Provided are a Light Emitting Diode (LED) red fluorescent material and a lighting device having the same. The florescent material consists of elements M, A, D, X, L and Z, wherein element M at least contains one or more than one element of Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba and Zn; element A at least contains one or more than one element of B, Al, Ga, In, La, Gd, Lu, Sc and Y; element D at least contains one or more than one element of Si, Ge, C, Sn, Ti, Zr and Hf; element X at least contains one or more than one element of N, O and F; element L at least contains one or more than one element of S, Se and Te; and element Z at least contains one or more than one element of a rare earth element or a transition-metal element.

White light LEDs, which have advantages of low voltage, high light efficiency, low energy consumption, long life and no pollution etc., have been used in fields including semiconductor illumination and liquid crystal flat panel display successfully. Currently, there are two major implementation methods of white light LEDs: one is the combination of LED chips of the three primary colors (red, blue and green) and the other one is a single blue light/ultraviolet chip compound fluorescent material. Between these two methods, the second implementation method, which is simple, easy and relatively cheap, becomes the mainstream solution of white light LEDs. A red fluorescent material, which is an important part in the three primary colors red, green and blue, is indispensable in the white light implementation process. In addition to compensating the lack of red in "blue light LED+YAG:Ce", the red fluorescent material can be further matched with a blue light LED and a green fluorescent material to generate white light, or matched with green and blue fluorescent materials and a purple light or ultraviolet LED to generate white light.
LED red fluorescent materials which have been reported at present include Eu2+/Eu3+ or Mn4+-activated fluorescent materials, typically (Ca,Sr)S:Eu2+, Y2O3:Eu3+, Bi3+, Y2O2S:Eu3+, Bi3+, Y(V,P)O4:Eu3+ and CaMoO4:Eu3+ etc. Among them, (Ca,Sr)S:Eu2+ has relatively good spectral matching performance with blue light LEDs. However, applications of (Ca,Sr)S:Eu2+ on LEDs are greatly limited due to problems of bad stability and high luminous decay etc. Eu3+ is used as an activator to fluorescent materials including Y2O3:Eu, Bi, Y2O2S:Eu, Bi, Y(V,P)O4:Eu and CaMoO4:Eu. The excitation spectra of these fluorescent materials are some sharp line spectra in long wave ultraviolet of above 370 nm and visible light regions, thereby increasing the difficulty of precise screening and effective control of matched chips. In addition, the excitation efficiency of these several fluorescent materials is extremely low in long wave ultraviolet or visible blue light regions. Although the lighting efficiency of CaMoO4:Eu3+ newly developed in recent years has been improved because of the doping of high concentration of Eu3+, the application of CaMoO4:Eu3+ is also limited greatly by its stringent requirements on chips.
A category of novel nitrogen/nitrogen oxide fluorescent materials have been developed since the late 1990s. Anionic groups of these fluorescent materials contain N3− with high negative charge, and the excitation spectra of the fluorescent materials move towards long wave directions including near ultraviolet and visible lights etc. due to the expansion effect of electronic cloud. In addition, the substrates of the fluorescent materials have compact network structures as well as stable physical and chemical properties, thus leading to enthusiasm for researches on fluorescent materials with nitrogen/nitrogen oxides as substrates.
A category of nitride red fluorescent materials, MxSiyNz:Eu (M is at least one of Ca/Sr/Ba and z=2/3x+4/3y), were disclosed in a patent document EPI 104799A1 in 2001, and there are mainly three typical fluorescent materials MSiN2:Eu, M2Si5N8:Eu and MSi7N10:Eu. This series of red fluorescent materials have relatively bad thermal stability. After the fluorescent materials are heated, their brightness will decrease rapidly.
A category of red fluorescent materials, MaAbDcEdXe, were disclosed in a patent document WO2005/052087 in 2005. In the formula, M is one or two elements of Mn, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm and Yb, A is one or two elements of Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba, D is one or two elements of tetravalent metal elements Si, Ge, Sn, Ti, Zr and Hf, E is one or two elements of B, Al, Ga, In, Sc, Y, La, Gd and Lu, X is selected from one or two elements of O, N and F. In addition, the red fluorescent materials have a CaAlSiN3 structure and a typical fluorescent material is CaAlSiN3:Eu. The thermal stability of this category of fluorescent materials is obviously higher than that of MxSiyNz:Eu-series (M is at least one of Ca/Sr/Ba and z=2/3x+4/3y) red nitride fluorescent materials, thus arousing widespread attention in the field.
A red fluorescent material having a compositional formula of MmAaBbNn:Zz was disclosed in a patent document CN100340631C in 2005, wherein M is one or more than one element of Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba and Zn, A is one or more than one element of B, Al, Ga, In, Tl, Y and Sc, B is one or more than one element of Si, Ge, Sn and Pb, N is nitrogen, Z is an activator selected from at least one of a rare earth element or a transition element, and (m+z):a:b:n=1:1:1:3. At the same time, the carbon content is limited below 0.08 wt % and the oxygen content is less than 3 wt % in the fluorescent material in the patent.
A red fluorescent material was disclosed in a patent document CN101090953A in 2006. The crystal phase of the fluorescent material is Eu-activated CaAlSiN3. The primary particle size of the fluorescent material is smaller than or equal to 10 μm, and the fluorescent product is not allowed to contain AlN in the patent. The patent simultaneously discloses a raw material and a synthesis method of the fluorescent material. At the same time, the doping concentration of the activator Eu2+ is limited to be 0.01% to 10%.
A (Ca,Sr)AlSiN3:Eu2+ red fluorescent material was also disclosed in a patent document WO2010/074963A1 in 2010. In addition, the contents of impurity oxygen and halogen in the fluorescent material are limited and it is required that the content of impurity oxygen is lower than 2 wt % and the content of halogen (F or/and Cl) is higher than 0 and lower than 2 atomic percent.

Light emitting diode (LED) red fluorescent material and lighting device having the same


This invention uses a receptor molecule such as an antibody etc immobilized to a chip for a solid phase, and a sensor such as a pH electrode or an oxygen electrode or a glucose electrode for a search device. After immobilizing specific living cells by a bio-specific recognition reaction (a special immunity bond reaction) and washing the solid phase chip, one can measure the change of pH or oxygen consumption or glucose consumption from the metabolism of the specific living cells in substrate solution. This makes it possible to measure the activity and quantity of living cells specifically, accurately and quickly.

