In obtaining a photomask blank 1 by disposing a sputtering target in a vacuum chamber and forming thin films 3, 4, and 5 with a three-layer construction of CrN/CrC/CrON over a transparent substrate 2 by reactive sputtering, the thin films are formed in a mixed gas atmosphere containing helium, and the helium gas flux in the mixed gas is controlled such that the crystal grain diameter of the CrC thin film, which is the thickest film, will be 3 to 7 nm. This yields a photomask blank having thin films with low film stress, having good film quality, and which can be produced at a high yield in mass production.

This invention relates to a photomask used as a photolithography mask for fine working in the process of manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device or the like, to a photomask blank that is used to make this photomask, and to methods of manufacturing the same.
Photolithography has come to be used in recent years in the process of forming wiring and other regions in the manufacture of semiconductor integrated circuit devices. Known photomask blanks used as the exposure original in the photolithography process include those with a basic structure in which a shading film (light-shielding film, opaque film, non-transmitting film) of chromium (Cr) is formed over a transparent substrate, and those with a multilayer structure in which an anti-reflective film such as a chromium oxynitride (CrON) film is further laminated in order to prevent reflection on the shading film (light-shielding film, opaque film, non-transmitting film) surface produced by the exposure light.
The method employed to manufacture a photomask blank such as this involves introducing a transparent substrate into a vacuum chamber in which a sputtering target has been disposed, and forming a shading film (light-shielding film, opaque film, non-transmitting film) over the transparent substrate by reactive sputtering. With this film formation method, it is possible to raise the sputtering power in order to enhance the photomask blank productivity. Unfortunately, while raising the sputtering power does raise the film formation rate (that is, the deposition rate), if any impurities are present in the target, there is the possibility that there will be a higher incidence of particle generation in the formed thin film, which lowers the yield.
In view of this, in an effort to enhance productivity through a higher yield, the inventors investigated lowering the sputtering power in order to lower the film formation rate (that is, the deposition rate). It was found, however, that merely focusing on lowering the power (sputtering power) as one of the sputtering conditions only results in the following new problems.
Specifically, it was learned that if the film formation rates of the thin films that make up the photomask blank are each lowered, in general, the crystal grains of the film deposited on the transparent substrate will be larger, and this will be attended by extremely large film stress caused by the crystal grains pulling on one another. The mechanism by which this film stress is generated is not entirely clear, but it is thought to be attributable to the deposition rate of the films. In the case of a photomask blank made up of chromium-based thin films, such as a photomask blank having a three-layer structure of CrN/CrC/CrON, it was found that this problem is particularly serious with the CrC thin film, which is the thickest of the three. Further examination of the situation by the inventors revealed that film stress also greatly affects the film materials that make up the thin films. This problem with stress was found to be particularly serious with chromium-based thin films, with chromium carbide films in which the chromium contains carbon, and with chromium oxide films in which the chromium contains oxygen.
Tensile stress occurs and leads to substrate warping in a photomask blank including thin films manufactured through a series of manufacturing steps and having the above-mentioned film stress, and in the photomask obtained by patterning this photomask blank. Therefore, if a photomask is produced from a photomask blank such as this, there is the danger that the patterning precision will not be as designed, producing defective products. Specifically, wiring design is important in the manufacture of a semiconductor integrated circuit device, and if a photomask such as this is used to transfer a pattern to a semiconductor wafer or the like, the pattern will not be formed as designed on the semiconductor wafer, resulting in circuit malfunction, and therefore this photomask cannot be used and is a defective product.
In view of this, the inventors investigated a method of manufacturing a photomask blank with which it is possible to avoid the problem of film stress in thin films formed under film formation conditions (film sputtering conditions) involving sputtering at low power as mentioned above.
Aside from the sputtering power conditions, the material of the thin films that make up the photomask blank is determined on the basis of the following sputtering conditions, and the inventors therefore conducted investigations and experiments into various parameters.
First, they investigated the gas pressure used in sputtering. Gas pressure was the only sputtering condition they focused on, and other parameters were kept constant in the experiments and investigations.
FIG. 11 is a graph of the relationship between the gas pressure during the formation of CrC and the change in substrate warping attributable to film stress for a photomask blank in which CrN/CrC/CrON is formed over a transparent substrate. Here, the change in substrate warping is the change in flatness, and this change in flatness is defined as the difference between the initial flatness (the flatness of the transparent substrate at the outset) and the flatness after the thin films have been formed over the transparent substrate. As to the symbols used for the change in flatness, a minus sign indicates a change in tensile stress, and a plus sign indicates a change in compressive stress. Flatness was measured using an AS8010 made by Tropel. It is clear from this graph that there is less change when the gas pressure is lower, and more change when the gas pressure is higher (the film stress is greater). In other words, these investigative results reveal that it is undesirable for the gas pressure to be raised because the deposition rate will be too low and the change in flatness will be greater (film stress will be greater), and that it is undesirable for the gas pressure to be lowered because film formation stability (film sputtering stability) will be poor.
Next, the types of gas that make up the mixed gas were investigated. Experiments and investigations were conducted for when the gas components were the only sputtering condition examined, the power and gas pressure were not varied, and other parameters were set to constant values.
A method in which a reactive gas is mixed into an inert gas for the gas used in sputtering is generally employed to control the stress of the films. The inventors first turned their attention to the reactive gas, and conducted sputtering using nitrogen (N) as the reactive gas, for example. As a result, it was found that if the amount of nitrogen is too large, abnormal discharge will generate particles. It was thus revealed that there is a limit to how much reactive gas N (nitrogen) can be introduced, so the components of the mixed gas must be used in appropriate amounts (the amount of reactive gas in the inert gas). For instance, when a photomask blank comprising an anti-reflective film of CrON formed over a shading film (light-shielding film, opaque film, non-transmitting film) of CrC is used for a low-wavelength application (such as 365 nm), the CrON must be made thin due to optical characteristic requirements. The amount of nitrogen monoxide (NO) gas introduced as the reactive gas was reduced in order to make the CrON film thinner, but this generated film stress due to a decrease in nitrogen (N) atoms in the CrON film. On the other hand, excessively increasing the amount of nitrogen monoxide (NO) gas introduced as the reactive gas during the formation of the above-mentioned CrON film resulted in abnormal discharge during sputtering due to the effect of the nitrogen (N) atoms, and consequently the above-mentioned problem with particles resulted in poor film quality. Therefore, it was revealed that even if the amount of nitrogen (N) introduced as the reactive gas is optimized, it will still be very difficult to achieve optimal sputtering conditions in terms of the relation between introduction amount and film quality.
Thus, when films were formed by changing the various parameters of the film formation conditions (film sputtering conditions) for film stress, namely, the gas pressure, gas flow ratio, sputtering power, and so forth, it was extremely difficult to control both the optical characteristics and the film quality (changes in the optical characteristics of the formed film, changes in film quality, etc.). Therefore, an attempt was made to achieve the above-mentioned goal by looking for an inert gas with good controllability as the type of gas that makes up the above-mentioned mixed gas under the condition that the power during sputtering will be lowered.
The present invention was conceived in light of the above problems, and it is an object thereof to provide a photomask blank and photomask that have thin films with low film stress, have good film quality, and can be mass-produced at a high yield, which is accomplished by changing the constitution of the mixed gas, and to provide methods of manufacturing the same.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Photomask blank, photomask, methods of manufacturing the same and methods of forming micropattern


The present invention provides a novel lyophilized pharmaceutical composition that maintains the stability of a DNA plasmid while forming a uniform and elegant cake during lyophilization. The novel lyophilization formulation further allows uniform reconstitution of the DNA plasmid in a pharmaceutically acceptable solution, enabling complete recover of the active ingredients, minimizing partial loss of potency and allowing administration of the active ingredients in an accurate and consistent manner. Additionally provided herein include methods of making the lyophilized pharmaceutical composition and methods of administering the composition for treatment of various diseases.

There is now substantial clinical evidence that gene therapy involving direct in vivo delivery of nucleic acid constructs that have not been packaged in virus or virus-like particles—so-called "naked" DNA or RNA constructs—can be effective in treating various diseases. For example, direct intramuscular injection of a DNA plasmid construct that expresses two isoforms of human HGF protein (i.e., pCK-HGF-X7, also called "VM202") has been demonstrated to be effective in treating neuropathic pain. In a phase II clinical trial, injections of VM202 into the calf muscle of patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy were shown to significantly reduce pain—two days of treatment, spaced two weeks apart, were sufficient to provide symptomatic relief with improvement in quality of life for 3 months. Kessler et al., Annals Clin. Transl. Neurology 2(5):465-478 (2015). The same DNA plasmid construct has also been shown to be effective in treating patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In a phase I clinical trial, close to half of the ALS patients remained stable or improved after administration of VM202, with 47%, 50%, and 24% of subjects at months 1, 2, and 3, respectively, experiencing either no decline or an improvement in the ALSFRS-R (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-revised) score indicating physical functioning of ALS patients, which is better than observed in historical controls. Robert L. Sufit et al., Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontoemporal Degeneration 18:269-278 (2017).
However, despite the recent approval of two antisense oligonucleotide drugs for direct injection—nusinersen, for intrathecal injection, and eteplirsen, for intravenous injection—few naked DNA or RNA constructs have actually been approved for human gene therapy. Thus, despite decades of experience with formulating naked nucleic acids for laboratory use, and more recent experience formulating nucleic acids for ex vivo gene therapy approaches, little research has been conducted into formulating DNA as a pharmaceutical product for direct therapeutic delivery. In particular, there have been few investigations into stability of the nucleic acid active ingredient under various storage conditions, or into excipients required to permit uniform reconstitution of the formulation for administration, or into methods for reducing contaminant load, etc. These properties are important for better and more reproducible therapeutic efficacy and safety of the DNA-based drugs, as well as for the economic feasibility of scaling up the production and distribution of the drugs.
There is, therefore, a need for a formulation for a pharmaceutical product of a naked DNA-based drug that provides improved stability, safety and economic feasibility.

