A portable enclosure designed to be mounted in any desirable location and defined by a plurality of wall segments arranged in a vertically stacked array wherein each wall segment includes a plurality of wall panels interconnected to one another so as to partially surround and thereby define a vertically oriented interior of sufficient dimension and configuration to house a person in an upstanding position. Supplementary attachments including a hose bib and water supplying hose or like water source may be attached such that the person within the interior of the enclosure may take a shower. Anchor structures are provided to secure the enclosure to the ground or other applicable supporting surface. The various components of the enclosure assembly may be easily assembled and disassembled to facilitate storage and or transport. In another embodiment the portable enclosure may be positioned in a horizontal enclosure and the position may be used as a sleeping enclosure wherein a main entrance is disposed in contiguous relation to the supporting ground and wherein one open end now defines the "crawl in" entrance for the person designed to be housed when sleeping by the portable enclosure.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an enclosure which may be easily assembled and disassembled at any given site and accordingly which is effectively portable in nature such that a grown person can be positioned within the interior of the enclosure in an upstanding position for various purposes such as but not limited to changing clothes, taking a shower, etc.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In modern day society there is usually found an increasing amount of time which may be dedicated to recreational activity. Much of this time is directed to outdoor activities such as but not limited to swimming, sunbathing, camping, hunting, fishing, etc. All of these activities, after they are completed, frequently involve the participants wanting to take showers, change clothes, or the like. However enclosures specifically designed to allow such activities are not normally available except at certain permanently built publicly available sites where large numbers of people congregate.
There is therefore a need in this area for an enclosure or housing type of structure which is portable in nature at least to the extent that it may be easily assembled or disassembled at any given site utilizing a minimal amount of effort on the users part and requiring no exceptional talent, training, tools or auxiliary equipment required to assemble or disassemble such enclosures.
Numerous types of enclosures and or portable shower type housing units are well known in the prior art as evidenced by the following United States patents.
Gatley U.S. Pat. No. 3,391,409 discloses a portable shower bath apparatus which is not necessarily designed for outside use but which is certainly capable of being used in an outdoor location. This device includes a support frame formed of tubing which may be interconnected in its various segments to define an interior which may be enclosed by a drapery, curtain or like structure. This device while applicable is somewhat lightweight in overall design and construction and does require tooling and or a certain amount of expertise in its assembly and disassembly. In addition the tubular components define a frame which is meant to support a water container in an overhead location relative to the interior in which a user or participant may be positioned for showering.
Mustee discloses a free standing shower stall including a base and one or more wall panels used to impart rigidity to the stall. A drain structure is also located in the base and the wall panels are made and joined together by imperforate watertight hinges which permit the panels to be folded upon themselves for shipment when in a stored position and wherein such folding may occur in association with other parts of the stall.
The patent to Sedala U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,310 also is directed to a portable shower stall having a plurality of corner posts and upright wall elements which are removably secured to and supported by such corner posts. The outer or lower most end of the post are designed to engage and be supported on some type of surface and are particularly pointed at the ends thereof to penetrate a ground like area if such is defined as a supporting surface. Hoses, plumbing and like installations including a shower head may be mounted on the interior and communicate with an exterior source through a hose or like structure. The individual wall panels supported by the post may have a plurality of shingle type structures and may be vented to allow air flow through the interior of the stall.
The patents to Westerweller, U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,720 and Greenleaf, U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,280 are both directed to portable shower stall type structures which are capable of being folded or otherwise disposed into a stored position and carried by some type of facility such as a backpack type of arrangement (Westerweller) or in a separate compact carrying case (Greenleaf). These structures are of course portable in nature and are formed of a plurality of components which are significantly light in weight to the extent that these portable stalls or enclosures may be carried on or by the person with little problem. While such lightweight construction has certain advantages it does not add to the permanency of the structure while allowing the versatility of a knockdown device as is obviously needed in this area.
The above noted devices are considered to be operable and utilitarian for their intended function. However they do not solve the problem of establishing an enclosure or like housing structure which may be used as a shower stall or otherwise used for other activities such as changing clothes and the like whether or not a shower is attached thereto. In such a preferred device a certain permanency or feeling of structural integrity must be conveyed to the users of such a device while at the same time such a device must be capable of being easily assembled and disassembled. In addition a preferred structure of the type set forth herein should also be capable of having auxiliary or supplementary attachments made thereto such as but not limited to tables for supporting various goods and or performing other functions such as eating or the like.


A coatable insulator composition for use in the formation of a green tape comprising fine inorganic micropowders composed of amorphous glass and a refractory oxide in a volatile organic solvent solution of a binder composed of a polymer substance and a plasticizer(s). A green tape obtained by coating said composition over a flexible substrate, and heating and drying this product to remove the organic solvent; and a method for forming a barrier-rib for a plasma display apparatus by sandblast etching using said green tape as an insulator layer for the barrier-rib formation. A use of a pre-formed green tape of uniform thickness in the formation of the barrier-rib of a plasma display apparatus allows the thickness uniformity of the barrier-rib to be improved and the work rationalized, which means that the plasma display apparatus can be made larger and finer, and mass production throughput will be enhanced.

Much progress has been made in the development of PDP apparatus that serve as flat panel displays in large, wall-mount television and high-definition television displays which are used in place of conventional CRTs. In the direct current (DC) PDP apparatus of FIG. 5, a pair of glass substrates (501 and 502) having a plurality of anodes (503) and cathodes (504) positioned perpendicular, the anodes are covered with an insulator layer (505) as needed on the inner surface of the substrate (502) and the anodes (503) and cathodes (504) are positioned facing each other to maintain a specific gas discharge distance, the cell (508) is then coated with a phosphor material (506) chosen from blue, green and red and the edges thereof are sealed airtight with a sealing material, after which the above-mentioned gas discharge area is filled with a specific discharge gas (509) to create a gas discharge section. A structure is employed whereby the above-mentioned gas discharge distance is kept identical and discharge occurs in a specific cell partitioned by an insulator barrier-rib (507).
PDP apparatus are being made larger and more precise and converted to color. Therefore, a need for a more uniform barrier-rib height, i.e., electrode spacing is required. At the same time, there is a need for cost effective manufacturing of the apparatus.
Screen printing is the most commonly used method for forming the barrier-ribs used in a PDP apparatus. As discussed in published Japanese Patent Application 58-150248, screen printing involves a step in which an insulator powder such as glass is made into a printable paste, after which lines or dots and spaces are paired and printed in layers to a specific thickness at a resolution of about 3 pairs per millimeter, for example, using a screen printing mesh mask (in the case of a small display). At least three or four layers, and at most about fifteen layers, are built up through repeated printing to a specific thickness (height) while the above-mentioned resolution is maintained. This multiple printing step therefore requires an accuracy check of position at each stage of the printing, care must be taken to avoid oozing of the paste at each stage. Furthermore, the film thickness must be precisely controlled so that the final height of the layers is uniform, all of which makes this an extremely complicated step with a low yield. An experienced printing technician has to spend a great deal of time and effort to get around the drawbacks to this step, which incurs tremendous costs.
In light of this situation, a sandblasting barrier-rib formation method has been developed and put into practical use in recent years. The method will be described while referring to FIG. 4. The first step is to form an anode (402) on a glass substrate (401). The insulator layer (406) that serves as the barrier-rib is then screen-printed to the desired thickness. A photoresist (403) that is resistant to sandblasting is bonded over the dried insulator layer and patterned, an abrasive material (404) is sprayed by a sandblasting machine (405). To remove the insulator material from the region in which the resist has not been patterned (407) and the resist is then stripped away and the remaining product fired, which forms a fine barrier-rib of a uniform height.
The above-mentioned screen printing method, in which an insulator layer in the desired pattern is printed to the desired height using a paste whose principal component is an insulator powder such as glass.
Although positioning is easy with a sandblasting method because it involves solid unpatterned printing, the printing still has to be repeated a number of times, and achieving a uniform film thickness is still difficult. Furthermore, because of the need for the barrier-rib of a PDP apparatus to be reliable, this method requires careful paste preparation and printing work so as to avoid any defects in the process, and the work environment and atmosphere also must be carefully managed and improvement in work or production efficiency remains a problem in the industry.
The inventors perfected the present invention upon discovering that a reliable barrier-rib with an uniform height or thickness can be formed easily and the barrier-rib formation step can be greatly improved upon by using a pre-formed green tape of an uniform thickness for the insulator layer.

Insulator composition, green tape, and method for forming plasma display apparatus barrier-rib


The injection apparatus is provided with a high speed step cylinder, a pressure accumulation part and a coupling mechanism. The high speed step cylinder has a rod and an operating chamber. The coupling mechanism is capable of switching between a coupled state in which the movement of the rod is restricted, and a non-coupled state in which the coupled state is released so as to enable the rod to move due to the operating pressure. The coupling mechanism includes a first coupling member, a second coupling member and a drive source. The coupling mechanism is kept in the coupled state in which the second coupling member is rotated to less than 90°. When the second coupling member is forced to rotate in the coupled state, the first coupling member rotates such that a first contact surface is in contact with a second contact surface.

