A device for estimating Direction of Arrival (DOA) of sound from Q≥1 sound sources is provided. The device is configured to obtain a phase difference matrix, which includes measured phase difference values, each of the measured phase difference values being a measured value of a phase difference between two microphone units for a frequency bin in a range of frequencies of the sound. The device is further configured to generate a replicated phase difference matrix by replicating the measured phase difference values to other potential sinusoidal periods, calculate a DOA value for each phase difference value in the replicated phase difference matrix, and determine, as Q DOA results, the Q most prominent peak values in a histogram generated based on the calculated DOA values.

Most multichannel sound source DOA estimation algorithms suffer from spatial aliasing problems. As a consequence of spatial aliasing, interchannel phase differences are wrapped beyond the spatial aliasing frequency. A common solution for addressing this problem is to adjust a distance between microphones or microphone arrays receiving the sound generated by the sound sources, in order to obtain a suitable minimum aliasing frequency. Further, to then take only the frequency band below that minimum aliasing frequency for localizing the sound sources.
A conventional method for localizing sound sources using microphones is to estimate a Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA, Δt) from each sound source to the microphones. For narrow band localization algorithms, the TDOA can be estimated from the interchannel phase differences μi in each frequency band. The relationship between these phase differences and the TDOA isμi=2πfiΔt  (1)where fi denotes the frequency of the narrowband. For a far-field assumption, DOA can further be estimated from the TDOA. The relationship between the phase differences μi and DOA, as expressed by an angle θ of the sound source to the microphones, is shown in the below equation (2). In this equation, c denotes the speed of sound in the recording environment, and Δd denotes a distance between the microphones.
                              μ          i                =                              2                        π                                                                                f              i                                                                                sin                                                                                θ                                                                Δ                                                                          d                    c                                    (        2        )
Conventional algorithms estimate narrowband DOA by estimating a phase difference . However, when μi>2π,  will be wrapped into [−π, π], which can be seen in FIG. 13 (on the left-hand side) for the higher frequencies. The correct, frequency-dependent phase differences are indicated here in FIG. 13 by the straight bold line, whereas incorrect, wrapped, frequency-dependent phase differences are shown along the jagged line. As a result, the estimated DOA will be wrong, which can also be seen in FIG. 13 (on the right-hand side). Here, the correct (frequency-independent) DOA is indicated by the horizontal bold line, whereas the incorrect (frequency-dependent) DOAs are indicated along the jagged line. The illustrated problem is the so-called spatial aliasing problem.
The frequency at the boundary of the spatial aliasing problem is called the aliasing frequency fa. From the below equation (3), it can be seen that fa is related to the angle θ, which is unfortunately unknown, so that the wrapped phase difference matrix , cannot directly be unwrapped for frequencies above fa.
The minimum aliasing frequency for a certain scenario is defined as fa0, wherein
                                          f            a                    =                      c                          2                                                                              sin                                                                                θ                                                                          Δ                                                                                d                                      ,                              f                          a              0                                =                      c                          2                            Δ                                                                                d                                                          (        3        )
Conventionally, when a sound source is broad in frequency band, a Discrete Fourier transform (DFT) is applied. Then, the narrowband localization algorithm is repeated on each frequency. Thus, a "raw" phase difference vector is obtained for a single sound source scenario, and a "raw" phase difference matrix is obtained for a multisource scenario, which is defined as μ0. This phase difference matrix includes correct phase difference values only at fi≤fa0.
Therefore, conventionally only the lower frequency bands (fi≤fa0) of the sound are taken into account for the localization, in order to avoid the spatial aliasing problem. This is a significant disadvantage of the conventional algorithms.

Device and method for estimating direction of arrival


A silicon wafer has a polycrystalline silicon film formed on one main surface. The polycrystalline silicon film has a multilayer structure composed of X layers (X is an integer equal to or greater than two) containing <220> oriented components in different proportions. The proportion of the <220> oriented component in the first polycrystalline silicon layer in contact with the silicon wafer is larger than the respective proportions of the <220> oriented components in the second to X-th polycrystalline silicon layers superposed on the first polycrystalline silicon layer. It becomes possible to provide a silicon wafer whose polycrystalline silicon film possesses high gettering capability and in which stress acting on the silicon wafer is decreased.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a silicon wafer and its manufacturing method. More particularly, the present invention relates to a silicon wafer having a polycrystalline silicon film for use in gettering operations which is formed on the main surface (hereinafter referred to as a "reverse surface") opposite the main surface (hereinafter referred to as a "front surface") on which semiconductor devices are fabricated, as well as to a method of manufacturing the silicon wafer.
2. Description of the Related Art
For various reasons, impurities such as heavy metals are generated during fabrication of a semiconductor device from a silicon wafer, and the thus-generated impurities contaminate the vicinity of the surface of a silicon wafer which will become an active area in the semiconductor device. If the vicinity of the surface of the silicon wafer which will become an active area is contaminated by impurities, the characteristics of the device are degraded, which in turn reduces the proportion of non-defective devices. To prevent such a problem, a technique of intentionally collecting impurities outside of the active area; namely, a gettering technique, is commonly used. A representative method of the gettering technique is the forming of polycrystalline silicon film for use in gettering operations on the reverse surface of a silicon wafer.
According to this conventional method, a polycrystalline silicon layer is usually formed by growing polycrystalline silicon on the reverse surface of the silicon using a LPCVD (Low Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition) method. The characteristics of the polycrystalline silicon film thus formed as a gettering film by the low pressure chemical vapor deposition method are represented by the stress acting on the silicon wafer, as well as by the gettering capability.
Specifically, the polycrystalline silicon film imposes stress on the silicon wafer having the polycrystalline silicon film formed on the reverse surface thereof. As a result, as opposed to a silicon wafer without a polycrystalline silicon layer, the silicon wafer having a polycrystalline layer becomes warped to a great extent.
Considerable warpage of the wafer presents a problem in the process of fabricating semiconductor devices, and hence there is a demand for a silicon wafer having a polycrystalline film which reduces the stress acting on the silicon wafer.
Particularly, even if a given magnitude of stress imposed on a silicon wafer by the polycrystalline silicon film is identical, the warpage developed in the silicon wafer becomes greater with increasing diameter of the silicon wafer. Associated with a recent tendency of semiconductor devices to be highly integrated with higher accuracy, the diameter of the silicon wafer is steadily increasing. Because of this, it is to be desired that the warpage of the silicon wafer be reduced to as small an extent as possible.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, if an attempt is made to reduce the stress acting on the silicon wafer, the gettering capability of the polycrystalline silicon layer decreases. The relationship between the stress and the gettering capability remains unchanged even with changes in parameters; e.g., the temperature and pressure within a chamber used for low pressure chemical vapor deposition, and a flow rate of SiH.sub.4 (which is reaction gas). For this reason, it has been deemed that the stress acting on the silicon wafer cannot be reduced without decreasing the gettering capability of the polycrystalline silicon film.
As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, when attention is directed to a proportion of a component in the polycrystalline silicon film which have a <220> orientation (hereinafter referred to as the "<220> oriented component"), the gettering capability of the polycrystalline silicon film is improved with an increase in the proportion of the <220> oriented component, and the stress acting on the silicon wafer becomes greater, as well. The reason for this is as follows: Namely, the polycrystalline silicon film is composed of silicon crystal of various grain sizes, and silicon crystal of small grain size contains a large amount of <220> oriented component. The smaller the grain size of silicon crystal, the greater the surface area of grain boundaries. As a result of this, the number of getter sites increases, and hence the gettering capability of the polycrystalline silicon film also increases. At the same time, as the grain size of silicon crystal decreases, the stress produced between grains increases, so that the stress which the polycrystalline silicon film imposes on the silicon wafer increases.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 4-333238, there already exists a technique which is intended to improve the gettering capability of a polycrystalline silicon film by increasing the amount of the <220> oriented component in the polycrystalline silicon film. As previously described, this technique has a drawback; i.e., an increase in the stress acting on the silicon wafer, which thereby increases warpage of the wafer.

Silicon wafer, and method of manufacturing the same


The invention provides an apparatus for supplying power to superconducting loads includes a current source, a cryogenic region (e.g., a cryogenic chamber), a first switching device in series between the current source and a superconducting load, and a second switching device in parallel with the superconducting load. The switching devices are arranged so that, when the first is closed and the second is open, recharging current is supplied to the superconducting load. The second switching device serves as a shunt. When it is closed and the first is open, current recirculates through the persistent (or partially persistent) superconducting load. The invention also provides a superconducting magnet incorporating such a power supply.