Lyophilized pharmaceutical compositions for naked DNA gene therapy


A method for the treatment of asthma is disclosed. The method comprises administration of an antibody, polypeptide or other molecule recognizing VLA-4, a protein expressed on the surface of certain leukocytes such as eosinophils.

Asthma is a condition of the respiratory tract characterized by widespread, reversible narrowing of the airways (bronchoconstriction) and increased sensitivity (hyperresponsiveness) of the airways to a variety of stimuli. The familiar symptomology of asthma, i.e., coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, dyspnea, is caused by airway smooth muscle contraction, increased bronchial mucus secretion, and inflammation. Though seldom fatal, asthma has been estimated to affect 10-20% of school-aged children around the world, and hospital admissions for asthma in children have increased dramatically in recent years, one survey for the United States indicating that hospital admissions for children under 15 with asthma increased by at least 145% between 1970 and 1984. (See, M. R. Sears, 1990 1!.) Overall, it is estimated that 10 million Americans (4% of the population) have asthma, and some S4 billion is spent in treatment per year. (L. K. Altman, 1991 2!; C. Starr, 1991 3!.)
The causes of asthma are not completely understood, however the study of agents that trigger acute asthmatic episodes supports the theory that asthma is an immunological reaction by a subject in response to specific allergens of the subject's environment. These "triggers" exacerbate asthma by causing transient enhancement of airway hyperresponsiveness. Triggers that have been found to induce airway hyperresponsiveness include inhaled allergens, inhaled low molecular weight agents to which the subject has become sensitized (e.g., by occupational exposure), viral or mycoplasma respiratory infections, and oxidizing gases such as ozone and nitrogen dioxide. These "inducing" triggers can be distinguished from "inciting" triggers of bronchospastic episodes which include exercise, cold air, emotional stress, pharmacological triggers, inhaled irritants. The common feature of inducing triggers is that they are associated with airways inflammation; inciting triggers produce smooth muscle contractions (bronchospasms) which depend on the underlying degree of hyperresponsiveness, rather than increasing airways responsiveness themselves. (See, D. W. Cockcroft, 1990 4!.)
The recognition that airways inflammation is a cause of transient (acute) and also persistent airway hyperresponsiveness has had an impact on the treatment of asthma sufferers. Early treatments for asthma focused on bronchoconstriction and led to the development of many effective bronchodilator drugs. The most commonly prescribed were beta2-adrenoceptor agonists (epinephrine, isoproterenol, albuterol, salmeterol, etc.), xanthines (caffeine, theophylline, etc.) and cholinoceptor antagonists (atropine, acetylcholine, etc.). More recently, however, anti-inflammatory drugs have begun to replace bronchodilators as first-line treatments for asthma. Commonly prescribed anti-inflammatory agents for asthma include disodium cromoglycate (DSCG), nedocromil sodium, antihistamines such as ketotifen, and corticosteroids such as prednisolone. (See, F. M. C. Cuss, 1990 5! and P. M. O'Byrne, 1990 6!.)
The inflammatory response in asthma is typical for tissues covered by a mucosa and is characterized by vasodilation, plasma exudation, recruitment of inflammatory cells such as neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, lymphocytes and eosinophils to the sites of inflammation, and release of inflammatory mediators by resident tissue cells (e.g., mast cells) or by migrating inflammatory cells. (J. C. Hogg, 1990 7!.) In allergen-induced asthma, sufferers often exhibit a dual response to exposure to an allergen--an "early phase" response beginning immediately after exposure and lasting until 1-2 hours after exposure, followed by a "late phase" response beginning about 3 hours after exposure and lasting sometimes until 8-10 hours or longer after exposure. (D. W. Cockroft, 1990 4!.) Late phase response in allergen-induced asthma and persistent hyperresponsiveness have been associated with the recruitment of leukocytes, and particularly eosinophils, to inflamed lung tissue. (W. M. Abraham et al., 1988 8!.) Eosinophils are known to release several inflammatory mediators, e.g., 15-HETE, leukotriene C.sub.4, PAF, cationic proteins, eosinophil peroxidase. (K. F. Chung, 1990 9!.)
Many of the drugs used to treat asthma have been found to block or neutralize the effects of the release of inflammatory mediators which regulate the inflammatory response. For example, beta2-adrenoceptor agonists and DSCG are potent stabilizers of mast cells, which are capable of releasing many mediators, including histamine, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, platelet activating factor (PAF), and chemotactic factors for neutrophils and eosinophils; corticosteroids, as another example, complex with steroid hormone receptors, which leads to the synthesis of proteins, such as lipocortins, that produce anti-inflammatory effects. (F. M. C. Cuss, 1990 5!.)
Although known asthma medications have some effect on leukocyte recruitment into the lung (W. M. Abraham et al., 1990 8!), none of these drugs is effective to directly block migration of leukocytes into inflamed tissues.
Inflammatory leukocytes are recruited to sites of inflammation by cell adhesion molecules that are expressed on the surface of endothelial cells and which act as receptors for leukocyte surface proteins or protein complexes. Eosinophils have recently been found to participate in three distinct cell adhesion pathways to vascular endothelium, binding to cells expressing intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (ELAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (YCAM-1). (P. F. Weller et al., 1991 10!; G. M. Walsh et al., 1991 11!; B. S. Bochner et al., 1991 12!; and A. Dobrina et al., 1991 13!.) VCAM1 binds to the .alpha..sub.4 .beta..sub.1, integrin, VLA-4, which is expressed on various lymphoid cells, including eosinophils (Weller et al., 1991 10!; Elices et al. 1990 14!). That eosinophils express VLA-4 differentiates them from other inflammatory cells such as neutrophils, which bind to ELAM-1 and ICAM-1 but not VCAM-1.
The VLA-4-mediated adhesion pathway was investigated in an asthma model to examine the possible role of VLA-4 in leukocyte recruitment to inflamed lung tissue. It has now been discovered that administering anti-VLA-4 antibody inhibits both the late phase response and airway hyperresponsiveness in allergic sheep. Surprisingly, administration of anti-VLA-4 led to a reduction in the number of both neutrophils and eosinophils in the lung at 4 hours after allergen challenge, even though both cells have alternate adhesion pathways by which they can be recruited to lung tissues. Also surprisingly, inhibition of hyperresponsiveness in the treated sheep was observed which continued to 1 week, even though infiltration of leukocytes, including neutrophils and eosinophils, was not significantly reduced over time.

Treatment for asthma with VLA-4 blocking agents


Chimeric polymer compositions and methods are provided in which a plurality of carbohydrate moieties and amino acids form the backbone of a polymer. Most preferably, the polymer includes alternating saccharide and peptide portions to form the chimeric polymer.

Numerous natural and synthetic heteropolymeric compounds are known in the art. For example, glycopeptides are commonly found in most eukaryotic cells and on cell membranes. In most cases, glycopeptides are enzymatically and post-translationally synthesized in a cell. Therefore, and from a structural perspective, the backbone of such molecules is a polypeptide with glycosyl side chains covalently attached to pendant R-groups of polypeptide backbone. Likewise, numerous natural polysaccharides are known to carry one or more amino acids. For example, murein (which is a polymer comprising N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylmuramic acid) is typically derivatized with a pentapeptide that is covalently coupled to the N-acetyl muramic acid in the murein to act as crosslinker between two or more polysaccharide chains. Once again, from a structural perspective, the backbone of such molecules is a polysaccharide to which oligopeptides are covalently bound as pendant groups.
Remarkably, and despite the availability of numerous carbohydrate and amino acid building blocks, heteropolymers in which carbohydrates and peptides form the backbone of a heteropolymer have generally not been reported, with the exception of relatively few and selected molecules. For example, a mixed backbone heteropolymer consisting of DNA and PNA portions was reported in Biochem Pharmacol. 2005 Nov. 1; 70(9):1277-87. In this paper, a sugar-phosphate backbone of two DNA portions was linked to a peptide backbone of a PNA portion. Similarly, certain chimeric molecules in which a PNA (peptide nucleic acid) and lactose form a backbone were described by Zhang et al. in Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2001 May 21; 11(10):1269-72. While such polymers have desirable properties with respect to nucleic acid hybridization, various drawbacks may remain. Among other things, where the backbone includes a DNA portion, negative charges are typically present at physiological pH due to the phosphate groups in the backbone.
Other functionalized polyester graft copolymers consisting of a linear α-hydroxy-acid polyester backbone having at least one amino acid group incorporated therein and at least one poly(amino acid) side chain extending from an amino acid group in the polyester have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,740,310. In still further examples, a polymer of hyaluronic acid and a second polymer of either a non-ionic polymer, a polymeric gum, or a combination thereof are combined to form certain heteropolymers as previously described in U.S. Pat App. No. 2005/0084537. While such polymers may provide certain advantages, controlled and high yield synthesis is often difficult. Moreover, many of such synthetic polymers may elicit an immune response in an animal when implanted.
Therefore, while numerous compositions and methods for heteropolymers are known in the art, all or almost all of them suffer from one or more disadvantages. Most significantly, heteropolymers with mixed backbones in which amino acids and sugars form the backbone in compounds other than PNA-containing compounds are not known. Thus, there is still a need to provide improved heteropolymers, and especially those with an amino acid-carbohydrate mixed backbone.

