The invention relates to a QKD System Active combiner (200) adapted to be installed in a QKD apparatus, said QKD apparatus comprising an emitter (100), a receiver (110) and QKD systems (102/112), wherein the emitter (100) is adapted to send communication signals to the receiver (110) through the QKD System Active combiner (200), characterized in that the QKD System Active combiner (200) comprises an active attenuation system comprising a processing unit (230) adapted to automatically control at least one variable optical attenuator (150) through a control channel (290) in order to control an attenuation of a signal to be sent to the receiver, and a detector/monitor (240) adapted to monitor the intensity of the signal downstream the attenuation, and wherein the processing unit is adapted to control the variable optical attenuator (150) based on a QBER information or an intensity of a signal received by the receiver, sent by the QKD systems (112) through a classical channel (250).

Quantum Key Distribution involves establishing a key between a sender ("Alice") and a receiver ("Bob") by using either single-photons or weak (e.g., 0.1 photon on average) optical signals (pulses) called "qubits" or "quantum signals" transmitted over a "quantum channel". Unlike classical cryptography whose security depends on computational complexity, the security of quantum cryptography is based on many quantum mechanical principles among which the quantum mechanical principle that any measurement of a quantum system in an unknown state will modify its state. Consequently, an eavesdropper ("Eve") that attempts to intercept or otherwise measure the exchanged qubits introduces errors that reveal her presence.
The general principles of quantum cryptography were first set forth by Bennett and Brassard in their article "Quantum Cryptography: Public key distribution and coin tossing," Proceedings of the International Conference on Computers, Systems and Signal Processing, Bangalore, India, 1984, pp. 175-179 (IEEE, New York, 1984). Specific QKD systems are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,307,410 to Bennett, and in the article by C. H. Bennett entitled "Quantum Cryptography Using Any Two Non-Orthogonal States", Phys. Rev. Lett. 68 3121 (1992). The general process for performing Quantum Key Distribution is described in the book by Bouwmeester et al., "The Physics of Quantum Information," Springer-Verlag 2001, in Section 2.3, pages 27-33. Quantum cryptography has been interdisciplinary developed between the scientific fields of quantum physics, quantum optics, information theory, cryptography and informatics. A survey of the bases and methods as well as the historical development of quantum cryptography is contained in the articles by N. Gisin, G. Ribordy, W. Tittel and H. Zbinden, "Quantum Cryptography", Reviews of Modern Physics. 74, 145 (2002). Quantum cryptography or Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is a method allowing the distribution of a secret key between two distant parties, the emitter and the receiver, with an information-theoretically provable security as it relies on Quantum physics principles.
As already mentioned above, the security of this method comes from the well-known fact that the measurement of the quantum state of an unknown quantum system modifies the system itself, therefore, a spy eavesdropping on the quantum communication channel cannot get information on the key without introducing errors in the key exchanged between the emitter and the receiver such that eavesdropping attempts can be detected.
In the following sections, the term "channel" should be understood in a generic sense: a physical medium which can transmit a modulation of some physical property such as an optical signal with a specific intensity. It has to be noted that the term "channel" has a second meaning that is a logical connection over a multiplexed medium. For example, a radio channel is not a physical medium but a signal having a specific wavelength or being within a specific wavelength range. In the specification below, the term channel may be used for both signification, however the context shall make clear to which signification it relates.
A typical implementation of a cryptographic application based on QKD consists in a cryptographic application running between two remote locations. This implementation involves at least a pair of Quantum Key Distribution devices and a pair of cryptographic application devices using the secret keys exchanged through QKD. One device of each pair is installed in one location, whereas the other device is in the other location. The QKD devices are connected by a quantum communication channel, implemented by an optical fiber and a bidirectional classical communication channel implemented by a second separated optical fiber. This classical communication channel used by the QKD system will be called service channel in the following paragraphs. The pair of cryptographic application devices is connected by a second bidirectional classical communication channel. This classical communication channel used by the cryptographic application will be called data channel in the following paragraphs. Eavesdropping detection is done on the quantum channel (as it consists in the quantum particles) and not on the service channel nor on the data channels running in parallel to the quantum channel.
Several implementation options are possible for the quantum and service channels in Quantum Key Distribution systems. The most common is the use of separated physical media to carry those communications channels. Note that the physical medium used to carry optical communication channels is made of optical fibers in general. However, other media are possible like e.g. free-space propagation. In the case of communication channels carried by separated optical fibers, the optical fiber, which is dedicated to the quantum channel, is called dark fiber. The bidirectional service channel is carried by two separated optical fibers too. Each fiber carries one direction of the communication channel. In this option, there are no interactions between the different channels because they are carried by physically separated medium.
In order to have a communication channel which works correctly, it is important that the signal to noise ratio of the received logical signal is large enough. One of the effects of optical fibers on both quantum and classical optical logical signals is the attenuation of these signals along their propagation. This means that the signal level decreases when this signal propagates in an optical fiber. On the other hand, the noise in both quantum and classical channels is mainly due to the noise of the detection system. So, the noise level is independent from the propagation distance within the optical fiber. Therefore, the signal to noise ratio of both communication channel types decreases if the propagation distance of the signal increases. This effect leads to a maximum propagation distance (or a maximum loss value) over which a channel can work. In the case of classical communication channels, the parameter, which is used to determine if the channel has a signal to noise ratio good enough, is the optical intensity of the signal reaching the receiver. If the value of this parameter is in a predetermined range specified by the manufacturer, the channel will work correctly. In the case of quantum communication channels, the parameter, which is used to determine if the channel has a signal to noise ratio good enough, is called quantum bit error rate (QBER). This parameter is somehow the inverse of the signal to noise ratio. The QBER value is measured by QKD systems. When the QBER value is above a predefined threshold value, the QKD system cannot generate any secret keys from the qubit exchange. The higher the QBER value, the larger the error rate with respect to the signal rate. An increase of the error rate can be due either to a decrease of the quantum signal, or to a modification of some QKD system parameters (for example a temperature system fluctuation that modifies the alignments of the optical system, or a change of the intrinsic noise of the single photon detectors in the QKD receiver) or to an eavesdropping attempt.
Since several years Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) techniques have been investigated to reduce the number of optical fibers that are need in order to run cryptographic applications based on QKD. WDM techniques are used for sharing the same optical fiber between several classical communication channels for few decades. These techniques are based on the affectation of a specific wavelength to each classical channel. In general each communication direction of each channel has its own wavelength. By using component called WDM combiner, it is possible to combine all the wavelengths so that all channels are carried by the same optical fiber. At the end of this fiber, a WDM splitter is used to separate the channels with different wavelengths and send them out from defined output ports. The same techniques can be extended to a combination of quantum and classical communication channels within the same optical fiber. In this case, quantum optical signals (i.e. single photons) propagate in the same fiber than classical signals (i.e. intense optical pulses composed of a large number of photons, e.g. 10′000).
WDM configurations mixing Quantum Key Distribution and classical communications have been explored since the late 90's with the seminal work of Townsend (Townsend & al., 97). An exemplary embodiment of Quantum Key Distribution system sharing the same optical fiber than classical data transmission systems using Wavelength Division Multiplexing technology is presented in FIG. 1. As one can see in this figure, it usually comprises an emitter 100 and a receiver 110 connected through an optical fiber 130. Both emitter 100 and receiver 110 embed a plurality of data transmission terminals 101, 111 as well as several QKD systems 102, 112. Each data transmission terminal 101 on emitter 100 side is connected to an associated data transmission terminal 111 on receiver 110 side through a classical communication channel. Similarly, each QKD system 102 on emitter 100 side is connected to an associated QKD system 112 through a quantum communication channel and a classical communication channel. Each of those quantum or classical channel is associated to a dedicated wavelength value (or a dedicated pair of wavelength values if the channel is bidirectional). The quantum or classical optical signals implementing a quantum or classical channel are sent from emitter 100 to a wavelength combiner 121 (or wavelength multiplexer) through an optical fiber. This fiber is indexed as 103 for a data channel, 104 for a quantum channel and 105 for a service channel. Wavelength combiner 121 combines all the optical signals with different wavelengths coming from different optical fibers in the same optical fiber 130. At this stage all the communication channels are carried by the same optical fiber 130 and are spectrally separated. Wavelength splitter 122 (or wavelength demultiplexer) located at the end of optical fiber 130 allows the physical separation of all communication channels. Each wavelength is directed to a dedicated optical fiber. This optical fiber corresponding to a specific wavelength value is connected to appropriate data transmission terminal 111 or QKD system 112. This fiber is indexed as 113 for a data channel, 114 for a quantum channel and 115 for a service channel.
One of the main issues of WDM techniques applied to quantum and classical signals is that classical channel signals may generate noise in the quantum communication channels due to the fact that the classical channel signal intensity is much higher than the single photon level of quantum signals. This increase of noise in the quantum channels leads to an increase of the QBER values that might be above the threshold value allowing the secret key generation.
There are two reasons for this increase of noise in the quantum channels due to the presence of the classical channels in the optical fiber.                1—The first one is defined as channel cross-talk. Channel cross-talk is characterized by an imperfect physical separation of the wavelengths by the wavelength splitter. The cross-talk quality is quantified by the insertion loss (or isolation of one channel compare to another one) experienced by an optical signal at wavelength L1 when it goes out from the optical fiber (113 or 114 or 115) corresponding to the wavelength L2. To avoid that cross-talk forbids the secret key exchange, large isolation values (e.g. >80 dB) must be guaranteed by wavelength splitter 122. The cross-talk is a linear optical effect. This means that all the optical intensity at the wavelength L1 at the entrance of optical fiber 130 is still at the same wavelength L1 at the entrance of wavelength splitter 112.        2—The second reason for an increase of the noise in quantum channels due to the presence of classical channel is non-linear effects in this fiber. In this case, the optical intensity at the wavelength L1 at the entrance of optical fiber 130 has another wavelength than L1 (e.g. L2) at the entrance of wavelength splitter 112. Therefore, this optical intensity will be guided towards the output fiber (113 or 114 or 115) corresponding to L2 and not to L1. There are no spectral way to distinguish between the quantum signals and the noise coming from the classical channels. The most common non-linear effect in optical fibers that affects quantum channels is called Raman Scattering.
The standard way to limit the impact of Raman scattering of classical channels on the quantum channels sharing the same optical fiber is to reduce the optical intensity of those classical channels. This is the reason why, as shown in FIG. 1, classical optical signals may be attenuated by variable optical attenuator (VOA) 150 till an optical power value allowing the proper working of the quantum channels. If the optical power of the classical communication channels is too low on receiver 110 side, the classical signals can be amplified by an optical amplifier 160 till the optical power on the receiver is in the range of optical power allowing the proper working of the classical channel. These two specific issues are tackled through the prior art with specific implementations provided in
U.S. Pat. No. 7,248,695 disclosing a set-up where a deep-notch optical filtering is applied to the classical signals prior to their being multiplexed with the quantum signals to prevent noise generated by the classical signals at the quantum signal wavelength from adversely affecting transmission of quantum signals in the transmission optical fiber.
US20080273703 describes an apparatus overcoming the issues related to forward/backward Raman scattering and Rayleigh scattering by optically and electronically gating the Single Photons Detectors in the system in a manner that significantly reduces noise from scattered photons.
Eraerds & al., 2010 shares experiments based on 1 Gbps data encryption over one single fiber and challenges relating to multiplexing quantum, service and data channels. In that case, VOA's 150 are used to control the optical power of data channels at the entrance of the WDM combiner 121 in order to limit the impact of Raman scattering on quantum signal when both classical and quantum signals propagate in optical fiber 130.
However, the main technical issues tackled above are related to a pre-defined set of quantum and classical communication channels with no dynamic evolution in the implementation. In some applications of these implementations, it is of particular interest for users to be able to add or remove data transmission terminals and/or QKD systems from the Wavelength Division Multiplexing infrastructure. For example, adding a data channel may be justified when a user wants to increase the amount of data and/or the data type (e.g.: video, audio, databases) to be exchanged between the emitter and the receiver, on the other hand it can be useful to remove a channel if a data channel is no more needed. As an example, adding a classical channel increases the intensity level of Raman scattering in optical fiber 130, which by consequence may lead to an increase of the QBER to a value above the threshold allowing secret key exchanges. Therefore, each time a channel is added, the settings on VOA's 150 and optical amplifiers 160 need to be adjusted in order to ensure the proper working of both quantum and classical channels. Nevertheless, realizing an adjustment is a challenging step as it may lead to the interruption of the data channels that are already in production and thus affect the whole network operation.
For this reason, a manual adaptation of the actual number of channels is often required in order to ensure that both the QKD systems and data transmission terminals are properly operating when a data or quantum channel is added or removed from the Wavelength Division Multiplexing telecom infrastructure. This manual adaptation is time-consuming and expensive as it requires an operator intervention. Therefore, it would be of particular interest to have a device enabling QKD and classical communications proper operation when adding or removing a channel. This is the main object of this invention.

