrangement for making fibrous mat in such a manner that the resulting spun fibrous layered mat has a controlled variable porosity. The present invention has particular applicability to polymer fibrous mat produced by melt blowing die apparatus but it is to be understood that the present invention can be readily utilized in layered mat production wherein fibrous mats of other fibrous materials in addition to preselected polymer material—such as glass—are extracted in die attenuated form from a heated die source unto a spaced collector source.
2. Description of the Related Art
Layered fibrous mat composed of fibers attenuated from a heated die source unto a spaced layered mat collector surface are generally well known in both the glass and melt blown arts but none have utilized the unique and novel arrangement disclosed herein. Although, as above-noted, the present invention is not to be considered as limited to die spinning polymer materials from heated melt blown die sources, the unique and novel arrangement set forth herein has particular applicability in the melt blowing die spinning arrangements as disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,812, issued to Kyung-Ju Choi on Mar. 10, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,482, issued to Kyung-Ju Choi on Apr. 6, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,976,209, issued to Kyung-Ju Choi on Nov. 2, 1999; and, U.S. Pat. No. 5,976,427, issued to Kyung-Ju Choi, also on Nov. 2, 1999.
The external treatment of fibers with respect to a fiber collecting source is generally well known in the production of non-woven fabrics, attention being directed to U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,312, issued to D. J. Haley on Jun. 20, 1978 wherein fibers are collected from two fiber feeding sources to a pair of moving collecting surfaces to form a nip; to U.S. Pat. No. 4,100,324, issued to R. A. Anderson, et al. on Jul. 11, 1978, wherein wood pulp fibers are added to a matrix of collected polymeric melt blown micro fibers; to U.S. Pat. No. 4,267,002, issue to C. H. Sloan on May 21, 1981, wherein fibers are formed in elongated rod shape with a heavy build-up in a central portion and a light build-up in a lip portion folded back over the central portion; to U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,466, issued to S. Fujii, et al. on Mar. 1, 1983, wherein melt blown fibers are collected in a valley-like fiber-collecting zone formed by relatively moveable and compressible porous plates which have a controlled number of pores; and, finally to U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,733, issued to J. C. Lau on Jul. 2, 1955, wherein a fluid stream of attenuated fibers is preselectively temperature treated upon exiting die tip orifices to provide improved collected web properties.
Although these above-noted patents disclose various external treatments of fiber streams attenuated from heated die sources, none teaches or suggests, either alone or in combination, the economical and straight-forward arrangement which includes the novel diversion and vertically creating force exertion of a selected portion of fiber streams to provide a selected variable porosity of the total fibrous mat as it passes to a fiber collecting source.
The present invention provides a unique and novel die attenuated fiber arrangement including a straight-forward, economical and inventively unified production method, apparatus and final layered fibrous mat product which allows for efficient and economic control of the porosity of a layered fibrous mat product which can have a selected variable density and porosity. Using the layered fibrous mat as a filter media with an upstream side having a portion being of substantially curled fibers with a larger porosity than a downstream side increases the holding capacity of the filter media with minimal increase in pressure drop across the layered fibrous mat. The present invention accomplishes the unique features thereof with a minimum of apparatus parts and method steps in both manufacture and maintenance and, at the same time, allows for ready adjustment to control variable mat density and porosity in selected areas of a produced fibrous mat.
Various other features of the present invention will become obvious to one skilled in the art upon reading the disclosure set forth herein.

Arrangement for forming a layered fibrous mat of varied porosity


An energy storage system can comprise: an energy storage device and a temperature management device and controller configured for establishing an intra-cell temperature gradient along the axis when the energy storage device is in an idle state. The energy storage device can have an axis and comprise a housing having an axis and an interior surface defining a volume; a separator disposed in the volume and having a first surface that defines at least a portion of a first chamber and a second surface that defines at least a portion of a second chamber; a cathodic material in ionic communication with the separator; and an electrolyte in ionic communication with the cathodic material and the separator. The first chamber can be in ionic communication with the second chamber through the separator.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure relates to energy storage devices and in particular to a method of operating a sodium metal halide electrochemical cell.
2. Discussion of Art
Work has been done on rechargeable batteries that use sodium as the negative electrode. Sodium has a standard reduction potential of −2.71 volts (V), is relatively low weight, non-toxic, abundant, and economically desirable in the form of sodium chloride. The sodium anode can be used in liquid form, and the melting point of sodium is 98° Celsius (C.). An ion conducting solid electrolyte (separator) separates the liquid sodium anode from a positive electrode (cathode).
The cathode includes a material that can be oxidized/reduced upon charging/discharging the cell. Within the cathode, a liquid electrolyte transports ions to and from the separator on the cathode side. The sodium-ion conductivity of the two electrolytes, determines the minimum operating temperature of the battery. In the case where the liquid electrolyte is a molten salt, the melting point of the salt determines the minimum temperature.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,006,427 to Böhm et al, is directed to a storage battery. Böhm et al. express concerns regarding thermal overloads in the cells and disclose that an object of their invention is to construct cells of a battery in such a manner that uniform cooling of the cell is realized with low expenditures of energy for cooling and a minimal temperature gradient within the cells, with a simple battery configuration having simple interconnections.
US Patent Publication No. 2009/0169990 to Gardner et al. is directed to a battery design with asymmetrical terminals. The cell includes a plurality of electrode sheets separated by at least one separator sheet. A positive extension tab is attached to current collecting tabs of positive electrode sheets, and a negative extension tab is attached to current collecting tabs of the negative electrode sheets. The dimensions of the positive extension tab and the negative extension tab are selected such that temperature difference between the positive extension tab and the negative extension tab are minimized when the electrochemical cell is in use.
There is a continual desire in the industry to improve the power capability, energy content, cycle life, and/or calendar life of energy storage devices.

