A delay circuit which employs a Miller effect to delay a signal while driving a subsequent amplifier stage. The Miller effect is dependent upon loading of the circuits on an integrated circuit upon which the delay circuit is implemented, which allows the delay circuit to compensate its delay in relation to other process variation delays present on the integrated circuit. The delay circuit has a first delay stage which delays an input signal and drives a second stage. The delay circuit incorporates a dummy drive stage which adds loading to the first delay stage. In addition, the dummy stage experiences dynamic loading of the delay chain between the first and second stages which allows the coupling of the effect of this dynamic loading back to the first stage through the Miller effect.

Generally, one use for delay circuits in integrated circuits (ICs) is to delay signal transmission to adjust for proper timing operation of circuit elements. In some delay circuits of the prior art, additional circuit elements are added, such as logic gates and inverters, to add delay from the additional propagation time of the signal through the added elements. However, some types of delay circuits utilize the Miller effect to provide a delay. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,022 entitled DELAY CIRCUIT DEVICE UTILIZING THE MILLER EFFECT to Endo, incorporated herein by reference, is directed to a delay line incorporating two transmission lines which are in close proximity to one another. Consequently, the two lines are capacitively coupled. When the same signal is applied to both lines, the Miller effect capacitive loading is either doubled if the two signals have opposite phase, or negligible if the signals have the same phase. Delay of a signal is determined by the phase of the signal on the second line.
More typically, the Miller Effect is used in delay circuits by providing a capacitive load to the transistor stages of a delay circuit. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,262,690 entitled VARIABLE DELAY CLOCK CIRCUIT to Cochran et al., incorporated herein by reference, is directed to a delay circuit for a clock signal in which a pair of differentially connected current switching transistors. Emitter follower drivers couple the switching transistors to a pair of differential delayed output terminals. A pair of diodes are cross-coupled across the differential output terminals which provide a load capacitance, which is magnified according to the gain of the transistor pair by the Miller effect. Changing the gain, therefore, changes the effective capacitance and hence, the delay, of the clock signal through the differential output terminals.
Similarly, as is known in the art, field effect transistors (FETs) have a load gate width which is seen as capacitive loading to functional circuits. Capacitive loading delays the signal passing through the delay circuit in a manner related to the time to charge the "capacitor" on the output of the functional circuit. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,260 entitled VARIABLE DELAY CIRCUIT to Hayashi et al., incorporated herein by reference, describes a functional circuit with a group of FETs arranged such that enabling the FET places the FET's capacitive load in parallel with other enabled FETs. By selectively enabling the FETs, a desired delay can be obtained.
Another reason for delay circuits on ICs is to compensate for variations in signal propagation caused by variations in parameters of the particular circuitry implemented on the IC. Such parameters may include process variations, such as circuit threshold, transconductance or topological variations, and environmental variations, such as power supply (voltage or current) and temperature variations. These variations require circuit designs with larger active devices. Driving stages experience larger loading with larger active devices which slows propagation of the signals through the devices. Consequently, load variations in different areas of circuitry on an IC may cause variations in signal propagation time through different parts of the IC.
Methods exist in the prior art to adjust circuit performance to compensate for variations in process parameters by using field effect transistors (FETs) following the functional circuits. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,970,875 entitled LSI CHIP COMPENSATOR FOR PROCESS PARAMETER VARIATIONS to Leehan, incorporated herein by reference, includes a compensating sense circuit formed as a field effect transistor circuit on an IC. The compensating circuit includes three FETs whose sensitivity is optimized such that changes in process parameters affect the output voltage. The sensing circuit compensates for load variations by adjusting the gate potential of FET load devices on the IC which are sensitive to process parameter changes.

International Business Machines Corporation


A flashlight includes a battery housing, a lamp seat, a lamp unit, a heat-conductive casing, and a heat-dissipating plate. The lamp seat is mounted on one end of the battery housing. The lamp unit includes a substrate having a first side provided with a metal layer, and an LED lamp mounted on a second side of the substrate opposite to the metal layer. The heat-conductive casing is attached to the battery housing, and is disposed around the lamp seat and the lamp unit. The heat-dissipating plate is sandwiched between the lamp seat and the metal layer of the substrate, and is in contact with the heat-conductive casing. Heat generated by the lamp unit is dissipated via the metal layer, the heat-dissipating plate, and the heat-conductive casing.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a flashlight, more particularly to a flashlight with a heat-dissipating mechanism for fast heat-dissipation.
2. Description of the Related Art
In Taiwanese utility model no. M244398, entitled "High-illumination LED Flashlight", the applicant discloses a high-illumination light-emitting diode (LED) flashlight, where the power of an LED lamp thereof is approximately equal to 1 watt. The LED lamps used in flashlights prior to the high-illumination LED flashlight only produce power that ranges from 0.1 to 0.2 watts. Therefore, the high-illumination LED flashlight illuminates with higher intensity and brightness. However, since small batteries can only provide limited continuous electric power, the high-illumination LED flashlight developed by the applicant is restricted to small-sized applications, and cannot produce power of higher than 1 watt. Structures of the high-illumination LED flashlight that surround the LED lamp are easily damaged and melt due to intense heat generated by the LED lamp. Consequently, manufacturers are striving to provide an efficient heat-dissipating mechanism for flashlights, whether small-sized or large-sized, with high power and high illumination.

LED flashlight with heat-dissipating plate


A projection apparatus for a vehicle of the present invention includes a projector for projecting an image onto a screen, a support bracket supporting the projector, a frame attached to a ceiling of the vehicle, and a vibration absorber arranged between the support bracket and the frame. The vibration absorber includes a plurality of wire ropes for absorbing multidirectional vibrations transmitted from the vehicle through the frame to the projector. Accordingly, this prevents the projector from shaking so that passengers can comfortably watch video content, and also reduces the incidence of breakage of components of the projector, thereby prolonging the lifetime of the projector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a projection apparatus for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a projection apparatus for a vehicle that can absorb vibrations occurring in various directions when the vehicle is being driven, thereby preventing an image, which is projected onto a screen, from shaking.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently, as a way to provide a passenger or passengers with convenient and comfortable travel, a display device, such as a television or a disk player, is provided in a vehicle so that the passengers can watch video content.
For example, a disk player is provided in a passenger car so that passengers can watch video content or listen to music. In the case of a large size bus, a television and a disk player are provided on the ceiling of the bus near the driver's seat so that passengers can watch video content or listen to music.
However, in the passenger vehicle or the large size bus, the passengers cannot watch video content on a large size screen.
On the other hand, trains are free from such restrictions. That is, a projection apparatus, such as a projector for projecting an image onto a screen, particularly a large size screen, can be installed in a train car. Accordingly, the passengers can enjoy long trips watching a movie on the large size screen.
In the train car, vibration pads made of rubber or silicone are provided between the projector and the ceiling of the train car in order to absorb vibration of the projection apparatus, caused by shaking, while the train car is moving.
Conventional vibration-proof elements such as those noted above have pads made of rubber or silicone. However, as time passes, the pads come to lose their intrinsic function for various reasons such as hardening, and thus vibrations are transmitted to the projector, thereby causing components of the projector to break down or causing the fixing device of the projector to become detached.
Accordingly, in order to overcome the foregoing problem, the inventor has developed a screen apparatus for a vehicle having a vibration absorber in the form of a wire rope between the projector and the ceiling of a vehicle.


