The present invention mainly relates to a method for reducing shrinkage during sintering low-temperature-cofired ceramics, the ceramics comprising a dielectric portion and a heterogeneous material portion, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a monolithic structure, the monolithic structure comprising a dielectric body and a constraining layer; the dielectric body comprising at least one dielectric layer that comprises at least one active area; wherein said active area is disposed with at least one heterogeneous material pattern; the constraining layer positioned on the top of the dielectric body comprising at least one window wherein the edge of the active area of the dielectric layer each falls within the edge of the window in the vertical direction; (b) firing the monolithic structure; and (c) singulating the monolithic structure along a cutting line to provide the low-temperature-cofired ceramics, wherein the cutting line is disposed in the area formed between the edge of the window and the edge of the active area.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/224,949, filed Aug. 20, 2002 now abandoned, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for reducing shrinkage during sintering low-temperature-cofired ceramics by means of applying a constraining layer with windows on it. The present invention does not need to remove the constraining layer after firing so as to avoid possible damage to the surface flatness of ceramics in conventional technologies, and also simplifies the process procedures to lower the production cost. Therefore, multilayer ceramics with high quality is produced by the invention.
2. Description of the Related Art
Interconnect circuit boards are necessary for modern electronic products to meet the requirement of being light, thin and small. The interconnect circuit boards are either electronic circuits interconnecting each other electrically or mechanically, or subsystems from a number of extremely small circuit components combined in an arrangement. Such circuit components can be physically isolated and mounted adjacent to one another in a single interconnect circuit board to electrically connect to each other and/or extend from the interconnect circuit board thereby.
In the interconnect circuit board, complex electronic circuits generally require that several insulating dielectric layers be used to separate layers of conductors. The electrically conductive pathways interconnecting conductive layers through the dielectric are called vias. Such a multilayer structure allows a circuit to be more compact and occupy less space.
Among various methods for making a multilayer circuit, the method described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,095 is by co-firing a multiplicity of ceramic tape dielectrics on which heterogeneous materials such as resistors, capacitors, or conductors have been printed with metallized vias extending through the dielectric layers to interconnect various conductive layers. The dielectric layers are stacked in registry and pressed together at a proper temperature and pressure, and then fired to drive off the organics such as binders and plasticizers in the green ceramic body. All the ceramic and heterogeneous materials are sintered and densified thereby. This method has the advantages of performing firing only once, saving fabricating time and labor, and limiting the diffusion of mobile metals to prevent shorting between the conductive layers. However, because the sintering shrinkage behavior between the ceramics and heterogeneous materials is not the same, the firing condition is difficult to control. Furthermore, this X-Y dimensional uncertainty, resulting in misregistration during assembly of large and complex circuits, is particularly undesirable.
Nowadays, almost all shrinkages are controlled in the Z-direction to reduce X-Y dimensional shrinkage. Such processes are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,720 (E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,130,067 (International Business Machines Corporation), which are incorporated herein as references.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,720, the top and bottom of the green ceramic body each are applied with a release layer to form a "sandwich" structure. During burning out and sintering, a unidirectional pressure is applied to the surface of the release layer. The porosity of the release layer provides an escape pathway for the volatile components of the green ceramic body. Because the release layer does not shrink in firing, the X-Y shrinkage of the green ceramic body is reduced. However, the release layers cover both the top and bottom surfaces of the green ceramic body, and their removal should be performed after sintering for printing with and firing the conductors, resistors, and capacitors thereon. The cost of the method thus rises. In addition, the penetration of the inorganic binder contained in the release layer into the green body, and the contact angle, the viscosity, the porosity and the pore size of the release layer all affect the flatness of the ceramics surface during the removal of the release layer, and can easily make the circuit printing difficult and the products defective. When fabricating a large number of ceramic layers (e.g., more than 6 layers), middle layers of a dielectric body still shrink as the result of the forces not being distributed evenly by applying the release layers on the top and bottom of the green body (i.e., the forces on the top and the bottom and on the middle layers of the green body are substantially different).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,130,067 has described three approaches to reduce X-Y shrinkage of a dielectric body. With the first approach, constraint is applied to the outer edges of the dielectric body to provide an open escape path for volatiles and an entry path for oxygen. With the second approach, a co-extensive force is applied to the entire surface of the dielectric body by either using a co-extensive porous platen or by application of an air-bearing force to the surface. With the third approach, a frictional force is applied to the green body by use of a porous contact sheet which does not shrink or expand during firing. The contact sheet comprises a porous composition selected so that it remains porous during firing, does not fuse to the ceramics, is thermally stable and has continuous mechanical integrity/rigidity. The contact sheet maintains its dimensions during sintering and thus restricts the ceramic part from shrinking. After sintering, the contact sheet is removed by means of an appropriate removal procedure, such as polishing and scraping, which will not damage the surface of the ceramics. However, the three approaches described above have disadvantages. For example, the first approach easily leads to shrinkage of the ceramics and further affects shape of the circuit and flatness of the ceramics surface because it uses a weight produced by a fixture to reduce the shrinkage and the pressure distributes unevenly on the dielectric body. The second and third approaches need removal steps after firing, and the cost increases and the surfaces are damaged also.
In order to resolve the problems mentioned above, the present invention develops a novel method for reducing shrinkage during sintering low-temperature-cofired ceramics to save cost and improve the quality of the ceramic product.

Method for reducing shrinkage during sintering low-temperature-cofired ceramics


A slide rail assembly includes a rail and a reinforcing member. The rail includes an upper wall, a lower wall and a longitudinal wall connected between the upper wall and the lower wall. The reinforcing member is attached to the rail and includes an upper wall, a lower wall and a middle wall connected between the upper wall and the lower wall of the reinforcing member. The upper wall and the lower wall of the reinforcing member correspond to the upper wall and the lower wall of the rail respectively. The middle wall of the reinforcing member corresponds to the longitudinal wall of the rail member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a slide rail assembly, and more particularly, to a slide rail assembly having a rail with a reinforcing structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 8,028,965 B2 discloses an adjustable bracket for a slide assembly. Wherein, the slide assembly (10) comprises an outer rail (12). The outer rail (12) is capable of mounting to a rack (90) through a connecting member (20) and a sliding member (50). The sliding member (50) is adjustably attached to a fixing base (30) of the slide assembly (10) for moving in a passage (38), and the sliding member (50) is capable of mounting to the rack (90) through a fixing member (70). The sliding member increases supporting strength for a sliding connection structure of the fixing base. On the other hand, the fixing member is capable of supporting the slide assembly for further enhancing supporting strength. The case is provided for reference.


Methods, compositions, dosing regimes, and routes of administration for the treatment or prevention of arrhythmias. In these methods, early afterdepolarizations and prolongation of QT interval may be reduced or eliminated by administering ion channel modulating compounds to a subject in need thereof. The ion channel modulating compounds may be cycloalkylamine ether compounds, particularly cyclohexylamine ether compounds. Also described are compositions of ion channel modulating compounds and drugs which induce early afterdepolarizations, prolongation of QT interval and/or Torsades de Pointes.