The Regents of the University of California


A display device includes a plurality of data drivers which are cascade-connected, and prevents variation of the duty ratio of a signal caused by accumulation of errors. In each of the plurality of data drivers: a first input circuit receives a first signal supplied from outside; a second input circuit receives a second signal supplied from outside, in response to the first signal received by the first input circuit; a signal processing circuit performs signal processing based on the second signal received by the second input circuit; a first output circuit inverts the first signal received by the first input circuit, and outputs the inverted first signal; and a second output circuit delays the second signal received by the second input circuit, by a predetermined amount, and outputs the delayed second signal.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, a display device, and a signal transmission system. In particular, the present invention relates to a semiconductor device which is cascade-connected and processes signals, and a display device and a signal transmission system which include a cascade connection and processes signals.
2) Description of the Related Art
For example, in liquid crystal display (LCD) devices, pixels each including a transistor are arranged in rows and columns, gate bus lines extending in the horizontal direction are connected to gates of the transistors in the pixels, and data bus lines extending in the vertical direction are connected to capacitors in the pixels through the transistors. When data is displayed on an LCD panel, a gate driver sequentially drives each gate bus line on a line-by-line basis so as to bring transistors connected to the gate bus line into conduction, and then data drivers simultaneously write data into pixels on the line in the horizontal direction through the conducting transistors.
In the conventional constructions, LCD drivers are commonly connected to buses which propagate display-data signals, a clock signal, and the like. In such constructions, signal wires intersect, and therefore the number of mounted circuit board layers becomes great. In order to decrease the number of mounted circuit board layers, the LCD drivers are cascade-connected so that outputs of each LCD driver are supplied to another LCD driver in the following stage.
Since LCD drivers are connected in series in the cascade connection, mounted signal wires do not intersect, and therefore the number of mounted circuit board layers can be decreased. Thus, the circuit boards can be manufactured at low cost.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conventional LCD device having a cascade-connected construction. The LCD device of FIG. 9 comprises an LCD panel 10, a control circuit 11, a gate driver 12, data driver ICs 13, and signal lines 15.
In the LCD panel 10, pixels each including a transistor (not shown) are arranged in rows and columns, gate bus lines extending from the gate driver 12 in the horizontal direction are connected to gates of the transistors in the pixels, and data bus lines extending from the data driver ICs 13 in the vertical direction are connected to capacitors in the pixels through the transistors. When data is displayed on the LCD panel 10, the gate driver 12 sequentially drives each gate bus line on a line-by-line basis so as to bring transistors connected to the gate bus line into conduction, and then the data driver ICs 13 simultaneously write data through the conducting transistors into pixels on each horizontal line in the horizontal direction.
The control circuit 11 is a circuit which controls the gate driver 12 and the data driver ICs 13 so as to display data on the LCD panel 10. Signals outputted from the control circuit 11 are first supplied to the data driver ICs 13 in the first stage, and are then supplied from a data driver IC 13 in each stage to another data driver IC 13 in the following stage.
The gate driver 12 sequentially drives each gate bus line on a line-by-line basis under the control of the control circuit 11 so as to bring transistors connected to the gate bus line into conduction.
The data driver ICs 13 are cascade-connected, and latch data which are supplied from the control circuit 11 and are to be displayed, in synchronization with a clock signal. The data latched by each data driver IC 13 are supplied to the LCD panel 10 and the next data driver IC 13.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating details of an example of each of the data driver ICs 13. The data driver IC 13 illustrated in FIG. 10 comprises input buffers 20 to 23, a counter 24, a clock control circuit 25, a data control circuit 26, a latch circuit 27, and output buffers 28 to 31.
A start signal (START) is inputted into the input buffer 20, the clock signal (CLOCK) is inputted into the input buffer 21, a reset signal (RESET) is inputted into the input buffer 22, and a data signal (DATA) is inputted into the input buffer 23.
The counter 24 counts clock cycles of the clock signal outputted from the clock control circuit 25. When the count reaches a predetermined value, the counter 24 activates a start signal supplied to the output buffer 28.
The clock control circuit 25 controls the counter 24, the data control circuit 26, and the latch circuit 27 in response to the clock signal supplied from the input buffer 21, the start signal, and the reset signal, and supplies the clock signal to the output buffer 29.
The data control circuit 26 latches the data signal inputted through the input buffer 23, in synchronization with the clock signal supplied from the clock control circuit 25, and supplies the latched data signal to the latch circuit 27.
The latch circuit 27 latches the data signals supplied from the data control circuit 26, and supplies the latched data signals to the LCD panel 10.
The output buffer 28 supplies the start signal outputted from the counter 24, to the next data driver IC 13.
The output buffer 29 supplies the clock signal outputted from the clock control circuit 25, to the next data driver IC 13.
The output buffer 30 supplies the reset signal outputted from the input buffer 22, to the next data driver IC 13.
The output buffer 31 supplies the data signal outputted from the data control circuit 26, to the next data driver IC 13.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating details of an example of the data control circuit 26. In the example of FIG. 11, the data control circuit 26 is comprised of an input circuit 40 and an output circuit 44. The data control circuit 26 latches a data signal in synchronization with a leading edge and a trailing edge of the clock signal, supplies the latched data signals to the LCD panel 10, synthesizes the latched data signals so as to reproduce the data signal, and outputs the synthesized data signal.
The input circuit 40 is comprised of an inverter 41 and data flip-flop (DFF) circuits 42 and 43. The DFF 42 latches the data signal in synchronization with a trailing edge of the clock signal, and the DFF 43 latches the data signal in synchronization with a leading edge of the clock signal. The data signals latched by the DFFs 42 and 43 are supplied to the latch circuit 27 and the output circuit 44.
The output circuit 44 is comprised of inverters 45 and 46 and NAND gates 47 to 49, synthesizes the data signals latched by the DFFs 42 and 43 in synchronization with the clock signal, and outputs the synthesized data signal.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating details of an example of the counter 24. The counter 24 is realized by a shift register constituted by DFFs 50-1 to 50-n and 51 and an inverter 52, where the number of the DFFs 50-1 to 50-n and 51 corresponds to the number n+1 of clock cycles which are necessary for capture of the data signal. The counter 24 has a function of notifying an IC in the following stage of start timing of capture of a clock signal and a data signal supplied from the stage in which the counter 24 is arranged.
Next, the operations of the above conventional example are explained.
When an image signal is inputted into the control circuit 11, the control circuit 11 outputs a reset signal to be supplied to the data drivers IC 13 in the first stage.
Each of the data driver ICs 13 reads in the reset signal through the input buffer 22, and resets the clock control circuit 25 and the counter 24. Thereafter, each of the data driver ICs 13 supplies the reset signal to another data driver IC 13 in the next stage. Consequently, the data driver ICs 13 are reset one after another.
Subsequently, when a clock signal and a data signal are outputted from the control circuit 11, the data driver IC 13 in the first stage reads in the clock signal and the data signal through the input buffer 21 and the input buffer 23 (see FIG. 13. (A) and (B)), and supplies the clock signal and the data signal to the clock control circuit 25 and the data control circuit 26, respectively.
When a start signal is inputted, the DFF 43 in the data control circuit 26 latches the data signal in synchronization with a leading edge of the clock signal, and outputs the latched data signal as a signal A (see FIG. 13, (C)) to the latch circuit 27. On the other hand, the DFF 42 in the data control circuit 26 latches the data signal in synchronization with a trailing edge of the clock signal, and outputs the latched data signal as a signal B (see FIG. 13, (D)) to the latch circuit 27.
The latch circuit 27 latches the data supplied from the data control circuit 26, and supplies the latched data to the LCD panel 10.
After the counter 24 is reset with the reset signal, the counter 24 counts clock cycles of the clock signal. When (n−1)+0.5 cycles of the clock signal elapse, the counter 24 sets the start signal supplied to the output buffer 28, to the "H" state.
The output buffer 29 and the output buffer 31 respectively output the clock signal and the data signal to the next data driver IC 13 (see FIG. 13, (E) and (F)).
As explained above, the data signal outputted from the control circuit 11 is sequentially latched by the data driver ICs 13 in synchronization with the clock signal, and the latched data signals are then supplied to the LCD panel 10.
The gate driver 12 drives each of predetermined gate bus lines on the LCD panel 10 so as to bring transistors on each line into conduction. Thus, data supplied from the data driver ICs 13 are displayed on predetermined lines on the LCD panel 10.
However, in the case where the data driver ICs 13 are cascade-connected, when a signal is inputted into a driver device, the signal is supplied through an output buffer to a driver device in the next stage. At this time, there is a difference in the signal delay in the buffer between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the signal, where the difference is caused by manufacturing processes. Therefore, the duty ratio of the signal at the output stage is slightly different from the duty ratio of the signal at the input stage.
In the case where the data driver ICs 13 having similar delay characteristics are cascade-connected, errors of the duty ratio of a signal which are produced when the signal passes through the respective data driver ICs 13 are accumulated. Therefore, sometimes, the accumulated error of the duty ratio of the signal after the signal passes through the drivers in multiple stages becomes unignorable. For example, in SXGA (Super Extended Graphics Array) LCD panels, ten data driver ICs 13 are cascade-connected. Therefore, there is a possibility that normal shapes of signals cannot be maintained during propagation of the signals through the ten data driver ICs 13 due to the accumulated error in the duty ratio.
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating waveforms of the clock signal at the input stages of ten, cascade-connected, data driver ICs 13. As illustrated by reference (A) in FIG. 14, the clock signal has a rectangular shape when the signal is inputted into the first data driver IC 13. However, every time the clock signal passes through a data driver IC 13, the duration of the "H" state is elongated, and the duration of the "L" state is shortened.
That is, the duty ratio of the clock signal varies from the duty ratio of the waveform at the time of input into the first data driver IC 13. Therefore, some data driver IC 13 may not normally operate.
Thus, in Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-19518, the present inventors have proposed an integrated circuit in which errors of the duty ratio are not accumulated by inverting the output of the clock signal at each data driver IC 13.
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating details of the LCD device proposed by the above Japanese patent application No. 2002-19518. As illustrated in FIG. 15, the integrated circuit disclosed in the above Japanese patent application comprises an LCD panel 10, a control circuit 11, a gate driver 12, and data driver ICs 16. When compared with the construction of FIG. 9, the data driver ICs 13 are replaced with the data driver ICs 16. As a odd-even switch signal, a GND signal is inputted into each of the odd-numbered ICs, and a VDD signal is inputted into each of the even-numbered ICs. The other portions of the construction of FIG. 15 are identical to FIG. 9.
FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating details of a construction of each data driver IC 16 in the construction of FIG. 15. The data driver IC 16 of FIG. 16 comprises input buffers 60 to 62, an inverter 63, a signal-inversion switch circuit 64, a clock controller 65, a data controller 66, an internal circuit 67, an inverter 68, a signal-inversion switch circuit 69, an inverter 70, and output buffers 71 and 72.
Next, the operations of the device disclosed in the above Japanese patent application No. 2002-19518 are briefly explained.
Since a GND signal or a VDD signal is inputted into the input buffer 62 according to the position of each data driver IC 16 in the cascade connection, each of the signal-inversion switch circuits 64 and 69 selects one of two terminals according to the state of the signal inputted through the input buffer 62.
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating the connection state in each of the odd-numbered data driver ICs 16 in the cascade connection. Since the GND signal is inputted as an odd-even switch signal into each of the odd-numbered data driver ICs 16, the signal-inversion switch circuit 64 selects the output of the input buffer 60, and the signal-inversion switch circuit 69 selects the output of the inverter 68, as illustrated in FIG. 17.
FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating the connection state in each of the even-numbered data driver ICs 16 in the cascade connection. Since a VDD signal is inputted as an odd-even switch signal into each of the even-numbered data driver ICs 16, the signal-inversion switch circuit 64 selects the output of the inverter 63, and the signal-inversion switch circuit 69 selects the output of the clock controller 65, as illustrated in FIG. 18.
Therefore, the clock signal inputted into each of the odd-numbered data driver ICs 16 is supplied as is to the clock controller 65, and is thereafter inverted by the inverter 68. Then, the output of the inverter 68 is output from the data driver IC 16.
On the other hand, the clock signal inputted into each of the even-numbered data driver ICs 16 is inverted by the inverter 63, and is then supplied to the clock controller 65. Thereafter, the inverted clock signal is output as is from the data driver IC 16.
Consequently, even if the duration of the "H" state of the clock signal is elongated, the clock signal is inverted when the clock signal passes through the clock controller 65 in each data driver IC 16, as illustrated in FIG. 19. Therefore, the errors of the duty ratio of the clock signal are canceled. Thus, it is possible to prevent accumulation of the errors of the duty ratio during propagation through the plurality of data driver ICs 16.
However, since a GND signal or a VDD signal is required to be supplied to each data driver IC 16, the construction of the device is complex.

