Embodiments of the invention relate generally to ex vivo methods of quantifying expression of interferon responsive genes and characterizing an individual's potential responsiveness to interferon administration. Certain embodiments relate to methods to monitor the efficacy of ongoing interferon therapy by evaluating expression of interferon responsive genes before and after interferon administration.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to methods for the characterization of the responsiveness of an individual to certain therapeutic agents. More specifically, embodiments disclosed herein relate to the prediction of the whether an individual will respond or fail to respond to interferon (IFN) therapy in certain disease contexts, including cancer and/or hepatitis therapy. Certain embodiments relate to methods of monitoring the effectiveness of ongoing IFN therapy in an individual.
2. Description of the Related Art
Interferons are anti-viral drugs used in laboratory research settings, as well as clinically, to combat viral infections and/or in therapies for indications such as cancer. It is clinically approved for treatment of hepatitis B and C as well as a variety of cancers, including certain leukemias, myelomas, and melanomas.
Hepatitis is a viral liver disease characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells in the liver. While there are many causes of the disease (including exposure to infectious blood or body fluids, unprotected sexual contact, blood transfusions, use of contaminated needles, and vertical transmission from mother to child during childbirth), diagnosis is challenging because viral antigens may not appear until well after initiation of the infection. Hepatitis also exists in many forms, most prominently Hepatitis B (caused by the hepatitis B virus, "HBV") and Hepatitis C (caused by the hepatitis C virus "HCV"). Both of these forms of Hepatitis may either be acute (less than six months to resolution) or chronic (infection greater than six months).
Both HBV and HCV exist in various genetic subtypes, which affect the severity of the disease symptoms, the likelihood of complications, and the possible responsiveness of the host to various available treatments, of which interferon therapy one.
IFN has anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic, and anti-angiogenic effects on cultured cancer cells, but the particular molecular targets and mechanisms triggered by exogenous IFN remain under investigation. Moreover, the variety of etiologies that underlie cancers may limit the efficacy of a single therapeutic agent or regime against more than a few related types of cancer.
Despite its current clinical use, there remains a need for assessing the likelihood that a given individual will respond positively to IFN administration. There is also a need for monitoring the ongoing efficacy of IFN administration in an individual receiving the IFN on an ongoing basis.

Methods of characterizing host responsiveness to interferon by ex vivo induction of interferon-responsive markers


Provided is a database management system coupled to a storage system comprising a first storage device for storing a database file and a control file, a second storage device for storing a journal corresponding to an update history of the data stored in the first storage device, and a third storage device for storing a log file; generating the journal upon receiving an update instruction; and recording the generated journal to the second storage device in correspondence with a check point. The database management system records the log to the third storage device in correspondence with identification information of the generated check point, restores data stored in the storage system by employing a journal stored in the second storage device before check point, and applies the log stored in the third storage device after the check point to restore a database file.

This invention relates to a database management system and a storage system. More specifically, this invention relates to a technique of reconstructing data by employing a journaling technique of a storage system.
In connection with popularization of utilization of databases in corporate activities, data reconstructing techniques constructed of back-up techniques and recovery techniques have been widely utilized in order to avoid data stored in the databases from being lost. A back-up operation of a database implies such a technical idea that data stored in the database are duplicated in a storage device such as a storage tape device in a periodic manner. A recovery operation of a database implies such a technical idea that back-up data recorded on a storage tape, or the like are first restored in the database. Thereafter, a record (will be referred to as "log" hereinafter) of changed data of from a time instant when the data were backed up in the restored database up to now, or until a certain past time instant is applied so as to reconstruct the database under such a status that consistency of a transaction is secured. A log is generated by a database management system, and indicates a history of changing operations with respect to the database.
In recent years, in order to shorten time required for restoring databases, a specific attention has been paid to database reconstructing methods using journaling techniques. This journaling technique is also called as a continuous data protection (CDP) technique, and is disclosed in, for example, JP 2004-252686 A. In the technical idea disclosed in JP 2004-252686 A, in the storage system, while both the database and the log are stored in the same storage device, every time the update instruction for the data is received, the update history (will be referred to as "journal" hereinafter) is recorded in another storage device (will be referred to as "journal storage device" hereinafter).
Also, the database management system executes a check point process operation in order that data stored in a buffer of the database management system is made coincident with data stored in a storage system. When the database management system finishes the check point process operation, the storage system receives a check point command from the database management system, and generates a journal in correspondence with identification information of the check point, and then records the generated journal in the journal storage device.
When the storage system receives a restore instruction containing the identification information of the check point from the database management system, the storage system restores the database and the log at high speed by employing a journal recorded in the journal storage device before the journal corresponding to the identification information of the check point contained in the restore instruction. Then, when the restoring operations of both the database and the log are finished, the database management system applies the log to the database to secure the transaction consistency, and then finishes the recovery operation of the database.

Database management system to reduce capacity of storage volume


A method of detecting and displaying the obstacles and data related to obstacles on a digital display starts with a detection processing unit receiving a digital video input signal from a first camera and depth data from a second camera. Digital input video input signal may include images of an area surrounding the vehicle. Digital video input signal may be analyzed to determine whether an obstacle is present in the area. When an obstacle is detected, the depth data may be analyzed to obtain a distance associated with the obstacle. Digital video output may be generated that includes the digital video input signal and a display of the distance associated with the obstacle. The display of the distance may be overlaid on the display of the obstacle. Digital video output may then be transmitted to the display device to be displayed to the user. Other embodiments are also described.

Currently, there is a need to provide enhanced visual displays to drivers of commercial fleet vehicles. The areas around the vehicles that cannot be viewed from the driver's location ("blind spots") are estimated to be the cause of 60%-70% of accidents in both public and private commercial fleets.
The drivers often have a limited field of vision due to the size or the shape of the vehicles. For example, the rear view of vehicles such as garbage trucks is extremely limited. The driver cannot ensure that the sanitation employees working behind the truck are at a safe location and further, the driver cannot see, let alone, anticipate sudden obstacles that appear behind the truck.

System, apparatus, and method of detecting and displaying obstacles and data associated with the obstacles


Described herein are genes whose expression are up-regulated or down-regulated in prostate cancer. Also described are such genes whose expression is further up-regulated or down-regulated in drug-resistant prostate cancer cells. Related methods and compositions that can be used for diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer are disclosed. Also described herein are methods that can be used to identify modulators of prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of male cancer death in North America and northern Europe. Early detection of prostate cancer using a serum test for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has dramatically improved the treatment of the disease (Oesterling (1992) J. Am. Med. Assoc. 267:2236-2238). Treatment of prostate cancer consists largely of surgical prostatectomy, radiation therapy, androgen ablation therapy and chemotherapy. Although many prostate cancer patients are effectively treated, the current therapies can all induce serious side effects which diminish quality of life. Patients who present with metastatic disease are most often treated with androgen-ablation therapy. Hormone blockade results in significant regression of the tumor. However, this treatment rarely cures the patient and invariably results in progression to androgen-independent disease, which is incurable. Afrin and Stuart (1994) J.S.C. Med. Assoc. 90:231-236.
The identification of novel therapeutic targets and diagnostic markers is essential for improving the current treatment of prostate cancer patients. Recent advances in molecular medicine have increased the interest in tumor-specific cell surface antigens that could serve as targets for various immunotherapeutic or small molecule strategies. Antigens suitable for immunotherapeutic strategies should be highly expressed in cancer tissues and ideally not expressed in normal adult tissues. Expression in tissues that are dispensable for life, however, may be tolerated. Examples of such antigens include Her2/neu and the B-cell antigen CD20. Humanized monoclonal antibodies directed to Her2/neu (Herceptin) are currently in use for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Ross and Fletcher (1998) Stem Cells 16:413-428. Similarly, anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (Rituxin) are used to effectively treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Maloney, et al. (1997) Blood 90:2188-2195; Leget and Czuczman (1998) Curr. Opin. Oncol. 10:548-551.
Several potential immunotherapeutic targets have been identified for prostate cancer. They include prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)(Israeli, et al. (1993) Cancer Res. 53:227-230), prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA; Reiter, et al. (1998) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95:1735-1740), and serpentine transmembrane epithelial antigen of the prostate (STEAP; Hubert, et al. (1999) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 96:14529-14534). PSMA is a type II transmembrane hydrolase with significant homology to a rat neuropeptidase (Carter, et al. (1996) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:749-753). Antibodies directed towards PSMA are currently being used to detect metastasized prostate cancer as the Prostascint Scan (Sodee, et al. (1996) Clin. Nucl. Med. 21:759-767) and are also being evaluated for treatment of advanced disease (Gregorakis, et al. (1998) Semin. Urol. Oncol. 16:2-12; Liu, et al. (1998) Cancer Res. 58:4055-4060; Murphy, et al. (1998) J. Urol. 160:2396-2401). In a study on bone metastasis of prostate cancer, only 8 out of 18 patient samples expressed PSMA (Silver, et al. (1997) Clin. Cancer Res. 3:81-85). Therefore, it is clear that other targets need to be identified to manage metastasized disease. PSCA is a member of the Thy-1/Ly-6 family of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked plasma membrane proteins (Reiter, et al. (1998) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95:1735-1740). Immunohistochemical data shows that PSCA is up-regulated in the majority of prostate cancer epithelia and is also detected in bone metastasis (Gu, et al. (2000) Oncogene 19:1288-1296). Recent work shows that antibodies directed to PSCA can prevent metastatic spread of prostate cancer in a mouse model (Saffran, et al. (2001) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98:2658-2663). STEAP is a multi-transmembrane prostate-specific protein that may function as a channel or transporter protein (Hubert, et al. (1999) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 96:14529-14534). Its protein expression is specific to the basolateral membranes of normal prostate and prostate cancer epithelia. STEAP expression was most highly concentrated at cell-cell boundaries, implying a potential function in intercellular communication. Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies have so far not been reported for STEAP.