1. Field of the Invention
The measurement of cell activity and cell quantity is important in all fields of biotechnology and life sciences.
In the early stages of a disease, such as inflammation, cell activity has already changed before the change in cell quantity. Instead of current diagnosis methods that measure cell quantity, the present invention can directly measure cell activity, and provides a better method for early clinical diagnosis. Because it is highly sensitive, the present invention also can be used for in vitro diagnostics for cancer, autoimmune, metabolic and genetic diseases. In addition, the present invention provides an easy and inexpensive method for detecting the fixed-quantity of CD 4+ cell in whole blood to help the diagnosis of AIDS and HIV infected patients. This invention not only has implications in clinical diagnosis, but also in drug development, pharmacy research, new chemical compounds research, toxicological and environmental testing. This invention has immediate commercial applications for testing cellular health as a quality control tool for cellular medicine.
2. The Prior Art
In order to measure cell activity, the products of cell metabolism can be measured in various ways. Acids can be detected by the change in color of a pH indicator inserted in the culture solution, and gas can be detected by the Wallbulck's gas measure. The quantity of the oxygen in a cell culture medium will decrease with the cell metabolism, and putting an oxygen electrode into the cell culture medium is a way to measure cell activity in real-time [I. Karube, T. Matsunaga, S. Mitsuda, S. Suzuki: Biotechnol. Bioeng., 19, 1537 (1977)].
Additionally, methods such as enzyme assays, electrochemistry assays, and chemistry fluorescence emission assays are used for testing cell activity. For example, the impedance method detects electric change directly as cell metabolism activity [P. Cady, S. Dofour, P. Lawless, B. Nunke, and S. Kraeger, J. Clin. Microbiol., 7, 273, (1978)]. The conductance method depends on the same principle of impedance method [J. Richard, A, Jason, G. Hobbs, D. Gibson, and R. Christie, J. Phys. E. Sci. Instrum., 11, 560, (1978)]. The composition enzyme substrate solution method detects the quantity of the color emission or the fluorescence emission of the isolated chemical compound as enzymatic activity [M. Manafi, and W. Kneifel, Acta Microbial. Hungarica 38, 293, (1991)]. The bioluminescence method detects the quantity of the ATP that is a product of cell metabolism [W. McElroy, H. Seliger, and E. H. White, Photochem. Photobiol., 10, 153, (1969)].The LAPS method provides a method wherein the rate of production of living cells acidic metabolites could be measured continually by a light-addressable potentiometric sensor. [J. Parce, John C. Owicki, M. Kercso, Science., 5, 243, (1989)]
Evaluation of the activity of living cells using cytotoxicity measurements is important for assessing the effect of drugs, environmental pollutants, temperature and ionic extremes, radiation and irradiation, other cells and biological modifiers and other potentially adverse factors on cells and tissues.
One such cytotoxicity measurement is a DNA assay which depends on a fluorescent dye. Growing living cells are dyed by 2-diamidino-phenylindole (DAPI) or Hoechst 33342, which is a fluorescent dye. The fluorescence intensity of the resulting dyed cells is measured by a fluorescence photometer. Cells are placed in the holes of a 96-hole microtiter plate together with culture fluid and cultured for 2 days in a 37.degree. C. carbon dioxide incubator. After the culture fluid has been replaced with a new culture fluid containing a chemical substance to be tested, the chemical substance acts on the cells for 3 days. Subsequently, the culture fluid is discharged, and then the cells are fixed by a glutaraldehyde solution. Thereafter, the cells are dyed by DAPI or Hoechst 33342 solution. The fluorescence intensity of the resulting dyed cells is measured by a photometer. Finally, the cell density is determined on the assumption that control fluorescence intensity is 100%
Another cytotoxicity testing method uses MTT ([3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrozorlium bromide]). MTT produces formazan due to an enzyme present in intracellular mitochondria. After formazan has been dissolved in hydrochloric acid-isopropanol, calorimetric quantization is effected. The amount of formazan is dependent on the number of live cells and therefore representative of the same. Cells, a culture fluid and a chemical substance solution to be tested are introduced into the holes of a 96 hole microplate and cultured for 24 hours in acid-isopropanol solution, and black crystals of formazan are dissolved by stirring. The degrees of absorption of 570 nm light and 630 nm light are determined by a microplate reader in order to quantize the toxicity of the chemical substance.
Sup 51 Cr take-in method is also used in cytotoxicity testing. While the 51Cr isolation method is effective with chemical substances of the kind inducing cytolytic-death in a short period of time, it is insensitive to substances of the kind that do not not fully destroy cell walls. The. sup.51 Cr take-in method is an improved version of the. sup.51 Cr isolation method as to its ability to decide whether cells are live or dead. Specifically, after a cell solution has been introduced in the holes of a 96-hole microplate, a chemical substance solution to be tested is added. The plate is held at 37.degree. C. for 1 hour to 8 hours, and then the top of the solution is removed by a centrifugal force. A culture fluid containing 1.Ci of Na.sub.2.sup.51 CrO.sub.4 is introduced into the holes of the plate and held at 37.degree. C. for 30 minutes. After .sup.51 Cr not taken into the cells has been fully discharged, 50.1 of acetic acid is added to each hole and fully stirred. All the contents of the holes are transferred to gamma counter tubes in order to measure their radioactivity.
In all of these above-mentioned methods, it takes a long time to culture living cells. Usually, cultured cells form irregular colonies in which cells high in activity and growth ability and cells low in the same exist together. Only cell concentrations above 106 cells/Ml can be detected using these methods. In addition, all of these methods require skill and complicated operations as well as expensive apparatus for determination. Furthermore, as they are sometimes inaccurate and insensitive, these methods are not suitable for clinical diagnosis.
The most useful method for detecting the activity and the quantity of living cells is flow cytometry. Flowcytometers generally are characterized as having one or more sources of excitation (typically lasers tuned to a specific frequency), means which allow the passage of cells substantially one at a time through a measurement region and means for detection of light scatter and fluorescence from cells as they pass through the measurement region. Means to record the data for each of the cells also may be coupled to the device. For example, a Trypan Blue solution is added to a cell solution, and only dead cells take it up. Trypan Blue absorbs red helium-neon laser light having a wavelength of 632.8 nm and issuing from a flowcytometer. Therefore, a sample consisting of a number of cells is instantaneously divided into three groups of spots, i.e., living cells, dead cells, and cell fractions. The three groups of spots are drawn on an oscilloscope and allow a ratio between living cells and dead cells to be easily determined. When Hoechst 33342 and propidium iodide are used to dye DNA of unfixed cells, activity unchanged living cells and activity injured cells fluoresce in blue and red, respectively and can therefore be easily distinguished by a flowcytometer. With fluorescence-coated monoclonal antibody, the quantity of cells also can be measured by flowcytometry. The fixed-quantity measurement of CD 4+ cell in whole blood is a test that is necessary for AIDS and HIV infected patients. However FCM is an expensive and complex measurement. 90% of AIDS and HIV infected patients in the world can't have the fixed-quantity measurement of CD 4+ cell currently. In addition it is difficult to fix specific cells and a sufficient amount of sample is necessary for this test.

Measuring cellular metabolism of immobilized cells


An apparatus for providing atomicity with respect to a request of a write operation for successive sectors in a flash memory is provided. The apparatus includes a data write module writing data in a main sector of a page and allocating status bits indicating a status of the data write to a spare sector of the page, a write progress managing module overwriting a commit mark in the spare sector allocated with the status bits according to a progress status of the data write, and a validity determining module determining validity of the sectors on the basis of the overwritten commit mark and providing information of the successive sectors.

1. Field of the Invention
Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate to an apparatus for providing atomicity with respect to a request of a write operation for successive sectors in a flash memory. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for providing atomicity with respect to a request of a write operation for successive sectors in a flash memory and a method of providing the same, in which a data write progress status of sectors is separately displayed during a write operation for one or more successive sectors in the flash memory, and even when power supply is interrupted during a data write operation, atomicity for the write operation for one or more successive sectors is ensured on the basis of the separately displayed data write progress status so as to minimize the lowering in the performance of a system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a flash memory has been widely used in various applications, such as an embedded system, a mobile device, and the like, because it is nonvolatile like a hard disk, and has high access speed and low power consumption.
A flash memory based system includes a RAM that is a volatile memory, a controller in which a CPU is built, and a flash memory that is a non-volatile memory. In this flash memory based system, since abrupt power interrupt may occur often due to characteristics of the application fields, file systems used in this system need to be transactional.
However, according to a general method of using a flash memory, in a case where a write operation is performed in the flash memory, even if various actions that belong to one transaction are completed without an error or an error occurs in the various actions, it is not possible to ensure atomicity in which the error is processed without abnormality in the data. As a result, in order to provide a transaction function, a large amount of overhead is required in the file systems.
Meanwhile, when power is interrupted during a write operation for one or more successive sectors in the flash memory, a portion of data sectors that request a write operation may be programmed, and the other portion may not be programmed.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a flash memory device according to the related art.
A flash memory device 100 includes a plurality of blocks 110, and each of the blocks 110 becomes a unit of an erasing operation of the flash memory.
Further, each of the blocks 110 includes a plurality of pages 111, and each of the pages 111 becomes a unit of read and write operations in the flash memory.
An operating system performs a read/write request in a sector unit, and the page 111 of the flash memory is equal to a size of a sector or has a size that corresponds to any multiple of the size of the sector.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a write operation for one or more successive sectors executed in the flash memory shown in FIG. 1.
According to the related art, in order to indicate the fact that a program is normally completed, as shown in FIG. 2, a status bit 202 is allocated for each sector 201, and an initial value of the status bit 202 has a value of an invalid mark 0x1 (see reference numeral 202a).
When a program for a corresponding sector is completed without power interruption, a status bit has a value of a valid mark 0x0 (see reference numeral 202b).
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of a write operation for one or more successive sectors according to the related art.
After data is written in the sectors (Step S301), in order to indicate the fact that a program for the sectors is completed without power interrupt, a valid mark 0x0 indicating the fact that a corresponding sector is valid is programmed in a status bit of the sector (Step S302).
For reference, if an initial value of the status bit has a value of an invalid mark 0x1, a value of a valid mark, 0x0 is written.
After the process of Step S302, it is checked whether there remains a sector for data to be written (Step S303), and as a result of the check, if data is written in all of the sectors, the process is completed.
As the result of the check, if there remains a sector to be written, the process of Step S301 is repeated.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 where data is written in six sectors including logical sectors 1 to 6, in Step S302, data is written in the logical sector 1 and a valid mark is displayed in a status bit corresponding to the logical sector 1. Then, data is written in the logical sector 2, and a valid mark is displayed in a status bit corresponding to the logical sector 2.
In the same manner, data is written in the logical sectors 3 to 6, and a valid mark is displayed in a status bit of each of the sectors.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of inspecting validity of sectors in a write operation for one or more successive sectors according to the related art.
In the validity inspection of the sectors where the data is written, it is first determined whether a status bit of a sector is "1" (Step S401). At this time, if the status bit of the corresponding sector is not "1", it may be assumed that the corresponding sector is determined as a valid sector, and a sector program is completed (Step S402).
As a result of the process of Step S401, if the status bit of the sector is "1", it is assumed that the corresponding sector is determined as an invalid sector, and the sector program is not completed (Step S403).
As described above, the following problems exist in the related art. When power interrupt occurs during a write operation for one or more successive sectors, a portion of the sectors may be determined as valid sectors, and a portion of the sectors may be determined as invalid sectors. As a result, it is not possible to ensure atomicity for a write operation for one or more successive sectors.

