A switching power supply apparatus includes a first inductor that is serially connected to a primary winding of a transformer, and a second inductor that is arranged so as to apply a voltage of a capacitor with sine waves obtained by rectifying an AC input voltage for an on-period of a first switching circuit. A diode for preventing the inverse current to the second inductor and a capacitor that is charged by excitation energy charged to the second inductor and applies a voltage to the primary winding for on-period of the first switching circuit. Further, a capacitor is arranged so that the inductor, the primary winding, and a second switching circuit define a closed loop. Switching control circuits control the on-period of a first switching element to control an output voltage Vo, and further control an input voltage Vi by controlling the on-period of a second switching element.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a switching power supply apparatus which intermittently supplies the power from an input power supply, converts the power by an inductor, and outputs a predetermined DC voltage.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a switching power supply apparatus has a harmonic property and a power-factor property. The harmonic property corresponds to a suppressing function of harmonic current flowing to an input power line from the switching power supply apparatus, and has a predetermined upper limit of the harmonic current to prevent any harmful influences on another device. The power-factor property corresponds to a power factor of input of the switching power supply apparatus and, preferably, may be increased so as to reduce the loss of a power system.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-187664 (Patent Document 1), Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 4-21358 (Patent Document 2) and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 7-75334 (Patent Document 3) disclose conventional switching power supply apparatuses.
FIG. 14 shows the structure of the switching power: supply apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1. Referring to FIG. 14, a first switching circuit S1 is a parallel circuit including a first switching element Q1, a first diode D1, and a first capacitor C1. A second switching circuit S2 is a parallel circuit including a second switching element Q2, a second diode D2, and a second capacitor C2.
Reference numeral T denotes a transformer, and a first switching circuit S1 and an input power supply E are serially connected to a serial circuit including a primary winding T1 and an inductor L. A serial circuit including a second switching circuit S2 and a capacitor C is connected to a serial circuit including the primary winding T1 and the inductor L in parallel therewith. A secondary winding T2 of the transformer T includes a rectifying and smoothing circuit RS including a rectifying diode Ds and a smoothing capacitor Co. A capacitor Cs is connected to the rectifying diode Ds on the secondary side in parallel therewith. A detecting circuit 14 detects an output voltage Vo supplied to the load and output current Io, if necessary. A control circuit 11 inputs a voltage generated by a bias winding T3, and provides positive feedback to the switching element Q1, thereby self-oscillating the switching element Q1. A control circuit 12 inputs a voltage generated by a bias winding T4 and controls the off-timing of the switching element Q2, thereby controlling the on-period of the switching element Q2.
FIG. 15 shows the structure of the switching power supply apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2. Referring to FIG. 15, an AC voltage supplied from an AC power supply 2 is rectified by a rectifier 4, and is smoothed by a smoothing capacitor 6, thereby obtaining a rectifying voltage Vin. Then, the rectifying voltage Vin is supplied to a first power converting unit 8 and a second power converting unit 10. When the switching transistor Qs is turned-on, the rectifying voltage Vin is added to a primary winding L1 including a choke coil CH, a diode Db, and a high-frequency transformer T, thereby charging the energy to the choke coil CH. The switching transistor Qs is turned-off, the energy of the choke coil CH sends the current to the diode Dc, the primary winding L1, and the capacitor C1. The on/off-operation of the switching transistor Qs is repeated and the voltage induced to a secondary winding L2 of the transformer T is smoothed by a diode D2 and a capacitor Co, thereby outputting a DC voltage Vo. A pulse width control circuit 16 controls the energization time of the switching transistor Qs in accordance with the change in output voltage Vo, thereby stabilizing the output voltage Vo.
FIG. 16 shows the structure of the switching power supply apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 3. Referring to FIG. 16, a full-wave rectifying circuit 2 inputs an AC input voltage from an input terminal 1-1′, thereby outputting a rectifying voltage Ei. A first capacitor 3 smoothes the current of an inductor 20 via a second switching element 6 and a second capacitor 7, and supplies a DC voltage E3. A first switching element 4 converts, into an AC voltage, the rectifying voltage Ei via the inductor 20 and the DC voltage E3 of the first capacitor 7 via a primary winding 51 of a transformer 5, via a high-frequency switching operation. The second switching element 6 and the first switching element 4 are alternately turned on/off by the control circuit 11. The second capacitor 7 absorbs and releases a portion of excitation energy stored in the transformer 5 and the current of the inductor 20 for an on-period of the second switching element 6. A diode 8 and a capacitor 9 define a rectifying and smoothing circuit. The rectifying and smoothing circuit rectifies and smoothes a fly-back voltage of an AC voltage with a high frequency generated to a secondary winding 52, and further outputs a DC output voltage Eo to an output terminal 10-10′. The control circuit 11 detects the DC output voltage Eo and controls an on/off ratio of the first switching element 4 and the second switching element 6.
However, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a voltage clamping circuit performs a zero-voltage switching operation (hereinafter, referred to as ZVS operation), thereby improving the efficiency. However, a harmonic-current suppressing function is not provided.
As disclosed in Patent Document 2, the harmonic-current suppressing function is provided. However, the ZVS operation is not executed. Therefore, the loss of switching operation is large and the circuit efficiency deteriorates. When the power supply is shut-off from the input power supply at the prompt stop of power supply, the voltage is greatly increased at the low load and is above the withstand voltage of the elements because of a non-control operation of a voltage of the capacitor C1 for ensuring an output holding time for continuously supplying the output for a predetermined time period.
As disclosed in Patent Document 3, a voltage clamping circuit performs the ZVS operation, and includes the harmonic-current suppressing function. However, the current generated by the switching operation flows to a diode for rectifying a commercial AC voltage (corresponding to the full-wave rectifying circuit 2 shown in FIG. 16), and therefore, the loss of the diode is substantial and the reducing effect of the harmonic current is reduced. Therefore, a low-pass filter must be provided in the commercial AC power line. Similar to Patent Document 2, since the voltage of the capacitor 3 for ensuring that the output holding time is not controlled, there is a problem in that the voltage greatly increases at the low load and the voltage exceeds the withstand pressure of the components.


The present invention relates to an archery broadhead system or more specifically to an archery broadhead having primary blades that are axially offset from the central axis of the arrow and having cutting paths that are connected by a central bleeder blade. The archery broadhead of the present invention creating a “Z” shaped penetration.

The present invention relates to an archery broadhead system or more specifically to an archery broadhead having primary blades that are axially offset from the central axis of the arrow and having cutting paths that are connected by a central bleeder blade. The archery broadhead of the present invention creating a "Z" shaped penetration.
Early in the evolution of hunting, man certainly recognized that a sharpened stick could be used to harvest an animal, and somewhere shortly thereafter, they found that by attaching a shaped stone point to the stick, a larger more lethal opening could be inflicted. This allowed them to more effectively harvest game, challenge larger animals and ultimately allow the species of man to survive. This record is clearly recorded in petroglyphs, rock painting and the numberless obsidian, slate and flint arrowheads scattered across the globe. The obsidian points of Neolithic man and the American Indians are the ancient predecessors of the modern broadhead.
Modern two blade broadhead points are typically triangular in shape with the point in front and extending back toward the arrow shaft. The broadhead blades are razor sharp and approximately two inches long and an inch wide at the base, this shape allows for maximum penetration into the animals vital organs; the planer blades slicing through blood vessel and veins and opening a large wound path which allows the animal to "bleed out" quickly and die with minimal suffering. However, since the two blade broadhead creates a substantially planer cutting path, the blades may enter the animal aligned parallel with surface of an organ or, length of a vein, and may pass very close to the vital structure without actually cutting into the structure and creating the necessary bleeding for a quick kill. Because of this issue, there are broadhead points that have three or four fixed blades, or replaceable "bleeder blades", which create an off plane cutting path to intercept vital structures as the arrow penetrates the animal.
Also, when analyzing broadhead cutting paths and effectiveness, it logically occurs that a wider broadhead will create a larger cutting path, with a higher likelihood of intercepting vital structures. However, there are limitations to broadhead width, if a broadhead becomes too wide the surface area of the broadhead will have a propensity to steer the arrow and create a less accurate or even unpredictable flight. To overcome this, the industry has introduced numerous mechanical broadhead points, having one or more blades that retract against the broadhead body or ferrule and mechanically extend to wide cutting width once the arrow impacts the target, such as the broadhead point of US Patent Application 20140155202, filed Mar. 15, 2013 by Young. However, the limitations of this type of broadhead include durability once the moving blades have contacted a target, difficulty in manufacture and overall cost of the broadhead.
The durability issue also arises when a broadhead point strikes a heavy bone in the animal. Most blades or points will slice through rib bones and will cause a heavy bone such a leg bone or hip to fracture. These strikes may be effective at stopping a large animal but will cause a broadhead with replaceable blades to come apart, leaving a lost blade or portion of blade in meat that is intended for consumption and again broken blades are a cost consideration. Also, if a bone is struck on entry and the replaceable blades are broken off, the remaining ferrule point will no longer effectively cut a wound channel as the arrow penetrates and the wounded animal may be lost. There are some heavy cast or forged broadhead points that are designed to break through bone, such as, the point of U.S. Pat. No. 8,771,113, filed Feb. 5, 2013 issued to Patton. Weight versus the overall size and cutting path of the broadhead may become an issue.
What is needed is an archery broadhead system that creates an effective cutting path, has effective penetration, accurate, easily manufactured and durable.


