A method for manufacturing rectangular plate type chip resistors and a rectangular plate type chip resistor obtained by this method. The method includes the steps of (A) providing a resistive alloy plate strip of predetermined width and thickness, (B) forming an insulating protective film of a predetermined width longitudinally along the middle of upper and lower faces of the alloy plate strip, (C) forming an electrode layer composed of integrated surface, back, and end electrodes, along both sides of the protective film by electroplating, and (D) cutting the alloy plate strip coated with the protective films and the electrode layers in step (C) transversely in predetermined lengths, wherein resistance is controlled to be within a predetermined range by adjusting the thickness of the alloy plate strip in step (A), the width of the protective film formed in step (B), and the cutting length in step (D).

Chip resistors are generally manufactured by forming resistive films and electrode layers on an insulated substrate by printing or the like process, and cutting crisscross or punching the substrate. In this case, the final adjustment of resistance is often made by providing a slit or a slot in the resistive film.
Patent Publications 1 and 2 propose rectangular plate type chip resistors wherein the insulating substrate is not used, and instead a resistive alloy plate of a certain thickness is provided with electrode layers.
In the method of manufacturing chip resistors disclosed in Patent Publication 1, an insulating layer is formed at a plurality of positions on the upper and lower faces of a resistive metal plate, a surface electrode layer and a back electrode layer are formed along both sides of each insulating layer, and the resistive alloy plate is cut in parallel to the insulating layer, which cutting requires an expensive metal mold. Then an end electrode is required to be formed by soldering along both sides of the cut alloy plate, and after this, the alloy plate is further required to be cut in the transverse direction of the insulating layer for obtaining rectangular plate type chip resistors. As such, in the manufacturing method disclosed in Publication 1 wherein the end electrodes are formed after the first cutting step and then another cutting step is performed, the production process tends to be complex. In addition, since the end electrode cannot be formed together with the surface and back electrodes, the chip resistors manufactured by such a method have different thickness and materials of electrodes, so that the adhesion of the electrodes and the reliability of the electrode structure are not always sufficient.
Patent Publication 2 discloses that, in order to adjust the resistance of the disclosed rectangular plate type chip resistor to a predetermined value, a plurality of slots or slits need to be formed in the resistor element. This publication is silent about a convenient method of manufacturing chip resistors which enables adjustment of resistance without forming such slits and the like.
Patent Publication 1: JP-2004-319787-A
Patent Publication 2: JP-7-38321-B

Method for manufacturing rectangular plate type chip resistor and rectangular plate type chip resistor


A micro-mirror projector (2) includes a light source (100), a converging member (200), a color wheel (300) having red, green and blue segments, a shaping member (400), a micro-mirror chip (500) having a plurality of micro-mirror members (540) formed thereon, a diffraction member (600), and a projection member (700). The converging member converges a light beam emitted from the light source to the color wheel. The color wheel rotates across the converged light beam to generate red, green and blue lights. The shaping member shapes the red, green and blue lights as parallel lights and transmits the parallel light to a corresponding micro-mirror member. The micro-mirror member transmits the parallel lights to the diffraction member. The diffraction member diffracts the received lights to the projection member. The diffracted light is relatively fine/highly resolved, thereby resulting in a better display on a projection screen (800) via the projection member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to color display devices and, more particularly, to a color micro-mirror projector.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Micro-mirror projectors are also called digital light processing (DLP) projection devices. Micro-mirror projectors have been developed by Texas Instruments, and a typical micro-mirror projector adopts digital micro-mirror devices (DMDs) to control light beams to enter the display light path. A typical DMD includes a plurality of supporting posts, a plurality of torsion hinges, and a plurality of micro-mirrors formed on a semiconductor substrate thereof. The semiconductor substrate can be, e.g., a silicon substrate. Each torsion hinge is positioned between two adjacent supporting posts, and each micro-mirror is installed on a given torsion hinge. When controlling signals are input to the DMD, the micro-mirrors would rotate around the corresponding torsion hinges.
Referring to FIG. 3, a conventional micro-mirror projector 1 includes a light source 10, a converging lens 20, a color wheel 30, a shaping lens 40, a micro-mirror chip 50 and a projection member 70. The color wheel 30 has at least red, green and blue segments. The micro-mirror chip 50 has a plurality of digital micro-mirror members 51 and a processor 52 formed thereon. Each micro-mirror member 51 has a plurality of micro-mirror (not shown) formed thereon. The light source 10 is used to emit a light beam. The converging lens 20 is used to converge the light beam to the color wheel 30. The color wheel 30 is disc-shaped and rapidly rotates across the converged light beam to generate red, green and blue lights. The shaping lens 40 is used to shape the red, green and blue lights as parallel lights and transmit the parallel lights to a corresponding micro-mirror member 51 of the micro-mirror chip 50. The micro-mirror member 51 receives a controlling signal from the processor 52. Upon receipt of an appropriate signal, the micro-mirrors thereon rapidly rotate and respectively transmit the corresponding parallel lights to the projection member 70, at a given/selected time. The projection member 70 is used to transmit the received lights onto a projection screen 80. Therefore, an image is displayed on the projection screen 80.
However, each pixel on the projection screen 80 is in accordance with the corresponding micro-mirror. When the projection screen 80 is relatively big, energy loss of the lights transmitted onto the projection screen 80 is relatively large. Therefore, divisions between adjacent pixels are relatively clear (i.e., well-defined). This results in the image being unsatisfactory.
What is needed, therefore, is a micro-mirror projector that can provide better images on the projection screen.


The invention relates to an error correction coding method, using at least two distinct sections of a predetermined elementary code, associating an arrival vector (s2, s3) with a starting state vector (s0, s1), according to a vector of branch labels (b0, b1, b2, b3), defining a code word, two sections of said elementary code being distinct when the order and/or the role of the elements of said branch label vector are changed.

The invention may find applications in all fields where it is required or at least desirable that an error-correcting code be available. Thus, the invention may be applied for example, to:                protection against errors due to noises and interferences inherent in physical transmission channels (conventional error correction coding and space-time codes for multi-antenna systems);        compression of signals from information sources: images, sounds, signals, and data;        protection against errors for storage of data mass memories, such as computer disks or microprocessors.
A large number of coding techniques for correcting errors are already known. First studies on the subject go back to the 1940s. It was at that time that Shannon founded the theory of information which is still used presently. A large number of coding families were proposed later.
Convolutive codes are thus known (which may notably apply trellis coding, according to the Viterbi algorithm), or even the coding scheme currently designated as "turbo-code", proposed in 1993 by C. Berrou and A. Glavieux, for example in the article "Near Shannon Limit Error-Correcting Coding and Decoding: Turbo-codes" (proofreadings of the ICC'93, May 1993, 1064-1070).
This technique was the subject of many studies and improvements.
The family of codes known as LDPC codes is also known.
Turbo-codes and LDPC codes and more generally all concatenated codes provide performances in terms of correction which are remarkable for large block sizes and notably for blocks of at least a few thousands or tens of thousands of information bits.
Unfortunately, the handling of such blocks of information bits represents great computing complexity upon decoding, which practically proves to be only compatible with high computing power microprocessors which accordingly prove to be relatively costly.
Moreover, these structures on the other hand are not very effective in correcting errors for blocks with small sizes, of the order of one hundred or one thousand bits, for example.
However, there is a very strong demand for small packet communications presently in the field of digital communications, which assumes application of codes with small lengths.
The aim of the invention is notably to provide a solution to this need and to overcome the drawbacks of prior techniques.
More specifically, it is an aim of the invention to provide an error correction coding technique, notably of the "turbo-code" type, for reducing the complexity of decoding.
In other words, the aim of the invention is to provide such a coding technique for producing a simplified decoder and therefore at a reduced cost, without naturally degrading the quality of the error correction.
It is another aim of the invention to provide such a coding technique which is well adapted to error correction for blocks of small sizes.
In other words, another aim of the invention is to provide such a technique providing proper minimum distances in spite of small block sizes.
Still another aim of the invention is to provide such a technique for producing coding and decoding in a simple way, and which accordingly may be easily applied.

Error correction coding method using at least twice a same elementary code, coding method, corresponding coding and decoding devices


The present invention provides a rubber composition having adequate foamability, uses thereof, a copolymer contained in the rubber composition, a rubber composition capable of providing a cross-linked foam, which has a low specific gravity and an excellent shape-retaining property even when the usage of a nonconjugated polyene is reduced, and a cross-linked rubber and a cross-linked foam, which are produced from the rubber composition. A copolymer (A) according to the present invention is a copolymer including structural units derived from ethylene [A], an α-olefin [B], a nonconjugated polyene [C-1], in which one carbon-carbon double bond (C═C) polymerizable with a metallocene catalyst is present in one molecule, and a nonconjugated polyene [C-2], in which two bonds of C═C polymerizable with the metallocene catalyst are present in one molecule, and being synthesized with the metallocene catalyst, wherein (1) the units derived from the component [B] constitute 10 to 50 percent by mole, (2) the total of the units derived from the component [C-1] and the units derived from the component [C-2] is 1.0 to 6.0 percent by mole, (3) the molar ratio of the units derived from the component [C-1] to the units derived from the component [C-2] is 75/25 to 99.5/0.5, (4) [ML (1+4) 100° C.] is 10 to 200, and (5) 50>activation energy of fluidization (kJ/mol)>35 is satisfied.