Semiconductor device, display device, and signal transmission system


Methods and kits for measurement of concentration of FK778 in a biological sample by means of an immunoassay, preferably a competitive immunoassay. In one aspect, the method and kit involve the use of (a) an antibody to FK778 conjugated to a label, e.g., an acridinium label, (b) an antibody to FK778 not conjugated to a label, (c) a solid phase containing an antibody to a first hapten, e.g., a fluorescein hapten, and (d) a bihapten comprising a first hapten and FK778 or an analogue of FK778, e.g., a bihapten comprising a fluorescein hapten and a FK778 hapten. In another aspect, the method and kit involve the use of (a) antibody to FK778, (b) a bihapten comprising FK778 or an analogue of FK778 and a first hapten, e.g., a bihapten comprising the fluorescein hapten and the hapten of FK778 or an analogue of FK778, and (c) a pretreatment reagent.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to detection and measurement of FK778 or analogues of FK778 in biological samples, and, more particularly, detection and measurement of FK778 or analogues of FK778 in biological samples by means of competitive immunoassay.
2. Discussion of the Art
FK778 (previously known as HMR 1715, X92 0715, or MNA 715) is structurally similar to A77 1726, the active metabolite of leflunomide. Like A77 1726, FK778 is a malononitrilamide; these compounds are effective immunosuppressants in experimental models of autoimmune diseases and in allo- or xeno-transplantation. While leflunomide (Arava™) has been released for clinical use in rheumatoid arthritis, the long plasma half-life of A77 1726 in humans (15-18 days) makes the drug undesirable for use in clinical transplantation. FK778 has a shorter plasma half-life in humans and thus holds promise that it might be useful in clinical transplantation. The structures of FK778 and A77 1726 are set forth below.

FK778 is described in greater detail in the following articles, all of which are incorporated herein by reference:    Bilolo et al., "SYNERGISTIC EFFECTS OF MALONONITRILIAMIDES (FK778, FK779) WITH TACROLIMUS (FK506) IN PREVENTION OF ACUTE HEART AND KIDNEY ALLOGRAFT REJECTION AND REVERSAL OF ONGOING HEART ALLOGRAFT REJECTION IN THE RAT", Transplantation, Vol. 75, 1881-1887, No. 11, Jun. 15, 2003.    Birsan et al., "In vivo pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluation of malononitrilamide FK778 in non-human primates", Transpl. Int. (2003) 16: 354-360.    Birsan et al., "Effects of the malononitrilamide FK778 on immune functions in vitro in whole blood from non-human primates and healthy human volunteers", Transplant Immunology 11 (2003) 163-167.    Fawcett et al., "FK778: A Powerful Immunosuppressive, But Will It Really Be Good for You?", Transplantation, Volume 78, Number 1, Jul. 15, 2004.    Evers et al., "Inhibition of human cytomegalovirus signaling and replication by the immunosuppressant FK778", Antiviral Research xxx (2004) xxx-xxx.    First et al., "NEW DRUGS TO IMPROVE TRANSPLANT OUTCOMES", Transplantation, Vol. 77, S88-S92, No. 9, May 15, 2004 Supplement.    Jin et al., "A novel leflunomide derivative, FK778, for immunosuppression after kidney transplantation in dogs", Surgery, Volume 132, Number 1, 72-79, July 2002.    Savikko et al., "Leflunomide Analogue FK778 Is Vasculoprotective independent of its Immunosuppressive effect: Potential Application for Restenosis and Chronic Rejection", Transplantation 2003; 76: 455, Transplantation, Vol. 76, 471-473, No. 3, Aug. 15, 2003.    Savikko et al., "LEFLUNOMIDE ANALOGUE FK778 IS VASCULOPROTECTIVE INDEPENDENT OF ITS IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE EFFECT: POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS FOR RESTENOSIS AND CHRONIC REJECTION", Transplantation, Vol. 76, 455-458, No. 3, Aug. 15, 2003.    Slauson et al., "Flow cytometric analysis of the molecular mechanisms of immunosuppressive action of the active metabolite of leflunomide and its malononitrilamide analogues in a novel whole blood assay", Immunology letters 67 (1999) 179-183.    Vanrenterghem et al., "The Effects of FK778 in Combination With Tacrolimus and Steroids: A Phase II Multicenter Study in Renal Transplant Patients", Transplantation, Volume 78, Number 1, Jul. 15, 2004.
Detection and measurement of FK778 in biological samples is important for monitoring therapeutic drugs, as an aid in adjusting drug dosage. The concentration of drug in plasma correlates to the degree of immunosuppression.
FK778 can be determined by LC/Tandem Mass Spectrometry. Methods for LC/Tandem Mass Spectrometry are described in the following reference, which is incorporated herein by reference:    Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Immunosuppressant Drugs by High-performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Taylor, Paul J. Therapeutic Drug Monitoring 26(2):215-219, April 2004
Determination of the presence and amount of FK778 or analogues of FK778 in a biological sample can be determined by a competitive diagnostic assay. Small molecule, competitive diagnostic assays usually require a labeled component that can compete with the analyte for available antibody sites. The labeled component is typically referred to as a tracer. Examples of the labeled component include radioactive tracers, fluorescent tracers, chemiluminescent tracers, and enzyme tracers. Typically, the labeled component consists of the analyte or an analogue of the analyte coupled to a label.
The probability that a particular reagent comprising an antibody to FK778 and a labeled component will be useful in a sensitive assay for FK778 can be assessed by knowledge of the dose response curve. The dose response curve for a FK778 assay is a plot of the ratio of the response in the presence of FK778 analyte to the response in the absence of FK778 analyte as a function of the concentration of the FK778 analyte. The dose response curve for a given FK778 assay is unique for each reagent comprising an antibody to FK778 and a tracer and is modulated by the competition between the tracer and the analyte for sites on the antibody to the analyte.
The problem with a typical FK778 competitive immunoassay on an automated chemiluminescent analyzer is that the tracer comprising FK778 and an acridinium label has a very potent signal. Consequently, the tracer must be diluted to a very low concentration to be measured by the analyzer. FK778 analyte is present at a very high concentration in biological samples. Accordingly, the sample must be diluted more than 1000-fold to compete effectively with the tracer. This degree of sample dilution is typically not available on an automated analyzer. Failure to provide such a dilution results in an assay in which the concentration of FK778 exceeds the concentration of the tracer by so much that the dose response curve is too steep in the dynamic range for a reliable assay. It is desired to develop a competitive assay that allows effective competition between a tracer and the analyte but contains a labeled component that is not as potent as the tracer comprising FK778 and an acridinium label. It would be desirable to provide a competitive immunoassay format capable of detecting levels of FK778 above 10 μg/mL and below 250 μg/mL, concentrations that are clinically useful but difficult to measure.
The company that developed the FK778 drug for clinical use (formerly Fujisawa, now Astellas) also developed and evaluated a series of monoclonal antibodies to FK778 using an ELISA procedure. It was required that these antibodies have sufficient affinity for FK778 in order to be used in an immunoassay. In addition, even when antibodies that demonstrated an appropriate affinity for the FK778 analyte were developed, many of these antibodies demonstrated the undesirable property of high cross-reactivity to structurally similar analogues of FK778, such as metabolites. These antibodies were further screened by Fujisawa for degree of cross-reactivity to metabolites and an antibody having low cross-reactivity was selected.

Determination of concentration of FK778 by competitive immunoassay


In a trained attentive decoder of a trained Sequence-to-Sequence (seq2seq) Artificial Neural Network (ANN): obtaining an encoded input vector sequence; generating, using a trained primary attention mechanism of the trained attentive decoder, a primary attention vectors sequence; for each primary attention vector of the primary attention vectors sequence: (a) generating a set of attention vector candidates corresponding to the respective primary attention vector, (b) evaluating, for each attention vector candidate of the set of attention vector candidates, a structure fit measure that quantifies a similarity of the respective attention vector candidate to a desired attention vector structure, (c) generating, using a trained soft-selection ANN, a secondary attention vector based on said evaluation and on state variables of the trained attentive decoder; and generating, using the trained attentive decoder, an output sequence based on the encoded input vector sequence and the secondary attention vectors.

The invention relates to the field of Sequence-to-Sequence (seq2seq) Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs).
The use of neural models (i.e., ANNs) for seq2seq learning and inference was first introduced in 2014 by I. Sutskever, O. Vinyals, and Q. V. Le, "Sequence to sequence learning with neural networks," Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems 27 (NIPS 2014). Seq2seq neural models are able to map input sequences to output sequence without a-priori knowledge of the length of the input sequence. Today, seq2seq neural models are being used for tasks such as machine translation, speech recognition, text-to-speech (TTS), video captioning, text summarization, textual entailment, question answering, chat bots, and more.
Seq2seq neural models typically use an encoder-decoder architecture. Commonly, the encoder and decoder each include a Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), such as a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) or a Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) network. In the encoder, the input sequence is encoded into compact representations usually referred to as "state vectors" or "context vectors." These serve as input to the decoder, which generates a suitable output sequence. The decoder operates at discrete iterations ("time steps"), and outputs each symbol of the output sequence in one such time step.
Attention mechanisms play an important role in seq2seq neural models. In many tasks, not all symbols in the input sequence should be treated equally in order to generate a correct output sequence. For example, in machine translation, a word appearing in the input sequence may have several different meanings; to translate it into the right word in a second language, its correct meaning must be contextually inferred from other words in the input sequence. The attention mechanism can direct the seq2seq neural model to rely on the correct words in the input sequence for understanding the context of the problematic word. This is typically performed by biasing the context vectors prior to their processing by the decoder. Attention weight vectors (also "alignment vectors") are provided, each determining the relative attention (also "alignment") of one output symbol of the decoder to the whole input sequence of the decoder. A linear combination of the encoded input sequence vectors, with their corresponding weights taken from the alignment vector, represents the context vector that is then processed by the decoder.
The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the figures.

Structure-preserving attention mechanism in sequence-to-sequence neural models

International Business Machines Corporation


Methods, devices and systems are provided that display images in a manner that provides for effective space management. At least one item is horizontally displayed in a first display area. Upon selection by a user of at least one item from the first display area, an indication of the at least one item is vertically displayed in a second display area.

Electronic devices used today often have displays that present users with images which may include menus or lists of items. A user may need to make selections from the presented items. Accordingly, graphical user interfaces have been developed to allow a user to make such selections.
However, some electronic devices may present a user with a whole series of such menus or lists of items, such that the use of such devices may be complicated and difficult for a user, resulting in frustration or even rejection of the device. Many devices use such menus or lists, such as personal data assistants, cameras, VCRs, computers, cable television interfaces, home security systems, etc. Users often become frustrated with such devices because of the complicated menus that lead to more menus, and the difficulty navigating among the different levels that may be presented.
Further, many of these devices have screens or monitors that have limited space. Manufacturers of such devices have found it difficult to present a user with an interface that allows a user to easily navigate among complex levels of menus or lists due to the limited screen size and complicated menus.
Accordingly, what is needed is an interface that enables a user to easily make selections, to easily navigate through different levels, and to provide effective space management of the limited amount of screen space.

System and method for vertical path navigation


A performance alignment reaction tool consisting of a control bar, an alignment bar and a length of elastic material elastically connecting the control bar to the alignment bar. The length of elastic material is connected to holes provided adjacent to the ends of the control bar and a hole centrally disposed through the alignment bar in a generally triangular pattern. In alternate embodiments, the performance alignment reaction tool may include a guide arm provided at one end of the alignment bar and a range of motion guide for locating the position of the alignment bar and the hand holding the alignment bar relative to the body. In the use of the performance alignment reaction tool, the control bar is grasped in one hand and the alignment bar is grasped in the other hand. The control bar and the alignment bar are extended towards predetermined points in space in a repetitious alternating sequence with the body turning towards each point in space to which the control and alignment bars are extended.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is an exercise/alignment tool and a method of execution using the exercise/alignment tool and in particular the invention consists of at least two bars disposed at right angles to each other and connected by elastic members such as to maximize the alignment of the body or structure of the body which in turn maximizes speed, power and timing of hand and body movement along vault lines of the body without loosing balance.
2. Prior Art
For health and body building reasons, there is currently a plethora of exercise machines and devices available to the public. Most of these machines and devices are for the purpose of developing the body and for increasing the size or strength of a particular muscle or muscle group. There are the conventional weight lifting machines which can be used to develop the arm, leg or chest muscles. Alternatively, there are stationary exercise bikes, treadmills, rowing and cross-country ski devices. These latter devices are for increasing arm and leg strength as well as for increasing arm and leg coordination. Performance of the individual is improved based on size and strength of muscles, not structural alignment of the body i.e. as is done in training boxers.
Various types of portable exercise devices for the development of hand, wrist, arm and shoulder muscles as well as other parts of the body are currently available from a variety of sources. Typical of these types of exercise devices is the simple expander taught by Ullmann in U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,796 which comprises one or more elastic strands having a hand loop provided at each end which serves as hand grips. U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,671, issued to Brandell, teaches an exercise device which provides varied and predetermined distance. A pair of elongated tubular handles are interconnected by resilient means which applies a variable resistance against the handles. Alternatively, Sleichter, III et al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,874 teaches a Portable isokinetic exercise device comprising an endless loop of elastic material having a pair of generally tubular handles on opposite sides thereof. An elastic sleeve surrounds the intermediate portion of the loop between the handles.
Another type of expander device is taught by Leung et al in U.S. Pat. No. 5,026,050 in which the elastic strands are replaced by a coil spring having legs extending from each end thereof. A wrist exercise device is taught by Nolan in U.S. Pat. No. 4,973,043 having non-aligned hand grips which are rotatably spring biased, so that the wrist action to rotate one hand grip is independent of the wrist action to rotate the other handle. Krausz in U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,854 teaches a trunk exercise device having a shaft with a pair of spatially separated upstanding handles on opposite sides of the users body. A fan type blade is adjustably attached to each end of the shaft to provide air resistance to the movement of the shaft with a twisting of the users trunk. Another type of exercise device is the arm exercise device taught by Greenberg in U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,495. This device comprises a ball tethered to a collar receivable about the neck of the user. The ball is to be tossed back and forth between the hands of a runner or jogger as he or she runs or jogs to exercise the arms and upper torso.

Performance alignment reaction tool of exercise using the performance alignment reaction tool


An accessory for a computer includes two pneumatically activated flexible bulbs, hermetically connected by flexible tubing. One of the bulbs is attached to a switch on an input device for the computer, while the other bulb is remote from the input device. Compression of the remote bulb results in a flow of air to the other bulb, thus activating the switch. The resultant remote activation of the switch permits the user to operate the input device while avoiding repetitive movements causing injury to the user's hand.