System and methods of using a sodium metal halide cell


A semiconductor device has an active region composed of an impurity diffused region formed in a substrate. The impurity diffused region is divided into a plurality of impurity diffused sub-regions formed separately from each other in the substrate but electrically coupled to each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and more specifically to a silicon semiconductor device.
2. Description of Related Art
In conventional semiconductor devices, an impurity diffused region has been formed without being divided, regardless of the size of the impurity diffused region. However, in the case of a silicon substrate, if phosphorus, boron or antimony is diffused at a high degree of concentration, the lattice constant of the impurity diffused region has deviated from an inherent lattice constant of a silicon crystal. If a crystal strain caused by the deviation of the lattice constant exceeds an elastic limit of the silicon, crystal defect (misfit dislocation) occurs in the impurity diffused region and on the periphery of the impurity diffused region. This is well known to persons skilled in the art. For example, it was reported in Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 38, pp81-87 (1967) that the misfit dislocation occurred in the case of diffusing P.sub.2 O.sub.5 at 1000.degree. C. for 15 minutes so as to obtain a phosphorus concentration of 3.times.10.sup.22 atoms/cm.sup.3 at a wafer surface. If this misfit dislocation penetrates an emitter-base junction and a base-collector junction of a bipolar transistor and a drain region and a source region of a MOS transistor, it becomes a cause for a junction leakage. Therefore, it has been a conventional practice to set the impurity diffusion concentration at a level which does not allow the misfit to occur.
As seen from the above, in the conventional semiconductor devices, even if it is desired to diffuse impurities at a high degree of concentration so as to reduce a resistance of the impurity diffused region, the impurity concentration has been restrained to prevent misfits which would otherwise occur in a surface of the diffused region because the impurity concentration becomes very high at the surface of the diffused region. As a result, it has not been possible to sufficiently reduce the resistance of the diffused region.


An ink-jet ink including water, a pigment dispersion, a water-soluble polymerizing or cross-linking substance having an ethylenic unsaturated group, and a water-soluble photo-initiator, wherein the pigment dispersion is anionic, and the photo-initiator is anionic and a cleaving-type photo-initiator having an anionic group pendanted on a mother nucleus selected from a benzylketal type mother nucleus, a benzoine type mother nucleus, an a-hydroxyacetophenone type mother nucleus, and an oxime ester type mother nucleus.

An ink-jet recording method is capable of recording a highly precise image with a relatively simple apparatus and has rapidly developed in variety of fields. Further, the application covers a wide range and a recording medium or ink suitable for each purpose is utilized. Particularly, in recent years, significant improvement of a recording speed has been achieved and development of a printer having ability competent for a small scale printing application is on the way.
However, an ink-jet recording method has disadvantages of generating beading, in which a line of a bead form is drawn even when a straight line is drawn, because an image is formed by ejecting liquid droplets having a low viscosity, and color mixing (called as bleeding), because an image is formed by simultaneously ejecting inks having different colors having low viscosity; and various attempts has been made to overcome them.
An UV ink-jet method, in which ink utilizing a colorant, a polymerizing material and a photo-initiator is ejected and cured by ultraviolet exposure, has been disclosed (for example, please refer to Patent Document 1).
In this method, beading and bleeding are prevented by curing the image portion in a very short time by irradiation of ultraviolet rays on the image potion formed by an ink-jet printer, and application in a small scale printing, which requires a high speed printing, is expected. However, it is necessary to irradiate extremely strong ultraviolet rays for curing of UV ink-jet ink presently utilized and an apparatus becomes large resulting in no achievement of wide popularization; and UV ink having high optical sensitivity has been required.
On the other hand, in conventional ink-jet ink, there was a disadvantage of an image portion being risen compared to a non-image portion and gloss difference between an image portion and a non-image portion, compared to a printing method in which water based ink and exclusive ink-jet paper are utilized, with respect to image quality, because a polymerizing or a cross-linking material occupies the most part of ink.
To depress this gloss difference, solvent type UV ink in which a pigment and a polymerizing material are dissolved in a solvent (for example, please refer to Patent Document 2) and a water-based ultraviolet polymerizing monomer, which employs a water soluble polymerizing material and water as a solvent, has been proposed (for example, please refer to Patent Document 3). However, since it is necessary to utilize a polymerizing material as much as to influence ejection ability due to utilization of a low molecular weight compound as a polymerizing material, the aforesaid technology has not come to be in practical use.
A water-based UV ink utilizing a water-soluble and cross-linking polymer has been proposed as an ink in which the ejection stability and depression of gloss difference have been improved and high sensitivity is provided (for example, please refer to Patent Document 4). By utilizing this ink, ejection stability and depression of gloss difference have been improved as well as bleeding and beading of images have been remarkably depressed. However, it is still insufficient as for such as a black ink with respect to a optical sensitivity, and further improvement of optical sensitivity is required to prevent bleeding and beading with a small light source.
Further, there is an attempt to increase photo-sensitivity by utilizing water-soluble acyl phosphine oxide as a photo-initiator and a water-soluble polymerizing compound having a plurality of acrylic groups (for example, please refer to Patent Document 5). There is surely a description that since an acyl phosphine oxide has an absorption wavelength covering as long as 420 nm, bleeding can be prevented when the acyl phosphine oxide is applied in a cyan ink having small absorption around 400 nm. However, by only employing acyl phosphine oxide in a black ink having light absorption in the whole color range, considerable decrease of optical sensitivity is caused and it was not sufficient to prevent bleeding and beading.
[Patent Document 1] U.S. Pat. No. 4,228,438
[Patent Document 2] Examined Japanese Patent Application Publication No. (hereinafter, referred to as JP-B) 5-64667
[Patent Document 3] Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication No. (hereinafter, referred to as JP-A) 7-224241
[Patent Document 4] PCT International Application Publication No. 06/80139
[Patent Document 5] JP-A 2005-307199