Generally, an injection apparatus for a molding machine moves an injection plunger forward in a sleeve with an injection cylinder and forces molding material (e.g., molten material) out of the sleeve into a cavity formed between molds (mold unit) to inject and fill the molding material into the cavity. The injecting and filling operation includes a low speed operation, a high speed operation, and a pressurizing operation.
The injection apparatus performs the high speed operation by, for example, supplying hydraulic oil, which is accumulated in an accumulator, to the injection cylinder, and moving a rod (piston) of the injection cylinder at a high speed. Generally, in the high speed operation, a control valve controls an open degree of an oil passage connected to the accumulator to restrict movement of the rod and control the movement speed of the rod.
In the high speed operation, it is desirable that the injection time be further shortened. The response in the movement of the rod needs to be increased to shorten the injection time. To improve the response in the movement of the rod, the hydraulic pressure and the flow rate of the hydraulic oil acting on the piston need to be increased. The control valve, however, gradually opens the oil passage, and the hydraulic pressure acting on the piston is gradually increased. Thus, there is a limit to increasing the response in the movement of the rod.
The rod may be mechanically coupled to restrict movement of the rod when the hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic oil is acting on the piston. Under this situation, the mechanical coupling may be released to move the piston with the maximum hydraulic pressure. To implement such a structure, a connection mechanism that may be mechanically connected to and disconnected from the rod is required.
Patent document 1 describes a hydraulic clamp as an example of such a connection mechanism. As shown in FIG. 8, in the hydraulic clamp 80 of patent document 1, a hydraulic cylinder 81 includes a lower portion that accommodates a piston 82, which is movable in the vertical direction. A clamp hydraulic oil chamber 83 is defined at the lower side of the piston 82. In the hydraulic cylinder 81, an oil supply/discharge port 81a is formed below the clamp hydraulic oil chamber 83. Hydraulic oil from a hydraulic source 84 is supplied to and discharged from the oil supply/discharge port 81a through an electromagnetic supply/discharge valve 85 and a supply/discharge oil passage 86.
In the hydraulic cylinder 81, a clamp tool 87, which is formed by combining a plurality of clamp jaws 87a, is set on the upper surface of the piston 82. A retraction means (not shown) urges the clamp jaws 87a in directions enlarging the diameter. A tubular advancing inclination cam 88 is arranged at the upper side of the clamp tool 87. In an upper portion of the hydraulic cylinder 81, a pneumatic cylinder 90 is arranged above the clamp tool 87, and a pneumatic piston 91 of the pneumatic cylinder 90 surrounds the clamp tool 87.
A pneumatic operation chamber 92 is formed in the lower side of the pneumatic piston 91. A piston recovery spring 93 is arranged inside the pneumatic piston 91. The advancing inclination cam 88 is inserted into a piston rod 91a extending from the pneumatic piston 91 toward the clamp tool 87. An unclamp piston 99, movable in the vertical direction, is accommodated in the pneumatic operation chamber 92.
The hydraulic cylinder 81 includes a compressed air supply/discharge port 81b, which is in communication with the pneumatic operation chamber 92. Compressed air from a pneumatic source 94 is supplied to and discharged from the compressed air supply/discharge port 81b through an electromagnetic pneumatic supply/discharge valve 95 and a supply/discharge air passage 96.
The hydraulic clamp 80 sets the hydraulic cylinder 81 onto the clamp rod 97 from above and clamps the clamp rod 97 clamped with the clamp tool 87 to mechanically connect the hydraulic clamp 80 and the clamp rod 97. The clamp rod 97 includes a distal end defining a passive portion 97a that engages with the clamp tool 87.
To clamp the clamp rod 97 with the hydraulic clamp 80, the electromagnetic pneumatic supply/discharge valve 95 is controlled to discharge compressed air out of the pneumatic operation chamber 92. This moves the pneumatic piston 91 toward the advancing inclination cam 88 with the spring force of the piston recovery spring 93. This moves the advancing inclination cam 88 downward and reduces the diameter of the clamp tool 87 so that the clamp tool 87 is arranged facing the lower surface in the passive portion 97a of the clamp rod 97. When the hydraulic oil from the hydraulic source 84 is supplied to the oil supply/discharge port 81a, the clamp tool 87 moves upward as the piston 82 moves upward, and the distal end of the clamp tool 87 is pushed against the lower surface of the passive portion 97a. As a result, the clamp rod 97 is clamped by the hydraulic clamp 80, and the clamp rod 97 and the hydraulic clamp 80 are mechanically connected.
When the pressure oil is discharged from the oil supply/discharge port 81a and the compressed air is supplied to the pneumatic operation chamber 92, the piston 82 is moved downward by the unclamp piston 99. Further, the pneumatic piston 91 moves upward. Thus, the clamp tool 87 unclamps the clamp rod 97. That is, the clamp rod 97 and the hydraulic clamp 80 are mechanically disconnected.
The use of the hydraulic clamp 80 in the injection cylinder allows for the rod to be mechanically connected to and disconnected from the hydraulic clamp 80. This improves the response for moving the rod of the injection cylinder and allows for an increase in the injection speed during the high speed operation.


A tool holder for use in a rotating spindle of a milling machine. The tool holder comprises a conically tapered shank portion for insertion into the spindle and a cutting tool mounting portion. Disposed between the shank and mounting portions is a flange portion. Additionally, extending about the shank portion is a dampening member. The dampening member is compressible between the flange portion and the spindle when the tool holder is inserted into the spindle, and is adapted to eliminate harmonic resonance attributable to the use of the tool holder with an extended shank cutting tool.

As is well known, various tool holders have been utilized in the prior art which interface with a rotating spindle of a machine such as a milling or boring machine to securely hold a cutting tool upon the machine during the cutting of a work piece. In most prior art tool holders, a central aperture is formed therein for receiving the shank portion of the cutting tool which is to be interfaced to the milling or other machine. Subsequent to the insertion of the shank portion of the cutting tool into the central aperture, the tool holder is drawn or pulled tightly into the spindle so as to rigidly maintain the cutting tool within the tool holder.
Though interfacing the cutting tool to the machine, the prior art tool holders possess certain deficiencies which detract from their overall utility. In particular, when the elongate, extended shank of a long reach cutting tool is inserted into and secured within the central aperture of the tool holder, there is a tendency for a harmonic resonance to be generated through the cutting tool and into the tool holder, particularly when the cutting tool is used in a high speed milling application. The transfer of the harmonic resonance into the tool holder gives rise to slight movements thereof relative to the spindle, and in extreme cases results in the tool holder loosening within the spindle. As will be recognized, the resonance of the tool holder relative to the spindle results in the cut in the work piece being substantially out of tolerance.
A further deficiency with the prior art tool holders is that the manner in which the shank portion of the cutting tool is secured within the central aperture of the tool holder often results in the non-concentric mounting of the cutting tool within the tool holder. Such non-concentric mounting is unacceptable in modern, high tolerance machining applications such as those performed on a vertical milling machine wherein minor variations in the concentricity of the cutting tool within the tool holder often times causes catastrophic failure in the cutting operation.
The present invention addresses the deficiencies of prior art tool holders by providing a tool holder which includes a dampening member for eliminating the harmonic resonance which typically occurs when long reach, extended shank cutting tools are used in high speed milling applications. In the tool holder constructed in accordance with the present invention, the non-concentric mounting of the shank portion of the cutting tool within the tool holder is also substantially eliminated by the heat shrinking the shank portion of the cutting tool within the tool holder.

Harmonic dampener for rotary tool holder


An acoustic transducer has a substrate having a cavity, a vibrating electrode plate disposed above the substrate and having a void portion that allows pressure to escape, a fixed electrode plate disposed above the substrate opposite the vibrating electrode plate, and a leak pressure regulation portion that hinders leakage of air pressure by passing through the void portion when the vibrating electrode plate is not undergoing deformation, and that becomes separated from the void portion and allows pressure to escape by passing through the void portion when the vibrating electrode plate undergoes deformation from being subjected to pressure.