The invention pertains to superconducting magnets and power supplies for superconducting devices such as superconducting magnets.
A superconducting device comprises a superconducting element (such as a superconducting ceramic coil) that is contained within a cryogenic chamber and that is driven by a power supply. The power supply is typically maintained at ambient temperature, e.g., 300.degree. K., while the cryogenic chamber (and the superconducting devices therein) is maintained at the temperature of liquid nitrogen (77.degree. K.) or below. Particularly, for ceramic superconducting elements, the chamber is maintained at so-called high temperature superconducting (HTS) ranges, to wit, 20.degree.-110.degree. K., while for metallic superconducting elements, the chamber is maintained at low temperature superconducting (LTS) temperature ranges, to wit, 4.degree.-20.degree. K.
Differences between the power supply temperature and cryogenic chamber temperature makes supplying power to the chamber difficult. Traditionally, power has been carried by conventional metallic wire leads (or joints) connecting the ambient temperature power supply to the cryogenic chamber. Use of such leads, however, makes it difficult (and expensive) to maintain a low temperature in the chamber. Particularly, if the leads have a thick cross section, they conduct a large amount of heat from the ambient environment into the chamber. If the cross section of the leads is reduced, the amount of heat transferred by conduction is lessened, although increased resistance in the metal results in heat input via resistive heating. One prior art solution for minimizing conductive and resistive heating is to cool the leads with cryogenic vapors, e.g., vapor from liquid helium; see Efferson, "Helium Vapor Cooled Current Leads," The Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 38, No. 12, December 1967.
The prior art suggests an additional approach for LTS applications. Rather than driving current through lossy conductive leads, it suggests using "flux pumps" to inductively pass power across the cryogenic barrier. In a nutshell, an AC-powered coil is placed on the outside of the chamber in order to induce alternating current flow in another coil on the inside of the chamber. A rectifier within the chamber converts the induced power to direct current (DC). See, TenKate, "Superconducting Rectifiers" (Thesis), Twente University, Apr. 6, 1984.
Thermally-activated superconductive switches are typically used to control the flow of current from the rectifier to the superconducting load. The switches typically constitute a material that is conductive at LTS temperatures, but nonconductive at higher temperatures. Those higher temperatures, which are only slightly above the LTS temperature, can be induced via small resistive elements disposed about the switches and activated via thin, low-current leads passing into the chamber. In LTS applications, e.g., superconducting magnets with metallic and intermetallic coils, these switches can be "thrown" with little heat input to the cryogenic chamber.
Flux pump technology has traditionally been thought to provide little value in HTS applications, e.g., superconducting magnets with ceramic coils. This is because thermally-activated superconductive switches operational in HTS temperature ranges are believed to require too much heat for transition between the open and closed states. Moreover, these switches, are not believed to change state rapidly enough to permit adequate control of superconducting ceramic coils and other HTS loads.
Where superconducting coils are employed as magnets, e.g., for medical magnetic resonance imaging, there is typically a need for constant magnetic field output. Metallic LTS superconducting coils are often used for these applications, since they are "persistent," i.e., they maintain constant current flows without additional applied power. Leads used to drive power into those coils can typically be disconnected to reduce heat loss, once coils have achieved the desired persistent states.
In contrast, magnets fashioned from superconducting ceramics or other HTS materials experience a phenomenon referred to as "flux creep." In these devices, a finite voltage drop across the device (e.g., NMR insert) necessitates permanent connection of the current leads and at least intermittent application of additional power.
In view of the foregoing, an object of this invention is to provide an improved power supply for superconducting devices, and, more particularly, a power supply that permits adequate powering and control of superconducting loads (such as coils) without adding excessive heat to the cryogenic chamber.
Another object to the invention is to provide a power supply for superconducting loads that can compensate for the "flux creep" traditionally experienced by ceramic superconducting loads and other HTS elements, without introducing a large amount of heat through permanently connected high current leads.
Still another object to the invention is to provide an improved power supply for metallic and intermetallic superconductors, or other LTS loads.
Yet further aspects of the invention are to provide improved superconducting magnets.
Still other objects of the invention are to provide such power supplies as can be readily constructed without great cost.

Superconducting magnets and power supplies for superconducting devices


To provide a mobile navigation apparatus for facilitating the decision as to which direction a vehicle should be headed when it has moved to a location deviated from a planned travel route. When the current location of a vehicle is at a location deviated from the planned travel route, a straight line connecting the current location to a shortest distance location on the planned travel route, the straight line making the distance shortest from the current location to the planned travel route is displayed on display means along with the map information stored in map information storage means and the vehicle""s current positional information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a navigation system for use in mobile bodies which displays map information and current positional information.
2. Description of Background Art
Mobile navigation systems that display both map information and current positional information are disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 5-32681. The disclosed apparatus detects the travel distance and travel direction of a mobile body or a vehicle, obtains a mobile bodys current location from the detected travel distance and travel direction, and shows a straight line connecting the obtained current location to a destination onto map information on a display unit.
The background art mobile navigation apparatus displays a straight line connecting a current location to a destination and map information, so that if a mobile body deviates from a planned travel route, it is difficult to determine whether to travel along the planned route, go to the destination without returning to the planned route or go to another point on the planned route.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an mobile navigation apparatus for facilitating the decision as to which direction the mobile body should head if the mobile body has deviated from a planned travel route.
In carrying out the present invention and according to one aspect thereof, there is provided a mobile navigation apparatus comprising: current positional information generating means for detecting a current location of a mobile body and generating current positional information; map information storage means for storing map information including road information; display map information generating means for reading map information on a predetermined area from the map information storage means on the basis of the current positional information and generating display map information from the map information thus read, and display means for displaying the display map information and the current positional information; the mobile navigation apparatus further comprising: travel route planning means for planning a travel route of the mobile body on the basis of the road information; wherein, if the current location is deviated from the planned travel route, the display means shows a straight line connecting a shortest distance location on the planned travel route to the current location, the straight line making a shortest distance from the current location to the planned travel route.
Namely, according to the present invention, if a mobile body has deviated from a planned travel route, a straight line is displayed which connects a current location of the mobile body to a shortest distance location on the planned travel route which makes a shortest distance from the current location of the mobile body to the planned travel route. Consequently, the novel configuration facilitates the decision as to which direction to head the mobile body.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Mobile navigation apparatus with route deviation indication


A video lighthead mountable to a video camera and having a dimmer control that varies the intensity of the light output from the lighthead using pulse width modulation techniques. A photo sensor measures the intensity of light reflected from a subject in front of the lighthead. The intensity of light output from the lighthead is adjusted by control circuitry in response to changes in measured reflected light intensity to maintain a constant level of illumination. The adjustment is carried out by modifying the duty cycle of a pulse width modulation circuit. The duty cycle adjustment of the pulse width modulation is also used to compensate for supply voltage variations in order to maintain constant light output.

The present invention relates to a portable video lighthead typically used on video cameras. These lightheads may be used, for example, to provide illumination for video cameras used under low light level conditions and light fill situations when overhead lighting or strong sunlight creates dark shadows on the subject.
Portable video lightheads are exemplified by the Mini-Fill lighthead line of Frezzolini Electronics, Inc. of Hawthorne, N.J. They are extremely lightweight at about 12 ounces and have a compact size of 2 by 4.5 inches. They typically operate from any 12 to 14 or 30 volt battery, utilize high efficiency mirror lamps and operate in the range of 20-100 watts. They mount on any video camera, such as those used by the broadcasting industry for televising events.
When used indoors, the Mini-Fill lightheads may be too bright for some purposes. It is therefore desirable to modify the brightness of the Mini-Fill lightheads so that they may be used indoors and yet satisfy the requirements for less obtrusive lightheads.
Further, it is also desirable to maintain the overall brightness selected by the user at a constant level, even as ambient lighting conditions change, as the lighthead battery voltage drops, and as the subject moves closer to or further from the light source.

Video lighthead with dimmer control and stabilized intensity


A cargo body for transport by a cargo vehicle includes a floor, side walls and optionally a roof wall, where at least one wall has a plurality of elongated posts. The posts attach an outer skin to inner wall panels. The front face of each elongated post has a recessed trough opening to a cargo area defined by the walls and the floor.

The present invention relates generally to cargo bodies and, more particularly, to cargo bodies with vertical posts in their side walls.
A wide variety of conveyances are known for carrying cargo. Van-type semi trailers, for example, typically include a deck assembly supported by a side wall structure, wheels and front legs. The deck assembly may include longitudinal floor boards and transverse cross-members, such as I-beams, extending between opposing bottom rails. The deck transfers its load to the bottom rails, wheels and, depending upon whether the trailer is coupled to a tractor or is free-standing, to a tractor fifth wheel or to retractable front legs on the trailer. The side wall structure of a van-type trailer also supports some of the load, much in the same way that the trusses of a bridge support the load of a roadway. This allows for the floor to be somewhat lighter, resulting in a reduction in the trailer's overall weight.
In a monocoque-type trailer, individual interior side wall panel members and an outer wall are joined together, often by a post, channel or zee-shaped structural member, and to a suspension subframe to form a self-supporting body construction. The outer wall and inner panel members may carry some of the stresses between the posts, floor and roof of the trailer. For example, it is known for the interior panels and the outer wall to attach to a plurality of vertical posts spaced apart along the trailer side wall. It is known to place logistics tracks on the front faces of the vertical posts to provide a place of attachment for straps, hooks and bars to secure cargo in the cargo area between the side walls. In the roof wall of such a trailer, it is known to provide a top outer skin that extends between, and is riveted to, opposing side wall top rails. A plurality of parallel, horizontal roofbows extend between the top rails beneath the top outer skin. It is known to provide inner liner panels, for example one-quarter inch plywood sheets, between the roofbows so that the roof liner panels define the top of the cargo area. Logistics tracks have been attached to the roofbows. Where inner liner panels are present in the roof wall, the logistics tracks have been attached directly to respective roofbows between edges of adjacent liner panels or surface mounted to the liner panels themselves.
A container is a box-like structure with sidewalls, a floor, a roof, a forward end wall and an end frame on which two doors are pivotally attached. The container rests on a chassis formed by one or more longitudinal I-beams extending between retractable legs and a plurality of axled wheels. The wheels support the container's rearward end and facilitate the container's movement when the container (supported by the chassis) is coupled to a tractor. As should be well understood, the container is removable from the chassis for conveyance by other means, such as ship or rail.