Ink-jet ink and ink-jet recording method


A photomask (1900) for producing partial-depth features (712 and 912) in a photo-imageable polymer layer (412) on a wafer of a chip scale package (200) using exposure tools capable of resolving sizes of a critical dimension or larger, has a plurality of chrome lines (2101–2103). Each chrome line has a width (2105) that is less than the critical dimension, and each chrome line of the plurality of chrome lines is spaced apart less than the critical dimension. The plurality of chrome lines produces a single partial-depth feature, such as a via, through part of a thickness of the polymer layer. Alternatively, the photomask has a plurality of chrome circles (2206), each chrome circle having a diameter less than the critical dimension and being spaced apart less than the critical dimension, which produces the partial-depth feature. The photomask may also have chrome of width greater than the critical dimension and spaced from other chrome by a distance greater than the critical dimension, which produces a full-depth feature through the entire thickness of the polymer film. The partial-depth feature and the full-depth feature are produced substantially simultaneously during a single series of photo-imaging steps. By preselecting a size, shape and distance between the chrome, the photomask is capable of inscribing discernable markings on the polymer layer, of changing the thickness of the polymer layer, and of changing an optical property of the surface of the polymer layer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to imaging in a photo-imageable polymer film on a semiconductor wafer, and more particularly to forming a structural feature, for example, a via, partially through a thickness of the polymer film.
2. Description of the Related Art
A wafer-level chip scale package (CSP) is a package for an integrated circuit that is substantially the size of the integrated circuit or of a flip chip, which uses a wafer-level processing technique. Unlike a flip chip, the wafer-level CSP has one or more passivation layers on the active side of the die. Each passivation layer typically comprises a layer of photo-imageable polymer film. The wafer-level CSP is smaller than a standard ball grid array (BGA), typically uses metal traces of a re-distribution layer (RDL) to route solder ball pads to standard pitches, and uses CSP-size solder balls on the re-routed pads. A wafer-level CSP uses a standard surface mount technology assembly process that is also used for BGAs, and does not require underfill.
When a polymer film is imaged, it is generally desired that a structural feature, such as a via or a hole, is achieved through the entire film thickness, or layer. All photo-imageable polymer film systems and processes, have some minimum size, or critical dimension, for example, ten (10) microns, that is resolvable to open the structural feature, or feature, completely through the layer. Assuming that the layer is in an x-y plane of an x-y-z coordinate system, a depth of the feature is in the z direction. A structural feature that penetrates completely through the layer of polymer film is a full-depth feature. To make a full-depth feature, the smaller of the dimensions of the feature in the x-y plane, must be larger than the critical dimension. A feature in which the smaller of the dimensions of the feature in the x-y plane is smaller than the critical dimension, is a partial-depth feature and does not penetrate completely through the layer.
The critical dimension is determined by many factors including the type of material comprising the layer, the thickness of the layer, the exposure tool used, several exposure process parameters such as exposure energy, exposure time and depth of focus, and several developing process parameters such as the developing solution, temperature and time.
A photomask, which comprises a UV light-blocking material, such as chrome, disposed on a transparent glass or quartz plate, is used to expose a polymer film. A prior art photomask has chrome disposed in patterns that have a shape and size of the features that are desired to be produced in the polymer film. In the case of a negative acting polymer film, polymer film exposed to light becomes cross-linked and cannot be developed, i.e., removed, from the exposed area. In the case of a positive acting film, the polymer film exposed to light is removed during development.
Using prior art methods, a partial-depth feature in which its smaller dimension is greater than the critical dimension cannot be formed in a polymer film at the same time, i.e., during a single series of photo-imaging steps using one photomask, as a full-depth feature is formed.