An interface circuit for an audio signal includes a low-pass filter supplied with an audio signal with a DC component superposed thereon from a first circuit for extracting the DC component and a differential-input circuit. The differential-input circuit is supplied with the audio signal with the DC component superposed thereon from the first circuit and also supplied with the DC component extracted by the low-pass filter and the output of the differential-input circuit is supplied to a second circuit. In the differential-input circuit, the DC component superposed on the audio signal from the first circuit is canceled by the DC component from the low-pass filter so that only the audio signal is supplied to the second circuit. With the above described arrangement, terminal pins of an IC can be reduced in number.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an interface circuit for audio signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
The cost of an IC increases with an increase in the number of terminal pins. Further, when the number of terminal pins increases, the number of external parts also increases. In such state, the layout of the wiring pattern of the printed board on which the IC and external parts are mounted becomes complicated and, hence, the cost of the overall device including the printed board and external parts increases.
Further, the increase in the number of terminal pins makes miniaturization of the IC package unachievable and, combined with the increase in number of external parts, prevents downsizing of the apparatus using ICs. Furthermore, when there are a large number of terminal pins, such troubles as solder bridging easily occur during the mounting of the IC, and this also leads to an increase in cost.
Therefore, the increase in the number of terminal pins brings about a great disadvantage for ICs and apparatus using ICs.
Now, circuits around an AM detector and an audio amplifier a subsequent stage of a radio receiver are arranged in an IC for example, as shown in FIG. 4.
Referring to FIG. 4, reference numeral 10 denotes a one-chip IC for an AM receiver, in which an intermediate-frequency signal Si from an external ceramic filter 4 is supplied to an amplifier 21 through a terminal pin T7 and the intermediate-frequency signal Si from the amplifier 21 is supplied to an AM detector 22 to be subjected to AM detection therein, and thereby, an audio signal Ss and a D.C. component V22 at a level corresponding to the level of the intermediate-frequency signal Si are obtained. Then, the audio signal Ss of the detection output is supplied to an audio amplifier 23 through a signal line passing through a terminal pin T12.fwdarw.an external capacitor C11.fwdarw.a terminal pin T13. The signal Ss from the amplifier 23 is supplied, through a terminal pin T8 and a DC blocking capacitor C5, to a speaker SP.
At the same time, the detection output of the detector 22 is supplied to an AGC voltage generator 24 and, therein, an AGC voltage is generated from the DC component V22. This AGC voltage is supplied to the amplifier 21 as the control signal for its gain and, thereby, an AGC operation is performed on the intermediate-frequency signal Si. For this purpose, the generator 24 is connected to capacitor C4 through a terminal pin T6. This capacitor C4 forms a low-pass filter and the DC voltage 22 is extracted thereby from the detection output and the AGC voltage is generated from this DC voltage V22.
In the arrangement of FIG. 4, the capacitor Cll is provided for blocking the DC-component V22 included in the detection output of the detector 22 and also for supplying the AC component (audio signal) to the amplifier 23 and, therefore, the capacitor C11 is required to leave a capacitance of several .mu.F. Hence, the capacitor Cll cannot be arranged in the IC but has to be externally attached to the IC 10 as shown in FIG. 4.
Further, the capacitor C4 is provided for extracting the DC component V22 included in the detection output of the detector 22 as the AGC voltage and, hence, it has to have a capacitance of several .mu.F. Therefore, this capacitor C4 also cannot be arranged in the IC but has to be externally attached to the IC 10 as shown in FIG. 4.
Then, by such provision of the capacitors C11 and C4 external to the IC 10, the number of the terminal pins of the IC 10 i% increased and the above mentioned problems are created.


The disclosure relates to solving problems associated with conventional latent epoxy curing agents by providing a new class of latent epoxy curing agents. In particular, the disclosure relates to epoxy curing agents with improved storage stability and low use level (e.g., less than about 10 wt % relative to the epoxy compound) by forming solid solutions of certain classes of amines in polyphenolic resins.

The instant invention relates to curing agents and accelerators for use in latent cured epoxy resin compositions.
Compositions comprising an epoxy resin and a curing agent (also known as a hardener) are known in the art. Many curing agents are reactive with the epoxy resin at room temperature and, therefore, are combined with the epoxy immediately prior to use. Others curing agents, known as latent hardeners, are stable in admixture with the epoxy resin at ambient temperature and effect hardening only when heated to elevated temperature.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,519,576 and 3,520,905 disclose using salts of monomeric polyhydric phenols with polyamines as latent curing agents for epoxy resins. U.S. Pat. No. 4,866,133 discloses using a solid solution of a polymeric polyhydric phenol with polyamines for curing epoxy resins. The disclosed polyamines contain at least two amine groups with at least one being a primary amine. U.S. Pat. No. 4,689,390 discloses a latent curing agent prepared by reacting a diamine bearing a tertiary amine and a primary or secondary amino group with a poly-epoxy compound and a phenolic resin or phenolic compounds. A solution of a polyamine adduct with bisphenolic A diglycidyl ether in poly-phenolic resins is described in US Pub No US 2012-0077943 A1. U.S. Pat. No. 7,910,667 discloses a polyphenolic resin solution of a polyurea derivative of a polyamine. WO 2012/000171 discloses heat activated tertiary amine catalysts for use with epoxy resins.
The disclosure of the previously identified patents and patent applications is hereby incorporated by reference.
There exists a need for a lower cost, more efficient latent epoxy curing agent. In particular, there is a need for latent epoxy curing agents which exhibit prolonged storage stability at ambient temperature and cure rapidly at greater than about 100° C. The methods and curing agents cited above suffer from several disadvantages which include high use level, too low cure temperature or precursor amines which are obtained by multi-step processes such as adduction with polyepoxides.

Amines and polymeric phenols and usage thereof as curing agents in one component epoxy resin compositions


A method and apparatus for charging one or more rechargeable batteries or secondary cells. The method includes providing an external source of power, one or more rechargeable batteries or secondary cells, and a charging device. The charging device includes one or more computing or control devices and one or more semiconductor devices. At least a portion of the one or more semiconductor devices are in electrical communication with the external power source and at least a portion of the one or more semiconductor devices are in electrical communication with at least a portion of the one or more rechargeable batteries or secondary cells. Once a charging mode has been selected, the charging device will allow the external source of power to supply an amount of power to the one or more rechargeable batteries or secondary cells.

