A film-formable high molecular polyetherpolyester comprising structural unit (1) of formula (1) and functional group (2) of formula (2) and having a number-average molecular weight of 40,000 to 10,000,000, wherein the molar ratio of functional group (2) to R in the polyetherpolyester is in the range of 1.0 to 3.0. This polyetherpolyester can be produced by carrying out a chain extension reaction of a low molecular polyalkylene oxide of 1,000 to 30,000 in number-average molecular weight with a polyvalent acid anhydride at 0.003 MPa or higher in a molar ratio of (acid anhydride group)/(hydroxyl group)=0.8 to 1.0. ##STR1##

A. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a high molecular polyetherpolyester and its production process and use, especially, use for films.
B. Background Art
Conventionally, high molecular polyetherpolyesters are used for various purposes, for example, for packing materials by molding the high molecular polyetherpolyester alone or combinations thereof with various additives into sheets or films. It is known that where the high molecular polyetherpolyester is molded into a film, important mechanical properties of the film generally greatly depend on the molecular weight of the high molecular polyetherpolyester. Therefore, the below-mentioned various production processes are studied.
For example, if alicyclic alkylene oxides such as ethylene oxide is subjected to ring-opening polymerization using catalysts such as organometallic complexes, high molecular polyalkylene oxides having polyether structures are obtained. It is possible to obtain a polyalkylene oxide having a molecular weight of several million or more by this process, but at present a process for producing industrially a polyalkylene oxide having a molecular weight of 100,000 to 1,000,000 (such a polyalkylene oxide is assumed to have good moldability) with good efficiency has not yet been found.
In addition, a process is known in which: either or both of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide are subjected to ring-opening polymerization using basic catalysts, for example, comprising either or both of sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide, to obtain a low molecular polyalkylene oxide, which is then reacted with various chain-extending agents to convert the polyalkylene oxide into a high molecular one, thus obtaining a high molecular polyetherpolyester. An example of such a process, in which carboxylic diesters are used as the chain-extending agents, is disclosed in Japanese Allowable Patent Publication (Kokoku) No. 5-68493. The molecular weight of the high molecular polyetherpolyester resultant from this process reaches 100,000 or more, but a film of this high molecular polyetherpolyester is very brittle and merely has an elongation of 100% or less. In addition, in the process as mentioned immediately above, because the reaction is run by condensation, an alcohol forms as a by-product, and the system of reaction accordingly needs to be put under vacuum to remove the alcohol. Therefore, high costs for vacuum facilities and for recovering and treating condensation products are needed, and the production efficiency is low.
An example of the process, in which diisocyanates are used as the chain-extending agents, is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication (Kokai) No. 6-32976. Polyurethane resin resultant from this process has so good mechanical strength that the polyurethane resin can be mold-processed, but this polyurethane resin has a problem in that the diisocyanate, which is used for the chain extension reaction, is very toxic. Because there is a danger that the diisocyanate might remain in products, the range of the use of this polyurethane resin is limited to an extremely narrow range. In addition, because the diisocyanate has high reactivity, the reaction thereof is difficult to control, and it is difficult to manage production process steps and the quality of products.
Furthermore, examples of the process to solve the above-mentioned problems are disclosed in (1) Japanese Patent Application Publication (Kokai) No. 58-179227, (2) Japanese Allowable Patent Publication (Kokoku) No. 1-15532, and (3) Polymer, 1973, Vol. 14, October, pp. 466-468, in which acid anhydrides are used as the chain-extending agents. The process as disclosed in document (1) above is a process for producing a high molecular polyetherpolyester from pyromellitic dianhydride and a low molecular polyalkylene oxide. The process as disclosed in document (2) above is a process for producing a high molecular polyether-ester copolymer from polyether, of which both terminal ends are hydroxyl groups, using trimellitic anhydride as a branching agent. The process as disclosed in document (3) above is a process for producing a high molecular polyetherpolyester from poly(propylene glycol) and pyromellitic dianhydride.
The high molecular polyetherpolyesters, as obtained by processes (1) to (3) above, all have problems in that their mechanical strength is not high. As to process (1) above, for example, a film of the resultant high molecular polyetherpolyester merely has a tensile strength of less than 80 kgf/cm.sup.2 and an elongation of less than 100%, and is very brittle. Also as to process (2) above, the mechanical strength of the resultant high molecular polyetherpolyester is not high. As to process (3) above, the molecular weight only increases to such a degree that an intrinsic viscosity of about 1.6 kg/m.sup.3 is displayed, and the resultant molecular weight is not very high.
Where the high molecular polyetherpolyester is produced by the above-mentioned conventional processes, the increase of the molecular weight involves the increase of the viscosity during the production. Where a solvent is used to suppress the increase of the viscosity, a step for removing the solvent is needed at the end of the reaction. Therefore, such a process is not industrially efficient. Where the reaction is carried out at or above a high temperature of 200.degree. C. to suppress the increase of the viscosity, thermal deterioration of the polymer often occurs in the reaction system. The prevention of the thermal deterioration needs expensive additives such as antioxidants, and such a process is not industrially efficient, either.
On the other hand, where the high molecular polyetherpolyester is handled as an industrial product, its form is very important. The shipment form as the industrial product depends on various use purposes, but examples thereof are: (1) a liquid such as a solution of water or an organic solvent; (2) a lump; (3) a powder or flake; (4) a pellet.
Form (1) above might be suitable dependently on use purposes, but has problems in that: the transportation cost increases, or the dissolution consumes time or deteriorates the stability to the passage of time, or the storage needs a wide area. Form (2) above is not industrially very common use form, so the use method is limited. In addition, there is a problem in that automation is difficult. Form (3) above is obtained by mechanically pulverizing the lump and is bearable to various use purposes, but has problems in the step of making a powder or flake. Some high molecular polyetherpolyesters have a glass transition temperature of 0.degree. C. or lower. Therefore, the pulverization of such polyetherpolyesters must be carried out by freeze pulverization that needs freezing-media such as liquid nitrogen or dry ice. Therefore, form (3) provides very bad results with regard to the production efficiency and is therefore not suitable for mass production. In contrast therewith, form (4) above is flexibly correspondable to various use purposes and the most common use form as a medium for molding a thermoplastic resin. In addition, form (4) saves the transportation cost and is advantageous to the storage. However, where the high molecular polyetherpolyester is produced with conventional reaction apparatuses for high viscosity, the production in the form of a pellet is difficult.

High molecular polyetherpolyester and its production process and use


A jump takeoff position indicator system that discloses the point of takeoff of a long jump or triple jump in athletic competition or practice when an athlete's foot comes in contact with a takeoff board when beginning a jump. A plurality of light beams are emitted parallel to the edge of the takeoff board. The light beams are closely spaced, parallel to each other, and transverse to the direction of the jump. The foot position is known by the location of the beams broken at takeoff. A light beam detector detects interruption of the light beams by an athlete's foot and displays the takeoff position on a plurality of visible LEDs. The system provides a memory for storing the takeoff position and recall switch for retrieving and displaying the information after completion of the jump. The system is immune from ambient light disturbances and can easily be moved between multiple takeoff board locations. Microcontrollers are employed in a modular fashion for system control. Furthermore, the system is battery operated with low battery detection provided.