Forming partial-depth features in polymer film


A delay circuit having standby state and active state and designed to output at least one signal obtained by delaying an input signal. The delay circuit comprises a storage circuit and at least one amplifier circuit. In operation, the storage circuit receives an input signal, generates a first voltage when the input signal is inverted, and generates a second voltage from a difference between the first voltage and a first supply voltage. The amplifier circuit amplifies the difference between the first voltage and the second voltage. The storage circuit includes at lease one constant-voltage generating section for generating the first voltage when the input signal is inverted, at least one constant-current generating section for generating a current proportional to the difference between the first voltage and the first supply voltage, and at least one capacitor having a first terminal set at the first supply voltage or a second supply voltage, and a second terminal charged to the first supply voltage while the delay circuit remains in the standby state and charged or discharged to the second voltage with the current generated by the constant-current generating section while the delay circuit remains in the active state.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a delay circuit and an improved oscillation circuit which has the same structure as the delay circuit and which is designed for use in a semiconductor integrated circuit. The invention further relates to a semiconductor memory device which comprises an oscillator having the same structure as the improved oscillator.
2. Description of the Related Art
Delay circuits of various structures have been provided. Among them are delay circuits which incorporate MOS transistors. Delay circuits having the following structure have been known.
FIG. 1 shows a first example of the delay circuit which incorporate MOS transistors.
The delay circuit shown in FIG. 1 is set in standby state while an input signal Vin remains at low level, and in active state while the input signal Vin remains at high level. While the circuit assumes the standby state, the capacitor C4 is charged to the supply voltage Vcc by the p-channel transistor Qp17, and the output signal Vout is therefore at low level. When the input signal Vin rises to high level, the capacitor C4 is discharged through the n-channel transistor Qn20. The input potential of the inverter I8 (i.e., the voltage on the capacitor C4) is thereby lowered from high level to low level. The moment the input potential of the inverter I8 falls below the threshold voltage of the inverter I8, the output signal Vout rises from low level to high level. The time which lapses until the output signal Vout rises to high level after the input signal vin has risen to high level is equal to the time which lapses until the input potential of the inverter I8 falls from the supply voltage Vcc to the threshold voltage of the inverter I8. This time is the delay time.
To prevent the delay time from changing with the fluctuation of the supply voltage Vcc, the inverter I8 comprises an n-channel transistor and a p-channel transistor whose current-drivability is greater than that of the n-channel transistors. The threshold voltage of the inverter I8 is therefore nearly equal to (Vcc-Vt), where Vt is the threshold voltage of the p-channel transistor Qp17. The voltage Vt is constant, not depending upon the supply voltage Vcc. The delay time is given as a time of which the storage node of the capacitor C4 is changed from the initial value Vcc to the threshold voltage (Vcc-Vt) of the inverter I8. As described above, the charge to be discharged is proportional to Vt which does not depend on the Vcc, thereby Vcc dependency of the delay time is reduced.
The voltage applied to the gate of the n-channel transistor Qn20 to discharge the capacitor C4 is the supply voltage Vcc while the delay circuit remains in active state. The discharge ability of the n-channel transistor Qn20 depends on its gate voltage (i.e., the supply voltage Vcc). Hence, the delay time depends upon the supply voltage Vcc.
The above delay circuit has a disadvantage in that its operating characteristic is affected by the characteristic differences which the transistors have inevitably because of the existing manufacturing technology. More specifically, the n-channel transistors have threshold voltages different from the design values and therefore discharging abilities different from the desired values. The p-channel transistor may fail to have the desired threshold voltage. Accordingly, the charge which these transistors discharge from the capacitor C4 and which determines the delay time may change from the design value.
The longer the delay time the delay circuit has, the larger the element area the capacitor C4 and the n-channel transistor Qn20 need to have. Furthermore, the capacitor C4 or the n-channel transistor Qn20, or both must have a large element area. This is because the input potential of the inverter I8 is nothing more than a change in the threshold voltage Vt of the p-channel transistor Qp17.
FIG. 2 shows another known delay circuit having MOS transistors, which is disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 3-23709. This delay circuit has a delay time which is relatively constant despite the changes in the supply voltage Vcc and in the threshold voltages of the p-channel transistors.
The output of the delay circuit, however, has sloping trailing edges. The delay time inevitably changes in accordance with the threshold voltage of an inverter circuit which receives the output of the delay circuit. To be more precise, although the delay time is relatively constant, it varies since the threshold voltage of the inverter circuit changes due to the fluctuation of the supply voltage Vcc and/or that of the conductances of the transistors forming the inverter circuit.
FIG. 3 illustrate a known delay circuit which provides two or more delay times. This delay circuit generates output signals Vout1, Vout2, . . . , Voutn, the waveforms of which are shown in FIG. 4.
The delay circuit has delay units 40 as many as the delay times it provides. The number of the elements constituting the delay circuit is the number of delay units 40 multiplied by the number of elements forming each delay unit 40. Obviously, the area occupied by all elements of the delay circuit is enormous.
