In various embodiments, methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for estimating greenhouse gas emissions. In particular, methods, systems, and computer program products are presented for the task of quantifying emissions reduction from changes in stocks of soil organic carbon (SOC). The methods apply more generally to tasks that involve quantification of a total or average across a population of land (and/or possibly any space and any time) using measurements at a sample from that population. The sample may not be representative or unbiased. In some examples, estimating greenhouse gas emissions may apply to quantifying the total stock of SOC in land, the total nitrous oxide emissions in land and a time interval.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to determining carbon credits with incomplete predictions of emissions reduction for a given land region (or, more generally, for estimating global quantities in space or in space and time). When determining carbon credits for land use (e.g., farming of commodities), field-scale data may be thin, satellite data may be unreliable (e.g., low-resolution, variable orbits, etc.) and soil measurements may be unavailable (e.g., fields are temporarily inaccessible due to weather or tall crops; samples were lost or degraded in shipment, etc.), thus resulting in missing data points for greenhouse gas emission reduction. These missing data points can bias the estimates of the total emissions reduction of the whole land region.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a method to assess the potential for bias using data known across the whole region and time period, and to make statistical adjustments to reduce that bias in estimates of greenhouse gas emission reduction.

Addressing incomplete soil sample data in soil enrichment protocol projects


A system for a vehicle comprising of an engine including a first cylinder group and a second cylinder group; a linear exhaust gas sensor coupled exclusively to the first cylinder group; a switching exhaust gas sensor coupled exclusively to the second cylinder group; and a controller configured to operate the engine in at least a first mode and a second mode, where in the first mode the first and second cylinder groups combust air and fuel, where in the second mode at least one of the first and second cylinder groups combusts air and injected fuel and the other one of the first and second cylinder groups pumps air without injecting fuel, and where the controller is further configured to estimate torque of the engine in each of the first and second modes of operation based on the air-fuel ratio of the first cylinder group and the air-fuel ratio of the second cylinder group independent of the switching sensor and dependent on the linear sensor.

Some engine control strategies may estimate torque based on air-fuel ratio and other operating parameters in order to control engine output. Furthermore, some engine control strategies advantageously employ different modes of engine operation, such as for example, a fuel injector cut-out mode which may include a cylinder group that pumps air without injected fuel in order to improve fuel economy and engine efficiency.
One approach attempts to estimate engine torque based on various parameters including the air-fuel ratios of the cylinders combusting air and fuel in a fuel injector cut-out mode. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,758,185.
However, the inventors herein have recognized that this approach may have some disadvantages. For example, in an engine system with an asymmetric exhaust sensor configuration, some modes of operation may cause the asymmetric sensor configuration to produce confounded air-fuel ratio measurements, which in turn, may cause greater errors in engine torque estimation.
The above issue may be addressed by, in one example, a system for a vehicle comprising: an engine including a first cylinder group and a second cylinder group; a linear exhaust gas sensor coupled exclusively to the first cylinder group; a switching exhaust gas sensor coupled exclusively to the second cylinder group; and a controller configured to operate the engine in at least a first mode and a second mode, where in the first mode the first and second cylinder groups combust air and fuel, where in the second mode at least one of the first and second cylinder groups combusts air and injected fuel and the other one of the first and second cylinder groups pumps air without injecting fuel, and where the controller is further configured to estimate torque of the engine in each of the first and second modes of operation based on the air-fuel ratio of the first cylinder group and the air-fuel ratio of the second cylinder group independent of the switching sensor and dependent on the linear sensor.
In this way engine torque may be estimated in a robust manner allowing for an engine control strategy to include different modes of operation in an engine system with an asymmetric exhaust gas sensor configuration. In particular, engine torque may be estimated even when the exhaust gas sensors produce confounded air-fuel readings due to the cylinder groups operating at different air-fuel ratios.


The invention relates to a hearing prosthesis having at least one acoustic converter for converting acoustic signals into electrical signals, and comprising an ultrasound device by means of which a multiplicity of focused, pulsed ultrasonic beams can be generated, wherein the ultrasound device can be fixed in the outer ear and/or outside the ear, and wherein, on the basis of electrical signals generated by the acoustic converter, the ultrasonic beams can be focused on to various physically distributed points in a region of the inner ear or in a region of the auditory pathway in the brain, while stimulating nerves.

Against the background of the very large portion of the population with hearing problems, and in view of the severe impairment of those stricken with them, an especially high level of interest exists in auditory prostheses and hearing aids. When hearing is intact, the auricle collects the sound waves from the environment and conducts them through the auditory canal to the tympanic membrane that then vibrates. These vibrations are transmitted via the middle ear to a liquid in the inner ear, more particularly in the cochlea. As a result of the movement of the liquid, fine hair cells within the cochlea are deflected, thereby triggering (bioelectrical) nerve impulses that are forwarded via the auditory nerve to the brain where auditory perception occurs.
Conventional hearing aids work electroacoustically and consequently with acoustic amplification. However, this principle no longer functions if bioelectrical signals can no longer be generated in the cochlea.
In such cases, so-called cochlear implants can possibly be of help. These first convert sound into electrical impulses, and those stimulate the nerves in the inner ear and the auditory nerve by electrodes implanted directly into the cochlea. Speech and noises can thus be perceived again. The functional principle of such cochlear implants is based on the so-called "tonotopy" of the cochlea. In the cochlea, mechanical vibrations coming in from the outside are converted into neural impulses, specifically in such a way as to be ordered anatomically by frequency. Different spatially distributed regions within the cochlea are responsible for the perception of different frequencies, with high frequencies being processed at the outer end and low frequencies being processed at the inner end. In the auditory pathway in the ear, this anatomical sorting by frequency is retained in different regions of the brain. Consequently, the system of the hair cells is set up in the cochlea in such a way that every audible frequency has its specific place of maximum sensitivity. As a result, a certain frequency is associated with each place on the so-called basilar membrane. A "frequency-place mapping" thus takes place in the cochlea that is also referred to as tonotopy. This functionality of the cochlea is exploited in cochlear implants; to wit, using the electrodes that are spatially distributed in the cochlea, electrical impulses that represent a defined audio frequency can be generated in a targeted manner. One drawback here is that such auditory prostheses must be invasively integrated into the cochlea as an implant. This is complex and represents a burden for the patient. Corrections cannot be readily made. Apart from that, due to the conductivity of the tissue surrounding the implant, several nerves are unintentionally stimulated by the electrical impulses that are responsible for hearing different frequencies. This results in a pronounced reduction in the selectivity of the hearing that is to be produced within the cochlea.
Alternatively, modified cochlear implants have therefore already been proposed that are based on the principle of light stimulation and optogenetic activation. In that case, an array of laser diodes is implanted into the cochlea instead of the electrodes. The desired place (on the auditory nerve) can be stimulated in a very targeted manner with the aid of the laser beams. The selectivity of hearing is thereby increased substantially compared to conventional cochlear implants. However, in order to enable the nerve cells of the cochlea to be activated by light, the nerve cells must first be artificially sensitized to light. All of these measures are very elaborate and also only possible by invasive means.
Where such cochlear implants cannot be used due to the severity of the damage to the auditory system, auditory brainstem implants (ABI) can be optionally used. The principle corresponds to that of the cochlear implants, but it is not regions within the cochlea that are stimulated using electrodes, but a step further in the auditory pathway at the cochlear nucleus. Such systems can be used when the cochlea or even the auditory nerve are damaged or even have to be removed, for example as a result of disease. However, the use of auditory brainstem implants is possible only through highly specialized measures. In principle, the need therefore exists among patients in whom classic cochlear implants do not work for approaches that involve other locations of the auditory pathway. Consideration has also been given to performing electrical stimulation on the cochlear nucleus in the brainstem or at the inferior colliculus. Elaborate invasive measures would still be necessary.
A great need therefore exists for a hearing prosthesis that can be used in an extremely wide variety of types of hearing loss or hearing impairment(s) without operative measures and thus noninvasively.

Hearing prosthesis emitting ultrasonic pulses


A projection device for ambient decoration may include a first light-emitting assembly comprising at least one first incoherent light source, a reflective medium, and a first driving device. The first light-emitting assembly may further include a mount recessed internally to define a placing groove adapted to the reflective medium, a first through-hole and a placing recess on one side of the first through-hole arranged at a bottom of the placing groove, a fixing column arranged in a center of the placing recess, and a second through-hole arranged at a bottom of the reflective medium. The first driving device may be coupled to the reflective medium, the fixing column may pass through the second through-hole into the reflective medium, and the at least one first incoherent light source may be connected to the fixing column.