Cardiac arrhythmias often occur as complications to cardiac diseases such as myocardial infarction and heart failure. In serious cases, arrhythmias can cause sudden death. Treatment of arrhythmias is complex and aspects of care, especially the decision to control the ventricular rate vs. convert the arrhythmia, remain controversial.
Class III antiarrhythmics (IKr blockers) are commonly used to treat arrhythmia; however these drugs have also been shown to be proarrhythmic and cause greater lengthening in Purkinje fiber action potentials relative to those in ventricular muscle, presumably due to a greater contribution of IKr in repolarization of Purkinje fibers. For example, dofetilide (10 nM) has been shown to increase the APD90 (the action potential duration at 90% repolarization) of rabbit Purkinje fibers by 83%, (basic cycle lengths, or BCL=1000 ms). Similarly, quinidine (10 μM) increased APD90 by 93% in the rabbit. In addition to drug induced dispersion of repolarization, drug induced early after depolarizations (EADs) are thought to be an important cause of Torsades de Pointes (TdP) both clinically and in animal models.
Class III agents have been shown to be proarrhythmic due to blockade of the hERG potassium channel (IKr current in human ventricle). hERG channels refer to the product of expression of the human ether-a-go-go related gene, normally considered to be a potassium-conducting ion channel. It has been shown that combination therapy with quinidine (class III agent) and mexiletine (class I agent and sodium channel blocker) is more effective in the prevention of ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) in animal models and in humans. In isolated hearts, these effects have been shown to be due to sodium channel blockade. EAD generation is thought to be a major cause of TdP in humans. In addition, EADs have been shown to contribute to reinduction of atrial fibrillation (AF) following termination in isolated coronary-perfused canine right atria. Sodium channel blockers have been shown to prevent isoproterenol-induced TdP in a canine model and also abbreviate action potential duration in M-cells of the ventricular myocardium.
High densities of voltage-gated sodium channels in excitable tissues lead to a rapid membrane depolarization when excitable cells reach the threshold for sodium channel activation. The role of sodium channels in the action potential upstroke (Phase 0) has been well-characterized and block of sodium channels can affect cellular refractoriness and regulate heart rhythms. Sodium channels rapidly inactivate following initial opening during Phase 0 and during repolarization. Recovery of these inactivated channels is critical in determining the ability of a cell to generate another action potential. The period during which the cell cannot generate another action potential is known as the effective refractory period (ERP). Blockade of sodium channels can lengthen the refractory period of the cell and this activity is known to have antiarrhythmic consequences due to prolongation of the effective wavelength of the tissue, reducing the size of reentrant wavelets which the tissue can support. Blockade of sodium channels can also suppress ectopic beats which may also play a role in the genesis of fibrillatory activity in the heart. Indeed, the selective sodium channel blocker tetrodotoxin (TTX) has been shown to prevent VF in isolated rabbit hearts. Recent evidence has shown that sodium channel activity contributes not only to the action potential upstroke, but also can affect the action potential plateau (Phase 2) and repolarization (Phase 3). This sustained activity is thought to be a result of 3 separate mechanisms. The first of such mechanisms has been described as channel bursting in which the channel fails to inactivate. A second component is known as window current and occurs at potentials at which the steady-state activation and inactivation curves overlap. The third mechanism is a non-equilibrium phenomenon in which the sodium channels recover from inactivation during the repolarization phase. The sustained inward sodium current contributed by these three mechanisms can modulate repolarization during Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the action potential when the membrane potential is regulated by small amounts of both inward and outward current. Modulation of currents contributing to Phase 0, 2 and 3 of the action potential can have important roles in regulating refractoriness, action potential duration and EAD generation.
The ion channel modulating compounds described herein are atrially-selective, and block sodium channels in a frequency (or stimulation) dependent manner. Further, these ion channel modulating compounds are capable of blocking the late, early and sustained components of a sodium channel current to prevent EADs without substantially interfering with cardiac activity.


Techniques for fabricating a laminated ceramic housing that can be used for a handheld computing device that includes an enclosure having structural walls formed from a multi-layered ceramic material that can be radio-transparent. The multi-layered ceramic housing can be formed of a plurality of ceramic materials such as zirconia and alumina in any combination. The multi-layer ceramic substrate includes an inner layer and surface layers that sandwich the inner layer. The multi-layer ceramic substrate has an increased transverse strength due to the surface layers having a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is less than that of the inner layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The described embodiments relate generally to portable computing devices. More particularly, the present embodiments relate to enclosures of portable computing devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, portable electronic devices, such as laptop computers, tablet computers, PDAs, media players, and cellular phones, have become compact and lightweight yet powerful. As manufacturers have been able to fabricate various operational components of these devices in smaller sizes, the devices themselves have become smaller. In most cases, despite having a more compact size, such components have increased power as well as operating speed. Thus, smaller devices may have much more functionality and power than larger devices of the past.
One design challenge is to provide an aesthetically pleasing enclosure that is functional for the intended purpose of the device. With more devices being capable of wireless communications, a radio transparent enclosure would be beneficial, as it would allow components, such as antennas, to be positioned inside the enclosure. Users also desire an enclosure that can withstand mishaps. Thus, a water-resistant and scratch-resistant enclosure would also be desirable.
Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide improved enclosures for portable computing devices, particularly enclosures that are functional and aesthetically pleasing yet durable.


In a construction machine comprising an engine, hydraulic device, and heat exchanger for cooling the engine and the hydraulic device, which are all disposed in an upper rotating body of the construction machine, there is formed a maintenance passage along which maintenance portions of the engine and the hydraulic device are disposed so as to cross the upper rotating body. Exhaust air from cooling fans for sending air to the heat exchanger is discharged to the exterior of the machine body through the passage. Thus, the passage is utilized as an exhaust air passage for the heat exchanger, whereby it is possible to provide a construction machine improved in cooling efficiency for the heat exchanger.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a construction machine having a cooling device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A hydraulic excavator having a space for an inspection work to inspect an engine and hydraulic devices mounted on an upper rotating body is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid Open Publication No. 2002-88818. The space is isolated from an engine room.
When an inspection door installed along the space is opened, there appear portions for maintenance such as engine oil filter and fuel filter.
On the other hand, for cooling devices, there are disposed heat exchanger such as radiator and inter-cooler within the engine room. However, there has been the problem that exhaust air from these devices is not smoothly discharged to the exterior of the machine body, but strikes against side walls in the interior of the engine room for example, giving rise to an exhaust air roll-up phenomenon. There also has been the problem that even if the capacity of a blower for sending air to those devices is increased, the cooling efficiency of heat exchangers does not become high in proportion thereto.

Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.


An RF data communications device antenna system is shown that includes a dipole and an electromagnetic coupler that provides coupling between each dipole arm to establish a desired resonant bandwidth. An LC matching circuit is provided for matching the dipole to the impedance of the RF data communications device and for transforming the RF signal between the dipole arms of the antenna system.

The present invention is directed to the field of antennas used for RF data communications devices, particularly those used to transmit and receive digital signals, e.g. two-way pagers and the like. There has been a proliferation in recent years in the field of RF telecommunications with items such as cordless and cellular telephones becoming commonplace items. Pagers, in particular, have become common among individuals who need to be quickly contacted from remote locations, e.g. technicians, etc. With such devices, it is very important to maintain a clear, strong signal that preserves the integrity of the data transmission.
The antennas used with previous RF data communication devices are prone to many significant problems. Some devices, such as pagers are usually worn on the person of the user. However, the human body has certain inherent dielectric properties (e.g. due to charge and current fluctuations, etc.) that create an electromagnetic boundary. The inherent boundary conditions of the body of the user changes the surrounding impedance, affecting the antenna current distribution and the signal radiation pattern, thus lowering the gain of the antenna by about 4 dB. In this way, the antenna is "detuned." Antenna detuning is also caused by the presence of certain objects (e.g. metallic bodies) and also various ground plane conditions. This effect results in a shorter operating radius and poor in-building performance for RF data communications devices, especially pagers.
Previous devices also suffer from performance problems related to the polarization characteristics of the transmission and reception signals. Electromagnetic radiation propagates in any plane and can thus be regarded as having vertical and horizontal polarizations. In order to receive a strong signal, an antenna must be properly aligned with the polarization plane of the incoming signal. However, when a device is in operation, it may be turned in all different directions and may not be optimally aligned to receive an incoming signal. In a two-way device, a similar problem results in transmission from the device. Previous device antennas incorporate a loop design, which is nominally effective at implementing the two polarizations but suffers from low gain and low bandwidth. Environmental sources also affect the reception of a polarized signal. For example, the metal in buildings effectively "tips" a vertically polarized wave, thus weakening the strength of a signal received with a vertically polarized antenna.
One method of addressing the above-noted limitations imposed by signal reception in an RF data communications device, such as a pager, is to establish two-way communication, so that an acknowledgment or reply signal is transmitted from the pager back to the source. However, because these devices are usually worn or used in close proximity to the user's body, the electromagnetic boundary around the user's body also sharply reduces transmission efficiency. Also, transmission bandwidths as low as 1/2% are typical with previous two-way pagers. In these ways, the antennas of previous RF data communications devices do not provide the reliable and efficient operation necessary for the transmission and reception of a digital signal.

Antenna system for an RF data communications device


Disclosed embodiments provide a device having a pivot hoop affixed to the rear side of a shaft from a hand tool such as a fork, weed lifter, or shovel. The pivot hoop provides additional leverage during operation of the tool. Disclosed embodiments provide an improved hand tool that reduces fatigue and risk of injury during use.

Shovels and other earthmoving tools are often used in gardening, construction, fencing, and other assorted tasks. Operating manual excavation and earthmoving tools such as shovels, forks, and the like can involve strenuous work. Even for the physically fit, shoveling can be tiring and painful. Even if done properly, can result in injury, including herniation of discs and compressing of vertebrae. It is therefore desirable to have an improved earth lifter tool.


A tissue access site system is provided. In one embodiments, the system includes a tissue cutting element designed for generating a tissue access site through a tissue, the tissue access site being surrounded by tissue edge portions of a predetermined geometry; and a tissue closure device being for attaching at least one closure element to the tissue at a region corresponding to at least one of the tissue edge portions.