Methods of diagnosis of androgen-dependent prostate cancer, prostate cancer undergoing androgen withdrawal, and androgen-independent prostate cancer


A drip irrigation hose includes a tube for conducting pressurized water through its interior and formed with a plurality of outlets for emitting water at longitudinally-spaced locations along the length of the tube; and a plurality of flow-control elements fixed with respect to the inner surface of the tube at longitudinally-spaced locations thereof to define, with the inner surface, a plurality of labyrinths each having an inlet communicating with the interior of the tube and an outlet communicating with a tube outlet for emitting water there from at a slow rate. The labyrinth includes a bottom wall constructed to produce, adjacent to the bottom wall, a significant laminar flow of water in which the laminar flow decreases, and thereby turbulent flow increases, with an increase in the water pressure within the tube to thereby provide pressure-compensation for the water flow through the respective tube outlet.

The present invention relates to drip irrigation devices, and particularly to drip irrigation hoses used for discharging the irrigation water at slow rates from a plurality of longitudinally-spaced locations along the length of the hose. The invention also relates to flow-control elements for producing such hoses.
Drip irrigation hoses are increasingly being used for irrigating various types of plants since, among other advantages; they supply the water directly to the root regions of the plants and are therefore highly conservative of water and fertilizer. One type of drip irrigation hose includes a tube for conducting pressurized water through its interior and formed with a plurality of tube outlets for discharging the water at longitudinally-spaced locations along its length, and a plurality of flow-control elements fixed with respect to the inner surface of the tube to define a plurality of labyrinths, each having an inlet at one end communicating with the interior of the tube and an outlet at the opposite end communicating with the tube outlet for discharging water there from at a slow rate.
One problem in using drip irrigation hoses is the difficulty in ensuring relatively uniform discharge rates along the length of the hose. This problem is particularly acute where extremely long lengths of the hose are used since the hose itself produces a pressure drop along its length tending to decrease the discharge rate at the end of the hose. This sensitivity of discharge rate to the water pressure is also a problem where the land being irrigated is not flat and even.
Another problem with such drip irrigation hoses is sensitivity to clogging, and the difficulty in removing clogging particles.
In addition, such drip irrigation hoses are frequently used for only a single season, or for relatively few seasons; and accordingly the cost involved in producing such drip irrigation is a significant factor in their use.
Examples of how these problems have been addressed in the prior art are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,333,793, 5,829,685, 5,615,838 and 6,736,337; in Publication No. US2003/0150940A1, published Aug. 14, 2003; and in International Patent Applications PCT/IL/97/00298 (International Publication No. WO/98/10625), PCT/IL01/00751 and PCT/IL02/00953. However, efforts are continually being made to improve the construction of such drip irrigation hoses with respect to one or more of the above problems.

Drip irrigation hoses of the labyrinth type and flow-control elements for producing such hoses


A surgical instrument particularly suited to endoscopic articulates an end effector by including an end effector having a geared articulation mechanism that converts rotational motion from a handle portion. A hollow articulation drive tube transfers the rotation motion in some versions to a spear gear, bevel gear or snaggle tooth gear articulation mechanism. Alternatively, one or more threaded drive rod offset from a longitudinal axis engages a worm gear or flex-neck articulation mechanism.

Endoscopic surgical instruments are often preferred over traditional open surgical devices since a smaller incision tends to reduce the post-operative recovery time and complications. Consequently, significant development has gone into a range of endoscopic surgical instruments that are suitable for precise placement of a distal end effector at a desired surgical site through a cannula of a trocar. These distal end effectors engage the tissue engage tissue in a number of ways to achieve a diagnostic or therapeutic effect (e.g., endocutter, grasper, cutter, staplers, clip applier, access device, drug/gene therapy delivery device, and energy device using ultrasound, RF, laser, etc.).
Positioning the end effector is constrained by the trocar. Generally these endoscopic surgical instruments include a long shaft between the end effector and a handle portion manipulated by the clinician. This long shaft enables insertion to a desired depth and rotation about the longitudinal axis of the shaft, thereby positioning the end effector to a degree. With judicious placement of the trocar and use of graspers, for instance, through another trocar, often this amount of positioning is sufficient. Surgical stapling and severing instruments, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,895, are an example of an endoscopic surgical instrument that successfully positions an end effector by insertion and rotation.
More recently, U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 10/443,617, "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT INCORPORATING AN E-BEAM FIRING MECHANISM" to Shelton et al., filed on 20 May 2003, describes an improved "E-beam" firing bar for severing tissue and actuating staples. Some of the additional advantages include affirmatively spacing the jaws of the end effector, even if slightly too much or too little tissue is clamped for optimal staple formation. Moreover, the E-beam firing bar engages the end effector and staple cartridge in a way that enables several beneficial lockouts to be incorporated.
Depending upon the nature of the operation, it may be desirable to further adjust the positioning of the end effector of an endoscopic surgical instrument. In particular, it is often desirable to orient the end effector at an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft of the instrument. The transverse movement of the end effector relative to the instrument shaft is conventionally referred to as "articulation". This articulated positioning permits the clinician to more easily engage tissue is some instances, such as behind an organ. In addition, articulated positioning advantageously allows an endoscope to be positioned behind the end effector without being blocked by the instrument shaft.
Approaches to articulating a surgical stapling and severing instrument tend to be complicated by integrating control of the articulation along with the control of closing the end effector to clamp tissue and fire the end effector (i.e., stapling and severing) within the small diameter constraints of an endoscopic instrument. Generally, the three control motions are all transferred through the shaft as longitudinal translations. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,840 discloses an accordion-like articulation mechanism ("flex-neck") that is articulated by selectively drawing back one of two connecting rods through the implement shaft, each rod offset respectively on opposite sides of the shaft centerline. The connecting rods ratchet through a series of discrete positions.
Another example of longitudinal control of an articulation mechanism is U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,361 that includes an articulation link offset from a camming pivot such that pushing or pulling longitudinal translation of the articulation link effects articulation to a respective side. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,537 discloses a similar rod passing through the shaft to effect articulation.
While these longitudinally controlled articulation mechanisms have provided certain advantages to surgical instruments such as for endoscopic stapling and severing, it is believed that an alternative articulation motion would provide additional design flexibility.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,344 teaches an endoscopic surgical instrument that, in the embodiment (shown in FIGS. 7–13), uses rotary motion about the longitudinal axis to articulate the end effector of the instrument in a conical motion. As taught, the articulating end effector uses a ball (convex member 174) attached to the end effector and a socket in a distal end of the hollow support tube 162. A hollow shaft 188 is bent into a "Z" shape and has a distal portion 198 that is bent to form at an angle to the longitudinal axis. Distal portion 198 is rotatably mounted within a passageway 178 extending into the ball or convex member 174 of the end effector. When the distal portion 198 is bent to the same angle as the passageway 178, the end effector and hollow shaft 188 can be assembled (in one position) aligning the longitudinal axis of the end effector with the hollow shaft 188. Rotation of the hollow shaft 188 from this alignment position articulates the end effector in a conical motion. As shown in FIGS. 10–13, the end effector both translates and rotates relative to the longitudinal axis. While providing articulation, the conical motion is not intuitive and requires rotation and repositioning of the surgical instrument to align the end effector with the tissue at a surgical site. What is needed is an articulation mechanism that can use rotation to articulate the end effector from side to side within a single plane relative to the longitudinal axis of the surgical instrument.
Consequently, a significant need exists for an articulating surgical instrument that incorporates an articulation mechanism that responds to a control motion other than a longitudinal translation.

Surgical instrument incorporating an articulation mechanism having rotation about the longitudinal axis


A method of photomask reticle design provides for greatly increased tolerance to adjacent exposure field alignment and/or stepper magnification errors, thus eliminating gaps between adjacent exposure fields in the fabrication of semiconductor integrated circuit devices.The resulting insurance of complete exposure of photoresist eliminates the formation of non-exposed unwanted photoresist residues or stringers, which constitute defects in the manufacture of such devices.

