A portable GPS position measuring/displaying apparatus has a portable case, a liquid crystal display provided for the portable case, operation keys of a variety of kinds which are provided on the case, a map storage card detachably inserted in the portable case, and a multi-layered printed circuit board inserted in the portable case. The printed circuit board includes a patch type GPS antenna for receiving GPS waves from an artificial satellite, a GPS receiver made of an LSI which processes information represented by the received GPS waves so as to produce position data of an object to be measured, an operation device for calculating the position where the object to be measured is present on the basis of the position data, and display means for displaying the calculated position of the object on the screen of the liquid crystal display such that the calculated position is superimposed on map data read from the map storage card.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable GPS position measuring/displaying apparatus which can be put in a pocket and easily carried at all times. More specifically, the present invention relates to a portable GPS position measuring/displaying apparatus which is suitable for use in leisure activities (such as hiking, orienterring, travel, mounting climbing, and cycling), business, and events for women and children, and which enables the user to easily confirm the present position or destination and is therefore useful in preventing lost children in emergency.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a portable GPS position measuring/displaying apparatus for automobiles, which is conventionally known as a car navigation system.
Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a car computer unit. A GPS receiver, a display processor, a CD-ROM player, an internal/external signal processing unit, etc. are arranged inside the car computer unit. A GPS antenna 2 and a liquid crystal display 3 are connected to the car computer unit 1 by means of cables 5a and 5b. A key operation commander 4 sends instructions or commands to the car computer unit 1 and/or the liquid crystal display 3 by radio.
A conventional portable GPS position measuring/displaying apparatus for automobile is made up of a number of independent structural components (the apparatus mentioned above is made up of four independent components), and each of these components is comparative large in size. Therefore, the conventional portable GPS position measuring/displaying apparatus is not appropriate for use as a portable type. In addition, the conventional portable GPS position measuring/displaying apparatus consumes a comparatively large amount of power and must employ a battery of high capacitance. In light of this point as well, the conventional apparatus is not suitable for use as a portable type. It should be also noted that the conventional apparatus is expensive as a whole.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide:
(a) a portable GPS position measuring/displaying apparatus which is small in size and light in weight and which is suitable for use as a portable apparatus; PA1 (b) a portable GPS position measuring/displaying apparatus which can be manufactured at a very low cost, which is at least one half of the cost needed for manufacturing a conventional apparatus; and PA1 (c) a portable GPS position measuring/displaying apparatus which enables accurate correction of the time of a timepiece used for calculating the present position from navigation data, and which enables the user to know the correct standard time whenever necessary. PA1 a portable case; PA1 a liquid crystal display provided for the portable case; PA1 operation keys of a variety of kinds which are provided on the case; PA1 a map storage card detachably inserted in the portable case; and PA1 a multi-layered printed circuit board inserted in the portable case, the printed circuit board including: a patch type GPS antenna for receiving GPS waves from an artificial satellite; a GPS receiver made of an LSI which processes information represented by the received GPS waves so as to produce position data of an object to be measured; an operation device for calculating the position where the object to be measured is present on the basis of the position data; and display means for displaying the calculated position of the object on the screen of the liquid crystal display such that the calculated position is superimposed on map data read from the map storage card.

Portable GPS position measuring/displaying apparatus


Lubricants with enhanced viscosities are made from additives by combining dispersant viscosity index polymer, like dispersancy-substituted polyolefins, and detergent, like overbased, oil-soluble, metal salts, before adding dispersant package.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention concerns lubricants and methods for their production. More particularly, lubricating oils having enhanced viscosity properties are made by combining certain dispersant viscosity index improver and detergent lubricant additives.
2. Description of Related Information
Lubricants play an essential role in many areas, particularly in the transportation industry. Large amounts of inexpensive lubricants are needed to keep transportation vehicles running smoothly. Mineral oils are relatively inexpensive and have been used effectively as lubricants. The use of mineral oils is, however, curtailed by the limited performance characteristics of mineral oils over the full range of temperature and conditions under which lubricants are used, such as for lubricating engines or other high speed, moving parts. Lubricants often need to have sufficient fluidity, which can be determined by measuring viscosity, over a wide temperature range. For example, engine crankcase lubricant needs to be sufficiently fluid at temperatures well below 0.degree. C. to enable engine start-up in cold weather. Conversely, such lubricant must also have enough viscosity at high temperatures during engine operation to avoid "thinning out", which would result in loss of engine lubrication.
Synthetic oils have been developed which can operate more effectively over a wider range of conditions than mineral oils alone. Various additives have also been developed which supplement and extend lubricating oil performance. Additives called viscosity index, or "VI", improvers or modifiers, are designed to improve the viscosity of lubricants, such as by increasing, or extending, the viscosity of the lubricant at higher temperatures. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,623 (Nalesnik) describes VI improvers which are polyolefins grafted with carboxylic groups derivatized with amino-aromatic polyamine. This VI improver also provides dispersancy and anti-oxidant properties.
These and other additives, like dispersants, detergents, anti-foamants, various inhibitors and more, are used to expand the utility of lubricants for differing applications. When used in combination, the additives and lubricants can interact in ways that change the properties and usefulness of the lubricant composition. For example, some dispersants and detergents have limited compatibility, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,502,971 (Robson) which describes mixtures of dispersants and magnesium detergents having increased viscosity which is reduced by prereacting dispersant with alkali metal salt. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,603 (Demange) describes a process for improving the compatibility of dispersants and magnesium detergents by premixing dispersant, detergent and solvent to eliminate haze and sediment.
Synthetic oils and additives, however, add significantly to the expense of lubricants. It would therefore be highly desirable if a lubricant can be made which maximizes the use of relatively inexpensive, mineral oils and minimizes the use of more expensive synthetic oils and additives, and which also gives more effective lubricant performance, such as better fluidity, over a wide range of temperatures and conditions.

Combining dispersant viscosity index improver and detergent additives for lubricants


According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the use ratio of active sites in a catalyst having oxygen reduction activity so as to provide a cathode catalyst layer and MEA for a fuel cell with high a level of power generation performance. The present invention includes a process of introducing a functional group into a surface of the catalyst 13 which has oxygen reduction activity and a process of blending the catalyst 13 with the functional group on the surface together with an electron conductive material and a proton conductive polymer electrolyte to prepare a catalyst ink for forming the cathode catalyst layer for the fuel cell.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cathode catalyst layer and a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for a fuel cell. More specifically, the present invention relates to a manufacturing method of a cathode catalyst layer and MEA which provide a resultant fuel cell with a high level of power generation performance with use of a non-noble metal (or, non-platinum) catalyst having oxygen reduction activity.
2. Description of the Related Art
A fuel cell is a power generation system which produces electric power along with heat. A fuel gas including hydrogen and an oxidant gas including oxygen react together at electrodes containing a catalyst in a fuel cell so that a reverse reaction of water electrolysis takes place. A fuel cell is attracting attention as a clean energy source of the future because of advantages such as high efficiency, a small impact on the environment and a low level of noise relative to conventional power generation systems. A fuel cell is classified into several types according to an ion conductor employed therein. A fuel cell which uses a proton conductive polymer membrane is called a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) or a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC).
Among various fuel cells, a PEMFC (or PEFC), which can be used at around room temperature, is regarded as a promising fuel cell for use in vehicles and household stationary power supply etc. and is being developed widely in recent years. The PEMFC (or PEFC) includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) in which a pair of electrodes is arranged on both sides of a polymer electrolyte membrane. In the PEMFC (or PEFC), the MEA is interposed between a pair of separators, on each of which either a gas flow path for supplying a fuel gas containing hydrogen to one of the electrodes or a gas flow path for supplying an oxidant gas containing oxygen to the other electrode is formed. While one of the electrodes for supplying the fuel gas is called an anode (or fuel electrode), the other electrode for supplying the oxidant gas is called a cathode (or air electrode). In general, each of these electrodes includes a catalyst layer in which a polymer electrolyte and catalyst loaded carbon particles are contained and a gas diffusion layer which has gas permeability and electrical conductivity. A noble metal such as platinum etc. is used as the catalyst in the catalyst loaded carbon particles.
Apart from other problems such as improving durability and output density etc., cost reduction is the most major problem for putting the PEMFC (or PEFC) into practical use.
Since the PEMFC (or PEFC) at present employs expensive platinum as the electrode catalyst, an alternate catalyst material is strongly desired to fully promote the PEMFC (or PEFC). As more platinum is used in the cathode (air electrode) than in the anode (fuel electrode), an alternative to platinum (namely, a non-platinum catalyst) with a high level of catalytic performance for oxygen-reduction on the cathode is particularly well under development.
A mixture of a noble metal and nitride of iron (a transition metal) described in Patent document 1 is an example of a non-platinum catalyst for the cathode. In addition, a nitride of molybdenum (a transition metal) described in Patent document 2 is another example. These catalyst materials, however, have an insufficient catalytic performance for oxygen-reduction in an acidic electrolyte and are dissolved in some cases.
Non-patent document 1 reports that a partially-oxidized tantalum carbonitride has both excellent stability and catalytic performance. This oxide type non-platinum catalyst has a high level of catalytic performance for oxygen-reduction in itself as a catalyst.
Regarding conventional platinum loaded carbon catalyst, Patent document 3 teaches a technique of improving catalyst-use efficiency by providing the carbon surface with a hydrophilic group so as to improve affinity for the proton conductive polymer electrolyte. In addition, Patent document 4 teaches a surface modified carbon which protects the surface from oxidation when a hydrophilic group is introduced to the surface of the carbon of a conventional platinum loaded carbon catalyst.    <Patent document 1>: JP-A-2005-44659.    <Patent document 2>: JP-A-2005-63677.    <Patent document 3>: JP-A-2006-4662.    <Patent document 4>: JP-A-2007-161511.    <Non-patent document 1>: "Journal of The Electrochemical Society", Vol. 155, No. 4, pp. B400-B406 (2008).

