A database management system is provided to reduce the process time required for data sharing between the server process and the client process. When the client process sends the data reading command to the server process, the server process reads the page specified by the command from the database file, writes the page in the sharing memory device that includes the mapped file and the page buffer and sends the offset that specifies the page within the region in the mapped file to the client process. The client process maps the logic address of the access space in its process to the region specified by the offset to enable accessing of the page written in the page buffer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a database management system in which data read from the database are shared by the server process and the client process. In particular, the present invention relates to an object oriented database management system that utilizes a page server architecture.
2. Description of Related Art
In a database management system in which separated data is managed by a server process and a client process, a page server architecture is utilized where the data is managed as a unit (page) consisting of a certain amount. In the page server architecture, the server process manages the data file per page and upon receiving a request from the client process, the server process reads the page requested in the database files and transfers each page to the client process. Then, the client process interprets or updates the contents of the page according to the request from the application program and executes the process from the application program.
The page server architecture is well known and disclosed in "Building Object Oriented Database Systems", by Morgan Kaufmann Publishers (1992, Chapter 18, pp411-446 and more particularly pp415-417), the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.
In the conventional page server architecture, the server process and the client process share each page of data. A method in which data is transferred between the server process and the client process based on the remote procedure call (RPC) is disclosed in the above document on pp 420-422.
A more general structure of a conventional object oriented database management system based on the conventional page server architecture is shown in FIG. 9.
In the database management system of FIG. 9, when the client process 100 sends a page reading command to the server using the communication management unit 101 to read the required page, the communication management unit 201 of the server process 200 executes transactions such as exclusive control of the reading of the page at the transaction management unit 202 and performs data reading process at the page buffer management unit 203.
During the page reading process, the page in question from the database file 205 is read by the desk input/output unit 204. The page buffer management unit 203 stores the data of the page in the page buffer 207 of the server process 200. The data read from the database file 205 is sent to the client process 100 which is the requester of the data using the communication management unit 201.
In the client process 100, the communication management unit 101 receives the sent data. The page buffer management 102 stores the data in the page buffer 103 of the client process 100 and the application program 104 executes necessary processes such as reading the data that is stored in the page buffer 103.
The page stored in the database file 205 is transferred between the server process 200 and the client process 100 and is stored in the respective page buffers 103, 207 enabling sharing of the data between the server process 200 and the client process 100. If another client process (or even a plurality of other client processes) requires reading of the same data, sharing of data is enabled by the server process 200 transferring the data to the client process.
In the page server architecture where the requested data is transferred from the server process, the storing of data to the buffer of both client process and server process is executed in RPC. This causes a problem that the processing time is too long to transfer data between the client process and the server process.
Because of this, a remote file access apparatus is proposed in which an effectiveness of the data maintained in the client process and the server process is determined. If it is determined to be effective, the number of transfer processing is reduced by declaring the data transfer unnecessary. Thus, the traffic overhead is reduced and the transfer processing time is improved as discussed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Hei 5-61662, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.
As explained above, in the database system in which the client process and the server process share the data, the process time required for sharing the data between the server process and the client process is reduced.
To cope with such a problem, with the conventional remote file access apparatus, the number of data transfers between the server process and the client process is decreased to reduce the process for sharing data and to speed up the sharing of data.

Database management system and method utilizing a shared memory


A differential pressure sensor includes a micro-electromechanical sensor die fabricated as a plurality of sensor die sites on a semiconductor wafer, and then singularized, the sensor die having a top face surface including die electrical output pads exposed to a first test fluid source and a bottom side surface exposed to a second test fluid source. The differential pressure further has a sensor die support member having a die support member fluid access port with a support member port perimeter; wherein one of the top face surface or the bottom side surface is sealed fully around the support member port perimeter by a wafer scale seal formed on the plurality of sensor die sites before die singulation. Wafer scale seals may be formed by a photofabrication process, screen printing, stamp printing, or pressure transfer printing. Some embodiments may include a photofabricated seal formed by a photosensitive polydimethylsiloxane material, by a filled photofabricated mold, and by photopatterned glass frit.

The present invention relates to a pressure sensor, especially a differential pressure sensor, which includes a mounting structure and has an inner region comprised of a membrane which may be acted on by fluid pressure applied to both sides.
Pressure or differential pressure sensors having a diaphragm with measurement electrical elements located thereon are disclosed by Jensen, et al. in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,030,709 and 6,085,596 (Jensen '709 and Jensen '596, hereinafter); and by Krog, et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 7,010,984 (Krog '984, hereinafter) The diaphragm is formed as a thinned region of a semiconductor device, a sensor die, which is sealingly clamped or bonded into a two-part mounting. The measurement element on the membrane may be connected to further electronic components arranged on a circuit board fastened or supported on a part of the mounting.
Through-holes are formed in each of the two parts of the mounting, in order to impinge the sensor diaphragm with one or more test fluids under pressure. The test fluids may be liquids, gasses or a gas and a fluid. Fluid may be ducted to the sensor diaphragm from two portions of a fluid circuit, thereby measuring a differential pressure. One side of the diaphragm may be ducted to a calibration fluid pressure source, such as the atmosphere, and the other to a test fluid source, in which case the pressure sensor measures the "absolute" pressure of the test fluid relative to the standard.
Pressure sensors may be required to operate in especially difficult chemical environments wherein the test fluids are highly corrosive. Jensen '709 and Jensen '596 disclose pressure sensors that are fabricated as a plurality of sensor die sites on single crystal silicon wafers using microelectronic materials and manufacturing processes. A thinned region that carries pressure sensitive resistors is achieved by orientation dependent etching (ODE) of the silicon at the wafer level. A dual layer coating comprised of an electrically insulating film and a deposition of an amorphous metal layer are applied to both sides of the sensor die wafer as last process stages before the wafers are singularized (i.e., separated into single wafers), i.e. by dicing.
While the wafer scale fabrication of sensor die disclosed in Jensen '709 and Jensen '596 is effective in producing sophisticated core sensor transducer elements, the ultimate cost of a finished sensor assembly is importantly affected by the design and implementation of a system of seals to confine test fluids to impinge only protected surfaces of the sensor die and inert materials in the sensor assembly. Microelectronic processing technology is such that the active area of a pressure sensor may be made quite small, less than 1 mm2 per sensor die site. Electrical output pads for connecting the sensor to an outside system require some additional die site area. After improving these two factors, a next most important sensor design feature affecting die cost is the die area that must be provided for sealing "off" the unprotected portions of the sensor die, electrical leads and mounting adhesives from corrosive test fluids.
Jensen '709 and '596 and Krog '984 disclose two sealing designs for providing die surface fluid seals: (1) mechanical sealing members such as an O-ring and (2) an adhesive layer applied in an undisclosed fashion and cured after assembly. Mechanical sealing members require substantial sensor die surface area to ensure that an adequate area of seal will be formed given the variations that are expected in the amount of seal compression due to component and assembly dimensional variations. Adhesive sealing between two closely spaced components is difficult to control in the case wherein a perimeter seal is to be formed around a central surface region that must remain uncoated by the adhesive during the adhesive cure process.
The potential reliability or manufacturing yield difficulties of both of the above two die surface sealing designs may be managed by adding sealing area to the die site design. However, adding die site area for sealing reliability increases sensor cost in several ways: fewer die per wafer, lower yields due to defects in corrosion protection layers, and larger, more rigid mounting components are needed to protect more fragile individual sensor die.
There is a need, therefore, for a pressure sensor sealing design that minimizes the sealing area needed at the sensor die surface level. A spatially efficient sealing design and fabrication method will allow reduced sensor die area, thereby reducing the die surface area requiring full integrity of protective coatings such as the amorphous metal films disclosed by Jensen '709 and Jensen '596, and improving the yield of good die sites per wafer. Producing more sensor die per wafer will also directly lower cost. Finally, die having smaller overall dimensions relative to thinned diaphragm areas will experience less strain and strain induced cracking during sensor assembly and while in service by the end user.


A highly reliable, high-productivity package equipped with a semiconductor chip, and a method for producing the same. In a package (100) comprising a semiconductor chip (10) and a mounting substrate (30), a plurality of electrode terminals (12) are formed on the surface (10a) of the semiconductor chip (10) opposing the mounting substrate side, connection terminals (32) respectively corresponding to the plurality of electrode terminals (12), are formed on the mounting substrate (30), the connection terminals (32) on the mounting substrate (30) and the electrode terminals (12) are electrically connected collectively by solder bumps (17) formed in self-assembly, an electrode pattern (20) not connected with the electrode terminals (12) and the connection terminals (32) is formed on the chip surface (10a) or the surface (35) of the mounting substrate (30) corresponding to the chip surface (10a), and solder (19) is accumulated on the electrode pattern (20).