The present invention is directed generally to a computer-user interface, and particularly to a pneumatic clicker for a computer.
A conventional computer input device, such as a mouse, requires the user to employ a single hand in order to simultaneously perform the following two tasks: a) moving a cursor on a computer screen by manipulating the rotation position of a sphere mounted within the input device relative to the position of the main body of the input device; and b) entering the current location of the screen cursor into the computer by activating a clicking key on the input device using a selected finger of the user's hand, thereby activating various operations such as screen commands, scroll functions and layout changes.
The first of the two tasks, namely manipulating the rotational position of the said sphere relative to the said device, does not involve a particular threat to the operator's health, as the physical movements required of the operator are slight, intermittent and randomly directed. However, the second of the two tasks, namely activating the clicking key, is a frequent and highly repetitive physical task. As the tendons and muscles of the hand, wrist and forearm are relatively small, they are particularly vulnerable to injuries associated with the such a repetitive motion.
Increasingly, as more tasks are being performed on computers, and computer operating systems tend towards the use of a graphical user interface, many people activate the clicking key of an input device, hundreds, even thousands, of times per day. This situation has led to a dramatic increase in injuries related to the repetitive motion required of the small muscles and tendons of the fingers, wrists and forearms.
The following discussion of related problems refer to FIG. 1. When overused, the tendons 26 connected to the finger 27 responsible for activating the "clicking" key 6 of the mouse 5, become swollen, causing discomfort and numbness in the finger 27. This inflammation of the tendons, commonly known as "tendinitis," is a debilitating condition which can only be corrected by prolonged abstinence from any activity involving the injured tendon. This may mean avoiding meaningful use of the finger 27 for weeks or even months to recover.
The tendons 26 of the finger 27 pass through a fibrous sheath 28 in the wrist 33 called the "carpal tunnel." If scar tissue develops within the sheath 28, as a product of repeated overuse of the tendons 26 in the finger 27, pressure is placed on all of the nerves passing through the tunnel 28. This phenomenon, called "carpal tunnel syndrome," is a seriously debilitating condition whose symptoms include varying degrees of numbness, swelling and pain in the affected hand 30 and fingers. Often this condition requires surgery to relieve the pressure on the nerves. After surgery, the wrist 33 is typically cast for a period of time, followed by a period of rehabilitation.
A muscle group 29, located in the forearm 31, is responsible for activating the tendons 26 which, in turn, activate the "clicking" finger 27. If this muscle group 29 becomes fatigued through repeated "clicking," it may become inflamed, causing pain in the surrounding area. Like tendinitis, treatment of this muscle inflammation requires abstinence from the offending activity, followed by a period of rehabilitation.
Referring now to FIG. 2, conventional use of a mouse 205 requires that the computer user's hand 230 stay in close physical contact with the device, since the user's index finger 227 must frequently activate the "clicking key" 206 in order to perform the aforementioned tasks. The result is that the user's hand 230 tends to grip or press against the mouse 205 for prolonged periods. With the hand 230 arched in this way, the wrist 233 tends to drop, creating an unnatural curvature 209 between the hand 230 and forearm 231. The forearm 231 tightens in response to hand tension. Eventually, the tension can travel to the shoulder 210 and neck 211 muscles. Stiffness, fatigue, and irritability are the frequent results.
Many people use computer input devices as a routine part of their work day. Therefore, following an injury, they risk losing their livelihoods if they do not return to their computer related activities in a timely fashion. Unfortunately, a premature return to the offending activity often leads to a relapse of the injury.
It should be noted that all ailments of the finger, wrist or forearm present particular hardships for those who suffer from them, not only because of time missed from work, but also in their everyday lives, as most activities require the use of the hands. Moreover, return to the offending activity often leads to a relapse of the condition.
Problems inherent with the conventional use of computer input devices include risk of tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and muscle inflammation. Less severe symptoms include stress and fatigue. The risk of developing these conditions increases proportionately with the amount of activity required of the user. The toll on those who suffer from these problems include loss of productivity, psychological stress, chronic pain and costly rehabilitation. An employer loses productivity and employees lose morale. Finally, the costs associated with diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation are considerable, not only to the employer and employee but also on the medical system as a whole.
Therefore, there is a need for affordable computer accessories available that will allow an individual afflicted by the injuries described above to return to their computer related activities in a fashion that will not reinjure or further aggravate their injuries. Furthermore, there is a need for inexpensive, easily adaptable computer accessories available that will augment a computer input device so that the small muscles and tendons of the hand and wrist are exempt from the high risk activity associated with activating the clicking key, thus preventing injury from occurring in the first place.

Pneumatic clicker for computer input device


A CPU heat dissipating unit for assembly into a 1U industrial computer, wherein, used to improve the effect of dissipating heat, mainly consisting of a cover unit, a tunnel unit and a heat dissipating fin. The cover unit is assembled to an upper side of a power supply unit, forming a ventilation channel between them. A heat dissipating unit is assembled on an upper side of the CPU and stored suitably into one side of the tunnel unit, while a cooling fan is assembled on the other side, thus providing quick dissipation of heat produced by the CPU.

(a) Field of Invention
The present invention relates a CPU heat dissipating unit in a casing of 1U (1.75.inches.times.1) thin industrial computer, assembled to upgrade the heat dissipating process of a CPU, consisting of a covering unit, a tunnel unit and a cooling fan.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
The body of an industrial computer is considerably smaller. Due to a CPU consistently processing, it not only consumes a large quantity of electricity, but also produces a large amounts of heat. Since the room in a casing to store heat is restricted, therefore the methods for dissipating heat are alike, refer to FIG. 1. A heat dissipating fin B is assembled above the CPU to direct the heat produced therein, then by assembling a cooling fan in the casing unit or on the heat dissipating fin thereafter, the heat is directed out of the casing unit. The heat dissipating fin B concentrates a large amount of heat in a short period of time, and is constantly built up. Since the wind released by the cooling fans C do not run in the same direction, moreover are obstructed by the other components in the computer, concentrated heating points are created in the casing and causes difficulty in dissipating heat. A number of cooling fans can be assembled in the casing to force the concentrated heating points away, but due to the lack of ventilation, the temperature of the other electronic components are influenced, causing the whole computer to be unstable. Therefore with the disadvantages mentioned in the above prior art, amendments is necessary.


A system and method for managing access to a resource by at least one mobile machine including a queue manager adapted to generate a queue position request signal as a mobile machine approaches the resource and determine if access to the resource is unsuccessful. The queue manager also generates a access status signal after access the resource. The system and method also includes a resource manager adapted to control access to the resource by the mobile machine.

Caterpillar Inc. of Peoria, Ill., manufactures off-road mining mobile machines. For example, the Caterpillar 777C is an off-road mining truck. In commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,125, Kyrtsos et al disclose an autonomous mobile machine system for use with a mining mobile machine such as a 777C truck. Such an autonomous mobile machine system may be used, for example, to implement an autonomous mining operation. For example, a plurality of autonomous dump trucks can haul rock from an excavation site to a crusher site in an open pit mining operation.
In addition, in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,030, Kemner et al disclose a system using a queuing technique to manage a single input, fixed position resource such as a wheel loader. However, in a mining system, there are several resources, such as hopper loaders, which may fail to load the mobile machine properly. In more general terms, the mobile machine may not successfully access the resource. For example, in a load resource having a hopper loader, if the load chute jams, or the hopper runs out of load material, then the mobile machine will not receive a full load. In cases such as this, where there was not a successful access of the resource, the mobile machine either waits at the load resource until the problem is corrected, or continues to its next destination with a partial load. Either alternative is an inefficient use of valuable resources. There needs to be a system or method in place which can instruct the mobile machine as to its next action based on a current condition of the mining site.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.

System and method for managing access to a resource shared by a plurality of mobile machines


To design a chip having a plurality of circuit areas driven by different power supplies, a boundary cell to be inserted on the boundary between the circuit areas is prepared. After creating a logic circuit netlist with a design tool, the boundary cell is inserted on the boundary. The boundary cell is connected on a signal transmission path between the circuit areas. A circuit for suppressing shoot-through current or leakage current is used as the boundary circuit. By preparing the boundary cell in a cell library, chip design is facilitated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for designing a semiconductor circuit device, and particularly, to a technique for designing a semiconductor circuit device that enables more efficient design.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the progress of the communication technology and the semiconductor technology, mobile devices such as cellular phones and personal digital assistants (PDA) have spread widely. Typical mobile devices are driven by a rechargeable battery to comply with the portability. Some techniques for reducing power consumption of the mobile devices are developed to extend battery life and reduce charging frequency and time. One technique is to turn off or reduce a supply voltage to an unused circuit area of a chip so as to reduce unnecessary power consumption. To turn off or reduce a supply voltage to a specific circuit area, the circuit in the chip is divided into several circuit areas, each of which belongs to a different power system. Each power system may be controlled separately.
This kind of chip has a problem of shoot-through current between the circuit areas driven by different power supplies when one power supply is OFF. Some techniques to solve this problem have been developed, including the one disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication 2001-148625, for example. According to this technique, a semiconductor integrated circuit has an input circuit operating by a first power supply and an output circuit operating by a second power supply with varying output voltages and having a CMOS inverter for supplying a High or Low level output signal to the input circuit. The output signal from the CMOS inverter of the output circuit is input to a control unit in the input circuit. If the second supply voltage is equal to or higher than a given voltage, the control unit outputs the output signal from the CMOS inverter as an internal signal of the input circuit. If the second supply voltage is less than the given voltage, on the other hand, the control unit outputs a Low level signal as an internal signal of the input circuit.
In this circuit structure, while the second power supply for the output circuit is OFF, the output of the control unit in the input circuit is kept Low, thereby preventing the shoot-through current from occurring in the input circuit. If the second power supply turns from ON to OFF when the output signal from the CMOS inverter is High, the output signal of the CMOS inverter turns from High to Low through an intermediate level. Since the output of the control unit turns to Low when the second supply voltage falls below the given voltage, no shoot-through current occurs in the input circuit. The power consumption is thereby reduced.
As described above, several circuit techniques to solve the problem in the different power supply circuit areas have been developed. However, the circuit design of the chip having a plurality of circuit areas in different power systems has not been addressed. Efficient and easy design is important particularly in the design of semiconductor circuit devices using a design system. Conventional design techniques, however, require a user to insert the circuit between the circuit areas after designing the different circuit areas. It is thus unable to perform efficient circuit design. Further, since the conventional design techniques insert the circuit between the circuit areas after separately designing the transmitting section and the receiving section of the different circuit areas, it is unable to control the line length, causing signal delay.