Apparatus and method for direct quantum cryptography system implementation over WDM telecommunication network


An aquatic exercise and rehabilitation apparatus comprised of a fluid filled anti-splash treatment vessel and adjustable exercise cycle component having a unique pedal and handlebar assembly adaptable for use by individuals with unilaterally or bilaterally diminished mobility or range of motion of the upper or lower extremities, as well as by amputees and other musculoskeletal and neurologically challenged individuals. The pedal assembly is comprised of a series of concentrically interconnected discs each adapted with a plurality of incrementally spaced receptors along their radii to removably receive therein means for securing the user's lower extremities. Depending on the receptors selected and their respective distance from the disc's center, each lower extremity will be permitted to independently achieve a minimal to maximal path of travel. Moreover, the pedal assembly may be alternately driven by application of force to the pedals themselves, as applied by the user's legs, or by oscillation of the handlebars which communicate with the pedal assembly, providing benefit to users with lower body impediments to movement. A water powered piston assembly is attached to the cycle component to accomplish safe and effortless movement of the user into and out of the treatment vessel. This drive system accomplishes a smooth and dependable ride that is user controlled via local hand controls or remotely by an assistant or therapist.

The subject invention relates to an aquatic exercise and rehabilitation apparatus and, more particularly, to an apparatus comprised of a fluid filled vessel and submersible exercise cycle for use by individuals suffering from a wide range of musculoskeletal and neurological pathologies.
The use of exercise devices disposed within a body of water or other fluid for reducing stresses on the user's body has heretofore been described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,485,213 and 4,332,217. These references teach the use of a treadmill submerged in a liquid filled container for exercising animals. Additionally, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,576,376, 4,712,788 and 4,776,581 teach treadmill and/or cycle type underwater exercise apparatus for use by humans. While the above-identified patents are of interest, each fail to provide a safe and effective means of accessibility by and treatment for seriously incapacitated users such as, for example, paraplegics, amputees or other non-ambulatory individuals.
With regard to accessibility, prior art hydrotherapy devices frequently require a difficult transition from a wheel chair into a treatment tank or pool and then into the exercise apparatus itself. Such a process can be frustrating to both a weak or immobile patient as well as to the therapist assisting in the move. Submerged exercise equipment is frequently heavy and difficult to manipulate under water. Changing seat height to suit each individuals needs, for instance, requires either that the patient be capable to perform the task or that the therapist enter the water him or herself to make the adjustment. The same transition in reverse must be accomplished upon completion of the therapy session when the treated individual is more likely to be in a fatigued condition, making exiting the pool even more problematic. Safety concerns are also paramount with prior art aquatic rehabilitation equipment because of the great potential for slipping on wet floors surrounding the pool, particularly when a great deal of assistance is required for a treated individual to re-enter a wheel chair or portable stretcher where loss of balance or grip are frequently encountered.
With regard to the effectiveness of the submerged exercise or rehabilitation equipment of the prior art itself, all too often they are unable to accommodate the diverse needs of individuals with various limitations. Certainly, the employment of a treadmill apparatus is impracticable for those having seriously limited mobility of one or both lower extremities. Many individuals are incapable of maintaining a standing posture, even in water and with the support of handrails, for periods of time sufficient to achieve cardiovascular benefit. Even those prior art apparatus employing a cycle are ill-suited for leg amputees or those having diminished control over leg movement such as those afflicted with multiple sclerosis. Individuals experiencing a decreased range of motion in only one leg, as another example, will find it difficult, if not impossible, to complete an entire rotation cycle of the pedal assembly. Prior art cycle devices are also incapable of compensating for individuals with restricted knee or hip movement such as may be experienced by post-surgical patients.
Still another limitation of prior art hydro-rehabilitation equipment relates to the difficulty of removing the exercise component from the underwater environment for maintenance and repair. Working on such equipment within the confines of a drained tank can be awkward, but perhaps preferable to manually lifting the device over the walls of the enclosure with the attendant risk of damaging one component, the other, or both.
The subject invention completely obviates all of the shortcomings associated with the above mentioned patents and other prior art apparatus by providing an easily accessible, safe and effective means of treating individuals with a broad range of medical conditions. Almost anyone with musculoskeletal indications and many with neurological involvements will gain exceptional benefits from therapy in the subject apparatus which enables everyone to securely enter and exit the treatment vessel. It allows debilitated patients to rapidly gain strength and aerobic conditioning in a stress free, warm water environment, the therapeutic qualities of which are well recognized by the medical community.
The subject invention is designed to accommodate and offer therapeutic value to individuals with upper and lower extremity stress and trauma fractures (conditioning and strengthening under non-weight bearing conditions), various ligament strains and tears, stroke rehabilitation, post polio syndrome, severe chronic arthritis, lyme disease symptoms, multiple sclerosis and other debilitating conditions. Also, patients who have suffered severely debilitating illnesses such as cancer may regain strength through exercising in the buoyant, warm, resistive atmosphere created by the subject invention.

