Methods of operating a charge trap nonvolatile memory device include operations to erase a first string of nonvolatile memory cells by selectively erasing even-numbered nonvolatile memory cells in the first string and then selectively erasing the odd-numbered nonvolatile memory cells in the first string, which may be interleaved with the even-numbered nonvolatile memory cells. This operation to selectively erase the even-numbered nonvolatile memory cells may include erasing the even-numbered nonvolatile memory cells while simultaneously biasing the odd-numbered nonvolatile memory cells in a blocking condition that inhibits erasure of the odd-numbered nonvolatile memory cells. The operation to selectively erase the odd-numbered nonvolatile memory cells may include erasing the odd-numbered nonvolatile memory cells while simultaneously biasing the even-numbered nonvolatile memory cells in a blocking condition that inhibits erasure of the even-numbered nonvolatile memory cells.

One class of nonvolatile memory devices includes electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), which may be used in many applications including embedded applications and mass storage applications. In typical embedded applications, an EEPROM device may be used to provide code storage in personal computers or mobile phones, for example, where fast random access read times may be required. Typical mass storage applications include memory card applications requiring high capacity and low cost.
One category of EEPROM devices includes NAND-type flash memories, which can provide a low cost and high capacity alternative to other forms of nonvolatile memory. FIG. 1A illustrates a conventional flash memory array 10 having a plurality of NAND-type strings therein. Each of these NAND-type strings includes a plurality of EEPROM cells, which are associated with respective even and odd bit lines (BL0_e, BL0_o, . . . , BLn_e, BLn_o). These bit lines are connected to a page buffer 12 having a plurality of buffer circuits (PB0, . . . , PBn) therein. Each EEPROM cell includes a floating gate electrode (or charge trap layer) and a control gate electrode, which is electrically connected to a respective word line (WL0, WL1, . . . , WLn). Access to each NAND string is enabled by driving a string select line (SSL) to a logic 1 voltage during reading and programming operations. Each NAND string also includes a respective ground select transistor, which is electrically connected to a ground select line (GSL).
As illustrated by FIG. 1B, the EEPROM cells within the flash memory array 10 of FIG. 1A may be cells that support a single programmed state. EEPROM cells that support only a single programmed state are typically referred to as single level cells (SLC). In particular, an SLC may support an erased state, which may be treated as a logic 1 storage value, and a programmed state, which may be treated as a logic 0 storage value. The SLC may have a negative threshold voltage (Vth) when erased (e.g., −3V<Vth<−1V) and a positive threshold voltage when programmed (e.g., 1V<Vth<3V). This programmed state may be achieved by setting the bit line BL to a logic 0 value (e.g., 0 Volts), applying a program voltage (Vpgm) to a selected EEPROM cell and applying a pass voltage (Vpass) to the unselected EEPROM cells within a string, as illustrated by FIG. 1C. In addition, during programming the NAND string may be enabled by applying a positive voltage (e.g., power supply voltage Vdd) to the string select line (SSL) and a ground voltage (e.g., 0 Volts) to the ground select line (GSL).
Moreover, the programmed state or erased state of an EEPROM cell may be detected by performing a read operation on a selected cell. As illustrated by FIG. 1D, a NAND string will operate to discharge a precharged bit line BL when a selected cell is in an erased state and the selected word line voltage (e.g., 0 Volts) is greater than the threshold voltage of the selected cell. However, when a selected cell is in a programmed state, the corresponding NAND string will provide an open circuit to the precharged bit line BL because the selected word line voltage (e.g., 0 Volts) is less than the threshold voltage of the selected cell and the selected cell remains "off". Other aspects of NAND-type flash memories are disclosed in an article by Jung et al., entitled "A 3.3 Volt Single Power Supply 16-Mb Nonvolatile Virtual DRAM Using a NAND Flash Memory Technology," IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. 32, No. 11, pp. 1748-1757, November (1997), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
FIG. 2A is an electrical schematic of a conventional charge trap flash (CTF) memory array 10′ having a plurality of NAND-type strings of charge trap memory cells therein that are electrically coupled to respective bit lines BL0-BLm. Each of the NAND-type strings in the array 10′ includes a string selection transistor, a plurality of memory cell transistors and a ground selection transistor. The string selection transistors are responsive to a string selection signal provided on a string selection line SSL and the ground selection transistors are responsive to a ground selection signal provided on a ground selection line GSL. The source terminals of the ground selection transistors are connected to a common source line CSL, which may be biased at a ground reference potential (e.g., GND=Vss=0 Volts), and the drain terminals of the string selection transistors are connected to respective bit lines. Each row of memory cell transistors within the array 10′ is electrically coupled to a corresponding word line (shown as WL0-Wn).
FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of a NAND-type string of transistors within the array 10′. These transistors are formed within a semiconductor region 110, which may be a P-well region (PW) within a semiconductor substrate. This semiconductor region 110 forms rectifying junctions with the source/drain regions 140 of the transistors. A multilayer charge trap layer 120 is provided on a surface of the semiconductor region 110. This multilayer charge trap layer 120 includes a tunnel layer 122, a charge storage layer 124 and a blocking layer 126. The string selection lines, ground selection lines and word lines may be formed as metallization patterns 130 that extend on the multilayer charge trap layer 120, as illustrated. The string selection transistors and ground selection transistors within each NAND-type string may be configured as disclosed at FIGS. 2, 5-6 and 10 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,881,626 Lee et al., entitled "Method of Fabricating A Non-Volatile Memory Device With a String Select Gate," the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
An interlayer insulating layer 145 is provided on the metallization patterns 130. This interlayer insulating layer 145 may be patterned to define bit line openings therein that expose corresponding drain regions 140 of the string selection transistors. These openings are filled with bit line plugs 150, which are electrically connected to corresponding bit lines BL. Similarly, the interlayer insulating layer 145, which may be a composite of multiple insulating layers, includes a common source line CSL that is electrically connected to corresponding source regions 140 of the ground selection transistors within the memory array 10′. These and other aspects of the CTF memory array 10′ are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,774,433 to Lee et al., the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Charge trap flash (CTF) memory cells are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,126,185 to Kang et al. and U.S. Pat. Publication No. 2006/0171209 to Sim et al.

Methods of operating nonvolatile memory devices to inhibit parasitic charge accumulation therein


In a battery cooling device for cooling a battery with air from a cooling unit, such as a cooling fan, the air flow of the cooling unit is optimally controlled. A air flow control device calculates a calorific value of the battery based on an internal resistance of the battery and a charge/discharge current measured by a current measurement unit, calculates the difference as a differential temperature between battery temperature measured by a battery temperature measurement unit and ambient temperature measured by an ambient temperature measurement unit, and controls the air flow of the cooling fan on the basis of the calculated calorific value and the differential temperature.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for cooling a battery by blowing air, such as from a cooling fan.
2. Description of the Related Art
Batteries are known to generate Joule heat when being charged or discharged. To prevent an excessive rise in battery temperature due to Joule heat, known battery cooling devices cool batteries by blowing cooling air from a cooling fan.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 8-148190 discloses a battery cooling device for detecting discharge current flowing to a battery supply line by a current sensor, calculating the calorific value of the battery from the detected current value and a pre-stored battery internal resistance value, and supplying cooling air to the battery by controlling a cooling air flow of a cooling fan based on an output in accordance with the calculated calorific value. Furthermore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 8-148190 discloses a battery cooling device for estimating the battery temperature at the end of discharge on the basis of the remaining capacity of the battery and the battery temperature rising rate and controlling the cooling air flow of the cooling fan on the basis of the estimated battery temperature.
Moreover, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 9-92347 discloses a battery cooling device for controlling a cooling air flow of a cooling fan on the basis of an estimated internal temperature by estimating the internal temperature of a battery on the basis of the surface temperature of the battery and the calorific value of the battery.
In this manner, the cooling air flow of the cooling fan is controlled on the basis of the battery temperature and calorific value in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 8-148190 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 9-92347.
However, the cooling air flow required to cool the battery is influenced not only by parameters indicating the state of the battery, such as battery temperature and calorific value, but also by the surrounding environment of the battery. Namely, the ease of cooling the battery changes depending on the surrounding environment of the battery. Therefore, the cooling air flow of the cooling fan may be excessive or insufficient if the cooling air flow of the cooling fan is determined only by parameters indicating the state of the battery, such as battery temperature and calorific value.

Battery cooling device, air flow control device, and computer readable medium


According to one embodiment, a decoding device decodes a (k+m) bit codeword in accordance with a check matrix. The codeword includes k-bit information symbols and an m-bit parity check code. The check matrix includes a unit matrix and a coefficient matrix. The most significant bit of each of a second vector to a last vector in the coefficient matrix is 1. Binary codes with values 1 to k−1 are sequentially arranged from the second vector to the last vector in a matrix which is obtained by excluding the most significant bits of the second to the last vectors from the matrix including the second to the last vectors. A first vector of the coefficient matrix disagrees with the other vectors in the check matrix, and the first vector is composed of a specified bit pattern having a most significant bit of 0.