A print request is received via network connection from a registered user. Content from the print request is rendered according to the registered user's rendering permissions. The rendered content is then provided to a device associated with the registered user.

There exist many types of content (document types, file types, etc.) that people desire to display (e.g., on a computing device) and/or print. To display and/or print content, data associated with the content is rendered, typically, by an application. For example, word processing documents, spreadsheets, graphic images, etc. all contain data that, when rendered by an appropriate application, can be displayed on a computing device or rasterized for printing by a printing device.

Rendering permissions for rendering content

HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.


An electrical device assembly (120) has a removable signal cable assembly (180). The electrial device assembly (120) includes a circuit substrate (110) which is encapsulated by a device housing (121). The device housing (121) includes two mechanically coupled housing members (130, 140). The housing members (130, 140) are secured together by a retainer (190) mounted to a signal cable (181), that is removably connected to the electrical device assembly (120). Preferably, the housing members (130, 140) have overlapping loop portions (135, 145), and the retainer (190) mounted through the loop portions (135, 145) to secure the housing members (130, 140) together, and to secure the signal cable assembly (180) to the electrical device assembly (120).

Signal cables are often attached to electronic devices to support the transfer of signals and/or power to and from the electronic device. In a typical example, a hand-held microphone has a signal cable located at its base which connects to a mobile communication unit. Ordinarily, the microphone is welded or assembled using screws or other fasteners, and the cable permanently secured to the microphone using a strain relief member. Wires from the cable attach to circuitry internal to the microphone. Such arrangement is typical for electrical devices having an attached power or signal cable.
In many instances, a cable attached to a device becomes damaged or destroyed thereby rendering the tethered device unusable. Some implementations provide for cable connections which support user replacement of damaged or worn cables. A cable may have a multi-pin electrical connector which plugs into a mating connector located on the device. For applications requiring ruggedized cable connections that can withstand substantial stress, a cable collar has been used to provide primary strain relief support. One such example is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,882 issued on Jan. 3, 1995, to Gong et al., for a Bar Code Symbol Reader With Locking Cable Connector Assembly. Here, a signal cable is removably connected to a handle of a hand held bar code reader, and the cable interface provided with a gasket to protect against environmental contaminants, such as dust and the like.
It is desirable to have electronic device and signal cable assemblies which are easily manufactured, and which have reduced weight, part count, and manufacturing costs, with consideration given to reducing assembly time, and number of assembly operations. Preferably, the electronic device has a user replaceable cable connection that is sealed to survive water submersion.

Electrical device and signal cable assembly


A wireless communication device comprises a number of sub-systems operably coupled to a data interface for routeing data between the number of sub-systems. A clock generation function generates a clock signal substantially at a data transfer rate to be used over the data interface whereby the clock signal is generated at a rate that minimises harmonic content of the clock signal at operational frequencies of the wireless communication device. Thus, a suitable data rate is selected and supported by the data interface that accommodates the desired bandwidth, clock rate and/or chip rate of the functional elements that are coupled by the data interface within the wireless communication device, whilst minimising the effects of harmonic interference from the clock signal(s).

Wireless communication devices, such as mobile phone handsets, require a very high level of integration of hardware and firmware/software in order to achieve the necessary density of functionality, i.e. to realise the necessary functionality in a minimum device volume and at a minimum cost. An optimal wireless communication device design must also minimise power consumption in order to increase the battery call time and/or stand-by time.
Wireless communication devices also incorporate a number of distinct and operably coupled sub-systems, in order to provide the wide variety of functions and operations that a complex wireless communication device needs to perform. Such sub-systems comprise radio frequency power amplification functions, radio frequency integrated circuits (RFIC) comprising radio frequency generation, amplification, filtering, etc. functions, baseband integrated circuits (BBIC) comprising audio circuits, encoding/decoding, (de)modulation functions, processing functions, etc. and memory units.
Interfaces, which are often standardised to allow commonality and increased functionality between different chip-set manufacturers and different handset manufacturers, are defined for communicating between the respective sub-systems.
One typical interface found in a wireless communication device is the interface between a baseband integrated circuit (BBIC) and a radio frequency integrated circuit RFIC). Pins on ICs are used to route electrical signals between devices/elements/functions. It is generally desirable to minimise the number of pins in ICs used in wireless communication devices, as the use of extra pins, for example on a BBIC-RFIC interface, increases IC area, increases IC cost and complexity and increases power consumption.
In the field of mobile phones, a consortium of mobile phone manufacturers has been formed to define various sub-system interfaces, particularly interfaces between variants of second generation of cellular phones (2.xG) when migrating to cover additional, future wireless communication technologies, such as multimode transceivers additionally employing third generation (3G wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) technology. This consortium is known as 'DigRF', and details of the defined interfaces and functionality thereof, particularly in a multimode mobile phone scenario, can be obtained from the DigRF consortium. It is noteworthy that Multimode operational specifications are not yet available at the time of filing this patent application.
One interface being defined by the DigRF consortium is the BB-RF interface standard, which encompasses a serial data interface for Receive (Rx) and Transmit (Tx) variants of second generation of cellular phones (2.xG) chipsets. When defining the interface to also accommodate the increased complexity and data rate required for 3G technology, it is clearly advantageous to minimise the IC pin count.
Furthermore, the standardised RFIC-BBIC interface for the current 2.xG mobile phone products does not provide for simultaneous Rx and TX data transfer to the RFIC. Although, providing such a simplex operation is acceptable in a 2G environment and 2G variants thereof, the corresponding limited bandwidth is not sufficient for 3G Rx or Tx operation.
Additionally, the standardised system clock frequency used in 2G mobile phones (SysClk) is defined as 26 Mhz. This frequency sets a useful data rate for 2.xG modes of operation. For 3G operation, it is not as useful as it is not an integer multiple of the WBCDMA chip rate.
The inventors of the present invention have recognised and appreciated that a further problem exists with running data interfaces oil such a radio transceiver system (say between the RFIC and the BBIC) in that to generate and decode random data patterns a clock source is required at the data rate, or an integer multiple thereof. This clock source is uniform and therefore the harmonic content of the clock source will not be spread.
Thus, a significant problem in the field of wireless communication devices is that the harmonic content power of clocks are known to radiate signals at frequencies that coincide with transmit and receive signals of the transceiver.
Notably, the 'DigRF' 2G standard for use in global system for Mobile telecommunications (GSM) standard mobile terminals has adopted a system clock rate of 26 MHz on the data interface between the baseband integrated circuit (IC) and the radio frequency (RF) IC. Notably, the use of such a defined clock rate creates fourteen harmonics in the GSM quad-band Rx and Tx frequency bands, i.e. the four frequency bands allocated for GSM in various regions of the world. This harmonic content problem generated by the clock signals running at 26 MHz requires radio transceiver designers to use slew rate control clocks to limit this problem.
Furthermore, very careful layout of the printed circuit board for the ICs used in the device is then required, to minimise the effect of these harmonics. Thus, the selection of a particular clock rate has a significant impact on the corresponding circuitry designed into the wireless communication device.
U.S. patent—U.S. Pat. No. 6,737,904 B1—of Philips Electronics N.V. discloses a 2G phone BBIC that aims to address the problems associated with the GSM 26 MHz system clock. U.S. Pat. No. 6,737,904 B1 discloses a mechanism of dynamically applying a random number generator to a 26 MHz clock signal to introduce jitter, and therefore introduce phase changes to the clock signal in order to spread noise.
A further solution to harmonic interference (purely and notably in a 2G environment) has been proposed in WO2002056488A2, inventor of Tuttle et. al. and titled Digital Interface Apparatus and Associated methods. In WO2002056488A2 suppression of interference between 2G ICs is performed using band limiting single-ended circuits and differential signals and an optimum die partition within the RF sub-system.
A further solution to harmonic interference, in the context of liquid crystal displays, is proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,720,943 B1, inventor Kim et. al. and titled Data Interface device. U.S. Pat. No. 6,720,943 B1 proposes to spread the electro-magnetic interference (EMI) by means of a clock dithering mechanism.
A problem associated with the clock dithering mechanism proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,720,943 B1 is that clock dithering spreads the noise but reduces the reliability of the data link. The use of a clock dithering mechanism creates a further problem in that there is increased hardware overhead. Dither needs to be random so as not to generate new tones. Thus, this technique attempts to reduce the contribution of harmonic noise to an RE sub-system, but fails to minimise or eliminate the harmonic noise.
Thus, existing solutions to clock harmonics attempt to 'reduce' the impact of the harmonic, predominantly by dithering the clock signal to spread the noise. A need therefore exists for a mechanism to incorporate integrated circuits/sub-systems and a corresponding data interface, within a wireless communications device, without incurring increased cost or complexity or increased pin count whilst minimising or eliminating the effects of harmonic interference of the clock signal(s).

