Tribocharging-reducing conformal coating are provided for a flexible circuit, which reduce tribocharge voltage of a coated flexible circuit to less than about 15V, preferably less than about 10 V. Coating formulations include at least about 1% of a polypyrrole. Flexible circuits having a tribocharge voltage of less than about 15V, preferably less than about a 10V comprise at least one polymeric dielectric substrate, and a conductive layer formed thereon including at least one conductive element such as a trace, bond pad and/or a lead device, and a layer of a conformal coating wherein the conformal coating comprising at least about 1% of a polypyrrole compound.

Flexible circuits are circuits that are formed on flexible dielectric substrates such as polymeric materials. The circuits may have one or more conductive layers as well as circuitry (also called "traces") on one or both of the major surfaces of the substrate. The circuits often include additional functional layers, e.g., insulative layers, adhesive layers, encapsulating layers, stiffening layers and the like. Flexible circuits are typically useful for electronic packages where flexibility, weight control and the like are important. In many high volume situations, flexible circuits also provide cost advantages associated with efficiency of the manufacturing processes employed.
Various types of flexible circuits are known in the industry. Generally speaking, the key differences in the various circuits stem from a number of design requirements for the devices that the circuit is connecting together, along with the requirements and limitations of the processing methods used to make the circuit. Typically, the flexible circuit is connecting a semiconductor device of some sort (integrated circuit, microprocessors, or the like) to another flex circuit, a rigid circuit board or a component of a device through connection means such as bond pads, solder balls, etc. The design factors associated with items the circuit is connecting include, but are not limited to, the number of input and output (I/O) leads from a semiconductor device that needs to be connected; the means and process for interconnection of the flexible circuits to another circuit or to a device; the required size and weight of the finished product; the environmental conditions under which the circuit will be assembled and used; and the data transmission rates to which the circuit will be subjected.
Flexible circuits have become widely used in telecommunications equipment and consumer and industrial electronic appliances. As the packaging of those appliances becomes simpler, more compact, more reliable, and more highly functional, requirements imposed on flexible printed circuit boards become extremely stringent. The boards are required to have high thermal resistance, good weatherability, electric insulation properties, bonding strength, and flexibility, and to meet severe conditions, including limits on tribocharging of the electronic packages.
Polymeric films, such as those used in flexible circuits, are typically electrically insulating and exhibit a propensity towards the generation of electrical charges (referred to hereinafter as tribocharging). Tribocharging is undesirable for a number of reasons. Contaminants such as dust particles are attracted by charged surfaces. Tribocharges are also known to damage various types of electronic devices, such as semiconductor devices, due to electrical currents associated with the discharge of accumulated tribocharge. Therefore, what is needed is a flexible circuit construction that reduces tribocharging on the surface of the circuit such that the potential for damage to electrical components connected to the circuit is reduced.
Protective films coated or placed onto the surface are one known construction. Known surface protective films of flexible wiring circuits are used to protect against cracking and contamination as well as tribocharging, and include, for example, those prepared by cutting polyimide films using a die made corresponding to the pattern, which are then adhered onto a substrate with an adhesive; and those prepared by applying a radiation-curable or thermosetting overcoat composition. Resin compositions used as protective films include epoxy resins, acrylic resins, and the like. However, such resins only provide minimal protection against tribocharging. Further, most such resins must be punched or drilled in order to provide access through the protective film to the circuitry.
It would be desirable to reduce the tribocharging of the electrical components to a range of about 15 Volts (V), preferably less than 10V.
It has now been discovered that a coating comprising a polypyrrole not only reduces tribocharging significantly but that bonding of electronic components to traces on the flexible circuit can be made through the coating, simplifying production and connection of the flexible circuit to such electronic components.


An information reception apparatus which allows a user to easily understand, from an electronic program guide, the information announced in a broadcast program, and which contributes to increasing viewer ratings of the broadcast program. The information reception apparatus (broadcast reception apparatus) is provided with: an electronic program information acquisition unit (tuner, control unit) for acquiring electronic program information; an announcement information acquisition unit (control unit, DEMUX unit) for acquiring information announced in the broadcast program from information included in the electronic program information acquired by the electronic program information acquisition unit or from information transmitted together with the electronic program information; and an announcement information output unit (control unit, AV output unit) for outputting the electronic program information and for outputting information indicating the presence or absence of the announcement information, based on the information acquired by the announcement information acquisition unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information reception apparatus, an information reception method, a computer program for information reception, and an information distribution apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, in digital broadcasting such as terrestrial digital broadcasting and BS (Broadcasting satellite), an electronic program guide (EPG) (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "EPG") showing contents of programs scheduled to be broadcast is known. Various proposals are provided to enhance the convenience of viewers by using the EPG information. For example, it is proposed that, by using the EPG information, only broadcasting data linked to a program to be provided is reserved to be printed or broadcasting data is reserved to be printed separately and independently from moving image data of programs (see JP 2007-235639 A (Abstract, paragraph [0013] and the like)).
It is proposed that, by using the EPG information, when a program is viewed with a vehicle-mounted digital broadcast reception apparatus, a specific electronic program guide grouped for each viewer is displayed and information according to reception sensitivity is reflected in the specific electronic program guide (see JP 2007-89220 A (Abstract, paragraph [0007] and the like)).
An apparatus, such as ADMS (TV-Asahi Data And Multimedia Service)-EPG and iEPG, is known which provides EPG information via the Internet, and there is also a proposal related to a control when the EPG information received via the Internet and the EPG information received via a broadcast signal are received (see JP 2008-252447 A (Abstract and the like)).

Information reception apparatus, information reception method, computer program for information reception, and information distribution apparatus


A dual lighting apparatus includes a principal substrate, a first lighting device and a second lighting device. The first lighting device is integrated into a first plane of the principal substrate, the first lighting device having one or more first light emitting diode (LED) chips embedded therein. The second lighting device is integrated into a second plane of the principal substrate, the second lighting device having one or more second light emitting diode (LED) chips embedded therein. The first LED chip(s) emit light photons having a different wavelength than light photons emitted from the second LED chip(s).

In the vehicle lighting industry, illumination can be achieved through the use of various light sources, all of which require a housing, a substrate, or a body composed of a material through which light can pass. Therefore, conventional lamps for illumination must be mounted in areas that do not restrict vision or light.
This disclosure assumes that the reader has familiarity with U.S. Pat. No. 7,217,956, titled "LIGHT ACTIVE SHEET MATERIAL" sometimes referred to herein as "light sheet" or "light sheet technology," and with US 2008/0079012, titled "ILLUMINATED DEVICES UTILIZING TRANSPARENT LIGHT ACTIVE SHEET MATERIAL WITH INTEGRATED LIGHT EMITTING DIODE (LED), METHODS AND KIT THEREFOR". Each of these is hereby expressly incorporated by reference.
Alternative solutions for a flexible thin light product that can be used as either an edge or flat light product that presently exist include:                Light pipe—one disadvantage is its non-uniformity around corners        EL lighting—one disadvantage is EMI concerns created with DC/DC converter        OLED—one disadvantage is that it can degrade when exposed to humidity and can be difficult to seal from exterior environment.

System for lighting apparatus utilizing light active sheet material with integrated light emitting diode, window with lighting apparatus, conveyance with lighting apparatus, and method of providing lighting apparatus


A method for tacking of chips onto a substrate at chip positions which are distributed on a surface of the substrate. The method includes the following steps: formation or application of a function layer onto the substrate, removing the function layer from the substrate at the chip positions at least in the region of contacts to uncover the contacts, tacking chips onto one chip contact side of the function layer at the chip positions and contacting the chips with the contacts via contact elements.

Chips are often joined via bumps to bond pads embedded in a substrate, therefore electrically conductive contacts. To bridge the distance between the chips and the substrate and to produce a mechanical connection between the chip and the substrate, underfill materials are used which are also employed for mechanical relief of the bumps from the chip or substrate. The underfill material increases the service life of the chips several-fold. Mainly the fatigue strength of the bond connection at complete stress reversal with respect to temperature changes and/or mechanical loads is increased.
In practice an underfill material with low viscosity is placed between the chips and the substrate by capillary action after the underfill material has been applied for example by inkjet methods or centrifugal acceleration methods. The aforementioned methods limit the choice of materials, and at short distances between the chips and the substrate surface, for example less than 50 μm, the aforementioned sequence is very time-consuming or can no longer be implemented.
One alternative method therefore consists in applying the underfill material before applying the chips to the substrate, especially at very small distances between the chips and the substrate surface. The underfill material is laminated for example as a film onto the substrate, applied by spin coating or spray coating or is distributed on the substrate by application of pasty material.
So that the chips which have been seated on the underfill material do not slip on the substrate up to the bonding which is generally carried out in a separate chamber, the chips are fixed beforehand in their respective chip position which is aligned with the substrate, especially by "tacking". This has the advantage that the entire substrate can be provided with chips and only then can the bonding process be carried out for all chips.
In this procedure however the electrically conductive connection between the chips and the substrate poses technical problems; this connection takes place recognizably by bumps or pins which extend from the chips to corresponding contacts in the substrate. Another technical problem is the choice of material properties of the underfill material since on the one hand it is intended to have an adhesive action (for tacking) and on the other hand a support function. Moreover the underfill material should have as little effect on the alignment accuracy as possible. At the same time the processing of the underfill material, especially during tacking and/or bonding, will take place as promptly as possible.