Ambient lights, used in indoor places such as bedrooms, etc., create a starry sky and other environmental projection shape by direct projection of lamps, so as to create the corresponding atmosphere. Existing ambient projection lights, which are basically cloud-like or water ripple star lights, correspond to a single lighting effect and is easy for people to produce visual fatigue.
At the same time, the existing ambient lights use drive components to drive the movement of the light source, which produces a single light effect, and the corresponding light source circuit board is not easy to fix, easy to shake in use, leading to internal wear and tear and reducing the service life.

Projection device for ambient decoration having a driving device connected to a gear of a reflective medium


A motor controller comprising, a detector configured to perform a difference processing for information relating to a counter electromotive force and an induced electromotive force generated by a stepping motor, and to generate a driving control signal based on a result of the difference processing, and a driver configured to drive the stepping motor based on the driving control signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an indicating instrument, and more particularly to a motor controller for controlling a stepping motor used in the indicating instrument, a semiconductor integrated circuit used in the motor controller and a method for controlling the stepping motor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Since a stepping motor operates with high precision and is inexpensive, the stepping motor is widely used in an indicating instrument such as a speedometer for displaying the speed of an automobile and a tachometer for displaying the number of revolutions of an engine. In the indicating instrument such as the speedometer and the tachometer, a pointer of the indicating instrument may be incapable of a precise indication due to vibrations of a vehicle, step-out of the stepping motor and the like. Therefore, for example, in the speedometer, a zero position bar for positioning the pointer to indicate zero (hereinafter simply referred to as "a zero position"), that is, for fixing the pointer at a position indicating that the speed per hour is 0 Km/h. By measuring voltage values of induced electromotive forces generated by the stepping motor, both when the pointer of the stepping motor makes contact with the zero position bar and when the pointer does not make contact with the zero position bar, a technique for detecting the zero position is known.
The induced electromotive forces are measured at a drive angle at which the stepping motor does not need to be driven. Moreover, one end of an inductor in the stepping motor is configured to go to a high-impedance state during the driving of the stepping motor, and the voltage value derived from the induced electromotive force is measured after generation of a counter electromotive force. Accordingly, it is impossible to detect the zero position while a drive angle requiring the driving of the stepping motor and the counter electromotive force is generated. As described above, because conditions in which the zero position can be detected are limited, it has been difficult to detect the zero position with high precision.

Motor controller, semiconductor integrated circuit, indicating instrument and method for controlling a motor


At startup when reproduction from a recording medium such as an optical disc is started, search time for searching for management information to manage recording states of user data is shortened to reduce startup waiting time. The present invention provides a recording/reproducing method for performing recording/reproducing onto/from a recording medium having a first recording area to record user data, a second recording area to record management information to manage a recording state of the user data, and a third recording area to record non-user data other than the management information, wherein recording position information of the newest management information within the second recording area is recorded at a predetermined position in the third recording area.

The present invention relates to a recording/reproducing method and a disc recording/reproducing apparatus for recording/reproducing data onto/from a recording medium capable of recording digital data.
Optical discs having large capacity such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc: registered trademark) and the like have been widely prevailing among recent disc recording/reproducing apparatuses.
Optical disc media (recording media) such as a DVD and the like as described above include various types, e.g., ROM (Read Only Memory) type media which are sold with contents prerecorded thereon, RW (Rewritable) type media on which data can be overwritten many times, and R (Recordable) type media into which data can be written only once.
These media each have a so-called management area existing in a preserved area on the disc, to facilitate search for data recorded internally. Recording management information to manage recording states of user data is recorded in the management area.
When a disc is inserted, an optical disc recording/reproducing apparatus first reads data (recording management information) written in the management area. The management area is thus used to read how much user data are recorded at what position on the disc, and to perform reproduction and additional writing at high speed. If there is no management area of this kind (e.g., sequential media such as tapes), no measure is provided to know where user data is written. Therefore, data have to be reproduced from the beginning of data to search for some data.
In RW type media, the management area is updated by overwriting data (management information) every time internal data are updated. However, if a recorded portion thereof does not allow writing due to a damage on the disc or due to excessive overwriting beyond an allowable number of times of overwriting (this is called a defect), recording is tried by changing the recording position.
On the other side, in R type media, overwriting is impossible due to the nature of media. Therefore, a larger management area is preserved. Every time management information is updated from the head of the area, new management information is written additionally.
In case of reproducing data recorded on media of these kinds, data fed from an optical pickup are subjected to waveform shaping by an equalization circuit and there after to error correction. Then, the data are stored into a buffer memory, and are sent to a host computer or video player through an external I/F.
In each of media like optical discs, the whole medium is divided into sectors each having a predetermined data quantity. Every one of the sectors is assigned at a physical address. By using these addresses, the disc area is divided into a user data recording area and the other area in accordance with purposes of use. A recording area for the aforementioned management information exists in the other area than the user data.
If the management information is broken by some factor to become unreadable, user data itself cannot be read. However, up to what position user data have been recorded can be determined by providing a circuit which detects presence or absence of an RF signal recorded on the disc face and by reproducing data from the head address of user data.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-228853 discloses an optical disc apparatus and a control method thereof. This apparatus records data on a DVD-R as a typical example of a writable optical disc on which data can be written only once, i.e., a so-called write-once optical disc.


A device has a moving display that alternatively hides two keyboards. As the display is moved to expose one keyboard, the device may take on different functionality than when the other keyboard is exposed. The sliding mechanism has a back plate with two guides, onto which are mounted the two keyboards. A sliding plate engages has at least two legs that engage the guides. Electrical signals are passed from components attached to the sliding plate to components attached to the back plate through signals routed along one of the sliding plate legs. A loop of cable is able to roll beneath the keyboard when the sliding plate is moved from one position to another. A spring may also be used between the sliding plate and back plate to hold the sliding plate at either extreme of its travel.

Handheld devices, such as cellular telephones, personal digital assistants, media players, and other devices are becoming increasingly integrated and multi-functioned. The ubiquitous cellular telephone can have integrated calendar, email, and audio or video playback features.
Many such devices have movable parts, such as a hinge or slide. Moving components have many constraints placed on them, including high life cycle requirements and durability requirements, all the while maintaining electrical and mechanical connections.

Sliding mechanism for device with two keyboards


A luggage bin assembly (10) adapted to be disposed within a vehicle is provided. The luggage bin assembly includes a bin (14) reciprocally mounted for movement between an opened position and a closed position. The luggage bin assembly also includes a linkage assembly (16) adapted to be hingedly mounted to the bin for swinging movement with the bin as the bin is reciprocated between the open and closed positions. A reciprocating assist mechanism (20) is coupled to the linkage mechanism to selectively apply an assist load to the linkage assembly when the bin is reciprocated between the opened and closed position.

Pull-down bucket stowage bins are commonly used to stow luggage in vehicles having a passenger compartment, such as buses and commercial aircraft. Typically, such stowage bins are reciprocally mounted to or near the ceiling of the passenger compartment, such that they are located above rows of passenger seats within the vehicle. As mounted, the bins may be reciprocated between an open position, where items may be placed within the bin, and a closed positioned to stow items located within the bin. Although overhead stowage bins are effective at stowing items, such as luggage, they are not without their problems.
As an example, a loaded overhead luggage bin of an aircraft may be difficult to push upward into the stowed position due to the weight of the luggage within the bin. This is especially true as it is becoming more common for passengers to carry on heavier luggage. Further, regardless of the weight within the bin, it is desirable to provide such bins with a mechanism that assists in raising the overhead bin into the stowed position.
Therefore, there exists a need for a mechanical actuator for an overhead stowage bin, in which the actuator assists in reciprocating a heavily loaded overhead bin into the closed position, thereby reducing the load required by a passenger to raise the overhead bin into the closed position. Also, this mechanical load-assist actuator must not be activated when the bin is operated in an empty or lightly loaded condition.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Load assist mechanism for an overhead bin


An electro-optic media includes either a plurality of microcapsules in a binder, a polymeric sheet containing sealed microcells, or droplets in a continuous polymeric phase. Each of the microcapsules, microcells, or droplets contain a dispersion that includes a plurality of charged composite particles and a suspending fluid, and the charged particles move through the suspending fluid under the influence of an electric field. The composite particles include one or more types of pigment particles that are at least partially coated with a polymeric material. Each of the binder, polymeric sheet, continuous polymeric phase, the charged composite particles, and the suspending fluid have an index of refraction, and a difference between the index of refraction of the composite particles and at least one of the binder, polymeric sheet, continuous polymeric phase, and solvent is less than or equal to 0.05 at 550 nm.