In recent years, semiconductor integrated circuits (large-scale integrated circuit: LSI) used in electronic equipment have had higher packing density and higher degree of integration. With such trend, LSI chips having higher-pin-count, finer-pitch connection terminals are rapidly developed. For packaging of these LSI chips onto a wiring substrate, flip-chip packaging is widely used in order to reduce wiring delay. Generally, in the flip-chip packaging, a solder bump is formed on a connection terminal in an LSI chip, and the chip is collectively connected through the solder bump to an electrode terminal formed on a wiring substrate.
However, in order to package onto the wiring substrate the next-generation LSI having connection terminals as great as 5000 or more, it is necessary to form bumps adaptable to a fine pitch design less than 100 μm, but a currently used solder bump formation technology is difficult to adapt to such design. Moreover, a great number of bumps according to the number of connection terminals have to be formed therein. Therefore, in order to reduce production costs, high productivity of devices attained by cutting the mounting time per chip is also demanded.
Conventionally, as a bump formation technique, for example, a plating method or a screen printing method has been developed. The plating method is suited for fine-pitch design, but it has a problem with productivity due to its complicated process. On the other hand, the screen printing method excels in productivity, but it is not suited to fine-pitch design due to use of masks.
In light of such current circumstances, some techniques for selectively forming solder bumps on electrodes on an LSI chip or a wiring substrate have been recently developed. These techniques are suited for formation of fine bumps. In addition to this, these techniques can collectively form bumps, so that they also excel in productivity. Therefore, they are attracting attention as a technique adaptable to packaging of a next-generation LSI onto a wiring substrate.
One of these techniques is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1. In this technique, solder paste made of a mixture of solder powder and flux is applied entirely over a substrate formed at its surface with an electrode, and the resulting substrate is heated to melt the solder powder, thereby selectively forming a solder bump on the electrode having high wettability.
For example, in a technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, composite paste (chemical deposition type solder) mainly containing lead salt of organic acid and metal tin is applied entirely over a substrate formed with an electrode and the resulting substrate is heated to cause substitution reaction of Pb and Sn, thereby selectively depositing Pb/Sn alloy on the electrode of the substrate.
The solder formation technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, however, is intended to prevent a short circuit between adjusting terminals and also provide an appropriate wettability for metal by controlling surface oxidation of solder powder. However, it is difficult to control the essentially contradictory properties only by the oxidation amount and the oxidation method. In addition, since the material for the chemical deposition type solder used in Patent Document 2 is prepared by utilizing a specific chemical reaction, the flexibility in selection of solder composition is low. Therefore, it still has a problem in handling of Pb-free solder.
In the conventional flip-chip packaging employing a bump formation technique, a semiconductor chip is mounted to a wiring substrate formed with a bump. Then, in order to fix the semiconductor chip to the wiring substrate, the process of injecting a resin called an underfill into a space between the semiconductor chip and the wiring substrate is additionally required.
From the circumstances described above, a flip-chip packaging technique (see, for example, Patent Document 3) using an anisotropic conductive material is developed as a method for simultaneously making an electrical connection between the semiconductor chip and opposed electrode terminals of the wiring substrate and fixing the semiconductor chip to the wiring substrate. In this technique, thermosetting resin having conductive particles contained therein is supplied to a space between the wiring substrate and the semiconductor chip, and then pressurization of the semiconductor chip and heating of the thermosetting resin are simultaneously performed to simultaneously make an electrical connection between the semiconductor chip and the electrode terminals of the wiring substrate and fix the semiconductor chip to the wiring substrate.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-94179
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H1-157796
[Patent Document 3] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-332055

Package equipped with semiconductor chip and method for producing same


An LED driver circuit that includes a buck-mode boost converter that provides a regulated output current and that requires only a single connection to each channel of LEDs. The buck-mode boost controller may include a current regulator that includes an integrator. The current regulator may be configured to integrate a difference between a reference signal that is representative of the desired level of the average current through the electronic power switch and a detected signal that is representative of the actual current that is being delivered to the buck-mode boost circuit through the electronic power switch. The reference signal to the integrator may not change during operation of the buck-mode converter. The current regulator may be configured to deactivate the integrator and/or to disconnect the detected signal from the integrator while the electronic power switch is off.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to power switching converters and to LED driver circuits.
2. Description of Related Art
Various loads may be driven with a regulated current. LED lights, for example, may be illuminated by driving them with a regulated current. This regulated current may be provided by a power switching converter which converts a setting of a control into a proportional driving current, such as a dimmer or other type of control.
A buck-mode boost converter may be used as the power switching converter. Two or more connections between each channel of LEDs and the buck-mode boost converter may be required in order for the converter to detect the amount of current in LEDs and, in turn, to accurately regulate this current.
A single monolithic package may be used to separately control the current that is delivered to several channels of LEDs. The number of connection pins to the monolithic package may be limited by its size and governing standards. The number of LED channels which the monolithic package can control may therefore be limited by the number of required connections to each LED channel.

Buck-mode boost converter with regulated output current


In a recording apparatus, a first frame holds an accommodating portion and a conveying mechanism. A second frame holds a recording head and a first tank. The second frame is connected to the first frame so as to be movable relative to the first frame. The second frame is configured to move between a first position and a second position by moving relative to the first frame. The recording head is located adjacent to the first frame when the second frame is in the first position. The recording head is further apart from the first frame when the second frame is in the second position than when the second frame is in the first position. The recording head opposes the supporting portion when the second frame is at the first position.

There has been proposed an ink jet recording apparatus that includes: a sheet supplying unit; a registration adjusting unit; a recording unit; and a tray for accommodating sheets having images recorded thereon. The recording unit includes a first casing accommodating recording heads and a second casing accommodating a support part supporting a recording medium.

Recording apparatus with recording-medium conveying mechanism


An improved method for forming planarization films which remain adhered to substrates upon exposure to heat comprising first applying a polymeric solution containing a low molecular weight novolac resin, a surfactant selected from the group consisting of a non-fluorinated hydrocarbon, a fluorinated hydrocarbon and combinations thereof, and an optional organic solvent to a substrate, followed by heating the substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to novolac polymer planarization films for microelectronic structures, such as integrated circuits. More particularly, this invention relates to an improvement in the formation of a planarization film which remains adhered to substrates upon exposure to heat.
2. Background of the Invention
Novolac polymers have been used extensively in the manufacture of substrates, such as multichip modules, printed circuit boards, integrated circuits and other microelectronic devices. For example, photoresists used for microlithographic patterning of circuitry often contain a novolac component. See e.g., Wolf, et al., "Silicon Processing for the VLSI Era, 1 Process Technology" 418 (1986).
In addition, novolac polymers are also contained within planarizing films used in the fabrication of microelectronic devices. As used herein, the term "planarizing film" refers to a film coated onto a patterned substrate surface for the purpose of smoothing the topography of the substrate.
The planarization or smoothing of surfaces is essential in the fabrication of integrated circuits. For example, as optical lithography is used to define even smaller features, the depth of focus of the exposure tool will decrease. Therefore, it is necessary to employ planarizing films to smooth or "level" the topography of microelectronic devices in order to properly pattern the increasingly more complex integrated circuits. See e.g., Stillwagon, et al., Evaluation of Several Organic Materials as Planarizing Layers for Lithographic and Etchback Processing, 412 Polymers in Micrography, ACS Symp. Series, 252-265 (1989).
For a film to be useful for planarization, it must continuously and completely cover a substrate, such as a silicon wafer, when the latter is subjected to temperatures ranging between about 20.degree. C. and about 300.degree. C., to vacuum pressures, and to etching processes, such as wet chemical or plasma. As used herein, "continuously" means that the film does not have "bare spots" whereat the substrate surface is revealed.
Low number average molecular weight novolac polymers, i.e. those ranging between about 200 and about 2000 atomic mass units ("amu"), are especially useful in forming planarizing films because they tend to flow more readily than other polymers having higher molecular weights. Unless indicated otherwise, all references herein to "molecular weight" are to be construed as number average molecular weight. Such polymers having low viscosities, i.e. between about 10 centipoises and about 2000 centipoises at temperatures in the range of about 120.degree. C. to about 150.degree. C., are preferred since, when dried, they form either locally, regionally or globally planarized films on patterned substrates.
As used herein, the term "local planarization" refers to a condition wherein the film is planar or flat over a distance of 0 to about 5 linear micrometers. "Regional planarization" refers to a condition wherein the film is planar or flat over a distance of at least about 5 to about 50 linear micrometers on the substrate surface. "Global planarization" refers to the same situation over larger substrate surfaces, i.e. about 50 to about 1000 linear micrometers.
After the polymer material is applied to the substrate by conventional spinning techniques, the polymer-substrate composition is heated to evaporate any residual solvent present within the film material, to further reduce the viscosity of the film, and to enhance leveling of the film on the substrate. One difficulty in achieving the desired planarization is caused by the delamination of film from the substrate during this heating process. Another difficulty is that the evaporation of the solvent from the polymer solution, which occurs after the solution is spun across the substrate surface, causes a reduction in the total volume of the planarization material which, in turn, results in non-uniform coatings.
One method that has been suggested for improving the adhesion of films to substrates is to employ substrate surface modification, whereby the substrate is coated with a thin layer of an adhesion promoter, such as 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. However, this technique is undesirable because it adds extra steps and costs into the film formation process.
Other commonly used techniques, such as chemical and plasma surface cleaning treatments or surface roughening treatments, i.e. ion bombardment, have been used for the purpose of improving the adhesion of the film to the substrate by way of increasing the contact area therebetween. However, these techniques are not only more costly and time consuming, but also the substrate often incurs radiation damage from the plasma source.
The use of surfactants in novolac polymer solutions especially formulated for film formation is known. However, these surfactant-containing solutions are comprised of novolac polymers having higher molecular weights, i.e. novolacs which are greater than 10,000 amu, and are only useful in the formation of photoresists, as opposed to the formation of planarizing films. These solutions contain only small amounts of surfactants primarily for the purpose of preventing striations or irregularities in the novolac or photoresist film thicknesses.
It would be desirable to provide an improved process for forming continuous, uniform planarization films whereby the films produced therefrom would be not only useful for achieving regional or global planarization of microelectronic substrates, but also would not delaminate from the substrates upon exposure to heat. It would also be desirable to provide a composition which can be used to form such planarized films.