This invention relates generally to Track & Field equipment and particularly to a jump takeoff position indicator system for use in events requiring an accurate indication of the foot position of an athlete at takeoff such as in the long jump and triple jump competitions.
The long jump and triple jump events in Track & Field competition require the athlete to jump from a fixed takeoff board into a sand filled landing pit from a running start down an approach runway. The takeoff board may be an actual wood or composition board or simply a painted area on the approach runway. Typical long jump runways have 2 takeoff boards at different distances from the sand pit to accommodate athletes of different jumping ability. The triple jump runway may have 3 or 4 different takeoff boards. The object of the competition is to attain the longest jump from the takeoff board. The distance of the jump is measured from the edge of the takeoff board closest to the sand pit to the point of first contact of the athlete in the landing pit.
Therefore, to gain the maximum measurable distance, the athlete attempts to takeoff as close to the edge of the board as possible without the front edge of the foot extending over. The jump is not measured if the front of the athlete's foot crosses over the edge of the takeoff board. The athletes that can takeoff close to the edge of the board have a definite advantage in the competition. Thus, training for these events involves repetitive approach runs to obtain consistency in the takeoff point. However, it is difficult for the athlete to know where their foot was in relation to the edge of the takeoff board during these practice sessions while running at full speed and concentrating on the other aspects of the jump. This often results in a coach or second athlete being needed to watch for the takeoff point. This results in approximate takeoff positions at best as human error comes into play. Clearly, a need exists for a device that provides long jump and triple jump athletes with this takeoff position information.
Several attempts have been made in the past to allow an athlete to determine where their foot was in relation to the board edge at the moment of takeoff. U.S. Pat. No. 4,004,800 to Hanner proposes a mechanical marker board that gives an indication of the foot position by means of an array of parallel mounted elements pivotally mounted to a base. Prior to use the elements are facing in an upward position. When a jump is made, the elements that come in contact with the athlete's foot are forced to lie flat, thereby, giving an indication of the takeoff point. Several problems exist with this approach. The mechanical marker board needs to replace the existing takeoff board and become a permanent part of the runway. With up to 6 different takeoff boards needed for the long jump and triple jump runways, it would be very costly to replace them all with the mechanical marker board. The marker board also presents a safety problem for the athlete as the foot is required to come in contact with movable elements. A third problem involves the mechanical nature of the device. With the location outdoors in close proximity to sand, the device would be a constant maintenance problem.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,912 to Bednarz et al. discloses a laser beam foul detector system used for detecting that an athlete's foot has crossed the foul line during a jump. A training beam option is described that gives an indication to an athlete that their foot crossed a line located in front of the foul line. However, this system fails to provide the accuracy required by today's athletes. It simply shows that a reference point was crossed. The margin of error could be as much as the length of the athlete's foot depending on the location of the training line relative to the foul line. The athlete may not cross the line at all resulting in no takeoff position information feedback. This system also suffers from a very involved alignment and setup procedure utilizing mounting plates and adjustment screws. Furthermore, the system lacks the portability required to move from location to location quickly as required when athletes are jumping from different takeoff boards. The system requires extensive installation that would be needed at each possible takeoff board location.
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my invention are:                a) To provide a takeoff position indicator that is portable and can be moved from one takeoff board location to another quickly.        b) To provide an accurate indication of the foot position of an athlete at takeoff relative to the edge of the takeoff board.        c) To provide a system that can be used on existing approach runways without installation or modification of the approach runway.        d) To provide a system with a memory that stores the foot position information at takeoff for subsequent recall.        e) To provide a system that requires only visual alignment and no setup.        f) To provide a system that gives the athlete the means to determine their true jumping potential.        g) To provide a training device that allows the athlete to train without the aid of a coach or additional athlete.        h) To provide a modular system design that allows for easy system flexibility and expandability.        i) To provide a system that functions under all ambient light levels without adjustment.
Other objects and advantages of my invention will become clear to those skilled in the art after review of the following drawings and description.


The present invention is directed to a ram guard, which is attached to a stabilizer arm having an exposed hydraulic ram, having an outside surface which has a linear length greater than the length of the rod when fully extended. More specifically, the ram guard of the present invention comprises an outside surface attached to a stabilizer arm which has a linear length greater than the length of the piston rod of the ram, an upper surface to cover the exposed piston rod, and an end surface which attaches to the piece of the stabilizer arm to which the piston rod is attached.

Equipment, either vehicles or backhoes, have been built where the hydraulic pistons and piston rods are not exposed. U.S. Pat. No. 3,638,965 discloses an outrigger mechanism for a truck or similar vehicle which includes a rear stabilizer assembly 15 and a forward stabilizer assembly 16. As shown in FIG. 3, the support leg 19 of rear stabilizer assembly 15 may be operated by a hydraulic ram 25 within the framework 18. U.S. Pat. No. 3,918,741 discloses an outrigger type stabilizing support assembly for a truck mounted loader, including a pair of selectively actuated, ground-engaging stabilizing members--a swing-out arm and a vertical support post--both powered by a common hydraulic ram. Both these patents illustrate a construction where the stabilizing structure or arm is hollow such that the hydraulic rams are enclosed within the structure. These patents fail to recognize the problem which the guard of the present invention solves.
The present invention is directed to a guard for equipment that has an exposed hydraulic piston rod which operates a stabilizer arm. The ram guard of the present invent protects the piston rod from being hit by dirt, rock or any materials which will collect on the rod or scar the rod and cause the piston to leak fluid. The only way to restore a scarred rod from leaking fluid is have the rod repolished which is very expensive.


Systems and methods executable by a home based media distribution system for preserving the continuity of a video transmission following a WiFi disconnect include transmitting a media stream via a wireless access point associated with a wireless client; receiving a disconnect report from the access point; in response to the disconnect report, diverting the media stream to a digital video recorder (DVR); receiving a reconnect report from the access point; and automatically resuming the media stream from the point when the disconnect occurred.

Most television viewers receive their television programming through a cable, direct broadcast satellite (DBS), IPTV or similar subscription-based service. To that end, television service is usually broadcast from a cable, DBS or other content aggregator to multiple subscribers. The subscribers may then view received content as live broadcasts from any one of a plurality of client devices connected to a home network, and/or may store the content on digital video recorders (DVRs) for later viewing.
Presently known home based video distribution networks are not well suited for wireless transmission of live video streams, in part due to transient interruptions in wireless connectivity, and the resulting effects on the user experience. Systems and methods are thus needed which overcome these limitations. Various desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background section.

Systems and methods for automatic resumption of video stream following transient WiFi disconnect


A reproduction apparatus and a monitor apparatus are interconnected by one cable connector, which transmits an image and/or audio signal, a first control signal, and a power signal between the reproduction apparatus and the monitor apparatus. A controller in the monitor apparatus generates the first control signal to control the reproduction apparatus and generates a second control signal to control an output unit in the monitor apparatus. The output unit outputs the image and/or the audio signal from the reproduction apparatus as a visual and/or auditory signal in response to the second control signal. A power unit receives the power signal from the reproduction apparatus and supplies power to each component of the monitor apparatus. Thus, the reproduction apparatus and the monitor apparatus can be driven through the monitor apparatus using one remote controller. Similarly, the reproduction apparatus and the monitor apparatus can be driven through the reproduction apparatus using the remote controller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for controlling a reproduction apparatus using a monitor apparatus, and more particularly, to the monitor apparatus connected to the reproduction apparatus and remotely controlling the reproduction apparatus to output image signals and/or audio signals using a connector cable.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional recording and/or reproduction system includes a reproduction apparatus 10 such as video tape recorder (VTR) or digital video (or versatile) disc (DVD) and a monitor apparatus 12. The monitor apparatus 12, which is manufactured independently of the reproduction apparatus 10, converts image and/or audio signals into visual and/or auditory signals. The conventional recording and/or reproduction system includes a power cord 10a attached to the reproduction apparatus 10, a power cord 12a attached to the monitor apparatus 12, a remote controller 11 associated with the reproduction apparatus 10, and a remote controller 13 associated with the monitor apparatus 12. Thus, multiple remote controllers 11, 13 are used to operate the monitor apparatus 12 and the reproduction apparatus 10. Power must be supplied separately to the monitor apparatus 12 and the reproduction apparatus 10. Furthermore, the monitor apparatus 12 and the reproduction apparatus 10 are interconnected using a connection line such as a BNC cable 17, having signal lines 14, 15, and 16, which makes the system cumbersome.

Reproduction apparatus connected to a monitor apparatus and remote controlling method thereof


An inductor-less LED driver circuit is provided with soft startup and inherent current limiting capabilities. A diode rectifier is coupled across an AC mains input, with the outputs for the rectifier coupled directly across an LED array. A bi-directional switching circuit and current limiting capacitor are coupled in series between a first mains input and a first rectifier input. A controller turns the bi-directional switching circuit on and off to enable or disable conduction of power from the AC power source, wherein the bi-directional switching circuit is turned on in association with a detected zero voltage state for AC input power, and the bi-directional switching circuit is turned off in association with a detected zero current state for AC input power. The controller further adjusts switch states for the bi-directional switching circuit in response to a dimming control signal corresponding to a desired lighting output level.

The present invention relates generally to circuitry and methods for providing current to a light source such as an LED load. More particularly, the present invention relates to dimmable LED drivers with soft startup capability.
Light emitting diode ("LED") lighting is growing in popularity due to decreasing costs and long life compared to incandescent lighting and fluorescent lighting. LED lighting can also be dimmed without impairing the useful life of the LED light source.
Typically, an LED driver is a switching power supply, implementing a DC-DC converter to regulate the LED current. The associated costs for such LED drivers are relatively high, and therefore it is desirable to minimize the cost as much as possible.
For this reason, LED drivers have been designed which may be driven directly from the AC input line power supply. Such an LED driver does provide certain advantages as implied above, in that it does not use DC-DC power converter technology and may be constructed at extremely low cost. However, additional problems arise from their use. For example, most AC mains-driven LED drivers have complicated current control requirements, and cannot effectively solve turn-on "inrush" current problems. Inrush currents are relatively high spikes in current which are typically produced at least once with each cycle of the AC mains line voltage. If an LED driver does not provide appropriate inrush current protection, such spikes may dramatically affect the LED life and/or produce undesirable flickering.