Method for fastening chips with a contact element onto a substrate provided with a functional layer having openings for the chip contact elements


An active implantable medical device provides atrial stimulation for resynchronization of the heart chambers. After a first cycle without stimulation, a premature left atrial stimulation is delivered with application of a short left inter-atrial delay, shorter than the sinus rhythm coupling interval. During the next cycle a non-premature left atrial stimulation is delivered, and the atrioventricular interval between the left atrial depolarization and the ventricular depolarization is evaluated and compared to its value in sinus rhythm to modify as necessary a parameter of the left atrial stimulation, such as the short left inter-atrial delay.

The invention relates to "active implantable medical devices" as defined by Directive 90/385/EEC of 20 Jun. 1990 of the Council of the European Communities, specifically implants to continuously monitor heart rhythm and deliver if necessary to heart electrical pulses for stimulation, resynchronization and/or defibrillation in case of rhythm disorder detected by the device. The invention more particularly relates to devices for treating heart failure (HF), as an alternative or in addition to the treatment of cardiac rhythm disorders.
This therapy is designed to resynchronize the contraction of the heart chambers (atrium and ventricle, and between the two ventricles) so as to improve the patient's condition by optimizing the phases of the hemodynamic cycle. The cycle includes pre-ejection, isovolumetric contraction, systolic ejection, isovolumetric relaxation and finally filling of the cavity.
Most of these devices implement a technique called "CRT" (Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy) or "BVP" (Bi-Ventricular Pacing) for delivering electrical pulses as necessary to ensure joint and continuous stimulation of the two ventricles, left and right, to resynchronize them. This biventricular resynchronization technique however addresses only one of the forms of heart failure, known as "systolic failure". In this form of the disease, the heart muscle is unable to provide the force necessary to ensure adequate cardiac output, and the patient shows signs of expansion resulting in a delay of left ventricular depolarization. CRT Biventricular pacing is then used to resynchronize the ventricles and make cardiac contraction more uniform.
In the other form of heart failure called "diastolic failure" or "preserved ejection fraction heart failure" (HFpEF, Heart Failure with preserved Ejection Fraction), there is no desynchronization of the ventricles; it comes from a failure in the left ventricular filling. Biventricular CRT stimulation will be ineffective in this case. But this condition affects about 40% of heart failure patients, and there is no known effective treatment to remedy to it.
This form of disease in some patients may be the result of a disorder of conduction in the atria (inter-atrial block), which delays the depolarization, and therefore the contraction of the left atrium (OG) with respect to the right atrium (OD). However, as atrioventricular conduction pathways are not altered, depolarization and contraction of two the right (VD) and left (VG) ventricles occur within a reasonable time, without synchronization VD-VG. It is between the contraction of the left atrium and that of the left ventricle that the inter-atrial block OD-OG generates a poor sequencing OG-VG. The delay of the contraction of the left atrium has for consequence that it contracts substantially at the same moment as the left ventricle, and therefore cannot properly fulfill its function and contribute to the left ventricular active filling.
To treat this heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and pathology, a technique of atrial overdriving including stimulating the left atrium to a frequency slightly above the spontaneous sinus rhythm frequency (i.e. the rate of the right atrium) has been proposed, thereby systematically causing premature depolarization of the left atrium and thereby restoring a more normal OG-VG sequence.
Specifically, in this known technique, the device regularly measures the spontaneous rhythm of the patient and applies a sequence of pacing pulses at a slightly faster rate, arbitrarily programmed to cause a prematurity in the order of 50 to 100 ms compared to an atrial coupling interval corresponding to the spontaneous sinus rhythm. After several cycles at this accelerated pace, the frequency gradually slows until reappearance of spontaneous activity, then the overdriving method is repeated in the same way and so on.
The applied stimulation frequency thus varies continuously between values wherein it is too fast (overdriving period) or too slow (period of reappearance of spontaneous rhythm, with OD-VD synchronization), without real monitoring of the effectiveness of a possible return to a proper synchronization of the left cavities.
This pacing mode may also interfere with the filling of the right cavities. In fact, due to premature stimulation of the left atrium, the OD-VD synchronization is significantly altered in a manner which may be incompatible with satisfactory filling of the right ventricle (these aspects will be clarified in the detailed description). Improvement therapy in the left ventricular filling is thus likely to induce adverse effects on the filling of the right ventricle, so in the cavity that was not affected by the pathology to be treated.
Another technique is described in EP 2471575 A1 (Sorin CRM SAS) which, in particular to overcome these drawbacks, implements a sensor for collecting a endocardial acceleration signal (EA). The EA signal is analyzed to detect the presence of a specific component reflecting the atrial contraction (EA4 component) and to identify the moment of occurrence of this component. If the EA4 component is present, this means that the sequencing of atrial contractions is correct because otherwise (left atrial contractions too late), the EA4 component would be masked in the component of the EA signal corresponding to the immediately following ventricular contraction (EA1 component). The inter-atrial stimulation interval (AA interval) is then dynamically adjusted depending on the result of this analysis. However, this technique requires an implantable lead provided with an implanted endocardial acceleration sensor, and a generator capable of processing the signals delivered by such an EA sensor.
A similar technique is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 8,583,234 B1, which proposes in addition, after a first cardiac cycle without left atrial pacing, to deliver an overdriving pulse during a second immediately consecutive cardiac cycle.
The exemplary embodiments herein propose a technique for treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in patients with inter-atrial mechanical delay, which overcomes the drawbacks of the methods proposed so far and which does not require the use of means for collecting and analyzing an EA signal.
Exemplary embodiments also propose a technique that ensures recovery of diastolic function in a method that is simple (in terms of resources used) and very reactive (efficiency obtained cycle to cycle), allowing the patient to recover a satisfactory OG-VG sequencing (sequencing of left atrial contraction relative to that of the left ventricle), so that the atrium can correctly perform its filling function completion for the left ventricle.
Exemplary embodiments are directed to a conventional dual chamber device (with left atrial detection/stimulation and ventricular detection, but without detection of depolarization signals of the right atrium), and this simply by reprogramming the control circuits of this device (e.g., without hardware modification).

Active implantable medical device with dual chamber pacing for the treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction


A file folder includes a first plate, a second plate and two side members. The first plate has three sequent portions defined in one of two ends thereof by three folded lines and two slots are defined in the first portions. The first is folded upwardly, the second portion is folded toward the other end of the first plate and the third portion is folded toward the first portion, wherein the second plate has one end thereof adhered to the third portion. Two side members each having a hook portion are respectively received between the second and the third portion, a protrusion extending from each one of the side members and slidably received in the respective slot so that the side members can be pulled laterally from the file folder to be hung on rods of a drawer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a folder and, more particularly, to an improved sliding hanging file folder having side members retractably disposed thereto so as to be hung on two rods in a drawer.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Some conventional file folders has two protrusions extending laterally from two opposite sides thereof so as to be hung on two rods longitudinally disposed in a drawer so that a secretary may slidably shift the folders along the two rods and easily pick the folder he/she wants. However, the protrusions are fixedly disposed to the folders and which occupy too much space when the folders are used out of the drawer. Furthermore, the protrusions could interference papers or documents on a desk unintentionally and/or scrape an upper surface of the desk because the users are not used to use a file folder having two protrusions on desks. Therefore, the conventional file folders having two protrusions can only be used in drawers.
The present invention intends to provide an improved file folder having two side members retractably disposed thereto so as to mitigate and/or obviate the above-mentioned problems.