1. Field
One embodiment of the invention relates to a decoding device for decoding a codeword, which includes information symbols and a parity check code, in accordance with a check matrix, and to a storage device and a decoding method.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a storage device or a communication device makes use of an error correction function for correcting an error in information symbols. In most of error correction functions, a parity check code is used.
Japanese Patent No. 2539343 discloses an error correction circuit which corrects an error in a data field including parity bits.
In usual cases, a parity check code (also referred to as "parity bits") corresponding to information symbols is generated in accordance with a generator matrix. In addition, a codeword, which includes the information symbols and the generated parity check code, is decoded in accordance with a check matrix corresponding to the generator matrix. In a decoding process for decoding the codeword, a syndrome of the codeword is calculated in accordance with the check matrix. The calculated syndrome is converted to an error address which is indicative of an error position in the information symbols.
The process for converting the calculated syndrome to an error address can be executed by using a combinational circuit. However, if the data length (the number of bits) of the information symbols is large, the circuit scale of the combinational circuit that is necessary for the converting process becomes very large.
Thus, in a decoding device that handles information symbols of great data length, it is not realistic to execute the conversion process by the combinational circuit. Hence, in order to reduce the circuit scale of the decoding device, a novel function is needed for easily determining the error address from the syndrome.


A semi-micro liquid chromatograph/mass spectrometer apparatus has an ion source. The space from the end portion of a flow passage of a liquid chromatograph shell to a vaporization portion is closed so as to prevent the inflow of a gas from outside the ion source into the space. Further, the nebulization and vaporization portions are joined together and heated by a common heater. Dilution of a sample to be analyzed is prevented, and high sensitivity detection becomes possible in a low velocity liquid chromatograph/mass spectrometer.

The LC/MS has been widely used in the field of chemical analysis. In an apparatus for conducting measurement by an LC/MS, a sample in a liquid state is ionized at atmospheric pressure and is then introduced into a mass spectrometer that is placed in a vacuum. One of the main ionization methods used for this purpose is an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization method (hereinafter abbreviated to "APCI"). An example of an APCI method is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 172245/1992.
FIG. 8 schematically shows a typical structure of an ion source used in an APCI method (hereinafter referred to as an APCI ion source). A sample in the liquid chromatograph 1 is introduced with a solvent as a mobile phase through a Teflon tube 2 and a stainless steel capillary 3 into a nebulization region 4 that is heated to 200 to 400.degree. C. The sample is nebulized in the nebulization region 4 and is then sent to a desolvation chamber 5 having a vaporization region. The desolvation chamber 5 is fixed to a first electrode 10 through an O-ring 40 for maintaining a vacuum seal. The desolvation chamber 5 is heated to about 400.degree. C., and this heat is used as the heat of vaporization of the sample 6.
Next, the sample 6 with solvent is sent into a corona discharge space having a needle electrode 8 to which a high voltage is applied by a power supply 7 for the corona discharge. A plate 27 is positioned to close a portion near the center of the passage through which the sample and solvent flow. The plate has orifices about its periphery and is disposed at the inlet of the corona discharge space in order to prevent large charged droplets from being directly introduced into ion intake orifices in the first electrode 10. In this corona discharge space, primary ionization of the solvent molecules occurs and the sample is subsequently ionized by the ion-molecule reaction.
The resulting ions 9 are sent into a differential pumping region 18 formed between the first and second electrodes 10 and 11 and pumped down by a pumping system 12, through the ion intake orifices. An ion acceleration voltage is applied to each of the first and second electrodes 10, 11 by respective power supplies 13, 14. The ions thus accelerated pass through the ion intake orifices in the second electrode 11, are then focused by an ion focusing lens 15 and are thereafter sent to a mass spectrometer, as shown by the arrow.
Besides an APCI ion source method using heating for nebulizing the sample, there is also a method that uses gas nebulization. The construction of a typical gas nebulization apparatus is shown schematically in FIG. 9. A sample in the liquid chromatograph 1 is introduced with a solvent through a Teflon tube 2 and a stainless steel capillary 3 in a mobile phase into a nebulization region 4 through which a nebulization gas 16 flows. After being nebulized at atmospheric pressure, the sample is sent into a desolvation chamber 5 through which a vaporization gas 17 flows. The desolvation chamber 5 is fixed to the first electrode 10 through an O-ring 40, which is made of a rubber for example, for maintaining a vacuum seal. The desolvation chamber 5 is heated to about 150.degree. C., and this heat is used as the heat of vaporization of the sample 6.
Next, the sample 6 with solvent is sent into the corona discharge space having a needle electrode 8 to which a high voltage is applied by the power supply 7. Primary ionization of the solvent molecules occurs in this corona discharge space, and the sample is subsequently ionized by the ion-molecule reaction. The resulting ions are sent into the differential pumping region 18 encompassed by the first and second electrodes 10 and 11 and pumped down by the pumping system 12, through ion intake orifices in the first electrode 10. An ion acceleration voltage is applied to each of the first and second electrodes 10, 11 from the respective power supplies 13, 14. The ions 9 are accelerated so as to pass through the ion intake orifices in the second electrode 11, are then focused by the ion focusing lens 15 and are thereafter sent to the mass spectrometer, as indicated by the arrow.


A developing apparatus includes a developer container for storing a developer which contains toner, a rotary member for stirring and conveying the developer, and a bearing member to hold the rotary member in the developer container. At least one of the bearing member and the rotary member has a plurality of protrusions on a portion of the bearing member which holds the rotary member, or on a portion of the rotary member which is held by the bearing member.

The invention relates to a developing apparatus for turning an electrostatic latent image on an image retainer into a visible toner image, more particularly to a developing apparatus which reduces the generation of deposition or fusion-bonding of toner particles on bearing sections of rotary members such as a developing roller and a stirring and conveying screw, and a process cartridge which is equipped with the developing apparatus.
An electrophotographic image-forming apparatus forms an image by charging the surface of an image retainer uniformly by a charger and running an exposure unit according to a document or image data to form a latent image on an image retainer. Then, the image forming apparatus feeds a single-component developer which contains a toner only or a two-component developer which contains both toner and carrier to a developing zone by turning the latent image into a toner image on the image retainer by a contact or non-contact developing manner, causes a transfer unit to transfer the toner image onto a transfer material such as a paper sheet, and thermally fix the toner image on the transfer material on the transfer material.
The developing apparatus for developing a latent image into a toner on the image retainer is equipped, for example, with a developing sleeve made of a cylindrical member which can rotate, stationary magnets provided in the developing sleeve, and a stirring member which stirs the two-component developer and applies electric charges adequate for development. The developing apparatus causes the developing sleeve to retain the charged two-component developer which is attracted by the magnet on the circumferential surface of the sleeve and feed the developer from the surface of the developing sleeve sequentially to the developing zone while the developing sleeve rotates to make the latent image visible on the image retainer. After development, the developer left on the developing sleeve is automatically removed from the developing sleeve by repulsive actions of magnetic fields generated by arrangement of magnet poles of the built-in magnets.
Various rotary members such as the developing sleeve in the developing apparatus are rotated to carry a developer and supply the developer to the developing sleeve. These rotary members are rotatably supported by bearing sections in the developing apparatus.
FIG. 13 shows a partial sectional view of a sample structure of a bearing section in a conventional developing apparatus.
Referring to FIG. 13, numeral 46 is a developer container which contains a developer and holds various rotary members such as a developing sleeve. Numeral 461 is a bearing section fixed to the side wall of developer container 46. Numeral 432 is an axis of a rotary member whose end is fitted with shaft section 433 in a body. The shaft section 433 has a large-diameter part F and a small-diameter part E. The small-diameter part E is rotatably fit into hole H of bearing section 461 which is fixed to the side wall. The axial-movement of the rotary member-is limited by the further end face of bearing section 461 (which is away from the side wall of developer container 46) and the end face of the large-diameter part F opposite to the end face of bearing section 461. In other words, the axial movement of the rotary member is limited by the sliding surface which is the whole end face of bearing section 461.
By the way, when the developer enters the bearing section which holds the rotary member in the developing apparatus, the developer may be broken by sliding inside the bearing section. In the example of FIG. 13, the sliding surface is the whole end face of bearing section 461 and may break the developer easily.
To solve this problem, various measures have been taken to prevent the developer from entering the sliding surface. Substantially, conventional technologies have employed sealing members or filling materials to shut out developer from the clearance of the bearing section (i.e. see Patent Document 1), structures which do not allow developer to go into the bearing section together with a sealing member (i.e. see Patent Document 2), and technology to prevent invasion of the developer into the bearing section by using distribution of magnetic flux density of the developing sleeve (i.e. see Patent Document 3). As just described above, the conventional technologies have improved developing apparatus, based on the concept to prevent developer from entering the bearing sections.
However, it is very difficult to completely prevent invasion of fine toner particles in microns. As the period of image formation service becomes longer, toner particles have deposited in the bearing sections little by little. Further, recently, as the digital electro-photographic technology has advanced, high-quality toner images have been demanded. On this demand, technologies to produce chemical toners as typified by polymerization toners have become conspicuous. Thanks to these technologies, we can produce small toner particles of some microns in diameter. Further, on environmental concerns, image forming apparatus are requested to save energy and at the same time image forming technologies to fix images at low temperature have been demanded. One of such technologies has provided toners whose softening point is much lower than the softening points of conventional toners. (For example, see Patent Document 4.)
However, no technology has been established to completely prevent toner particles from entering bearing sections of rotary members in developing apparatus. Furthermore, the above fine toner particles of some microns in diameter have made the invasion problem more actualized. Particularly, small-diameter toners for low-temperature fixing can easily invade the bearing sections and are easily coagulate and fusion-bonded by little frictional heat.
Recent image forming apparatus have been demanded to be smaller and faster. Therefore, parts are densely arranged near the developing unit. This reduces the efficiency of heat radiation and makes the invasion and fusion-bonding problems more serious. Further, to meet the increasing demand for color printouts at offices, various kinds of color image forming apparatus have been developed vigorously. However, the color image forming apparatus must be equipped with plural developing units, which makes the components arranged densely around the developing units. Consequently, it has been earnestly demanded to solve the problems of toner coagulation and fusion-bonding in the developing units.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Non-Examined Patent Publication H10-198163
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Non-Examined Patent Publication 2000-88108
[Patent Document 3] Japanese Non-Examined Patent Publication H05-297721
[Patent Document 4] Japanese Non-Examined Patent Publication 2000-214629
The above problems are caused by invasion of toner particles into the trapped sliding space between the rotary member shaft and the bearing section and grinding of toner particles by the sliding surfaces. The present inventors inferred that coagulation and fusion-bonding of toner particles are accelerated because the sliding space in the bearing section is densely filled up with toner particles and that the inventors can possibly solve the problem by reducing the sliding surfaces which grind the invading toner particles even when the toner particles are for low-temperature fixing. After a long trial-and-error process, we have reached the invention. In other words, unlike the concept of the conventional technologies which prevents invasion of toner particles into bearing sections, the invention uses a concept of suppressing coagulation and fusion-bonding of toner particles by reducing the sliding surfaces between the rotary member shaft and the bearing section since fine toner particles invade the sliding surfaces through the clearance of the bearing section and are ground there.