The present invention relates to a system and method for opening/dilating and closing a tissue access site and, more particularly, to a system which can be used to open/dilate and close large vascular access sites, such as those utilized in femoral vascular access.
More than five million percutaneous interventions are performed annually in the United States, involving femoral artery catheterization for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
Most procedures are performed through small sheath access sites (5-8F) and thus closure of such access sites can be effected using manual or mechanical compression for 15-30 minutes, typically combined with an extended bed-rest of three to six hours.
However, manual compression can cause patient discomfort, and is time- and resource-intensive, and as such, a need for quicker, more patient compatible closure has led to the introduction of closure devices in the early 1990s. Since then, vascular closure systems have been simplified to provide wider patient access to a range of vascular procedures. Now available from many sources, these devices shorten procedure times, allow patients to ambulate earlier, minimize bleeding and possibly reduce costs associated with hospital care.
At present there are dozens of devices on the market or at various stages of development, such devices employ sutures, patches, glue, coagulants and/or staples or a source of energy to effectively seal access sites post procedure.
Although these devices were specifically designed for closure of small access sites (<10F), there have been attempts since the late 90s to utilize suture closure devices (specifically the Sutura and Perclose devices) in large bore access sites >18F, illustrating at least a limited need for 'automated' closure of large access sites. Large bore access site closure is typically effected via manual suturing of an exposed artery and thus requires presence of a specialist while being time consuming as well as more invasive.
The studies performed to date illustrate that closure of access sites less than 18F in size via such devices is effective and highly successful, whereas closure of larger bore access sites (e.g. 22F) is less effective.
Although at present the number of procedures effected through large bore access sites is small, current trends anticipate that the number of such procedures will rise in the future and although a concomitant reduction in sheath sizes might also take place, such reduction will still place average sheath size at over 18F.
While reducing the present invention to practice, the present inventors have devised an access site system which provides the physician with control over access site generation and closure.


An electrical connector is used for connecting a chip module to a circuit board. The electrical connector includes an insulating body having a plurality of receiving holes, and conducting bodies located in the receiving holes. The conducting body includes a flexible body and a metal layer located on the outside of the flexible body. Because the conducting body of the electrical connector includes a flexible body and a metal layer located on the outside of the flexible body, the flexibility of the conducting body is assured. The external metal layer can make the chip module electrically connect firmly with the circuit board. Therefore, the connection between the chip module and the circuit board is assured.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector. In particular, this invention relates to a compressing contact electrical connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
The compressing contact electrical connector of the prior art generally includes an insulating body, and conducting pins received in the insulating body. The insulating body has pin-receiving grooves and the conducting pins are received in the pin-receiving grooves. The conducting pin includes a fastening part and two contacting parts located at two ends of the conducting pins. Two butting electronic elements are compressed so as to contact each other so that the two butting electronic elements are electrically connected together, such as in China patent, CN 00217081.7. However, because these conducting pins are manufactured from a general metal material, the shape is complex and the manufacturing process difficult. After the conducting pin is compressed or bent a number of times, the conducting pin becomes deformed and its flexibility worsens. Therefore, the contact between the electrical connector and the electronic element becomes worse in that the function of the electrical connector is affected.

Electrical connector having an oscillating multilayered conducting body


A thin-film magnetic head has a laminated construction comprising a main pole layer having a magnetic pole tip on a side of the medium-opposing surface opposing a recording medium, a write shield layer opposing the magnetic pole tip forming a recording gap layer, on the side of the medium-opposing surface, and a thin-film coil wound around at least a portion of the write shield layer. The thin-film magnetic head has an upper yoke pole layer having a larger size than the portion of the main pole layer which is more distant from the medium-opposing surface than the recording gap layer, wherein the upper yoke pole layer is joined to the side of the main pole layer which is near the thin-film coil.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thin-film magnetic head which performs magnetic recording operation by a perpendicular recording system, a method of manufacturing the same, a head gimbal assembly and hard disk drive.
2. Related Background Art
Surface recording densities in hard disk drives have improved dramatically in recent years. More particularly, surface recording densities in hard disk drives have recently reached 160-200 Gbytes/platter, and are poised to exceed even this level. At the same time, there has been a demand for improved performance of thin-film magnetic heads.
Thin-film magnetic heads are largely classified based on their recording systems, which may be divided into longitudinal recording systems wherein information is recorded in the (longitudinal) direction within the recording surface of the hard disk (recording medium), and perpendicular recording systems wherein the orientation of recording magnetization formed on the hard disk is formed in the perpendicular direction of the recording surface to record data. Of these types of systems, perpendicular recording type thin-film magnetic heads are capable of realizing markedly higher recording density than longitudinal recording systems, while they also are less susceptible to thermal fluctuation of the recorded hard disk, and are therefore more promising than longitudinal recording systems.
Conventional perpendicular recording type thin-film magnetic heads are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,504,675, U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,546, U.S. Pat. No. 4,672,493 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-94997.
Incidentally, when thin-film magnetic heads of perpendicular recording systems accomplish recording of data in the inner and outer perimeters of hard disks, the magnetic pole tip situated on the side of the medium-opposing surface (also referred to air bearing surface, or ABS), which opposes the recording medium (hard disk), forms an angle (skew angle) with the data recording track. When the writing performance is high with a perpendicular recording type magnetic head (perpendicular magnetic recording head: hereinafter also referred to as "PMR"), this skew angle is responsible for a problem of side fringe, whereby excess data is recorded between adjacent tracks. When side fringe occurs, it can adversely affect detection of the servo signal, or the S/N ratio of the reproduction waveform. Conventional PMRs therefore have a bevel shape wherein the magnetic pole tip on the ABS side of the main pole gradually narrows in width toward one direction. (In this regard, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-242607 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-203311.)

Thin-film magnetic head, method of manufacturing the same, head Gimbal assembly, and hard disk drive


A golf club storage and carrying device includes a plurality of tubular sleeves passing lengthwise through a rigid main body. Each sleeve is shaped and sized to accommodate a golf club shaft. The sleeve ends are capped by support members that prop the sleeves into an inclined orientation when the device is placed on a surface. A handle extends from a first side of the main body, and an attachment member extends from a second side of the main body. The attachment member may engage a mounting plate adapted to be attached to a golf club bag.

Golf is a game in which a golf ball is advanced around a preset course using a set of specially-designed clubs. Each club within the set is used for a particular type of shot that may be encountered during a given round of golf. Because no two rounds of golf are exactly the same, even when played on the same course, a golfer will bring a full set of clubs in order to be prepared for any shot that may arise. Then, as a round of golf is played, the golfer chooses from among the clubs in preparation for each shot.
As a group, the typical set of golf clubs can be quite cumbersome and somewhat heavy. Most golfers place their clubs in specially designed bags that, while not reducing club weight, do make the clubs somewhat easier to manage. Once collected into a golf club bag, the clubs are typically either loaded onto a car-like golf cart, placed onto a manual pushcart, or carried by a caddie.
In both tournament and non-tournament play, golfers who employ a caddie enjoy significant advantages not enjoyed by other golfers. One of the most important advantages is the ability to select an appropriate golf club while standing at the exact location of a given shot. Because a caddie carries a golfer's entire set of clubs, the golfer may wait to choose a club until he is directly next to his ball, thus eliminating the need to guess which club is appropriate.
Conversely, since carts are not allowed at all points on a golf course, golfers who use golf carts are required at times to make their golf club selection while only knowing the approximate location of their golf ball. Without knowing the exact nature of a given shot, it is difficult for a golfer to know exactly which club is most appropriate. Therefore, golfers often select and carry several clubs to the site where the golf ball is located. The golfer usually minimizes the number of clubs carried based on assumptions about the current lay of the golf ball. Depending upon the validity of these assumptions, the golfer may or may not be equipped to properly execute the golf shot. When the golfer has not correctly predetermined the correct golf club requirement, he must either walk back to the cart, which may be far away, or improvise with the clubs at hand. Commonly, the result is one or more missed shots and a higher-than-necessary golf score.
Some areas of a golf course are particularly difficult to assess from a distance. The area surrounding the greens, for example, is a particularly difficult area to read. This region requires a golfer to chose from among, and correctly execute, a variety of shots. Around the greens, shots commonly include putting, chipping, pitching, bump and run, and sand bunker exits. Since these shots are executed with different clubs, the variety of possible shots, coupled with uncertainty about golf ball location, makes selecting the appropriate club for near-the-green shots very difficult. For golfers who keep their equipment on a cart located some distance from their golf ball, shooting around a green can be unnecessarily frustrating.
Bringing a loose collection of clubs to the location of a given shot may also be risky. A golfer often lays the extra, non-used clubs on the ground while executing a shot. With this method, the clubs may be stepped on, the club grips may become contaminated with dirt and moisture, and stray clubs may even be left behind.
Numerous prior art devices have been proposed for carrying and supporting golf clubs. Typical of the prior art devices is the golf club carrier and support disclosed by White et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,507). White discloses a club carrier that is stored on the rim of a golf bag but requires that the golf club be inserted and removed from the device each time the device is used. Atalay (U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,539) discloses a portable and collapsible carrier that can be stored within a golf bag. The golf clubs are secured to the carrier along with golf balls and golf tees.
Thus, what is needed is a golf club support and carrying device that includes the advantages of the known devices, while addressing the shortcomings they exhibit. The device should allow a golfer to bring several clubs conveniently to the location of a given golf shot, while ensuring their safe retrieval after the shot. The carrier should also prevent the club heads from striking each other during transit. The device should also keep the club heads off the ground while the device is resting on the ground. The device should also ensure that the golf club grips are protected from damage or contamination from moisture. The device should also allow temporary attachment of the apparatus to a golf bag or golf cart.