Novolac polymer planarization films for microelectronic structures


A power supply selection/detection circuit to select one main power supply from a plurality of external power supplies includes a resistance element with one end connected to an external power supply and another end connected to the main power supply, a first voltage detector to receive a voltage of the external power supply and detect a voltage of the external power supply, a second voltage detector to detect a voltage between the ends of the resistance element, and a switch connected between the external power supply and a ground to short-circuit or open-circuit between the external power supply and the ground according to an output of the second voltage detector. The resistance element and the first voltage detector are disposed for each of the plurality of external power supplies, and the second voltage detector and the switch are disposed for at least one of the plurality of external power supplies.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power supply circuit of portable devices and, particularly, to a circuit of selecting and detecting a power supply.
2. Description of Related Art
Recent information technology devices are reduced in size, and mobile computers, digital cameras, and storage devices with high portability are developed to thereby enable information interchange with interconnection. Such portable devices are small sized to ensure portability, and therefore power is supplied through a power-suppliable interface connector such as an AC adapter or USB (Universal Serial Bus).
Such a power supply system is oft-en designed to, for example, place high priority on a power supply, if any, from a power supply source dedicated to providing a power supply only such as an AC adapter in order to minimize the power consumption of a battery of a host computer or the like which is connected through an interface connector. For instance, a circuit to detect and select a power supply is placed between a portable device and a power supply source. Power supply selection/detection circuits according to related arts are described hereinafter.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a power supply selection/detection circuit according to a relate art. In the power supply selection/detection circuit 500, a voltage supplied from a power supply 511 or a power supply 521 is applied to a load 501 through a main power supply 502. The power supply selection/detection circuit 500 includes a power supply detector 510 disposed between the power supply 511 and the main power supply 502, and a power supply detector 520 disposed between the power supply 521 and the main power supply 502. The power supply detector 510 includes a Schottky diode 512, a voltage comparator 513, and two resistors 514 and 515. The power supply detector 520 includes a Schottky diode 522, a voltage comparator 523, and two resistors 524 and 525.
The anode of the Schottky diode 512 is connected to the power supply 511, and the cathode of the Schottky diode 512 is connected to the main power supply 502. The voltage comparator 513 detects the voltage of the power supply 511 to determine the presence or absence of the power supply 511. The voltage comparator 513 receives a reference power supply voltage Va1 and a voltage Va2 at a node between the resistors 514 and 515 that divide by resistance the power supply 511. The anode of the Schottky diode 522 is connected to the power supply 521, and the cathode of the Schottky diode 522 is connected to the main power supply 502. The voltage comparator 523 detects if power is supplied through the power supply 521. One input terminal of the voltage comparator 523 receives a reference power supply voltage Vb1, and the other input terminal of the voltage comparator 523 receives a voltage Vb2 at a node between the resistors 524 and 525 that divide by resistance the power supply 521.
In this example, the power supply 511 is described as an AC adapter and the power supply 521 as an USB connector, for example. Thus, when power is supplied from an AC adapter, power supply from an interface is shut off, for instance. The operation of the power supply selection/detection circuit 500 when the voltage supplied from the AC adapter is higher than the voltage supplied from the USB connector, which is when the power supply 511 is higher than the power supply 521, is described hereinafter. The voltage comparator 513 compares the reference voltage Va1 with the voltage Va2 at the node between the resistors 514 and 515 to detect that the power supply 511 is supplied. On the other hand, the voltage comparator 523 compares the reference voltage Vb1 with the voltage Vb2 at the node between the resistors 524 and 525 to detect if the power supply 521 is supplied. If the power supply 521 is lower than the power supply 511, the voltage from the power supply 511 is supplied preferentially.
The operation of the power supply selection/detection circuit 500 when only the power supply voltage from the AC adapter is connected, which is when only the power supply 511 is connected, is described hereinafter. The voltage comparator 513 compares the reference voltage Va1 with the voltage Va2 at the node between the resistors 514 and 515 to detect that the power supply 511 is being supplied. On the other hand, reverse leakage current Ir from the main power supply 502 flows to the Schottky diode 522. Although diodes ideally transmit current in one direction only, backward current flows slightly in practice. Accordingly, the voltage Vb2 occurs at the node between the resistors 524 and 525. If the voltage Vb2 at the node is not lower than the reference voltage Vb1, the voltage comparator 523 falsely detects that power is being supplied through the power supply 521. It is therefore necessary to set low values to the resistors 524 and 525.
Another example of a power supply selection/detection circuit is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-284865. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a power supply selection/detection circuit disclosed therein. The power supply selection/detection circuit illustrated in FIG. 6 includes a power supply line 1 to supply power from an interface such as USB and a power supply line 2 to supply power from an AC adapter. In this circuit also, power supply from the interface is shut off when power is supplied from the AC adapter. Thus, if the voltage of the power supply line 2 increases, the current flows into the ground through a Zener diode 10. Accordingly, the base voltage of a transistor 17 increases due to the IR drop across a resistor 12 to turn on the transistor 17. The base voltage of a transistor 18 thereby decreases to turn off the transistor 18, which then turns off a transistor 20. As a result, the power supply from the interface is shut off.
However, the inventor of the present invention has found that the above-described related arts have the following problems. In the power supply selection/detection circuit 500 illustrated in FIG. 5, if the voltage supplied from the power supply 511 is higher than the voltage supplied from the power supply 521, current flows to the resistors 524 and 525 which are connected to the voltage comparator 523. This raises the problem that current consumption occurs in the power supply detector 520 that is related to the power supply 521 which is not connected with the main power supply 502. Although the consumption current can be reduced by increasing the resistance of the resistors 524 and 525, this causes another problem. For example, if the voltage is supplied from the power supply 511 only, the reverse leakage current Ir from the main power supply 502 flows to the Schottky diode 522, and the voltage Vb2 occurs at the node between the resistors 524 and 525. Thus, if the voltage Vb2 at the node is not lower than the reference voltage Vb1, the voltage comparator 523 can falsely detect that power is being supplied through the power supply 521.
To avoid this, if the resistance of the resistor 525 is Rb2, the reverse leakage current of the Schottky diode is Ir, the reference voltage of the voltage comparator 523 is Vb1, it is necessary to set the resistance of the resistor 525 to satisfy the expression: Rb2*Ir<Vb1, and therefore the resistance of the resistor 525 cannot be set high enough. This raises the problem that the current consumed in the power supply detector 520 cannot be reduced when power is supplied from the power supply 511 to the main power supply 502. This not only increases the power consumption in the circuit in the standby mode but also fails to satisfy the current limit Imax of an USB connector in suspend mode if the power supply 521 is a USB connector.
The similar problem occurs in the configuration of the power supply selection/detection circuit illustrated in FIG. 6. Because current keeps flowing through the resistors 11 and 12 while the AC adapter is connected, power consumption occurs in a voltage detector 5. Although the consumption current can be reduced by increasing the resistance of the resistors 11 and 12, this causes another problem. Specifically, diodes 8 and 9 are placed respectively on the power supply lines 1 and 2 to prevent current backflow. Although the diodes ideally transmit current in one direction only, backward current flows slightly in practice. For example, if power is supplied through the power supply line 1, the backward current occurs in the diode 9 and flows into the ground through the resistors 11 and 12. Then, even though no power is supplied through the power supply line 2, the base voltage of the transistor 17 increases due to the IR drop across the resistor 12. This turns off the transistor 18 and further turns off the transistor 20; as a result, the power supply from the power supply line 2 is shut off. To avoid this, the resistance of the resistor 12 cannot be set high enough. Consequently, the current consumed in the power supply selection/detection circuit cannot be reduced.