Field
The present invention relates to an acoustic transducer and a microphone. Specifically, the present invention relates to a capacitance type of acoustic transducer configured by a capacitor structure made up of a vibrating electrode plate (diaphragm) and a fixed electrode plate. The present invention also relates to a microphone that employs this acoustic transducer.
Related Art
FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a conventional capacitance type of acoustic sensor (acoustic transducer). In an acoustic sensor 11 shown here, a cavity 13 is formed in a substrate 12 made up of a silicon substrate or the like, and a diaphragm 14 (vibrating electrode plate) is provided above the substrate 12 so as to cover the upper opening of the cavity 13. If the diaphragm 14 is rectangular, for example, the four corner portions thereof are supported on the upper surface of the substrate 12 by anchors 15. A dome-shaped back plate 16 is formed on the upper surface of the substrate 12, and the back plate 16 covers the diaphragm 14. A fixed electrode plate 17 is provided on the lower surface of the back plate 16, and the fixed electrode plate 17 opposes the diaphragm 14. Also, a large number of acoustic holes 18 that serve as passages for acoustic vibration are formed in the back plate 16 and the fixed electrode plate 17. Multiple stoppers 19 are provided on the lower surface of the back plate 16 so as to project from the fixed electrode plate 17. The stoppers 19 are provided in order to prevent the diaphragm 14 from sticking (adhering) to and not separating from the fixed electrode plate 17.
With this acoustic sensor 11, when acoustic vibration enters through the cavity 13, the diaphragm 14 vibrates due to the acoustic vibration (change in air pressure), and thus the distance between the diaphragm 14 and the fixed electrode plate 17 changes. The diaphragm 14 and the fixed electrode plate 17 oppose each other in a substantially parallel manner so as to configure a variable capacitor, and therefore when the diaphragm 14 vibrates due to acoustic vibration, the acoustic vibration is converted into change in the capacitance of the variable capacitor.
However, in this kind of capacitance type of acoustic sensor 11, the diaphragm 14 and the hack plate 16 are damaged if a large degree of pressure is applied to the diaphragm 14. Examples of situations in which a large degree of pressure is applied to the diaphragm 14 include the case where the diaphragm 14 is subjected to the pressure of air entering through the cavity 13 in a drop test performed on the acoustic sensor 11, the case where the device, such as a mobile phone, that includes the acoustic sensor 11 is dropped, the case where air is forcefully blown into the mouthpiece of a mobile phone that includes the acoustic sensor 11, the case where the mouthpiece is tapped by a finger or the like, and the case where shockwaves from a jet aircraft enter the cavity 13. If a large degree of pressure P is applied to the diaphragm 14 in this way, as shown in FIG. 1B, the diaphragm 14 bends a large amount due to the pressure P, and the diaphragm 14 collides with the back plate 16. Even if the diaphragm 14 bends, the pressure P applied to the diaphragm 14 does not escape, and therefore the diaphragm 14 and the back plate 16 undergo even larger deformation as shown in FIG. 1C. As a result, there are cases where the diaphragm 14 and the back plate 16 become damaged or cracked due to undergoing large deformation, and the damage resistance of the acoustic sensor 11 is poor.
Note that in the acoustic sensor disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,535,460, the diaphragm is provided so as to cover the upper opening of the cavity, but the diaphragm is not fixed to the substrate. Also, the anchors are provided on the lower surface of the back plate. This acoustic sensor is structured such that when a bias voltage is applied between the diaphragm and the fixed electrode plate, the diaphragm is drawn upward due to the electrostatic attraction force, and the diaphragm is supported by the anchors.
Even with an acoustic sensor structured as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,535,460, the acoustic resistance is high in order to maintain the frequency characteristics, that is to say pressure is not likely to escape, and therefore when a large degree of pressure is applied to the diaphragm, a phenomenon such as that shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C occurs, and there is the risk of the diaphragm and back plate becoming damaged or cracked.
Also, the acoustic sensor disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,111,871 is structured such that the diaphragm is supported by a spring, and when a large degree of pressure is applied to the diaphragm, the entirety of the diaphragm moves a large amount to allow the air pressure to escape.
However, with the acoustic sensor disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,111,871, a spring suited to detecting acoustic vibration and a spring suited to allowing air pressure to escape cannot be designed independently, and there is a lack of flexibility in terms of design. Also, the spring is a linear member that is formed from the same material as the diaphragm and bent in a zigzag shape, and therefore the strength of the spring is low. Moreover, not only is the inertial force high since the entirety of the diaphragm moves, but also the back plate is not provided, thus leading to low strength with respect to a load other than pressure applied to the diaphragm, such as acceleration (inertial force) due to being dropped or external forces in the manufacturing process.
Also, with the acoustic sensor disclosed in US Application No. 2008/0031476, a plate-shaped deformation suppressing member (upper finger portion) is provided so as to oppose the edge of the upper surface of the diaphragm, and large deformation of the diaphragm is suppressed due to the diaphragm coming into contact with the deformation suppressing member when it undergoes large deformation.
Although deformation of the diaphragm can be suppressed in the structure disclosed in US Application No. 2008/0031476, the tip of the deformation suppressing member comes into contact with the edge of the diaphragm when the diaphragm undergoes large deformation, and therefore stress is concentrated at that location, and the strength of the diaphragm is likely to deteriorate.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,535,460, U.S. Pat. No. 8,111,871, and US Application No. 2008/0031476 are examples of background art.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The present invention provides a package containing absorbent articles having differing absorbent capacities. The package includes at least one first absorbent article packaged within the package and having a predetermined absorbent capacity, and at least one second absorbent article packaged within the package and having a predetermined absorbent capacity. The absorbent capacity of the second absorbent article is greater than the absorbent capacity of the first absorbent article.

Infants and other incontinent individuals wear absorbent articles such as incontinent pads and diapers to receive and contain urine and other body exudates. Absorbent articles function both to contain discharged materials and to isolate these materials from the body of the wearer and from the wearer's garments and bed clothing. Disposable absorbent articles having many different basic designs are known to the art.
The absorbent capacity of an absorbent article necessary to provide containment of bodily fluids without leaking is quite different between daytime and overnight use. Because wear time is usually longer during overnight use as compared to daytime use, the quantity of bodily fluids discharged during overnight use is typically greater than the quantity of bodily fluids discharged during daytime use. Even though the absorbent capacity requirements are quite different, absorbent articles having one level of absorbent capacity are typically used for both daytime and overnight use. Unfortunately, the absorbent capacity is sometimes insufficient for overnight use and the absorbent article leaks.
One solution to the above problem is to increase the level of absorbent capacity of the absorbent article. However, increasing the level of absorbent capacity to meet overnight needs leads to under utilized materials and cost penalties for all daytime uses.
Another solution to the above problem is to use products having different levels of absorbent capacity. An absorbent article having a higher level of absorbent capacity is used during overnight use and an absorbent article having a lower level of absorbent capacity is used during daytime use. However, absorbent articles having different levels of absorbent capacity are currently sold in separate packages, which is both costly and inconvenient for consumers.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a package containing absorbent articles including at least one first absorbent article having a predetermined absorbent capacity, and at least one second absorbent article having a predetermined absorbent capacity which is greater than the absorbent capacity of the first absorbent article.
The above and other objectives of the present invention will be more readily apparent when considered in reference to the following description and when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


A method of eradicating undesirable vegetation including the steps of: preparing a predetermined concentration of fluorescent dye, the dye including a photodynamic pigment which in the presence of oxygen acts as a sensitizer for photo-oxidation in the vegetation; and applying a charge of the dye to soil in the vicinity of the roots of the vegetation, thereby leading to the absorption of the dye by the roots of the vegetation such that the dye reacts with proteins, fatty acids, and lipids at cellular membranes of the vegetation causing membrane lipid peroxidation; and as a result of the reaction, causing the destruction of cells and tissues and the subsequent death of the vegetation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of eradicating vegetation through the application of a fluorescein dye to the vegetation, thereby resulting in an effective, cost efficient, quick acting and safe means of disposing of undesirable or hazardous vegetation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The need to eliminate undesirable vegetation is encountered in a vast array of industries at various levels. For instance, undesirable vegetation includes vegetation that the weekend gardener characterizes as weeds. Of greater concern, however, would be vegetation that exhibits uncontrollable, rapid growth such as the fast growing vine Kudzu which takes over telephone poles, power lines, virtually all landscape including trees and anything else in its path. Aside from domestic weeds and other plant life which exhibits uncontrollable growth, undesirable vegetation further includes unlawful vegetation such as the marijuana, coca and poppy plants. For all of these various types of vegetation, it would be highly desirous to have a cost efficient, quick acting, easy-to-apply and nontoxic method of eradication.
The eradication of the marijuana plant by law enforcement officials is of particular importance and difficulty, thereby requiring a new effective eradication means in this industry. Currently, an extensively used method of eradication involves manual removal of the vegetation which has numerous disadvantages. This type of eradication is expensive, time consuming, and most of all dangerous. Manual removal requires the marijuana plants to be cut down and either hauled away to often distant loading trucks outside inaccessible fields, or burned on the growing site. These activities carry with them the dangers of swinging machetes, heat exhaustion, confrontations with poisonous snakes and the need to use large quantities of flamable fuel to burn the green plants. The extensive burning of marijuana fields can lead to uncontrollable brush fires and excessive air pollution. Additionally, cultivation of marijuana plants by growers is a highly profitable business, and many growers arm themselves heavily in order to protect their crops. It is not uncommon for growers in the drug industry to use snipers and high tech booby-traps in an effort to protect their crop and intimidate federal officials.
Another method of eradication often used by the government in its fight against the drug trade as well as farmers, involves the use of herbicides. While nontoxic herbicides are preferable, their general ineffectiveness leads to the more frequent use of toxic herbicides. Unfortunately, these highly toxic herbicides, such as Paraguat, which has been used extensively for the eradication of the marijuana plant, are undetectable by ordinary means once sprayed on the vegetation. Thus, there is nothing to prevent an unscrupulous grower from harvesting the marijuana plants and selling them to unsuspecting buyers even after contamination by Paraquat.
Beyond the drug industry, there is also the concern of using toxic herbicides in the farming and landscape industries. Toxic herbicides are known to contaminate the underground water supply which can have long term detrimental effects to the general population. Additionally, produce which has been treated with toxic herbicides must be carefully washed before human consumption.
In view of the numerous disadvantages of the present methods of vegetation eradication, a safer, more rapid method is needed. Applicant's method is highly effective and overcomes many of the dangers involved with prior methods of eradication. Further, applicant's method, which incorporates the use of a fluorescein dye, facilitates safe and easy application, provides discoloration of the harmful vegetation such that its treatment is highly noticeable, and reacts quickly to kill the vegetation.
Other uses of fluorescein dye have been known as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,843 which recites a process whereby a fluorescein dye is used to control algae growth in open water systems, such as water cooling towers, by absorbing and accordingly blocking the light necessary for photosynthesis, and thereby preventing algae growth. This method does not utilize or suggest direct absorption through the roots of vegetation resulting the death of living plant life.