Ethylene.propylene.diene copolymer rubber (EPDM) has no double bond in the main chain of the molecular structure thereof and, therefore, exhibits excellent heat aging resistance, weather resistance, and ozone resistance as compared with general-purpose conjugated diene rubber, and has been applied widely to uses, e.g., automobile components, wire materials, electric electronic components, construction and civil engineering materials, and industrial materials and components.
The EPDM is used for, for example, automobile exterior materials e.g., glass run channels and weather strip sponges, and radiator hose materials. In recent years, the need for weight reduction of products has been intensified and the EPDM exhibiting excellent foamability has been desired.
Control of a vulcanization reaction and a foaming reaction is required for preparing a foam produced from a composition containing the EPDM. Furthermore, it is necessary to increase the viscosity of the foaming medium and the effective amount of the produced gas (gas-retaining property) in order to improve the foamability. At that time, it is believed that an increase in high-molecular weight component of the EPDM and introduction of a branch structure in the EPDM are effective for the purpose of improving the gas-retaining property and the shape stability (refer to Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2, for example). However, a composition containing the EPDM having an adequate foamability has not yet been proposed.
Moreover, a sponge rubber which has an excellent shape-retaining property while being lightweight and flexible has been desired as the material for the above-described uses, and a cross-linked foam has been proposed, which is produced from the EPDM containing at least one diene component or a composition thereof. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an ethylene.α-olefin.nonconjugated diene copolymer rubber, in which 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene (ENB) is used as the diene component, which exhibits excellent shape-retaining property and kneadability, and in addition, which is excellent in compression set. Patent Document 2 discloses an ethylene.α-olefin.nonconjugated diene copolymer rubber, in which ENB and dicyclopentadiene are used as nonconjugated dienes, and discloses a sponge, in which the above-described rubber is used, which is highly foamed, and which is excellent in compression set. Regarding the compositions containing the EPDM described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the extrudability and the balance between the vulcanization rate and the mechanical strength of the vulcanized rubber are improved as compared with those of the conventional composition containing the EPDM, but a composition containing the EPDM and having an adequate balance has not yet been produced. Furthermore, in order to produce the EPDM described in Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2, it is necessary to use large amounts of expensive nonconjugated polyene, e.g., ENB or VNB. Therefore, there still is room for improvement from the viewpoint of reduction in production cost.
Under such circumstances, it is desired that a composition capable of providing a cross-linked foam, which has a low specific gravity and an excellent shape-retaining property and which is excellent from the viewpoint of the production cost, is further proposed.

Copolymer, rubber composition, cross-linked rubber, cross-linked foam, and uses thereof


The movable apparatus of a positioning device comprising a conductive stationary part and a conductive movable part, the stationary part has an electrode constituting a capacitor together with said movable part, and the electrode is covered by a guard electrode insulated from the stationary part, whereby a triaxial structure is formed around these electrodes.

A positioning device that uses an electrostatic capacitive distance sensing apparatus is a device capable of very precise positioning of the subject of positioning. The general structure of this positioning device is shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is referred to below. A conventional positioning device 100 that uses an electrostatic capacitive distance sensing apparatus comprises a moveable apparatus 200 comprising a stationary part (not illustrated) and a moveable part (not illustrated); an electrostatic capacitive distance sensing apparatus 300; a drive apparatus 400 for driving this moveable part in order to move the subject of positioning; and a control part 500 for controlling drive apparatus 400 based on the actual distance of movement of this moveable part measured by electrostatic capacitive distance sensing apparatus 300. Moveable apparatus 200 comprises two electrodes constituting a capacitor for measuring the distance of movement of an object. This moveable part connects with the subject of positioning. Movement of this movable part changes the distance between these two electrodes and changes the electrostatic capacity of this capacitor. Changes in this electrostatic capacity are measured by electrostatic capacitive distance sensing apparatus 300.
Electrostatic capacity can be converted to voltage using a capacity-voltage conversion circuit. There are two types of capacity-voltage converters and they differ in terms of the voltage conversion method. These types of capacity-voltage conversion circuits are shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.
Capacity-voltage conversion circuit 310 shown in FIG. 2 measures the voltage proportional to the electrostatic capacity of the capacitor and inversely proportional to the distance d1 between electrodes. A signal source 311 in FIG. 2 is connected to one terminal of a capacitor 240 with a coaxial cable 250 in between. When it is unknown, the output voltage of signal source 311 is measured by a voltmeter 315. The other terminal of capacitor 240 is connected to the inverted input terminal of an amplifier 312 with a coaxial cable 260 in between. Amplifier 312 is the device that amplifies A-times the potential of the noninverted input terminal versus the inverted input terminal and outputs that potential, and the voltage is output such that the potential difference between the noninverted input terminal and the inverted input terminal becomes zero. The noninverted input terminal of amplifier 312 is connected to the reference potential. A reference capacitor 313 is connected in between the inverted input terminal and the output terminal of amplifier 312 and current flowing to capacitor 240 is converted to voltage. In addition, the output voltage of amplifier 312 is measured by a voltmeter 314. Voltage V1 measured by voltmeter 314 is as in the following formula. V1=−(Cs1/Cr1)·E1. Cs1 here is the capacity of capacitor 240. Cr1 is the capacity of reference capacitor 313. E1 is the output voltage of signal source 311. Cs1 is inversely proportional to the distance d1 between electrodes and therefore, V1 is also inversely proportional to the distance d1 between electrodes. The letter A entered in amplifier 312 is the amplification factor of amplifier 312, and this amplification factor is extremely large at the measured frequency point or the measured frequency band. The inverted triangles in the figure show the reference potential of the circuit.
A capacity-voltage conversion circuit 320 in FIG. 3 measures the voltage inversely proportional to the electrostatic capacity of this capacitor and proportional to the distance d1 between electrodes. A signal source 321 in FIG. 3 is connected to the inverted input terminal of an amplifier 322 with a reference capacitor 323 in between. When it is unknown, the output voltage of signal source 321 is measured by a voltmeter 325. Amplifier 322 is the device that amplifies A-times the potential of the noninverted input terminal versus the inverted input terminal and outputs that potential, and the voltage is output such that the potential difference between the noninverted input terminal and the inverted input terminal becomes zero. The noninverted input terminal of amplifier 322 is connected to the reference potential. The output voltage of amplifier 322 is measured by a voltmeter 324. One terminal of a capacitor 240 is connected to the inverted input terminal of amplifier 322 with a coaxial cable 250 in between, and the other terminal is connected to the output terminal of amplifier 322 with a coaxial cable 260 in between. Voltage V2 measured by voltmeter 324 is as in the following formula. V2=−(Cr2/Cs1)·E2. Cs1 here is the capacity of capacitor 240. Cr2 is the capacity of reference capacitor 323. E2 is the output voltage of signal source 321. Cs1 is inversely proportional to the distance between electrodes d1 and therefore, V2 is also proportional to the distance between electrodes d1. The letter A entered in amplifier 322 is the amplification factor of amplifier 322, and this amplification factor is extremely large at the measured frequency point or the measured frequency band. The inverted triangles in the figure show the reference potential of the circuit.
Electrostatic capacitive distance sensing apparatus 300 is capable of measuring the actual movement distance of this moveable part when it comprises either capacity-voltage conversion circuit 310 or capacity-voltage conversion circuit 320. Inverse operations are not necessary with capacity-voltage conversion circuit 320 and therefore, it is a convenient electrostatic capacitive distance sensing apparatus.
Capacity-voltage conversion circuit 310 and capacity-voltage conversion circuit 320 both require that capacitor 240 is insulated from the reference potential. Moveable apparatus 200 comprises two electrodes that constitute capacitor 240. Consequently, moveable apparatus 200 comprises two electrodes insulated from the reference potential. Moveable apparatus 200 will be described here while referring to FIGS. 4 through 7. FIG. 4 is an oblique view of moveable apparatus 200. Moveable apparatus 200 comprises a stationary part 210 and a moveable part 220. Moveable part 220 can move in the direction shown by arrow D1. Stationary part 210 and moveable part 220 are connected by a spring 230. Moreover, capacitor 240 is formed between a face 211 of stationary part 210 and a face 221 of moveable part 220. Coaxial cable 250 and coaxial cable 260 are connected to capacitor 240.
Next, FIG. 5 is face 211 of stationary part 210 seen from the front. FIG. 6 is face 221 of moveable part 220 seen from the front. In FIG. 5, face 211 comprises an electrode 241 with an insulator 242 in between. Moreover, in FIG. 6, face 221 comprises an electrode 243 with an insulator 244 in between.
Next, the A–A′ cross section of FIG. 4 is shown in FIG. 7. The structural elements in FIG. 7 that are the same as in FIGS. 4, 5, or 6 are shown by the same numbers and a detailed description thereof has been omitted. Moveable apparatus 200 in FIG. 7 comprises drive apparatus 400. Moveable apparatus 220 is driven by drive apparatus 400 and is capable of moving in the direction shown by arrow D1. As is clear from FIGS. 5 through 7, electrodes 241 and 243 constituting capacitor 240 are insulated from the reference potential.
The present inventors have discovered that electrode 241 and electrode 243 constituting capacitor 240 must be as close to one another as possible in order to very accurately measure any minute displacement of the moveable part of movable apparatus 200. This is because the S/N ratio of electrostatic capacitive distance sensing apparatus 300 decreases with a reduction in capacity Cs1 of capacitor 240. In terms of the S/N ratio, it is preferred that capacity Cs1 is at least several pF. Moreover, if electrode 241 and electrode 243 are close to one another, there is also an advantage in that changes in capacity Cs1 can be easily monitored. For instance, when the range of movement of moveable part 220 is 20 micrometers and electrode 241 and electrode 243 are disc-shaped electrodes with a diameter of 5 millimeters, electrode 241 and electrode 243 should face one another at a distance between electrodes of several micrometers to 10 micrometers. Electrode 241 and electrode 243 supported by insulators are not easily positioned parallel to one other with such a small distance in between. Moreover, even if it is flexible, coaxial cable 260 is a factor that interferes dynamically with the movement of moveable part 220. Furthermore, the force applied by coaxial cable 260 to moveable part 220 when coaxial cable 260 bends is not reproducible. Therefore, there is a problem with conventional positioning devices in that positioning errors are large.
The present invention provides a positioning device with a smaller positioning error than conventional devices. Additionally, the present invention provides a moveable apparatus with which dimensional uncertainty is reduced by making it possible to ground one of the two electrodes and eliminating the insulators that support the electrodes. The present invention also provides a distance sensing apparatus suitable for this type of moveable apparatus. Furthermore, the present invention reduces the cost of the positioning device.