Wireless communication device and data interface


Provided are metal-air cells that each include a plurality of protruding connector members and a plurality of protruding mechanical stops. Two or more of the cells are joined to create a battery stack. Two cells are joined by heating connector members of the cells, and then forcing the cells together so that the connector members of one cell are welded or fused to connector members of the other cell. During the fusing of the connector members, the mechanical stops of the cells being joined abut one another to arrest movement of the cells toward one another. The arresting causes a plenum to be uniformly defined between the cells. The fused connector members and abutting mechanical stops cooperate to define three-dimensional truss-like system that provides structural integrity. Each of the metal-air cells have a case with an exterior. surface and an interior surface that defines a chamber that contains an anode and air cathodes. The case defines air openings that extend between the exterior surface and the interior surface for supplying air from the environment exterior to the case to the air cathodes within the chamber. Connector members and mechanical stops are preferably integrally formed with their case, interspersed with the air openings, and arranged in arrays.

Metal-air cells include one or more air permeable cathodes and a metallic anode that are separated by an aqueous electrolyte. During discharge of a metal-air cell, such as a zinc-air cell, oxygen from the ambient air is converted at the cathode to hydroxide, zinc is oxidized at the anode by the hydroxide, and water and electrons are released to provide electrical energy. Metal-air batteries have a relatively high energy density because the cathode utilizes oxygen from ambient air as a reactant in the electrochemical reaction rather than a heavier material such as a metal or metallic composition. Metal-air cells are often arranged in stacks within a common housing to provide a sufficient amount of power output. The result is a relatively light-weight battery.
Both primary and secondary metal-air batteries have been developed. A rechargeable metal-air cell is recharged by applying voltage between the anode and the cathode of the cell and reversing the electrochemical reaction. Oxygen is discharged back to the atmosphere through the air-permeable cathode. Examples of rechargeable metal-air cells having an anode positioned between two air cathodes are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,551 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/543,558, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Problems common to rechargeable metal-air cells include cell swelling and anode relocation. Anode relocation contributes to capacity loss, operating voltage loss, and may cause an imbalance in current distribution between the cathodes. Although known designs have decreased the problem of anode relocation, further improvements can be made to further decrease capacity loss, operating voltage loss, and imbalances in current distribution between the cathodes.
One phenomenon that contributes to anode relocation is cell swelling. Cell swelling can occur, for example, during the initial discharge cycle of a cell. During a discharge cycle, oxygen is drawn into the cell. When the anode is discharged the volume of the discharge products is roughly twice the volume of the zinc metal. If a cell case is not properly constrained during this reaction, the cell case can swell. As a result, when the electrochemical reaction in the cell is reversed by recharging, the zinc anode can re-form in a distorted space within the cell. This can cause the shape of the anode to become distorted.
While conventional techniques for restraining cells attempt to preclude cell swelling and the resulting anode distortion, some cell swelling and anode distortion can still occur. For example, glues that are used to hold cells often fail due to the forces associated with cell swelling. An additional problem experienced with metal-air cells pertains to the mechanical brackets and spacers that are commonly used to restrain cells. It can be difficult and labor intensive to install certain types of these brackets and spacers.
Accordingly, there is a need for metal-air cells that can be joined in a manner that seeks to preclude cell swelling. Decreased cell swelling will result in decreased anode relocation, and will provide cells with increased power output, without compromising the efficiency and life of the cells.

Method and apparatus for joining metal-air cells


A method for making an optical recording medium having an optically responsive polydiacetylene monomolecular film or monomolecular built-up film is provided. In the method, a substrate having a hydrophilic surface is immersed in a solution, in organic solvent, of a substance containing a diacetylene group and an --Si--Cl group to form a monomolecular film of the substance on the substrate by chemical adsorption. The diacetylene groups are polymerized by energy beam irradiation to obtain the optically responsive polydiacetylene film. This medium is usable as a write-once or rewriteable medium.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to optical recording mediums and more particularly, to a method for making an optical recording medium which comprises as a recording layer a monomolecular film or a monomolecular built-up film having polydiacetylene bonds exhibiting photochromic characteristics.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As is known in the art, polymers of diacetylene derivatives have one dimensional main chain with .pi.-electron conjugated bonds in the molecule and thus exhibit electric conductivity and a non-linear optical effect. These polymers have been widely studied for use as a light or electron-responsive material.
As a process of preparing polydiacetylene, there is known a process wherein crystals of a diacetylene compound (G. Wegner, Z. Nature forsch 246(1989) 824) or a monomolecular built-up film of a diacetylene compound formed by the Langmuir-Blodgett method (C. Bubeck et al., Der Bunsenges Phys. Chem. 86,495 (1982)) is polymerized by irradiation of a radiation.
However, it has not been reported yet that a single crystal of polydiacetylene having a large area is obtained. On the other hand, a thin film with a large area is obtained from a monomolecular built-up film of a diacetylene compound formed by the LB method, but the production efficiency is very poor. If such a thin film is applied as an optical recording medium, production costs become very high with little industrial utility.
It is known that when using linear hydrocarbon derivatives having --Si--Cl group at one end, a monomolecular film can be very readily formed on the surface of a hydrophilic substrate by chemical adsorption in organic solvent. The addition of a certain substituent to the surface of the monomolecular film will render the surface hydrophilic by chemical reaction after the adsorption. This is known to be effective in obtaining a monomolecular built-up film as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,061, to J. Sagiv.
Accordingly, if a substance having a diacetylene bond in part of a linear hydrocarbon is subjected to chemical adsorption, a monomolecular film of the diacetylene derivative can be formed having a layer thickness in the order of several ten angstroms. A multi-layered built-up film can also be obtained readily.

Method for making optical recording mediums

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A structural board includes a pair of intermediate members having plural projections. The intermediate members are positioned in parallel, and the projections are in contact with each other between the intermediate members. At least one of the intermediate members are light permeable. An illuminator is provided between the intermediate members.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to structural boards with so-called honeycomb structure, and in particular, relates to structural boards used, for example, in vehicles such as automobiles, trains, and airplanes, and in the interiors of buildings.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, as floor structures of office buildings, free-access floors are well known. A free-access floor has multiple pillars positioned in grids on a concrete floor, and a number of flat square panel members of which the four corners thereof are supported by the pillars (for example, see Patent Document 1 below).
The floor member is made of a pure material of low-weight concrete, steel, or plastic. On surfaces of the floor members, finishing members, such as carpets, vinyl tiles, and flooring boards, are placed. The surfaces of the floors are illuminated by fluorescent or incandescent lights at the ceiling.
According to the free-access floors, without degradation of appearances, office equipment and desks can be easily rearranged.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 5-272227
There has been a problem in that when panel members which are designed for the above-mentioned floor structures are used in automobiles and trains, the panel members which are made of pure materials are heavy, and this therefore increases fuel consumption. There has also been a problem in that when the panel members are made thinner in order to reduce fuel consumption, rigidity in trains is not sufficient.
There was a problem in that even with illumination from the ceiling, the feet of passengers were dimly illuminated because of shadows. Even when a passenger dropped something on the floor, it was difficult to find it. Since light from the outside a vehicle is insufficient at night, a similar problem occurs.


In a preferred embodiment, with a system employing an electronic lock and electronic key apparatus, a method, including: providing as the electronic key apparatus an electronic key selected from the group consisting of a master key, and audit key, and a service key; when the master key is selected as the electronic key apparatus; connecting the master key to the electronic lock; then, the electronic lock inquiring as to status of the master key to determine if the master key is a valid master key; and then, when valid, the master key causing a password to be written to a memory in the electronic lock; when the audit key is selected as the electronic key apparatus; connecting the audit key to the electronic lock; then, the audit key transmitting a password to the electronic lock; and then, provided the audit key has presented a valid password to the electronic lock, the electronic lock transmitting to the audit key first identification information; and, when the service key is selected as the electronic key apparatus; connecting the service key to the electronic lock; then, the service key transmitting to the electronic lock second identification information; and then, the electronic lock becoming unlocked.

