An anisotropic conductive film composition includes a polymer resin, a first epoxy resin including at least one of a bisphenol epoxy resin, a novolac epoxy resin, a glycidyl epoxy resin, an aliphatic epoxy resin, and an alicyclic epoxy resin, a second epoxy resin including an acetal epoxy resin, an epoxy resin curing agent, and conductive particles.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments relate to an epoxy curable composition for producing an anisotropic conductive film (hereinafter, also referred to as an 'anisotropic conductive film composition' or simply as an 'ACF composition'), an anisotropic conductive film including the same, and associated methods.
2. Description of the Related Art
An anisotropic conductive film (ACF) generally refers to a film-like adhesive in which conductive particles are dispersed in an electrically insulating adhesive resin. Generally, the anisotropic conductive film may be positioned between circuits, followed by heating/pressing under specific conditions to electrically connect circuit terminals of the circuits. The electrically insulating adhesive resin fills a space between the adjacent circuit terminals and electrically isolates the conductive particles from one another. Generally, anisotropic conductive films are widely used to electrically connect LCD panels or printed circuit boards (PCBs) to tape carrier packages (TCPs).
With recent trends towards large-area and thin displays, spaces between electrodes and circuits are becoming gradually narrower. Anisotropic conductive films play a very important role in interconnecting microcircuit terminals. Under these circumstances, anisotropic conductive films have received a great deal of attention as connection materials for chip-on-glass (COG) mounting, chip-on-film (COF) mounting, etc.
Conventional anisotropic conductive films include two types, i.e. epoxy and acrylic. A typical epoxy anisotropic conductive film is produced by mixing a binder resin system acting as a matrix for film formation with a cure system composed of an epoxy or phenolic resin and a curing agent, and a typical acrylic anisotropic conductive film is produced by mixing a binder resin system with a cure system composed of (meth)acrylic oligomer or monomer and a radical initiator.
The epoxy anisotropic conductive film has excellent initial physical properties due to the inherent characteristics of the epoxy resin, and exhibits good reliability due to the presence of a number of aromatic benzene rings within a network structure after curing. However, since the production of the epoxy anisotropic conductive film requires a very high reaction temperature and a long reaction time, there are difficulties in controlling processing factors and in the maintenance and repair of a connection system. To solve such processing-related problems, encapsulated latent curing agents and cationic curing agents that can lower the reaction temperature and shorten the reaction time of epoxy resins have been developed in recent years. However, when defects are found in a device incorporating the anisotropic conductive film, good adhesiveness inherent to the epoxy resin and a number of aromatic benzene rings present within the network structure make it very difficult to remove the anisotropic conductive film, making re-work difficult.

Anisotropic conductive film composition, anisotropic conductive film including the same, and associated methods


Disclosed herein is a strut assembly that comprises a piston that is in slideable communication with a housing. The piston comprises a piston head having a channel in operative communication with a fluid that is disposed in the housing. An elastic member and an active element are disposed in the channel. The active element is in operative communication with the elastic member and is operative to change the shape of the elastic member.

This disclosure relates to variable resistance strut assemblies and articles that contain the same.
Strut assemblies are often used in automobiles to facilitate the opening, locking and positioning of doors, trunks, hoods, tail-gates, or the like. These assemblies generally do not offer opportunities for fine control. In addition, these assemblies are often susceptible to temperature changes and their performance tends to vary with temperature and other environmental conditions. The strut assemblies that are commerically available have functional attributes that are fixed during design and manufacture. These functional attributes cannot be controlled but can vary with wear and operating conditions. For example, the fluid used in a strut assembly may have a viscosity that is chosen to yield optimum performance in terms of the effort required to extend and retract the strut over a nominal range of temperatures. If however, the temperature drops below this nominal range, the viscosity increases, thereby increasing the effort required to extend and retract the strut.
It is therefore desirable to use strut assemblies that offer opportunities for fine control during opening and closing and which offer reproducible performance under a variety of different conditions.

Variable resistance strut assemblies and articles containing the same


The present invention provides a highly convenient removable device and a startup method. A hub division unit 31 in a single composite device 2 allocates data exchange with the computer 1 side a plurality of devices, thereby easily realizing a plurality of functions. When connected to a USB, a recognition control unit 32 returns a signal representing a CD-ROM in a simulated manner in response to inquiry about the type of the device from the host side. When a device is mounted, a desired processing such as a program execution described in the script is automatically performed without installing a resident program for detecting a device mounting in advance in the computer side.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a removable device and a log-in method capable of producing superior advertising effects and offering superior convenience and security.
2. Description of the Background Art
Along with the continued growth in the use of various computers, such as personal computers (PCs), which accompanies the increasing use and progress in semiconductor technology and the Internet, recent years have seen diversification in the methods used for connecting peripheral devices. As a result, a need has been created for a universal peripheral device interface that can be used for any personal computer models and the USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface has been proposed as a specific example of such a standard. Moreover, reductions in the weight and size of various computers and the expansion of their portable (mobile) uses have created a need for removable external storage devices, fueling the growing popularity of USB memory, which is a device that can be easily connected to a personal computer via the USB interface. USB memory has various storage capacities, including 32 MB, 64 MB, etc. More specifically, it is a removable device of the size of a person's thumb that is furnished with a flash memory element inside and, when connected to a USB port (connection port) of a personal computer etc. via a USB connector provided at one of its ends, is recognized as a removable (attachable/detachable) disk drive, etc., and permits access, such as reading/writing, and the like.
Nowadays the use of the Internet is becoming particularly widespread and using rented/borrowed computers other than the one normally used while away from home is becoming a more frequent practice, so that, for instance, in many cases one sends and receives e-mail using a personal computer rented by the hour at an Internet cafe, etc. or borrowed from other people, such as colleagues at the office, customers, family members, friends and acquaintances, etc. Normally, personal computers at such temporary locations do not have data such as one's sent and received e-mail or account information, and the type and version of their e-mail programs (software used for electronic mail) are not the same as those of one's favorite e-mail program. Furthermore, while one may consider setting up one's account information on another person's PC in order to send and receive e-mail, in such a case, privacy problems may arise as a result of forgetting to erase data concerning such account information and sent/received e-mail. Thus, some people resort to recording data etc. concerning such account information, e-mail software, and sent/received e-mail in a USB memory and carrying it along with them.
In other words, not only data, but software, such as e-mail programs, etc., and shortcuts to software can be stored in a USB memory as well, and, in addition to saving and reading data, the USB memory can be used to perform the startup of such software. In addition to reading, it can also be used for starting such software.
In addition, in recent years, in addition to PC-specific peripherals, such as external storage devices, etc., it has become possible to connect a personal computer to digital cameras and various other devices in order to exchange data with the personal computer.
When a new peripheral device is connected to a personal computer, installation of dedicated programs, such as device drivers and supporting software, is required in many cases, and in the past, such programs were provided to the user on storage media such as CD-ROMs, floppy disks, etc. In addition, the user has been encouraged to download such programs from a network.
However, the problem was that when users tried to use target data and software stored in a USB memory, reaching them involved burdensome operations, with the burden increasing particularly as the frequency of use of the USB memory increased.
For instance, using data stored in a USB memory required performing a corresponding complex procedure, in the course of which users not only inserted a USB memory into a personal computer, but also performed operations on the OS (Operating System, i.e. basic software) screen by going through sequential options, such as "My Computer"→"Removable Disk"→"Target Operation", or specified a file name for execution via the keyboard.
In addition to that, when a memory was misplaced or stolen, user data stored on it could be inadvertently read by other people, thereby creating security concerns.
Additionally, installing dedicated programs from storage media was rather troublesome in terms of attaching/detaching the media from the personal computer, and, in addition, bundling them with the product required space, making it more difficult to reduce the size of product packaging and cluttering the users' storage space. In addition, another problem was that, depending on the type of the storage media, it was at times necessary to go through several levels of options in order to get to the target files, making the entire operation burdensome and complicated. In addition, the problem with downloading from a network was that such a method could not be used without a network connection.
In addition, as electronic communications and information represented by the Internet are becoming one of the main tools of mass communication in the present, there have been proposed various advertising methods, such as banner advertising, popup advertising, constantly displayed advertisements of free-of-charge connections, affiliated programs, etc. Such advertising lured the user to advertisements and electronic commerce sites, displaying advertisements whose content was tailored to the user's attributes by identifying the user from the so-called cookie information.
However, in the conventional advertising techniques described above, the exposure of the user to banner and other advertising was completely dependent on whether the user launched a web browser. For this reason, before a browser is launched, advertisements could not be displayed, and, conversely, after starting the browser, the user was already interested in viewing a particular website. Thus, advertisements used to give the impression of being something annoying that users were forced to view, and advertisements such as banners tended to be ignored without stirring any interest, resulting in a paradoxical situation in which advertisers, who forced users to pay attention to them, were instead disliked and shunned.
In addition, since it was, in fact, difficult to effectively relate cookie information to user attributes, advertising based on conventional technology was neither an opt-in scheme, which is based on advance agreement registration, nor an opt-out scheme, in which refusal can be registered in advance, and, consequently, became indiscriminate, making effective advertising difficult.
In addition to the above mentioned problems, when a user borrowed a computer from others, effective advertising was rendered even more difficult because user identification based on cookie information did not achieve its original purpose.
The present invention is proposed to solve the above described problems of the conventional technology, and its object is to provide a removable device offering superior convenience and security. It is another object of the present invention to implement particularly superior level of information security for removable USB devices and related technologies. In addition, yet another object of the present invention is to provide a highly universal control circuit for the present invention. Additionally, still another object of the present invention is to provide a removable USB device and related technologies that can be used under many operating systems without special device drivers.
In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a compact removable device that automatically installs software programs. Also, yet another object of the present invention is to make simplification of system configuration and response speed improvements possible after the installation of programs such as device drivers etc. used for externally connected devices.
In addition, still another object of the present invention is to provide a log-in method and a removable device offering superior advertising effects.