Cathode catalyst layer, manufacturing method thereof and membrane electrode assembly


A decorative article 1A for a timepiece or the like is provided having a superior aesthetic appearance that can be maintained over a long period of time. The decorative article 1A has a substrate 2 wherein at least part of the surface vicinity is primarily configured from Ti and/or stainless steel, a first coat 3 formed on the substrate 2, and a second coat 4 formed on the first coat 3. The first coat 3 is configured primarily from TiCN, and the combined C content and N content in the first coat 3 is 5 to 30 wt %. The second coat 4 is configured primarily from M (where M is one or more elements selected from Ti, Pt, Pd, and In). The average thickness of the first coat 3 is 1.6 to 5 μm. The average thickness of the second coat 4 is 0.15 to 0.5 μm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a decorative article. More specifically, the present invention relates to a decorative article and a timepiece.
2. Background Information
A superior aesthetic appearance is required for decorative articles such as exterior components for timepieces. Conventionally Pt, Ag, and other such metal materials have commonly been used as constituent materials for decorative articles to achieve such an objective. However, the hardness of these metal materials is usually relatively low, and decorative articles (particularly, exterior components and accessories for timepieces) configured from the aforementioned materials have had problems in that the surface is easily scratched and the aesthetic appearance is significantly degraded by long-term use.
In order to resolve such problems, a technique of nitriding the surface of a substrate composed, for example, of stainless steel or Ti with nitrogen has been used as a technique for hardening a substrate. An example is shown in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 11-318520, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. However, nitriding treatment causes surface roughness, which changes the polished design. Mirror finished articles in particular are roughened and become clouded, and then cannot be used as decorative articles.
In view of this, a method of polishing the article to a mirror finish by mechanical polishing has been employed as a subsequent process. However, this method has had drawbacks in that hardness is reduced due to excessive scraping off of the hardened layer by polishing, and a layer with a subsequently unpolishable shape (a shape for which buffing is ineffective) cannot be treated.
In addition, a substrate that has been subjected to a nitriding treatment as described above has a low-quality color tone. Thus, it becomes difficult to apply the nitriding treatment to decorative articles wherein a superior design is required (particularly white and silver articles).
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved decorative article and timepiece. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.


A measuring tool device comprises a horizontal module including a depressed surface, an upper semicircular hollow, and a lower semicircular body; an upper cover module including a calibrated line at its periphery; and an accessory module in a semicircular protruded form and coupled between the horizontal module and the upper cover module. The accessory module is at the depressed surface, and the upper cover module is latched to the horizontal module by a latch. The accessory module is rotated and the indicating arrows on both ends of the straight edge correspond to a calibrated line at the periphery of the upper cover module. The straight edge of the body of the horizontal module is used as a starting edge, and the straight edge of the accessory module is used as an ending edge for measuring or drawing an included angle.

The present measuring tools including a protractor, a ruler, and a right-angle gauge are independent protractor, ruler, and right-angle gauge for indicating an angle of 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90°, but these measuring tools do not provide other angles for quick drawings. If it is necessary to draw an angle other than those mentioned above, a protractor is needed. However, a general protractor includes a starting edge at the internal side of a straight edge and a center point disposed thereon. In the measurement of an angle, a small gap is produced between the straight edge and the starting edge, and thus users or students may take the straight line as a base and the center as the center point by mistake for the drawing. As a result, there is an error of the measured angle which is measured by using the center of the starting edge. In the present procedure of drawing an angle or a straight line of a specific length, it is necessary to draw the lines separately and then connect the lines to form an included angle or a figure with a different angle. As to the present measuring tools sold in the market, users have to use a combination of these measuring tools to draw the required angle or straight line of a specific length. If a student forgets to bring one of the measuring tools, the student may not be able to complete the drawing. These measuring tools usually provide a single function such as a protractor, a ruler, a triangle or a right-angle gauge, and thus the users can only draw an incomplete figure by one of these measuring tools. In the process of drawing a figure by using these measuring tools, a user may use any length in any direction or with a specific angle, but the user must carry the common protractor, ruler, triangle, or right-angle gauge to complete the required figure, and thus causing inconvenience for drawing figures by these measuring tools.


A motor-driven steering assist apparatus is structured such that a single unit body covered by housings has an input shaft, an output shaft, a torque sensor, an electric motor and a gear train built-in, and elastic members are interposed between an attaching portion provided in the housing and a vehicle body side attaching stay.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a motor-driven steering assist apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a motor-driven steering assist apparatus of a rough road traveling vehicle, such as a buggy vehicle or the like, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-336565 (patent document 1), there is a structure which is interposed between a steering wheel and a tire wheel side steering member, which assists steering force applied to the steering wheel by a driver on the basis of torque generated by an electric motor.
The motor-driven steering assist apparatus in the patent document 1 has the following elements. A single unit body covered by first to third housings, an input shaft to which a steering wheel is connected, an output shaft to which a wheel side steering member is connected, and a torque sensor which is provided between the input shaft and the output shaft. An electric motor is driven in correspondence to a detected torque of the torque sensor, a worm gear is coupled to a rotary shaft of the electric motor, and a worm wheel is coupled to the output shaft and is engaged with the worm gear built-in. Further, an upper end portion of the input shaft and the torque sensor are supported to the first housing. An upper end portion of the output shaft, the electric motor, the worm gear and the worm wheel are supported to the second housing. A lower end portion of the output shaft is supported to the third housing, and the second housing can be attached to a vehicle body frame (a vehicle body side bracket).
In the motor-driven steering assist apparatus in the patent document 1, an attaching boss provided in the second housing is directly fixed to a support portion of a vehicle body side attaching stay.
There is a risk that vibration from a road surface and an engine when the vehicle travels is transmitted to the torque sensor within the first housing via the vehicle body side attaching stay through the second housing, whereby the torque sensor produces an improper operation due to the vibration along an axial direction of the input shaft and the output shaft.


The invention relates to a wooden floor, consisting of a hardenable adhesive (12) which is painted onto a floor base (10) in a continuous layer, and covering elements (16) consisting of wood or a wood material that are joined to the adhesive in its entirety by their surface (14) to be glued. According to the invention, the adhesive layer (12) has a thickness of 0.5 to 5 mm and the combined tension and shear strength of the adhesive (12), in its hardened state, is les than that of the floor base (10) and is at most 1.2 N/mm2, in order to obtain a floor covering with excellent dimensional stability.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a wood floor, comprising a hardenable of curable adhesive which is coated as a continuous layer onto a floor base, and covering elements of wood or a wood material that are bonded to the adhesive over their entire surface to be glued.
2. Description of the Related Art
For adhering covering elements used to make parquet or inlay floors, adhesives are conventionally employed which are comprised of natural and/or synthetic resins and include suitable solvents and additives. According to applicable DIN (German Industrial Standard) 218, the parquet adhesives exhibit a shear strength of at least 3 to 3.5 N/mm2, which results in a hard and brittle junction of the covering elements to the base floor. The adhesive is applied using a toothed trowel. When laying the parquet floor, attention must be paid to the fact that the parquet wood expands when absorbing moisture and shrinks when (re)drying. The parquet wood conventionally contains 9% water during the laying process. The moisture content can change due to water uptake in a new construction through the sub-floor, or from the environment, or as a result of the variable humidity depending upon the season. The expansion and shrinking caused thereby must be absorbed or accepted by the adhesive material. Thereby, substantial shear forces result. These shear forces can in certain cases result in a bowing out of the parquet wood or result in gaps or formation of splits. In the case of breakage it frequently occurs that not only the adhesive joint but rather also the sub-floor comprised of cement is damaged. This is due to the fact that the shear strength of the cement floor is relatively low in comparison to the parquet adhesive according to DIN 281. On the other hand, during drying the parquet pieces shrink. Since the parquet adhesive does not permit a shrinking at the point of adhesion, frequently large gaps occur between the parquet pieces.


A circularly polarized wave entering the horn is converted to a linearly polarized wave which appears in one of the ports depending on the sense of the polarization. The stepped configuration of the impedance matching section minimizes mutual coupling among horns of the respective assemblies of the array antenna.