This invention relates to variable transmission devices. More specifically, this invention relates to variable transmission devices containing electrophoretic media comprising composite particles that may improve the optical performance of the variable transmission device.
Light modulators represent a potentially important market for electro-optic media. As the energy performance of buildings and vehicles becomes increasingly important, electro-optic media can be used as coatings on windows (including skylights and sunroofs) to enable the proportion of incident radiation transmitted through the windows to be electronically controlled by varying the optical state of the electro-optic media. Effective implementation of such "variable-transmissivity" ("VT") technology in buildings is expected to provide (1) reduction of unwanted heating effects during hot weather, thus reducing the amount of energy needed for cooling, the size of air conditioning plants, and peak electricity demand; (2) increased use of natural daylight, thus reducing energy used for lighting and peak electricity demand; and (3) increased occupant comfort by increasing both thermal and visual comfort. Even greater benefits would be expected to accrue in an automobile, where the ratio of glazed surface to enclosed volume is significantly larger than in a typical building. Specifically, effective implementation of VT technology in automobiles is expected to provide not only the aforementioned benefits but also (1) increased motoring safety, (2) reduced glare, (3) enhanced mirror performance (by using an electro-optic coating on the mirror), and (4) increased ability to use heads-up displays. Other potential applications of VT technology include privacy glass and glare-guards in electronic devices.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,327,511 describes variable transmission devices including charged pigment particles that are distributed in a non-polar solvent and encapsulated. These variable transmission devices can be driven to an open state with an AC driving voltage whereby the charged pigment particles are driven to the capsule walls. Accordingly, such variable transmission devices are useful for viewing surfaces where it is desirable to alter the transmissivity at will, such as privacy glass, sunroofs, and windows on buildings.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,327,511 also describes various factors which are important in adapting electrophoretic media for optimum performance in light modulators. One important factor is minimization of haze. In this application, "haze" refers to the percentage of diffuse transmitted light (light that is scattered as it is transmitted), compared to total transmitted light. When designing light modulators that can be electrically switched from an open, clear state to a closed opaque state, it is desirable that the open state have a haze of less than 10 percent, more preferably less than 2 percent.
The pigments used in VT devices, such as carbon black for example, attenuates the transmitted light by a combination of scattering and absorption. In general, the smallest grades of carbon black particles provide the most effective attenuation of light. The nature of the light scattering is also affected by the size of the aggregates of these particles. As the aggregates increase in size, more and more of the light is scattered in the forward direction. This scattered light results in the appearance of haze in the window. The smallest particles tend to have the smallest aggregates, leading to the smallest amount of haze. Since the reduction of haze is preferred in VT applications, it may be desired to use the smallest particle (or aggregate) size possible. However, the electrophoretic manipulation of particles improves as their size increases, with the smallest, most effective light blockers, being very difficult to control. Since switching speed and ultimate dynamic range of the VT windows are also important parameters, larger particles may be desired; therefore, the ability to reduce haze based on particle size may be limited by the requirement of minimum particle sizes needed to control the speed of optical switching in a VT device.
Encapsulated particle-based variable transmission devices may be bistable. The terms "bistable" and "bistability" are used herein in their conventional meaning in the art to refer to displays comprising display elements having first and second display states differing in at least one optical property, and such that after any given element has been driven, by means of an addressing pulse of finite duration, to assume either its first or second display state, after the addressing pulse has terminated, that state will persist for at least several times, for example at least four times, the minimum duration of the addressing pulse required to change the state of the display element. Bistability may be enhanced by adding a flocculating agent (or also called depletor) that induces an osmotic pressure difference between pigment-pigment and pigment-depletor molecules. As a result, an internal phase inside a microcapsule separates into pigment rich phases and a depletor rich phase. However, the large pigment aggregates in the pigment rich phase may cause scattering and haze when the capsules are in an open state.
Thus, there is a need for improved bistable electro-optic media that may be incorporated in variable transmission devices with acceptable switching rates and low haze.

Composite electrophoretic particles and variable transmission films containing the same


A fluid sealed type vibration insulating device which is interposed between a vibrating object and a structural member and generates controlled vibrations for reducing vibrations of the structural member caused by the vibrating object. The vibration insulating device includes a controller which judges whether the device goes abnormal according to signals from sensors and executes a counter process for meeting with the generated abnormality.

The present invention relates to improvements in a device for supporting a vibration generating source such as an engine of a vehicle while insulating its vibrations, and more particularly to a vibration insulating device provided with a function for executing an adaptive maneuver when trouble is generated in the device.
Various vibration insulating devices have been proposed and are in practical use. Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 3-24338 discloses a fluid sealed type vibration insulating device which is provided with a fluid chamber defined by a supporting elastomer and a moveable plate. The fluid chamber is filled with fluid and is changed in volume by displacing the movable plate through an electromagnetic actuator so as to generate a control force for canceling force transmitted to the vibration insulating device.
However, such conventional vibration insulating devices have not been arranged to detect abnormality in their systems such as a degradation operation and to compensate for the generated abnormality. Therefore, in order to sufficiently ensure the reliability of the system, the conventional vibration insulating devices have had to be formed by highly durable parts although such parts are expensive.


Midspan access to selected optical fibers which are encapsulated in an optical ribbon or tube is achieved by placing the desired span of the encapsulated fibers to be accessed between opposing abrasive layers and controllably urging at least one of the abrasive layers in the direction of the opposing abrasive layer to cause both abrasive layers to contact the encapsulant which covers the fibers. The amount of force applied to the at least one abrasive layer is limited by the structure of a resilient element which is coupled to the abrasive surface. Stress concentrators are created in the encapsulant and the encapsulant is removed from the span portion by relative movement of the encapsulated fibers and the abrasive layers. A minimum separation distance between the opposing abrasive layers can be defined, according to the thickness of the specific encapsulated fiber medium undergoing fiber separation, to avoid contact between the abrasive surfaces and the fibers within the medium. Access to the individual fibers is provided after the stress concentrators are formed in the encapsulant or encapsulant in the desired span portion has been substantially removed.

Optical fiber is now used in a variety of telecommunication applications because of its small physical size and high bandwidth capacity. Typically, multiple fibers are contained in an optical fiber ribbon or loosely enclosed in a buffer tube, and an optical fiber cable is manufactured to include several buffer tubes or ribbons. A plastic encapsulant surrounds the fibers within a ribbon or tube to protect and insulate the fibers from stress and bending.
Optical fiber cables with enclosed ribbons or tubes are conventionally manufactured and marketed in the form of reels. Oftentimes, during or after initial installation of an optical fiber cable, access to the individual fibers along the length of the fiber cable, commonly referred to as midspan access or entry, is required.
Current midspan access techniques, however, do not provide a means for easy and quick access to fibers with low risk of damage to fibers or fiber coatings. For example, cutting of the encapsulant with a knife blade or pin does not provide for easy control of the depth and position of a cut and often results in undesired cutting of an optical fiber or damage to the coatings on the fibers, which degrades the longevity or reliability of the fibers. In addition, initiating a peel of the encapsulant in the middle of a ribbon is difficult because the encapsulant is often a thin covering over the fibers and has a surface which is smooth and flat and sometimes coated with a water blocking gel.
Other midspan access techniques such as immersing a ribbon or tube in chemicals or heating for reducing the strength of the bond between the fibers and the encapsulant are extremely time consuming and can harm coatings and partially or completely alter or remove ink coloring identification on the fibers. In particular, the use of chemicals often requires post-cleanup of the fibers after access is obtained.
Beasley, William E., "Meeting the Demands of the Local Loop with Improved Ribbon Fiber Midspan Access", 1994 NFOEC Conference, pp. 401-409, incorporated by reference herein, describes a midspan access technique which requires that, after the outer covering of a cable is removed, two friction pads are placed on either side of a ribbon and forcibly moved against each other to focus the force applied to the pads on a particular span of the ribbon and weaken the bond of the encapsulant to the ribbon in that area. The removal of encapsulant by use of friction pads, however, often results in contact between the friction pads and the fibers which become exposed, thereby risking damage to the fibers or coatings on the fibers.
Therefore, there exists a need for a method and apparatus for accessing encapsulated optical fibers in midspan of an Optical fiber cable which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art techniques described above.