In the multi-tone demodulation (MTD) technique, even if an input bandwidth is widened to obtain a larger SNR gain, an increase in the signal to noise ration (SNR) gain cannot always be obtained due to clock jitter that increases clock noise. Also, noise is sometimes superimposed on the clock supplied to an analog to digital converter circuit (ADS) and the noise lowers the performance. Accordingly, the optical disc apparatus loosely regulates the bandwidth of a pulsed read signal; boosts the high-frequency components of a waveform of a driving signal of a laser diode; and synchronizes autonomously a driving clock of the ADC and a digital to analog converter circuit (DAC) with a clock of the pulsed read signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a reproduction technique of an optical disc drive.
2. Description of Related Art
The invention is applicable not only to Blu-ray Disc (BD) drives but also to other types of optical disc apparatuses. Nevertheless, the descriptions that follow are based on the BD drives and the terms that are used in the following descriptions are basically the same as those in the field of the BD drives.
Many of the existing optical disc apparatuses, such as BD drives adopt the high-frequency superimposing method to reduce noise that is produced by the laser diode used as its light source. This technique is disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1 and has been known to those skilled in the art. So, the descriptions of the technique are limited to only a part thereof that necessary for the descriptions that follow. No further details will be described.
In the optical system of an optical disc drive, if a part of the laser beams that are reflected by the surface of the disc enters the oscillating laser diode, such entry destabilizes the oscillation of the laser diode, and thus produces a significant amount of laser noise. The high-frequency superimposing method is used to avoid the production of such laser noise. The name "high-frequency superimposing" method comes from the fact that the laser diode emits pulsed laser light by superimposing a high-frequency signal over the driving signal of the laser diode. FIG. 2 illustrates the waveform of the emitted light. Light emission and light extinction are repetitively alternated. Note that the ratio (duty) of each light-emitting period to each interval between two adjacent laser pulses (modulation frequency) is a parameter that is to be adjusted so as to minimize the laser noise. Specifically, the frequency and the duty are selected so that the laser pulse that is reflected by the surface of the disc cannot enter the oscillating laser diode.
If the pulsed laser beam is focused on the recording film of the optical disc, the intensity of the reflected laser beam varies depending upon whether the position irradiated with the laser beam is a mark or a space. Accordingly, the amplitudes of the laser pulses are modulated. If there is no bandwidth limitation imposed by the photodiode for reproduction or by the current to voltage amplifier, the read signal waveform will look like as shown in FIG. 3. Hereafter, the signal made of such a read pulse string will be referred to as the pulsed read signal. The dashed line in FIG. 3 represents the read signal waveform obtained when the laser is made to oscillate continuously with an output level that is the same as the level of the peak of the laser pulse at the time of high-frequency superimposition. To put it differently, the upper-side envelope of the pulsed read signal has a shape of the read waveform caused by the continuous light. Thus, a desired read waveform can be obtained by an envelope detection, that is, by passing the pulsed read signal through a low-pass filter having a cut-off frequency sufficiently lower than the frequency of the high-frequency current that is superimposed on the pulsed read signal. The existing optical disc apparatuses achieve the desired read waveform by means of a bandwidth limitation that is imposed by a system including a photodetector and a current to voltage amplifier as well as by an analog equalizer.
Pulsing read signal is a sort of amplitude modulation. Thus, not only the line-like spectrum of the superimposed high-frequency signal, but also the components of the modulated read signal are observed near the line-like spectrum. For this reason, in the following descriptions of this disclosure, the superimposed high-frequency signal will be referred simply to as the "carrier."
A possible, standard frequency for carrier is, for example, 400 MHz in the case of BD drives. The frequency depends solely on the optical path length of the read optical system, so that there seem to be no big differences among different apparatuses.
FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplar spectrum of a pulsed read signal. The dashed line in FIG. 4 represents, schematically, how the bandwidth limitation is imposed by the system including the photodetector and the current to voltage amplifier as well as by the analog equalizer. As shown in FIG. 4, the conversion of a pulsed read signal to a continuous signal according to the conventional method can be accomplished by totally attenuating the harmonic components. Accordingly, the amplitude of the obtained read signal becomes smaller. The ratio of the amplitude thus obtained to the amplitude of the pulsed read signal is approximately equal to the pulse duty.
A technique known as the multi-tone demodulation (MTD) is a technique to prevent such decline of the SNR. Detailed descriptions of this technique are disclosed in Patent Document 1, and Non-Patent document 2 also describes the technique.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-73147
[Non-Patent Document 1] Akira Arimoto et al., "Kosyuha-denryu cyojyohou ni yoru handotai-reza tosai video-disuku-pureiya no reza-noizu teigen-ka (Reduction in Laser Noise of Video Disc Player Equipped with Semiconductor Laser by High-Frequency Current Superimposing Method)", Kogaku (Optics), vol. 14, no. 5, pp. 377-383.
[Non-Patent Document 2] Frank Op't Eynde and Willy Sansen, Analog Interfaces for Digital Signal Processing Systems, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1993, Boston/Dordrecht/London, pp. 91-92.
[Non-Patent Document 3] Atsushi Kikukawa and Hiroyuki Minemura, "Novel HF-pulse read signal converter for increasing read signal SNR", Digest of International Symposium on Optical Memory 2007, pp. 302-303.

Signal conversion module and optical disc apparatus using the same


A scent masking device for masking a person's body scent while hunting or performing other outdoor activities related to tracking wildlife. The device includes a portable housing having a plurality of air vents, a power supply designed to provide electrical energy to a control panel, an ozone generator, and a fan. The ozone generator is designed to produce ozone when a charge is applied to a plurality of insulated electrode plates coated with trace amounts of conductive materials exposed to atmospheric gases. The fan is designed to expel the generated ozone through at least one of the plurality of air vents outward and away from the hunter, such that the hunter's scent is masked by the expelled ozone within the immediately surrounding region.

The present invention relates to masking body scent while hunting or performing other outdoor activities related to tracking wildlife. More specifically, the present invention provides an ozone dispenser for outdoorsmen to conceal their presence by obscuring their scent when out in the wilderness.
Hunters are willing to go to great lengths to conceal their bodily scent from wild game in an effort to prevent the wild game from detecting their presence on the trail. If the scent is detected the hunter's position will be compromised and the wild game is likely to scurry off never to be seen again. Leaving the hunter without an opportunity to take a shot and potentially bring down the game. The present invention provides a means for hunters to effectively mask their scent and reduce the instance of missed opportunities causes by being detected by the wild game before they are ready to make their presence known.
Devices have been disclosed in the known art that relate to scent masks that dispense ozone. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications. These devices generally relate to covering an unpleasant aroma in a human environment. However, none of these devices utilize an ozone generator in combination with a portable housing, power supply, air vents, fan, and control panel.
In light of the devices disclosed in the known art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the known art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing scent masking devices. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.


A pill organizer assembly and the associated method of organizing and isolating multiple doses of pharmaceuticals using a pill organizer. The pill organizer includes a holding case. A plurality of partition walls extend between the side walls in the holding case. The partition walls define a plurality of compartments. A lid is provided that is selectively positionable into a closed position on the holding case. A plurality of removable receptacles are provided. A removable receptacle is disposed within each of the plurality of compartments. The lid creates a seal against each of the removable receptacles when the removable receptacles are within the plurality of compartments and the lid is in its closed position. The seal created by the lid isolates the contents of the removable receptacles until they are removed from the holding case.

1. Field of the Invention
In general, the present invention relates to pill organizers that hold pills in dose units and enable a patient to keep track of when and if the pills have been taken properly. More particularly, the present invention relates to the structure of such pill organizers and features intended to maintain the cleanliness of such pill organizers.
2. Prior Art Description
Many people take pills on a regular basis. The pills taken may be vitamin pills or nutritional supplement pills. Many times the pills taken by a person are necessary to treat a medical condition or disease. Regardless of why pills are taken, if the pills are taken on a regular basis, it is very easy for a person to forget that certain pills were taken at certain times. If a person forgets they have already taken a pill and takes the same pill again, that person may overdose or otherwise experience an adverse reaction. If a person forgets to take a pill, that person may lack the benefits provided by the pill. Both scenarios present significant health risks to a person.
To complicate matters, the number of pills taken regularly by a person tends to increase with age. Furthermore, short-term memory tends to decrease with age. Accordingly, it is very common for an elderly person to forget whether or not they have taken their medications in a timely fashion.
Recognizing the need to help people keep track of medications, pill organizers have been developed. Pill organizers are storage containers that are divided into various compartments. Often the pill organizer has several compartments to represent the seven days of the week. Pills are placed into each of the compartments at the beginning of the week. A person then takes the pills from one of the compartments everyday. If a person sees that the "Monday" compartment is empty, he/she knows that the pills for that day have already been taken. Such prior art pill organizers are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,506 to Welles, entitled INFORMATION AND MEDICATION COMPLIANCE ORGANIZER and U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,085, to Denney, entitled PILL BOX HOLDER.
Often, a prior art pill organizer is a plastic box that defines a plurality of small square compartments. The pills are placed into the compartments. In order to take the pills, a person must first reach into the small compartment and remove the pills. This seams simple, but it often is not. Many pills are very small. It is difficult to reach and grab such pills at the bottom of a narrow compartment. The task is far more difficult for elderly patients that may have arthritis in their hands and/or poor eyesight.
Another problem associated with prior art pill organizers is one of cross-contamination. When pills are placed inside a small compartment, some fragment dust from that pill remains inside the pill compartment. The fragment dust may then contaminate other pills that are subsequently placed inside the pill organizer. For example, many cholesterol lowering drugs are known to cause birth defects in pregnant women. Pregnant women are advised against even touching such drugs. If a pregnant woman uses a pill organizer to organize her prenatal medications, and that pill organizer is contaminated with cholesterol lowering drugs from previous usage, serious consequences may result.
Yet another disadvantage of prior art pill organizers is that the pills within the organizers are not isolated from the surrounding environment. Pills may lay in a pill organizer for days or weeks, depending upon the size of the organizer. Many pills contain pharmaceutical compounds that are adversely affected by humidity and other environmental factors, such as heat and light. Such pills are typically held within sealed pill cases provided by the pharmacy. However, when the pill is removed from the pill case and is placed in the pill organizer, the pill becomes exposed to the surrounding environment for possibly a prolonged period of time.
A need therefore exists for an improved pill organizer that not only tracks the taking of medications, but also makes the medications easily accessible and prevents potentially dangerous cross-contamination and environmental degradation. This need is met by the present invention as described and claimed below.