A method for seismic event mapping includes transforming seismic signals recorded at selected positions into a domain of possible spatial positions of a source of seismic events. An origin in spatial position and time of at least one seismic event is determined from space and time distribution of at least one attribute of the transformed seismic data.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of seismic data acquisition and processing to image subsurface Earth formation structures. More specifically, the invention relates to methods for acquiring and processing passive seismic data, that is, seismic data acquired without the use of a controllable source.
2. Background Art
Passive seismic emission tomography is a process in which an array of seismic sensors is deployed in a selected pattern on the Earth's surface (or on the water bottom in marine surveys) and seismic energy is detected at the sensors that emanates from various seismic events occurring within the Earth's subsurface. Processing the signals detected by the sensors is used to determine, among other things, the position in the Earth's subsurface at which the various seismic events took place.
Applications for passive seismic emission tomography include, for example, determining the point of origin of microearthquakes caused by movement along geologic faults (breaks in rock layers or formations), movement of fluid in subsurface reservoirs, and monitoring of movement of proppant-filled fluid injected into subsurface reservoirs to increase the effective wellbore radius of wellbores drilled through hydrocarbon-producing subsurface Earth formations ("fracturing"). The latter application, known as "frac monitoring" is intended to enable the wellbore operator to determine, with respect to time, the direction and velocity at which the proppant filled fluid moves through particular subsurface Earth formations.
Passive seismic emission tomography for the above types of interpretation includes determining what are seismic-induced events from within the signals detected at each of the seismic sensors, and for each event detected at the seismic sensors, determining the spatial position and time of the origin of the seismic event. Passive seismic interpretation methods known in the art are undergoing continuous improvement to better resolve the source of seismic events originating from the Earth's subsurface. There continues to be a need for improved methods of passive seismic emission tomography.

Method for passive seismic emission tomography


A wood-cement board is manufactured by a method comprising mixing 30 to 40% by weight of cement material, 20 to 27% by weight of wood flake, and 30 to 40% by weight of fly ash to prepare a raw material mixture, strewing said raw material mixture on a mold panel to form a mat, pressing and pre-curing said mat with moisture, and main-curing said pre-cured mat in an autoclave. Preferably the particle size of said fly ash is selected so that less than 10% by weight of fly ash may remain on the sieve whose opening size is 150 .mu.m and said main-curing process is carried out at a temperature of the saturated aqueous vapor in a range between 140 to 165.degree. C. for 7 to 10 hours.

Recently, plenty of wood-cement boards are used as a siding board of a house. Said wood-cement board is manufactured by the dry or semi-dry method wherein a raw material mixture including cement material and wood flake is strewed on a mold panel to form a mat and said mat is cured by pressing with moisture.
By applying the dry or semi-dry method to mafufacture the wood-cement board, a clear-cut design can be easily given on the surface of the wood-cement board so that the dry or semi-dry method may be useful to manufacture the siding board having a clear-cut design like natural stones or tiles on its surface.
Nevertheless, in a case where said wood-cement board is used as a siding board, said wood-cement board may be exposed to the outside environment such as wind, rain, and the like and when the curing of the cement material in said wood-cement board is not enough, it is feared that said wood-cement board is cracked or bent by said outside environment.


Charge-discharge cycle performance is improved in a lithium secondary battery including a negative electrode containing a negative electrode active material having silicon as its main component, provided on a surface of a current collector, a positive electrode containing a positive electrode active material, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode active material is a lithium transition metal oxide containing Li and Co and having a layered structure, and further containing a group IVA element of the periodic table, such as Zr, Ti, or Tf, and a group IIA element of the periodic table, such as Mg.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to lithium secondary batteries.
2. Description of Related Art
Lithium secondary batteries using a non-aqueous electrolyte and performing a charge-discharge operation by shifting lithium ions between positive and negative electrodes have been utilized in recent years as a new type of high power, high energy density secondary battery.
As for electrodes for such lithium secondary batteries, some research has been conducted on electrodes that use a material capable of alloying with lithium as its negative electrode active material. One example of the material capable of alloying with lithium that has been studied is silicon. However, a problem with a material capable of alloying with lithium such as silicon has been that the active material expands and shrinks when it intercalates (absorbs) and deintercalates (desorbs) lithium, causing the active material to pulverize or peel off from the current collector as the charge-discharge process is repeated. As a consequence, the current collection performance in the electrode reduces, degrading the battery's charge-discharge cycle performance.
The present applicant has found that an electrode formed by depositing on a current collector an active material thin film that intercalates and deintercalates lithium, such as an amorphous silicon thin film or a microcrystalline silicon thin film, shows high charge-discharge capacity and excellent charge-discharge cycle performance. (See International Publication WO 01/29913).
In this type of electrode, the active material thin film is divided into columnar structures by gaps formed along its thickness, and bottom portions of the columnar structures are in close contact with the current collector. In the electrode with such a structure, spaces form around the columnar structures. These spaces alleviate stress caused by the expansion and shrinkage of the thin film associated with charge-discharge cycles and prevent the occurrence of stress that causes the active material thin film to peel off from the current collector. Therefore, such an electrode can attain excellent charge-discharge cycle performance.
It is believed, however, that because of the electrode structure in which the negative electrode active material thin film is divided into columnar structures by gaps that form along its thickness, the above-noted electrode has a large surface area of the active material that comes into contact with the electrolyte solution, which can accelerate a decomposition reaction of the electrolyte solution. It is believed that, consequently, a larger amount of reaction product forms on the electrode surface than that formed on the surface of a negative electrode composed of a carbon material, which is commonly used at present, and the product diffuses through the electrolyte solution toward the positive electrode side and consequently promotes degradation of the positive electrode. As a result, due to the degradation of the positive electrode active material, the battery's charge-discharge cycle performance deteriorates.


A method of fabricating a cathodic portion of a field emission display includes the steps of producing an array of substantially parallel carbon nanotubes attached at one end to a substantially planar substrate. Then, embedding the nanotubes in a polymer matrix that extends to a plane of attachment of the nanotubes to the planar substrate, wherein the polymer matrix allows an end of the nanotubes distal from the ends attached to the planar substrate, uncovered by the polymer matrix in order to allow electrical contact with each other and with an attached conductor. Next, detaching the array from the planar substrate, thus producing a surface having the formerly attached ends of the nanotubes substantially in a plane, and then attaching the conductor to the array of nanotube ends, uncovered by the polymer matrix and distal to the plane.