A coding table portion includes six coding tables each storing a code word and status information indicating a coding table for use in modulating a next input data word in order to obtain a next code word which satisfies a predetermined run length restriction rule even if the next code word is coupled directly with the preceding code word, corresponding to each input data word. In the coding table portion, the code words and status informations allocated corresponding to input data words of a number set up preliminarily in succession from the highest appearance frequency to a lower one in one or more coding tables of the plural coding tables are replaced with code words having smaller RDSs and status informations allocated corresponding to other input data words in the same coding table. Consequently, the input data word is modulated using the six coding tables.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a modulation method, modulator, transmission apparatus and recording medium, and more particularly to a modulation method and modulator in which a p-bit input data word is converted to a q-bit (q greater than p) code word using plural coding tables so as to intensify coding rate accompanied by increased density and a code word string is produced by coupling the code words directly, and a transmission apparatus for transmitting the code word string and a recording medium in which the code word string is recorded.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, the pit length to be recorded in an optical disk has a restriction about the minimum run length (minimum pit or land length) due to optical transmission characteristic for recording and reproduction and physical restraint relating to pit generation and further, a restriction about the maximum run length (maximum pit or land length) for the reason of facilitation of clock generation. Further, because of protection of a servo band and the like, it is necessary to modulate digital signals to be recorded so as to have a suppression characteristic for low-pass components thereof.
As a conventional modulation method which satisfies these restrictions in which the minimum run length is 3T (T is a period of channel bit herein after) and the maximum run length is 11T, EFM (8 to 14 modulation) method used in compact disk (CD), EFM+ method used in digital versatile disk (DVD) and the like have been well known.
In the EFM modulation used for compact disk (CD), inputted 8-bit (1 byte) digital data is converted to 14-bit run length limited code (RLL code) which satisfies a run length restriction such that its minimum run length is 3T while its maximum run length is 11T and further, 3-bit connection bit for digital sum value (DSV) control and run length restriction rule holding is attached between the converted code words so as to generate EFM modulated signals.
Regarding the minimum run length of 3T, at least two xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9ds (number d of xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d) are included between logical values xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d in code words, while regarding the maximum run length of 11T, 10 xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9ds maximum (number k of xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d) are included between logical values xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d in code words. The 3-bit connection bit provided for DSV control and run length restriction rule holding in order to reduce DC component and low-pass component of the modulated signal is connected between the 14-bit code words, so that the EFM modulated signal can satisfy the run length restriction rule RLL(d, k)=RLL(2, 10) that the minimum run length is 3T while the maximum run length is 11T.
Next, in the EFM+ method used for digital versatile disk (DVD), inputted 8-bit digital data is converted to a 16-bit code word and by connecting these code words directly without use of any connection bit, 8 to 16 modulation is executed so as to satisfy the run length restriction rule RLL(2, 10) that the minimum run length is 3T while the maximum run length is 11T.
Further, such a modulation method which has a higher coding rate in order to achieve a higher density recording and satisfies a run length restriction rule that the minimum run length is 3T while the maximum run length is 11T has been proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.2000-286709 by this applicant. According to the modulation method proposed by this applicant, for example, seven coding tables are employed for an inputted digital signal (inputted data word) in order to convert the inputted digital signal to a code word. These seven coding tables have code words corresponding to the inputted digital signal and status information for selecting a coding table for encoding a next digital signal. Signals obtained by NRZI-modulating a code word based on a specific coding table for a predetermined input digital signal and a code word based on another specific coding table have opposite polarities (even/odd parities of xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d are different). Consequently, for example, it is possible to convert the 8-bit data to 15-bit code word while controlling its digital sum value (DSV).
FIG.1 shows major portions of the aforementioned seven coding tables. The seven coding tables corresponding to seven statuses, status xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d to status xe2x80x9c6xe2x80x9d shown in the same Figure store the code word (that is, output code word after conversion) and status information indicating a coding table for use in modulating next inputted data in order to obtain a next code word which satisfies a predetermined run length restriction rule (for example, minimum run length is 3T and maximum run length is 11T) even if it is coupled with the aforementioned code word directly, corresponding to an input word. Code words corresponding to each predetermined input word are determined such that signals obtained by NRZI-converting the respective code words have polarities opposite to each other. That is, the quantities of xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d in respective code words corresponding to a predetermined input word have an even/odd relation such that the number of xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d in one code word is even while that in the corresponding code word is odd, thereby enabling the DSV control.
Although the aforementioned 16-bit code word EFM+ method can increase the coding rate by about 6% as compared to the EFM method based on 17-bit code word including a margin bit, it is desirable to improve the coding rate further in order to achieve a higher density recording.
Accordingly, the applicant proposes a modulation method which achieves a higher coding rate than the aforementioned EFM+ method while suppressing the low-pass component of a recorded signal with allocation of the code words without use of the margin bit between the code words through the aforementioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.2000-286709. However, because the number of the coding tables affects the scale of hardware upon constructing the modulator, the conventional modulator mentioned in this publication has such a problem that the scale of the hardware is too large because the seven coding tables are employed.
Accordingly, the present invention has been achieved in views of the above described problems and an object of the invention is to provide a modulation method, modulator, transmission apparatus and recording medium capable of achieving such modulation for obtaining a q-bit (q greater than p) code word from a p-bit inputted data word while a predetermined run length restriction rule is satisfied, with a small scale hardware using fewer coding tables than conventionally.
Further, another object of the present invention is to provide a modulation method, modulator, transmission apparatus and recording medium capable of further suppressing low-pass components in modulated signals in the 8-15 modulation method using no margin bit between the codes, by optimizing the coding table based on information about appearance frequency of input data words so as to achieve a DSV control with higher performance.
To achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a modulation method for performing a modulation to obtain a q-bit code word from a p-bit input data word (q greater than p) using plural coding tables, wherein the plural coding tables comprise six coding tables each storing a code word and status information indicating a coding table for use in modulating a next input data word in order to obtain a next code word which satisfies a predetermined run length restriction rule even if the next code word is coupled directly with the code word, corresponding to each input data word; and in a specific coding table and another specific coding table of the six coding tables, code words stored corresponding to each predetermined input data word are determined to have an even/odd relation such that the number of xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d in a code word in the specific coding table is even while the number of xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d in a code word in the other specific coding table is odd so as to enable DSV control; and upon modulating the predetermined input data word, a code word which satisfies the predetermined run length restriction rule is outputted while the DSV control is carried out by referring to the six coding tables.
According to the first aspect, the p-bit input data can be modulated to obtainq-bit code word using fewer coding tables than conventionally necessary.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a modulation method wherein upon performing a modulation to obtain a q-bit code word from a p-bit input data word (q greater than p) using plural coding tables, each coding table stores a code word and status information indicating a coding table for use in modulating a next input data word in order to obtain a next code word which satisfies a predetermined run length restriction rule even if the next code word is coupled directly with the code word, corresponding to each input data word; and in a specific coding table and another specific coding table of the plural coding tables, code words stored corresponding to each predetermined input data word are determined to have an even/odd relation such that the number of xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d in a code word in the specific coding table is even while the number of xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d in a code word in the other specific coding table is odd so as to enable DSV control; and upon modulating the predetermined input data word, a code word which satisfies the predetermined run length restriction rule is outputted while the DSV control is carried out by referring to the plural coding tables, the modulation method comprising: obtaining the appearance frequency of each input data preliminarily; replacing code words and status informations allocated corresponding to input data words of a number set up preliminarily in succession from the highest appearance frequency to a lower one in one or more coding tables of the plural coding tables, with code words and status informations allocated corresponding to other input data words in the same coding table so as to reduce a DSV value of a code word series; and modulating the input data word using the plural coding tables including the one or more coding tables each whose code word and status table are replaced.
According to the second aspect, the code words and status informations allocated corresponding to input data words of a number set up preliminarily in succession from the highest appearance frequency to a lower one in at least one coding table are replaced with other code words and status informations allocated corresponding to other input data words in the same coding table, and a code word of q bits (for example, 15 bits) obtained by modulating a p-bit (for example, 8 bits) input data word from plural coding tables including one or more coding tables each whose code word and status information are replaced is outputted under the DSV control, so that an input data word having the highest appearance frequency can be modulated to a code word expressed by repetition of shorter pit/land than conventionally.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a modulator wherein upon performing a modulation to obtain a q-bit code word from a p-bit input data word (q greater than p) using plural coding tables, the plural coding tables comprise six coding tables each storing a code word and status information indicating a coding table for use in modulating a next input data word in order to obtain a next code word which satisfies a predetermined run length restriction rule even if the next code word is coupled directly with the code word, corresponding to each input data word; and in a specific coding table and another specific coding table of the six coding tables, code words stored corresponding to each predetermined input data word are determined to have an even/odd relation such that the number of xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d in a code word in the specific coding table is even while the number of xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d in a code word in the other specific coding table is odd so as to enable DSV control; and a modulated code word which satisfies the predetermined run length restriction rule is outputted while the DSV control is carried out by referring to the six coding tables, the modulator comprising: a detecting portion for detecting whether a current output code word is uniquely determined or there is any option based on the input data word and the status information determined by a preceding output code word; an address computing portion which has the six coding tables, and if a detection result from the detecting portion is presence of an option, computes plural kinds of addresses of the six coding tables and outputs plural code words corresponding to the input data word from coding tables having the respective computed addresses, while if the detection result from the detecting portion is absence of any option, computes an address of one of the six coding tables including the one or more coding tables each whose code word and status information are replaced and outputs a code word corresponding to the input data word from a coding table having the computed address; and a control/output means for selecting a path having a smallest DSV value between plural paths which accumulates respective code words outputted from the address computing portion.