Developing apparatus and process cartridge with protrusions between the bearing and the shaft

Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.


The detection range and the detection precision of a sensor device that makes use of the deformation of a viscoelastic elastomer are made variable. The sensor device comprises a magnetic viscoelastic elastomer containing electroconductive magnetic particles dispersed therein so as to demonstrate an elastic modulus that varies depending on a magnetic field applied thereto and an electric resistance in a prescribed direction that varies depending on a deformation thereof, electromagnets for applying a magnetic field that can be varied to the magnetic viscoelastic elastomer, a resistance detection circuit for detecting the electric resistance of the magnetic viscoelastic elastomer, and a control unit for computing at least one of a deformation state of the magnetic viscoelastic elastomer and a load applied to the magnetic viscoelastic elastomer according to a detection value of the resistance detection circuit and a magnitude of the magnetic field applied by the electromagnets.

A known pressure sensitive sensor (load sensor) includes a viscoelastic elastomer, a permanent magnet provided on one side of the viscoelastic elastomer and a Hall device provided on the opposite side of the viscoelastic elastomer. See Patent Document 1, for instance. When a pressure (load) is applied to this pressure sensitive sensor, the viscoelastic elastomer undergoes a deformation causing a change in the relative position between the permanent magnet and the Hall device so that the pressure applied to the viscoelastic elastomer can be determined from the detection value of the Hall device. In this pressure sensitive sensor, the detection range and the detection precision of the pressure is determined by the deformation property of the viscoelastic elastomer. For instance, when the viscoelastic elastomer has a relatively low elastic modulus, the detection precision (detection sensitivity) increases owing to the increased deformation of the viscoelastic elastomer, but the detection range narrows because the deformation limit of the viscoelastic elastomer is reached with a relatively low pressure. Conversely, when the viscoelastic elastomer has a relatively high elastic modulus, the detection range widens because the deformation limit of the viscoelastic elastomer is reached only with a relatively high pressure, but the detection precision (detection sensitivity) decreases owing to the reduced deformation of the viscoelastic elastomer.
Also is known the magnetic viscoelastic elastomer which internally contains magnetic particles dispersed therein. Owing to the property of the magnetic particles to polarize in a magnetic field, the elastic modulus of the viscoelastic elastomer can be varied by changing the magnetic field that is applied to the viscoelastic elastomer. See Patent Document 2, for instance.

National University Corporation Kanazawa University


An indicator is provided for detecting the motion of a fishing line on a fishing rod. The indicator contains a wheel guide, a portion of which is composed of a magnetically detectable metal with a groove on its outer edge to engage the fishing line. A cylinder containing a power supply and a motion sensing element, is located parallel to the axis of the rod and can rotate about its axis so that the motion sensing element can detect any motion of the wheel guide and actuate both audible and visual signals.

1) Field of The Invention
this invention is directed to a fishing rod motion indicator. In one aspect, this invention relates to an indicator which can be placed on a fishing rod and emits an audible sound and light when a fish takes the bait and/or line. In a further aspect the invention is directed to a portable device which can easily be affixed to and detached from a fishing rod.
2) Background Art
A variety of devices are disclosed in the prior art for use in conjunction with fishing rods, bobbers and the like. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,205, which issued Apr. 6, 1993 to M. S. Klammer, discloses and claims a fishing bobber which is illuminated for night fishing and changes color when a fish strikes the bait. There are also devices which can be attached to a fishing rod to indicate when the fishing line moves as would be the case when a fish strikes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,061, which issued on Apr. 27, 1993 to D. L. Echols Jr., discloses and claims a movement indicator for a flexible fishing rod. Light from a light emitting diode is transmitted by means of a length of optical fiber to a reflector cap at the end of the rod. when a fish bites, the end of the rod moves about and signals that a strike has occurred. However, there is no audible sound and if the fisherman is not watching his rod, he would be unaware of a strike.
It is therefore and object of the present invention to provide a fishing rod motion indicator with both audible and visual features. Another object is to provide a motion indicator which is portable and can easily be attached and detached from the rod. A still further object of the present invention is to provide a device which has two degrees of sensitivity in detecting movement in fishing line on a fishing rod. Another object of this invention is to provide a motion indicator which has few moving parts and is easily switched on and off. These and other objects will readily become apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the teachings herein set forth.

Fishing rod motion indicator with visual and audible features


At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a zoom lens system which includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit with positive optical power, a second lens unit with negative optical power, a third lens unit with positive optical power, a fourth lens unit with positive or negative optical power, and a fifth lens unit with positive optical power. In at least one exemplary embodiment of this zoom lens system, during zooming, the second lens unit, the third lens unit, and the fifth lens unit can move along the optical axis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a zoom lens system and more particularly, though not exclusively, to an image pickup apparatus including the zoom lens system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, with respect to zoom lens systems used in photographic cameras, camcorders, and other image pickup systems, various zoom lens systems adopt a system that performs focusing by moving a lens unit behind a first lens unit, which is adjacent to an object side (the lens unit is nearer to an image side than the first lens unit is). Such a system is referred to as a rear focusing system.
The rear focusing system has attractive features in that the relatively compact and lightweight lens unit can be moved a small amount. Additionally, because rear focusing can be performed quickly, the rear focusing system can be used for an auto focusing systems.
A rear focusing zoom lens system, including five lens units, is discussed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 5-215967 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,004), 6-317752 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,592), and 2000-180724.
The zoom lens system that has five lens units discussed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-215967 includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit with positive refractive power, a second lens unit with negative refractive power, a third lens unit with positive refractive power, a fourth lens unit with negative refractive power, and a fifth lens unit. In this zoom lens system, magnification is mainly varied by moving the second lens unit along the optical axis, and displacements of the position of an image occurring when the magnification is varied are compensated by moving the fifth lens unit along the optical axis. In addition, at least one of the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit is moved during zooming. Focusing is performed by moving at least one of the third to fifth lens units.
The zoom lens system that has five lens units discussed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-317752 includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit with positive refractive power, a second lens unit with negative refractive power, a third lens unit with positive refractive power, a fourth lens unit with positive refractive power, and a fifth lens unit with positive refractive power. In this zoom lens system, during zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, the second lens unit is moved toward the image side and the third and fourth lens units are moved. Focusing is performed by moving the fourth lens unit.
The zoom lens system that has five lens units discussed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-180724 includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit with positive refractive power, a second lens unit with negative refractive power, a third lens unit, a fourth lens unit with positive refractive power, and a fifth lens unit. In this zoom lens system, magnification is varied by moving the second lens unit, and displacements of the position of an image occurring when the magnification is varied are compensated by moving the third lens unit. Focusing is performed by moving the fifth lens unit.
Furthermore, another zoom lens system that has five lens units is discussed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-365547. This zoom lens system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit with positive refractive power, a second lens unit with negative refractive power, a third lens unit with positive refractive power, a fourth lens unit with negative refractive power, and a fifth lens unit with positive refractive power. In this zoom lens system, the first to fifth lens units are moved during zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end.
With a reduced distance between pixels of an image pickup device, recent zoom lens systems used in optical devices (e.g., digital camera, camcorders, and personal digital assistants (PDAs)), require higher optical performance, smaller entire lens length, and a more compact size.
For a general zoom lens, increasing refractive power of each lens unit can reduce the amount of movement of each lens unit to obtain a predetermined zoom ratio, thus facilitating the reduction of the entire lens length.
However, if the refractive power of each lens unit is simply increased, aberration occurring during zooming is inevitably increased. This makes it difficult to obtain high optical performance over the entire zoom range.