Movable apparatus, a measuring apparatus, a capacitive distance sensing apparatus, and a positioning device


A cartridge memory is a cartridge memory used in a recording medium cartridge and includes an antenna section that induces an induced voltage by means of electromagnetic induction, a load modulation section including a load whose magnitude is variable, and a control section that measures the induced voltage and controls the load modulation section on the basis of the measured induced voltage.

Magnetic recording media have been widely utilized for the purpose of storing electronic data. In particular, magnetic tapes, whose cost per unit of data capacity is low, are attracting attention again and are being leveraged as recording media used in cloud storage services, together with HDDs (Hard Disk Drives), in data centers, etc.
For such magnetic tapes, magnetic tapes conforming to a Linear Tape Open (LTO) Ultrium standard are in widespread use. Tape cartridges conforming to the LTO Ultrium standard incorporate a noncontact type nonvolatile memory called a cartridge memory (CM) and implementing an RF wireless communication function (see, for example, PTL 1). Such a cartridge memory includes data written therein, such as manufacturing information, a drive usage history, vendor-specific management information, etc. Reading the above data from the cartridge memory by a drive after loading of a cartridge into the drive makes it possible to check a usage status of the cartridge, etc. in a fraction of time.

Cartridge memory and control method for the same, cartridge, and recording and reproducing system


A batch weighing apparatus includes a plurality of soft sided bulk bags containing a quantity of bulk dry material which are rack mounted thereon and which have generally U-shaped bracket assemblies mounted thereunder for agitating the material in the bulk bag for free flow therethrough. The plurality of bulk bags are used in place of the rack mounted bins in prior art devices and permit shipment, storage, and dispensing of bulk dry material from the same soft sided bag.

There are many processes which utilize dry material which is stored in bulk and fed from a bulk container by a screw conveyor, auger, or the like, for batch processing, for example. Although these dry materials have been shipped and stored in rigid containers, recently large bags have been developed for this purpose. Generally, in the prior art, this dry material is emptied from the bulk bags into rigid walled storage bins or feeder bins, and the material is then augered from these feed bins into the process, as desired. Although these bulk bags would otherwise be suitable for rack mounting and direct feeding therefrom, there is an inherent problem with many dry materials that inhibits a bulk bag's use in that manner. Some of these problems include the tendency for the dry material to absorb moisture from the humidity in the air and partially solidify within the bag to thereby impede the free flow of dry material from a pourspout or the like which is often conveniently built into the bottom of bulk bags. This is sometimes referred to as bridging or rat holing. This partial solidification may also be caused merely by the passage of time as the bags are transported or sit awaiting use. Furthermore, a bag may be mounted in a rack and the material adequately loosened to flow freely initially, but the material may then agglomerate or otherwise compact or obstruct the pourspout such that an even, reliable flow of material from the bag until empty is difficult to achieve.
The inventor herein is aware of attempts in the prior art to solve this problem. As best understood, one such prior art attempt consists of a generally rectangular bracket member which is pivotally mounted, much as a child's teeter-totter, and formed in a cradle-like shape. A motor with an eccentric or the like is coupled to an outboard end of the rectangular bracket and used to oscillate the bracket against the bottom of the bag. Because the bag's pourspout has to be loosened and fitted into a surge hopper, the bracket member is initially retracted below the surge hopper and then cranked upwardly into position after the bag is lifted into position above the surge hopper and its pourspout fitted in place. This procedure is necessary to allow unrestricted access to the pourspout for initially loosening it and aligning it with the surge hopper.
While this may improve the flow of material from within the bag, it is not viewed as a complete solution in that the force exerted against the bag is limited to an oscillating teeter-totter motion with a restricted range of movement "into" the bag bottom. Thus, the forced movement of the material in the bag which would have a tendency to break up these agglomerations or partial solidifications is necessarily restricted. Perhaps because of this restricted movement, the prior art teaches the use of a second stage of agitation in the surge hopper, which receives the dry material after it has left the bag, to ensure a smooth flow of dry material. In other words, the prior art uses not only the oscillating bracket to agitate the material in the bag, but also a surge hopper with its own agitation mechanism to ensure a reliably loose material suitable for smooth flow such as by augering or the like. Furthermore, the inventor herein in is unaware of any attempt to use a bulk bag as a substitute for a rigid walled bin by racking a plurality of these bulk bags above a weigh hopper, or the like, and augering a measured quantity of material directly from the bulk bags themselves.
In order to solve these and other problems in the prior art, the inventor herein has succeeded in designing and developing a bracket arrangement as the single agitation mechanism for feeding dry material directly from these bulk bags. The bracket is selectively activated whenever flow is called for to physically knead the lower portion of the bag and the dry material adjacent the pourspout which provides a significant improvement in loosening the dry material just before it exits the bag. Additionally, a vibrator may be mounted on the bracket in order to not only deflect the bag bottom but also vibrate it. The inventor's bracket does not just oscillate in a limited range of motion, but it pushes radically upward into the bag as it is pivoted at one end thereof and not in its middle as in the prior art. Also, the control for the bracket assembly can be used to push against the lower portion of the bag once, twice, or repeatedly during the course of material discharge. With different kinds of dry materials, one or more of these different operating routines may be used to best effect.
By utilizing brackets as the agitation mechanism, bulk bags which hold hygroscopic materials, such as food ingredients, may readily be used for direct dispensing in addition to the shipment and storage of the materials. This is especially important and provides a major advantage over the prior art in that these food materials need not be emptied from their bulk bags and loaded into individual bins which are typically rack mounted in prior art batch weighing devices. Thus, the additional steps required to handle these rather bulky bags as necessary to dump their contents into bins are eliminated. Furthermore, even after the material is dumped into the bins of the prior art batch weighing devices, additional measures are required to maintain the material in a free flowing state. These various mechanisms as known in the prior art are similarly replaced by the bracket arrangement as disclosed herein. As can be appreciated, a substantial savings in cost can also be realized in that the rack mounted bins included in prior art batch weighing devices are eliminated. For food applications, these bins were typically stainless steel and required to meet FDA standards of cleanability and the like. These highly labor intensive maintenance operations in order to maintain FDA standards are also eliminated and represents a further savings.
The bracket assembly essentially consists of a U-shaped bracket which is pivotally mounted beneath the bag at the ends of the legs of the U, and an air cylinder which supports the closed end of the U from the surrounding framework. This U-shaped design and its mounting allow free access to the bag bottom and its pourspout after it has been mounted onto the framework and does not require the crank mechanism for raising the bracket from a lowered position as suggested by the prior art. As the bulk bags in the inventor's system may be typically arranged in two banks, or rack mounted, a walkway through the middle of these two banks or racks is adjacent one side of every bag and the open end of the U-shaped bracket permits an operator to have free and ready access to the bag bottoms for purposes of unfolding the pourspout where it is secured for storage and shipping purposes, and inserting the pourspout into a downspout or other feed arrangement as is known in the art to provide a ready path for dry material as it exits the bag.
The U-shaped bracket substantially surrounds the pourspout and engages the bottom of the bag which is the portion of the bag closest to the material which immediately exits therefrom and therefore is positioned for maximum effect. The vibrator is positioned on the portion of the U-bracket which engages the bag bottom and is vertically oriented to thereby be maximally coupled to the dry material. The air cylinder is of the rubber bladder inflation type thus permitting the vibrator to be effective by inducing vibrations into the bag through the soft coupling between the U-shaped bracket and the frame. The travel of the U-shaped bracket may be adjusted by physically changing the mounting location of the bracket, and by choosing an air cylinder having a different inflation extension. The U-shape design and movement of the bracket from these positions allow for maximum effectiveness in agitating the dry material while eliminating obstruction of the pourspout.
While the principal advantages and features of the present invention have been briefly described above, a greater understanding of the invention may be attained by referring to the drawings and description of the preferred embodiment which follow.

