A device and a method for reading out information stored in a storage layer. In this connection it is possible to support the storage layer on a support surface. An emission radiation transmitted from the storage layer is received by means of a receiving device. A distance between the receiving device and the support surface can be variably adjusted.

Such a device and method are known from EP 1 081 507 A2. This reference discloses a device in which the receiving device is supported relative to the storage layer by an air cushion that rests on the storage layer. The distance between the receiving device and the storage layer should be maintained constant within small tolerance ranges. This should be guaranteed by a uniform air pressure between the air cushion and storage layer. On account of the small air gap, which is of an order of magnitude of about 2 μm, such air cushions can be displacedly formed only with difficulty along the storage layer in order thereby to permit an optimal readout of information.

Device and method for reading out information stored in a storage layer


The actabular socket supporting ring has a modular construction and is formed of a supporting ring having two securing straps for a cement-free attachment in and on the corresponding bone portions, of a socket cup which is pivotably adjustable in the supporting ring and attachable to the supporting ring by a securing element without the use of bone cement, and of an insert receiving the joint head. The modular construction, and in particular, the pivotable arrangement of the socket cup in the supporting ring, allows a biomechanically optimal alignment of the socket cup, and thus, of the insert receiving the joint ball, and the securing of the socket cup to the supporting ring by a securing element allows an entirely cement-free anchorage of all components.

The present invention refers to an acetabular socket supporting ring comprising a supporting ring having at least one attaching strap for a cement-free attachment in and on the corresponding bone portions, a socket cup comprising a part for receiving the joint ball, the socket cup being pivotably adjustable in the supporting ring and capable of being attached to the supporting ring by a securing element without the use of bone cement. Such an acetabular socket is known from the European Patent Application No. 0 123 514. Whilst therein the idea of adjusting the socket cup is disclosed, the securing element is relatively complicated and limited.
Acetabular socket supporting rings are known in further different embodiments and are mainly used in problematic hip joint revision operations. In particular, such problems result from the bone-resorbing action of the bone cement, mostly causing large-volume bone defects. In this case, the anchorage of a standardized cement-free acetabular implant is generally extremely difficult. In the case of dysplastic hips, as well, an anchorage of the hip joint socket is very problematic.
The supporting implants of this prior art are secured in the acetabulum by bone screws, and the hip joint socket is cemented in by bone cement. However, such an arrangement again involves the known drawbacks of the use of bone cement, more particularly a bone-resorbing action and an insufficient long-term vibration resistance, whereby the implant is loosened. Besides the need of using bone cement for the anchorage of the socket, the previously known socket supporting rings have the further disadvantage of being insertable in the pelvis in the exactly correct position only to a limited extent.
Based on the above mentioned prior art, it is the object of the present invention to provide an acetabular socket supporting ring which allows a cement-free implantation, on one hand, and a more precise, secure and simpler alignment of the socket in the pelvis and thus also with respect to the shaft, on the other hand.
This object is attained by an acetabular socket supporting ring, comprising a supporting ring having at least one attaching strap for a cement-free attachment in and on the corresponding bone portions, a socket cup comprising a part for receiving the joint ball, the socket cup being pivotably adjustable in the supporting ring and capable of being attached to the supporting ring by a securing element without the use of bone cement, wherein the supporting ring is internally provided with a cylindrical portion having an internal thread for receiving the securing element which has a self-locking external thread, and with a following spherical portion for receiving the socket cup, and wherein the part for receiving the joint ball is an insert, generally of plastics material.
In the first place, no bone cement is used for the anchorage of the socket supporting ring, and furthermore, the modular design allows a very precise adjustment of the socket cup.


A pan-tilt mechanism for a video conferencing camera may be provided. The pan-tilt mechanism may comprise a base, a bracket, a tilt motor, and a pan motor. The tilt motor may be fixed to the base and may be configured to cause the bracket to tilt along a horizontal axis. The pan motor may be fixed to the base and may be configured to cause the bracket to pan about a vertical axis without affecting the tilt of the bracket.

Videoconferencing is a set of telecommunication technologies that allow two or more locations to communicate by simultaneous two-way video and audio transmissions. It has also been called 'visual collaboration' and is a type of groupware. Videoconferencing differs from videophone calls in that it's designed to serve a conference or multiple locations rather than individuals. Video cameras are sued in videoconferencing to provide the video transmissions.

Pan-tilt mechanism for a video conferencing camera


Exchanging information in a multi-site authentication system. A network server receives, from an authentication server, a request by a client computing device for a service provided by the network server along with an authentication ticket. The authentication ticket includes: a session key encrypted by a public key associated with the network server, message content encrypted by the session key, and a signature for the encrypted session key and the encrypted message content. The signature includes address information of the network server. The network server identifies its own address information in the signature to validate the signature included in the authentication ticket and verifies the authentication ticket content based on the signature included in the authentication ticket. The network server decrypts the encrypted session key via a private key associated with the second network server and decrypts the encrypted message content via the decrypted session key.

Aspects of the present invention relate to the field of computer network environments. In particular, these aspects relate to improved security in a multi-site user authentication system by using a session key security protocol.
Web sites, or Internet sites, very often provide information, products, services, or the like to their users. Many web sites require users to "register" before their web servers will grant access to the users. During registration, a user typically supplies personal information such as username, account number, address, telephone number, e-mail address, computer platform, age, gender, and/or hobbies to the registering web site. The registration information may be necessary to complete transactions (e.g., commercial or financial transactions). Typically, the information also permits the web site to contact the user directly (e.g., via e-mail) to announce, for example, special promotions, new products, or new web site features. Additionally, web sites often collect user information so web site operators can better target future marketing activities or adjust the content provided by the sites.
When registering a user for the first time, a web site typically requests that the user select a login ID and an associated password. The login ID allows the web site to identify the user and retrieve the user's information during subsequent user visits to the web site. Generally, the login ID must be unique to the web site such that no two users have the same login ID. The password associated with the login ID allows the web site to authenticate the user during subsequent visits to the web site. The password also prevents others (who do not know the password) from accessing the web site using the user's login ID. This password protection is particularly important if the web site stores private or confidential information about the user, such as financial information or medical records.
If the user visits several different web sites, each web site may require entry of similar registration information about the user, such as the user's name, mailing address, and e-mail address. This repeated entry of identical data is tedious when visiting multiple web sites in a short period of time. Many web sites require the user to register before accessing any information provided on the site. Thus, the user must first enter the requested registration information before he or she can determine whether the site contains any information of interest.
After registering with multiple web sites, the user must remember the specific login ID and password used with each web site or other Internet service. Without the correct login ID and password, the user must re-enter the registration information. A particular user is likely to have different login IDs and associated passwords on different web sites. For example, a user named Bob Smith may select "smith" as his login ID for a particular site. If the site already has a user with a login ID of "smith" or requires a login ID of at least six characters, then the user must select a different login ID. After registering at numerous web sites, Bob Smith may have a collection of different login IDs, such as: smith, smith1, bsmith, smithb, bobsmith, bob_smith, and smithbob. Further, different passwords may be associated with different login IDs due to differing password requirements of the different web sites (e.g., password length requirements or a requirement that each password include at least one numeric character and/or at least one uppercase character). Thus, Bob Smith must maintain a list of web sites, login IDs, and associated passwords for all sites that he visits regularly.
Although presently available multi-site user authentication systems permit a web user to maintain a single login ID (and associated password) for accessing multiple, affiliated web servers or services, further improvements are desired. For example, authentication data is typically sensitive in nature and should be protected. Thus, maintaining security between numerous affiliate web servers and the authentication server performing the authentication function is important.
Presently available network authentication protocols, such as Kerberos authentication, employ a shared or single key for authenticating the identity of users attempting to log on to a network and for encrypting their communications. The use of a shared key, sometimes referred to as symmetric key encryption, requires a key provisioning process for a new web service to utilize authentication services. In a Kerberos system, the authentication server (i.e., the Kerberos server, or key distribution center (KDC)) must distribute the shared key to every affiliate server using its authentication services and must refresh the key regularly. The KDC often issues the key by postal mail. Unfortunately, the need to provide the shared key introduces significant complexity in signing up new web services and conducting ongoing maintenance (e.g., periodical key revisions). Moreover, in a federated environment involving multiple authentication service providers, key distribution becomes even more complicated.
Key distribution is further complicated when an affiliate site decides to accept a "kerb" ticket from two or more independent KDCs. Also, the key for the affiliate must be configured in both KDCs. In other words, the more KDCs that an affiliate site supports, the more complex the key distribution process. In addition, if KDCs federate with each other, they must all share keys, again adding key distribution complexity.
Keys are also at risk of being stolen at either the KDC or at one of the affiliate sites, which presents a danger of key compromise at either end of the security protocol. For instance, a human break-in at the authentication service can potentially steal all of the keys for every affiliate server. This would essentially shut down the authentication service because of the time needed to revise all of the keys across the entire network of affiliated servers.
A public key infrastructure (PKI) may also be used to support encryption as well as digital signatures. Public key encryption employs dual keys, i.e., one public key and one private key. Data encrypted by the public key can only be decrypted by the private key, and vice versa. Although PKI provides a useful protocol for authenticating and digitally signing documents, it does not perform well in a scalable/cross-platform authentication system. For example, a PKI system operates too slowly when handling large amounts of data because it generally requires much longer keys (typically, 512 bits and above, whereas a shared key uses less than 200 bits). The longer the key, the more computation power is required to encrypt and decrypt.
Moreover, PKI requires that keys be synchronized. PKI has two keys (public key and private key) and these two keys must stay in sync. There are well-established protocol/processes to revoke such a pair and generating a new pair.
For these reasons, an improved security protocol is desired to minimize the problems in a shared symmetric key protocol particularly for use in a scalable/cross-platform authentication system.