Apparatus and method for midspan access of encapsulated optical fibers


A method of planarization of a surface of a heteroepitaxial layer by chemical-mechanical polishing the disturbed surface of the heteroepitaxial layer with a polishing pad having a compressibility greater than 2% and less than 15% and a slurry comprising at least 20% of silica particles having an average diameter between about 70 and about 100 nm. This method allows to reach high polishing rates appropriated for eliminating surface defects on heteroepitaxial layers, such as crosshatch patterns, and to achieve, in the same time, a final polish that is desirable to facilitate further operations.

A typical example of a heterogeneous structure is the Si(1-x)Ge(x) structure which includes a relaxed Si(1-x)Ge(x) buffer layer that is epitaxially grown on a Si substrate. Such a heterogeneous structure is described in the paper entitled "Planarization of SiGe virtual substrate by CMP and its application to strained Si modulation-doped structures", by K. Sawano et al, published in Journal of Crystal Growth, V251, pp 693-696 (2003). As shown in FIG. 1 herein, such a hetero-structure 100 comprises a strained relaxed Si(1-x)Ge(x) buffer layer 105, which consists of a compositionally step-graded Si(1-x)Ge(x) (x=0−0.3) layer 102 (300 nm) and uniform Si(0.7)Ge(0.3) layer 103 (1 μm), that is grown on a p-type Si substrate 101.
As a result of the lattice constant mismatch between the substrate and subsequent layers, a relaxation crosshatch pattern 104 is created at the top surface. FIG. 2 shows an image of the surface morphology of a strain-relaxed SiGe buffer layer performed by an atomic force microscope (AFM). The crosshatch exhibits an initial roughness of 3.2 nm, with a peak-valley of 21.2 nm, for a scan area of 40*40 μm. Thus, surface variations associated with this crosshatch pattern must be minimized by appropriate polishing prior to further epitaxy, such as, for example, before growing the Si(0.7)Ge(0.3) buffer layer (100 nm), Si channel layer (15 nm) and Si(0.7)Ge(0.3) spacer layer (20 nm).
After this donor wafer is fabricated, a transfer process is performed in order to detach and transfer a part of the upper layer(s) from this "engineered" substrate to a handle substrate. An example of such a transfer process is the SMART-CUT® technology which is described notably in the article by A. J. Auberton-Hervé et al entitled "Why can Smart Cut change the future of microelectronics?", Int. Journal of High Speed Electronics and Systems, Vol. 10, no. 1, 2000, pp 131-146. This approach implements an ion implantation step to create a weakened or cleavage zone in the donor wafer, and bonding the implanted face of that wafer to a handle substrate, followed by mechanical detachment or cleaving of a useful layer from the donor wafer. The mechanical detachment results in a damaged zone on the final top surface which must be polished in order to obtain the required smoothness for the useful layer.
During the recycling of silicon or Si(1-x)Ge(x) donor substrates after conducting such a transfer process, polishing processes are implemented to decrease the surface roughness and eliminate the damaged zone of the donor wafer that is to be recycled. In this case, the polishing is performed in one or several steps (including a planarization step followed by a finishing step).
These situations are all characterized by a disturbed zone (crosshatch pattern in the first case, or of after-detachment residues in the other cases), of a given thickness, existing on a substrate, which has to be eliminated or smoothened. Techniques for eliminating crosshatch patterns and reducing the surface roughness of Si(1-x)Ge(x) substrates have been previously reported by K. Sawano et al. in Journal of Crystal Growth, as mentioned above, and in Material and Science Engineering, in a paper entitled "Surface smoothing of SiGe strain-relaxed buffer layers by chemical mechanical polishing" (B89, pp 406-409, 2002). A roughness of root mean square (RMS) values less than 1 nm (around 0.4 nm over 10*10 μm2 surfaces) after polishing the Si(1-x)Ge(x) substrate is reported. However, the polishing rates achieved for this kind of process are relatively slow, namely, a maximum polishing rate of only 13 Å/sec is obtained.
Moreover, the finishing process of a silicon layer of a Si-on-insulator (SOI) material by chemical-mechanical polishing, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,988,936, as well as that for the recycling of a silicon peeled wafer such as disclosed in the Japanese patent publication JP-A-11 297583, are not appropriate to materials such as SiGe material because the polishing rate is too slow. In particular, the Si(1-x)Ge(x) polishing rate is lower by a factor of 5 versus that for polishing Si. Accordingly, improved polishing processes for such materials is needed, and these are now provided by the present invention.

Planarization of a heteroepitaxial layer

S.O.I.Tec Silicon on Insulator Technologies


Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. In some wireless communications systems, a user equipment (UE) may be configured to transmit hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback for a set of codewords received from a base station in a single uplink channel. In some cases, it may be appropriate for the UE to transmit individual HARQ feedback for each codeword of the set of codewords (e.g., such that the UE may be able to transmit HARQ feedback for unscheduled transmissions to provide side information to the base station), and, in other cases, it may be appropriate for the UE to transmit bundled HARQ feedback for the set of codewords. Using the techniques described herein, the base station may configure the UE to provide individual HARQ feedback or bundled HARQ feedback for a set of codewords based on one or more factors.

The following relates generally to wireless communication and more specifically to hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback in a physical uplink channel.
Wireless communications systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing the available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of such multiple-access systems include fourth generation (4G) systems such as Long-Term Evolution (LTE) systems, LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) systems, or LTE-A Pro systems, and fifth generation (5G) systems which may be referred to as New Radio (NR) systems. These systems may employ technologies such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), or discrete Fourier transform-spread-OFDM (DFT-S-OFDM). A wireless multiple-access communications system may include a number of base stations or network access nodes, each simultaneously supporting communication for multiple communication devices, which may be otherwise known as user equipment (UE).
Some wireless communications systems may support error correction schemes to improve the likelihood that codewords transmitted by a transmitting device are correctly received by a receiving device. HARQ is one example of an error correction scheme that increases the likelihood that information is received correctly over a wireless communications link. In HARQ, when a receiving device successfully decodes or fails to decode data received from a transmitting device, the receiving device may transmit HARQ feedback to the transmitting device to indicate whether the data was successfully decoded. The transmitting device may receive the HARQ feedback and determine whether to retransmit the data to the receiving device based on the HARQ feedback. In some cases, a transmitting device (e.g., a base station) may be scheduled to transmit one or more codewords to a receiving device (e.g., a UE) in a short period of time (e.g., in one or more shortened transmission time intervals (sTTIs)), and the receiving device may be configured to transmit HARQ feedback to the transmitting device after the scheduled transmissions. Conventional techniques for providing HARQ feedback for codewords received in a short period of time (e.g., in one or more sTTIs) may be deficient.

Hybrid automatic repeat request feedback in a physical uplink channel


A method and a system for subscription management in a security element for a mobile end device, wherein one subscription profile is associated with one subscription. For a subscription profile, an access to functionalities of the security element is subscription-profile-specifically restricted.

The present invention relates to a method for subscription management. More precisely, the invention relates to a method for managing subscriptions in a security element for a mobile end device.
Respectively one subscription profile is therefore associated with one subscription. Such a subscription profile is then stored in the security element as a data set or application. The subscription profile defines conditions, i.e. e.g. type, extent and costs, of a utilization by means of the security element of a mobile communication network associated with the subscription and of the mobile end device into which the security element is integrated.
Different subscriptions request in different ways functionalities of the security element, in which the subscription profile associated with the subscription is stored. A "simple" subscription, which for example allows merely a data transfer according to a pre-specified maximum volume via the mobile communication network associated with the subscription, requires very few functionalities of the security element. An "extensive" subscription, however, which for example allows a user to utilize practically all services supplied on the part of the mobile communication network (e.g. mobile communication, SMS, Internet) to the full extent, requires also numerous complex functionalities supplied on the part of the security element, for example cryptographic functionalities or access to a module for the contactless data communication (e.g. via NFC).
Because a subscription profile or applications executable within such a subscription profile in the security element can in principle utilize all functionalities of the security element supplied within the scope of an initialization of the security element, an access of a subscription to a functionality not required for the subscription can be restricted (e.g. for security reasons) only by coordinating an initialization of the security element to a subscription to be loaded onto the security element. On the one hand this is elaborate because respectively different initializations of a security element must be generated for different subscriptions. On the other hand this is then problematic if hereafter a further subscription is to be loaded onto the security element which differs from the already loaded subscription with regard to the access to functionalities of the security element necessary for operating the subscription.