1. Field of the Invention.
The present invention relates to lock systems generally and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a novel electronic lock system which is especially useful in monitoring use of the lock.
2. Background Art.
In many situations, it would be desirable to have a record of who opened a lock, when the lock was opened, and for how long the lock was opened. One such situation, for example, is access to slot machine mechanisms.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a lock system which is capable of monitoring use of a lock.
It is a further object of the invention to provide such a lock system which can record who opened a lock, when the lock was opened, and for how long the lock was opened.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide such a lock system that is compact and can be easily retrofitted to systems in which mechanical key locks are employed.
It is another object of the invention to provide such a lock system which is economical to construct.
Other objects of the present invention, as well as particular features, elements, and advantages thereof, will be elucidated in, or be apparent from, the following description and the accompanying drawing figures.


A spading tool for use by persons who are unable or prefer not to bend over when uprooting weeds and other material has an elongate handle at the lower end of which is hinged a multiple-tine fork adapted to be embedded in the ground adjacent a weed to be uprooted. A ratcheting latch device enables the fork to be moved from an initial position in prolongation of the handle to an adjusted, angular position by rocking the handle back and forth. Such movement of the fork effects lifting of the weed out of the ground for disposal. The latch device may be disabled by movement of a remote release lever whereupon a return spring forcibly returns the fork to the initial position ready for further use.

Spading forks have a variety of uses, including uprooting weeds, potatoes, carrots, and other plants, as well as working soil. A conventional spading fork has a long handle to the lower end of which is secured a fork having multiple tines extending in prolongation of the handle. To uproot weeds, for example, the user pushes the tines of the fork into the earth next to a weed with his foot and then, using the handle as a lever, pulls back on the handle forcing the tines upwardly beneath the weed until the weed is free of the ground. Typically, the tines of the fork and hence the handle must be moved to a nearly horizontal position close to the ground before complete uprooting occurs, requiring the user to bend at the waist. Some persons, however, are unable or prefer not to bend over when performing such task.


A vehicle power steering system suppresses chattering, i.e., unpleasant noises in the form of mechanical and generally higher frequency oscillations resulting from backlash in a gear connection transmitting the torque from the motor to the steering wheel mechanics, produced under certain driving conditions. A control system is provided which evaluates the rotor rpm of the electric motor, and increases the dynamic response time of the rotor in the event that the evaluation of the rotor rpm indicates an unstable state of the control system. As a result, chattering is suppressed only when a critical driving situation arises in which the control system becomes unstable, while, in the normal state, the steering system exhibits all properties thereof, and is neither delayed nor limited in a dynamic behavior thereof.

The invention relates to a vehicle power steering system with an electric motor as well as to a method for controlling an electric motor of such a power steering system.
Power steering systems with an electric motor are frequently also referred to in brief as electric steering systems and are widespread, particularly in vehicles of the lower category (subcompact cars). Increasingly, however, they are also used in vehicles of the compact and full-sized categories. Usually, these power steering systems have an electronic control, which controls the electric motor dynamically, so that the latter, in addition to the steering-wheel torque applied by the driver of the vehicle, generates a motor torque supporting the steering-wheel effort. In comparison to hydraulically assisted power steering systems, which are also referred to in brief as hydraulic power steering systems or servo steering systems, electric steering systems have the advantage that the electric motor can be controlled very accurately by means of a control system. Generally, the known control systems are processor-controlled circuits, which can be programmed so that the control of the electric motor is adapted to the particular requirements and the behavior of the electric steering, can be adjusted very flexibly. The motor torque supporting the steering-wheel effort usually is transferred to the steering mechanics, comprising a gear rack or a recirculating ball nut, over a transmission connection, preferably over a worm gear. It has turned out that the steering mechanics, including the transmission connection, cannot be constructed completely without backlash or, at least, completely without elasticity, perhaps at the worm gear. Under certain driving conditions, this backlash or elasticity leads to chatter, so that a mechanical, generally high frequency vibration can arise and caused an unpleasant, disturbing noise. This state of the phase occurs, above all, when the adhesion of the vehicle to the roadway is only slight under conditions of low friction, as is the case especially when the roadway is wet or covered by ice (glazed frost).
The JP-A62184967 discloses a power steering system with an electric motor, for which the voltage, supplying the electric motor (voltage V4), is specified by the electronic control system. As long as the steering wheel is kept neutral by the driver, that is, as long as the steering-wheel torque is zero, the supply voltage is also set to zero, so that the motor does not produce a torque. As soon as the steering wheel is moved in the positive direction, that is, as soon as there is a positive steering-wheel torque, the supply voltage is generated and, to begin with, held by a delay circuit, at a low voltage (VO) for a particular period of time (TO) in order to suppress the chatter brought about by the transmission (reduction gear 9). This measure takes place always and independently of the driving situation, that is, also in the normal state, when the friction values are large enough and there is no chatter. However, the behavior of the steering system in the normal state is made worse unnecessarily by the delay, which is always provided.

Motor control in vehicle power steering system


Compounds are described that are effective in enhancing the efficacy of antimicrobial agents. Also described are methods of using such compounds and compositions that include such compounds. The composition includes a chalcone compound and, optionally, an antimicrobial agent.

A variety of human ailments owe their origin to pathogenic microorganisms, which include bacteria, virus and fungi. The presence of such pathogenic microorganisms lead to septicaemia, serious infections of upper and lower respiratory tract, CNS, meningitis, intra-abdominal tissue including peritoneum, genito-urinary tract, skin, and soft tissue, and a variety of other infections like systemic mycosis, candidiasis including infections caused by dermatophytes. During last 100 years, significant progress has been made to combat the diseases caused by such a large family of microbes with innumerable therapeutic agents of diverse chemical and biological nature that have become available as a short and long term cure. Such antimicrobials include aminoglycosides, penicillins, cephalosporins, macrolides, glycopeptides, fluoroquinolones, tetracycline, first and second line anti-TB drugs, anti-leprosy, anti-virals, polyene, triazole and imidazole anti-fungals, combinations like pyrimidine derivatives and trimethoprim and sulphamethoxizole.
The constant use of antibiotics in the hospital environment has selected bacterial populations that are resistant to many antibiotics. These populations include opportunistic pathogens that may not be strongly virulent but that are intrinsically resistant to a number of antibiotics. Such bacteria often infect debilitated or immunocompromised patients. The emerging resistant populations also include strains of bacterial species that are well known pathogens, which previously were susceptible to antibiotics. The newly acquired resistance is generally due to DNA mutations, or to resistance plasmids (R plasmids) or resistance-conferring transposons transferred from another organism. Infections by either type of bacterial population, naturally resistant opportunistic pathogens or antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria, are difficult to treat with current antibiotics. New antibiotic molecules which can override the mechanisms of resistance are needed.
Over the years bacteria have developed several different mechanisms to overcome the action of antibiotics. These mechanisms of resistance can be specific for a molecule or a family of antibiotics, or can be non-specific and be involved in resistance to unrelated antibiotics. Specific mechanisms include degradation of the drug, inactivation of the drug by enzymatic modification, and alteration of the drug target (B. G. Spratt, Science 264:388 (1994)). There are, however, more general mechanisms of drug resistance, in which access of the antibiotic to the target is prevented or reduced by decreasing the transport of the antibiotic into the cell or by increasing the efflux of the drug from the cell to the outside medium. Both mechanisms can lower the concentration of drug at the target site and allow bacterial survival in the presence of one or more antibiotics which would otherwise inhibit or kill the bacterial cells. Some bacteria utilize both mechanisms, combining a low permeability of the cell wall (including membranes) with an active efflux of antibiotics. (H. Nikaido, Science 264:382-388 (1994)).
Decreasing the permeability of the outer membrane, by reducing either the number of porins or by reducing the number of a certain porin species, can decrease the susceptibility of a strain to a wide range of antibiotics due to the decreased rate of entry of the antibiotics into the cells. However, for most antibiotics, the half-equilibration times are sufficiently short that the antibiotic could exert its effect unless another mechanism is present. Efflux pumps are an example of such other mechanism. Once in the cytoplasm or periplasm a drug can be transported back to the outer medium. This transport is mediated by efflux pumps, which are constituted of proteins. Different pumps can efflux specifically a drug or group of drugs, such as the NorA system that transports quinolones, or Tet A that transports tetracyclines, or they can efflux a large variety of molecules, such as certain efflux pumps of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In general, efflux pumps have a cytoplasmic component and energy is required to transport molecules out of the cell. Some efflux pumps have a second cytoplasmic membrane protein that extends into the periplasm.
The Multicomponent efflux pumps, belonging mainly to the resistance-modulation-division (RND) family members, found mostly in gram-negative bacteria, include the MDR pumps AcrAB-TolC and MexAB-OprM from E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Interplay between efflux pumps may provide either additive or multiplicative effects on drug resistance (A. Lee et al., J. of Bacteriology, 2000, 182: 3142). MexAB-OprM, MexCD-OprJ, MexEF-OprN, MexXY-OprM, AcrAB-TolC, AcrEF, MarA, SoxS, and/or Tet pump/s are known to be present in Gram negative organisms such as P. aeruginosa and E. coli and are reviewed in recent publications and papers, such as Webber and Piddock, J. of Antimicrobial Chemother, 2003, 51: 39-11; Bambeke et. al J. of Antimicrobial Chemother, 2003, 51: 1055-1056, 74; Xian Zhi Li et. al., Journal of Antimicrob. Chemother., 2000, 45: 433 436; O Lomovskaya, et. al., Antimicrob. Agents and Chemother., 1999, 43: 1340 1346.
A biofilm is a structured group of microorganisms encapsulated within a self-developed polymeric extracellular matrix. Biofilms are typically adhered to a living or inert surface. In the human or animal body biofilms can form on any internal or external surface. Biofilms have been found to be involved in a wide variety of microbial infections in the body and, therefore, cause a number of conditions including urinary tract infections, middle-ear infections, formation of dental plaque and gingivitis.
Microorganisms present in a biofilm have significantly different properties from free-floating microorganisms of the same species. This is because the polymeric extracellular matrix acts to protect the microorganisms from the surrounding environment allows the microorganisms to cooperate and interact in various ways which are not exhibited by free-floating microorganisms. These complex communities of microorganisms present a unique challenge in that they are often resistant to classical means of antimicrobial control. Bacteria living in a biofilm exhibit increased resistance to antibiotics because the dense extracellular matrix and the outer layer of cells protect the interior of the biofilm from the effects of the antibiotics. Therefore, known antimicrobial agents will not have the same effect on bacteria present in a biofilm.
Thus, cellular factors affecting transport (both active and passive transport) of antibiotics (and antibacterial agents) into bacterial cells are important components of antibiotic resistance for many bacterial species. There exists a need to provide compounds and compositions that enhance the efficacy of antimicrobial agents, even when the efficacy of the antimicrobial may be affected adversely by antibiotic resistance.