Batch weighing apparatus with bulk bag type bins


The present invention relates to an article of manufacture for detecting motion that includes a substrate with a plurality of volumes of material, where each volume is capable of transmitting light from one location on a surface of the substrate to a second location. The present invention also relates to an article of manufacture having a motion detector with a substrate with a first surface, and a volume of material contained within the substrate and adapted to transmit light from a first location on the first surface to at least a second location. The present invention also relates to methods of making the articles and to methods of transmitting information and detecting motion.

Motion detection has long been a desirable ability to possess. Numerous kinds of electronic sensors can be used to detect motion and typically include the sensor producing a beam of light (visible or otherwise) that when broken, activates an alarm. However, such sensors are comparatively expensive and require electricity.
Light pipes generally are transparent and translucent materials that are capable of transmitting light. Light pipes typically use internal reflection to transmit light. They have numerous different uses in the many different technologies including in the telecommunication industry and in the construction industry as decorative, architectural and/or building materials. Light pipes, as the name suggests, pass light from one location to another. For example, one approach has been to employ a light pipe to transmit light from the exterior to the interior of a building or from a central light source to a multitude of telecommunication devices place remotely from the source.
There continues to be a need for a simple and cost effective motion detecting device using light pipes, or other devices, particularly ones capable of transmission of light such as by way of internal reflection.


Embodiments of the present invention feature storing excess energy from solar, wind, wave, tidal and geothermal energy sources and combinations thereof in the form of upgraded fossil fuels.

Incorporation of "green" power sources such as solar, wind, wave, tidal, and geothermal energy sources have been difficult in part because many of these sources can not be synchronized to match power demands, or the source is variable in output, or the source output is irregular and random, or the source can die off or start up intermittently without prior warning. For example, the output of a single wind powered generator may fluctuate during the day due to prevailing wind patterns or local weather conditions. There is only so much wind at a particular location. Solar panels may be influenced by weather, such as overcast conditions, and are cyclical with the sun.
The demand for electric power also tends to be cyclical. However, weather conditions and customers' domestic, commercial and industrial usage influences demand over time cycles, such as the time of day, day of the week or season. A constant power source such as a geothermal energy source may have difficulty to ramp up further output unless the geothermal energy source is greatly overbuilt.
There is a need for embedding these irregular and poorly controlled power sources into the power grid without impairing the ability of consumers and industry to acquire needed electrical power in a cost efficient manner.

Method and apparatus for storing power from irregular and poorly controlled power sources


A photocurable composition comprises a radical polymerizable unsaturated group-bearing compound, a metal allene compound, and a squalilium compound. The composition is cured by application of low energy visible light or near infrared light having a long wavelength. In the composition, the metal allene compound and the squalilium dye serve as photopolymerization initiators, which are able to produce radicals by application of the long wavelength light and to polymerize the radical polymerizable unsaturated group-bearing compound.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a photocurable composition which is adapted for use as a photoresist or in image recording and which undergoes a curing reaction at high sensitivity by application of visible light or near infrared light.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hitherto known photocurable compositions which have high sensitivity to visible light are those which comprise the following types of initiators, e.g., composite initiators of dyes and aliphatic amines (Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 44-20189), initiators of hexaarylbiimidazoles, radical generators and dyes (Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 45-37377), initiators of hexaarylbiimidazoles and p-dialkylaminobenzylidene ketones (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Sho 47-2528), initiators of cyclic-cis-.alpha.-dicarbonyl compounds and dyes (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Sho 48-84183), initiators of carbonyl compounds and tertiary amines (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Sho 52-134692), initiators of substituted triazines and merocyanine dyes (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Sho 54-151024), initiators of biimidazoles and indanones (Japanese patent Laid-open No. Sho 54-155292), initiators of hexaarylbiimidazoles and p-dialkylaminostilbene derivatives (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Sho 57-21401), initiators of hexaarylbiimidazoles and p-dialkylaminocinnamylidene derivatives (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Sho 58-19315), initiators of triazine derivatives and Cyanine dyes (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Sho 58-29803), initiators of triazine derivatives and thiapyrylium salts (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Sho 58-40302), initiators of hexaarylbiimidazoles and n-dialkylstilbene derivatives or p-dialkylaminophenylbutadienyl derivatives and thiole compounds (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Sho 59-56403), initiators of ketone-substituted derivatives and organic peroxides (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Sho 60-32801), initiators of .alpha.-diketones and mercapto carboxylic acids (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Sho 61-258802), initiators of .alpha.-diketones and polysulfides (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Sho 61-258803) and the like.
The curing with visible light with a long wavelength has been reported as follows.
According to the Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 44-20189, the degree of the curing is expressed in terms of a relative minimum exposure. EQU Relative minimum exposure=I.times.t
where I is an intensity of the light and t is a time before commencement of polymerization, and EQU log I=log 100-D
where the value of 100 is an intensity of carbon arc light for convenience's sake and D is a wedge density. Thus, EQU I=antilong (2-0.05n)
wherein n is the number of polymerization steps.
The relative minimum exposure of photocurable compositions in the Publication No. Sho 44-20189 is 31.7 for a composition having a maximum absorption wavelength of 430 nm, 63.1 for a composition having a maximum absorption wavelength of 575 nm, and 1000 for a composition having a maximum absorption wavelength of 680 nm. More particularly, the photocurable composition set out in the Publication No. Sho 44-20189 requires greater energy since it is cured at a longer wavelength.
In the Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Sho 58-29803, the degree of curing is indicated by the use of stepped tablets. According to the invention disclosed in Laid-Open No. Sho 58-29803, there is obtained a photocurable composition with a maximum of twelve steps of sensitivity by irradiation with light at 436 nm for 60 seconds, a photocurable composition with a maximum of eight steps of sensitivity by irradiation with light at 490 nm for 60 seconds, and a photocurable composition with a maximum of six steps of sensitivity by irradiation with light at 600 nm for 120 seconds. More particularly, since the compositions are cured with long wavelength visible light, greater energy is required.
For practical use, there is a high demand for photocurable compositions which are able to be cured at lower energy. Especially, there is a demand for a photocurable composition which is cured by application of long wavelength visible light or near infrared light at a similar low level of energy as that required by a photocurable composition capable of being cured with visible light having a shorter wavelength.


A digital controlled oscillator includes: a delay circuit which includes m elements transmitting a pulse signal with delay; a timing signal generator generating a timing signal corresponding to timing-selection data from passing signals, based on the timing-selection data specifying any of timings which are obtained by dividing a circulation period of the pulse signal by m×n; and an output signal generator which sets the timing-selection data based on control data specifying a period of an output pulse signal and the timing-selection data, and generates the output pulse signal based on the timing-selection data by using the timing signal. The timing signal generator generates the timings obtained by dividing the circulation period by m×n by using pulse edge shift circuits which generate n shift signals whose timings differ by a unit delay from one input signal, the unit delay being 1/n of delay time in the element.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a digital controlled oscillator and a frequency variable oscillator which generate a signal having a desired frequency by using a ring delay circuit in which a plurality of delay element are connected in a ring shape.
2. Related Art
Conventionally, a digital controlled oscillator is known which generates an output pulse signal having a desired frequency by using a ring delay circuit (ring oscillator) in which a plurality of delay elements are connected in a ring shape (e.g. see JP-A-7-183800).
Specifically, the digital controlled oscillator uses a counter which counts the number of circulations of a pulse signal in the ring delay circuit and a selection circuit which selects any one of outputs of the delay elements (specifies a circulation position of a pulse in the ring delay circuit) to change a signal level of an output pulse signal by using a signal selected by the selection circuit every time when the pulse signal passes through multiple stages of delay elements, the number of the stages corresponding to the desired frequency (period).
However, according to the above conventional oscillator, the inverse of delay time in the delay elements configuring the ring delay circuit is frequency resolution of the output pulse signal. Hence, frequency resolution higher than the inverse of the delay time cannot be realized.

Digital controlled oscillator and frequency variable oscillator


A computer system and method executing a reset method when an adaptor module is faulty is provided. The system comprises processor modules (1), adaptor modules (2), a system bus (3) connecting the processor modules (1) and the adaptor modules (2), devices (4) and lines connected to the adaptor module (2). When the adaptor module (2) is faulty and enters a special status, the method comprises a step of issuing an instruction by which the processor module (1) resets the adaptor module (2), and another step in that when the processor module (1) detects the special status of the adaptor module (2), the adaptor module (2) starts to operate by various predetermined operations. By using the above method, even when the adaptor module (2) has entered a non-operational status, the adaptor module (2) is initialized and a reset capable of restarting the system can be carried out.