Subscription management comprising subscription-specific profiles for restricting the functionalities of the security element


Examples of the present invention include metamaterial lenses that allow enhanced resolution imaging, for example in MRI apparatus. An example metamaterial may be configured to have μ=−1 along three orthogonal axes. Superior performance was demonstrated using such improved designs, and in some examples, imaging resolution better than λ/500 was obtained. The use of one or more lumped reactive elements in a unit cell, such as one or more lumped capacitors and/or one or more lumped inductors, allowed unit cell dimensions and hence resolution to be dramatically enhanced. In some examples, a cubic unit cell was used with an essentially isotropic magnetic permeability of μ=−1 obtained at an operating electromagnetic frequency and wavelength (λ).

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) resolution can be increased by increasing the magnetic field strength, but these higher magnetic field systems are costlier, bulkier, and require additional infrastructure. Hence, it would be desirable to increase resolution without increasing the magnetic field strength. Improved methods and devices for conditioning magnetic field distributions, including imaged fields, would be useful for a variety of applications.

Isotropic metamaterial lens for magnetic imaging applications


A golf club having a head defining a recess which receives an insert. In a preferred embodiment, the insert includes a conical head and a projection extending rearwardl from the cap to the rear of the club to reinforce the face of the club and transmits impact forces to the rear of the club.

Golf clubs are generally grouped by type into woods, irons and putters. Putters are used primarily for striking the ball on the green. Irons generally provide varying loft from wedges to a one iron and are normally used for playing the ball from short distances with a higher degree of loft to intermediate distances up to about 200 yards. Wood style golf clubs are generally used for longer distance driving of the golf ball and may be fabricated of wood or metal such as stainless steel, aluminum or various alloys. Clubs of this latter type are generally termed or referred to by golfers as "woods" notwithstanding the particular material from which they are fabricated.
When using woods, as indicated above, the object is to drive the golf ball long distances along a desired flight path, usually straight, although in some cases a slight fade or hook is desired. To achieve optimum distance, it is important to strike the ball squarely on the hitting area or "sweet spot" of the club with the greatest possible club head speed which the golfer can achieve. Achieving the proper golf club speed is a matter of technique which must be learned often by arduous practice. Providing a solid impact area can be improved by the club design and materials. As indicated above, many current golf club designs rely on the use of improved materials for club heads and shafts such as metal alloys to improve the ball impact velocity to achieve a longer ball flight path. It is known, for example, to vary the weight distribution to improve the impact. Typical of such to designs are the well-known cavity and perimeter weighted club designs. It is also known to place metal plates in the face of wooden head clubs in the striking area to improve impact.
While these approaches have, to some degree, improved the golf club design and improved the ability of the user to strike the ball squarely, there nevertheless exists the need for improved golf clubs, particularly the wood type.
It is known that concentrating the mass in a wood style golf club at or behind the point of impact tends to increase the horizontal spin on the ball, thus tending to cause hooks and slices. This is believed to be caused by the club striking the ball somewhat off center. When an offset impact occurs and mass is concentrated behind the "sweet spot", a force is exerted which tends to rotate the club shaft about its axis so that the face is not perpendicular to the desired flight path. This imparts a slice or hook to the ball depending on the direction of spin. When the club head mass is concentrated in the extremity of the golf club rather than behind the "sweet spot", the moment of inertia is increased and there is more resistance to the club head rotation upon impact of the ball.
Another approach is to utilize various metal alloys in order to achieve light weight. Many of these clubs are hollow. If metallic clubs are solid, they often become too heavy for practical use. However, hollow club heads tend to provide a tinny sound upon impact which does not appeal to some golfers. Furthermore, if the face of a hollow club is too thin, it may deform upon impact affecting the golf shot.
Various patents relating to golf club heads having various structures within the golf club head can be found in the prior art including the following: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,589,731; 4,655,458; 5,046,740; 4,461,481; 2,592,013; and 5,452,897. U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,948 discloses a golf club head with a metal sleeve filled with polyurethane.


A steering column apparatus includes: a stationary column member; a movable column member whose one end is supported on the stationary column member nonrotatably about a center axis and movably along the center axis; a column head disposed on the other end of the movable column member; a wheel shaft supported rotatably on the column head; a column clamp for clamping and unclamping the movable column member with respect to the stationary column member at two or more points which are spaced along the center axis of the movable column member; and a control lever whose operation lever end is positioned in the vicinity of a steering wheel and which is capable of operating the column clamp.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a steering column apparatus for a vehicle, and more particularly to a steering column apparatus for a vehicle having a telescopic mechanism.
2. Background Art
A telescopic mechanism for a steering column is a mechanism for adjusting the position of a steering wheel in the fore-and-aft direction to an easiest-driving position so as to adapt to the physical constitution and a preference of a driver.
The telescopic mechanism includes a clamping/unclamping mechanism operated when the driver adjusts the position of a steering wheel in the fore-and-aft direction (i.e., along the axis of the steering column). During the adjustment, the clamping/unclamping mechanism is temporarily unclamped, its position is adjusted in the fore-and-aft direction under the unclamped state, and the mechanism is subsequently returned to the clamped state.
Such a clamping/unclamping mechanism is disclosed in GB-2281375A, in which a steering column provided with a single control lever which can be operated without the driver releasing a hand from the steering wheel.
In the steering column of the cited British publication, a clamping/unclamping section of the telescopic mechanism has employed a method where a single clamping member is pressed onto a telescopic pipe so as to effect clamping. Therefore, even when a column head—which is heavy because it includes a steering wheel or an inflator for an air bag—is clamped by means of a single clamping member, the column head can be easily moved while the clamping point is used as a pivot. Further, even when the clamping force is increased, looseness is inevitably generated when the clamping section is subjected to vibrations or the like, because the clamping section has insufficient rigidity.


The present invention provides compositions and methods for selective inhibition of the classical or non-classical LTβR-NFκB signaling pathway. In some embodiments, the compositions and methods of the present invention are useful for treating or preventing tissue graft rejection, inflammation, contact hypersensitivity, and cancer by decreasing cell motility.