A reed tooth for a hosiery stitching machine, which includes a fixed reed, includes a positioning portion for positioning to the fixed reed, first and second sidewalls, and an intermediate wall cooperating with the first and second sidewalls to define a slide groove. The first sidewall has a tapered bottom end that includes a bottommost tip and an inclined edge. The second sidewall has a length shorter than that of the first side wall, and has a tapered bottom end that includes a bottommost end, and an inclined edge that extends upwardly from the bottommost end of the second sidewall. The inclined edge of the second sidewall and the inclined edge of the first sidewall cooperatively define a bottom opening of the slide groove.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to hosiery equipment, more particularly to a reed tooth of a hosiery stitching machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
A hosiery item, for example, a stocking, after being manufactured in a knitting machine, generally has a tubular shape with two opposite ends that are open. The stocking has to be sent to another machine for closing one of the ends thereof, that is, the toe end.
In Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 201144506, it is disclosed that a hosiery body, for example, a stocking body, made by a knitting machine can be transferred to a hosiery stitching machine using a transfer device of this application. The hosiery stitching machine includes two semi-circular reeds, a plurality of male reed teeth arranged spaced apart from each other around a semi-circumference of one of the reeds, a plurality of female reed teeth arranged spaced apart from each other around a semi-circumference of the other reed, and a sewing needle. The reeds are pivotable relative to each other between a stacked position, where the reeds are superimposed one above the other, and a juxtaposed position, where the reeds are disposed side by side in a same plane. When the reeds are in the juxtaposed position, a plurality of transfer and strip members of the transfer device can transfer loops at the toe end of the stocking body from the knitting machine to the reeds, after which the reeds are pivoted to the stacked position. The sewing needle is then used to stitch the loops together to thereby close the toe of the stocking.
It is also disclosed in the aforesaid publication that each of the male reed teeth has an extension portion that extends downwardly and that terminates with a pointed end, and a guide hole formed in one side of the extension portion that faces outward. The pointed ends of the male reed teeth mate with notched ends of the female reed teeth when the reeds are in the stacked position.
To transfer the loops at the toe end of the stocking body from the knitting machine to the reeds, the transfer and strip members are first moved upward toward the reeds, so that the male and female reed teeth can be inserted into passages of the transfer members to thereby transfer the loops to the male and female reed teeth. When the male and female reed teeth are mated, the strip members are operated to push the loops which are sleeved on the female reed teeth toward the loops which are sleeved on the male reed teeth, after which the sewing needle is used to stitch together the loops, thereby achieving the purpose of closing the toe end of the hosiery body. The sewing needle is guided by the guide hole during the stitching operation.
Although the transfer and stitching operations of the loops can be achieved through coordination of the male and female reed teeth, the transfer and strip members, and the sewing needle, because the male reed teeth must be provided with guide holes, the cross sectional area thereof is large. When each loop is sleeved on one of the male reed tooth, it is likely that a frictional contact exists between the two, so that the loop is likely to get damaged, thereby adversely affecting the smooth execution of the transfer and stitching operations.


The present invention is designed to allow a user to dry and style hair using both hands while controlling the temperature and air flow using one or both feet. An electric hair dryer is mounted to a flexible arm. The flexible arm is connected to a floor stand such that the floor stand supports the flexible arm with the electric hair dryer mounting. A foot panel is electrically and mechanically connected to the foot control panel allowing foot operation of the invention. A button on the foot control panel allows a user to control hot or cool air for drying the head of the user and an air flow selection device is operated by a foot control device on the foot control panel which allows said user to chose a volumetric amount of air flow with a range of air flow starting from a low flow and gradually increasing to a high flow.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to electric hair dryers generally and, more particularly, but not by the way of limitation, to an electric hair drying device mounted on a flexible positioning arm for adjustability of directing hot/cool air toward the head of the user.
A foot control panel connected to a floor stand may be used to control temperature of the air, air flow (pressure) and, position of the hair dryer.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are many different electric hair dryers available in the market. These devices are widely used for styling and drying the user's hair. Whether portable or immobile, these devices have limitations and disadvantages that makes their usage not so desirable. For instance the immobility and limitation in styling ability in helmet-like dryers and, the requirement of holding the hair dryer with one hand and having to use the other hand to hold the brush/comb and style.
3. Brief Summary of the Invention
The present invention is designed to allow the user to dry and style his/her hair using both hands and control the movements, temperature and the air pressure of the hair dryer with his/her foot This is done by mounting an electrical hair dryer to the end of a flexible arm extended from a floor stand which is controlled by a foot panel.
One objective of this invention is to provide a hair drying device that is controlled by foot. This keeps both hands free for holding the brush or comb and makes drying and styling of the hair much easier.
Other object of the present invention is to provide a flexible arm that can be adjusted to infinite positions left/right, up/down, side to side and circular by using a foot control panel placed on the base of the stand. When the arm moves, it changes the position of the hair dryer to the user's desired place.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide an adjustable height in order for the device to be used in sitting position as well as standing. Children can adjust the stand to their comfortable height easily.
It is a further object of the invention to keep the users cool while drying and/or styling their hair using an adjustable fan placed on the body of the stand maintaining the after shower freshness of the user by keeping his/her body temperature cold. One of the most unpleasant feelings that a person can experience is the perspiration of the body during the drying or styling his/her hair, which takes away the fresh feeling of your skin. By having a fan on the stand this condition can be prevented. The fan can be turned on /off independently so it can be used only as needed.
It is another object of this invention to provide a temperature selection means that allows the user to choose the right amount of heat /cold according to his/her need. This button may be located on the foot control panel extended from base of the stand.
The present invention allows the user to choose the right amount of air flow coming out of the nozzle depending on his/her need by having a range of air pressure starting from low and gradually increasing to high. (also controlled by foot through the foot panel.)
The other object of the present invention is to provide such hair drying device that is mobile and can be relocated from one room to the other/one bathroom to the other and once it is assembled it does not need to be unassembled in order to be relocated. It is not permanently installed on the wall or hung on the door or based on the table or counter therefore, it can be placed independently at any room, anywhere. It is 100% mobile. It can be assembled easily and does not need any professional skill.
The present invention can be manufactured with a hair dryer already installed to the end of the flexible arm and wired to the foot control panel through the hollow body of the stand which in this case will have all the features indicated on the list of claims. It can also be manufactured so that any conventional hand held electrical hair dryer could be placed and secured to the end of the flexible arm. In the later case the flow and the temperature of the air can not be controlled by foot but the position of the hair dryer may be adjusted by the foot control panel since it is attached to the flexible arm and the full range of movement performed by the arm changes the position of the hair dryer.
It is further more the objective of the present invention to extent the comfort and desirability of the device to hair salons and barber shops and to ease their work by having the same principal features altered to their needs. This means to hang the flexible arm from the ceiling above each station (chair). The movement and positioning of the arm and the hair dryer is provided by a track installed on the ceiling allowing the arm to move freely to desired positions through the foot control panel. The hair stylist and/or the barber can use their both hands freely and having the luxury of choosing the temprature of the air and air flow with their foot is a tremendous improvement in the quality of their job.


A method for detecting presence of an interference source is to be performed by a touch sensing system that stores a threshold capacitance difference. The method includes the steps of sampling capacitances periodically within a time period for obtaining a base capacitance value; sensing a comparison capacitance after the time period; computing an absolute difference between the comparison capacitance and the base capacitance value; and determining that the interference source is present when the comparison capacitance is smaller than the base capacitance value and the absolute difference is greater than the threshold capacitance difference.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for detecting presence of an interference source, and more particularly to a method for detecting presence of an interference source and performed by a touch sensing system.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional touch sensing device includes a touch sensor unit (e.g., a touch button), and a sensed signal processor operatively associated with the touch sensor unit for sensing external environment so as to generate a capacitance value. When the capacitance value thus generated exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the sensed signal processor generates a trigger signal for notification of a touch event.
The conventional touch sensing device is able to function normally when used in an environment that has certain temperature and humidity, and that is free of interference sources. However, in the presence of interference (e.g., electrostatic discharge or radiation noise from other electronic apparatuses), the capacitance value generated by the sensed signal processor may fluctuate drastically and undesirably exceed the predetermined threshold value. As a result, the sensed signal processor may generate the trigger signal without the touch sensor unit being actually triggered. Under severe circumstances, stability of electronic components to which the conventional touch sensing device outputs the trigger signal may be compromised.
In view of the above, several improvements have been proposed. One improvement involves increasing dimensions of a grounding copper foil of a substrate of the conventional touch sensing device to thereby facilitate grounding of radiation noise received by the conventional touch sensing device. Another improvement involves reducing gaps among components of the conventional touch sensing device to reduce propagation of radiation noise from interference sources through the conventional touch sensing device, thereby reducing interference of the radiation noise upon the conventional touch sensing device. Additionally, the components of the conventional touch sensing device may be made from materials that are resistant to radio-frequency (RF) radiation and static electricity.
However, although the abovementioned improvements are effective to a certain extent, they may suffer from other drawbacks. For example, the dimensions of the grounding copper foil may not be adjusted dynamically based on intensity and duration of interference detected by the conventional touch sensing device. Moreover, reducing the gaps among the components may result in a substantial change in appearance of the conventional touch sensing device, which may lead to compromised aesthetics. Furthermore, the abovementioned improvements may increase cost of manufacture.