According to the third aspect, the p-bit input data can be modulated to obtain q-bit code word using fewer coding tables than conventionally necessary.
Further, to achieve the above object, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a modulator wherein upon performing a modulation to obtain a q-bit code word from a p-bit input data word (q greater than p) using plural coding tables, each coding table stores a code word and status information indicating a coding table for use in modulating a next input data word in order to obtain a next code word which satisfies a predetermined run length restriction rule even if the next code word is coupled directly with the code word, corresponding to each input data word; and in a specific coding table and another specific coding table of the six coding tables, code words stored corresponding to each predetermined input data word are determined to have an even/odd relation such that the number of xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d in a code word in the specific coding table is even while the number of xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d in a code word in the other specific coding table is odd so as to enable DSV control; and a modulated code word which satisfies the predetermined run length restriction rule is outputted while the DSV control is carried out by referring to the plural coding tables, the modulator comprising: a detecting portion for detecting whether a current output code word is uniquely determined or there is any option based on the input data word and the status information determined by a preceding output code word; an address computing portion which has the plural coding tables, wherein code words and status informations allocated corresponding to input data words of a number set up preliminarily in succession from the highest appearance frequency to a lower one in one or more coding tables of the plural coding tables are replaced with code words and status informations allocated corresponding to other input data words in the same coding table so as to reduce a DSV value of a code word series, the address computing portion, if a detection result from the detecting portion is presence of an option, computing plural kinds of addresses of the plural coding tables including the one or more coding tables each whose code word and status information are replaced and outputting plural code words corresponding to the input data word from coding tables having the respective computed addresses, while if the detection result from the.detecting portion is absence of any option, computing an address of one of the plural coding tables including the one or more coding tables each whose code word and status information are replaced and outputting a code word corresponding to the input data word from a coding table having the computed address; and a control/output means for selecting a path having a smallest DSV value between plural paths which accumulates respective code words outputted from the address computing portion.
According to the fourth aspect, like the modulation according to the second aspect of the present invention, the code words and status informations allocated corresponding to input data words of a number set up preliminarily in succession from the highest appearance frequency to a lower one in one or more coding tables are replaced with code words and status informations allocated corresponding to other input data words in the same coding table, and the code word of q bits (for example, 15 bits) obtained by modulating the p-bit (for example, 8 bits) input data word from plural coding tables including one or two or more coding tables each whose code word and status information are replaced is outputted under the DSV control, so that input data word having the highest appearance frequency can be modulated to a code word expressed by repetition of shorter pit/land than conventionally.
Further, to achieve the above object, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transmission apparatus wherein upon performing a modulation to obtain a q-bit code word from a p-bit input data word (q greater than p) using plural coding tables, the plural coding tables comprise six coding tables each storing a code word and status information indicating a coding table for use in modulating a next input data word in order to obtain a next code word which satisfies a predetermined run length restriction rule even if the next code word is coupled directly with the code word, corresponding to each input data word; and in a specific coding table and another specific coding table of the six coding tables, code words stored corresponding to each predetermined input data word are determined to have an even/odd relation such that the number of xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d in a code word in the specific coding table is even while the number of xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d in a code word in the other specific coding table is odd so as to enable DSV control; and a modulated code word which satisfies the predetermined run length restriction rule is generated while the DSV control is carried out by referring to the six coding tables; and the generated code word is transmitted successively by radio or wire, the transmission apparatus comprising: a detecting portion for detecting whether a current output code word is uniquely determined or there is any option based on the input data word and the status information determined by a preceding output code word; an address computing portion which has the six coding tables, and if a detection result from the detecting portion is presence of an option, computes plural kinds of addresses of the six coding tables and outputs plural code words corresponding to the input data word from coding tables having the respective computed addresses, while if the detection result from the detecting portion is absence of any option, computes an address of one of the six coding tables including the one or more coding tables each whose code word and status information are replaced and outputs a code word corresponding to the input data word from a coding table having the computed address; and a control/output means for selecting a path having a smallest DSV value between plural paths which accumulates respective code words outputted from the address computing portion.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the p-bit input data can be modulated to obtain q-bit code word using fewer coding tables than conventionally necessary for transmission.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transmission apparatus wherein upon performing a modulation to obtain a q-bit code word from a p-bit input data word (q greater than p) using plural coding tables, each coding table stores a code word and status information indicating a coding table for use in modulating a next input data word in order to obtain a next code word which satisfies a predetermined run length restriction rule even if the next code word is coupled directly with the code word, corresponding to each input data word; and in a specific coding table and another specific coding table of the six coding tables, code words stored corresponding to each predetermined input data word are determined to have an even/odd relation such that the number of xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d in a code word in the specific coding table is even while the number of xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d in a code word in the other specific coding table is odd so as to enable DSV control; and a modulated code word which satisfies the predetermined run length restriction rule is generated while the DSV control is carried out by referring to the plural coding tables; and the generated code word is transmitted successively by radio or wire, the transmission apparatus comprising: a detecting portion for detecting whether a current output code word is uniquely determined or there is any option based on the input data word and the status information determined by a preceding output code word; an address computing portion which has the plural coding tables, wherein code words and status informations allocated corresponding to input data words of a number set up preliminarily in succession from the highest appearance frequency to a lower one in one or more coding tables of the plural coding tables are replaced with code words and status informations allocated corresponding to other input data words in the same coding table so as to reduce a DSV value of a code word series, the address computing portion, if a detection result from the detecting portion is presence of an option, computing plural kinds of addresses of the plural coding tables including the one or more coding tables each whose code word and status information are replaced and outputting plural code words corresponding to the input data word from coding tables having the respective computed addresses, while if the detection result from the detecting portion is absence of any option, computing an address of one of the plural coding tables including the one or more coding tables each whose code word and status information are replaced and outputting a code word corresponding to the input data word from a coding table having the computed address; and a control/output means for selecting a path having a smallest DSV value between plural paths which accumulates respective code words outputted from the address computing portion.
Further to achieve the above object, according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium for recording an NRZI-converted code word obtained by NRZI-converting a code word of q bits obtained by modulating p-bit input data word (q greater than p) according to six coding tables while carrying out a DSV control; each coding table storing a code word and status information indicating a coding table for use in modulating a next input data word in order to obtain a next code word which satisfies a predetermined run length restriction rule even if the next code word is coupled directly with the code word, corresponding to each input data word; in a specific coding table and another specific coding table of the six coding tables, code words stored corresponding to each predetermined input data word being determined to have an even/odd relation such that the number of xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d in a code word in the specific coding table is even while the number of xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d in a code word in the other specific coding table is odd so as to enable DSV control.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium for recording an NRZI-converted code word obtained by NRZI-converting a code word of q bits obtained by modulating p-bit input data word (q greater than p) according to six coding tables while carrying out a DSV control; each coding table storing a code word and status information indicating a coding table for use in modulating a next input data word in order to obtain a next code word which satisfies a predetermined run length restriction rule even if the next code word is coupled directly with the code word, corresponding to each input data word; in a specific coding table and another specific coding table of the six coding tables, code words stored corresponding to each predetermined input data word being determined to have an even/odd relation such that the number of xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d in a code word in the specific coding table is even while the number of xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d in a code word in the other specific coding table is odd so as to enable DSV control, wherein code words and status informations allocated corresponding to input data words of a number set up preliminarily in succession from the highest appearance frequency to a lower one in one or more coding tables of the plural coding tables are replaced with code words and status informations allocated corresponding to other input data words in the same coding table so as to reduce a DSV value of a code word series, and a code word of q bits obtained by modulating p-bit input data word (q greater than p) using the plural coding tables including the one or more coding tables each whose code word and status table are replaced is NRZI-converted and recorded.
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide the recording medium in which the input data words of a number set up preliminarily from the highest appearance frequency to a lower one are recorded as code words expressed by repetition of shorter pit/land than conventionally.

Modulation method, modulator, transmission apparatus and recording medium


A battery charging method that charges a battery to a full charged state at a specified voltage. In the battery charging method, the battery is charged to the full charged state at the specified voltage that decreases as battery charging/discharging processes are repeated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a battery charging method, and particularly to a battery charging method that can increase the maximum charging capacity of a battery and additionally can increase life of the battery.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a battery charging method that charges a battery to a full charged state at a specified voltage is used to charge lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. In a lithium-ion rechargeable batteries rises, a charging process is conducted so that a lithium ion battery is charged initially at a constant current and is then charged at a constant voltage to a full charged state. The initial charging process part is conducted until a battery voltage reaches the specified voltage. After the battery voltage reaches the specified voltage, the process is changed to the constant voltage charging process part so that the battery voltage does not rise. The reason is to prevent that the voltage of a battery to be charged does not exceed the specified voltage. In the constant voltage charging process part in which the battery is charged with its voltage being held at the specified voltage, a battery charging current gradually decreases. When the charging current becomes smaller than a specified value, it is determined that the battery is fully charged, thus, the charging process is completed. In lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, their specified voltage is specified so that the voltage of a battery in the full-charged state becomes 4.1 V/cell to 4.2 V/cell, for example.
In the aforementioned method that charges a battery to the full charged state at a limited voltage, the degree of a specified voltage affects an actual capacity that actually discharges the batteries, and life of the battery. FIG. 1 is a graph showing the actual capacity and the cycle life of a lithium-ion rechargeable battery. In this graph, the horizontal axis shows the charging/discharging process cycle, and the vertical axis shows the actual capacity. This graph clearly shows in the case where the specified voltage is set high, the initial capacity of the battery can be high. On the other hand, if the specified voltage is set high so that the battery is fully charged to a high full-charged voltage, the life of the battery decreases. In FIG. 1, properties A, B, C and D show the properties of lithium-ion rechargeable batteries that are charged at different specified voltages. The property A battery is charged at a specified voltage that is set high. The property A battery has a high initial actual capacity, but its cycle life decreases. Conversely, the property B, C and D batteries are charged at specified voltages that decrease in this order, thus, their initial actual capacities decrease, but the length of their cycle life increases. These properties in this Figure show the actual capacity and the cycle life are mutually contradictory. If a specified voltage is set high so that an actual capacity increases, cycle life decreases. On the other hand, if a specified voltage is set low so that life cycle increases, an actual capacity decreases. Accordingly, one of actual capacity and cycle life is improved, the other deteriorates. Both of them cannot be satisfied.
To improve the life property of a battery, methods have been developed which charge a battery at a specified voltage that increases as charging/discharging processes are repeated (see Japanese Laid-Open Publications Nos. H09-120843, 2000-270491, and 2005-278334).


Techniques for shrinking a storage space involve determining a used storage space in a storage pool allocated to a plurality of file systems, and determining a usage level of a storage space in the storage pool based on the used storage space in and a storage capacity of the storage pool. The techniques further involve shrinking a storage space from one or more of the plurality of file systems based on the usage level of the storage pool. Such techniques may automatically shrink storage space in one or more file systems from the global level of the storage pool, which determines an auto shrink strategy according to overall performance of the storage pool, thereby improving efficiency of auto shrink and balancing system performance and saving space.

A file system refers to a system that stores and manages files. Generally, from a system perspective, a file system organizes and allocates space on file storage devices, is responsible for storing files and protects and retrieves the stored files. Specifically, it is responsible for creating files for users, writing, reading, modifying, dumping files, controlling file access, and revoking files when users no longer use them. Generally speaking, a plurality of file systems may share a same storage pool which includes a certain amount of storage resources, e.g., disks.
Shrinking is to return a part of unused space that has been allocated to a file system to a storage pool. In order to make storage products more competitive in a storage market, the cost per unit of storage space needs to be reduced. Shrinking a storage space of a file system for usage by other file systems and/or a logic unit number (LUN) is one important way to achieve this goal. Auto shrink of a file system has been in use in the next generation file system (NGFS), and is an important space management feature in current storage products. The auto shrink of the NGFS file system is an internal background process which does not notify users. Generally speaking, a threshold and duration are set to start an auto shrink, and it is possible to check the status of the file system periodically, to determine whether an auto shrink should be triggered.

Method, device and computer program product for shrinking storage space


A developing apparatus includes a developer carrying member configured to carry developer, a blade configured to be deformed by contacting the developer carrying member, and an operation member provided on an opposite side to a side of the blade contacting the developer carrying member. The operation member is configured to contact the deformed blade so as to cause the blade to act on the developer carrying member at a predetermined pressure.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a developing apparatus to be used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile machine, and more particularly, to a configuration of a blade configured to contact a developer carrying member in a developing container.
Description of the Related Art
In a developing container of an image forming apparatus configured to form images with developer, there is provided a developing blade configured to regulate an amount of the developer so that the developer carried on a surface of a developing sleeve has a uniform constant thickness. The developing blade contacts the developing sleeve, and is formed of an elastic member in many cases. Further, in order to generate a predetermined pressure, the developing blade is arranged in a manner that an opposite surface of the developing blade to a surface of the developing blade contacting the developing sleeve is in contact with a pressing member such as a thin plate member.
The developing blade is mounted to the developing container by a holding member (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-150269).
However, at a contact portion between the developing blade and the developing sleeve, in a case where the developing blade and the developing sleeve do not uniformly contact each other in a longitudinal direction of the developing blade, the developer on the surface of the developing sleeve cannot be made uniform in thickness. As a result, images of output printed materials are adversely affected. Thus, the developing blade and the developing sleeve need to contact each other without a gap at a uniform pressure in the longitudinal direction. However, the developing blade is formed of an elastic member, and hence has a micro distortion in itself. The micro distortion forms a gap in the contact portion.
It may be conceived to employ a method of increasing contact pressure to be applied between the developing blade and the developing sleeve so that the gap is closed. However, the method shortens a lifetime of the developing blade. As a result, a replacement cycle of the developing container is shortened, which results also in a cost increase.

Developing apparatus and image forming apparatus


A bus management tool that allows communication to be maintained between a group of nodes operatively connected on two busses in the presence of radiation by transmitting periodically a first message from one to another of the nodes on one of the busses, determining whether the first message was received by the other of the nodes on the first bus, and when it is determined that the first message was not received by the other of the nodes, transmitting a recovery command to the other of the nodes on a second of the of busses. Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention also provide for a bus recovery tool on the other node that re-initializes a bus interface circuit operatively connecting the other node to the first bus in response to the recovery command.