There have been efforts to produce field emission displays (FED), which provide a flat panel display using large-area field electron sources to provide electrons that strike colored phosphor to produce a color image. FED's combine the advantages of CRTs, such as providing high contrast levels and very fast response times, while providing the advantages of flat panel technologies. They also offer the possibility of requiring less power, about half that of an LCD system for example. An FED display operates similar to a conventional cathode ray tube (CRT) with an electron gun that uses high voltage to accelerate electrons which in turn excite the phosphors, but instead of a single electron gun, a FED display contains a grid of individual nanoscopic electron guns. In the past, an FED screen was constructed by laying down a series of metal stripes onto a glass plate to form a series of cathode lines. A series of rows of switching gates is formed at right angles to the cathode lines, forming an addressable grid. At the intersection of each row and column a small patch of emitters are deposited. The metal grid is laid on top of the switching gates to complete the gun structure. A high voltage-gradient field is created between the emitters and a metal mesh suspended above them, pulling electrons off the tips of the emitters. This is a highly non-linear process and small changes in voltage will quickly cause the number of emitted electrons to saturate. The grid can be individually addressed but only the emitters located at the crossing points of the powered cathode and gate lines will have enough power to produce a visible spot, and any power leaks to surrounding elements will not be visible. The grid voltage sends the electrons flowing into the open area between the emitters at the back and the screen at the front of the display, where a second accelerating voltage additionally accelerates them towards the screen, giving them enough energy to light the phosphors. Since the electrons from any single emitter are fired toward a single sub-pixel, scanning electromagnets are not needed.
Although shown to be a viable display technology, past efforts have not produced displays which would allow use in commercial products. In FED devices, strong electric field and high temperature can cause electron emission from a material. In contrast to conduction current, emission current may be low, but the energy of electrons is much higher in emission than in conduction, thus making them useful for a number of applications, like displays or electron microscopy. Emission from flat metal electrodes require very high voltages at room temperatures. On the other hand, sharp needlelike cathodes require lower voltages due to enhancement of electric fields at the tip of an electrode. An example of a sharp material for electron emission are carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes have unique electrical and mechanical properties. Emission from a single carbon nanotube starts at a much lower voltage than a corresponding metal wire of similar dimensions. It has been suggested that the carbon nanotubes have atomically sharp wires dangling from its ends or tips. As compared to a single carbon nanotube, an array of carbon nanotubes' threshold voltage is much higher and its emission current decreased by a large amount.
There have been efforts to use carbon nanotubes (CNT) in such displays or other FED applications. For example, companies like Motorola, Samsung and Cendescent have shown small VGA FED type prototypes in various technical meetings (e.g. Motorola's "Nano-emissive display, 5" diagonal and 3.3 mm thick). However, there are many challenges to achieve uniform field emission from a large area of aligned CNT. In prior efforts, the synthesis of large area aligned CNT with uniform height was not achievable. In such efforts, longer CNT are closer to the anode than the smaller CNT. Therefore emission current from different sections of CNT cathode may be different. Additionally, stray carbon nanotubes may get pulled out of the array forming a resistive contact with the anode, which causes short-circuiting. An additional limitation relates to a screening effect. It has been suggested that the threshold voltage increased due to a screening effect. The screening effect can be thought of as a reduction in an effective electric field at a tip of a needle when other needles with similar potentials are placed within its proximity. Current density achieved from macroscopic samples of carbon nanotubes are of the order of 1 mA/cm2. The emission current from single carbon nanotube of 10 nm diameter was 1 mA. This means that only one thousand carbon nanotubes are effectively emitting from an area of 1 cm2, as compared to 108 carbon nanotubes present. Therefore, a need exists for a field emission display that is more efficient. Due to proximity of neighboring CNTs, electron emission from an array of CNT occurs at much higher voltages as compared to single CNT. This is disadvantageous because higher voltages are then required for desired emission from a CNT array to produce the pixel or sub-pixel brightness or other characteristics as desired. Efforts to overcome these challenges have resulted in different techniques being used, such as like dispersing CNT with an organic binder or screen printing of the CNT array. These methods can create uniform coatings of CNT. However, using these techniques, aligned CNT cathodes cannot be generated. Therefore, a need exists for a field emission display that is more efficient.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional, traditional, and proposed approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems and methods with the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

Carbon nanotube based field emission devices and methods


A digital PLL in uses pulse width detection to provide frequency/phase error correction for a DCO. A pulse width detector is implemented using fine and coarse detection circuits which provide selectable fine and coarse detection granularity. Both the fine and coarse detection circuits use a number of individual detector elements coupled in sequence--a phase error pulse propagates through the detector elements which quantize pulse width detection. Each detector element includes a pulse width detect latch that latches an phase error pulse width indication for the current cycle and the previous cycle. A comparator determines in each cycle whether the phase error pulse width has changed--a phase correction signal is generated if either (a) the fine detection circuit detects that the phase error pulse width is increasing, or (b) the course detection circuit detects that the phase error is not decreasing.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates generally to integrated circuits using phase locked loop (PLL) circuits, and more particularly relates to frequency and phase error correction mechanisms for PLLs.
In an exemplary embodiment, the invention is used in a digital PLL clock generation circuit that generates the internal clock for a microprocessor.
2. Related Art
Microprocessors commonly employ PLL (phase locked loop) circuits as clock generators that provide an internal clock (which is typically multiplied to provide the CPU core clock) that is synchronized to an external computer system or reference clock. In digital PLLs, a digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) is used to generate the internal clock. Phase error correction circuitry provides control signals to the DCO to maintain synchronization between the generated internal clock and the input reference clock (i.e., correcting deviations in the generated internal clock frequency from the reference clock frequency). The DCO may be either a VCO (voltage controlled oscillator) or ICO (current controlled oscillator), with the frequency error correction circuitry respectively providing either a control voltage or control current. Without limiting the scope of the invention, this background information is provided in the context of a specific problem to which the invention has application: providing a digital PLL with reduced susceptibility to jitter, noise, and process variations.
A variety of phase error correction mechanisms are used to maintain phase lock synchronization with the input reference clock in PLLs. In charge pump PLLs, such as described in the Gardner reference cited at the end of the Background, error correction is made proportional to the magnitude of error pulses that represent phase error. A capacitor is used to provide a VCO control voltage or an ICO control current--the error pulses get translated into a voltage differential at the capacitor (i.e., charge is added to or removed from the capacitor) changing the VCO control voltage and thereby causing the VCO frequency to increase or decrease based on the phase error.
An alternative phase error correction technique is described in the Dunning reference cited at the end of the Background--a control word is used to control the frequency of DCO. The control word is stored in an anchor register. Phase error correction is accomplished by updating the control word in the direction needed to reduce the phase error. When the phase error switches from lead to lag (or vise versa), the control word in the anchor register is updated.
The charge pump technique is problematic in that the frequency gain of the VCO, the size of the resistor(s) and capacitor(s) used in the loop filter, and the amount of charge moved from the capacitor given an error pulse need to be carefully balanced to guarantee good results.
The control word technique is problematic in that it requires a means of finding the correct value to store in the anchor register. Also, in the presence of noise, the cycle to cycle jitter could be large because the control word for the DCO will be changed abruptly to the control word loaded from the anchor register whenever the error changes from lead to lag or vise versa.
A disadvantage of both the charge-pump and the control word error correction techniques is that they are designed to make corrections after every cycle when there is an error present. Two types of errors can be present in a PLL system: a cycle time error and a phase error. The cycle time error refers to the error in the oscillation frequency of the oscillator (i.e., the frequency of the generated internal clock). The phase error refers to the skew between the rising edge of the input reference clock versus the rising edge of the generated internal clock. For a PLL, the only error that can be detected is the phase error. For example, starting from a state with zero phase error, and 100 ps cycle time error, absent error correction, the phase error will accumulate by N*100 ps per reference clock cycle (where N is the ratio of core clock frequency to reference clock frequency). If N=1 (i.e., clock multiplication is not used, and the core clock frequency is the same as the reference clock frequency), the phase error, cycle time error, and what action might be taken for several cycles starting from zero phase error and 100 ps cycle time error are shown in the table below.
______________________________________ Phase Cycle Cycle Error Error Action Taken ______________________________________ 0 0 ps 100 ps None. 1 100 ps 100 ps Oscillator control is adjusted to reduce the cycle time error to 80 ps. 2 180 ps 80 ps Oscillator control is adjusted to reduce the cycle time error to 50 ps. 3 230 ps 50 ps Cycle time error is reduced to 0. 4 230 ps 0 ps C cycle time error is corrected again now it is -50 ps. 5 180 ps -50 ps Cycle time is adjusted so that CE is -80 ps. 6 100 ps -80 ps Cycle time is adjusted so that CE is -100 ps. 7 0 ps -100 ps Charge pump PLL - none. Control word PLL - push in the contents of the anchor register into the DCO control register. ______________________________________
Note that after 7 cycles, the phase error has been reduced to zero again but the cycle time error is 100 ps. Charge pump PLLs use a resistor between the charge pump and the capacitor--the IR voltage that develops across the resistor acts to temporarily speed up or slow down the DCO and so the phase of the DCO output is nudged without much alteration of the DCO frequency. For the control word PLL, pushing the control word stored in the anchor register into the DCO yields zero cycle time error when the phase error goes from positive to negative or vise versa.
References: (1) Gardner, "Charge-Pump Phase-Lock Loops," IEEE Trans. Commun., vol. COM-28, pp. 1849-1858, November 1980. (2) Dunning et al., "An All-Digital Phase-Locked Loop with 50-Cycle Lock Time Suitable for High-Performance Microprocessors," IEEE Journal Of Solid State Circuits, Vol. 30, No. 4, April 1995.