Various methods for improving the overall life of a rechargeable battery or secondary cell are known in the art. These methods however fail to reduce or eliminate the overall amount of deterioration or degradation to the rechargeable battery or secondary cell that occurs while the rechargeable battery or secondary cell is being charged. As a result, it would be advantageous to develop a method and apparatus that reduces or eliminates the overall amount of stress, deterioration, and/or degradation that a rechargeable battery or secondary cell may experience when being charged in order to increase the overall life of the rechargeable battery or secondary cell.

Method and apparatus for reducing battery stress


A plurality of LEDs are arrayed in a single row between the opposing end faces of a pair of first and second light guide plates that are disposed so that the end faces thereof face each other. A reflective sheet is disposed on the lower surfaces of the pair of first and second light guide plates, and a separation plate is disposed so as to cover the upper surfaces of the first and second light guide plates and the gap therebetween. A reflecting body for guiding light emitted upward from the LEDs to the first and second light guide plates is disposed in the area immediately above the LEDs on the lower surface of the separation plate. A diffusion plate is disposed with a fixed gap above the separation plate, and a hollow area is formed between the diffusion plate and the separation plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a backlight which uses a light-emitting diode or the like as a light source and which is used in display devices, and to a liquid crystal display device provided with the backlight.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, cold cathode fluorescent lamps are principally used as the light source for a backlight of a liquid crystal display device, but a cold cathode fluorescent lamp requires a dedicated lighting circuit that requires the use of high voltage. Therefore, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) is used as a light source in mobile phones, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistant), and other small applications in particular. However, the light emission of the LED is mainly an artificial white light that is obtained by coating a blue LED with a YAG fluorophor, and there are difficulties in color reproducibility, and the reproducibility of red colors in particular. It is impossible to improve this structure if it is treated as a unit, and a separate red LED must therefore be supplemented or an LED must be used that emits a red (R), green (G), or blue (B) monochromatic light. However, not only do LEDs have difficulty with color reproducibility, but also the quantity of light is low, the cost is higher than a cold cathode fluorescent lamp, and there are other problems. Therefore, there are few opportunities to use LEDs in monitors and TV applications.
On the other hand, LED efficiency has recently continued to improve, LEDs that can accommodate considerable electric currents are being developed, and, with the consideration of environmental issues, work is actively being carried out with the aim of commercializing relatively large backlights in which LEDs are used. Examples of a backlight in which such an LED is used includes one in which LEDs are provided with a plurality of light guide plates and disposed as light sources on the end face of each of the light guide plates (refer to FIG. 1A of Japanese Domestic Re-publication No. 2003-532273), and one in which a plurality of substrates having side-emitting LEDs that are disposed in an array are disposed in a box-shaped reflector, and in which this configuration is used as a surface light source.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional diagram schematically showing the structure of the conventional backlight described in SID 03 DIGEST, 2003, p1259-1261. The conventional backlight 100 described in SID 03 DIGEST, 2003, p1259-1261, as shown in FIG. 1, has a configuration in which a plurality of LEDs 101 that emit a red (R), green (G), or blue (B) monochromatic light are aligned in a suitable array. The direction of travel of the light emitted from the LED 101 is changed by roughly 90° at a first reflector 105, and the light enters the light guide plate 102. The monochromatic light of the colors RGB that enters the light guide plate 102 is propagated inside the light guide plate 102 repeatedly undergoing total reflection. In this interval, the colors become mixed and the light is emitted from the opposite side of the plane of incidence. The direction of travel of light emitted from the light guide plate 102 is changed 180° at a second reflector 104, and the light enters a light guide plate 103. The light that is incident to the light guide plate 103 is uniformly emitted from the top surface of the light guide plate 103 through the use of a scattering and reflective pattern disposed on the reverse surface thereof (the surface on the reflective sheet 106 side).
When the white light LEDs described above are used as the light source in such a conventional backlight, emphasis must be placed on making brightness more uniform, and there is little need for concern with regard to nonuniformity of colors, but when monochromatic RGB LEDs are used, it is not an exaggeration to say the value of the device as a backlight is determined by how efficiently the colors of the light emitted from the LEDs can be mixed. In view of the above, in order to prevent brightness and color from being nonuniform, the backlight proposed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2004-158336 is configured with a second reflector 104 composed of polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, or another transparent body whose index of refraction is higher than that of air, and also composed of a reflective plate disposed on the external surface of the transparent body.
However, the prior art described above has the following problems. In the specific case of the backlight 100 shown in FIG. 1, a light guide plate 103 is required to cover the illuminated surface, and a light guide plate 102 is required to mix the colors of RGB monochromatic LED light. Therefore, there is a problem in that the mass of the light guide plate becomes several times greater than an ordinary edge-type backlight in which a cold cathode fluorescent lamp or the like is used and in which the light of tube is caused to directly enter the light guide plate, and the overall weight is increased. The backlight 100 also has a problem in that there are incident and excident planes of the light guide plate 102, the incident plane of the light guide plate 103, and many other interfaces between air and physical objects, causing optical loss to occur at the interfaces and the efficiency of the light to decrease.
The backlight of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2004-158336 has the effect of improving brightness nonuniformity and color nonuniformity, but there is a problem in that there are conversely a large number of components and increased external dimensions, particularly thickness.

Backlight and liquid crystal display device


Systems and methods of the instant invention may utilize case-based reasoning to provide guidance. Guidance may be provided to a current user of an application in a particular situation based on actions performed by previous users in compatible situations. A repository of sessions reflecting actions performed by previous users may be maintained. In response to a request for guidance, actions performed by the current user prior to requesting guidance may be used to retrieve, from the repository, one or more sessions containing related actions. The retrieved sessions may be evaluated and used to provide guidance to the current user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to data processing systems, and more particularly to systems and methods for generating guidance using aspects of case-based reasoning. In one example, a guidance-seeking user of an interactive system in a particular situation could request, and be provided with, a recommended course of action based on actions performed by previous users of the system in similar situations.
2. Description of the Related Art
Due to the increasing complexity of computer applications and environments, it is becoming increasingly difficult, despite user manuals and online aids, for users to successfully and efficiently achieve their desired goals. That is, users of a given application (e.g., an e-commerce website) often have difficulty determining which steps to take in order to achieve an anticipated outcome. In some cases, users may be completely lost, not knowing how or where to begin their pursuit. In certain situations, users may not be able to navigate through, or even appreciate, all of the possibilities and options that are available. Each of these predicaments may be especially acute for first time and/or inexperienced users.
Typical on-line guidance systems are often ineffective in providing effective guidance and may even exacerbate a user's dilemma. Often, a befuddled user's only option is to ask a more experienced user for guidance. The more experienced user may provide assistance based on his or her previous interactions with the environment. That is, the experienced user, or guide, may provide instructions as to which actions to perform in order to achieve a desired (or reasonable) result, remembering which action or series of actions he or she performed in the past. In this fashion, assistance is provided to the inexperienced user by exploiting the guide's previous experience. The inexperienced user, therefore, profits from the guide's prior experience.
Adapting solutions employed in prior situations to current problems is referred to as case-based reasoning ("CBR"). At its core, CBR is based on the notion that a current problem is often solved using a solution that was successfully used to solve a similar problem in the past. This basic principle can be especially effective when the previous solution is adapted to the circumstances of the current problem.
Case-based reasoning is a cyclical process, typically comprising four main steps: (1) retrieve; (2) reuse; (3) revise; and (4) retain. First, one or more prior cases that are similar to the current problem, or case, are retrieved. A solution suggested by the similar case(s) is then reused and tested for success. Unless the retrieved case is a perfect match to the current problem, the solution is then revised. This revision produces a new case that may be retained for subsequent retrieval. Case-based reasoning may be particularly accurate since all the elements included in the current case may be used to retrieve similar cases and suggested solutions are tested for success. In addition, as the number of cases increases and as solutions are revised, the quality of the suggested solutions improves.
Accordingly, given the ever-increasing complexity of computer systems and environments, it may be beneficial to utilize aspects of CBR as a basis for providing guidance to users of such systems.

Methods and systems for providing guidance using case-based reasoning


Left and right coupling assemblies are adapted to couple the windshield to the motorcycle. Left and right bars have apertures for securing the bars to the windshield. Left and right peg sets have upper and lower pegs extending through the apertures of an associated bar and through associated short slots in the left and right coupling assemblies. Each post has a head located between the windshield and an associated bar. Each post has a free end spaced inwardly of the short slots. A nut is coupled to the free end of each post. A washer is slidably received on each post between an associated short slot and nut. A coil spring is slidably received on each post between an associated washer and nut. A leaf spring coupled between each bar and an associated washer urges the posts and the windshield toward a laterally central location.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flexible mounting system for motorcycle windshield which allows lateral and forward movement so that the entire windshield moves out of the way if the handlebars make contact, thereby allowing full handlebar motion which would otherwise be prevented if the same windshield were to be hard-mounted, the mounting and the movement of the windshield being done in a safe, convenient and economic manner.
Description of the Prior Art
The use of motorcycle windshield mounting systems of known designs and configurations is known in the prior art. More specifically, motorcycle windshield mounting systems of known designs and configurations previously devised and utilized for the purpose of mounting windshields on motorcycles are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, they do not describe a flexible mounting system for motorcycle windshield that allows lateral and forward movement so that the entire windshield moves out of the way if the handlebars make contact.
In this respect, the flexible mounting system for motorcycle windshield according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing lateral and forward movement so that the entire windshield moves out of the way if the handlebars make contact.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved flexible mounting system for motorcycle windshield which can be used for allowing lateral and forward movement so that the entire windshield moves out of the way if the handlebars make contact. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

Flexible mounting system for motorcycle windshield


A method of operating a computer system comprises the following steps:

The invention relates to a method of operating a computer system and to a computer system.
In a known method of operating a computer system, on which an executable main module of a program is installed, it is not possible to obtain a separate use authorization for an additional module of the program usable in connection with the main module. It is required to contact the program manufacturer in order to obtain a completely new user licence, which is then also valid for the additional module.
In view thereof, it is an object of the invention to provide a method of operating a computer system and a computer system allowing a user licence for an additional module of a program to be obtained more easily.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of operating a computer system and computer system

Abstract: installing an executable main module of a program on the computer system, storing module data for the main module and/or for an additional module (A, B, C, D) of the program in the computer system, said stored module data comprising a license part required to determine the presence of the use authorization of the main module and/or of the additional module, and preferably also comprising an information part,

Abstract: evaluating the stored module data for acquisition of a further use authorization for the additional module (A-D) or for a further additional module (A-D), and

Abstract: providing information for the acquisition of a use authorization as a function of the result of evaluation.


A device for holding musical instruments such as guitars in an upright position when not being used by the player. The device maintains the stability of the instrument with a gentle clamping action caused by the downward force exerted by the weight of the instrument itself being transferred via a hinged fulcrum to the forward arcing movement of an active rear support against a stationary forward support thus retaining the upright stability of the instrument and maintaining a relatively low center of gravity of the combined instrument and holding device. This function is accomplished without any action on the part of the user other than merely placing the instrument in the device and retrieval of the instrument is accomplished by merely lifting the instrument from the device. Further, there are no points of contact between the instrument and the holding device that are of an abrasive nature which could damage the delicate finish of the instrument with repeated use.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adjustable holder used for holding an elongate musical instrument such as a guitar in an upright position where the longitudinal axis of the instrument is in the vertical orientation. The device is used for holding the instrument when it is temporarily unused by a performer or it can be used for displaying instruments offered for sale in mercantile situations or as a holder of instruments on display by collectors. Visual aesthetics, safety, and convenience are the primary attributes considered for the utility of such a device. The musical instrument should be displayed in an attractive position with a minimum of visually distracting components of the holding device interfering with the visual lines of instrument. The appearance of the holding device itself would also constitute an attribute of the visually aesthetic character of the holding device's utility. Safety is embodied by the overall stability of the device while holding the instrument, the level of restraint that is employed by the holding device, and the nature of the contact between the instrument and the holding device that could cause abrasion to the finished surface of the instrument. Convenience would be a measure of the physical manipulations required to affect the functions of the holding device, transportability of the holding device, and storage requirements of the holding device when it is not being used.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typically, such instruments when not in use for brief periods or when displayed in retail establishments are cradled in devices of a tripod-like multi-leg nature where the instrument is balanced between several points of contact and the downward force of gravity on the instrument dispersed to three points of contact where two laterally separated points carry most of the weight at the bottom of the instrument and a third point of contact located at a higher elevation on the instrument with the instrument oriented to lean slightly backward against this third point of contact with the holding device constitutes a passive retention of the instrument in relation to the holding device. A disturbance to this resting position of the instrument can affect an imbalance to the relatively high center of gravity and cause either the instrument to fall from its balance with the holding device or cause the entire holding device with instrument to fall. Popular improvements add some means of controlling lateral movement of the instrument by placing a bifurcated extension at the highest point of the holding device contacting the narrowest part of the instrument; further an elastic band may be added to this extension and manually positioned to control dislodging the instrument from its backward lean in the holding device. While these improvements serve to increase certain aspects of the safety of the devices it is arguable that overall stability may decrease due to the higher center of gravity of the device.


A biased transistor circuit utilizes a transistor that exhibits a change in threshold voltage as the drain-to-source voltage changes due to power supply voltage changes. A bias circuit senses the power supply voltage changes and modifies a gate bias voltage on the transistor to maintain a substantially constant drain bias current in the transistor.