Aquatic exercise and rehabilitation device


A wire harness (5) to be bridged between a slide door (3) and a vehicle body (BO) is inserted into a harness guide (6). The harness guide (6) is coupled by a multitude of stepped links (10). Each link (10) is composed of a first coupling portion (11) and a second coupling portion (12) connected to the first coupling portion (11) via a step. Coupling pins (23) projecting in a vertical direction on the second coupling portions (12) are rotatably inserted into insertion holes (14) in the first coupling portions (11) of adjacent stepped links (10), whereby the entire harness guide (6) has a uniform inclination and the wire harness (5) inside is also arranged in a similar inclined posture. Thus, if the harness guide (6) is curved when opening or closing the slide door (3), the wire harness (5) also is curved, but simultaneously twisted, relieving stress.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a slide door wire harness routing structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a wire harness is bridged between a vehicle body side and a slide door side for power feeding to electrical components installed in a slide door of an automotive vehicle. An example of a routing structure in that case is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-179685.
A wire harness disclosed here is inserted into a harness guide. The harness guide is formed by successively rotatably connecting a multitude of link members in a length direction, and curved and displaced substantially in a horizontal plane according to opening and closing of a door.
A door-side end part of the harness guide is located before a body-side end part in a state where the slide door is closed and, conversely, located behind the body-side end part in a state where the slide door is open. Thus, a curving direction of the harness guide is switched during opening and closing movements of the slide door. In a top part of such a curve of the harness guide, a bending angle of the wire harness accommodated inside is also large. In addition, associated with a switch in the curving direction, an excessive force acts on the wire harness, which may lead to an increase in stress of the wire harness. Particularly, the use of thick wires in wire harnesses has been on the increase in recent years. Since such thick wires have a large stress, an early solution to this problem has been desired.
The present invention was completed in view of the above situation and aims to relieve stress in bending a wire harness.

Sliding door wire harness routing structure


A method for producing a metal strip in a cast-rolling installation, the cast-rolling installation includes the following: a casting machine, a first furnace, a first shear, a roughing train, a second furnace, a second shear, a finishing train, a cooling section, a reeling system, and a third shear. In order to allow a flexible reaction to different operating conditions, at least one of the following operating modes is selected in order to produce the strip: a) a continuous rolling, in which the casting machine, the roughing train, and the finishing train are operatively connected together; b) a continuous rolling in the roughing train and a single-strip rolling in the finishing train; c) a single-strip rolling in the roughing train and a single-strip rolling in the finishing train; and d) a semi-continuous rolling in the roughing train and/or a semi-continuous rolling in the finishing train.

The invention relates to a method for producing a metallic strip in a cast-rolling installation, wherein the cast-rolling installation comprises:                a casting machine for casting a slab;        a first furnace and/or a first rolling table damping section, either or both following in the conveying direction of the metallic strip of the roughing train;        a first shear which is disposed between the casting machine and the first furnace and/or the first rolling table damping section;        a roughing train having a number of roll stands;        a second furnace and/or a second rolling table damping section, either or both following in the conveying direction of the metallic strip of the roughing train;        a second shear which is disposed between the roughing train and the second furnace and/or the second rolling table damping section;        a finishing train having a number of roll stands;        a cooling section;        at least two reels or one reversing reel; and        a third shear which is disposed between the cooling section and the reeling installation.
The requirements set for the flexible operation of thin-slab cast-rolling installations (CSP installations) are ever-increasing. It is pursued here in that various operating conditions are capable of being set. For example, adapting to the rolled finished strip thickness or to the casting speed is also desirable for reasons of quality and energy consumption.
Thin-slab cast-rolling installations for rolling single strips or for continuous rolling are already well known in the prior art. Reference is made, for example to DE 195 18 144 C2, to DE 196 13 718 C1, to EP 0 870 553 B1, to WO 2007/073841 A1, to WO 2009/012963 A1, and to EP 2 569 104 B1. Further solutions, some of which also involve different operating modes, are known from US 2011/272116 A1 and WO 00/10741 A1.
However, the previously known solutions do in some instances have disadvantages in terms of the aspect of flexibility.

Method for producing a metal strip in a cast-rolling installation


An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell system and a method of operating the fuel cell system which is difficult to give an uncomfortable feeling to a driver or passenger by operation sound of the injector while satisfactorily discharging water. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack having an anode flow path, an injector for supplying hydrogen at a predetermined drive cycle toward the anode flow path by being opened, and an ECU for controlling the injector, wherein the ECU performs a valve opening time extension step in which hydrogen is supplied in a valve opening time longer than that in next and previous drive cycles.

In a fuel cell system constituting a fuel cell electric vehicle or the like, there has been known a technology of injecting hydrogen by an electronically controlled injector, to supply the injected hydrogen to an anode of a fuel cell (see Patent Document 1). Specifically, in Patent Document 1, as a power generation amount of the fuel cell is reduced, that is, as the fuel cell is brought into a low load state, a drive cycle (drive interval) of the injector is made longer while its duty ratio is kept constant, and water in an anode flow path (fuel gas flow path) is discharged to the outside of the fuel cell. The term "power generation amount" of the fuel cell is a generic term including an actual power generation amount by the fuel cell and a requested power generation amount to the fuel cell.

Fuel cell system and method of operating fuel cell system


An echo canceler (10) is controlled and operated during hangover time between a double talk condition and a single talk condition for a more natural residual echo cancellation. The adaptive gain and the residual suppression threshold necessary for controlling an adaptive filter and a residual echo suppressor, respectively, are computed such that their respective values increase gradually and smoothly from predetermined minimum values to predetermined maximum values during the hangover time.

Echo cancelers are typically voice operated devices positioned in the telephone network to improve the quality of voice and data transmissions by reducing the amount of echoes in the transmission. Echoes are generally caused by imperfect impedance matching in the 2-wire to 4-wire interfaces in the network. The echo canceler receives the transmitted signal, generates an estimate of the echo in the signal, and then subtracts the estimate from the transmitted signal. Since the amount of echo can vary during a telephone call as well as from call to call, the task of echo cancellation is a challenging problem not satisfactorily resolved by conventional echo cancelers. This task is even further complicated by the peculiarities of human hearing.
In general, the far-end speech signal is received and perceived by an echo canceler as the sum of near-end speech and echo. The echo canceler generally includes an adaptive filter to generate the echo estimate to cancel the echo in the far-end speech signal. Since this cancellation may not be complete, a non-linear processor is usually implemented to suppress the residual echo or the difference between the actual echo and the estimate of the echo. The adaptive filter is generally controlled by a parameter commonly called the adaptive gain. The non-linear processor is controlled by a parameter commonly called the residual suppression threshold. Therefore, the task of echo cancellation becomes the problem of computing the values for these parameters and providing the computed parameter values to the adaptive filter and non-linear processor at the correct time instances.
In the telephony industry, the terms "single talk", "double talk" and "soft double talk" describe the various conditions where the signal received by the echo canceler contains either all echo, no echo, and a combination of near-end speech and echo, respectively. Typically, both the adaptive gain and the residual suppression threshold parameters are both set at their respective minimum values during double talk, and at maximum values during single talk. However, during the transitional gray area between double talk and single talk conditions, the conventional method, of holding the parameter values at the minimum up to the instance the single talk condition is detected, has been proven unsatisfactory. The abrupt switch from the parameter minimum values to the maximum values demands an extremely accurate detection of the single talk condition. Inaccuracy may result in no echo canceling during an initial period of single talk, or maximum echo canceling during a latter period of hangover time where some information content may be present.
Accordingly, it is advantageous to gradually vary the adaptive filter and non-linear processor control parameters during hangover time. The result is a more desirable natural transition period between double talk and single talk.

Apparatus and method for controlling an echo canceler


In a stencil printer, a first conveyor portion conveys a stencil master toward a printing drum and includes a rotatable platen roller which rotates to convey the stencil master pinched between the platen roller and a thermal head and associates with the thermal head to thermally make a perforating image on the stencil master. A second conveyor portion which is disposed between the first conveyor portion and the printing drum and conveys the stencil master toward the printing drum. When making the perforating image on the stencil master, the first conveyor portion operates at a first speed with the second conveyor portion stopped or operated at a low speed after the leading end of the stencil master is delivered to the second conveyor portion. When conveying the leading end of the stencil master, on which the perforating image has been made, toward a master clamping mechanism disposed on a generatrix of the printing drum, the second conveyor portion operates at a second speed lower than the first speed with the first conveyor section stopped.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a stencil printer, and more particularly to a stencil printer in which a stencil master, which is made by a stencil making section including a thermal head and the like, is wrapped around a printing drum.
2. Description of the Related Art
When thermally making a perforated image on a stencil master while rotating a platen roller in a sub-scanning direction with the stencil master pinched between the platen roller and the thermal head (TPH), the stencil master on which the perforated image has been formed is stored in a storage box utilizing the difference in speed between the conveyor portion on the inlet side of the storage box (a first conveyor portion comprising a master introduction conveyor roller and the platen roller) and the conveyor portion on the outlet side of the storage box (a second conveyor portion comprising a master discharge conveyor roller), i.e., with the conveying speed of the second conveyor portion set lower than that of the first conveyor portion or with the second conveyor portion stopped.
Further when the stencil master is conveyed in order to bring the leading end of the stencil master into engagement with the drum, the portion of the stencil master stored in the storage box is drawn out from the storage box with the second conveyor portion driven at a speed higher than the first conveyor portion, i.e., with the conveying speed of the second conveyor portion set higher than that of the first conveyor portion or with the first conveyor portion stopped, within a range in which no tension is applied to the slack portion of the stencil master.
The conveying speed of the platen roller in the first conveying portion corresponds to the conveying speed of the scanner in the image read-out section which outputs image information to the TPH to cause the TPH to record the image information on the stencil master each time the scanner reads out the image on the original along one line. Since the master introduction roller and the platen roller are driven by the same drive means, the conveying speed of the first conveyor section (the master introduction roller and the platen roller) is governed by the stencil making speed of the TPH. Conventionally the conveying speed of the second conveying portion also corresponds to the stencil making speed of the TPH and substantially the same as that of the first conveying portion though the former is sometimes lower than the latter and sometimes higher than the latter.
However the conveying speed of the second conveyor portion substantially the same as that of the first conveyor portion is too high for conveying the leading end of the stencil master to the clamp mechanism on the drum. That is, the stencil master can slip on the conveyor roller in the second conveying section and the conveyor roller cannot be immediately stopped due to inertia upon stopping the drive means of the second conveyor portion, which results in the leading end of the stencil master overshooting the predetermined position and gives rise to a problem that the leading end portion of the stencil master is curved or bent.
However when the conveying speeds of both the first and second conveyor sections are slowed down, the stencil making time is excessively elongated and convenience in use of the printer deteriorates.