This invention relates to a microwave horn radiator assembly for radiating circularly polarized electromagnetic waves from a radiator at a front portion of the assembly, the assembly including an orthomode transducer providing a conversion between linearly and circularly polarized radiation. More particularly, the invention employs a septum increasing stepwise monotonically in height from a bottom wall to a top wall of a square waveguide to provide two rectangular waveguide ports at a back end of the assembly, opposite the horn radiator, to provide the conversion between linearly and circularly polarized radiation. The assembly also includes plural stepped waveguide sections forming an impedance matching section behind the horn radiator, and a set of capacitive posts between the matching section and the septum.
An antenna comprising an array of radiators providing circularly polarized radiation may be employed in numerous situations, including a mounting of the antenna on board a spacecraft to provide for communication between the spacecraft and a station on the earth. In the construction of the antenna, each of the radiators is formed as a part of a radiator assembly which includes microwave structures for converting a linearly polarized electromagnetic wave to a circularly polarized electromagnetic wave for transmission of a microwave signal, and for converting from circularly polarized radiation to linearly polarized radiation upon reception of a microwave signal. It has been the practice to employ an orthomode transducer to provide for the conversion between the linearly and circularly polarized radiation. The microwave structure for polarization conversion is substantially larger than the radiator itself. In a typical construction of orthomode transducer, perpendicularly oriented rectangular waveguides have been employed to provide for both right-hand and left-hand circularly polarized waves.
A problem arises in that the foregoing construction is inconvenient because of the excessively large size required of the microwave structure, including the orthomode transducer, which feeds electromagnetic power to the radiator, and which receives incoming signals from the radiator for each of the radiators of the array antenna. A further disadvantage in the foregoing construction is excessive complexity in the manufacturing process required to produce the microwave structure. Also, it is noted that a large bandwidth is advantageous in the use of communication equipment, and the foregoing construction has been disadvantageous in respect to a limitation of the maximum bandwidth available for communication. The physical size has been enlarged also because of a need for numerous tuning screws, the need for such tuning also complicating the manufacture and set-up procedure. Also, the radiator should be operated in such a fashion as to minimize mutual coupling between signals of the various radiators of the antenna array.

Horn radiator assembly with stepped septum polarizer


Embodiments of the present disclosure include techniques for generating accurate time stamps. In one embodiment, a first timing reference signal corresponding to a first clock domain is combined with a first clock signal corresponding to a second clock domain to produce a second timing reference signal that includes quantization noise. The second timing reference signal is filtered to remove the quantization noise and generate a filtered timing reference signal. The filtered timing reference signal may be sampled in the second clock domain to obtain a time stamp. In one embodiment, a phase locked loop (PLL) is used as the filter. The PLL may generate first and second ramps that correspond to time. One of the ramps may be sampled to obtain a time stamp, for example.

The present disclosure pertains to electronic circuits and systems, and in particular, to techniques for generating time stamps. Particular applications of the techniques described herein may be useful in networking equipment.
Many electronic applications have a need to have an extremely clear understanding of the temporal nature of their systems. For example, in financial networks, algorithmic traders have a need to be able to measure the tick-to-trade performance of their systems. Others still need an accurate view into the practical implications of (for example) cache misses and DRAM refreshes on computational workloads by precisely timestamping the network traffic stemming from those workloads.
The following disclosure provides improved and advantageous techniques for generating accurate time stamps.


An oxide-dispersion-strengthened sintered alloy improved in oxidation resistance and compressive strength for use at high temperatures of at least 1350.degree. C. The alloy includes a matrix of a metal consisting substantially or predominantly of Cr, and 0.2 to 2.0% by weight of Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 uniformly dispersed in the matrix. The Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 as uniformly dispersed is up to 0.1 .mu.m in mean particle size.

In furnaces of the walking beam conveyor type for heating steel materials such as slabs and billets, skid buttons arranged on skid beams serving as movable beams and fixed beams are repeatedly loaded with the steel material (the material to be heated) at a high temperature, so that heat-resistant alloys, sintered ceramic materials or composite materials of alloy and ceramic are conventionally used for making the skid buttons.
However, use of these materials involves problems. The heat-resistant alloy is not fully satisfactory in high-temperature strength, while the sintered ceramic material is brittle and low in toughness. The alloy-ceramic composite material undergoes degradation due to a reaction between the two component materials when used in a high-temperature environment. To overcome the problems, the present applicant has already proposed a sintered body of Fe-Cr alloy particles and a sintered body of Fe-Cr alloy particles and a particulate oxide of rare-earth element (Unexamined Japanese Patent Publications HEI 2-258946, HEI 2-258947, etc.). These bodies are prepared from an alloy powder or a mixture of alloy powder and particulate oxide of rare-earth element by a desired sintering process.
These sintered bodies are more excellent in oxidation resistance and high-temperature compressive strength than heat-resistant alloys, sintered ceramic materials and alloy-ceramic composite materials, but still remain to be improved in oxidation resistance and high-temperature compressive strength for use in operations which are conducted generally at higher temperatures of at least 1350.degree. C. in recent years. It is therefore desired to provide materials having still higher oxidation resistance and more excellent high-temperature compressive strength.
We have directed attention to techniques of the so-called mechanical alloying process wherein a metal powder and an oxide powder are mixed together to finely disperse the particulate oxide in the state of a solid phase. The oxide-dispersion-strengthened alloys heretofore prepared by the mechanical alloying process are limited to Fe-based alloys and Ni-based alloys, which nevertheless have a drawback. The former alloys are not fully satisfactory in oxide resistance at high temperatures of not lower than 1350.degree. C., while the latter alloys are insufficient in compressive strength at high temperatures of at least 1350.degree. C. Thus, the materials heretofore present are not excellent in both the characteristics of oxidation resistance and compressive strength.
An object of the present invention is to provide a sintered alloy which has outstanding oxidation resistance and compressive strength at high temperatures of not lower than 1350.degree. C. and which is very suitable for use as a material for skid buttons, and a powder for preparing the sintered alloy.

Oxide-dispersion-strengthened heat-resistant chromium-based sintered alloy


The present invention relates to superabsorbent polymer particles having functionalizers covalently bound to the surface of precursor superabsorbent polymer particles.

Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) are well known in the art. They are commonly applied in absorbent articles, such as diapers, training pants, adult incontinence products and feminine care products to increase the absorbent capacity of such products while reducing their overall bulk. The SAPs generally are capable of absorbing and retaining amounts of aqueous fluids equivalent to many times their own weight.
Commercial production of SAPs began in Japan in 1978. The early superabsorbent was a cross-linked starch-g-polyacrylate. Partially neutralized polyacrylic acid eventually replaced earlier superabsorbents in the commercial production of SAPs, and is the primary polymer employed for SAPs today. SAPs are often applied in form of small particles, such as fibers or granules. They generally consist of a partially neutralized lightly crosslinked polymer network, which is hydrophilic and permits swelling of the network once submerged in water or an aqueous solution such as physiological saline. The cross-links between the polymer chains assure that the SAP does not dissolve in water.
It is well known in the art to coat the surface of the SAP particle in order to add further functionality: Silica or aluminum sulphate can be applied as well as waxes, polymers or inorganic water-insoluble salts. The coating can be done in a separate process step after the surface cross-linking, or the coating substance can be applied together with the surface cross-linking solutions.
In the case of aluminum sulphate, ionic bonds with the carboxylate ions of the SAP particle are formed, but those bonds are ruptured in the presence of body fluids due to solvation effects. In the case of most waxes and polymers, predominantly weak and reversible van-der-Waals forces provide the attachment to the surface.
In all cases, however, the coatings are merely reversibly attached to the surface of the SAP particles and no irreversible covalent bonds are created between the coating and the SAP particles. Therefore, such coatings tend to be relatively unstable: They may be washed off easily upon contact with liquid or the coating may be eliminated partly or completely during conveying of the SAP particles (e.g. during manufacture or transportation of an absorbent article comprising the SAP particles) by a mechanical means such as abrasion.
If the SAP particles are applied in absorbent articles, the surface properties of the SAP particles are negatively altered after wash off of the coating upon contact with body fluids during use of the absorbent article. Furthermore, the overall performance of the absorbent article may be negatively affected by the coatings dissolved in the body fluids
For example, the surface tension of the body fluids may be reduced due to the presence of the washed off coating. This, in turn, may decrease the capillary pressure of the body fluids and as a result, the porous absorbing and/or desorbing materials in the absorbent article may partly or completely lose their wicking properties.
Or, a colored pigment comprised by the coating, which gets dissolved in the body fluids, may negatively affect the aesthetic appearance of the absorbent article or the color may irritate the wearer/caretaker.
Especially, if the coating is done with waxes, the surface properties of the SAP particles, such as permeability for liquids, may be negatively affected, depending e.g. on the thickness of the wax coating.
Another drawback with coatings is that they may diffuse inside the SAP particle during the coating process, depending e.g. on the duration of the coating process.
Also known in the art are absorbent gelling particles comprising a water-insoluble, absorbent, hydrogel-forming polymer and a polycationic polymer, wherein the polycationic polymer is covalently bound to the absorbent gelling particles. The covalent bonds are created via carboxyl groups comprised especially at the surface of said absorbent gelling particles. However, often a relatively large portion of the carboxyl groups of the absorbent gelling material is neutralized prior to the polymerization step, and hence, commonly relatively few carboxyl groups are available for the covalent bond between the absorbent gelling particles and the polycationic polymer. Consequently, the degree of neutralization has to be balanced with the need to covalently bond the polycationic polymer to the absorbent gelling particles, because both process steps make use of the carboxyl groups.
To overcome the problems set out above, it is an objective of the present invention to provide SAP particles with added or modified functionalities, wherein the functionalities are added or modified permanently. The functionality shall not get lost due to wash off upon contact of the SAP particles with liquid. Moreover, the functionality shall also be provided durably in that it does not get lost upon conveying and transport of the SAP particles and during manufacture, e.g. of absorbent articles comprising such SAP particles.
Furthermore, the functionality shall be provided without the need to compromise on the degree of neutralization of the SAP particles.
It is a further objective of the present invention, to provide a method to produce such SAP particles with added or modified functionality.