Method of detecting presence of interference source, and touch sensing system


A circuitry comprises a converter means for generating an alternating current signal from an energy from an energy source, a piezo transformer with an input and an output, wherein the input of the piezo transformer is electrically coupled to the converter means, to receive the alternating current signal as an excitation on the input side from the converter means, and wherein the output of the piezo transformer is designed to provide an output current, and a load, which is coupled to the output of the piezo transformer, so that output current flows through the same. The load is designed to convert at least part of the electrical energy supplied by the output current flowing through the load into another form of energy. The load is further designed such that a useful power provided in the form of useful energy is substantially proportional to the output current. The circuitry is designed to adjust the output current to a predetermined value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a circuitry for supplying a load with an output current, particularly to a control device for constant current loads with piezoelectric transformer.
2. Description of the Related Art
In many technical applications, it is required to supply electric loads, such as light-emitting diodes, fluorescent lamps or accumulators with a current.
Present simple approaches for operating such loads are, for example, series resistors. Thus, series resistors are frequently used, particularly in the context of light-emitting diodes. The disadvantage of such approaches is a comparatively high power dissipation and the fact that the current flowing through the load also changes with changing input voltage. A constant current regulator can, for example, provide a solution for the mentioned disadvantages. Analog regulators, such as linear regulators, have the advantage of a very low interference emission, but again have the disadvantage of comparatively high power dissipation.
Switched regulators, such as "hard-", which means non-resonant, switching converters, offer the advantage of a high efficiency, but emit a stronger interference spectrum (for example compared to analog regulators or linear regulators, respectively). In other words, with hard- or non-resonant switching converters, an interference voltage occurs in a conducted way and by free emission. Conventionally, said interference emission has to be suppressed or filtered out, respectively, by further circuit complexity.
Resonant flyback converters (also known as "soft" switching converter) have also the advantage of high efficiency and preferably only emit a low interference (noise) spectrum. However, resonant flyback converters are more expensive in terms of circuit engineering, since they require additional resonance elements.
A resonant arrangement for driving antiparallel LED chains or chains of light-emitting diodes or luminescent diodes is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,853,150 B2, wherein a resonance half bridge with an inductance and a capacitance is used. The antiparallel LED chains as load are again separated from each other by decoupling capacities, in order to balance voltage differences between the chains. Thus, a number of passive devices are given at least by the inductance and the capacitance. Thus, when only one antiparallel LED chain is used, the number of passive devices is determined to be at least two. Additionally, there are decoupling capacitances in every antiparallel LED chain branch.
Above a power of about 1 watt, at least one inductance has to be used as energy storage for current regulation in all switched or clocked regulators, respectively. The inductance makes the regulator bulky and expensive, respectively, both in size and costs. Thus, it is desirable to reduce the number of passive devices.
In the following, known converters will be described with regard to FIGS. 1a, 1b, 2 and 3. Thus, FIGS. 1a and 1b show circuit diagrams of flyback converters according to the prior art. In other words, a flyback converter is shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b as hard-switching regulator with a switch S. The converter according to FIG. 1a is designated by 100 in its entirety and the converter according to FIG. 1b is designated by 150 in its entirety. A flyback converter as hard-switching regulator with a switch according to FIG. 1a or 1b has the disadvantage that a current with high frequency is interrupted towards the input, so that a high-frequency input interference-spectrum is significant and has to be suppressed with additional filtering effort (at least in interference-sensitive applications).
Further, converters or regulators according to FIG. 1A or 1B for driving constant current loads, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have the disadvantage that a filter capacitor Cout on the output side and a fast rectifier diode Dout have to be used to generate a voltage across the light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as a constant current load (KS). If the light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were connected directly to the output of the inductance Ls, and an alternating voltage were applied, then, a resulting reverse voltage across the light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with uninterrupted current flow would become at least equal to the input voltage Uin. Since light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have no high reverse disruptive strength, the shown arrangement is usually not practicable.
FIG. 2 shows a circuit diagram of a Buck converter according to the prior art. The Buck converter according to FIG. 2 is designated by 200 in its entirety, and comprises an input voltage source for providing an input voltage Uin, a switch S, a diode Dout, an inductance Ls, a capacitance Cout as well as a constant current load KS consisting of a series connection of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), wherein the mentioned elements are connected to each other in the way shown in FIG. 2. The Buck converter 200 has the same disadvantages as the flyback converters 100, 150 shown with regard to FIGS. 1a and 1b. In other words, the discussion with regard to the problems of the reverse voltage occurring at the light-emitting diodes to the flyback converters 100, 150 apply also with regard to the Buck converter shown in FIG. 2. Further, the Buck converter has the additional disadvantage that the input voltage Uin always has to remain higher than the sum of forward voltages of the light-emitting diode of the LED chain.
Further, it should be noted that the circuitry 150 according to FIG. 1b has the advantage compared to the circuitry 100 according to FIG. 1a, that controlling the switch S can be performed without additional circuits (such as, for example, bootstrap circuits) from the input source (with the input voltage Uin).
FIG. 3 shows a circuit diagram of a boost converter according to the prior art. The boost converter according to FIG. 3a is designated by 300 in its entirety and comprises an input voltage source providing an input voltage Uin, an inductance Ls, a switch S, a diode Dout, a capacitance Cout as well as a constant current load KS, which is formed, for example, by a series connection of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The mentioned circuit elements are connected or coupled, respectively, in the way shown in FIG. 3.
The circuit 300 according to FIG. 3 can cause improved smoothing of the input current as boost converter (compared to the circuitries shown in FIGS. 1a, 1b and 2). Additionally, with uninterrupted current flow, usage of the LED chain KS as rectifier without additional smoothing capacitor Cout would be possible. A reverse disruptive strength of the LED chain would additionally be sufficient to operate the light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in reverse direction, since a voltage would be equal to zero in an on state of the switch S. However, the circuit or circuitry 300 has the disadvantage that it is not short-circuit-proof, so that in the case of a short circuit across the LED chain, the input source (providing the input voltage Uin) is not protected from overcurrent. A corrective is provided, for example by an additional limiting resistor in an input circuit, which causes, additionally, increased losses, even during normal operation. Alternatively, a fast fuse can be used, which again causes additional costs and irreversible failure in the case of a short circuit.
Further, all flyback converters shown with regard to FIGS. 1a, 1b, 2 and 3 have the disadvantage that they have to be regulated by a feedback of the output current or output voltage to an approximately constant output power and thus to a constant current in the light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or other electrical loads. Therefore, a resistor divider for detecting the input and output voltage or a sense resistor is usually required for detecting the output current.
Additionally, the boost converter (for example the converter according to FIG. 3) has the disadvantage that additional elements for damping short-term overvoltages (for example for dealing with a load drop or load dump, respectively) are required in vehicle networks in order to avoid an overload at the electrical loads (for example at the LED chain).

Circuitry for supplying a load with an output current

Abstract: The described circuitry allows the supply of a load with particularly high efficiency, low interference emission and good regulation characteristics.

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.


The present invention relates to bisarylimidazolyl derivatives and pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds inhibiting fatty acid amide hydrolase and useful for the treatment of pain, particularly neuropathic pain, psychomotor disorder, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, eating disorder, nausea, AIDS-related complex, glaucoma, inflammation, psoriasis or multiple sclerosis, and other conditions the treatment of which can be effected by inhibiting fatty acid amide hydrolase.

Neuropathic pain is caused by injury to nerves as the result of many factors including physical damage (e.g., trauma, surgery), drugs such as Zidovudine (AZT), Carmustine (BCNU) and disease (e.g., diabetes, herpes zoster). The prevalence in the United States of neuropathies associated with diabetes, herpes and amputation is estimated at 1.5 million. The worldwide prevalence of diabetic neuropathy alone is expected to reach 12 million by 2007. Nerve injury can result in both allodynia and hyperalgesia.
Current treatment of neuropathic pain involves the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and acetaminophen) and other analgesics as well as anticonvalsants (e.g., carbamazepine, gabapentin) and tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitryptiline). Effective treatment of pain with current therapies is limited by adverse effects and a lack of efficacy against all components of pain.
Current research is aimed at understanding the molecular and physiological components of pain processing to develop more effective analgesics (Levin, J. D., New Directions in Pain Research: Meeting Report Molecules to Maladies, Neuron 20: 649-654, 1998; Pastemak, G. W., The Central Questions in Pain Perception May Be Peripheral, PNAS 95:10354-10355, 1998).
The analgesic properties of cannabinoids have been known for many years and to many cultures. Cannabinoids are active in many pre-clinical models of pain, including neuropathic pain. Within the last few years, several endogenous cannabinoids, including the fatty acid amides arachidonylethanolamide (anandamide), and arachidonyl amino acids such as N-arachidonylglycine, homo-γ-linolenyl-ethanolamide and docosatetraenyl-ethanolamide, as well as 2-arachidonyl-glycerol, have been shown to induce analgesia in laboratory animals (De Vane, W.A. et. al., Isolation and Structure of a Brain Constituent That Binds to the Cannabinoid Receptors, Science 258: 1946-1949, 1992; Hanus, L. et. al., Two New Unsaturated Fatty Acid Ethanolamides in Brain that Bind to the Cannabinoid Receptor, J. Med. Chem. 36: 3032-3034, 1993; Machoulam, R. et. al., Identification of an Endogenous 2-Monoglyceride, Present in Canine Gut, That Binds To Cannabinoid Receptors, Biochem. Pharmacol. 50: 83-90, 1995; Vogel, Z. et. al., Cannabinomimetic Behavioral Effects of and Adenylate Cyclase Inhibition By Two New Endogenous Anandamides, Eur. J. Pharmacol. 287: 145-152, 1995; Hargreaves, K. M. et al., Cannabinoids Reduce Hyperalgesia and Inflammation Via Interaction With Peripheral CB1 Receptors, Pain 75: 111-119, 1998; Rice,A. S. C., et. al., The Anti-Hyperalgesic Actions of the Cannabinoid Anandamide and the Putative CB2 Receptor Agonist Palmitoylethanolamide in Visceral and Somatic Inflammatory Pain, Pain 76: 189-199, 1998; Huang, S. M., et al., Identification of a New Class of Molecules, the Arachidonyl Amino Acids, and Characterization of One Member That Inhibits Pain, J. Biological Chemistry, 276: 46, 42639-42644, 2001). The ability of cannabinoid receptor antagonists and cannabinoid receptor antisense to induce hyperalgesia in animals suggests that endogenous cannabinoids regulate the nociceptive threshold (Hargreaves, K. M. et al., Hypoactivity of the Spinal Cannabinoid System Results in NMDA-Dependent Hyperalgesia, J. Neurosci. 18: 451-457, 1998; Piomelli, D. et. al., Control of Pain Initiation By Endogenous Cannabinoids, Nature 394: 277-281, 1998; Fields, H. L. et. al., An Analgesia Circuit Activated By Cannabinoids, Nature 395: 381-383, 1998). Elevation of levels of neuroactive fatty acid amides such as anandamide may provide a unique mechanism to achieve analgesia. The mechanisms by which endogenous cannabinoids are synthesized are not well understood; therefore, target for drugs aimed at increasing the synthesis of these compounds are slow to be identified.
Anandamide and the other identified endogenous cannabinoids are inactivated through a cleavage mechanism by a membrane-bound enzyme, fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). FAAH, therefore, provides an important target for regulating the activity of endogenous cannabinoids. The inhibition of FAAH may elevate levels of anandamide or other endogenous cannabinoids to increase the nociceptive threshold. Furthermore, the inhibition of FAAH would also extend the therapeutic benefits of other cannabinoid agoinsts in the treatment of emesis, anxiety, feeding, behaviors, movement disorders, glaucoma, neuroprotection and cardiovascular disease.