In some applications, transistors may be "biased" to operate in a particular fashion. For example, a field effect transistor (FET) may have a "bias current" that continuously flows between two device terminals such as source and drain nodes of the transistor. If the drain-to-source voltage across the transistor changes, the bias current may change.
Circuit designers typically design transistor circuits to satisfy certain constraints such as size, cost, performance, and power consumption. If the bias current changes beyond certain limits due to changes in drain-to-source voltage, the design constraints may not be satisfied.

Transistor bias current regulation apparatus, method, and system


In a disclosed COC type semiconductor device, a bump electrode (21) of a second semiconductor chip (2) is joined to a first semiconductor chip (1) having a bump electrode (11) formed thereon. The bump electrodes (11) and (21) of the respective first and second semiconductor chips (1) and (2) are both made of first metal such as Au having a relatively high melting point, while a joining portion of these bump electrodes (11) and (21) is formed of an alloy layer (3) of the first metal and second metal, which second metal is made of such a material that can melt at a lower temperature than the melting point of the first metal to be alloyed with it. As a result, in the COC type semiconductor device, when interconnecting a plurality of semiconductor chips, their electrode terminals can be joined to each other without deteriorating the properties of these chips owing to the high temperature applied thereon.

Conventionally, there has in some cases been used a so-called a COC (chip on chip) type semiconductor device having a construction of composing a semiconductor circuit of a plurality of chips by interconnecting them one on the other for a purpose of, for example, reducing an occupied area by means of three-dimensioning or standardizing part of the circuit (for example, changing driver circuits based on application by standardizing the memory portions), if the semiconductor device is composed of a plurality of circuits like in the case of a combination of memory portions and the corresponding driver circuits.
As shown, for example, in FIG. 17 showing a process of joining two semiconductor chips 1 and 2, a semiconductor device having the above-mentioned construction is fabricated by fixing the one semiconductor chip 1 on a heated board stage 51 and the other semiconductor chip 2 to a mount head 52, pressing the mount head 52 to permit bump electrodes 11 and 21 made of Au etc. of the respective chips to come in contact with each other under pressure, and heating it to a temperature of 450° C. or so to interconnect these bump electrodes 11 and 21 electrically. Note here that, as mentioned above, the bumps 11 and 21 are made of a metal material such as Au having a higher melting point than solder because the semiconductor device is mounted on the mother board by soldering.
Since the above-mentioned COC type semiconductor device employs high melting point metal such as Au as the material of its bump electrodes, to interconnect a plurality of semiconductor chips thereof, it is necessary to heat them to a temperature of 450° C. or so under pressure in order to obtain good electrical interconnection. When the chips are heated to such a high temperature during interconnection, the semiconductor substrate is also heated to a temperature of 450° C. or higher, so that the circuit elements formed in the semiconductor substrate (elements such as transistors constituting the semiconductor device) are heated to a high temperature, thus fluctuating in properties, which is a problem. Further, although these chips can be joined to each other at a temperature of 450° C. or so, if under pressure as mentioned above, for example, once joined to each other, they cannot be separated without being destroyed in most cases because Au has a high melting point.
In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide such a COC type semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same that has a construction which is capable of interconnecting the electrodes of semiconductor chips without being affected by a temperature at which the semiconductor device is mounted and also without deteriorating the properties of the semiconductor chips owing to a high temperature applied thereon.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor device having a construction which is capable of securely connecting a bump electrode of a semiconductor chip, even if small, to a partner semiconductor chip.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor device having a construction which is capable of securely connecting each other in the event that one is a wiring.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor device having a construction which is capable of securely interconnecting a parent chip and a child chip and separating from each other easily without affecting elements in the semiconductor chips when the child chip is removed.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor chip having such a construction that avoids force from being concentrated on the bump electrode at a joining portion so that the element formed in a semiconductor layer underlying the joining portion may not be affected adversely.
It is another additional object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor manufacturing method which is capable of joining the bump electrodes at a relatively lower temperature and also easily without accurate alignment thereof.

Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same


A night light with fiber optics has a main object and a fiber optics arrangement to let visible wavelength light beams be seen by a viewer after passing through the fiber optics. The main object material can be selected from textile, metal, plastic, porcelain, ceramic, or viscous-mud related items, wooden toys, stuffed toys, blow-mold unit, seasonal items, dolls, porcelain units, ceramic units, poly resin units, as well as a sporting related unit, painting unit, poster unit, sign unit, photo unit, angel unit, artificial related unit, animal unit, flower unit or other conventional units in a variety of gift, toy, sports, seasonal, holiday applications to make the night light exhibit more attractive light effects than the original main objects. The night light may incorporate a switch that provides selected preferred light functions.

This application is related to Ser. Nos. 10/883,747 and 10/954,189 and 10/667,787 and 10/286,871.
The Inventor's prior art U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,926,440, 6,158,868, 6,170,958, 6,171,117, and 6,280,053 disclose arrangements for the conductive means of night lights including a multiple function night light incorporated with a time piece. Other patents include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,947,291, 5,495,402, 5,662,408, 5,713,655, 5,803,579, 5,816,682, 5,833,350, 5,893,626, 5,998,928, 6,000,807, 6,010,228, 6,031,958, 6,033,087, 6,056,420, 6,132,072, 6,160,948, 6,161,910, 6,183,101, 6,190,017, 6,290,368, 6,337,946, 6,386,730, 6,390,647, 6,000,104, 6,411,524, 6,431,719, 6,509,832, 6,523,976, 6,550,949, 6,609,812, 6,623,416, 6,641,289, 6,648,496, 6,709,126 show different light sources and applications, but none of these applications and patents teach a night light incorporated with a fiber optics light means.
The night light with fiber optics can let visible wavelength light beams be seen by a viewer though the fiber optics arranged on a main object so provide a large number of light spots with splendid light effects and a valuable appearance of the night light.
The night light with fiber optics of the current invention creates the plurality of light spots by fiber optics and selected light means such as LEDs or other light means such as a bulb, gas filled light, neon bulb, groups of LEDs, neon tube, discharge tube, black tube, linear light source, EL or OEL lamp, EL tube, EL bundles, and/or EL wires with related circuits to create the desired light effects.
The night light with fiber optics can be arranged with fiber optics on a main object made of metal, plastic, viscous-mud related material, porcelain, ceramic, wood, glass, non-metal, poly resin, plastic resins, paper material.
The night light with fiber optics arranged on the main object can be used in various applications such as a toy, gift, souvenir, seasonal unit, holiday unit, painting, poster, sign, photo, artificial flower, doll, porcelain unit, ceramic unit, viscous-mud related unit, blow-mold unit, stuff toys unit, promotion unit, or any other conventional unit available in the marketplace. The main object may be properly arranged with a stencil, indicia, front sheet, cover piece, and/or outside appearance piece having fiber optics arranged to create the expected light effects. The addition to the main object of a fiber optics light means and its related circuitry will enhance the light effects when the night light's prong is inserted into a wall outlet receptacle.
The night light with fiber optics may incorporate proper circuit means which can provide steady, chasing, random, fade in and fade out, sequential, color mixed, color changing, pair flashing or any combinations of available light effects. All of these functions can be designed to exhibit predetermined timing, duration, order, and functions as required.
The night light with fiber optics may be incorporated with other electric devices such as a motor, movement detector, filter device, IC chip with desired functions, sensor, and/or rotating filter to provide preferable light effects and functions.
The light means may be selected from the group consisting of an EL lamp, LED, gas filled bulb, black tube, fluorescent tube, strobe tube, and/or neon bulb with related circuit means to provide proper illumination with desired functions and effects.
The fiber optics are arranged on the main object and deliver light beams having a visible wavelength to illuminate plurality of lighted areas or spots when prong means are connected with a power source. The light means can create a large number of lighted areas or spots to provide a splendid light appearance and delicate light applications for buildings and moving transportation equipment with proper prong means.


A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate made of plastic and being spaced apart from the first substrate, a thin film transistor on the inner surface of the first substrate, a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor, a color filter layer under the pixel electrode, a polarizer on the outer surface of the second substrate, a black matrix on the inner surface of the second substrate and corresponding to the thin film transistor, a common electrode on the black matrix, and a liquid crystal layer between the pixel electrode and the common electrode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to liquid crystal display (LCD) devices and more particularly, to LCD devices using a plastic substrate.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Flat panel display (FPD) devices having small size, lightweight, and low power consumption have been a subject of recent research in the coming of the information age. Among many kinds of FPD devices, LCD devices are widely developed and used for notebook and desktop personal computers (PC's) because of their excellent characteristics of resolution, color display and display quality.
Generally, an LCD device includes an upper substrate and a lower substrate facing each other with liquid crystal molecules interposed therebetween. Each substrate has an electrode on an inner surface thereof. An electric field is generated by applying a voltage to the electrodes, thereby driving the liquid crystal molecules to display images depending on light transmittance.
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional liquid crystal display device. As shown in FIG. 1, a first substrate 10 and a second substrate 20 are spaced apart from each other. The first substrate 10 and the second substrate 20 are also known as a lower substrate and an upper substrate, respectively. A gate electrode 11 is formed on an inner surface of the first substrate 10 and a gate insulating layer 12 is formed on the gate electrode 11. An active layer 13 is formed on the gate insulating layer 12 over the gate electrode 11, and an ohmic contact layer 14 is formed on the active layer 13. Source and drain electrodes 15a and 15b are formed on the ohmic contact layer 14 and constitute a thin film transistor (TFT) "T" along with the gate electrode 11. A passivation layer 16 is formed on the TFT "T." The passivation layer 16 has a contact hole 16c exposing the drain electrode 15b. A pixel electrode 17 of a transparent conductive material is formed on the passivation layer 16 and connected to the drain electrode 15b through the contact hole 16c.
A black matrix 21 corresponding to the TFT "T" is formed on an inner surface of the second substrate 20. A color filter layer 22a and 22b alternately having colors of red (R), green (G) and blue (B) is formed on the black matrix 21. A common electrode 23 made of a transparent conductive material is formed on the color filter layer 22a and 22b. Here, one color of the color filter layer 22a and 22b corresponds to one pixel electrode 17.
A liquid crystal layer 30 is interposed between the pixel electrodes 17 and the common electrode 23. When a voltage is applied to the pixel electrode 17 and the common electrode 23, an arrangement state of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 30 is changed by an electric field generated between the pixel electrode 17 and the common electrode 23. An orientation film (not shown) on each of the pixel electrode 17 and the common electrode 23 determines an initial alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules.
The conventional LCD device is fabricated through a process of forming the first substrate having the TFT and the pixel electrode, a process of forming the second substrate having the color filter layer and the common electrode, and a process of forming a liquid crystal cell. The process of forming the liquid crystal cell includes aligning the first and second substrates, injecting a liquid crystal material between the first and second substrates, sealing the LCD device, and attaching a polarizing plate to the LCD device. Here, the polarizing plate disposed on each outer surface of the first and second substrates 10 and 20 linearly polarizes natural light by transmitting light parallel to an optic axis of the polarizing plate. Since the liquid crystal cell does not emit light, an additional light source is necessary. Therefore, a backlight is disposed over the polarizing plate on the outer surface of the first substrate 10. Hence, the conventional LCD device displays images by using light emitted form the backlight and adjusting an amount of the light according to the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecule. Here, the pixel electrode 17 and the common electrode 23 generating the electric field are made of a transparent material. Moreover, the first and second substrates 10 and 20 are also made of a transparent material.
Generally, a glass substrate is used as the first and second substrates 10 and 20 in conventional LCD devices. However, since the glass substrate is heavy and fragile, it adds to the weight and cost of the LCD device and deteriorates the durability of the LCD device.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic cross-sectional views showing loading states of a glass substrate and a plastic substrate, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a glass substrate 52 is closely loaded on a stage 51 of an apparatus due to its flatness and thus, the subsequent process is smoothly performed. On the other hand, a plastic substrate 62 is flexible and is not closely loaded on a stage 61.

Liquid crystal display devices using a plastic substrate with particular relative thickness


A method of collecting vehicle operating information using a wireless device includes the steps of communicatively linking a wireless device located within a vehicle to a vehicle telematics unit; receiving vehicle data at the wireless device from the vehicle telematics unit using the link; recording the received vehicle data at the wireless device; detecting that the wireless device is no longer present in the vehicle; and wirelessly transmitting the recorded vehicle data to a central facility using the wireless capabilities of the wireless device based on the detection.

Nearly all new vehicles include some sort of ability to wirelessly communicate. These communications are usually carried out using a vehicle telematics unit carried by the vehicles. The vehicle telematics unit can place wireless voice calls that a vehicle occupant can use to speak with various recipients, such as a call center or other recipient using cellular telephony communications. The vehicle telematics unit can also place data calls to transmit data using cellular telephony communications; this data often relates to the operation of the vehicle. That is, the vehicle telematics unit not only can wirelessly communicate voice/data content but it can also gather information relating to vehicle operation and wirelessly send that information to a location away from the vehicle.
However, the vehicle telematics unit often uses a wireless carrier to send vehicle data and each time the vehicle telematics unit transmits data over the wireless carrier, fees are incurred. These fees can be calculated in a variety of ways, such as by the amount of data sent, the amount of time used to send data, or both. While transmitting data from the vehicle via the vehicle telematics unit is helpful for monitoring vehicle health, the cost of transmission can be significant—especially when these costs are spread out over a large number of vehicles. Thus, reducing the cost of wirelessly sending data can be helpful.

Providing vehicle operating information using a wireless device


A packet data communication system (100) employs a method and apparatus for conveying data packets in the packet data communication system. A first communication device (101) transmits, at a first time, a first group of data packets and, at a second time prior to receiving an acknowledgment of receipt of the first group, a second group of data packets to a second communication device (105). Each data packet of the two groups includes a respective packet sequence number and the second group includes at least some data packets of the first group. The first communication device stores in memory the packet sequence numbers of the data packets in each group together with a group identifier for their respective group. Upon receiving the first group, the second group, or both, the second communication device transmits an acknowledgment of receipt of at least one of the groups, wherein the acknowledgment includes at least a receive tracking number. Upon receiving the acknowledgment, the first communication device determines which group of data packets the received acknowledgment corresponds to based at least on the receive tracking number. The first communication device then transmits a third group of data packets to the second communication device based on which group the acknowledgment corresponds to.

Packet data communication systems are known in both the wireless and wireline environments. In the wireless environment, a packet data system includes packet data routers, data controllers, base stations, and wireless communication units (e.g., mobile radios, portable radios, radiotelephones, or wireless data terminals). In the wireline environment, a packet data system includes switches and wireline communication devices (e.g., personal computers, computer servers, mainframes, laptop computers, personal communication devices, or custom data terminals). Packet data communications are also known to exist between wireless and wireline systems.
Packet data systems typically provide for transmission of data packets either individually or in groups otherwise known as "bundles." In systems that provide for individual packet transmission, such as transport control protocol (TCP) systems, the sending device transmits one packet at a time and receives a corresponding acknowledgment for each packet from the receiving device. Each data packet includes a packet sequence number that allows the receiving device to determine which packet it has received. Knowing the packet sequence number of the received packet, the receiving device transmits an acknowledgment indicating the packet sequence number of the packet that was received. In systems that provide for the use of selective automatic repeat request (SARQ) protocols, the data packet is typically subdivided into data blocks, wherein each data block has an associated data block number. In such SARQ systems, the acknowledgment typically includes the packet sequence number and the data block numbers of the data blocks that were not completely received by the receiving device. Thus, in SARQ systems, the sending device need only retransmit the unreceived data blocks instead of the entire data packet.
In systems that provide for group packet transmissions, the sending device transmits a group of data packets and receives a single acknowledgment for the group of data packets. As in single packet transmission systems, each data packet includes a packet sequence number. However, in group transmission systems, the acknowledgment includes the packet sequence number of each data packet in the group that was not completely received by the receiving device and, when an SARQ protocol is used, the data block numbers of the data blocks in each packet that were not completely received by the receiving device. To distinguish between acknowledgments for groups of data packets, the sending device typically identifies the lowest-valued packet sequence number of the group being acknowledged and compares it to the packet sequence numbers stored in a database that associates packet sequence numbers with group numbers. For example, when the sending device transmits Group 1 having packet sequence numbers 1-5, it stores the group number (1 in this case) and the packet sequence numbers (1-5 in this case) in a database. If, before receiving an acknowledgment of 1, the sending device also transmits Group 2, consisting of packet sequence numbers 6-10, and then receives the acknowledgment, the sending device examines the acknowledgment to determine which data packets are being acknowledged. Thus, if the acknowledgment indicated that data blocks 2 and 3 of the data packet having packet sequence number 4 were not received, the sending device would determine that the acknowledgment was an acknowledgment of Group 1 because packet sequence number 4 was transmitted in Group 1.
In both single packet and group packet transmission systems, acknowledgment timers are employed to set retransmission times. When an acknowledgment to a particular transmission is not received within the predetermined time of the corresponding acknowledgment timer, the sending device presumes the transmission was not received and retransmits the packet or group of packets, respectively. However, when an acknowledgment is received subsequent to the retransmission, the sending device does not know which transmission the acknowledgment actually corresponds to and presumes that the acknowledgment corresponds to the retransmission. Such a presumption may be in error due to inherent delays in the packet data system. For example, in integrated voice and data systems, voice calls typically have priority over data calls. Thus, a situation may arise whereby a receiving device receives a packet data transmission, but, before the receiving device can respond with an acknowledgment, the system preempts the device's request for allocation of a channel over which to transmit the acknowledgment due to high levels of voice traffic. As a consequence of the delay in transmitting the acknowledgment, the sending device's acknowledgment timer expires and a retransmission occurs.
By not knowing which transmission the acknowledgment actually corresponds to, the sending device, in response to the acknowledgment, might retransmit data that was already received by the receiving device (e.g., when the acknowledgment is an acknowledgment of the original transmission and indicates fewer completely received packets than were received in the retransmission). By retransmitting data that was already received, the sending device is inefficiently using a communication channel that could otherwise be used to transmit new or otherwise unreceived data.
One approach that could be used to eliminate the uncertainty in acknowledgments is to include a group identifier in each transmission and corresponding acknowledgment. By incrementing the group identifier with each transmission and retransmission, the receiving device can easily determine which group it is acknowledging. By including the group identifier in each acknowledgment, the sending device can easily determine which group is being acknowledged. However, although including a group identifier solves the aforementioned acknowledgment identification problem, it does so at the cost of reduced data throughput. Since communication channels have fixed bandwidths, adding bits to identify the transmission group would result in correspondingly fewer bits of data in each transmission, thereby reducing throughput.
Therefore, a need exists for a method and apparatus of conveying data packets in a packet data communication system that solves the acknowledgment identification problem, without reducing data throughput.

Method and apparatus for conveying data packets in a packet data communication system


A single level gate NVM device (10) includes p-channel and n-channel floating gate FETs (12, 14), an erasing capacitor (26), and a programming capacitor (28). The NVM device (10) is programmed by applying a programming voltage to the programming capacitor (28) and applying a ground voltage to the sources of the FETs (12, 14). The NVM device (10) is erased by applying an erasing voltage to the erasing capacitor (26) and applying ground voltage to the sources of the FETs (12, 14) and to the programming capacitor (28). Data is read from the NVM device (10) by sensing a voltage level at the drains of the FETs (12, 14) while applying a logic high voltage to the source of the p-channel FET (12), a logic low voltage to the source of the n-channel FET (14), and a reading voltage to the programming capacitor (28).

The present invention relates, in general, to memory devices and, more particularly, to nonvolatile memory devices.
Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) permits storing data that can be retained even if power to the memory is removed. An EEPROM cell stores data by storing electrical charge in an electrically isolated floating gate of a field effect transistor (FET). The stored electrical charge controls the threshold of the FET, thereby controlling the memory state of the EEPROM cell.
Two common structures for an EEPROM cell are a double poly structure and a single poly structure. The double poly structure is conventionally fabricated using two polycrystalline silicon layers. The single poly structure requires only one polycrystalline silicon layer and, therefore, is simpler and less expensive to fabricate than the double poly structure. However, the single poly structure usually requires more silicon area than the double poly structure.
To read data from the EEPROM cell, a sense amplifier is conventionally used to sense a current flowing in the FET, thereby determining the memory state of the EEPROM cell. However, the sense amplifier increases the circuit complexity, silicon area, and fabrication cost of the EEPROM cell. In addition, the sense amplifier consumes a large current during the process of reading data from the EEPROM cell and, therefore, is power inefficient.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a nonvolatile memory device and a method for accessing the nonvolatile memory device. It is desirable for the nonvolatile memory device to be simple and inexpensive to fabricate. It is also desirable for the accessing method to be energy efficient. It would be of further advantage for the nonvolatile memory device to be reliable.