Chalcones as enhancer of antimicrobial agents

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research


An adjustable bracket may include a first hermaphroditic piece and a second hermaphroditic piece, substantially identical to the first hermaphroditic piece and rotated 180 degrees with respect to the first hermaphroditic piece, wherein sliding the first hermaphroditic piece with respect to the second hermaphroditic piece adjusts a width of the adjustable bracket.

Electrical boxes may be used to house electrical outlets, electrical connections, light switches, and/or other types of electrical equipment. In order to hide these boxes from sight, the electrical boxes may be mounted behind the plaster of a wall to a stud, support post, or another type of structure. However, an electrical box may need to be mounted at a location away from a wall stud or another type of support structure.


A mobile communication device capable of reducing a size of a proximity noncontact communication antenna and improving a proximity noncontact communication distance is provided. In a mobile communication device having both functions of a card function and a reader/writer function as a proximity noncontact communication and equipped with at least two proximity noncontact communication antennas or more for respective functions, a switching controlling portion 4 and a proximity noncontact communication controlling portion 5 for switching tuning circuits 3A, 3B of antennas 2A, 2B based on external equipments (an external proximity noncontact communication reader/writer and an external proximity noncontact communication card) that perform the proximity noncontact communication are provided.

Nowadays a demand for development of a communication system for performing communication with a communication object, to which this system is brought close to such an extent that this system contacts or closely contacts the communication object (concretely, which is positioned in the proximity area within a distance of almost 10 cm or less where an electric field or a magnetic field can act), by utilizing an electric field or a magnetic field (referred to as a "proximity noncontact communication system" hereinafter) is growing. In other words, this communication system can be used in such a manner that electric data in which personal information, e.g., data such as a phone book, or the like are stored are copied into a cellular phone; an electronic medical chart is read/written in a hospital, a pharmacy, or the like; electric resident's register data of a certificate of residence, a family register, or the like is read/claimed, or the like; personal hobby data (various data such as music, image, and the like) are transferred/copied/stored in user's own cellular phone, or the like; money data is input into a desired electronic device as a prepaid money for a vending machine, or the like; money data is used as a pass to pass a gate in an amusement park, a station, or the like, and others. For this purpose, a development of a mobile communication device having a proximity noncontact communicating function has been variously discussed. This function makes it possible for the user to perform the proximity noncontact communication with a proximity noncontact communication equipment on the outside (referred to as an "external proximity noncontact communication equipment" hereinafter), a proximity noncontact communication card on the outside (referred to as an "external proximity noncontact communication card" hereinafter), or the like as the other end of the proximity noncontact communication.
As one of the mobile communication devices that are compatible with such proximity noncontact communication system, a development of the cellular phone to which a proximity noncontact communicating function is attached is proceeding. For example, FIG. 6 shows a circuit of a proximity noncontact communication portion 100 in the cellular phone to which a proximity noncontact communicating function is attached. Since this proximity noncontact communication portion 100 is constructed by one antenna 101 such that respective frequency bands overlap each other when the proximity noncontact communication is held between the cellular phone and the external proximity noncontact communication equipment and the external proximity noncontact communication card (both not shown), two functions for the external proximity noncontact communication equipment and the external proximity noncontact communication card can be provided while taking account of a miniaturization of the cellular phone.
Here, when the proximity noncontact communication is held between the external proximity noncontact communication equipment and the cellular phone, the proximity noncontact communication portion 100 installed into the cellular phone serves as a card. In contrast, when the proximity noncontact communication is held between the external proximity noncontact communication card and the cellular phone, the proximity noncontact communication portion 100 installed into the cellular phone serves as a reader/writer.
Also, control of the proximity noncontact communication is largely different between the card function and the reader/writer function. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the card function and the reader/writer function are controlled separately by a proximity noncontact communication controlling portion (proximity noncontact communication IC) 110 that executes operation control respectively, and also connection terminals of the antenna 101 are provided separately. As a result, even though the antenna 101 is constructed as a single unit, a connection of the antenna 101 must be switched to respond to respective functions and also a switch 102 and a switch 103 must be provided.
By the way, these switches 102, 103 must be arranged in series with the proximity noncontact communication antenna 101 and the proximity noncontact communication controlling portion (proximity noncontact communication IC) 110. At that time, such a problem existed that an available distance in the proximity noncontact communication is shortened by the influence of the series-inserted switches. Therefore, an approach for extending the available distance by enlarging an area of the antenna may be considered. In this case, such a problem existed that a size of the mobile communication device itself is also increased when the area of the antenna is enlarged.
For this reason, the proximity noncontact communication system in which the antenna is provided separately to the external proximity noncontact communication equipment and the external proximity noncontact communication card respectively and a size reduction of the antenna can be attained by forming two antennas on the same plane is developed variously (see Patent Literature 1, for example).
As one of the mobile communication devices that are compatible with such proximity noncontact communication system, a development of the cellular phone to which the proximity noncontact communicating functions shown in FIG. 7 to FIG. 9, for example, are attached is examined. As shown in FIG. 7, the cellular phone having a straight main case 201 (of course, a folding type may be employed) and equipped with a cellular phone antenna 202 and a proximity noncontact communication antenna 203 (constructed by external proximity noncontact communication equipment antennas 203A, 203B) has been proposed. This cellular phone antenna 202 is provided in the main case 201 to transmit/receive the data to/from a base station (not shown). This proximity noncontact communication antenna 203 is provided near one surface (upper surface in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8) of the main case 201 to perform the proximity noncontact communication with an external proximity noncontact communication equipment 300. Also, this external proximity noncontact communication equipment 300 acting as the other end of the proximity noncontact communication with a cellular phone 200 is equipped with a proximity noncontact communication antenna 301.
Also, as shown in FIG. 8, the cellular phone that performs the proximity noncontact communication with an external proximity noncontact communication card 400 via a proximity noncontact communication antenna 401 has been proposed. This proximity noncontact communication antenna 401 is provided to the external proximity noncontact communication card 400 to establish the proximity noncontact communication with this cellular phone 200.
In this manner, the cellular phone 200 having a proximity noncontact communicating function of transmitting/receiving phone conversation or data communication to/from a base station via the cellular phone antenna 202. Meanwhile, when the proximity noncontact communication is established between the external proximity noncontact communication equipment 300 and the external proximity noncontact communication card 400 and the cellular phone 200, the external proximity noncontact communication equipment antennas 203A, 203B are brought into contact with or held closely to the external proximity noncontact communication equipment 300 and the external proximity noncontact communication card 400. Thus, the proximity noncontact communication is established between the external proximity noncontact communication equipment antenna 203A and the proximity noncontact communication antenna 301 in the external proximity noncontact communication equipment 300 or between the external proximity noncontact communication equipment antenna 203B and the proximity noncontact communication antenna 401 in the external proximity noncontact communication card 400.
Also, the proximity noncontact communication antenna 203 whose antennas 203A, 203B are formed on the same plane is studied.
As shown in FIG. 9, the external proximity noncontact communication equipment antenna 203A is connected to a first antenna tuning capacitor 206A via connection terminals 204A, 205A. Also, the external proximity noncontact communication equipment antenna 203A is connected to second antenna tuning capacitors 207A, 208A through respective connection terminals, and is also connected to the controlling portion 110 for controlling the proximity noncontact communication.
In contrast, the external proximity noncontact communication card antenna 203B is connected to a first antenna tuning capacitor 206B via connection terminals 204B, 205B. Also, the external proximity noncontact communication card antenna 203B is connected to second antenna tuning capacitors 207B, 208B through respective connection terminals, and is also connected to the controlling portion 110 for controlling the proximity noncontact communication.    Patent Literature 1: JP-A-2004-364199