The present invention relates to communication networks, and, more particularly, to systems and methods for recovery of communication to a node on a high speed serial bus.
High speed serial bus networks are utilized in automotive, aircraft, and space vehicles to allow audio, video, and data communication between various electronic components or nodes within the vehicle. Vehicle nodes may include a central computer node, a radar node, a navigation system node, a display node, or other electronic components for operating the vehicle.
Automotive, aircraft, and space vehicle manufacturers often use commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) parts to implement a high speed serial bus to minimize the cost for developing and supporting the vehicle nodes and the serial bus network. However, COTS for implementing a conventional high speed serial bus network in a home to connect a personal computer to consumer audio/video appliances (e.g., digital video cameras, scanners, and printers) is susceptible to errors induced by radiation, which may be present in space (e.g., proton and heavy ion radiation) or come from another vehicle having a radar device (e.g., RF radiation). Conventional methods of shielding high speed serial bus networks and COTS parts from radiation do not adequately protect against proton and heavy ion radiation radiation. In addition, conventional shielding may be damaged (e.g., during repair of a vehicle), permitting a radiation induced latch-up error or upset error to occur. A COTS part experiencing a radiation induced latch-up error typically does not operate properly on the associated high speed bus network. A COTS part experiencing a radiation induced upset error typically communicates erroneous data to the associated node or on the high speed bus network. Thus, vehicles that use COTS to implement a conventional high speed serial bus network are often susceptible to radiation induced errors that may interrupt communication between vehicle nodes, creating potential vehicle performance problems.
For example, a conventional high-speed serial bus following the standard IEEE-1394 ("IEEE-1394 bus") allows a personal computer to be connected to consumer electronics audio/video appliances, storage peripherals, and portable consumer devices for high speed multi-media communication. However, when a conventional IEEE-1394 bus is implemented in a vehicle using COTS parts, radiation from another vehicle's radar or radiation present in space may cause a latch-up or upset error on the conventional IEEE-1394 bus that often renders one or more of the vehicle's nodes inoperative.
Some conventional vehicles employ a second or redundant high-speed serial bus to allow communication between vehicle nodes to be switched to the redundant bus when a "hard fail" (e.g., vehicle node ceases to communicate on the first bus) occurs on the first bus. Radiation induced latch-up errors often cause "hard fails" when COTS parts are used in the vehicle nodes to implement the first and redundant busses. For example, the U.S. Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) aircraft has a redundant IEEE-1394 high-speed serial bus network. But the ATF and other conventional vehicles employing a redundant high-speed serial bus implemented using COTS components are still typically susceptible to radiation latch-up or upset errors and do allow for recovery of the primary bus when a "hard fail" occurs on that bus.
Therefore, a need exists for systems and methods that overcome the problems noted above and others previously experienced for error recovery on a high speed serial bus.

Method and systems for a radiation tolerant bus interface circuit


Diffusion media for use in PEM fuel cells are provided with silicone coatings. The media are made of a porous electroconductive substrate, a first hydrophobic fluorocarbon polymer coating adhered to the substrate, and a second coating comprising a hydrophobic silicone polymer adhered to the substrate. The substrate is preferably a carbon fiber paper, the hydrophobic fluorocarbon polymer is PTFE or similar polymer, and the silicone is moisture curable.

Fuel cells are increasingly being used as a power source for electric vehicles and other applications. An exemplary fuel cell has a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with catalytic electrodes and a proton exchange membrane (PEM) formed between the electrodes. Gas diffusion media play an important role in PEM fuel cells. Generally disposed between catalytic electrodes and flow field channels in the fuel cell, they provide reactant and product permeability, electronic conductivity, and heat conductivity, as well as mechanical strength needed for proper functioning of the fuel cell.
During operation of the fuel cell, water is generated at the cathode based on electrochemical reactions involving hydrogen and oxygen occurring within the MEA. Efficient operation of a fuel cell depends on the ability to provide effective water management in the system. For example, the diffusion media prevent the electrodes from flooding (i.e., filling with water and severely restricting O2 access) by removing product water away from the catalyst layer while maintaining reactant gas flow from the bipolar plate through to the catalyst layer.
The gas diffusion media are generally constructed of carbon fiber containing materials. Although carbon fibers are themselves relatively hydrophobic, it is usually desirable to increase the hydrophobicity or to at least treat the carbon fiber with a more stable hydrophobic coating. Adding a hydrophobic agent such as polytetrafluoroethylene (FTFE) to the carbon fiber diffusion media is a common process for increasing the hydrophobicity. This process is normally done by dipping carbon fiber papers into a solution that contains PTFE particles and other wetting agents, such as non-ionic surfactants.
Fuel cell stacks can contain a large number of fuel cells depending on the power requirement of the application. For example, typical fuel stacks have up to 200 individual fuel cells and more. Because the fuel cells in the stacks operate in series, a weakness or poor performance in one cell can translate into poor performance of the entire stack. For this reason, it is desirable for every fuel cell in the stack to operate at high efficiency.
Because typical fuel stacks contain so many individual fuel cells, it has been observed that, even with a high degree of reliability of manufacture of diffusion media, it is sometimes observed that an individual or several diffusion media will have less than optimum performance, especially at a high relative humidity. When that occurs, a fuel stack containing such a fuel cell will generally exhibit less than optimum performance. Thus, diffusion media with enhanced hydrophobic properties and methods for producing them that lead to consistent results among hundreds of fuel cells in a single fuel stack would be an advance in the art.

Fuel cells with hydrophobic diffusion medium


An improved semiconductor device and manufacturing method for the same is described. The device is provided with an interleaved carbon pattern. The heat produced in the semi conductor device can be quickly dissipated and the undesirable temperature elevation can be prevented due to the low thermal conductivity of the carbon pattern.

The present invention relates to an electric device provided with carbon pattern structure and manufacturing method for the same.
Recently, a process for forming carbon films having a very high hardness has been developed utilizing chemical vapor reactions. An example is described in Japanese Patent Application No. sho56-146936 filed on Sep. 17, 1981. Carbon films of this type are very useful due to the their high hardness providing a smooth and corrosion-proof surface. These advantages, however, make etching become difficult on the other hand, while etching process is very important particularly in the semiconductor device manufacture.

Electric device provided with carbon pattern structure and manufacturing method for the same

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A device receives application information associated with applications provided by a network, and determines service package identifiers for one or more applications identified in the application information. The device also receives information associated with devices and subscribers of the network, and determines security key parameters based on the information associated with the devices and the subscribers of the network. The device further generates, based on the security key parameters, a security key for each of the service package identifiers.

A service provider is an entity (e.g., a business or an organization) that sells bandwidth of or access to a network (e.g., the Internet, a data network, a telecommunication network, etc.) associated with the service provider. Service providers may include telecommunications companies, data carriers, wireless communications providers, Internet service providers, cable television operators offering high-speed Internet access, etc. Service provider networks enable third party application developers to create applications that use network resources, such as location systems that determine locations of mobile communication devices. These applications make requests to a network device, such as a gateway. The network device processes the requests and sends the requests to service provider systems that provide services, such as determining the locations of mobile communication devices, messaging, and/or other services. Such service provider systems may be referred to as enablers.
The service provider network defines application programming interfaces (APIs) for third party application developers to access the capabilities of enablers in the service provider network. A third party application often needs to authenticate a person (i.e., an end user) using the third party application, and often provides some form of authentication of the end user. However, in many cases, it is preferable to have the service provider network perform this function on behalf of the third party application. For example, if a developer would like the service provider to bill for an end user's use of the developer's application, the service provider network needs to authenticate the end user of the application. The third party application not only needs to identify the end user, but also needs to receive a level of assurance for that identification.
The generic bootstrapping architecture (GBA) is a technology that enables authentication of a user, of a mobile communication device, for using third party applications and/or network resources. In the GBA, user authentication is instantiated via a security key (e.g., a GBA key) that may be provided in a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) of the mobile communication device and in another network device, such as a network application function (NAF). The GBA may authenticate the user, for using an application, by requesting the security key from the UICC and from the NAF, and by verifying that the security keys match each other.
Security keys may be generated for each third party application, and may be based on a variety of parameters. For example, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Technical Specification (TS) 33.110 specifies that the GBA Ks_local key generation may depend on the following parameters: an Integrated Circuit Card Identification (ICCID); a Bootstrapping Transaction Identifier (B-TID); a random (RAND) challenge generated by a Home Location Register (HLR); a user equipment (UE) identifier (e.g., a mobile equipment identifier (MEID), an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), etc.); a UE application identifier; a UE UICC identifier; a counter limit; etc. The GBA key may be customized to a specific application, for a specific UE, for a specific UICC, for a specific Long Term Evolution (LTE) session, using a specific network challenge value, etc. However, security key customization and proliferation makes security key management complex, difficult, and expensive for service providers since an overwhelming number security keys are generated for applications.

Security key management based on service packaging


An enlarged cover plate assembly is used with a conventional electrical wall switch having a rotatable rocker arm within a mounting bracket with threaded mounting holes with a spacing for conventional cover plates. An enlarged cover plate has an area substantially greater than the area of the wall switch and has a front surface forming a decorative surface and a back surface facing the wall switch. The cover plate further defines an aperture connecting the front and back surfaces and having a length less than the distance between the mounting holes. The enlarged cover plate is attached to the switch mounting bracket. Two flanges extend between the back surface of the enlarged cover plate and the wall switch and are oriented so that the rocker arm moves parallel with the flanges. A rocker arm extension toggle has a first actuating portion that is accessible from the front surface of the enlarged cover plate and a second engaging portion that has a cavity therein for loosely engaging the wall switch rocker arm so that the toggle moves through a greater angle than the switch rocker arm as the toggle rotates to actuate the switch rocker arm. The toggle engages the flanges to define rotation of the toggle within the enlarged plate and within the length of the aperture.

This invention relates to light switch cover plates, and, more particularly, to decorative light switch cover plates.
Wall switches are conventionally mounted in outlet boxes that are recessed in an opening in a wall. The opening is covered by a switch plate that defines an aperture for access to a switch rocker arm that acts to connect and disconnect an electrical circuit. The switch plate is attached to the portion of the switch in the outlet box by two screws that pass through two openings in the switch plate to threadedly mount to a mounting plate through which the actuating member passes. The distance between the threaded holes in the mounting plate is standardized at 21/2 inches.
Normal switch plates are sized to just cover the outlet boxes, e.g., 41/2 inches long by 23/4 inches wide, and cover a relatively small area. Also, conventional toggles for actuating the switch are relatively small and can be difficult to operate, particularly for persons with some disabilities or in a dark or dimly lit room. Larger switch plates have been provided in order to prevent soiling of the wall area around the wall switch, to provide a switch that is more readily located in a dimly lit room, and to provide a relatively broad surface that is suitable for decorating. But such devices have used conventional toggles.
One example of such a large switch plate is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,234,774, issued Nov. 18, 1980, to Paparella. As described therein, an adapter plate is mounted to a conventional switch box and provides threaded wall plate mounting holes that are spaced apart further than conventional mounting holes to provide for sliding movement of a plate that supports a rotatable extension for the wall switch rocker arm. The additional space is required to accommodate the throw length of an extension to the rocker arm of the switch box.
Other styles for altering a conventional switch toggle are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,753,511 and 3,121,778. The '511 patent shows a slider cap that interacts with the toggle to replace the arcuate toggle motion with a linear cap motion. The '778 patent shows an extension handle rotateably mounted on a yoke that is wedged onto the switch toggle. The yoke includes a flange to hold the yoke on a switch cover plate, which further defines an arced portion to accommodate the throw of the yoke on the toggle.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an enlarged switch plate for use with conventional wall switches that attaches directly or indirectly to the wall switch mounting.
One other object of the present invention is to provide an enlarged toggle switch for easy manipulation by persons with disabilities.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a rotatable extension for the wall switch rocker arm that has a throw length compatible with the spacing between conventional mounting holes in a wall switch.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.


Using at least one pressure sensor in an emptying pipe or a feed pipe between emptying valves at the outlets from tanks and feed valves for feeding nozzles, to detect the pressure waves that result form opening and closing a feed valve, and then following operation of said valve, detecting the damping or disappearance of the pressure waves, indicating that the transition between the liquid propellant component and the pressurization gas is going past said pressure sensor, and thus that the tank is completely empty. This detection of complete emptying is a step in a method of managing propellant that makes it possible to allocate the remaining propellant to a residual lifetime for the satellite in orbit and/or to re-orbiting or de-orbiting the satellite.

De-orbiting or re-orbiting artificial satellites at the end of their operational lifetime is an operation that is tending to be applied systematically, for two major reasons:                with geostationary satellites, the geostationary orbit can receive only a limited number of satellites occupying positions that are predefined and allocated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and it is desirable or even necessary to release those positions at the end of the working lifetime of a satellite so that these positions can be reused;        for satellites in low orbit, the number of satellites is increasing and in the shorter or longer term they present risks of colliding with one another or, which would be much more serious, with an inhabited space station, and rules are currently being drawn up for limiting the orbiting lifetime of such satellites once they have reached the end of their mission, with one recommendation that is widely accepted at present being a lifetime limited to 25 years.
A satellite is generally de-orbited or re-orbited by using thrust from at least one of two nozzles or pluralities of nozzles that were previously used for controlling the orbit and/or the attitude of the satellite while it was in operation, after which the residual quantity of propellant, or a fraction of said residual quantity, is used to feed said nozzles or pluralities of nozzles so as to perform said de-orbiting or re-orbiting maneuver.
For a commercial satellite, and in particular for a telecommunications satellite in geostationary orbit, the advantage in prolonging the operating period of the satellite as much as possible can be seen immediately. The operator has every interest in triggering the change-of-orbit sequence as late as possible, while still remaining compatible with the minimum requirements in terms of propellant needed for feeding the nozzles or pluralities of nozzles so as to ensure the satellite is put onto a "graveyard" orbit.

Method for detecting complete draining of a propellant tank and for propellant management on board a satellite


The present invention discloses an overcurrent detection device, which uses a first NOT gate and a second NOT gate to reverse the logic states of a first digital signal and a second digital signal which are digitalized audio signals in a class D power amplifier. Next, a CMOS transistor receives the reversed digital signals and drives a load. A comparing circuit detects the current of the load and compares the current with the reversed first and second digital signals. When the current of the load is too high, the comparing circuit respectively outputs a first electrical signal and a second electrical signal to a first logic gate and a second logic gate. Then, the logic gate outputs a signal to activate a protection circuit to prevent the entire circuit be damaged or burned out.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a detection device, particularly to an overcurrent detection device.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the prevalence of IC technology, CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) is also extensively used in various electronic elements, such as the Class-D audio power amplifier. The Class-D audio power amplifier is a high-efficiency amplifier outputting only two states (1 and 0) and usually used to drive a high-load speaker. As the Class-D audio power amplifier has very high energy conversion efficiency, it has been widely used in portable electronic products and can reduce the power consumption of portable electronic products. Thus, the standby time is prolonged, and the portability of electronic products is increased.
Refer to FIG. 1 for a conventional overcurrent detection device. A common power amplifier uses a current detector to detect the load current. When the current is over a given value, a protection circuit is triggered. Such an architecture usually needs a comparator 10 and a detection resistor 12. The comparator 10 receives the voltages at two terminals of the detection resistor 12 as the input signals and outputs a voltage signal to trigger a protection circuit.
In a class D power amplifier the audio signal is a digital signal and the conventional current detector can no longer be applied. Therefore the present invention proposes an overcurrent detection scheme, which achieves overcurrent detection by applying digitalized audio signal as control signal. Therefore, the present invention proposes an overcurrent detection device, which detects the overcurrent of the load through digitalized audio signal.


Provided are a multi-pilot generation method and a detection method in a multi-antenna communication system. In the method, a transmission side superimposes a first preamble sequence and a third preamble sequence to generate a second preamble sequence, which is subjected to serial/parallel conversion before the first preamble sequence and the second preamble sequence are successively transmitted from a plurality of antennas by time division. A reception side receives the first preamble sequence and the second preamble sequence by a plurality of antennas, separates the third preamble sequence from the second preamble sequence by a spatial division process, and performs a pilot correlation process by using the first preamble sequence and the separated third preamble sequence.

An orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) system and a MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) are core techniques in future radio communication. Merging an OFDM system with a MIMO system makes it possible to effectively improve frequency spectrum efficiency and simplify the system. In the MIMO system, data is transmitted from a plurality of radio physical channels simultaneously, and so, a preamble sequence is generated in the frequency domain, space domain and time domain simultaneously, and therefore the MIMO system is more complicated than a SISO (Single Input Single Output) system.
In a radio communication system, pilots and training sequences have quite important roles. This radio communication system generates a variety of pilots for channel estimation, timing synchronization and frequency offset estimation (Non-Patent Document 1) and the like, applies different methods for generating their respective preamble sequences and uses channel resources different from each other. To guarantee the accuracy of synchronization, frequency offset and channel estimation, pilots use more resources if preamble sequences and data sequences have the same length. For example, pilot energy is higher than data energy, and so, in the OFDM communication system, a carrier interval of short training sequences is four times the subcarrier interval of normal symbols.
The most part of studies on the MIMO system focus attention on the generation of a preamble sequence when channel estimation is carried out. Those studies are targeted at a MIMO channel environment and determine a scheme of generating a preamble sequence for channel estimation, thereby obtaining an optimum solution for the preamble sequence. On the other hand, to eliminate a frequency offset, a method of eliminating a frequency offset of a SISO system is generally used (Non-Patent Document 2). FIG. 1 shows a pilot configuration in an IEEE802.11 protocol. The frequency offset elimination pilot and the channel estimation pilot use different symbol resources in the IEEE802.11 protocol, so that a long preamble sequence of 8 ms is provided for the channel estimation pilot, and ten short preamble sequences include four training sequences for frequency offset estimation.    Non-Patent Document 1: Richard van Nee, Ramjee Prased "OFDM wireless multimedia communications, Boston, London: Artech House, 2000"    Non-Patent Document 2: IEEE C802.16e-04/192, "Preamble design to improve MIMO support", 2004.6.26

Multi-pilot generation method and detection method in multi-antenna communication system