A multilayer wiring structure consists of a substrate with a first set of wiring lines formed thereon. A first insulating layer covers the first set of wiring lines, a second insulating layer covers the first set of wiring lines and then a second set of wiring lines are formed on the second insulating layer. Vias are formed through the second insulating layer, the second wiring lines and the first insulating layer extending down to the surface or near the surface of the first wiring lines. Metallizations fill the vias to form connections and interconnections to and between the first wiring lines, the second wiring lines and the surface of the semiconductor device. Additional wiring lines may be formed on the surface of the second insulating layer and in contact with the metallizations.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a process for forming a semiconductor device and, more particularly, to a process for forming multilayer metal systems and multilayer interconnections.
2. Description of the Related Art
Multilayer interconnections are an important feature of large scale integrated circuits. It is common in large scale integrated circuits to make connections between devices or between devices and external contacts through a series of wiring lines formed on different levels of a device. Thick layers of insulating material physically and electrically separate wiring lines on different levels of the device. Connections between wiring lines on different levels are formed through relatively narrow openings formed in the insulating layer that separates the wiring lines on different levels. Multilayer wiring structures are unavoidable in current integrated circuit designs, since it is presently the only way in which the many interconnections necessary to a semiconductor circuit can be made. On the other hand, multilayer wiring structures can be difficult to manufacture, since many careful alignment steps must be performed to successfully complete the wiring structure.
FIG. 1 illustrates a semiconductor device incorporating such a multilayer wiring structure. Wiring line 14, which may include one or more metals, alloys, suicides of metals or polysilicon, is formed on the surface of a substrate 10. The substrate 10 may be a silicon chip having a device formed therein, with the wiring line 14 formed on the surface of the silicon chip or the wiring line can be formed on an insulation layer on the surface of the silicon chip. Insulating layer 12 is deposited on the substrate 10 and over the wiring line 14, and then a via is formed through the insulating layer 12 to expose a portion of the first level wiring line 14. A second level wiring line 16 is then deposited on the insulating layer 12 so as to extend into the via, making contact with the first level wiring line within the via. Another insulating layer is deposited on the surface of the first insulating layer 12 and covering the second level wiring line 16. A via is formed in the second insulating layer 18, and a third level wiring line 19 is formed on the surface of the second insulating layer 18 so as to make contact with the second level wiring line 16 through the via. In this way, electrical connection is established between the first level wiring line 14 and the third level wiring line 19.
The process used to form the structure illustrated in FIG. 1 relies on the use of a series of critical alignment steps, including the positioning of a first level via mask in proper registration with first level wiring line 14. Subsequently, a second level conductive layer is patterned to define second level wiring line 16 so that the wiring line extends through the first level via to make contact with the first level wiring line 14. Another alignment step is required to properly position a second level via mask on the second insulating layer 18 in proper registration with the second level wiring line 16. Each of the masking steps in this process is subject both to errors in mask formation and to errors in mask alignment. Sufficient errors in mask formation can reduce the yield of the semiconductor device, and may require the production of a new mask. Errors in mask alignment can also reduce the yield of the semiconductor device, with a fraction of all wafers being rendered defective at each mask alignment step. It would therefore be desirable to reduce the number of mask alignment steps required in the formation of a semiconductor device, particularly those mask alignments that relate to the formation of non-self aligned structures such as vias. In addition, using fewer masks provides the additional benefit of shorter cycle time, since less time is occupied by the process of aligning masks.


A mobile wireless device including: first housing, a second housing, a signal line electrically connecting a circuit of the first housing and a circuit of the second housing, and a connection portion for connecting the first housing and the second housing so that they can be opened and closed, wherein ends of the housings have openings communicating with interiors of the housings and through which the signal line passed, the second housing houses an electronic circuit including a wireless unit, the electronic circuit has one end of the signal line connected to it, the first housing houses a circuit board including a reference potential layer, and the circuit board has the other and of the signal line connected to it, a conductive part is arranged from the opening of the first housing up to a position of the circuit board where the signal line is connected, and the conductive part is electrically connected to the reference potential layer of the circuit board.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile phone or other mobile wireless device.
2. Description of the Art
A mobile wireless device having two housings connected to each other so that they can be opened and closed is known. For example, Japanese Patent Publication (A) No. 2001-264934 discloses providing a built-in antenna in a hinge portion connecting two housings to prevent a drop in the gain among the antenna characteristics due to the influence of the head of a user.
The signal line electrically connecting the first housing and the second housing such as a small gauge coaxial connecting the main board and the LCD board has an effect upon the antenna characteristics. For example, when arranging the built-in antenna at the lower side of the bottom housing of the mobile wireless device, the area of the ground of the signal line is cramped, so the signal line functions as a coil in terms of high frequency. On the other hand, the signal line changes in shape along with the opening/closing of the mobile wireless device. Accordingly, the antenna characteristics become unstable due to deformation of the signal line along with the opening/closing of the mobile wireless device.

Mobile wireless device with a conductive part connected to a reference potential layer


A method is disclosed for measuring the properties of protein and lipoprotein elements in a sample. The method includes the of placing a small volume of a sample into a NMR instrument tuned to measure a particular nucleus, applying a series of radiofrequency pulses with intermittent delays in order to measure spin-spin and/or spin-lattice relaxation time constants from the time-domain decay of the signal, without the use of chemical shifts and without converting data into the frequency domain by Fourier transform or other means, at least partially suppressing the water signal prior to the beginning of a sequence used to record relaxation time constants in the time domain, optionally utilizing relaxation contrast agents or other chemical additives to perturb the solvent water or other elements of the sample, analyzing the exponentially decaying NMR signal in the time domain using multi-exponential analysis, and comparing differences in the relaxation time constants for lipoprotein- or protein-specific elements within a single human subject, or between subjects, to assess normal and abnormal metabolism reflective of increased disease risk or active disease.

