A DC linear motor in which a position and a speed of a movable part relative to a stator can be easily detected by a displacement sensor and a sensor target. The displacement sensor is fixed on the movable part, and the sensor target is fixed on the stator. By properly selecting a shape of the sensor target, a distance y between the sensor target and the displacement sensor corresponds, one to one, to a distance between an initial point of the movable part 1 and a present position thereof. For example, the sensor target may be a plate declined with respect to a direction of motion of the movable part.

The present invention relates generally to DC linear motors and more particularly to a DC linear motor which linearly moves an optical head or an image scanner. To record/reproduce information with high density on/from an optical disk or to scan an image with high density, it is necessary to move an optical head or a scanner with a high degree of precision. In general, an optical head or a scanner is moved as a movable part by a motor. In addition, position data and speed data of the movable part is needed to control the driving of the movable part.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 59-122357 discloses a DC linear motor that drives a movable part, with more precision than a pulse linear motor, by means of a linear encoder for detecting a position and a speed of the moving part, the linear encoder including a light-emitting element, a declined reflecting surface, and a light-receiving element. However, the DC linear motor has the following disadvantages. The linear encoder is expensive and the motor is accordingly expensive. In addition, it is difficult to properly assemble the linear encoder into the motor. Moreover, a coil included in the motor becomes hot, when energized, and eventually burns out. Although it is conceivable to detect a temperature of the coil using electricity passing through it, and control the driving of the movable part based on the detected temperature, as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model No. 59-95789 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2-179896, the temperature of the coil cannot be precisely determined since electricity passing through the coil is calculated from a resistance of the coil, which varies nonlinearly with the temperature. Consequently, it is difficult to drive the movable part with a high degree of precision.


A method of determining a position of an imprint template in an imprint lithography apparatus. In an embodiment, the method includes illuminating an area of the imprint template in which an alignment mark is expected to be found by scanning an alignment radiation beam over that area, detecting an intensity of radiation reflected or transmitted from the area, and identifying the alignment mark via analysis of the detected intensity.

In lithography, there is an ongoing desire to reduce the size of features in a lithographic pattern in order to increase the density of features on a given substrate area. In photolithography, the push for smaller features has resulted in the development of technologies such as immersion lithography and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, which are however rather costly.
A potentially less costly road to smaller features (e.g. micron size or nanometer sized features, e.g., less than or equal to 10 microns, less than or equal to 1 micron, less than or equal to 50 nm, less than or equal 25 nm or less than or equal to 10 nm sized features) that has gained increasing interest is so-called imprint lithography, which generally involves the use of a "stamp" (often referred to as an imprint lithography template) to transfer a pattern onto a substrate. An advantage of imprint lithography is that the resolution of the features is not limited by, for example, the emission wavelength of a radiation source or the numerical aperture of a projection system. Instead, the resolution is mainly limited to the pattern density on the imprint lithography template.
Imprint lithography involves the patterning of an imprintable medium on a surface of a substrate to be patterned. The patterning may involve bringing together a patterned surface of an imprint lithography template and a layer of imprintable medium (e.g., moving the imprint lithography template toward the imprintable medium, or moving the imprintable medium toward the imprint lithography template, or both) such that the imprintable medium flows into recesses in the patterned surface and is pushed aside by protrusions on the patterned surface, to adopt the topography of that patterned surface. The recesses define pattern features of the patterned surface of the imprint template. Typically, the imprintable medium is flowable when the patterned surface and the imprintable medium are brought together. Following patterning of the imprintable medium, the imprintable medium is suitably brought into a non-flowable or frozen state (i.e. a fixed state), for example by illuminating the imprintable medium with actinic radiation. The patterned surface of the imprint lithography template and the patterned imprintable medium are then separated. The substrate and patterned imprintable medium are then typically processed further in order to pattern or further pattern the substrate. The imprintable medium may be provided in the form of droplets on the surface of a substrate to be patterned, but may alternatively be provided using spin coating or the like.
Lithography typically involves applying several patterns onto a substrate, the patterns being stacked on top of one another such that together they form a device such as an integrated circuit. Alignment of each pattern with a previously provided pattern is a significant consideration. If patterns are not aligned with each other sufficiently accurately, then this may result in, for example, electrical connections between layers not being made. This, in turn, may cause the device to be non-functional. A lithographic apparatus therefore usually includes an alignment apparatus which is intended to align each pattern with a previously provided pattern.


In a receptacle of the invention for battery using apparatuses, when mounting it to a circuit board 30, an electrode contact portion 15 of a contact for a battery 5 disposed on an electrode disposing portion 7 is disposed so that its forward portion may protrude above a battery mounting portion 52. When mounting a battery 50 onto the battery mounting portion 52, an electrode 51 in a recess 50a is pressed against the electrode contact portion 15 in such an inclined state that the lower end of an end surface having an electrode 51 formed thereon is abutted against the right surface of the battery mounting portion 52 while raising the other end simultaneously and then the battery 50 is pushed forward to flex a slant strip 5e toward the side of an electrode disposing portion 7 while pressing down the other end, so that it can provide a large flexure allowance as compared to the case of flexing it vertically and resultantly enhance the contacting pressure, thus securing the connection with the battery electrode.

A receptacle integrated in mobile communication apparatuses with a battery for a power source is required to have thinner structure as such apparatuses have been compacted. A contact for a battery of the receptacle, on the other hand, needs to come in contact with a battery electrode with a sufficient spring pressure.
Such a receptacle has been provided with a construction as shown in FIGS, 10A–10D, FIG. 11, or FIGS. 12A–12C.
In such prior art examples, at the central front surface of a synthetic resin-made receptacle body 100, a planular rectangular cylinder 103 formed by folding a metal plate is disposed so that a recess 103a in the front surface opening surrounded by this cylinder 103 provides a plug inserting/removing portion. In this recess 103a, a tabular protrusive strip 101 protrudes as a whole from the central front surface of the receptacle body 100, and also a plurality of contact portions 102a of a signal post 102 is disposed on the under surface of this protrusive strip 101 to extend toward the tip of the protrusive strip 101 from the base so that a contact portion of a signal contact of an external plug inserted into the recess 103a may come in contact with the contact portion 102a of the signal post 102 to thereby transfer an electric signal.
The signal post 102 is guided out from the rear surface of the receptacle body 100 and folded so as to go along this rear surface and has its connecting portion 102b which is folded backward at a position near the bottom of the receptacle body 100 so as to be connected to a circuit board.
On both sides of the receptacle body 100, one pair of contacts for a battery 104 are disposed for each of positive and negative battery electrodes and, together with these, an electrode disposing portion 106 is provided to dispose a recharging electrode terminal 105.
In each of the electrode disposing portions 106, each pair of pressure-in housing 107 are disposed in parallel as a housing space for pressure-housing the contact for a battery 104. This pressure-in housing 107 has an opening from the upper surface to the rear surface of the electrode disposing portion 106, so that the contact for a battery 104 formed by folding a plate spring into a rough C-shape can be pressured from the upper surface opening into the pressure-in housing 107.
In this step, as shown in FIG. 12C, the contact for a battery 104 puts a bottom strip 104a on the bottom of the pressure-in housing 107 to cause a connecting portion 104b for circuit board connection provided at the tip of the bottom strip 104a to protrude to the outside and also cause the tip of a slant strip 104c to protrude to the outside from the upper surface opening of the pressure-in housing 107. At the tip of this slant strip 104c is provided a battery contact portion 108 forming a rough L-shaped strip formed roughly at a right angle with respect to the slant strip 104c so as to come in contact with an electrode of the battery side.
On the under surface of the electrode disposing portion 106 between the pressure-in housings 107 is provided the pressure-in housing 109 in the under surface opening as shown in FIG. 12B, into which pressure-in housing 109 is pressured the recharging electrode terminal 105 formed by folding a metal thin plate in a rough U-shape. This recharging electrode terminal 105 guides out to the rear of the electrode disposing portion 106 a board connecting portion 105a for connecting to a circuit board provided at the lower rear end and also causes an electrode 105b provided at the lower front end to be disposed so as to go along the recess 106a formed in the front surface of the electrode disposing portion 106.
In case of using a prior art example having such a configuration, such a construction is employed that a mating battery is provided with downward electrode, and a site where this battery electrode is provided may cover the receptacle body 100 to mount a battery onto a battery mounting portion so that the downward battery electrode may elastically come in contact with the contact portion 108 of the contact for a battery 104.
In this prior art example, since the end of the battery extends over the receptacle body 100, the battery is elongated and also the contact for a battery 104 is flexed vertically, so that its flexure allowance cannot be sufficient.
Also, the contact for a battery 104 and the recharging electrode terminal 105 are opposite to each other in the direction in which they are pressured into the electrode disposing portion 106, so that they cannot easily be assembled, thus increasing the man-hour requirements.


Subject matter disclosed herein relates to arrangements and techniques that provide for improving resolution of black and white images displayed by a display of an image display apparatus, for example an EWD. An electrowetting display device comprising a plurality of sub-pixels. Each sub-pixel comprises a substrate, an electrode layer on the substrate, and a hydrophobic layer on the electrode layer. A first fluid is disposed on the hydrophobic layer and a second fluid is disposed on the first fluid. The second fluid is immiscible with the first fluid. The plurality of sub-pixels is arranged in an angled relationship with respect to horizontal and vertical borders of the electrowetting display device.

Many portable electronic devices include displays for displaying various types of images. Examples of such displays include electrowetting displays (EWDs), liquid crystal displays (LCDs), electrophoretic displays (EPDs), light emitting diode displays (LED displays), etc. Generally, such displays are defined by many pixels, where the pixels are themselves defined by sub-pixels. For various color displays, when displaying black and white images, such as, for example, text, video, etc., 2 to 10 sub-pixels, for example, may be utilized to define the black and white pixels.
When an RGBW display displays black and white content, centers of luminance within sub-pixels generally provide a viewer's eyes with the brightest portions within pixels of images displayed as black and white content on the RGBW display. Centers of luminance actually represent imaginary points of how a viewer perceives black and white. When sub-pixels are inactive, the pixels corresponding to the inactive sub-pixels will appear black to the viewer's eyes. When the sub-pixels are activated, the pixels corresponding to the activated sub-pixels will appear white to the viewer's eyes, with the brightest appearance being at the centers of luminance. Due to spacing between centers of luminance along an X direction or along the X axis being different than the spacing between centers of luminance along a Y direction or along the Y axis, when viewing content in the X direction or along the X axis, the display may appear to have a better picture due to the higher resolution in comparison to viewing the content in the Y direction or along the Y axis.

Angled orientation of sub-pixels in an electrowetting display


An electrotransport composition comprises at least one C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 lower alcohol, unsaturated derivatives thereof, or mixtures thereof, and at least one C.sub.8 -C.sub.14 higher alcohol, unsaturated derivatives thereof, or mixtures thereof. An electrotransport device and a method of increasing transdermal electrotransport flux utilize the composition of the invention for delivering pharmaceutically-acceptable agents across a body surface such as skin.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to permeation enhancers for electrotransport agent delivery. More particularly, this invention relates to compositions comprising different alcohols as permeation enhancers. These compositions may be incorporated into electrotransport devices for the delivery of agents, such as drugs and prodrugs, through a body surface.
2. Background Art
Drugs are most conventionally administered either orally or by injection. Unfortunately, many medicaments are completely ineffective or of radically reduced efficacy when orally administered since they either are not absorbed or are adversely affected before entering the blood stream and thus do not possess the desired activity. On the other hand, the direct injection of the medicament into the blood stream, while assuring no modification of the medicament in administration, is a difficult, inconvenient and uncomfortable procedure, sometimes resulting in poor patient compliance. Transdermal drug delivery offers improvements in these areas. The term "transdermal" is used herein in its broadest sense as the delivery of an agent through a body surface, such as the skin, mucosa, or nails. There are two major types of transdermal agent delivery, one driven by a concentration-gradient force (passive transdermal delivery), and the other driven, in addition, by a force created by applying an electrical potential (electrotransport delivery).
The term "passive" transdermal delivery, is used herein to describe the passage of an agent through a body surface, eg, skin, in the absence of an applied electrical current. Typically, passive delivery devices have a drug reservoir which contains a high concentration of a drug. The device is placed in contact with a body surface for an extended period of time, and is allowed to diffuse from the reservoir and into the body of the patient, which has a much lower concentration of drug. The primary driving force for passive drug delivery is the concentration gradient of the drug across the skin. In this type of delivery, the drug reaches the bloodstream by diffusion through the dermal layers of the body. The preferred agents for passive delivery are hydrophobic non-ionic agents, given that the drug must diffuse through the lipid layers of the skin.
The term "electrotransport" is used herein to describe the passage of a substance, eg, a drug or prodrug, through a body surface or membrane, such as the skin, mucous membranes, or nails, induced at least partially by the application of an electric field across the body surface (eg, skin). A widely used electrotransport process, iontophoresis, involves the electrically induced transport of therapeutic agents in the form of charged ions. Ionizable therapeutic agents, eg, in the form of a salt which when dissolved forms charged agent ions, are preferred for iontophoretic delivery because the charged agent ions move by electromigration within the applied electric field. Electroosmosis, another type of electrotransport process, involves the movement of a liquid, which liquid contains a charged and/or uncharged therapeutic agent dissolved therein, through a biological membrane under the influence of an electric field. Another type of electrotransport, electroporation, involves the formation of transiently-existing pores in a living biological membrane under the influence of an electric field and delivery of a therapeutic agent therethrough. However, in any given electrotransport process, more than one of these processes may be occurring simultaneously to some extent. Accordingly, the term "electrotransport" is used herein in its broadest possible interpretation to include the electrically induced or enhanced transport of at least one agent, which may be charged, ie, in the form of ions, or uncharged, or of mixtures thereof, regardless of the specific mechanisms by which the agent is actually transported.
A common goal in both passive and electrotransport delivery is to enhance the rate of delivery of the agent. A further goal in electrotransport delivery is to reduce the electrical resistance of the skin or other body surfaces, so that the power requirements for a given level of applied electric current or drug flux will be lowered. The term "permeation enhancer" is used herein to describe additives which cause an increase in drug delivery rates both in passive and electrotransport delivery, regardless of whether the enhancement occurs by reduction of electrical or diffusional resistance.
Although there are similarities between electrotransport and passive transdermal delivery, there are also substantial differences. One difference relates to the different pathways utilized for delivery through the skin by the passive and electrotransport induced processes. Transdermal electrotransport delivery of an agent occurs within the hydrophilic pathways through the skin, ie, the sweat ducts, around hair follicles, and/or through pores, because these are the paths of least electrical resistance. On the other hand, passive transdermal delivery occurs primarily by direct diffusion through the lipid layers of the skin. Accordingly, an ideal passive permeation enhancer will disrupt the lipid layers of the skin, while an ideal electrotransport enhancer will preferably decrease the electrical resistance of the existing hydrophilic pathways in the skin. (See, Rolf, D., "Chemical and Physical Methods of Enhancing Transdermal Drug Delivery," Pharmaceutical Technology, pp 130-140 (September 1988); Cullander, C., "What are the Pathways of lontophoretic Current Flow through Mammalian Skin?", Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 9:119-135 (1992)).
Thus, it is not surprising that many passive permeation enhancers do not enhance electrotransport delivery rates. For instance, Hirvonen et al indicate that N, N-dimethylamino acetate (DDAA) and azone increase the rate of passive permeation of the agent sotalol relative to that obtained with sotalol alone (control). (Hirvonen et al, "Transdermal Permeation of Model Anions and Cations: Effect of Skin Charge, lontophoresis and Permeation Enhancers", Proceed. Intern. Symp. Control. Rel. Bioact. Mater., 19:452 (1992)). And the passage of an electric current was also shown to increase the rate of delivery of sotalol compared to that of its passive rate (control). However, the addition to solatol of either DDM or azone reduced the rate of electrotransport of solatol compared to its rate of electrotransport without DDAA or azone (control). Clearly, DDAA and azone, both known passive permeation enhancers, were not only inoperative in electrotransport, but they actually reduced the rate of electrotransport delivery of the agent. Kontturi et al indicated that the aforementioned passive enhancers, in fact, increase skin resistivity, and advanced that passive enhancers such as those are inappropriate for use in electrotransport drug delivery. (Kontturi et al, "Electrochemical Characterization of Human Skin by Impedance Spectroscopy: The Effect of Penetration Enhancers", Pharmaceutical Research 10(3):381-385 (1993)).
Other permeation enhancers have been disclosed to be useful in passive transdermal delivery. For example, WIPO Laid Open Patent Application WO 91/16930 to Ferber et al discloses that an aqueous solution of up to 40 v/v% lower alcohol and higher alcohol in a saturating amount is suitable for enhancing passive transdermal delivery. Suitable passive transdermal delivery enhancers disclosed therein are lower C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alcohols such as ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, and 2-butanol, and higher alcohols such as C.sub.6 -C.sub.14 alcohols including 1-hexanol, 1-octanol, 1-nonanol, 1-decanol, 1-undecanol, 1-dodecanol, 1-tridecanol, 1-tetradecanol, 4-methyl-1-pentanol, 5-methyl-1-heptanol, 3,3-dimethyl-1-octanol, 3-cyclopentyl-1-propanol, cis-3-hexen-1-ol, trans-3-hexen-1-ol, 9-decen-1-ol and 2-octanol.
The number of permeation enhancers disclosed as useful in electrotransport delivery is considerably more limited. Ethanol, for instance, has been used as a permeation enhancer for the electrotransport delivery of polypeptides is discussed by Srinivasan et al (Srinivasan et al, "lontophoresis of Polypeptides: Effect of Ethanol Pretreatment of Human Skin," J. Pharm. Sci. 79(7):588 (July 1990)). Surfactant (eg, sodium lauryl sulfate) permeation enhancers for electrotransport drug delivery are disclosed in Sanderson et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,726 and fatty acid (eg, oleic acid) permeation enhancers for electrotransport drug delivery are disclosed in Francoeur et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,085.
Thus, in general, there is still a need for compositions which reduce the electrical resistance of the skin and, thus, increase agent electrotransport therethrough, producing an enhancement of the delivery rate of the agent while reducing the power requirements of the electrotransport device and/or the area of contact between the device and the body surface.

Method for enhanced electrotransport agent delivery


A pallet assembly for transporting and de-spooling electrical wire packaged in different forms (on reels or in boxes and pails) is disclosed. The pallet assembly comprises a base and a first layer cover. The base has a number of depressions formed in its top surface, each capable of receiving packages having different cross sectional profiles (circular, square, rectangular, etc.). The first layer cover has a number of locator bosses extending downward from its bottom surface. While being shipped, the packages are secured in the depressions on the top surface of the base, and the first layer cover is disposed above the packages so that the locator bosses engage the packages. In addition, the pallet assembly may contain tubular shrouds for de-spooling wire reels directly off the pallet. All components of the pallet assembly are made from a thermoplastic material and are reusable.

In the past, makers of electrical wire have shipped products to their customers using wooden pallets. Typically, the wire manufacturer would ship individual reels of wound wire in corrugated boxes. The wire maker would stack the corrugated boxes on pallets and then tie them down to prevent movement during transportation. High volume customers, such as electric motor manufacturers, would then remove the reels from the boxes prior to de-spooling. This unpacking process wasted time and resources since the customers discarded the wooden pallets and corrugated boxes. Although wire distributors normally did not unpack individual reels, they nevertheless had to dispose of the wooden pallets.
To conserve resources, wire manufacturers began shipping wire on reels without corrugated boxes. They stacked the wire reels on pallets, and to prevent movement during transportation, placed at various points on the wooden pallet locator tabs that engage flanges on the reels. Although this shipping method lessened disposal problems associated with corrugated boxes, the user still had to dispose of the wooden pallet. To help solve this problem, some wire manufacturers began shipping wire on reusable molded plastic pallets. Like their wood counterparts, plastic pallets also employed various schemes to locate and secure the wire reels during transportation.
Though the use of reusable molded plastic pallets and the practice of shipping wire on reels without corrugated boxes have reduced waste disposal problems, other problems remain. For example, high volume customers cannot simply de-spool wire directly off the pallet. Instead, they must place individual reels in de-spooling shrouds to prevent the wire from whipping during the unwinding process. In addition, because reels are made in many different sizes, the placement of locator tabs and other structures to secure the reels during shipment varies depending upon the reel type. Thus, a wire manufacturer cannot normally use one pallet design to ship different types of reels. Moreover, a wire maker cannot use a pallet designed for shipping reels to a high volume user to ship wire contained in boxes or pails to a distributor. This proliferation of pallet designs has led to increased shipping costs for wire manufacturers.
Thus, an objective of the invention is to provide a reusable pallet assembly for transporting electrical wire that does not use wood or corrugated paper. Another objective of the invention is to provide a single pallet assembly for shipping wire contained on reels of many sizes. Still another objective of the invention is to provide a single pallet assembly that wire manufactures can use to ship wire on reels to high volume customers, and can also use to ship wire contained in boxes and pails to distributors. A further objective of the invention is to provide a pallet assembly that makers of wire can use to ship wire, and that customers can use to de-spool wire directly off the pallet.

Pallet for shipping and de-spooling electrical wire


An automotive vehicle anti-theft anti-vandalism and anti-carjacking system utilizing both an audible alarm and visual monitor system for reducing the incidence of theft or vandalism of an automotive vehicle and an emergency alarm device in connection with an emergency alarm station for preventing carjacking or emergency type situation involving the vehicle or the individuals of the vehicle. The alarm and monitor system comprises one or more video cameras mounted within a vehicle and which are adapted for scanning movement by means of a simple oscillating scanning motor. The video camera is equipped with an emergency alarm device designed to signal the emergency alarm station of an emergency type situation. The emergency alarm station comprises video monitor operators responsible for monitoring and handling an emergency situation then informing a 911 emergency station and video monitor units which are capable of receiving signals from the emergency alarm device for tracking and video recording an emergency situation involving the individuals of the vehicle or the vehicle itself. Motion or vibration sensors are also mounted on the vehicle in selected locations to detect movement of the vehicle or activity in proximity to the vehicle beyond a certain threshold level. A remote unit containing a video screen is also provided for viewing the actual conditions or emergency surrounding the automotive vehicle, as detected by one or more of the video cameras. The remote unit is also equipped with an emergency alarm device for a quick response to any emergency situation. The system also includes a tracking mechanism upon emergency situation the tracking mechanism could cause the cameras to rotate a separate path to view second display signs scenery and or building for tracking purposes.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to certain new and useful improvements in automotive vehicle anti-theft systems and more particularly, to an automotive vehicle alarm and monitor system which enable the monitoring of potential theft or vandalism of the vehicle and an associated alarm which alerts a user to potential incidence of theft or vandalism and in connection with an emergency alarm device that activate an alarm and video signal to a 24 hr. emergency alarm station upon an attempted carjacking or emergency situation.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, the incidence of automotive vehicle theft has increased dramatically, particularly with the availability of very high-cost automotive vehicle. For example, in recent years, it is not uncommon to find numerous automotive vehicle where the sales cost easily exceeds $50.000.00 to $100.000.00. As a result, there has been an increasingly available black market for stolen automotive vehicle which may be either resold or otherwise stripped for parts.
In addition to the increase in theft, there has also been a substantial increase in the amount of vandalism to automotive vehicles. While the precise cause of the vandalism are relatively uncertain, the fact remains that there has been a substantial increase of vandalism associated with many vehicle giving rise in increased number of insurance clams and higher insurance premium costs.
The latest technique used in automotive vehicle theft has been the terrifying force of carjacking. Carjackers are forcing the owner or user of the automotive vehicle to give up possession thereof, usually by means of a weapon of some kind. Therefor, causing the owner or user of the vehicle in fear for their life, unfortunately, in many cases it has cost them just that, their lives.
In order to reduce the incidence of automotive vehicle theft and vandalism, there have been numerous proposed alarm systems and to my knowledge, there has not been any attempts for anti-carjacking systems.
Most of these alarm systems operate on the basis of a vibration sensor or similar sensor which will detect the presence of a person attempting to open the vehicle or otherwise unauthorized movement of the vehicle. In many cases, the automotive vehicle alarm systems are not effective because the owner or user of the vehicle is located in a remote location. As a simple example, if a vehicle is in a parking lot, it is virtually impossible for the owner or user of the vehicle to hear a generated alarm. While the alarm itself may attract passerby population, the average thief can still start the vehicle and drive away before anyone assumes the presence of mind to call a peace officer or otherwise, take some positive action.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, even if the owner or the user of an automotive vehicle was in close enough proximity to hear a vehicle alarm, this owner or user is frequently unaware if that alarm is one from his or her vehicle. Due to the fact that many automotive vehicles are equipped with alarm systems, it is virtually impossible to determine if the sound of that alarm emanates from the owner's or user's vehicle or another vehicle. Indeed, with some automotive manufacturers, it has become a common practice to install an alarm system as part of the factory equipment on certain of their models. This only exacerbates the problem in determining if the alarm emanated from a particular vehicle.
In many cases, when the user of a vehicle hears an alarm, and even if the user or owner is able to recognize that alarm as emanating from his or her vehicle, this owner or user often does not exercise immediate urgency to investigate the condition of the vehicle based on the realization that in many cases, slight inadvertent contact by another automotive vehicle can set off the alarm. Thus, the user will casually finish a task which was being performed and then attend to the automotive vehicle without any particular rush. It would, of course, be desirable for the user to know if the condition which initiated the alarm was an actual theft condition, or a vandalism, or otherwise, an inadvertent triggering of the alarm, However, all present alarm system are incapable of enabling the user or owner to detect the environment surrounding the vehicle.
Furthermore, an automotive vehicle having an emergency alarm device, in connection with an 24 hr. emergency alarm station, which responsibilities are for monitoring, tracking, and recording any type of emergency situations, then informing the 911 emergency station thereof, would reduce, if not prevent, criminal acts such as, carjacking and emergency situations.
If the owner or user of an automotive vehicle is in moving position of the vehicle and an attempted carjacking or emergency is actually about to occur, then, before the violator approaches the user of the vehicle, he or she would activate the emergency alarm device to signal the emergency station. If the automotive vehicle is in a still position and an attempted vandalism or emergency is actually occurring and the user of the vehicle is not in proximity to the vehicle, he or she would activate the emergency alarm device from the remote unit to signal the emergency station. In such case of a false alarm the monitoring operator would simply disconnect.
Automotive vehicle carjacking and emergency situations involving both the individuals and the vehicle itself, are increasing rapidly. However, there are no attempts for prevention. It would then be desirable, for the owner or user of an automotive vehicle to feel secure knowing 24 hr. security is around them and the vehicle at all times, and for the violator to stop all criminal acts, and to be aware that they are being watched and signaled to another station.

Automotive vehicle anti-theft and anti-vandalism and anti-carjacking system


A method of reducing current leakage in three-dimensional semiconductor devices due to short-channel effects includes providing a starting semiconductor structure, the structure including a semiconductor substrate having a n-type device region and a p-type device region, the p-type device region including an upper layer of p-type semiconductor material, a hard mask layer over both regions, and a mask over the structure for patterning at least one fin in each region. The method further includes creating partial fin(s) in each region from the starting semiconductor structure, creating a conformal liner over the structure, creating a punch-through-stop (PTS) in each region, causing each PTS to diffuse across a top portion of the substrate, and creating full fin(s) in each region from the partial fin(s).

Technical Field
The present invention is generally related to the fabrication of three-dimensional semiconductor devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to introducing a punch-through-stop after a partial fin etch.
Background Information
In the fabrication of three-dimensional semiconductor devices, much effort has gone into reducing current leakage due to short-channel effects. Various attempts to do so have achieved varying degrees of success. For example, punch-through-stop (PTS) implants have been utilized at different stages of fabrication, each stage having unwanted trade-offs. For example, PTS implants after fin patterning have reduced dopant diffusion, giving better short channel control, but also introduced implant damage to the fin leading to mobility degradation. The opposite is true of implanting the PTS before fin patterning.
Thus, a need continues to exist for an effective way to combat short-channel effects while reducing or eliminating the unwanted trade-offs.

Punch-through-stop after partial fin etch


A PNPN semiconductor device has an inner P-type region which includes at least one ridge which extends into its outer N-type region and terminates short of the outer boundary of the outer N-type region, the inner P-type region includes a formation which is substantially level with the outer boundary of the outer N-type region, and the device includes a terminal which contacts the outer N-type region and the formation of the inner P-type region.. An alternative structure of the PNPN semiconductor device has an inner P-type region having at least one elongate sub-region, of higher conductivity than the remainder of the inner P-type region, lying along the junction between the inner P-type region and the outer N-type region, the formation which is substantially level with the outer boundary of the outer N-type region, and the terminal which contacts the formation and the outer N-type region.

The present invention relates to a PNPN semiconductor device.
PNPN semiconductor devices, also known as thyristors, have three PN junctions in series, those junctions being formed by four regions in series. The regions are an outer P-type region, an inner N-type region, an inner P-type region and an outer N-type region. The devices exhibit bistable characteristics and can be switched between a high-impedance low-current state and a low-impedance high current state.
PNPN semiconductor devices can be two-terminal devices (having connections only to the outer regions), three-terminal devices (having connections to the outer regions and one of the inner regions), or four-terminal devices (having connections to all regions).
PNPN semiconductor devices switch from the high-impedance low-current state to the low-impedance high-current state when a voltage in excess of their breakover or trigger voltage is applied to the terminals connected to their outer regions. The devices remain in the low-impedance high-current state so long as the source of the applied voltage provides a current in excess of their holding current.
The structures and the doping levels of the four regions of PNPN semiconductor devices determine the breakover or trigger voltages and the holding currents of the devices, and any one or more of those regions may include, for example, sub-regions which serve to provide breakover voltages and holding currents specific to the uses of the devices.

PNPN semiconductor device capable of supporting a high rate of current change with time


An apparatus for providing a magnetic field in a casting mold to slow and redirect in a controllable fashion the flow of liquid steel exiting a submerged entry nozzle in the casting mold using removable laminar elements arrangeable in a horizontal series of vertical stacked arrays in association with corresponding side-by-side laminar constituents of the magnetic field core, or independent field coils for energizing each laminar portion of the magnetic field core, or both. The removable elements are preferably stackable rectangular parallelepiped plates together forming selectably a portion or all of the poles of the core as they extend into proximity with the transverse mold sides at selected locations.

It is known in the art of steel making to continuously cast molten steel using an oscillating mold, typically a water cooled copper-faced mold, having a straight or curved channel. The mold typically has a rectangular horizontal cross-section as wide as the slab to be cast and with relatively narrow ends that are the thickness of the slab to be cast. Liquid steel in the upper portion of the mold is cooled as it moves downward through the water cooled mold, generating a steel shell as it passes through the mold before exiting the mold at the bottom. The molten steel enters the mold from a tundish through an entry nozzle submerged in the liquid steel in the mold. The submerged entry nozzle is normally located generally centrally of the mold cross-section, and is provided with opposed exit ports that direct liquid steel outwardly toward the narrow sides of the mold, upwardly, downwardly or vertically at 90 degrees to the submerged entry nozzle.
Without a magnetic brake, the flow of liquid steel out of the submerged entry nozzle varies in direction and velocity due to various external conditions. This can create disturbances in the steel flow that affect the slab surface quality and slab internal quality. These disturbances tend to generate undesired temperature imbalances that interfere with uniform solidification of the steel as it passes through the mold and downstream thereof, and also increase the tendency of the steel to incorporate unwanted inclusions from the mold powder/slag/impurities mixture at the meniscus of the liquid steel at the top of the mold. A conventional magnetic brake inhibits these disturbances by reducing the velocity of liquid steel emanating from the submerged entry nozzle, thereby tending to constrict the eddies and prevent them from reaching the end edges of the mold and the upper surface of the pool of liquid steel at the top of the mold.
A conventional magnetic brake is typically comprised of a magnetic circuit energized by direct or slowly varying electric current passing through windings around an iron core. The magnetic circuit passes through the wide faces of the mold so as to provide a magnetic field through the interior of the mold. Normally, in a conventional magnetic brake the magnetic circuit passes through the mold about mid-way along the longitudinal length of the mold and extends so as to overlap the point of entry of liquid steel into the mold from the submerged entry nozzle, but does not extend up to the top of the liquid steel pool nor down to the bottom of the mold.
Although the magnetic field in a conventional magnetic brake can be varied (by varying the amount of current flowing through the windings around the iron core of the magnetic circuit) there is, nevertheless, typically no fine control over the manner in which the magnetic field is applied. Such fine control would improve the ability to control the flow characteristics of the steel as it exits from the submerged entry nozzle in the interest of generating uniform solidification of the shell of cast steel emerging from the mold and in the interest of reducing unwanted inclusion and non-uniform surface effects.
Attempts have been made by various prior workers in the field to provide some variation in the magnetic field applied through the mold. Representative such attempts are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,404,933 and 5,613,548.

Controllable variable magnetic field apparatus for flow control of molten steel in a casting mold


A new and distinct Malus domestica apple tree cultivar named ‘New York 2’ that is characterized by having red, juicy, crisp fruits with a firm texture and tart flavor that ripen mid to late season. The fruit of ‘New York 2’ has a very long storage life (100-150 days) while maintaining fresh quality. Trees are annually productive, grower friendly and fruits are not subject to pre-harvest drop and have good retention on the tree. ‘New York 2’ was tested as NY 92609-463.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of apple tree botanically known as Malus domestica 'New York 2' and hereinafter referred to by the variety denomination of 'New York 2'.
'New York 2' was selected for its precocious tree habit and excellent fruit characteristics at harvest and after a period in cold storage. 'New York 2' fruit are very firm, crisp, juicy, and tart.
The new variety was derived from crossing the apple variety 'Braeburn' with the apple variety 'Autumn Crisp' in 1992. 'Braeburn' is a hybrid of 'Lady Hamilton' by an unknown pollen parent. 'Autumn Crisp' is a hybrid of 'Golden Delicious'בMonroe' and 'Monroe' is a hybrid of 'Jonathan'בRome Beauty'. One seedling, designated NY 92609-463, was selected from a population of 1,017 seedlings from this cross. Pollination, cultivation and selection were conducted in Geneva, N.Y.
NY 92609-463 is being named and released as 'New York 2' and is the subject of this invention.
Asexual reproduction by budding of the new cultivar 'New York 2' in Geneva, N.Y. by the inventors shows that the unique combination of characteristics of asexually propagated trees are true to form and transmitted through succeeding propagations.


The disclosure relates to a filter cartridge for removing impurities from a stream of raw gas to be filtered, including a cylindrical filter element which is made of a filter material and in which a filter insert is inserted, an interior space being formed between the filter element and the filter insert, the filter material being designed to be cleaned when a stream of compressed air is applied against a flow direction of the stream of raw gas, a cap designed as a flow guiding device being provided for guiding the stream of compressed air, wherein the cap is arranged such that it projects beyond an axial length of the filter element in the axial direction. The disclosure further concerns a filter system for removing impurities from a stream of raw gas to be filtered. In addition, the disclosure relates to a method for cleaning such a filter cartridge.

Filter cartridges are already known from the state of the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,059 discloses an air filter assembly having a cylindrical air filter element, comprising a base element having an opening formed therein, an upper element having an opening formed therein, the opening of the upper element being disposed opposite the one end of the cylindrical air filter element, wherein the opening of the base element is disposed opposite the other end of the cylindrical air filter element, having an elongated conical filter element comprising a head portion, with the longitudinally outer wall of the conical filter element extending opposite most of the longitudinally inner wall of the cylindrical filter element, the opening of the base element being located opposite the base portion of the conical filter element, and means for securing the head portion of the conical filter element to the inner wall of the cylindrical filter element, wherein air to be filtered is conducted into the interior space of the conical filter element through the base portion thereof, the air flowing through the walls of the conical filter element and into the space between the outer wall of the conical filter element and the inner wall of the conical filter element, wherein the air to be purified further flows through the walls of the cylindrical filter element into the space between the outer wall of the conical filter element and the inner wall of the cylindrical filter element, and wherein the air in the space is clean air flowing out through the opening in the upper element. A filter cartridge is thus disclosed, in which the air to be cleaned is guided inwards through the outer wall of the cylindrical element and outwards through the inner wall of the conical filter element, in each case into the interior space between the conical filter element and the cylindrical filter element, and is cleaned in this way.
However, the state of the art always has the disadvantage that such a filter cartridge has to be cleaned in order to extend the service life of the filter cartridge. For removing the dust from the filter material of the filter cartridge, a stream of compressed air directed against the direction of flow of the air to be cleaned is usually applied to the filter cartridge. This causes the dust and impurities that accumulate in the filter material to fall off the filter cartridge in the direction of gravity. However, the disadvantage of cleaning a filter cartridge as disclosed in said US patent application is that the filter material is removed from the filter cartridge only unevenly, so that the cleaning performance of the filter cartridge decreases considerably over time or the cartridge has to be cleaned more frequently or with a higher air pressure, which in turn has a negative effect on the service life of the filter cartridge. In particular, the upper part of the filter cartridge is usually only insufficiently cleaned. In addition, the filter cartridge and a source providing the stream of compressed air must be arranged so far spaced apart from each other that the stream of compressed air can expand to such an extent that it can hit the filter material of the filter element. However, this means that the filter system requires a relatively large axial installation space. In particular, it is often not possible to make provision for a sufficiently large distance between a nozzle that ejects the stream of compressed air and a filter cartridge inlet, which has to be relatively large due to the small opening angle with a free jet.

Filter cartridge comprising a flow guiding device protruding from a filter element, filter system and method for cleaning a filter cartridge


A mezuzah having a base portion which is permanently mountable to a doorway fixture, and having a housing portion with a bore in one of its ends for receiving a scroll bearing Biblical text therein, with the housing member being slidably engageable with the doorway mounted elongated base member. The lower, bore communicating end of the housing member abuts a sealing member of the base member upon engagement of the housing member to the base member to effectively seal the bore in which the scroll is disposed to prevent the scroll from falling out and to shelter the scroll. The scroll may be periodically checked for integrity or replaced by sliding the housing member off of the base member to gain easy access to the bore, with the housing member then slidable back onto the base member to secure the scroll in the housing member. A latch may be provided to selectively prevent slidable disengagement of the housing member from the base member.

Mezuzahs currently enjoy widespread usage throughout the world by those practicing the Jewish faith. In accordance with Judaic teachings, a small scroll inscribed with Biblical verses (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 & 11:13-21) is placed in a case, and the case is attached to the doorpost of a home to secure the scroll of Biblical verses to the home's doorpost. Such a case containing the Biblical script is referred to as a mezuzah.
In further accordance with Judaic teachings, it is important that the scroll of Biblical verses be maintained intact and in good condition. Hence, it is necessary that the scroll be checked periodically to either confirm its good condition or to replace a deteriorated scroll with a new scroll having intact script. Current mezuzahs suffer the shortcoming that they do not allow easy access to the scroll-containing interior compartment for such checking of the condition of the scroll. Accordingly, there is a need for a mezuzah which provides good aesthetic appearance, while providing for easy access to the scroll disposed in the mezuzah.


A transmitting circuit device has a first signal source which outputs a first signal that is a binary or multilevel discrete analog signal or a discrete analog signal with a binary or multilevel envelope and that has signal components and quantization noise components; a second signal source which outputs a second signal composed of the quantization noise components; a first amplifier which amplifies the first signal; and a combiner which cancels out the quantization noise components by combining an output of the first amplifier and the second signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transmitting circuit device used for a transmitting circuit of a wireless communications device as well as to a wireless communications device using it.
2. Related Art of the Invention
Recently, with the spread of cellular phones, cellular phone terminals have grown in functionality. For example, via a basestation, cellular phone terminals can now communicate wirelessly with a remote cellular phone terminal in a higher-quality voice, send and receive e-mail, and download images and programs through the Internet. In addition to growth in functionality, cellular phone terminals have been achieving reductions in size and power consumption.
One factor which has enabled growth in the functionality of cellular phone terminals is the adoption of digital wireless communications methods, such as CDMA, which allow larger amounts of information to be carried without error than do conventional analog wireless communications methods. These wireless communications methods employ QPSK or other similar modulation method and generally use a quadrature modulator as a component of a transmitting circuit device.
FIG. 26 shows a basic configuration of a conventional transmitting circuit device. In the figure, the transmitting circuit device consists of a quadrature modulator 403, bandpass filter 404, IQ signal generator 405, local oscillator 406, and power amplifier 411. The quadrature modulator 403 consists of a phase shifter 407, mixer 408, mixer 409, and combiner 410.
The IQ signal generator 405 outputs a baseband I signal and baseband Q signal—analog signals—which are input in the quadrature modulator 403. The local oscillator 406 outputs a carrier-frequency sine wave signal, which is then divided by the phase shifter 407 into two signals 90 degrees out of phase with each other. The resulting signals are input in the mixer 408 and mixer 409, which then use the baseband I signal and baseband Q signal, respectively, to amplitude-modulate the carrier-frequency signals 90 degrees out of phase with each other. The modulated signals are combined by the combiner 410 as an output of the quadrature modulator 403. The output of the quadrature modulator 403 is amplified by the power amplifier 411 and has unnecessary frequency components reduced by the bandpass filter 404 before it is output.
However, with the conventional transmitting circuit device, since the baseband I signal and baseband Q signal inputted in the quadrature modulator 403 are analog signals, it is necessary to prevent the mixers 408 and 409 from causing distortion. Thus, it is difficult to ensure a sufficiently high level of output from the quadrature modulator 403.
To raise the output of the quadrature modulator 403 to a sufficiently high level, it must be amplified by the power amplifier 411. Since the power amplifier 411 must be operated in a linear region relatively free of distortion, it must operate at a sufficiently low level compared to its saturation level. This causes the power amplifier 411 to consume much power, making it impossible to reduce power consumption of the transmitting circuit device as a whole.
To solve this conventional problem, applicants proposed a transmitting circuit device shown in FIG. 27 in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-57732.
The disclosure of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-57732 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIG. 27 shows a basic configuration of the transmitting circuit device proposed by this applicant in his first patent application. In the figure, the transmitting circuit device consists of a first digital modulator 1001, second digital modulator 1002, quadrature modulator 1003, IQ data generator 1005, and local oscillator 1006.
Moreover, the quadrature modulator 1003 consists of a phase shifter 1007, first digital RF modulator 1008, second digital RF modulator 1009, first bandpass filter 1110, second bandpass filter 1111, and combiner 1010.
Next, operation of this transmitting circuit device will be described.
First, the IQ data generator 1005 outputs a baseband I signal to the first digital modulator 1001, and a baseband Q signal to the second digital modulator 1002. The baseband I signal and baseband Q signal are multilevel digital signals. The first digital modulator 1001 delta-sigma modulates an input signal and outputs a digital I signal which has a lower vertical resolution, i.e., a smaller number of available values than a baseband modulating signal. Similarly, the second digital modulator 1002 delta-sigma modulates an input signal and outputs a digital Q signal.
A local signal outputted by the local oscillator 1006 is divided by the phase shifter 1007 into carrier-frequency signals 90 degrees out of phase with each other. The two carrier-frequency signals are input in the first digital RF modulator 1008 and second digital RF modulator 1009, respectively. The carrier-frequency signal inputted in the first digital RF modulator 1008 is amplitude-modulated stepwise by an output signal from the first digital modulator 1001 while the carrier-frequency signal 90 degrees out of phase inputted in the second digital RF modulator 1009 is amplitude-modulated stepwise by an output signal from the second digital modulator 1002.
Output from the first digital RF modulator 1008 is input in the combiner 1010 through the first bandpass filter 1110 while output from the second digital RF modulator 1009 is input in the combiner 1010 through the second bandpass filter 1111. These inputs are added by the combiner 1010 to produce a transmitter output signal of the quadrature modulator 1003. The first bandpass filter 1110 and second bandpass filter 1111 are installed to reduce unnecessary frequency components which occur in outputs of the first digital RF modulator 1008 and second digital RF modulator 1009, respectively. In the configuration shown in FIG. 27, the bandpass filters 1110 and 1111 can reduce unnecessary frequency components before combining signals.
Since a digital RF modulator needs to output only those levels which exactly correspond to digital IQ signals which have a lower vertical resolution, i.e., a smaller number of available values, it does not need to have high linearity. Thus, elements included in the digital RF modulator can be used at levels close to their saturation levels, resulting in high efficiency. Also, since there are a small number of components dependent on analog characteristics, it is easy to ensure linearity.
Thus, the transmitting circuit device proposed by this applicant in his first patent application solves the above problem and offers great advantages: namely, by delta-sigma modulating the baseband IQ signals into digital IQ signals which has a lower vertical resolution, i.e., a smaller number of available values than the baseband IQ signals and modulating the carrier waves with the quadrature modulator, it can achieve good linearity and low power consumption.
FIG. 28 shows a basic configuration of a transmitting circuit device proposed by this applicant in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-325109.
The disclosure of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-325109 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The transmitting circuit device consists of a frequency modulator 1101, amplitude modulator 1102, delta sigma modulator 1103, bandpass filter 1104, and data generator 1105.
The data generator 1105 serves as a means of dividing an incoming digital signal and outputting vector modulation data composed of frequency modulation data and amplitude modulation data, both of which are digital signals that take discrete values.
The frequency modulator 1101 serves as a means of frequency-modulating a carrier-frequency signal using frequency modulation data.
The delta sigma modulator 1103 is a high-order delta sigma modulator and serves as a means of delta-sigma modulating amplitude modulation data and outputting digital amplitude data which has a lower vertical resolution, i.e., a smaller number of available values than the amplitude modulation data.
The amplitude modulator 1102 serves as a means of amplitude-modulating an output signal of the frequency modulator 1101 using the digital amplitude data outputted from the delta sigma modulator 1103.
The bandpass filter 1104 serves as a means of reducing unnecessary frequency components in the amplitude modulator 1102. Whereas the transmitting circuit device shown in FIG. 26 which employs a conventional quadrature modulator needs two bandpass filters, the transmitting circuit device in FIG. 28 needs only one bandpass filter. In this way, the transmitting circuit device in FIG. 28 needs a smaller number of bandpass filters than do conventional transmitting circuit devices.
Next, operation of this transmitting circuit device will be described.
The data generator 1105 generates vector modulation data by dividing an incoming digital signal. Specifically, as the vector modulation data, it generates and outputs frequency modulation data and amplitude modulation data, both of which are digital signals.
The frequency modulator 1101 frequency-modulates a carrier-frequency signal using the frequency modulation data outputted from the data generator 1105. FIG. 29(a) shows a signal which has been frequency-modulated by the frequency modulator 1101. It can be seen that the frequency-modulated signal has a constant envelope.
The delta sigma modulator 1103 is a high-order delta sigma modulator. It delta-sigma modulates amplitude modulation data and outputs digital amplitude data which has a lower vertical resolution, i.e., a smaller number of available values than the amplitude modulation data.
FIG. 29(b) shows amplitude modulation data which is input in the delta sigma modulator 1103. The amplitude modulation data is transmitted to the delta sigma modulator 1103 via a bus line on which data bits are transmitted on respective signal lines in synchronization with a clock signal. FIG. 29(c) shows output data from the delta sigma modulator 1103. In FIG. 29(c), the output data from the delta sigma modulator 1103 is modulated into binary digital amplitude data. Although the amplitude modulation data has been described as data transmitted via a bus line as shown in FIG. 29(b), it may alternatively be transmitted as a multilevel analog signal which takes discrete values.
The amplitude modulator 1102 amplitude-modulates the output signal of the frequency modulator 1101 using digital amplitude data.
Output of the amplitude modulator 1102 has unnecessary frequency components reduced by the bandpass filter 1104.
The output of the frequency modulator 1101 is a frequency-modulated signal and thus, has a constant envelope. The amplitude modulator 1102, which performs amplitude modulation using digital amplitude data, needs to provide only a small number of output levels proportional to the numeric values of the data because the digital amplitude data has a low vertical resolution, i.e., a smaller number of available values. Thus, even an amplitude modulator with low linearity can readily correct output levels.
If the delta sigma modulator 1103 is configured to produce 1-bit outputs, in particular, the amplitude modulator needs to operate simply as a switch. This allows the amplitude modulator 1102 to operate nearly at its saturation level, resulting in high efficiency. Also, since there are a small number of components dependent on analog characteristics, it is possible to obtain good linearity even using elements prone to produce high distortion.
Thus, the transmitting circuit device proposed by this applicant solves the above problem and offers great advantages: namely, it can achieve good linearity, high transmitter output power efficiency, and low power consumption.
Although the frequency modulator 1101 is used in the example described above, this is not restrictive. Instead of the frequency modulator 1101, the transmitting circuit device proposed by this applicant can also use a phase modulator which phase-modulates carrier-frequency signals using the phase modulation data outputted from the data generator 1105. In short, the transmitting circuit device described above can produce the same effect using a frequency modulator or angle modulator such as a phase modulator.
FIG. 30 shows a transmitting circuit device proposed in order to solve the conventional problem described above. This transmitting circuit device amplifies discrete analog signals unlike the transmitting circuit device shown in FIG. 26. It consists of a delta sigma modulator 1202, amplifier 1203, and bandpass filter 1204.
The delta sigma modulator 1202 delta-sigma modulates input data received via an input terminal 1201 and outputs digital data which has a lower vertical resolution, i.e., a smaller number of available values than the input data.
The digital data outputted from the delta sigma modulator 1202 goes through D/A conversion, is amplified by the amplifier 1203, passes through the bandpass filter 1204 to reduce unnecessary frequency components including quantization noise produced when the input data is quantized by the delta sigma modulator 1202, and is output through an output terminal 1205.
Since the delta sigma modulator 1202 converts the input data into digital data which has a lower vertical resolution, i.e., a smaller number of available values, the amplifier 1203 needs to output only those levels which exactly correspond to the digital data which has a lower vertical resolution, i.e., a smaller number of available values and does not need to have high linearity. Thus, elements included in the amplifier 1203 can be used at levels close to their saturation levels, resulting in high efficiency. Also, since there are a small number of components dependent on analog characteristics, it is easy to ensure linearity.
However, with any of the transmitting circuit devices shown in FIGS. 27, 28, and 30, quantization noise occurs when the input signal to the delta sigma modulator is delta-sigma modulated. To reduce the quantization noise, it is necessary to use a bandpass filter with steep characteristics.
A bandpass filter with steep characteristics has a large size, which increases the circuit scale of the transmitting circuit device accordingly. Also, a bandpass filter with steep characteristics involves high losses, decreasing the efficiency of the transmitting circuit device itself.
Thus, the proposed transmitting circuit devices have the problem of increased size resulting from the large size of the bandpass filter.
Also, the proposed transmitting circuit devices have the problem of lowered efficiency resulting from the high losses of the bandpass filter.
In view of the above problems, the present invention has an object to provide a transmitting circuit device and wireless communications device small in size.
Also, in view of the above problems, the present invention has an object to provide a transmitting circuit device and wireless communications device which have high efficiency.

Transmitting circuit device and wireless communications device

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A cord restraining device including a band fastened around the extremity of a user employing a corded, hand-held tool. Fastened to the band is a hook-member through which the cord is loosely suspended. Fastened to the cord is a stop member which, when abutted with the hook member, prevents further movement of the cord. In this manner, a desired length of cord can be suspended by the tool to thereby allow a user to more accurately balance the tool and prevent trauma and other disorders to joints such as the wrist, hand and fingers.

In the assembly of goods, the performance of services and in a variety of other areas, the use of corded, hand-operated tools is often required. In the assembly of many consumer and industrial products, workers are often required to utilize hand-held tools powered by electrical energy, air pressure, etc., in order to accomplish the specific assembly operation. In other professional service areas, such as occupied by surgeons, dentists, technicians, assistants, etc., corded power tools are also required to perform operations such as sawing, cleaning, drilling, suctioning, etc. in order to provide the treatment necessary to a patient. Many other fields of endeavor require the use of corded, hand-held power tools.
It has been found that in many instances the strain on the muscles and joints of an operator is not due solely to the weight of the power tool itself, but due to the weight of the cord attached to the power tool. This is especially the case where operators repeatedly utilize corded equipment over extended periods of time. While the corded tool itself can usually be held to balance the weight thereof in the operator's hand, this is not always true with the cord which dangles from the tool. To that end, significant advances have been made to ergonomically design hand-held tools so that the weight of the tool is well-balanced, the hand grip conforms closely to the shape of a human hand, and vibrations are reduced. This has the potential of reducing injuries that may occur over a period of time as a result of repeated trauma or exposure to strain on a worker's fingers, hand or arm. Such type of injuries are known as cumulative trauma disorders (CDTs). Such type of disorders are also referred to as repetitive strain injuries, repetitive motion disorders, over use syndrome, musculoskeletal disorders and work-related disorders. The risk factors attendant with the use of corded hand-held tools is generally related to vibration, repetition and mechanical stress.
Muscle and joint disorders caused by the weight of the cord have not been addressed in any substantial manner. Different from the hand-held tool itself, the cord can present different amounts of pressure or strain, as a function of the amount of cord dangling from the tool and otherwise unsupported. For example, if a portion of the cord from the tool lies on the floor, bench or table, then the higher the tool is elevated for use, more of the cord requires support and represents added weight that must be overcome by the hand, wrist or arm muscles of the operator. In order to circumvent some of these problems, it is known to suspend the cord from the ceiling and to support portions of the cord by springs, and the like. While these techniques provide some degree of assistance, certain situations dictate for a variety of reasons that the cords cannot be suspended from above.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,164,928 by Corcoran discloses a corded hand-held iron, where the cord is plugged into an outlet located at a position above the operator. In order to reduce the weight of the cord, an arm band is utilized, with a loop through which the cord is suspended. Although this concept appears to reduce the effective weight of the cord that must be supported by the person's arm, the cord is nevertheless unconstrained in the loop and can become unbalanced in terms of weight. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,809,349 by Baedke, an arm band and roller arrangement is utilized to engage the cord to facilitate the travel of the cord through the support in correspondence with the movements of the operator's arm. Although the cord is allowed to easily slide back and forth on the arm band roller, there is no way of controlling the amount of cord which the worker's arm must support. U.S. Pat. No. 2,261,046 by Anderson describes an electrical appliance cord holder that forces the cord against the muscles of the worker's arm to thereby prevent movement of the cord in either direction.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that a need exists for a cord strain relief that can control the weight of the cord pulling on the hand-hold tool to thereby control the stress placed on the operator's fingers and wrist. Another need exists for a cord strain relief that is adjustable as to the amount of cord that is suspended and thus supported by the tool. Yet another need exists for a cord strain relief that allows only a desired amount of cord to be suspended and supported by the tool.

Cord strain relief device for reducing cumulative trauma disorders


As a technique to improve processing efficiency of defect inspection by quickly adjusting a position of a detection system, provided is a defect inspection apparatus including: a stage that moves with a sample and a pattern substrate placed thereon; an illumination optical system that irradiates an object on the stage from a direction inclined from the normal direction of the pattern substrate; a first detection optical system that detects scattered light in the normal direction; a second detection optical system that detects scattered light in a direction different from the scattered light detected by the first detection optical system; a signal processing unit that processes both scattered light signals; and a control unit. The control unit implements first adjustment processing of adjusting a focal position of the first or the second detection optical system and a three-dimensional position of each detector with respect to an illumination region by using a scattered light signal and second adjustment processing of adjusting a focal point by changing a position in an optical axis direction of a detector of the first or the second detection optical system and a position in a height direction of the stage, and implements the second adjustment processing at a higher frequency than the first adjustment processing.

PTL 1 discloses that "a defect inspection apparatus that inspects a sample includes: a table portion capable of moving with a sample and a pattern chip to be inspected placed thereon; an illumination light irradiation unit that emits illumination light linearly formed on a surface of the sample or a surface of the pattern chip placed on the table portion; a detection optical system unit that detects on each image sensor an image formed by scattered light incident on respective objective lenses of a plurality of detection optical systems, which each include an objective lens and an image sensor and are arranged at a plurality of locations above the table portion, among scattered light generated from the sample irradiated with the illumination light linearly formed by the illumination light irradiation unit; and a signal processing unit that processes a signal detected by the plurality of detection optical systems of the detection optical system unit and detects a defect on the sample surface. In the pattern chip, a plurality of repeating patterns for generating scattered light corresponding to positions of respective objective lenses of the plurality of detection optical systems of the detection optical system unit when the linearly formed illumination light is emitted by the illumination light irradiation unit are periodically formed."

Defect inspection apparatus and pattern chip


A programmable electronic device (10) stores a number of cipher-text software modules (14) to which access is granted after evaluating a user's token (55, 80, 82), a software-restriction class (58) for a requested software module (14), and/or a currently active access-control model (60). Access-control models (60) span a range from uncontrolled to highly restrictive. Models (60) become automatically activated and deactivated as users are added to and deleted from the device (10). A virtual internal user proxy that does not require users to provide tokens (80, 82) is used to enable access to modules (16) classified in a global software-restriction class (62) or when an uncontrolled-access-control model (68) is active. Both licensed modules (76) and unlicensed modules (18,78) may be loaded in the device (10). However, no keys are provided to enable decryption of unlicensed modules (18,78).

A programmable electronic device that processes data may be put to a variety of different uses by a variety of different users who have a variety of different concerns about the data processed by the device. Such a programmable electronic device may be a computerized device on which a variety of different software programs can be executed to do a variety of data processing tasks. Data may take the form of, but is not limited to, voice, audio, or video electronic signals or information. Such devices include personal computers, workstations, servers, laptops, palmtops, cellular phones, telephones, audio equipment, video equipment, and a wide variety of other devices in which different computer programs are stored and launched to perform a variety of data processing jobs. Manufacturers need to control the software usable on such devices. Users sometimes need to tightly control who has access to the processed data, or at least some of the data, and other times wish to exert little or no control.
The complicated task of controlling the software involves making sure the right device gets loaded with the right software, supporting that software, and upgrading that software. When different devices get different software packages, this software becomes difficult and expensive to manage due to the vast number of combinations of software programs and versions of software programs that may be loaded throughout a population of similar devices. Mistakes in knowing which device has or should have which software lead to tremendously increased costs through the distribution of unlicensed software, providing support to unlicensed users, misdirected problem-solving efforts, and the like.
Another aspect of controlling the software involves taking steps to minimize unauthorized uses of software. For example, manufacturers wish to insure that software licensed for use on one device cannot be easily used on a different device.
Controlling access to the device becomes more complex as more users are capable of utilizing the device. If no more than a few users use the device and no communication link or network is available to afford greater access, then users often wish to avoid the burdens of imposing user restrictions on the device. Security may be adequately maintained merely by controlling physical access to the device. However, as more users have access or potential access, then the benefits of imposing user restrictions tend to outweigh the burdens.
In one example, a stand-alone workstation may require no password before access is permitted to the workstation's computer software and data. However, a server available to a number of workstations may require passwords to control access to the server's software and data. In a conventional situation, the server will provide an access-control system that gives an administrator certain permissions that other users or user groups do not have. Such permissions may include the ability to define new users and user groups and the ability to indicate which users and user groups have access to which data and software. Unfortunately, no single access-control system adequately serves this range of needs. Either very little security is provided but greater user flexibility is realized, or more security is provided with significantly reduced user flexibility. It would be advantageous if a single access-control system implemented on a device could serve a wide range of needs.

Access-control method for software module and programmable electronic device therefor


A protection circuit includes a transformer (11), wherein a terminal (11a) of the transformer (11) is connected to a terminal part (1) of a radio IC, a terminal (11b) thereof is connected to a grounding point, a terminal (11c) thereof is connected to an input or output of an on-chip circuit (7), and a terminal (11d) thereof is connected to a bias power supply circuit (18). A signal is transmitted between a terminal-side inductor (11f) and a circuit-side inductor (11g) due to magnetic coupling therebetween. The terminal-side inductor and the circuit-side inductor are insulated to each other from a standpoint of DC and hence isolated completely to each other. Thus, different voltages can be applied to the terminal part (1) and the input or output of the on-chip circuit (7), respectively.

In an electronic circuit for inputting a radio frequency signal, for example, the IC (integrated circuit) of a radio circuit is provided with a protection circuit for preventing the breakage of a circuit due to electro-static discharge. FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing an example of the configuration in which an ESD protection circuit is provided at the radio frequency signal input part of the reception block of a radio circuit.
A low noise amplifier (LNA) 102 is connected to the latter stage of a terminal part (pad) 101 for inputting a signal from the outside. In the example of FIG. 10, in order to prevent the amplitude of the input signal from increasing to an allowable voltage value or more due to electro-static discharge, an ESD diode circuit 103 acting as an ESD protection circuit is inserted between the terminal part 101 and the low noise amplifier 102.
In the ESD diode circuit 103, two diodes 103a, 103b are connected in series, the cathode of the diode 103a is connected to a power supply, and the anode of the other diode 103b is connected to the ground (GND). When the input signal changes to the positive voltage side due to electro-static discharge, the diode 103a is switched into an ON state to thereby flow a current into the diode 103a, thereby preventing the input signal amplitude from increasing to the power supply voltage or more. In contrast, when the input signal changes to the negative voltage side, the diode 103b is switched into an ON state to thereby flow a current into the diode 103b, thereby preventing the input signal amplitude from reducing to the ground voltage or less.
However, each of the diodes 103a, 103b constituting the ESD diode circuit 103 has a parasitic capacitance. In the case of providing the ESD diode circuit 103, the parasitic capacitance of the diode could be a factor for degrading the transmission characteristics of a reception signal. In a radio circuit treating a microwave signal of several GHz as an input signal, the technique of reducing the parasitic capacitance of the ESD diode circuit has been investigated in order to suppress the influence on the transmission characteristics.
The higher the frequency becomes, the larger the influence of the parasitic capacitance becomes. For example, in the case of treating a millimeter wave signal of several tens GHz which is ten times or more of the microwave band, the influence of the parasitic capacitance increases. Thus, in the radio circuit of the millimeter wave band, it is difficult to eliminate the degradation of the transmission characteristic due to the parasitic capacitance.
As a solution for eliminating the problem caused by the parasitic capacitance of the diode, there has been proposed an ESD protection circuit using transmission lines (see Patent Literature 1). FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram showing a first example of the ESD protection circuit described in Patent Literature 1, and FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram showing a second example of the ESD protection circuit described in Patent Literature 1.
The first example of FIG. 11 includes a transmission line 154 for connecting a terminal part (pad) 151 and a grounding point, a transmission line 155 for connecting the input of an on-chip circuit (low noise amplifier, for example) 157 and a bias power supply circuit 168, and a capacitor 156 for connecting the terminal part 151 and the input of the on-chip circuit 157.
Since the impedance of the transmission line 154 is high in the millimeter wave band, a signal passes toward the on-chip circuit 157 from the terminal part 151. On the other hand, a signal generated by electro-static discharge has a frequency sufficiently lower than the millimeter wave band. Since the impedance of the transmission line 154 becomes low with respect to an electro-static discharge signal of the low frequency, the protection circuit shows characteristics similar to that in the case where the signal path and the grounding point is short-circuited therebetween. Thus, the transmission of the electrostatic discharge signal to the on-chip circuit 157 can be suppressed.
The second example of FIG. 12 shows a configuration in which both the transmission line 154 and the capacitor 156 of FIG. 11 are not provided. In this example, the ESD diode circuit 103 and a resistor 159 are connected between the transmission line 155 and the bias power supply circuit 168, one end of a capacitor 158 is connected to a connection point between the transmission line 155 and the ESD diode circuit 103, and the other end of the capacitor 158 is grounded.
Since the impedance of the transmission line 155 is high in the millimeter wave band, the influence on the signal path due to the parasitic capacitance of the ESD diode circuit 103 can be suppressed. Since the impedance of the transmission line 155 becomes low with respect to the electro-static discharge signal of the low frequency, the protection circuit shows characteristics similar to those in the case where the signal path and the ESD diode circuit 103 are connected. Thus, the signal amplitude can be suppressed by the ESD diode circuit 103 when electro-static discharge occurs.


Methods and systems are disclosed for finding a most convenient point of interest for a traveler traveling along a route to a destination. The method includes the steps of identifying the location of the traveler, receiving one or more traveler-specified convenience criteria (e.g., maximum distance or time off-route to arrive at the point of interest); receiving a traveler-specified type of point of interest (e.g., hotel, sporting goods store, ice cream parlor) indicating the type of point of interest the traveler wishes to go to while traveling to the destination; searching through a database containing points of interests and their locations for points of interest of the type specified by the traveler meeting the traveler-specified convenience criteria; and providing instructions to the traveler to travel to at least one of the points of interest identified in the searching step if the searching step resulted in finding at least one point of interest meeting the convenience criteria.

1. Field
This disclosure relates generally to the field of navigation and driving direction applications and related systems, and more particularly to a method for assisting in identifying and directing a traveler to a point of interest which is most convenient, in accordance with traveler-specified convenience criteria. Such point of interest might be a hotel to stay the night, a restaurant, a gas station, or other type of facility of interest to the traveler.
2. Description of Related Art
Navigation systems are currently offered on the market which combine geolocation capability (e.g. using a GPS satellite receiver) along with a mapping database. Such systems can be programmed to provide driving directions, whereby a person merely has to enter the address of the destination in order to receive driving directions. Such systems may provide driving directions by way of a graphical display, by verbal prompts ("turn right on Highway 12") or by a combination of the two.
The art has also developed systems for providing directions to mobile units (e.g., delivery trucks) using the communications capabilities of wireless communications networks, such as CDMA cellular telephony networks. Prior art of interest includes Hancock, U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,023 and Niitsuma, U.S. Pat. No. 6,751,550.
The situation may arise where a traveler is en route to a destination and would like to stop along the way, either to eat, buy something, sleep, get gas, visit a park or church, or stop at some other type of point of interest. The situation frequently arises where the traveler wants to minimize the amount of travel time or distance off of their route to get to the point of interest. Or, the traveler may determine that they want to stop at the point of interest (e.g., restaurant) at some specified time in the future, say in two hours time, rather than the first restaurant they come to. This disclosure provides methods by which a point of interest that is most convenient to the traveler is identified, where the user able to set the parameters as to convenience, such as how far off their route they are willing to travel, or how much time they are willing to elapse before they arrive at the point of interest.

Most convenient point of interest finder apparatus and method


Included are a first glass substrate (20) and a second glass substrate (30) facing each other, the peripheries of the substrates (20, 30) being superposed with each other, a display medium layer (25) between the substrates (20, 30) in a display area (D), a sealing member (26) for bonding the substrates (20, 30) together in a frame region (F) between the substrates (20, 30) and enclosing a display medium layer (25) between the substrates (20, 30), a flexible resin substrate layer (7) extending outward from between the frame region (F) of the first substrate (20) and the sealing member (26), and driving electronic components (41, 42) mounted on the resin substrate layer (7).

Display devices, such as liquid crystal displays, include a display area for displaying images and a frame region surrounding the display area. There is a constant demand for frame narrowing, namely, decreasing the width of the frame region.
For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a liquid crystal display device in which a flexible printed circuit (FPC) is bonded to an end face of a transparent substrate using a joint member while the flexible printed circuit is compactly folded along the end face of the transparent substrate.
Patent Literature 2 discloses a liquid crystal display panel in which a first half of parallel display electrodes are drawn to a first terminal portion side at one end of a substrate and are connected to an electrode terminal disposed on the first terminal portion and the other second half of the parallel display electrodes are drawn to a second terminal portion side at the other end of the substrate and are connected to another electrode terminal disposed on the first terminal portion via an external wire.
Patent Literature 3 discloses a display device that has a through-hole passing through a region of an active-matrix substrate facing an input terminal of a driver integrated circuit (IC) in the thickness direction and a FPC connected to an input terminal of a driver IC through the through-hole from the back side of the active-matrix substrate.

Display device, electronic device including display device, and method for manufacturing display device


An effort-saving hand tool includes a first shaft, a second shaft, a connection shaft, and a third shaft. The first shaft has a first end, a second end, and a pivot point located between the first end and the second end. The second end of the first shaft includes a first loading part. The second shaft has a first end and a second end. The pivot point of the first shaft is pivoted to the first end of the second shaft. The second end of the second shaft includes a second loading part. The connection shaft has a first end pivoted to the first shaft. The third shaft has a slender rear part, a first side, and a second side. The first side of the third shaft is pivoted to the second shaft. The second side of the third shaft is pivoted to a second end of the connection shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hand tool, and more particularly, the present invention relates to an effort-saving hand tool with a simple structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many kinds of effort-saving hand tools are widely used for different purposes, such as press connection or cutting. Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is an illustration of a hand tool for press connection. In the prior art, a general effort-saving hand tool has two shafts pivoted to each other near a press area. The angle θ between the two shafts will vary greatly during the process of the press connection, which is not a parallel press connection. Therefore, the force is not equally applied to the connection terminal, and damage to the connection terminal may easily occur.
In addition, although there are different types of effort-saving hand tools, most types have complex designs that entail higher production costs and increased likelihood of malfunction.
Therefore, an effort-saving hand tool is needed to solve the problems of the prior art.