Superabsorbent polymer particles comprising functionalizers and method of making them

Abstract: The functionalizers of the present invention comprise a grafting unit with a radiation activatable group and a functional unit covalently bound to the grafting unit. The grafting unit is bound to an aliphatic C—H group comprised at the surface of the precursor superabsorbent polymer particle. The functional unit comprises chemical structures which are not present in the precursor superabsorbent polymer particle. These functional units add an additional function to the precursor suberabsorbent polymer particle or modifying an existing function of the precursor superabsorbent polymer particle.

Abstract: Moreover, the invention relates to a process for making these superabsorbent polymer particles.


A low tire pressure sensor for use in detecting deflation of a tire while it is supporting a tow trailer from a surface as it moves in a given direction therealong. The sensor comprises a sealed housing holding a pivot shaft and enclosing an electrical contact switch which is activatable upon rotation of the pivot shaft from a first biased position to a second position. The pivot shaft has an outside portion which extends sealingly and rotatably through a portion of the housing. A resilient sensor rod is mounted on the outside portion of the pivot shaft and extends therefrom at an angle forward in the direction of movement of the tire when the pivot shaft is in a first biased position. The resilient sensor rod has an end spaced a predetermined distance from the surface, such that upon at least partial deflation of the tire, the resilient sensor rod contacts the surface and is moved over center to rotate the pivot shaft to a second switch position, at which the electrical contact switch is activated. A remote signal device is connected through an electrical circuit to the switch so that it is activated upon rotation of the pivot shaft from the first biased position to the second switch activation position.

The operator of a vehicle can normally sense when one of the pneumatic tires on the vehicle becomes deflated because of a tilting of the vehicle itself. However it is not as easy to sense the occurrence of tire deflation in a trailer which is being towed along a roadway behind the vehicle being driven. This is particularly true where the tow trailer is of a size and dimension relative to the vehicle such that the tires of the tow trailer are not easily observed. Sensing a low tire on a trailer is also difficult if it is connected to the vehicle through a ball hitch which does not translate tilting motion of the trailer caused by tire deflation. Further, tow trailers are often pulled along a roadway at night, such that viewing the trailer is difficult. Further, constant attention to and observation of a trailer being towed can be distracting and particularly annoying to a driver with a utility trailer, a boat trailer, a recreational camper trailer, or another similar tow trailer.
In the past, various tire deflation warning devices and low tire indicators have been designed which attach to an axle adjacent a tire. Typically, such devices have an elongated rod, which is spaced slightly above the ground and is guided straight up and down for vertical movement upon contacting the road surface due to deflation of the tire. Vertical movement of the rod activates an electrical contact switch which is connected to a warning signal. Such devices, for example, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,639,342 issued to Cope in 1953 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,032,822 issued to Sweet in 1991. It has been found that vertical actuation of the rod is not likely to occur without a bending action also, unless the deflation occurs while the vehicle is stopped. If deflation occurs while the vehicle is moving, the frictional forces at the point of contact between the vertically actuatable rod and the roadway surface will tend to bend the rod and thereby render the device inoperable. Rolling elements at the ground contacting end of the sensor rod, such as that disclosed in the Sweet '822 patent are designed to reduce this problem. Rolling elements of any effective size will cause the cost of the device to be substantially increased. Small diameter rolling contact, with a roadway of normal roughness, is not likely to avoid bending the actuation rod.
Another tire pressure indicator, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,740,007, provides for a small amount of angular movement, as well as vertical movement, of the actuation rod. It is the small amount of angular movement which first causes an electrical contact, thereby indicating a deflated tire condition. However, the range of movement of such a device in the '007 patent is not sufficient to insure against damage where deflation occurs rapidly, as it does, for example, in a complete blowout situation.
Various other devices have been disclosed in which the sensor rod is constructed of a hollow coil spring with a flexible cable extending through the center of the coil spring. Examples of such devices are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,096,410 issued to Anderson in 1963 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,265,822 issued to Moulton in 1966. Both of these devices rigidly connect the upper end of a coil spring to the housing of the detection device. The coil spring has a distal end having a ball or a cap which will contact the roadway surface upon tire deflation. Between the contacting ball or cap and the rigidly connected upper end of the spring, a fixed length cable is connected. Thus, upon contacting the surface the spring is bent backward, thereby increasing its length due to the arc, so that relative movement of the fixed length flexible cable through the center of the coil spring activates a switch mechanism, thereby signalling the deflated tire condition. These devices require a relatively complex and expensive spring and internal cable mechanism plus connecting linkage and a switch mechanism which is relatively complicated, and subject to wear. Further, the entire mechanism is adversely affected by corrosion. For example, dirt and road grime can cause malfunction. Further, if used in wet weather conditions, or on a boat trailer which is periodically submerged in water, the apparatus may corrode and jam or the switch may fail or otherwise adversely affect reliability.
Other flat tire signal devices have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,640,119 issued to Bradford, Jr. in 1953 and another U.S. Pat. No. 3,502,829 issued to Reynolds in 1970, which devices activate electrical switch contact upon rotation of a rigid sensor rod about a pivot axis located in the signal device housing. Such devices depend upon a straight tension spring acting through a lever arm to hold the sensor rod in a vertically downward position. Rotation of the vertical rod about the pivot axis works against the linear tension spring to actuate an electrical switch for a warning signal. Neither of these devices provide for a pivot shaft for activating a simplified electrical switch, the moving parts of which are completely sealed in a weather resistant and water-tight housing. Further, there is no disclosure of any mechanism for flexible compensation of a vertical component of force which may be imparted into the rotation mechanism upon tire deflation.


This invention discloses a valve that generates a hydraulic negative pressure pulse and a frequency modulator for the creation of a powerful, broadband swept impulse seismic signal at the drill bit during drilling operations. The signal can be received at monitoring points on the surface or underground locations using geophones. The time required for the seismic signal to travel from the source to the receiver directly and via reflections is used to calculate seismic velocity and other formation properties near the source and between the source and receiver. This information can be used for vertical seismic profiling of formations drilled, to check the location of the bit, or to detect the presence of abnormal pore pressure ahead of the bit. The hydraulic negative pressure pulse can also be used to enhance drilling and production of wells.