A motor drive apparatus for an electric vehicle has a case attached to a vehicle body; an output axle which rotates relative to the case; an electric motor having a magneto stator secured to an inside wall of the case and a rotor which faces the magneto stator with a predetermined clearance and rotates relative to the case; and a planetary gear unit provided inside of the rotor and consisting of three components of a sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier. The electric motor speed is output from the output axle through the planetary gear unit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is broadly concerned with a motor drive apparatus for moving a vehicle and is intended particularly to be used in an electric vehicle which employs wheel motors for movement thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional electric vehicle has a battery and an electric motor, wherein the electric motor is adapted to change electric power stored in the battery into a rotational output to rotate driving wheels. A relatively high motor speed is appropriately reduced by a deceleration means such as a differential gear unit between the electric motor and the driving wheels to control the travelling speed of the vehicle.
Another type electric vehicle employs wheel motors inside of respective fenders, with each wheel motor driving one vehicle drive wheel. In this type electric vehicle, a planetary gear unit is generally used as a deceleration means to effectively utilize the inside space of the driving wheel. One type of planetary gear unit conventionally used for this type electric vehicle is oriented relative to a motor drive apparatus case secured to a vehicle body as described and taught by the present applicants in U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,579, issued Oct. 20, 1992 to Wakuta et al., which is entitled "LUBRICATING DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE MOTOR" and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,528, issued Nov. 17, 1992 to Kawamoto et al., which is entitled "WHEEL MOTOR PROVIDED WITH A REDUCTION GEAR".
More specifically, a magneto stator of the electric motor is fixed to the motor drive apparatus case and a corresponding rotor is arranged inside of the magneto stator to rotate relative to the motor drive apparatus case. The rotor of the electric motor is connected with a sun gear of the planetary gear unit via an output axle thereof.
Referring now to other components of the planetary gear unit, a ring gear is fixed to the motor drive apparatus case and a carrier having at least one pinion meshing both with the sun gear and the ring gear is connected to an axle of a vehicle drive wheel. The axle for the vehicle drive wheel is rotatably supported at a central portion thereof by bearings in the motor drive apparatus case.
Accordingly, the motor speed is reduced by the above-mentioned planetary gear unit and then transmitted to the vehicle drive wheel at a desired rotary speed to move the vehicle.
It is known that the clearance between the magneto stator and the rotor defining the electric motor should be narrowly and carefully maintained to obtain stable operation of the electric motor. Accordingly, the electric motor must have both longitudinal end portions of the output axle of the rotor rigidly supported to obtain stable operation.
However, the structure described in the prior application entitled "MOTOR DRIVE APPARATUS WITH DECELERATION UNIT AND AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE USING THE SAME" suffers from a disadvantage in terms of stable operation. Specifically, while one end portion of the output axle for the rotor is rotatably supported by the case via a bearing assembly, the other end portion thereof is not supported by the case but, rather, connects to the sun gear which engages the ring gear secured to the case through the pinion. Therefore, upon acceleration of the motor speed up to the travelling speed of the vehicle, the pinion meshing with the sun gear also accelerates, which causes an undesirable vibration of the output axle of the rotor at the end unsupported by the case, so that the clearance between the magneto stator and the rotor cannot be narrowly and carefully maintained.
Furthermore, when the electric vehicle goes around a bend at high speed, the output axle for the inside driving wheel is urged by centrifugal force outwardly of the planetary gear unit and, at the same time, that of the outside vehicle driving wheel is oppositely affected, i.e. urged toward the planetary gear unit. When the electric vehicle rattles on a bumpy road with hard shock to the suspension assembly provided for the driving wheel, the output axles of the driving wheels may be damaged.
But, as already mentioned, the output axle of the driving wheel is only supported, at the center portion thereof, in the bearing assembly relative to the motor drive apparatus case, so that the output axle of the driving wheel tends to be easily vibrated by any external forces acting axially and/or radially thereon. As a result, it is likely that the pinion attached to the carrier will be irregularly urged toward the sun gear and the ring gear with an unstable force to cause a biased wear and/or nicking of the pinion, sun and ring gears and unusual noise will emanate from the planetary gear unit.
One solution providing a narrow clearance between the magneto stator and the rotor is a rotor having a hollow portion and an output axle which is stably supported, at both longitudinal ends thereof, on the motor drive apparatus case via bearing assemblies. The planetary gear unit is mounted in the hollow portion of the rotor. However, the bearing assemblies which rotatably support the rotor should be large in size because the planetary gear unit is provided in the hollow space of the rotor. As the peripheral velocity of each bearing supporting the rotor becomes high, friction-loss within the motor may increase. Because the sun gear in such a planetary gear unit is supported by additional bearing assemblies, the result is an increase in the number of bearing assemblies in the motor drive apparatus, which is costly. This structure still involves the disadvantages of biased wear and nicking of the pinion, sun and ring gears or emanates unusual noise from the planetary gear unit.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a motor drive apparatus consisting of minimum components to avoid biased wear and nicking of the pinion, sun and ring gears, to avoid unusual noise from the planetary gear unit and to decrease the friction-loss of the motor.

Electrical motor drive apparatus with planetary gearing


A container with double-walled construction eliminates problems encountered with a conventional jewel box; the container comprises a rectangular shell and a cartridge non-removably held within the shell, the cartridge in turn holding a disc; the disc is ejectable from one side with an ejection button; the cartridge is sheathed in the shell so as to have only one open side; the container allows printed material to completely obscure a disc held within the cartridge; yet the container allows one to determine visually whether a disc is stored within the cartridge from the position of the ejection button. The roof of the cartridge is provided with a detent in which the central aperture of the disc is held, and while so held, the disc is supported in the cartridge only at its opposed peripheral edges.

This invention relates to an improved storage container for a thin flexible laminar disc having a central aperture, such disc being used to store data electronically on one surface thereof. The disc, generally referred to as a compact disc or CD-ROM, is typically stored in a container referred to in the art as a "jewel box" (or "jewel case"). A currently popular ubiquitously marketed jewel box is hand-held to open it, and to remove a disc stored therein by lifting it in a direction normal (typically vertically) from its horizontal position within a storage insert or "tray" securely held in the lower wall or "floor" of the box. The box is opened by rotating the upper wall or "cover" of the box from its horizontal position. The cover is pivotable on a pair of opposed pivot pins which are journalled in a sidewall of the box, specifically the left sidewall, as the cover is designed to be opened with one's left hand. The box is closed by returning the cover to its horizontal position. The cover is provided with two pairs of oppositely disposed projecting ears spaced apart from its inside surface sufficiently to allow a booklet of lyrics or "libretto" to be slidably inserted along the inside surface of the cover, so that it is held by the ears. Currently marketed jewel boxes are made of a substantially transparent synthetic resinous material ("plastic"), typically polystyrene, so that the printed matter on the booklet may be read.
The problem is that the construction of a conventional jewel box is such that with the libretto held in the cover, a person cannot know whether the disc is in its tray, so that, to find out, it is necessary to open the box to check. Removing the disc from its tray subjects the disc to an unpredictable amount of flexural force, depending upon the size and strength of the hand removing it, and whether it is being removed in a hurry. Re-inserting the disc requires centering it in the tray; a substantial misalignment results in the lower recorded surface of the disc being abraded against the tray. The close tolerance required between the surface of a libretto and the spacing of the plastic ears from the inside surface of the cover, not only subjects the ears to breakage but also makes it difficult to re-insert the libretto, particularly if the libretto is handled many times and becomes somewhat dog-eared. Further, repeatedly opening and closing the cover results in the plastic pivot pins being broken off. The foregoing disadvantages of a jewel box are accepted because of its overwhelming economic advantage--it requires a minimum quantity of plastic and is easy to manufacture so that it is inexpensive.
Recognizing the foregoing problems, several attempts have been made to provide a container in which the disc is inserted and removed from one side, and to avoid using a pivotable cover. Such containers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,676,246; 5,799,783; 5,944,180 and others. None suggests using a container with a double-walled construction.