Method of eradication of undesirable vegetation using fluorescein dyes


Method and device for adapting a series constant power system to operate constant voltage lighting.

The discussion of any work, publications, sales, or activity anywhere in this submission, including in any documents submitted with this application, shall not be taken as an admission that any such work constitutes prior art. The discussion of any activity, work, or publication herein is not an admission that such activity, work, or publication existed or was known in any particular jurisdiction.
Series connected lighting systems were a popular form of municipal street lighting for many decades in the U.S. In a typical series system, as illustrated in FIG. 1, each lamp is connected in series along one line. Among several reasons for such systems was the even distribution of available current across the load and the control of the entire lighting system from one central location, and various technological limitations at the time, such as the lack of affordable photo-controls.
In the most basic version of such systems a burn-out or absence of a light at one point in the series causes an open circuit and all the lights on that series go dark. A number of prior art improvements were directed to providing a system wherein failure of one of the loads would not interrupt the power to the remaining loads. For example, systems have incorporated various forms of shorting circuits which shunt each lamp. When a lamp fails resulting in an open circuit, the shorting circuit is activated and places a short across the failed lamp thereby completing the circuit and allowing current to flow to the remaining lamps. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,024,495 and 2,809,329 discuss series connected lamps shunted by shorting circuits.
In other systems, to avoid shorting circuits, each lamp is connected to a different isolation transformer secondary winding. The transformer primary windings are connected in series to the main power source. Thus, because in this circuit, each lamp is connected to a transformer secondary winding, if a lamp fails the power to the other lamps is not interrupted. However, this approach can lead to a bulky circuit and high cost. Another power circuit arrangement is in U.S. Pat. No. 3,969,649, which discusses a bicycle lighting system including two lamps connected in series across a winding of a dynamo. An impedance is connected between an internal tap of the winding and a junction point between the lamps. The impedance is selected to establish system equilibrium whereby the lamp junction point and tap are maintained at the same potential under normal operating conditions despite variations in dynamo and lamp resistance with bicycle speed. If a lamp fails resulting in an open circuit, the power to the remaining lamp is not interrupted.
Despite the above, however, there has been no system allowing a 6.6 AMP type light system to use standard light lamps or fixtures that require effectively constant voltage power supply.

Device and method for retrofitting or converting or adapting series circuits


An automotive vehicle sunshade assembly for controlling light entering a vehicle interior is provided having an elongated rotatable member, a flexible shade wrapped around the elongated rotatable member having a first edge connected to the rotatable member, and a second edge connected to an elongated extension member. Two support arms extend between the elongated extension member and the base profile and are operable to unroll the flexible shade from a elongated rotatable member thereby covering a vehicle window. Furthermore, an end cap is affixed to at least the first end of the elongated extension member. The elongated extension member further having at least one channel or track disposed therein. A biasing member is positioned within the at least one channel between the support arm and the end cap operable to force movement of the support arm during retraction of the flexible shade.

Automatic and electronically operated sunshade assemblies are more frequently being used in motor vehicles as a means to block out unwanted sun within a vehicle interior. Such sunshade assemblies commonly include a gear which drives two arms to rotate a shade up a window. The arms have a sliding member which slide along a track during actuation. The shade stops in the fully open position when the sliding members hit the end cap within the track. When closing the shade, the gear reverses direction rotating the arms to retract the shade to a closed position. The arms actuate the sliding member within the track as the shade retracts. However, the length of the shade and angle of the arms in the extended position create difficulty when closing or retracting the shade. The sliding members therefore do not slide smoothly within the track. Accordingly, it is highly desirable to provide a fix to this problem wherein the sliding member and the arms are able to smoothly travel within the track.

Force assist for sunshade closing slide mechanism

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.


A master-slave detection method includes: every single time period, utilizing a random manner for determining whether a first device is used to transmit a specific pulse signal to a second device; every single time period, utilizing a random manner for determining whether the second device is used to transmit the specific pulse signal to the first device; when the first device receives at least one portion of the specific pulse signal earlier than the second device, setting the first device as a master device, stopping the master device from sending the specific pulse signal and utilizing the master device to start transmitting a specific sequence; and setting the second device as a slave device when the second device receives the specific sequence. The at least one portion of the specific pulse signal includes continuous single pulses.

1. Field of the Invention
The disclosed embodiments of the present invention relate to a master-slave detection method and related circuits, and more particularly, to a master-slave detection method applied in an Ethernet wired transmission system and a related circuit thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In conventional wired transmission systems, expensive wires are often employed for increasing transmission distance and speed and reducing the design complexity of receivers, such as the Fiber Optical network. There are standards such as Ethernet, however, which uses cheaper wires while still requesting a certain degree of transmission distance and speed.
In the conventional fast Ethernet (such as 100BASE-T, 1000BASE-T), two un-shield twisted pairs (UTP) are utilized for performing wired transmission. For devices at both sides, one un-shield twisted pair is dedicated for data transmission and the other is dedicated for data receiving at the same time when a link is up. There are other applications with even more stringent requests for cost and weight that hope to significantly reduce the complexity of network specification and cost of wires while retaining a wide bandwidth with a single un-shield twisted pair, such as One Pair Ethernet (OPEN) alliance. Two devices connected to each other by a single un-shield twisted pair are not applicable for the auto-negotiation mechanism, however, because of the collision problem which will occur as soon as the cable is connected. The auto-negotiation mechanism of the conventional fast Ethernet cannot be applied to allocate two devices in the single un-shield twisted pair system as a master device and a slave device.
Therefore, there is a need for a novel master-slave detection method to allocate two devices in a single un-shield twisted pair system as a master device and a slave device.

Master-slave detection method and master-slave detection circuit


Techniques are provided that generate bit reliabilities for a detected sequence. A detector generates the detected sequence. According to one embodiment, a post-processor finds a first set of combinations of one or more error events in the detected sequence satisfying a complete set or a subset of error correction constraints corresponding to the first bit value, finds a second set of combinations of one or more error events in the detected sequence satisfying a complete set or a subset of error correction constraints corresponding to the second bit value, selects a first most likely combination of one or more events of the first set and a second most likely combination of one or more events of the second set, and generates a bit reliability based on the first and the second most likely values.

The present invention relates to techniques for correcting errors, and more particularly to techniques for generating bit reliability information.
When a data sequence is read from a magnetic hard disk using a hard disk drive, the data sequence can be estimated by running the signal samples at the output of the channel through a Viterbi detector. A Viterbi detector uses the principles of dynamic programming to find the most likely data sequence given a sequence of noisy observations of the channel.
Errors in the Viterbi detector output are most commonly isolated bits. However, the physical properties of the magnetic recording system make short bursts of errors reasonably common. These error events are sometimes described using '+', '−' and "0" characters. A "+" character represents a recorded binary zero detected as a one. A "−" character represents a recorded binary one detected as a zero. A "0" character represents a bit that is detected correctly. Thus, a +−+ error event might occur if a recorded pattern 001011 were detected as 010111, and a −0− error event might occur if 011101 were detected as 001001.
The Viterbi detected sequence can be improved (i.e., the number of errors in it can be reduced) by incorporating linear block code parity constraints and/or more accurate (longer) target response. However, these improvements come with an exponential increase in the complexity of the Viterbi detector. Instead of incorporating linear block code parity constraints and/or longer or better target response into the Viterbi detector itself, it is frequently more efficient to construct a separate parity post-processor that acts on the output of a Viterbi detector. A parity post-processor (PPP) is a signal processing module. A parity post-processor can, for example, be added to a Viterbi detector to enforce a parity code constraints and/or to re-compute more accurate metric values than the ones used by the Viterbi detector.
However, many error correction systems that contain a Viterbi detector and a parity post-processor do not provide a sufficient amount of protection against error events, and in particular do not provide high quality bit reliability information. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an error correction system that can provide more robust techniques for correcting errors in data sequences and high quality bit reliability information.