PLL using pulse width detection for frequency and phase error correction


A motor vehicle with a roof that is at least partially moveable and can be stowed in the body beneath a cover section. The cover section can be moved upward in a pivoting motion, opening up toward the rear to reveal a stowage opening for the roof sections or for the entire roof. A drive element is provided that lies in a longitudinal vertical plane of the vehicle. When the drive element is in close proximity to its retracted position, it actuates a moveable power pull-down device for the cover which comprises at least one pivoting control arm disposed on the body by acting on the pivoting control arm.

The technique of moving a cover section of this type by means of drive elements, such as hydraulic cylinders, located in the sides of the body is known. With certain body shapes it is desirable for the drive elements to lie relatively low in the body in order to prevent the drive elements from colliding with lateral wheel housings, and in order to utilize available space efficiently with minimum decrease in the remaining trunk space. With this type of flat arrangement, especially during the final phase of closure of the cover section, the problem can arise that either the angle between the line that connects the point of force of the drive element to the pivoting axis of the cover section and the direction of force becomes very small and/or the line that connects the point of applied force and the pivoting axis of the cover section is very short, therefore the amount of torque applied by the drive element to the cover section is very small. This makes closing the cover section harder especially because in this process force must frequently also be applied against the elastic force of a seal, against which the closed cover section is pressing.

Motor vehicle with a movable cover section for the body


A housing for installation in motor vehicles to accommodate SMD electronic components disposed on one side of a multi-layer circuit board or film. A metal plate serves as the carrier for the circuit board or film, with the planar expanse of the metal plate being the same as or greater than that of the board or film, with the board or film being disposed on, attached to and electrically insulated from the metal plate. When the area of the metal plate is greater than that of the board or film, power components are disposed on the surface of the metal plate in a region not covered by the board or film, whereas when the area of the metal plate is substantially the same as that of the board or film, power components are disposed on the board or film, with the metal plate serving as a heat sink for the power components. A connector is mounted on the metal plate in a region covered by the board or film such that the connection pins of the connector are brought into the board or film, with the coupling side of the connector being on the planar side of the metal plate which is opposite the side carrying the board or film. Finally, a mechanical cover arrangement is attached to the metal plate to form a flat housing, with the mechanical cover arrangement covering the surface side of the metal plate carrying the board or film.

The invention relates to a housing for installation in motor vehicles in order to accommodate electronic components.
Electronic control and regulating systems are increasingly employed in motor vehicles. Their components are accommodated in housings which sufficiently protect them against the stresses and interferences occurring during operation. Such housings are partially or completely constructed as metal housings so as to suppress electromagnetic interferences (EMC* interferences). At the same time, such a metal housing serves to dissipate the heat generated by the electrical power so that the electronic components can function properly at an ambient temperature of -40.degree. C. to 120.degree. C., for example, by the additional use of cooling fins. FNT *Translator's Note: EMC=electromagnetic compatibility
This requirement for temperature resistance together with the requirement that the housing be tight makes the overall housing suitable for the engine area. In order to meet all of these requirements, complicated structures are often provided for such housings which also results in high manufacturing costs.

Housing for motor vehicle electronic system


A storage device has a relative address table. An address is sequentially generated by an address adder based on a start address and a plurality of relative addresses held in the relative address table. When a pattern of the address is unchanged, a succeeding access is processed without resetting the relative addresses in the relative address table.

The present invention relates to a system and storage device for image processing, and an accessing method of the storage device, and more particularly to a system and storage device for generating an address of a specified area on a display unit and for accessing that address.
A conventional pattern image generation device for an image processing system uses a special counter to be set into a count mode that corresponds to the address patterns to be generated. For example, the device has modes of incrementing an address at every clock (e.g., video clock), incrementing an address in a block, and making a repetitive address identical in a plurality of signal lines. The device provides a function which is fixed in hardware.
In the conventional scheme, an access to a local data region (e.g., block) of, for example, 3.times.3 pixels, is processed by an exclusive hardware arrangement and an order pattern of input data is fixed. Moreover, the number of pixels to be processed is limited. Hence, when using a pattern other than a pattern which has been prepared in the hardware, high-speed processing becomes difficult. Since the frequency of an access to a memory in which image data has been stored is generally high, transferring all addresses at every access to the memory unnecessarily increases bus traffic to the memory. Thus, system efficiency and processing speed are degraded.

Image processing system, storage device therefor and accessing method thereof


A hair treatment kit comprises a hair treatment composition selected from the group of semi-permanent oxidative and/or direct dye hair colorant compositions, hair bleaching compositions, highlighting compositions, and combinations thereof, a reservoir for holding the temporary hair treatment composition, and an applicator fluidly connected to the reservoir for selectively applying the hair treatment composition to a targeted area of hair. Methods of applying the hair treatment composition comprise selectively engaging the applicator with a targeted area of hair, leaving the hair treatment composition in the targeted area for a time period, washing the hair treatment composition out of the targeted area, closing the reservoir to preserve remaining hair treatment composition for later use, and reapplying the hair treatment composition to the targeted area.

Dyes are used to change the color of hair. Sometimes it is not desirable to apply the dye to every hair on the scalp. Dyes can be applied with applicators comprising of bottles or tubes that dispense a liquid dye to the hair. However, dyes are not always permanent and can wash-out or lose their effectiveness over time. As such, it can be desirable to reapply the dye, thus requiring the consumer to reacquire or repurchase a dye and a dye applicator.

Hair treatment compositions, systems, devices and methods

WELLA INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS SWITZERLAND SARL


A disk transfer device includes first and second edge supporting transfer elements. First and second edge supporting transfer elements are urged toward each other, thereby supporting a disk between them. When no disk is between them the transfer elements are a predetermined distance apart. That predetermined distance is less than the diameter of a disk. Therefore, when a disk is inserted in the disk transfer device at an eject position by a user, the first and second edge supporting transfer elements are pushed apart until they support the disk at diametrically opposed points on the disk. The movement of the first and second transfer elements is detected and the detector to produce a signal indicating that a disk has been inserted in the disk transfer device. In response to this signal, automatic loading of the disk is initiated.

The present invention relates to disk transfer devices that transfer a disk inserted from a disk insertion opening to a playback position using a belt that engages the disk edge.
Japanese utility model laid-open publication no. 60-106250, Japanese laid-open publication no. 2-7263, have proposed disk transfer devices that transfer a disk to a playback position revolving a belt that engages with a disk edge. In these devices, a pair of belts, separated by a distance that allows each to engage an opposite portion of the edge of a disk, revolve around pulleys rotating near an insertion opening. A disk inserted through the disk insertion opening, once it engages the belts, is supported between the belts and moved by the revolving belts in a direction in the plane of the disk's surface. In the first of the above devices, the belts are urged toward each other by a spring so that the disk inserted through the disk insertion opening is securely supported. In the latter device, the pair of belts is always kept apart by a spring. When a disk is inserted through the disk insertion opening, a plunger forces the belts together to support the disk.
In both devices, each of the pair of belts rotates around an axis of a pulley positioned toward the disk insertion opening. In order to support and transfer the disk to the playback position, it was necessary to insert the disk deep into the disk insertion opening until it was supported between inward-facing portion of the belts. Of course, when a disk is ejected, it is not possible to project the disk very far out of the disk insertion opening because it must remain supported between the inward-facing portions of the belts which is to the rear of the front edges of the pulleys that support the belts. This made it difficult to insert and remove disks. Especially in the case of removing disks, the user had to hold both the top and bottom surfaces of the disk, thus contaminating the recording surface of the disk.


The present disclosure relates to methods of systems for process modeling. Embodiments of the present disclosure may store a user interface framework in a memory allocated to a browser application in the computer. The user interface framework may provide a user interface to a user operating the computer to perform process modeling. Some embodiments may also render the user interface using a rendering engine associated with the browser application and capture one or more process modeling events received as input by the user. The one or more process modeling events may be associated with one or more process models. In addition, some embodiments may store the one or more process modeling events as model data in the memory allocated to the browser application and render the one or more process models on the user interface based on at least a subset of the model data.