Double-walled container for compact disc


A method and system for producing elongated Z-fold copy paper having indicia emplaced thereon by xerographic reproduction. The method entails initially transversely scoring and folding an elongated sheet of paper at spaced intervals therealong with alternate adjacent score-fold lines being originated by pressures exerted on respectively opposite sides of the paper. The elongated scored sheet is then rolled up in a cylindrical roll, and is fed from this roll to a copying machine into close proximity to a rotating xerographic copying drum within the machine. After emplacement of indicia on the paper in the reproduction process, the paper may then be rolled up on a storage roll or Z-folded manually or by suitable apparatus.. The apparatus used to produce the elongated Z-fold copy paper includes a first paper feed subassembly for feeding an elongated sheet of paper from a roll into a perforating machine, a perforating machine for alternately perforating opposite sides of the sheet of paper at spaced intervals therealong, and including a first perforating element and a second perforating element spaced from the first perforating element, a paper rolling machine for rolling the perforated paper into a cylindrical roll upon receipt of the perforated paper from the perforating machine, a roll feeding subassembly for feeding perforated paper from the roll to a xerographic drum-containing copying machine, and a xerographic drum-containing copying machine for receiving the perforated paper from the roll feeding subassembly.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to xerographic and electrostatic copying processes, and more particularly, to processes by which indicia are placed on an elongated sheet of paper by such processes, and the elongated sheet is then subsequently Z-folded for storage and use of the imprinted indicia.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Some types of widely used documents are printed upon elongated sheets of paper which are fan-folded or Z-folded for convenience of storage. By fan-folded or Z-folded paper is meant paper which is folded alternately about a score line or fold line in first one direction, and then in the opposite direction so that accordian-like pleats are formed in the sheet of paper, and the document can be compactly stored in folded form. Documents which are frequently stored in this form include computer printouts, electrocardiograms, business and accounting tabulations and well logs developed in the exploration and production of oil and gas.
It is often desirable that Z-folded documents of the type described be copied or reproduced. In the past such reproduction has usually been accomplished photographically. Efforts to copy elongated fan-folded documents of indeterminate length, such as well logs and electrocardiograms, using conventional copying machines which employ the xerographic process have encountered difficulty and have been time-consuming, since these machines are generally adapted to copy letter or legal size documents onto copy paper of the same size, and are not adapted for continuously feeding the elongated, fan-folded original document and the copy paper onto which the indicia from such documents is to be copied. In my co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 907,922 filed May 22, 1978, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,760, I have disclosed a system which enables an elongated fan- or Z-folded original document to be continuously fed to a xerographic copying machine concurrently with the continuous feed of copy paper from a roll supported adjacent the copying machine. This system has been successfully employed to permit copies of the elongated Z-folded originals to be made in an expeditious and efficient manner.
It has been necessary, however, when using the system disclosed in my U.S. patent application Ser. No. 907,922, to further process the completed copies so as to place them in the Z-fold or fan-fold configuration in which such documents are customarily used and stored. In most facilities where copying in this fashion has been carried out, folding of the completed copies into the Z-fold or fan-fold configuration has been carried out manually. Such manual folding requires the exercise of care to be certain that each fold line is formed in the right place, since, unless the fold line extends precisely transversely of the elongated sheet, subsequent folding is out of alignment, and the completed fan-fold document is unsightly and does not fold up neatly to the compact form sought.

Method and system for providing elongated Z-fold copy paper


Disclosed are a function of automatically tuning a communication performance between the communications devices connected to a network and a function of periodically confirming and tuning the communication performance. In a plurality of communications devices capable of performing the communications by switching over a plurality of communication modes, the communication performance in each of the communication modes is previously measured under a plurality of communication conditions, there is obtained, per communication condition, a condition-based optimum communication mode as a communication mode in which the communication performance in the specific communication mode exceeds a communication performance in other communication mode, the condition-based optimum communication mode is selected in accordance with the communication condition when in communications, and the communications are thus performed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data communications method and a data communications device for setting optimum communication conditions between the communications devices for performing data communications with each other.
2. Description of the Related Art
A communication speed between communications devices connected to a network depends upon, in addition to a communication performance in terms of hardware in the network, a clock cycle of a CPU incorporated into the communications device, a version of an OS, specifications of a bus connected to the CPU, an accessing speed to a memory from the CPU, and an execution efficiency of a communications driver for actually transmitting and receiving the data by accessing the network. Further, the execution efficiency of the communications driver changes depending on an OS internal function different per version of the OS. The reason is that there might be a case in which the OS internal function for providing the function to a program from the OS changes per version of the OS.
According to the prior art, a performance check is carried out when developing a communications driver, and parameters for exerting an influence upon the execution efficiency are adjusted and set, whereby the execution efficiency of the communications driver is optimized (which is called "tuning").
The parameters set when developed do not necessarily continue to be optimum values due to an OS patch (which may be a partial modification of a so-called load module, i.e., an execution module consisting of a binary file), a change in the CPU, a memory extension, etc.
Further, in such an environment that computer systems (nodes) different from each other are connected to the same network, it is required that the parameters of the communications driver be manually set per node. It is, however, difficult to actually do the manual setting.

Communication device, and method of communication between communication devices and medium thereof


Permanent magnet motors with improved torque ripple and methods for designing the same have been provided. The permanent magnet motor can include a stator having a hollow core and defining a plurality of slots; a winding disposed in each of the slots; a rotor rotatably disposed inside the hollow core of the stator; and a plurality of permanent magnets supported by the rotor. Each of the slots has a slot opening, and at least one of the slot openings can be off-center with respect to the respective slot.

Permanent magnet motors may produce undesirable torque ripple that may result in unwanted vibration and noise. Conventional permanent magnet motors skew either the rotor or the stator in an attempt to reduce the torque ripple. However, skewing may introduce manufacturing complexity and increase cost. Skewing may also lower machine torque, and thus, lower machine performance.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide permanent magnet motors with decreased torque ripple. In addition, it is desirable to provide methods for decreasing torque ripple in permanent magnet motors. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

Permanent magnet motor with stator having asymmetric slots for reducing torque ripple


A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device having MONOS type memory cells of increased efficiency by hot electron injection and improved scaling characteristics includes a channel forming region in the vicinity of a surface of a substrate, first and second impurity regions, acting as a source and a drain in operation, formed in the vicinity of the surface of the substrate sandwiching the channel forming region between them, a gate insulating film stacked on the channel forming region and having a plurality of films, and a charge storing means that is formed in the gate insulating film dispersed in the plane facing the channel forming region. A bottom insulating film includes a dielectric film that exhibits a FN type electroconductivity and makes the energy barrier between the bottom insulating film and the substrate lower than that between silicon dioxide and silicon.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device which has a planarly dispersed charge storing means (for example, in a MONOS type or a MNOS type, charge traps in a nitride film, charge traps near the interface between a top insulating film and the nitride film, small particle conductors, etc.) in a gate insulating film between a channel forming region and a gate electrode in a memory transistor and is operated to electrically inject primarily channel hot electrons, ballistic hot electrons, secondarily generated hot electrons, substrate hot electrons, and hot electrons caused by band-to-band tunneling current into the charge storing means to store the same therein and to extract the same therefrom and a method for operating the device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Nonvolatile semiconductor memories offer promise as large capacity, small size data-storage media. Along with the recent spread of broadband information networks, however, write speeds equivalent to the transmission rates of the networks (for example, a carrier frequency of 100 MHZ) are being demanded. Therefore, nonvolatile memories are being required to have good scaling and be improved in write speed to one or more order of magnitude higher than the conventional write speed of 100 μs/cell.
As nonvolatile semiconductor memories, in addition to the floating gate (FG) types wherein the charge storing means (floating gate) that holds the charge is planarly continuously spread in a plane, there are known MONOS (metal-oxide-nitride-oxide-semiconductor) types wherein the charge storing means are planarly dispersed.
In a MONOS type nonvolatile semiconductor memory, since the carrier traps in the nitride film [SixNy (0<x<1, 0<y<1)] or on the interface between the top oxide film and the nitride film, which are the main charge-retaining bodies, are spatially (that is, in the planar direction and thickness direction) dispersed, the charge retention characteristic depends on not only the thickness of a tunneling insulating film, but also on the energy and spatial distribution of the charge captured by the carrier traps in the SixNy film.
When a leakage current path in locally generated in the tunneling insulating film, in an FG type, a large amount of charge easily leaks out through the leakage path and the charge retention characteristic declines. On the other hand, in an MONOS type, since the charge storing means is spatially dispersed, only the charges near the leakage path will locally leak from it, therefore the charge retention characteristic of the entire memory device will not decline much.
As a result, in a MONOS type, the disadvantage of the degradation of the charge retention characteristic due to the reduction in thickness of the tunnel insulating film is not so serious as in an FG type. Accordingly, a MONOS type is superior to an FG type in scaling of a tunneling insulating film in a miniaturized memory transistor with an extremely small gate length.
Moreover, when a charge is locally injected into the plane of distribution of the planarly dispersed charge traps, the charge is held without diffusing in the plane and in the thickness direction, the contrary to an FG type.
To realize a miniaturized memory cell in a MONOS type nonvolatile semiconductor memory, it is important to improve the disturbance characteristic. Therefore, it is necessary to set the tunneling insulating film thicker than the normal thickness of 1.6 nm to 2.0 nm. When the tunneling insulating film is formed relatively thick, the write speed is in the range of 0.1 to 10 ms, which is still not sufficient.
In other words, in a conventional MONOS type nonvolatile semiconductor memory etc., to fully satisfy the requirements of reliability (for example, data retention, read disturbance, data rewrite, etc.), the write speed is limited to 100 μs.
A high speed is possible if the write speed alone is considered, but sufficiently high reliability and low voltages cannot be achieved. For example, a source-side injection type MONOS transistor has been reported wherein the channel hot electrons (CHE) are injected from the source side (IEEE Electron Device Letter, 19, 1998, p. 153). In this source-side injection type MONOS transistor, in addition to the high operation voltages of 12V for write operations and 14V for erasure operations, the read disturbance, data rewrite, and other facets of reliability are not sufficient.
On the other hand, taking note of the fact that it is possible to inject a charge into part of dispersed charge traps area by the conventional CHE injection method, it has been reported that by independently writing binary data into the source and drain side of a charge storing means, it is possible to record 2 bits of data in one memory cell. For example, Extended Abstract of the 1999 International Conference on Solid State Devices and Materials, Tokyo, 1999, pp 522-523, considers that by changing the direction of the voltage applied between the source and drain to write 2 bits of data by injecting CHE and, when reading data, applying a specified voltage with a direction reversed to that for writing. By the so-called "reverse read" method, correct reading of the 2 bits of data is possible even if the write time is short and the amount of the stored charge in small. Erasure is achieved by injecting hot holes.
By using this technique, it becomes possible to increase the write speed and largely reduce the cost per bit.
However, in a conventional CHE injection type MONOS type nonvolatile semiconductor memory, since Electrons are accelerated in the channel to produce high energy electrons (hot electrons), it is necessary to apply a voltage of about 4.5V between the source and drain, and it in difficult to decrease this source-drain voltage. As a result, in a write operation, the punch-through effect becomes a restriction and good scaling of the gate length is difficult.

Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method for operating the same


The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of phenyl ketones of formula-I,

The present invention relates to an improved process for the preparation of phenyl ketones. More particularly it relates to the said process for preparation of phenyl ketones having formula (I) by reacting biphenyl with the corresponding acylating agent over a solid acid catalyst.
Where in R=xe2x80x94COCH3 or xe2x80x94COCH2CH3 or xe2x80x94COC6H5.
Ketones are used mainly as a photo initiator for special printing plates, as well as for organic synthesis. Phenyl acetophenone and phenyl benzophenone are mainly used as pharmaceutical (antifungal) intermediate [Zhongguo Yiyao Gongye Zazhi, 23(3), 100-1 (Chinese) 1992.]; [Walczak, Antoni; Rzasa, Jozef; Labus, Stefan (PrzedsiebiorstwoFarmaceutyczne xe2x80x9cjelfaxe2x80x9d Sa, Pol.). Pol. PL 170632 B1 Jan. 31, 1997, 3pp. (Poland)].
In the prior art, an acyl group is introduced in the aromatic nucleus by an acylating agent such as an acyl halide, or itself in the presence of homogenous catalyst such as AlCl3 or BF3 (Encyclopedia of chemical Technology, Vol-II, page 1055, 1944)
Other process includes Friedel crafts acylation of various aromatics with a wide variety of acylating agents and metal halides such as AlBr3, FeCl3, FeBr3, SbCl5, SbBr3, TiCl4, CbCl5, NbCl5, GaCl3 and ZrCl4. Some of these may give yields comparable to those obtained with AlCl3 (Friedel Crafts and Related reaction, Vol-111, Part-1, page-62, 1964, Ed. G. A. Olah).
Ortho- and para-acylated products of biphenyl have been made from the direct reaction of biphenyl with acylating agent or by the Fries rearrangement of aryl esters using Lewis acid catalyst, AlCl3 (Ullmanns Encyclopedia Vol. A-1, p. 209); Calvert, Carys (Contract Chem. Ltd., Prescot/Merseyside L34 9HY, UK). Symp. Pap.xe2x80x94Inst. Chem. Eng., North West. Branch, 3 (3, Integr. Pollut. Control Clean Technol.), 4.1-4.16 (English) 1992.
In one method propionylation of biphenyl with propionyl choloride was carried out using ZnCl2 which consist of 12% yield of 4-Phenylpiophenone (4-PPP) (Friedel carft Related reaction Vol-III, part-1, 1964, Ed G. A. Olah).
A method comparising reacting biphenyl with propionyl chloride in the presence of AlCl3 gives 65% yield of 4-PPP (Friedel carfts Related reaction Vol-III, part-1, 1964, Ed G. A. Olah)
Other process includes the preparation of 4-phenylbenzophenones (4-PBP) 74% by the benzolylation of biphenyl with AlCl3 using CHCl3 at room temperature. [Zhongguo Yiyao Gongye Zazhi, 23(3), 100-1 (Chinese) 1992.]; [Walczak, Antoni; Rzasa, Jozef; Labus, Stefan (PrzedsiebiorstwoFarmaceutyczne xe2x80x9cjelfaxe2x80x9d Sa, Pol.). Pol. PL 170632 B1 31 Jan. 31, 1997, 3 pp. (Poland)].
There have been known a number of methods for preparing phenyl ketones by reacting biphenyl with acetyl chloride, propionylchloride and benzoyl chloride respectively using Lewis acid catalysts. However the above methods are disadvantageous from the industrial point of view, because of low selectivity for 4-phenyl acetophenone, 4-phenyl propiophenone and 4-phenyl benzophenone and the catalyst used are homogeneous. Thus the large amount of base is required to neutralise the homogeneous catalysts.
The chemical industries are facing increasing pressure to reduce its impact on environment. This is particularly true in the production of phenyl ketones. Such reactions often require large quantities of minerals or Lewis acid catalysts which are destroyed or diluted during the aqueous work-up procedures, leadings to problems with equipment corrosion and expensive to treat. Furthermore, the reactions frequently use excess of reagents and are notoriously unselective. The overall result is excessive energy consumption, wastage of large quantities of Lewis acid catalysts and excessive impact on the environment. An additional major handicap of the homogeneous Lewis acid catalysts is the difficulty of their disposal, after use in the acetylation, propionylation and benzoylation reactions of biphenyl in an environmentally acceptable manner.
1. In view of the above mentioned drawbacks of homogeneous catalysts in the prior art process, it was found desirable during the course of the research work leading to the present invention to develop an environmentally acceptable solid selective, regenerable and recyclable zeolite catalysts for the production of biphenyl ketones and particularly 4-phenyl acetophenone, 4-phenyl propiophenone and 4-phenyl benzophenone in high selectivity from the acylation (acetylation, propionylation and benzoylation) of biphenyl with acetyl chloride, propionyl chloride and benzoyl chloride respectively, in the presence of solid acid catalyst composite materials alumino-silicate zeolite catalyst.
2. The AlCl3 catalyst cannot be used with a number of hetrocyclic system which are decomposed by it due to its higher Lewis acid strength.
3. The use of AlCl3 may give rise to some side reaction of intra-or intermolecular migration of alkyl groups, acylation and replacement of halogen atoms.
4. Difficult operational problem of corrosion.
5. Difficulty in the catalyst AlCl3 or HCl removal from the products.
6. Use of stoichiometric amount of catalyst in all the methods described above. Some of them are hazardous and difficult to handle. In some cases catalyst is consumed during the reaction and in some cases catalyst are less selective.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved process for the production of phenyl ketones by the acylation (acetylation, propionylation and benzoylation) of biphenyl in the presence of zeolite catalyst.
Another object of the present invention is to obviate the drawbacks and limitations of the prior art such as removal of HCl from the product form during the reaction, use of AlCl3 give rise to many side chain reaction.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved process which makes use of non-hazardous solid zeolite catalyst.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved process which leads to high yields of ketones and selectivity to para products resulting from high conversion of biphenyl and to provide an improved process which is safe not being prone to explosion.
The objects of the present invention are achieved by using microporous aluminosilicate zeolites as catalyst. In accordance with the process of the present invention biphenyl can be converted to 2-phenylacetophenone, 4-phenylacetophenone, 2-phenylpropiophenone, 4-phenylpropiophenone, 2-phenylbenzophenone and 4-phenylbenzophenone in the presence of a zeolite catalyst composite material aluminosilicate using solution of an acylating agent and biphenyl with stirring in an oil bath, such zeolites may be containing usually sodium or potassium but may further include other cations such as rare earth metals. The cations may be of the same type or of two or more different types.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a process for the preparation of phenyl ketones of formula-I,
Wherein R represents xe2x80x94COCH3, xe2x80x94COC2H5 or xe2x80x94COC6H5, which comprises acylating the biphenyl with an acylating agent in an organic solvent in the presence of a solid crystalline microporous catalyst composite material wherein the molar ratio of biphenyl to acylating agent is 1:1 at a temperature in the range of 50-200xc2x0 C. for a period of about 20 hrs. and separating the desired product by conventional methods like gas-chromatography to obtain the desired product.
In one of the embodiment of the present invention, the acylating agent used is selected from the chlorides of acetic, propionic or benzoic acids.
In yet another embodiment of this invention the zeolite catalyst used in the reaction is selected from H-beta, H-Y, H-Mordenite, H-ZSM-5, RE-Y having molar composition in anhydrous state
M/n:AlO2:zSiO2
(where M is proton or alkali or rare earth metals with valency n, and z is between 2-500) having SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio of from 2-50 having a pore size of 5-10 Axc2x0.
In still another embodiment the organic solvent used is nitrobenzene.
The process of the present invention is that, it does not pose any risk of explosion.
Thus, the process of the present invention is effectively and efficiently acylate the para-position of the substrate while suppressing the acylation at the ortho and meta position.
The present invention is described in a further detail with reference to the following examples, which should not be, however constructed to limit the present invention in any manner whatsoever.

Process for the preparation of phenyl ketones

Abstract: Wherein R represents xe2x80x94COCH3, xe2x80x94COC2H5 or xe2x80x94COC6H5, which comprises acylating the biphenyl with an acylating agent in an organic solvent in the presence of a solid crystalline microporous calalyst composite material.

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research


An attachment is provided for connecting two building members together such as a header and an adjoining support member. The attachment includes a plate having an engaging surface for extending across and in engagement with the two building members. At least one L-shaped bracket projects from the plate. The L-shaped bracket includes first and second tabs that form an angle of approximately 90° and which are offset with respect to the plate. The first and second tabs as well as the plate are adapted to be secured to the two building members.

Connecting building components in a building structure, whether they are metal or wood, present many challenges. For example, consider the concerns presented for efficiently and adequately connecting a header that extends across a window, door or throughway opening. Obviously any type of connector utilized must be able to safely carry the loads transferred to the header, which are often very substantial especially in cases where the header span is long. While it is important to provide sturdy and strong connections, it is also important that such be done in a way that generally minimizes the number of connectors or attachments used. From a cost and construction efficiency point of view, it is desirable that the connectors be relatively small and of a design that enables them to be easily installed even by individuals that are not highly skilled.
Therefore, there has been and continues to be a need for attachments that connect building components together which are structurally efficient, and which can be easily installed.

Attachment for connecting two building members


A digital camera has first and second light sources for sequentially illuminating a document from two different directions in response to the camera being activated. The camera has first and second sensor portions. Only the first and second sensor portions respectively respond to images reflected from the document in response to the first and second sources illuminating the document. Images detected by the first and second sensor portions are combined to remove specular reflection from the document image. In a second embodiment, the camera has three sensor portions.

Digital cameras are known in the prior art and in their simplest form comprise a light, typically a flash light, a sensor containing image sensitive nodes and image storage nodes, a lens or series of lenses and a memory bank. The digital camera is known to be employed as an image capture device for capturing images of documents, and in operation is held in a fixed position over a document. The flash light is then triggered thus illuminating the document. The lens serves to focus the image onto the light sensitive nodes and the image is transferred to light storage nodes within the sensor. The final image is read out to a suitable memory bank where it is stored indefinitely awaiting a final process, for example, downloading onto a computer hard-drive or floppy disk.
However, a digital camera employed in this manner as a document image capture device has severe limitations due to the phenomena of specular reflections. Typically, most documents consist of a glossy material, which reflects light to a large extent. When the flashlight of the digital camera is triggered, high energy specular reflected light is incident on the light sensitive nodes of the sensor resulting, ultimately, in a glare spot within the final image, this glare spot effectively masking certain features of the document.
The problem of glare spots has been recognised in a different field (medical imaging—imaging of the cervix for detection of cervical cancer). U.S. Pat. No. 6,088,612 proposes a solution in which two light sources are used, and the glare-affected parts of an image taken with one light source are replaced by the glare-free parts of the image taken with the other light source. However, obtaining two complete document images containing the two glare spots, requires the camera to receive, process and store twice as much information as would be required if only one image was obtained. This process for irradiating glare spots in this manner is therefore a relatively expensive process in terms of data storage capacity and processing time.

Image detector method and apparatus including plural detector regions and image illuminators

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An illumination control device for illuminating an light modulation information display device with light includes: at least one illumination device for irradiating light which is generated through discharging; and a driving waveform generation section for controlling the light which is irradiated from the at least one illumination device to the light modulation information display device. The light modulation information display device is operable so as to have a first period and a second period during which an image is displayed. During the first period, the driving waveform generation section applies a first voltage to the at least one illumination device, the first voltage causing the at least one illumination device to be turned entirely-ON. During the second period, the driving waveform generation section applies a second voltage to at least a portion of the at least one illumination device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light modulation information display device (hereinafter referred to as an "LM information display device") which displays information through variable control of the transmission, absorption, interception, reflection state or reflection direction of light, and an illumination control device for controlling an illumination device which is provided on a back face or a front face of a display section of an LM information display device. In particular, the present invention relates to an LM information display device and an illumination control device which can provide improved power consumption and improved display quality for moving pictures, and higher reliability. Moreover, the present invention relates particularly to: an LM information display device which can be suitably used as a liquid crystal display device for displaying moving pictures or the like; and an illumination control device which is used as a backlight control device for controlling a backlight provided on a back face of a display section of such an LM information display device, or as a frontlight control device for controlling a frontlight provided on a front face of such an LM information display device, and which can achieve optimum ON/OFF control for a fluorescence discharge tube, e.g., a cold-cathode fluorescence discharge tube.
2. Description of the Related Art
An LM information display device which incorporates an illumination device and an illumination control device for controlling the illumination device can have various structures. Examples of such LM information display devices include underlying-type backlight LM information display devices and side-type backlight LM information display devices. Such classification is based on the positioning of the illumination device.
In the field of transmission liquid crystal display devices, which are exemplary of LM information display device currently in use, it is commonplace to employ an underlying-type backlight LM information display device in order to improve the display uniformity. This is especially the case with large-size transmission liquid crystal display devices (i.e., of a size designated as "20" or higher) for displaying moving pictures. Hereinafter, as Conventional Example 1, an example of a conventional underlying-type backlight LM information display device and a conventional side-type backlight LM information display device will be described.
FIG. 20 schematically shows a conventional underlying-type backlight LM information display device 2000. The underlying-type backlight LM information display device 2000 includes an LM information display section 2001, illumination devices (fluorescence discharge tube) 2003 and 2014, and a light guide layer 2002 for guiding illumination light emitted from the fluorescence discharge tubes 2003 and 2014 into the LM information display section 2001.
In the underlying-type backlight LM information display device 2000, the fluorescence discharge tubes 2003 and 2014 are provided directly under the light guide layer 2002, so that the underlying-type backlight LM information display device 2000 itself may have a relatively large depth. However, the thickness of the underlying-type backlight LM information display device 2000 does not increase with an increase in the number of fluorescence discharge tubes 2003 and 2014. Moreover, the underlying-type backlight LM information display device 2000 provides a greater flexibility as to the number and arrangement of fluorescence discharge tubes 2003 and 2014 to be employed than a side-type backlight LM information display device.
FIG. 21 schematically shows a conventional side-type backlight LM information display device 2100. The side-type backlight LM information display device 2100 includes an LM information display section 2111, a light guide layer 2112 for guiding light into the LM information display section 2111, lamp reflectors 2116a for deflecting the light toward the light guide layer 2112, and at least one fluorescence discharge tube 2116 which is partially surrounded by the lamp reflector 2116a. Although the lamp reflectors 2116a and the fluorescence discharge tubes 2116 are illustrated as being provided on both sides of the light guide layer 2112 in the side-type backlight LM information display device 2100 of FIG. 21, a lamp reflector 2116a and a fluorescence discharge tube 2116 may be provided on only one side of the light guide layer 2112.
In the case where the above side-type backlight LM information display device is employed for a large-size display devices for displaying moving pictures, it is commonplace to increase the number of fluorescence discharge tubes 2116 to be provided on either side or both sides in order to obtain improved luminance and to alleviate luminance unevenness. In this case, however, the size of the display device 2100 itself increases in proportion with the number of fluorescence discharge tubes 2116 employed.
In general, a backlight control device is controlled so as to be always ON in the following manner. A DC rated voltage is input to an inverter circuit, and a high step-up ratio is obtained by means of a piezoelectric transformer at the beginning of the discharging in order to begin discharging of the fluorescence discharge tubes. Once discharging is begun and the impedance of the fluorescence discharge tube has lowered, a stable voltage is obtained by means of a winding transformer so as to maintain the fluorescence discharge tube to be ON.
In recent years, it has been discovered through line-of-sight tracing tests that display blurs, e.g., blurred outlines, occur with a hold-type emission display method (as used in liquid crystal display devices, etc.), as opposed to an impulse-type emission display method (as used in CRTs (cathode ray tubes), etc.), thereby detracting from the display quality when displaying moving pictures.
FIG. 22A shows results of line-of-sight tracing with respect to a hold-type emission display method. In FIG. 22A, the axis of ordinates represents time, where one resolution unit is equal to 1/60 sec, which corresponds to 1 frame period; and the axis of abscissas represent the positions of pixels.
In this case, since the illumination device is always ON during 1 frame period, a viewer's eyes will try to follow a movement in the display with a locus as indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 22A. As a result, the viewer will see an image in accordance with an integral of the luminance values and relative positions along the broken lines. Therefore, the viewer cannot capture the proper gray-scale images (portions indicated in black), but instead sees an image which is a combination of the proper gray-scale images and any gray-scale values (portions indicated in dots) adjoining the outline. Such portions contribute to so-called blurred outlines.
One conventional approach for improving such display blurs involves the use of ON periods and OFF periods within 1 frame period, in an attempt to realize a CRT-like impulse-type emission display method.
FIG. 22B shows results of line-of-sight tracing with respect to a case where ON periods and OFF periods are present within 1 frame period of an illumination device. In this case, during frame transitions, the gray-scale components associated with the adjoining pixels do not contribute to the trace line (indicated by the broken lines) with which the line-of-sight of a viewer follows positions on the outline. As a result, the viewer is prevented from seeing an image having blurred outlines.
In order to implement an impulse-type emission display method in a liquid crystal display device (which is an exemplary LM information display device), it might be possible to operate a display panel of the liquid crystal display device so as to obtain bright or dark images while controlling the fluorescence discharge tubes so as to be always ON. However, obtaining bright or dark images based on the operation of a liquid crystal display device is accompanied by the following problems.
Firstly, an increase in the power consumption in the liquid crystal display device results, thereby detracting from its comparative advantages over other types of display devices (CRTs, PDPs (plasma display panels), etc.). Secondly, since there is an increased number of fluorescence discharge tubes with a high density, the temperature of the fluorescence discharge tubes may increase as a result of controlling the fluorescence discharge tubes so as to be always ON, resulting in a decrease in display contrast. Thirdly, there is a problem associated with the response speed, which is dependent on the particular liquid crystal material used: outstanding display blurs (e.g., blurred outlines) and residual images will occur when moving pictures are displayed at a fast rate.
Another possible method for implementing an impulse-type emission display method in a liquid crystal display device involves flickering a fluorescence discharge tube(s) composing a backlight. The following conventional backlight control device structures for controlling such a backlight have been proposed. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 3-198026 (filed by Hitachi, Ltd.) adopts a technique of "splitting a backlight into a plurality of regions, such that the split regions can be controlled so as to flicker and/or have controlled luminance in a distinguishable manner". Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 11-297485 (Sony Corporation) adopts a technique of "inactivating an inverter circuit during a blanking period of an image signal so as to turn off fluorescence discharge tubes used as a backlight".
Referring to FIG. 20, it will be described how such conventional techniques can be implemented in the operation of the aforementioned conventional LM information display device 2000 (which is an underlying-type backlight LM information display device). The light guide layer 2002 is split into a plurality of regions, and the fluorescence discharge tubes 2003 and 2014 are provided on the back face of the light guide layer 2002 so as to correspond to the respective split regions of the light guide layer 2002. The fluorescence discharge tubes 2003 and 2014 are configured so as to be capable of flickering (or having controlled luminance) simultaneously or individually for the respective split regions. The fluorescence discharge tube 2003 (indicated in white) represents a fluorescence discharge tube which is ON (or has a high luminance), whereas the fluorescence discharge tubes 2014 (indicated in black) represent fluorescence discharge tubes which are OFF (or have a low luminance).
The aforementioned conventional examples can be commonly characterized in that, instead of turning all of the fluorescence discharge tubes ON or OFF, illumination devices (fluorescence discharge tubes) are controllable so as to be individually turned ON or OFF or have their light amounts regulated (bright or dark) based on an image signal for the display device, thereby improving the power consumption of the device.
In the aforementioned Conventional Example 1, cold-cathode fluorescence discharge tubes are used as fluorescence discharge tubes. Since the electrode structure in cold-cathode fluorescence discharge tubes does not require a filament transformer mechanism, unlike the electrode structure in hot-cathode discharge tubes, cold-cathode fluorescence discharge tubes are advantageous in terms of power consumption, device life/reliability, and down-sizing. Hence, cold-cathode fluorescence discharge tubes are employed as illumination devices in many liquid crystal display devices.
The electrode structure in a conventional cold-cathode fluorescence discharge tube is essentially a two-terminal discharge tube structure. The ON/OFF control of the cold-cathode fluorescence discharge tube is performed via an inverter circuit in a such a manner that a DC voltage is stepped up at the beginning of the discharging by means of a step-up means so as to instantaneously generate a discharge starting voltage for the fluorescence discharge tube. Thereafter, after the impedance of the fluorescence discharge tube has lowered, a stable voltage is generated by means of a winding transformer, whereby the ON state is maintained.
The discharge starting voltage has an excessive voltage component as compared to the ensuing discharging voltage. It is known that, since the amount of electrons which are sputtered increases at the beginning of the discharging, vigorous sputtering occurs in the neighborhood of the electrodes, leading to the blackening of the fluorescent material and the deterioration of the electrodes.
A method for establishing a stabilized discharging has been proposed, which involves the use of cold-cathode fluorescence discharge tubes having a multi-electrode structure (Conventional Example 2). For example, according to Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 4-342951 (Sony Corporation), an auxiliary electrode is provided in the neighborhood of two main discharging electrodes of a cold-cathode fluorescence discharge tube, so that a potential difference can be obtained between the main discharging electrodes and the auxiliary electrode at the beginning of the discharging. Thus, a stable discharge state can be obtained in a short period of time.
As described above, in transmission liquid crystal display devices, which are exemplary conventional LM information display devices, cold-cathode fluorescence discharge tubes are generally employed from the perspective of power consumption, device life/reliability, and down-sizing, and an always-ON method is used as the ON/OFF control method thereof.
While the aforementioned technique of repeatedly turning ON or OFF the fluorescence discharge tubes as illustrated in Conventional Example 1 does contribute to an improvement in power consumption, it is disadvantageous in terms of the device life of the fluorescence discharge tubes. This is because, at each moment when a fluorescence discharge tube transitions from an OFF state to an ON state, impulse noises such as an undershoot may be added in an inverter circuit which serves as an ON/OFF control circuit for the fluorescence discharge tubes, so that the instantaneous potential difference may exceed the rated input voltage value for the inverter circuit. Consequently, excessive components may be applied to the fluorescence discharge tubes as a discharge starting current and a discharge starting voltage. Thus, the amount of electrons which are sputtered increases at the electrodes of the fluorescence discharge tubes, resulting in a vigorous sputtering and leading to the blackening of the fluorescent material and the deterioration of the electrodes. This shortens the device life of the fluorescence discharge tubes.
Furthermore, in accordance with a light regulation method which repeats transitions between bright/dark states by controlling the luminance of the fluorescence discharge tubes, there can be an improvement in the power consumption of no more than about 20% to 30% (by actual measurement values). This technique also has a problem, among others, in that a substantial increase in temperature occurs in the case where fluorescence discharge tubes are provided close together; when such a high temperature is transmitted to the liquid crystal panel, the display contrast is decreased, undermining the display quality and reliability.
In conventional fluorescence discharge tubes having a multi-electrode structure described in Conventional Example 2, in which an increased number of electrodes are employed in the cold-cathode fluorescence discharge tubes so as to stabilize the initial discharging, strong electron bonds are present between the main discharging electrodes at the beginning of the discharging. As a result, the amount of electrons which are sputtered increases between the auxiliary electrode and the main discharging electrodes, leading to electrode deterioration.
Furthermore, the conventional method in which the interference of image information associated with the adjoining display frames is prevented by flickering the fluorescence discharge tubes during 1 frame period of displaying information in order to improve the display blurs of LM information display devices has a problem in that the number of times that the fluorescence discharge tubes are switched, i.e., the number of times that the discharge starting voltage is applied, increases. As a result, the device life of the fluorescence discharge tubes may drastically deteriorate.

Light modulation information display device and illumination control device


To simplify television cameras, particularly of the type previously disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,163,247, Bock et al, the green (or white) content of an image and the red/blue content of an image are transduced by two-dimensional semiconductor sensors which include read-out and storage sections, the read-out being controlled by shift registers which, in turn, operate under control of a clock generator. The luminance of the signal is derived by reading out the luminance portion during the line scanning interval and the thus read out signal is immediately re-stored in the storage portion of the luminance transducer; the chrominance signal is read out from the chrominance sensor during the line blanking interval; during this interval, the re-stored luminance portion is likewise read out and combined with the chrominance portion to form a difference signal. The overall output then will be a time multiplexed luminance signal, at the line scanning rate, and a compressed chrominance signal, read out during the line blanking interval. Additional synchronization signals may be combined with this signal if the read-out rate during the line blanking interval is suitably selected to allocate time slots therefor.

The U.S. Pat. No. 4,163,247, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, teaches an arrangement in which luminance signals are derived from a luminance pick-up tube, chrominance signals are derived from a chrominance pick-up tube, and the signals ae time multiplexed for transmission or recording. The resulting signal can then be converted into a standard composite color video signal by a suitable transcoder. The system permits, due to the time multiplex arrangement, simplification in the camera apparatus.

Color television camera system having solid-state opto-electric transducers for luminance and chrominance signals


It is known to provide picture tube parts with identification marks. According to the state of the art, this identification of picture tube parts is achieved by attaching special layers or labels containing the identification data to the outside of the glass pans (10). However, this technique is extraordinarily costly because of the additional layers or labels. The invention shows that the respective identification marks (16) are formed directly on a first functional layer applied to the inside (19) of the respective picture tube part. The process is very simple if the respective identification marks (16) are burned into the first functional layer by means of a laser.

To simplify the manufacturing process, it is known to provide picture tube glass pans with markings, which permit recognition of the glass pan type, or the glass pan itself. The glass pan forms that part of a picture tube, which faces the viewer after it has been installed.
A known way to realize such markings is to place a label on the outside of the respective glass pan. To that effect, according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,374,551, a label with printed information is glued to the glass pan. In view of the temperature processes which the glass pan undergoes during manufacture, it is easy to see that such a solution does not guarantee reliable and permanent marking of picture tube parts. For this reason, DE 38 25 846 also indicates an adhesive label, which has an identification made of glass solder. If this label is glued to the outside of the glass pan, and the pan then undergoes a temperature process, the identification combines with the glass of the pan to form a permanent marking that is no longer removable.
However, if a number of different types of picture tubes are manufactured in a production line, it is considered a disadvantage to use labels, because a corresponding number of labels must be kept on hand for the different types of tubes, and it would be extremely expensive to produce such labels immediately before they are combined with the glass pan. Furthermore, for the latter reason, the variety of information on each label is limited.
According to another state of the art patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,327,283), the marking of picture tube parts takes place in such a way, that at least one glass frit area is formed on the outside of the respective picture tube part. Depending on the process, the marking is then either made in the form of a machine-readable bar code in that area, and the respective area is then fritted to the glass pan, or vice versa. The formation of the bar code is such, that the application of suitable measures on predetermined areas of the additionally formed area causes the applied glass frit material to be partially removed. The measures that are suitable for removing the glass frit material are indicated as mechanical and chemical processes, including laser technology.
Although this process provides for individual identification of each glass pan, it is considered a disadvantage that this type of marking always requires that at least one layer must be produced on the glass pan in several work steps, which is not required for the picture tube production itself. As pointed out in this regard by U.S. Pat. No. 4,600,630, for reasons of readability, it is necessary to cover the bar code marking produced in U.S. Pat. No. 4,327,283, with a special layer to protect it from contamination.
As was shown in tests performed by the applicant, a direct marking is not realizable, i.e. one that is worked into the surface of the screen glass, because, as also indirectly confirmed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,327,283, it leads to an unacceptable weakening of the glass screen-pan, which is under considerable load in the subsequent installed condition.
For that reason, the invention has the task of introducing markings of picture tube parts, whose manufacture does not require additional layers or materials beyond the production of the respective picture tube part, and which are additionally protected against outside influences.
Another task of the invention is to introduce a process for the production of markings of picture tube parts, which permits to manufacture identification marks of picture tube parts in a very simple process that is safe and protected against outside influences.

Identification marks of picture tube parts


The present invention is directed to a method for detection, characterization and isolation of nucleic acids encoding proteins of a desired property, such as a particular cellular localization. The invention further provides for rapid expression of such proteins or glycoproteins in mammalian cells and for facilitated purification of the novel secreted proteins or glycoproteins. Further, the invention provides for radioactive labelling of the novel proteins or glycoproteins, for rapid identification of sites of binding including animals and for rapid production of infective viral vectors for use in gene transfer.

General Background. Proteins are the most prominent biomolecules in living organisms; in addition to their role as structural components and catalysts, they play a crucial role in regulatory processes. Both regulation of cell proliferation and metabolic functions are largely controlled and effected by the cooperation of numerous cellular and extracellular proteins. Lehninger, A. L., 1975, "Biochemistry", Worth Publishers Inc., New York, N.Y. For example, signal transduction pathways of many kinds that affect critical physiological responses operate through proteins by way of their intermolecular interactions. Metzler, D. E., 1977, "Biochemistry", Academic Press Inc., London. Furthermore, the transcription of genes and the regulation of such transcription is dependent upon and controlled by the interdependence of numerous protein factors. Wainwright, S. D., "Control Mechanisms and Protein Synthesis", Columbia University Press, New York and London.
Proper functioning of a multicellular organism does not only depend on the interaction of biomolecules within the cell, but individual cells must also communicate appropriately. Such intercellular communication, and interaction of cells with the environment is often realized by the actions of receptors on the extracellular surface and associated intracellular signal transduction mechanisms. Poste, G., Nicholson, G. L., 1976, "The Cell Surface", Elseviere, Amsterdam. The information is communicated through the cell environment to regulate gene expression or protein activities in the cell. Secreted proteins in the extracellular environment thereby exert potent regulatory effects on certain cellular functions.
In view of the above outlined, very simplified paradigm of cell function, particular properties of a protein, including cellular localization, structure, affinity to a binding partner, or enzymatic activity under physiological conditions appear to be highly indicative of its type of function. With respect to a particular cellular localization, secreted proteins, for example, are likely to function as intercellular communicators of signals, while membrane associated receptors having an extracellular and intracellular domain most likely transmit an extracellular signal into the cell. Cytoplasmic proteins may function as intracellular signal transmitters and coordinators. Jeter, J. R., Cameron, I. L., Padilla, I. L., Padilla, G. M., Zimmerman, A. M., 1978, "Cell Cycle Regulation", London. Nuclear proteins are likely to be involved in certain aspects of gene regulation. Zawel et al., 1995, Annu. Rev. Biochem. 64:533-561. Mature proteins found in the Golgi or the ER may have regulatory roles in the post-translational processing of protein precursors, e.g., cleavage or addition of carbohydrates. Hirschberg, 1987, C. Annu. Rev. Biochem. 56:63-87.
Membrane-Associated Proteins. For many years, the paradigm of cell function has motivated numerous drug discovery programs to focus on identifying membrane-associated proteins, in particular new receptors, and their respective functions. Porter, R. and O'Connor, M., 1970, "Molecular Properties of Drug Receptors, Ciba Foundation Symposium", J&A Churchill, London. Many examples in fact compel the conclusion that improper function of membrane receptors is a significant source of the development of serious metabolic and proliferative diseases such as cancer. For example, a certain form of Diabetes mellitus, i.e., the non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM) may be caused by mutations in the insulin receptor. Ullrich et al., 1985, Nature 313:756-761; Taira et al., 1989, Science 245:63-66. Furthermore, 30% of all mammary carcinomas are associated with amplification of the receptor tyrosine kinase HER2. Bargman et al., 1986, Cell 45:649-657; Slamon et al., 1989, Science 244:707-712. In addition to traditional drug discovery programs targeting receptors, an ambitiously pursued objective has become to identify membrane-associated receptors as possible gene therapy targets using comparative genomics, which allows determination of changes in gene expression under, e.g., pathological conditions. Wels, et al., 1995, Gene 159(1):73-80.
Secreted Proteins. While receptors have mostly been considered as important potential therapeutic targets, secreted proteins are of particular interest as potential therapeutic agents. They often have a signalling or hormone function, and hence have a high and specific biological activity. Schoen, F. J., 1994, "Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease", W. B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia. For example, secreted proteins control physiological reactions such as differentiation and proliferation, blood clotting and thrombolysis, somatic growth and cell death, and immune response. Schoen, F. J., 1994, "Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease", W. B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia.
Significant resources and research efforts have been expended for the discovery and investigation of new secreted proteins controlling biological functions. Many of such secreted proteins, including cytokines and peptide hormones, are manufactured and used as therapeutic agents. Zavyalov et al., 1997, APMIS 105(3):161-186. However, of the several thousand expected secreted proteins, only a few are currently used as therapeutic compounds. It can be expected that many of the so far undiscovered secreted proteins of the human organism are effective in correcting physiological disorders and are thus promising candidates for new drugs.
In the past, novel cytokines and hormone proteins were identified by assaying a certain cell type for its response to protein fractions or purified proteins. Lauffenburger et al., 1996, Biotechnology and Bioengineering 52(1):61-80. Other investigators have used sequence similarities on DNA level to clone novel interferons and interleukins. Nabori et al., 1992, Analyt. Biochem. 205(1):42-46. In again another approach, differential display techniques were used to compare the expression patterns of stimulated versus unstimulated cells. Nagata et al., 1980, Nature 287:401-408. All these methods may yield identification and isolation of certain secreted polypeptides.
Recently, a screening method for the identification of cDNA encoding novel secreted mammalian proteins in yeast using the invertase gene as a selection marker has been described. See, U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,637 (the "'637 patent"). The disclosed technology relies on the concept that leader sequences of mammalian cDNAs are effective in exporting the invertase protein depleted of its leader sequence. This approach yields partial cDNAs which in turn can be used to screen a fill-length cDNA library. The novel protein of interest can then be manufactured by standard, but laborious, techniques, including subcloning, transforming a recombinant host, expression, development and implementation of a purification process. Furthermore, since the assays described in the '637 patent are performed in yeast, the glycosylation pattern of the isolated products will differ significantly from the natural product produced in mammalian cells. This difference is a major impediment in view of the fact that an extremely important feature of secreted proteins (as it is true for the extracellular domain of receptors) is their glycosylation pattern and carbohydrate composition. Rademacher et al., 1988, Annu. Rev. Biochem. 57:785-838.
Nuclear Proteins. In the nucleus, both replication of DNA and transcription of genes is actually implemented. Many nuclear proteins are directly involved in these processes as transcription factors, as cell cycle regulators, or both. Some nuclear proteins are responsible for turning on expression of certain metabolic proteins in response to environmental changes. Zawel et al., 1995, Annu. Rev. Biochem. 64:533-561. Many others are directly involved in the regulation of cell proliferation. Jeter, J. R., Cameron, I. L., Padilla, G. M., Zimmerman, A. M., 1978, "Cell Cycle Regulation", London. Proteins in this latter class fall into two general categories: (1) dominant transforming genes, including oncogenes; and (2) recessive cell proliferation genes, including tumor suppressor genes and genes encoding products involved in programmed cell death ("apoptosis").
Oncogenes generally encode proteins that are associated with the promotion of cell growth. Because cell division is a crucial part of normal tissue development and continues to play an important role in tissue regeneration, properly regulated oncogene activity is essential for the survival of the organism. However, inappropriate expression or improperly controlled activation of oncogenes may drive uncontrolled cell proliferation and result in the development of severe diseases, such as cancer. Weinberg, 1994, CA Cancer J. Clin. 44:160-170.
Tumor suppressor genes, on the other hand, normally act as "brakes" on cell proliferation, thus opposing the activity of oncogenes. Accordingly, inactivation of tumor suppressor genes, e.g., through mutations or the removal of their growth inhibitory effects may result in the loss of growth control, and cell proliferative diseases such as cancer may develop. Weinberg, 1994, CA Cancer J. Clin. 44:160-170.
Related to tumor suppressor genes are genes whose product is involved in the control of apoptosis; rather than regulating proliferation of cells, they influence the survival of cells in the body. In normal cells, surveillance systems are believed to ensure that the growth regulatory mechanisms are intact; if abnormalities are detected, the surveillance system switches on a suicide program that culminates in apoptosis.
Several genes that are involved in the process of apoptosis have been described. See, for example, Collins and Lopez Rivas, 1993, TIBS 18:307-308; Martin et al., 1994, TIBS 19:26-30. Cells that are resistant to apoptosis have an advantage over normal cells, and tend to outgrow their normal counterparts and dominate the tissue. As a consequence, inactivation of genes involved in apoptosis may result in the progression of tumors, and, in fact, is an important step in tumorigenesis.
Accordingly, the identification of nuclear proteins addresses two areas of interest. First, oncogenes are prone to be valuable targets for the development of highly specific drugs for the treatment of cancer. Secondly, tumor suppressors and apoptosis inducing proteins can be useful as agents for the treatment of cancer.
Other Cellular Localizations. Also many of the remaining cellular localizations are associated with particular functions. For example, most metabolic enzymes are located in the mitochondria. Lehninger, A. L., 1975, "Biochemistry", Worth Publishers Inc., New York. Thus, mitochondrial proteins could reveal targets for the treatment of metabolic diseases. The Golgi apparatus and the ER are associated with post-translational processing of proteins; such processes are valuable targets for the treatment of diseases related to protein folding and glycosylation. Rademacher et al., 1988, Ann. Rev. Biochem. 57:785-838.
Enzymatic Activities. A particular enzymatic activity can be indicative of a protein's function. For example, kinases are frequently involved in signal transduction processes.
Structures. Protein is also indicative of protein function. Indeed, proteins with similar structures frequently share certain functional properties. Thus, identifying proteins having a structure related to that of a known protein having a particular function of interest can reveal additional proteins having such function.
Generally, a method would be desirable which allows one to pre-sort proteins according to a property of interest, e.g., localization in the cell, affinity to binding partners, enzymatic activity, structure and the like. Such a method would allow one to generate libraries of, e.g., secreted proteins, such as cytokines, membrane associated proteins, such as receptors, nuclear proteins, such as transcription factors, mitochondrial proteins, such as respiratory proteins, and so on. Further, it would be desirable to perform screening, isolation and production of any product in mammalian cells in order to achieve the proper glycosylation pattern. Finally, the most preferred method would additionally allow one to identify and isolate proteins of interest per se rather than a partial DNA sequence.
The present invention addresses this need. The present invention provides methods and expression systems for the generation of expression libraries encoding polypeptides of a predetermined property, including but not limited to cellular localization, structure, enzymatic function, or affinity to other molecules. The methods and expression systems of the present invention allow one to identify and isolate nucleic acids encoding novel proteins of interest. The methods and expression systems furthermore provide a powerful system for the identification of thus far unelucidated receptor/ligand relationships. Since the methods provided can employed in a wide variety of host cell systems, including mammalian systems, they provide for expression products having an appropriate carbohydrate composition.

Expression cloning processes for the discovery characterization, and isolation of genes encoding polypeptides with a predetermined property


A recording apparatus includes a synchronization-signal generator configured to generate a predetermined synchronization signal on the basis of a reference synchronization signal; a resolution converter configured to convert a second signal into a third signal when a received signal is the second signal, the second signal being different from a first signal having a first resolution and the second signal having a second resolution lower than the first resolution, and the third signal having the first resolution; a delayer configured to delay the first signal received when the received signal is the first signal, by a predetermined time taken to convert the second signal into the third signal; and a recorder configured to record the first signal delayed by the delayer or the third signal obtained by converting the second signal by the resolution converter, on a recording medium on the basis of the synchronization signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to recording apparatuses and methods and programs. More specifically, the present invention relates to a recording apparatus and method and program for facilitating management of time information in a recording apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
SDI (Serial Digital Interface) signals can be classified, for example, on the basis of resolution, as SD (Standard Definition) signals that have been used for many years and HD (High Definition) signals having a resolution higher than that of SD signals. As a type of editing system for editing SDI signals, a device for upconverting SD signals into HD signals or downconverting HD signals into SD signals exists. Such a device is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-299039.

Recording apparatus and method and program


A method for verifying the accuracy of bit-map memory test programs is disclosed, which employs a Focused Ion Beam (FIB) apparatus to make or break connections on one or more word lines or bit lines of the memory to be tested, causing abnormal data output from memory locations affected by such word lines or bit lines during FIB modeling. If abnormal data are also produced on the same electrical address corresponding to the physical memory address during the bit-map memory testing, that means the bit-mapping memory test program has passed the verification test, and it can be used to test other physical memory to check for any faulty address lines or memory cells; otherwise, the test program needs to be tuned through repeated correction process until the electrical addresses output from the test program match with the test pattern memory addresses.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for verifying the accuracy of bit-map memory test programs, especially a method that employs a Focused Ion Beam (FIB) apparatus to make or break connections of one or more word lines or bit lines of a physical memory. The FIB modeling result is then compared with that from the bit-map memory test program to verify whether the bit-map memory test program is reliable.
2. Description of Related Art
Each step in a memory manufacturing process has to undergo stringent quality control to produce a high and stable yield rate. When the yield rate drops below a normal standard, test engineers are called in to investigate the cause. Bit-map memory test programs are one of the more commonly used programs to test physical memory. The testing parameters for the bit-map memory test program first have to be setup according to the physical address table provided by the memory manufacturer. The data output pattern from the memory test program is regarded as the electrical address, which is supposed to match the corresponding physical address in the physical memory. The output of the bit-map memory test program displayed on a screen is represented by a stream of 0's and 1's in a specific pattern.
During bit-map memory testing, test data is first written into the physical memory, and then the data is read out of memory. If the tested memory is a good memory chip, the results of the test program should correspond to the test data written into specified memory locations. If faulty memory addresses or memory cells exist in the physical memory, the data values at those memory locations cannot be read, causing the corresponding data image to be different from the data input into the memory. Through such comparison of FIB modeling results and the bit-map memory test results, whether or not the bit-map memory test detects all faulty memory address lines and data cells in a memory chip can thus be verified.
It is absolutely important that the physical memory address table provided by the memory manufacturer be a complete match with the physical memory address. Only then, can the memory test program based on the physical memory address table be successfully performed on the physical memory with high accuracy. With reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, current memory architecture allows physical memory addresses to be arranged in one of several ways. With reference to FIG. 2, the memory address can be arranged sequentially from left to right. With reference to FIG. 3, the data sequence can start at the center and extend to one side. When the data stream reaches the end of the line, the data sequence restarts from the center of the same line but extends in the opposite direction. With reference to FIG. 4, data can be alternately arranged from left to right the first time through, and then it is started again on the same line from left to right but in every other slot until the end of the line.
It only takes a small data discrepancy in the physical memory to render the tested memory useless, because the test program is unable to test all physical memories to produce a clean test report. To prevent such errors during memory testing with the bit-map memory test program, a verification process is developed in the present invention by means of Focused Ion Beam (FIB) apparatus, which can tell how accurate and reliable a bit-map memory test program is.

Method for verifying the accuracy of bit-map memory test programs