Techniques for generating bit reliability information in a post-processor using an error correction constraint

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands, B.V.


To assure that memory and/or I/O cycles will run correctly after a PCI device configuration cycle that changes memory and/or I/O mapping, in a multi-processor P6 computer system that pipelines instructions. The memory and I/O cycles are suspended on the processor bus until the configuration cycle has been completed. A signal is generated within the address decode logic to prevent address decoding from taking place if a PCI device is being configured. During the configuration transactions, other pipelined transaction cycles are snoop stalled until the PCI configuration write has been completed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer systems using a plurality of processors and a processor to peripheral bridge, and more particularly, in preventing memory and/or input-output corruption in the multiple processor computer system when a peripheral device is being configured.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Use of computers, especially personal computers, in business and at home is becoming more and more pervasive because the computer has become an integral tool of most information workers who work in the fields of accounting, law, engineering, insurance, services, sales and the like. Rapid technological improvements in the field of computers have opened up many new applications heretofore unavailable or too expensive for the use of older technology mainframe computers.
A significant part of the ever increasing popularity of the personal computer, besides its low cost relative to just a few years ago, is its ability to run sophisticated programs and perform many useful and new tasks. Personal computers today may be easily upgraded with new peripheral devices for added flexibility and enhanced performance. A major advance in the performance of personal computers has been the implementation of sophisticated peripheral devices such as video graphics adapters, local area network interfaces, SCSI bus adapters, full motion video and the like. These sophisticated peripheral devices are capable of data transfer rates approaching the native speed of the computer microprocessor central processing unit ("CPU"). The peripheral devices' data transfer speeds are achieved by connecting the peripheral devices to the microprocessor and associated random access memory through high speed expansion local buses. Most notably, a high speed expansion local bus standard has emerged that is microprocessor independent and has been embraced by a significant number of peripheral hardware manufacturers and software programmers. This high speed expansion bus standard is called the "Peripheral Component Interconnect" or "PCI." A more complete definition of the PCI local bus may be found in the PCI Local Bus Specification, revision 2.1; PCI/PCI Bridge Specification, revision 1.0; PCI System Design Guide, revision 1.0; and PCI BIOS Specification, revision 2.1. These PCI specifications are available from the PCI Special Interest Group, P.O. Box 14070, Portland, Oreg. 97214.
A computer system has a plurality of information (data and address) buses such as a host bus, a memory bus, at least one high speed expansion local bus such as the PCI bus, and other peripheral buses such as the Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), Extension to Industry Standard Architecture (EISA), and Industry Standard Architecture (ISA). The microprocessor of the computer system communicates with main memory and with the peripherals that make up the computer system over these various buses. The microprocessor communicates to the main memory over a host bus to memory bus bridge. The peripherals, depending on their data transfer speed requirements, are connected to the various buses which are connected to the microprocessor host bus through bus bridges that detect required actions, arbitrate, and translate both data and addresses between the various buses.
Increasingly sophisticated microprocessors have revolutionized the role of the personal computer by enabling complex applications software to run at mainframe computer speeds. The latest microprocessors have brought the level of technical sophistication to personal computers that, just a few years ago, was available only in mainframe and mini-computer systems. A representative example of one of these new microprocessors is the PENTIUM PRO.TM. (a registered trademark of Intel Corporation) or P6.
The PENTIUM PRO processor implements a dynamic execution micro-architecture comprising a combination of multiple branch prediction, data flow analysis and speculative execution. A second level cache, advanced programmable interrupt controller, and memory bus controller are integrated into a dual cavity integrated circuit package. Another feature of the PENTIUM PRO processor is built-in direct multi-processing support. This enables up to four PENTIUM PRO processors to be connected in a multi-processor configuration without requiring additional "glue logic" components. In a multi-processor system, bus bandwidths are maximized by including pipelined transactions in which the bus transactions in different bus cycle phases overlap, and some of the transactions may be deferred for later completion. Bus transactions may both overlap and be taken out of order to execute, thus resulting in reduced latency in overall program execution.
A problem exists, however, if a memory or input-output ("I/O") cycle is pipelined after a PCI configuration cycle that changes the memory or I/O mapping, respectively, when the pipelined memory or I/O cycle is decoded and acted upon before the PCI configuration cycle has been completed. The PCI specification allows dynamic configuration of PCI devices which may change the computer system and I/O memory map.
Another example is when a notebook computer is hot-docked to an expansion base, the computer system must run auto-configuration cycles to configure the computer system to include the expansion base components. Thus, any I/O cycles must be held in abeyance until the I/O configuration cycle is complete. Otherwise, I/O devices may be addressed that do not yet exist (until configured), or in case of I/O functions duplicated in the notebook computer and the expansion base, the cycle might be directed to the wrong device (i.e., notebook, when it should be to the expansion base).
What is needed is a way for a multi-processor computer system, with processors which pipeline bus cycles, to assure that memory and/or I/O cycles will run only after a peripheral device configuration cycle has been completed.

Preventing corruption in a multiple processor computer system during a peripheral device configuration cycle


A shutter assembly for mounting in a building fabric or window opening and having a rectangular frame and a latch mechanism and a catch plate to allow locking and unlocking of the shutter assembly in the window, in which the catch plate has a transverse groove receiving the latch mechanism, and a stop wall at a rearward end and a ramp at the forward end, and retaining pins for securing the catch plate in the window, all formed in one piece integrally.

A shutter assembly comprises a rectangular frame, consisting of a pair of vertically opposed side rails and a pair of horizontally opposed side rails, and a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal louvres. When a shutter assembly is not in use, it is swung on hinges around its vertical axis to an open position away from a window or a doorway to give free access to them. When a shutter assembly is in use, the shutter assembly is swung around its vertical axis to a closed position in a window or a doorway. There is a need for a mechanism that holds a shutter assembly in a closed position when the shutter assembly is swung into a window or a doorway. This need may be addressed by providing a latch mechanism incorporated into the vertically opposed side rails of the shutter assembly frame and a catch plate located on at least one of the upper and lower window-sills. When the latch mechanism locks in the catch plate, the shutter assembly is held in a closed position. When the shutter assembly is swung open, the latch mechanism is released from the catch plate and the shutter assembly can be swung around its vertical axis to an open position. Such a latch mechanism and a catch plate for a shutter assembly should have a clean, uncluttered appearance and should be a mechanism that is relatively simple to construct.

Shutter assembly with latch mechanism and catch plate


The cradle and the telephone body are configured to be separable from and couplable to each other. The cradle and the telephone body are coupled to each other with a space interposed therebetween.

This invention relates to a fixed telephone set such as an IP (Internet Protocol) telephone set and, in particular, relates to a button telephone set.
Generally, this type of fixed telephone set, particularly, a button fixed telephone set, comprises a telephone body, a handset, and a cradle. The telephone body has dial keys, one-touch keys, a hold key, and so on. The cradle supports the handset. In such a button fixed telephone set, the cradle is provided with, in addition to a support portion for supporting the handset, a loudspeaker, a hook switch, and so on.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. Hei 07-123139 discloses a fixed telephone set that allows achieving a hold function by hanging a handset on a cradle, i.e. without providing a hold key on a telephone body (related art 1).
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. 2005-12364 discloses a fixed telephone set that allows making a call by removing a handset with a microphone from a cradle (related art 2). In the related art 2, it is possible to suspend a telephone conversation with a communication partner by stopping sending audio signals, output from the microphone, to the communication partner depending on whether or not a user is close to the handset. As a result, it is possible to shield a conversation that the user does not want the communication partner to hear.
In the related art 1, the telephone body having dial keys and so on and the cradle for supporting the handset are integrated with each other. Further, in the related art 2, a telephone body is integrally incorporated in the cradle.
In the case of a fixed telephone set in which a telephone body and a cradle are integrated with each other like the related arts 1 and 2, since a loudspeaker is incorporated in the cradle, there have been instances where while making a hands-free telephone conversation, not requiring use of a handset, through a microphone and a loudspeaker of the telephone body, howling occurs due to these microphone and loudspeakers to make it difficult to hear the conversation. Further, there have also been instances where heat is generated from semiconductors and so on mounted in the telephone body during a call and this heat is transferred to the handset placed on the cradle, thus giving an unpleasant feeling to a user when using the handset due to its temperature rise. That is, in the conventional fixed telephone set, no consideration is given to the problem of howling or the problem of temperature rise of the handset that occurs when the cradle and the telephone body are integrated with each other.
Further, in the manufacture of fixed telephone sets of types in which a telephone body and a cradle are integrated with each other, it is necessary to prepare molds and associated parts corresponding to all the types of fixed telephone sets, respectively. Therefore, there is a drawback that when changing the type, the function, or the like, it is necessary to newly prepare a mold and associated parts for use in manufacturing an intended fixed telephone set and thus it is not possible to flexibly cope with the change in type or the like. Further, it is also not possible to change the external appearance of a fixed telephone set according to the taste of a user.