LED driver with inherent current limiting and soft startup capability


A tubular guide body provided with a longitudinal slit portion has a flexible screw rotatably incorporated. A guiding portion of an object to be transported is brought into contact with the flexible screw through the slit portion. The flexible screw is rotated to exert forcing pressure upon the guiding portion of the object which is in contact with the flexible screw, thereby achieving the conveyance of the object in the longitudinal direction of the tubular guide body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvements in a flexible screw type conveyor system.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional conveyor system for transporting a variety of objects, for example, bottles and the like, is illustrated in FIG. 14 of the accompanying drawings. This illustrated conveyor system of the conventional type is provided with a flexible screw c and a flexible guide member d spaced apart from and in parallel with the flexible screw c at constant intervals of place to allow the transporting object e to be interposed therebetween. In the flexible screw c, a flexible shaft made of a magnetic metal is spirally wound with a wire type body b.
In operation, an object e to be transported is caught in a flange portion f thereof between the flexible screw c and the guide member d, and the flexible screw c is turned, to thereby force the flange portion f of the transported object e by using the wire type body b so that the transporting object e is conveyed in the direction of the arrowhead g.
Also, the flexible screw c is supported by means of a guide rail h provided along the flexible screw c. This is feasible because the guide rail h has a plurality of permanent magnets i embedded therein, and the magnetic force of these permanent magnets causes the flexible screw c to stick to the guide rail h.
Moreover, the guide member d is also provided with a guide rail (not shown) in parallel therewith, and this guide rail also includes a plurality of permanent magnets placed at constant intervals to allow the guide member d to be attracted by and supported on the guide rail.
In general, however, the permanent magnets i included or embedded in the guide rails h have cobalt magnets applied to them, and therefore, the guide rails, which comprise cobalt magnets, have a high manufacturing cost. In addition, owing to the magnetic force of the magnet i, a great amount of magnetic dust in the air is adsorbed on the surface of the guide rail h, and the guide rail h and the wire type body b are abraded with the magnetic dust. As a result, the wear of the guide rail and the wire type body are accelerated. Also, if the transported object is formed of the magnetic body, there is the risk that the transported object is magnetized by the magnet i. These are disadvantages of the illustrated conventional conveyor system.
Also, in another type of conveyor system (such as disclosed in the Japanese Utility-Model Publicizing Gazette No. 79-34978), the worm is operated, to thereby drive the wire with a screw in the longitudinal direction thereof, and as a result, the conveying means attached to this wire is allowed to travel. In this conveyor system, it is therefore necessary that the worm is provided, the pitch angle of the wire screw and that of the worm are brought into coincidence, and a single thread of the worm is cut away so that a hanger wire of the conveying means does not come into contact with the threads of the worm.
As is apparent from the foregoing description, this type conventional conveyor system is difficult to manufacture, and is required to advance the wire to the longitudinal direction thereof, thereby necessitating extremely great force to drive the wire.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide for improvements in the flexible screw type conveyor system, in which in order to overcome the foregoing disadvantages and problems of the conventional flexible screw type conveyor system, a conveyor system is simple in the overall construction thereof, easy to manufacture at a lower cost, and higher in the durability thereof, while at the same time, it does not magnetize the conveying object comprising a magnetic body.


A system to provide various content services based on a network to users includes a service provider to provide a service using the network, a user to receive the service, and a service framework to provide the service to the user through the network. The service framework includes a messenger device that manages the service transmitted between the service provider and the user. Content services, which are being provided based on a network, can be provided to various terminals including not only a PC and a mobile phone, but also a robot. Thus, extending services is easy and the user can conveniently receive desired information from a knowledge provider or website without performing repetitive operations.

1. Field of the Invention
The present general inventive concept relates to a system and method to provide services based on a network, and more particularly, to a system and method to provide services based on a network, wherein various content services, which are being provided based on a network, are provided to users.
2. Description of the Related Art
A messenger system that provides various content services, which are being provided based on the Web, to users through PCs or mobile phones has been developed and widely used along with the development of network technology such as the Internet.
Messenger (i.e., instant messaging) is an Internet community service that enables every user on the Internet to perform chatting, real-time message delivery, file transfer, or the like. Messenger providers incorporate various content services (for example, services providing knowledge or information regarding news, stocks, shopping, advertisements, education, games, or music) into the respective messengers in order to secure many users.
However, since messenger providers mostly design their content services such as news, stocks, shopping, advertisements, and music services on their own and provide the content services through an inclusion in messenger programs, problematically, users can receive such services only through a personal computer (PC) or mobile phone with a messenger program installed thereon. In addition, when there is a need to add a new service to a messenger or a need to change a service provided through the messenger, providers, other than the provider that has designed the messenger, cannot actively provide such various content services desired by users, thus failing to fulfill the needs of the user.
Further, when users converse about a specific issue (for example, recently released movies) through a messenger, the users mostly collect information through Internet search and then converse about the search results. To search for an issue about which the users are conversing, users have to execute a web browser and access a search website and then perform a search operation. Since the search results are displayed on the web browser, the user cannot immediately share the search results with the counterpart user. To converse with the counterpart user about the search results, the user has to copy and paste address information of a webpage providing the search results to provide the address information to the counterpart user. The counterpart user also has to perform such repetitive operations to execute a web browser and to request that the web browser to provide a webpage corresponding to the address information.

System and method to provide services based on network


The invention is a bicycle having adjustable orientation of the seat (6) and the pedals (4) with respect to the handle-bars (5). The bicycle comprising an x shaped frame comprised of a profile (31) and a rigid support member (32) that are rotatably connected to each other by a hollow pin (42). The rider of the bicycle can change the angle between the profile (31) and the rigid support member (32) to rotate about the hollow pin (42). The bicycle further comprises a seat (6), attached to the upper part of the rigid support member (32), a first toothed-wheel (33) attached to the frame (32) by means of a pin passing through the toothed-wheel (33) and the lower part of the rigid support member (32). The pin has a crank and pedal (4) attached to each of its ends. The bicycle also comprises a front gear and second toothed-wheel (7) attached to a pin that passes through the hollow pin (42) located between the seat (6) and the first toothed-wheel (33).

Any person who has ever ridden a bicycle knows from experience that changing conditions of terrain require different amounts of effort on his part to maintain the forward motion of the bicycle. Generally, on level surfaces we can exert a minimal effort to move along at a reasonable speed, on downhill slopes we "coast", and to go uphill we must exert maximum effort. The rider learns that in order for him to supply different amounts of energy under different circumstances, he must change the position of his body. For example, for traveling steadily at moderate speed on level ground he can sit up straight in the seat, to race along at rapid speeds he leans forward crouched over the handlebars, and to go up a steep hill he gets maximum power by standing up and putting his weight directly above the pedals and even pulling up on the handlebars. Body shifts are also frequently necessary to maintain balance and to reduce wind resistance, in addition to provide varying amounts of power.
Because of their rigid frames, conventional bicycles are not well designed to accommodate the different positions the body assumes during a journey. The rigid positional relationship between the seat, handlebars, and pedals, forces the designers to use average distances between each of these positions depending on the intended use of the bicycle. The result is that the rider often finds himself riding on a bicycle that is not suited to his size or needs and in a physically uncomfortable position that is tiring to maintain.
Recognizing the problems resulting from the rigid frame of conventional bicycles, various solutions have been proposed. Typical of these are the semi-recumbent bicycles disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,659,098 and 4,925,203. In the typical bicycle of this type, the rider sits in a seat with legs stretched out roughly parallel to the ground and with his feet on the pedals, which are located above the front wheel and in front of the handlebars. This design solves some of the problems, but again the frame is fixed and there is no provision for changing the positional relationship between the seat, pedals, and handlebars during travel. In addition, semi-recumbent and recumbent bicycles are associated with many problems resulting from their design that affect the comfort, health, and safety of the rider.
Another approach to overcoming the problems caused by the rigid frame of the conventional bicycle is shown in FIG. 1. In this case the relative position of the seat and pedals can be adjusted, but the amount of adjustment is limited by the ability of the derailleur to adjust the length of the chain as the front gears move closer to and further away from the rear gears. Most importantly, the adjustment can not be carried out while the bicycle is in motion and requires a separate adjustment of the seat in order to keep it parallel with the ground.
It is therefore a purpose of the present invention to provide a bicycle which overcomes the limitations of the prior art and for which the position of the seat and the pedals can be easily changed relative to the fixed handlebars.
It is another purpose of the present invention to provide a bicycle in which the change in position of the seat and the pedals relative to the fixed handlebars can be accomplished by the rider while riding on the bicycle.
Further purposes and advantages of this invention will appear as the description proceeds.

Bicycle with adjustable orientation of the seat and the pedals with respect to the handlebars


A modular airbag door assembly includes an airbag chute having a front side and a rear side and defines an opening extending therethrough. A door panel is pivotally mounted to the front side of the airbag chute and covers the opening therein. The airbag door assembly further includes a plurality of weld studs extending from the rear side of the airbag chute. The weld studs are adapted to allow the airbag door assembly to be mounted to a substrate of an instrument panel with the rear side of the airbag chute being positioned against a front side of the substrate.

Referring to FIG. 1, an example of previous foam-in-place automotive instrument panels having an integral passenger side airbag system is shown generally at 10. An airbag module 12 is attached to an airbag chute 14 which is attached to an inner surface 16 of a substrate 18. A door panel 20 is mounted to a front surface 22 of the substrate 18. Thus, the substrate 18 is sandwiched between the door panel 20 and the airbag chute 14.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved instrument panel assembly having a modular airbag door assembly wherein the door panel and the airbag chute are mounted to a front surface of the substrate, thereby eliminating the sandwiching of the substrate between the door panel and the airbag chute.