Numerous references describe tools located above a drill bit in a drillstring for periodically interrupting all or most of the drilling fluid flow to the bit. These tools fall into three general categories, based on their intended application. In the first category are hammer drills that periodically divert drilling fluid flow to reciprocate the drill bit against the bottom of the borehole. This concept was first presented by Wolski in his 1902 U.S. Pat. No. 699,273. More recent developments in downhole hammers by SDS Pty. Ltd. and Novatek Inc. are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,188 (McInnes, 1998); U.S. Pat. No. 5,396,965 (Hall et al., 1995); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,425 (Davies, 1993). The second category includes measurement-while-drilling (MWD) systems that interrupt fluid flow to the bit to generate mud pulses in the fluid column to facilitate telemetry signals transmitted from the downhole equipment to receiving systems on the surface. An early form of this type of system is described by Jakosky in U.S. Pat. No. 1,963,090 (1934). Many patents have been granted since then that utilize mud pulse telemetry in some form. The third category of tools interrupt flow to the bit causing pressure fluctuations in the borehole at the bit face that enhance drilling efficiency. It is clear that the third category of tool provides a substantial benefit, and it would be desirable to provide further apparatus and a method based on interrupting flow to the bit to generate pulses so as to enhance drilling efficiency.
The benefits of interrupting all or most of the drilling fluid flow to the bit for the purpose of creating pressure fluctuations or pulses in the borehole are well understood and are described in references such as those noted above. These benefits relate to the following points:                When the pressure below the bit rapidly decreases to less than the rock pore pressure, a brittle rock formation is encouraged to fracture due to the differential pressure across the surface of the borehole;        A reduced pressure below the bit produces a downward force on the bit that increases the load on the cutters, improving their cutting efficiency; and        Rapidly changing pressures produce a "water hammer effect" or impulse that is transmitted to the drill bit and its cutters to also improve the cutting efficiency and fracturing of the rock by the bit.
The following list includes brief descriptions of some of the more significant patents that describe using drilling fluid pulses to enhance drilling.    1. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,648,789 (1972), Chenoweth describes a hydraulic pulse generator that uses a shuttle valve to direct drilling fluid either up and out to the annulus or down to the bit. The shuttle valve changes position rapidly due to "the pressure pulse waves generated in the passages between its upper and lower positions."    2. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,739 (1989), Jeter describes a "drilling fluid pulse generator for use above a drill bit to produce pulsations in drilling fluid flow." Jeter's pulse generator valve is auto-cycling at a frequency determined by a spring-mass system and the system pressure variations caused by the opening and closing of the valve.    3. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,261 (2000), Walter describes a flow pulsing tool that uses a spring-mass system wherein a poppet periodically blocks drilling fluid flow to the bit, creating pressure pulses above and below the valve that travel at the speed of sound in the fluid.
In each of the tools described in the above-noted references, oscillation of the pulse generator valve is caused by pressure fluctuations in the tool, usually enhanced by the action of a spring. Another class of pulse generator tool can be described as a pilot-operated poppet valve. In a pilot-operated valve, fluid drives a pilot valve that controls the action of a main poppet valve, which provides a more positive valve action that is self-starting and regulated by the timing of fluid ports in the valve. The use of this type of valve to produce negative pressure pulses in the borehole is described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,701 (2001), in which Kollé et al. describe various embodiments of a pilot valve/poppet valve based downhole hydraulic impulse generator for borehole applications, the disclosure and drawings of which are hereby specifically incorporated herein by reference. The primary benefits of the hydraulic impulse generator are associated with the rapid reduction in borehole pressure under the bit. The benefits of this negative pressure pulse for drilling as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,701 include:                Increased rate of penetration;        Early identification of potential gas kicks;        Downhole seismic signal generation while drilling;Additional applications of the negative pressure pulse in borehole applications other than drilling include:        De-scaling of tubulars; and        Formation cleaning.The rapid reduction of borehole pressure that occurs in the invention described in this patent is accomplished by providing a flow of low compressibility fluid, such as water or drilling fluid, through a conduit in the borehole and momentarily blocking the fluid flow with a pilot-operated poppet valve that reciprocates between open and closed positions. If the poppet valve closes in a time that is equal to or shorter than the two-way travel time of an acoustic wave in the annulus between the conduit and borehole, a negative impulse pressure is generated in the borehole beneath the discharge of the conduit. The annular flow passage may be restricted to increase flow velocity in the annulus and increase the magnitude of the resulting negative impulse pressure. If the tool is used for drilling, the length of the restricted flow area may be limited to be less than 1.5 meters to reduce torque. In this case, the two-way travel time of an acoustic pressure pulse in the restricted flow annulus is about 2 milliseconds. The poppet must therefore close completely in less than 2 milliseconds for the tool to be completely effective. The poppet valve is dynamically unstable; when closed, it is energized to open, and when open, it is energized to close. A pilot spool directs drilling fluid to either side of the poppet spool to energize it. The pilot spool is also dynamically unstable. As the valve oscillates between open and closed positions, the passages in the poppet spool direct drilling fluid to either end of the pilot spool to energize it from one position to the other. The pulse generator valve self-starts from any position and runs at a frequency determined by the flow rate of drilling fluid through the valve mechanism.
One embodiment of the valve disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,701 is incorporated in a drillstring within a housing including high speed flow courses. The valve closes in about one millisecond. Valve closure stops the flow of drilling fluid through the bit and through high speed flow courses in the housing around the bit. Stopping the upwards flow of drilling fluid through the flow courses generates a negative pressure pulse around the drill bit. This patent discloses that the valve closing time must be less than the two-way travel time of a pressure wave in the flow courses so that an intense negative pressure is generated below the bit. The valve disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,701 can provide pulse amplitudes of from about 500 psi to about 1500 psi, with a cycle rate of from 15 to 25 times per second.
Although the relative locations of the pilot and poppet spools are not claimed with specificity in U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,701, a preferred embodiment described therein and early working models are configured with the pilot and poppet spools vertically in-line and physically separated from each other in interconnected housings. The in-line configuration requires multiple long intersecting passages to carry drilling fluid to and from the pilot and poppet spools. Transverse cross-port passages are required for interconnecting the various axial fluid passages. These cross-port passages are plugged from the outside to seal the internal pressure. Multiple sealing elements are required to seal the interconnecting fluid passages between housings.
While functional, the in-line configuration is extremely complex and is correspondingly difficult to manufacture and assemble. The housings are difficult to align, and the seal elements between the housings are prone to premature failure, particularly in the unforgiving environment associated with drilling operations. The long, interconnecting fluid passages and cross-drilled holes are subject to rapid erosion by the drilling mud at each change of flow direction. The valve is also subject to large pressure drops due to fluid friction through the long, complex passages. It would thus be desirable to provide a pilot valve/poppet valve based downhole hydraulic impulse generator for enhancing oil and gas drilling that does not suffer from the disadvantages of the embodiment described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,701.
Oil and gas casing and production targets are commonly determined by reference to seismic data. These data are conventionally obtained by conducting seismic reflection and refraction studies using surface sources such as vibrator trucks or air guns. Such sources create pressure waves in the earth that travel at different speeds, depending upon properties of the strata such as density and porosity. The vertical scale in a seismic image is measured in terms of seconds of travel time for the seismic waves. To be useful for planning drilling operations, these seismic images must be depth-corrected using assumptions regarding the velocity of seismic waves. The computed depth to a seismic target may differ from the actual depth by 20 percent or more.
If a well borehole is available in the vicinity of a seismic test, depth correction information can be obtained from a check shot survey, in which a seismic receiver is placed in the well and the travel time from a surface source to the receiver is observed. A vertical seismic profile (VSP) of velocity is obtained by moving the receiver to various depths in the well. A reverse vertical seismic profile (rVSP) provides the same information by placing the source in the well and a receiver on the surface. Conventional seismic profiling requires that drilling stop while the survey is carried out.
A tricone drill bit can provide the seismic source for rVSP in real time, allowing continuous depth correction of seismic profiles, as described by W. H. Borland in an article (Butsuri Tansa (1988) 51:1). Two seismic-while-drilling (SWD) systems, (Tomex from Baker-Atlas, and DBSeis from Schlumberger), rely upon the seismic energy generated by tricone bits, as described by J. W. Rector and B. P. Marion in "The use of drill bit energy as a downhole seismic source" (Geophysics (1991) 86:5). The bit creates acoustic noise as it bounces and scrapes against the rock. The acoustic signal is transmitted through the drillstring to the surface, where it is recorded by an accelerometer or other receiver. The drillstring signal is cross-correlated with signals received by geophones on the surface to create a seismic record. Current SWD techniques, which employ the drill bit as a source, provide seismic profiles that are helpful in detecting abnormal pressure trends, but do not provide a look-ahead capability. U.S. Pat. No. 5,191,557 (Rector et al., 1993) describes enhanced signal processing that is required to use a rig reference sensor with a drill bit seismic source for VSP and seismic imaging. While SWD systems can provide acoustic data while drilling, it would be even more desirable to provide a drill tool that can both enhance drilling performance and act as a seismic source during the drilling operation.
Drag bits (representing about 80 percent of offshore drilling) do not create a useable seismic signal, while tricone bits do not create a useful signal in soft formations. Furthermore, roller cone bits only produce a dipole radiation pattern along the axis of the drillstring, which limits the placement of seismic receivers to locations near the drill rig (a seismically noisy area due to pumps and other rig activity) and restricts the use of bit seismic techniques to vertical wells where the target formations occur in planes perpendicular to the borehole axis. It would be desirable to provide a drill tool that can both enhance drilling performance and act as a seismic source in which the seismic radiation pattern produced by the tool is not so limited.
Deep drilling operations are subject to blowouts when formation pressures become greater than the pressure of drilling fluids in the borehole. Methods for determining pore pressure ahead of the drill bit presently rely upon interpretation of seismic reflection data. Increased pore pressure causes a reduction in compression wave velocity, so VSP techniques can be used to identify abnormal pore pressure trends in a formation. This procedure also requires drilling to be stopped. SWD, using the drill bit as a source, has been attempted for imaging formations ahead of the bit. In many formations and under common operating conditions, tricone bits do not generate a signal-to-noise ratio that is usable for SWD. In particular, the drill bit seismic signal is limited to relatively low frequencies (under 80 Hz) and is incoherent, requiring significant post-processing. At a frequency of 80 Hz, the depth resolution in a 3 km/s formation is 37.5 meters (approximately four 9-meter joints of drill pipe), which is not useful to drillers.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that an ideal seismic source for profiling, reflection imaging, or refraction studies should be a point source and have a broad bandwidth. A broadband signal may be generated by a single impulse source, by sweeping a sinusoidal source over a broad range of frequencies, or by generating multiple impulses with a cycle period that varies over a full octave. It would be desirable to provide a drill tool that can both enhance drilling performance and act as a seismic source for SWD, providing a broad range of frequencies, to more readily facilitate the imaging of formations ahead of the bit.
The use of a swept impact seismic technique for surface applications using a mechanical impact tool with a variable cycle rate has been suggested in the prior art (Park, C. B., Miller, R. D., Steeples, D. W., and Black, R. A., 1996, Swept Impact Seismic Technique (SIST) Geophysics, 61 no. 6, p. 1789–1803). Varying the rate of a pure impulse signal over a full octave generates a continuous broadband signal. The received signal can be cross-correlated with the impact signal to generate a seismic record with high signal-to-noise ratio. The signal-to-noise ratio can be increased substantially by operating the source over a long period of time. U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,221 (Cosma, 2002) discloses a technique and apparatus for generating a swept impact axial or radial load at the bottom of a borehole using an electrically actuated hammer. This tool is designed to be clamped in a borehole at various depths for seismic profiling.
A number of references disclose variable frequency downhole seismic sources. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,033,429 (Farr, 1977) describes a drillstring with a sleeve containing a helical pattern of holes that periodically align with holes in the drillstring. Rotation and translation of the string through the sleeve create a signal that sweeps over a broad range of frequencies up to 80 Hz, depending on the drillstring rotation speed. Significantly, the apparatus described in the Farr patent requires an interruption in the drilling process to actuate the tool. U.S. Pat. No. 6,094,401 (Masak et al., 2000) describes the use of a downhole MWD mud pulse telemetry system to generate a sinusoidal frequency sweep over a range of frequencies from 1 to 50 Hz. Masak's device uses an electric motor to drive a rotor at variable rotation rates. The rotor interacts with a stator to restrict the mud flow to the bit. Restricting the flow generates axial shaking loads of up to 3000 lbf. These loads are transmitted through the bit to the formation. The coupling between the bit and the formation is limited by the relative axial stiffness of the drillstring and the reference discloses the use of a thruster subassembly to increase coupling. As with drill bit seismic, axial shaking of the drillstring generates primarily a dipole signal that propagates along the borehole axis. Seismic receivers must therefore be located near the drill rig, which is a source of substantial masking of seismic noise.
A number of options have been studied for generating a strong seismic signal while drilling. Most options involve stopping the drilling process to actuate a downhole source such as a piezoelectric vibrator, hydraulic or mechanical jarring tools, or dropping the drillstring. All of these options interrupt the drilling process and increase the potential for borehole instability. Frequent drilling interruptions would not be an acceptable practice for most operators.
Prior art SWD techniques result in low signal-to-noise ratios, and the resulting signals require substantial processing and interpretation. It would be desirable to provide a broadband high-amplitude SWD source that enables unambiguous real-time interpretation of formation velocity and reflections ahead of the bit.