Business process management (BPM) is known as a complete management approach that positions a business' processes to fulfill a client's needs. BPM focuses on process automation and optimization using systematic methods to continuously improve the effectiveness and efficiency of business processes while focusing on innovation, adaptability, and technology integration. In a sense, BPM can give businesses the agility to adapt to more dynamic conditions in markets and the wherewithal to withstand significant management stressors.
Currently, most BPM modeling tools have to be installed on the user's computer, which brings the routine problems of installations, maintenance, etc. Because business process modeling often requires collaboration among multiple parties that may be located at different places and/or use different computer systems or computer system with different configurations, the system resources required for a business process modeler to function properly is quite high.
While browser based BPM solutions are available, they often require Internet connection while modeling business processes. When Internet connectivity is not available or not stable, the usefulness of such solutions is limited. In other words, current browser based business process modelers cannot work properly in offline mode when there are Internet connectivity issues.
Thus, it is desirable to develop a new business processes modeling solution that is capable of working properly even in offline mode.

System and method for improved light-weight business process modeling in offline mode using browser resources


According to one or more aspects of the present invention, an amplifier arrangement is disclosed. The arrangement comprises a first, a second and a third amplifier. The first and second amplifiers are coupled to one another such that they form a negative feedback loop. In addition, an output node of the first amplifier is connected to a signal input of the third amplifier. An output node of the third amplifier circuit forms the amplifier output of the amplifier arrangement. In addition, the third amplifier circuit is designed for switchably changing its gain on the basis of a signal at an actuating input of the amplifier arrangement.

In many mobile radio standards, provision is made for the level of the output signal to be altered in order to reduce influences on neighboring subscribers. This requires alteration of a gain factor for the amplifier provided for amplifying the output signal. In addition, a wide bandwidth and also a high level of linearity are demanded in order to meet the needs for increasing data transmission rates. These requirements relate both to the reception path, in which it is necessary to achieve a good signal-to-noise ratio, in particular, and to the transmission path, where the smallest possible distortions in the output signal are of particular importance.
One great problem of all amplifiers implemented to date using complementary MOS technology for mobile radio systems is a large capacitive component of an input impedance. The capacitive component makes matching firmly prescribed source impedances, for example from 100 to 200 ohms for the GSM or the UMTS/WCDMA mobile radio standard, a particularly complex matter. In addition, the filter elements used in mobile radio systems today have the side effect that they convert differentially rejected signals into the DC signal components. In the amplifiers connected downstream of the filters, the DC signal components cause an unwanted compression response and increase data transmission errors as a result of the arising nonlinearities in the useful signal.
It is therefore expedient to produce the greatest possible DC signal component rejection in the amplifier, this also being referred to as "common mode rejection".
One method which is used frequently for compensating for the large capacitive component of the input impedance is inductive coupling. However, a particular problem in this context is a large surface area taken up by the integrated circuit in a semiconductor chip on account of the surface area intensive integration of coils on a silicon base.
An amplifier arrangement which reduces the surface area taken up is known, by way of example, from the German patent application 10 2004 025 918.6 submitted by the applicant.
However, an input impedance of a stage connected downstream of the amplifier arrangement has a significant influence on the input impedance of the amplifier arrangement. Changes in the input impedance of the downstream circuit can therefore require total redesign of the amplifier disclosed in the aforementioned application.

Amplifier arrangement having an adjustable gain, and use thereof


A surgical access assembly for positioning within an opening in tissue including an outer member positionable outside a patient and defining an opening therein to receive a surgical instrument. The outer member has a first portion and a second portion wherein at least one of the first and second portions is movable with respect to the other portion. The assembly also includes an inner member positionable within a patient and a flexible member extending between the inner member and outer member, wherein movement of one of the first and second portions of the outer member adjusts tension on the flexible member to retract tissue. A locking mechanism locks the outer member in a plurality of select expanded positions. The locking mechanism includes first engagement structure on the first portion engageable with the second portion and a slidable member movable to a locking position to retain the first and second portions in the select expanded position.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to devices and techniques for performing surgical procedures. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an expandable access device for minimally invasive surgery.
2. Background of the Related Art
In an effort to reduce trauma and recovery time, many surgical procedures are performed through small openings in the skin, such as an incision or a natural body orifice. For example, these procedures include laparoscopic procedures, which are generally performed within the confines of a patient's abdomen, and thoracic procedures, which are generally performed within a patient's chest cavity.
Specific surgical instruments have been developed for use during such minimally invasive surgical procedures. These surgical instruments typically include an elongated shaft with operative structure positioned at a distal end thereof, such as graspers, clip appliers, specimen retrieval bags, etc.
During minimally invasive procedures, the clinician creates an opening in the patient's body wall, oftentimes by using an obturator or trocar, and thereafter positions an access assembly within the opening. The access assembly includes a passageway extending therethrough to receive one or more of the above-mentioned surgical instruments for positioning within the internal work site, e.g. the body cavity.
During minimally invasive thoracic procedures, an access assembly is generally inserted into a space located between the patient's adjacent ribs that is known as the intercostal space, and then surgical instruments can be inserted into the internal work site through the passageway in the access assembly.
In the interests of facilitating visualization, the introduction of certain surgical instruments, and/or the removal of tissue specimens during minimally invasive thoracic procedures, it may be desirable to spread the tissue adjacent the ribs defining the intercostal space. Additionally, during these procedures, firm, reliable placement of the access assembly is desirable to allow the access assembly to withstand forces that are applied during manipulation of the instrument(s) inserted therethrough. However, reducing patient trauma during the procedure, discomfort during recovery, and the overall recovery time remain issues of importance. Thus, there exists a need for thoracic access ports which minimize post operative patient pain while enabling atraumatic retraction of tissue and which do not restrict access to the body cavity, as well as facilitate retrieval of tissue specimens from the body cavity.


A vascular access device may include a body, a single-disk septum in communication with the body, and a rigid member supporting the septum. A method of manufacturing a vascular access device may include providing a body, providing a single-disk septum in communication with the body, and supporting the septum with a rigid member.

The present disclosure relates to infusion therapy with vascular access devices. Infusion therapy is one of the most common health care procedures. Hospitalized, home care, and other patients receive fluids, pharmaceuticals, and blood products via a vascular access device inserted into the vascular system. Infusion therapy may be used to treat an infection, provide anesthesia or analgesia, provide nutritional support, treat cancerous growths, maintain blood pressure and heart rhythm, or many other clinically significant uses.
Infusion therapy is facilitated by a vascular access device. The vascular access device may access a patient's peripheral or central vasculature. The vascular access device may be indwelling for short term (days), moderate term (weeks), or long term (months to years). The vascular access device may be used for continuous infusion therapy or for intermittent therapy.
A common vascular access device is a plastic catheter that is inserted into a patient's vein. The catheter length may vary from a few centimeters for peripheral access to many centimeters for central access. The catheter may be inserted transcutaneously or may be surgically implanted beneath the patient's skin. The catheter, or any other vascular access device attached thereto, may have a single lumen or multiple lumens for infusion of many fluids simultaneously.
Vascular access devices commonly include a Luer adapter, or other connector or adapter, to which other medical devices may be attached. For example, an IV (intravenous) administration set may be attached to a vascular access device to provide a fluid conduit for the continuous infusion of fluids and pharmaceuticals from an intravenous (IV) bag. A variety of medical devices may cooperate with vascular access devices to provide selective, temporary, or long-term access to the vascular system of a patient. A vascular access device may include a body having a lumen therethrough and a septum for selectively closing the lumen. The septum may be opened with a blunt cannula, a male Luer of a medical device, or other suitable medical device.
Vascular access devices provide many significant benefits to patients and medical practitioners. A vascular access device is most beneficial to patients when the septum forms a proper seal between the accessed vascular system and the outside or external environment. In an ideal vascular access device, the septum would continuously seal the patient's vascular system, which may include external vascular equipment intentionally coupled to the patient's internal vascular system by a medical practitioner, from the external environment.
As with most systems, one of the biggest challenges to the proper function of the vascular access device is when there is a change in the system, such as when different medical devices are connected or disconnected from the vascular access device. If the seal against the external environment is broken during the connection or disconnection of a medical device, there is the possibility of infection being introduced into the patient's vascular system. Additionally, if a pressure difference is created across the vascular access device, there becomes the possibility that blood will be drawn up the catheter system and possibly into the vascular access device or beyond. Alternatively, a pressure difference across the vascular access device may make it more difficult to couple other medical devices to the vascular access device.
As introduced above, vascular access devices are often coupled with a blunted cannula, such as the tip of a syringe, with a male Luer connector, or with other medical devices. These medical devices may be coupled to the vascular access devices by pressing a portion of the medical device into a slit or passage in the septum. Some medical devices are coupled to the vascular access device through a twisting motion by which the body or other portion of the medical device is coupled to the body of the vascular access device and by which a portion of the medical device is disposed in the slit or passage of the septum. Other methods of coupling the vascular access device to one or more medical devices may be used as well.
Regardless of the methods used to couple medical devices to the vascular access device, repeated transitions of the septum between open and closed configurations applies stress to the septum. In some experiences the septum has been seen to tear, either slightly or more significantly, at the edges of the slit that allows other devices to access the internal vascular system through the lumen of the body. In previous vascular access devices, two common tear patterns have been observed: radial tearing and circumferential tearing. Depending on the nature of the tear, the impacts of the tear may include a decrease in the quality of the seal formed by the septum or pieces or particles of the septum breaking free from the remainder of the septum. In any event, a septum that is modified from the manufacturer's intended and safety-tested design is not preferred for a number of reasons. The present disclosure is directed to vascular access devices, and methods of manufacturing vascular access devices, that include tear-resistant septum methods, systems, and devices.