Fixed telephone set capable of preventing howling and temperature rise of a handset


A smart power outlet system for a vehicle has a power outlet control module and a plurality of power outlets. Each power outlet has an associated set of power switching devices with each power switching device of a set of power switching devices coupled to a different power source. The power outlet control module drives a display and is responsive to user input via the display. The power outlet control module energizes one of the power switching devices in each set of power switching devices corresponding to a power source selected by a user via the display to provide power to the power outlet associated with that set of power switching devices from the power source selected by the user.

Automotive vehicles such as passenger cars and trucks have one or more power outlets. Devices requiring electrical power can be plugged into the outlet (or outlets) having the appropriate output characteristics. For example, a cell phone charger requiring 12 VDC can be plugged into a power outlet having 12 VDC electrical power. While 12 VDC is typical for power outlets in automotive vehicles, automotive vehicles can have additional power outlets having other output voltages, such as 120 VAC.
The power outlets are typically powered based on the state of the ignition switch (or its equivalent), which may differ depending on the power outlet. For example, a power outlet may be powered all the time, it may be powered when the ignition switch is in the "accessory" position, it may be powered when the ignition switch is in the "on" position regardless of whether the vehicle is running, or it may be powered when the ignition switch is in "on" position and the engine of the vehicle is running.


A dumping hopper and truck trailer washing stand used in connection with cleaning the interior of a truck trailer. The hopper and stand together form a trailer washing apparatus. The stand includes support legs that extend from a ground surface to a platform. Beneath the platform is a container storage area where the hopper can be positioned beneath the platform. To clean the interior of a truck trailer, a truck is positioned adjacent to the stand while the hopper is located below the platform. Waste material is washed from the interior of the trailer and onto the stand's platform. The waste material falls through a grate on the platform and into the hopper located below the stand. A frame structure on the hopper enables the hopper to be transported and vertically positioned by a fork lift. The hopper has a loading position where the hopper is in an upright position with waste material held therein and a dumping position where the hopper is in a tilted-downward position. When the hopper is in a dumping position and as the hopper is being lowered, the frame structure of the hopper is pressed against a ground surface. The pressing of the frame structure against the ground surface converts the force associated with lowering the hopper to a rotational force that rotates the container apparatus to an upright, loading position without the need of a motor.

The interiors of truck trailers must be periodically cleaned. The trailer is typically washed by a person standing inside the trailer who sprays water around the interior and forces waste material out the back of the trailer. The trailer is ordinarily positioned next to a floor drain which receives the water and waste material washed from the back of the trailer. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,516, issued Aug. 15, 1978, the truck trailer washing system disclosed shows an ordinary floor drain for collecting the wash water and waste material from the trailer.
One problem with this method of cleaning a truck interior is that a person spraying the truck interior may slip and be injured while washing the trailer. The person doing the cleaning of the trailer may slip and fall from the open trailer. Because of the wash water, the trailer floor surface becomes slippery and dangerous for the person standing in the trailer.
Another problem with this prior art method of cleaning truck trailers is that in order to wash the truck trailer, a floor drain must be available and the truck trailer must be positioned next to the floor drain. However, a floor drain may not be available or positioning the truck trailer at the floor drain may not be convenient. Thus, the inability to selectively reposition the location of the floor drain is a disadvantage in this method of cleaning out the interior of a truck trailer. In addition, the floor drain must be able to handle the solid waste that will be washed from the truck trailer and into the drain. Removal of solid waste that collects in the floor drain is often difficult because of the below surface location of the floor drain. Moreover, environmental and sewage treatment considerations suggest that solid waste disposal of such debris is needed.
Hoppers are sometimes used to hold solid waste material pending its dumping into a waste hauling vehicle or the like. However, these hoppers are not convenient for the collection and dumping of the solid waste materials washed from the interior of truck trailers and otherwise. The hoppers used in the past for holding solid waste material could not be conveniently transported and then adjusted between a loading position and a dumping position.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an inexpensive truck washing apparatus to permit rapid, safe trailer cleaning, with collection of washed-out debris for easy, environmentally safe disposal.

Dumping hopper and trailer washing stand


An organic EL light emitting device includes a transparent substrate, a transparent electrode film formed on the substrate, a positive electrode contact portion in contact with a part of the transparent electrode film and electrically connected therewith, an insulating layer formed on the transparent electrode film such that the an insulating layer covers a portion excluding a light emitting part, an organic light emitting layer formed on the transparent electrode film and on the insulating layer, a negative electrode film formed on the organic light emitting layer, a negative electrode contact portion in contact with at least a part of the negative electrode film and electrically connected therewith, and a protective layer for separating and electrically insulating the positive electrode contact portion and the transparent electrode film from the negative electrode contact portion.

An illumination device having a light emitting device using organic electroluminescence (hereinafter, referred to as "organic EL") is increasingly used. For example, the device is put to practical use for a cell-phone display. Compared with conventional illumination devices such as a fluorescent lamp, the illumination device using organic EL has advantages that it has energy-saving property, that it has low heat generating property, that it is thin and lightweight, and that it is environmentally friendly. Since the illumination device using organic EL is a surface light source, a wide range illumination is capable of being attained, or the device becomes flexible when a plastic substrate is used, and therefore the device is capable of being applied to an illumination device which is excellent in design. For this reason, organic EL is being expected as not only illumination device for housing, offices, or vehicles, but also for decorative illumination, or POP illumination.
As an organic EL light emitting device, for example, in Patent Literature 3, planar light emitting device in which luminance unevenness is capable of being reduced, and the area of non-light emitting portion is capable of being reduced is described. In this technique, the distance between predetermined two parallel sides of four sides of a rectangle light emitting portion constituted by a region where only an organic layer is interposed between an planar anode and a planar cathode and the outer circumferential edges of a transparent substrate is smaller than the distance between other two parallel sides of the four sides and the transparent substrate, a cathode power supplying portion and an anode power supplying portion are arranged along the other two parallel sides of the light emitting portion, and anode power supplying portions are arranged on both sides of the cathode power supplying portion in the width direction.
Patent Literature 1 describes an organic EL element in which takeoff terminals of an anode and a cathode are arranged on a short side of a transparent substrate and which has a light emitting region the width of electrode wiring pattern is narrow. Further, Patent Literature 2 describes an organic EL element in which a cathode has a smaller electric resistance than that of an anode, and in which by making the area of the surface of an anode terminal which is connected to the outside larger than that of the surface of a cathode terminal which is connected to the outside, thereby reducing luminance unevenness.

Organic EL light emitting device, manufacturing method therefor, and organic EL illumination device


Methods for forming connectors on die pads at a wafer level of processing include forming spots of a curable electrically conductive material over die pads and extending to or over the interconnect die edge; curing the conductive material; and in a wafer cutting procedure thereafter severing the spots. Also, die pad to z-interconnect connectors formed by the methods, and shaped and dimensioned accordingly. Also, stacked die assemblies and stacked die packages containing die prepared according to the methods and having die pad to z-interconnect connectors formed by the methods and shaped and dimensioned accordingly.