Method for designing semiconductor circuit device, utilizing boundary cells between first and second circuits driven by different power supply systems


A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program that causes a computer to execute a process, the process includes storing a port number of a first service used by a first virtual machine executed within a first cloud computing system in association with an identifier of the first virtual machine; when receiving a request to move the first virtual machine to a second cloud computing system, transmitting a confirmation request as to whether or not a second service corresponding to the port number of the first service is enabled to be used in the second cloud computing system to the second cloud computing system, the confirmation request specifying the port number of the first service; and moving the first virtual machine to the second cloud computing system when receiving a reply indicating that the second service is enabled to be used from the second cloud computing system.

A user using a cloud computing system (that may hereinafter be referred to simply as a cloud) may use a plurality of clouds provided by different companies. In this case, the user constructs a system straddling the plurality of clouds (multi-cloud system).
The user using the multi-cloud system operates a virtual machine (VM) in each of the plurality of clouds. The VM may be referred to as an instance. The user makes desired processing performed, by making the plurality of VMs executed in the different clouds operate cooperatively.
As a technology for managing a VM in a cloud, there is, for example, a system for partition migration in a multi-tenant application server environment. In addition, there is a computer network system capable of managing virtual connection of a virtual machine. Further, there is also a technology providing a logical networking function for a managed computer network such as a virtual computer network provided for a user or another entity. Disclosed as related art are Japanese National Publication of Patent Application No. 2017-519309, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2013-134658, Japanese National Publication of Patent Application No. 2012-519458, and the like.
In the multi-cloud system, a VM may be moved so as to straddle clouds. However, there is no means for confirming before the movement that processing like processing performed by the VM to be transferred before the movement may be performed by the VM after the movement. There is, for example, a case where a service used by the VM to be moved in a cloud before the movement is difficult to use in a cloud as a movement destination. In such a case, it is difficult for the VM to be moved to perform, after the movement, processing like that before the movement. In view of the above, it is desirable to be able to confirm whether the VM may continue the processing after the movement.

Multi-cloud operating method, operation managing device, and storage medium


A machine for flash-butt welding of rails, incorporates two tong-type clamping devices made in the form of two two-arm levers carried by a common central axle with insulation from each other and capable of being displaced along the axle relative to each other by two flashing-upsetting hydraulic cylinders connecting them and having bimetal current-carrying rods. Each of the two-arm levers is hinged at one end to the rod or the clamping hydraulic cylinder case, respectively, and the other end is fitted with the clamping and current-carrying jaws. Two welding transformers built into the hollow two-arm levers of one of the two tong-type clamps are joined by current-carrying jumpers through the current-carrying part of the rods of the flashing-upsetting hydraulic cylinders to the current-carrying clamping jaws. A clamping hydraulic cylinder is made with a hydraulic intensifier built into its rod. A reflux valve with a calibrated spring and shank is built into the plunger-rod of the hydraulic intensifier, and a pressure valve is mounted on the hydraulic intensifier cover-lug, this valve being connected by the internal valves with the hydraulic intensifier cavities. The flashing-upsetting hydraulic cylinders being made in the form of tandem-cylinders, wherein two pistons separated by a partition are mounted on a common rod in each hydraulic cylinder.

Known is a machine for flash-butt welding of rails (see USSR Auth. Cert. #129758), which incorporates a welding transformer, contact clamping jaws, clamping mechanism with a hydraulic drive and upsetting hydraulic drive fitted with the device for implementing the assigned program of changing the speed of displacement and upsetting of the rails being welded, in which the machine case is made in the form of two tong-type clamps carried by a common axle, and put onto the rails being welded, from the top in the suspended condition.
Known is a flash-butt welding machine (see USSR Auth. Cert. #201561) incorporating two tongue-like clamping devices for mounting and fastening the items being welded, welding transformers with current-carrying clamping jaws and hydraulic drives for clamping and displacement of items in flashing and upsetting, in which the clamping devices are connected to each other by three rods, two of which are located symmetrically relative to the item in one plane with it, and the third central rod which is the axis of rotation of the levers of one of the tong-type clamping devices, passes inside the sleeve which is the axis of rotation of the levers of the second clamping device, the central rod with the sleeve being the guide for relative displacement of the clamping devices.
Known is a device for flash removal from the rails after flash-butt welding, mounted separately from the welding machine and removing the flash in the cold state, which takes a great effort and long time. U.S. Pat. No. 3,336,839 cl.90-24, 1967.
It incorporates the foundation plate, side walls and the cover to which the frame guides are attached. The guide shafts are turned into the side walls. The cutters which remove the flash around the entire rails perimeter, are attached by screws to the mobile elements driven by the hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders through cranks, toothed racks or segments. Such a design of the device allows adjustment of the cutters position, depending on the rails type. The cutter removing the flash from the rails foot, is stationary fixed and does not touch the base metal of the rails.
Known is the device for flash removal from the rails, which is mounted on the tong-type rail welding machines, which consists of the case and three cutters which enclose the rail profile around its entire perimeter, and cut off the flash using the force of the welding machine upsetting cylinders. Here, the upper cutter is made of two parts, rigidly fixed on the case, while two symmetrical side cutters are mounted with the ability of rotation relative to the machine clamping levers, here the upper parts of the side cutters are joined to each other by a hinged tie rod. (USSR Author's Cert. #517429, cl.V23K Nov. 04, 1974 ).
The closest in technical essence, is the machine, described in the book "Equipment for flash-butt welding of rails and its operation", Naukova Dumka Publ. House, Kiev, 1974, p.73-84.
This machine with tong-type clamping, is designed for welding rails under the field conditions and incorporates two tong-type clamping devices carried by the common central axle, and insulated from each other, which are displaced relative to each other by two flashing-upsetting hydraulic cylinders connecting them and mounted in the centre of the cross-section of the rails being welded, with the bimetal current-carrying rods, two welding transformers connected by current-carrying jumpers through the current-carrying part of the rods of the flashing-upsetting hydraulic cylinders, with clamping current-carrying parts of the jaws made in the form of monolithic steel bars with copper deposits in the places of current supply.
Spring-loaded balls are mounted into the clamping jaws, for pressing up the rail with its rolling plane, to the rests mounted on the edges of the tong-type clamps. On the whole, the following drawbacks are found in all the machines for flash-butt welding of rails with tong-type clamping, including the above prototype:
1. Limited forces of upsetting and clamping which allow welding of relatively short rail sections, and do not permit welding of long sections, or welding with pressing up of the rails connected to the ties in track repair with a limitation on time, or welding of the closing butt when laying a seamless track.
2. Poor performance and low reliability are provided by the design in which the bimetal rods of the flashing-upsetting hydraulic cylinders are fastened to the wall of the lever of the stationary tong-type clamp by a ringlike protrusion on the current-carrying part of the rod, and captive ring which draws the rod by the protrusion to the lever wall by bolts, this weakening the wall, providing poor protection for the rod of the flashing-upsetting cylinders from the molten metal spatter, taking up a lot of space in the welding zone. Many machine components have to be disassembled, in order to remove the flashing-upsetting cylinder from the machine.
3. The spring-loaded balls mounted into the clamping jaws, do not ensure a reliable pressing of the rail with its rolling plane, to the rests of the tong-type clamps, which does not provide a good alignment of the rails.
4. Operation of the above devices requires holding for a certain time for strengthening of the welded butt; and than regripping of the clamps with opening of one of the machine clamps, which requires additional time during which the flash cools down, and its removal requires application of a considerable force and high power consumption, thus eliminating the possibility of welding the initially drawn up long rail sections and the closing butt, when laying a seamless track. The quality of flash removal deteriorates, because of the absence of the flash-remover cutters self-positioning.
The basic aim of the invention is development of a machine for flash-butt welding of rails in which: due to adding a new element into the design of the clamping hydraulic cylinder rod, design features of this new element, and new design of the flashing-upsetting hydraulic cylinders (tandem-cylinders), the relatively low pressure of the liquid coming to the clamping cylinder, changes to a higher pressure, without the application of any external supply lines, and, thereby the clamping force becomes greater, and the upsetting force also becomes greater with the application of tandem-cylinder, without increasing the diameters of the flashing-upsetting hydraulic cylinders or the pressure in them, this allowing long sections to be welded, welding with drawing up of the rails fastened to the ties in track repair, and welding of the closing butt when laying a seamless track to be performed, thus widening the functional capabilities of the machine; addition of the flash remover to the machine and the features of this device design, make possible the self-positioning of the cutters by the rail profile, flash removal in the hot condition from the rails clamped in the machine jaws, right after welding, with a smaller force, thus permitting the welding cycle time to be reduced, i.e. the productivity to be increased and the power consumption for flash removal to be decreased.