Apparatus and method for providing atomicity with respect to request of write operation for successive sector


Noncontaminating and nondestructive testing of a shaped polysilicon body for a material defect is accomplished by exposing the shaped polysilicon body to ultrasound waves, and the ultrasound waves are registered by an ultrasound receiver after they have passed through the shaped polysilicon body or reflected therein, so that material defects in the polysilicon are detected.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for the nondestructive material testing of highly pure polycrystalline silicon.
2. Background Art
Highly pure polycrystalline silicon, referred to below as polysilicon, is used inter alia as a starting material for the production of electronic components and solar cells. It is produced on an industrial scale by thermal decomposition and CVD deposition of a gas containing silicon or a gas mixture containing silicon in Siemens reactors. The polysilicon is in this case formed as shaped polysilicon bodies. These can subsequently be processed mechanically.
These shaped polysilicon bodies must be tested by means of a nondestructive test method to assess their material quality. Acoustic resonance analysis, also known as a "sound test", is generally used for this. The shaped polysilicon body is externally excited, for example by a gentle hammer blow, and the natural resonances resulting from this provide the person skilled in the art with information about the material quality of the shaped polysilicon body. One advantage of resonance is the very short test time of only a few seconds. The entire specimen body is furthermore studied during the test, i.e. the test is a volume-oriented test method. A disadvantage of resonance analysis is that accurate localization or material defect identification is not possible with this method. Moreover, the shaped polysilicon body is touched by a hammer blow and therefore contaminated in each test, which necessitates a subsequent cleaning step. Another disadvantage of resonance analysis is that the shaped polysilicon body may be damaged by the test. For example, superficial dislocations or even destruction of the shaped polysilicon body may take place. A further disadvantage is that the shaped polysilicon bodies differ in their shape, for example in diameter and length or in length, width and height or finished article geometry, and each shaped polysilicon body generates a different natural resonance owing to its different geometry. This makes comparison of the test results more difficult. Small defects which compromise the material quality, such as cracks, cavities or inclusions whose dimension is only a few millimeters large, cannot be detected by this test method.
Visual inspection is another nondestructive test method for polysilicon. The entire surface of the shaped polysilicon body to be tested is in this case assessed by a person skilled in the art. Visual inspection can be improved by various aids, such a special illumination systems or magnifying glasses. Although surface defects can also be identified and localized by visual inspection, here again material defects inside the shaped polysilicon bodies disadvantageously cannot be identified. The test is furthermore carried out by a person, i.e. the results are not objective and reliably reproducible; rather, they depend on the tester's "daily form" and experience.
For both said nondestructive test methods, furthermore, the shaped polysilicon body is handled with aids by the user. These aids, for example gloves, may become laden with dirt particles between two tests, which leads to contamination of the shaped polysilicon body during the test and necessitates a subsequent cleaning step.

Method for the nondestructive material testing of highly pure polycrystalline silicon


To provide a non-crosslinked flame-retardant resin composition possessing sufficient flame retardancy, mechanical properties, flexibility and workability, and also delivering excellent heat resistance over a long period of time as it is hard to be molten when used under high temperature environment and its material is not deteriorated even if used in contact with a vinyl chloride resin material and the like, and an insulated wire and a wiring harness using the same. The composition includes (A) a non-crosslinked base resin which contains a propylene resin containing 50 wt % or more of propylene monomer and a thermoplastic resin of which a melting point is 180° C. or more, (B) a metallic hydrate, (C) a hindered phenolic antioxidant, (D) a sulfurous antioxidant, and (E) a metallic oxide. Polymethylpentene, an imidazole compound and an oxide of zinc are preferably utilized as the thermoplastic resin, the ingredients (D) and (E), respectively. The composition is used as an insulated covering material for a non-halogenous insulated wire, which is used in a wire bundle of the wiring harness.

Conventionally, for an insulated covering material for an insulated wire used in carrying out wiring of parts for a car such as an automobile, electric/electronic equipment and the like, generally in wide use is a vinyl chloride resin excellent in flame retardancy, into which, according to a variety of required properties including mechanical properties such as wear resistance, tensile strength and tensile elongation, flexibility, and workability, additives such as a plasticizer and a stabilizer are blended as appropriate and adjustments are made to types and blending amounts of the additives.
However, there is a problem that the vinyl chloride resin, having flame retardancy by itself, includes halogen elements in its molecular chains, so that it emits harmful halogenous gas into the atmosphere in case of car fire or at the time of combustion for disposing of electric/electronic equipment by incineration, causing environmental pollution.
Under the circumstances, developed these days has been a so-called non-halogenous flame-retardant resin composition, which is prepared by using polyethylene, polypropylene or the like as its base resin and adding a metallic hydrate such as magnesium hydroxide as a flame retardant; however, there is a disadvantage that mechanical properties such as wear resistance remarkably degrade since the non-halogenous flame-retardant resin composition requires a large amount of metallic hydrate to be added thereto as the flame retardant.
Thus, in order to overcome such a disadvantage, for example, Japanese Patent Gazette No. 3280099 discloses an art of using a plurality of polyolefin resins and rubbers as the base resin, in which a specific functional group is further contained by a specific amount so as to increase an affinity between the base resin and the metallic hydrate and improve mechanical properties such as wear resistance.
However, the following problems arise when the conventionally-known non-halogenous flame-retardant resin composition, especially, a non-crosslinked flame-retardant resin composition is used as the insulated covering material for the insulated wire. Specifically, when the insulated covering material is used in areas exposed to high temperature environment such as an engine room in an automobile, there arises a problem that the insulated covering material is unintentionally molten.
In addition, as the insulated covering material for the insulated wire used in areas requiring high heat resistance is generally subjected to crosslinking such as electron irradiation crosslinking and silane crosslinking, there arises a problem that the cost of manufacturing is increased if dedicated equipment is employed in such crosslinking.
Besides, in the case of using the insulated wire in an automobile and the like, it is generally often the case that a plurality of insulated wires are tied into a wire bundle, around which a protective material in various shapes such as a tape, tube or sheet is wound to be utilized as a wiring harness.
At this time, as the insulated wires making up the wiring harness, not only non-halogenous insulated wires in which non-halogenous flame-retardant resin compositions are used as insulated covering materials are used, but also vinyl chloride insulated wires and the like in which vinyl chloride resin compositions such as polyvinyl chloride are used as insulated covering materials are abundantly used, empirically.
Therefore, mixed use of the non-halogenous insulated wires and the vinyl chloride insulated wires is difficult to completely avoid. Under these circumstances, it turned out that if the non-halogenous insulated wires are used in contact with the vinyl chloride insulated wires and the like, there arises a problem of remarkably deteriorating the insulated covering material for the non-halogenous insulated wires in the wire bundle to degrade heat resistance.
Further, since the vinyl chloride resin composition and the like are usually used as a base material for the wiring-harness protective material wound around the wire bundle, it turned out that the same problem arises if the non-halogenous insulated wire is used in contact with a vinyl-chloride wiring-harness protective material and the like.
Though a detailed mechanism of the sources of the problems is not found yet, those problems are assumed to arise because an antioxidant in the insulated covering material composed of the non-halogenous flame-retardant resin composition is remarkably consumed, or the antioxidant itself makes a transition into the vinyl chloride insulated wire or the vinyl-chloride wiring-harness protective material when the vinyl chloride insulated wire, the vinyl-chloride wiring-harness protective material or the like comes into contact with the non-halogenous insulated wire. At any rate, there is a need to immediately solve these problems concerning deterioration.
Consequently, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and has an object to overcome the above problems and to provide a non-crosslinked flame-retardant resin composition which possesses sufficient flame retardancy, mechanical properties, flexibility and workability, and also possesses excellent heat resistance over a long period of time as it is hard to be molten when used under high temperature environment and not deteriorated even if used in contact with a vinyl chloride resin material and the like.
In addition, another object of the invention is to provide a non-halogenous insulated wire using the above-described non-crosslinked flame-retardant resin composition as an insulated covering material, and a wiring harness including the non-halogenous insulated wire.

Non-crosslinked flame-retardant resin composition, and an insulated wire and a wire harness using the same


A method for preventing snap-back in a circuit including at least one MOS transistor having a parasitic bipolar transistor associated with it includes coupling a circuit node including at least one source/drain node of the at least one MOS transistor to a bias-voltage circuit and enabling the bias-voltage circuit to supply a potential to the at least one source/drain node of the at least on MOS transistor, the potential having a magnitude selected to prevent the parasitic bipolar transistor from turning on.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to integrated circuit technology.
2. The Prior Art
Snap back has been a problem in integrated circuits when voltage exceeding the junction breakdown of transistor devices is present in an integrated circuit. This problem is presently dealt with by providing guard ring structures as is known in the art. Guard ring structures only minimize but do not eliminate the snap back.
In circuits such as non-volatile memory, high voltage P-channel and N-channel MOS transistor devices are used to form latch circuits to store write data. The high voltage N-channel device is leaky, resulting in standby current flowing during standby. This also causes the latch circuit to flip states during high voltage operation, resulting in data corruption.
The flipping stage and data corruption in the high-voltage latch circuits are caused by snap back of the high-voltage N-channel or P-Channel device during high voltage operation. When the drain of the high-voltage N-channel device is at the breakdown voltage of the N-channel device, breakdown occurs causing a large current to flow into the substrate. The parasitic NPN bipolar device at the bottom of the high-voltage N-channel device can be triggered on by the large substrate current. As the parasitic NPN transistor turns on, a low-impedance path exists at the logic "1" node to ground, pulling down the voltage and causing the latch circuit to flip from a "1" state to a "0" state at the node. A similar situation can occur in PMOS structures, in which a parasitic PNP transistor can pull a low-voltage node to a high state.