Hydraulic impulse generator and frequency sweep mechanism for borehole applications


A new method is provided for the creation of interconnect lines. Fine line interconnects are provided in a first layer of dielectric overlying semiconductor circuits that have been created in or on the surface of a substrate. A layer of passivation is deposited over the layer of dielectric, a thick second layer of dielectric is created over the surface of the layer of passivation. Thick and wide interconnect lines are created in the thick second layer of dielectric. The first layer of dielectric may also be eliminated, creating the wide thick interconnect network on the surface of the layer of passivation that has been deposited over the surface of a substrate.

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the fabrication of integrated circuit devices, and more particularly, to a method of post-passivation processing for the creation of conductive interconnects.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Improvements in semiconductor device performance are typically obtained by scaling down the geometric dimensions of the Integrated Circuits, this results in a decrease in the cost per die while at the same time some aspects of semiconductor device performance are improved. The metal connections which connect the Integrated Circuit to other circuit or system components become of relative more importance and have, with the further miniaturization of the IC, an increasingly negative impact on the circuit performance. The parasitic capacitance and resistance of the metal interconnections increase, which degrades the chip performance significantly. Of most concern in this respect is the voltage drop along the power and ground buses and the RC delay of the critical signal paths. Attempts to reduce the resistance by using wider metal lines result in higher capacitance of these wires.
To solve this problem, one approach has been is to develop low resistance metal (such as copper) for the wires while low dielectric materials are used in between signal lines. Current practice is to create metal interconnection networks under a layer of passivation, this approach however limits the interconnect network to fine line interconnects and the therewith associated how parasitic capacitance and high line resistivity. The latter two parameters, because of their relatively high values, degrade device performance, an effect which becomes even more severe for higher frequency applications and for long interconnect lines that are, for instance, used for clock distribution lines. Also, fine line interconnect metal cannot carry high values of current that is typically needed for ground busses and for power busses.
It has previously been stated that it is of interest to the semiconductor art to provide a method of creating interconnect lines that removes typical limitations that are imposed on the interconnect wires, such as unwanted parasitic capacitances and high interconnect line resistivity. The invention provides such a method. An analogy can be drawn in this respect whereby the currently (prior art) used fine-line interconnection schemes, which are created under a layer of passivation, are the streets in a city; in the post-passivation interconnection scheme of the present invention, the interconnections that are created above a layer of passivation can be considered the freeways between cities.
FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a silicon substrate on the surface of which has been created a conductive interconnect network. The structure that is shown in cross section in FIG. 1 addresses only and is limited to prior art power and ground distribution networks. The various features that have been highlighted in FIG. 1 are the following:                40, a silicon substrate on the surface of which has been created an interconnect network        42, a sample number of semiconductor circuits that have been created in or on the surface of the substrate 40        44, two electrostatic discharge (ESD) circuits created in or on the surface of the substrate 40, one ESD circuit is provided for each pin that is accessible for external connections (pins 52, see below)        46 is a layer of interconnect lines; these interconnect lines are above the surface of substrate 40 and under the layer 48 of passivation and represent a typical application of prior art fine-line interconnects; these fine-line interconnect of layer 46 typically have high resistivity and high parasitic capacitance        48 is a layer of passivation that is deposited over the surface of the layer 46 of interconnect lines        50 is a power or ground bus that connects to the circuits 42 via fine-line interconnect lines provided in layer 46; this power or ground bus is typically of wider metal since this power or ground bus carries the accumulated current or ground connection for the devices 42        52 is a power or ground pin that passes through the layer 48 of passivation and that has been connected to the power or ground bus 50.
From the above the following can be summarized: circuits are created in or on the surface of a silicon substrate, interconnect lines are created for these circuits for further interconnection to external circuitry, the circuits are, on a per I/O pin basis, provided with an ESD circuit, these circuits with their ESD circuit are connected to a power or ground pin that penetrates a layer of passivation. The layer of passivation is the final layer that overlies the created interconnect line structure, the interconnect line underneath the layer of passivation are fine line interconnects and have all the electrical disadvantages of fine line interconnects such as high resistivity and high parasitic capacitance.
Relating to the cross section that is shown in FIG. 1, the following comments applies: ESD circuits are, as is known in the art, provided for the protection of semiconductor circuits against unexpected electrical charges. For this reason, each pin that connects to a semiconductor circuit must be provided with an ESD circuit.
FIG. 2 shows a cross section of a prior art configuration that resembles the cross section shown in FIG. 1. The structure that is shown in cross section in FIG. 2 however addresses only and is limited to clock and signal distribution networks. FIG. 2 shows in addition (to the previously highlighted aspects of FIG. 1):                45 are two ESD circuits that are provided in or on the surface of the substrate 40; ESD circuits are always required for any external connection to an input/output (I/O) pin        45′ which are circuits that can be receiver or driver or I/O circuits for input (receiver) or output (driver) or I/O purposes respectively        54 is a clock bus        56 is a clock or signal pin that has been extended through the layer 48 of passivation.
The same comments apply to the cross section that is shown in FIG. 2 as previously have been made with respect to FIG. 1, with as a summary statement that the layer of passivation is the final layer that overlies the created structure, the interconnect lines underneath the layer of passivation are fine line interconnects and have all the electrical disadvantages of fine line interconnects such as high resistivity and high parasitic capacitance.
Further applies to the cross section that is shown in FIG. 2, where pins 56 are signal or clock pins:                pins 56 must be connected to ESD and driver/receiver or I/O circuits 45        for signal or clock pins 56, these pins must be connected not only to ESD circuits but also to driver or receiver or I/O circuits, highlighted as circuit 45′ in FIG. 2        after (clock and signal) stimuli have passed through the ESD and driver/receiver or I/O circuits, these stimuli are further routed using, under prior art methods, fine-line interconnect wires. A layer of passivation is deposited over the dielectric layer in which the interconnect network has been created.
It is therefore of interest to the semiconductor art to provide a method of creating interconnect lines that removes typical limitations that are imposed on the interconnect wires, such as unwanted parasitic capacitances and high interconnect line resistivity.

Post passivation interconnection schemes on top of the IC chips


A new cultivar of Ajuga plant, ‘Pink Lightning’, characterized by its variegated foliage that is with gray-green centers and creamy white in color, its leaves that are rugose with wavy edges, its racemes of pink flowers with variegated bracts and its tight plant habit that slowly spreads by stolons.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Ajuga plant, botanically known as Ajuga reptans 'Pink Lightning' and will be referred to hereinafter by its cultivar name, 'Pink Lightning'. The new cultivar of Ajuga is a hardy herbaceous perennial grown for landscape use.
'Pink Lightning' was discovered in August of 2007 as a naturally occurring meristematic mutation of Ajuga reptans 'Purple Brocade' (not patented) in a container at the Inventor's nursery in Kensington, Conn.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by basal stem cuttings in Kensington, Conn. in summer of 2008. Propagation by cuttings and division has determined the characteristics to be stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