Vascular access device including a tear-resistant septum


A reflecting illumination type projecting device includes a projecting lens having an optical axis intersecting an object to be tested, a light source portion for illuminating the object through the projecting lens, a screen onto which an image of the object is projected by light reflected on the object through the projecting lens, and an optical path separating element disposed in the vicinity of an exit pupil, the element being formed with a total reflecting mirror portion for reflecting either the illuminating light or the reflected light and with a transmitting portion for transmitting the remaining light, thereby to make the illuminating light incident to the projecting lens and to guide the reflected light toward the screen.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a projecting device used for observing a pattern, such as, for example, a film mask, printed board, or the like, and more particularly to a projecting device of a reflecting illumination type able to cope with an opaque object to be tested.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As a projecting devive for the use of observation, there have heretofore been a transmission type in which an image formed by a light flux transmitted through an object to be tested, and a reflection type in which an image formed by a light flux reflected on an object to be tested is observed.
Although the transmission type is effective with respect to a transparent object to be tested such as film mask or the like, it cannot be used for an opaque printed board, etc.
Therefore, for the use of this type, there has been used a reflecting illumination type projecting device as conceptionally shown in FIG. 20.
The illustrated device comprises an illuminating optical system 10 including a light source 11 and a condenser lens 12, a projecting optical system 20 including a projecting lens 21, a screen 22 and relay mirrors 23, 24, a half mirror 30 disposed at angles with respect to an optical axis Ax.sub.2 of the projecting lens 21, and a stage 40 on which an object to be tested, such as a printed board, etc., is placed.
An optical axis Ax.sub.1 of the illuminating optical system 10 and the optical axis Ax.sub.2 of the projecting lens 21 are intersected with each other, and the half mirror 30 is situated on the intersecting point.
The screen 22 is symmetrical with respect to the optical axis Ax.sub.2.
A part of light flux emitted from the light source 11 is reflected by the half mirror 30 toward the object 41 and illuminates the object 41 through the projecting lens 21. The light flux reflected by the object 41 transmits through the projecting lens again and then transmits through the half mirror 30 to form an image of the object 41 on the screen 22.
In the case that the half mirror 30 is used as mentioned above, however, a quantity of light to foram the image on the screen 22 is only 25% maximum of a quantity of light emitted from the light sorce 11 even on the assumption that the object 41 has a reflectance of 100%. In other words, loss in quantity of light is significant.
Furthermore, as the screen 22 of the conventional device is symmetrical with respect to the optical axis Ax.sub.2, it is susceptible to ghost when reflection is occurred on a lens surface of the projecting lens 21.
The ghost has two types; one is of the type that is condensed onto the screen and the other is of the type that is diverged, depending on curvature of a lens surface. The latter hardly affects the observation. Also, there is a great difference in degree of affection depending on degree of convergence. When ghost is occurred, contrast of an image of the object is degraded on the screen, and some parts of the image become difficult to observe.
In order to explain these ghosts, details of the projecting lens 21 will be described by way of two examples.
The projecting lens 21 shown in FIG. 21 is a telecentric lens toward the object, which is of six-piece structure. The projecting lens 21 has first to sixth lenses 21a.about.21f which are arranged in this order from the side of the half mirror 30.
According to this constitution of a lens, when a reflection is occurred on a surface at the mirror side of the fifth lens 21e, the ghost all returns to inside the screen as shown in FIG. 22. Moreover, in this case, as the ghost is hardly diverged in an optical path unto the screen 22, affection of the ghost appeared on the screen is significant. Particularly, this disturbs observation of the image of the object.
In the case that reflection is occurred on a surface at the object side of the sixth lens 21f, the ghost reaches the screen 22 in the manner as shown in 23 and disturbs observation. In this case, however, divergence of the ghost is greater than that of the case shown in FIG. 22, and as it is only a part of the ghost which reaches the screen, adverse affection to observation is less than that in the case of FIG. 22.
FIG. 24 shows another example of the prior art, in which a projecting lens 21' nontelecentric toward the object 41 is employed. This projecting lens 21' comprises first to fourth lenses 21g.about.21j. The relation of arrangement of the remaining component parts such as the half mirror 30, the screen 22, etc. is the same as that shown in FIG. 21.
In the projecting lens of FIG. 24, in the case that reflection is occurred on an object side surface of the third lens 21i, the ghost appears in a peripheral portion of the screen 22 as shown in FIG. 25. Similarly, in the case that reflection is occurred on an object side surface of the fourth lens 21j, the ghost appears in the central portion of the screen as shown in FIG. 26.
There have been several measures for reducing the ghost. One of the conventional measures employs an reflection reducing coating on a lens surface. In another measure, a lens is carefully designed at one stage of designing the lens so that ghost would not be conspicuous. However, none of these measures could fundamentally solve the problems.
In the above-mentioned two examples of the prior art, the same projecting lens to that of the present invention as will be described is employed in order to facilitate the comparison of the affection of ghost.

Reflecting illumination type projecting device


The present invention is provided with a shower with a sliding body, which includes a handle and an outlet unit. the handle is disposed with an inlet waterway. The inlet waterway is disposed with an inlet hole on the obverse side of the handle; the outlet unit is disposed with at least two outlets, each outlet is disposed with an outlet hole on the reverse side of the outlet unit, the outlet holes are interval disposed along the X direction; The handle is connected to the outlet unit with sliding along the X direction, the obverse side of the handle and the reverse side of the outlet unit are sealing connected together, making the inlet hole connecting to one of the outlet holes. The present invention without the pushing button and the linkage mechanism, reduces the cost and simplify the structure, providing a new switch experience for the user.

The existing shower with the function switch realized by sliding, for example the utilities with patent number ZL200720109472.6 and ZL200720006708.3 in the Chinese patent database, includes a handle and a body. The body includes a water diversion body and a water diversion sliding board. The water diversion body is disposed with at least two function holes. The water diversion sliding board is disposed with holes connected to the function holes of the water diversion body to realize the function switch. The handle is sliding disposed with a pushing button. The body is disposed with linkage mechanism inside. One end of the linkage mechanism is connected to the pushing button and the other end is connected to the water diversion sliding board. As known with the above description, the water diversion body and the handle are fixed, and the function switch is realized by the sliding of the water diversion sliding board. The disadvantages are below: it needs the pushing button to be disposed in the body for the operation of the user, a linkage mechanism is further needed to connect to the water diversion sliding board and the pushing board with a complex struction.

XIAMEN SOLEX HIGH-TECH INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.


There is implemented an on-board controller including a single ground terminal, which can accurately detect a disconnection fault of a ground wire while avoiding erroneous detection due to a temporary voltage abnormality or current abnormality. A voltage at the positive electrode of a smoothing electrolytic capacitor is monitored. In addition, a current flowing through a shunt resistor is also monitored. Based on the monitored current value, there is calculated a voltage range (voltage threshold) at the positive electrode of the smoothing electrolytic capacitor in the case of disconnection of a ground wire. Thus, it is determined whether the ground wire has been disconnected by comparing the calculated voltage threshold with the monitored positive-side voltage described above.