Zoom lens system and image pickup apparatus including the same


The incidence of incident light transmitted through a photoelectric conversion unit onto a charge holding unit, a pixel in the adjacency, and the like can be blocked in a pixel. An image sensor includes a pixel, a wiring layer, and an incident light attenuation unit. The pixel includes a photoelectric conversion unit that is formed in a semiconductor substrate and performs photoelectric conversion based on incident light, and a pixel circuit that generates an image signal according to a charge generated by the photoelectric conversion. The wiring layer is arranged on a surface of the semiconductor substrate different from a surface onto which the incident light is incident, and transports either the image signal or a signal applied to the pixel circuit. The incident light attenuation unit attenuates the incident light transmitted through the photoelectric conversion unit.

Conventionally, among image sensors in which pixels configured to generate image signals by photoelectrically converting incident light are two-dimensionally arranged, an image sensor having a wiring layer formed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate on which a photoelectric conversion unit configured to perform photoelectric conversion is formed, the surface being different from a surface irradiated with incident light, is used. Such an image sensor is called a back-illuminated image sensor. Since the incident light arrives at the photoelectric conversion unit without being restricted by the wiring layer, the aperture ratio of the pixel can be improved. In such a pixel of the image sensor, after a predetermined exposure time has elapsed, a charge generated by the above-mentioned photoelectric conversion unit is transferred to and held in a floating diffusion formed in a diffusion layer of the semiconductor substrate. An image signal of a voltage according to the amount of the held charges is generated, and read out from the pixel to be output.
In the above-described back-illuminated image sensor, there is a difficulty in that, when light incident from the back surface of the semiconductor substrate is transmitted through the semiconductor substrate without being photoelectrically converted in the photoelectric conversion unit, the light is reflected to the semiconductor substrate side by the wiring layer or the like arranged on the front surface side. This reflected light can be optical noise. For example, in a case where the reflected light is incident onto the photoelectric conversion unit of a pixel in the adjacency, a signal based on the reflected light is superimposed on the image signal of the pixel in the adjacency, and crosstalk is produced.
Furthermore, in a general image sensor, line exposure sequential readout (rolling shutter) is adopted. This is a technique of performing the exposure and the transfer of the image signal by varying the time for each row, and this technique sequentially performs the exposure by varying the start time and end time of the exposure for each row, while reading out the image signals in units of rows from the pixels without interruption. While the configuration of the pixel can be simplified, a phenomenon called focal plane distortion occurs in which an object moving at high speed is deformed due to a time difference between the start and end of exposure for each row. In addition, in a case where illumination with a very short light emission period, such as a flash, is used, a phenomenon called a flash band that causes a difference in luminance depending on the location on a screen also occurs. As described above, in the rolling shutter type image sensor, the image quality after imaging is deteriorated.
A global shutter has been proposed as a driving method for solving such a difficulty in the rolling shutter type. In this global shutter, a charge holding unit is arranged between the above-described photoelectric conversion unit and floating diffusion, and after exposing all pixels simultaneously, charges generated by photoelectric conversion are collectively transferred to and hold in the charge holding unit. Thereafter, the transfer of the charges from the charge holding unit to the floating diffusion, the generation of image signals, and the readout of the image signals from the pixels are sequentially performed for each row. As described above, in an image sensor of the global shutter type, since all pixels can be exposed simultaneously, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of the focal plane distortion and the like.
Even in this global shutter type image sensor, the influence of the reflected light is produced. Specifically, when reflected light is incident on a pixel in the adjacency, crosstalk is produced as in the rolling shutter type. Furthermore, noise occurs also in a case where reflected light enters the own charge holding unit of the pixel and causes photoelectric conversion. In the global shutter type image sensor, such light leakage to the charge holding unit is managed as parasitic light sensitivity (PLS), and an extremely low PLS is required. Thus, in order to block crosstalk and the like of reflected light, an image sensor has been proposed in which a light-shielding portion is arranged within a substrate to achieve optical isolation (for example, see Patent Document 1). In relation to this prior art, an image sensor that further arranges a front surface-side light-shielding portion between a charge holding unit and a wiring layer to prevent reflected light from being incident on the charge holding unit has also been proposed.

SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION


A device to be used for daily cleaning a user's internal walls of his or her nasal cavities. The device is elongated with two ends and an increasing diameter away from the ends. The device is made out of a soft material that conforms to the space defined by the internal wall of a user's nasal cavities. An inner elongated and longitudinally extending core made out of a firmer material is used to enhance the overall resiliency of the device. A plurality of soft filaments extend from the outer surface of the elongated body that with the longitudinally disposed grooves trap the secretions and facilitate their removal. Inserting the device causes it to exert an outwardly radial pressure to aid in the impregnated on the device to provide a user with relief and/or therapeutic treatment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cleaning insert, and more particularly, to the type that can be inserted inside the nasal cavities.
2. Description of the Related Art
Most of the cold germs are reproduced in the nasal mucous media enhanced by the humidity of the area. Cleaning periodically the mucous substance inside the nasal cavities after the first sneeze can prevent the cold germs from penetrating the respiratory system.
Applicant believes that the closest reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,596 issued to Rubinstein in 1981. However, it differs from the present invention because Rubinstein discloses an intravaginal tampon that would not work as the present invention without injuring a user. First, the patented tampon teaches the use of a "highly" absorbable material. The nasal cavity is surrounded by many sensitive nerve terminations and blood vessels and removing all liquids of the mucous would injure a user, as Rubinstein's patent teaches for intravaginal application. While the present invention is intended to clean the mucous, it is to intended to remove all liquids leaving the nasal cavity without a lubricant whatsoever. Also, the rigid cone 15 disclosed in Rubinstein's device would injure a user. The requirements for a vaginal or rectal tampon are different that those needed in the present invention. Also, the present invention, in addition to being used and interact with a different kind of body cavity, is by contrast a "cleaning device" and, Rubinstein's tampon is designed to stop the outflow of substances from the body cavity. The present cleaning device removes mucous substances and germs, and does not plug the cavity. Another difference is that the present invention has no grasping elements mounted to the cleaning body because this device is designed to be used in a short period of time since the respiratory system could not be obstructed for long period of time.
Other patents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention.

Carolina P.R. BQ 27 No. 37 Villa Asturias


A reversible thermosensitive recording material which includes a recording layer including a resin, an electron donating coloring agent and an electron accepting coloring developer and in which an image is reversibly formed and erased by appropriately heating and cooling the recording layer, wherein the resin includes a resin crosslinked with the isocyanate compound. The reversible thermosensitive recording material has good image recording/erasing ability, and good durability.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reversible thermosensitive recording material, and more particularly to a reversible thermosensitive recording material which utilizes a coloring reaction of an electron donating coloring agent and an electron accepting coloring developer and in which a colored image is repeatedly formed and erased by appropriately heating and cooling the reversible thermosensitive recording material.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A variety of thermosensitive recording materials are well known in which a colored image can be formed by a coloring reaction when an electron donating coloring agent is brought into contact with an electron accepting coloring developer while heat or the like is applied thereto.
The thermosensitive recording materials have the following advantages over other conventional recording materials:
(1) color images can be rapidly recorded by a relatively simple apparatus without using such complicated steps as developing and fixing;
(2) color images can be recorded without producing noise and environmental pollution;
(3) various color images, e.g., red, blue, violet and black, can be easily obtained;
(4) image density and background whiteness are high; and
(5) the manufacturing cost is relatively low.
Because of these advantages, the above-described thermosensitive recording materials can be widely used, not only as a recording material for price labels in stores, but also as recording materials for copiers, printers for computers, facsimiles, automatic vending machines of tickets, video printers and measuring instruments.
However, the coloring reaction of these thermosensitive recording materials is irreversible and accordingly the used recording materials cannot be repeatedly used by erasing the recorded images.
Several thermosensitive recording materials which can reversibly form and erase an image have been proposed. For example, they are as follows:
(1) a thermosensitive recording material which includes gallic acid in combination with phloroglucinol serving as coloring developers (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 60-193691);
(2) a thermosensitive recording material which includes phenolphthalein or Thymolphthalein serving as a coloring developer (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 61-237684);
(3) a thermosensitive recording material which includes an uniform solid solution of a coloring agent, a coloring developer and a carboxylic acid ester (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publications No. 62-138556, 62-138568 and 62-140881);
(4) a thermosensitive recording material which includes an ascorbic acid derivative serving as a coloring developer (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 63-173684); and
(5) a thermosensitive recording material which includes bis(hydroxyphenyl)acetic acid or a higher aliphatic amine salt of gallic acid serving as a coloring developer (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2-188294).
However, these reversible thermosensitive recording materials have one or more of the following drawbacks:
(1) at least one of (a) the stability of image formation and (b) the stability of image erasure is not satisfactory;
(2) the image density of the recorded image is not satisfactory; and
(3) image qualities deteriorate after images are repeatedly formed and erased.
Therefore, these reversible thermosensitive recording materials are not in practical use.
In attempting to solve these problems, the present inventors have proposed a reversible thermosensitive recording material which includes a coloring agent such as a leuco dye and a coloring developer such as an organic phosphate compound having a long-chain aliphatic hydrocarbon group, an aliphatic carboxylic acid compound or a phenolic compound (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-124360). The reversible thermosensitive recording material can stably repeat image formation and image erasure by being appropriately heated and cooled, and the image-recorded state or the image-erased state can be stably maintained in room temperature. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-210954 has disclosed a reversible thermosensitive recording material which includes a specified phenolic compound (having a long-chain aliphatic hydrocarbon group) serving as a coloring developer, and is as good as the above-mentioned reversible thermosensitive recording material.
These reversible thermosensitive recording materials, however, have a drawback in that the image density deteriorates or the recording layer becomes deformed when images are repeatedly formed and erased in various environmental conditions of practical use of the recording materials. The reason for the problem is considered to be that the structures of the recording layer and the protective layer of the recording material are gradually changed and deteriorated by the mechanical force and the heat of a thermal printhead which applies heat to the recording material to form or erase images.
In attempting to solve this problem, a reversible thermosensitive recording material has been disclosed which has a recording layer including particles whose average particle diameter is more than 1.1 times the thickness of the recording layer (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-340171). In addition, a reversible thermosensitive recording material has been disclosed which has good ability to be used with thermal printheads owing to the formation of a protective layer thereon which has specified gloss and surface smoothness (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 8-156410). In addition, in attempting to provide a reversible thermosensitive recording material which can repeatedly and stably record and erase images, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publications No. 5-124360 and 6-344659 respectively disclose a recording material including a crosslinked resin which is formed upon application of heat, ultraviolet light or electron beams, and a method to irradiate a recording layer with electron beams. However, these reversible thermosensitive recording materials cannot yet entirely improve the deterioration of the recording layer and the protective layer, resulting in occurrence of deformation of the recorded image when the recording materials are repeatedly used.
Because of these reasons, a need exists for a reversible thermosensitive recording material which has good abilities to repeatedly form and erase images and can maintain good image qualities such as good image contrast and good image sharpness without deformation of the recording material-even when the recording material repeatedly forms and erases images.

Reversible thermosensitive recording material


One or more features of varying complexity are available with a wireless communications device. A controller in the device determines a user's skill level at operating one or more of the features, and selectively activates the features appropriate for the skill level. The controller also activates a tutorial associated with a selectively enabled feature to teach the user how to operate the feature. As the user gains experience with the selectively enabled feature, the controller selectively enables more complex features and activates their associated tutorials.

The present invention relates generally to wireless communications devices, and particularly to portable consumer electronics devices that adapt their functionality to a user's experience level.
Consumer electronics devices, such as cell phones and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), are extremely popular with a large majority of the population. These devices are typically rich in functionality that allow users to engage in two-way voice communications, send and receive text messages and email, play games, take pictures, and browse the Internet. Many consumers use these devices every day, and thus, are savvy enough to quickly and easily learn new functionality. Many others, such as older people and the very young, are not. These varying levels of user experience can be problematic.
Inexperienced users, for example, may be tentative about using some features because they lack the understanding needed to operate them. Such features may therefore remain unused even though the user paid for them with the purchase of the device. Likewise, unused or seldom used features take up precious resources. The software needed to operate unused features, for example, remains in an uncompressed state in memory. Battery power may be expended maintaining features that are unused or seldom used. Service providers are also affected in that they cannot sell services to users who lack the understanding to operate functionality in their devices. Thus, a potential income stream is lost or unrealized.

Controlling access to wireless communications device features based on user proficiency


In a fault diagnosis data recording system including a plurality of nodes interconnected by a multiplex communication line, a first node is provided to perform fault detection of the first node, and a second node connected to the first node via the multiplex communication line is provided to have a storage unit. The first node and the second node are configured to store at least a part of result data of the fault detection performed by the first node, into the storage unit of the second node.

Conventionally, there is known a system which is provided with a plurality of control units which control an engine and an automatic gear shift in an automotive vehicle and each of the plurality of control units performs fault detection by itself, respectively. For example, see Japanese Patent No. 2601194.
In the system of Japanese Patent No. 2601194, a control unit having a data communication capability among the plurality of control units is used to transmit data, indicated by the result of the fault detection performed by each control unit, to an external device outside the system.
Moreover, there is also known a system which is provided with a plurality of nodes, and each of the plurality of nodes is provided with a memory which stores data respectively. For example, see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 10-276198.
A conceivable method for storing the diagnosis data, created by the fault detection performed by the control unit (node) is that each of the plurality of control units is provided with a memory respectively, and the diagnostic data created by one control unit is always stored in its memory of the control unit (self-node storage).
However, with the composition in which the diagnostic data created by one control unit is always stored in its memory of the control unit (self-node storage), the situation where the created diagnostic data cannot be stored in its memory because of lack of the storage capacity of the memory of the control unit concerned or the situation where the previously stored data in the memory of the control unit must be erased in order to store the created diagnostic data may arise.
A conceivable method for avoiding such situations (insufficient storage capacity of the memory) is to provide a memory having a large storage capacity for each of the plurality of control units. However, if such method is used, another problem of the increase in the cost and the loading space will arise.

Fault diagnosis data recording system and method


A system and method for patent application drafting, issued patent assessment and technology assessment includes a computer having input devices for at least one user to enter information relating to components of an invention in a hierarchical and relational categorization using software that automatically generates a relational, diagrammatic representation of the patent or technology being assessed that is output in a format that is viewable and modifiable by the user(s). The user(s) may enter additional, more detailed information that provides a basis for textual representation of the patent or technology that is being drafted or assessed; this additional information is associated with and/or connected to the diagrammatic representation, e.g., via an automatic link or a hyperlink, that permits the user(s) to switch between views of the diagram and the text-based detailed description of components of the patent.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to patent application drafting and technology assessment and, more particularly, to an automated system and method for patent application drafting, issued patent assessment, and technology assessment.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Typically, patent applications and assessments of issued patents have been done manually, i.e., an inventor or patent practitioner independently outlines and drafts specification text and drawings to provide an adequate description and disclosure of an invention, including claims to subject matter that is patentably distinct from prior art references in such a manner as to meet the requirements for obtaining letters patent by the appropriate governmental authority or agency. Generally, each patent drafter constructs the text-based description and claims based upon an individual frame of reference, which is based upon experience, technical understanding of the invention, legal requirements, and personal writing style. Because these factors are substantially influenced by subjective perspective, for any given invention, variation as to patent drafting technique and substance of the text is common among inventors and patent practitioners. Thus, consistency of practice among patent drafters is not well established. Additionally, training new practitioners also lacks consistency, based upon the variation of drafting techniques that are taught by experienced practitioners. Therefore, a systematic approach to patent drafting is needed to provide a consistent and reliable means for drafting patent applications and training others to do the same among existing patent drafters, particularly among professional practitioners.
Prior art patent drafting aids may employ computers, as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,049,811 issued Apr. 11, 2000 to Petruzzi, et al., in order to provide a means for storing information related to an invention, including common subcomponents of a patent application, namely features and benefits of the invention that define the invention over prior art, primary elements of the invention that define the invention over prior art, secondary elements that are important but that do not necessarily define the invention over prior art, and substitute elements of the invention. These subcomponents are stored by a computer, with the descriptive text relating to each of them being provided by the patent drafter. A final patent application is compiled by combining these drafted sections with predetermined text. However, this computer-based type of prior art merely serves to prompt the user for information to be entered into a patent application and automatically draft a patent application therefrom, without providing any sort of outline or preview of the patent application substance so that editing may be done in an early stage of patent drafting, saving time and avoiding inconsistencies within the patent that is eventually drafted. Furthermore, there is little flexibility of form or format within the patent application being generated with computer assistance; the user does not have an opportunity to define relationships between and among subcomponents that may have a significant effect upon patentability as well as the user's understanding of the invention that is claimed for the purposes of enforcement or explaining it to others.
Thus, there remains a need for a systematic approach to patent drafting having a consistent and reliable means, preferably automated or assisted by automation, for drafting patent applications and training others to do the same among existing patent drafters, particularly among professional practitioners, in order to ensure patent quality and to provide a common language or means for communicating the substance and form of a patent application and/or issued patent and/or technology that is being assessed.
Also, there remains a need for an automated version of the system and method for patent application drafting, issued patent assessment, and technology assessment that provides increased efficiency via reduced time for formatting and substantive text and diagrammatic representation construction of the same. Furthermore, there remains a need for an automated system and method for patent application drafting, issued patent assessment, and technology assessment that provides an outline or preview of the patent application substance so that editing may be done in an early stage of patent drafting, saving time and avoiding inconsistencies within the patent that is eventually drafted.
Also, there remains a need for such a system and/or method having flexibility of form or format within the patent application being generated with computer assistance such that the user(s) has an opportunity to define relationships between and among subcomponents that may have a significant effect upon patentability as well as the user's understanding of the invention that is claimed for the purposes of enforcement or explaining it to others. Additionally, there remains a need for such a system and/or method that permits a multiplicity of users to work on the same patent or technology simultaneously or in series, which is permitted only by a common understanding of the format, the substance, and the language or terminology selected by the user(s) to define the invention, patent, and/or technology such that little or no additional communication is required among co-users or collaborators in order to function efficiently and effectively together.

Automated system and method for patent drafting and technology assessment


A method of fabricating a metal oxide sheet having a polycrystalline structure includes mixing a metal precursor material, a base material, and distilled water with each other to fabricate a preparation solution; adding an anionic surfactant into the preparation solution to forming a precursor solution; forming metal oxide nanoparticles in the precursor solution, wherein each of the metal oxide nanoparticles comprises a metal cation and an oxygen anion; and fabricating a metal oxide sheet by coupling the metal oxide nanoparticles to each other, wherein, in an aspect of a plane, the metal oxide sheet has a hexagonal shape and a polycrystalline structure.

The present invention disclosed herein relates to metal oxide, and more particularly, to a method of fabricating polycrystalline metal oxide used in a solar cell.
Because of the exhaustion of fossil energy, studies on alternative energy are being actively performed. In particular, studies on alternative energy using inexhaustible natural phenomena, such as sun's rays and wind are being in the spotlight.
Solar cells generate electric energy by using light energy released from the sun. Solar cells may be classified into solar cells made of inorganic materials such as silicon or compound semiconductors and dye-sensitized solar cells in which dye is adsorbed onto particles surfaces of nanocrystalline oxide according to its material composition. Such a solar cell is coming into the spotlight in that the source of solar energy is not depleted, and the solar energy is eco-friendly energy.

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


A method for testing a mobile telephony network having a plurality of cells whose sizing depends on at least one selection or reselection parameter comprises a step for the recording, on an onboard computer connected to a mobile telephone, of predefined values of selection and reselection parameters for each cell to be tested, a step for the presetting, for each cell to be tested, of the predefined values of the selection and reselection parameters, and for the capture of data obtained by the mobile telephone for each cell, and a step for the processing of the captured data and the determining of the sizing of each cell. The system for implementing this method is also disclosed.

Mobile telephony uses networks known as cell networks or mobile telephony networks to link mobile telephones with other fixed or mobile telephone terminals. These cell networks comprise base stations, each governing geographical cells through which mobile telephones located in these cells can be linked up with other telephones that might be located outside these cells.
For the radio link between the mobile telephone and the network to be of adequate quality, the operator of the network places a set of base stations on the territory to be covered so that the mobile telephone is always within less than a few kilometers from one of these base stations. For this purpose, the territory divided into several cells each constituting an area in which a mobile telephone can set up a link with a base station.
In general, the operator of the network tries to cover the territory with a set of cells that are contiguous and at least partly overlap one another. The size of the cells and their positioning relative to one another, i.e. the sizing of the cells, depends on the number of call connections which it should be possible to set up simultaneously in a same cell. Thus, in urban zones which are particularly dense in mobile telephone communications, the operator chooses small cells with a radius of some hundreds of meters, to let through substantial traffic per surface unit. On the contrary, in rural zones with low-density telephone communications, the cells are larger-sized with a radius of the order of some kilometers.
To take account of these different criteria, the operator first of all prepares a theoretical network map on which he places the base stations at the most appropriate places and sizes the cells and the mutual overlapping of the cells. However, on the ground, the size of the cells does not necessarily correspond to what may be planned in the theoretical network map. The operator then seeks to optimize the network to make it resemble the theoretical network map as closely as possible or eliminate problems that have not been foreseen in the theoretical model.
Furthermore, traffic density is a criterion that fluctuates over time. It depends on different factors, such as vacation periods during which the traffic diminishes in urban areas and increases at the seaside or in the mountains. For the operator, it is therefore important not only to optimize his network but also to ascertain that the optimization is still valid and, if necessary, modify the sizing of the cells to make this optimization valid. The sizing of the cells can be optimized by modifying parameters, called selection parameters and reselection parameters, that are proper to each cell.
Tools for testing mobile telephony networks have been developed in order to obtain this optimization.                The systems described in the patent applications EP1182897, EP1098546 or US20020155831 are examples.
These test tools can be used, after exploration of the zones to be studied, to determine the size of each cell. These testing apparatuses are, in practice, mobile telephones associated with a microcomputer which records the working parameters, along the network path, of the cell phone environment and the signal and service quality.
At present, to carry out this optimization, the operator uses a test system comprising one or more test mobile phones used in association with the control center of the network. The test telephone is put on board an automobile type of vehicle for example, by its user. It thus moves about in the geographical zones corresponding to the cells for which the user wishes to optimize the cell subdivisions and, for this purpose, optimizes the selection and reselection parameters. For each cell of the geographical zone to be measured, and for each selection or reselection parameter or set of parameters to be tried, the operator must telephone the control center of the network and ask this center to modify the selection or reselection parameters for the cells in which he is moving. Each time the parameters are modified, the user has to move in the cells and collect coverage data and then analyze the results obtained. If these results are not suitable, he must again telephone the network management center to ask for a new modification of parameters and then again make a data-collection journey and analyze fresh results.
This technique is a trial-and-error method, which necessitates restrictive coordination between the user and the operation and maintenance center (OMC); indeed, the user must transmit the list of the parameters to be configured for the different cells to be verified. This is a painstaking operation. It may be falsified by the data entry errors which the user cannot control and, above all, it causes disturbance in the entire network, each time that a parameter is modified by the OMC, and it may give rise to poor service quality during the testing of the different values of parameters.

System and method for testing a mobile telephone network


An induction system for a multicylinder reciprocating internal combustion engine includes cylinder 8, cylinder head 10 having at least one intake poppet valve 12, and at least one exhaust poppet valve 14, with the induction system further including a crankcase ventilation system 26 for conducting gases from the crankcase of the engine to the cylinder head, and a PCV passage for introducing crankcase gases directly into at least one of the engine's intake ports 18. In the case wherein multiple intake valves and ports are used, PCV flow may be introduced through one port, with recirculated exhaust gas being introduced through a second intake port.

This invention relates to the introduction of crankcase gases and recirculated exhaust gases into the intake system of an internal combustion engine. It has been determined that the combination of crankcase gases from a positive crankcase ventilation system ("PCV") with recirculated exhaust gases from an exhaust gas recirculation ("EGR") system will result in the formation of carbonaceous sludge-like material if the PCV and EGR flows are combined at or near a throttle body positioned well upstream from intake ports extending through the cylinder head. The present invention prevents this sludging problem by combining the EGR and PCV flows only in the intake port. In this manner, the EGR and PCV combined flow will have little residence time either outside or inside the combustion chamber, and in the likely event that mixing between the PCV and EGR flows occurs in the intake port, the formation of sludge or carbonaceous material will be greatly reduced, if not eliminated entirely. Although it is known to introduce EGR flow upstream of the cylinder head ports through the use of a spacer introduced between the intake manifold and cylinder head, such a system requires additional components and provides additional potential vacuum leak paths. The present system, by introducing EGR and PCV gases directly into the intake ports of an engine, serves to prevent the buildup of induction-borne sludge, without creating the potential vacuum leak paths found with the systems of the prior art.

Induction system for internal combustion engine


An exerciser includes a carriage slidably supported on a supporting base for supporting users and having a number of massage members for massaging the users. A moving device may be used to move the carriage relative to the supporting base and thus to move the massage members relative to the users, and to massage the users with the massage members. The moving device includes an eccentric rotary member rotatably attached to the supporting base, and a coupling device coupling the eccentric rotary member to the carriage and to move the carriage relative to the supporting base when the eccentric rotary member is rotated by users.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exerciser, and more particularly to an exerciser having a massage device selectively movable or actuatable relative to a supporting device by users.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various kinds of typical exercisers have been developed and comprise a carriage slidably supported on one or more tracks or rails, and movable or actuatable to move along the tracks or rails by such as pulling forces of users.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,658,327 to Thiede discloses one of the typical pull type exercising device and comprises a carriage slidably supported on two deck portions that may be folded to a compact configuration. However, the carriage may not be moved relative to the users and may not be used to massage the users.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,124 to Mahnke discloses a similar typical pull type exercising device and comprises a carriage slidably supported on a track member which includes an integral one-piece structure that may not be folded to a compact configuration. In addition, similarly, the carriage also may not be moved relative to the users and may not be used to massage the users.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,383,684 to Schliep discloses a further typical weight moving device and comprises a carriage slidably supported on one or more foldable rails which may be folded to compact configuration. However, similarly, the carriage also may not be moved relative to the users and may not be used to massage the users.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,953 to Graham discloses another typical active/passive exercising device and also comprises a carriage slidably supported on track members. However, similarly, the carriage also may not be moved relative to the users and may not be used to massage the users.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,776 to Giannotti discloses a still further rowing exercise device and comprises a carriage slidably supported on the ground and movable relative to double tracks. However, similarly, the carriage also may not be moved relative to the users and may not be used to massage the users.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,93,571 to Stevens discloses a still further typical folding exercise device and also comprises a carriage slidably supported on rails which include a structure that may be easily folded to a compact configuration. However, similarly the carriage also may not be moved relative to the users and may not be used to massage the users.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional exercisers.

Exerciser having actuatable massage device


A device for guiding farm equipment is disclosed. This device includes two trench forming chisel type devices attached to the planter or the initial implement used to set up the rows in a row type crop. These trenches are formed generally spaced to match the front wheels of the tractor on its next trip down the field. The tractor is subsequently supplied with a front mounted framework fastened to the front axle of the tractor. This framework supports two trench following lenticular discs capable of supporting a substantial amount of the tractors front weight. These discs may further be formed with a central rib. These trenches may be used in subsequent operations with implements of a smaller size by making the framework adjustable so as to allow the trench following discs to be placed at different widths as well as supplying structure for raising and lowering each guide independently.

This invention relates generally to a trench forming and following device for attachment to a tractor, and more particularly to a method of guiding farm implements during operations involving row crops such as beets, corn and sunflowers.
Since the beginning of row crop farming, farmers have experimented with methods of guiding their equipment accurately and easily during the various row crop operations.
It is desirable to plant row crops in substantially straight and parallel rows as subsequent operations such as cultivating, spraying, roto-beeting and the lifting of beets require the operator to accurately follow the previously planted rows. Failure to follow these rows may cause damages ranging from uprooted seedlings while cultivating to the waste of chemical while engaged in spraying operations. The high degree of skill that is required to navigate during row crop operations may often cause drivers to become tired or lose concentration resulting in deviations from the previously planted rows.
A still further problem relates to the spacing of these rows. In order to maximize yield for a particular crop rows are spaced in varying widths from 18 to 30 inches. Tractors used in row crop farming generally have wheel width spacing that is adjustable. Thus, a guidance system to work properly in these situations must be designed to allow adjustment for the different widths of row crop spacing.
One method of guiding row crops has been the use of a first knife or chisel type implement to rip trenches parallel and between the rows of crop. These implements are generally mounted on the planter or first row crop operation in the crop cycle. During this initial operation the driver of the implement is free to follow the already planted rows or the outside of the field. During subsequent operations the tractor or the implement itself is supplied with a single lenticular disc center mounted so as to follow the aforementioned trench.
This disc can be mounted on the front of the tractor and pushed into the ground using hydraulics and the weight of the tractor to follow the previously made trench. The increasing size of farm operations and modernization of farm equipment has created some problems with this type of guidance system. The increase in row crop farming has resulted in the development of tractors that are designed to operate easily in a row crop environment. These tractors are often heavier and equipped with a mechanical front wheel drive which has resulted in the use of front tires that are no longer equipped with ribs running parallel to the direction of travel as old tractor tires were. These new tires are supplied with diagonal gripping ribs and are much larger than the old style of tires. The use of these heavier tractors with a mechanical front wheel drive and larger tires has rendered the placement of a single lenticular disc on the front of tractor obsolete for four reasons. The first reason is the size of the tractor; one disc is not sufficient to hold a substantial amount of the weight of the front of the tractor. Thus, the tires can easily steer the tractor and allow deviations from a straight course. The second problem is that the guidance disc is mounted to the tractor undercarriage. As the front axle oscillates to follow the contour of the ground, the undercarriage remains stationary, this causes the disc to turn side to side losing its contact with the trench which it is supposed to engage. The third problem is the size of the front wheels as they are now much larger, one trench following disc is insufficient to guide the larger implements. As the front driven wheels are turned, the single guidance disc is easily moved side to side losing contact with the guidance trench. The fourth problem with using one centrally mounted guidance disc is that it may cause instability in the tractor if two much weight is placed upon the disc.
Alternatively, the disc may be mounted upon the implement itself. In this set up, it is necessary to use implements that are not mounted on solid hitches so as to allow the implement to move side to side in order to allow the guidance disc to follow the trench. The problem with this set up is that a great majority of row crop implements are designed to be used with a solid three point hitch; use of this type of rear mounted guidance system requires that the farmer use implements mounted on a loose hitch that allows the implement to pivot, thus, a farmer may be required to change his whole equipment line in order to render this type of hitch feasible.
A second type of guidance system utilizes two parallel trench forming means generally made up of two lenticular discs. These discs are evenly spaced with the front wheels and mounted to the undercarriage of the tractor in front of the rear wheels and behind the front wheels. Ideally, in this guidance system the implement behind the tractor is equipped with a loose hitch and is supplied with two more trench following wheels. The use of the loose hitch allows the implement to move from side to side so as to follow the trenches and not necessarily the deviations that the tractor may make. In this guidance system, the trenches are also used on subsequent trips over the field. The trenches are evenly spaced so as to allow the front wheels of the tractor to engage said trenches on subsequent trips over the field.
This type of guidance system is also plagued with three types of problems that are caused by the new, large four wheel drive row crop tractors. The first problem is the loose hitch. As stated earlier, it is desirable to have a system that utilizes a locked or three point type hitch as this type of equipment represents the majority of row crow crop machinery in use today. The aforementioned guidance system requires a loose hitch so as to allow the implement to move from side to side to follow the trench and remove deviations made by the driver. The second problem with this system is that the trench forming discs are mounted to the undercarriage of the tractor. This requires them to move with the body of the tractor rather than to move independently as the wheels of the tractor move over changes in the contour of the ground. The third problem with this system is that subsequent trips over the field rely on the front tires of the tractor to follow the previously made trenches. This method may have worked with the older two wheel drive tractors which utilized the smaller front tires that were equipped with parallel ribs that helped to guide the tires through these trenches. However, today's larger four wheel drive row crop tractors are supplied with front tires utilizing diagonal ribs of a larger size. The use of the larger diagonally ribbed tires results in the front tires often climbing or jumping out the previously made trenches.
A still further problem with the aforementioned guidance method relates to the use of implements of varying sizes. The use of larger equipment has required the use of implements of varying sizes. Often it may be desirable to plant row crops with a twenty four row planter and later turn or cultivate the crop with a twelve row implement. This problem arises frequently with the planting, roto-beeting and lifting of sugar beets. A farmer can plant with twelve row implement and defoliate or roto-beet with a twelve row implement while lifting or harvesting can only be accomplished six rows at time. This particular type of operation causes problems with guidance systems as the tractor is not following the same tracks that it did during planting. One common application of the new guidance system is sugar beet farming. Sugar beets are planted in rows and require cultivating and spraying much as any other row crop. However, the harvesting of beets is much different than that of other typical row crops, and thus presents some unique problems. Before harvesting the beets must be defoliated in a process commonly called roto-beeting. A common size for this machine is a twelve row roto-beeter. During roto-beeting the front tractor tires are set 88" so as to traverse four 22" rows. To maximize sugar content, the beets must be dug or lifted within 8 hours of being defoliated. This is often accomplished with a six row harvester or lifter. The tractor pulling this harvester would have the front tires set at 88" spacing. Previously it was not possible to use the established tracks in the twelve row crop since this required the tractor wheels to spaced at 44" centers which is not possible with the large tractors used in today's operations. By making a guidance system with infinitely adjustable discs to be placed across any position in front of the tractor, they may be placed so one guidance disc can engage the original 88" guidance trenches from one direction while the opposite guidance disc is used from the opposite direction. It is very difficult to follow the rows manually after roto-beeting beating because the beet tops form an even carpet of green hiding the rows. This new guidance system allows even less experienced operators to run the harvester or lifter. The more accurately a lifter follows the beet rows, the shallower it can be placed. This allows for less power consumption and greater tractor speeds.
The present invention addresses the problem of accurately guiding four wheel drive row crop tractors and creates a method of covering previously trenched rows with an implement half of the size of the originally planting implement. The present invention also offers other advantages over the prior art and solves problems associated therewith.

Front mounted mechanical row crop guidance system


A high breakdown-voltage diode is provided, which has a decreased chip area and a low electric resistance between anode and cathode regions after the breakdown phenomenon takes place. A semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type is vertically isolated by a first isolation dielectric and laterally isolated by a second isolation dielectric from outside. A first diffusion region of a second conductivity type is formed in a surface area of the semiconductor layer, thereby forming a first p-n junction. A second diffusion region of the first conductivity type is formed in the surface area to be apart from the first diffusion region. A third diffusion region of the second conductivity type is formed in the surface area between the first and second diffusion regions, thereby forming a second p-n junction. The third diffusion region is electrically connected to the first diffusion region. A depletion region formed at the second p-n junction grows according to a reverse voltage applied across the first and second diffusion regions, so that each end of the depletion region extends to a surface of the third diffusion region and to the first isolation dielectric while no breakdown occurs at the first p-n junction, relaxing an electric filed existing near the first p-n junction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a diode and more particularly, to a high breakdown-voltage diode having an electric-field relaxation region relaxing an electric field existing in the vicinity of a p-n junction.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, Silicon On Insulator (SOI) wafers or substrates have been widely used for fabricating high withstand-voltage semiconductor elements or components and semiconductor integrated circuit devices in which high withstand-voltage semiconductor elements or components and related circuits are mounted on a same semiconductor chip. This is because an SOI substrate increases the isolation withstand voltage of electronic elements or components implemented thereon.
FIG. 1 shows a partial cross section of a conventional high breakdown-voltage diode formed on an SOI substrate. This diode has a breakdown voltage of 150 V.
In FIG. 1, the conventional high breakdown-voltage diode 101 includes an SOI substrate 120. This substrate 120 consists of a p.sup.- -type single-crystal silicon supporting plate 102, a silicon dioxide (SiO.sub.2) layer 103 formed on the plate 102, and an n.sup.- -type single-crystal silicon layer 104 formed on the SiO.sub.2 layer 103. The p.sup.- -type supporting plate 102 has a doping concentration of 1.times.10.sup.14 atoms/cm.sup.3. The SiO.sub.2 layer 103 has a thickness of 1 .mu.m. The n.sup.- -type single-crystal silicon layer 104 has a doping concentration of 5.times.10.sup.15 atoms/cm.sup.3 and a thickness of 5 .mu.m.
An isolation region 107 made of SiO.sub.2 is formed in the n.sup.- -type silicon layer 104 to surround an area where the diode 101 is formed, defining a rectangular-shaped device region 104a in the layer 104. The device region 104a is laterally isolated by the isolation region 107 and vertically isolated by the SiO.sub.2 layer 103 from other electronic elements or components located outside the device region 104a.
A p.sup.+ -type diffusion region 105 serving as an anode region of the diode 101 is formed in the surface area of the device region 104a by selective diffusion. The surface of the p.sup.+ -type anode region 105 is exposed from the single-crystal silicon layer 104 and is apart from the isolation region 107. The anode region 105 has a doping concentration of 1.times.10.sup.19 atoms/cm.sup.3 and a depth of 1 .mu.m from the surface of the layer 104. An n.sup.+ -type diffusion region 106 serving as a cathode region of the diode 101 is formed in the surface area of the device region 104a by selective diffusion. The surface of the n.sup.+ -type cathode region 106 is exposed from the single-crystal silicon layer 104 and apart from the isolation region 107 and from the anode region 105. The cathode region 106 is formed in such a way that the distance between the opposing edges of the anode and cathode regions 105 and 106 is 15 .mu.m. The cathode region 106 has a doping concentration of 1.times.10.sup.19 atoms/cm.sup.3 and a depth of 1 .mu.m from the surface of the layer 104.
An anode electrode 108 is formed on the exposed surface of the p.sup.+ -type anode region 105. The anode electrode 108 is electrically connected to the anode region 105.
A cathode electrode 109 is formed on the exposed surface of the n.sup.+ -type cathode region 106. The cathode electrode 109 is electrically connected to the cathode region 106.
With the conventional high breakdown-voltage diode 101 shown in FIG. 1, when a reverse voltage is applied across the anode and cathode electrodes 108 and 109 on operation, an electric field is generated in the device region 104a between the p.sup.+ -type anode region 105 and the n.sup.+ -type cathode region 106. The electric field thus generated is relaxed by the part of the n.sup.- -type silicon layer 104 between the anode and cathode regions 105 and 106. The magnitude of the relaxation effect to the electric field varies dependent upon the distance between the anode and cathode regions 105 and 106.
FIG. 2 shows a partial cross section of another conventional high breakdown-voltage diode, which has the double REduced SURface Field (RESURF) structure increasing the breakdown voltage.
In FIG. 2, the conventional high breakdown-voltage diode 201 includes a p.sup.- -type single-crystal silicon substrate 202. An n.sup.- -type well 203 is formed in the substrate 202 by selective diffusion.
A p.sup.+ -type diffusion region 204 serving as an anode region of the diode 201 is formed in the surface area of the substrate 202 to be overlapped with the boundary of the well 203 by selective diffusion. The surface of the p.sup.+ -type anode region 204 is exposed from the substrate 202.
An n.sup.+ -type diffusion region 205 serving as a cathode region of the diode 201 is formed in the surface area of the substrate 202 by selective diffusion. The cathode region 205 is not overlapped with the boundary of the well 203 and is apart from the anode region 204. The surface of the n.sup.+ -type cathode region 205 is exposed from the substrate 202.
A p.sup.- -type electric-field relaxation region 206 is formed in the surface area of the substrate 202 between the anode and cathode regions 204 and 205 by selective diffusion. The surface of the p.sup.- -type electric-field relaxation region 206 is exposed from the substrate 202. The relaxation region 206 is apart from the anode and cathode regions 204 and 205.
An anode electrode 207 is formed on the exposed surface of the p.sup.+ -type anode region 204. The anode electrode 207 is electrically connected to the p.sup.+ -type anode region 204.
A cathode electrode 208 is formed on the exposed surface of the n.sup.+ -type cathode region 205. The cathode electrode 208 is electrically connected to the n.sup.+ -type cathode region 205.
An electric-field relaxation electrode 209 is formed on the exposed surface of the p.sup.- -type electric-field relaxation region 206. The electric-field relaxation electrode 209 is electrically connected to the electric-field relaxation region 206.
Although not shown in FIG. 2, the anode electrode 207 is electrically connected to the electric-field relaxation electrode 209, so that these two electrodes 207 and 209 have the same electric potential on operation.
With the conventional high breakdown-voltage diode 201 shown in FIG. 2, a reverse voltage is applied across the anode and cathode electrodes 207 and 208 on operation. At the same time, the same reverse voltage is applied across the electric-field relaxation electrode 209 and the cathode electrode 208, because the anode and electric-field relaxation electrodes 207 and 209 are electrically connected to one another.
Due to the applied reverse voltage, a first depletion region (not shown in FIG. 2), which is formed at the p.sup.- n.sup.- junction of the p.sup.- -type electric-field relaxation region 206 and the n.sup.- -type well 203, grows upward and downward. As a result, the upper end of the first depletion region reaches the surface of the well 203, thereby depleting the relaxation region 206 completely. The lower end of the first depletion region approaches the interface between the n.sup.- -type well 203 and the p.sup.- -type remaining substrate 202
On the other hand, a second depletion region (not shown in FIG. 2), which is formed at the p.sup.- -n.sup.- junction of the n.sup.- -type well 203 and the p.sup.- -type remaining substrate 202, grows upward and downward due to the applied reverse voltage. The upper end of the second depletion region reaches the lower end of the first depletion region in the well 203, resulting in merge of the first and second depletion regions. Thus, the part of the well 203 below the p.sup.- -type electric-field relaxation region 206 is completely depleted.
As described above, the electric field existing in the vicinity of the p.sup.+ -n.sup.- junction of the n.sup.- -type well 203 and the p.sup.+ -type anode region 204 is relaxed due to the existence of the first and second depletion regions. In other words, a large part of the applied reverse voltage acts on the first and second depletion regions. As a result, the effective voltage to form the electric field in the vicinity of the p.sup.+ -n.sup.- junction is decreased, increasing the breakdown voltage of the conventional diode 201.
However, the above conventional high breakdown-voltage diodes 101 and 201 have the following problems.
With the conventional diode 101 shown in FIG. 1, the electric field generated in the device region 104a is relaxed by the part of the n.sup.- -type single-crystal silicon layer 104 which is vertically and laterally isolated by the SiO.sub.2 layer 103 and the isolation region 107. Therefore, the doping concentration of the n.sup.- -type single-crystal silicon layer 104 needs to be set as a comparatively low value so as to increase the width of a depletion region generated in the layer 104.
Also, to prevent the punch through phenomenon from occurring even when the depletion region formed at the p.sup.+ -n.sup.- junction of the p.sup.+ -type anode region 105 and the n.sup.- -type device region 104a laterally grows toward the cathode region 106 due to the applied reverse voltage, the anode and cathode regions 105 and 106 are required to be apart from each other at a specific distance corresponding to a wanted breakdown voltage.
Accordingly, there is a problem that the electric resistance between the anode and cathode regions 105 and 106 after breakdown occurs is high and that the diode 101 occupies a large chip area.
With the conventional diode 201 shown in FIG. 2, because the anode electrode 207 is electrically connected to the electric-field relaxation region 206, the electric potentials of the anode electrode 207 and the electric-field relaxation region 206 are always equal. Usually, these two electric potentials are set as zero V.
As a result, there is a problem that the electric potential of the anode electrode 207 is unable to be set at an optional value other than zero V on operation.

High breakdown-voltage diode with electric-field relaxation region