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for elimination of the gap which may occur between any two slightly misaligned and/or magnified adjacent exposure fields in the photolithographic processes commonly used in the fabrication of semiconductor integrated circuits, and more particularly to a method of design of the photolithographic pattern masks used in the fabrication of integrated circuit devices which eliminates the gap between any two slightly misaligned adjacent exposure fields employed in the device fabrication process which could result in manufacturing defects in such devices.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
In the fabrication of semiconductor integrated circuit devices, materials which comprise the devices must be formed into patterns. This is accomplished by placement of a photosensitive material called a photoresist on the surface of the material and exposing the photoresist to radiation through a pattern called a photomask or reticle. Subsequent chemical development of the exposed pattern provides a mask for both selective etching and selective ion implantation of the underlying material into the corresponding pattern.The complete group of patterns required to form an integrated circuit device is known as a chip, or, when separated as individual sections of semiconductor, as a die. In manufacturing practice, arrays of circuit chips are located on the semiconductor substrate as closely as practicable. In order to do this, the patterns are produced by sequential projection of the photomask images onto the semiconductor surface to form each device chip, and adjacent fields are formed by repetitive image projection after moving the substrate at each step. A field is the exposure area which contains one or more chips. This method of step-and-repeat formations of the device chip images places great emphasis on the ability to align each pattern accurately to those previously fabricated. The most significant alignment accuracy and/or stepper magnification function comes about from the use of various optical techniques to locate and place the image of the reticle before exposure; the term stepper refers collectively to the optical and mechanical systems used to perform these functions.
If the alignment of the field and/or stepper magnification function is not within the desired tolerances for device fabrication, there can exist a separation between adjacent fields where the exposure areas are supposed to overlap and provide complete exposure of the photoresist. Such a separation is known as a field gap, and it can lead to there being a region where the photoresist is non-exposed altogether. This in turn can result in pieces or strings of unexposed photoresist being present on the device surface in the case where a positive-working photoresist is being used. These pieces of photoresist constitute manufacturing defects which are costly due to the potential decrease in yield, the need for increased visual inspection, and the potential for subsequent device functional or reliability problems.
The alignment field gap problems described arise due to the consequences of slight alignment errors at the peripheral regions of any two adjacent fields. In another aspect of integrated circuit device fabrication, a clear region is left as a border around each chip to allow clean separation of individual circuit chips or dies after fabrication is complete. Such clear border regions are known as scribe lines from the method of scribing employed in die separation. Scribe line regions must be kept free of any material or residue which might interfere with clean die separation, and a considerable knowledge and art exists concerning such scribe lines, their formation, and their manipulation, particularly with respect to the concerns over alignment, freedom from stray photoresist residues, etc. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,711 to Yanagisawa describes the prevention of photoresist formation in the scribe line regions of adjacent device chips, but does not discuss the problem of inadvertent misalignment leading to undesired photoresist exposure, or lack thereof, which might cause the formation of undesired photoresist residues.

Method for elimination of alignment field gap

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacting Company, Ltd.


A modular power distribution system is provided for distributing power within an equipment rack. One particular power distribution system has a control unit that is mounted proximate a rack including a power input for receiving power from a power source located outside the rack. The control unit includes a power converter for converting the received power to an output electrical power, and a plurality of power outlets for providing an electrical connection to the control unit and outputting the output electrical power. This particular power distribution system also includes an extension means mounted proximate the rack and having an electrical power input for input of electrical power to the extension means and a plurality of power outlets adapted to couple with and distribute electrical power to conducting elements that electrically connect the extension means to the mounted equipment. This particular power distribution system further includes an electrical power cable connected to one of the power outlets in the control unit and to the electrical power input of the extension means.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to power distribution and distribution systems, and more particularly, to a modular power distribution unit for use in distributing power within the limited space of an equipment cabinet or rack, such as a computer equipment rack or a data storage cabinet.
2. Relevant Background
In the computer industry, mass storage systems and other computer systems typically include numerous multi-shelf cabinets or racks each holding multiple devices or encloses, such as servers, disk drives, and other computer devices. These racks or rack systems are ideal for modular projects and are designed to accept standard sized devices having relatively standard power requirements and communication connections. Generally, the outer case includes an aluminum or steel framework fitted with covers and a series of connectors at the rear from which the devices or modules derive their power and exchange communication signals. The individual modules include a supporting chassis or housing that slides into the rack and is supported on guides, such as clip-in glides. Racks and rack systems are inherently flexible but are often expensive which drives users and rack makers to efficiently use space within the rack or cabinet.
Each rack or cabinet typically only has a limited amount of space that is defined by or urged into shelves. The shelves or shelf locations are configured to allow a device enclosure or module or other components to be plugged into and supported within the rack. Typical rack configurations call for 14 shelves although more shelves may be provided such as up to 24 or more shelves. If shelves are arranged vertically, a typical cabinet may have 14, 24, 32, or some other number of shelves that each occupy a certain amount of rack space, such as 3 retma(U) which is a standard mounting unit increment.
In practice, such as data centers, data storage, and the like, the racks are often densely packed with devices, such as servers each requiring a primary power supply and a backup power supply for redundancy. For example, one arrangement uses up to 14-3U server enclosures in a rack requiring up to 28–750 watt power supplies. In another rack configuration, 21-2U servers are installed in a rack with 42–500 watt primary and redundant power supplies. A major challenge facing rack and equipment designers is how best to serve dense equipment users so as to provide increased power distribution while efficiently using the space within the rack to reduce cable clutter and connection and supply confusion. In other words, it is desirable to reduce the amount of space required for power distribution units (PDUs) (e.g., typically, a plurality of electrical receptacles to which electrical plugs of power cords can be connected and which are supplied by an inlet A/C power source) and power cords from the PDUs to the devices on the rack shelves to thereby free up rack U-space for more modules or enclosures.
Existing forms of power distribution require large volumes of cabinet or rack space as numerous PDUs are provided and often mounted in the rack that reduces the available shelves or U-space for computer or other desired components. For example, current PDU support requirements often call for as many as four to six 24 amp PDUs per rack, which leads to some rack configurations being limited when a maximum number of PDUs have been installed in the rack In addition to the space required for the PDUs, large volumes of rack space may be required for the large number of power cords and other devices required to connect the PDUs to the individual devices or loads on the shelves. Often, an enclosure or device is located on a shelf which is relatively distant from the closest PDU which requires a long power cord to be snaked through the rack to the enclosure or device. The number of the cables and PDUs increases deployment complexity and can cause connection problems and mistakes. Additionally, after installation is completed, later expansions or modifications to the rack and power distribution arrangements are difficult to successfully implement.
Hence, there remains a need for an improved method and system for distributing power within an equipment rack or cabinet that requires less U-space, reduces the number and lengths and cost of connecting power supply cords used in racks (Le., provides improved cable or cord management), is simple to customize, to install, and upgrade or later modify, and reduces the total deployment cost.

Modular power distribution system for use in computer equipment racks

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Disclosed is a lithium ion-conductive solid electrolyte exhibiting high lithium ion conductivity even at room temperature which is hardly oxidized and free from problems of toxicity and contains as components lithium (Li) element, boron (B) element, sulfur (S) element, and oxygen (O) element, and the ratio between sulfur element and oxygen element (O/S) is 0.01 to 1.43.

In recent years, demand has been increasing for a high-performance lithium secondary battery to be used for a personal digital assistant, a portable electronic device, a domestic small electric energy storage device, a two-wheeled motor vehicle using a motor as a power source, an electric automobile, a hybrid electric automobile, or the like.
In this case, the secondary battery refers to a battery which can be charged and discharged.
As the purpose of use varies, further improvement in safety of the secondary battery and higher performance thereof have been increasingly demanded.
An inorganic solid electrolyte is inflammable by nature and is a highly safe material compared with an organic electrolyte generally used.
However, the inorganic solid electrolyte exhibits slightly degraded electrochemical performance in comparison with that of the organic electrolyte, and thus, the performance of the inorganic solid electrolyte must be further improved.
Conventionally, an electrolyte exhibiting high lithium ion conductivity at room temperature has been substantially limited to an organic electrolyte.
However, a conventional organic electrolyte contains an organic solvent and thus is combustible.
Thus, use of an ion conductive material containing an organic solvent for an electrolyte of a battery may cause leak or firing.
The organic electrolyte is liquid. Thus, not only lithium ions are conducted but also counter anions are conducted. A lithium ion transport number is 1 or less.
Various studies on a sulfur-based solid electrolyte have been conducted conventionally for solving such problems.
For example, in 1980s, there is reported as a lithium ion-conductive solid electrolyte having high ion conductivity sulfide glass having an ion conductivity of 10−3 S/cm such as LiI—Li2S—P2S5, LiI—Li2S—B2S3, or LiI—Li2S—SiS2.
However, such a solid electrolyte is doped with lithium iodide (LiI) for improving the ion conductivity, and is easily subjected to electrochemical oxidation. Thus, production of an all-solid lithium battery operating at 3 V or more involves difficulties.
Further, pentaphosphorus disulfide (P2S5) to be used as a raw material for the solid electrolyte has problems of toxicity and its industrial use involves difficulties.

Lithium ion-conductive solid electrolyte

National Institute for Materials Science


Systems using coded particles for multiplexed analysis of biological samples or reagents, in which the codes on the particles are at least partially defined by light-polarizing materials.

Coded particles enable formation of positionally flexible arrays for multiplexed analysis of samples and reagents. Such coded particles may include a code portion and an assay portion. The code portion defines an optically detectable code for tracking and identifying each particle in a mixture of particles. The assay portion provides a region for performing an assay and for detecting an optical outcome of the assay. Accordingly, the code and assay portions should not interfere optically with one another. One approach to avoid optical interference is to spatially segregate the code and assay portions, so that each may be detected separately. However, spatial segregation may not be sufficient in some cases, for example, when the code and assay portions have similar optical properties. In addition, spatial segregation may be undesirable because it increases the size of the particles or reduces the space on each particle for performing assays.


An anti-rotation bracket for restraining rotational and axial movement of an oil supply tube in an aircraft gas turbine engine during assembly and disassembly of a flanged connection between segments of the tube. The bracket includes a leg which extends about an adjacent stiffening ring of the turbine frame, a body portion having a substantially U-shaped channel opening to the leg for positioning the bracket around the oil supply tube, and a plurality of elongated holes passing through the body portion for clamping the bracket to the oil supply tube flange by the screws which attach the flanges together. The leg preferably includes spaced walls which receive a portion of the ring therebetween and provide clearance to allow for movement of the tube as a result of thermal expansion.

The present invention relates to fluid supply systems and more particularly, to fluid supply lines having flanged connections in turbine frame modules of jet engines.
In aircraft turbine and similar engines having supply lines for use in cooling and lubricating components of the engine, it is necessary to maintain the lines so that they are not pinched, twisted or ruptured, which would result in leakage of oil. Additionally, oil supply lines generally comprise many tube segments coupled together by flanges. Such flanges are brazed to the ends of the tubing and include holes so that contiguous flanges may be bolted together.
A problem which arises during assembly and disassembly of the tube segments is that excessive torquing of the flange bolts during assembly, or seizing of the bolts during disassembly, can twist the entire oil supply tube, yielding the tube and causing braze cracking at the hub attachment point between the flanges and the tube segments. The combination of braze cracking and transient vibratory response loading can result in crack initiation in the oil supply tube, leading to subsequent in-service tube failure.
A special anti-torque ratchet has been developed for assembly and disassembly of the tube sections to prevent this problem; however, such tools are expensive and inconvenient to use. Further, the number of ratchets that would be necessary in an aircraft assembly and disassembly environment would increase the expense and inconvenience, making their use even more undesirable.
Various clamps and mountings have been designed which are secured to the frame of associated equipment and are clamped to fluid lines to hold the lines in position relative to the frame and to each other. However, problems exist with such prior known clamps when utilized for an oil supply tube in the turbine frame module of a gas turbine engine. For example, the engine vibration is transmitted from the frame to the clamps to damage the oil supply tube as well as loosen the engagement between the clamps and tube. Tube vibration may also cause the brackets to become loose, and the vibration between the bracket and tube further damages the tube.
In addition, using a bracket which is mounted on the frame structure inhibits thermal expansion of the oil tube during engine operation. Typically, the oil tube and the frame module have different thermal expansion rates, causing the bracket to grow at the rate of the frame and not at the rate of the tube, thereby damaging the tube.
Furthermore, prior bracket designs do not torsionally restrain the hardware used to connect the oil supply tube flanges during assembly and disassembly of the tube segments. If a flange is not properly restrained during assembly and disassembly of the tube segments, the flange will twist, cracking the braze between the flange and the supply tube. Therefore, the need exists for a flange bracket that restrains rotational and axial movement of the oil supply tube during assembly and disassembly of the tube segments, and provides slight movement of the oil supply tube due to the differences in thermal expansion of the supply tube and the turbine frame module.

Anti-rotation bracket for a flanged connection spaced from fixed structure


A method and apparatus for determining the physical characteristics of ocular tissue is provided. A lens-less monomode fiber is caused to generate an expanding beam of monochromatic laser light into ocular tissue such that the light is scattered by the tissue in the backward direction. A second optical fiber, which is multimode at the wavelength of the light passing through the monomode transmission fiber, coherently detects light scattered by the ocular tissue. The scattered light received by the second optical fiber is converted into an electrical signal, which is subsequently analyzed to determine whether changes in the molecular structure of the ocular tissue have occurred.

1. Field of the Invention
A fiber optic based dynamic light scattering apparatus is disclosed for in-vivo characterization of the concentration and size of various protein macromolecules in the anterior segment of the eye, which includes the crystalline lens, the aqueous humor and the cornea. A lens-less fiber optic probe comprising two optical fibers may be fixed onto an aplanation tanometer mount, which is a universal accessory to any commercial slit lamp microscope. A monomode optical fiber guides light from a semiconductor laser source to a point inside the eye lens, and a second optical fiber, positioned in close proximity, is used for coherent detection of the scattered light in the backward direction. The free end of the receiving optical fiber is connected to a photodetector, typically a photomultiplier. In this manner, light is detected and converted into a pulse position modulated electrical waveform, which is processed by a digital correlator to yield the first order electric field autocorrelation of the scattered laser light. Subsequent inversion of the data yields a distribution of diffusion coefficients, which can be scaled to give a distribution of particle size or molecular weight. The ability to track small changes in concentration and size are vital for the early detection and prevention of ocular disorders, such as cataractogenesis.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Cataract surgery is inevitable in many humans because of the changes caused to the transparency of the eye due to aging. Other known factors such as high blood sugar levels and long exposure to ultra violet light can accelerate this process. Current state-of-art systems, which include visual inspection through a slit lamp microscope or analysis of a photographic plate, lack the sensitivity to detect small molecular changes in the ocular tissue. Early detection of changes in relative concentration and size of the different protein species will permit development of preventive therapy, and possible reversal of cataractogenesis. A reliable apparatus for non-invasive, rapid, quantitative and causing the least trauma to the patient, has been long sought goal for the study of cataractogenesis and other ocular disorders.
In the last three decades, following the invention of the laser, light scattering (LLS) has become an indispensable, non-invasive, and extremely sensitive technique for routine characterization of molecular changes in physiological, chemical, polymer and colloidal systems. A conventional light scattering apparatus requires illumination of the sample by a coherent source, detection of the weak scattered light at some specified scattering angle, processing of the data and inversion to yield the required information of size and shape. Until recently, conventional LLS systems, because of their large size and sensitivity to vibrations, were confined to a research laboratory. However, in the last five years, significant advances have been made in the miniaturization of these systems by utilizing fiber optics, semiconductor laser sources and detectors. Data acquisition and analysis have also been dramatically improved due to rapid technological advances in the microelectronics industry.
LLS, in particular dynamic light scattering (DLS) or quasielastic light scattering, or intensity fluctuation spectroscopy, or photon correlation spectroscopy, has been successfully used for the characterization of protein macromolecules in excised eye lenses, however, a clinical apparatus in still not available. Benedek [U.S. Pat. No. 4,957,113] and Benedek and Magnante [U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,827] have disclosed an apparatus and a method for detection of ophthalmic diseases, respectively. Their apparatus comprises a conventional light scattering system, with all its inherent alignment and stability problems. A person skilled in the art usually requires several hours to align a conventional DLS apparatus. Analysis techniques described in the latter patent have been employed by researchers for the last two decades and have been commercially available for many years.
Other apparatus pertaining to the detection of ophthalmic diseases are not based on dynamic light scattering, and therefore do not provide information on the molecular changes of the protein macromolecules. U.S Pat. Nos. 4,776,687 and 4,854,693 disclose such apparatus.

Method and apparatus for determining the physical characteristics of ocular tissue


Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for an improved database. The systems, methods, and computer-readable media described herein may enhance the response time of databases and improve user experiences. In an example method described herein, a database monitoring system may receive instructions to perform one or more data monitoring operations comprising counting an occurrence of a first value within at least a portion of items stored in a database. The method may include determining a length of a first window of time and fetching, from a first location of a data store of the database, data indicative of a total count of the occurrence of the first value at a time associated with the beginning of the first window of time. In turn, the monitoring system may store data representing the first count in the first memory.

Users and businesses may store information in a variety of databases having different structures. The users and businesses may update the information stored in such databases periodically. Similarly, users and businesses may retrieve information stored in such databases by providing search parameters (e.g., a search query) or the like. In many cases, storing and retrieving data may be time consuming and resource intensive. Other operations may include monitoring operations, such as counters and the like. Such operations may slow down the response time of the database and/or increase the operational costs.
Naturally, the ability to perform the operations described above in a faster and more efficient manner can significantly enhance the response time of databases. In turn, this may reduce the associated maintenance and management costs of the database while enhancing the user experience and satisfaction. Accordingly, there exists a dire market need for systems and methods that can enhance the performance of databases.

Methods and systems for a fast access database and fast database monitoring


Methods, systems, and products predict locations of failures. Messages historically received are analyzed to predict a future failure. A pattern in the messages historically received is used to retrieve a template. A location of the future failure is predicted from the template.

Prediction of failures is common. Many techniques are known for predicting when a failure is likely to occur in a process or system. In complex environments, though, prediction of the failure is incomplete. Without knowing where the failure is predicted to occur, resources are wasted trying to determine a root cause of the failure.


A pneumatic tire has a center rib extending along a tire circumferential direction in a center portion of a tread surface. A width of the center rib is equal to or more than 10% of a grounding width. An outside rubber having a relatively high tension modulus is arranged outside a vehicle and an inside rubber having a relatively low tension modulus is arranged inside the vehicle, by setting an interface formed in the center rib along a tire diametrical direction to a boundary. 300% tension modulus Mo and a rubber hardness Ho of the outside rubber, and 300% tension modulus Mi and a rubber hardness Hi of the inside rubber satisfy the following relationship:(Mo−Mi)/Mo≧0.15Ho−Hi≦±3 degree.

In the pneumatic tire having the center rib mentioned above, since a rigidity of the center portion of the tread surface is enhanced, there is a tendency that a travel motion becomes stable under such a condition that a severity (a travel severity) is low, and a steering stability at a time of changing lane from a rectilinear travel (hereinafter, refer to as "lane change stability") is improved. On the other hand, if the center rib is made wide so as to make the rigidity too high, a grounding property with respect to a road surface is deteriorated under such a condition that the severity is high, for example, at a marginal cornering time, a braking time and the like, whereby a sufficient grip cannot be obtained. Accordingly, the steering stability at a time of cornering (hereinafter, refer to as "cornering stability") and a braking performance are deteriorated.
In brief, there is a tendency that if the center rib is made narrow, the lane change stability is lowered, and if the center rib is made wide, the cornering stability and the braking performance are lowered, and both are in an incompatible relationship with regard to the width of the center rib. In general, in a tire having a wide grounding width or a tire having a low flattening, since the center rib tends to become wide from a relative relationship to the other region of the tread surface, there is fear that the cornering stability and the braking performance are deteriorated. On the contrary, there can be considered such a countermeasure for making the center rib low in its rigidity by segmenting with a narrow groove or a sipe or using a soft rubber compounding. However, in that case, the lane change stability is deteriorated.
In a pneumatic tire described in the following Patent document 1, a tread band is separated into two sections in a tire width direction, an elastic modulus of a rubber outside a vehicle is set to 12 to 16 MPa, and an elastic modulus of a rubber inside the vehicle is set to 7 to 11 Mpa. However, this is for the purpose of enhancing a steering stability at a time of cornering on a dry road surface by the rubber outside the vehicle, and enhancing a ride comfort and a steering stability on a wet road surface by the rubber inside the vehicle. In other words, in the tire, it is planned to make an outer side of the vehicle hard, and make an inner side of the vehicle soft, and the rubbers having the different elastic modulus (storage modulus E′) are used only for achieving it. Accordingly, in an actual tire, the rubber having a high hardness is arranged outside the vehicle, and the rubber having a low hardness is arranged inside the vehicle, necessarily (refer to Tables 1 and 2 of the patent document 1).
In order to make the lane change stability, and the cornering stability and the braking performance compatible, it is important to improve the grounding property of the center rib in the condition that the severity is high, while maintaining the rigidity of the center rib, however, Patent document 1 does not teach any solving means for this at all. Even if the center rib is provided in the center portion of the tread surface and an interface of the rubbers having the different elastic modulus is formed at a center position of the center rib, in the tire mentioned above, a difference of the rubber hardness is large between the outside of the vehicle and the inside of the vehicle, and a rigidity fluctuation is generated in the center rib. Therefore, there is a risk that the lane change stability is lowered, and the incompatible phenomenon mentioned above can not be solved.


Techniques for mechanized modify/add/create/delete (MACD) for network configuration are provided. A method can include creating a data object from input data relating to a requested change to a target network configuration, the data object comprising a first parameter indicating a type of the requested change and a second parameter identifying the target network configuration; retrieving, from a repository according to a group of logical rules, executable instructions associated with the type of the requested change, as given by the first parameter of the data object, and the target network configuration, as given by the second parameter of the data object; and performing, further according to the group of logical rules, the requested change to the target network configuration, the performing of the requested change comprising executing the executable instructions retrieved from the repository.

After a wireless communication network is initially configured, it is desirable in some cases to modify the configuration of the network, e.g., to meet changing needs of the network and/or its users. For example, the security posture of a network could be updated multiple times after initial configuration, e.g., in order to block newly identified rogue actors from attempting to break into the network. As another example, a network configuration can be modified to remedy errors in the initial configuration of a network, e.g., with respect to interface descriptions, policy directives, or the like.

Mechanized modify/add/create/delete for network configuration


A semiconductor memory device for easily optimizing a page size and a block size according to use in order to perform write, read and erase operations at the same time is provided. If a user inputs a command from outside using a memory device having a plurality of standard sub-cell arrays or if a short process step is added to memory devices at the time of their shipping, the page sizes for the read and write operations can freely be selected, and the write, read and erase units can be optimized according to use in a system design, therefore, the highest system performance can be achieved, and an advantage in compatibility of devices of different generations can be obtained.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device and more particularly to an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (hereinafter referred to as EEPROM).
An EEPROM having a NAND type cell structure is proposed as a conventional one. The EEPROM includes a plurality of memory cells each having an n-channel MOSFET in which a control gate and a floating gate are stacked one on another as a charge storage electrode. The memory cells are connected in series such that their adjacent ones share a source and drain. These memory cells as one unit are connected to a bit line. A plan view of one NAND cell is shown in FIG. 1A and its equivalent circuit is shown in FIG. 1B.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views taken along lines IIA--IIA and IIB--IIB of FIG. 1A, respectively. A memory cell array constituted of a plurality of NAND cells is formed on a p-type silicon substrate (or p-well) 5 surrounded with a device isolation oxide film 6. The NAND cell of FIG. 1A is constituted of eight memory cells M.sub.1 to M.sub.8 connected in series shown in FIG. 1B.
As illustrated in FIG. 2B, each of the memory cells has a floating gate 14 formed on the substrate 5 with a gate insulator film 7 therebetween. As is apparent from FIGS. 1A and 2A, the floating gate 14 is one of a plurality of floating gates 14.sub.1, 14.sub.2, . . . , 14.sub.8. The memory cells are connected in series such that adjacent ones share an n.sup.+ diffusion layer 8 serving as both a source and a drain.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 2A, first select gates 14.sub.9 and 16.sub.9 and second select gates 14.sub.10 and 16.sub.10 are formed on the drain and source sides of the NAND cell at the same time when the floating gate and control gate of each memory cell are done. The substrate 5 on which the NAND cell is formed, is covered with a CVD oxide film 10 and a bit line 11 is arranged thereon. In FIGS. 2A and 2B, reference numeral 9 indicates an oxide film for isolating the floating gate 14 and control gate 16 from each other.
The control gates 16 are continuously connected to their corresponding control gates of adjacent NAND cells in the row direction thereby to serve as word lines CG.sub.1 to CG.sub.8 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The first select gates 14.sub.9 and 16.sub.9 are continuously connected in the row direction to serve as a select gate line SG1, as are the second select gates 14.sub.10 and 16.sub.10 to serve as a select gate line SG2. The select gates 14.sub.9, 16.sub.9, 14.sub.10 and 16.sub.10 are constituted by directly connecting the floating and control gates (not shown).
An equivalent circuit of the memory cell array having the above NAND cells arranged in matrix, is illustrated in FIG. 3. Each of source contacts of the NAND cells is connected to its corresponding source line for every group of, e.g., 64 bit lines, and the source line is connected to a reference voltage line formed of aluminum, polysilicon or the like. The reference voltage line is connected to a peripheral circuit. The control gate of the memory cell and the first and second select gates thereof are continuously connected in the row direction.
As shown in FIG. 3, a memory cell group connected to the control gates is usually called one page, while a group of pages between the first and second select lines connected to a pair of select gates on the drain and source is called one NAND block or one block.
For example, one page is constituted of 256-byte or 256.times.8 memory cells, which is called a page size. Data is written to the memory cells of one page at once. One block is constituted of, e.g., 2048-byte or 2048.times.8 memory cells. Data of the memory cells of one block is erased at once.
The constitution and operation of a row decoder for selecting a select gate and a control gate are described in a detail in Japanese Patent Application No. 6-218031.
FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a configuration of a prior art NAND type flash memory. As described above, data is written to/read out of the flash memory in units of one page, and data is erased therefrom in units of one block. When a cell array is not divided as shown in FIG. 4A, 256-byte memory cells connected to one word line constitute one page. When a cell array is divided into two cell arrays as shown in FIG. 4B, the memory cells connected to a word line of one of the two cell arrays constitute one page.
For example, the NAND type EEPROM operates as follows. Writing of Data starts from a memory cell farthest from the bit line. A boosted write voltage V.sub.PP (=about 20V) is applied to the control gate of a selected memory cell, and an intermediate voltage (=about 10V) is applied to the control gate and first select gate of a non-selected memory cell. A voltage of OV ("0" writing) or an intermediate voltage ("1" writing) is applied to the bit line in accordance with the data.
The voltage of the bit line is transmitted to the selected memory cell. When data is "0", a high voltage is applied between the floating gate and substrate of the selected memory cell, electrons are tunnel-injected from the substrate to the floating gate, and the threshold voltage moves in the positive direction. When data is "1", no threshold voltage varies.
Data erasure is performed in units of one block. More specifically, all the control and select gates of a block of data to be erased are set to 0V, and a boosted voltage VPPE (about 20V) is applied to a p-well and an n-type substrate. The voltage V.sub.PPE is also applied to the control and select gates of a block of data not to be erased. If the voltage is so applied, electrons are emitted from the floating gate of the memory cell to the well, and the threshold voltage moves in the negative direction.
Data is read out as follows. The bit line is precharged and then goes into a floating state, the control gate of a selected memory cell is set to 0V, the control and select gates of the other memory cells are set to a power supply voltage V.sub.CC (e.g., 3V), and the source line is set to 0V. Whether current flows through the selected memory cell or not is detected by the bit line.
If data written to a memory cell is "0" (threshold voltage V.sub.th of the memory cell >0), the memory cell is turned off and thus the bit line maintains a precharge voltage. If the data is "1" (V.sub.th <0), the memory cell is turned on and the bit line is decreased by .DELTA.V from the precharge voltage. If the bit line voltage is sensed by a sense amplifier, data is read out of the memory cell.
In the semiconductor memory device including the above prior art NAND type EEPROM, the write operation is performed at once for the memory cells connected to the same word line (control gate). The larger the number of memory cells connected to the same word line (or the larger the page size), the higher the write speed per byte.
However, as the page size increases, the erase (block) size increases and the number of blocks included in one chip decreases. As a result, when a large amount of small-sized data, such as data stored in part of one block which is an erase unit, is stored, the amount of data stored in one chip reduces as the page size or the block size increases.
If the page size or the block size varies as the memory size of the EEPROM increases, the compatibility between generations of the memory is lost. For this reason, the design of a system using such a memory has to be changed whenever a generation changes if the page size or block size is varied.

Semiconductor memory device having variable number of selected cell pages and subcell arrays


A storage battery includes: a bottomed metal case (10) accommodating an electrolyte and a collector (7) having a flat plate connected to one side of an electrode assembly (5) containing a strip-shaped positive electrode plate (1), a strip-shaped negative electrode plate (2), and a separator (6); a sealing plate (11) sealing upside of the bottomed metal case; and a lead terminal (9) electrically connecting the sealing plate to the collector, wherein the collector has at least one projection (13) and the collector and the lead terminal are electrically connected with each other via the projection. This construction eliminates the problem of increased contact resistance between the lead terminal and the collector and realizes a storage battery having high current discharging performance in which the contact resistance is reduced.

Cylindrical alkaline storage batteries, such as nickel cadmium storage batteries and nickel metal-hydride batteries, are highly reliable and easy to maintain and are therefore widely used in cellular phones, laptop computers, and various other applications. In recent years, the development of cylindrical alkaline storage batteries suitable for high current discharging has been demanded for use as a power source in applications such as machine tools, power-assisted bicycles, and electric vehicles.
These cylindrical alkaline storage batteries are formed by spirally winding a strip-shaped stack of a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate with a separator interposed therebetween to form an electrode assembly, placing the electrode assembly in a bottomed metal case along with an electrolyte, and sealing the case.
In alkaline storage batteries designed for high current discharging, the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate are wound up with their respective upper or lower end portion extending from the upper or lower end of the electrode assembly. The respective edge portions of the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate extending from the upper or lower end of the electrode assembly are connected to a substantially circular or rectangular collector at multiple points to ensure high collection efficiency. However, this construction has a drawback that the contact resistance at the lead terminal connecting the sealing body and the collector tend to increase, resulting in a decrease in the battery voltage.
One approach to prevent the lowering of battery voltage caused by the increased contact resistance is to form a projection on each part of the L-shaped lead terminal, one welded to the sealing body and the other welded to the collector, and weld the each part respectively to the sealing body and to the collector (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-155712

Storage battery and production method thereof


2-Methyl-1-naphthol is obtained by isomerization of 2-methylene-1-tetralone. For the isomerization of 2-methylene-1-tetralone there is used a Pd-, Rh- or Ru-based catalyst that has been previously treated with hydrogen gas. 2-Methylene-1-tetralone synthesized from 1-tetralone by the Mannich reaction can be used for this purpose.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for producing 2-methyl-l-naphthol, which is useful as an intermediate for producing medical pharmaceuticals, such as menadione (Vitamin K.sub.3) and Vitamins K.sub.1 and K.sub.2.
2. Description of the Related Art
Known processes for synthesizing 2-methyl-1-naphthol are those utilizing as starting materials 1 1-naphthol, 2 2-methylnaphthalene and 3 1-tetralone.
The process with the above 1 comprises permitting methanol to add to 1-naphthol in gaseous phase in the presence of (i) Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 (U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,701, Switz. Pat. No. 598170), (ii) Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 or Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 (Chem. Pharm. Bull., 24(9), 2199 (1 976) (iii) a combination of cerium oxide and an oxide of a metal such as antimony, germanium, tin or magnesium (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 47958/1975) or like catalysts. This process has the drawbacks of requiring, generally, a high temperature of 325.degree. to 425.degree. C. and generation of a large amount of by-products. There has also been reported an attempt to methylate the naphthol with a methylation agent such as an organic lithium and methyl iodide or dimethyl sulfate (Indian J. Chem., Sect. B, 21B (5), 474 (1982); J. Org. Chem., 53 (22), 5345 (1988)). This is an uneconimical process because of low yield.
The process with 2 2-methylnaphthalene comprises converting it with formic acid, acetic acid or propionic acid to the corresponding naphthyl ester by electrochemical reaction and then hydrolizing it into 2-methyl-1-naphthol (DE 2434845). This process also suffers a low yield and cannot be said to be suitable for commercial production.
An example of the process with 3 1-tetralone comprises converting 1-tetralone to 2-methyl-1-tetralone and then dehydrogenating it by heating in the presence of Pd/C (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 65235/1983), while another one comprises the successive steps of converting 1-tetralone to 2-benzoyloxymethylene-1-tetralone, subjecting it to hydrogenolysis in the presence of Pd/C and cyclohexene and isomerizing the resulting product (Chem. Ind., 14 , 5052 (1981)). However, there is a limit to the yield of monomethylation of 1-tetralone with the former process, and the latter is uneconomical because of long reaction paths.

Process for producing 2-methyl-1-naphthol


Embodiments of the present invention include a common-gate amplifier having an input terminal and an output terminal, a transistor having a source, a drain, and a gate, four inductors, and two capacitors, and a negative amplification circuitry. The negative amplification circuitry has an input terminal to receive an RF signal. The negative amplification circuitry applies negative or zero amplification to the RF signal and outputs the negative or zero amplified signal on an output terminal. Alternative embodiments include a Colpitts differential oscillator, which includes two Colpitts single-ended oscillators. Each Colpitts single-ended oscillator includes a transistor. The source of the transistor in one Colpitts single-ended oscillator may be capacitively coupled to the gate of the transistor in the other Colpitts single-ended oscillator.

1. Field
Embodiments of the present invention are related to communication receivers and, in particular, to receivers that include voltage-controlled oscillators (VCO) and low-noise amplifiers (LNA).
2. Discussion of Related Art
Wireless communication systems commonly include cellular phones, radios, and radar systems, for example. A typical wireless system includes a receiver that receives a signal carried on an electromagnetic wave, such as a radio frequency (RF) signal.
The ever-increasing interest in wireless communication systems also is emphasizing higher levels of integration, more complex functionalities and lower cost in integrated circuit (IC) implementations. Recently, complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) has emerged as viable alternative for RF and microwave integrated circuit (MIC) designs owing to the continued scaling of minimum feature size. The ability to integrate complex digital signal processing functions makes CMOS an attractive candidate for system-on-chip (SOC) solutions. System-on-chip necessitates the implementation of different analog building blocks on the same die together with the large-scale digital circuits required by the complex digital signal processing (DSP) functions. Unfortunately, parasitic coupling in silicon technology, especially through the conductive silicon substrate, makes it possible for digital switching noise to corrupt the weak analog and RF signals.
FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic diagram of a wireless receiver 100. The receiver 100 includes an antenna 102 coupled to a bandpass filter 104. The bandpass filter 104 is coupled to a low-noise amplifier (LNA) 106, which is coupled to a mixer 108. The mixer 108 is coupled to a low-pass filter (LPF) 110, which is coupled to an intermediate frequency (IF) amplifier 112. The IF amplifier 112 is coupled to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 114.
The receiver 100 may operate as follows. An RF signal may be transmitted to the receiver 100 and may arrive at the antenna 102. The bandpass filter 104 may filter out all frequencies in the RF signal that do not fall within its pass band. The LNA 106 may amplify the filtered signal and suppresses noise contributed by the filter 104. The mixer 108 may down-convert the filtered and amplified signals to a lower intermediate frequency (IF). The low pass filter (LPF) 110 may low-pass the output signal from the mixer 108. The IF amplifier 112 may amplify the signal from the LPF 110. The ADC 114 may convert the output of the IF amplifier 112 to a digital base band signal, such as to an audio frequency, for example.
A role that the LNA 106 plays in the receiver 100 is appreciated by considering the Friis equation, which states that noise from blocks following the LNA 106, typically the mixer 108, is suppressed by the gain of the LNA [1] [2] [3]. Therefore, low noise and high gain are the most important figures of merit of an LNA. In addition, LNA design involves tradeoffs between linearity, stability, input matching, and power consumption.
Two popular topologies are widely used to implement a LNA such as the LNA 106, namely, the common-gate configuration and common-source configuration. Common-gate topology has such advantages as lower power consumption, easier input matching, less sensitivity to parasitic capacitances, and better reverse isolation compared to those of common-gate topology. However, the higher noise figure and lower gain of the common-gate configuration impede it from being widely used. Instead, a common-source amplifier with inductive degeneration is a more popular choice in designing LNA circuits.
Phase-locked loops (PLL) are widely used in many applications, including radio frequency synthesis, clock generation and clock and data recovery (CDR) circuits. Shown in FIG. 2 is a typical block diagram of a PLL 200 in which the output ωLO of the PLL 200 can be used as an input to the mixer 108. The illustrated PLL 200 includes a reference frequency source 202 coupled to a phase-frequency detector (PFD) 204, whose output is coupled to a loop filter 206. The loop filter 206 is coupled to a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) 208, which is coupled to a divide-by-N circuit 210. The output of the divide-by-N circuit 210 is coupled to a second input of the PFD 204.
In operation, the PFD 204 detects the phase and/or frequency difference between the reference frequency supplied by the reference frequency source 202 and the output of divide-by-N circuit 210 and generates a DC voltage proportional to the difference. The loop filter 206 attenuates high frequency components and extracts the DC information from the PFD 204 output signal. The VCO 208 generates an oscillating waveform at the desired frequency according to the voltage 212 output from the loop filter 206.
In a PLL, all the constituent circuit blocks such as the VCO, frequency divider, loop filter, charge pump, and PFD contribute phase noise at the output. Typically, it is often the case that the VCO is the dominant source of phase noise. Therefore, extensive effort has been invested in improving the phase noise performance of oscillators.

Receiver with colpitts differential oscillator, colpitts quadrature oscillator, and common-gate low noise amplifier


A bus master 2, 4 sends write transactions to a bus slave 8 which include separate write addresses AW and write data WD. Write transaction identifiers AWID, WID are associated with these write addresses and write data. The bus slave can accept multiple write addresses such that there can be copending write transactions to the same bus slave. The bus slave uses the write transaction identifiers to correlate interleaved write data for the co-pending write transactions with their write addresses.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of data processing systems. More particularly, this invention relates to data processing systems in which write transactions to a bus slave are interleaved such that write data of a plurality of co-pending write transactions is received in a variable order by the bus slave.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to provide data processing systems including one or more bus masters connected by a communication bus (possibly a multi-channel bus) to one or more bus slaves. A write transaction is initiated by a bus master to a bus slave and includes separately transferring a write address from the bus master to the bus slave and the write data from the bus master to the bus slave.
In order to improve data throughput and processing capacity, high performance bus protocols can allow burst based addressing, (i.e., a single address is permitted per burst; address and data are de-coupled; a master is permitted to transmit a number of write addresses before transmitting the data. When using such a protocol, a slave can accept a number of co-pending write addresses, but must accept all the write data in the same order as the addresses were issued in order that the write data can be correlated with the write addresses.


A coupling having a seal member with an annular flexible metal seal surface for sealing with a male member or probe. The metal seal surface is integral with the seal member and extends into the bore of the female member. The metal seal surface is urged radially inwardly against the male member in response to internal fluid pressure in the coupling.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to hydraulic couplings used in undersea drilling and production applications and seals used in those couplings. More particularly, the invention involves a three-piece coupling with a radial metal seal for sealing the junction between the male and female members of the coupling.
2. Related Art
Subsea hydraulic couplings are old in the art. The couplings generally consist of a male and a female member with soft seals to seal the junction between male and female members.
The female member is generally a cylindrical body with a relatively large diameter longitudinal bore at one end and a relatively small diameter longitudinal bore at the other. The small bore facilitates connections to hydraulic lines, while the large bore contains the soft seals and receives the male portion of the coupling. The male member includes a cylindrical portion at one end to facilitate connection to hydraulic lines. When the cylindrical portion of the male member is inserted into the large bore of the female member, according to the various embodiments of the device, the soft seals, resembling O-rings, either abut the end, or face, of the male member or engage the male member about its circumference. The hydraulic fluid is then free to flow through the female and male portions of the couplings, and seals prevent that flow from escaping about the joint in the coupling.
In some instances, a check valve may be installed in the female member and also in the male member. Each check valve is open when the coupling is made up; however, each check valve closes when the coupling is broken, so as to prevent fluid from leaking out the system of which the coupling is a part.
The soft seals have numerous disadvantages, the principle ones being (1) the inability of the seal to withstand the deteriorating effects of the subsea environment for extended periods of time, and (2) the inability of the soft seal to contain the higher pressures being imposed on the hydraulic systems.
A metal seal is available which better withstands both the deteriorating effects of the environment and higher pressures. That seal is a crush type which is positioned between the end of the male portion of the coupling and the internal end of the large bore in the female portion. When the male portion is inserted into the female, the metal seal is crushed between the two portions and a seal is effectuated between the two. In view of the crushing action, the seal can be used only once. If the coupling is separated for any reason, the once crushed seal can be replaced with a new seal. An example of this type of coupling and seal is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,918,485.
Another type of hydraulic coupler with a metal seal is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,470. As may be seen, this design uses a V-shaped metal seal. The metal V-seal rests in the female member and is only effective when it is tightly compressed by pressure from the leading face of the male member. This means that substantial forces are needed to lock the coupling in the first place and to keep it locked under the necessary pressure. This design could leak even upon slight separation of the male and female coupling members, which is a problem because of the internal pressures when each hydraulic line is pressured up, as discussed above. The V-seal coupling requires a preload mechanism to prevent separation of the coupling members. Extremely close tolerances are required both for the couplings and manifold plates. In principal, the V-seal coupling was reusable and the coupling could be disengaged and reengaged more than once without replacing the seal. In practice, however, the V-seal would quite often flip out or flip sideways when the coupling was disconnected. If the coupling was reconnected without repositioning the V-seal, the coupler would be damaged beyond use.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,694,859 to Robert E. Smith III, an undersea hydraulic coupling with a radial metal seal is disclosed. This coupling provides a reusable radial metal seal which engages the circumference of the probe when it is positioned within the female member body. The metal seal is held in place by a cylindrical body or retainer. The retainer prevents escape of the metal seal from the female member body. When the male and female portions of the coupling are parted under pressure, the retainer prevents the metal seal from blowing out through the bore of the female member. This coupling uses a pressure actuated C-ring seal. Among the advantages of this design are that it requires no preload mechanism, is tolerant to movement of the two halves of the coupling relative to one another, and allows greater tolerances between the couplings and the manifold plates. Rather than sealing with the leading face of the male member (as done by the V-seal coupling), this design uses a pressure energized C-seal for sealing with the outer circumference of the male member. The retainer also may be used to pre-load the C-seal by urging it radially inwardly to engage the circumference of the male member. This is accomplished by positioning the seal on a shoulder within the female member bore, then locking the retainer against the seal.

Hydraulic coupler with radial metal seal


The present invention relates to a dual mode signal processing apparatus using a picture-in-picture (PIP) window. In particular, the present invention relates to a display apparatus and a function switching apparatus that display two views for DSPs performing different functions in use of a PIP window so that two functions are simultaneously performed. In order to achieve the such an object, embodiments of the present invention comprise at least one or more digital signal processors (DSPs) for processing different signals; a picture-in-picture(PIP) block for inputting a composite image signal, a chrominance signal, and so on, mixing two signals, and outputting one composite signal; a first signal switching unit for selecting an input of signals of the plural DSPs and outputting the selected signal to the PIP block; a second signal switching unit for selecting a composite image signal outputted from the DSPs and outputting the selected composite image signal to the PIP block; and a display unit for inputting and displaying an output signal of the PIP block. The embodiments further employ an input unit having a mode selection button and PIP-related function buttons; and a control unit for switching signals with an input of the input unit and controlling a system. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention convert the function of the system by changes of the main view and the PIP window in the mixed display from two mixed image signals, and enables the same functions to operate with one button selection, to thereby perform combined functions with simplicity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dual mode signal processing apparatus and method using a picture-in-picture (PIP) window, and more particularly to a display apparatus and a function switching apparatus displaying two views for DSPs performing different functions in use of a PIP window so that two functions are simultaneously performed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In general, the digital signal processor (DSP) is widely used to process a digital signal in real time. The digital signal is generally defined in series numbers or digital values used for representing an analog signal corresponding thereto. The DSP is used in diverse products including audio systems such as small-sized disc players, wireless communication systems such as cellular phones, digital still cameras (DSCs), and digital video camcorder (DVCs).
Recently, dual-function product groups have been in high demand, each of which being sold in one product having two or more combined functions according to the necessity of combination products. In particular, technologies have been actively developed to implement in one product the functions of the DVC recording moving pictures and the DSC taking still images.
This is because the DSC and the DVC have similar functions to each other, having a display unit, a view finder, and a digital signal processor.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show the conventional technology incorporating a DSC and a DVC together. FIG. 1 is a perspective view for showing a conventional picture-taking apparatus combining a digital still camera and a digital video camcorder, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram for showing the conventional picture-taking apparatus. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a main body of the picture-taking apparatus has a DSC signal conversion unit 40, a DVC signal conversion unit 45, a still image codec unit 50, a moving picture codec unit 65, a storage unit 60, an input unit 70, a display unit 80, and a control unit 90 therein.
A camera part 20 is provided with a housing 15 installed to swivel to a certain angle, a first camera 22 taking still images, and a second camera 24 taking moving pictures. Ordinarily, the first camera 22 and the second camera 24 (not visible in FIG. 1) are disposed opposite to each other in the camera part 20.
Accordingly, the camera part 20 rotates to a certain angle in a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction shown with reference to the rotation axis X. Preferably, the DSC lens group 22a and the DVC lens group 24a rotate along with camera part 20, and keep parallel with the picture-taking direction A. That is, when the housing 15 is manually swiveled by 180° or substantially 180° as shown in FIG. 1, it is preferable that the positions of the DSC lens group 22a and the DVC lens group 24a are interchanged.
Referring to FIG. 2, the first camera 22 has the DSC lens group 22a, a DSC driving unit 22b, a DSC detection unit 22c, and a DSC picture-taking unit 22d. The DSC lens group 22a is for taking still images, and the DSC driving unit 22b moves a DSC zoom lens (not shown) and a DSC focus lens (not shown) according to controls of the control unit 90.
The DSC detection unit 22c is a sensor for detecting lens positions according to the controls of the control unit 90. DSC picture-taking unit 22d converts an image signal for a subject passing through the DSC zoom lens(not shown) and the DSC focus lens(not shown) into an electric image signal by using a charge coupled device (not shown).
The second camera 24 has the DVC lens group 24a, a DVC driving unit 24b, a DVC detection unit 24c, and a DVC picture-taking unit 24d the operations of which are substantially the same as those of the first camera.
The DSC signal conversion unit 40 and the DVC signal conversion unit 45 remove noise included in the electric signals outputted from the DSC picture-taking unit 22d and the DVC picture-taking unit 24c, and amplify the gains in order for the levels of image signals converted into the electric signals to be outputted uniformly. Further, the DSC signal conversion unit 40 and the DVC signal conversion unit 45 respectively convert analog image signals that have been converted into electric signals into digital image signals, process the digital image signals, and output automatic control data.
The still image codec unit 50 compresses a still image signal outputted from the DSC signal conversion unit 40 by the controls of the control unit 90 using a compression process such as JPEG. The compressed still image data is stored in a storage medium such as a flash memory 62 of the storage unit 60.
The moving picture codec unit 65 compresses a moving-picture signal outputted from the DVC signal conversion unit 45 using a compression process such as MPEG by the controls of the control unit 90. The compressed moving-picture data is stored in a storage medium such as a tape 64.
If a reproduction command signal for a stored image signal is inputted from the input unit 70, the still image codec unit 50 and the moving picture codec unit 55 decompress the compressed coded data stored in the flash memory 62 and the tape 64.
For example, if a reproduction command signal for a still image is input from the input unit 70, the still image codec unit 50 decompresses the still image-coded data stored in the flash memory 62 and outputs the decompressed data to the display unit 80.
The input unit 70 has a picture-taking button 70a and plural operation buttons (not shown) for function performance to apply a picture-taking command signal for a subject to the control unit 90.
The display unit 80 has a view finder 82 or an LCD panel 84 provided on one side of the main body 10. The display unit 80 displays images captured through the DSC 22 or the DVC 24, or decompressed images according to the controls of the control unit 90.
The control unit 90 controls the overall operations of the picture-taking apparatus by using automatic control data outputted from various control programs stored in the storage unit 60 and the DSC signal conversion unit 40 or the DVC signal conversion unit 45.
The control unit 90 determines a picture-taking mode based on an output signal of the mode detection unit 30, and drives the camera part 20 according to the determined picture-taking mode. For example, if a signal indicating that the DSC 22 is turned on and the DVC 24 is turned off is inputted, the control unit 90 determines that the picture-taking mode of the camera unit 20 is in a still image mode.
Furthermore, if a picture-taking command signal is inputted from the picture-taking button 70a, the control unit 90 drives the DSC 22 based on the still image mode. If the control unit 90 is applied with a recording command signal from the input unit 70, the control unit 90 controls the still image codec unit 50 to compress an image signal for a picture-taken subject, and, if the control unit 90 inputs a reproduction command signal, the control unit 90 controls the still image codec unit 50 to decompress the compressed image signal, and displays the decompressed image signal on the display unit 80.
The combination of the DSC and the DVC as described above increases the number of function buttons for controlling the respective systems so that the combined product becomes complicated, causing difficulties in use.

Dual mode signal processing apparatus and method using a picture-in-picture (PIP) mode


A piezoelectric transducer is driven to mechanically oscillate a mirror at a mechanical resonant frequency with high precision despite frequency variations introduced by temperature, tolerances and ageing of components. Switches are actuated at different times in order to make the drive frequency correspond to the mechanical resonant frequency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an arrangement for and a method of driving a piezoelectric motor to oscillate a mirror, especially for use in a color image projection system operative for projecting a two-dimensional image in color while maintaining low power consumption, high resolution, miniature compact size, quiet operation and minimal vibration.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is generally known to project a two-dimensional image on a screen based on a pair of scan mirrors which oscillate in mutually orthogonal directions to scan a laser beam over a raster pattern. However, the known image projection systems project the image with limited resolution, typically less than a fourth of video-graphics-array (VGA) quality of 640×480 pixels, and not in true color.
It is also known to oscillate one of the scan mirrors by inertial forces, such as taught by U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/975,888, filed Oct. 27, 2004, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/387,878, filed Mar. 13, 2003, both assigned to the assignee of the instant application and both incorporated herein by reference, by connecting a piezoelectric motor comprising a pair of piezoelectric transducers to a frame at opposite sides of a hinge about which the scan mirror is free to oscillate. A periodic drive signal is applied to both transducers to cause one transducer to extend and push against one side of the frame, while the other transducer is simultaneously caused to contract and pull against the opposite side of the frame, and vice versa. The push-pull forces are alternately transmitted through the frame to cause the scan mirror to oscillate about the hinge at a mechanical resonance frequency. A light beam incident on the mirror is swept as one or more scan lines in space.
A drive circuit for generating the periodic drive signal typically requires a relatively high AC voltage, e.g., 50 volts peak-to-peak, with a drive or fundamental frequency precisely tuned to the mechanical resonance frequency of the motor. One known drive circuit uses a high DC voltage, e.g., 50 volts, and then passes this voltage through a linear control. However, this drive circuit incurs relatively high power losses and is inefficient.
Other known drive circuits involve using energy recycling. For example, the piezoelectric transducer has an inherent capacitance, and an inductor having an inductance is connected to the transducer to form a resonant circuit. A low DC drive voltage, e.g., 5 volts, is switched at the electrical resonance frequency created by the resonant circuit and is used to create a voltage boost to the drive voltage on the order of 50 volts AC. The drive frequency must therefore match the electrical resonance frequency in order to achieve drive voltage boosts on the order of ten times.
Experience has shown, however, that such energy recycling drive circuits are unsatisfactory in practice. The capacitance of the piezoelectric transducer varies from unit to unit, and also with temperature and with age. The inductance of the inductor also varies from unit to unit, and also with temperature and with age. By way of example, for a temperature variation of 40° C., the capacitance can change by 20%; the inductance can change by 5%; and the electrical resonant frequency can change by 12%.
To counter such undesired variation in the electrical resonant frequency, the prior art has proposed sophisticated, complex compensation circuitry to compensate for such capacitance and inductance changes. This compensation circuitry uses additional capacitors, additional inductors, switches and logical controls, all of which add both cost and size to the overall arrangement, as well as additional components whose impedances are also dependent on tolerances, temperature and ageing.
Still other known drive circuits use manual adjustments to tune the electrical resonant frequency. Typically, a mechanically tunable inductor is adjusted. However, this drive circuit is unsatisfactory since a single manual adjustment cannot adequately compensate over a whole range of tolerance, temperature and ageing variations.

Piezoelectric motor drive circuit and method


The invention provides a module being connectable to a mating connector having a tube and including a case and a connector. The case has a through hole that is larger than the tube so as to receive the tube. The connector fits into the tube along a first direction and includes a tuboid shell that includes a lip, first to fourth corners, and guides. The first and second corners are provided where the distal face of the lip meets outer faces on one and the other sides, respectively, of a second direction of the lip. The third and fourth corners are provided where the distal face of the lip meets outer faces on one and the other sides, respectively, of a third direction of the lip. The guides, each at least one of a chamfer, a rounded face, and a curved portion curved inward of the connector, are provided at the respective first to fourth corners.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to modules, and connection structures of the modules and mating connectors.
2. Background Art
Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2012-169158 discloses a connection structure including a module and a mating connector. The module includes a flexible printed circuit (FPC) curved in generally U-shape and an elastic member disposed inside the FPC. The mating connector has a pair of terminals. The FPC and the elastic member are received between distal portions of the terminals, and the FPC elastically contacts the distal portions of the terminals. This establishes connection between the module and the mating connector. For convenience of explanation, the term "connecting direction" refers to the direction into which the FPC and the elastic member are inserted between the distal portions of the terminals.

Module, and connection structure of module and mating connector