As an example of an on-board controller to be mounted on a vehicle, there is known a controller for a linear solenoid as a part of an on-board electric load.
The above-described controller for a linear solenoid includes a plurality of ground terminals so as to reduce the frequency of malfunctions due to open faults of a ground terminal.
However, compared with providing a single ground terminal, there is a possibility that a plurality of short faults may occur between each ground terminal and other signal terminals in the case of providing a plurality of ground terminals. In addition, providing a plurality of ground terminals has a problem in that it costs more to connect harness wires to a plurality of grounds. Thus, there is a publicly-known technique for providing a single ground terminal and detecting an open fault of the single ground terminal (disconnection of a ground wire) to appropriately address the fault.
This is because appropriate measures need to be taken in the case where an open fault of a single ground terminal occurs since there is a possibility that internal voltage may be boosted to an abnormal voltage due to formation of a booster circuit.
A technique described in PTL 1 can be cited as a technique for detecting an open fault of a single ground terminal.
The technique described in PTL 1 is as follows. If there occurs an abnormality of disconnection of a ground wire, excitation current flowing through any one of a plurality of induction loads flows back and attenuates via a direct-current power source, a power supply capacitor, and a commutation diode. Then, the power supply capacitor is charged by the back-flow current, the power supply capacitor is charged, and a monitored voltage of the power supply capacitor increases. Thus, when the monitored voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage, it is determined that a disconnection abnormality has occurred, and appropriate measures are taken.


The invention aims to provide an optical information reader which can identify precisely, reliably, and with high sensitivity, even when the quantity or the wavelength of light from a measuring object from which optical information is to be read, extends over a wide range. The optical information reader comprises: a substrate on which one or more biological materials labeled by a combination of presence or extent of a plurality of kinds of optical labeling elements are immobilized at one or more different immobilized positions; one or more light-receiving ends capable of receiving light from the substrate; an optical information measuring unit which obtains optical information on a specific measuring object on the substrate based on an electric signal obtained by converting the light received by the light-receiving end by photoelectric elements having different characteristics determined depending on the measuring object; and a scanning unit which scans the substrate by moving the substrate and the light-receiving end relative to each other, and the optical information measuring unit has an optical waveguide.

Conventionally, an analysis method using a substrate such as a DNA chip, on which biological materials having a known chemical structure are arranged and immobilized in a plurality of positions, has been used extensively. In this analysis method, a solution in which a target biological material having an unknown chemical structure and labeled by a fluorescent material or the like is suspended, is brought into contact with the substrate such as the DNA chip, so that the target biological material and the known biological material are coupled and reacted with each other, thereby analyzing the chemical structure of the target biological material from a detected position of the labeling material. In order to perform the analysis, it has been necessary to reliably capture faint luminescence from the labeling material such as the fluorescent material of the molecular level, coupled with the biological materials immobilized on the substrate such as the DNA chip.
For this purpose, it is necessary to multiply the received faint light by using a photomultiplier (PMT), to convert the light to an electric signal that can be subjected to information processing (Foreign Patent Documents 1 and 2).
Patent Document 1: U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,994
Patent Document 2: U.S. Pat. No. 5,744,305

Furukawa Electric Advanced Engineering Co., Ltd.


A portable syringe dispenser system capable of holding one or more syringes containing different types of fluid medicine therein. Filled syringes, holding enough fluid medicine for multiple injections, are placed into syringe holders in the dispenser and inserted into a sterile mixing chamber. The dosage of each type of fluid medicine in each syringe is independently adjusted employing a dose adjusting indicator system. An activation system allows all doses of the fluid medicine to be simultaneously injected through a replaceable sterile needle. The sterile needle can remain on the dispenser system. The sterile needle maintains its sterility by sealing it with a sealing cap. This allows the needle to be reused. In addition, a dosage/time recording unit can be attached to the portable syringe dispensing system to accurately record at least the time, date and amount of fluid medicine injected. A plurality of these recordings can be made.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a syringe dispenser capable of holding one or more syringes having different types of fluid medicine therein. More particularly, the present invention relates to a compact portable syringe dispenser system which simultaneously injects multiple medicines of varying doses. In addition, the present invention provides a dosage/time recording system to record and store in a memory at least the time, date and amount of medicine injected.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional insulin delivery systems include systems which require filling a syringe with insulin or a mixture of insulin prior to injection. For example, a Novolin.RTM. PenNeedle.RTM. manufactured by Novo Nordisk A/S, allows multiple injections with one type of insulin. This product is available in prefilled disposable form. The needle can be removed after the injection and a new sterile needle can be screwed on for a next injection. This device holds 1.5 mm of a single type of insulin so that many injections can be administered, lasting up to several days. The Novolin.RTM. PenNeedle.RTM. however is restricted. Novolin.RTM. insulin must be used and comes only in cartridges of regular (hereinafter referred to as R) which is a fast-acting type of insulin, NPH (hereinafter referred to as N) which is a slower acting type of insulin, or premixed 70% N and 30% R. The cartridges are made specifically for the Novolin.RTM. PenNeedle.RTM.. Only one cartridge can be used in one pen at any one time. For a person requiring multiple injections, the type of insulin required must be those offered by Novolin.RTM. and if different insulins are required numerous Novolin.RTM. PenNeedles.RTM. must be carried.
Most insulin companies produce a premixed insulin of 70% N and 30% R. This is the most commonly used insulin mixture. This eliminates some of the cumbersome mixing procedures. The insulins are sold in 10 ml bottles that have a rubber septum on the top so that a needle can penetrate and withdraw the insulin with little risk of contamination to the insulin. The strength of the insulin is commonly u100 and at this strength, an insulin measurement of 100 units equals 1.0 ml. An insulin dependent patient usually requires one quarter unit of insulin for every pound of body weight. Therefore, for example, a person of 150 pounds requires approximately 38 units of insulin per day. Research today has proven that multiple injections that mimic the natural release of insulin within the body is the best therapy. Multiple insulin injections of either R, N or a mixture of different types of insulin throughout the day is necessary. Convenience and inconspicuousness are essential for this type of therapy since injections may have to be administered in every day places such as the work place, airplanes, buses, etc. If existing hardware is used, then a diabetic requiring multiple injections of different types of insulin may find it cumbersome. For example, if the Novolin.RTM. PenNeedle.RTM. is used, one would have to carry numerous devices to fulfill the requirements of the different types of insulin. If conventional syringe techniques are used the user must find a quiet place, such as a restroom, to draw the insulin since it is socially unacceptable to draw a syringe in public.
Other systems employ multiple cartridges containing different types of liquid medicine, such as insulin. Depressing a cartridge, using various known techniques, causes the insulin to flow into a separate mixing chamber. The quantity of each mixture in the mixing chamber is dependent on the level of depression of the cartridge. However, the prior art conventional systems require excessive time for filling syringes and an excess amount of hardware.
As an example, a procedure for an insulin injection is as follows. A syringe is filled with a recommended dosage of insulin by injecting a needle into a bottle of insulin. The amount of air injected into the insulin bottle is equivalent to the amount of insulin being extracted. This maintains pressure inside the bottle. For example, if a person requires 5 units of R insulin and 7 units of N insulin the procedure is as follows. A sterile syringe including a needle is unwrapped. The plunger on the syringe is then pulled back to, for example a 7 unit mark (the markings are on the side of the syringe). The needle is then inserted into the N insulin bottle. 7 units of air are injected into the N insulin bottle and 5 units of air are injected into the R insulin bottle. Then 7 units of insulin are extracted from the N insulin bottle. The needle is then withdrawn from the N insulin bottle. The needle is then inserted into the R insulin bottle. If 5 units of R insulin are required then the plunger on the sterile syringe is pulled back to the 12 unit mark. The needle is then withdrawn from the R insulin bottle and a dose is ready to be injected. Drawing multiple injections 4 or 5 times a day is very time consuming and awkward. Needles and public injections are publicly unacceptable so that a private place must be found to draw and inject the dose. The prior art systems are large, cumbersome and do not allow various unconventional mixtures of liquid medicines to be premeasured and simultaneously injected.