Bisarylimidazoly fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitors


A device and a method for physical characterization in a large-scale natural gas hydrate experimental system are provided. The device includes a reactor, horizontal wellbores, and vertical wellbores. The reactor includes an upper cover, a lower cover, and a reactor body, and the upper cover and the lower cover are sealably attached to two ends of the reactor to form a closed chamber. The physical characterization device further includes lateral vertical well assemblies and temperature-pressure-resistance assemblies, wherein the lateral vertical well assemblies and the temperature-pressure-resistance assemblies are disposed to penetrate the reactor from the upper cover to the lower cover. The physical characterization method is conducted using the physical characterization device, including a step of producing contour plots using a data processing software with three-dimensional matrix data collected by the pressure measuring tubes, the temperature measuring tubes, and the resistivity measuring columns.

As scientific research goes deeper, it will develop from a single-disciplinary form to an interdisciplinary and integrated form. Demands on experimental devices for natural gas hydrate simulation have also been developed from single-function designs to integration and systematization. Investigations shows that, existing experimental devices for natural gas hydrate simulation are capable of not only simulating the phase behavior of hydrates, but also simulating hydrate sediments, determining various physical and chemical properties of stratum with or without hydrate formation, and studying geological parameters of hydrate formation.
Currently, physical characterization in a large-scale experimental system only involves the characterization of temperature or any single parameter, which is insufficient for a complete study of the temperature, pressure and phase state in a large-scale hydrate simulation reactor or for a real-time and in-situ characterization of heat transfer, mass transfer and hydrate phase change during the exploitation of hydrates.

Physical characterization device and method for scale model of natural gas hydrate reservoir

GUANGZHOU INSTITUTE OF ENERGY CONVERSION, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES


An integrated circuit having an SRAM array includes SRAM cells arranged in rows and columns, and a global read circuit connected to globally read SRAM cells corresponding to accessed rows and columns of the SRAM array. The SRAM array also includes a separate, local sense and feedback circuit connected to a local column of the SRAM array, wherein a sensing portion indicates a memory state of an SRAM cell in an accessed row of the local column and a feedback portion rewrites the memory state back into the SRAM cell. Additionally, a method of operating an integrated circuit having an SRAM array includes providing an SRAM cell in an addressed condition of the SRAM array. The method also includes locally sensing a current memory state of the SRAM cell and locally feeding back to the SRAM cell to retain the memory state during the addressed condition.

A typical SRAM device is designed to store many thousands of bits of information. These bits are stored in individual cells, organized in an array of rows and columns to make efficient use of space on a semiconductor substrate containing the SRAM device. Commonly used cell architecture is known as the "6T" cell, by virtue of having a structure consisting of six MOS transistors. Four transistors defining an SRAM cell core or memory element are configured as cross-coupled CMOS inverters, which act as a bistable circuit that can indefinitely hold a memory state imposed on it, while powered. Each CMOS inverter includes a load or "pull-up" transistor and a driver or "pull-down" transistor. The outputs of the two inverters will be in opposite states, except during transitions from one state to another.
Two additional transistors are known as pass gate transistors, which provide access to the cross-coupled inverters during a read operation or a write operation. The gate inputs of the pass gate transistors are typically commonly connected to a word line for row access. The pass gate transistors are used to respectively connect each side of the memory element to a "true" bit line BLT and its complement (or "bar") bit line BLB for column access. In SRAMs having interleaved words in a row, half-addressed cells (those residing in non-selected columns in a selected row) are subject to upset when fully-addressed cells are being written. This can limit the assist given to writing into the cell (e.g., using a boosted word line signal for write).
Some SRAM cell architectures, such as a 7T or 8T SRAM cell architecture, include a read buffer that isolates the storage element during a read operation. Nevertheless, half-addressed cells in a write cycle are subject to upset. Read and write-back is one approach that can be used to preserve the state of half-addressed cells in a write cycle. However, using read and write-back often comes at the expense of considerable dynamic power. Improvements in this area would prove beneficial in the art.

Local sensing and feedback for an SRAM array


An item of seating furniture in the form of a bench (10) includes a backrest (11) and a seating surface (12), and has two rear support legs (13) arranged in the backrest (11) plane and two front support legs (14) arranged in each of the front outer corner regions of the seating surface (12). The seating surface (12) is divided perpendicularly to the plane of the backrest (11) and each of the seating surface parts (25) formed in this manner also have at least one inner-lying support leg (16). The two seating surface parts (25) can be pivoted outwards about their respective rear support legs (13) and into a seating position. The backrest (11), which is pivotally mounted on a main frame, can be pivoted into a horizontal table position.

The invention relates to an item of seating furniture in the form of a bench with a backrest and a seating surface with two rear support leg arranged in the plane of the backrest and two front support legs disposed respective in the front outer corner regions of the seating surface.
As far as this type of seating furniture is generally known to be used, a bench available as seating furniture merely permits the function of a seat, in particular of two or more people sitting next to one another on the seating surface. Often, situations arise in which a shelf in the form of a table top is desired. Providing a special table, however, is often not possible due to space considerations; further, providing a special table also means an additional expenditure of space for its storage as well as an additional manufacturing expense for table to be specially made.

Seating furniture with integrated table function


A heat curable epoxy composition comprising the contact product of an epoxy resin, an epoxy curing agent and an accelerator for the epoxy curing agent, the curing agent or the accelerator comprising the reaction product of (a) a phenolic resin (a) of general formula:

The subject matter of this invention relates to methylated polyalkylenepolyamines having one primary or secondary amines and at least two tertiary amines epoxy adducts, and blocked with phenolic resin as curing agents or accelerators in heat cured epoxy resins. These compositions can provide low activation temperature and good shelf stability as curing agents or accelerators in epoxy resin systems.
Conventional curable epoxy compositions are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,689,390; 4,977,201; 5,200,494 and EP 0 590 677; the disclosure of the foregoing is hereby incorporated by reference. There is a need in the heat cured epoxy art for accelerators and curing agents that provide low activation temperature, good shelf stability. The inventive methylated polyalkylenepolyamines having one primary or secondary amines and at least two tertiary amines epoxy adducts, and blocked with phenolic resin were found to provide low temperature cure, and good storage stability and mechanical strength in epoxy systems.

Low temperature curable epoxy compositions

Abstract: Where R1, R2, R3, R4 are each independently of one another a hydrogen or unbranched or branched alky group having 1 to 17 carbon atoms, and n is an integer form 0 to 50; and (b) a modified amine compound which is the reaction product of an epoxy resin and a methylated polyalkylenepolyamine having one primary or secondary amine and at least two tertiary amines of the general formula:

Abstract: Where R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 represent hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; n and m independently are integers from 1 to 10 and; X is an integer from 1 to 10.