The present invention provides a pixel structure that increases response speed of liquid crystal, which includes a first thin-film transistor, a second thin-film transistor, an upper substrate, a lower substrate opposite to the upper substrate, pixel electrodes arranged on the lower substrate, a common electrode arranged on the upper substrate, and assisting electrodes arranged on the lower substrate. The assisting electrodes are arranged to be each sandwiched between every two pixel electrodes. The first thin-film transistor includes a first drain terminal, a first source terminal, and a first gate terminal. The second thin-film transistor includes a second drain terminal, a second source terminal, and a second gate terminal. The pixel electrodes are electrically connected to the second drain terminal. The assisting electrodes are electrically connected to the first drain terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of liquid crystal displaying, and in particular to a pixel structure that increases response speed of liquid crystal.
2. The Related Arts
A liquid crystal display (LCD) is a flat and ultra-thin display device that is composed of a number of color or monochrome pixels arranged in front of a light source or a reflection surface. The liquid crystal display has a very low consumption of power and is thus favorable to engineers for being applied to electronic devices powered by electrical cells. The principle is applying electricity to stimulate liquid crystal molecules to generate points, lines, and surfaces that work in combination with a back side lighting tube to constitute an image.
It is known that human eyes have the phenomenon of "persistence of vision", which is a temporal illusion of an image of high speed movement persisting in human brain. Motion pictures and movies, and the recently developed games are applications of the principle of persistence of vision, by which a series of gradually changed pictures that are displayed fast and continuously in front of the human eyes form a dynamic image. The displaying speed of pictures that human being can perceive is 24 pictures each second. This is the reason that movies are shown with a speed of 24 frames each second. If the displaying speed is lower than this level, pauses of pictures and discomfort will be perceived by human beings. Based on such a criterion, each picture must be displayed for a time period shorter than 40 ms. Consequently, for a liquid crystal display, a response time of 40 ms is a threshold. Any displaying device having a response time higher than 40 ms will display phenomenon of "trailing image" or "image sticking". Thus, the first factor that is taken into consideration by general consumers in purchasing a liquid crystal display or a liquid crystal television is the response time of liquid crystal.
The response time is the speed that each pixel of a liquid crystal display responds to an input signal and is the time interval that a pixel turns from dark into bright or from bright into dark. The commonly mentioned 25 ms and 16 ms are exactly the response time. The shorter the response time is, the less the image trailing will be perceived by a viewer in viewing a dynamic image. The principle is to apply electrical voltage to a liquid crystal box to have the liquid crystal molecules twisted and restored. Referring to FIGS. 1A-1C, schematic views illustrating the twists of liquid crystal under electric fields of various intensities are given. When the electric field has a strong intensity, the liquid crystal is approximately horizontal, where the image is brightest. When the electrical field is of a weak intensity or is null, the liquid crystal is approximately vertical, where the image is darkest.
Factors that affect the response time of liquid crystal can be classified as two categories:
(1) material of liquid crystal, including the thickness of liquid crystal inside the liquid crystal box, the dielectric constant of liquid crystal, viscosity of liquid crystal, and elastic constant of liquid crystal; and
(2) action between light guide plate and external force, including the intensity of electric field externally applied to liquid crystal and alignment power of alignment layer.
The continuous progress of technology brings constant improvement of LCD techniques and it is now a challenge topic of the development of liquid crystal displays to further improve the response speed of liquid crystal in order to take an invincible foundation in the LCD business.

Pixel structure that increases response speed of liquid crystal

Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.


A fastener assembly for a pneumatic tire includes a protruding portion, a fastener, and a securable attachment. The protruding portion is integrally formed with a sidewall of the tire and extends away from the sidewall of the tire. The protruding portion has an annular outer surface and a knob. The fastener has an annular inner surface and an annular outer surface. The annular inner surface engages the annular outer surface of the protruding portion. The annular outer surface has a recess. The securable attachment has an annular inner surface for engaging the recess of the outer surface of the fastener such that the securable attachment is secured to the fastener and both the securable attachment and the fastener are secured to protruding portion of the sidewall of the tire.

Conventional pneumatic tires have sidewalls or portions thereof of different color than the remainder of the tire. Typically, tires have a black tread and sidewall but the provision of raised, generally white, letters or colored areas in the tire sidewall has been in great demand by the public and is being provided by virtually all tire manufacturers. These decorative sidewalls are usually built integrally with the pneumatic tires by well known procedures. However, such decorative tires are not only costly to build and involve relatively expensive manufacturing procedures, but also may make use of pigments that are not always fully compatible with the remaining portions of the tire sidewall.
While efforts have conventionally been made to provide removable types of sidewall trim members that may be affixed in, or to, a pneumatic tire sidewall, it has been difficult to provide pneumatic tire trim members that may be positively secured in place on, or in combination with, a pneumatic tire sidewall so as to remain in good operative engagement therewith over a long service life.
Conventional efforts to resolve these problems have included the use of removable sidewall or trim members wherein a radially inner edge or flange section is physically interlocked between the tire bead and the wheel flange when the tire is deflated and being positioned on the wheel. Such efforts have complicated mounting and dismounting of the tire to the wheel. Other conventional efforts have included securing the tire sidewall to the tire and wheel assembly by means of a wheel cover or hub cap that attaches and engages a radial inner portion of a sidewall to secure the wheel cover in place.
Another conventional effort utilizes an annular flexible tire trim member that engages a sidewall of a tire via coupling means having continuous annular grooves and lips on sidewall members and the tire sidewall. These circumferentially continuous coupling means may also utilize male or female coupling on the tire sidewall to match a complementary female or male coupling on an inner face of the sidewall. However, this continuous type of coupling or retention, once disengagement is initiated at any one point, rapidly continues until the entire member disengages. In addition, individualized or personalized styling treatments, as may be desired by the end user, are generally not feasible.
Still another conventional removable sidewall trim member utilizes a detachable tire sidewall addition member in combination with a circumferentially discontinuous first coupling means adapted to operatively interact with a complementary second coupling means on the tire sidewall addition member for securing the sidewall addition member to the tire sidewall. Typically, a plurality of geometrically-shaped, detachable sidewall addition members may be utilized with each sidewall addition member having its own coupling means adapted to operatively interact with one of a plurality of independent and circumferentially discontinuous coupling means on the tire sidewall. Each coupling means may be independent, localized, and separate from the other coupling means, i.e., no one annular coupling means in the tire sidewall that is circumferentially continuous relative to the annular extent of the sidewall and no continuous coupling means on the addition member that may engage more than one coupling means on the tire sidewall.
The location on the tire sidewall of the various conventional addition members may be both a matter of choice and/or function of intended use. The addition members may take the form of a great variety of geometric shapes, colors, and textures. The addition members may be removably coupled with the tire sidewall with a mechanical coupling means, such as a recess or depression adjacent to a peripheral undercut for yieldingly receiving and retaining a peripheral portion of the addition member. The addition members may be provided with an indicium and a portion of the indicium may be of a color differing from the remainder of the addition member. The sizes, shapes, and thicknesses, as well as the material compositions and elasticities of the addition members, may also vary greatly depending on the intended use thereof.
The conventional addition members may provide distinctive styling, but also permit unique personalized identification. Tire branding information may be accomplished by the use of appropriate addition members. The conventional addition members may also be weighted to provide static and dynamic balancing features to the tire. It may also be possible to couple the addition members to the tire sidewall such that they disengage at a particular load and/or tire inflation pressure. Specialized coatings may further provide visual notification of possible tire damage or departure from normal operating conditions. If abnormal operating conditions do occur or there is damage to the addition members via scuffing, for example, the addition members may readily be replaced since they are detachably secured to the sidewall.

Fastener assembly secured to a tire sidewall


A portable rotary target apparatus that allows a person with a projectile device to improve their accuracy. The apparatus comprises at least one projectile actuated rotary target mechanism that comprises three elements, a rotary plate, a non-rotary pressure-actuated plate, and a portable frame attached to a constant tension device and a contacting device.

There is an ongoing need for a portable target apparatus that allows a person with a projectile device to improve his or her aim.
People using projectile devices improve their aim through practice. Generally this practice takes the form of firing projectiles at stationary targets at gun ranges. Targets are frequently used one time but some may be used repeatedly. However, the target is generally replaced with one having smaller insignia if a more challenging target is desired.
Portable targets generally have the same limitations of achieving increasing challenging situations for a person with a projectile device.
There is still a need for a portable target apparatus that allows a person with a projectile device to improve his or her aim.


A mechanical converter for converting rotary motion to reciprocating motion, and vice versa, featuring a gear rack, one or more half-gears alternately engaged with the gear rack, the gear rack configured to produce reciprocating motion in response to the alternate engagement with the one or more half-gears.