Apparatus and method for preventing snap back in integrated circuits


Described is an electronic device, including a top frame, a bottom frame, a circuit board mounted above the bottom frame, a thermal pad mounted on the circuit board, a heat sink associated with the thermal pad and a plurality of springs for providing a biasing force that retains the heat sink against the thermal pad, the heat sink including a planar portion surrounding a central depression, wherein the plurality of springs secure the thermal pad of the circuit board between the central depression portion of the heat sink and the circuit board.

Thermal management remains a significant challenge in set top boxes. With the introduction of more components such as smart card readers and increased functionalities, which tend to produce more heat, the need for an improved thermal management system exists.
An additional complication in set top boxes is the need to reduce the size of set top boxes due to consumer preference. This trend for compactness also makes thermal management a challenge, because this greater compactness with an increase in the number of internal components generally results in a concentration of heat.
Proper thermal contact between a thermal pad on a circuit board and a heat sink improves heat dissipation from the circuit board. Existing means for securing the heat sink against the thermal pad result in undesirable rattling of the heat sink against the thermal pad and set top box. Additionally, existing securing means do not provide sufficient contact of the thermal pad with the heat sink.
Therefore, a need exists for a retainer to secure a heat sink in proper contact with the thermal pad and stabilize the heat sink to reduce rattling.
FIGS. 1-9 illustrate a set top box that employs one means of ensure thermal contact and heat sink stabilization. The shortcomings of the system in FIGS. 1-9 is that it is preferable to have long grooves formed in the heat sink and it may be necessary for some additional means to be added to the base to secure the hold down.
However, the disclosed invention can be utilized with all of the embodiments or some of the embodiments shown and described in FIGS. 1-9. It can be used with the features used without the hold down and with the additional means added to the base or it can be used with the hold down and without the additional means.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a circuit board 5 is housed within a top cover 7 of a set top box 1. A thermal barrier 4 is positioned between the circuit board 5 and a bottom frame 2. A smart card reader 3 is connected to the circuit board 5 through an aperture 8 in the thermal barrier 4. The set top box 1 has internal components including the smart card reader 3, the thermal barrier 4, the circuit board 5, and a heat sink 6 that contacts the circuit board 5 and is positioned between the bottom frame 2 and the top cover 7. The thermal barrier 4 includes a thermal insulating material that preferably has substantially the same profile as the circuit board 5 or a profile that is at least 80% of the area profile of the circuit board 5. The thermal barrier 4 keeps the smart card reader 3 and other components under the circuit board 5 from overheating, in part, by preventing heat from transferring from the circuit board 5 and the components thereon.
The heat sink 6 is a heat dissipating feature that removes heat from the circuit board 5. The heat sink 6 has a top plan profile that completely covers the circuit board 5 or substantially covers the circuit board 5 such that at least 80% of the circuit board 5 is covered. The heat sink 6 may include a thermal pad 9. Referring now to FIG. 3, the heat sink 6 is a contoured plate that has a generally planar periphery 52 and a recessed feature such as a central depression 53 into a plane of the planar periphery 52, wherein the planar periphery 52 preferably surrounds the central depression 53. The central depression 53 has side walls extending from the planar periphery 52 and forming an obtuse angle therewith. The central depression 53 has a flat bottom that is designed to contact the circuit board 5, the heat generating components on the circuit board 5, and/or the thermal pad 9.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the heat sink 6 has vertical extensions 64 at the outer edges of the planar periphery 52 that are perpendicular to the planar periphery 52 and that extend over the circuit board 5 and contact the bottom frame 2 or vertically extending portions 62 of the bottom frame 2. The heat sink 6 attaches to the bottom frame 2 through slots and clips formed on these elements. The vertically extending portions 62 extend from the bottom frame 2 and have receiving slots 61 that are designed to receive clips 71 formed on the vertical extensions 64 of the heat sink 6. The vertically extending portions 62 may be plastic components, and as such, allow the heat sink clips 71 to elastically snap into the slots 61, thereby securing the heat sink 6 to the bottom frame 2. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the arrow indicates how the heat sink clips 71 are pressed downward into the bottom frame slots 61.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of interior components of the set top box 1. The set top box 1 may include a second central depression 90 that contacts a secondary thermal pad 99 (not shown) associated with the smart card reader 3. The bottom frame 2 may include a smart card access slot 91 below the circuit board 5 and one of the vertical extensions 64 of the heat sink 6. The slot 91 may also be between the vertically extending portions 62 of the bottom frame 2. The second central depression 90 thermally communicates with the smart card reader 3 through an aperture 8 in the circuit board 5 or the secondary thermal pad 99 through the circuit board 5.
The set top box 1 described in FIGS. 1-3 further includes a hold down 130 to secure the heat sink 6 against the circuit board 5. FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the set top box 1 with the hold down 130. The hold down 130 includes a frame that defines a perimeter. The hold down 130 may be a rectangular frame that generally matches the shape of the heat sink 6. The perimeter of the hold down 130 includes retainers 103 arranged at the ends of the hold down 130. The retainers 103 are shaped to match and engage mating locations provided on at least the bottom frame 2. The heat sink 6 may also include mating locations for the retainers 103. The hold down 130 is preferably constructed from a rigid flexible material, such as a wire or multiple wires, preferably stainless steel, that may extend diagonally to bias the heat sink 6 downwards against the thermal pad 9 and to provide contact between the circuit board 5, the thermal pad 9, and the central depression 53 of the heat sink 6 for proper thermal dissipation. The wires may cross each other such that one wire includes a bent portion that extends below the other wire. The region where the hold down components or wires cross can be centralized to be over the central depression and can be inside the central depression. The hold down or wires can be applied to the prior art assemblies to enhance heat transfer to the heat sink.
The bottom surface of the central depression 53 and the circuit board 5 contact the thermal pad 9 on opposite sides and sandwich the thermal pad 9 between them. The hold down 130 improves the surface contact among these components.
The hold down 130 may be formed from a resilient material. The hold down 130 is preferably dimensioned such that the hold down 130 is tensioned when installed and exerts a biasing force across the top of the heat sink 6 or at a specific location on the heat sink 6 after the retainers 103 of the hold down 130 engage the mating locations of the bottom frame 2 and the heat sink 6.
The top surface of the heat sink 6 may define a longitudinal plane and the frame of the hold down 130 may extend in this plane or in a parallel plane. As shown in FIG. 9, when the hold down 130 engages the mating locations of the bottom frame 2 and the heat sink 6 and the hold down 130 engages the top surface of the heat sink 6, the heat sink 6 and the hold down 130 bows in the downward direction away from the initial plane or planes. The hold down 130 may also include end portions that rise vertically above the longitudinal plane of the heat sink 6. The extent of the hold down 130 between the end portions may bow downwardly to apply force to the heat sink 6. The hold down 130 may include a central portion that extends downward into the central depression 53 of the heat sink 6 and along the inner contours of the central depression 53 such that the hold down 130 is in further contact with the heat sink 6 and movement is further reduced. As compared to existing set top boxes, the hold down 130 allows for a thinner thermal pad 9 to be used because of the biasing force from the hold down 130 on the heat sink 6.
FIGS. 5-8 show various features of the set top box 1 and the hold down 130. The retainers 103 of the hold down 130 engage slots 92 formed on the vertically extending portions 62 of the bottom frame 2 and slots 120 formed on the vertical extensions 64 of the heat sink 6. FIG. 5 shows an assembled cutaway view of the set 5 top box 1 with the hold down 130 pressing the central depression 53 of the heat sink 6 downward onto the thermal pad 9 on the circuit board 5. The heat sink 6 may include grooves 67 that are sufficiently deep to receive the hold down 130 and prevent the hold down 130 from protruding above the heat sink 6. The grooves 67 allow the vertical height of the set top box 1 to remain the same as compared to set top boxes without a hold down. The vertical extensions 64 of the heat sink 6 may also include cut out portions 140 that are shaped to receive retainer portions 103 of the hold down 130.
FIG. 6 is sectional side view of the set top box 1 and illustrates the improved contact of the bottom surface of the central depression 53 with the thermal pad 9 as compared to existing set top boxes. FIG. 7 illustrates the slots 61 on the bottom frame 2 for receiving the clips 71 of the heat sink 6, and the slots 92 for receiving the retainers 103 at the ends of the hold down 130. FIG. 8 shows alternative embodiments of the retainers 103 of the hold down 130 and illustrates the retainers 103 may include any suitable end which secures the hold down 130 with the mating locations of the bottom frame 2 and the heat sink 6. The retainers 103 may include ends 132 with U-shaped or V-shaped inward contours that engage the slots 92 of the bottom frame 2 and the slots 120 of the heat sink 6. The retainers 103 may alternatively include ends 134 with a first vertical portion, a lower horizontal portion, and second vertical portion which engage the slots 92, 120 of the bottom frame 2 and heat sink 6. As noted above, the ends 132, 134 may engage the slots 92, 120 in such a way to tension the hold down 130.