Instrument panel having modular airbag door assembly


An address generating circuit for generating addresses capable of scanning two-dimensionally arrayed data in zigzag fashion includes an up/down counter for generating addresses in the column direction of the two-dimensional array, an up/down counter for generating addresses in the row direction of the two-dimensional array, and a circuit block for detecting, based upon a three-bit column address and a three-bit row address outputted by respective ones of the counters, whether an address is situated on an edge portion of the two-dimensional array, and for producing an up-count control signal and a down-count control signal of each counter in accordance with the results of detection. This makes it possible to generate addresses that are capable of scanning the two-dimensionally arrayed data in zigzag fashion. Also disclosed is a method of generating addresses using this circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an address generating method and circuit for generating addresses of a buffer memory used when converting the scanning direction of image data, particularly addresses of a memory which stores two-dimensionally arrayed data.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recent progress in semiconductor technology has made it possible to process two-dimensional image data, which is generated at high speed and in large quantities, in the form of a digital signal on a real-time basis.
Since image data contains a very large amount of information, preserving the data in its present form necessitates a memory having an enormous capacity. Accordingly, data-compression processing is often executed in order to economize on the amount of memory used.
One example of data-compression processing which recently has become the center of much attention is referred to as a discrete cosine transformation. This is a modification of a discrete Fourier transformation and requires that a matrix operation be performed twice to transform one block. It is possible for such a matrix operation to be executed in real-time by using an LSI referred to as the "A121" (manufactured by SGS-Tomson), by way of example.
In accordance with such a transformation, if data prior to the transformation is data in real space, then the data after the transformation will be data in frequency space (or more precisely, data in space approximating frequency space). Accordingly, in order to return the transformed data to the original data in real space, a reverse-discrete cosine transformation is required to be executed. This reverse transformation also is executed twice, and such execution is possible with the "A121" LSI mentioned above.
It should be noted that merely executing the discrete cosine transformation and reverse transformation described thus far does not result in any data compression whatsoever. In order to perform data compression, it is necessary to apply re-quantization or the like to the data, in frequency space, resulting from the discrete cosine transformation.
Furthermore, if data compression is to be performed to a greater degree, the re-quantized data in frequency space must be arrayed in ascending order in terms of frequency, and Huffman coding (one type of variable-length coding) must be carried out.
The JPEG (Joint Photographic Expert Group) has set up standards regarding methods of data compression.
The present invention concerns means by which data in frequency space can be arrayed in ascending order in terms of frequency.
The "ascending order of frequency in frequency space having a two-dimensional spread" referred to here is the order of the kind shown in FIG. 6. Ordinarily, the scanning of data in this fashion is referred to as "zigzag" scanning.
In the prior art, the rearrangement of data (hereinafter referred to as "scan conversion") is carried by a configuration of the kind shown in FIG. 7. The scan conversion operation will now be described with reference to FIG. 7.
Ordinarily, data cut into a square shape is scanned through a sequence of the kind shown in FIG. 8(a) or (b) to perform a data transfer. Further, an input/output sequence of data in a discrete cosine transformation LSI described above is similar to this sequence. The data thus scanned is inputted through an input terminal 306 shown in FIG. 7 and written in a memory 305.
The address information of the memory 305 which stores this data is generated by a counter 301 and applied to the memory 305 via a selector 303. If the scanning sequence of the input data is made that of FIG. 8(a) and the image size is limited to 8.times.8 pixels, the storage addresses of the data will have the values shown in FIG. 9. In order to read the stored data through the zigzag scanning sequence shown in FIG. 6, the corresponding addresses must be applied to the memory.
More specifically, in order to generate addresses, it is required that the output of the decoder 301 be decoded or that these addresses be read out of a memory in the order in which they were generated. However, with a data size of 8.times.8 pixels, the addresses are 64 values and therefore a decoder circuit of very large scale is required. Accordingly, the usual practice is to adopt the latter method, namely the arrangement using the memory in which the zigzag scanning addresses have been stored in the order in which they were generated. This memory is a ROM (read-only memory) 701 shown in FIG. 7. At this time the ROM 701 is selected by the selector 303 so that the addresses are applied to the memory 305.
By virtue of the above-described arrangement, the data that has been written in the memory 305 is read out in the zigzag scanning sequence based upon the address information generated by the ROM 701 via the selector 303, and this data is outputted to an output terminal 307.
Furthermore, an address signal for reading the address information out of the ROM 701 in order is supplied by the counter 301.
However, in the case where the two-dimensionally arrayed data transferred by the ordinary scanning method is scanned and transformed in zigzag fashion according to the example of the prior art described above, a memory for address conversion is required, the number of component parts increases and cost is raised.

Address generating method, and circuit therefor


In the speaker of the invention, a circular outer magnet type magnetic circuit 8, and a diaphragm 13 to which a circular voice coil 14 driven by the circuit is fixed are held on a rectangular frame 1. The circular outer magnet type magnetic circuit 8 is configured by: a yoke 9 in which a rectangular flange 9b is disposed in one end of a circular center pole 9a; a plate-like magnet 10 which has a circular center hole 10a, which is placed with forming a circular annular gap around the yoke center pole 9a, and which has a rectangular outer shape that is substantially identical with the outer shape of the yoke flange 9b; and a circular annular pole piece 11 which is substantially equal in inner diameter to the magnet center hole 10a, in which the outer diameter is substantially equal to short side dimensions of the yoke flange 9b and the magnet 10, and which cooperates with the yoke flange 9b to clampingly hold the magnet 10. A circular magnetic gap 12 is formed between the yoke center pole 9a and the pole piece 11. The magnet 10 is split into two portions in a center area in the longitudinal direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a speaker which is used mainly as a receiver of a mobile communication equipment such as a portable telephone.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, there is a narrow rectangular speaker in which a rectangular inner magnet type magnetic circuit, and a diaphragm to which a rectangular voice coil driven by the magnetic circuit is fixed are held on a rectangular frame. In such a speaker, the rectangular inner magnet type magnetic circuit is configured by: a rectangular yoke which is held by the frame; a magnet which is joined to the bottom face of the yoke, and which has a rectangular plate-like shape; and an upper plate which is joined to the upper face of the magnet, and which has a rectangular plate-like shape, and a rectangular magnetic gap into which the rectangular voice coil is to be fitted is formed between the inner wall face of the yoke and the outer side face of the upper plate. When an audio signal current is supplied to the voice coil, the diaphragm to which the voice coil is fixed is vibrated by an electromagnetic action with a magnetic field in the magnetic gap, to generate a sound or a voice. Examples of such a speaker are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laying-Open Nos. 2003-37895 and 2003-37890.


The semiconductor device includes a gate electrode over a substrate, a gate insulating layer over the gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor layer over the gate insulating layer, and a source electrode and a drain electrode over the oxide semiconductor layer. A length of part of an outer edge of the oxide semiconductor layer from an outer edge of the source electrode to an outer edge of the drain electrode is more than three times, preferably more than five times as long as a channel length of the semiconductor device. Further, oxygen is supplied from the gate insulating layer to the oxide semiconductor layer by heat treatment. In addition, an insulating layer is formed after the oxide semiconductor layer is selectively etched.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device which includes a circuit including a semiconductor element such as a transistor, and a manufacturing method of the semiconductor device. For example, the present invention relates to a power device which is mounted on a power supply circuit; a semiconductor integrated circuit including a memory, a thyristor, a converter, an image sensor, or the like; and an electronic device on which an electro-optical device typified by a liquid crystal display panel, a light-emitting display device including a light-emitting element, or the like is mounted as a component.
In this specification, a semiconductor device generally refers to a device which can function by utilizing semiconductor characteristics; an electro-optical device, a light-emitting display device, a semiconductor circuit, and an electronic device are all included in the category of the semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many transistors formed over a glass substrate or the like are manufactured using amorphous silicon, polycrystalline silicon, or the like, as typically seen in liquid crystal display devices. Although a transistor manufactured using amorphous silicon has low field-effect mobility, it can be formed over a larger glass substrate. On the other hand, although a transistor manufactured using polycrystalline silicon has high field-effect mobility, it is not suitable for being formed over a larger glass substrate.
Other than a transistor manufactured using silicon, a technique in which a transistor is manufactured using an oxide semiconductor and applied to an electronic device or an optical device has attracted attention in recent years. For example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 disclose a technique by which a transistor is manufactured using zinc oxide or In—Ga—Zn-based oxide as an oxide semiconductor and is used as a switching element of a pixel of a display device or the like.

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


To provide a power plant which is capable of improving the drive efficiency and power generation efficiency when electric power is generated using power of the drive part thereof.