Recirculating CD4 T cells enter lymph nodes (LNs) from tissues via afferent lymphatics or from blood to LNs across high endothelial venules (HEV). Migration is dependent on cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) such as integrins, mucins, and selectins on T cells and endothelial cells. CAMs are either expressed constitutively or induced by cytokines during inflammation. Integrins bind to immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily CAMs, such as VCAM-1, ICAMs, and MadCAM-1. Transendothelial migration (TEM) of the leukocytes from blood to LNs or non-lymphoid tissues generally requires initial coupling of integrins-CAMs, leading the migrating cells to dock and crawl on vascular endothelium, and subsequently to be activated by the CCR7/CCL21-mediated chemotaxis to promote TEM (Butcher, E. C. et al., 1996, Science, 272:60-66). However, the regulation of T cell migration from tissues to LNs via afferent lymphatics is far less well defined. Recent studies suggest that afferent lymphatic T cell migration is distinct from dendritic cell, neutrophil, or monocyte migration, and is governed by integrin-independent mechanisms, such as S1P/S1PR1-mediated homeostatic T cell trafficking (Bromley, S. K. et al., 2005, Nat Immunol, 6:895-901) and LTα1β2/LTβR-mediated regulatory T cells (Treg) entry into lymph (Brinkman, C. C. et al., 2016, Nat Commun, 7:12021).
The migration of Treg from grafts to LN via afferent lymphatics is critical for graft survival, and cannot be supplanted by Treg migration from blood through HEV into the same LN (Zhang, N. et al., 2009, Immunity, 30:458-469). Treg specifically employ several molecular mechanisms, distinct from non-Treg CD4+T cells, to migrate through afferent lymphatics (Brinkman, C. C. et al., 2016, Nat Commun, 7:12021; Xiong, Y. et al., 2016, J Immunol, 196:2526-2540). A unique mechanism employed by Treg is the high-level expression of cell surface lymphotoxin (LT), which is required for migration from the allograft to afferent lymphatics and then to the draining LN (Brinkman, C. C. et al., 2016. Nat Commun, 7:12021). This LT-dependent mechanism is not required to enter LN via the HEV, nor for egress from the LN to efferent lymphatics. Treg cell surface LT binds to and activates the LTβ receptor (LTβR) expressed on lymphatic endothelial cells (LEC), causing changes in LEC morphology that accompany Treg migration.
LT is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily that has a major role in lymphoid organogenesis (Rennert, P. D. et al., 1996, J Exp Med, 184:1999-2006; De Togni, P., et al. 1994, Science, 264:703-707). LT has two subunits (LTα and LTβ) and is found in two distinct forms: soluble homotrimer of LTα (LTα3) that binds TNF receptors, and membrane-bound heterotrimer (LTα1β) that signals via LTβ receptor (LTβR) (FIG. 1E). Unlike TNF receptors (TNFR) that activate exclusively the classical arm of NFκB, activated LTβR induces both classical (NFκB1) and non-classical (NFκB2) NFκB pathways (Beinke, S. et al., 2004, Biochem J, 382:393-409). NFκB1 activation is rapid and transient, involves the Inhibitor of kappa-B kinase (IKK)-complex mediated phosphorylation and degradation of the inhibitor IxBa, to allow p50-mediated gene transcription. In contrast, activation of NFκB2 is gradual and involves NFκB inducing kinase (NIK)-dependent processing of NFκB2/p100 into its transcription-regulatory fragment p52. Classical IKKβ-NFκB-dependent genes include inflammatory chemokines (CCL4 and CCL2) and adhesion molecules (VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and ELAM-1). In contrast, alternative IKKα-NF-κB-dependent genes include homeostatic chemokines involved in lymphoid organogenesis (CCL21, CCL19, and CXCL12) (Dejardin, E. et al., 2002, Immunity, 17:525-535; Madge, L. A. et al., 2008, J Immunol, 180:3467-3477). The Treg LTαβ-LEC LTβR interaction favors the non-classical over the classical signaling pathway (Brinkman, C. C. et al., 2016, Nat Commun, 7:12021; Basak, S. et al. 2007, Cell, 128:369-381). However, the precise nature of LTβR signaling in LEC and the consequences for LEC structure and function that regulate Treg migration remain to be fully defined and quantitated.
In resting cells, TNFR-associated factor (TRAF) 2-cellular inhibitors of apoptosis (cIAP) 1/2 and TRAF3-NIK form a persistent homeostatic complex. Newly synthesized NIK is rapidly bound by TRAF3 and targeted to TRAF-cIAP degradation to maintain an extremely low level of NIK, thereby preventing induction of p100 processing. For LTβR-mediated p100 processing, TRAF2 bridges cIAP1/2, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, to degrade TRAF3. TRAF2 and TRAF3 thus function as mediators and inhibitors of LTβR signaling, respectively (Hostager, B. S. et al., 1999, J Immunol, 162:6307-6311; Xu, L. G. et al., 2002, J Immunol, 169:6883-6889; Bista, P. et al., 2010, J Biol Chem, 285:12971-12978), and TRAF3 deficient cells exhibit constitutive NFκB2 activation. In the absence of TRAF3, de novo synthesized NIK is accumulated and activated via trans-phosphorylation. NIK then activates IKKα, leading to p100 processing and nuclear translocation of RelB/p52.
LTβRIg, a soluble decoy fusion protein comprised of the ectodomain of LTβR fused to Fc of immunoglobulin G, blocks LT/LIGHT binding to LTβR and has shown efficacy in preclinical disease models as an anti-inflammatory treatment (Mackay, F. et al., 1998, Gastroenterology, 115:1464-1475). However, these results have not been consistent across disease models (Fava, R. A. et al., 2003, J Immunol, 171:115-126; Chiang, E. Y. et al. 2009, Nat Med, 15:766-773). As LTβRIg blocks signaling induced by both LTα1β2 and LIGHT, thus blocks both the classical and alternative NFκB pathways, it is difficult to determine which ligands and signaling pathways are important in the aforementioned models. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that treatment with LTβRIg failed to improve cardiac allograft survival (Nakayama, Y. et al., 2012, Am J Transplant, 12:2322-2334), yet LT expression by Treg was required to prolong islet allograft survival (Brinkman, C. et al., 2016, Nature Commun., 7:12021). Thus, specific targeting of either arm of LTβR signaling may reveal the pathway that is responsible for promoting Treg trafficking, and perhaps enable selective control of Treg migration.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for selective targeting of particular components of the LTβR signaling pathway for the treatment of diseases characterized by altered cell migration, including but not limited to inflammation, graft rejection, contact hypersensitivity, and cancer. The present invention addresses this unmet need.

Inhibitors of LTβR-NFκB signaling pathways for treating inflammation and cancer


A time base corrector includes a main memory, a sub memory, and a passing detection circuit for generating a passing detection signal on the basis of the frequency difference between a write reference signal and a read reference signal. A memory control circuit controls the main and sub memories so that a field image immediately prior to a field in which passing will occur is written into both the main and sub memories. The written field image is read out from the sub memory when the field in which passing will occur is processed. Alternatively, the memory control circuit performs switching between a normal mode and a slip mode on the basis of the passing detection signal. In the normal mode, only the main memory is used. In the slip mode, both the main memory and the sub memory are integrally used for writing and reading of the video image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a time base corrector for video signal, and more particularly, to a time base corrector capable of converting an input video signal of lower frequency than that of a normal video signal into an output video signal of the normal frequency.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a variable speed reproduction mode, such as a slow or quick mode, of a video signal reproducing apparatus, such as an LD, an image signal is reproduced in such a manner that track jump is performed so as to output an identical frame twice, or the reading skips over an intermediate frame. However, the above variable speed reproduction has a disadvantage in that a periodical abnormality of voice occurs because identical voice signals are successively output twice or an intermediate part of voice is skipped as in the case of the image signal.
A method using a field memory is known which is intended to eliminate the above disadvantage. This method uses a video memory having a storage capacity of at least one field. A variable speed video signal reproduced from a laser disk (LD) is written into the video memory in synchronism with a write clock corresponding to the frequency of the reproduced video signal, while the video signal written in the video memory is read out therefrom in synchronism with a read clock having a frequency of normal video signal. The structure of a memory unit of such a reproduction apparatus is illustrated in FIG. 1.
As shown in FIG. 1, the memory unit includes an A/D converter 101, a write reference signal generator 102, a field memory 110, a synchronizing signal adding circuit 104, a color phase processing circuit 105, a D/A converter 106, and a read reference signal generator 107. An input video signal has a frequency of a few percent higher or lower than the frequency of the normal video signal. This input video signal is converted to an analog video signal by the A/D converter 101, and is stored in the field memory 110. The field memory 110 has a storage capacity of at least one field. Image data is written into the field memory 110 on the basis of a write clock CK1 and a write reset signal WR. The write clock CK1 is generated by the write reference signal generator 102 and corresponds to the frequency of the input video signal. The written image data is read out from the field memory 110 in accordance with a read clock CK2 generated by the read reference signal generator 107 and a read reset signal RR. The read clock CK2 has a fixed frequency (14.3 MHz) of the normal video signal. The frequency of the read reset signal RR is determined in correspondence with the fixed frequency of the normal video signal. Hence, the video signal can be correctly reproduced.
A synchronizing signal is added to the signal read from the field memory 110 by the synchronizing signal adding circuit 104 and then subjected to a color phase processing by the color phase processing circuit 105. Then, the video signal with the synchronizing signal added thereto is converted into an analog video signal by the D/A converter 106.
In such a variable speed reproduction, there is a phenomenon called "passing". This is due to the fact that the frequency of the write clock of the video memory and the frequency of the read clock thereof differs from each other. When the frequency of the write clock is higher than that of the read clock, the time relation between the write clock and the read clock is reversed, and the write timing periodically passes (outruns) the reading timing. On the other hand, when the frequency of the write clock is lower than that of the read clock, the read timing periodically passes the write timing. When the frequency of the write clock is lower than that of the read clock, the following problem occurs in an image formed by the output video signal.
In FIG. 2, field images A-E are shown. Since the frequency of the write clock is lower than that of the read clock, the read clock passes the write clock. If the read timing passes the write timing at a position indicated by a broken line shown in FIG. 2, there is no problem on the field image A because the write operation into the video memory has already completed. However, the passing takes place while the field image B is being written into the field memory, i.e., the timing of the broken line, and from then on, the read operation into the video memory precedes the write operation from the video memory. As a result, with respect to the field image B, the stored data in the video memory is read out before all data of the field image B is completely written into the video memory. Therefore, though the data read out from the video memory before passing (timing of the broken line) is the data of the field image B, the data read out from the video memory after the passing is the data of the field image A, i.e., the field image A is read again. As a result, the lower part of the field image B is replaced by the field image A, as shown in FIG. 2.
As described above, when passing occurs, upper and lower parts of the field image become images of different fields. Actually, it is impossible to neglect the above problem if video image has a large or quick motion. For example, in a case of an image of an object moving from left to right at a relatively high speed, contents of the successive field images are considerably different. Hence, as shown in FIG. 3, image of the object cannot be correctly reproduced.
In order to overcome the above problem, it may be possible to inhibit writing of a field image into the field memory when passing occurs, as shown in FIG. 4. However, since the field image B is not written into the field memory in this case, the field image A is repeatedly output for three times.