Set top box having heat sink pressure applying means


An axial securing system for the wheel bearing of a pole-guided vehicle is described, in which the wheel bearing is positioned in line with the pole pivot point (1) and centrally with respect to the wheel area, the system comprising at least two clip-rings (3) seated in grooves (7), and the parts of the housing (4, 5) that form a gap (6) over the clip-rings (3) are extended in the direction of the clip-rings (3) so that the gap (6) above the clip-rings (3) is smaller than the grooves (7) in which the clip-rings (3) are seated.

Pole-guided vehicles, in particular floor trolleys, have a pole and a drive wheel that can be steered by way of the pole. Usually the pole and the drive wheel are positioned a distance away from the longitudinal mid-plane of the vehicle in the lateral direction.
In the prior art, owing to restricted structural space, the known bearings of the wheel hub drives usually used are seldom positioned directly in line with the pivot of the pole and centrally with respect to the area of the running wheel, whereas this location is found optimal. In such a case, again owing to the restricted structural space, it is very difficult to provide optimum axial securing of the wheel. The securing rings marketed, which are provided with assembly and dismantling bores, are not appropriate for use in this application because of the restricted space.
The purpose of the present invention is to provide an axial securing system for the wheel bearing of a pole-guided vehicle, which effectively prevents the running wheel from coming off the wheel hub drive. According to the invention, besides functioning very reliably, the axial securing system, in particular, is intended to be of a simple structure that can be manufactured inexpensively.

Axial lock for the wheel bearing of pole vehicles


A modular adjustable hoist has a winch and a cable for hoisting an object. An electric motor is coupled to the winch for winding and unwinding the cable. An adjustable frame is used for securing the winch to a support or in a free standing position. The support can include a door frame, a wall, and an automotive vehicle. Legs can be attached to the adjustable frame for providing stability to the hoist for use with or without the structural support.

Devices for hoisting cargo are well known in the art. Often these devices take up a substantial amount of room and are very immobile and heavy. A hoist typically includes a winch having a cable wound on a drum which is typically driven by a reversible electric motor. The cable usually has a hook on it for attaching to an object to be moved from one location to another.
Despite numerous hoist designs on the market today, there continues to be a need for a relatively compact, lightweight, portable, and adjustable hoist for a typical homeowner or business person needing to lift heavy objects up flights of stairs, into a cargo van, or into a free standing position off the ground.


A rollable paint tray which will be maneuvered on a floor by the painter manipulating an extended handle of a paint roller assembly is disclosed. The tray will have a body, a plurality of rolling members and a structural configuration which permits placement of the paint roller on the tray where it will remain in contact during maneuvering of the tray by the painter. The body has a paint containment area, a paint roller containment area and a rolling surface area. The painter may easily replenish fresh paint on the paint roller and roll the paint roller to obtain a desired quantity and uniformity of coverage on the paint roller. The tray permits the painter to paint a large area, along a great distance, while remaining standing straight. This eliminates the conventional need for the painter to manually move their supply of fresh paint which often involves bending or squatting.

1. Field of the Invention
Generally, the invention relates to containers to contain paint during a painting procedure. More specifically, the invention relates to such containers having a paint rolling surface slightly offset from horizontal and capable of being easily moved about the floor by the painter during the painting procedure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various methods are known to apply paint to a wall surface. It may be mechanically sprayed on the wall surface without any paint retaining structure actually touching the wall surface. This method is not directly applicable to the present invention and will not be discussed further. Typically a paint retaining structural element will have paint placed on the paint retaining structural element with transfer of such paint occurring by wiping or rolling the paint retaining structural element on the wall surface. The two most common painting tools having applicable paint retaining structural elements are the paint brush and the paint roller. The present invention may be utilized with paint brushes to significantly enhance the painting experience during use of the paint brush. The present invention is generally related to use of the paint roller, and more particularly, to use with the paint roller deployed with a long handle. Paint rollers have a cylindrical portion with a paint retaining surface, such as a mat material, rotationally mounted to a manipulation part, typically in the form of a handle. Most modern paint roller handles have means to attach a long extension handle thereto, such as a female threaded cavity in the end of the handle to receive threads on a male end of the long extension handle. During use paint is gathered on the paint retaining surface of the cylindrical portion to a desired uniformity and density and then the paint retaining surface is rolled along the wall surface to transfer the paint to the wall surface.
Painters of wall surfaces have personal preferences for painting equipment utilized and the orientation of, and interaction with, that painting equipment during their respective painting. The following description depicts a typical conventional painting procedure performed on a large interior or exterior wall surface of a structure. The three most common methods of containment of the paint utilized for such a project are used during this description.
The first method is use of a bulk paint container, such as a round five gallon bulk paint bucket, and working directly from the round bulk paint container. Such use of round bulk paint buckets typically require use of an insert having a planar rolling surface positioned thereon with the insert placed partially into the round bulk bucket. In order to utilize the planar rolling surface for the intended use the bulk bucket will contain well less than the containment capacity of paint where a large portion of the insert is above the level of the paint. In use the paint roller will be placed in contact with the paint and then rolled along the planar surface of the insert to uniformly distribute the paint on the roller.
The second method is use of a large dedicated paint bucket designed to hold a relatively large quantity of paint, such as several gallons, while allowing use of a conventional paint roller. Such bulk paint buckets will typically either have a flat surface on them to roll the paint roller on above the paint contained in the bucket or will accept an insert having a planar rolling surface positioned thereon with the dedicated paint bucket.
The third method is use of a paint roller pan with an upward sloped rolling surface extending from a deeper paint containment end. Typically these paint roller pans contain no more than a gallon of paint at a time and are rectangular in shape, with slightly rounded corners, when viewed from above. Such paint roller pans will often have structures thereon to position the pan in a stable and secure manner on a ladder at an elevated position above the floor. This ladder placement method permits the painter to stand on the ladder during painting. This orientation is more often used with a handheld paint brush than with a paint roller. When a paint roller pan is used with a paint roller with long handle assembly, the paint roller pan will often rest on the floor adjacent the wall surface being painted. It is known in the art to provide wheels on conventional paint roller pans where they may be moved about by the painter during the painting procedure. Such conventionally known wheeled paint roller pans typically do not have a dedicated area for placement of the paint roller of a paint roller assembly fitted with an elongated handle for easy manipulation of the painter.
Each of these three methods of paint containment, bulk paint container, large dedicated paint bucket and paint roller pan, suffer from various deficiencies. When used with a paint roller having an extension handle they are all most often used while the respective paint container is resting on the floor. This floor positioning allows the painter to easily use the long extension handle to manipulate the paint roller portion to deposit a desired amount of paint, and to a uniform manner, on the paint roller while the painter remains standing straight without bending over or stooping. The painter will then manipulate the extension handle to transfer the paint from the paint roller to the wall surface. With the extension handle this may be done from near floor level to near ceiling level while the painter remains standing straight without bending over or stooping. The main problem occurs when the painter has painted an area of the wall surface and moves to start painting the next adjacent portion of the wall surface. It then becomes necessary to physically move the paint container a similar distance or for the painter to move over to the paint container each time replenishment of a fresh supply of paint on the paint roller is required. Each of these options is time consuming. Eventually the paint container will be moved to a new location during a painting procedure. It being understood that bending, stooping or squatting to physically engage a paint container has been known to cause injury to painters. Additionally, such activities, even in the absence of injury, tend to tire and fatigue the painter. It is also understood that such displacement of paint containers occasionally result in the spillage of paint onto the floor, or onto any protective covering placed on the floor during the painting procedure. Such spillage is expensive as it always wastes some paint and occasionally causes damages to objects not intended to have paint applied to. When the conventionally known paint trays having wheels are utilized the painter does not have a safe position to place the paint roller in where inadvertent spillage of paint is eliminated.
As can be seen there remains a need for a paint tray which will retain paint, allow easy and uniform placement of the paint on a paint roller having an extension handle and which can be easily moved about during the painting procedure as desired by the painter, all while the painter remains standing straight without bending or stooping. The present invention substantially fulfills these needs.


A system for writing data to overlapping physical tracks of a shingled magnetic record (SMR) hard disk drive (HDD) and a method for creating a logical disk from overlapping physical tracks of the SMR HDD. The system comprises a write header and a memory identifying the overlapping physical tracks which are accessible through the logical disk. The physical tracks are spaced from each other by at least the width of the write header. The method comprises mapping in a memory the logical disk to writeable tracks of the overlapping physical tracks, the writeable tracks spaced from each other by at least the width of the write header.