A known motion converter based on a slider-crank mechanism is widely used in most Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs) [1]. The disadvantages of this converter (analogue) are reduced reliability and low efficiency.
Reliability of the analogue is reduced due to the mismatch of two vector directions: the piston pressure force vector and the crankshaft rotation force vector, to which the piston force is transmitted. This mismatch causes piston skewing and an increased piston and cylinder wear.
Low efficiency is determined by the fact that the magnitude of the piston pressure force, transmitted to the rotation of the crankshaft depends on the angle of rotation of the crankshaft.
With a slight error, ignoring the angle of deviation of the connecting rod from the line of the piston motion, we can assume that the dependence of the magnitude of the crankshaft rotation force (Fc) on the piston pressure force (Fp) is a sinusoidal function of the crankshaft rotation angle (α): Fc=Fp*sin(α).
Therefore, in a slider-crank converter, the average value of the piston force, transmitted to the rotation of the crankshaft during the passage of the piston from the top to bottom dead points, is determined by the average value of the sine function of the crankshaft rotation angle from 0 to π. Since the average value of the sine function is equal to the integral of the sine within the range of the angle from 0 to pi, divided by the length of the segment on which the integral is taken, therefore, the dependence of the average value of the crankshaft rotation force (Fc.ave) on the piston force (Fp) will be:
      Fc   .   ave    =     Fp   *       (         1     /     π        )      *            ∫     0     π                   sin            (      α      )               d          α
Since the value of the sine integral within the angle from 0 to π is 2, then Fc.ave=Fp*2/π.
An ideal converter, unlike a slider-crank converter transfers the power of the piston to the rotation of the wheel completely, regardless of the angle of rotation of the wheel, so Fc.ideal=Fp. Consequently, the force of the piston transmitted to the rotation of the wheel at the ideal converter is π/2 more than the force transferred to the rotation of the wheel at the slider-crank converter.
Since the efficiency of the converter is proportional to the force transferred to the rotation of the wheel (or crankshaft), the efficiency of the ideal converter is approximately π/2 times, i.e. more than 1.5 times higher than that of the crank converter.
In addition, as mentioned above, in slider-crank converter the mismatch between piston pressure force vector and the crankshaft rotation force vector causes piston skewing, an excessive friction between the piston and the cylinder and as a result, increased wear of both parts, which also reduces the efficiency of the analogue.
The purpose of the invention is to increase the converter efficiency and improve reliability by minimizing the deviation of the piston motion vector from the line tangent to the circumference of the wheel.

Mechanical converter for converting rotary motion to reciprocating motion


A radiation image pickup system includes a correction coefficient calculation unit that calculates a correction coefficient using pixel output values of a plurality of pixels, and a correction unit that corrects pixel output values of a plurality of pixels using the correction coefficient. A drive control unit repeatedly resets an electric charge caused by a dark current of a plurality of pixels until a detection unit detects a start of radiation exposure. The reset operation is performed simultaneously for n rows that are not adjacent to each other, where n is an integer equal to or greater than 2. The correction coefficient calculation unit calculates the correction coefficient using pixel output values of pixels in a row subjected to the reset operation in a period from a start of radiation exposure to a start detection time and pixel output values of pixels in an adjacent row.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radiation image pickup system used to take a still image in radiography or a moving image in fluoroscopy for use in medical diagnosis.
2. Description of the Related Art
A radiation image pickup apparatus using a flat panel detector (hereinafter referred to as an FPD) produced using a semiconductor material is now widely used as an image pickup apparatus in a medical diagnosis or a nondestructive inspection using X-ray radiation. One of such radiation image pickup apparatuses is a digital image pickup apparatus used to capture a still image in radiography or a fluoroscopic moving image for use in medical diagnosis. In such an image pickup apparatus, an X-ray generation apparatus and an FPD are generally synchronized in operation. However, when the FPD is installed, it is necessary to connect the FPD to the X-ray generation apparatus, which leads to a restriction on a place where the FPD is installed. To handle the above situation, it has been proposed to configure a radiation image pickup apparatus and a radiation image pickup system so as to be capable of detect a start and an end of radiation exposure.
However, in the radiation image pickup apparatus and the radiation image pickup system of the above-described type, there may be a delay between a time at which radiation exposure is actually started and a time at which the start of radiation exposure is detected by the radiation image pickup apparatus. During such a period of delay, there is a possibility that part of a useful electric charge generated in a pixel via a readout process or a reset process is carried to a signal line and thus an artifact occurs in an image.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-249891 discloses a technique to prevent such an artifact from appearing successively on a plurality of scanning lines. In the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-249891, a reset process is performed until radiation exposure is started such that an on-voltage is sequentially applied to scanning lines other than those adjacent to each other on a detection unit. In a readout process after the radiation exposure is started, an image obtained is processed such that image data on a scanning line having artifact is discarded and replaced by interpolation based image data on adjacent scanning lines thereby repairing the artifact.
In another method, instead of performing the reset process before radiation exposure is started, a readout process is performed, and image data read out after radiation exposure is added to image data obtained in the readout process during radiation exposure is thereby repairing artifact.
However, in the method of repairing artifacts by discarding and replacing image data on a scanning line having an artifact by interpolation based on adjacent image data, diagnosis information on this scanning line is lost and thus a reduction in resolution occurs. Besides, in a case where line noise occurs on adjacent image data, there is a possibility that repairing is not performed correctly.
On the other hand, in the technique in which artifact is repaired by adding image data read out after radiation exposure is performed to image data obtained during the readout process when radiation exposure is performed, two images are added together. Thus in this technique, the addition of two images causes an increase in random noise due to difference in output among pixels by a factor of about √2.

Radiation image pickup system, computer having reset operation to reset electric charge of pixels caused by dark current, and computer-readable medium storing program therefor


A catheter, which is adapted to be inserted into a body lumen, comprises a symmetrical cylindrical control handle, an elongate tubular catheter body, and a flexible catheter tip having a lumen offset from the axis of the catheter tip. The control handle comprises a housing having a piston chamber at its distal end. A piston is mounted in the piston chamber and is afforded lengthwise movement. The proximal end of the catheter body is fixedly attached to the distal end of the piston. A puller wire is attached to the housing and extends through the piston, through and coaxial with the catheter body and into the offset lumen of the catheter tip where it is attached to the wall of the catheter tip. Lengthwise movement of the piston relative to the housing results in deflection of the catheter tip.

Catheters have been in common use in medical practice for many years. They are used to probe locations inside a body lumen which are otherwise unreachable without surgery. A catheter is first inserted into a major vein or artery, or other body lumen which is near the body surface. The catheter is then guided to the area of concern by further inserting it into the body lumen. As medical knowledge increases, catheterizations have become more complicated and more exacting. In many situations the ability to control the exact position and orientation of the catheter tip largely determines how useful the catheter is.
The body of a catheter is long and tubular. The problem of control over such a device has resulted in catheters which are generally rigid and preformed into specific shapes. This is exemplified by U. S. Pat. No. 3,485,234 to Stevens, which describes a method for making a catheter is any desired shape. However, given the complexity of body lumens, each preformed catheter can only reach certain areas. Thus, for many examinations, multiple catheters are needed, either inserted together or each one in turn. In either case, this greatly adds to the complexity of the procedure and create additional risk for the patient.
Flexible catheters having steerable tips are also known. Such catheters have control handles at their proximal ends controlling the tips. U. S. Pat. No. 4,586,923 to Gould describes many of these. The mechanisms described involve control handles which are asymmetrical. This results in the control handle being less effective when it is rotated, as the controls are no longer in a convenient position to use. Control of the catheter is therefore limited, as the user is not free to rotate the device without losing some control over it.
A catheter often has probes of some kind, e.g., electrodes, on its tip in order to deliver stimuli and/or take measurements within he body lumen. In such a catheter, the probe is electrically connected to an instrument capable of generating the stimuli or recording and/or interpreting signals received by the probes. The connection to this additional instrument generally involves the use of multiple wires which plug into separate sockets, as shown in U. S. Pat. No. 4,603,705 to Speicher, or the use of a single multiple pin plug which fits into a corresponding multiple pin socket. In either case, if the catheter is rotated, the connections must be unplugged and reset, since they otherwise restrict the movement of the catheter. This problem further increases the risks mentioned above in regards to multiple catheters. Each catheter has its own connections, all of which will need to be reset as the catheters are manipulated. The additional loss of data flow and increased procedure length further increase the risk to the patient.


Presented herein are a system, method, and apparatus for audio and video synchronization. In one embodiment, there is presented a method for displaying audio data and video data. The method comprises examining a plurality of portions of the audio data, where each of said plurality of portions of audio data is associated with a time stamp; examining a plurality of portions of the video data, where each of said plurality of portions of the video data is associated with a time stamp; decoding one of the portions of the video data; and decoding one of the portions of the audio data while decoding the one of the portions of the video data. The difference between the time stamp associated with the one of the portions of the video data and the time stamp associated with the one of the portions of the audio data is within a certain margin of error from a predetermined offset.

Common audio and video encoding standards, such as MPEG-1, Layer 3 (audio) and MPEG-2, or H.264 (video), significantly compress audio and video data, respectively. This allows for the transmission and storage of the audio and video data with less bandwidth and memory.
In general, the video encoding standards operate on the pictures forming the video. A video comprises a series of pictures that are captured at time intervals. When the pictures are displayed at corresponding time intervals in the order of capture, the pictures simulate motion.
Generally, audio signals are captured in frames representing particular times. During playback, the frames are played at corresponding time intervals in the order of capture. In multi-media applications, it is desirable to play the audio and video, such that audio frames and pictures that were captured during the same time interval are played at approximately the same time interval.
Encoding standards use time stamps to facilitate playback of audio and video at appropriate times. A decoder compares the times stamps to a system clock to determine the appropriate portions of the audio and video to play. The time stamps are generally examined prior to decoding, because decoding consumes considerable processing power.
In many decoders, there are separate audio and video decoding portions. The audio and video decoding portions take different amounts of time to decode the audio and video data. Generally, the video decoding portion takes longer time to decode the video data. Accordingly, decoding and playing audio and video data with the same time stamp can cause a time lag between the audio and video. This is undesirable to the user.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional systems will become apparent to one of skill in the art through comparison of such systems with the invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.