Conventionally, as the power plant of this kind, one disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is known. This power plant is for driving drive wheels of a vehicle, and is equipped with an internal combustion engine and a generator-motor as power sources, and a stepless transmission and a planetary gear train for transmitting power to the drive wheels. The planetary gear train is a general single pinion type that has a sun gear, a ring gear, and a carrier, and the sun gear and the ring gear are connected to the drive wheels via a high clutch and a low clutch, respectively. The engine is connected to the carrier via a main shaft, and the main shaft is connected to an input pulley of the stepless transmission. Further, the generator-motor, the output pulley of the stepless transmission, and the sun gear are connected to each other via an auxiliary shaft.
The power plant configured as above has operation modes one of which is a torque circulation mode mainly used during low-speed traveling. In the torque circulation mode, the aforementioned high clutch is disengaged to thereby disconnect between the sun gear and the drive wheels, and the low clutch is engaged to connect between the ring gear and the drive wheels. This causes the torque of the generator-motor to be transmitted to the carrier via the auxiliary shaft, the stepless transmission, and the main shaft. Further, the torque transmitted to the carrier is distributed between the ring gear and the sun gear, and torque distributed to the ring gear is transmitted to the drive wheels. On the other hand, torque distributed to the sun gear is transmitted to the auxiliary shaft, and after being combined with the torque of the generator-motor, it is transmitted to the carrier via the stepless transmission and the main shaft. As described above, in the torque circulation mode, the power of the generator-motor is transmitted to the drive wheels while circulating through the stepless transmission and the planetary gear train.
As described above, in the conventional power plant, since during operation in the torque circulation mode, the transmission of power from the generator-motor to the drive wheels is carried out necessarily via the stepless transmission, and hence due to power transmission loss at the stepless transmission, the drive efficiency of the power plant is reduced. Further, for example, during the operation in the torque circulation mode, also when electric power is generated by the generator-motor using the power of the drive wheels, the transmission of power from the drive wheels to the generator-motor is performed via the stepless transmission, and hence it is impossible to obtain a sufficient power generation efficiency due to power transmission losses at the stepless transmission.
The present invention has been made to provide a solution to the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a power plant which is capable of improving the drive efficiency and the power generation efficiency thereof when the electric power is generated using the power of the driven part.
[Patent Literature 1] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2004-175320.

Abstract: In a power plant (1), an output shaft (3a) of an internal combustion engine (3) is connected to driven parts DW and DW, and a transmission (20) is connected between the output shaft (3a) of the engine (3) and the driven parts DW and DW, while one of first to third elements (31), (32), and (34) of a planetary gear train (30) is connected between the output shaft (3a) of the engine (3) and the transmission (20), another one of the first to third elements to the output portion (42) of the generator-motor (40), and the remaining one of the same to the driven parts DW and DW.


The present invention is directed to bio-oil compositions, derived from fast pyrolysis of wood feedstocks, that exhibit properties of a preservative. The bio-oil may be used alone, in formulations with either a waterbased, or an oilbased, or a combination of a water based and an oil based preservatives. This invention also includes a method of preparing a wood preservative composition comprising, processing treated wood containing a preservative using a fast pyrolysis reactor, and obtaining the bio-oil fraction. The application of wood products with the bio-oil of the present invention is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to the preparation and use of bio-oil as a preservative. More specifically, this invention is directed to the use of bio-oil as a wood preservative, either alone or in combination with other preservatives. Furthermore, this invention relates to methods for recycling wood preservatives treated wood products.
Wood preservatives are required to extend the service life of wood beyond what would normally be available if the wood was left untreated and exposed to the natural process of biodegradation. Presently, wood preservative fall into two basic classes: oil based and water based. The major oil based preservatives are creosote and pentachlorophenol (PCP). Copper, chromium, arsenate (CCA) is the most commonly used water based preservative.
There is an interest within the wood preservative industry to find an environmentally friendly means of treating wood products. Furthermore, there is a general lack of suitable disposal alternatives for treated wood taken out of service. Land filling of wood waste is the current disposal solution. However, wood is bulky, low density, and does not compact well in the landfill and there is a growing desire to find a solution to the treated wood waste problem and therefore increase the life span of the landfill.
The processing of carbonaceous feedstocks to produce heat, chemicals or fuels can be accomplished by a number of thermochemical processes, one such process being pyrolysis. Pyrolysis is character by the thermal decomposition of materials in the relative absence of oxygen (i.e., significantly less oxygen than required for complete combustion). Typically, pyrolysis refers to slow conventional pyrolysis whose equilibrium products included roughly equal proportions of non-reactive solids (char and ash), secondly liquids, and non-condensible gases. However, over the past two decades fundamental pyrolysis research has unexpectedly indicated that high yields of primary, non-equilibrium liquids and gases (including valuable chemicals, chemical intermediates, petrochemicals and fuels) could be obtained from carbonaceous feedstocks through fast (rapid or flash) pyrolysis at the expense of undesirable, slow pyrolysis products. In other words, the low-value product distribution of traditional slow pyrolysis can be avoided by the approach embodied by fast pyrolysis processes.
Fast pyrolysis is a generic term that encompasses various methods of rapidly imparting a relatively high temperature to feedstocks for a very short time, then rapidly reducing the temperature of the primary products before chemical equilibrium can occur. By this approach the complex structures of carbonaceous feedstocks are broken into reactive chemical fragments which are initially formed by depolymerization and volatilization reactions, but do not persist for any significant length of time. Thus, non-equilibrium products are preserved, and valuable, reactive chemicals, chemical intermediates, light primary organic liquids etc may be obtained.
Fast pyrolysis is an intense, short duration process that can be carried out in a variety of reactor systems. The common aspect of these reactors is the ability to achieve extremely rapid feedstock heating with limitation of the reaction to relatively short times by rapid cooling which stops the chemical reactions before the valuable intermediates can degrade to non-reactive, low-value final products. A fast pyrolysis process reactor system typically provides for a very rapid feedstock heating rate, typically within the range of 1,000. degree. to 1,000,000. degree. C. per second. The elevation in reaction temperature is controlled and lies within the range of 350. degree. to 800. degree. C. The reaction/residence time is also controlled and short and lies within the range of 0.03 seconds to 2 seconds. Fast pyrolysis is also characterized by a rapid product quench where the products are quickly cooled below 350. degree. C. within 0.5 seconds. An example of such a process is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,340 which discloses the conversion of wood and other biomass residues to a non-viscous liquid product, termed xe2x80x9cbio-oilxe2x80x9d.
The processing of preservative treated wood via pyrolysis is possibly an option for recycling creosote or pentachlorophenol based wood preservatives. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,323 discloses the thermolysis of oil or tar based wood preservatives from sawdust and shavings obtained from the outer layer of treated telephone poles. The use of a fast pyrolysis reactor involving an inorganic particulate heat carrier for the recycling of these preservatives is not disclosed, nor are any of the properties of the product produced as a result of this process disclosed.
The present invention is directed to the use of bio-oil, obtained from the fast pyrolysis of wood biomass, as a preservative. Furthermore, bio-oil may also be mixed with traditional oil-based preservatives and be used either as a preservative carrier, or as an active ingredient within these novel compositions.
This invention also pertains to the recycling of wood treated with preservatives using fast pyrolysis to produce a bio-oil with properties suitable for use as a wood preservative. Results present herein demonstrate that bio-oil obtained from the fast pyrolysis of wood treated with creosote is as, or is more, effective than commercial grades of creosote.
Furthermore it has been noted that bio-oil adds to the strength of wood treated with bio-oil and acts not only as a preservative, but also to wood strengthening agent. Bio-oil also forms a protective skin on the exterior of the treated wood and acts as a physical barrier to decay.
The present invention relates to the preparation and use of bio-oil as a preservative. More specifically, this invention is directed to the use of bio-oil as a wood preservative, either alone or in combination with other preservatives. Furthermore, this invention is related to methods for recycling wood preservatives from treated wood products.
According to the present invention there is provided a bio-oil composition comprising derivatized lignin, alcohol, natural organic acids, carbonyls that is liquid at room temperature, wherein said bio-oil exhibits properties of a preservative. This bio-oil composition may further be characterized in comprising 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol and 3,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid.
This invention is also directed to a wood preservative composition comprising the bii-oil composition as defined above and a water based, or an oil based, or a combination of a water based and an oil based preservative. Preferably the bio-oil composition comprises an oil based preservative. Furthermore, it is preferable that the oil-based wood preservative is selected from the group consisting of creosote or pentachlorophenol.
This invention also embraces a wood product treated with any of the bio-oil compositions as defined above.
This invention also relates to a method of preparing a wood preservative composition, the wood preservative composition comprising the bio-oil composition as defined above and an oil based preservative, the method comprising processing wood treated with the oil based preservative using a fast pyrolysis reactor, and obtaining the resultant bio-oil fraction. Preferably, this method uses wood treated with creosote or pentachlorophenol as the feedstock for fast pyrolysis. This invention is also directed to a wood product treated with the wood preservative composition as defined above.
This invention also embraces a method of preparing a wood preservative composition comprising, heating bio-oil and adding a waterbased, or oilbased, or a combination of a water based and an oil based preservative to the bio-oil, followed by cooling the wood preservative composition to room temperature.
The present invention also provides a method of sealing a wood product comprising treating said wood product with any of the bio-oil compositions defined above.
This invention also relates to a method for increasing the strength of a wood product comprising treating the wood product with any of the above bio-oil compositions.
This invention also embraces a method of recycling preservative-treated wood products comprising:
i) processing the preservative-treated wood products within a fast pyrolysis reactor;
ii) obtaining a bio-oil fraction; and
iii) treating a wood product with said bio-oil fraction.
Furthermore, steps i) to iii) this method may be repeated.
The present invention is directed to the use of bio-oil as a preservative agent. Furthermore, this invention is directed to novel bio-oil compositions that are effective in wood preservative applications and exhibit several desirable properties including increased preservative qualities, increased wood strength, the formation of a protective coating of the wood product, and pleasant wood colouration. Furthermore, this invention provides for a method of recycling treated wood products and demonstrates the suitability of the re-use of the resultant bio-oil product within preservative applications.