Hard disk drives are data storage devices for storing digital information or data which can be retrieved at a later time. A hard disk drive is a type of non-volatile memory that retains stored data irrespective of whether the drive has power. A hard disk drive comprises platters or disks coated with a magnetic material for storing charges. Data is stored by placing a charge on the magnetic material. The hard disk drive also comprises one or more read and write headers. The headers are configured to store charges to, and read charges from, the magnetic material of the platter. The headers are arranged on a moving actuator arm which positions the headers over the platters at the correct location to write data to, or read data from, the platters as the platters rotate at high speeds. The use of platters and headers permits data to be read from or written to a hard disk drive in a random-access manner. Randomly accessing data refers to reading or writing a first set of data at a first location on the platter and then a second set of data at second location on the platter without having to read or write data through all intervening locations between the first and second locations.
Platters are divided into multiple co-centric circular tracks, the circular tracks radiating from the centre to the edge of the platter. The tracks have a width. The tracks help identify or reference the physical location where data may be, or is, stored on the platter. The width of the tracks may correspond to the width of the read or write header. Adjacent tracks may be grouped into bands in the case of SMR HDDs.
FIG. 1 shows a top view of a portion of a platter 100 of a SMR HDD as known in the art. The platter 100 comprises tracks 102a-c, and bands 104 and 110. Tracks 102a-c overlap with each other in a "shingled" fashion. Tracks of a band 104 do not overlap, however, with tracks of another band. Overlapping tracks 102a-c permits more tracks to be stored on a platter of a given size thus increasing the data density of the platter and the hard disk drive. The amount of overlap between adjacent tracks 102a-c is determined by the size of a read header 106 and a write header 108 for the platter 100. Specifically, the area of a track 102a-c that is not masked by an adjacent track 102a-c must be at least as large as the width of the read header 106. This permits the read header 106 to only sense charges stored on one of the tracks 102a-c during a read operation. The width of the read header 106 can be made smaller than the width of a write header 108. Accordingly, the amount of overlap between adjacent tracks 102a-c is the difference between the width of the write header 108 and the width of the read header 106. The width of the write header 108 is larger than the unmasked area of a target track 102a. Accordingly, when writing data to the target track 102a, the write header 108 also incidentally stores the same data on an adjacent track 102b overlapping with the target track 102a. This causes complications when data is randomly being written to the tracks. Since the adjacent track 102b is on a higher layer than the target track 102a, writing data to the target track 102a overwrites data on the adjacent track 102b.
To preserve the existing data on the adjacent track 102b in a SMR HDD, the existing data is read from the adjacent track 102b, temporarily stored, and only written back to the adjacent track 102b once the new data has been written to the target track 102a. But writing existing data back to the adjacent track 102b also incidentally stores that data on a second adjacent track 102c that is overlapping with the adjacent track 102b. Accordingly, when writing data to the target track 102a, all data on upper layer tracks 102b,102c must first be read and temporarily stored, then written back starting with the lowest layer track 102b and proceeding in order to the highest layer track. Failure to do so will result in loss of information.
If not for the difference in read header 106 and write header 108 widths, there would be no need to overlap tracks. Overlapping tracks improves the data density of a HDD by taking advantage of the smaller width of the read header as compared to the write header width. The trade-off for improved data density, however, is a potential decrease in write performance. The write performance (e.g. the amount of time required to write new data to a track) for an SMR HDD will typically be lower than the write performance for a non SMR HDD when data is written randomly to a band. Randomly writing data to an SMR HDD results in write amplification: for each track to which new data is written, multiple upper-layer tracks in the band, if any, must also be read from and written to.
Optimization methods have been developed to improve the write performance when randomly writing data to an SMR HDD. In one optimization method, random data is packaged into sequential data so that when sufficient data has been accumulated, it is all written sequentially to a band rather randomly at different times. This method randomly allocates tracks for all data (including data which is inherently sequential), however, which reduces the read performance for sequential data.
Improvements in write performance for the writing of random write data to an SMR HDD are desirable.

Shingled magnetic record hard disk drive and method for creating a logical disk from physical tracks


The invention relates to a crane, particularly a bridge crane or gantry crane, including at least one crane girder extending horizontally and designed as a truss with a plurality of braces, on which girder a crane trolley with a lifting gear is movable. At least some of the braces have a flat shape. The flat-shaped braces each have a flat main surface that extends in each case transversely to a longitudinal direction of the crane girder.

The present invention relates to a crane, in particular a bridge crane or gantry crane, which includes at least one crane girder that extends horizontally and is designed as a truss with a plurality of braces, on which girder a crane trolley with a lifting gear is movable.
German patent specification DE 260030 discloses a so-called double-girder gantry crane comprising two horizontal crane girders and two vertical support girders that form a gantry frame of the gantry crane. The crane girders extend in parallel and at a spaced interval with respect to one another. Arranged at lower ends of the support girders is in each case a travelling mechanism, by means of which the gantry crane is movable in a direction of travel extending transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the crane girders. A crane trolley having a cable winch is movable on and along the crane girders. In accordance with the design as a double-girder crane, a load picking-up means of the cable winch arranged on the crane trolley is lowered or raised between the two crane girders. The crane girders are designed as trusses and each comprise an upper boom and a lower boom that are each oriented horizontally and in parallel with one another. The upper and lower booms of the two crane girders are connected to one another by means of vertically extending, bar-shaped posts and diagonally extending, bar-shaped posts. At their ends, the two crane girders are connected to one another by means of crossbars and braces to form a frame. Bar-shaped posts and braces are provided along the longitudinal direction of the crane girders between the upper boom and the lower boom in the manner of a truss, which posts and braces each connect an upper boom to the lower boom arranged vertically therebelow.
German utility model document DE 1 971 794 U describes a double-girder bridge crane, whose two horizontal crane girders are connected to one another by means of head girders arranged at respective ends thereof and are movable together in a direction of travel extending transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the crane girders. Both crane girders are similarly designed as trusses and each comprise plate-shaped upper booms, bar-shaped lower booms and bar-shaped posts.
Patent specification DE 31 09 834 C2 relates to a tower crane having a mast and a crane jib that are designed as truss constructions. The cuboidal mast comprises four L-shaped and vertically oriented support girders, of which in each case two adjacent support girders are connected to one another by means of triangular plates. In this case, the plates are fastened with their corner regions and/or one of their sides to the support girders. At least some of the sides of the plates are folded and form stiffening ribs.
Furthermore, German laid-open document DE 1 759 120 A already discloses a crane girder that in a typical manner comprises an upper boom and a lower boom that are stiffened in the manner of a truss and by means of panels and are connected to one another. The panels are in the shape of a symmetrical trapezium and consist of sheet panels having bent outer contour edges. Two openings are also provided in the panel to reduce weight.
A further German laid-open document DE 1 907 455 A discloses a truss, whose upper boom and lower boom are connected by means of braces, which are formed in one piece from a flat profile extending in zigzag fashion. The flat profile has an angular, wavelike or channel-shaped cross-section.
Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,475 B already discloses a truss, whose braces are also designed as flat profiles that are folded back on both sides outside the ends. The thus flat ends of the braces are welded to upper and lower booms of the truss and the flat profiles extend on the whole in a vertical plane and in parallel with the longitudinal extension of the truss.
Laid-open document US 2005/0055951 A1 also discloses a further truss, whose braces comprise between the upper boom and the lower boom a cross-section that changes starting from the ends of the braces to the centre thereof.
German patent specification DE 1 095 486 B discloses a crane girder that is designed as a truss and comprises T-profiles as braces.
Furthermore, Chinese utility model CN 201 932 820 U and Korean patent application KR 2011 0020286 A disclose crane girders designed as box girders.

Crane having a truss girder with flattened braces


A side-mounted cursor pointing device (108) for a wireless terminal (100) including a sliding cover (110). The sliding cover (110) slides over the cursor pointing device (108) in an off position. When the cover (110) is slid off the cursor pointing device (108), a biasing member (212) upon which the cursor pointing device (108) rests allows the cursor pointing device (108) to pop into position and allows the user to press down on the cursor pointing device (108) in order to make a selection. The sliding cover may be an on-off switch for the wireless terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cursor control devices and, particularly, to control devices for single digit control of a wireless terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wireless terminals including cellular telephones and other wireless telecommunication devices are providing increasingly sophisticated functionality. Functions performed by hand-held wireless terminals require an increasing degree of user input and interaction. For example, a typical wireless terminal includes a viewscreen, typically a liquid crystal display (LCD), a keypad, and a plurality of control buttons or switches to allow the user to scroll through menu options or manipulate a cursor on the viewscreen. One such control is a dial, such as on the Sony CM RX100 telephone, which may be used to xe2x80x9crollxe2x80x9d through menu options. Alternatively, forward and reverse buttons such as on the Motorola Star TAC telephone, may be employed to accomplish this task. The Siemens S4, the Qualcomm QCP 800 and QCP 1900 each provide a volume button on the side of the terminal which may also be used to scroll through menus on the viewscreen. Finally, certain wireless terminals provide a trackball on the front face of the wireless terminal to position a cursor on the viewscreen. Each of these controls is also associated with a separate select button to allow selection of the menu item highlighted by the cursor.
Such menu selection or cursor pointing devices require cumbersome hand or finger movements. More particularly, such user interfaces have typically required the manipulation of a trackball, keys, or dial in order to locate a cursor or scroll through menus on the viewscreen. A separate motion on a separate select key is required to select the item highlighted by the cursor. Frequently this is error-prone and counter-intuitive. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved user interface for a wireless terminal which is capable of being manipulated by a single finger in both cursor positioning and select modes.
In addition, wireless terminals are subjected to relatively severe operating conditions. Control buttons such as an on-switch may be jostled and thus unintentionally activated thereby draining batteries. Cursor controls may be exposed to liquids, which can have a deleterious effect on their functionality. This is particularly the case when the control is a trackball, due to the electromechanical or optomechanical structure required to convert the ball""s rotation into cursor movement. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved cursor control which is relatively immune from unintentional activation and/or liquid spillage.
These drawbacks in the prior art are overcome in large part by a side-mounted cursor controller including a sliding cover according to the present invention. A wireless terminal is provided including a key pad and a side mounted cursor pointing device, such as a trackball. A sliding cover is provided which can slide over the cursor pointing device in an xe2x80x9coffxe2x80x9d position. When the cover is slid off the cursor pointing device, a biasing member upon which the cursor pointing device rests allows the trackball to pop out and into position. The user can press down on the cursor pointing device in order to make a selection. In addition, the sliding cover may be an on-off switch for the wireless terminal.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, an electronic controller with an improved user interface is provided. The user interface includes a cursor pointing device and a controller housing adapted to receive the cursor pointing device. A select control such as a switch, is coupled to the cursor pointing device and the controller housing, and is configured to be activated when the cursor pointing device is depressed. A sliding member is coupled to the controller housing. The sliding member is configured to conceal the cursor pointing device when the sliding member is in a first position, and expose the cursor pointing device when the sliding member is in a second position. The sliding member also may function as an on-off switch for the electronic controller or the device being controlled. The cursor pointing device may be provided with a biasing member such that the biasing member positions the cursor pointing device in an inactive position when the sliding member is in the first position and is configured to position the cursor pointing device in an active position when the sliding member is in the second position.
A method for operating an electronic controller according to the present invention includes sliding a sliding member from a first position to a second position on a controller housing. The sliding member conceals a cursor pointing device when the sliding member is in the first position, and exposes the cursor pointing device when the sliding member is in the second position. The method further includes translating the cursor pointing device from an inactive position when the sliding member is in the first position to an active position when the sliding member is in the second position. Finally, the method further includes using the cursor pointing device to position a cursor on a viewscreen, for example, scrolling through menu options and depressing the cursor pointing device to select an item on the viewscreen positioned proximately to the cursor.

Scroll select-activate button for wireless terminals

Siemens Information and Communication Mobile LLC


A video image is displayed from an optical panel by splitting the image into a plurality of image components, and then projecting the image components through corresponding portions of the panel to collectively form the image. Depth of the display is correspondingly reduced.

The present invention relates generally to optical panels, and more specifically to thin optical display panels comprising optical waveguides.
Optical display screens are found in many common applications such as televisions, computer displays, and displays for industrial and scientific equipment. Common display screens form images using a cathode ray tube (CRT) which is relatively long and requires a large enclosure.
Rear projection television (RPTV) displays utilize image light which is projected to the back side of a screen for displaying the image on its front side. The resulting enclosures for these RPTV displays have a considerable depth for accommodating the necessary optical components for focusing, enlarging, and directing the image light.
Thin display screens of various forms are continually being developed for replacing CRTs to minimize the screen enclosure and overall weight. A common thin panel uses a liquid crystal display (LCD) for modulating light therethrough for creating video images.
Another type of thin display panel includes thin optical waveguides laminated together in a thin wedge shape through which image light is internally reflected between a narrow inlet face and a large outlet screen. U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,502 is one of a series of patents based on this technology being developed for improving performance of thin display panels.
Yet another type of thin optical display being developed includes a prismatic optical film for turning incident light up to about 90°. The film requires a light incidence angle between 0° and 20°, and a corresponding depth between the film and the image light source in which to spread the light across the entire surface of the film. As the size of the display increases, the required depth behind the display increases, thusly increasing the overall thickness or depth of the enclosure.
Accordingly, it is desired to further reduce the overall thickness or depth of the enclosures for optical displays.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A chip scale semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor die, a first bump and a second bump. The first bump having a first diameter and a first height is formed on an outer region of the semiconductor die. A second bump having a second diameter and a second height is formed on an inner region of the semiconductor die. The second diameter is greater than the first diameter while the second height is the same as the first height. By changing the shape of the bump, the stress and strain can be redistributed through the bump. As a result, the thermal cycling reliability of the chip scale semiconductor device is improved.

The semiconductor industry has experienced rapid growth due to continuous improvements in the integration density of a variety of electronic components (e.g., transistors, diodes, resistors, capacitors, etc.). For the most part, this improvement in integration density has come from repeated reductions in minimum feature size, which allows more components to be integrated into a given area. As the demand for even smaller electronic devices has grown recently, there has grown a need for smaller and more creative packaging techniques of semiconductor dies.
As semiconductor technologies evolve, chip-scale or chip-size packaging based semiconductor devices have emerged as an effective alternative to further reduce the physical size of a semiconductor chip. In a chip-scale packaging based semiconductor device, the packaging is generated on the die with contacts provided by a variety of bumps. Much higher density can be achieved by employing chip-scale packaging based semiconductor devices. Furthermore, chip-scale packaging based semiconductor devices can achieve smaller form factors, cost-effectiveness, increased performance and lower power consumption.
A chip-scale packaging based semiconductor device may comprise a plurality of solder balls formed on a plurality of under bump metal (UBM) openings of a semiconductor die. The solder balls may be formed of tin and lead. Prior to a reflow process, the semiconductor device is picked and placed on a printed circuit board (PCB) after alignment. As a result, the plurality of solder balls on the chip-scale packaging based semiconductor device are aligned with the corresponding solder pads on the PCB board. By employing a hot air flow and appropriate pressure, the solder balls are heated and then melted so as to connect the semiconductor device with the PCB board. The chip-scale packaging technology has some advantages. One advantageous feature of chip-scale packaging is that chip-scale packaging techniques may reduce fabrication costs. Another advantageous feature of chip-scale packaging based multi-chip semiconductor devices is that parasitic losses are reduced by employing bumps sandwiched between a semiconductor device and a PCB board.
Corresponding numerals and symbols in the different figures generally refer to corresponding parts unless otherwise indicated. The figures are drawn to clearly illustrate the relevant aspects of the various embodiments and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Bumps for chip scale packaging including under bump metal structures with different diameters

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A communication apparatus for avoiding interference among users of a mobile communication system includes an RF signal processing circuit for processing a received RF signal, an RF demodulating circuit for demodulating an output signal of the RF signal processing circuit, a decoding circuit for decoding an output signal from the RF demodulating circuit, an encoding circuit for encoding a predetermined information signal, an RF modulating circuit for modulating an output signal from the encoding circuit, and a transmission signal processing circuit for processing an output signal from the RF modulating circuit. The encoding circuit includes a memory circuit for storing a predetermined control data, a selecting circuit for selecting the predetermined control data in accordance with an information related to the circuit quality obtained from the decoding circuit, and an adding circuit for adding the transmission data with an output of the selecting circuit. The output power of the transmission signal processing circuit is controlled by the information related to the circuit quality.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication method and a communication apparatus suitable for application to a radio telephone system, for example.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a mobile communication system such as a radio telephone system or the like, multiple access in which a plurality of mobile stations (terminal apparatus or subscribers) are permitted to access a single base station is employed. In the case of a radio telephone, a number of mobile stations commonly utilize a single base station. Therefore, various communication systems have been proposed for avoiding interference between respective mobile stations. For example, a frequency division multiple access system (FDMA: Frequency Division Multiple Access), a time division multiple access system (TDMA: Time Division Multiple Access), a code division multiple access system (CDMA: Code Division Multiple Access) and so on are conventionally proposed as this kind of communication systems.
Of these systems, the CDMA system is a multiple access system in which a particular code is assigned to each of the mobile stations, a modulated wave of an identical carrier wave (carrier) is spread in spectrum with the code and then transmitted to the identical base station, and a reception side takes code synchronism based on each code to identify a desired mobile station.
Specifically, the base station occupies the whole frequency band belonging to the spread spectrum, and transmits signals to respective mobile stations using an identical frequency band at the same time. Each of the mobile stations inversely spreads a signal of a fixed spread band width transmitted from the base station to extract a corresponding signal. Further, the base station discriminates each of the mobile stations by the different spread codes assigned to them.
In the CDMA system, communication can be achieved at every direct calling so long as a code is shared. Further, the system is excellent in keeping secrecy of telephone conversations. Therefore, the system is suitable for a radio transmission utilizing mobile stations such as a portable telephone apparatus and so on.
In the CDMA system, it is difficult to establish a precise communication relationship between mobile stations. Therefore, each communication between respective mobile stations cannot be dealt completely separately, and hence another mobile station can become a source of interference upon communication with a mobile station. Further, data is spread within a particular frequency band in this system. Therefore, it is necessary to define a band width in advance over which the data is spread (i.e., a band width for use of transmission). Therefore, it is difficult to change the transmission band width.
The above matter will be described more concretely. FIGS. 1A and 1B shows a model in which a transmission signal of a particular user is extracted by an inverse spread from transmission signals of eight mobile stations (users) which are spectrum spread with predetermined codes and multiplexed, for example. As shown in FIG. 1A, if a signal of a user U0 is to be extracted by the inverse spread from signals of eight users U0 to U7 which are multiplexed with codes, then as shown in FIG. 1B, the signal of the user U0 can actually be extracted. However, signals of other users U1 to U7 which are dealt by the same base station also become an interference source, serving as a noise. This fact results in deterioration of an S/N characteristic. For this reason, in a radio transmission employing the CDMA system, electric wave does not reach well due to the deterioration caused by the interference, which fact narrows a service area. Further, interference due to other users can be suppressed only by an amount of inverse spread gain which is obtained in a process of spectrum inverse spread. Therefore, a number of users (mobile stations) permitted to access is limited and channel capacity becomes small.
Furthermore, in a communication system in which this kind of multiple access is carried out, it is important to uniform transmission powers of respective transmission signals present at a time so as to be fallen within a certain range, in order to suppress interference due to other users. However, in the conventional communication system in which the multiple access such as the CDMA or the like is carried out, a response in control of the transmission power is disadvantageously unsatisfactory. Specifically, when a sending power of a signal from a certain terminal apparatus is adjusted to fall within a constant range, the base station side receives the signal transmitted from the terminal apparatus and detects its transmission state. Then, control data of the transmission output based on the result of the detection is transmitted to the terminal apparatus. Then, the terminal apparatus side determines the transmission state based on the transmitted control data and carries out processing for adjusting the transmission output to a corresponding state. Thus, the control processing is carried out by carrying out two-way data communication between the terminal apparatus and the base station. If the time required for the base station to modulate the control data is taken into account, then it takes a very long time to adjust the transmission output, which is a bar to adjust the transmission power with a satisfactory response.

Communication method and apparatus in which transmission control data stored in memory is selected based on a detected signal quality from a decoder


The invention relates to a catalyst for selective synthesis of high-quality gasoline fractions from syngas and the preparation method of the catalyst. This catalyst consists of cobalt, a promoter and molecular sieve, wherein cobalt is presented in an amount of 1-30%, the promoter is represented in an amount of 0.01-5% and the balance is molecular sieve based on the weight of the catalyst. This catalyst provides superior selectivity for C5-C11 isoparaffins and relatively lower selectivity for wax-type hydrocarbons with more than 20 carbon atoms. Thereof, this catalyst can be used for the synthesis of high-quality gasoline and is good at preventing catalyst coking. Besides, the invention provides a preparation method of the catalyst.

Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is a process that converts syngas into hydrocarbons via catalytic reactions, which includes reactions of generation of alkanes and alkenes, together with reactions of generation of oxygen-containing compounds and water-gas shift. The reactants of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, i.e. syngas, can be derived from coal, natural gas, coal-bed methane, biomass etc. via process of gasification or reformation. The products of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis include clean liquid fuels such as gasoline, diesel oil and kerosene, basic chemical raw materials such as short-chained alkenes, and high added-value chemicals such as high-grade wax. In recent years, as petroleum is continuously consumed and the demands for energy and resources keep increasing in the world, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis has been extensively recognized as a proven method for producing liquid fuels and high added-value chemicals. Companies such as Sasol and Shell have already established industrialized production facilities for coal to oil (CTL) and natural gas to oil (GTL). Besides, companies such as Exxon Mobil, Syntroleum, BP and so on, and gas/coal rich countries are also planning commercialization of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. In China, there are companies such as Shenhua, SYNFUELs CHINA, Yankuang Group and etc. that have built industrial demonstration facilities for indirect production of oils from coal based on Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.
Researches focusing on Fischer-Tropsch synthesis has lasted for nearly 90 years, but there are still some problems unsolved, among which a critical one is the ineffective control of product selectivity. As the products' chain-growth follows polymerization mechanism and the product selectivity usually follows Anderson-Schulz-Flory distribution, only can relatively high selectivity be achieved for methane and heavy hydrocarbons (C21+), the selectivities for the other products are low, among which gasoline fractions (C5-C11) has a selectivity of up to about 45% and diesel (C12-C20) has a selectivity of up to about 30%. The product of commercialized Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is usually a mixture of a few oil-components. Therefore, more attention has been attracted to the development of new catalysts that can effectively control the product selectivity.
CN 101811050A disclosed a cobalt-based catalyst modified by lipophilic organic group for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. The catalyst contains 5.0-30.0% of cobalt, 50-80% of support, 5-20% of silica and 5-40% of lipophilic group. The catalyst can be simply synthesized and enables Fischer-Tropsch synthesis with higher conversion for CO (60%), selectivity of 50% for intermediate fraction C5-C11 and less than 2% for C19+.
CN 1418933A disclosed a catalyst for selective syntheses of gasoline and diesel fractions from syngas. The catalyst comprises active metal Fe, and promoters such as Cu, K, Co, Ru or the like, and activated carbon is used as a support. This catalyst enables higher selectivity for C1-C20 hydrocarbons, among which the selectivity for C5-C20 hydrocarbons can reach 76.6%.
CN 101269328A disclosed a cobalt-based catalyst for syntheses of gasoline and diesel fractions from syngas. The catalyst mainly consists of Co and TiO2 and enables conversion of CO to be 60% and selectivity for C5-C11 to be 40% in fixed bed reactors.
CN 101224430A disclosed a cobalt-based catalyst modified by lipophilic organic groups for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, which mainly consists of cobalt, noble metal promoters and porous silica gel. This catalyst enables conversion of CO up to 70% and selectivity for C5-C11 to be about 50%.
Martinez et al. (A. Martinez et al. J. Catal. 2007, 249, 162) discovered that higher selectivity for gasoline fractions can be achieved by using a composite catalyst which is prepared by physically mixing the conventional cobalt-based catalyst for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and zeolite molecular sieve (H-ZSM-5 etc.). For example, composite catalyst Co/SiO2+ZSM-5 enables up to 62% of selectivity for C5-C12 when conversion of syngas is 60%. It is reported (Y. Li et al. Energy Fuel 2008, 22, 1897) that better catalytic performances can be achieved by a catalyst prepared by mixing SiO2 and ZSM-5 to form composite oxide and then loading Co thereon, by which the conversion of CO is more than 80%, the selectivity for C5-C12 reaches 55% and the content of isoparaffins is more than 10%. Tsubaki et al. (N. Tsubaki et al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 353; J. Catal. 2009, 265, 26) prepared a novel core-shell structured catalyst for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis by wrapping conventional Co/Al2O3 catalyst with In-Situ-Formed H-beta molecular sieve membrane. The catalyst enables Fischer-Tropsch synthesis with selectivity of 55% for C5-C12, which mainly contains isoparaffins. However, one disadvantage of the catalyst is the selectivity for methane usually exceeds 15%.
What's more, the applicant of this application lately disclosed a catalyst that enables high selectivity for the synthesis of gasoline fractions from syngas in CN 101890361A. The catalyst consists of Ru and molecular sieve and enables significantly high selectivity for C5-C11 hydrocarbon fractions. On the basis of this invention, the applicant made further development of a new catalyst for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis to prepare high-quality gasoline fractions by one-step from syngas with high selectivity as claimed in this invention.

High-selectivity catalyst for production of high-quality gasoline fractions from syngas and its preparation method


A power take-off system for a vehicle is disclosed, including an input shaft, an output shaft, and a countershaft. The output shaft includes an engagement interface for rotationally fixed engagement with one of various implement shafts. The implement shafts extend outside the vehicle when engaged with the output shaft. A clutch device is configured to engage with one or more of the input shaft, the output shaft and the countershaft. In a first engagement position, the clutch device may cause transmission of rotational power from the input shaft to the output shaft via the clutch device. In a second engagement position, the clutch device may cause transmission of rotational power from the input shaft to the output shaft via the clutch device and the countershaft. In this way, both speeds appropriate for mechanical power transmission and speeds appropriate for electrical power generation may be obtained.

Various vehicles (as well as various fixed machinery) may utilize a power take-off interface, whereby power may be transmitted from a power source within the vehicle to an implement external to the vehicle. For example, various tractors and other work vehicles include a power take-off interface with which a power take-off stub shaft may be engaged in order to provide mechanical power to an external implement.
Various external implements may also be configured to utilize electrical power input rather than mechanical power input. For example, in the agricultural industry towed seeders may utilize electrical power to execute a variety of seeding operations.


A pump for generating fluid flow in an elastic tubular conduit. The pump comprises a plurality of electrically operated valves, each valve being positionable adjacent to the conduit. Each valve has a valve head configured to alternate from a first position in which the lumen of the conduit adjacent to the valve head is unobstructed and a second position in which the lumen of the conduit adjacent to the valve head is obstructed. The pump also comprises a driver configured to control the positions of the valve heads, so as to execute a predetermined temporo-spatial array of valve head positions.

Peristaltic pumps are used for controlling the flow of a fluid in an elastic tubular conduit. These pumps have many medical and industrial applications.
In one form of peristaltic pumps, a rotor is used to rotate a plurality of eccentric cams. Each cam, in turn, intermittently collapses the elastic conduit at an initial contact point, and slides along the conduit over a short distance as the rotor turns. A second cam contacts the initial contact point and the first cam is then released from the conduit as the second cam slides along the conduit. As this process is repeated, a flow of fluid in the conduit is generated in the direction of the sliding of the cams.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,964 to Ben-Shalom discloses a peristaltic pump in which a plurality of electromagnets are arranged along an elastic conduit. The electromagnets are activated according to a temporo-spatial scheme in order to generate undulations along a magnetizable membrane that is disposed along the conduit. The undulations in the membrane generate undulations in the wall of the conduit, which in turn generate a flow of fluid in the conduit.