Proposed is a novel chemical-sensitization resist composition capable of giving a positively or negatively patterned resist layer of excellent pattern resolution and cross sectional profile of the patterned resist layer with high sensitivity. Characteristically, the resist composition is formulated, as combined with a resinous ingredient which is subject to changes in the solubility behavior in an alkaline developer solution by interaction with an acid, with a specific oximesulfonate compound as the radiation-sensitive acid-generating agent represented by the general formula EQU R.sup.1 --C(CN).dbd.N--O--SO.sub.2 --R.sup.2,. in which R.sup.1 is an inert organic group and R.sup.2 is an unsubstituted or substituted polycyclic monovalent hydrocarbon group selected from the group consisting of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon groups such as naphthyl and polycyclic non-aromatic hydrocarbon groups such as a terpene or camphor residue.

The present invention relates to a novel chemical-sensitization resist composition or, more particularly, to a chemical-sensitization resist composition, which may be positive-working or negative-working, capable of giving a patterned resist layer having an excellently orthogonal cross sectional profile with high sensitivity and high pattern resolution.
It is a trend in recent years that the photolithographic patterning works in the manufacture of semiconductor devices, liquid crystal display panels and the like are conducted by using a chemical-sensitization resist composition. The working principle of the chemical-sensitization resist composition is that the solubility behavior of the resist layer in an alkaline developer solution is changed in the pattern-wise exposed areas by the catalytic activity of an acid generated from an acid-generating agent contained in the resist composition by the exposure to light. Chemical-sensitization resist compositions in general have an advantage of high sensitivity because good latent images can be formed even with a low exposure dose when the acid-generating agent has a high efficiency for radiation-induced generation of an acid.
Chemical-sensitization resist compositions are classified into positive-working and negative-working compositions, each of which comprises an acid-generating agent capable of releasing an acid by irradiation with actinic rays and a film-forming resinous ingredient which is subject to a change in the solubility in an aqueous alkaline solution by the interaction with an acid.
In the positive-working chemical-sensitization resist compositions, the film-forming resinous ingredient most widely under current use is a polyhydroxystyrene substituted for a part of the hydroxyl groups by acid-dissociable solubility-reducing groups such as tert-butoxycarbonyl groups, tetra-hydropyranyl groups and the like so as to be rendered insoluble in an aqueous alkaline solution. On the other hand, the negative-working chemical-sensitization resist compositions are formulated, as the film-forming resinous ingredient, with a combination of an alkali-soluble resin such as a novolak resin and polyhydroxystyrene resin optionally substituted for a part of the hydroxyl groups by the above mentioned solubility-reducing groups and an acid-crosslinkable compound such as melamine resins, urea resins and the like.
It is known to employ an oximesulfonate compound as the acid-generating agent in a chemical-sensitization resist composition as is disclosed in Japanese Patent Kokai 1-124848, 2-154266, 2-161444 and 6-17433. The oximesulfonate compounds disclosed there include those having a cyano group in the molecule such as
.alpha.-(p-toluenesulfonyloxyimino)phenyl acetonitrile, PA0 .alpha.-(p-chlorobenzenesulfonyloxyimino)phenyl acetonitrile, PA0 .alpha.-(4-nitrobenzenesulfonyloxyimino)phenyl acetonitrile, PA0 .alpha.-(4-nitro-2-trifluoromethylbenzenesulfonyloxyimino)phenyl acetonitrile, PA0 .alpha.-(benzenesulfonyloxyimino)-4-chlorophenyl acetonitrile, PA0 .alpha.-(benzenesulfonyloxyimino)-2,4-dichlorophenyl acetonitrile, PA0 .alpha.-(benzenesulfonyloxyimino)-2,6-dichlorophenyl acetonitrile, PA0 .alpha.-(benzenesulfonyloxyimino)-4-methoxyphenyl acetonitrile, PA0 .alpha.-(2-chlorobenzenesulfonyloxyimino)-4-methoxyphenyl acetonitrile, PA0 .alpha.-(benzenesulfonyloxyimino)-2-thienyl acetonitrile, PA0 .alpha.-(4-dodecylbenzenesulfonyloxyimino)phenyl acetonitrile, PA0 .alpha.-(4-toluenesulfonyloxyimino)-4-methoxyphenyl acetonitrile, PA0 .alpha.-(4-dodecylbenzenesulfonyloxyimino)-4-methoxyphenyl acetonitrile, PA0 .alpha.-(4-toluenesulfonyloxyimino)-3-thienyl acetonitrile, and the like. PA0 .alpha.-(1-naphthylsulfonyloxyimino)-4-methoxybenzyl cyanide of the formula ##STR1## .alpha.-(2-naphthylsulfonyloxyimino)-4-methoxybenzyl cyanide of the formula ##STR2## .alpha.-(10-camphorsulfonyloxyimino)-4-methoxybenzyl cyanide of the formula ##STR3## .alpha.-(1-naphthylsulfonyloxyimino)benzyl cyanide of the formula ##STR4## .alpha.-(2-naphthylsulfonyloxyimino)benzyl cyanide of the formula ##STR5## .alpha.-(10-camphorsulfonyloxyimino)benzyl cyanide of the formula ##STR6## and .alpha.-(3-camphorsulfonyloxyimino)-4-methoxybenzyl cyanide of the formula ##STR7## PA0 diphenyliodonium tetrafluoroborate; PA0 diphenyliodonium trifluoromethanesulfonate; PA0 diphenyliodonium hexafluoroantimonate; PA0 (4-methoxyphenyl)phenyliodonium hexafluoroantimonate; PA0 (4-methoxyphenyl)phenyliodonium trifluoromethanesulfonate; PA0 bis(p-tert-butylphenyl)iodonium trifluoromethanesulfonate; PA0 triphenylsulfonium trifluoromethanesulfonate; PA0 (4-methoxyphenyl)diphenylsulfonium hexafluoroantimonate; PA0 (4-methoxyphenyl)diphenylsulfonium trifluoromethanesulfonate; PA0 (4-methylphenyl)diphenylsulfonium trifluoromethanesulfonate; and PA0 (4-tert-butylphenyl)diphenylsulfonium trifluoromethanesulfonate. PA0 .alpha.-(methyl sulfonyloxyimino)-1-cyclopentenyl acetonitrile, PA0 .alpha.-(methyl sulfonyloxyimino)-1-cyclohexenyl acetonitrile, PA0 .alpha.-(methyl sulfonyloxyimino)-1-cycloheptenyl acetonitrile, PA0 .alpha.-(methyl sulfonyloxyimino)-1-cyclooctenyl acetonitrile, PA0 .alpha.-(trifluoromethyl sulfonyloxyimino)-1-cyclopentenyl acetonitrile, PA0 .alpha.-(trifluoromethyl sulfonyloxyimino)cyclohexyl acetonitrile, PA0 .alpha.-(ethyl sulfonyloxyimino)ethyl acetonitrile, PA0 .alpha.-(propyl sulfonyloxyimino)propyl acetonitrile, PA0 .alpha.-(ethyl sulfonyloxyimino)-1-cyclopentenyl acetonitrile, PA0 .alpha.-(isopropyl sulfonyloxyimino)-1-cyclopentenyl acetonitrile, PA0 .alpha.-(n-butyl sulfonyloxyimino)-1-cyclopentenyl acetonitrile, PA0 .alpha.-(ethyl sulfonyloxyimino)-1-cyclohexenyl acetonitrile, PA0 .alpha.-(isopropyl sulfonyloxyimino)-1-cyclohexenyl acetonitrile, PA0 .alpha.-(n-butyl sulfonyloxyimino)-1-cyclohexenyl acetonitrile and the like. PA0 .alpha.-(methylsulfonyloxyimino)phenyl acetonitrile; PA0 .alpha.-(methylsulfonyloxyimino)-4-methoxyphenyl acetonitrile; PA0 .alpha.-(methylsulfonyloxyimino)-4-methylphenyl acetonitrile; PA0 .alpha.-(trifluoromethylsulfonyloxyimino)phenyl acetonitrile; PA0 .alpha.-(trifluoromethylsulfonyloxyimino)-4-methoxyphenyl acetonitrile; PA0 .alpha.-(ethylsulfonyloxyimino)-4-methoxyphenyl acetonitrile; PA0 .alpha.-(propylsulfonyloxyimino)-4-methylphenyl acetonitrile; PA0 .alpha.-(methylsulfonyloxyimino)-4-bromophenyl acetonitrile; and the like.
As is taught in Japanese Patent Kokai 2-154266, these oximesulfonate compounds having a cyano group in the molecule can release an acid by the energy of various kinds of actinic rays such as deep ultraviolet light, electron beams, ion beams, X-rays and the like and, when a positive-working chemical-sensitization resist composition comprising such an oximesulfonate compound and a film-forming resinous ingredient in combination is subjected to patterning by electron beam scanning, a patterned resist layer of about 0.35 .mu.m diameter in a hole pattern can be obtained. Also, a photocured patterned resist layer can be obtained from a negative-working chemical-sensitization resist composition comprising the oximesulfonate compound and a combination of a resin and an acid-crosslinkable compound by patterning with deep ultraviolet light.
In the manufacturing process of semiconductor devices in recent years with a rapidly proceeding trend toward a higher and higher degree of integration requiring ultrafine photolithographic patterning works, the above mentioned resist compositions are no longer quite satisfactory in several respects. Accordingly, a further improved chemical-sensitization resist composition capable of giving a patterned resist layer of an excellent cross sectional profile with a further improved pattern resolution and still with a high sensitivity is eagerly desired.


The present invention relates to a straightly assembled block comprising engaging assembly means configured in male and female types, first ends of which can be coupled to each other, such that male and female piece blocks can be assembled by connecting the same to each other straightly, and the engaging assembly means are improved such that wear is prevented in spite of repeated separation/coupling, thereby maintaining continuous assembly power. To this end, the male and female piece blocks have engaging assembly means, first ends of which protrude in arc shapes, and the second ends of which are coupled to each other. Alternatively, connecting blocks have engaging assembly means formed on both ends thereof in different types. The engaging assembly means formed on the piece blocks or on the connecting blocks comprise a recessed portion and a protruding portion. Each of the recessed portion and the protruding portion has a guide means and a coupling means provided on both coupling surfaces thereof, respectively, the coupling means being guided along the guide means so as to engage, such that the same are connected on the same straight line. An incision hole for an elastic action is formed from a corner of the recessed portion toward the interior, on which a rotating shaft is formed, such that, when the protruding portion is guided and coupled, the incision hole is elastically operated so as to widen the recessed portion in the leftward/rightward outward direction, thereby preventing wear of the engaging coupling means.

A conventional straightly assembled block is assembled in the form of a chain, in which male and female piece blocks are connected to each other, or a connecting block is connected between the male and female piece blocks, so that the straightly assembled block may be assembled in various lengths or shapes according to an assembly shape.
Patent Registration No. 10-0887340 disclosing a straightly assembled block having a length that may vary has been filed by the applicant, and the straightly assembled block has an assembly structure in which an engaging assembly device provided on each of male and female piece blocks includes a protruding surface and an inner surface having bottom surfaces, and the male and female piece blocks are coupled and assembled from upper and lower sides such that the bottom surface of the protruding surface and the bottom surface of the inner surface are engaged with each other.
However, the conventional straightly assembled block has a disadvantage in that a coupling portion is easily dislocated so that assembly is not easy when positions of the protruding surface and the inner surface of the piece block do not exactly match.
Therefore, in order to improve the above problem, according to another Patent Registration No. 10-1222022 of the applicant, piece blocks may be connected to each other in the same straight line.
To this end, an engaging assembly device of a piece block includes a recessed portion and a protruding portion so that male and female piece blocks may be coupled to each other in the same straight line on both sides, each of the recessed portion and the protruding portion is provided on both coupling surfaces thereof with a guide device and a coupling device guided along the guide device so as to be engaged, and an engaging coupling device is provided in each of the guide device and the coupling device to prevent arbitrary separation in an assembled state.
However, the problem of the above configuration is that the engaging coupling device for preventing the arbitrary separation wears out due to repeated assembly/coupling where the protruding portion is guided to the recessed portion, causing the assembly to become loose.
In other words, as the protruding portion is guided to the recessed portion, when the coupling device provided on the protruding portion is forcibly pressed to the coupling device provided on the recessed portion while being latched at an entry portion of the recessed portion, the coupling device provided on the protruding portion enters the entry portion so as to be latched. In this case, since the coupling devices are assembled with each other by the forcible pressing, the coupling device wears out, so that the coupling strength is reduced.
Meanwhile, according to another Patent Registration No. 10-1443254 of the applicant, a structure of a piece block is configured such that a vertical rod of a female coupling portion is provided at both lower ends of a male coupling portion so as to be orthogonal to the male coupling portion, and an opening is formed in a connecting portion of the male coupling portion and the female coupling portion, so that the vertical rod is elastically operated so as to be flexibly widened outward, thereby minimizing wear when coupling the male coupling portion to the female coupling portion.
However, according to the above piece block, for the elastic operation to widen the vertical rod of the female coupling portion, since a reference point of the elastic operation is shifted while the vertical rod is orthogonal to both lower sides of the male coupling portion such that the reference point of the elastic operation is formed at the connecting portion, such an elastic widening operation may be performed, and since a contact area of the vertical rod is wide, the connecting portion serves as a lever for the elastic operation.
On the contrary, since the piece block of the straightly assembled block has the recessed portion coupled with the protruding portion provided on another piece block or another connecting block and inserted into the piece block, the above elastic operation is impossible.
Therefore, the assembly of the straightly assembled block becomes loose due to the wear incurred by the repeated assembly, so that consumers have been demanding to improve such problems.

Straightly assembled block that is easily coupled and resistant to wear


A lever arm assembly for a beverage dispensing valve including a valve including a housing including a cover and a bottom plate, a switch means inside said cover for turning on said valve to dispense a drink, a lever arm chamber for receiving a lever arm and said lever arm connected to said valve and being movable between a rest position in which the switch means is actuated and an actuating position in which said switch means is actuated, and means for holding said lever arm in a rest position. The lever arm including a cup contacting portion extending down below said valve, a pivot pin and a switch actuating portion extending above said pivot pin and into the valve housing. The housing including a lever arm opening to allow said valve actuating portion and said pivot pin to be inserted into said lever arm chamber, such that the lever arm can move freely between its rest and actuating positions, and a pivot pin recess for receiving and holding said pivot pin.

The present invention relates to a lever arm assembly for a beverage dispensing valve and more particularly to a lever arm which can be easily and quickly attached, removed and replaced without the need for tools and without disassembling the valve.
The dispense cycle of a beverage dispensing valve is typically initiated when the operator pushes a beverage selection button or pushes a cup against a lever arm activating a switch in the valve. While it is possible to switch a dispenser from a lever arm mode to a push button mode, such conversion is difficult, because the entire valve must be taken apart in order to remove the lever arm. Rather than go to the difficulty of disassembling the valve, some field technicians simply break off the lever arm rather than removing it from the valve assembly when converting a dispenser to the push button mode. In addition to the unsightly appearance the broken lever arm gives to the dispenser, the valve body can be damaged by forcibly breaking off the lever arm. A similar problem is encountered when the lever arm of the dispenser breaks during the course of normal use. In order to replace the lever arm, the entire valve must be taken apart. The resulting dispenser down time results in lost revenue for the outlet. A further problem with dispensing valves is the limited mechanical life of a microswitch. These switch mechanisms can also become clogged by syrup and dirt, resulting in dispenser down time. Accordingly there is a need in the art for an improved lever arm and switch mechanism for dispensing valves in beverage dispensers.

Lever arm assembly for a beverage dispensing valve