Disclosed is a liquid crystal display (LCD) device that may include a plurality of pixels; a liquid crystal layer disposed over the plurality of pixels; a red color filter layer disposed over the liquid crystal layer, the red color filter layer including anthraquinone pigment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, an LCD device for a dashboard of a vehicle.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In general, a dashboard of a vehicle displays basic information such as a speed of the vehicle, an RPM, an amount of fuel, a temperature of a coolant, a running distance, and the like. Recently, as the digital technology has been advanced, various other types of information such as a state of the vehicle, display of a rear side, navigation, and the like are displayed, along with the basic information of the vehicle.
In order to display these various types of information, a flat panel display device such as an LCD device is typically employed in a dashboard. However, an LCD device used as a display device for a dashboard may have the following problems.
As described above, a dashboard typically displays various types of information such as safety-related information, vehicle information, warning information, and the like. In such a case, the safety-related information is typically displayed in a green color, the information regarding the vehicle is displayed in a blue color, and the warning-related information is displayed in a red color. The warning-related information is displayed in a red color to increase visibility to the driver to draw his or her attention to thus protect the driver from a risk.
However, when an LCD device is used to display a red warning light, purity of the red color is lower relative to conventional dashboards using an LED, and such a lower visibility may fail to draw the driver's attention.

Liquid crystal display device for dashboard of vehicle


A vertical tilling implement to be pulled behind and agricultural vehicle having a number of gangs of fluted-concave disc blades, rolling baskets, and wheels connected to a main frame. As the vertical tilling implement is pulled, the fluted-concave disc blades move the soil in a direction lateral to the side of the blades as well as up. Meanwhile, the rolling bars aid in leveling the seedbed and crushing the remaining large pieces of soil. The vertical tilling implement reduces the amount of subsoil compaction and cuts through heavy residue making it ideal for use in the fall or in the spring.

This invention relates to tillage implements and, in particular, to tillage implements utilizing rotary blades.
It is well known that to attain the best agricultural performance from a piece of land, a farmer must cultivate the soil, typically through a tilling operation. Common tilling operations include plowing, harrowing, and sub-soiling. Modern farmers perform these tilling operations by pulling a tilling implement behind a motorized tractor. Depending on the crop selection and the soil conditions, a farmer may need to perform several tilling operations at different times over a crop cycle to properly cultivate the land to suit the crop choice.
In one type of tilling operation, rows or gangs of discs are pulled through soil at depths between 3 and 6 inches to break up clods or lumps of soil, as well as old plant material to (1) provide a more amenable soil structure for planting and (2) level the soil surface.
The configuration of the tilling implement gangs and their constituent discs will determine the quality and quantity of the passes required to effectively till an area of soil. For example, a gang of parallel flat discs pulled through the soil, oriented such that their axis of revolution is perpendicular to the direction of pull, will not be very effective at tilling the soil. To improve the tilling action, those skilled in the art have attempted to change the angle at which the gang is oriented. However, an increased gang angle can cause complications. The increased gang angle will leave large clods of soil that may require multiple passes to pulverize. Additionally, the side pressure of the soil against the sides of flat discs or discs having only a shallow concavity of 1.25 to 1.69 inches will often break the discs. To increase disc strength, the disc can be made to be more concave. However, increasing the concavity of the discs to improve their strength promotes the formation of an undesirable compaction layer.
Thus, tilling implements involving discs have a number of drawbacks. First, multiple passes of the tilling implement over the same area of soil may be required to properly cultivate the soil and cut through heavy crop residue. If multiple passes are required, then the farmer will incur increased costs associated with the amount of time and fuel required to prepare the seedbed. Known tilling implements are limited to speeds below approximately 6 miles per hour. Speeds in excess of approximately 6 miles per hour will vertically lift the tilling implement, resulting in the blades engaging the soil by less than 3 to 6 inches. If this occurs, the blades will not effectively till the soil or, if the blades are forced to remain in the soil, it can result in increased disc failure due to the increased pressure applied to the discs by the soil at greater velocities.
Second, existing cultivators compact the soil under the prepared seedbed. This layer of compacted soil inhibits plant germination, root growth, and crop yield. The presence of a compacted layer of soil may require an additional tillage operation such as plowing to break up the compacted earth in order to avoid the problems of poor water absorption and weak anchoring of crops in the ground.
Thus, there is a need for a tilling implement that is capable of thoroughly tilling the soil in a single pass and capable of traveling at greater speeds without excessive disc failure or the formation of a compaction layer.


A control method for an automatic transmission in which a starting gear shift stage is attained by fastening a predetermined brake element and a predetermined clutch element includes a step of supplying, when a command, which is for fastening the predetermined brake element and the predetermined clutch element that is to be fastened to input output rotation on an engine side to a transmission mechanism, and which is also for attaining the starting gear shift stage is detected, hydraulic pressure to the clutch element and then fastening the clutch element, and a step of supplying, after the step, the hydraulic pressure to the brake element to start the fastening of the brake element and controlling rotation, which is input to the transmission mechanism, to a target number of rotations. It is possible to satisfactorily attain the starting gear shift stage without a shock while dispensing with a one-way clutch.

An automatic transmission mounted on a vehicle is configured to combine a torque converter and a transmission mechanism and selectively fasten a plurality of friction elements such as a clutch and a brake according to an operation state to thereby change an actuation state of the transmission mechanism, that is, a power transmission route and automatically change gear to a predetermined gear shift stage.
For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses an automatic transmission in which a low reverse brake and a one-way clutch are arranged in parallel and, in forward first gear speed, only a low clutch, which is fastened to input output rotation on an engine side to a transmission mechanism, is fastened, whereby the one-way clutch is locked to form a power transmission route of the forward first gear speed. Note that Patent Literature 1 mentions that the low reverse brake is fastened in reverse speed and is fastened even in the forward first gear speed if an engine brake is necessary when stepping of an accelerator pedal is released and the engine side is reversely driven from a wheel side.
However, since the one-way clutch is provided, the cost, the weight, and the size of the automatic transmission increase. Moreover, in gear shift stages other than a starting gear shift stage, since the one-way clutch idles without being locked, drag resistance occurs and deterioration in fuel efficiency is caused. Therefore, it is proposed to dispense with the one-way clutch and, in the forward first gear speed, always fasten the low clutch and the low reverse brake. However, Patent Literature 1 does not disclose a specific fastening operation in that case. Instead, Patent Literature 1 describes the influence of centrifugal hydraulic pressure in fastening the low clutch. That is, since the low clutch is fastened to input output rotation on the engine side to the transmission mechanism, the low clutch is always rotating with the output rotation on the engine side during the operation of the engine. According to this rotation, hydraulic oil in a hydraulic pressure chamber of the low clutch receives a centrifugal force and the pressure of the hydraulic oil rises. This pressure rise affects fastening control for the low clutch. Therefore, Patent Literature mentions that a balance chamber is partitioned on an opposite side of a hydraulic chamber of a piston and the hydraulic oil is supplied to the balance chamber as well, whereby the influence of the centrifugal hydraulic pressure is offset.
Incidentally, since the starting gear shift stage has a large reduction ratio, an unpleasant shock tends to occur if timing of the fastening of the low clutch deviates. Therefore, it is more important to eliminate the influence of the centrifugal hydraulic pressure. However, under the current situation, the influence of the centrifugal hydraulic pressure cannot be sufficiently eliminated simply by providing the balance chamber.

Automatic transmission control method, control device, and automatic transmission system


A portable read-write pen and a control method for a portable read-write pen. The control method for a portable read-write pen includes the following steps: step S1 of detecting a state of a pen point of the portable read-write pen; and step S2 of controlling, according to the state of the pen point of the portable read-write pen, the portable read-write pen to enable a touch-read mode or a write-record mode.

An existing write-record pen needs to be used together with special paper printed with position information. The write-record principle is as follows: (1) position coordinates are laid on the paper; and (2) the write-record pen captures respective position coordinates of a moving trace of a pen point, and reproduces a writing trace of the pen point according to the position coordinates.
An existing touch-read pen needs to be used together with a specially printed book. The touch-read principle is as follows: (1) a layer of charcoal black "base code" that is almost invisible to naked eyes is printed on the book during color separation printing; (2) the base code is formed by evenly arranged small blocks having various "patterns", and the "patterns" of the small blocks are different for different sounding positions, each of the "patterns" having a unique "serial number"; (3) when the touch-read pen "touches-reads" different positions, a microscope camera within the pen captures an image of a touched-read position, and colors including red, green and blue are removed by means of the infrared color filtration technology, so that only a pattern of the charcoal black "base code" is left in the captured image; (4) the captured charcoal black "pattern" is identified so as to obtain a "serial number" of the captured "pattern"; and (5) the obtained "serial number" is used to retrieve a composite electronic file pre-stored in the touch-read pen, and audio data corresponding to the "serial number" is found and played.
In existing technologies, there is no single device which can realize both a touch-read function and a write-record function and can be conveniently switched between the touch-read function and the write-record function.

Control method for portable read-write pen and portable read-write pen