A receiving device in a trunked radio communications system determines transmit and receive frequencies by a mapping. The receiving device receives a voice channel number, wherein the voice channel number is communicated in an outbound signaling message defined by Motorola's 3600-baud radio trunking protocol. The receiving device tunes to about a transmit frequency of 806.0250 MHz, if the voice channel number is 440; tunes to about a transmit frequency of 806.0500 MHz, if the voice channel number is 441; tunes to about a transmit frequency of 806.0750 MHz, if the voice channel number is 442; etc. The receiving devices tunes to about a receive frequency of 852.5250 MHz, if the voice channel number is 500; tunes to about a receive frequency of 852.5500 MHz, if the voice channel number is 501; tunes to about a receive frequency of 852.5750 MHz, if the voice channel number is 502; etc.

A long standing problem with wireless communications is the need to maximize spectrum efficiency. Spectrum efficiency refers to the most efficient use of the limited bandwidth that is set aside for a given type of wireless communications. For instance, in the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has set aside the portions of the frequency spectrum from 851 to 869 MHz and from 806 to 824 MHz for trunked private two-way radio communications (as used herein, "trunked radio communications"). The first portion of the spectrum is reserved for transmissions by infrastructure in the trunked radio communications system and the second portion of the spectrum is reserved for transmissions by subscribers in the trunked radio communications system. The absolute frequencies of the frequency spectrum are allocated by the FCC and divided into channels (associated with channel numbers) by an operator of the infrastructure.
When the FCC changes allocations to the frequency spectrum the mapping between the channels and the absolute frequencies may need to also change to accommodate the changes in allocation. For example, the FCC has changed allocations to the 800 MHz spectrum, where the National Public Safety Planning Advisory Committee (NPSPAC) licensees have all been consolidated to operate in the 806 to 809 MHz spectrum. In such a situation, the time and effort required to perform the mapping between the channels and the absolute frequencies is great. Further, once the mapping is performed, the subscribers need to be informed about the new mapping so that the subscribers can utilize the mapping to use the trunked radio communications system for communications.
Generally, subscribers of the trunked radio communications system are assigned a channel for the subscriber to utilize for a voice call with other subscribers in the trunked radio communications system. Once the subscriber receives its channel assignment, the subscriber must translate the assigned channel to an absolute frequency. When allocations to the frequency spectrum change, the radio may need to perform a new calculation that takes into account the mapping that was performed between channels and absolute frequencies. Further, if the frequency separation between adjacent channels is smaller than previously used, then the subscriber needs to account for the smaller separation when the subscriber utilizes the channel for communications. If the subscriber does not account for the smaller separation, then the subscriber may interfere with communications in adjacent channels.
Thus, there is a need for a new method for operating in an 800 MHz trunked radio communications system.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

Method for operating in an 800 MHz trunked radio communications system by mapping channels to frequencies


An arrangement for the holding of a steering column to a cross-member of a motor vehicle, in particular for a later screw connection of the steering column and/or of a dashboard holder to the cross-member, includes holding means formed at the steering column and at the cross-member which cooperate in a pre-installation state such that the steering column is held freely suspended at the cross-member.

On the assembly of a motor vehicle, the steering column of the motor vehicle is usually arranged beneath a cross-member of the motor vehicle and is screwed to it. The cross-member can additionally serve as a carrier for a dashboard holder which sits at the top of the cross-member and is fastened to it. Typically, a screw connection is provided for the fastening of the dashboard holder to the cross-member and simultaneously serves for the fastening of the steering column to the cross-member.
A typical assembly procedure therefore provides for the steering column first to be brought into a relative position with respect to the cross-member required for the screw connection to the cross-member and to be fixed in this position by a separate holding apparatus until, in a later assembly step, the dashboard holder is placed onto the cross-member and the screw connection of the dashboard holder, of the cross-member and of the steering column takes place. Only after the screw connection of the steering column and the cross-member can the holding apparatus again be released from the steering column and be removed.

Arrangement for the holding of a steering column to a cross-member of a motor vehicle


An apparatus with a combination of a point light source and a single lens is provided. The present apparatus includes a point light source, a photodetector and a lens. The lens is placed in the same side of the point light source and the photodetector in order that the light emitting from the point light source is focused onto a target area of an object through the lens. The reflected light from the target area is focused onto the photodetector through the lens. The present apparatus can qualitatively and quantitatively monitor a content of a specific component of a tested solution. The geometric relationship of the point light source, the photodetector and the single lens can improve a measuring resolution of the present apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus capable of detecting a small-size object or a small target area of an object, and more particularly to an apparatus with a combination of a point light source and a single lens.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The quantification of chemical and biochemical components in colored aqueous fluids, in particular colored biological fluids such as whole blood and urine and biological fluid derivatives such as serum and blood plasma, is of ever-increasing importance. Important applications exist in medical diagnosis and treatment and in the quantification of exposure to therapeutic drugs, intoxicants, hazardous chemicals and the like. In some instances, the amounts of materials being determined are either so miniscule in the range of a microgram or less per deciliter or so difficult to precisely determine that the apparatus employed is complicated and useful only to skilled laboratory personnel. In this case the results are generally not available for some hours or days after sampling. In other instances, there is often an emphasis on the ability of lay operators to perform the test routinely, quickly and reproducibly outside a laboratory setting with rapid or immediate information display.
One common medical test is the measurement of blood glucose levels by diabetics. The diabetic patients usually measure their blood glucose level from two to seven times a day depending on the nature and severity of their individual cases. Based on the observed pattern in the measured glucose levels, the patient and physician together make adjustments in diet, exercise and insulin intake to better manage the disease. Clearly, this information should be available to the patient immediately.
In a method currently and widely used, a sample of fresh whole blood (typically 20˜40 μl) is placed on an ethylcellulose-coated reagent pad containing an enzyme system having glucose oxidase and peroxidase activity. The enzyme system reacts with glucose and releases hydrogen peroxide. The pad also contains an indicator that reacts with the hydrogen peroxide in the presence of peroxidase to give a color proportional in intensity to the sample's glucose level. Another popular blood glucose test method employs similar chemistry but in place of the ethylcellulose-coated pad employs a water-resistant film through which the enzymes and indicator are dispersed.
In both cases the sample is allowed to remain in contact with the reagent pad for a specified time (typically one minute). Then in the first case the blood sample is washed off with a stream of water while in the second case it is wiped off the film. The reagent pad or film is then blotted dry and evaluated. The evaluation is made either by comparing color generated with a color chart or by placing the pad or film in a diffuse reflectance instrument to read a color intensity value.
While the above methods have been used in glucose monitoring for years, they do have certain limitations. The sample size required is rather large for a finger stick test and is difficult to achieve for some people whose capillary blood does not express readily.
In addition, these methods share a limitation with other simple lay-operator calorimetric determinations in that their result is based on an absolute color reading, which is in turn related to the absolute extent of reaction between the sample and the test reagent. The fact that the sample must be washed or wiped off the reagent pad after the timed reaction interval requires that the user be ready at the end of the timed interval and wipe or apply a wash stream at the required time. The fact that the reaction is stopped by removing the sample leads to some uncertainty in the result, especially in the hands of the home user. Overwashing can give low results and underwashing can give high results.
Another problem that often exists in simple lay-operator calorimetric determination is the necessity for initiating a timing sequence when blood is applied to a reagent pad. A user will typically have conducted a finger stick to obtain a blood sample and will then be required to simultaneously apply the blood from the finger to a reagent pad while initiating a timing circuit with his or her other hand, thereby requiring the use of both hands simultaneously. This is particularly difficult since it is often necessary to insure that the timing circuit is started only when blood is applied to the reagent pad. Both of the prior methods require additional manipulations or additional circuitry to achieve this result.
Accordingly, it is an intention to provide means for monitor a content of a specific component in a colored fluid such as a blood sample, which can overcome the drawbacks of the prior methods.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus for testing component concentration of a test sample


A semiconductor device that can improve reliability while suppressing increase of a conduction loss or a switching loss. In the semiconductor device, when a two-dimensional shape on a main surface of the semiconductor substrate is an unit cell, the shape being a repeating unit of a plurality of well regions periodically disposed in a surface layer of a drift layer, one unit cell and another unit cell adjacent in an x-axis direction are disposed misaligned in a y-axis direction, and one unit cell and another unit cell adjacent in the y-axis direction are disposed misaligned in the x-axis direction.