This invention relates to preparing semiconductor die for electrical interconnection in a stacked die assembly; and to die so prepared and die assemblies containing die so prepared.
Interconnection of die with one another in a stack of die ("die-to-die"; "z-interconnection") or of a die or a die stack with a substrate ("die-to-substrate") presents a number of challenges. For example, the integrated circuitry is situated on an "active side" of the die, and exposed pads are situated on the active side of the die for electrical interconnection with other die or with a substrate. When die are stacked, one die in the stack may obscure the pads on another die, making them inaccessible for interconnection, particularly where die having the same or similar dimensions are stacked one over another.
Some die as provided have die pads along one or more of the die margins, and these may be referred to as peripheral pad die. Other die as provided have die pads arranged in one or two rows near the center of the die, and these may be referred to as center pad die. The die may be "rerouted" to provide a suitable arrangement of interconnect pads at or near one or more of the edges of the die.
A die edge along which interconnect pads are arranged may be referred to as an "interconnect edge"; the margin of the die on the active side adjacent the interconnect edge may be referred to as an "interconnect margin", and the sidewall of the die adjacent the interconnect edge may be referred to as an "interconnect sidewall".
Various kinds of die interconnection have been proposed, including among others flip-chip interconnect, wire bond interconnect, and tab bond interconnect.
Where wire bond interconnect is employed in a stacked die assembly, the wire bonds may be formed to connect pads on the active side of a first die before an additional die is stacked over it. A spacer is typically provided upon the active side of the first die, to prevent interference by the second die with the wire loops on the first die.
Approaches to z-interconnection of die, other than by wire bonds, bumps, or tabs are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,180 and its progeny; and, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,215,018 and, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,245,021.
Particularly, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,245,021 describes "off-die" interconnection, employing interconnection terminals electrically connected to peripheral sites on the die and projecting beyond the die edge; z-interconnection of the die is made by electrically conductive polymer elements into which the projecting parts of the interconnection terminals extend.
It can be advantageous to carry out certain processing steps at the wafer level, prior to singulation of the die. At some stage in die preparation, the wafer is cut to singulate the die. That is, the wafer is cut (for example, by sawing the wafer along "streets" between active circuit regions of the die), forming an array of die (a "wafer array") on the wafer support. The singulated die can then be manipulated individually (for example by use of a "pick-and-place" tool) for further treatment.
U.S. application Ser. No. 12/124,077, referenced above, describes various die stack configurations, including, among others, offset die stacks, and staggered die stacks, and including stacks in which the various die in the stack have various dimensions.
U.S. application Ser. No. 12/142,589, referenced above, describes methods for passivation (forming electrical insulation) onto die surfaces at the wafer or wafer array level.
U.S. application Ser. No. 12/323,288, referenced above, describes methods for separating die from a wafer by cutting the wafer in two stages. The first wafer cutting procedure includes cutting along a first set of saw streets to a depth greater than the prescribed die thickness and optionally along a second set of saw streets to a depth less than the die thickness. The result of the first cutting procedure is an array of strips or blocks of die, each including a plurality of connected die, that are less subject to shift than are individual singulated die. In a second wafer cutting procedure the die are singulated by cutting through along a second set of streets. Subsequent to the first cutting procedure, and prior to the second cutting procedure, additional die preparation procedures that are sensitive to die shift may be carried out. In some such methods the first wafer cutting procedure is carried out prior to thinning the wafer to the prescribed die thickness; and in other such methods the wafer is thinned to the prescribed die thickness prior to carrying out the first wafer cutting procedure. In some examples of the method the first cut is made along saw streets fronting interconnect edges.
The patents and patent applications referenced herein above and below are incorporated by reference herein.

Electrical connector between die pad and z-interconnect for stacked die assemblies


A device for projecting an elongate optical image (7) onto a surface (5) is disclosed. The device has an optical element (8) with a reflective surface (11) configured to reflect a beam of light emitted by a light source (9) so that the beam of light (12) converges in a first plane (X-Y) and diverges in a second plane (Y-Z), the first plane being at right angles to the second plane.

EP2040893B1 discloses a shaver having a light source which projects an image, such as a line segment onto a user's skin during use of the shaver. The line segment is configured to indicate the position of the edge of the razor blade to allow the user to judge the extent of the shaving action and position the shaver appropriately. The shaver has a light source which projects a line segment either directly onto the skin or onto a reflective surface which reflects the line towards the skin of the user.
With devices such as those known from EP204893B1, the line segment may suffer from poor definition and focus as it is difficult to collimate the light beam into a concentrated line projection that extends for any significant length.
Typically, when an optical line is generated, parts of the line furthest from the light source will have a lower intensity and therefore a lower visibility than parts of the line closest to the light source. Therefore, the parts of the line furthest from the light source will be less visible to a user.
Furthermore, when projecting an optical line against skin, for example for use with a shaver, the intensity of the light emitted is subject to safety regulations. Light may interact with the skin or the eyes and cause irritation or damage. Regulations stipulate a limited light intensity to ensure that these risks are minimal. However, because the line will have variable intensity along its length, as previously explained, the power of the light source has to be increased to achieve sufficient visibility in the parts of the line furthest from the light source. However, this also increases the intensity of the light in the other parts of the optical line, which may cause problems in the parts of the line closest to the light source. It is also important to ensure that the intensity of the light is not so high that it could cause irritation or injury in the event that it is inadvertently deflected away from its desired optical path which may occur, for example, if the shaver is damaged.


In the initial setting of a memory card 1, the flash check data FD stored in a flash memory 2 is read out, this data FD is compared with the operation check data FD11 stored previously in the ROM, the write check data FD12 stored in the ROM 4a is written, if a fault is not detected, to the flash memory 2, and this data is read again and is compared with the write check data. FD12 of the ROM 4a. When any fault is not detected in comparison of these data, the CPU determines that the flash memory 2 is normal. Moreover, if a fault is detected in the comparison of data, the CPU sets the reset process fault data to a register 5a to set a controller 3 to the sleep mode. When the command CMD is received during this period, data comparison is executed again.

As a medium of external storage media such as a personal computer and a multi-function terminal, a multimedia card standardized by the MMCA (MultiMedia Card Association) as the standardization organization is widely known. This multimedia card is used for storing still-pictures of digital cameras, data of a mobile telephone and music of a mobile music player or the like.
A multimedia card is formed of a flash memory and a controller for controlling the same flash memory. The controller is also provided with a power supply voltage detection circuit. This power supply voltage detection circuit detects the rising edge of the power supply voltage supplied from a host machine to thereby perform resetting.
According to investigation by the inventors, the multimedia card is subjected to the so-called power on reset process for initialization of the same card in order to stabilize operation when the power supply voltage is supplied.
This power-on reset process is performed to check whether the flash memory is ready for operation or not, by making access to the flash memory from the controller to read the data in the system region such as CID (Card Identification number register)/CSD (Card Specific Data register) after the power supply voltage detection circuit resets the controller by detecting the rising edge of the power supply voltage supplied from the host machine.
As an example of the document describing details of an IC card of this type, the "Electronic Materials" P22 to P26 edited by Masashi Ohshima and issued by Industrial Investigation Association Co., Ltd. on Dec. 1, 1990 may be listed. This document also describes technical trend of various IC cards.
However, the inventors of the present invention have found problems in the power-on reset processing technology for the memory card as described above.
In general, the operation voltage of the flash memory is set higher than the operation voltage of the controller and therefore here rises possibility that the flash memory does not reach the operation voltage when the controller makes access to the flash memory.
Accordingly, a problem may be assumed to occur in which the flash memory does not operate normally when the controller makes access to the flash memory, the data of the system region such as CID/CSD cannot be read successfully, the controller enters the condition in which the controller cannot accept the commands at all from the host machine, and thereby the host machine can no longer recognize the multimedia card.
An object of the present invention is to provide a memory card which can remarkably improve reliability by surely conducting the power-on reset process even if the power supply voltage supplied is unstable, and to provide a method of initializing the same memory card.
The aforementioned and the other objects and the novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

Memory card and its initial setting method


Bridged metallocene compounds are produced by a process of promising commercial utility for plant-sized operations. One of the key steps of the process involves converting a deprotonated silicon-, germanium- or tin-containing ligand into the metallocene. Preferably, and in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, this is accomplished to great advantage by adding a diamine adduct of a Group IV, V, or VI metal tetrahalide to a solution or slurry formed from a deprotonated silicon-, germanium- or tin-containing ligand and an organic liquid medium so as to form a metallocene. The overall process of the invention involves the direct conversion of benzoindanones to benzoindanols which, without isolation, are converted to benzoindenes. Thereupon the benzoindenes are bridged by deprotonating the benzoindenes with a strong base such as butyllithium and reacting the resultant deprotonated product with a suitable silicon-, germanium- or tin-containing bridging reactant such as dichlorodimethylsilane. The resultant bridged product is deprotonated with a strong base such as butyllithium and reacted with a suitable Group IV, V, or VI metal-containing reactant such as ZrCl.sub.4 to provide a silicon-, germanium- or tin-bridged Group IV, V, or VI metal complex, such as a dihydrocarbylsilyl-bridged zirconocene complex.

The synthesis of certain dihydrocarbylsilyl-bridged zirconocene complexes and their use as polymerization catalyst components have been reported heretofore. See for example U. Stehling et al., Organometallics 1994, 13, 964-970. Rohrmann et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,366 issued Oct. 3, 1995, describes multistep processes for producing a variety of metallocenes having benzo-fused indenyl derivatives as ligands. These materials are also shown to have utility in the formulation of polymerization catalysts.
While workable, these prior processes are deemed best suited for laboratory-scale operations. Thus a need exists for a simplified process which can be used to make desired bridged metallocenes, such as dihydrocarbylsilyl-bridged zirconocene complexes, in acceptable yields in large scale production facilities. One of the key steps in any such process is the interaction between a protonated bridged ligand and a metal tetrahalide salt to form the desired bridged metallocene. Unfortunately, this reaction tends to be tedious, difficult and time-consuming.

Production of bridged metallocene complexes and intermediates therefor


The present invention relates to a lithium secondary battery. More specifically, according to embodiments of the present invention the lithium battery, which includes a cathode, an anode, and a separate membrane inserted between the cathode and the anode, is characterized in that the separator membrane is a polyolefin porous membrane which has an aramid coating layer; and the cathode includes a lithium metal oxide cathode active material which has an olivine-type iron phosphate lithium coating layer, or the anode includes a carbon anode active material which has a spinel-type lithium titanium oxide coating layer. The lithium secondary battery in accordance with embodiments of the present invention has excellent basic electric performance and improved stability.