A resist composition comprises: (A) a resin capable of increasing its solubility in an alkali developer by action of an acid; (B) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with actinic ray or radiation; (C) a resin having at least one of a fluorine atom and a silicon atom; and (D) a solvent, wherein the resin (C) has a degree of molecular weight dispersion of 1.3 or less and a weight average molecular weight of 1.0×104 or less.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a resist composition used in a manufacturing process of semiconductors, such as IC, manufacture of circuit substrates for liquid crystals, thermal heads and the like, and lithographic process of other photo-fabrication, and also relates to resins used in the resist composition, compounds for use in the synthesis of the resins, and a pattern-forming method using the positive resist composition. Specifically, the invention relates to a resist composition suitable for exposure with an immersion projection exposure apparatus using far ultraviolet rays of wavelengths of 300 nm or less as the light source, resins used in the resist composition, compounds for use in the synthesis of the resins, and a pattern-forming method using the positive resist composition.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the progress of fining of semiconductor elements, shortening of the wavelengths of exposure light source and increasing in the numerical aperture (high NA) of the projection lens have advanced, and now exposure apparatus of NA 0.84 using an ArF excimer laser having wavelength of 193 nm as the light source have been developed. As generally well known, these can be expressed by the following expressions:(Resolution)=k1·(λ/NA)(Depth of focus)=±k2·λ/NA2 wherein λ is the wavelength of the exposure light source, NA is the numerical aperture of the projection lens, k1 and k2 are the coefficients concerning the process.
For the realization of further higher resolution by the shortening of wavelengths, an exposure apparatus with an F2 excimer laser having wavelength of 157 nm as the light source has been studied, however, the materials of lens for use in the exposure apparatus and the materials for use in the resist for shortening of wavelengths are extremely restricted, so that the realization of the reasonable manufacturing costs of the apparatus and materials and quality stabilization are very difficult, as a result, there are possibilities of missing an exposure apparatus and a resist having sufficient performances and stabilities within a required period of time.
As a technique for increasing resolution in optical microscope, what is called immersion method of filling between a projection lens and a sample with a liquid of high refractive index (hereinafter also referred to as "immersion liquid") has been conventionally known.
In connection with "the effect of immersion", the above resolution and depth of focus can be expressed by the following expressions in the case of immersion, taking λ0 as the wavelength of the exposure light in the air, n as the refractive index of immersion liquid to the air, and NA0=sin θ with θ as convergence half angle of the ray of light:(Resolution)=k1·(λ0/n)/NA0 (Depth of focus)=±k2·(λ0/n)/NA02
That is, the effect of immersion is equivalent to the case of using exposure wavelength of wavelength of 1/n. In other words, in the case of the projection optical system of the same NA, the depth of focus can be made n magnifications by immersion. This is effective for every pattern form, and it is possible to be combined with super resolution techniques such as a phase shift method and a deformation lighting method.
The apparatus applying this effect to the transfer of micro-fine image pattern of semiconductor element are introduced by JP-A-57-153433 and JP-A-7-220990.
The latest advancement of immersion exposure techniques is reported in SPIE Proc., 4688, 11 (2002), J. Vac. Sci. Tecnol. B, 17 (1999), and JP-A-10-303114. When an ArF excimer laser is used as the light source, it is thought that pure water (refractive index at 193 nm: 1.44) is most promising in the light of the safety in handling, and transmittance and refractive index at 193 nm.
When an F2 excimer laser is used as the light source, a solution containing fluorine is discussed from the balance of transmittance and refractive index at 157 nm, but a sufficiently satisfactory solution from the viewpoint of environmental safety and in the point of refractive index has not been found yet. From the extent of the effect of immersion and the degree of completion of resist, it is thought that immersion exposure technique will be carried on an ArF exposure apparatus earliest.
On and after the resist for a KrF excimer laser (248 nm), an image-forming method that is called chemical amplification is used as the image-forming method of the resist for compensating for the reduction of sensitivity by light absorption. To explain the image-forming method of positive chemical amplification by example, this is an image-forming method of exposing a resist to decompose an acid generator in the exposed part to thereby generate an acid, changing an alkali-insoluble group to an alkali-soluble group by the bake after exposure (PEB: Post Exposure Bake) by utilizing the generated acid as the reactive catalyst, and removing the exposed part by alkali development.
The resist for an ArF excimer laser (wavelength: 193 nm) using the chemical amplification mechanism is now being a main current, but many insufficient points still remain, and the improvements of line edge roughness and restraint of resist profile fluctuation due to PED (Post Exposure Delay) between exposure and PEB are required.
When a chemical amplification resist is applied to immersion exposure, it is appointed that since the resist layer inevitably touches an immersion liquid at the time of exposure, the resist layer decomposes and ingredients that adversely influence the immersion liquid ooze out from the resist layer. WO 2004/068242 discloses an example that the resist performance fluctuates by the immersion of a resist for ArF exposure in water before and after exposure, and appoints this is a problem in immersion exposure.
Further, when exposure is performed with a scanning system immersion exposure apparatus in an immersion exposure process, the speed of exposure lowers if an immersion liquid does not move following in the movement of a lens, so that there is the fear of influence on productivity. In the case where the immersion liquid is water, the resist film is preferably hydrophobic in view of good following ability of water. On the other hand, there arises adverse influence on the image performance of resist when the resist film is hydrophobic, such that generating amount of scum increases, and the improvement is required.

Resist composition, resin for use in the resist composition, compound for use in the synthesis of the resin, and pattern-forming method using the resist composition


A hand tool comprises a body (2), a handle member (3) pivotally mounted thereon and an operating member (4) which is displaceable relative to the body between a starting position and a turning position against the action of a force. The handle member (3) comprises an elbow lever element (10) which has a pivot pin (14) resting against a support (15) arranged in the body (2) and which is displaceable along the support perpendicular to the pivot pin (14). The elbow lever element (10) has a first arm (10') which is pivotable about the pivot pin (14) towards and away from the body (2), and a second arm (10") which is adapted to engage the operating member (4) when the first arm (10') pivots in the direction of the body (2) and to move the operating member from the starting position to the turning position against the action of said force. The handle member (3) is arranged such that the elbow lever element (10), when the first arm (10') pivots in the direction of the body (2), on the one hand is pivoted about the pivot pin (14) and, on the other hand, is moved in the direction of the operating member (4) while the pivot pin rests against the support (15), whereby the moment arm (L1, L2) of the first and second arm (10', 10") perpendicular to the direction of displacement of the operating member (4) gets longer and shorter, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hand tool comprising a body, a handle member pivotally mounted thereon and an operating member which is displaceable relative to the body between a starting position and a changeover position (where the motion of the driver changes from a lifting motion to a downward), striking motion, the displacement of the operating member from the starting position to the turning position, during use of the tool, taking place against the action of a force that increases during at least part of said displacement, and the handle member being arranged to engage the operating member so as to displace, when pivoting relative to the body, the operating member from the starting position to the changeover position.
2. Related Background Art
An example of a known hand tool of this type is disclosed in Swedish Patent Specification 8700892-6. This prior-art tool is a stapler for driving staples into an object. The operating member of the tool is a driver which engages a leaf spring and is adapted, while being displaced from a lower starting position to an upper changeover position, to tension this spring, which then produces the force counteracting the displacement. The stapler has in its lower portion a magazine which contains a horizontal row of releasably interconnected staples, which are urged forward towards a firing position in the front portion of the stapler by a spring-loaded feeding mechanism. When the driver reaches its changeover position, it is released, the spring giving the driver a striking motion starting from the changeover position in order to drive the front staple located in the firing position into an object.
The handle member of the prior-art stapler is a straight lever. The lever is pivoted to the body of the stapler by means of a horizontal pivot pin and has a short front arm and a long rear arm, which constitutes the handle of the stapler. The front arm of the lever engages by its front end in a hole in the upper portion of the driver so as to raise the driver from the starting position to the changeover position against the action of the spring when the handle, i.e. the rear arm of the lever, is urged downwards towards the body of the stapler. The lever is designed in such a manner that the front end of its front arm is moved out of the hole in the upper portion of the driver when the driver reaches the changeover position. Then the driver is released to perform its striking motion.
A recess extends transversely through the body of the stapler and is defined in its upper part by a gripping surface. The handle is to be pressed downwards by hand. The thumb of one hand is placed across the handle and the other fingers of the same hand are inserted into the recess in the body, whereupon one presses the handle downwards by making a squeezing motion with the thumb pressed against the handle and the other fingers pressed against the gripping surface. In the starting position, the handle extends obliquely upwardly and rearwardly, the opening angle being relatively great. This results in an initial state where the grasping opening of the hand (the amount that the hand must be open to grasp the tool), corresponding to the distance between the upper side of the handle and the gripping surface, is large. The grasping opening of the hand decreases during the squeezing motion and is comparatively small when the handle reaches a substantially horizontal position, in which the driver is located in its upper changeover position.
The maximum squeezing power of the hand, which henceforth is called the hand power, is relatively small in a large grasping opening as well as in a small grasping opening and is at its maximum in an intermediate grasping opening position. In the starting position of the handle, the hand power thus is fairly small and to during squeezing, i.e. with a decreasing grasping opening, will first increase to a maximum in the intermediate grasping opening position and, as the squeezing continues from this intermediate position, decrease again.
The condition described above is illustrated in FIG. 1, which is a diagram, in which the hand power as a function of the angle v for the pivoting of the handle from the starting position is shown for three persons having different strength. FIG. 1 also shows the pressing-down power which is necessary for pressing down the handle and which is proportional to the counterforce produced by the leaf spring, as a function of the angle v in the angular area between v=0 (starting position of the handle) and v=v.sub.1. The angle v.sub.1 corresponds to the horizontal position of the handle, in which the driver is located in its upper changeover position. FIG. 1 thus illustrates both the available hand power and the required pressing-down power. The spring force and, thus, the required pressing-down power increase linearly relative to the pivoting angle, whereas the hand power, as described above, first increases so as to later decrease. As is evident from the shown example, the weakest person does not have sufficient hand power to press down the handle, whereas the strongest person manages this relatively easily.
FIG. 2 shows the ratio (in percent) of the required pressing-down power to the hand power of the person of medium strength as a function of the pivoting angle v for the example shown in FIG. 1. As is evident, the person of medium strength first needs to use but a minor amount of the available hand power when pressing down the handle. Then he must gradually use a greater and greater amount of the available hand power so as to use, at the end, almost 100% thereof. Of course, this is strenuous work and also has the drawback that the precision, i.e. the ability to hold the stapler in the exactly correct position, is considerably deteriorated at the actual firing moment. Therefore a more uniform utilisation of the available hand power is desirable.