A joining arrangement is provided for use in the construction of stud frame which includes a releasable attachment/detachment feature. The first member (plate) includes in at least one side wall a formation which, when members are joined, engages a corresponding formation in at least one wall of the second member (stud). The formation, such as a V-shaped protrusion, is/are disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the member and the formation on the second member is disposed generally parallel to its longitudinal axis such that upon engagement of the first and second members, the respective formations in the first and second members engage such that they are in alignment, thereby, securing the first member to the second. Additionally, a plurality of protrusions, which provide a gripping feature, may be formed on the upper surface of web for inhibiting the stud from sliding, slipping, moving and/or migrating within the plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to joining systems and to structural members for use in such joining systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to structural members which have gripping features formed on the lower and upper base plates which inhibit the vertically oriented stud from inadvertent slippage, movement and/or migration within the lower and upper base plates.
2. Background of the Invention
Traditionally, light weight construction of metal stud frames employs steel or aluminum stud members which are generally channel shaped and wherein the ends of the stud members engage channel shaped plate members. A standard form metal stud frame will usually comprise a series of spaced apart stud members which each engage via their ends respective opposing top and bottom plate members. According to conventional methodology, the frames are generally assembled on the ground. Typical frame construction involves placement of top and bottom plate members in spaced apart opposing relationship whereupon stud members are connected to the top and bottom plates which traditionally involves engaging the ends of the stud with tech screws or the like. These frames may or may not be braced but in the case where they are not braced with bracing members reliance for bracing is placed on tech screws. Unlike external frames, internal frames used in partitioning are not generally braced during construction as bracing is affected by wall cladding fixed to the frame. During construction, stud frames are structurally weak and in the case of internal frames, they are not effectively braced until the wall cladding is affixed to the frame. A small number of holding screws may be used to fix some studs to the top and bottom plates. Although a weak form of bracing is created by the conjunction between stud and plate members which are screwed, no reliance can be placed on the bracing of the frame as the unscrewed joins do not offer sufficient strength and resistance against slewing in the circumstance when the frame is lifted into position.
Installers screw the members together at the point of overlap between stud and plate but engagement of studs to plates with limited screwing will not of itself provide adequate bracing. The profiles of the known studs and plates are channel shaped with a planar base and sidewalls extending from and continuous with the edges of said base. Typically, a stud mates with a plate by insertion of the end of the stud into the throat of the plate. The fit is essentially friction grip and there is no resistance against separation of stud from plate until such time as tech screws are inserted.
Another method of affixation of studs to top and bottom plates involves a tab and slot arrangement in which tabs located at the extremity of the walls of the top and bottom plates engage a corresponding slot in each wall of the stud members following which the tradesman hammers the tabs so they are oriented at an angle other than normal to the walls of the stud members thereby locking the stud members against the top and bottom plates.
One advantage of this method is that more material is required to form the channel shaped top and bottom plates. Secondly, additional labor is required to bend the tabs into their locking position which can be awkward due to the position of the protruding tabs inside the channel shaped studs. Although the tab and slot method of connection of studs to plates is effective in securing the members, it is tedious and time consuming for tradesman to bend the tabs four times for each stud. The insertion of tech screws, although used in holding studs to plates during construction and until the cladding material is affixed to the stud frame is likewise time consuming and does not provide effective temporary bracing until all or the majority of the joins are screwed. Other methods of affixation of studs to plates have been used such as riveting, welding or clinching of each stud, all of which methods involve additional labor.
A further prior art method of joining structural members for a stud frame involves the use of cooperating and corresponding engaging formations in the walls of both stud and plates. The formations in the plate consist of a securing notch formed in the walls of the mating stud and plates. To facilitate stud location, the wall extremities of the plate are abbreviated by upturning of a lip formed at the extremities at the position where the stud mates with the plate. The additional material required to form the lip adds to material costs and necessitates a securing clip which adds to costs in labor and assembly. Another disadvantage of this mode of connection is that the surface area of engagement is low resulting in low resistance to relative rotation, twisting, and pulling out between stud and plate.
Another prior art method involves the engagement between a formation in the walls of the top and bottom plates and a corresponding formation in stud members. The formations are produced by pressing out of a region of the wall of each member so that the formations mate in snap fit male/female relationship. While this system works well, it necessitates an additional punching step during production which increases production time of the constituent structural members but it does not provide a useful and more convenient alternative to the tab system described above. All of the above systems rely on pre-punching and limits or removes entirely the ability of the installer to move the studs relative to plates once fitted and where adjustment may be required during construction to accommodate fit and finish errors or window or door size irregularities.
Another problem arising particularly in internal stud frame construction is irregularity in floor to ceiling height in buildings caused by poor concrete finishing and out of alignments which often necessitates cutting of stud members in regions of reduced height. In a normal stud frame, the stud members would be the same height or length but where there are irregularities in the ceiling or floor, the frame will not fit unless stud heights are suitably cut to accommodate those differences. This is time consuming and adds additional labor costs to the installation. Finally, another disadvantage of the known prior art is that the vertically oriented studs are prone to sliding, slipping, movement and/or migration within the lower base plate and upper base plate, particularly, while routing conduit through conduit ports. For instance, when the conduit is being pulled through the conduit ports formed in the vertically oriented studs, the conduit tends to catch and pull the studs from their predetermined spacing. Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide a gripping feature or the like, which will inhibit such unwanted sliding, slipping, movement and/or migration within the lower base plate and upper base plate.

Structural members with gripping features and joining arrangements therefor


In the context of electronic design automation and particularly circuit layout design software tools, systems and methods for incremental chaining of circuit devices (or, more generally, “figures,” which can include instances and pins) permit user-interactive abutment and placement. Selection of one or more anchor figures highlights chaining candidates which can be automatically chained to the anchor figure(s) upon selection, as with a single mouse click. As compared to manual interactive abutment or automatic batch-mode chaining, incremental chaining offers improved usability, reduced manual effort, and the opportunity for user interaction as a chain is constructed, because the user is permitted interventions at any point in the chaining process for altering device parameters or characteristics.

Semiconductor-based integrated circuits (ICs) can be highly complex, containing millions of circuit devices, such as transistors, and millions of interconnections between the circuit devices. Designing such complex circuits cannot be accomplished without the aid of computerized tools. Circuit designers use computer-based electronic design automation (EDA) tools for schematics, layouts, simulation, and verification of the complex circuits. EDA tools allow circuit designers to optimize complex electronic circuits, for example, by reducing the footprints of the various circuit devices. Designers rely on EDA tools to reduce the footprint of circuit devices by keeping them closer together to make use of chip area more efficiently.
An EDA tool can assist in optimizing an IC design by forming a chain of abutted layout devices to reduce the device footprint of the layout devices. The EDA tool can pack the layout devices closer together or merge the layout devices by abutting them, thereby saving valuable semiconductor space in the IC. For example, the EDA tool may detect that two layout devices are sufficiently close together to be abutted and may trigger an abutment process based on such detection. The EDA tool may then form chain of abutted layout devices, wherein successive layout devices are abutted to each other to form a linear chain.
The process of chaining thus involves the abutment of layout figures to form optimized chains. Conventionally, chaining is a batch-mode operation, with all layout figures to be chained being selected before a chaining command is invoked to execute a chaining algorithm. The chaining algorithm operates to chain the selected multiple layout figures. A chain generated by the chaining algorithm may then be placed by a user (e.g., a human circuit designer or engineer) upon completion of the chaining algorithm.

Incremental chaining in the presence of anchored figures


Conductor layers 2A and insulating layers 4A are alternately stacked so as to prepare a base material 17. A plurality of grooves 18 having a predetermined width are formed in a surface of the base material 17 in such a manner that these plural grooves 18 are located parallel to each other along a stacking layer direction in order to form a coil inner peripheral portion. Embedding materials 5 are filled into the grooves 18. Surfaces 16 of the base material into which the embedding materials 5 have been filled are flattened by polishing. The conductor layers 2A located adjacent to each other are connected to each other, so that helical coils which constitute inductive elements are constructed. Then, both the front plane and the rear plane of the resultant base material are covered by an insulating layer, which is cut so as to obtain respective chips.