Pill organizer containing disposable receptacles


Systems, client computing devices, server computing devices, and methods are disclosed for accessing medical devices, providing remote access to medical devices and/or remotely accessing medical devices. In one exemplary embodiment, client computing devices utilize protocol components that may be obtained from a server computing device via a network to communicate with medical devices in a communications protocol supported by the medical device.

Patients commonly use medical devices to monitor various biological and/or physiological conditions. For example, patients with diabetes often utilize a blood glucose meter to monitor their blood glucose levels periodically. However, medical devices are also used for monitoring and/or analyzing biological/physiological parameters or conditions such as body fluids or bodily functions (e.g. blood, urine, saliva), bodily signals (e.g. electrocardio-signals, brain waves, blood pressure waves), and/or other bodily stimuli (e.g. respiration) to obtain measurements of blood pressure, blood gases, blood coagulation, electrolytes, cardiovascular activity, drug levels, respiration rate, stress, etc. These medical devices often store measurement data which may be retrieved, archived, and/or analyzed. Physicians, nurses, technicians, and patients typically find such measurement data useful in assessing the patient's health, in assessing the effectiveness of medications and other treatments, and in adjusting a patient's current treatment regime to obtain better health for the patient.
To facilitate retrieval of data, the above medical devices typically include a communications port which allows communication with another device such as a computer. Furthermore, the medical devices are often implemented such that a computing device may control the medical device and adjust various operating parameters via the communications port. However, in order to retrieve the data from the medical device, control the medical device, and/or adjust various operating parameters of the medical device via the communications port, the computing device must be configured to communicate with the medical device via a communications protocol designed for the specific medical device.


A lightweight, pocket-sized unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that can be held in an outstretched hand by a user for take-off and landing of the UAV. The UAV comprises a semi-toroidal or a substantially toroidal hollow body that defines a duct. The UAV further comprises a motor for rotating a fan that directs air into and out of the duct enabling UAV to take flight. The UAV comprises a flight-control system that comprises at least two flight control surfaces that can alter the directed air as it flows through the duct for controlling the roll and pitch and optionally the yaw of the UAV during flight. The flight control system may be controlled by a microprocessor controller. The UAV further comprises a payload, with at least a wireless transmitter and receiver unit.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) perform various tasks including aerial surveillance for military, civilian and commercial purposes.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,111 to Moller describes a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) type of UAV that uses a single propeller to direct air through a single duct for generating lift. The single duct has multiple vanes and spoilers that act together to control the flight path of the UAV. At least the spoilers described in Moller are positioned within the single duct, which may reduce the air flow therethrough and the lift capabilities of this UAV. Furthermore, Moller describes an engine that requires a fuel tank, which is carried upon the UAV.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,478 to Cycon et al. describes another VTOL UAV with a single duct that is defined by a toroidal-shaped fuselage. This UAV has dual, counter-rotating blades that direct air through the single duct for generating lift. The flight path of the UAV is controlled by collective and cyclic pitch control of the counter-rotating blades. Cycon describes housing diametrically opposed fuel tanks within the toroidal-shaped fuselage.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,445 also to Moller describes another VTOL UAV that uses dual, counter-rotating blades that direct air through a single duct for generating lift. The flight path of the UAV is controlled by trough-shaped air deflection assemblies that are positioned at an output end of the duct for collecting and redirecting a portion of the directed air.
These known UAVs all require components such as fuel tanks or exposed deflection assemblies that contribute to the overall mass and size of the UAV.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Flight control for an unmanned aerial vehicle


A method and apparatus for biasing the voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) (110) of a Phase Locked Loop (PLL) (100) includes a bias circuit (114) providing a peak minimum/maximum voltage detector (202) tied to the control line (116) of the PLL (100). During operation, the detector (202) detects a minimum or maximum voltage on the VCO control line (116) as the bias control voltage (118) applied to the VCO (110) is varied. Detection of such a minimum or maximum voltage is equivalent to the detection of a minimum or a maximum frequency, which in turn equates to the detection of an optimal bias condition for noise.

Voltage controlled oscillators (VCOs) are well known in the art. The primary function of a VCO is to provide a frequency response output as a function of voltage input signal amplitude. Despite the numerous advantages associated with using a VCO to support frequency synthesis, one basic shortcoming is the need to set the VCO bias in order to establish a stable quiescent (Q) operating point. As will be appreciated, the noise performance of a VCO is greatly influenced by Q. Failure to properly set the VCO bias may result in the generation of additive noise during operation.
Traditional methods for VCO biasing rely heavily on mechanical and/or manual procedures. Such methods may include the steps of: monitoring the VCO output frequency in response to a given VCO control voltage, or monitoring the VCO control voltage at a given frequency response, and then mechanically adjusting or laser trimming a bias resistor within the VCO's bias network.
As will be appreciated, such manual tuning operations are typically labor intensive, expensive, and susceptible to environmentally induced variations such as temperature, humidity, altitude, etc. It would be extremely advantageous therefore to provide a self-biasing VCO.

Self-biased voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) method and apparatus


According to the present invention, a protein which binds to DRE to activate the transcription of genes located downstream of the DRE, a gene encoding the protein, a recombinant vector comprising the gene, a transformant comprising the recombinant vector, a transgenic plant comprising the gene, and a method for producing the gene using the transformant are provided. The present invention is useful for creating a stress tolerant plant.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a protein which binds to a stress responsive element and regulates the transcription of genes located downstream of the element; a gene coding for the above protein; a recombinant vector comprising the gene; a transformant comprising the recombinant vector; a transgenic plant comprising the gene; a method for producing the above protein using the transformant; and a method for determining a stress level in a plant.
2. Prior Art
Transcription of genes is performed by RNA polymerase. RNA polymerase synthesizes ribonucleoside phosphates in the 5xe2x80x2 to 3xe2x80x2 direction using double-stranded DNA as a template in a primer independent manner. In the case of Escherichia coli, for example, its RNA polymerase takes the form of a holoenzyme in which xcfx81 factor having promoter recognition ability is bound to the core enzyme xcex2xe2x80x2xcex2xcex12. This RNA polymerase initiates transcription and elongates RNA chain; the transcription is terminated by the binding of xcfx81 factor. On the other hand, in the case of eucaryotes, RNA polymerase is classified into RNA polymerases I, II and III, any of which has a complicated structure composed of more than 10 subunits. RNA polymerase I selectively transcribes rRNA; RNA polymerase II selectively transcribes mRNA precursor; and RNA polymerase III selectively transcribes tRNA and 5SrRNA. The amount of RNA synthesized by such RNA polymerase varies widely depending on the growth stage of the relevant cells and environmental changes around them. A transcription factor which positively or negatively regulates the transcription initiation of RNA polymerase is deeply involved in the variation in the amount of RNA synthesis.
Generally, living cells are exposed to an external environment composed of a number of factors including temperature, pressure, oxygen, light, radioactive rays, metal ions, organic compounds, etc. When these factors vary, cells perceive such changes as stress and make characteristic responses to them. For example, cells exhibit a response called xe2x80x9cheat shock responsexe2x80x9d to high temperatures. From this response, the expression of a group of heat shock proteins (HSPs) is induced. HSPs prevent the irreversible precipitation of heat-denatured proteins and have the function of molecular chaperone that facilitates the refolding of such proteins, thereby protecting cells from heat stress. It is known that a transcription factor called xe2x80x9cheat shock factor (HSF)xe2x80x9d plays an important role in the manifestation of the above-described heat shock response in human, Xenopus, Drosophila, etc. [Kazuhiro Nagata, Cell Technology, 10:348-356 (1991)]. When activated by heat shock, HSF binds to heat shock element (HSE) located upstream of a gene coding for HSP (also known as heat shock gene) to thereby promote the transcription of the heat shock gene.
On the other hand, it is also reported that plants induce stress proteins such as LEA proteins, water channel proteins or synthetases for compatible solutes in their cells when they are exposed to stress such as dehydration, low temperature, freezing or salt, thereby protecting their cells from such stress. However, much more research is required to elucidate transcription factors which regulate the transcription of genes encoding those stress proteins.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a protein which regulates the transcription of genes located downstream of a stress responsive element which is essential for controlling stress responsive gene expression; a gene encoding the protein; a recombinant vector comprising the gene; a transformant comprising the recombinant vector; a transgenic plant comprising the gene; a method for producing the above protein using the transformant; and a method for determining a stress level in a plant.
As a result of extensive and intensive researches toward the solution of the above-described problem, the present inventors have succeeded in isolating from a low temperature resistant plant Arabidopsis thaliana a gene coding for a transcription factor which binds to a stress responsive element and activates the transcription of genes located downstream of the element. Thus, the present invention has been achieved.
The present invention relates to the following recombinant protein (a) or (b):
(a) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 8 or SEQ ID NO: 10;
(b) a protein which consists of the amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution or addition of at least one amino acid in the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 8 or SEQ ID NO: 10 and which regulates the transcription of genes located downstream of a stress responsive element.
Further, the present invention relates to a transcription factor gene coding for the following protein (a) or (b):
(a) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 8 or SEQ ID NO: 10;
(b) a protein which consists of the amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution or addition of at least one amino acid in the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 8 or SEQ ID NO: 10 and which regulates the transcription of genes located downstream of a stress responsive element.
Further, the present invention relates to a gene comprising the following DNA (c) or (d):
(c) a DNA consisting of the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 7 or SEQ ID NO: 9;
(d) a DNA which hybridizes with the DNA consisting of the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 7 or SEQ ID NO: 9 under stringent conditions and which codes for a protein that regulates the transcription of genes located downstream of a stress responsive element.
Specific examples of the above-mentioned stress include dehydration stress, low temperature stress and salt stress.
Further, the present invention relates to a recombinant vector comprising the gene of the invention.
Further, the present invention relates to a transformant comprising the recombinant vector.
Further, the present invention relates to a transgenic plant comprising the gene of the invention.
Further, the present invention relates to a method for producing a protein which regulates the transcription of genes located downstream of a stress responsive element, comprising culturing the above transformant in a medium and recovering the protein from the resultant culture.
Further, the present invention relates to a method for determining a stress level in a plant, comprising determining a transcription level of the gene of the invention in the plant.

Genes encoding plant transcription factors

Independent Administrative Institute Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences

Bio-oriented Technology Research Advancement Institution


An optical transmission equipment having a switchover control function of optical transmission lines enables to reduce a required space in a common equipment supervision and control portion. The optical transmission equipment includes a pair of a work interface unit and a protection interface unit each accommodating an optical transmission line, and an add drop multiplexing unit for selecting an optical signal output from either of the interface unit pair. Each interface unit includes a switchover controller, and each of the interface unit pair is mutually connected via a communication path so as to share status information among the switchover controllers. Upon a failure in the work interface unit side of the interface unit pair, the failure is reported to the protection interface unit side prepared as an object for switchover, to send a switchover request from the protection interface unit side to the add drop multiplexing unit.

In optical transmission equipment, transmission lines are redundantly configured to improve availability. Examples of such a redundant configuration are shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.
FIG. 1 shows an exemplary configuration of optical transmission equipment incorporating switch control of an optical transmission line to switch over between a work line and a protection line constituted on a 1:1 configuration basis. The optical transmission equipment accommodates a plurality of optical transmission lines 1, 2 . . . n in an add drop multiplexing unit (hereinafter referred to as ADM unit) 10 via corresponding interface units IF1, IF2 . . . IFn.
Each interface unit IF1, IF2 . . . IFn is provided with a pair of interface units IF1-1 and IF1-2 so as to accommodate a pair of transmission lines constituting a work line (W) and a protection line (P).
The optical transmission equipment further includes an equipment supervision and control portion 20. This equipment supervision and control portion 20 has a switchover controller 21. An alarm signal (APS) is transmitted and received to/from other optical transmission equipment through interface units IF1, IF2 . . . IFn. Equipment supervision and control portion 20 receives a switchover trigger signal SWTRG when either a line failure is detected by interface units IF1, IF2 . . . IFn or a hardware failure is detected in the transmission and reception portion of interface unit IF.
Meanwhile, in ADM unit 10, switchover units 11-1 to 11-n (which are selectors for selectively switching over from a work line to a protection line related to a certain interface unit) are provided corresponding to a plurality of optical transmission lines 1, 2 . . . n for switching work and protection lines.
Each switchover unit 11-1 to 11-n switches interface units corresponding to a work line and a protection line according to a switchover command SWCMD which is generated by switchover controller 21 based on a switchover trigger signal SWTRG from interface unit IF1, IF2 . . . IFn.
In FIG. 2, there is shown a configuration example of optical transmission equipment having built-in switchover control of work/protection optical transmission lines being provided on a 1:N basis. In this configuration example, one transmission line among a plurality (n+1) of optical transmission lines is reserved for a protection line. This protection line is switched over to work state when a failure occurs on a work line.
For this purpose, ADM unit 10 provides one switchover unit 11 (in this example, a selector to switch from a failed work interface to a protection interface), to switch the interface units corresponding to the work/protection transmission lines in response to a switchover command SWCMD sent from switchover controller 21.
FIG. 3 shows a conventional BLSR (bi-directional line switched ring) switchover configuration being allocated on a ring transmission line. Switchover controller 21 in equipment supervision and control portion 20 controls switchover unit pairs (here, circuits for either bridging or switching) 11-1, 11-2 . . . 11-n in ADM unit 10 corresponding to each plurality of transmission lines based on a switchover trigger signal SWTRG from interface units IF1, IF2 . . . IFn.
In such a conventional configuration of a redundant control system, it is essential to provide switchover controller 21 as a control unit separately provided from switchover units 11, 11-1 . . . 11-n in ADM unit 10. Therefore, it is required to prepare a space for switchover controller 21.
Also, when the number of the aforementioned switchover unit pair 11-1 to 11-n becomes larger, a control unit 21 must be divided into separate units from the viewpoint of performance, which further requires additional space.
Therefore, it is to be assumed to provide control unit 21 independently of the switchover unit corresponding to each transmission line. However, in such a configuration, normal switchover to the protection side cannot be guaranteed on occurrence of a failure in an independent control unit itself. In addition, it is necessary to evaluate a status of the protection side prior to the switchover.


A method for mounting a valve seat ring on a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine includes providing a valve seat ring, which has a ring height, and which is measured along an axial direction. The valve seat ring includes a support portion made of a support material and a functional portion made of a functional material. The valve seat ring is arranged on the cylinder head and the support portion of the support material is at least partially removed, so that the ring height of the valve seat ring is reduced.

It is known to powder metallurgically produce valve seat rings for inlet and outlet valves including a functional portion and a support portion. While the functional portion is wear-resistant, among other things, the support portion contributes to the creep resistance of the valve seat ring and prevents the latter from falling out of the accommodation, which is provided for the valve seat ring on the cylinder head. In addition, the production costs are lowered with the use of a cost-efficient support material.
After the production, the so-called "double layer" valve seat rings are mounted on accommodations of cylinder heads provided for valve seat rings. The valve seat rings are thereby pressed into the accommodation, support portion first, and the functional portion facing away from the cylinder head is finished to ensure the concentricity of valve seat ring and accommodation, and a captive contact between valve body and valve seat ring. Such valve seat rings are known, for example, from DE102016109539A1.
Valve seat rings having a small ring height, in particular having a ring height of less than 4 millimeters (mm), prove to be advantageous for load change ratios of an internal combustion engine, but also to be advantageous for a cooling of the cylinders due to a smaller provided distance to a water jacket of the internal combustion engine. To produce valve seat rings having low ring height, however, new mounting and production plants need to usually be provided or the production costs need to be raised. In addition, deformations and improper mounting results more easily when arranging valve seat rings having a low ring height.

Method for mounting a valve seat ring on a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine


A bracket assembly for use in a vehicle. The bracket assembly includes one or more first center bearing brackets, one or more plates, and one or more attachment members. At least a portion of the one or more plates are connected to at least a portion of the first center bearing bracket and to at least a portion of a body or frame of a vehicle. Additionally, at least a portion of the one or more attachment members are connected to at least a portion of the first center bearing bracket, to at least a portion of the one or more plates, and/or to at least a portion of the body or frame of the vehicle.

Various center bearing bracket assemblies are known in the art. Conventional center bearing bracket assemblies have poor noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) characteristics, are difficult to manufacture, are difficult to install on a vehicle, have a poor overall life and durability, and tend to cause fouling between a center bearing cushion and the various mating components of the assembly. As a result, if would therefore be advantageous to develop a center bearing bracket assembly that has improved NVH characteristics, is easy to manufacture, is easy to install on a vehicle, has an improved overall life and durability, and does not cause damage to the center bearing cushion when installed on the vehicle.


A backrest (7) includes: a tensile material (71) on which a load support surface (71f) configured to receive a load of a seated person is formed; a back front frame (80F) that supports an outer peripheral end portion (71e) of the tensile material (71); an attachment portion (87) which is formed in the back front frame (80F) and faces the tensile material (71) in a state where the attachment portion (87) is separated from the tensile material (71) in a direction intersecting the load support surface (71f); and a lumber support (200) that is attachable to and detachable from the attachment portion (87), in which the lumber support (200) includes an attaching portion (222) which extends in a direction along the load support surface (71f), is inserted into a gap (S) between the tensile material (71) and the attachment portion (87), and is fixed to the attachment portion (87).

As described in Patent Document 1, a chair in which a backrest is provided in front of a backrest support frame rising from a rear portion of a seat surface and the backrest includes a net-shaped tensile material, a back frame holding an outer peripheral portion of the tensile material, and a lumbar support provided behind the tensile material is known. In this configuration, the lumbar support is attached to a lumbar support holding portion which extends upward from a lower portion of the back frame and is integrally formed with the back frame.
In such a chair, if the lumbar support is set as an optional member to be selectively attached to the chair, even when the lumbar support is not attached to the chair, the lumbar support holding portion integrally formed with the back frame remains and hence an appearance is impaired.
In contrast, for example, as shown in Patent Document 2, there is proposed a chair having a configuration in which both end portions of a lumbar support in a width direction are supported to be attachable or detachable by side frame bars provided at both left and right sides of a back frame via a pair of left and right holding members.
In the chair with this configuration, a convex portion provided in each holding member is fitted to a concave portion formed in the corresponding side frame bar so that the holding member for supporting the end portion of the lumbar support is attachable to or detachable from the side frame bar.
Further, conventionally, there are cases in which the backrest of the chair is provided with a lumbar support, a headrest, or a hanger as an optional member.
For example, Patent Document 3 discloses a chair (furniture) in which an optional member such as a hanger or a headrest can be strongly and easily attached to a backrest. The optional member disclosed in Patent Document 3 can be attached to an attached surface of a main body support member of the backrest of the chair by surface contact.
Further, Patent Document 4 discloses a chair (furniture) in which attachment, replacement, and positional adjustment of an optional member can be easily performed. In the chair disclosed in Patent Document 4, an upper frame of the backrest is held between a front attaching member and a rear attaching member of an attachment member of a hanger (optional member) while the front attaching member and the rear attaching member both contact a contact surface of the upper frame.
Further, in the backrest disclosed in Patent Documents 4 and 5, an optional member is attached to a frame member for supporting a surface material which receives a load of a seated person. The optional member includes an attaching portion attached to the frame member. The attaching portion disclosed in Patent Documents 4 and 5 is joined to the frame member by a bolt while the frame member is sandwiched by two members.
Since the frame member is provided with a surface material support portion for supporting the surface material, the attaching portion is provided with an opening portion in which the surface material support portion is disposed so as not to interfere with the surface material support portion.
Further, the backrest disclosed in Patent Document 5 is attached to the frame member while a convex portion formed in the attaching portion is inserted into a groove portion formed in the frame member.

Backrest, lumbar support, chair, attachment structure for optional member, optional member, and furniture


A portable Dynamic Testing Vehicle able to test for surface friction, drag, and travel distance, through contaminates accounting for longitudinal and lateral acceleration. The DFT is completely self contained with on board power supply, control unit, and water tank. The DFT has a high profile and long chassis to facilitate ease of movement and measurement at up to 100 km/h. Data obtained is transferred through the use of a wireless data transfer to a small handheld personal computer and then to a desktop computer where data is analyzed and or archived via specifically written software.

Runway Friction Machines have been in existence since the early 1960's. Typically, these devices measure the resistance of a wheel to roll with regards to a runway, road, or other surface. This resistance will vary according to the friction characteristics of the surface tested. The introduction of water, snow, ice or other contaminates to the surface effects the accuracy of the data and makes the testing highly inaccurate. Accurate measurement of the surface is critical to braking protocols for vehicles that traverse said surface, for example, a pilot flying a commercial aircraft must know the proper coefficient of friction in order to brake appropriately upon landing. Machines presently available will give false information when measuring a runway with a contamination such as water, snow or slush. This additional rolling resistance will result in a friction machine recording a higher friction value when testing a contaminated runway, to the potential detriment to the vehicles traversing the surface.
In addition, a number of Friction Machines employ two wheels to generate the rolling friction value. This ultimately results in doubling of consumables as well as water quantity required. The Lock Wheel (variable Slip), employed on this product, employs a single friction measuring wheel, which reduces consumables.
In addition to the effect of contamination on aircraft braking performance, airfield operations in the wet depend on the depth of the water (contaminate) on the runway. This is because the impact of the water on the tire generates both a decelerating force on the tire and a spray that affects aircraft in terms of impingement on the airframe and ingestion by the engines. In conditions of snow or slush contamination, operations depend also on the strength properties of the contamination.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,098,111 by Hardmark et al. discloses a Roadway Friction Measuring Method and Apparatus for measuring and indicating limiting values for driving and braking vehicles in which a measuring wheel can be raised and lowered from a conventional wheeled vehicle to engage and disengage a substructure. Said wheel of this invention is driven within a predetermined slip in relation to vehicle speed and the resulting loads detected by suitably mounted transducers. Signals produced by the transducer are combined in an electric unit and displayed to indicate the braking force number. The apparatus of this invention is a single wheel device that measures the horizontal load in combination with the axle torque generated to calculate rolling friction. Therefore, this apparatus will not be able to distinguish between what is friction force and what is contamination force once said contamination is more than 3 millimeters deep.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,427,519 by Ueda et al. discloses a Road surface friction measuring method and device therefore wherein said device is mounted on a general car. The device has a spindle detachably connected to the wheel of a traveling wheel of a car, a support arm oscillatably connected to the spindle, and a measuring wheel supported rotatably by support arm. The support arm of this device contains vertical load generating mechanisms for applying a vertical load to be added to the self weight of the measuring wheel, a first detection unit for detecting the vertical load generating mechanism for applying a vertical load to be added to the self weight of the measuring wheel, a first detection unit for detecting the vertical load that is applied to the measuring wheel from the road surface, a rotation transmission mechanism for transmitting to the measuring wheel the rotation of the spindle so as to provide a circumferential velocity difference between the traveling wheel and the measuring wheel and a second detection unit for detecting the rotational resistance incurred by the measuring wheel from the road surface. The road surface friction coefficient is then calculated with a computing unit based on the self weight of the measuring vehicle including the detected values of these detection units and the arm itself.
Wherein Ueda et al's device does seem appropriate for the measurement of surface friction; there is no mention of rolling drag or lateral and longitudinal acceleration compensation. This would indicate that inaccuracies of measurements may be consistent in the data obtained from the device as disclosed in Ueda's patent.
Doherty discloses a vehicle mounted travel surface and weather condition monitoring system in U.S. Pat. No. 6,538,578 comprising of a system and apparatus for detecting and evaluating surface conditions on a road surface and atmospheric conditions simultaneously from a moving vehicle. The system comprises a sensor for detecting the presence of deposited material on a road surface, a detector for determining one or more characteristics of the deposited material such as its freezing temperature, process means for converting a detected signal and display means for displaying the condition of the road surface, and a sensor for detecting falling precipitation. An embodiment of the present invention includes a remote sensing apparatus which utilizes electromagnetic radiation to sense actual surface material conditions, temperatures, and composition and local atmospheric conditions at the vehicle as it is moving over a travel surface. This information is then processed through a computer in order to determine, preferably while the vehicle is in motion, those additional steps necessary to apply additional materials to the road surface in order to minimize hazardous driving conditions. Whereas this system and apparatus measures driving conditions, it has nothing to do with rolling friction or rolling drag measurement.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,211 by Strong discloses an apparatus for measuring friction characteristics of a vehicle-traveled surface comprising a wheeled vehicle having a test wheel assembly pivotally suspended there from by a parallelogram suspension arrangement. The test wheel assembly includes a test wheel carried by a drive shaft which is driven at predetermined slip by a differential coupled to the vehicle wheels. A gear chain extends from the differential to the drive shaft through a housing which forms one arm of the suspension. The second arm is formed by a rod which extends from the differential to one section of a two-axis strain gage wheel force transducer at the test wheel assembly. The differential is suspended by parallel struts from the vehicle frame. A positive displacement pump is coupled to the differential for placing a film of water beneath the test wheel having a thickness which is independent of vehicle speed. The pump and test wheel are clutch driven. Wherein the apparatus is seemingly appropriate for the measurement of surface characterizations, there is no mention of rolling friction or drag.
None of these apparatus describe a dynamic friction tester (DFT) that measures rolling friction, fluid drag, distance traveled, and normal load (vertical load on drag measuring wheel) while being mechanically suitable for Airport Operations.
Therefore, there is a need for such a system and apparatus for the dynamic and accurate and real time measurement of surface characteristics of surfaces such as roadways and runways.
It is an object therefore of this invention to provide a Dynamic Friction Tester (DFT) that may be towed behind a conventional vehicle.
It is another object of this invention to provide a DFT that measures rolling friction, fluid drag, normal load (vertical load of drag measurement wheel), and distance traveled.
It is another object of this invention to provide a DFT that is suitable for Airport Operations.
It is another object of this invention to provide a DFT with quick calibration procedures and the capability of full calibration including chassis geometry.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a DFT that can measure single runs up to 10,000 meters and up to 500,000 total meters without needing replacement parts.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a DFT that is dynamically stable when measuring at speeds up to 100 km/h.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a DFT that is able to adjust friction reading against test speed, lateral accelerations, and longitudinal accelerations.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a DFT with an independent power circuit.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a DFT having a portable hand held data recording device with data analysis via specifically designed software readable on a customer desktop.
These and other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.
Items of the Figures and Specification:    1. Overall Apparatus    2. Adjustable Tow Hitch    3. Nose Cone    4. Water Tank    5. Drag Sensor    6. Friction Sensor    7. On Board Battery Pack    8. On Board Battery Charger    9. Control Unit    10. Solar Panel    11. Distance Sensor    12. Drive Wheel    13. External Power Source    14. Rugged Hand Held Computer    15. Desk Top PC    16. Flexible Coupling    17. Load Cell