The present invention relates to the analysis of blood to identify and measure properties that correlate with cardiovascular disease.
Cardiovascular disease—primarily in the form of heart attack or stroke—is the leading cause of death in the United States and other developed countries. Cardiovascular disease is likewise becoming an increasing cause of death in developing countries as the risk of death from infectious diseases decreases in such countries.
Some of the main risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease are generally well understood. They include an elevated amount of low density lipoprotein (LDL), high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, diabetes mellitus ("diabetes"), family history, and a less physically active, more sedentary lifestyle.
Serum LDL cholesterol levels are positively correlated with cardiovascular disease risk. However, approximately half of patients who suffer from symptomatic coronary artery disease have normal LDL-cholesterol concentrations. Therefore, there appears to be a hidden risk not detected by conventional clinical laboratory measurements of cholesterol.
As currently best understood, cholesterol deposited in arteries represents a main factor in cardiovascular disease. Cholesterol is effectively insoluble in water and blood and thus the body carries cholesterol using particles called lipoproteins. The body uses several lipid transporting particles present in blood and these lipoprotein particles are typically referred to as chylomicrons, very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), intermediate density lipoproteins (IDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL). Density increases when less cholesterol is present and density decreases when more cholesterol is present. Thus, the layman often refers to LDL cholesterol as "bad" cholesterol and HDL cholesterol as "good" cholesterol.
Low density lipoprotein particles tends to deposit in artery walls to form atherosclerotic plaques in the artery. In turn, the deposition of LDL to form the atherosclerotic plaques is promoted by an increased LDL concentration (or remnants that can form LDL particles) and a decreased LDL particle size.
In order to help predict and potentially moderate or avoid cardiovascular disease in individuals, conventional clinical tests are carried out to measure certain of the known risk factors. Currently, the most common test is the basic lipid panel which measures total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol ("HDL-C"), and triglycerides. The LDL cholesterol ("LDL-C") is calculated as the difference between total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol.
Currently, approximately 250,000,000 such tests are carried out in the United States every year, and on a worldwide basis 540 million tests are carried out each year. Current costs are between about $26 and $56 per test.
As an additional factor, LDL can be present in different LDL particle sizes. In turn, smaller LDL particle sizes are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Because of the size relationship, information about the size of the LDL particles is valuable in combination with information about the concentration of LDL particles.
Currently, the common tests for measuring LDL particle size include vertical autoprofile (VAP®), gradient gel electrophoresis, and NMR lipoprofiles.
VAP is also referred to as a vertical spin density gradient ultracentrifugation and an exemplary version ("The VAP Cholesterol Test"®) is provided by Atherotech, Inc. of Birmingham, Ala. (USA).
Gradient gel electrophoresis distinguishes particle size in a otherwise conventional electrophoresis (i.e. chromatography) process with an exemplary test offered by Berkeley HeartLab Inc. of (South San Francisco Calif. (USA).
In one commercial embodiment, NMR lipoprofile testing is based upon the chemical shift of the resonant frequencies. LipoScience Inc. (Raleigh, N.C. USA) is an exemplary provider of such tests, a number of which are based on U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,389 (and others) to James D. Otvos ("the Otvos patents"). The Otvos patents employ frequency-domain FT-NMR to study lipoprotein particle properties, such as particle size and particle number, in order to perform clinical diagnostic testing and disease risk assessment. In order to provide accurate data, however, chemical shift NMR is typically carried out in large (e.g., 400 megahertz or higher) high resolution Fourier-transform NMR instruments. Many such instruments incorporate a superconducting magnet cooled by a surrounding environment of liquid helium which in turn is surrounded by liquid nitrogen. As a result, the device is large and expensive and the testing is carried out in a small number of central laboratories at a cost of between about 100 and $200 per test.
Such tests also require a frequency-domain analysis, typically performed by a Fourier transform of the data. The key measurable is the chemical shift, a measure of relative frequency and atomic environment. Differences in chemical shifts are used to distinguish and resolve different lipoprotein classes and permit the detection of particle size and number.
In evaluating an individual's lipid profile, core mobility or fluidity of the lipids is a reflection of the relative ratio of different cholesteryl ester and triglyceride molecules in the particle core, which in turn, is a reflection of normal or abnormal lipid metabolism.
Lipoproteins are the body's nanoparticle delivery systems that carry water-insoluble cholesterol and triglyceride molecules through the blood and target them to particular tissues for metabolism. Lipoprotein particles can be distinguished by their density, size, chemical composition and charge. They can also be distinguished by the relative lipid content of the particle's oily core compartment. For example, the cores of LDL and HDL are relatively rich in cholesteryl ester (a highly water-insoluble form of cholesterol), whereas VLDL and chylomicrons are relatively rich in triglycerides. Triglyceride molecules are more flexible than cholesteryl esters, so oil phases rich in triglycerides will appear more fluid and mobile, less viscous. Also, the ratio of these components and thus, the core mobility, changes with metabolism and disease.
On a broad basis, the use of NMR techniques for medical purposes is not new, and the term "NMR" typically can refer to a variety of diagnostic methods. There are many types of NMR methods and instruments and thousands of distinct NMR experiments. A vivid example of this is magnetic resonance imaging ("MRI"), which was originally called NMR Imaging. MRI is a variation of NMR that yields anatomical images rather than chemical signatures. Although MRI is based on the same fundamental physics, it involves different instrumentation, methods and derived measurable from other NMR techniques. Thus, different kinds of NMR are used in somewhat related but distinct areas of medical diagnosis, imaging, and treatment.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,550,971 B2) to Carpenter and Benson describe a method of determining analyte concentrations in body fluids such as blood plasma or serum, examples given in the claims are the concentrations of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, albumin, blood urea nitrogen, alkaline phosphatase and creatinine. The method is restricted to the use of low-field, bench-top TD-NMR instruments, but the measurements and derived quantities are analyte concentration rather than lipoprotein core mobility. These contrasting measurables provide completely different types of diagnostic information.
Arguably, the Carpenter and Benson methods are thinly justified and lack any preliminary data that demonstrates the feasibility of their method for measuring analyte concentrations, and bench-top TD-NMR may not be as suitable for measuring the analyte concentrations as Carpenter and Benson imply. Serum is a complex mixture, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,550,971 lacks any explanation as to how the different analytes in serum can be resolved from one another. Instead, much of the content in U.S. Pat. No. 7,550,971 reflects the known operation of the TD-NMR instrument rather than a technique for resolving analytes from TD-NMR data.
As a result of these various factors, vertical autoprofile, gradient gel electrophoresis, and NMR lipoprofiles can be impractical for routine clinical use; i.e., they are too expensive and too cumbersome to be carried out on-site in a practitioner's office or a hospital laboratory.
As another factor, various lipid tests (e.g., for HDL-C and LDL-C) can be inaccurate in certain circumstances. For example, calculated LDL-C values from a conventional lipid panel are not accurate when determined from non-fasting blood samples or in patients who have elevated triglyceride levels, as is common in diabetes. Likewise, some advanced lipid tests like the NMR LipoProfile require fasting blood samples and thus, cannot monitor changes in lipoprotein particles during metabolism following a meal.
Furthermore, evidence is beginning to emerge that characteristics of lipid-carrying particles other than size and density will correlate with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
As yet another factor, when any particular test is difficult to carry out, or must be carried out off-site, or will take significant time to complete, or any combination of these factors, the use of that test will tend to be less frequent than the use of tests that can be carried out quickly and easily at a location—a physician's office, small clinic, or hospital—where patients are typically located and their blood samples taken.
Thus, tests that identify cardiovascular risk and that can be carried out more quickly, more easily, less expensively, and on site would tend to be used more frequently and thus provide greater benefits to individual patients and to the relevant patient population.
Therefore, a need exists for faster, similar and localized techniques that will identify and measure relevant characteristics that correlate to an expected degree of risk of cardiovascular disease.

NMR method for monitoring changes in the core of lipoprotein particles in metabolism and disease


A catalyst composition including nickel foam and a plurality of carbon-doped nickel oxide nanorods disposed on the nickel foam.

Water electrolysis represents a sustainable and environmentally friendly method to generate hydrogen fuel. Since a proton rich environment is favorable for hydrogen adsorption on a catalyst surface, an acidic electrolyte is preferable for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, acidic conditions prohibit the use of non-platinum group metals as catalysts. In addition, the corrosive acidic fog generated by the acidic electrolyte not only contaminates the hydrogen gas produced, but also causes severe chemical corrosion of electrolyzers. These factors add significant costs to hydrogen generation and pose barriers for constructing large-scale electrolyzers.
Alkaline electrolytes with a low vapor pressure and a relatively mild chemical environment could avoid these issues. In particular, non-platinum group metals such as nickel (Ni) can be used as electrocatalyst/electrode for alkaline water electrolysis. However, a major challenge for alkaline water electrolysis is the requirement of an additional water dissociation step (i.e. the cleavage of the strong H—OH bond) for generating the essential H atom intermediates for HER. The high activation barrier of water dissociation makes HER very sluggish in an alkaline medium. Thus, platinum (Pt) typically exhibits two orders of magnitude lower exchange current density in alkaline solution than in acidic solution. Accordingly, there is a need to develop alkaline HER catalysts that include both hydrogen adsorption sites as well as water adsorption and dissociation sites.

Carbon-doped nickel oxide catalyst and methods for making and using thereof

The Regents of the University of California


A method, apparatus, and system are provided for monitoring resource operations and detecting lock acquisition hierarchy violations in multithreaded programs. In one embodiment, a lock acquisition hierarchy graph is constructed to facilitate monitoring of resource operations performed by each of a plurality of threads of a multithreaded program. The resource operations performed by each thread are monitored by a monitor. Any violation in the hierarchy is detected by a detector, which is triggered with an occurrence of a change in the graph.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of this invention relate to multithreaded computing systems. More particularly, an embodiment of the present invention relates to lock acquisition hierarchy violation detection in multithreaded programs.
2. Description of Related Art
In a multithreaded program, different threads can handle different tasks and proceed in parallel to improve speed and efficiency. These different threads can share resources and some resources are shared only in a manner that is mutually exclusive. The mutually exclusive resources may include, but are not limited to, synchronization objects such as critical sections, mutex locks, and writer locks.
When different threads in a multithreaded program acquire multiple sets of mutually exclusive resources while holding some other mutually exclusive resources, a consistent order of resource acquisitions has to be followed by each of such threads to acquire the resources. The consistent order is referred to as a lock acquisition hierarchy. The term "lock" may be used synonymously and interchangeably with the term "resource" throughout this disclosure. Failing to adhere to a consistent resource acquisition order is regarded as a lock acquisition hierarchy violation. Lock acquisition hierarchy violations can potentially cause various problems, such as program deadlocks. Lock acquisition hierarchy violations are often regarded as program errors.

Detecting lock acquisition hierarchy violations in multithreaded programs


A variable conducting element (10) and method for programming a constant current or constant resistance provided at output terminals (24 and 26) of a ferroelectric transistor (12). The ferroelectric transistor (12) has portions of a ferroelectric material (32A) programmed having up-polarization states separated by domain walls (34) from portions of a ferroelectric material (32B) programmed having down-polarization states. The portion of the ferroelectric material (32A) programmed in the up-polarization state forms current conduction channels between a source region (23) and a drain region (25) of the ferroelectric transistor (12). The ferroelectric transistor (12) is programmed through a capacitor (14) to adjust the charge supplied to a control terminal (22) of the ferroelectric transistor (12).