A liquid crystal display device include: first substrate and a second substrate facing each other, the first and second substrate including pixel regions; a first alignment layer on the first substrate; an black matrix on the second substrate; a first sloped side of the black matrix that is less steep than a second sloped side of the black matrix; a color filter layer on the black matrix; a second alignment layer on the color filter layer; a liquid crystal material interposed between the first and second alignment layers; and a rubbing direction of the second alignment layer corresponding to a first direction from the first sloped side to the second sloped side.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, and more particularly, to an L° CD device and a method of fabricating the LCD device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Presently, LCD devices are being developed as the next generation of display devices because of their light weight, thin profile, and low power consumption. In general, an LCD device is a non-emissive display device that displays images using a refractive index difference utilizing optical anisotropy properties of a liquid crystal material that is interposed between an array (TFT) substrate and a color filter substrate. Among the various type of LCD devices commonly used, active matrix LCD (AM-LCD) devices have been developed because of their high resolution and superiority in displaying moving images. The AM-LCD device includes a thin film transistor (TFT) in each pixel region as a switching device, a pixel electrode in each pixel region, and a second electrode used for a common electrode.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an LCD device according to the related art. In FIG. 1, first and second substrates 10 and 30 are arranged to face each other with a liquid crystal material 50 interposed therebetween. On an inner surface of the first substrate 10, a color filter layer 12 and a common electrode 16, which functions as an electrode for applying an electric field to the liquid crystal layer 50, are subsequently formed. The color filter layer 12 includes a color filler for passing only a specific wavelength of light, and a black matrix (not shown) that is disposed at the boundary of the color filter and shields light from a region in which alignment of the liquid crystal material is uncontrollable. On an inner surface of the second substrate 30, a plurality of gate lines 32 and a plurality of data lines 34 are formed in a matrix array defining individual pixel regions P. A TFT T, which functions as a switching device, is disposed in each pixel region P where a gate line 32 and a data line 34 cross. A pixel electrode 46 is connected to the TFT T. Although not shown, the thin film transistor T includes a gate electrode to where a gate voltage is applied, source and drain electrodes for applying a data voltage to the pixel electrode .
First and second polarizing plates 52 and 54, which transmit only light parallel to a polarizing axis, are disposed on outer surfaces of the first and second substrates 10 and 30, respectively. An additional light source, such as a backlight, is disposed under the polarizing plate 54. Although not shown, first and second alignment layers contacting the liquid crystal layer 50 are formed on inner surfaces of the first and second substrates. The surfaces of the first and second alignment layers are aligned along predetermined rubbing directions, respectively.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic views showing a liquid crystal display device according to the related art. FIG. 2A is a plan view and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along a line II-II of FIG. 2A.
As shown in FIG. 2A, a plurality of pixel regions P are defined on a substrate 60. A black matrix 64 is formed on the substrate 60 and has a plurality of open portions 62. Each of the open portions 62 corresponds to each of the pixel regions P.
A color filter layer 66 is formed over the substrate 60 having the black matrix 64 and includes red, green and blue sub-color filters 66a, 66b and 66c. The red, green and blue sub-color filters 66a, 66b and 66c are located in the open portions 62. In addition, a common electrode 68 and an alignment layer 70 are sequentially formed over the black matrix 64 and the color filter layer 66 on the substrate 60.
The black matrix 64 is made of one of chromium (Cr) -based materials and resin materials. Typically, the black matrix material is made of resin materials. A black matrix formed by coating a resin material is formed thicker than a black matrix formed by depositing a Cr-based material. Therefore, a large step difference is created by a portion of the color filter layer 66 that overlaps edges of the black matrix 64, as shown in FIG. 2B. When a rubbing direction r1 of the substrate 60 is from a right upper portion to a left lower portion in 45 degrees as shown in FIG. 2A (similarly, the rubbing direction is from right to left in the cross sectional view of FIG. 2B), a rubbing defect occurs at a first sloped side SR, as shown in FIG. 2B, that causes light leakage. This light leakage severely degrades a black picture state.
To improve an aperture ratio by reducing an align margin, a structure in which both the thin film transistors and color filters are formed on the same substrate has been suggested. In such a structure, the black matrix has a thicker thickness than the black matrix shown in FIG. 2B in order to effectively block light due to an increased step difference caused by forming a the thin film transistor. Thus, a rubbing defect caused by an even larger step difference becomes more severe. Hereinafter, color filter layer on thin film transistor (COT) type LCD device in which the color filter device is formed on the substrate having the thin film transistor will be explained.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic views showing a COT type LCD device according to the related art. FIG. 3A is a plan view and FIG. 3B is a cross sectional view taken along a line III-III of FIG. 3A.
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a gate line 72 is formed on a substrate 70 along a first direction, a data line 80 is formed along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. A thin film transistor T is located adjacent to a crossing of the gate line 72 and the data line 80.
A color filter layer 86 that includes red, green and blue sub-color filters 86a, 86b and 86c is formed over the thin film transistor T, the gate line 72 and the data line 80 on the substrate 70. Each of the red, green and blue sub-color filters 86a, 86b and 86c is located in a pixel region P defined by the gate line 72 and the data line 80. Specifically, each of the red, green and blue sub-color filters 86a, 86b and 86c overlaps portions of the gate and data lines 72 and 80. A black matrix 88 is formed over the thin film transistor T as an island pattern. An insulating layer (not shown) is formed over the entire surface of the color filter layer 86 and the black matrix 88. A pixel electrode 92 is formed on the insulating layer and is connected to the thin film transistor T.
As shown in FIG. 3B, the black matrix 88 is thickly formed to minimize parasitic capacitance in the COT structure. Therefore, when the rubbing direction r1 is from a right upper portion to a left lower portion at a 45 degree angle from one corner of the pixel electrode, as shown in FIG. 3A, and from right to left, as shown in FIG. 3B, light leakage caused by a rubbing defect in region RD can occur.

Liquid crystal display device comprising a black matrix having a first sloped side less steep than a second sloped side


A medium for culturing microorganisms in the presence of Pb2+ uses as a phosphate component, an O-phosphate-L-amino acid, to provide a source of phosphate for the microorganisms so as to avoid precipitating lead.

The present invention relates to a medium for use in cultivating microorganisms that does not precipitate in the presence of lead.
Quantitative study of Pb2+ uptake in microorganisms is important for developing technologies to remove and/or stabilize Pb2+ in soils and sediments. There have been several studies concerning Pb2+ uptake (15), the effect of Pb2+ on growth (8) and Zn2+ uptake (13), chemical transformation of Pb2+ by bacteria (2), and Pb2+ associated with cells (1). These studies are conducted to study the interaction of Pb2+ with organisms either as models for human-Pb2+ interactions or for using organisms to remediate lead contaminated sites.
However, a direct and quantitative analysis of Pb2+ by these and other studies has been frustrated by the insolubility of Pb2+ precipitates because a quantitative analysis of Pb2+ absorption or adsorption by bacteria requires that the cells be isolated in a manner which prevents interferences from Pb2+, and Pb2+ precipitates in the external medium when present in concentrations of generally less than 1 mM. If an insoluble Pb2+ precipitate coexists with cells in the medium, the precipitate cannot be separated and removed without destroying the bacteria. Since the Pb2+ precipitate is typically highly insoluble, it cannot be dissolved by simply increasing the volume of the washing solution used in standard centrifugation or filter washing methods.
Another problem is that Pb2+ precipitate prevents accurate turbidity measurements (the quickest measure of cell density) because the precipitate scatters light, creating an artificially high cell density reading.
To avoid or minimize Pb2+ precipitation, some workers have used very low concentrations of phosphate in minimal medium (10, 12, 13), or diluted rich media (e.g., ref. 8). The drawback to using these media is that they are limited to very low Pb2+ concentrations, typically micromolar. If a microorganism accumulates Pb2+ to a cytoplasmic concentration of 1-2 mM, this would readily deplete an extracellular concentration of 1 microM Pb2+. Further, this variation of extracellular Pb2+ concentration significantly complicates a quantitative analysis of Pb2+ uptake kinetic data. Another drawback is that these media usually only support minimal cell densities. The limitation of low cell densities results from the small amount of time in exponential growth which has a high enough cell density, and, hence, a reasonable volume of culture, sufficient to detect quantitatively Pb2+ associated with the bacteria.
Alternatively, to study the effects of Pb2+ on bacteria and the chemical transformation of Pb2+ by bacteria, many workers have used media containing lead precipitate. This precipitate can occur either initially (i.e., LB medium in ref. 8) or can be consequent with growth (e.g., defined citrate medium in reference 2). However, in both cases there is no developed method to quickly separate precipitate from intact cells, and thus these media cannot be used to quantity Pb2+ uptake in bacteria.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned differences in the prior art.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a minimal medium which does not precipitate with concentrations of over 1 mM Pb2+.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a medium which has a source of phosphate for microorganisms, but which does not precipitate in the presence of Pb2+.
According to the present invention, a minimal medium has been developed which does not precipitate with Pb2+ in concentrations up to 25 mM and which supports growth of soil isolate up to typical minimal medial cell density of xcx9c3xc3x97109 CFU/mL and up to xcx9c8xc3x97109 CFU/mL when the glucose concentration is increased to 200 mM. The medium of the present invention uses a phosphate substitute to provide a source of phosphate for the bacteria which does not precipitate lead.
Of the compounds which can be used, O-phosphate-L-threonine is particularly preferred as a source of phosphate for the microorganisms which do not precipitate with Pb2+.

The Government of the United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency