A device for applying lifting tape to imaged residues, such as latent fingerprints, is provided which comprises an arcuate base member with a means for providing a rocking motion to the arcuate base member, and with means for releasably attaching lifting tape to the outside surface of the arcuate member with the lifting surface of the lifting tape facing away from the arcuate member whereby it is applied to an imaged residue by a rocking motion of the device when in contact with the imaged residue.

It has been normal practice for many years for police officers and other investigators to apply powder, chemicals or other image formers onto various surfaces in search of latent fingerprints, glove prints, footprints, and other evidence or residues. Even though photographs are usually taken of formed images before they are lifted, the images are often "lifted" to preserve the images. The lifted images are often used for forensic study in a crime lab or other site which is remote from the scene where the prints are lifted.
The term "latent" was originally used in describing fingerprints, and the like, which were not clearly visible, but that term is now used on virtually any prints which are left on a substrate other than a print card or other residue made directly from a person or source. A latent print image can be compared with a print card in identifying a person or compared with other images taken directly from a known source.
Latent fingerprints are classified into three categories: those which are visible, e.g., those made by skin covered with other substances such as wet paint, blood, ink, mud; invisible prints left by bare skin in contact with a smooth surface, leaving only a perspiration or natural body oil impression; and plastic prints such as those made on soft substances such as dust, grease, wax, soap, putty, asphalt, and the like. Investigators are familiar with the various types of prints and the manner in which imaged residues of latent prints or other evidence are prepared for lifting by using films or sheets used for that purpose.
Among the various films or sheets used in lifting latent images are tapes having a tacky surface, known as "sticky tapes", or can be metal foil, especially silver foil used in lifting chemical residues, such as those used in lifting iodine fumed prints. Lifting tapes may be transparent, opaque, plastic, paper, and some are sheets, such as sheets of rubber having a sticky surface similar to an innertube patch which has a removable layer covering the sticky surface of the rubber.
Also used are "hinged" lifters which are comprised of three pieces of plastic that are bound on one side by a sheet of paper, one of the plastic sheets having an adhesive substance on one side which is protected by another sheet of plastic, and an outer sheet of plastic which serves as the back of the "book" after lifting. The protective sheet of plastic is removed to reveal the sticky surface for lifting a print, then the protective outer surface is used to cover the lifted print on the sticky surface.
Among the materials used for imaging the latent residues are various powders of very fine particle size, appropriate powders being selected on the basis of type of substrate and darkness of the substrate. Commonly used are very finely grained adhesive compounds, often on an aluminum base. "Dragon's blood", a red powder, is very resilient when heated and is often used.
Fluorescent powders are useful for imaging residues on multicolored surfaces which, when exposed to ultraviolet light in darkness, can be photographed without losing contrast to the multicolored surface.
Means have been developed for lifting images of virtually any latent residue, including gloveprints, shoeprints, and skinprints as well as fingerprints.
As used herein, and for purposes of conciseness, the expression "lifting tape" includes any of the films, foils, tapes, or sheets which are applicable for lifting imaged latent residues from surfaces; "imaged residues" means the same as "imaged latent residues" which are of interest in investigations of the type performed by police officers and other such investigators.
The process of applying a lifting tape normally involves cutting a piece, from a roll or sheet, to a size appropriate for the size of the image to be lifted, carefully smoothing it onto the imaged area while trying to avoid wrinkles or bubbles. Then when the lifting tape is applied to another substrate to preserve it, the operator is again faced with trying to lay it down without having it wrinkle or form bubbles. One difficulty often encountered is that of accurately lifting an imaged residue from a curved surface such as a glass, telephone, club, post, doorknob, pipe, and the like.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for applying a lifting tape to an imaged residue in a manner which substantially removes the chances of forming wrinkles or bubbles, especially from curved surfaces, including, e.g., but not limited to, the inside surface of a hollow item such as a bucket, bowl, glass, cup, and the like.
It is further object of the present invention to provide a device which, after lifting of an imaged residue with a lifting tape, can be used to smoothly deposit the lifting tape onto another substrate without encountering wrinkles or bubbles in the lifting tape during the depositing step.

Device for lifting and processing latent fingerprints or other evidence


Disclosed are an image control device and a data input device, which comprises an apparatus housing section for removably housing a portable coordinate input apparatus having a control face and a light emitting element, a key control section having many keys, and a light receiving element; in the apparatus housing section are disposed a movable mounting base which is movable between an upper limit position and a lower limit position, so that when the portable coordinate input apparatus is inserted and housed in the apparatus housing section, the movable mounting base is engaged and held in the lower limit position, where the entire upper surface of the portable coordinate input apparatus is nearly flush with the control face of the key control section; and on the other hand, when the portable coordinate input apparatus is removed from the apparatus housing section, the movable mounting base moves up to the upper limit position and a part of the lower surface of the portable coordinate input apparatus becomes nearly flush with the control face of the key control section.

The present invention relates to an image control device and a data input device to be used therefor and, more particularly, to a data input device so adapted that a portable coordinate input apparatus can be inserted into and removed from the device, and that coordinate data can be inputted by operating the portable coordinate input apparatus without regard to the state of the portable coordinate input apparatus, that is, an inserted state or a removed state.
As a coordinate input apparatus (data input device) used in connection with an image display device of a personal computer for example, for moving a cursor on the screen of the image display device, a mouse and a track ball have been known.
The mouse or track ball is directly connected to the image display device of the personal computer, to change over details of data displayed on the screen of the image display device and to select various kinds of functions, for instance a spotlight function, a zooming function, and a marker or line function.
As a recent tendency, there has been practiced a so-called presentation (using a large data) in which a speaker explains, to many people, information magnified and projected onto the large data on the basis of the information displayed on the image display device of the personal computer. In such a presentation, the track ball incorporated in a keyboard of the image display device of the personal computer is operated or the mouse directly connected to the image display device of the personal computer is manipulated to move the cursor on the data to change a certain portion of information displayed on the same data or to change over the information to another.
In the above-described known presentation, two persons are generally needed: one for moving the cursor on the display section of the image display device of the personal computer, that is, an operator who manipulates the mouse or the track ball connected to the image display device, and a speaker who explains images displayed on the data. Therefore, if these two persons fail to work in full cooperation with each other, there will occur such a problem that, against the speaker's will, the image displayed on the data makes no change at the preset time of image changeover; the image tends to change at other than the preset time of image change; the cursor position in the image on the screen tends to move out of a proper position; and that it will become necessary to correct the image on the screen to proper one and also to move the cursor to a proper position every time a change is made.
In the above-described known presentation, it is necessary to pay much attention during operation, and also to use much time for operation to display an image of proper information.

Image control device and data input device to be used therefor


A semiconductor module includes: a metal block; an insulation layer for heat radiation formed by directly depositing a ceramic material on at least a first surface of the metal block; an insulation layer for a relay electrode formed by directly depositing a ceramic material on a part of a second surface 1b of the metal block; a relay electrode formed by depositing a metal material on the upper surface of the insulation layer for the relay electrode; a circuit element bonded with the second surface of the metal block by solder; and an external lead terminal, wherein a bonding wire or a lead frame from the circuit element is bonded with the relay electrode, and the relay electrode and the external lead terminal are connected.

A semiconductor module used for a power supply apparatus is widely applied for such consumer appliances as home air conditioners and refrigerators to such industrial equipment as inverters and servo controllers. To conserve power consumption in a semiconductor module, a power semiconductor element or the like is mounted on a circuit board, such as a metal base substrate or ceramic substrate. A semiconductor module is configured by mounting one or a plurality of circuit element(s) such as a power semiconductor element on a circuit board, adhering a plastic case frame and sealing with a silicone gel or epoxy resin.
On the other hand, a full mold semiconductor module made by a transfer molding method is used to reduce manufacturing cost (e.g. see Patent Document 1, identified further on). In a full mold semiconductor module, a lead frame and a heat sink are securely connected so as to ensure electric insulation.
FIG. 7 shows a first example of a conventional full mode semiconductor module. A power semiconductor element 7 and a drive IC 31 are mounted on lead frames 9B and 9C for external connection respectively, and are interconnected by bonding wires 11 and 12. These components are set in a metal mold and molding resin 14 is filled in, whereby the full mode semiconductor module is configured.
FIG. 8 shows a second example of a conventional full mode semiconductor module. In addition to the full mode semiconductor module illustrated in FIG. 7, a heat sink 32 is also disposed. The power semiconductor element 7 and the drive IC 31 are interconnected by the bonding wires 11 and 12, and the bonding wire 11 from the power semiconductor element 7 is bonded with a lead frame 9D for external connection.
FIG. 9 shows a third example of a conventional full mode semiconductor module. In the third example, an insulation substrate 33, which has the dual functions of an insulation layer and a heatsink, is included. For the insulation substrate 33, as illustrated in the figure, a metal base substrate constituted by a metal plate 34 and a copper foil 35, which are stacked via the insulation layer 36 made of resin, or a DBC (Direct Bond Copper) substrate of which insulation layer 36 is made of ceramic, for example, is used. The power semiconductor element 7 and the drive IC 31 are interconnected by bonding wires 11 and 12, and the power semiconductor element 7 is connected to a lead frame 9E for external connection via a bonding wire 11 and the copper foil 35.
FIG. 10 shows a fourth example of a conventional full mold semiconductor module. In the fourth example, an insulation metal block 37, where an insulation layer 2 is formed by spraying ceramic on one side of a metal block 1, is used instead of the insulation substrate 33 in FIG. 9. Since the power semiconductor element 7 is directly bonded with the metal block 1, some full mode semiconductor modules of this type have better coolability than the third example type. A bonding wire 11 from the power semiconductor element 7 is bonded with a lead frame 9F for external connection.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H9-139461 (paragraph number 0038, FIG. 1)
In the case of the conventional full mode semiconductor modules of the first to fourth examples, the bonding wire 11 is directly bonded to the power semiconductor element 7 and the other end of the bonding wire 11 is bonded to an external lead terminal, such as the lead frame 9B for external connection, and current is supplied from the external lead terminal, therefore heat generated when the power semiconductor element 7 is operating is conducted to the bonding wire 11 and the external lead terminal, which heats an external printed circuit board connected with the external lead terminal.
If the printed circuit board is heated, temperature inside a case of a power converter, such as an inverter, which houses the printed circuit board, increases, exceeding the heat resistance temperature of members in the power converter. This temperature increase could be handled by an air cooling or a water cooling method, but if either method were used the dimensions of the power converter would increase, which results in a cost increase. Therefore it is necessary to effectively control the temperature increase inside the case of the power converter without increasing the dimensions and cost of the power converter, and as one such countermeasure, it is demanded to effectively control heat that is conducted from the semiconductor module to the external printed circuit board via the external lead terminals.


An object is to provide a photosensor utilizing an oxide semiconductor in which a refreshing operation is unnecessary, a semiconductor device provided with the photosensor, and a light measurement method utilizing the photosensor. It is found that a constant gate current can be obtained by applying a gate voltage in a pulsed manner to a transistor including a channel formed using an oxide semiconductor, and this is applied to a photosensor. Since a refreshing operation of the photosensor is unnecessary, it is possible to measure the illuminance of light with small power consumption through a high-speed and easy measurement procedure. A transistor utilizing an oxide semiconductor having a relatively high mobility, a small S value, and a small off-state current can form a photosensor; therefore, a multifunction semiconductor device can be obtained through a small number of steps.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photosensor, and an embodiment of the invention disclosed herein relates to a photosensor utilizing an oxide semiconductor and a semiconductor device including the photosensor. Further, an embodiment of the present invention relates to a light measurement method using the photosensor.
2. Description of the Related Art
A number of detectors used for detecting an electromagnetic wave are known, and for example, detectors having sensitivity to light from the ultraviolet range to the infrared range are collectively referred to as photosensors. Among them, a photosensor having sensitivity to light in a visible light range from a wavelength of 400 nm to a wavelength of 700 nm is particularly referred to as a visible light sensor, and many visible light sensors are used for devices which need luminance adjustment, on/off control, or the like depending on the usage environment.
Some display devices detect ambient brightness of a display portion to adjust the luminance of the display. This is because wasted electric power of the display device can be reduced by increasing visibility through detecting ambient brightness with the use of a photosensor and performing display with an appropriate luminance. For example, as examples of the display device including a photosensor for adjusting the luminance, mobile phones, computers, and the like can be given. Further, as well as the ambient brightness of the display portion, luminance of the backlight of a display device, in particular, a liquid crystal display device is also detected by a photosensor to adjust the luminance of a display screen.
A photosensor, for example, includes a photoelectric conversion element such as a photodiode in a light sensing portion and can detect illuminance based on the amount of current which flows to the photoelectric conversion element. In Patent Document 1, a charge accumulation type photosensor is disclosed. This photosensor measures illuminance by utilizing such a property that the amount of electric charge flowing through a photodiode varies in accordance with the illuminance. More specifically, the illuminance is measured in the following manner: after electric charge is accumulated in a condenser (capacitor), a change in potential caused by discharge of electricity by a constant current circuit (a constant current power supply) is detected by a comparator, the time needed for the change in potential is converted to a digital signal by a counter circuit and a latch circuit, and then the digital signal is output.
As a photosensor, a sensor in which characteristics are changed by light can be utilized. For example, it is well known that conductivity of an oxide semiconductor changes by reception of light, and this fact is described in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3. In these documents, a technique for controlling the threshold of a transistor including an oxide semiconductor is disclosed. Further, Patent Document 4 discloses an attempt to use an oxide semiconductor in a photosensor or a memory.

Photosensor, semiconductor device including photosensor, and light measurement method using photosensor

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A complex-dynamic air and ground vehicle control inceptor assembly that provides active positional control with the capability of back drive (pilot over-ride) via a direct connection between the lever, a high gear-ratio gearbox, and the motor without the use of a clutch.

Conventional inceptor controls are used in vehicle to help allow the operator to accurately control the vehicle. Inceptor controls are used, as an example, in aircraft such as helicopters. Helicopter flight laws are extremely complex, and the end result is that multiple simultaneous inputs must be precisely provided to maintain aerodynamic stability. Accordingly, the control systems must provide very accurate control signals to the flight control computer in response to pilot movements or other control input. Conventional helicopter collective controls are coupled to the flight control computer utilizing a plurality of gears, such as spur gears or the like. This gear arrangement, however, requires a clutch that can disengage the gears to allow the pilot to back drive the collective control when needed. The gear and clutch configuration provides a disconnect between the collective control and vehicle's control surfaces, so that the pilot does not receive actual active feedback and cannot feel the actual forces or other input from the control surfaces. There is a need for an improved control inceptor system for vehicles (including aircraft, space vehicles, marine vehicles, and land vehicles) that allows for precise control of the vehicle with a low-power and quick response configuration.

Complex-dynamic air and ground vehicle control inceptor


The invention provides a system and method for automated data analysis in which data agents are located and operate at each member site or data source (i.e., locally). These agents access stored data at the data source or member sites, process the data and also aggregate the results. The aggregated results from each of the member sites are then forwarded to and further aggregated at a central analytic hub. The central analytic hub contains a centralized application which can further aggregate each of the aggregated results and perform a final analysis. These results are then delivered to the requester without any ability to identify individual data sources, or records from those sources.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and method for exchanging, integrating and analyzing information from multiple sources, without risking the divulging of potentially confidential information from any of those sources. Specifically, the present invention relates to the use of a data agent that collects, analyzes and aggregates information related to a data set of interest and forwards the results in a form that can be combined with like data from other sites, and without divulging confidential information contained in the data set.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
The analysis of data generally requires a sufficient set of data points to determine whether results represent real correlations or whether they represent random coincidence. In many industries, there are questions that cannot be answered by any one institution because the size and variation of its dataset is insufficient. Competitors, collaborators, and regulators, may have mutual interest in sharing data to provide a joint body of information for answering questions in which they are interested. However, due to competitive, regulatory, or other concerns of trust, institutions may be reluctant to disclose such data, particularly identifying data. Moreover, in other regulated industries, such as healthcare or finance, or in industries where privacy is implied, sharing of certain data is prohibited. Accordingly, a current need exists for a methodology for exchanging, integrating and analyzing information using a technique that can overcome these concerns and prohibitions and provide data of sufficient size and variation with the added benefit of ensuring anonymity of data providers.
Current techniques and systems attempt to address these confidentiality and disclosure problems through the use of various data filters that attempt to forward relevant data while preventing the dissemination of private information, by removing personal identifiers. The data filter may be located at a data source. For example, data may be collected from a hospital using an application that strips patient information from the data records before sending the data records for statistical analysis. Alternatively, other known data stripping utilities operate at a data analysis location, removing confidential information from data acquired from distant location, either before or after statistical analysis of the acquired data. The problem with these methods is four-fold. First, the anonymization techniques used are often reversible given other external information, or are insufficient to completely anonymize the individual. Second, the data records themselves are no longer under control of the source site, and so could be used inappropriately. Third, to fully anonymize the data may require removal of important fields other than explicit identifiers. This loss of fields or variables may put constraints on the utility of anonymized data in a pooled analysis. Fourth, removing data that might identify an individual might also impede the ability to find and analyze rare events. For meaningful analysis of rare events, which by definition occur infrequently, all data points should be included because sampling techniques are inappropriate and may miscount or otherwise distort the occurrence of the rare events. Not only might the data be removed for de-identification, but the analysis cannot be performed at individual sites and then combined, because rare events will not show up as significant in local analyses.
One relevant example of the points described above occurs in the healthcare industry where, for example, many hospital records systems may not provide release dates, exact age, or indicators of rare medical conditions if they are sufficiently rare to identify the individual. Accordingly, a need exists for an automated data collection technology that is more robust, thereby allowing data collection over a variety of different sources and searches, without losing access to data of interest.

System and method for aggregation and analysis of information from multiple disparate sources while assuring source and record anonymity using an exchange hub


A process and apparatus are disclosed for encoding input signals for transmission by a transmitter. A pattern of binary values is generated which has a predetermined average binary weight. The input signals are modulated with the predetermined pattern of binary values. The modulated signals are encoded with a forward error correction code which provides a predetermined level of coding protection. The average binary weight of the predetermined pattern of binary values is selected to be at least as great as the level of coding protection provided by the forward error correction code.

Wireless communication systems generally include control terminals (e.g. base stations or satellites) and mobile terminals (e.g. phones or radios). The information which is communicated between control terminals and mobile terminals includes not only user messages, such as speech or data, but also control messages which enable the control terminals to monitor and control the mobile terminals. In some communication systems, control messages can be communicated on the same radio frequency (RF) channel as user messages. In the digital cellular radio system standard known as Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) and the land mobile radio standard known as Enhanced Digital Access Communication System (EDACS), developed by Ericsson, control messages can be transmitted as so-called Fast Associated Control Channel (FACCH) messages. FACCH messages generally carry urgent control information such as a handoff command where the control terminal instructs the mobile terminal to switch to another frequency or timeslot. The FACCH messages are assigned a higher priority than user messages so that they are transmitted across a channel before any awaiting user messages.
Since FACCH messages are transmitted on the same channel as user messages, a receiver must be able to reliably distinguish between FACCH and user messages. The different message types can be distinguished through flag bits which are transmitted with each message and serve to indicate the message type. However, flag bits increase the length of the transmitted messages and can become corrupted, thereby causing misidentification of associated messages.
An alternative approach to distinguishing FACCH and user messages is to transmit FACCH messages using one convolution rate and user messages using another different convolution rate. Consequently, the convolution rate of the transmitted message is indicative of whether the message is a FACCH message or a user message. A receiver determines which convolution rate was used to encode the transmitted message by decoding a received message using both convolution rates and comparing the resulting bit error rates (BERs) of both decoded messages. The decoding convolution rate which provides the lowest bit error rate corresponds to the encoding convolution rate of the transmitted message. Whether the message is a FACCH message or a user message is determined from the identified convolution rate of the transmitted message.
In practice, in noisy conditions where many of the binary values of a message can become reversed and where FACCH messages can have a relatively low number of logical "ones", there is a risk of a receiver erroneously identifying a FACCH message as a user message. Misidentification of a FACCH message results in the receiver failing to extract and use the FACCH information and, consequently, results in degraded performance of the communication system.

Message encoding technique for communication systems


An approach is provided for digital triggering a recording of one or several signals sampled at individual sampling instants on a digital oscilloscope. The triggering is carried out when the interval between two recurrent triggering events is less or greater than a time threshold value.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate to digital triggering of signals.
2. Discussion of the Background
A digital oscilloscope can now present analog signals very accurately on a display device after sampling the analog signal over time and digitize the sampled values of the analog signal at the individual sampling times by means of analog-digital conversion.
The triggering of the digitized signals to be presented on the display device of the digital oscilloscope is now also realized in digital manner. In the document DE 39 36 932 A1, an analog signal converted into the digital data format is compared in a comparator with reference to overshooting or undershooting a threshold value stored in a register. The first overshooting or undershooting of the threshold value by one of the sampled values of the analog signal to be presented is identified by the triggering system as a triggering time and leads to a triggering impulse, which is used in the display device for recording the signals to be presented synchronously with the triggering impulse.
The digital triggering of DE 39 36 932 A1 implements only a static triggering on the basis of a single signal-level comparison with one threshold value. The fact that a dynamic triggering on the basis of a time-dependent signal feature—for example, a triggering on the basis of a signal slope of the signal, a duration of a signal impulse or a time delay of a signal impulse by comparison with a reference impulse—is not yet possible using a digital triggering system of this kind is disadvantageous.

Method and system for digital triggering of signals on the basis of two triggering events separated by a time difference


A crystalline titanyl phthalocyanine having diffraction peaks at least at 7.4.degree., 9.4.degree., 9.7.degree. and 27.3.degree. of Bragg angle (20.+-.0.2.degree.) in X-ray diffraction pattern with a doublet peak at 9.4.degree. or 9.7.degree., one of the diffraction peaks at 9.4.degree. and 9.7.degree. being the maximum.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a crystalline titanyl phthalocyanine and use thereof. More precisely, it relates to a titanyl phthalocyanine having a specific crystal form; to an electrophotographic photoconductor, in which the titanyl phthalocyanine is used as an electric charge generation material for use in printers, copying machines and the like and which is highly sensitive in wavelength range of near infrared rays; and to an image printing method using the photoconductor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The electrophotographic photoconductors, which have now been in practical use, are classified into inorganic photoconductors using inorganic materials and organic photoconductors using organic materials.
Conventionally, as the electrophotographic photoconductor, inorganic materials have been mainly used because of their high sensitivity and good durability. Representative examples of the inorganic photoconductors are those of a selenium type made of amorphous selenium (a-Se), amorphous selenium arsenic (a-AsSe) and the like; those in which zinc oxide (ZnO) or cadmium sulfide (CdS) sensitized with dyes is dispersed in a binding resin; and those made of amorphous silicon (a-Si). However, among the above-mentioned inorganic photoconductors, the selenium-type photoconductors and the CdS-containing photoconductors are poor in heat resistance and stability upon storage. In addition to that, since they are toxic and cause environmental pollution, a question arises as to how they should be discarded. Since the photoconductors containing ZnO dispersed in resin have weak sensitivity and poor durability, they are now scarcely used. Though the a-Si-type photoconductor, which is drawing public attention as a pollution-free inorganic photoconductor, has advantages such as high sensitivity and high durability, it has disadvantages such as image defects resulting from its manufacturing process using a plasma CVD method and rising costs resulting from its poor productivity. As mentioned above, the inorganic photoconductors have various disadvantages.
On the other hand, with respect to organic photoconductors, there are many kinds of organic materials themselves. Therefore, by selecting a proper organic material, it is possible to manufacture an organic photoconductor having good stability upon storage and being free of toxicity. Moreover, the organic photoconductors can be manufactured at a low cost, because it is easy to form thin layers by coating. Therefore, the organic photoconductors have been studied eagerly, so that recently they are extremely improved in sensitivity and durability and are utilized in practical use with respect to the bis-azo-type compounds. So, nowadays, except in the special cases, organic materials are used as electrophotographic photoconductors.
In recent years, laser beam printers are widespread in which laser light is used as a light source in place of conventional white light and which have advantages such as fast printing, high image quality and non-impacting. For such printers, there has been a longing for development of photoconductors which may meet these demands. For laser light, a semiconductor laser, which is very compact and highly reliable, is especially used as the light source. Because the wavelength of the semiconductor laser light source is around 800 nm, there has been a longing for conductors having highly sensitive properties to the light of long wavelength around 800 nm.
However, because the known bis-azo compounds which have been conventionally in practical use are much sensitive to short wavelength range and middle wavelength range but less sensitive in long wavelength range, they are hardly applicable for practical use in the case of semiconductor laser light source. As other examples of organic materials which are relatively much sensitive in long wavelength range, stearic acid methine dyes, indoline dyes, cyanine dyes, pyrylium dyes and the like are known. However, none of them show stability in practical use (properties for repetitive use) and none can be applied for the practical devices actually.
On the other hand, a phthalocyanine compound has also been known as being much sensitive in long wavelength range. Since the phthalocyanine compound is relatively more stable than the above-mentioned dyes in practical use, it has been recently studied eagerly. With respect to the phthalocyanine compound, it has been known that the sensitivity peaks and physical properties of the phthalocyanine compound not only vary depending on whether or not a metal is present in its center and what kind of metal is present in its center but also vary depending on its crystal form (Manabu SAWADA: Dyes and Chemical Agents, vol. 24, No. 6, page 122(1997)). Therefore, it is important to develop photoconductors through the investigation of its crystal form as well. For example, there are some reports in which phthlocyanine having specific crystal form is selected for the electrophotographic photoconductor. For example, photoconductors made of non-metal phthalocyanine (e.g., Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. Sho 60 (1985)-86551), photoconductors made of phthalocyanine containing aluminum (e.g., Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Sho 63(1988)-133462) and photoconductors made of phthlocyanine containing a metal selected from titanium (e.g., Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Sho 59(1984)-49544), indium, gallium or the like at the center thereof are known. In most of the cases, phthalocyanine of specific crystal form is selected.
Recently, there has been an eager study on titanyl phthalocyanines which are highly sensitive among these phthalocyanine compounds. Even titanyl phthalocyanine themselves are classified into many crystal forms in accordance with the difference in diffraction angle of X-ray diffraction pattern spectrum as shown in Electrophotographics Conference Journal, vol. 32, No. 3, p.282. More definitely, specific examples of the disclosed crystal type are .alpha.-type crystal (in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications No. Sho 61(1986)-217050 and No. Sho 61(1986)-239248), A-type crystal (in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Sho 62(1987)-67094), C-type crystal (in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications No. Sho 63(1988)-366 and No. Sho 63(1988)-198067), Y-type crystal (in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications No. Sho 63(1988)-20365, No. Hei 02(1990)-8256, and No. Hei 01(1989)-17066), M-type crystal (in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 03(1991)-54265), M-.alpha.-type crystal (in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 03(1991)-54264), and I-type crystal (in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 03(1991)-128973). In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Sho 62(1987)-67094, I-type and II-type crystals are disclosed. With respect to the crystals of titanyl phthalocyanine, crystals whose lattice constants are known from the structural analysis are the C-type, phase I-type and phase II-type crystals. Phase II-type crystal belongs to the triclinic crystal form and the phase I-type and C-type crystals belong to the monoclinic crystal form. When the crystal types disclosed in the specifications of the above-mentioned patent publications are analyzed on the basis of the known crystal lattice constants, it is found that the A-type and I-type crystals belong to phase I-type; the .alpha.-type and B-type crystals belong to phase II-type; and the M-type crystal belongs to C-type (similar explanation is found in J. of Imaging Science and Technology, vol. 37, No. 6, 1993, pp. 605-609).
However, there are some problems such that these types of titanyl phthalocyanines are still less sensitive and less stable in electric potential under repeated use. When the electrophotographic process using inverse developing is carried out using titanyl phthalocyanines, fogs tend to be formed on the resulting pictures (black spots tend to show up in the white background). Moreover, because its charging properties are not enough, sufficient image density can hardly be obtained.
As mentioned above, phthalocyanine compounds can be cited as organic compounds having sensitivity in long wavelength range. However, the phthalocyanine compounds themselves are not satisfactorily applicable for the electrophotographic photoconductors.

Crystalline titanyl phthalocyanines and use thereof


A system and method is provided that uses signals from a plurality of seismic sensors to define an acoustic lens for subsurface imaging. More specifically signals provided by an array of sensors/geophones may be utilized to form an acoustic lens that can be focused on a subterranean point by properly adjusting the signals recorded at each sensor prior to summation of those signals. To form such an acoustic lens, each of the seismic sensors is moved onto a hypothetical acoustic lens surface (e.g., spherical surface) having a focal point located on the subterranean point of interest in order to calculate a time delay for each signal. Once the signals for each sensor is time-delayed, information in the time-delayed signals, which is received from the point of interest, may be temporally aligned. Accordingly, the time delayed signals may be combined to generate reflection information for the point of interest.

In active seismic exploration, a subterranean area of interest is typically imaged by transmitting shots from active seismic sources and receiving reflected sonic/acoustic energy at multiple sensors/receivers (i.e., geophones or hydrophones) arranged in an array. The signals received at each geophone define a trace of seismic data. Each such trace may include a number of features or peaks (also known as reflections and wavelets) corresponding to a number of subterranean reflectors or events. Due to the lateral offsets of the geophones in the array, the timeframe of the different traces for each geophone varies. Accordingly, these timeframes may be adjusted (e.g., normalized/correlated), and the adjusted traces may be stacked to yield data having a higher signal to noise ratio. This allows for better identification of subterranean events.
Such active seismic exploration requires the use of active seismic sources such as dynamite and/or vibrators. However, there are situations in which it may be desirable to avoid the use of active seismic sources. For instance, it may be difficult to utilize active seismic sources in rugged terrain or in populated areas. Further, use of such active seismic sources adds significantly to the cost of seismic imaging. In this regard, it may be preferable to utilize a passive seismic exploration method that does not utilize active seismic sources. In such a method, passive seismic sources may be utilized to generate seismic images of the subsurface. Such sources include, for example, micro-earthquakes and other natural ground vibration sources as well as surface generated noise such as that due to wind, cultural (oil pumps, quarry blasts, highway vehicles, etc.) or animal habitation or the like. Under the ocean, ice pack, waves, and animal noise may serve the same purpose.
One such theoretical passive seismic imaging system is sometimes referred to as "acoustic daylight imaging." Acoustic daylight imaging is based on the theory that the seismic noise within the earth is analogous to daylight within the atmosphere. That is, both are incoherent, random fields of energy propagating in all directions, though their source mechanisms are different. In optical imaging, images are possible because the presence of an object modifies the ambient illumination by scattering the incident radiation (i.e., light). When the scattered light is focused by an optical lens onto a focal surface (e.g., retina or film), an image is created. Likewise, it is theorized that acoustic energy within the earth is reflected by objects within the earth. Accordingly, passive reflective imaging theorizes that an acoustic lens could be utilized to focus acoustic energy scattered by a subterranean object onto a focal surface. Simply stated, seismic vibrations/energy are considered similar to light and it is theorized that these vibrations will illuminate underground structures if properly focused. However, at present, no practical acoustic lens has been developed that allows for focusing on subterranean objects using ambient noise.

Passive reflective imaging for visualizing subsurface structures in earth and water


A network management program is executed in a managing device for managing network which includes multiple devices to be managed and plural managing devices. The network management program comprises computer instructions for exchanging management information between said plural managing devices, judging in accordance with said exchanged management information whether said plural managing devices are performing duplicative management with respect to the same managed device or not, and making only one of said plural managing devices manage said device duplicatively managed. The network management servers (managing devices) comprising computers operates in accordance with the network management program installed in memory on both computers so as to prevent dupulicative management of the multiple devices to be managed belonging to the network.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a network management program, network management system and network management apparatus that manage a system in which multiple managed devices and multiple managing apparatuses that manage these managed devices are interconnected over a network.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, systems in which multiple managed devices such as printers, copiers and scanners are interconnected over a network such as a LAN with multiple managing apparatuses that managing these managed devices, such as servers and personal computers, in a local area such as an office, building or factory (hereinafter 'network systems') have become increasingly popular. If such a network system is built on a small scale, it is sufficient if there is only one managing apparatus ('network management utility') on the network. However, if the network system is large in size, because it is difficult to manage all of the managed devices with one managing apparatus, multiple managing apparatuses are disposed on a single network.
In a network system in which multiple managed devices are managed by multiple managing apparatuses in this fashion, where the network, such as a LAN, is built to cover a large area (across different locations that are located at a substantial distance from one another), for example, it is difficult to determine which managing apparatus is managing which managed devices. As a result, it may become unclear which managing apparatus is managing a given managed device, or a given managed device may be subject to management by more than one managing apparatus, creating an undesirable burden on the network. Therefore, in this type of network system, in order to properly manage each managed device so as to avoid duplicative management, means that specifies a managing apparatus (a device that performs management) to manage each managed device is required.

Network management program, network management system and network management apparatus


When a print process is started, discharge speed of recording papers is first set to a first discharge speed set based on the case in which a recording paper receiving unit for placing recording papers is in a reference state. Then, when a record instruction is given for starting a process of recording images onto recording papers, it is determined whether or not the recording paper receiving unit is in the reference state. If it is determined that the recording paper receiving unit is in an extended state in which the recording paper receiving unit is extended from the reference state, the discharge speed of the recording papers is set to a second discharge speed that is faster than the first discharge speed. Then, following a paper feed operation and an image record operation, the recording papers are discharged according to the set discharge speed.

The present relates to a discharging device for discharging a conveyed object to a conveyed object receiving means on which the conveyed object can be placed, and an ink jet printer provided with such a discharging device.
Conventionally, a discharging device for discharging a conveyed object to a conveyed object receiving unit on which the conveyed object can be placed is known.
For instance, a recording device such as an ink jet printer or a laser printer, etc. is such configured to perform: a paper feed operation for feeding recording papers one by one from a paper feed tray on which the recording papers as an object to be conveyed are laminated (stacked) to a recording unit, a record operation for recording images on a recording paper in the recording unit, and a discharge operation for discharging the recording paper on which images were recorded in the recording unit to a recording paper receiving unit that includes a paper discharge tray on which the recording paper can be placed.
There are some paper discharge trays such configured that, even when papers of large size are discharged, the recording paper receiving unit is extendable so that the papers can be placed safely.
For instance, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-167547 (1998) discloses the configuration in which a paper discharge tray for placing discharged recording papers is partially depressed and a supplementary tray that can be housed in the depression is rotatably provided, thereby making it switchable between the state in which the supplementary tray is housed in the depression of the paper discharge tray and the state in which the supplementary tray projects from the paper discharge tray.
For another example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-201054 discloses the configuration in which a paper discharge tray for placing discharged recording papers is partially depressed, wherein an extendable tray that is rotatably moved with respect to the paper discharge tray and a supplementary tray that is rotatably moved with respect to the extendable tray are provided so as to be housed in the depression, whereby the extendable tray can be opened to the paper discharge tray, and the supplementary tray can be further opened to the extendable tray, which thus enables the recording paper receiving unit to be widely extended.


The present invention relates to improved linearity of an active circuit, and more particularly, to an active circuit having improved linearity using a main circuit unit and an assistant circuit unit. According to the present invention, the common gate circuit includes a main circuit unit consisting of a common gate circuit having a drain terminal through which an input signal is output as an output signal, an assistant circuit unit having a common gate circuit in order to assist the linearity of the main circuit unit, a biasing unit for biasing the main circuit unit and the assistant circuit unit, respectively, and load stages connected to output stages of the main circuit unit and the assistant circuit unit, wherein the output stages of the main circuit unit and the assistant circuit unit are coupled to each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improved linearity of an active circuit, and more particularly, to an active circuit having improved linearity using a main circuit unit and an assistant circuit unit.
2. Background of the Related Art
Recently, the reference for the linearity of semiconductor devices is IP3 (3rd Intercept Point). IP3 means that two points meet under the assumption that the fundamental output and the IM3 (3rd Inter-modulation) component continue to increase without being saturated.
At this time, IP3 is classified into IIP3 (Input IP3) and OIP3 (Output IP3). IIP3 is used when IP3 is read from the viewpoint of the input side, and OIP3 is used when IP3 is read from the viewpoint of the output side.
Characteristics regarding the conventional active element will be schematically described with reference to the drawings, and problems thereof will be also described.
FIG. 1 is a graph showing the secondary differential coefficient of the transconductance of a conventional common gate circuit.
The conventional common gate circuit is usually used as a circuit for generating 50 (ohm) being RF input impedance since input resistance can be designed to have 1/gm.
In FIG. 1, a region A and a region B divided and shown.
At this time, the coefficient related to the transistor linearity is gm″ being the secondary differential coefficient of the transconductor. In the region A being a main use region, the value of gm″ has a positive value. The linearity of the circuit becomes low due to the positive value.
FIG. 2 is a graph showing the secondary differential coefficient of the transconductance of a conventional common drain circuit.
The conventional common drain circuit is usually used as a buffer circuit since it has high input impedance and low output resistance.
In FIG. 2, a region A and a region B are divided and shown.
At this time, the coefficient related to the transistor linearity is gm″ being the secondary differential coefficient of the transconductor. In the region A being a main use region, the value of gm″ has a negative value. The linearity of the circuit becomes low due to the negative value.
Further, the linearity of the conventional common drain circuit can be expressed into the following Equation (1).
[Equation 1]IIP3SF=IIP3NMOS·(1+T)3/2 Where T=gm·(RL//RO)   (1)
As can be seen from Equation 1, if the load impedance is higher, the linearity increases since feedback increases. In the case of a high frequency circuit, however, it is difficult to obtain the linearity since the load impedance is difficult to be higher.

Active circuit having improved linearity using multiple gated transistor


An internal row address signal output from an address buffer is supplied to first and second row partial decoders. A programming circuit is programmed to store information indicating whether the redundant function is used or not and a defective address corresponding to a defective main word line or defective memory cell in a main memory cell array. The defective row address and the internal row adders signal are compared with each other by the programming circuit and the spare decoder, a control signal corresponding to the coincidence/non-coincidence of the compared row addresses is output, and a partial decode signal of the internal row address signal is output when the compared row addresses coincide with each other. The second partial decoder receives a control signal output from the spare decoder and outputs a partial decode signal of the internal row address signal when the control signal indicates the non-coincidence of the compared row addresses. The partial decode signals output from the first and second row partial decoders are supplied to the main row decoder which in turn selects one of main word lines in the main memory cell array. The partial decode signal output from the spare decoder is supplied to a spare row decoder which in turn selects one of spare word lines in a spare memory cell array.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a random access type semiconductor memory device, and more particularly, to a semiconductor memory device having a redundant circuit for replacing a defective memory cell included in memory cells of a main memory cell array by a memory cell in a spare memory cell array for each unit of word line, that is, replacing the defective memory cell and memory cells connected to the same word line to which the defective memory cell is connected by memory cells connected to the same spare word line in the spare memory cell array.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the random access memory (RAM), as the memory capacity becomes larger, the possibility that a redundant circuit for relieving the defective memory cell is provided becomes higher. The redundant circuit includes a spare memory cell array having memory cells with the same construction as memory cells in the main memory cell array. In a case where defects occur in the memory cells of the main memory cell array or word lines, the memory cells connected to the same word line to which the defective memory cell is connected or the memory cells connected to the defective word line are replaced by the memory cells connected to the same spare word line in the spare memory cell array so as to relive the defective memory cell array, thus enhancing the manufacturing yield.
In order to permit the memory cells in the spare memory cell array to be selected instead of the memory cells in the main memory cell array, a plurality of programmable elements such as fuses are provided in the redundant circuit, and whether the redundant circuit is used or not is determined according to whether at least one of the fuses is cut off or not and a row address for the defective memory cell or defective word line is programmed by selectively cutting off the fuses. When a row address for a word line to which the defective memory is connected or the defective word line is input, one of the spare word lines is selected based on the program made by use of the fuses. At this time, all of the word lines in the main memory cell array are set in the non-activated state, thus permitting the spare memory cell in the spare memory cell array to be selected instead of the memory cell in the main memory cell array.
The conventional RAM having the above redundant circuit is constructed as shown in FIG. 1. An address signal constructed by row and column addresses for selecting a memory cell is supplied to an address buffer circuit 15. An output signal of the address buffer circuit 15 is supplied to row partial decoders 16A and 16B, spare decoder 19 and column decoder 22. The row partial decoders 16A and 16B decode respective internal row address signals output from the address buffer 15 to create partial decode signals. The partial decode signals are supplied to a main row decoder 17. The spare decoder 19 is supplied with an output of a programming circuit 18. The programming circuit 1 has fuses indicating whether or not the redundant function is used and fuses for programming an address for the defective memory cell. The spare decoder 19 decodes an internal row address signal supplied from the address buffer 15 to create a partial decode signal when the programming circuit 18 is programmed to use a redundant function and the programmed defective row address coincides with the above internal row address signal. The partial decode signal output from the spare decoder 19 is decoded by the spare row decoder 20 and the decoded signal is used to select and drive one of spare word lines SWL1 to SWLp. Further, the spare decoder 19 outputs to the main row decoder 17 a control signal R/D which is set to a low logic level when an internal row address signal corresponding to the defective row address is input and to a high logic level when a row address signal other than the internal row address signal is input. The main row decoder 17 decodes the partial decode signals of the row partial decoders 16A and 16B so as to select and drive one of the main word lines MWL1 to MWLm when the control signal R/D is set at the high logic level. On the other hand, when the control signal R/D is set at the low logic level, the main row decoder 17 selects none of the main word lines MWL1 to MWLm, and at this time, the spare row decoder 20 selects and drives one of the spare word lines SWL1 to SWLp.
A main memory cell array 11 is constructed by memory cells 13-11 to 13-mn arranged in a matrix form of m rows.times.n columns. A spare memory cell array 12 is constructed by memory cells 13S-11 to 13S-pn arranged in a matrix form of p rows.times.n columns. Each of the spare memory cells 13S-11 to 13S-pn has the same construction as the memory cells 13-11 to 13-mn. Those of the memory cells 13-11 to 13-mn in the main memory cell array 11 which are arranged on the same row are connected to a corresponding one of the main word lines MWL1 to MWLm and the memory cells 13-11 to 13-mn are selected for each row. Those of the memory cells 13S-11 to 13S-pn in the spare memory cell array 12 which are arranged on the same row are connected to a corresponding one of the spare word lines SWL1 to SWLp and the memory cells 13S-11 to 13S-pn are selected for each row. Those of the memory cells 13-11 to 13-mn and 13S-11 to 13S-pn in the main memory cell array 11 and spare memory cell array 12 which are arranged on the same column are connected to a corresponding one of bit line pairs BL1, BL1 to BLn, BLn. Each pair of bit lines BL1, BL1 to BLn, BLn are connected at one end to a corresponding one of bit line initializing circuits 14-1 to 14-n for initializing the potentials of the pairs of bit lines BL1, BL1 to BLn, BLn. Further, each pair of bit lines BL1, BL1 to BLn, BLn are connected at the other end to a corresponding one of column selection circuits 21-1 to 21-n for selecting the pairs of bit lines BL1, BL1 to BLn, BLn. The input terminals of the column selection circuits 21-1 to 21-n are connected to the output terminal of the column decoder 22 and one of the circuits 21-1 to 21-n is selected according to the decode signal output from the column decoder 22.
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing the detail construction of part of the main row decoder 17 in the RAM shown in FIG. 1. The circuit includes NAND gates 25 and inverters 26. For example, a row address signal is constructed by four bits of X1, X2, X3 and X4 and X1.multidot.X2, X1.multidot.X2, X1.multidot.X2 and X1.multidot.X2 (for example, X1.multidot.X2 indicates an AND logic signal of X1 and X2 and X1.multidot.X2 indicates an AND logic signal of an inverted signal of X1 and X2) shown in FIG. 2 are output signals of the row partial decoder 16A for deriving partial decode signals of the two-bit row address signals X1 and X2. Likewise, X3.multidot.X4, X3.multidot.X4, X3.multidot.X4 and X3.multidot.X4 are output signals of the row partial decoder 16 for deriving partial decode signals of the two-bit row address signals X3 and X4. Selected two of the partial decode signals and the control signal R/D are supplied to a corresponding on of the decoding three-input NAND gates 25. Outputs of the NAND gates 25 are respectively supplied to the inverters 26 serving as buffer circuits and the main word lines MWL are driven by outputs of the inverters 26.
FIG. 3 is a timing chart of signals in the main row decoder 17. As shown in FIG. 3, in a case where no redundant function is provided, the partial decode signals (which are represented by X1.multidot.X2 and X3.multidot.X4 in FIG. 3) rise at time T1 and then the control signal R/D rises to the high logic level at time T2, and after this, the main word line MWL is set to the high logic level at time T3. The time T2 at which the signal R/D rises must be set to a time point after the time T1 at which all of the other partial decode signals rise. This is because a defective word line may be selected or a main word line (which should not be selected) different from a to-be-selected main word line may temporarily be selected and the access time may be delayed by reverse reading of data before a correctly corresponding one of the word lines MWL1 to MWLm is selected in response to an address input if the signal R/D rises earlier than the other partial decode signals. Therefore, the spare decoder 19 is so constructed as to cause the signal R/D to be changed after the partial decode signals have changed, thereby causing the access time of the RAM to be determined based on the control signal R/D. Further, since the control signal R/D input to the main row decoder 17 is supplied to all of the decoding NAND gates 25 as shown in FIG. 2, the load capacitance becomes large and the time for the signal R/D to rise to the high logic level becomes longer (the rate of rise of the signal becomes dull) as shown by the timing chart of FIG. 3. As a result, the access time becomes further longer.
Further, if fall of the control signal R/D is delayed when the access is changed from the main memory cell array 11 to the spare memory cell array 12, multi-selection may occur at this time. If the driving ability of the circuit portion for outputting the control signal R/D is increased to reduce the rise time and fall time of the control signal R/D, a current consumption will increase.

Semiconductor memory device having redundant circuit


A display apparatus includes a display panel and a chassis base for supporting the display panel. The chassis base has a plurality of metallic plates on a common plane and an electrically insulating connector between edges of a pair of adjacent metallic plates.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plasma display apparatus, and more particularly, to a chassis base for a plasma display panel (PDP).
2. Description of the Related Art
Plasma display apparatuses are relatively flat display apparatuses that generally form an image via light emitted from ultraviolet rays generated by a discharge gas injected between facing substrates when a voltage is applied to electrodes placed on opposite sides of the substrates. The plasma display apparatuses may be manufactured to have a thickness of less than several centimeters, a relatively large screen, and a wide viewing angle compared to other displays. Accordingly, plasma display apparatuses have been spotlighted as the next generation of display apparatuses.
A conventional plasma display apparatus may include a PDP for displaying an image using plasma generated by a gas discharge, a chassis base for supporting the PDP, and circuit board assemblies for supplying signals to electrodes of the PDP. The circuit board assemblies may be mounted on a side surface of the chassis base, opposite a side surface where the PDP is mounted.
The chassis base may comprise a metallic material such as aluminum having a high mechanical rigidity, and may be on a rear surface of the PDP to allow attachment of the circuit board assemblies and to reinforce the PDP. The chassis base may also serve as a heat sink for dissipating heat generated in the PDP and the circuit board assemblies and as an electromagnetic radiation ground to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI).
The PDP is driven by electrical signals with high frequencies and high voltages, and thus generates a strong EMI. The PDP and the circuit board assemblies usually generate noise in a low bandwidth (between about 30-200 MHz), while the operational performance of the PDP may be affected by noise with a frequency of about 100 MHz. The electromagnetic interference generated by the PDP may affect viewers and electronic devices in the vicinity of the PDP.
The chassis base provides the largest ground area in the plasma display apparatus. Therefore, when EMI generated by driving the PDP reaches the chassis base, the chassis base may operate as an antenna that further transmits the EMI.

Plasma display apparatus having segmented chassis base


A matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/laser desorption ionization (MALDI/LDI) time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS) which includes an ion source employing a ground voltage configuration. The improved MALDI/LDI TOF-MS includes a laser for ablating a sample positioned within a gridless source. The ionized sample is then repelled through a floating flight tube toward a detector and within a vacuum chamber. The floating flight tube allows a lower than conventional voltage to be applied to the ions. A digital camera is provided for viewing a sample when positioned in the vacuum ready for analysis. The sample image is displayed on the control computer monitor and is available for computer analysis and instrumentation control, including external instrumentation such as that involved in sample preparation and handling. A sample plate and sample changer are referenced at ground voltage, thus allowing the sample plate to define a relatively large configuration, such as one defining a microtiter sample receptor matrix of 8.times.12. A work shelf is provided for use of an operator and is disposed proximate an opening to the sample changer, and, to this extent, defines a sample plate entry. While being convenient to the operator for loading and unloading samples, the configuration of the work shelf and sample changer also facilitates interfacing with robotic sample handling equipment.

In the field of mass spectrometry, time-of-flight (TOF) techniques are well known. Typical descriptions of those techniques and principles of electron beam characteristics are discussed in the following references:
Pierce, J. R., Theory and Design of Electron Beams, 2nd Edition, Van Nostrand, New York (1954). PA0 Sanzone, G., Energy Resolution of the Conventional Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer, The Review of Scientific Instruments, Volume 41, Number 5, 741-2 (May, 1970). PA0 de Heer, W. A., P. Milani, Large Ion Volume Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer with Position- and Velocity-Sensitive Detection Capabilities for Cluster Beams, Rev. Sci. Instrum., Volume 62, No. 3, 670-7 (March, 1991).
Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) is a "soft" ionization technique for introducing very large delicate molecules such as proteins into a mass spectrometer without fragmentation. M. Karas and F. Hillenkamp, Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization, Anal. Chem. 60, 2299 (1988) describe the method. Using the MALDI technique, molecular samples to be investigated are laid down on a matrix material which absorbs light at the frequency of a particular pulsed laser. When the pulsed laser is focused on the sample, the energy of each pulse is absorbed largely by the matrix. A plume of matrix fragments and ions carries the sample molecules into the vacuum in a largely undisturbed state. A certain fraction of these become ionized due to charge exchange or absorption of energy from nearby matrix fragments. If this takes place in the ion source region of a mass spectrometer it is possible to measure the masses of the sample ions. The method is particularly suited to time-of-flight mass spectrometry since it is inherently a pulsed method. Numerous researchers have built MALDI/LDI time-of-flight mass spectrometers and approximately ten instrument companies offer such instruments. Unlike the present invention, however, none are specifically designed for automation of MALDI/LDI measurements.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/laser desorption ionization (MALDI/LDI) time of flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS) constructed in such a manner as to facilitate automated measurement of samples placed therein on a sample plate.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a MALDI/LDI TOF-MS which is provided with a sample changer designed to manipulate a microtiter plate defining a plurality of sample wells disposed in a matrix such as an 8.times.12 array dimensionally configured according to industry standards for other analytical equipment.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a mass spectrometer which further includes a sample imaging system capable of storing sample images in computer memory and displaying such images on a computer monitor with mass spectral and other data.
A further object of the present invention is to provide such a mass spectrometer wherein a sample entry system is carried within an illuminated work shelf.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a MALDI/LDI TOF-MS which is provided with control electronics and software for permitting feedback control of the sample changer and the mass spectrometer, as well as any associated external instruments, based on analysis by the instrument computer, of sample images, mass spectra, or other available data generated by the instrument itself or by the external instrumentation.
Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a MALDI/LDI TOF-MS having an ion source employing a ground voltage configuration.