The present invention relates, in general, to integrated circuits and, more particularly, to programmable integrated circuits.
Some precision applications such as filters, amplifiers, delay circuits, etc. use circuits requiring a constant current. For example, a differential stage of an amplifier is typically coupled to a current mirror stage that requires a constant current. Ideally, under quiescent conditions each device of the current mirror stage conducts equal currents. An offset voltage would produce unequal currents in the current mirror stage. One technique commonly used to reduce an offset voltage of a differential input stage is to change the currents conducted by the current mirror stage under quiescent conditions to be equal. Accordingly, current sources have been used to steer supply currents to, or away from, the differential transistor pair in such a way that the sum of the operating currents for the input transistor pair is largely constant.
An offset voltage of an amplifier results from device mismatches of an input differential transistor pair due to wafer process variations in fabricating the devices. An offset voltage is amplified by an amplifier when placed in a gain configuration, producing a DC voltage at an output of the amplifier that reduces performance of the differential amplifier. One consequence of voltage offset in a differential input stage is to reduce the dynamic output range for low voltage amplifiers.
Other applications such as delay circuits or filters use analog integrated circuits having resistor-capacitor (RC) components tuned to provide a desired time delay. Typically, the resistor used in the time delay RC component is implemented using a Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) operated in the triode or linear resistance region. This is accomplished by applying an analog voltage to the gate of the MOSFET. Typically, time constants of the associated circuitry do not match because they are dependent on the physical layout of the filter RC components as well as the processes used to manufacture the filter and time delay components.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a device that conducts a constant current. In addition, it is desirable that the device be programmable to account for temperature and voltage changes that affect the constant current.

Variable conducting element and method of programming


A socket connector adapted for receiving an electronic element therein includes an insulative housing defining an upper opening for receiving an electronic element therein, a plurality of terminals received in the housing, and a first and a second shell member for enclosing the housing. Each terminal has a retaining portion secured in the housing and a contact portion extending into the upper opening of the housing for electrically engaging with the electronic element. The first shell member is assembled to the housing from a lower-to-upper direction for surrounding substantial lateral side of the opening of the housing. The first shell member has at least one retaining member extending upwardly for engaging with the insulative housing. The second shell member is assembled to the housing from an upper-to-lower direction for surrounding a substantial upper side of the opening of the housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical connectors, and more particularly to a socket connector adapted for receiving an electronic element therein and mountable to a Printed Circuit Board (PCB).
2. Description of the Prior Art
Socket connectors typically used for connecting an electronic element to a printed circuit board. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0218873 (Eromaki connector) discloses a conventional socket connector for fastening a component in an electronic device. The fastening structure includes a frame encasing the component and having one side substantially open to fit the component therein. As clearly shown in FIG. 3 and described in Paragraph [0030] of the Eromaki prior art, the disclosed frame has a bottom and a plurality of flexible strips close to each other. Each strip has the form of a clasp-like tongue. Some of the strips form hole like openings (Paragraph [0038]) for engaging with bulges on the component for retaining the component therein.
However, the fastening structure on the strip of the Eromaki connector is not firm because the flexible strip is easy to deflect, and thus the component is likely to drop out of the connector due to outer shock, or the like. Moreover, the Eromaki connector can not achieve desired Electro-Magnet Interference suppression because there are a plurality of slots between adjacent strips.
Hence, an improved socket connector is desired to overcome the above problems.

Socket connector with reliable shielding member


To provide a process for efficiently producing a perfluoropolymer having unstable terminal groups reduced. A process for producing a fluorination-treated perfluoropolymer, which comprises melting a thermoplastic perfluoropolymer to form strands and contacting the polymer strands with a fluorine gas. For fluorination-treatment of the perfluoropolymer, an apparatus 10 is used, which comprises a melt extruder 11 for melting and extruding the perfluoropolymer, a die 12 for forming the melt extruded polymer into continuous strands 1 and a fluorination tank 13 for contacting the continuous strands 1 with a fluorine gas.

A perfluoropolymer is used for coating of semiconductor production equipments or chemical plants, coating of electric cables or optical fibers, automobile components, and so on.
A perfluoropolymer immediately after obtained by polymerizing a perfluoromonomer, such as a perfluoro carbon, has unstable groups, such as —COOH groups, —CF═CF2 groups, —COF groups, —CF2H groups or —CH2OH groups, in some of its molecular chain terminals (hereinafter referred to as unstable terminal groups). It has been known that a polymer having many such terminal groups is thermally unstable, and may cause foaming or generation of hydrofluoric acid at the time of shape forming, which results in failure in forming or corrosion of a die of a forming equipment.
Then, engineering techniques for stabilizing such unstable terminal groups have been studied and some proposals have been made. For example, pellets of PFA (a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene with a perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether)), terminals of which are stabilized by fluorine gas treatment, have been known (Patent Document 1). Regarding such pellets, if they are intended to be made into a composition with another material, the pellets keep their shape before melting, and thus mixing with another material tends to be insufficient.
And, it has been known that a perfluoropolymer having an aliphatic ring structure in its main chain is terminal-stabilized by fluorine gas treatment (Patent Document 2). That is a process wherein, at a high temperature of at least the glass-transition point, a polymer having a fluorinated aliphatic ring structure and unstable terminal groups derived from a polymerization initiator and/or a chain transfer agent, is directly contacted with fluorine gas to convert the unstable terminal groups into stable terminal groups. However, by this process, there is a problem that particles of the polymer will melt, and the resulting polymer becomes a solid plate, which is difficult to handle.
Also, it has been known that a sheet-shaped perfluoropolymer is terminal-stabilized by fluorine gas treatment (Patent Document 3).
In processes of treating these solid perfluoropolymers with fluorine gas, there are also problems as follows:
(i) It takes a few hours to raise or lower the temperature of a pressure-resistant reactor;
(ii) When a polymer sheet is to be melted and fluorinated, if the melted polymer sheet is thick, it takes a few hours to fluorinate the polymer sheet to the core;
(iii) When pellets are used, it also takes time to diffuse fluorine gas;
(iv) When the thickness of the polymer sheet is made to be thin to shorten the time for fluorination treatment, the amount of the perfluoropolymer which can be produced by one treatment will be less;
(v) Before a perfluoropolymer is withdrawn from a pressure-resistant reactor, fluorine gas is necessarily removed from the reactor, but it takes a long time to remove the fluorine gas from the pressure-resistant reactor and replace it with nitrogen gas; and
(vi) It is a batch type process and fluorination treatment is not continuous.
Additionally, it has been known that, with regard to a soluble perfluoropolymer having an aliphatic ring structure in its main chain, a polymer dissolved in an inert solvent is fluorinated with fluorine gas (Patent Documents 4 and 5). However, with respect to this method, there are problems such that it cannot be applied to a perfluoropolymer which is not soluble to an inert solvent, the process is cumbersome and requires a high cost for treatment, wherein the polymer is necessarily dissolved in a solvent and the solvent is necessarily removed after the fluorination, and continuous processing is difficult and thus it is difficult to increase the productivity.    Patent Document 1: JP-A-62-104822    Patent Document 2: JP-A-4-189802    Patent Document 3: WO2004/102714 (Example 1 on page 9)    Patent Document 4: JP-A-11-152310    Patent Document 5: JP-A-2002-348315

Process for producing fluorination-treated perfluoropolymer


A method of radiostabilizing an oxime ligation or imine formation reaction using aniline is described.

The use of aniline in oxime ligations or imine formation has been shown to be effective in increasing the overall reaction rate and to allow such reactions to occur at less acidic pH values (A. Dirksen, et al., "Nucleophilic Catalysis of Oxime Ligation Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2006, 45, 7581-7584 A. Dirksen, T. Hackeng and P. Dawson). However, such reactions have been limited to non-radiolabeled compounds.
As described in more detail below, it has now been surprisingly found that aniline can be used to radiostabilize the oxime ligation or imine formation reaction of radiolabeled reactants with the unexpected results of both improved reaction kinetics and significant radiostabilization.

Use of aniline in the radiostabilization of oxime ligation


An ESD protection circuit (38) for a MOS device uses at least one electrically floating-base N+P-N+ transistor (43) connected between a metal bonding pad (40) and ground. The electrically floating base region (44) of each transistor is formed by a thin oxide region deposited over a substrate (50) of the MOS device. Because its N+ regions (42, 45) are made symmetrical about the floating base, each transistor conducts ESD pulses of both polarities equally. The beta of each transistor is made sufficiently large to withstand short-duration ESD current spikes. Current density is minimized by diffusing a deep N- well (54, 56) into each N+ region of each transistor to provide a larger effective conducting area. Low capacitance and higher breakdown voltage are achieved by eliminating the gate structure of prior art FET-based protection circuits.

There have been previously known apparatus and methods for fabricating circuits at the interconnection bonding pads of metal-oxide semiconductor ("MOS") devices to prevent damage to internal circuitry caused by ESD pulses.
One such circuit is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,781 of Roundtree et al. FIGS. 1 and 2 hereof show and assist in the explanation of the operation of the Roundtree et al. prior art ESD protection circuit for a MOS device. With reference to FIG. 1, a metal bonding pad 10 is electrically connected by a metal conductor 11 to a drain 12 of a field-effect transistor ("FET") 13. FET 13 has a gate 14 electrically connected to drain 12 and a source 15 electrically connected to a substrate 16. When the voltage present at pad 10 is a positive threshold voltage exceeding about +20 to +25 volts with respect to substrate 16, FET 13 enters secondary breakdown and conducts heavily to substrate 16. When the voltage present at pad 10 is negative with respect to the voltage of substrate 16, substrate 16 and drain 12 act as a forward-biased diode and conduct current from substrate 16 into pad 10. Drain 12 of FET 13 is also connected to one end of a resistor 17, formed by a resistive interconnect path. The other end of resistor 17 is connected to a drain 18 of a MOS transistor 19 that functions as a diode. A source 20 and a gate 21 of MOS transistor 19 are connected to substrate 16 at respective metal-to-silicon contacts 22 and 23. Together, resistor 17 and transistor 19 act as an isolation stage between pad 10 and the internal circuitry of the MOS device. Drain 18 is connected to the internal circuitry of the MOS device (for example an address buffer) at a metal-to-silicon contact 24.
FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the structure of FET 13 and shows a thick field oxide 26 beneath gate 14. Field oxide 26 is subject to voltage breakdown of about 50 volts and adds capacitance at metal bonding pad 10. When FET 13 heavily conducts electrical current in response to an ESD pulse, most of the current flows in a channel 28 and thereby causes excessive heating in the region between channel 28 and source 15. Excessive current flow in drain 12 can cause "contact spiking" damage between a contact 30 and a substrate 32. The highest voltage levels such protection circuits withstand is about 7 to 8 kilovolts. However, such prior art ESD protection circuits have different conduction mechanisms for protecting against positive and negative ESD pulses resulting in better protection against negative ESD pulses than positive ESD pulses. Therefore, an ESD protection circuit rated at "8 kilovolts" may actually protect against positive ESD pulses of only 1 kilovolt or less.
Most MOS devices with this degree of voltage protection are not usually damaged by routine handling, but the trend toward smaller device geometries has made some MOS devices more susceptible to damage caused by ESD voltage and current. Smaller device geometries also result in lower device capacitances to allow higher device switching speeds. Prior art ESD protection circuits have a relatively high capacitance that limits the speed capability of small geometry MOS devices.
In response to such trends, ESD protection standards have evolved that dictate an increased degree of ESD protection. ESD protection tests are currently based on two electrical models known as the "human model" and the "machine model."
The human model is described in MIL Standard 883-C as a 100 picofarad capacitor in series with a 1.5 kiloohm resistor incorporated in an ESD probe. The probe is charged to 1 kilovolt and discharged into each interconnection pad of the MOS device. During discharge, the ESD voltage at the MOS device rises to 1 kilovolt after 10 nanoseconds of discharge and falls to zero volts after 150 nanoseconds of discharge. The 1.5 kilo-ohm resistor limits peak discharge current to 0.67 amperes. To pass the human model ESD test, a MOS device must survive ESD voltage pulses of both positive and negative polarities. Positive ESD pulses cause damage in prior art protection circuits because of contact spiking and gate breakdown.
The machine model (also known as the Japan model) is a 200 picofarad capacitor incorporated in an ESD probe. The probe is charged to 200 volts and discharged into each interconnection pad of the MOS device. During discharge, the ESD voltage at the MOS device rises rapidly to 200 volts and falls to zero volts as a damped oscillation. Peak discharge current can be very high because there is no current-limiting resistor. To pass the machine model ESD test, a MOS device must survive high ESD current pulses of both positive and negative polarities. Such current pulses often cause thermal destruction of features within prior art ESD protection circuits.
Both ESD models present problems for prior art ESD protection circuits. What is needed, therefore, is a low-capacitance ESD protection circuit that is able to protect MOS devices from ESD voltage pulses of both voltage polarities and from the high discharge currents generated by the machine model probe.

Electrostatic discharge protection circuit for semiconductor device


A developing roller is provided having an elastic layer and a surface layer superposed thereon. The surface layer is formed of a resin material containing nitrogen atoms, and contains at least two types of particles, organic-compound particles (M) and organic-compound particles (N). The particles (N) are composed of nitrogen-containing heterocyclic-compound particles. The number-average particle diameter of the particles (N) in the surface layer is smaller than the number-average particle diameter of the particles (M) in the surface layer. Where the universal hardness of the elastic layer is represented by A and the universal hardness of the developing roller is represented by B, they satisfies 0.9≦B/A≦1.8.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a developing roller and a developing assembly which are used in, e.g., electrophotographic apparatus such as copying machines and laser beam printers.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally, in electrophotographic apparatus or electrostatic recording apparatus, such as copying machines and laser beam printers, a pressure developing method is known as a developing method, in which a non-magnetic one-component developer is fed to, e.g., a photosensitive drum which is holding a latent image thereon and the developer is made to adhere to the latent image (electrostatically charged image) to render the latent image visible. According to this method, any magnetic material is not required, and hence the image forming apparatus can be easily simplified and miniaturized or toners can be easily made into color toners.
In this developing method, a developing roller holding a toner (non-magnetic one-component developer) thereon is brought into contact with a latent image bearing member holding an electrostatic latent image thereon, such as a photosensitive drum, to attach the toner to the latent image to perform development. Hence, the developing roller must be formed of a conductive elastic member.
This method in which the developing roller is brought into contact with the photosensitive drum to develop the latent image with the toner is necessarily required to ensure the uniformity of a toner layer on the developing roller and the charging uniformity of the toner. However, in recent years, with the increase of printing speed and the improvement of image quality, the precision required of the developing roller has become increasingly severer. As one thing therefor, depending on the precision of engagement of gears which drive the developing roller, the toner coat layer may be disordered with gear pitches, and the charging uniformity of the toner also is disordered in a short period, so that horizontal lines due to such gear pitches (hereinafter "gear pitch horizontal lines") appear on images, which has come into question. As related background art, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-042631 discloses a developing roller having an elastic layer. However, in rollers constituted commonly, if an elastic layer is merely covered thereon with a surface layer formed of a resin, the developing roller may have a much higher hardness than the hardness of the elastic layer itself, so that it may be difficult to solve the problem of the gear pitch horizontal lines.

Developing roller, electrophotographic process cartridge, and electrophotographic image forming apparatus


A printed wiring board includes an interlayer resin insulation layer, a pad structure formed on the interlayer resin insulation layer and positioned to mount a semiconductor device, and a solder-resist layer formed on the interlayer resin insulation layer and having an opening portion exposing a portion of the pad structure from the solder-resist layer. The opening portion of the solder-resist layer has a bottom surface such that the bottom surface of the opening portion is exposing an upper surface and a portion of a side surface of the pad structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printed wiring board where a semiconductor element is mounted on its upper surface while another printed wiring board is mounted thereon.
2. Description of Background Art
In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2012-9586, a solder-resist layer is filled between pads for peripheral mounting, and solder is used as a spacer to maintain clearance between an IC chip and a printed wiring board. Also, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2012-9586, the thickness of a solder-resist layer is reduced by using a sandblasting method. The entire contents of this publication are incorporated herein by reference.

Method for manufacturing printed wiring board and printed wiring board


A motor vehicle seat comprises a seat component and a backrest. The backrest has a shell structure which is provided on an occupant side with an upholstered element. The shell structure has at least one depression for accommodating the upholstered element. The upholstered element is thickened at the location of the at least one depression. The shell structure may have a central part and side wings arranged in an elastically resilient manner on the central part.

The invention relates to a vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat, with a seat component and a backrest, the backrest having a shell structure which is provided on the occupant side with an upholstered element.
Such vehicle seats are known from the international patent application PCT/EP06/001191. This patent application is, therefore, used as a reference and thus applies as part of the disclosure. The motor vehicle seats disclosed therein are characterized by a small overall depth. Structures for vehicle seats are, for example, known from DE 43 03 006 as well as DE 697 24 103 T2.


A shift register and an organic light emitting display using the same with a simplified design of a shift register having high reliance, and reduced dead space includes a plurality of stages dependently connected to a start pulse input line, each of the stages including: a voltage level controller to control voltage levels of first and second output nodes according to a start pulse or an output signal of a previous stage and a second clock signal; a control capacitor coupled between the first output node and an input line of a first clock signal; a first transistor coupled between a first power supply and a third output node and including a gate electrode coupled to the first output node; and a second transistor coupled between the third output node and an input line of the third clock signal and including a gate electrode coupled to the second output node.

1. Field of the Invention
Aspects of the present invention relate to a shift register and an organic light emitting display using the same. More particularly, aspects of the present invention relate to a shift register and an organic light emitting display using the same, which has a simplified design and a reduced dead space.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a flat panel display device, such an organic light emitting display, includes a pixel array in a matrix pattern arranged at intersections of data lines and scan lines. The scan lines constitute horizontal lines (row lines) of a matrix pixel portion, and are selected by a shift register to receive a predetermined scan signal.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a related art shift register. With reference to FIG. 1, the related art shift register includes a plurality of stages (ST1 to STn), which are dependently connected to an input line of a start pulse SP.
The plurality of stages (ST1 to STn) sequentially shift a start pulse SP or an output signal of a previous stage to generate respective output signals (SS1 to SSn) corresponding to clock signals supplied from input lines of the clock signals (not shown). The respective output signals (SS1 to SSn) generated by the respective stages (ST1 to STn) are provided to a pixel array.
There is a need for a design of a shift register having high reliance, simplicity of design of the shift register, and a reduction of the dead space by way of a reduced number of wires, such as power supply lines.