The present invention is related to an inductive element and a method of manufacturing the inductive element which is used as an inductor device having a stacked layer structure, a common mode choke coil, or a transformer. Otherwise, this inductive element may be constituted in combination with other elements, or may be used in such a mode that this inductive element is assembled in a module.
As one example of conventional inductive elements, spiral-shaped coils are formed by using a photolithography method on both a front surface and a rear surface of a core substrate, while the core substrate is made of either resin or a composite material manufactured by mixing functional material powder with resin (see, for example, Japanese Patent No. 2714343 (Particularly, pages 3 to 4, FIGS. 3 and 5).
Also, as another prior art, a stacked layer ceramics chip inductor is typically known. That is, since plural layers of green seats having conductor patterns wound by ½-turn to ¾-turns are stacked and the stacked multilayers are cut to be sintered, helical-shaped coils are wound up along the stacking direction (see, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. HEI-11-103229 (Particularly, pages 4 to 5, FIG. 2).
Furthermore, as another conventional inductive element, there is a winding type inductive element. This conventional winding type inductive element is manufactured by winding a wire on a bobbin in a helical shape, while this wire constitutes a winding (see, for instance, Japanese Patent Publication No. HEI-11-204352 (Particularly, page 3, FIG. 2).
Also, as this sort of inductive element, a composite material made of both ferrite powder and resin is employed as an insulating base (see, for example, Japanese patent Publication No. HEI-10-270255 (pages 3 to 5, FIGS 1 and 2) and Japanese Patent Publication No. HEI-11-154611 (pages 4 to 6, FIGS. 1 and 2).
The conventional inductive element using the above-described thin-film type coil can hardly obtain a high Q characteristic (Q-factor) in view of the own construction of this conventional inductive element. Also, since the spiral coils are formed on the same planes of the core substrate, very fine processing is highly required for the conductor patterns, so that higher inductance values can be hardly realized. Also, in order to form the spiral coils, the patterning operations are required at least two times by employing the photolithography method. Therefore, there is such a problem that a total number of manufacturing stages is increased.
Also, as to the above-described stacked layer type inductive element, since the internal conductors are stacked in the multilayer form by employing the printing method, both printing fluctuation and stacking fluctuation occur. In addition, since the stacked layer type inductive element is sintered, the inductance precision is lowered due to shrinkage of the element and shrinkage fluctuation while this element is sintered. Thus, such an inductive element having narrow tolerance can be hardly manufactured.
Furthermore, because the sintered conductor patterns form a coil, it is difficult to obtain a high Q-factor.
Also, as to the above-explained winding type inductive element, since the wires are wound on the respective bobbins one by one, this winding type inductive element can be hardly made compact, and the better productivity thereof cannot be achieved, so that such a winding type inductive element can be hardly manufactured at a lower cost.
To solve the above-described problems, it is proposed another type of inductive element in Japanese Patent Publication 2003-197427. That is, through holes are formed in the form of two columns in a first layer which is made of either resin or such a composite material manufactured by mixing functional material powder with resin. A helical-shaped coil is constituted by a conductor which communicates between through holes formed in the different columns on the upper and lower planes of the first layer.
With employment of such an inductive element structure, the conductor patterns can be realized by way of a step capable of forming patterns in high precision such as a photolithography method. In addition, since the conductor pattern is formed on the flat portion of the first layer (core substrate), the positioning precision of the conductor patterns can be improved, and there is less characteristic fluctuation which is caused by shifts of the patterns when the patterns are stacked in the multilayer form. As a result, the narrow tolerance as to the electric characteristic can be achieved. Also, in this inductive element, the helical coil is not constructed in the stacking stage, but the helical-shaped coil is constituted by forming the plain conductor patterns. As a result, the helical-shaped coil can be constituted within a short time. Thus, the devices having the narrow tolerance as to the electric characteristic can be produced with low cost.
However, in this inductive element described in the prior patent application, the through holes must be formed in the core substrate by using laser or the like. If a depth of this through hole is larger than, or equal to approximately 0.3 mm, then the following problem occurs. That is, such a through hole whose diameter is approximately 0.02 mm can be hardly formed. Moreover, the through holes having the uniform sectional areas along the penetration direction of the through holes, and the conductors can be hardly filled/formed. Also, there is another problem that such through holes having the well-matched shapes can be hardly formed.

Inductive element and manufacturing method of the same


A method for customized coexistence management based on user behavior is disclosed. The method can include a wireless communication device determining a behavior pattern of a user of the wireless communication device; assigning a priority level to each of a first application and a second application based on the behavior pattern; using a first wireless communication interface to support data communication for the first application; using a second wireless communication interface to support data communication for the second application concurrent with data communication for the first application over the first wireless communication interface; and managing in-device coexistence of the first wireless communication interface and the second wireless communication interface during concurrent data communication for the first application and the second application based on the priority level assigned to the first application and the priority level assigned to the second application.

Many wireless communication devices support multiple wireless communication technologies and may concurrently communicate via multiple wireless communication technologies, and, thus, via multiple radio links. In many instances, wireless communication technologies used by a device can use channel bands that may interfere with each other. In such instances, energy from a band used by one technology can leak into a band used by another technology. This energy leakage can raise the noise floor and cause a problem known as desense. In many instances, desense can negatively impact the use of certain channel bands and, in severe cases, can render certain channel bands unusable. Accordingly, interference that can result in desense poses a problem for in-device coexistence of multiple wireless communication technologies.
A particularly troublesome in-device coexistence condition can result from a scenario in which a device emits a transmission via a first wireless communication technology, referred to as an aggressor technology, while the device is receiving data via a second wireless communication technology, referred to as a victim technology. Data receipt by the victim technology can be damaged by desense interference from the aggressor transmission. In this regard, received packet errors, or even complete deafening of the victim technology receiver can result from the interference that can be caused by the aggressor technology transmission. For example transmission of a cellular signal by a device at a time when a Bluetooth or wireless local area network (WLAN) signal is received can deafen the Bluetooth or WLAN receiver, causing errors and, in some cases, complete loss of connection.
Many wireless communication devices supporting multiple wireless communication technologies accordingly implement coexistence management policies in an attempt to reduce or avoid in-device interference resulting from concurrent communication via multiple radio links. However, existing coexistence management policies are generally static policies, such as may be defined by network service providers, which are applied across multiple devices and users. For example, data traffic on an aggressor radio link is often penalized by default regardless of the relative level of importance between the data traffic on the aggressor radio link and data traffic on the victim radio link. These static policies fail to take into account the preferences of specific users and, thus often to fail to provide a good quality of experience for users.

Customized coexistence management based on user behavior


Exhaust gas 2 from a coal power generator 4 may be used to provide a commercial soil additive. The exhaust gas 2 is fed to a growing cell 14 containing bio-mass material. After the bio-mass material matures, the bio-mass material is harvested to produce the commercial soil additive, which is preferably treated to produce mulch 18 and compost 20.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention related to a process for producing a commercial soil additive from exhaust gas generated from a coal power generator.
2. Description of Related Art
Over a million new homes per year have been developed from American farm land in recent decades with little being done to improve the soil after development. Soil additives may be used to improve soil quality in these areas as well as broader agriculture applications. Currently, peat moss is used as a soil additive to lower pH. However, it is mostly imported from Canada and is very expensive for agricultural use. A greater supply of soil additives, particularly in a wider pH range, could be used to replenish depleted soil if it could be produced at a lower cost. Since the cost would be low, the soil additive could be supplied to larger areas of land without incurring a large cost to the consumer.
America is the "Saudi Arabia" of coal. Coal is America's greatest fossil fuel geological resource and now produces over half of the nation's electricity. Natural gas currently produces approximately 15% of the nation's electricity. Current and future coal use in power generation is defined by environmental regulations including where power plants are sited, what quality of coal can be mined and burned, and the economics of its use. Overall environmental theories such as global warming have become paramount in directing research and planning in the use of coal as a future fuel. The history of the modern use of coal as an energy stock has been driven by environmental legislation and regulation from Clean Air Act 1, 2, Surface mining Acts and Regulations, and concerns over global warming. Though great strides have been made to reduce sulfur and other emissions from coal fired electrical generators, the basic process remains as a perceived "smokestack" industry which causes enormous political, siting, and public acceptance problems. It would be advantageous to develop a commercial by-product which provides a market for the carbon and other by-products produced from coal power generators. An ideal process would also utilize the water energy generated in coal use. This type of process would greatly expand coal resources.

Process to produce a commercial soil additive by extracting waste heat, exhaust gas, and other combustion by-products from a coal power generator


A telephone operating system is described. The invention is a telephone system have unique monitoring methods and equipment to allow the user to following conversations and retrieve portions of the conversation and to take certain actions in connection with conversations.