Maldi/LDI time-of-flight mass spectrometer


A cluster computing system includes an active system and a standby system connected via wire networks. The active system and the standby system each has a wireless communications apparatus, such that when all of the wire networks connecting the active system with the standby system are disconnected, the wireless communications apparatus of the active system reports the standby system of the failure of the active system using its wireless communications capability with the wireless communications apparatus of the standby system. The report includes the verification ID of the active system, and the standby system begins operation upon receiving a packet containing the verification ID.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cluster computing system and its failover method, where the cluster computing system is a duplex clustering system that has an active system and a standby system, and that can operate both systems without inconsistencies even in the event of a failure of networks that connect the sites of the two systems and recover from the failure.
2. Related Background Art
A cluster computing system is a system that operates a plurality of servers as one system in order to enhance the availability and reliability of the system. A function in which an alternate server takes over data and processing in the event of a failure in such a cluster computing system is called a "failover," which is an important technology in improving the reliability of the system.
Generally, a cluster computing system has one storage apparatus system shared by a plurality of host computers or a plurality of storage apparatuses each separately accessible by one of a plurality of host computers. In a configuration called a duplex system, one of a plurality of host computers operates as an active host computer and performs operation processing, such as data read/write to and from the storage apparatuses, while other host computers are in a standby state as standby host computers. The active host computer and the standby host computers monitor the status of each other, such that when a failure occurs on one of the host computers, the other host computer detects the failure and takes over the operation processing. A cluster computing system using a technology to perform private communications (heartbeat communications) by selectively using links between sites is disclosed as a cluster computing system described above.
The configuration and operations of a typical prior art cluster computing system are described below with reference to FIGS. 17-20.
FIG. 17 is the general system configuration of a cluster computing system in which a storage apparatus system is shared by host computers.
FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a situation in which a failure occurs in a host computer A in the system shown in FIG. 17.
FIG. 19 is the general system configuration of a cluster computing system in which a separate storage apparatus system is provided at each site.
FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a situation in which a failure occurs in a storage apparatus system A of a site A in the system shown in FIG. 19.
In a cluster computing system in which a storage apparatus system is shared by host computers, a host computer A10, which is an active host computer, and a host computer B11, which is a standby host computer, are connected to a storage apparatus system 50 by interface cables A40 and B41, respectively, to perform I/O requests.
The host computer A10 that performs operation processing and the host computer B11 that is in a standby state have heartbeat communications with each other via an IP network 30, which connects them, in order to monitor the status of each other.
A disk volume that is logical (hereinafter called a "logical disk volume") that the storage apparatus system 50 has is accessed by the host computer A10 under normal operating state.
If a failure occurs on the host computer A10 as shown in FIG. 18, the standby host computer B11 detects the failure through the IP network 30 and begins operations; the host computer B11 takes over the processing of the host computer A10 and accesses the storage apparatus system 50.
A cluster computing system having such a configuration can maintain operation processing even if a failure occurs on one of the host computers.
However, if a failure occurs on the storage apparatus system itself that stores the data necessary for operation processing, the operation processing cannot be continued in such a cluster computing system.
For this reason, a configuration shown in FIG. 19, in which an active host computer and a standby host computer have separate storage apparatuses, may be considered.
In a cluster computing system with the configuration shown in FIG. 19, a site A100, which is active, and a site B101, which is standby, have a storage apparatus system A51 and a storage apparatus system B52, respectively. Remote copying takes place at all times between the two storage apparatus systems A51 and B52. Remote copying is a technology in which a plurality of storage apparatus systems installed at physically remote locations copy data (dual writing) without the intervention of any host computers.
For performing remote copying, the storage apparatus systems are connected to each other by a dedicated line or a public telephone line (or a Fibre Channel (FC) network 90 in FIG. 19), such that a copy source logical disk volume of the storage apparatus system A51 of the active site A100 is copied to a copy destination logical disk volume of the storage apparatus system B52 of the standby site B101.
In this way, the storage apparatus system B52 operates as a backup system for the storage apparatus system A51, thereby maintaining the consistency of data.
When a failure occurs in the storage apparatus system A51 as shown in FIG. 20, the host computer A10 detects the failure and reports via an IP network 30, which connects the sites, to the host computer B11 that a failure has occurred in the storage apparatus system A51.
In the meantime, the storage apparatus system B52 of the site B101 also detects via the FC network 90 that a failure has occurred in the storage apparatus system A51, which is the remote copy source.
Upon receiving the report from the host computer A10 and checking the status of the storage apparatus system B52 via an interface cable B41, the host computer B11 recognizes that a failure has occurred in the storage apparatus system A51 of the site A100 and performs an operation to take over the operation processing.
When the storage apparatus system A51 of the site A100 recovers to a state where it can execute operation processing after the operation processing has been taken over by the site B101 from the site A100, the storage apparatus system B52, to which is connected the host computer B11 that took over the operation processing, is set as a remote copy source, while the recovered storage apparatus system A51 is reset as a remote copy destination; by performing remote copying in this manner, data can be recovered to the storage apparatus system A51 without suspending the operation of the entire system.
In the prior art configuration in which different sites have their own storage apparatus system as shown in FIG. 19, operation processing can be continued even when a failure occurs in the active storage apparatus system itself, unlike the system shown in FIG. 17 where a plurality of host computers shares a storage apparatus system.
In a cluster computing system, host computers must constantly monitor each other in order to be able to take over operation processing. In the system shown in FIG. 19, the heartbeat communications on the IP network that connects the host computers and the remote copying on the FC network that connects the storage apparatus systems are utilized to check the status of the counterpart sites and recognize any occurrence of failure. The system, however, may not recover smoothly from failures, depending on the mode of failure occurrence.
Referring to FIGS. 21 and 22, a description is made as to situations in which the system does not recover smoothly from failures, depending on the mode of failure occurrence.
FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a situation in which a failure occurs on the IP network 30 and the FC network 90 in the configuration shown in FIG. 19.
FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a situation in which a failure occurs at the site A in the configuration shown in FIG. 19.
One mode of failure occurrence is a situation in which, as shown in FIG. 21, both the IP network 30 that connects the host computer A10 of the site A100 with the host computer B11 of the site B101, and the FC network 90 that connects the storage apparatus system A51 of the site A100 with the storage apparatus system B52 of the site B101 become disconnected (hereinafter called a "total disconnection of networks between sites" or simply a "total inter-site network disconnection state").
In such a situation, since there is no means of communication between the sites, the sites cannot monitor the status of each other.
Another mode of failure occurrence is a situation in which, as shown in FIG. 22, both the host computer A10 and the storage apparatus system A51 of the site A100 fail simultaneously, for example, which causes the entire system within the site A100 to fail (hereinafter called a "site failure").
From the perspective of the host computer B11 of the site B101, since it cannot obtain information from the site A100 in either situation, the host computer B11 cannot determine whether the problem is a total disconnection of networks between sites shown in FIG. 21 or a site failure shown in FIG. 22.
Generally in conventional cluster computing systems, when a total disconnection of networks between sites occurs and the sites become incapable of monitoring each other, the site that did not fail cannot obtain information about the counterpart site at all; this situation leaves the following three options available based on logic:
(1) a state in which operation processing is executed at both sites regardless of the status of counterpart sites (i.e., a split brain state);
(2) a state in which operation processing is halted at both sites regardless of the status of counterpart sites; and
(3) a state in which operation processing is continued only at the site that had been executing operation processing until then.
For example, when the (1) split brain state results from a total disconnection of networks between sites shown in FIG. 21, the host computers at both sites update data in the logical disk volumes in their respective storage apparatus systems, which causes data in the remote copy source and data in the remote copy destination to be inconsistent.
In reality, if in the total disconnection of networks between sites in FIG. 21 the host computer A10 of the site A100 determines that a site failure has occurred at the site B101 and continues to operate, while the host computer B11 of the site B101 also determines that a site failure has occurred at the site A100, the (1) split brain state results.
Consequently, although the site B101 must remain in a standby state while the site A100 remains active in the total disconnection of networks between sites in FIG. 21, the site B101 cannot control logically since it cannot differentiate the total disconnection of networks between sites from the site failure in FIG. 22. In the situation in FIG. 22, unless the site B101 begins operation upon confirming a failure, it would result in (2) state.
Consequently, the prior art in general entails the problem of not being able to ensure the reliability of the system as a whole unless the standby site B101 can differentiate the total disconnection of networks between sites from the site failure.
Also, when the cluster computing system is provided with a plurality of routes or links to be selected between sites, such a cluster computing system may be more sound and more reliable than ordinary cluster computing systems without such selectable links. However, even such a system cannot cope with hazards such as large-scale fire of a site itself or of a communication route between sites when the communication condition is extremely poor.

Cluster computing system and its failover method


Disclosed are uses of granulysin in methods of diagnosing or treating autoimmune disorders.

Unwanted immune responses are involved in various disorders. Examples of these disorders include adverse drug reactions (ADRs), graft-versus-host diseases (GVHD), inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, transplant rejection, allergic diseases, and T cell-derived cancers. All of them are major clinical problems.
For example, ADRs account for 6-7% of all hospital admissions and remain. Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are life-threatening cutaneous ADRs characterized by massive keratinocyte apoptosis. These two disorders are considered to be variants of the same disease with different severity as both are characterized by a rapidly developing blistering exanthema of purpuric macules and target-like lesions accompanied by mucosal involvement and skin detachment to a varying extent (Roujeau et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 1994 Nov. 10;331(19):1272-85). SJS is defined as skin detachment of less than 10%, TEN as greater than 30%, and overlapping SJS/TEN as 10-30% (Roujeau et al., J. Invest. Dermatol. 1994 June;102(6)28S-30S). The histopathology observations of SJS and TEN include marked keratinocyte apoptosis in the epidermis with dermo-epidermal separation and epidermal necrosis, resulting in bullae and extensive mucocutaneous shedding Paul et al. Br. J. Dermatol. 1996 April;134(4):710-4. Besides the severe cutaneous manifestations, SJS/TEN may be accompanied by fever, myocarditis, myocardial infarction, hepatitis, acute renal failure, and affect respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. Although the incidence of SJS/TEN is low, these conditions can kill or severely disable previously otherwise healthy people. A few cases have prompted the pharmaceutical companies' withdrawal of newly released drugs (Roujeau et al., N. Eng. J. Med. 1994 Nov. 10;331(19):1272-85).
There is a need for methods to diagnose or treat diseases associated with unwanted immunological responses.