Removable device and control circuit for allowing a medium insertion


A step for modular staircases, preferably produced by molding using a thermoplastic technopolymer, comprises at least a main body (11) and a spacer (12). The main body (11) comprises at least a tread surface (Ha) and a hollow portion (lib) extending vertically with an internal thread (111), while the spacer (12) has an external thread (121) matching that of the hollow portion (lib) of the main body (11), allowing the spacer (12) and the hollow portion (lib) to be screwed together. The hollow portion (lib) and the spacer (12) also have ends (112,122) which do not interact, shaped to match one another, to allow vertical stacking of two or more steps (10), thus obtaining a modular staircase (1), complete with a landing (20) produced in a similar way to the step (10).

In the construction sector, in which problems linked to the use of ever smaller spaces are constantly faced, up to now much use has been made of modular staircases, often classed as spiral staircases and flight staircases. Both indoors and outdoors these allow the connection of rooms at different heights, using spaces which may have an extremely small footprint, or which have particular shapes. Without sacrificing the necessary safety, in the production of modular staircases, and therefore of the steps of which they consist, there are known construction techniques which allow a certain adaptability to the height which the entire staircase must cover. Since such heights may be very different, it is evident that, if a first adaptation of the staircase may be achieved according to the number of steps, only the possibility of making precision adjustments to the rise between one step and another allows production of the steps to be standardised, so that the solution to any type of potential problem is ready. The materials used to produce the steps for this type of staircase are currently wood and various types of metal alloys. Using wood, the step is first shaped to give the tread the required shape, then the various steps are stacked alternating with spacers having standard height and keyed together with the spacers on a vertical pole which acts as a tie rod, so as to keep the steps connected and make the staircase able to withstand the stresses to which it is subjected during use.
In this case, the precision adjustment is made by adding separators with limited height, also made of wood or plastic, or in any event of a material strong enough to avoid significant deformation during use. These separators are inserted between a step and a spacer at one or more points of the vertical extension of the staircase, to give the staircase the required overall height.
If a metal alloy is used instead, it is first machined into the shape of a flat sheet with limited thickness, then drawn and bent to give the step the required shape. Then the edges are trimmed and the step is welded to a portion of tube which helps to cover the pole which acts as a tie rod. Finally, it is cleaned and painted to give it the predetermined appearance.
In this case too, precision adjustment may be carried out using a spacer consisting of two end ring nuts, also useful for centering the pole in the tube. Connected to one of the ring nuts is a smooth shank, on which a predetermined number of separators, similar to those previously described, may be inserted, to separate the two ring nuts, and so also two consecutive steps, by the required distance. Alternatively, a threaded shank may be integral with one of the two ring nuts. The other ring nut may be screwed onto the threaded shank, so as to make the adjustment by interrupting the screwing on action at the required point and without having to use the above-mentioned separators.
In both solutions, that is to say, whether using wood or metal alloys to produce the modular staircase, the elements used for the precision adjustment are at least partly visible, and this is often disadvantageous in terms of appearance, creating gaps in the shapes of the step, especially if the part visible comprises portions of the thread.
Moreover, at least if metal alloys are used, further processing is required, for example, painting, deburring and sandblasting, which in some cases may be carried out even after assembly and which in any event extend production times and increase costs.

Step for modular staircases and relative staircase


A rapid feed paintball loader for use on a paintball gun for force feeding paintballs is provided. The paintball loader includes a container for holding a plurality of paintballs, a paintball agitator rotating about an axis and rotatably mounted in the container, the paintball agitator including at least two fins extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the fins spaced apart from each other forming a gap therebetween large enough to accommodate more than one paintball. At least two paintballs are positioned in the gap between the fins. A motor is configured to rotate the paintball agitator. The container includes an exit tube exiting from the bottom portion of the container and leading to an inlet tube of the paintball gun. A microprocessor and sensor may also be provided. The agitator may include a central dome-shaped area.

A popular war game has developed over the years, which uses paintball guns. Players use the paintball guns to shoot paintballs. These paintballs are gelatin-covered spherical capsules filled with paint. During play of the game, the players on each team advance towards each other. A player is eliminated from the game when the player is hit by a paintball fired from an opposing player's gun. When the paintball hits a player, a "splat" of paint is left on the player.
Typically, an existing paintball loader includes a housing which is placed on an upper portion of a paintball gun. The housing is shaped to hold a large quantity of paintballs. At the bottom of the housing is an outlet tube through which the paintballs drop by the force of gravity. The outlet tube leads to an inlet tube located on the upper portion of the gun.
During the operation of existing paintball loaders, paintballs sequentially drop by gravity through the outlet tube into the inlet tube of the gun. The inlet tube directs each paintball into the firing chamber of the gun, where the paintball is propelled outwardly from the gun by compressed air.
Co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/1689,573 ('573), now U.S. Pat. No. 6,502,567, describes a paintball feed system providing enhanced performance over existing paintball feed systems. Additionally, '573 discloses a paintball loader which reliably and forcibly delivers paintballs to a paintball gun at a rapid, selectable rate, while actively preventing paintball jams. However, paintball jams may still occur in the loader disclosed in '573. Specifically, the disclosed paintball loader utilizes a plurality of fins spaced at such a distance as to create gaps to accommodate a single paintball. Due to the close proximity of the fins, there is a tendency for the paintballs to partially fall into a gap, which can result in a paintball jam. In addition, if a paintball breaks within the paintball loader, because of the large amount of fins and the small area of the gaps, cleaning the paintball loader can be difficult. Since existing paintball loaders utilize several fins, space for which paintballs could be accommodated are lost to allow space for the fins. Thus, the paintball feed rate is reduced for each rotation of the cone because of this lost space.
It would be a distinct advantage to have a drive cone which feeds the paintballs at a faster rate, while preventing jams of partially fallen paintballs into the gaps located between the fins. It is an object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus.


The invention provides apparatus for producing preselected lengths of rope from a supply of thermoplastic rope, and includes a rope feed system for advancing rope longitudinally along a rope path and a guillotine assembly coupled to the feed system. The guillotine assembly has a thermally conductive blade support mounted for reciprocal movement orthogonally with respect to the rope path, and a thermally conductive blade removably attached to the blade support. The blade is in good thermal contact with the blade support and movable with the blade support between a first position clear of the rope path and a second position in which the blade crosses the rope path. An electrical heating element is attached to the blade support to heat the support and thereby heat the blade to a temperature sufficient to fuse the rope locally. A blade actuator is coupled to the chassis and to the blade support for reciprocating the blade support and a control system is coupled to the rope feed system and to the guillotine assembly to actuate the rope feed assembly and the guillotine assembly. As a result, the blade engages the rope and applies heat so that the blade passes through the rope as the rope is softened and the sides of the blade fuse the rope ends to thereby fuse and sever the rope. The cycle is repeated in accordance with a counter in the control system and the lengths of the severed ropes are preselected in the control system.

Ropes of various types are normally distributed on spools which allow the purchaser to mount the spool and dispense the rope simply by pulling the rope to cause the spool to rotate. The rope on the spool is sufficiently long to provide a supply of rope for cutting to length as required, until the spool is used up.
Modern ropes made from synthetic plastics material are commonly thermoplastic. The user can fuse the end of the rope using a heating instrument of some kind. Commonly, the user will cut the rope after binding the location of the cut using a tape so that after cutting through the tape the end of the rope remains tight. The tape is left in place and then heat is applied to fuse the rope at the end. This prevents unravelling in use and separation of layers in the case of ropes that are multi-layered.
Although there is no difficulty with this process when rope is used occasionally, it is very labour intensive when used by manufacturers of products requiring a great number of preselected lengths of rope.
Because of these difficulties, various machines have been suggested for cutting rope to length. An example of such a machine is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,332,637 to Miller. This patent issued in 1982 and illustrates a machine which measures rope, positions the rope for cutting, heats the rope locally using heated air to fuse a portion of the rope, and then a knife severs the rope through the heated portion. The cutting action is necessary because the relatively cold blade must be forced through the rope.
While the U.S. Pat. No. 4,332,637 demonstrates improvements over the prior art, it suffers from major disadvantages. First of all, air is not a good medium to apply heat to a rope because of the time it takes to transfer sufficient heat to fuse the rope. This delay can be significant, particularly in production machinery where speed is important. Secondly, the machine requires tuning so that the fusing of the rope takes place before the blade is used to sever it. Clearly, it would be difficult to ensure that the blade is used at just the right moment. Since the rope will vary in quality, this timing may require significant testing with the result being that some of the rope could be wasted. Also, the heat must be just sufficient to fuse the rope without actually melting it. The blade will tend to cool the rope and will require sufficient load to cut the rope.
The present invention is intended to overcome the disadvantages in the art and in particular disadvantages demonstrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,332,637. In particular, the invention provides apparatus which uses heat to fuse and sever the rope contemporaneously to provide a more efficient operation.


A method for installing a pre-cast/pre-stressed concrete and steel pile used in the construction of pile foundations and the resulting installed pile that has its distal end anchored to bedrock is disclosed. After the pile is located on bedrock, a first hole is drilled into bedrock that is of sufficient depth to accommodate a lower portion of the steel pipe that extends below the concrete pile and contains a plurality of orifices. A second hole is drilled into bedrock that is below and concentric to the first hole and has a diameter than that is usually less than that of the first hole. The second hole forms an anchoring socket to accommodate an anchoring anchor. Grout is injected into the steel pile and anchoring socket until the grout fills the voids in the interior of the steel pipe. Grout also seeps through the orifices in the lower end of said steel pipe and fills the second hole, and an annular space between the outer circumference of the steel pipe and the walls of the first hole.

Various methods are known for using steel tubes or pipes as part of a pier support system in a soil matrix and removing the soil matrix with drills or augers placed within the steel tubes; see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,425,713 and 6,688,815. It is also known to use steel tubes in pier support systems for modular residential or commercial buildings using rock anchors to anchor the pier support systems to solid bedrock; see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,094,873.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,771,518 is directed to a steel-reinforced, pre-cast concrete pier structure in which a uniform diameter hole is drilled to a sufficient depth into the earth and at a sufficient diameter to more than accommodate the outer diameter of each of the main pier elements. The main pier elements are defined by a central steel pipe around which is formed a tubular, steel-reinforced, pre-cast concrete section. After the pier element is lowered into the earth-drilled hole, loose aggregate material is dumped into the annular space between the outer surface of the pier element and in the central steel pipe interior. A quick-setting grout is injected through this central pipe down through the aggregate to the bottom of the pipe and up through the aggregate and fills the entire annular space occupied by the aggregate.
While it may be practical to drill a uniform diameter hole into the earth to a depth to accommodate the outer diameter of the pre-cast concrete pile as described in the '518 patent, there is a need for an improved method of installation of a pile in cases where drilling is done into bedrock usually at the bottom of a body of water, e.g., under a seabed or an ocean floor.

Pre-cast/pre-stressed concrete and steel pile and method for installation


A new cultivar of Phygelius named ‘Yapor’ that is characterized by a compact well-branched habit and salmon-orange pendulous flowers. In combination these traits set ‘Yapor’ apart from all other existing varieties of Phygelius known to the inventor.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phygelius, that is grown for its ornamental pendulous salmon-orange flowers and contrasting brown or burgundy stems. The new cultivar is known botanically as Phygelius aequalis×capensis and will be referred to hereinafter by the cultivar name 'Yapor'.
The inventor has been interested for some fifteen years in the genus Phygelius, and has collected many named and unnamed plants of the three species of Phygelius, namely Phygelius aequalis, Phygelius capensis, and the inter-specific Phygelius×rectus (P. aequalis×capensis). The inventor has recognized that the genus would be more widely produced and sold commercially if its growth habit would be shorter and more sturdy with natural self-branching. The species of Phygelius and most of the available cultivars, exhibit a vigorous upright growth, such that, although the flowers are much admired, the habit of the plant itself is unappealing to some gardeners. Although it is possible to induce branching and shorter internodes by the application of plant growth regulators during the production cycle, the effect of such applications wears off as the season proceeds and the plants fail to remain upright without staking or support from adjacent plants.
'Yapor' was bred by the inventor in a cultivated area of Cheshire, England. 'Yapor' is one of three varieties selected for release from the same breeding program. The companion varieties 'Yapocor' (U.S. Plant application Ser. No. 11/053,252) and 'Yapyel' (U.S. Plant application Ser. No. 11/053,534) are the subject of contemporaneous applications. The plant habits of 'Yapor', 'Yapcor' and 'Yapyel' are similarly compact, and their flower colors are respectively salmon-orange, dark coral pink, and yellow. 'Yapor' arose as follows:
In 1990, the inventor purchased a single plant of Phygelius labeled simply as Phygelius aequalis, that is, without a cultivar designation. This plant carried the characteristic pale yellow flowers of the species Phygelius aequalis but the inventor was attracted by its uncharacteristic compact habit. The inventor allowed the plant to run to seed, then harvested a quantity of seed which was sown and grown out as a seedling population. The inventor selected a single unnamed plant as a useful parent for a future breeding program aimed at producing a series of complementary flower colors on plants with natural compactness and good branching. The unnamed selection grows to a height of 40 cm in the season whereas plants of the genus typically achieve heights of or exceeding 70 cm in one growing season. The unnamed selection, which has never been made available to the public and is unpatented, has been maintained and renewed by vegetative propagation at the inventor's nursery in Somerford, Cheshire, England.
In 1998, the inventor commenced his program to derive a series of compact cultivars of Phygelius. The inventor selected a single unnamed plant of the species Phygelius capensis (common name, Orange Cape Fuchsia, unpatented) for hand cross-pollination with the unnamed selection above. The inventor used flowers from both plants as both pollen donors and pollen receptors and seed was collected from both plants for sowing and seedling grow-out in 1999. From plants selected in 1999 and vegetatively propagated and grown to flowering in 2000, the inventor selected 'Yapor' as presenting the best combination of improved plant habit and distinct and clear flower color and overall compatibility with the contemporaneously selected varieties 'Yapcor' and 'Yapyel' whose breeding had followed the same procedure, namely the use of a promising parent as alternate parent with the unnamed selection as described in the relative applications 'Yapcor' and 'Yapyel'.
The distinguishing characteristics of 'Yapor' are flower color and plant habit.
Whereas the one parent, the unnamed selection, exhibits pale yellow flowers without any color variation in the tube, the flowers of 'Yapor' are salmon-orange with yellow coloration of the inside of the corolla tube.
Whereas the alternate parent, Phygelius capensis is approximately 70 cm in overall height and sparse basal branching, 'Yapor' exhibits multiple branching and an overall height of approximately 40 cm. The flower colors of Phygelius capensis and 'Yapor' are both in the orange range, and both exhibit a yellow coloration to the inside of the corolla tube.
The closest varieties in appearance known to the inventor are the inventor's varieties 'Yapcor' and 'Yapyel' which differ in flower coloration.
'Yapor' was first asexually propagated by the inventor is Cheshire, England in 1999 using softwood cuttings. Since that time, under careful observation, the distinguishing characteristics have been determined stable and uniform and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.


To provide a semiconductor device having suspension leads with less distortion. In QFN having a plurality of external terminal portions at the periphery of the bottom surface of a sealing body, a plurality of leads is linked to a plurality of long suspension leads of the QFN at an intermediate portion thereof or at between the intermediate portion and a position near the die pad. These long suspension leads are each supported by these leads, making it possible to suppress distortion of each of the suspension leads in a wire bonding step or molding step in the fabrication of the QFN.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a manufacturing technology thereof, in particular, to a technology effective when applied to a peripheral type semiconductor device having a plurality of leads (external terminals) at the periphery thereof.
In the manufacture of a QFN (quad flat non-leaded package) type semiconductor device, there is disclosed a technology of molding and thereby forming a resin sealing body for sealing a semiconductor chip therewith and then cutting the peripheral portion of the resin sealing body and a lead frame simultaneously along a cut line located inside of a line (mold line) running along the outer edge of the resin sealing body.

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the same


A cylinder of a drum is produced using a plurality of laminated woods, each of which is formed using a plurality of thin wooden boards, which have grains aligned in the longitudinal direction thereof and which are joined together in the width direction. The laminated woods having rectangular shapes in plan view are reshaped by slantingly cutting out the opposite end portions lying in the width direction along their longitudinal directions. A plurality of reshaped laminated woods are joined together in the width direction so as to form a polygonal cylinder (e.g., a fourteen-sided polygonal cylinder). Then, the exterior and the interior of the polygonal cylinder are subjected to cutting work in a concentric manner in view of different radii, thus completely forming the cylinder having a circular cylindrical shape.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to drums such as bass drums, snare drums, and marching drums. The present invention also relates to manufacturing methods of cylinders used for drums.
The present application claims priority on Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-63747, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, cylinders of drums (or drum shells) having openings, across which drumheads are stretched under tension, are manufactured using wooden materials, metals such as aluminum, and other materials such as fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP). For example, wooden materials having adequate hardness and superior acoustic characteristics such as maple, birch, beech, and bamboo have been used for manufacturing cylinders of drums. Drums whose cylinders are composed of metals and synthetic resins cannot produce warm sounds; hence, wooden materials are mainly used as dominant materials for use in the manufacturing of cylinders of drums.
Conventionally-known examples of drums have been disclosed in various documents, namely, Patent documents 1 to 4 as follows:                Patent document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-316349.        Patent document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H11-45087.        Patent document 3: Japanese Patent No. 3324577.        Patent document 4: Japanese Examined Utility Model Application Publication No. S53-47939.
Patent document 1 teaches the laminated structure of a drum shell in which a first sheet material having elasticity is adhered to a second sheet material via the adhesive. As the first sheet material, it is preferable to use synthetic composite materials such as polyester films or similar materials. As the second sheet material, it is preferable to use hard phenol resins, epoxy-base resin fibers, boards, and woods.
Patent document 2 teaches a drum whose cylinder is formed in a polygonal prism composed of a wooden material or a non-wooden material. As the wooden material, it is possible to use particle boards, fiber boards, laminated lumbers, laminated woods, plywood, and the like. As the non-wooden material, it is possible to use synthetic resins, glass fibers, carbon fibers, and boron fibers as well as composite materials selectively using them, and the like.
Patent document 3 teaches a drum whose cylinder is formed using a butt board composed of a plurality of thin flat bamboo members whose surfaces and backsides are alternately joined together in width directions. A plurality of butt boards are laminated together to form a plurality of plywood, which are then joined together in width directions, thus forming the cylinder of a drum.
Patent document 4 teaches that elongated thin wooden boards are joined together in a cylindrical shape so as to form a cylinder of a drum.
The drums disclosed in Patent documents 1 to 4 have merits and demerits, so that they have room for further improvements. Specifically, in the drum shell disclosed in Patent document 1, the sheet materials are mainly composed of plastics, which, unlike wooden cylinders, make it very difficult to produce warm sounds. Compared with wooden cylinders, this type of drum cylinder has a low rigidity and is thus elastically deformable due to the tension of a drumhead or snappy members; this may result in poor tuning.
The cylinder of a drum disclosed in Patent document 2 is shaped in a polygonal prism and is composed of a plurality of boards, which are joined together in width directions. This makes it very difficult for the external peripheral portion of a drumhead to be bent along the opening edge of a cylinder; hence, it is necessary to use a special structure for stretching the drumhead. In other words, generally-known head frames (or hoops) are not adaptable to this type of drum.
The drum disclosed in Patent document 3 needs numerous steps for manufacturing bamboo plywood, which thus raises the manufacturing cost.
The cylinder of a drum disclosed in Patent document 4 is formed using elongated thin wooden boards, which are easily deformable due to drying and age degradation, whereby gaps may be easily formed between the elongated thin wooden boards. For this reason, a tightening member such as a belt is wound around the exterior circumference of a cylinder, wherein screws are inserted into holes formed in the cylinder such that the distal ends thereof are connected to the tightening member via nuts, which are appropriately adjusted so as to apply tension to the tightening member. This increases the number of parts and the number of steps in manufacturing, thus increasing the manufacturing cost. It may be possible to reduce the number of elongated thin wooden boards by enlarging their widths; however, it is very difficult to select wooden materials having regular grain in view. This reduces yields in manufacturing and further increases manufacturing costs.

Drum and manufacturing method of cylinder thereof


A coil includes a series of turns constituted by a first turn to an n-th turn of a conductive wire having a quadrangular cross-section, where the conductive wire is wound in a spiral shape and is stacked in a vertical direction, and n is an integer equal to or greater than 3. In addition, at least a part of the conductive wire of the first turn to the n-th turn is provided with a deformed part whose shape is different from shapes of the other parts. Further, the first turn and the n-th turn are on the both end parts of the series of turns. In addition, at each of the first turn and the n-th turn, the deformed part makes an outer surface positioned on an opposite side with respect to a center of the series of turns extend in a flush manner along a plane intersecting the series of turns.

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for motors for industry use and in-vehicle use. In this situation, improvement of efficiency of motors and reduction in cost are required.
As a method for improving efficiency of a motor, it is known that a space factor of coils disposed in slots of a stator is improved. By improving the space factor of the coils, it is possible to reduce a loss caused by a current flowing through the coils during driving of the motor.
As a method for improving the space factor of coils, there is proposed a configuration in which cast coils having a rectangular cross-section made of a copper material are disposed in slots (for example, see PTL 1).
When a coil is disposed in a slot, a coil is wound in a spiral shape on a tooth provided on a stator. However, to receive supply of current from outside and to supply current to outside, both end parts of the coil generally constitute current lead-out parts extending on an outer peripheral side of the coil. These lead-out parts create, between the tooth and the coil, regions that are so-called dead spaces and in which no coil is wound. On the other hand, heat is one of the causes of decrease in motor efficiency, and the coil easily accumulates heat due to generation of Joule heat. To address this issue, it is necessary to increase a surface area of the coil in the slot so that heat dissipation from the coil can be promoted. However, as described above, there are regions where no coil is wound, and the regions impede improvement of a heat dissipation efficiency of the coil.

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


Apparatus and method relating generally to electronics are disclosed. In one such an apparatus, a film assembly has an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface. A dielectric film of the film assembly has a structured profile along the upper surface or the lower surface for having alternating ridges and grooves in a corrugated section in an at rest state of the film assembly. Conductive traces of the film assembly conform to the upper surface or the lower surface in or on the dielectric film in the corrugated section.

Conventionally, a stretchable film had flat serpentine conductive traces in a same flat plane of such stretchable film. These serpentine conductive traces effectively were flat springs. Such flat springs could be stretched in a direction normal with respect to such serpentine pattern. However, such stretchable film conventionally was limited to about 1.6 times the length of such stretchable film in an at rest state, namely a 60% increase in length.

Stretchable film assembly with conductive traces


A positive resist composition comprises: (A) a resin that contains a repeating unit (A1) having a lactone structure and a cyano group, and increases its solubility to an alkali developer by action of an acid; (B) a compound that generates an acid by irradiation with actinic ray or radiation; and (C) a solvent.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a positive resist composition that undergoes reaction by irradiation with actinic ray or radiation to change properties, and a pattern formation method using the positive resist composition. More particularly, it relates to a positive resist composition used in production steps of semiconductors such as IC, production of circuit substrates such as a liquid crystal or a thermal head, other photofabrication steps, lithographic printing plates, and acid-curing compositions, and a pattern formation method using the positive resist composition.
2. Description of the Related Art
Chemically amplified resist compositions are a pattern forming material that forms an acid on an exposed area by irradiation with actinic ray such as far ultraviolet ray, or radiation, changing solubility to a developer between the exposed area by actinic ray or radiation and a non-exposed area by a reaction using the acid as a catalyst, and forming a pattern on a substrate.
Where KrF excimer laser is used as an exposure light source, a resin comprising a poly(hydroxystyrene) showing small absorption at 248 nm region as a basic skeleton is mainly used. Therefore, a pattern having high sensitivity and high resolution and being good is formed, and a good system is obtained as compared with the conventional naphthoquinone diazide/novolac resin system.
On the other hand, where light source having further short wavelength, for example, ArF excimer laser (193 nm) is used as an exposure light source, a compound having an aromatic group substantially shows large absorption at 193 nm region, and thus even the above chemically amplified system was not yet sufficient.
For this reason, a resist for ArF excimer laser containing a resin having an alicyclic hydrocarbon structure has been developing.
Various improvements are being made on an acid-decomposable resin that is a main constituent of a chemically amplified resin composition. For example, JP-A-2004-53822 discloses an acid-decomposable resin having a specific methacrylic repeating unit.
However, additionally, it is desired to enable line edge roughness (LER), exposure latitude (EL), PEB temperature dependency and pattern collapse to achieve together in high dimension.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Positive resist composition and pattern formation method using the positive resist composition


The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for testing a memory array. The memory array includes a plurality of memory blocks. A test data item is written to the memory blocks at a pre-determined location in parallel. The data from the memory blocks are read at the pre-determined location in parallel. These data items are compared to determine if they are identical. One of these data items is compared with the test data item.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to device testing. In particular, the invention relates to testing of memory arrays.
2. Description of Related Art
Testing memory devices is usually a tedious process. In addition to timing and electrical tests, logic testing is necessary to ensure that the memory devices can store data reliably.
For random access memory (RAM), either static or dynamic, the logic testing usually includes a write cycle followed by a read cycle. A known test data item is written into a specified memory location. Then the contents of the memory at that specified location are read out. The read out contents are compared with the known test data item. If they match, the logic testing is successful. If they do not match, the memory device fails the test. The test procedure is then repeated for all memory locations.
A memory array that consists of a number of memory elements may be tested in a similar manner. Memory arrays are used in a memory module or in a single-chip microcomputer (e.g., a microcontroller). However, testing memory arrays through read/write cycling as above has a number of problems. Most significantly, the testing time is long because the write and read cycles have to be performed on every memory location. For large size memory arrays, testing each memory location in such a sequential manner is undesirable.
Therefore there is a need in the technology to provide an efficient and reliable test procedure for memory arrays.