1. Field of the Invention
The technology relates to telephone monitoring, comparing and recording devices.
2. Prior Art
Recording of telephone calls dates back to the 1920 (an example from Hellwarth (U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,956) is the Rice patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,230) and digital recording dates U.S. Pat. No. 4,054,756 in 1976.
HELLWARTH: (FILED Apr. 20, 1989) The '956 patent discloses an electronic computer system for control of a telephone instrument. Phones of the present assignee with on-site cpu's were in circulation well before such filing date of the '956 patent. In fact, Dively, U.S. Pat. No. 4,698,840, cited in the Hellwarth '956 patent, and filed in 1985, shows a telephone with a CPU.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,261 to BROWN (FILED Aug. 20, 1993) is a phone patent directed towards selectively blocking or recording calls in response to some parameter. There are "parameters" marking calls where the parameter is a specific number, a triggering event, or a call feature or a type of call (such as a call to a specific number). Most of these events are at least generally present in the prior art as shown below. For example a message in response to a third line on a party call (U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,698) would be similar "three way calling". Termination or blocking of calls at this stage is covered in prior art, but not cited in the Brown application. Hird I–IV, discussed below (1990 issue dates), shows methods of reacting to call specific 'parameters'. The calls are continuously monitored for the parameter in question, calls may be blocked or recorded selectively and messages may be played back. All of these features are also shown below in the prior art.
GATEWAY II-McFarlen (filed Mar. 11, 1996) U.S. Pat. No. 5,796,811 discloses a method for determining three way call events.
The Hird U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,908,852; 4,920,558; 4,920,562; 4,933,966; 5,093,858 cover operator free call placement. All of the claims involve an 'electronic operator' where the phone has stored messages for collecting information from the call maker and call recipient. Billing information is also retrieved. Storage of call data information (mainly for billing) and automatic termination is discussed. Speech files are digitized and stored for purposes of playback within the phone. The main concept follows the prior art where the operator's various tasks are replaced by the cpu and automated responses along with a time keeping function for billing.
There have been 'electronic operators' within phones sold since 1989. These phones were purchased from inventories of such phones, although there were various upgrades to the systems as software design and hardware capabilities were refined. Some of this technology was felt to be present and in wide-spread use before 1989. A discussion of the pre-Hellwarth prior art (from Hellwarth) will shed some additional light.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,027,109 discusses call forwarding. Manipulation (termination) of some call features is discussed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,054,756 is a billing acknowledgment system for phones accomplishing the tasks claimed in Hellwarth and Hird to some extent. Another similar patent in scope is Frey, U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,577.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,371,752 covers storage of telephone data (more in the form of a high tech answering machine). Forwarding of the calls is covered. Storage and retrieval of call specific data is also covered. U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,698 appears to be an early patent for establishing a line signal of a desired type (a telephone pick-up) and providing information primarily for controlling party lines.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,540,855 is another signal detection patent.
Rice, U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,230 is a system for storing and monitoring telephone call discrete information. "Status" data is transmitted to a CPU. Diesel, U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,273 is a forwarding patent which allows data from the call to determine if it should be forwarded.

Abstract: There may be two groups of users within the system, the first being the maker and recipient of the call and the other being a person or device monitoring the call. The system provides a telephone monitoring device for reading a biological marker for an individual and associating the marker with a pin number and associating the pin number with other call information to be stored with data on the call along with an interface means for storing information on a call from a group of information comprised of the locations from and to which the call is made, the PIN number and name or the maker, time when made and when finished, data of the call, telephone numbers and the like. The system may convert the telephone call to digital format for storage and to maintain a database of data, voices or sounds in a digital format, particularly secondary ring signals, and to compare the digital database of voices or sounds or data (particularly phone numbers, names, addresses and area codes) based on user controlled degrees of similarity and to take different actions from a group of actions including monitoring, marking, terminating or playing a recording before, after or in conjunction with the ongoing call. The invention to feed the data to the comparing mechanism at an accelerated rate, typically 4 to 5 times the speed of the original call, with or without filters for which isolate voice ranges or data ranges, with or without pitch attenuation to keep the voice at an apparently normal pitch.


A method of recommending an application, which is capable of selecting and recommending an application with a high possibility of use, the method including: receiving, in a server, frequencies of use of a plurality of applications that are classified according to a time when each application is executed or a location where each application is executed; selecting an application from among the plurality of applications based on time and location information of where a mobile terminal is located and the frequency of use of the application; and transmitting application recommendation information including the selected application from the server to the mobile terminal.

1. Field
The exemplary embodiments relate to a method of recommending an application, a mobile terminal using the method, and a communication system using the method, and more particularly, to a method of recommending an application, which is executable in a mobile terminal, to a user, a mobile terminal using the method, and a communication system using the method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, adoption of mobile terminals such as smart phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), tablet personal computers, and pad type terminals has been rapidly expanding. Development of applications that are executable in the mobile terminals is also increasing rapidly to keep up with the rapid expansion of mobile terminals, and as a result, a great number of applications have been released.
Users of the mobile terminals need to search and select a desired application from among a great number of applications. As the number of applications to be searched increases, more time and effort is required to search for and select a predetermined application, which brings about inconvenience in using the mobile terminals.
Thus, there is a need to provide a method of recommending an application coinciding with an intention of a user to minimize a time that is required to search for the application, and to provide an apparatus using the method.

Method of recommending application, mobile terminal using the method, and communication system using the method


An electrical connector includes an insulating body, and a first and second terminal groups located in the insulating body. The second terminal group is located below the first terminal group. The first terminal group has a first grounding terminal, and two pairs of first differential signal terminals located at two sides. The second terminal group has a pair of second differential signal terminals, a second grounding terminal and a power supply terminal located at two sides. The first differential signal terminal, the first and second grounding terminals, and the power supply terminal have a first, third, fourth and fifth fixing portions fixed to the insulating body, and a first, third, fourth and fifth vertical portions bends downward and extends from the corresponding fixing portions. The first grounding terminal is wider than the second differential signal terminal. The fourth and fifth vertical portions are wider than the first vertical portion.

In a portable electronic product, and in particular, a notebook computer, product design thereof generally aims to achieve maximum functions by use of a minimum volume space.
Nowadays, electronic technologies develop rapidly, such that a computer is developed from a desktop computer into a notebook computer, which is small in volume and convenient for carrying. Notebook computers generally exist at each corner of the world. When a user performs data or signal transmission or connects to another peripheral device, the so-called peripheral device interface is required, and a universal serial bus (USB) is most widely used. The conventional USB 2.0 has technical problems such as insufficient transmission speed and insufficient driving and operating power. Thus, on the basis of the existing USB 2.0 connector, the industry adds a row of USB 3.0 terminal groups to solve the foregoing problems. However, when this type of connector works, and in particular, when the connector works at a high frequency, mutual crosstalk inevitably occurs between a USB 2.0 terminal and a USB 3.0 terminal, thereby affecting signal transmission quality.
When a notebook computer needs to have multiple socket electrical connectors with the same communication protocol standard, such as having two USB electrical connectors to simultaneously connecting two electronic products using the USB transmission standard, in order to reduce the volume occupied by the socket electrical connectors, a stacked socket electrical connector is generally adopted. Although this stacked socket electrical connector conforms to the requirement of the portable electronic product on reduction of the space occupancy rate, the distance between various transmission terminals are also reduced while reducing the space occupancy rate, inevitably resulting in increasing of mutual electromagnetic crosstalk between signal terminals, thereby causing high-frequency instability and transmission signal distortion.
Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the art to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

Electrical connector with reduced electromagnetic interference


Coupling reliability of a passive component is improved to increase the reliability of a semiconductor device. A first through hole is formed in a first electrode part of a first plate-like lead, and a second through hole is formed in a second electrode part of a second plate-like lead. As a result, at the first electrode part of the first plate-like lead, one external terminal of the passive component can be coupled to the first electrode parts on both sides of the first through hole while being laid across the first through hole. Also, at the second electrode part of the second plate-like lead, the other external terminal of the passive component can be coupled to the second electrode parts on both sides of the second through hole while being laid across the second through hole. Accordingly, at central portions both in the longitudinal and width directions of the passive component, the passive component is surrounded by sealing members. As a result, thermal stress applied to jointing materials such as solder can be reduced, improving the reliability of the semiconductor device (semiconductor package).

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a technique effectively applicable to a semiconductor device having a passive component and semiconductor chips integrated as one package.
As a CPU (Central Processing Unit) used in, for example, a personal computer, a server, a game machine, etc., becomes highly efficient, a power supply circuit for driving the CPU has been required to have a high-speed response, large-current capability, as well as higher integration.
A DC-DC converter, which is used as a power supply circuit, has a structure in which a power MOSFET for a high side and a power MOSFET for a low side are coupled in series, and is controlled by a driver circuit (driver IC).
In order to realize a higher-speed and more efficient DC-DC converter, there is a semiconductor device in which there are mounted on a lead frame a semiconductor chip in which a power MOSFET for a high side is formed, a semiconductor chip in which a power MOSFET on a low side is formed, and a semiconductor chip in which a driver circuit is formed, and are integrated as one package (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2005-294464).
Also, a passive component such as a capacity element is required for the purpose of stabilizing the power voltage supplied to the DC-DC converter. Conventionally, this passive component is arranged, for example, outside the package disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2005-294464.
The present inventors have studied to achieve a highly efficient semiconductor device by providing a passive component in a package in which a power MOSFET and a driver circuit are mounted on a lead frame, and found out a problem when mounting the passive component on the lead frame.
Further, techniques for mounting a passive component on a lead frame are disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2004-296624, Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2004-356494, and Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2002-124616. Also, a technique for mounting a semiconductor chip and a passive component in the same package is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2003-243595.


A method of and system for processing an extend request for a data set in a storage facility is disclosed. The method and system may include receiving the extend request. The extend request may include a new extent allocation amount for the data set. The data set may be associated with a number of volumes in the storage facility. The method and system may include apportioning the new extent allocation amount among fractional amounts. The method and system may include allocating the fractional amounts.

The amount of data that needs to be managed by enterprises is growing at an extremely high rate. One challenge facing database management systems is allocating sufficient storage space to accommodate a data set that is expanding in size. A customer of a database management service typically must review their data set compared to a current allocation to ensure that sufficient storage space and logical storage units are available for an addition to the data set.

International Business Machines Corporation