Chang Gung Medical Foundation, Linkou Branch


According to embodiments of the present invention, a flameless candle is claimed, depicted, and described. The candle has a hollow interior region, an inner surface having an radius, and an outer surface having an outer radius. The candle also has a riser located within the hollow interior region. A lamp (e.g., LED) is also located in the interior region and above the riser. A light shield is located within the hollow interior region. The light shield is below the lamp and has an outer bound with a radius. The light shield also has a sloped portion. The light shield may have a reflector. The radius of the outer bound of the light shield is less than the radius of the inner surface of the candle shell. The sloped portion of the light shield slopes downwardly towards the outer bound.

Generally, the present application relates to flameless candles. Particularly, the present application relates to techniques for illuminating an outer surface of a candle shell in a flameless candle.
Flameless candles may have candle shells that include wax or a waxen material. As used herein, a waxen material encompasses wax, a wax substitute, or similar materials. The waxen material may allow the flameless candle to appear more like a conventional flamed candle. While the waxen material may provide such benefits, it can be relatively expensive.
Because a flameless candle does not consume the wax, it may not be necessary to have a candle body that is solid. Instead, it may be preferable to have a hollow interior region within the candle body, such as a candle shell. Such a design requires less material. An electronics insert, including a lamp such as a light-emitting diode ("LED"), may then be inserted into the candle shell and at least partially into the interior region.
One desirable effect of a flameless candle is to provide an illusion of a conventional flamed candle. The conventional flamed candles are, typically, solid wax. As discussed above, flameless candles may have a hollow interior region. Consequently, the illumination pattern of a conventional candle may differ from that of a flameless candle with a hollow interior region. An example of an illumination pattern in a prior art flameless candle with a hollow interior region is illustrated in FIG. 4. Such an illumination pattern may not effectively mimic that of a solid wax candle. Furthermore, the hollow region may contain irregular structures, such as batteries, electronics, supports, or the like. Such structures may cause irregular illumination patterns.
One known technique for influencing the illumination pattern of the outer surface of a flameless candle is to place a light-blocking barrier between the hollow interior region and the light source. Such a technique is shown in European Patent No. 1,419,345. However, this technique is intended to block substantially all of the light from entering into the hollow interior region of the flameless candle. Consequently, this technique may not effectively illuminate the outer surface to generate the illusion of a solid wax candle. Thus, it may be desirable to have a flameless candle that solves these and other problems.


An intelligent outdoor sun shading device includes a shading system, an environmental sensor device and a functional controller. The shading system includes a supporting frame, a power source supported at the supporting frame, an awning frame suspendedly and movably supported by the supporting frame, and a sun shelter mounted to the awning frame to define a shading area under the sun shelter. The environmental sensor device is electrically linked to the power source and is installed to the shading system for detecting an environmental change of the shading system in responsive to the shading area thereof. The functional controller is electrically linked to the environmental sensor device and is operatively controlled the awning frame of the shading system, wherein when the functional controller receives a command signal from the environmental sensor device, the awning frame is automatically adjusted to regulate the shading area thereof in responsive to the environmental change of the shading system.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a sun shading device, and more particularly to an intelligent outdoor sun shading device comprising a shading system and a functional controller for adjusting the shading system to optimally respond to the environmental condition in which the sun shading device operates.
2. Description of Related Arts
A conventional sun shading device, such as a convention outdoor umbrella, usually comprises a supporting frame and a sun shading system mounted by the supporting frame to define a predetermined shading area under the sun shading system. Over the years, there have been extensive developments for improving the quality and functions of such a conventional sun shading device. For example, an outdoor umbrella may be equipped with a solar energy collection arrangement and a lighting system for providing environmentally friendly illumination for the relevant users. Moreover, a conventional gazebo may be equipped with a specially designed ventilation system so that users of the gazebo have adequate access to fresh air when they are gathering within the gazebo while preserving their privacy.
Notwithstanding these developments, conventional sun shading devices, even with some sophisticated improvements, such as the above mentioned lighting system and the ventilation system, are usually not responsive enough to the change of environmental circumstances in which the sun shading devices operate. This discrepancy may be partially resolved by manual operation of the sun shading devices. For example, a user may easily turn on or turn off the illumination system whenever necessary. In some situations, however, frequent manual operation of the sun shading system may mean inconvenience and interruption of a scheduled activity in the sun shading system. A good example is that when a user utilizes an outdoor umbrella in a very sunny environment, he or she may need to adjust the angle of inclination of the awning fabric in order it to provide an optimal sun shading effect. However, as time goes by, the angle of inclination of the awning fabric may need adjustment because of the change of position of the sun throughout the day. As a result, in order to keep the same standard of sun shading quality of the sun shading system, the user may have to manually adjust the angle of inclination of the awning fabric so that the angle of inclination always corresponds with the sun position. This imparts extreme inconvenience on the part of the user or the one who is responsible for adjusting the angle of the awning fabric.


A door assembly compensates for any deflection of the track which may occur with a heavy door material and/or a curved door support track. In particular, the present disclosure provides track mounting assemblies which can be tilted in order to “fine tune” the orientation of the door with respect to the surrounding support structure, e.g., the bathtub or shower base threshold. If the curved track deflects from the weight of one or more sliding doors, the track can be tilted to ensure that the door remains level and functions as intended.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to curved slideable doors and, in particular, to adjustable curved shower doors.
2. Description of the Related Art
Bathing enclosures are used to retain water from, e.g., a showerhead within an enclosed area. Recently, bathing enclosures utilize curved outer walls in order to create additional space within the enclosure. The outer walls may be a shower curtain on a curved rod, for example, or a curved door on a correspondingly curved slider track.
A favored material for curved doors used in bathroom enclosures is glass, which admits light to the enclosure, is waterproof and can be easily cleaned. In order to support the weight of the glass doors, the curved tracks along which the doors slide may be made from a robust, bulky material. In some cases, curved tracks may deflect when the weight of the glass door assembly is placed on a track, resulting in a "dip" or depression at the middle of the track together with rotation of the track due to the moment created by the curve. Misalignment of the tracks may also cause or exacerbate such a "dip." This deflection and/or rotation may urge the door or doors toward the middle of the enclosure, causing the door or doors to open unintentionally.
Curved-door designs may have a moveable door panel which slides between open and closed positions, and a stationary door panel which is rigidly fixed to the surrounding support structures and may itself be used as a support for mounting the sliding door.


The present invention is a method and system for providing improved isolation for power supplies while minimizing power dissipation. A body diode of a MOSFET may be utilized with a comparator circuit. The comparator circuit may detect current flow across the MOSFET and may turn the MOSFET on. This may shunt the diode with a low drain to source resistance limiting power dissipation across the diode to an amount of the drain to source current squared (Ids2) times the drain to source resistance of the MOSFET when on (RDSon). Use of the comparator circuitry may reduce the time delay associated with turning the MOSFET off to prevent a high reverse inrush current within a power supply.

Conventional power supply electric safety specifications require that input terminals of a power supply have no voltage when a power source for the power supply is shut down. In order to meet this requirement, power supply designers typically employ an "OR" diode in series with the input bus to prevent input storage capacitor charge to flow backward to the input terminals of the power supply. This may eliminate fire and electrical shock hazards. Additionally, an "OR" diode may also be utilized in redundant power supply systems at the outputs of parallel connected power supplies to prevent a power supply with a low output voltage from drawing current from a power supply with a higher output voltage or vice versa. An "OR" diode may refer to a plurality of diodes in which the cathodes of each diode are connected to a common output of a plurality of redundant power supplies and anodes of each diode are coupled to the individual outputs of the individual power supplies.
A problem associated with the use of a diode to provide isolation is the voltage drop associated with a diode. Typically, diodes create a 0.7 volt drop that causes a substantial power loss for the power supply system. One approach utilized to reduce power loss has been the use of a Schottky diode. Schottky diodes may reduce the voltage drop to a 0.3-0.4 volt drop. A further reduction of power loss may be achieved through use of a MOSFET body diode that is shunted when the MOSFET is turned on. This reduces the power dissipation to an amount of the drain to source current squared (Ids2) times the drain to source resistance of the MOSFET when on (RDSon) which is a fraction of the power dissipation of a diode. When an input voltage is present at the MOSFET, the MOSFET turns on, allowing current to flow. When an input voltage is not present, input storage capacitor charge may not flow backward to the input terminals of the power supply.
A drawback associated with MOSFET circuits based on input voltage sensing is the time delay between shutting down a voltage source and when the MOSFET has been switched off. This may allow the input voltage to persist at the input terminals of the power supply for several hundred milliseconds after the input supply has been shut off. Additionally, a current of an amount up to hundreds of amperes may exist for several milliseconds to the voltage source. Consequently, a method and system for providing improved isolation for power supplies while minimizing power dissipation is necessary.

Input and output isolating diode for power dissipation reduction of power supplies