Parallel access testing of a memory array


A stake pocket anchor adapted to fill an upper area of a stake pocket hole conventionally found on pickup truck utility beds passing through horizontal portions of the pickup truck fender. An anchor plate is placed within the stake pocket hole of the pickup truck and a locator plate cooperates therewith to sandwich therebetween adjacent a downwardly depending lip integrally formed in the truck fender. A central portion of both the locator plate and anchor plate cooperate with various instrumentalities by threaded engagement therewith to serve multiple needs in a pickup truck environment. For example, an eyebolt can be passed through and threaded into the stake pocket anchor.

Many manufacturers of vehicles such as pickup trucks provide a plurality of holes on a top surface of the fender portion adjacent the pickup bed. These so called "stake holes" were presumably initially intended for the vertical placement of stakes therewithin to allow a load to be transported in the pickup truck which extends up over the top surface of the vehicle bed. In addition, the stake holes (also called stake pockets) have been used as an area which can receive rope for lashing down cargo contained on the pickup bed.
While these stake holes are perfectly adequate for supporting stakes in the manner envisioned, various other needs sometimes arise for which the stake holes give less than totally adequate response. For example, it is sometimes desirable to support a camper shell over the pickup bed. In this situation, the stake holes are less than satisfactory.
Another scenario engendering dissatisfaction includes the necessity for having to tie down a load of cargo on the pickup bed. Since stakes are traditionally monolithic, provision must be made therewithin to allow cordage to be threaded therethrough, such as by inserting an eye bolt into the stake to allow the facile deployment of a cordage therethrough. Nonetheless, stakes are still susceptible to removal by vertical translation.
The following prior art reflects the state of the art of which applicant is aware insofar as these patents appeared germane to the process at hand. It is respectfully submitted, however, that none of these patents, when considered singly or when combined in any conceivable permissible manner teach the nexus of the instant invention as set forth hereinafter.
______________________________________ INVENTOR U.S. PAT. NO. ISSUE DATE ______________________________________ Webb 3,259,353 July 5, 1966 Magers 3,455,573 July 15, 1969 Jones 4,191,108 March 4, 1980 Ciocan 4,219,229 August 26, 1980 Porter 4,607,991 August 26, 1986 Mahan 4,657,299 April 14, 1987 Millar, Jr. 4,812,093 March 14, 1989 St. Pierre, et al. 4,948,311 August 14, 1990 ______________________________________
These Patents can be categorized by certain characteristics: For example, the patents to Porter, Webb, Jones and Mahan all appear to provide similar devices in that they rely upon spring tension in order to retain some form of anchor in the stake pocket. Stated alternatively, a member is placed within the pocket in a compressed configuration which, once received within the pocket is allowed to expand and provide an impediment for removal from the pocket by expansion of a resilient member. While these devices intuitively appear to provide a reliable device for achieving similar purposes as the instant invention, certain inefficiencies may attend these devices either immediately upon installation or as a function of time.
For one thing, not all these devices appear to lend themselves to ready disassociation from the vehicle fender so that they can be substituted with another type of device should the need arise. In addition, some of these devices may degrade as a function of time and temperature or by the contact with corrosives so that their reliability may be compromised. Because of the nature of the stake pocket, failure of a device within a stake pocket either makes extraction difficult or alternatively would provide a rattling in the space between the inner and outer walls.
Millar teaches the use of a tie-down anchor which necessarily entails penetrating the wall of the vehicle fender. Besides providing an outwardly extending projection, many vehicle owners would find it objectionable to penetrate the exterior wall of their vehicle.
The patent to Magers provides a tie-down unit in which a tie-down member (42, 82) serves as an outrigger extending beyond the nominal width of the vehicle and is subjected to forces that provide a camming action which increases the ability of the tie-down unit to remain attached to the vehicle. Apart from the obvious objectionable characteristics that attend an outward projection which provides a wider vehicle, the camming action may provide flexing which engenders metal fatigue as a function of time.
The patent to St. Pierre, et al. teaches the use of tie-down fitting having a lower plate dimensioned for insertion through the stake hole and addressable with an underside of the horizontal wall defining a portion of a fender adjacent the pickup truck area. An upper plate of the fitting engages an upperside of the fender horizontal wall and is secured to the lower plate. The upper and lower plates are united with two screws. In one embodiment, a pivotal member hingedly supported on the upper plate rotates from a stored to a deployed position. In this version, therefore, all loads are transferred through the pivot pin and its support structure. In some instances, this structure may be subjected to loads at a less than optimum angle making this type of arrangement somewhat more susceptible to failure than the structure according to the instant invention. Another variant shown in St. Pierre involves the use of a "J" hook adapted to fish the first embodiment from its recessed position when deployed with a camper.
Another embodiment in St. Pierre provides a solitary threaded stud member which both unites the upper and lower plates and simultaneously serves as a support post upon which an eye member is threadedly supported that fixes the camper shell in place. The upper and lower plates associated therewith are interconnected only by the one stud.
The remaining citation shows the state of the art further.


A Visual Thesaurus program is provided that allows a user to find media clips through successive queries by example. Clips similar to the example clip may be retrieved based on artistic style, color and shape, or keywords. Clips retrieved based on keywords may be found based on a single keyword, multiple keywords, or all keywords associated with the example clip. The keyword may be the clip format (e.g., “mpeg” or “gif”).

Microsoft CLIP GALLERY is a multimedia application program produced by Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash., for previewing, and inserting into documents, multimedia, such as clip art, pictures, sounds, video clips, and animation art (collectively referred to as "clips"). Information about clips is stored in a catalogue. The catalogue contains a small graphical representation, known as a thumbnail, of the clip, as well as information about the clip, such as the artistic style of the clip, keywords that describe the clip (or some aspect of the clip), categories to which the clip belongs, and the location of the clip. Clips in a CLIP GALLERY catalogue are organized according to type of clip (e.g., sound, video, picture, etc.). A user can also use the CLIP GALLERY program to organize clips by category or keyword. The CLIP GALLERY program can be invoked stand-alone or by another application program, such as Microsoft WORD, also produced by Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash. Within a category (or the entire CLIP GALLERY catalogue), a user may search by manually entering keywords.
In the past, it has been difficult to perform successive searches through a large volume of clips included in the catalogues of a CLIP GALLERY program and other similar programs. As a result of this, users often do not succeed in finding the image they need, even if that image is available in the gallery. This result is partially true because many users of such programs are not skilled at formulating complex queries. In many instances, users, even skilled users, do not know what search term(s) to apply because graphics and sounds are difficult to describe in words. As a result, a suitable search tool should be able to accommodate a user who does not know exactly what he or she is looking for, but will "know it when I see it." Additionally, the search tool should assist a user in finding clips that match an example clip in visual style so that a document can be produced that contains graphics that are consistent in appearance. The present invention is directed to providing such a search tool.

Visual thesaurus as applied to media clip searching


A method and apparatus for the spatial distribution of a filler component within the matrix of a composite material. An electric field is applied to a mixture consisting of two or more components that have different dielectric permittivities, at least one of which is initially in the form of a liquid polymer or pre-polymer. An alternating electric field is established between a pair of electrical conductors or electrodes that are moved relative to each other, so as to alter the spatial intensity of the electric field in a controlled manner. Polarized particles or elements of the filler component that are coupled to a moving electrode by a dielectrophoretic force can consequently be dragged into a predetermined spatial configuration. As the size of the inter-electrode gap is changed, the applied voltage can be adjusted in order to maintain electrically induced polarization of the filler component.

Many composite materials are commercially available which consist of a second component, for example a filler, distributed within a first component, referred to as the matrix material. In general terms, the filler component comprises one or more materials having mechanical, thermal, electrical or magnetic properties that differ significantly from those of the matrix material. When the components are combined, a composite material is formed that has physical properties unlike those of either the filler or the matrix. The properties of the composite material can be varied and controlled by changing the relative amounts or volume fractions of the components. If the filler component is randomly distributed within the matrix then, typically, the physical properties of the composite are independent of the orientation of one component within the other of the material. Such a material is said to have isotropic properties. Alternatively, if the spatial distribution of the filler component is controlled, then it is possible to make composites having physical properties that vary according to the orientation of the material. Structural fibreglass composites are a good example of the latter. The glass fibres can be deliberately aligned, parallel to the direction of an applied force, in order to take advantage of the relatively high tensile strength and stiffness that they have in comparison to the matrix. This composite is stronger in one direction and is said to have anisotropic properties.
In 'Connectivity and Piezoelectric-Pyroelectric Composites' Mat. Res. Bull. 13 pp525–536 (1978), Newnham R. E et al, the descriptive term connectivity was used to classify the distribution of the constituents in composite materials. An index number is assigned to each component according to the number of dimensions in which it is physically self-connected. A thin rod is said to be self-connected in one dimension and no other. A continuous matrix is self-connected in three dimensions. Using this terminology, a composite consisting of an array of aligned rods of filler material held by a continuous matrix is referred to as a 1-3 composite. Where individual filler particles are uniformly dispersed in a continuous matrix, they are said to be physically self-connected in no dimension. This type of material is referred to as a 0-3 composite.
Piezoelectric composite materials, consisting of a ferroelectric ceramic in an electrically-inactive polymer matrix, provide an example whereby the spatial distribution of the second component has a fundamental influence on physical properties. Both 0-3 type and 1-3 type composites are routinely used for passive sensors. The 0-3 type have adequate sensitivity and have a cost advantage due to their simplicity of manufacture. Their greater flexibility and formability make them the preferred choice for large area applications such as sonar. Composites with an 1-3 type connectivity are far more sensitive, but are also more expensive to make. They are preferred for active devices and for array-type sensors. Piezoelectric arrays are used for such applications as acoustic imaging and for medical ultrasound.
In array-type composites or 1-3 type composites, two of the key factors affecting properties are the size of the individual elements of the second component and the distance between those elements, referred to as the periodicity. In production, steps must be taken to ensure that these factors are controllable within specified limits. A commonly used technique utilises precision micro-machining to accurately cut individual array elements from a solid ceramic block. Arrays have also been made by injecting ceramic powder, or powder in suspension, into a mould under pressure. The resulting pre-form of the composite structure must then be sintered to consolidate the ceramic. In an alternative method, rods or 'fibres' can be aligned mechanically, by hand or otherwise, to produce a desired aligned structure. In practice this is difficult to achieve with the required precision due to the small scale of operations. Typically, the useful diameter of the rods lies in the range 30 to 400 microns. Once the desired structure of elements of the second component has been created it can then be bonded or embedded in a polymeric matrix to complete the composite material. Most commonly, a liquid pre-polymer is allowed to permeate the aligned structure and subsequently solidify. The term pre-polymer refers here to a compound or mixture of compounds that can undergo a chemical reaction to produce a polymeric solid. Alternatively, it is conceivable that a molten polymer could be allowed to permeate the aligned structure and then to solidify. Surface-active 'coupling agents' can be used to improve the useful properties of the composite by chemically modifying the interface between the filler and the matrix components.
In contrast, the production of 0-3 type composites is more straightforward. The filler or second component, in powder form, is mixed intimately with the first component, a liquid polymer or pre-polymer. The liquid wets the filler particles, before being made to polymerize or otherwise solidify. High volume fractions of filler are used and the composite is shaped by hot-pressing or warm-rolling. Ostensibly, a commercial 0-3 type composite consists of individual filler particles, each one being completely surrounded by a layer of the matrix material. In practice, the action of rolling or pressing often brings the particles into such close proximity that direct electrical contact may occur.
One method that could be used to induce a predetermined spatial distribution of the filler component in composites is referred to as dielectrophoretic assembly or electric-field structuring. In this process, a dispersion of filler particles in a liquid polymer or pre-polymer is exposed to a moderate a.c. electric field. Under suitable conditions, the filler particles become polarized and exhibit a mutually attractive force, which causes them to form chain-like structures between the electrodes. The liquid is then solidified by means of a chemical reaction or a change in temperature and the newly-formed structures are thereby fixed in place to form a composite material with anisotropic properties. This method has the potential advantage that materials having the sensitivity of 1-3 type composites could be made, whilst retaining some of the simplicity of the manufacture of 0-3 type composites.
The electric-field structuring technique utilises this dielectrophoretic force, which is responsible for an electrorheological effect. This is discussed in 'Induced Fibrillation of Suspensions'. Journal of Applied Physics 20 pp 1137–1140 (December 1949), Winslow W. M. and 'Dielectrophoresis: The Behaviour of Neutral Matter in Non-Uniform Electric Fields'. Cxnbridge University Press (1978), Pohl H. A. Various parameters affecting this are: the dielectrophoretic or polarization force, which is directed to produce the desired particle structure; viscous drag in the fluid, which resists particle motion; and sedimentation, which must be controlled. Alternating electric fields are used, by preference, to avoid electrophoresis. Applied electric-field strength is deliberately moderated to suppress such effects as electrically-induced turbulence in the fluid and accelerated curing of the polymer. Applied electric-field frequency is dictated by the dielectric properties of the fluid and the filler.
One of the major pitfalls associated with the electric-field structuring technique is sedimentation. Where particles of the filler component have a higher density than the surrounding fluid component, then they will fall out of suspension under the influence of gravity. The rate of sedimentation depends on particle size and shape and also on the viscosity of the surrounding fluid. In practice, the magnitude of the dielectrophoretic force can be set to overshadow viscous drag and also the effect of gravity. However, the forces acting on different sized particles are not of the same magnitude. This makes precise control over the shape of the electric-field-induced structures difficult and irregularities commonly occur. A further difficulty concerns the viscosity of the surrounding fluid, which is not constant over the course of the processing cycle. For example, thermosetting polymers such as epoxy resins exhibit a progressive increase in viscosity with time as polymerization proceeds. At the same time, the polymerization reaction itself is exothermic and generates heat. The fluid experiences a rise in temperature and consequently its viscosity decreases. Furthermore, the rate of reaction is increased at the higher temperature. These competing effects make precise control over fluid viscosity difficult to achieve. Accordingly, the rate of sedimentation of suspended particles is often uncertain.
In common with many composites, the interface between the filler and matrix components has a controlling influence on the physical properties of materials produced by electric-field structuring. The surface electrical properties of the filler particles, in particular, are of prime importance. Normally particles are completely surrounded by a layer of adsorbed polymer, giving true random 0-3 type connectivity within the matrix. Where these layers form insulating barriers between the particles, the useful electrical properties of the composite material can be adversely affected. Furthermore, where variations in the sizes of individual particles exist, chain branching in the field induced structure is found to occur. Anisotropy in the electrical properties will then be a function not only of the amount of filler, but also of the degree of this chain branching. In practice, some disparity in the spatial distribution of the filler particles is found to occur between otherwise identical composite samples. Hence, significant variability in the physical properties of composites prepared by electric-field structuring can normally be expected.

Electric-field structuring of composite materials


An integrated circuit hierarchical design system for optimizing a circuit locating between flip-flops included in a lower layer through a higher layer among layers forming an integrated circuit, which shifts a layer section as a boundary between the higher layer and the lower layer that locates on the circuit to the vicinity of a connection portion between the flip-flop and the circuit to include the circuit in either the higher layer or lower layer, thereby eliminating the need of distributing propagation delays of the circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to optimization of integrated circuit hierarchical design and, more particularly, an integrated circuit hierarchical design system and an integrated circuit hierarchical design program which eliminate the need of distribution of propagation delays on a path between flip-flops connecting layers.
2. Description of the Related Art
When composing a large-scale integrated circuit including layer blocks, optimization is conducted while maintaining a layered structure. In the optimization, delays of a signal propagating between flip-flops which determine an operating frequency of the integrated circuit is analyzed.
In this case, because designing is made for each layer, with a signal propagating over a plurality of layers, its signal propagation delays should be divided for each layer, which requires calculation of propagation delays whose precision is hard to be obtained and whose execution relies on prediction.
Examples of methods for solving such a problem are recited, for example, in Japanese Patent Laying-Open (Kokai) No. 05-258006 (Literature 1), Japanese Patent Laying-Open (Kokai) No. 06-76012 (Literature 2), Japanese Patent Laying-Open (Kokai) No. 2000-83002 (Literature 3) and "Itaru Sakurai: Basis of Digital Design by HDL, pp. 128-129, FIGS. 5-18, Techno-press" (Literature 4).
The method disclosed in Literature 1 distributes delays of a signal propagating between layers, with timing between layers defined by a time storage means. According to the method of Literature 1, design is made after setting time when a signal passes between the respective layers. More specifically, by defining timing of a higher layer at a time point when a lower layer is designed, a problem derived from a lack of coincidence in timing with the design of the lower layer made at an early stage of the designing will be solved at a time of designing the higher layer which is made at a later stage of the designing.
The method recited in Literature 2 distributes delays of a signal propagating between layers by using hierarchical development reference data.
On the other hand, the method recited in Literature 3 changes a layered structure by extracting a flip-flop and making a section by a layer changing unit to have an input of the flip-flop reside in the vicinity of the section of a layer such that with respect to a signal propagating between the layers, there exists no path that fails to pass through the flip-flop.
According to the method in Literature 3, in a case of a path leading to an output terminal from an input terminal without passing through a flip-flop, optimization processing can be executed without requiring special processing such as hierarchy destruction and constraint value regeneration.
FIG. 9 shows an example of optimization disclosed in the method of Literature 3.
Literature 4 points out that because out of signals propagating between flip-flops which determine an operating frequency of the integrated circuit, with respect to a signal propagating over the layers whose signal propagation delay value is hard to be minimized, in particular, signal propagation between flip-flops is hierarchically designed, signal propagation from an output flip-flop to a layer exit, from the layer exit to a layer entrance and from the layer entrance to an input flip-flop should be divisionally handled.
Furthermore, Literature 4 recommends a design rule that a register formed of a flip-flop should be placed at an input/output of a block without fail in order to improve external estimation precision.
The above-described conventional techniques all have the following shortcomings.
The method disclosed in Literature 1 distributes delays of a signal propagating between layers, with timing between layers defined by a time storage means. The method in Literature 1 therefore fails to solve the problem that with respect to a signal propagating between divided layers, signal propagation delays need to be divided into the plural.
In addition, the method in Literature 1 aims at solving a problem derived from design of a lower layer at a time when a higher layer is designed after finishing designing of the lower layer and not at solving the problem that signal propagation delays need to be divided into the plural.
Similarly, neither aims the method of Literature 2 at eliminating the need of dividing signal propagation delays into the plural.
On the other hand, by changing a layered structure by making a section, the method disclosed in Literature 3 enables optimization processing to be executed without special processing such as hierarchy destruction which changes a layered structure and constraint value regeneration when there exists a path leading to an output terminal from an input terminal without passing through a flip-flop.
The method in Literature 3 which changes a layered structure aims at avoiding a signal propagating between flip-flops that passes through a layer and fails to eliminate the need of dividing signal propagation delays into the plural because even after changing the layered structure, there remains at least a path leading from a flip-flop to a layer exit and a path leading from the layer exit to a layer entrance as shown in FIG. 9 to inevitably require distribution of delays on these two paths.
The literature 4 recommends a design rule that a register formed of a flip-flop should be placed at an input/output of a block without fail in order to improve external estimation precision, while it discloses no specific method therefor to fail to eliminate the need of dividing signal propagation delays into the plural.

Integrated circuit hierarchical design system, integrated circuit hierarchical design program and integrated circuit hierarchical design method


Provided is a method of multiple connection providing a service by a client, the method including: executing at least one application for providing a service; referring to a multiple connection history including information about the number of multiple connections and a size of a sub-segment; determining the number of multiple connections and the size of the sub-segment based on the referred-to multiple connection history; and requesting the multiple connections according to the determined number of multiple connections and the determined size of the sub-segment.

Multiple connection technology is used to improve a data transmission rate during a communication connection between a server and a client. In multiple connection technology, determining the number of multiple connections suitable for a network situation and determining a size of a sub-segment to be transmitted through each of the multiple connections are important.
A server-based multiple connection control method is a method of determining, by a server, the number of multiple connections and a size of a sub-segment by determining a network situation, wherein a probe signal is transmitted from the server to a client for available bandwidth prediction, and a network state indicator is derived by using the probe signal. However, according to such a method, the client is able to determine the number of multiple connections only when the client interworks with the server, and additional traffic is induced.
In a method of determining the optimum number of multiple connections for obtaining the maximum transmission rate, the optimum number of multiple connections is determined by monitoring a transmission rate while sequentially increasing the number of connections, but a long initial time is required for determining the optimum number of multiple connections.

Method and apparatus for controlling multi-connection for data transmission rate improvement


Survivor sequences information is supplied to a RAM 61-1 and a RAM 61-2 as an input Din. The RAM 61-1 and the RAM 61-2 perform an interleaving operation and store the survivor sequences information alternately in accordance with a clock CK1 and a clock CK2 differing in phase from the clock CK1 by half a period. The phases of the clock CK1 and the phase of the clock CK2 are delayed by half a period when a write operation is switched to a read operation with data being outputted at a selector 62 in an appropriate order accordingly. Traced-back data is then inputted from terminal A and terminal B to the selector 62 and outputted from a terminal X after one of these items of data has been selected at a prescribed timing.

The present invention relates to a Viterbi decoding device and a Viterbi decoding method, and more particularly relates to a Viterbi decoding apparatus and Viterbi decoding method of actually performing high-speed Viterbi decoding in a form of traceback where reading out and writing of survivor sequences information is carried out alternately at two path memories.
Data signals transmission has been carried out with the data signal being coded for the purpose of making errors correctable which are due to noise occurring in the data transmission process.
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an example of a coding apparatus 1 for carrying out convolutional coding of a constraint length of 3 and a coding rate of 1/2.
The coding apparatus 1 comprises a three-bit shift register comprising registers R1, R2 and R3 together with two exclusive OR circuits (exclusive OR circuit E1 and exclusive OR circuit E2).
The exclusive OR circuit E1 carries out an exclusive OR operation on the information bits of registers R1, R2 and R3 and outputs the result as value X1. The exclusive OR circuit E2 then performs an exclusive OR operation on the information bits for registers R1 and R3 and outputs the result as the value X2.
When one bit of information is inputted to the register R1, the information bit stored in the register R1 is shifted to the register R2 and the information bit stored in the register R2 is shifted to register R3.
When the value of the information bit stored in the register R1 is a and the value of the information bit stored in the register R2 is b, suppose that one bit of information In is inputted to the register R1 and a value X1 and a value X2 are outputted.
The value of the information bits stored in registers R1, R2 and R3 at this time are the values of the inputted information bit In, the values a and b, respectively. Then, the number of states for the coding apparatus 1 at the time the one bit of information is inputted is therefore decided by the combination (a, b). Namely, in this case, there exist four states (0, 0), (0, 1), (1, 0) and (1, 1). Generally, the number of states when the number of registers is n (the constraint length is n) can be expressed by 2 (n-1) (where indicates that the following number is an exponent).
FIG. 2 is a trellis line diagram corresponding to the coding apparatus 1.
In FIG. 2, the states that can be obtained at the coding apparatus 1 are shown as the states 0 to 3, with the values X1 and X2 outputted in accordance with the information bits inputted at the time of each of these states being shown as (X1, X2). Here, the state transitions when 0 is inputted as the information bit are shown by solid lines and state transitions when 1 is inputted are shown as dotted lines.
For example, when the state is 0 (a=b=0), for 0 being inputted as an information bit, (00) (X1=0 and X2=0) are outputted and a transition is made to state 0 (the state does not change). Further, when the state is 0 (a=b=0) and 1 is inputted as an information bit, (11) (X1=1 and X2=1) are outputted and a transition is made to state 1.
The data thus coded has a superior random error correction performance. For example, highly reliable data can be obtained by using Viterbi decoding for deciding the most probable path and converting the coded data to decoded data.
A more specific example of Viterbi decoding is described with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.
When the state of the coding apparatus 1 is in the state of 0 (a=b=0) as an initial value, information bits are taken as being inputted to the encoding device 1 in the order of (0, 1, 0, 0). Directly after this, data (0, 0) signifying the end of the input data is inputted to the coding apparatus 1. Namely, in this case, data is inputted to the coding apparatus 1 in the order of (0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0) and the coded data (00, 11, 10, 11, 00, 00) is outputted for this input.
Suppose that errors occur at the second and fifth bits with regards to this coded data, with the result that data (01, 11, 00, 11, 00, 00) is transmitted.
FIG. 3 shows a trellis line diagram up to the third block of this data.
In the Viterbi decoding, when (01) is transmitted at the first clock in (stage 0, state 0), a path metric is calculated after obtaining a branch metric showing a degree of probable transition to (stage 1, state 0) or (stage 1, state 1) to which transition is possible from this (stage 0, state 0). More specifically, these processes are carried out by calculating Hamming distances showing the sum of the differences in comparing the code word in every path ((00) and (11)) and the actual code word (01) for each of the components.
In this case, the branch metric for the path from (stage 0, state 0) to (stage 1, state 0) is 1 because the Hamming distance is 1 (because the comparison of the code word (00) and the actual code word (01) shows no difference for the first bit and the difference of 1 for the second bit, then 0+1=1). Similarly, a branch metric obtained for the path from (stage 0, state 0) to (stage 1, state 1) becomes 1 (=1+0). This and that the path metric for (stage 0, state 0) is also 0 make the path metrics for both (stage 1, state 0) and (stage 1, state 1) as being 1 (=0+1).
Next, when (11) is transmitted at the second clock, a path metric is obtained which is for the transition from each of the states ((stage 1, state 0) and (stage 1, state 1)) to states to which transitions are possible. That is because the branch metric from (stage 1, state 0) to (stage 2, state 0) is 2 (=1+1) and the path metric for (stage 1, state 0) is therefore 1, the path metric for (stage 2, state 0) is 3 (=1+2). The path metrics for (stage 2, state 1), (stage 2, state 2) and (stage 2, state 3) are therefore 1, 2 and 2.
Next, when (00) is transmitted at the third clock, a path metric is obtained for each of the states of the third stage but transitions from two states can be considered at each of the states of the third stage. In this case, a path having a smaller path metric is made to be selected. For example, at (stage 3, state 0), paths from (stage 2, state 0) and from (stage 2, state 2) exist. However, a path metric calculation about the path from (stage 2, state 0) gives 3 and a path metric obtained about the path from (stage 2, state 2) becomes 4. The path from (stage 2, state 0) is therefore selected as the survivor sequence.
Thus obtained survivor sequences with respect to code words up to the sixth clock are shown in FIG. 4.
In FIG. 4, two paths (00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00) and (00, 11, 10, 11, 00, 00) are shown as survivor sequences (the final state always becomes 0 because (0,0) indicating the end of the data is given as the input data). Here, Hamming distances are then obtained for each of the code string of these two paths and the actual code string, with the smaller one of these paths being selected. Namely, (00, 11, 10, 11, 00, 00) is selected as the final survivor sequence because the Hamming distance for (00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00) and (01, 11, 00, 11, 00, 00) is 5 and the Hamming distance for (00, 11, 10, 11, 00, 00) and (01, 11, 00, 11, 00, 00) is 2. The code string is the same as the output data of the coding apparatus 1 and is a code string with errors being removed.
In this way, errors included in transmitted coded data can be corrected.
For actually carrying out Viterbi decoding, such a path memory is necessary as that for storing survivor sequences having a configuration corresponding to, for example, the trellis line diagram shown in FIG. 2.
In the aforementioned example, a description was given of the case of a short code string (00, 11, 10, 11, 00, 00), but code strings are generally quite long. Therefore, when Viterbi decoding is exactly carried out it is necessary to store survivor sequences up until the end of the code string. However, in this case, the number of memory cells increases tremendously and the delay time for decoding also becomes excessive. Then, the newest path of a prescribed length is usually stored in the path memory, and the decode word data occurring at the time of inputting the oldest path is decided upon and outputted directly before writing a new path and the oldest path is then discarded.
Further, there are two decoding methods for carrying out Viterbi decoding using survivor path information stored in the path memory, the traceback method (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication 62-23933) and the RE (Register Exchange) method (see IEEE Transactions on Communications, vol. 41, No. 3 (March, 1993)). The RE method consumes larger power when compared with the traceback method, but has higher decoding speed. The RE method is therefore used in order to carry out decoding at high speeds.
However, in the case of convolution coded data of a constraint length of 7, the number of states becomes as much as 64 and a large number of gates is necessary for path memory using the RE method. As a result, the power consumed in CMOS LSIs comprising the gates therefore becomes large and the resulting heat generation becomes excessive. This causes a problem that the CMOS LSIs cannot be put into a plastic package when an attempt is made to fabricate the path memory as an IC.
Then, it can be considered to use the less power consuming form of traceback by making its decoding speed high. For example, the RAM for storing the survivor sequences can be partitioned into a plurality of memory banks for carrying out the writing of survivor sequence information and decoding (reading out) using traceback in parallel with separate memory banks.
However, even in this case, the decoding speed is not sufficient and it is difficult to achieve higher-speed decoding using the traceback method.
As the present invention sets out to resolve the aforementioned problems, it is the object of the present invention to realize a Viterbi decoding device that carries out decoding at a high speed by carrying out an interleave operation with respect to two RAMs.

Viterbi decoding apparatus and viterbe decoding method


In a metal housing of the "Flameproof Enclosure" ignition protection type, one part of the housing is provided at the parting plane with a rib and the other housing part is provided with a groove complementary thereto. The cross-sectional dimensions of the groove are larger than the cross-sectional dimensions of the rib. The gap-like space obtained thereby is filled with a coating which adheres integrally either to the rib or to the walls of the groove. This gives rise, between the coating and the other part to which it does not adhere integrally, to a gap which meets the requirement placed on an "ex-gap" of a flameproof housing.

The "Flameproof Enclosure" ignition protection type is a type of ignition protection, in which electric operating equipment and other appliances are accommodated in a closed housing. The housing must satisfy specific test conditions. It is necessary, inter alia, to ensure that, if an ignitable gas mixture ignites in the housing, no particles and no hot gases can escape outward which may possibly ignite the atmosphere in the vicinity of the housing, if an ignitable gas mixture is also present there. This condition relating to the retention of ignitable particles and hot gases can be achieved if the cover of the housing forms with the housing a so-called "ex-gap". During passage through the "ex-gap", the particles and gases are sufficiently cooled to be no longer capable of causing any damage outside the housing.
Housings manufactured from metal, which were machined by cutting in the region of the "ex-gap" have hitherto been used for this purpose. A housing body or a housing blank which, in the broadest sense, is bowl-shaped is produced by means of a diecasting technique, by the sandcasting method or by other forming techniques. A cover produced by the same technique is placed onto the free edge of this housing body. The housing parts, that is to say both the housing body and the cover, produced by means of the forming techniques are so rough and uneven in the region of those faces which lie on one another at the joining plane when the housing is screwed together that they first have to be fine-machined on these faces by cutting machining, so that the gap established in the parting plane satisfies the conditions demanded of an "ex-gap".
The same also applies accordingly to housings which are welded together from steel parts.
So that the cost of manufacturing such metal housings could be in any way at all kept under control, the gap necessarily had to be a planar gap. It is not simple even to make a planar gap, because the relatively large and comparatively thin-walled parts are easily distorted in the machine tool during the chucking operation. On the other hand, a "tongue-and-groove joint" is virtually ruled out. Although it may still be relatively simple to mill a groove by means of an end-milling cutter, it would be unreasonably expensive to produce a tongue or rib fitting into this groove with a negligible gap width.
The fact that only planar gaps could be produced in any way cost-effectively and that the gap occupies a certain width in the direction of the gas flowing out in the event of ignition resulted in the widths at the joining point between the housing body and cover which had an adverse influence on the housing dimensions.

Metal housing of the "flameproof enclosure" ignition protection type


An extended memory card capable of coupling to a reduced size memory card and having an electrical connection to a card reader is disclosed. The extended memory card comprises a first flash memory and a first client controller, where the card reader accesses to the first flash memory by controlling the operation of the first client controller. The reduced size memory card further comprises a second flash memory and a second client controller, where a host controller accesses to the second flash memory by controlling the operation of the second client controller. The extended memory card coupled to the reduced size memory card has the same size as an MMC card. The reduced size memory card has the same size as the RS-MMC card.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a memory card and, more particularly, to an extended memory card.
2. Description of the Related Art
Memory cards are usually used as a storage medium for portable electronic devices such as digital cameras and multimedia players. There are several kind of memory cards currently available on the market, for instance, the Secured Digital (SD) card, the Memory Stick (MS), the Multimedia card (MMC), the Compact Flash (CF) card and so on. Although these memory cards vary in respect of the electrical specifications and physical sizes thereof, all of them are featured by high storage capacity and low power consumption. Also, the reduced size memory card was developed from the foregoing memory cards as advanced with the development of technology and miniaturization of portable electronic devices. For example, the MMC card was miniaturized to become the reduced size (RS) MMC card, and the MS card was miniaturized to become the MS Duo card.
Many portable electronic devices are designed to provide either a mini slot into which the user can insert the reduced size memory card, or a standard slot for receiving the memory card. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, when a conventional RS-MMC card 12 is inserted into a portable electronic device with the mini slot, the conventional RS-MMC card 12 operates normally. However, if the user wants to insert the conventional RS-MMC card 12 into a portable electronic device with a standard slot, the user has to connect the conventional RS-MMC card 12 with an extended card 14 because the RS-MMC card is smaller in physical size than the MMC card 10. The physical size of the combination of the extended card 14 and the conventional RS-MMC card 12 is therefore equivalent to that of the MMC card 10 to operate normally in the portable electronic device. The extended card 14 is merely an adapter design without any additional function. The inventor of the present invention thus provides an extended card having improvements over the function of the extended card 14.


The cab guard for pickup truck has a horizontal base member made of square hollow structural steel; an upright structure extending upward from the horizontal base member, and two anchor brackets for attachment to the sides of a pickup truck box. Each of the anchor brackets has a stem made of square hollow structural steel and an anchor plate extending at right angle from the stem. Each stem is telescopically engaged in one end of the horizontal base member. The cab guard also comprises a pair of J-shaped hooks extending through the anchor plates and having means for attachment to the stake pockets of a pickup truck box for retaining the anchor plates to the sides of the pickup truck box. The universal cab guard is mountable to the front stake pockets of a pickup truck box and is adjustable to match the width between the stake pockets.

Loose objects carried in a pickup truck box can shift toward the front of the truck box and be projected through the rear window of the truck cab when the pickup truck comes to a sudden stop or decelerates quickly. It is therefore desirable to protect the rear cab window, and the passengers of a pickup truck, from such loose objects carried in the truck box A cab guard is also advantageous for protecting the cab window from damage due to careless handling of long objects in and out of the truck box.
Pickup trucks have different dimensions from one model to another and from one year of manufacture to another in a same model. Therefore, most cab guards used in the past were custom made by the truck owners to fit their own trucks. Few manufacturers have introduced cab guards to be sold as after-market accessories. However, these cab guards are also limited as to the models of pickup trucks on which they can be mounted.
Examples of cab guards of the prior art being sold as after-market accessories are described in the following documents:    U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,824 issued to Thomas K. McIntosh on Sep. 16, 1986;    U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,497 issued to Gilbert Jayne on Sep. 19, 1989.
Although the prior art cab guards deserve undeniable merits, it is believed that a need still exists for an universal cab guard that can be fitted to most North American pickup trucks now in service, without modification to the truck itself.