Hand tool having reciprocating operating member


A photonic processor having a high spectral resolution which separates an input optic signal into numerous channels and a method of constructing same are provided. The photonic processor includes an optical delay line spiral having dips to compensate for path length differences between the various paths such that each path is an integer multiple of a fixed path length. Straight segments are included in the spiral design to offset the dips in the spiral such that they do not overlap. A number of waveguide taps are included that may launch the channelized light signals into a photonic lens.

An optical delay line can be used to separate the particular colors, i.e. the light waves of different wavelengths, of a chromatic spectrum. An example of such a device is an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG). If a conventional AWG is designed for extremely high color or spectral resolution, the AWG must have great physical size, which makes practical application of such devices difficult.
Such AWGs are commonly used as optical demultiplexers in wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) systems. The transmission capacity of such WDM systems is dependent on the AWG's ability to separate out the different wavelength carriers of the optical network. The higher the spectral resolution, the more information that will be able to be transmitted along the single optical fiber.
One such optical delay line that provides a very high resolution AWG system, i.e., a hyper-resolution AWG system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,043,108 to Olsen, entitled PLANAR MULTIPLE-TAPPED OPTICAL DELAY LINE, the teachings and disclosure of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties herein. As described therein, such a delay line includes a spiral of optical waveguide having a number of spiral waveguide loops disposed within a single plane. Broadband optical energy is received at an input end of the waveguide spiral and is released through optical tap areas in the waveguide loops. The end of the waveguide can be a waveguide termination such as a matched load that decreases reflection. Olsen describes that while waveguide loop numbers on the order of 10 are suitable for many purposes, waveguide loop numbers on the order of 100 will provide greater frequency resolution fidelity. The minimum curvature of the waveguide loops will be dictated by the bending limits suggested by the waveguide manufacturer.
In an understood manner, the length by which optical signals travel in a waveguide affects the phase of the traveling light and hence provides a mechanism by which the colors of the incoming light can be separated. In essence, different waveguide phase lengths permit different frequencies of light to be segregated from other frequencies of light. It is thereby possible to spread the colors of light out by creating a phase length difference that corresponds to a particular desired travel time of the light, wherein 1 divided by this desired travel time creates the approximate upper limit to the frequency resolution of a hyper-resolution AWG.
For example, to create a frequency resolution of approximately 100 MHz (0.1 GHz), a path length (in a vacuum) of approximately 10 feet of travel or 10 nanoseconds of light travel time is required. Because the index of refraction of glass (waveguide) differs from that of a vacuum, a shorter length of fiber is suitable to accomplish this delay. In this instance, approximately six feet of waveguide, between the first and last optical taps provides a 0.1 GHz resolution. To create a 1 GHz frequency resolution, approximately 0.6 feet of optical waveguide between the first and last optical taps is needed. To create a 10 GHz frequency resolution, approximately 0.06 feet of optical fiber between the first and last optical taps is needed. Higher resolution can be achieved by lengthening the distance between these first and last optical taps.
Unfortunately, for proper operation of the AWG, each loop must have a path length that is an integer multiple of some fixed path length, i.e. Li+1−Li=ΔL, where Li is the length of the ith path, equivalently Li−L1=(i−1)ΔL. This requirement has heretofore dictated the physical size of the high resolution (<100 MHz spectral resolution) AWG photonic frequency separation devices.
There is thus a need for an optical delay line that provides high spectral resolution but that is compact. For many applications it is desirable that such a delay line be realizable in planar form. An optical delay line having these attributes can enable a very high resolution AWG system (a hyper-resolution AWG system) with spectral resolution <100 MHz. These and other advantages of the invention, as well as additional inventive features, will be apparent from the description of embodiments of the invention provided herein.

Super-s multiple-tapped optical delay line

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A method for target detection includes: receiving input data via an input signal; generating a histogram from the received data by a processor; rank-ordering the received data based on power or amplitude of the received input signal; comparing the ranked data received in a current time period to the ranked data received in a previous time period to calculate a Bivariate Conditional Exceedance function (BCEF); utilizing the calculated BCEF to estimate a Gumbel Copula parameter; accumulating a log-likelihood statistic from the estimated Gumbel Copula parameter and the generated histogram; comparing the log-likelihood statistic with a threshold value; and determining a detection of the target, when the log-likelihood statistic is below the threshold value.

While trying to detect small or slow-moving targets, the target detection ability of a radar platform, such as a ground moving radar or a maritime surface search radar minimum detectable velocity, is limited by the radar dwell duration azimuth-Doppler extent of any clutter in the background. A basic problem with utilizing the data produced by such radars is that the desired information, such as radar scattering from a person or small vessel, can be obscured by clutters due to radar reflections from the clutters.
The problem is exacerbated by factors such as short duration dwells, wind-blown ground clutter, rain clutter, and bird-flock clutter and radio frequency interference (RFI). It can be difficult to separate target from clutter returns when the clutter is spread in Doppler, in which target and clutter returns overlap in Doppler. The clutter (and other non-target signals) can be Doppler spread due to factors such as: radar platform motion; the nature of the clutter, such as whether it is wind blow, rain, bird flock, sea, etc.; or other factors such as miscalibration and RFI. The target trackers or clutter maps can be overwhelmed by a very large number of clutter-hit detections. Furthermore, for a small size target, it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish the target from the non-stationary clutter radar return signal.
Most textbook target detection techniques assume a target embedded in independent, Gaussian noise. However, many real-world problems do not conform to these assumptions, such as detection of small targets in sea clutter.
A traditional technique to detect endo-clutter targets is Space-Time Adaptive Processing (STAP). The STAP technique combines adaptive beamforming and adaptive Doppler filtering into a single 2-D algorithm to yield 2-D detection weights for a target at each candidate azimuth and Doppler. A primary disadvantage of this method is that determination of adaptive weights requires stationary interference and training data that adequately captures the space-time correlation of such interference. Performance of STAP may be deleteriously impacted by signal interference that is difficult to train on, such as non-stationary clutter and terrain bounced interference. Furthermore, the STAP method requires large number of radar return snapshots for training.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a method and system for reducing the effects of clutters to provide increased performance for radars.

System and method for distribution free target detection in a dependent non-Gaussian background


A method of reducing if not eliminating the possibility of tearing or ripping of a mesh screen of a filter during the manufacturing process includes the step of intentionally deforming the mesh screen. With this technique, as the plastic material that forms the frame of the filter begins to expand or change shape, as a result of the heating and squeezing steps involved with the molding process, the deformed mesh screen will be able to accommodate the relative changes in shape without tearing or ripping of the mesh screen. With the invention, numerous shapes and configurations of tools may be used to provide the intentional deformation of the mesh screen during the manufacturing process as well as to provide for control over the amount and degree of mesh screen deformation. Also, the resulting filter will have a mesh screen that has improved retention capabilities which will enhance the performance of the filter.