FIG. 5 shows another known delay circuit which provides two or more delay times. The delay circuit generates output signal Vout, the waveform of which is shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. The circuit shown in FIG. 5 can change the delay time according to a command signal CMD. When the command signal CMD is at low level, the delay units 60, which have delay times T1 and T2, respectively, are connected in series, and the output signal Vout rises to high level upon lapse of a time (T1+T1) from the time after the input signal Vin has risen to high level, as illustrated in FIG. 6A. When the signal CMD is at high level, the output of only the delay unit T1 is valid, and the output signal Vout rises to high level upon lapse of a time (T1) time after the input signal Vin has risen to high level, as shown in FIG. 6B. The delay circuit may have three or more delay units 60, instead of two delay units 60 as shown in FIG. 5.
The more delay times the circuit needs to provide, more delay units 60 it should have. The more delay units 60, the larger the area the elements of the delay circuit will occupy.
As mentioned above, the delay time of a delay circuit varies if the supply voltage, threshold voltage of the transistors, and/or that of the conductances of the MOS transistors fluctuate. On the other hand, a delay circuit obtaining a large delay time must have a large element area and a large consumption current.
An oscillation circuit for use in semiconductor integrated circuits may comprise a two-input NAND gate the first input of which is connected to receive an input signal (e.g., a signal Vin), and a plurality of inverters the outputs of which are fed back to the second input of the NAND gate. The oscillation remains in standby state as long as the input signal is at low level. It starts performing its function when the input signal rises from low level to high level. The oscillating frequency of the circuit varies not only with the supply voltage but also with the changes in the characteristics of the transistors it incorporates.
Known as one type of an EEPROM into which data can be written and from which data can be erased by using a single power source (e.g., Vcc=5 V) is, for example, a NAND-type EEPROM. A NAND-type EEPROM has a memory cell array ordinarily provided in a p-type well formed in either a p-type substrate or n-type substrate. The memory cell array comprises a plurality of cell units connected to bit lines. Each cell unit consists of a plurality of memory cells which are connected in series, each having its source coupled to the drain of the immediately adjacent memory cell. In most NAND-type EEPROMs, each memory cell is of FETMOS structure. To write/read data into/from any memory cell, a voltage higher than the supply voltage is applied to the memory cell. Data is stored into the memory cell by applying a tunnel current or the like is applied to the cell, thereby controlling the electric charge in the charge-accumulating layer of the cell.
Data is written into, and erased from, the NAND-type EEPROM, in the following way. Data is sequentially written into the memory cells of each unit, first into the cell remotest from the bit line (i.e., the cell nearest the source line). A high voltage Vpp (=about 20 V) is applied to the control gate of a selected memory cell. At the same time, an intermediate voltage VppM (=about 10 V) is applied to the control gate and selection gate of the adjacent memory cell located closer to the bit line than the selected memory cell. Simultaneously, 0 V or the intermediate voltage VppM is applied to the bit line, depending on the value of the data to be written into the memory cell.
When 0 V is applied to the bit line, the potential of the bit line is applied to the drain of the memory cell. Electrons are injected from the drain into the floating gate of the memory cell, thereby the threshold voltage of the memory cell shifts to the positive direction. As a result, a "1" bit is written into the memory cell. When the intermediate voltage is applied to the bit line, the potential of the bit line is not applied to the drain of the memory cell. In this case, no electrons are injected from the drain into the floating gate of the memory cell, the threshold voltage of the memory cell does not change, and the memory cell keeps a "0" bit.
Data erase operation is performed, simultaneously from all memory cells. More precisely, all control gates and all selection gates are set at 0 V, and all bit lines and all source lines are set into floating state. Then, the high voltage of 20 V is applied to the p-type well and the n-type substrate. Electrons are thereby injected into the p-type well from the floating gate of every memory cell. The threshold voltage of every memory cell shifts to the negative direction, whereby data is erased.
As can be understood from the above, with an EEPROM driven by a single source supply it is necessary to generate a voltage higher than the supply voltage. To generate this high voltage, a charge pump circuit is incorporated in the EEPROM. To drive the charge pump circuit, a ring oscillator is incorporated in the EEPROM. Generally, the current-drivability of the charge pump circuit decreases as the supply voltage falls. The oscillating frequency of the ring oscillator decreases as the as the supply voltage falls. If designed to operate with a minimal supply voltage, the charge pump circuit will have an excessive current-drivability when applied with a maximal supply voltage. The charge pump circuit would therefore waste power in the NAND-type EEPROM.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the inventors hereof have invented a novel EEPROM. The EEPROM comprises an oscillation circuit and a charge pump circuit. The oscillation circuit has an oscillating frequency which increases as the supply voltage falls. The charge pump circuit has current-applying ability which depends on the oscillating frequency and can increase the supply voltage to generate a voltage high enough to write data into and erase data from the memory cells. The voltage of the charge pump circuit does not influenced by the fluctuation of the supply voltage, and power is not wasted as the supply voltage varies when data is written into/erased from the memory cells.
The transistors used in the oscillation circuit have each a conductance and a threshold voltage which differ from the design values due to the level of the existing manufacturing technology. Inevitably, the oscillating frequency of the oscillation circuit is likely to fluctuate. Furthermore, the oscillating frequency changes with the temperature since the conductance and threshold voltage of each transistor depend upon temperature. The fluctuation of the oscillating frequency results in wasting of power also in the EEPROM invented by the inventors.

Delay circuit, oscillation circuit and semiconductor memory device


A compound has Formula I:

Numerous methods are available for the attachment of substrates to solid supports. Despite the array of methods that can be employed, there is still a need to develop immobilization chemistry for applications such as high throughput nucleic acid analysis where efficiency of coupling and high loading density are desirable. The present invention provides reagents and methods to meet this need and provides related advantages as well.

Formylpyrrole-based heterocycles for nucleic acid attachment to supports

Abstract: A compound has Formula I:

Abstract: A, B, C, D, W, X, Y, and Z are independently selected from hydrogen, optionally substituted C1-C6 alkyl, optionally substituted C1-C6 alkoxy, aryl, aldehyde, protected aldehyde, CH, N, O, S, null, and bond; Q is selected from aldehyde, protected aldehyde, and null, at least one of A, B, C, D, W, X, Y, Z, or Q is an aldehyde or protected aldehyde; the bonds between each of A-B, B-C, C-D, W-X, X-Y, and Y-Z are selected from single bond, double bond, triple bond, and no bond; L is a linker selected from a C1-C12 alkyl, aralkyl, and aryl, any of which is optionally substituted; one or more methylene unit (CH2) of the C1-C12 alkyl is optionally replaced by any combination of oxygen, carbonyl(C═O), and NH; and R1 and R2 are independently selected from —NR3R4, halogen, C1-C8 alkoxy, aralkoxy, alkenyloxy, alkynyloxy, and OCH2CH2CN; R3 and R4 are independently a C1-C4, straight chain or branched alkyl group.


A method and apparatus for tracking location and flight path attributes of one or more sports objects, associating the sports objects with individual players, mapping each sports object location and a flight path to surrounding field of play, and allowing each player to access the location and flight path attributes of their sports objects. The present invention outfits sports objects with electronic devices that receive and transmit position and location information obtained from the Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) System, without adversely affecting the sports object's ability to perform in a standard way.

In most sports played within a defined area involving moving or projected objects such as golf, baseball, ice hockey, football, soccer, javelin, shot-put and the like, accurate knowledge of the travel distance and flight path attributes of the moving sports objects used in the game can greatly enhance the enjoyment and competitiveness of the sport for both the participant and the observer. It may frequently be of great interest to know with a high degree of accuracy the flight path attributes of a moving sports object, such as the loft, flight duration (hang time), speed, velocity, elevation and the like.
In the game of baseball, for example, determination of the exact travel distance of a baseball struck by a contestant in a homerun derby is critical in determining a winner. In such a competition, observers and judges need to know the exact distance that each baseball played by a contestant has traveled in order to declare a winner. Since most of the baseballs invariably land in unmarked or inaccessible areas within or outside of the playing stadium, it is usually not possible to ascertain an actual distance measurement for these struck balls. An accepted standard for determining the travel distance is therefore necessarily based on guessing, estimating or measuring the distance from a previously known starting point such as home plate to a previously known distance marker at the vicinity of the final ball destination such as the outfield wall, plus or minus the guessed, estimated or measured additional distance to or from the actual final ball destination. This is potentially inefficient, inaccurate, and time consuming.
Similarly, it is extremely useful for a golfer using a driving range or a practice facility to know how far a golf ball has traveled, as well as to know the associated flight path (e.g., slice, shank, draw) in order to evaluate his/her own progress and fully benefit from the driving range experience. Currently, for each ball hit by a golfer into the driving or practice area, the distance is guessed by estimating how far from the nearest range marker the struck ball has come to rest. The golf range markers are generally placed in the field starting at 50 yards from the tee, and progress in 25 or 50 yard increments, usually to a maximum distance of 350 yards or the like. The markers are typically fixed stakes in the ground, each with a sign large enough to be seen from the multi-user teeing area that indicates the distance from the golfer by using a color selection or a simple 2 or 3 digit number.
At a typical facility, individual players visually track the ball during the flight path and estimate the final destination and travel distance, subject to the ability of the player to follow the ball flight path. The task is often complicated when a plurality of players and associated plurality of balls are used at the driving range simultaneously, resulting in frequent occasions when multiple balls are in flight. The inability to track the initial seconds of ball flight or confusing one ball with another, either in flight or on the ground, can result in not being able to visually follow the ball or accurately estimate the traveled distance. Change in natural lighting due to weather conditions and time of play produces variability in visibility and further complicates the task of estimating the traveled distance of a golf ball. Considering the lack of natural light during periods of cloudiness, darkness, or inclement weather during the day, as well as the limitations of artificial lighting at night, the problem of determining how far the ball has been hit becomes even more apparent.
Another common difficulty is encountered when a plurality of balls have already been hit and are scattered around the field of play, thereby making it difficult to keep track of one's ball. Even though range attendants periodically sweep the ball landing area with a cart or other device that scoops up previously hit balls for reuse, there are frequently many hundreds or even thousands of balls scattered around the range grounds at virtually all times that the facility is in use. Such condition diminishes the observer's ability to determine the true traveled distance of the golf ball.
Even with the aforementioned complicating factors aside, any attempt to accurately determine the travel distance depends largely on the vigilance of the player and on the accuracy of the small number of distance markers or yardage markers. In a typical driving range or practice facility, several yardage markers are placed within the range area to indicate the distance from the golfer to the yardage marker. Typically, the distances that are indicated from the yardage marker to the tee stall are not accurate. This is because the distances are not typically measured from each tee stall. Even if the distance is measured accurately from one particular tee stall, the distance becomes increasingly less accurate for each adjoining tee stall unless a new distance is measured. The distance variance can be significant in some tee stall layouts.
Additionally, in order for players to gain more benefit from the golf range experience, the ability to study each golf swing and compare different swings is very important. Currently, a coach or a professional teacher provides this role by observing or videotaping the player in action, and providing feedback on various elements of the player's swing mechanics and the like. Even though many golfers gain improvements from such teaching lessons, such approach is subjective and can be greatly enhanced with the added component of knowing precisely the various flight attributes of repeated practice strokes. Thus, there is a need for improving the process by which a person can understand the mechanics of his golf swing. This can be accomplished by allowing users to store accurately produced distance and golf ball flight attributes, to be viewed during the teaching lesson or at a later time, for the purpose of comparing the positive or negative aspects of different strokes, and the like.
In yet another example, it may be helpful, educational, entertaining and the like for a golfer playing a round of golf on a golf course to be able to know the true travel distance for each stroke played during the game, and to know accurately how each ball was hit in order to measure and evaluate his progress. U.S. Pat. No. 6,524,199 B2 discloses a GPS receiver that is deployed on a golf cart in order to determine the distance between the golf cart and other landmarks on the golf course such as a fairway, a sand trap, a water hazard, the putting green, etc. While such approach is useful in determining the distance to the various points of interest on the course, it is limited in scope by the fact that the GPS receiver is associated with the golf cart and not the golf ball. As such, it does not provide accurate information about the actual distance from the ball itself to the next target or other points of interest on the course. Nor does it provide any information about the ball flight attributes of the golf ball itself.
Methods for determining the distance traveled and flight attributes of a moving sports object are inaccurate, inefficient, and are subject to guesswork. We have now discovered a way to address the limitations of the preexisting methods that will allow users and players at various sports facilities, as well as observers, scorekeepers, spectators, sportscasters, teachers and the like, to know how far and how accurately a ball or other moving sports object has traveled.
There is a need to provide moving sports object positional and flight path information accurately. There is a need to determine the exact positional information of the moving sports object at the starting point and the final destination and at several intermediate points. There also is a need to obtain, display, store, and otherwise make available this positional information in a way that improves upon estimation, guessing and the like.