Dynamic friction testing vehicle to measure fluid drag and rolling friction


An image processing apparatus generates a left-eye viewpoint image and a right-eye viewpoint image, detects one or more pairs that are each a pair of a partial image of the left-eye viewpoint image and a partial image of the right-eye viewpoint image that are similar to each other, performs, for each of the one or more pairs, image adjustment processing for adjusting the three-dimensionality of one of or both of the partial images of the left-eye and right-eye viewpoint images, displays the left-eye viewpoint image or the left-eye viewpoint image after the image adjustment processing in a manner such that this image is capable of being observed with a left eye, and displays the right-eye viewpoint image or the right-eye viewpoint image after the image adjustment processing in a manner such that this image is capable of being observed with a right eye.

Apparatuses capable of displaying images that have a three-dimensional effect have been conventionally known.
Patent document 1 (Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 11-155153) discloses a three-dimensional-image display apparatus that includes a large-diameter optical system that forms two images corresponding to a subject, a first lenticular lens that separates the two images formed by the large-diameter optical system into a first image and a second image, an imaging unit that outputs electric signals corresponding to the first and second images obtained as a result of the separating performed by the first lenticular lens, a signal processing unit that generates a first image signal corresponding to the first image and a second image signal corresponding to the second image by processing the electric signals output from the imaging unit and generates a video signal of one frame by compositing the first and second image signals, a display unit that displays an image corresponding to the one frame by being driven in accordance with the image signal of the one frame output from the signal processing unit, and a second lenticular lens that allows the image to be three-dimensionally displayed by the display unit.

Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and recording medium having image processing program recorded therein


A semantic recognition system of the present invention provides a user interface capable of receiving speech input to a user and an application interface that conveys an input content of the user to an application. The semantic recognition system includes a speech signal input part for receiving input speech signals, a speech recognizer for recognizing a corresponding word based on the input speech signals, a recognized word-semantic number converter including a semantic number-registered word list indicating the correspondence between a semantic number representing a meaning of a word and a registered word belonging to the semantic number, an application interface and an application handling the semantic numbers as data. The corresponding word is recognized by the speech recognizer, based on the speech signals input to the speech signal input part. The recognized word is converted to a corresponding semantic number by the recognized word-semantic number converter. The converted semantic number is notified to the application via the application interface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for providing an interface with an application to which speech can be input, the system recognizing the meaning of an input instruction to the application with speech of a user and notifying the application of the meaning.
2. Description of the Related Art
The high performance of computer systems and the development of multimedia processing techniques in recent years have allowed the advent of a highly developed human-machine interface, and thus have paved the road to the development of an interactive application with human beings.
An application employing a conventional speech recognition technique roughly includes a speech input part, a speech recognizer and an application program part. The speech input part converts voice to speech signals via a speech input apparatus such as a microphone. Alternatively, the speech input part may read data from a file in which speech signals are recorded. The speech recognizer recognizes a word represented by input speech signals by template-matching with registered speech signal patterns, and notifies the application program of the recognized word. The application program performs the subsequent processes by utilizing the recognized word notified by the speech recognizer.
The features of the conventional speech recognition application are as follows: First, the application program is described as processing programs, each of which has a one-to-one correspondence to a word for speech recognition. More specifically, the speech recognizer recognizes a word by matching the word with a registered word and notifies the application program of the matched result. Therefore, in the application, it is necessary to classify the subsequent processes into processes necessary for each word recognition previously and to describe the processes individually.
Secondly, the application depends on a language of the registered words for recognition. More specifically, since words other than the words for recognition registered in the speech recognizer cannot be recognized, the application program is described on the basis of the language of registered words and thus depends on the language.
With the advancement and the complicity of the applications for development, the diversification of changes in the market needs and the internationalization of products at the present, the development of a variety of applications is required to meet a various demands such as reduction in development workload, shortening in development time and applicability in a plurality of languages. In view of these demands, the above-described conventional speech recognition application poses the following problems.
In light of the first feature of the conventional speech recognition application that processing of an application program is described corresponding to each word for speech recognition, the conventional speech recognition application poses the problems of increase of development workload and difficulty in tuning such as change or addition of words for recognition. More specifically, since it is necessary to classify previously process contents into processes necessary for each word for recognition and to describe the processes individually, the change or addition of a word for recognition affects all related parts of the application program, so that the description is required to be changed accordingly.
In light of the second feature of the conventional speech recognition application that the application depends on the language, the conventional speech recognition application poses the problems of increase of development workload and difficulty in dealing with a plurality of languages. More specifically, since the application contains language-dependent parts, a change in word expression in accordance with the language or dialect used by a user of the system affects all the language-dependent parts, so that localization work is needed to change the description.
In the conventional speech recognition application, it is possible to update the words for recognition or register additional words by updating or adding to a table for words for recognition. However, the update or the additional registration in the table for words for recognition affects all related parts in the application program. Furthermore, in order to deal with another language, when the table for words for recognition is replaced by a new table for that language, it is necessary to replace not only the table, but also the application program itself by a specially developed application program by localizing so as to deal with the language of the new table for words for recognition.


Forms B and C of (R)—N-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(cis-4-(6-fluoroquinolin-4-yl)cyclohexyl)propanamide are stable under the conditions of light, high temperature and high humidity.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO; also known as IDO1) is an IFN-γ target gene that plays a role in immune regulation. IDO is an oxidoreductase and is one of two enzymes that catalyze the first and rate-limiting step in the conversion of tryptophan to N-formyl-kynurenine. IDO plays a major role in immune regulation and its immunosuppressive function is shown in several ways. Importantly, IDO regulates immunity at the T-cell level and there is a relationship between IDO and cytokine production. In addition, tumors frequently manipulate immune function by up-regulating IDO. Thus, modulation of IDO can have therapeutic effects on a variety of diseases, symptoms and conditions.
There is a pathophysiological link between IDO and cancer. The destruction of immune homeostasis is closely related to tumor growth and development, and the production of IDO in the tumor microenvironment seems to help tumor growth and tumor metastasis. In addition, increased levels of IDO activity are associated with a variety of different tumors (Brandacher, G. et al, Clin. Cancer Res., 12(4): 1144-1151 (Feb. 15, 2006)). In addition to cancer, IDO has been particularly implicated in immunosuppression, chronic infections, and autoimmune diseases or symptoms (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis). Therefore, inhibition of tryptophan degradation by inhibiting IDO activity has great therapeutic value. Furthermore, inhibitors of IDO can be used to enhance T cell activation when T cells are suppressed by pregnancy, malignant diseases or viruses such as HIV. In addition, IDO inhibitors can also be used to treat patients with neurological or neuropsychiatric diseases or symptoms such as depression.
In view of the role of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase in a range of different diseases, symptoms and conditions and the efficacy of current IDO inhibitors, U.S. Pat. No. 9,643,972B2 discloses new IDO modulators and related compositions thereof (R)—N-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(cis-4-(6-fluoroquinolin-4-yl)cyclohexyl)propanamide disclosed in this patent document has the following structural formula,
which is an amorphous structure. Chinese researchers have found that crystal structures are still not available using a variety of known crystal form screening methods, while amorphous substances are relatively poorly stable under a variety of environmental conditions. Thereby, the active substance, pharmaceutical formulation or pharmaceutical composition has poor stability, especially poor hygroscopic stability. It is well known that the absorption of moisture will reduce the content of the pharmaceutically active substance which is increased in weight by taking up moisture. The pharmaceutical composition which tends to absorb moisture needs to avoid moisture during storage, and the addition of a desiccant or storage in a moisture-proof environment undoubtedly increases the storage cost of the drug. Thus, it can be seen that the preparation of a substance having good hygroscopic stability is of great significance both for storage and for maintaining the content of the pharmaceutically active substance.

Forms of (R)-N-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(cis-4-(6-fluoroquinolin-4- yl)cyclohexyl)propanamide