As the issue of environmental protection and pollution is becoming more severe, alternative energy sources are being developed around the world as a solution. As a secondary battery in a field of endeavor focused on alternative energy development, a small-sized lithium secondary battery has been replaced by a lithium secondary battery as a power source for operating mobile electronic communication equipments that require high performance, such as, for example, camcorders, mobile phones, laptop computers, and the like, and occupies a dominant position as a power supply. Recently, development is being actively made on a medium and large-sized lithium secondary battery in a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and an electric vehicle (EV) using high output characteristics. Further, research and development is being actively made in various application fields of industries all over the world including Japan, Europe, USA as well as Korea to develop a lithium secondary battery as an environment-friendly power source of uninterruptible power supplies, electromotive tools, ships, satellites, radio sets and weapon systems for military purposes, and the like.
A lithium secondary battery has a structure comprising an assembly including a cathode and an anode coated with an active material capable of intercalating or disintercalating lithium ions and a porous separator membrane interposed between the cathode and the anode to electrically separate the cathode from the anode, and an organic electrolyte solution or a polymer electrolyte solution including lithium salts, filled in the assembly. A lithium metal oxide having a high average voltage is used as a cathode active material, for example, LiCoO2, LiNiO2, LiNixCoyAlzO2, LiNixCoyMnzO2, LiMn2O4, and the like, a carbon material or a metal or non-metal oxide having a low average potential is used as an anode active material, and a porous sheet made using a polyolefin-based polymer, for example, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and the like, is mainly used as a separator membrane.
However, in a case in which the cathode active material discussed in the foregoing is used, a surface transition metal-deficient layer caused by a decomposition phenomenon of the electrolyte solution is formed, and obstructs movement of the lithium ions and electrons, affecting high rate discharge, which causes gas to generate inside of the battery due to a side reaction with the electrolyte solution, thereby releasing metal, so that cycling characteristics deteriorate due to a structural change, and further, oxygen is generated due to an increase in internal temperature of the battery caused by an abnormal operation of the battery, which involves a risk of thermal runaway, raising safety concerns.
In a case in which the carbon-based anode active material is used, the lithium ions inserted in the layered structure exhibit an irreversible capacity of 5 to 25% during initial charge and discharge, and this irreversible capacity leads to consumption of the lithium ions and prevents complete charge or discharge of at least one active material, resulting in reduced energy density of the battery. Also, the decomposition reaction of the electrolyte solution on the surface of the active material forms a passivation layer or a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) on the surface of the active material, and when the passivation layer is non-uniform or excessively thick, the resistance increases, causing deterioration in high rate characteristics. Further, due to a lithium compound generating on the surface of the anode, a capacity reduction and output characteristics degradation results from lithium loss, and in the long run, deterioration in cycle characteristics occurs.
The polyolefin-based separator membrane has a safety melting point of 200° C. or below, and so in terms of safety, it is inevitable to use a porous separator membrane having a shut-down function. Also, if temperature continues to increase after shut-down, shape maintenance is an important requisite. However, if an overcurrent flows due to a short circuit caused by an internal or external factor, generally, the olefin-based separator membrane experiences thermal contraction and melting due to heat generation, circuit malfunction, or external temperature increase, causing a short circuit between electrodes, which may produce fire.


An instrument for attachment to and insertion of an implant device is provided. The instrument has a handle and a pair of retaining posts extending longitudinally from a distal end of the handle. Each of the pair of retaining posts have an end dimensioned to engaged a respective threaded bore of the implant device. Also, a post drive mounted to the handle and mechanically connected to each of the retaining posts so as to engage the retaining posts simultaneously is provided.

Instruments used for implanting implant devices are currently known and used. Implant devices having an anchor so as to fix the implant device within the body are also known. Such implant devices further include an anchoring device. Such implant devices are fixed to the instrument so as to stabilize the implant device during operation. Thus, the implant device may include a pair of threaded bores configured to receive a pair of threaded posts.
Current instruments for implanting implant devices are configured to both retain the implant device and also actuate the anchor such that once the implant device is inserted within the body the anchor may be deployed and the implant device fixed in a determined position within the body. Accordingly, the implant device must be mounted to the instrument. Subsequent to implanting the implant device, the threaded posts are withdrawn from the corresponding threaded bores.
Currently such instrument devices have a separate actuator for each of the retaining posts. Thus, the time required to mount the implant device to the instrument is dependent upon the time it takes to individually couple each of the threaded posts to the respective bores. Also, operation time is based upon not only the time it takes to deploy the anchor but also the time required to withdraw each of the threaded posts from the respective threaded bores. Further, current devices have visual indicia which provide a reference to the depth at which the implant device should be implanted. In certain areas of the body the depth of implantation is critical to the optimal functioning of the implant device.
Accordingly, it remains desirable to have an instrument for attaching and implanting an implant device wherein the installation time of the implant device and the operation time of the procedure is reduced relative to the current art, and the depth at which the implant device is implanted is known.

Instrument for implanting implant device


A data processing apparatus according an aspect of this invention has a syndrome calculation unit configured to calculate the syndrome of a demodulated data sequence. The syndrome calculation unit includes a calculation unit configured to make the calculation required to realize syndrome calculation of demodulated data for each frame obtained by removing the sync code from one sync frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus and method for applying an error correction process to data read from an information storage medium such as a digital versatile disk (DVD) and, more particularly, to a data processing apparatus and method for making syndrome calculations.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, DVDs that record digital data have prevailed remarkably. On a DVD, sector data generated from error correction code blocks is recorded.
Each error correction code block is made up of a block of information symbols arranged in the row and column directions, inner-code PI parity which is appended to information symbols in the row direction contained in the information symbol block, and outer-code PO parity which is appended to both information symbols in the column direction contained in the information symbol block and the inner-code PI parity.
An error correction code in the PO direction has a code length of 208 bytes, an information length of 192 bytes, and a minimum distance of 17. An error correction code in the PI direction has a code length of 182 bytes, an information length of 172 bytes, and a minimum distance of 11.
Sector data generated from such error correction code block contains an error correction code, and can undergo error correction using this error correction code. Such a technique is disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2002-74861.
Also, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2001-67822 discloses a technique associated with an error correction process that can cope with the playback speed in a high multiple-speed mode. That is, this reference discloses a technique for calculating a syndrome for data with a code length of 182 bytes in the PI direction contained in playback information in parallel with a process for temporarily storing the playback information read out from a DVD in a buffer.
However, the method of calculating a syndrome parallel to the data write process to the buffer (disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2001-67822) can offer an advantage in coping with high multiple-speed playback, but poses a problem of a measure against sync abnormality in a DVD.
In fact, upon conversion into sector data, data with a code length of 182 bytes in the PI direction forms two Sync frames. One Sync frame contains a sync code (2 bytes) and 91 bytes of the code length of 182 bytes in the PI direction.
A DVD system executes a synchronization process for respective Sync frames. A sync system suffers abnormality for various reasons such as the state of the servo system of the DVD system, scratches, fingerprints, dust, and the like, and at least one Sync frame may be lost or duplicated, or the arrival order of frames may be reversed.
Such problem with of Sync frames often disturbs the calculation of an effective syndrome of a data sequence (the code length of 182 bytes in the PI direction). Even if 91 bytes of one Sync frame are correct data, all 182 bytes of both the Sync frames may be consequently determined as error data. Such a burst error results in an error correction performance drop and causes correction errors.


A device to seal an incision in a blood vessel includes an inner member and an outer member. A suture connects the inner member and the outer member. A first portion of the suture is embedded within a second portion of the suture such that as tension in the suture increases the first and second portions are held together. According to certain embodiments, the second portion is not part of a first suture portion, and both the first and second portions are used to retain the outer member in place. A method of making such a device is also described.

There are several medical procedures which require access to a patient's vascular system. Access to a patient's vascular system can be provided by making an incision (sometimes called a puncture, wound, or hole) in an artery (or other blood vessel) below the skin surface. At the conclusion of the medical procedure, the incision in the artery must be sealed.
One technique for sealing such an incision is to place an inner seal within the artery and an outer locking element outside the artery in such a fashion as to seal the incision. The seal is made of bioabsorbable materials which are absorbed within the body over time. The inner seal, the outer locking element, and the suture are usually components of an introducer and sealing assembly. A suture loop is needed to guide and hold the seal, the locking element, and the suture during the sealing procedure. The suture (for example, a thread or a multifilament fiber) holds the inner seal in place and guides the locking element to a position outside of the artery opposite the inner seal. Typically, in such a suture loop, the ends (or other portions) of the suture are glued or tied together to complete the loop.
Similar suture loops can also be used when a closure comprises an inner anchor member and an outer seal, e.g., in the form of a collagen plug, which are held together by a suture loop, or when an outer member and an inner member are clamped together to thereby seal a puncture in an intermediate blood vessel wall.
Additional background on the techniques described above is set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,508,828 and 6,425,911, and U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 10/280,086, 10/341,599, and 10/341,598, whose entire contents are incorporated herein by reference.