System and method for tracking identity movement and location of sports objects


There is disclosed a system for recovering motor function after spinal cord injury, which has a mat having a first sheet made from a semi-conductive or insulating material and with a volume resistivity of less than 104 xcexa9xc2x7cm and a second sheet made from a semi-conductive or insulating material, laminated on the first sheet and with a volume resistivity of 104 xcexa9xc2x7cm or more; an electric power source; an electrical circuit to apply 25-800 VDC to the first sheet; and a control unit for the system. A person with spinal cord injury is made contact with the mat, so as to put his body in electrostatic field to be induced on the mat.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for recovering motor function after spinal cord injury, by subjecting a patient to electrostatic field.
2. Related Arts
The spiral cord injury has often been seen in athletes"" injury and victims of car accidents. Since the patients are sometimes paralyzed and require a life-long care, a method of enhancing the motor recovery has been strongly desired. While biochemical and molecular biological approaches have been vigorously tried, but a study to find physical means to enhance the motor function recovery has been delayed.
Borgens, R. B. et al. report to the effect that completely severed spinal cord of a lamprey was regenerated in 2 months by application of 10 xcexcA of DC current across the severed section [xe2x80x9cSciencexe2x80x9d, Vol. 213, pages 611-617 (1981)]. They described that the electric current had a direct effect on the nerve regeneration, but the molecular mechanism has not been elucidated.
In Japan, health benefits of high-voltage electrostatic fields have been known, and several commercial devices to produce such a field have been proposed and sold in the market for the past decades. According to such a device, the electrostatic field has been caused on a single layer sheet or mat of a synthetic resin material such as polyvinyl chloride by applying DC voltage of several hundreds to several thousands to the mat. It has been said that these mats are effective for patients with muscle pain, arthritis and certain chronic diseases.
However, the device utilizing static electricity requires incidental facilities for increasing voltage such as a transformer, so that it becomes larger in size to increase manufacturing and running costs. Further, the device has a serious disadvantage of that a user might get a shock of electricity due to leakage thereof.
In order to overcome the disadvantages of the device utilizing static electricity, one of the researchers in the assignee company has studied to find facts that static electricity can be stably induced, if laminating a first sheet of conductive or semi-conductive layer having a volume resistivity of less than 104 xcexa9xc2x7cm to a second sheet of conductive or insulation layer having a volume resistivity of 104-1012 xcexa9xc2x7cm, and applying voltage to the first sheet, that a value of electrostatic voltage can be made higher level, if the difference in volume resistivity of the first and second sheets is set to 104 xcexa9xc2x7cm or more, and that a possibility of the dangerous shock due to leakage of electricity can be avoided by setting voltage and current to be applied to the first sheet to 25-800 VDC and 0.8 mA, respectively. The assignee company has filed a patent application in Japan on the invention, based on such findings [Japanese Patent 8-224316(A)]. According to the device disclosed in the specification for the Japanese patent application, it is possible to induce electrostatic voltage of xe2x88x923.05KV on the second sheet having a volume resistivity of 107 xcexa9xc2x7cm by applying 800 VDC to the first sheet having a volume resistivity of 103 xcexa9xc2x7cm, and this device is suitable for relieving headache and shoulder stiffness as well as preventing and curing insomnia and chronic constipation.
However, the uses of relieving headache and shoulder stiffness as well as preventing and curing insomnia and chronic constipation are not definite and it is difficult to confirm a concrete utility of such a device, since an effect of spiritual security giving to the user of the device cannot be neglected on generation of the utility.
By using the device, one of the inventors have energetically studied and investigated on influence(s) of the static electricity to a living body through tests using experimental animals to seek a new applicable use(s) of it. As a result, it has been unexpectedly found that the device is useful for inhibiting a decrease in an amount of bone to prevent and cure osteoporosis and also inhibiting an appetite without increasing a body weight to prevent and cure obesity. The related patent application was filed in Japan in the name of assignee company [Japanese Patent 9-322944(A) which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,997].
The inventors have further studied on influence of the static electricity to a living body through tests using experimental animals to find that the application of electrostatic fields effects on the recovery of rat spinal cord injury produced by a weight drop impulse on the exposed cord, so that the invention was established.
Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide a system for recovering motor function after spinal cord injury by putting a body of patient in an electrostatic field, for instance contacting his body with a mat which is inducing static electricity.
According to the invention, the object is attained by a system for recovering the motor function after spinal cord injury, which comprises a mat essentially consisting of a first sheet made from a semi-conductive or insulating material and having a volume resistivity of less than 104 xcexa9xc2x7cm and a second sheet made from a semi-conductive or insulating material, laminated on said first sheet and having a volume resistivity of 104 xcexa9xc2x7cm or more; an electric power source having an electrical circuit to apply 25-800 VDC to said first sheet; and a control unit for said electric power source.
The first and second sheets are made from one of silicone rubber, natural rubber, nitril rubber and synthetic resin material (such as polyvinyl chloride and polyurethane resin) and carbon.
It is preferable to set the electrical input to the first sheet as 800 VDC and 0.8 mA.

System for recovering motor function after spinal cord injury


A power-supplying electrical connector includes an engagement mechanism configured to engage a power-receiving electrical connector, the engagement mechanism having a pair of engaging members, and an indicator member configured to disengage from the engagement mechanism and move from a charging-disabled position to a charging-enabled position, when the engagement mechanism has engaged the power-receiving electrical connector. While the indicator member is held in the charging-disabled position, the engagement mechanism is configured to cause the first engaging member and the indicator member to disengage after a second engaging member of the pair of engaging members and the indicator member has engaged while the power-supplying electrical connector is attached to the power-receiving electrical connector, and while the power-supplying electrical connector and the power-receiving electrical connector remain attached and engaged, the engagement mechanism is configured to cause the second engaging member and the indicator member to disengage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power-supplying electrical connector used for charging an electric vehicle or the like.
2. Background Information
The device disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 6-188044 is known as a power-supplying electrical connector that is attached to a power-receiving electrical connector in an electric vehicle and supplies electric power from a charger to a battery in the electric vehicle. This charging connector comprises a connector body attached to the power-receiving electrical connector, a handle for accommodating the connector body so as to be capable of sliding coaxially therewith, and a lever that is pivotally attached to the handle. While the handle is gripped, the connector body is inserted into and provisionally locked in the power-receiving electrical connector, and when the lever is grasped tightly in this state, the connector body advances further toward the power-receiving electrical connector, and the power-supplying electrical connector and power-receiving electrical connector become completely locked.