It is known that in automatic transmissions of vehicles, for example, a transmission filter is used on the inlet side of the transmission hydraulic pump. The transmission filter, typically a fine mesh screen or similar filtering media, prevents harmful contaminants from entering the hydraulic system where they can increase wear and cause scoring and sticking of hydraulic control valves. If a major part fails inside the transmission, the transmission filter may prevent pieces of that part from contributing to a more catastrophic transmission failure. Normally, transmission filters trap metal chips from parts such as gears and bushings and the normal fine material that results from wear of the hydraulic clutch facings and bands.
The known transmission filters are typically made of a plastic material formed as a frame around a mesh screen—the plastic frame molded into the desired configuration and onto the mesh screen. A rubber seal may be added to or molded with the frame. The rubber seal is used to seal the filter onto the inlet side of the hydraulic pump.
The known transmission filters, however, are currently manufactured using techniques that have certain drawbacks. For example, the molded plastic frame that forms the perimeter or outer edge of the filter also forms individual, smaller sections or windows within the frame. The mesh screen extends across some or all of the smaller sections or windows, creating individual filter sections. Depending on the application, a filter may have one or more individual sections or windows within the filter, with each section having a unique shape and configuration. As a result, the filter must be molded to form each of these individual sections or windows. During the molding process, the plastic material that forms the frame of the filter is typically injection molded in the desired configuration and molded at an elevated temperature over the screen sections. At this elevated temperature, the plastic material that forms the frame and individual sections may change shape and consequently may stretch the mesh screen material that extends across the individual section, sometimes to the point of tearing or ripping of the mesh screen material. In other applications, where a rubber seal is added to the filter, a liquid injection molding process is used where the rubber seal is pressed or squeezed onto the filter frame at an elevated temperature. In these applications, the elevated temperature and the pressing of the rubber seal causes the plastic material that forms the frame to expand or change shape resulting in the stretching of the mesh screen, again sometimes to the point of tearing or ripping of the mesh screen.
The present invention is directed at overcoming the known problem of tearing or ripping of the mesh screen as well as other known drawbacks with respect to the manufacture of filters and more broadly the application of molded plastic onto a mesh screen material.


A peep sight apparatus includes a spring portion for surrounding a portion of a bow string and has a first end and a second end. A loop portion extends from the first end of the spring portion. A counterweight portion is fixedly connected to the second end of the spring portion.

The use of bow string-mounted peep sights is known in the archery art. Many different types of peep sight structures have been employed in the art, but none has proven completely satisfactory. In some instances, the attachment of the peep sight to the bow string has been complex and inconvenient. Other arrangements have resulted in physical imbalance in the bow string. Still other arrangements result in peep sights which are not securely retained and are subject to undesirable physical shifting along the bow string.
U.S. Design Pat. No. D344,123 discloses an arrangement which overcomes many of the above identified problems. This arrangement has several disadvantages. Because the counterweight is slidable, the counterweight sometimes may bind on the string and the peep sight does not always return to the same spot on the string. Also, because the peep sight loop forms a complete circle, a rubber grommet must be pushed into the closed loop which is difficult and awkward to accomplish.


An intake manifold to be mounted to a traverse engine includes pieces made of resin and welded to each other. The pieces are constructed with a first piece having a connector to be connected to the engine, and a second piece. The second piece has an upper positioning part overlapping with the first piece except for the connector having a linear-shaped outlet passage. The upper positioning part is welded to the first piece so as to define an upstream side passage of the outlet passage. The first piece has a cover, which covers the upper positioning part defining a downstream end of the upstream side passage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an intake manifold.
2. Description of Related Art
An intake manifold is typically produced by integrating resin-molded pieces. For example, an ultrasonic vibration welding is used for the integrating. FIGS. 5, 6A, 6B, 7, and 8 show an intake manifold 100 for sending intake air into a four-cylindered engine 110. The intake manifold 100 is produced by welding four pieces 101.
Here, a traverse engine is traversely mounted on a front engine front drive (FF) type automobile such that cylinders of the engine are arranged in a width direction of the automobile. In the traverse engine, the intake manifold 100 is disposed such that intake ports 102 communicating with the cylinders are also arranged in the width direction of the automobile.
As shown in FIG. 8, a fuel system having an injector 103 and a fuel rail 104 is located above the intake manifold 100. The injector 103 injects fuel, and the fuel rail 104 distributes fuel into the injector 103. If the intake manifold 100 is broken due to a large impact to the automobile, a part of broken intake manifold may contact the fuel system. In this case, the fuel system may be damaged.
JP-A-2003-322059 discloses an intake manifold 100 shown in FIG. 9, in which a welded part 105 of the intake manifold 100 is located above a fuel system. The welded part 105 is the most breakable part of the intake manifold 100.
As shown in FIG. 9, the intake manifold 100 includes a connector 106 to be connected to an engine. Further, a first piece 101a welded to a second piece 101b is improved such that the welded part 105 defined between the first piece 101a and the second piece 101b is located above the fuel system. That is, the connector 106 of the first piece 101a is made to have a linear shape, to be relatively long, and to be inclined downward. Thus, the welded part 105 is located above the fuel system.
However, the connector 106 may not be able to be long or inclined, based on mounting conditions of a variety of devices in an engine compartment. In this case, the welded part 105 may be required to be located under the fuel system. Further, the fuel system is required to be protected from a broken piece of the welded part 105, if the welded part 105 is broken.


An apparatus and method for gas detection. The apparatus comprises a) a sample chamber for holding a gas sample, b) a sealable vacuum port in fluid communication with the sample chamber, for evacuating the sample chamber, c) a sealable inlet port in fluid communication with the sample chamber, for introducing the gas sample into the evacuated sample chamber, and d) a thermal conductivity sensing element at least partly disposed within the sample chamber, for measuring the thermal conductivity of the gas sample. A gas sample released into the evacuated sample chamber requires a time interval to contact the thermal conductivity sensing element. The time interval is a measure of gas speed. Thermal conductivity and temperature of the gas sample are measured following determination of gas speed. By determining three parameters in a single sample of gas, different gas mixtures having similar thermal conductivities can be distinguished.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to gas sensors and methods of detecting gases.
2. Related Art
Gas detection methods based on the thermal conductivity transport property have been widely used because such methods do not show significant selectivity toward a specific gas. Thermal conductivity is defined as the rate at which heat flows through an area of a body or material. Since thermal conductivity is a bulk property of gases, methods based on this property are considered to be near universal or non-specific gas detection methods.
Typically, the thermal conductivity of a gas is measured by heating a resistance element such as a hot wire filament or a thermistor, and contacting the heated element with a gas sample. The temperature of the resistance element is determined by the thermal conductivity of the gas sample, with a change in temperature reflected as a change in resistance of the resistance element. In this method, the resistance element behaves as a thermal conductivity sensing element.
Certain gases, such as helium and hydrogen, have thermal conductivities that are much greater than the thermal conductivity of air, while other gases, such as nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ammonia and nitrogen have thermal conductivities that are less than or similar to that of air. A detector such as a gas chromatograph, which measures thermal conductivity of a gas typically uses a carrier gas of high thermal conductivity to detect a specimen gas of low thermal conductivity, or a carrier gas of low thermal conductivity to detect a specimen gas of high thermal conductivity. For example, helium is used as a carrier gas for nitrogen detection, and nitrogen or argon is used as a carrier gas for hydrogen detection. In other thermal conductivity detector applications, specific gas analysis based on thermal conductivity has been limited to either binary gas mixtures of known gas species, or hydrogen gas in a mix of gases having similar thermal conductivities significantly different from hydrogen. Because these methods measure only a single bulk parameter of a gas sample, different gas mixtures having similar thermal conductivities cannot be distinguished.

Gas sensor based on dynamic thermal conductivity and molecular velocity

The Regents of the University of California


Apparatus for surface coating or for lacquering of a substrate, such as a disk-shaped substrate 2, which can be placed on a substrate support 14 and can be driven or made to perform a rotating movement, wherein the medium to be applied or the lacquer fluid is applied to the substrate 2 via a feed device 6 which can be displaced in relation to the substrate 2 and/or can be driven. The substrate 2 or the substrate support 14 can be displaced by means of a guide device or in a connecting link guide 7 in such a way that in the area of the substrate 2 the feed device 6 for applying the fluid or the lacquer is conducted approximately parallel with the surface of the substrate 2 and can be stopped at any arbitrary point above the substrate 2 at an even height distance.

The invention relates to an apparatus for surface coating or lacquering of substrates or disk-shaped substrates, such as a disk-shaped information carrier, which can be placed on a substrate support and can be driven or made to perform a rotating movement via a drive device, wherein the coating substance or lacquer to be applied is applied to the substrate via a feed device and an associated nozzle which can be displaced in relation to the substrate and/or can be driven.
A feed device for the application of lacquer to surfaces of substrates which is guided in a support device, so that the lacquer can be delivered by means of a nozzle to the surface of the substrate is already generally known. A perfect lacquer application is not assured with such an arrangement, since the distance between the nozzle and the top of the substrate changes in various positions of the feed device. The thickness of the lacquer application can also be disadvantageously affected by this.

Device for surface coating or lacquering of substrates