A general computer system includes a plurality of processor modules and adaptor modules connected to a system bus, and further, devices or lines connected to the adaptor modules, but the module cannot be inserted at the time when the power source is turned ON. The reason is that when one of modules is faulty, logical circuits in each module are constituted so that the necessary data for fault analysis are held. For this reason, each module is held in one of various statuses and is not reset automatically.
Accordingly, when a fault occurs, if in response to the faulty status, the system reset, namely, the power source reset, is not carried out, a dump instruction, diagnostic instruction, or the like cannot be received. However, occurence of the system reset gives users of the computer system difficulty. Therefore, a reset method wherein the users do not experience difficulties even when the adaptor module is in a faulty status, the adaptor module is initialized from the processor module, and the necessary data for the fault analysis can be recorded, becomes necessary.

Reset method when adaptor module is faulty and computer system executing same


An image forming apparatus includes a saving type storing section, an image data saving section, and a text data saving section. The saving type storing section is configured to store a saving type for image data of a read original document. The image data saving section is configured to save the image data. The text data saving section is configured to save a text data portion included in the image data. When a saving type indicative of processing to save the text data portion is set as the saving type, the text data portion is converted in the text format and saved to the text data saving section. When a saving type indicative of processing to save the entire image data is set as the saving type, the entire image data is saved to the image data saving section.

The present disclosure relates to image forming apparatuses and image processing systems.
Image forming apparatuses may function as a printer, a multifunction printer, a multifunction peripheral device, or a multifunction peripheral. Such an image forming apparatus has a function of, for example, reading an original document using a scanner and converting the read one to image data. In this manner, the image forming apparatus can readily convert read original documents to image data. The image forming apparatus can accordingly print on paper image data of original documents describing confidential information, store it in an external memory, and transmit it to another device. The image forming apparatus stores image data of all of the read original documents as an image log into itself or a management server connected to the image forming apparatus through a network. The image forming apparatus confirms whether or not the stored image data contains confidential information. Further, the image forming apparatus notifies a user of the fact that the image data of the read original documents is monitored. In this manner, the image data of an original document describing the confidential information is prevented from leakage to a third person. However, the image forming apparatus and the management server store image data of all read original documents, which requires a mass storage device such as a large-capacity hard disc drive.
In order to address this problem, various measures are taken for conservation of a memory capacity for storing image data. For example, an image processing device, an image processing system, and an image processing program of some type are capable of selecting any of the following processing when a blank document is detected: processing to include minimized image data of the blank document in log image data, processing to generate log image data excluding the blank document, processing to add character data of "blank" or the like to minimized image data of the blank document, and processing to generate image data including the blank document. In this manner, the image processing system can conserve the memory capacity for storing image data.

Image forming apparatus and image processing system capable of saving log of text data portion included in image data


An exercise aid is composed of a harness which is worn on the lifter's chest when performing the bench press exercise and has left and right sides disposed at opposite respective sides of a central plane of the harness. The harness includes two pockets which are symmetrically disposed about the central plane. A stiff plate can be removably inserted in each pocket to provide a spacer which limits the extent to which the bar can be lowered.

This invention relates to a training aid.
When doing the exercise known as the bench press, a lifter lies on a horizontal bench with his buttocks, shoulders and head in contact with the bench. The knees are bent so that the feet can be placed flat on the floor, which assists in stabilizing the lifter on the bench. The lifter reaches up and grasps a barbell in both hands. The lifter takes a deep breath, stabilizing the chest to give a firm base for the muscular action involved in the lift. In his own time, the user lowers the barbell to his chest. This must be done under control.
The lifter drives the bar from the chest, in the initial starting position, when the barbell is resting on the chest, it will not lie over the fulcrum of the shoulder joint but will be some 2 or 3 inches forward of this point. This means that there is a forward weight arm and consequent mechanical disadvantage right from the start of the drive. The forward weight arm must be eliminated and in order to do this the user eases the barbell back during the drive to bring it over the shoulder fulcrum. While the drive must be very determined, care must be taken to ensure that the elbows are not lifted upwards and forward, as this would throw too great a resistance on the triceps too soon. It will be in the mid-range of the movement that the user will encounter the greatest difficulties. This area is known as the "sticking point" or point of the greatest mechanical and anatomical disadvantage. Here the horizontal weight arms are at their greatest and there is a weak link between the change over of one muscle group to another. The initial part of the drive is developed by strong action of the pectoralis major, anterior deltoid and serratus anterior. At the mid-section of the press, the role of these muscles is diminishing and the triceps are beginning to take on a greater responsibility in the movement. It is here that the weakness occurs. As the barbell passes through the mid-range, it becomes increasingly easy to complete the movement. The lift is completed when the arms are fully straightened.
It is important to note that the groove is a spot that is 1 to 3 inches up from the bottom of the lower pectoralis major. Maintaining the groove position is very important, in order to obtain the best mechanical advantage.
The aim in the bench press exercise is to complete a certain number of repetitions, e.g. 10 repetitions, with a given weight on the barbell. The lifter may train at a first weight level until he is comfortable at that weight level and can perform the desired number of repetitions, and then increase the weight of the barbell to a higher level and train at the higher level until he is comfortable at that weight level and can perform the desired number of repetitions. In this manner, the lifter progressively increases the weight level at which he exercises.
There are mental and physical barriers to increasing the weight level in the bench press exercise. First, the effort that the lifter can exert when pushing the barbell upward is lower when the barbell is just touching the lifter's chest than when the barbell is slightly above the lifter's chest and consequently, when the weight of the barbell is increased, the fear of being unable to raise the barbell may intimidate the lifter as he lowers the barbell and he might not lower the barbell fully, so that it touches his chest. Secondly, assuming that the lifter is able to lower the barbell at the higher weight level so that the bar just touches his chest, there is a danger of injury, particularly to the shoulder, on exerting the effort needed to raise the barbell at the higher weight level.


Techniques to provide guidance to a vehicle operating in an environment are discussed herein. For example, such techniques may include sending a request for assistance, receiving a reference trajectory, and causing the vehicle to determine a trajectory based on the reference trajectory. Data such as sensor data and vehicle state data may be sent from the vehicle to a remote computing device. The computing device outputs a user interface using the data and determines the reference trajectory based on receiving an input in the user interface. The techniques can send an indication of the reference trajectory to the vehicle for use in planning a trajectory for the vehicle. A vehicle, such as an autonomous vehicle, can be controlled to traverse an environment based on the trajectory.

Planning systems in autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles determine actions for a vehicle to take in an operating environment. Actions for a vehicle may be determined based in part on avoiding objects present in the environment. For example, an action may be generated to go around a double-parked vehicle, to change a lane to avoid another vehicle in the road, or the like. The planning systems may perform any number of operations (e.g., simulations, etc.) to determine an effect of each detected object on a potential action for the vehicle. However, in certain situations, the vehicle may be unable to navigate past a portion of the environment that impedes progress of the vehicle.

Teleoperations for collaborative vehicle guidance


An endoscope having restricted dimensions and comprising at least one image gatherer, at least one image distorter and at least one image sensor shaped to fit within said limited dimensions, and wherein said image distorter is operable to distort an image received from said image gatherer so that the image is sensible at said shaped image sensor.

Endoscopy is a surgical technique that involves the use of an endoscope, to see images of the body's internal structures through very small incisions.
Endoscopic surgery has been used for decades in a number of different procedures, including gall bladder removal, tubal ligation, and knee surgery, and recently in plastic surgery including both cosmetic and re-constructive procedures.
An endoscope may be a rigid or flexible endoscope which consists of five basic parts: a tubular probe, a small camera head, a camera control unit, a bright light source and a cable set which may include a fiber optic cable. The endoscope is inserted through a small incision; and connected to a viewing screen which magnifies the transmitted images of the body's internal structures.
During surgery, the surgeon is able to view the surgical area by watching the screen while moving the tube of the endoscope through the surgical area.
In a typical surgical procedure using an endoscope, only a few small incisions, each less than one inch long, are needed to insert the endoscope probe and other instruments. For some procedures, such as breast augmentation, only two incisions may be necessary. For others, such as a forehead lift, three or four short incisions may be needed. The tiny eye of the endoscope camera allows a surgeon to view the surgical site.
An advantage of the shorter incisions possible when using an endoscope is reduced damage to the patient's body from the surgery. In particular, the risk of sensory loss from nerve damage is decreased. However, most current endoscopes provide only flat, two-dimensional images which are not always sufficient for the requirements of the surgery. The ability of an endoscope to provide three-dimensional information in its output would extend the field of endoscope use within surgery.
The need for a 3D imaging ability within an endoscope has been addressed in the past. A number of solutions that provide stereoscopic images by using two different optical paths are disclosed in Patents U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,944,655, 5,222,477, 4,651,201, 5,191,203, 5,122,650, 5,471,237, JP7163517A, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,673,147, 6,139,490, 5,603,687, WO9960916A2, and JP63244011A.
Another method, represented by U.S. Patents, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,728,044 and 5,575,754 makes use of an additional sensor that provides location measurements of image points. Patent JP8220448A discloses a stereoscopic adapter for a one-eye endoscope, which uses an optical assembly to divide and deflect the image to two sensors. A further method, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,189 uses image acquisition from different directions using one or more cameras. An attempt to obtain 3D information using two light sources was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,714,319 in which two light sources are used to give an illusion of a stereoscopic image based upon shadows. JP131622A discloses a method for achieving the illusion of a stereoscopic image by using two light sources, which are turned on alternately.
An additional problem with current endoscopes is the issue of lighting of the subject for imaging. The interior spaces of the body have to be illuminated in order to be imaged and thus the endoscope generally includes an illumination source. Different parts of the field to be illuminated are at different distances from the illumination source and relative reflection ratios depend strongly on relative distances to the illumination source. The relative distances however may be very large In a typical surgical field of view, distances can easily range between 2 and 20 cm giving a distance ratio of 1:10. The corresponding brightness ratio may then be 1:100, causing blinding and making the more distant object all but invisible.
One reference, JP61018915A, suggests solving the problem of uneven lighting by using a liquid-crystal shutter element to reduce the transmitted light. Other citations that discuss general regulation of illumination levels include U.S. Pat. No. 4,967,269, JP4236934A, JP8114755A and JP8024219A.
In general it is desirable to reduce endoscope size and at the same time to improve image quality. Furthermore, it is desirable to produce a disposable endoscope, thus avoiding any need for sterilization, it being appreciated that sterilization of a complex electronic item such as an endoscope being awkward in itself.
Efforts to design new head architecture have mainly concentrated on integration of the sensor, typically a CCD based sensor, with optics at the distal end. Examples of such integration are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,604,992, 4,491,865, 4,692,608, JP60258515A, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,746,203, 4,720,178, 5,166,787, 4,803,562, 5,594,497 and EP434793B1. Reducing the overall dimensions of the distal end of the endoscope are addressed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,376,960 and 4,819,065, and Japanese Patent Applications No. 7318815A and No. 70221A. Integration of the endoscope with other forms of imaging such as ultrasound and Optical Coherence Tomography are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,869,256, 6,129,672, 6,099,475, 6,039,693, 55,022,399, 6,134,003 and 6,010,449
Intra-vascular applications are disclosed in certain of the above-mentioned patents, which integrate the endoscope with an ultrasound sensor or other data acquisition devices. Patents that disclose methods for enabling visibility within opaque fluids are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,576,146, 4,827,907, 5,010,875, 4,934,339, 6,178,346 and 4,998,972.
Sterilization issues of different devices including endoscopes are discussed in WO9732534A1, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,792,045 and 5,498,230. In particular JP3264043A discloses a sleeve that was developed in order to overcome the need to sterilize the endoscope.
The above-mentioned solutions are however incomplete and are difficult to integrate into a single endoscope optimized for all the above issues.

Image-distorting endoscopes and methods of making and using such endoscope


A luggage compression panel for compressing items accommodated in an interior space of luggage. The luggage compression panel includes, but is not limited to, a supporting structure defining a supporting area, and at least one locking mechanism for releasably fixing an engaging member of the luggage on the supporting structure.

Packing luggage is often a cumbersome task as space within the luggage is limited and in a lot of situations is too little for storing items such as clothes. In such cases, the user often tends to stack clothes beyond the available height of an interior compartment of the luggage and compresses the content using e.g. the lid of a piece of luggage in order to be able to close a closure means of the luggage like a zipper or other closure mechanisms. This has the drawback that a restoring force is generated in the inside of the luggage by the stack of clothes which presses against the lid and exerts an adverse force on the closure mechanism which could damage the same.
On the other hand, it is possible that the space inside the luggage is overdimensioned for a specific use leading to a situation in which the items accommodated in the luggage do not completely fill the interior compartment of the luggage. In this case, clothes or other items tend to move inside the luggage during transport which may lead to creases in the clothes.
Accordingly, it is desirable to at least address the foregoing. In addition, other desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent summary and detailed description, and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.

Luggage compression panel, suitcase and carrying system comprising a luggage compression panel


A distributor arranged between a tuner module and an antenna, the tuner module including a first input portion and a second input portion for inputting a satellite broadcast signal transmitted from an artificial satellite and a ground broadcast signal transmitted from a ground base station respectively, and the antenna receiving either one of the broadcast signals. The distributor includes a first connector portion connected to the antenna; a second connector portion connected to the first input portion; a third connector portion connected to the second input portion; and a junction connecting portion distributing the signal inputted to the first connector portion to the second and the third connector portions. A drive voltage of the antenna inputted from the first input portion is outputted to the antenna. The voltage outputted to the antenna is fed back to the second input portion through the junction connecting portion and the third connector portion.

The present invention relates to a distributor for distributing a signal received by an antenna to a tuner module having a plurality of input portions, further in details, relates to a distributor preferably used in a case of connecting a single antenna to a tuner module for detecting connection or the antenna by feeding back a drive voltage of the antenna inputted from one input portion to other input portion and a broadcast signal receiving system using the same.
In recent years, there is proposed a satellite radio broadcast by transmitting to broadcast a signal including vocal information from an artificial satellite orbiting an earth orbit. Currently, in the United States, there is proposed such a satellite radio broadcast by XM Satellite Radio Corporation. In the satellite radio broadcast, a signal transmitted from an artificial satellite can be received in a wide area on the earth and therefore, attention is attracted thereto since the satellite radio broadcast is preferable not only for use of receiving and herring the broadcast by installing a receiver at a fixed location of a general household or the like but also for use of receiving and herring the broadcast by mounting a receiver to a moving body (for example, a vehicle body) or, for example, an automobile or the like.
In a vehicle-mounted receiving system for receiving satellite radio broadcast, both of satellite radio broadcast and ground radio broadcast which has conventionally been used widely are received by a single tuner module for the purpose of reducing a number of parts to achieve low cost.
According to such a vehicle-mounted receiving system, as shown in FIG. 5, a tuner module 101 having a first input portion 110 connected to a satellite wave antenna for receiving satellite radio broadcast, a second input portion 111 connected to a ground wave antenna for receiving ground radio broadcast and input/output terminals 112 connected to respective portions on a side of the receiver 100 are provided in a receiver 100 which is mounted to a vehicle. Further, the tuner module 101 includes an antenna detecting circuit 113 for detecting that the respective antennas are connected by inputting a drive voltage of an antenna 120 inputted from the first input portion 110 is fed back through the antenna to input from the second input portion 111.
According to the related tuner module 101, in a state that a satellite wave antenna and a ground wave antenna are respectively connected to the first input portion 110 and the second input portion 111, a drive voltage (drive power) inputted from the input/output terminals 112 is outputted to the respective antennas Via the first input portion 110 to be fed back from the respective antennas to the second input portion 111. Further, the antenna detecting circuit 113 detects that the respective antennas are normally connected, thereby the tuner module 101 is normally operated under the state (for example, see JP-A-2003-151377).
The related tuner module 101 is normally operated as described above when the satellite wave antenna and the ground wave antenna are respectively connected to the tuner module 101 in a state that the antenna module having both of the satellite wave antenna and the ground wave antenna is connected to the tuner module 101, for example, as shown in FIG. 5. However, when a single antenna for receiving only either one of a satellite wave or a ground wave is connected to the tuner module 101, a voltage is not applied to a side of the antenna detecting circuit 113 and therefore, connection of the antenna is not detected and the tuner module 101 cannot be operated normally. When a single antenna is used, there is a case in which a tuner module in correspondence with the single antenna needs to use to bring about an increase in fabrication cost.

Distributor and broadcast signal receiving system using the same


In a drug packaging device which can shorten the drug packaging time. The opening of a bag is sealed with a transverse sealing unit and a longitudinal sealing unit. The time when the sealing is started and the sealing speed are varied according to the type of drug to be packaged in the bag. For drugs that take a longer time to be fed into the bag and settle in the bag, the seal starting time is delayed and the sealing speed is slowed. As a whole, it is possible to shorten the packaging time, while eliminating the possibility of incomplete packaging.

This invention relates to a drug packaging device for packaging prescribed drugs in bags or containers.
A drug packaging device is used to package prescribed drugs in bags or containers by putting drugs in each bag or container through a hopper inserted in the mouth of the bag or container and heat-sealing the mouth.
Drugs to be packaged come in a great variety of types and shapes, and the time needed for drugs discharged from drug feeders to pass through guides and the hopper and be delivered into each bag or container varies greatly from one type of drugs to another. In order to package all the necessary drugs in the respective bags or containers, the bags or containers are sealed after the drugs which take the longest time to reach the bags or containers have been put in the bags or containers.
Drugs are roughly classified into tablets, powder drugs and liquid drugs. Some of them need a longer time to be fed into a bag or container than others. For example, spherical tablets bounce in a bag or container and thus take a longer time to settle therein than tablets of an ordinary shape or capsules. Also, fine powder drugs tend to scatter like smoke in containers or bags and thus take a longer time to settle than granular drugs. In the case of liquid drugs, the higher their viscosity, the slower their flow speed, and thus the longer time needed for them to flow into a bag or container.
Since there is a wide difference in the times needed for drugs to be fed into bags and settle, from one type of drug to another, the speed with which the mouths of the bags or containers are sealed is set according to the drug that takes the longest time to be fed into containers and settle, so as to prevent incomplete packaging.
Thus, the seal starting time is unnecessarily delayed and the sealing speed is unnecessarily slow.
An object of this invention is to streamline the packaging operation of a drug packaging device to shorten the packaging time.


In a conventional semiconductor device, there was a problem that, in a guard ring region, a shape of a depletion layer is distorted and stable withstand voltage characteristics cannot be obtained. In a semiconductor device of the present invention, a thermal oxide film in an actual operation region and a thermal oxide film in a guard ring region are formed in the same process. Thereafter, the thermal oxide film is once removed and is formed again. Thus, a film thickness of the thermal oxide film on the upper surface of the guard ring region is set to, for example, about 8000 to 10000 Å. Accordingly, a CVD oxide film including moving ions is formed in a position distant from a surface of an epitaxial layer. Consequently, distortion of a depletion layer, which is influenced by the moving ions, is suppressed and desired withstand voltage characteristics can be maintained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thermal oxide film structure on an upper surface of a guard ring formation region in a semiconductor device, more particularly to an element for reducing effects of moving ions.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional semiconductor device, for example, an insulated gate bipolar transistor, a guard ring part (region B) is formed to be continuous with a unit cell part (region A) of an IGBT element in a peripheral region of an element forming region. Accordingly, there has been known an element structure which improves withstand voltage of a guard ring without increasing an ON-resistance of the element (for example, see patent document 1).
Moreover, in a conventional semiconductor integrated circuit, for example, an integrated circuit for high power applications, a P-type guard ring layer is formed in a peripheral part of a vertical IGBT. On the guard ring layer, a horizontal device such as a diode is disposed with an insulating layer interposed therebetween. Accordingly, there has been known an element structure capable of preventing an intensive electric field by equalizing distribution of equal potential lines in both of the vertical IGBT and the horizontal device.
[Patent Document 1]
U.S. Pat. No. 2,950,025 (Page 3 and Page 4, FIG. 1 to FIG. 3)
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 10 (1998)-256542 (Page 3 and Page 4, FIG. 1 to FIG. 3)


The present disclosure provides various systems and methods for providing enhanced messaging features. An exemplary method for providing a predictive response messaging feature includes receiving a message from a first device (108) at a second device (110) and analyzing the message to determine at least one response option based upon the content of the message. After determining at least one response option, the at least one response option can be presented on a display (202) of the second device (110). A called party can make a selection of one of the at least one response options and the selection can be received on the second device (110). The selection can trigger the creation of a response message based upon the selected response option and the response message can be sent to the first device (108). Other methods and systems are described.

Wireless messaging services, such as text messaging, allow users to generate and send messages to other users within a wireless communications network. Typically, a text message is sent to a Short Message Service Center (SMSC) that stores the text message and attempts to send the message to the recipient. If the recipient is not available, the SMSC queues the message for a later retry attempt. This type of delivery system is commonly referred to as a store-and-forward delivery system.
SMS delivery is also characterized as a best effort delivery system. As such, there is no guarantee that a message will be delivered to the intended recipient or that the message will be delivered at a certain time. In some instances the message is lost and never sent to the recipient.
Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) allows users to exchange multimedia communications between capable mobile phones and other devices. MMS is an extension of the SMS protocol that defines a way to send and receive messages that include images, audio, and video in addition to text.

Providing a predictive response feature for messaging applications by analyzing the text of a message using text recognition logic


There is provided a method of producing a photovoltaic element comprising: a first step in which an i-type amorphous silicon layer (16) and an n-type amorphous silicon layer (14) are formed over a light-receiving surface of an n-type monocrystalline silicon substrate (18); a second step in which an i-type amorphous silicon layer (22a) and an n-type amorphous silicon layer (23a) are formed over a back surface of the n-type monocrystalline silicon substrate (18); and a third step in which, after the first step and the second step are completed, protection layers are formed over the n-type amorphous silicon layer (14) and the n-type amorphous silicon layer (23a).

Various photovoltaic elements which use monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, or amorphous silicon are being developed. As an example, Patent Document 1 discloses a photovoltaic element comprising a semiconductor substrate comprising monocrystalline silicon and having a light-receiving surface and a back surface provided on a side opposite the light-receiving surface; a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer comprising amorphous silicon, formed along a predetermined direction over the back surface, and in which layers of different conductive types are alternately placed along the back surface; an insulating layer formed straddling from a region over the second semiconductor layer to a region over the first semiconductor layer; a transparent electrode layer covering the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer; and a collective electrode layer formed over the transparent electrode layer.

Method for producing photoelectric conversion element

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


Corruption in digital data communications systems is detected, at the receiving end, by taking a number of samples of the received signal within each bit period. Flip flops (4, 7 and 8) are used to take samples from the digitized received signal as follows: flip flop (4), a mid bit sample indicative of the value of the center of the bit; flip flop (7), a pre-mid sample taken within the bit period before the mid-bit sample; and flip flop (8), a post-mid sample taken within the bit period after the mid-bit sample. Gating circuitry (23, 24, 25) is used to analyse the three samples and give a "good" or "bad" output signal to register 11 as a result of the analysis. Corruption is judged to be present if any one of the samples has a different value to the others.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to digital communication systems and in particular to a method and apparatus for detecting data corruption in such systems. The invention finds particular, though not exclusive, application in the field of cordless telephony, in particular the new CT2 digital systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
In such CT2 digital systems, imperfections in the transmission system may cause the data to be corrupted, e.g. due to interference or fading on an RF link. In many such applications, it is possible to transmit extra information to permit error detection and/or correction at the receiving end. Such methods include parity checks, cyclic redundancy codes, etc. In other applications however, the increase in data rate or transmission time which is needed in order to append such information is not practical.
The present invention relates to such situations and provides a method and apparatus for error rate detection in digital communication systems, particularly those having limited bandwidth. The invention permits monitoring of data integrity without requiring any extra data to be transmitted. It has the advantage that the onset of corruption of the data can often be anticipated, i.e. detection of link degradation extends into the region where data can still be correctly recovered, as well as situations where the data is actually corrupted.
The specific application in which the invention is intended to be used is in the transmission of digitized speech over an RF link in a CT2 digital cordless telephone system. Here, not enough bandwidth is available to add error detection/correction data to the speech data. Therefore, it is necessary to detect poor reception conditions due to low signal strength or interference in order to prevent the user being subjected to the loud noises that the speech decoder generates in the presence of significant bit error rates.
Monitoring of the received RF signal strength is commonly used to predict the onset of corruption in radio applications; however, this technique cannot detect corruption by an interfering signal as the signal strength of the principal signal may well remain high. Also, the correlation between signal strength and data degradation varies between RF units so such predictions may be inaccurate.
When noise or interference is added to a bandlimited data stream, two effects occur. Firstly the recovered value of the bit may be corrupted. This corruption is usually not detectable if no error detection data is sent--the transmitted data could have any value. Secondly the time of the transitions between bit values will be altered from their normal position (jitter). The invention detects such jitter and uses it as an indication of (possible) bit corruption.
Already known is a synchronizing circuit which takes a number of samples of an incoming signal per bit and uses some function of the values of these samples (e.g. a majority vote) to determine the correct value of the received data bit. Methods of automatically gaining synchronism using the value of the samples are also known.
The technique of the present invention involves taking a number of samples per incoming bit, and also using some function of the values of these samples to determine whether the jitter present exceeds one or more thresholds. We may then either give a single indication of the presence and/or degree of such jitter, or periodically give an indication of the number and/or degree of such occurrences. These indications are used to assess the quality of the communications link and detect degradation, enabling some corrective or preventative action to be taken.


An image sensor comprising a matrix of solid-state light sensor elements each representing a unit pixel, which is capable of reading out sensor signals from respective pixels in a time series by sequentially selecting pixels on a line-by-line basis and sequentially selecting pixels in a selected line, wherein each pixel line is divided into a plurality of blocks with each block composed of the same specified number of pixels and a first scanning means sequentially reads pixel sensor signals on the block-by-block basis starting from the first block and a second scanning means reads pixel sensor signals of the readout block. The image sensor thus constructed can achieve high speed scanning of respective pixels with a minimal increase in power consumption.

The present invention relates to an image sensor comprised of a number of solid-state light sensor elements arranged to form a matrix of the light sensor elements each representing a unit pixel, wherein sensor signals from respective pixels are read out (scanned) in a time series by sequentially selecting the pixel lines one at a time and sequentially selecting each of the pixels in a selected line.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-329616 discloses a conventional image sensor, in which a light sensor circuit representing a unit pixel comprises, as shown in FIG. 1, a photo-diode PD operating as a photoelectric converting element for producing therein a sensor current proportional to the quantity of incident light Ls falling thereon, a transistor Q1 having a logarithmic output characteristic in a weak inverse state for converting the sensor current produced in the photodiode PD into a voltage signal Vpd by using the property of its sub-threshold region, a transistor Q2 for amplifying the voltage signal Vpd and a transistor Q3 for outputting a sensor signal So in accordance with a timing pulse of a readout signal Vs and which is characterized by its wide dynamic range obtained by giving the output a logarithmic characteristic, thereby achieving the high sensitivity of detecting a light signal. This image sensor can change drain voltages of the transistors for all pixels from a normal to a lower level for a specified time to remove charges accumulated in parasitic capacitors C of respective photoelectric converting elements, thereby initializing all pixels before detecting light signals. Therefore, even if the sensor current rapidly decreased with a decreased illumination, each sensor circuit may immediately obtain a voltage signal corresponding to the incident light quantity at that moment, thereby eliminating the possibility of occurrence of afterglow of the pixel at a decreased quantity of incident light.
FIG. 2 shows a time chart of signals produced at respective portions of the light sensor circuit of FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, t1 is an initializing timing pulse, t2 is a timing pulse for outputting a light sensor signal So and T designates a period for accumulating a charge in a parasitic capacitor C of the photodiode PD.
FIG. 3 shows an output characteristic of a sensor signal So with a sensor current proportional to a quantity of light falling on the light sensor circuit of FIG. 1, which is characterized by a logarithmic output characteristic at a sufficient quantity of the sensor current flowing in the photodiode PD and by a non-logarithmic linear characteristic at a small quantity of the sensor current due to a response delay in charging a parasitic capacitor C. In FIG. 3, WA indicates a non-logarithmic response characteristic region and WB indicates a logarithmic response characteristic region.
FIG. 4 shows an exemplary construction of a conventional image sensor comprising a number of the above-described light sensor circuits arranged to form a matrix of pixels (i.e., light sensor circuits), wherein sensor signals from respective pixels are read by scanning in a time series.
The image sensor is composed of 4×4 pixels D11-D44 arranged in a matrix of pixel circuits, in which, under control of an electronic control unit ECU (not shown), pixel lines are selected one by one with respective selecting signals LS1-LS4 sequentially output from a pixel line selecting circuit 1 and pixels in each selected pixel-line are readout one by one as respective sensor signals So in such a manner that selecting signals DS sequentially output from a pixel selecting circuit 2 turn ON corresponding switches SW1-SW4 to read sensor signals So in a time series. Each of the sensor signals So sequentially readout from respective pixels is converted into a specified voltage signal Vo by applying a bias voltage Vcc through a reference resistance R. In FIG. 4, numeral 4 designates a power source for gate voltage VG of the transistor Q1, numeral 6 designates a power source for a drain voltage VD of the transistor Q1 and numeral 5 designates a voltage switching-over circuit 5 by which a drain voltage VD of each transistor Q1 for each pixel is changed to a normal high-level H or an initializing lower level L by the effect of a specified timing pulse.
FIG. 5 is a time chart of signals generated at respective portions of the thus constructed image sensor. However, the above-described conventional image sensor has a low signal driving ability to convert a sensor signal So from each pixel into an output voltage signal Vo and output it. In other words, if the image sensor reads out a sensor signal at an increased scanning speed, the voltage signal Vo would be output as unsaturated. For this reason, it cannot achieve high speed reading-out (scanning) of pixel signals.
To improve the signal driving ability of the conventional image sensor, it is modified by providing each pixel output of one pixel line with a bias circuit 11 which, as shown in FIG. 6, converts each sensor signal So read from each of respective pixels in a pixel line into a voltage signal Vo by applying a bias voltage Vcc through a reference resistance. This modification makes it possible to read out pixel signals at an increased scanning speed but, at the same time, increases power consumption for supplying electric current to a number of reference resistances R provided for each of the pixel outputs of each pixel line. High speed scanning is still difficult since the capacities of a plurality of analog switches (transistor switches) must be driven until a voltage signal Vo of the pixel selected by the pixel selecting circuit 2 is output.
Accordingly, an attempt has been made to improve signal driving ability of the image sensor by further providing a buffer circuit 12 which comprises, as shown in FIG. 15, buffer amplifiers BF connected to each one of the signal lines on the output side of the bias circuit 11 and which can temporally and intensively store voltage signals Vo from respective pixels selected by the pixel selecting circuit 2. The image sensor thus constructed, however, has such a disadvantage that the power consumption is further increased for supplying electric current to a number of buffer amplifiers with one provided for each of the pixel outputs of one pixel line.
Thus, the conventional image sensor comprising a number of solid-state light sensitive elements arranged to form a matrix of pixels, which is capable of reading sensor signals from respective pixels in a time series by sequentially selecting pixel lines one at a time and sequentially selecting pixels one by one in a selected pixel line and then outputting each sensor signal as a voltage signal obtained by applying a bias voltage through the reference resistance and which, however, cannot achieve high speed reading of pixel signals because of its low signal driving ability.
The image sensor, which is further provided with bias circuits disposed for each of outputs of each pixel line for converting a voltage signal from each pixel by applying a bias voltage through a reference resistance so as to improve the signal driving ability necessary for achieving high-speed reading of pixel signals, has to supply electric energy to a number of reference resistances R provided one for each of the pixel outputs of one pixel line, resulting in a considerable increase in power consumption.
The image sensor comprising a matrix of solid-state light sensor elements each representing a unit pixel, which sequentially reads signals from respective pixels in a time series by sequentially selecting pixel lines one at a time and by sequentially selecting pixels in a selected pixel line and which is provided with a bias circuit for each of the pixel outputs of one pixel line to convert respective pixel signals to respective voltage signals by applying a bias voltage through a reference resistance and which is further provided with a buffer circuit comprising buffer amplifiers connected to each one of the signal output lines to temporally accumulate voltage signals of respective pixels from the bias circuits and selectively output the voltage signals so as to improve the signal driving ability and achieve high-speed scanning of respective sensor signals, has a disadvantage of further increasing power consumption by supplying electric current to a number of reference resistances and a number of buffer amplifiers disposed one for each of the pixel outputs of one pixel line.


The disclosure relates to a method for displaying webpage content. The method includes displaying a floating window including a first webpage; receiving a trigger signal corresponding to a target object in the first webpage; acquiring a target webpage address corresponding to the target object; determining a target application program corresponding to the target webpage address; calling the target application program corresponding to the target webpage address; and displaying webpage content corresponding to the target webpage address through the target application program.

Floating window technology may be used in terminals such as mobile phones, tablet computer, and the like. In some scenarios, a terminal may display a webpage through a floating window.
Since the size of a floating window is limited and may be much smaller than the size of a terminal screen, it is inconvenient to browse or process on the webpage content when the webpage is displayed through a floating window.

Method and apparatus for displaying webpage content

BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO., LTD.


A method of yielding a thinner product wafer from a thicker base SiC wafer cut from a SiC ingot includes: supporting the base SiC wafer with a support substrate: and while the base SiC wafer is supported by the support substrate, cutting through the base SiC wafer in a direction parallel to a first main surface of the base SiC wafer using a wire as part of a wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) process, to separate the product wafer from the base SiC wafer, the product wafer being attached to the support substrate when cut from the base SiC wafer.

SiC is increasingly being used as a semiconductor material for power semiconductor devices due to its material properties. Compared to Si, SiC-based power semiconductor devices provide higher efficiency, withstand higher breakdown voltage, operate at higher speed and require smaller package housings. However, compared to Si, SiC wafers are more expensive. SiC wafers are cut from a SiC ingot at a typical thickness of several hundred micrometer to provide sufficient mechanical stability during handling and device processing. Power semiconductor devices fabricated from a SiC wafer tend to be significantly thinner (e.g. 100 μm or less) than the initial wafer thickness, requiring a back-side thinning process such as polishing. Given the high cost of SiC wafers, the thinning process can be viewed as wasteful.
Hence, new methods for reusing SiC wafers are needed.

Slicing SiC material by wire electrical discharge machining


An image forming apparatus includes a first developing cartridge and a first photosensitive cartridge. The first developing cartridge is removably mounted in the first photosensitive cartridge and includes a toner hopper, a supply roller and a developing roller. The first photosensitive cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a charger provided at a position adjacent to the photosensitive drum, a first wall provided adjacent to the supply roller, the toner hopper, and the developing roller when the first developing cartridge is mounted in the photosensitive cartridge, the first wall including a first opening, and a second wall which faces the first wall and is provided adjacent to the charger, the second wall including a second opening on an opposite side of the charger from the photosensitive drum. A portion of a wall of the first developing cartridge projects through the first opening in the first wall of the first photosensitive cartridge.

For example, JP-A-2001-350307 describes a related art image forming apparatus that forms an image electrophotograpically, in which a plurality of photosensitive cartridges are arranged in parallel along a predetermined direction.
In each photosensitive cartridge, a cartridge frame body houses a photosensitive drum on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a charger which charges the photosensitive drum, and a developing unit which develops the electrostatic latent image.

Image forming apparatus and photosensitive cartridge