In a vertical semiconductor device having a channel, such as a vertical metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) and an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), and in a structure generally called a planar type in which the channel is formed in a direction parallel to a main surface, in order to reduce channel resistance, a plane layout having high channel width density is desired.
As a method of forming the layout, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, forming channels in directions on two straight lines orthogonal to each other (hereinafter, grid arrangement) is widely known by making a well region a quadrangular cell shape in plan view and disposing the well region on a grid.


A transducer system includes a housing, an electromechanical transducer within the housing, a wicking material adjacent to a portion of the electromechanical transducer, and a coolant solution within the housing. The coolant solution transitions from a liquid phase to a gaseous phase in response to a temperature of the electromechanical transducer exceeding a threshold temperature. In some example cases, the coolant solution has a boiling point of less than about 60° C., which effectively defines the threshold temperature. The coolant solution may be chosen such that it remains a liquid during a first phase (cooling via conduction), and then evaporates during a second phase (cooling via conduction and convection) as the electromechanical transducer heats up.

Sonar (short for sound navigation and ranging) is a nautical tool for exploring and mapping the ocean and other large bodies of water. Sonar uses sound waves that travel quickly through water and are bounced back by large objects in the water and by the ocean floor. By determining the return time and general direction of the returning sound waves, distances to various objects or to the ocean floor topology can be calculated. Sonar utilizes one or more electromechanical transducers to convert the sound waves into electrical energy, or, in the case of active sonar, to convert electrical energy into sound waves. There are a number of non-trivial issues associated with such systems.
Although the following Detailed Description will proceed with reference being made to illustrative embodiments, many alternatives, modifications, and variations thereof will be apparent in light of this disclosure.

Evaporative cooling for transducer array

BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.


An optical information recording method including recording information at a linear velocity of at least 14 m/s to an optical information recording medium including a substrate and a dye-containing recording layer formed on the substrate. The dye has an endothermic peak when subjected to differential thermal analysis under a flow of nitrogen gas.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for optically recording information to an optical information recording medium and particularly to a method for optically recording information at a linear velocity of at least 14 m/s.
2. Description of the Related Art
One conventionally known optical information recording medium is an optical disk on which information can be recorded with a laser beam only one time. Such an optical disk is also called a write-once CD (so called CD-R), whose typical structure includes a recording layer of organic dye, a light reflecting layer of metal such as gold, and a protective resin layer stacked in this order formed on a transparent substrate disk. When information is recorded, a near-infrared laser beam (generally with a wavelength of about 780 nm) is applied to such CD-Rs, an irradiated portion of the recording layer absorbs the beam and thus is locally heated and optical characteristics of the irradiated portion change physically or chemically (for example, pits are formed). When the information is read (played back), a laser beam having the same wavelength as that used for recording irradiates the optical disk to detect a difference in reflectivity between a position of the recording layer with the changed optical characteristics (recorded portion) and a position of the recording layer with unchanged optical characteristics (unrecorded portion).
In recent years, there has been a demand for a higher density optical information recording medium. In response to such a demand, a proposal is an optical disk called "write-once Digital Versatile Disk" (so called DVD-R). The structure of such DVD-Rs includes: a transparent substrate disk having a guide groove (pre-groove) (0.74 to 0.8 μm) to be tracked by an irradiated laser beam (such a pre-groove is at least twice as more narrow as that of CD-R); a recording layer that includes a dye and is formed on the substrate; a light reflecting layer generally formed on the recording layer; and optionally a protective layer, wherein two disks each having the aforementioned layers or the disk having the aforementioned layers and a protective substrate disk with the same shape are bonded with an adhesive in such a manner that the recording layer is placed inside. Recording and playback are performed by irradiating a visible laser beam (generally with a wavelength in the range of from 630 nm to 680 nm) to the DVD-R. The recording density of DVD-R can be made higher than that of CD-R.
With respect to such DVD-Rs, recently, there has been a growing demand for a high recording speed of 4× or more (a linear velocity of at least 14 m/s). It is known that optimal recording power for an optical information recording medium is approximately proportional to the square root of recording speed. For example, the optimal recording power at a recording speed of 4× is about twice as high as that at 1×. As the recording speed increases, the energy applied for a short time increases, and thus the deformation of the recorded pit portion tends to increase. A greater deformation of the recorded pit can produce a higher degree of modulation so that the playback signal C/N can be higher. In such cases, however, the signal leak to adjacent tracks increases, in other words, the crosstalk increases. A higher recording density means a shorter track pit and thus crosstalk has a large effect.
When pre-pits having address signals are formed on the land area between the recording tracks like in DVD-Rs, if relatively large pits are formed on the recording track, the address information can become hard to read causing LPP errors to occur.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 10-188341 discloses an optical information recording medium in which a recording layer containing an organic dye as a main component has an exothermic peak of from −10 μV/mg to 10 μV/mg for the purpose of solving the problem of crosstalk. In such an optical information recording medium, however, in high speed recording, for example, at a linear velocity of at least 14 m/s, formed pits are too large, which can have an adverse effect on the readout from adjacent tracks or the readout of the address information from the land portion.


A vehicle roof water runoff management system is provided with an improved seal that has a constant seal gap between removable vehicle roof top panels and an adjoining fixed roof. The constant seal gap is maintained in the B-pillar interface area with the vehicle's roofing components. The vehicle roof water runoff management system offers improved manufacture and long term performance reliability over previous designs.

Vehicles are generally constructed around a frame, where a vehicle's finished surface panels are secured or bonded to substructures to form body panels that are designed for attachment to the irregular surfaces of the frame. FIG. 1A shows a vehicle hood 10 formed with a finished surface outer panel 12 (see-thru surface) bonded at multiple points 14 to a structural inner panel 16 that may be stamped from sheet metal or formed from composite materials such as SMC. As shown, the periphery of outer panel (outer skin) 12 and structural inner panel 16 are bonded together at the edges 18. FIG. 1B is a cross section of a typical composite body panel peripheral flange where the class A outer panel 12 is bonded 14 (typically polyurethane or epoxy adhesive) or secured at a bond flange 20 of the structural inner panel 16. The hat section 22 of the structural inner panel 16 can be designed to follow the contour of a corresponding seal-carrying surface on a vehicle body. FIG. 1C is an isometric view of a body panel 24 where the bond flange 20 follows the contour of the finished surface outer panel 12.
Vehicles with removable hard top panels (28L-left, 28R-right), especially for sport utility vehicles (SUV) and jeeps 26, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2I, have become increasingly popular. The removable nature of the hard top panels (28L, 28R) requires weather-stripping and a water management system with a discharge path to direct water to a vehicles' exterior thereby ensuring the vehicles 26 occupants remain dry from rain and snow. FIG. 2D is a detailed view of FIG. 2C showing the molded weather stripping 32 on the mounting flange 30I (see FIGS. 2H and 2I), where "I" is an interior portion of the structural panel of the roof panel 30. FIG. 2E shows left removable panel 28L as removed from FIG. 2C. FIGS. 2G and 2H show the region where the roof panel 30 joins with removable panel 28L. In FIG. 2H, 28L is shown in transparency to show the overlap with mounting flange 30I, and the molded weather stripping 32 is absent. FIG. 2I shows the structural inner portion 30I and mounting flange with the molded weather stripping 32 absent. The roof 30 and removable panels 28 may be formed of aluminum, steel, or carbon fiber. Alternatively, the roof 30 and removable panels 28 may be formed of glass reinforced plastics and composites. Composites may include sheet molding compounds (SMC) or bulk molding compounds (BMC).
However, existing designs for sealing removable vehicle hardtop panels are not always affective and are prone to failure overtime, thereby leading to incursion of moisture to a vehicle interior. The moisture incursion is pronounced where the removable panels (28L, 28R) join together with each other and with the non-removable portion of a vehicle roof 30, and at the B-pillar 27 (see FIG. 2A). FIGS. 3A-3M are a series of views of an existing removable panel 28 and roof 30I interface at the B-pillar with stuffer materials to fill voids 29 at the B-pillar interfaces between the removable panels 28L and 28R and the roof 30I interface (see FIGS. 3D and 3I). The removable panel 28I has a ninety degree bend 38 which creates a vertical sealing at the B-pillar interface 40. The sealing stuffers in the void area 29 experience both a compressive and shear force which causes the stuffers 34 to tend to roll out of their intended position. As shown in FIG. 3M, four specially shaped pieces of foam 36 are required on every removable ("Freedom") Panel 28L or 28R, for each corresponding B-pillar corner interface 40 to combat leaks. However, the separate pieces of foam 36 are cumbersome and time consuming to place during vehicle assembly, and are also prone to failure over time.
Thus, there exists a need for an improved seal with constant compression between and along bond flanges for vehicles with removable top panels.

Constant seal gaps for removable vehicle panels