Shift register and organic light emitting display using the same


Disclosed herein are methods of forwarding data over an IP network. The methods may include receiving a packet from a source host connected to the IP network, identifying the IP address of a destination host designated in the packet, determining the location on the IP network where the destination host designated by the packet is connected, without reference to the MAC address specified in the packet, by using location-identification information stored on the IP network, and forwarding the packet to the location on the IP network where the destination host is connected without reference to the MAC address specified in the packet. Also disclosed herein are related network devices implementing such techniques and operations, as well as IP networks which include such network devices.

Modern data networks typically handle a tremendous and ever-increasing quantity of data transmission, and thus it is beneficial to implement techniques and specialized hardware which may reduce the amount of extraneous and/or unnecessary traffic flow in modern network architectures. However, despite the need for efficiency, current network architectures oftentimes employ various procedures which are far from optimal.
One such operation frequently used in traditional Layer 3 networks is the so-called "address resolution protocol" or ARP. 'ARP-ing' is typically employed in both the bridging and routing context to facilitate communication between hosts as follows:
Generally, the process of initiating communication between source and destination hosts begins with the source host determining the IP address of the intended destination host through, for example, a 'domain name service' (DNS) hosted on a network-accessible server. Once the correct IP address is identified, a source host operating in a traditional Layer 3 network will decide whether a 'bridging' or 'routing' procedure will be used for forwarding packets to the destination host by assessing whether or not the destination host is located on the source host's own subnet (for example, by comparing the result of applying a subnet mask (255.255.255.0), to its own and the destination host's IP addresses).
If source and destination hosts are located on the same subnet and packets are to be 'bridged,' between hosts, the source host will employ ARP to determine the MAC address of the destination host which is needed to label the IP packets for forwarding. To determine the MAC address via ARP, the source host sends an ARP packet out onto its local subnet. The ARP packet is a Layer 2 broadcast packet. The relevant fields of a broadcast ARP packet are schematically illustrated in FIG. 1. All hosts on the local subnet receive the broadcast ARP packet and compare their own IP addresses with that of the target IP address listed in the broadcast ARP packet. The host on the local subnet having the IP address in question signals that it is the correct destination host through an ARP response packet it prepares by modifying the target MAC address field of the ARP packet with it's own MAC address. The relevant fields of an ARP response packet are schematically illustrated in FIG. 2. The ARP response packet is then forwarded back to the source host. The source host now has the destination MAC address it needs to properly label IP packets for forwarding to the intended destination host.
Again, this packet-forwarding procedure is known in the art as 'bridging' and works for packet-forwarding between source and destination hosts located on the same subnet. Note that in bridging, the source host was able to identify the Layer 2 MAC address of the destination host without employing the use of a router-type network device. Further note that once the source host learns the correct MAC address of the destination host, packets transmitted by the source arrive at the destination without intervening modification.
As stated above, if the source host determines that it is not connected on the same subnet as the destination host, a packet forwarding procedure known in the art as 'routing' is employed to forward packets instead of the 'bridging' procedure just described. Unlike bridging, routing does involve the use of a router (as its name implies), and furthermore, unlike bridging, does result in the modification of the original packet.
In a conventional routing procedure, since the source host has determined that the intended destination host is not connected on its local subnet, the source host forwards packets by setting their Layer 3 destination address field to the intended destination host's IP address, but setting their Layer 2 destination address field to that of the router's MAC address. If the source host doesn't know the router's MAC address, it first 'ARPs' for it by sending out a broadcast ARP request packet with Layer 3 destination address field set to the router's IP address. The router then responds with an ARP reply packet carrying the router's MAC address in essentially the same manner described above with respect to local hosts. As indicated, once the router's MAC address is known to the source host, the source host may begin forwarding packets to the destination host by labeling them with the destination host's IP address and the router's MAC address.
When the router receives packets labeled with the router's Layer 2 MAC address, but another host's Layer 3 IP address, the router consults its routing table to forward the packets. If the routing table indicates that the destination IP address is on another directly attached subnet, the router will consult an ARP table to check whether it has the MAC address of the host corresponding to the destination IP address. If it finds the MAC address, the router rewrites the packet's Layer 2 destination address field with this MAC address and forwards the packet to the destination host. If the router does not find the destination host's MAC address in its ARP table, the router ARPs for the destination host's MAC address before rewriting the packet's Layer 2 destination address field and forwarding the packet.
However, when the router receives a packet with its Layer 2 destination field set to its own MAC address, but with its Layer 3 destination field set to an IP address which, according to its routing table, is not in a directly attached subnet, the router determines if the destination host is accessible through another router. If so, the first router forwards the packet to the second router, rewriting the packet's Layer 2 destination address with this second router's MAC address. (If the first router doesn't know the second router's MAC address, it ARPs for it, in the same manner as the original source host used ARP to determine the first router's MAC address.) This process may repeat—and the packet may thus hop from router to router—until it arrives at a router having the intended destination host connected on one of its directly attached subnets (as indicated in that router's routing table).
Thus, a distinction between bridging and routing is typically maintained in the operation of a traditional network. When a packet is bridged by a network device, it is forwarded by the device on the network without modification of the original packet. This functionality is typically embodied in a device generally referred to in the art as a "switch." A "router" type network device, as distinct from a "switch," modifies packets prior to forwarding them, as illustrated by the routing technique just described. Thus, when a packet's destination host is on the same subnet as its source host, the packet is typically forwarded without modification via bridging, and when a packet's destination is on a different subnet than its source the packet is typically modified and forwarded via routing. In practice, it is oftentimes the case that network devices operate as both switches and routers, and thus the distinction between 'bridging' and 'routing' results in more complicated network devices which must typically have logic devoted to performing both functions, as well as logic devoted to performing a determination, in the first place, of whether to bridge or to route each incoming packet.

IP-based forwarding of bridged and routed IP packets and unicast ARP


A waterproof game ball comprises elastically stretchable panels connected and sealed together along marginal edge portions thereof to define a shell, and a flexible, inflatable bag disposed within the shell for receiving air to inflate the bag. Each of the elastically stretchable panels has a main body formed from a single piece of flexible, non-porous, water-impervious material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a waterproof game ball and, more particularly, to a flexible waterproof game ball constructed of water-impervious material for use in wet environments and for enhancing safety during training or informal play.
2. Background of the Invention
Conventional regulation game balls (e.g., football, baseball, basketball) are inappropriate for use in wet environments, such as in a pool, at the beach or in the rain. Upon contact with water, conventional regulation game balls tend to become stiff and heavy, which adversely affects the flexibility and usability of the ball. Additionally, conventional regulation game balls are unable to effectively protect the interior thereof against moisture.
Moreover, during training of players at all levels in the sports of football, baseball and basketball, for example, fundamentals are oftentimes not properly learned due to the fear associated with the hard regulation game ball. Actual injuries and the fear thereof have a profound impact on the ability of younger players to relax and learn the game. In numerous instances, the potential risk of being hit by thrown regulation balls leads many beginners to shun the sport.
Apart from the training potential afforded by a game ball that is softer than regulation game balls, some circumstances call for a recreational game ball that is safer than a regulation football, baseball or basketball. At the commonplace family or office picnic, for example, pickup football, baseball or basketball games occur in which the skill levels vary widely among the participants. Such games are usually played near crowds and in confined areas. Usually no protective equipment is available for the players. Play with a regulation football, baseball and basketball in such situations is imprudent because of the risk of injury, and it is not infrequent that players will be injured during play due to being hit by the game ball.
Poor weather often forces the play of ball sports indoors, for example, into a gymnasium. The risk of property damage in confined indoor areas from regulation footballs and baseballs, for example, has largely relegated the use of gyms to ball sports such as basketball, volleyball, badminton and similar sports. Window breakage, abrasion and scuffing of floors and destruction of wallboard, light fixtures, and other property is almost certain to occur if a regulation football or baseball is used indoors. Insurance premiums for gymnasiums in which football and baseball practices are regularly held are higher as a result of the risk of physical property damage. Additionally, the risk of player injury increases dramatically as a result of the closer proximity of the players to each other and the hardness of the surfaces from which a ball in play can rebound.
Prior attempts have been made to provide a safe, high performance, durable recreational game ball. One extremely soft, cellular plastic foam recreational game ball has been provided for simulated play and the training of the young. Such conventional recreational game balls, however, being formed of open cell foams, are extremely light in weight and have unrealistic dynamic characteristics. In addition, they are rather flimsy, absorbent of moisture, and are not intended to be used by advanced football or baseball players for serious practice or training.
Other attempts to provide safe, high performance, durable recreational game balls has resulted in game balls which are readily distortable, easily affected by water and rather easily destructible. Moreover, while other conventional game balls tend to replicate regulation game balls in weight and performance, they offer no increased safety to players. On the other hand, conventional game balls which are characterized as being soft and safe do not accurately replicate either the appearance, texture, or surface features of regulation game balls.
The present invention overcomes many of the disadvantages inherent in conventional game balls used in wet environments and/or during training or informal play.