Single level gate nonvolatile memory device and method for accessing the same


A process and apparatus for drying and removing carbon dioxide from a hydrogen and carbon monoxide containing synthesis gas by using adsorption vessels containing a first layer of 13 X-zeolite and a second layer of 3 A-zeolite in which the 3 A-zeolite precludes the formation of water of reaction when dry and carbon dioxide-free synthesis gas is used to regenerate the adsorption vessel countercurrent to feed flow of the synthesis gas.

Carbon monoxide is typically produced and recovered from synthesis gases from one of several well understood reforming methods including: steam-methane reforming, auto-thermal reforming, oxygen reforming, dry carbon dioxide reforming, partial oxidation and combinations of the above reformation reactions.
The synthesis gases produced from these reactions typically contain hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane, water and possibly nitrogen and argon.
This synthesis gas is usually cooled in several heat exchangers to raise steam, preheat reformer feed, preheat boiler feedwater and heat makeup water. The cooled reformer synthesis gas then enters a typical carbon dioxide removal system wherein carbon dioxide is removed from the synthesis gas. The carbon dioxide removal system typically consists of chemical absorption of carbon dioxide into a liquid solvent, which is regenerated in a stripping column. This system uses a solvent selected from the group consisting of MEA, MDEA, Rectisol, Benfield or other well known systems in the prior art.
In the case of recovery of CO alone, the carbon dioxide stripped synthesis gas leaving the carbon dioxide removal system would enter a thermal swing adsorption (TSA) drier where water and residual carbon dioxide are removed down to part per billion (ppb) levels. Traditionally, this is achieved using zeolites, like 13 X-zeolite. Often a 2 bed system is used where one bed is on stream for a number of hours, while the other bed is being regenerated with hot gas, then cooled down to feed temperature. Three bed systems can also be employed. The water and carbon dioxide-free synthesis gas then enters a cryogenic distillation system where pure carbon monoxide is recovered. It is important to remove water and carbon dioxide to trace levels to avoid plugging the cryogenic distillation system.
The removal of water and trace amounts of CO.sub.2 from various gas mixtures is the subject of much prior art. A vast majority of the prior art deals with the pre-purification of air prior to cryogenic distillation. Both pressure swing adsorption (PSA) and thermal swing adsorption (TSA) processes are taught.
Thermal swing adsorption processes for carbon dioxide and water removal from air are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,968,160 and 4,030,896. In these systems atmospheric air is compressed to about 100 psia followed by water cooling. The air is then further cooled using refrigerated ethylene glycol to remove water by condensation. The gas is then passed to a molecular sieve bed where the remaining carbon dioxide and water are removed by adsorption. The sorbent beds are operated in thermal swing mode with equal periods for adsorption and regeneration (heat-up, depressurization, cool-down and repressurization).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,249,915 discloses a process where moisture and carbon dioxide are removed from atmospheric air by adsorption in separate beds. The moisture removal bed (filled with a solid adsorbent effective in the adsorption of water) is regenerated by pressure swing adsorption in a relatively short operating cycle, while the carbon dioxide laden bed (filled with an adsorbent effective in the retention of carbon dioxide) is regenerated thermally at considerably longer time intervals.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,841,058 describes a 2 bed process for the removal of water, methanol and carbon dioxide from natural gas. The first bed contains an adsorbent for removal of water and methanol which is thermally regenerated at elevated temperature (about 300.degree. C.). The second bed contains an adsorbent for carbon dioxide removal which is regenerated at temperatures not exceeding 100.degree. C.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,809 teaches the use of 3 A-zeolite to dry synthesis gas as a pretreatment layer in a vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) system to produce high purity CO. The 3A layer is placed on the feed end of the adsorption bed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,596 discloses a process for the co-production of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The prior art method for production of CO is given in FIG. 1 of that disclosure. It shows the presence of driers after the MEA carbon absorbent for removal of water and carbon dioxide. Typically these system are TSA's filled with appropriate zeolite like 4 A-zeolite or 13 X-zeolite, which are capable of both water and carbon dioxide retention.
The prior art has not recognized a problem that occurs during the repressurization of adsorbent used to dry and remove carbon dioxide from synthesis gas, wherein water and carbon dioxide can reform from the synthesis gas used to repressurize the adsorbent, and the prior art has not provided the solution to this previously unrecognized problem, which problem and the present invention's solution to the problem will be set forth in greater detail below.

Synthesis gas drying and CO.sub.2 removal


A supporting structure of bearings incorporates a housing, a shaft on which a rotor is fixed, a first ball bearing supported on the housing supporting one side of the shaft and having an outer and inner race, a second ball bearing supported on the housing supporting the other side of the shaft and having an outer and an inner race, an elastic member for urging the outer race of the second ball bearing in the axial direction, and a ring spacer having at least one radial projecting portion disposed between the elastic member and the outer race of the second ball bearing. The outer race and the inner race of the first ball bearing are fixed to the housing and the shaft. The outer race of the second ball bearing is slidably mounted to the housing, while the inner race of the second ball bearing is fixed to the shaft. The ring spacer also includes an axial groove formed on the housing for receiving the radial projecting portion whereby the radial projecting portion slides along the axial groove.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a supporting structure of bearings for a rotor which is supported at more than two points, and more particularly in a supporting structure of bearings which is used to a mechanical supercharger such as a roots-typed mechanical supercharger.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional supporting structure of bearings of this kind is disclosed in, for example, Japanese patent application laid-open publication No. 2 (1990)-91492. FIG. 4 shows a roots-typed mechanical supercharger which is disclosed in this prior publication. Referring to FIG. 4, rotors 101, 102 are fixed on shafts 103, 104, respectively the shafts 103, 104 are rotatably supported on a housing 115 and on a bearing housing 116 at both sides of the rotors 101, 102 through radial ball bearings 106, 107, 108 and 109, respectively. At one end of the shaft 103, a driving pulley 110 is fixed thereto. The other end of the shaft 103 is projected into a gear chamber 112 which is formed by the securing a cover 111 to the bearing housing 116. A timing gear 113 is fixed to the other end of the shaft 103 in the bearing housing 116. The other end of the shaft 104 is projected into the gear chamber 112 and a timing gear 114 which is engaged with the timing gear 113 is fixed to the other end of the shaft 104. The timing gears 113, 114 permit the rotors 101, 102 to rotate simultaneously while maintaining a predetermined clearance therebetween without contacting with each other. Inner races of the radial ball bearings 106, 107, 108 and 109 are fitted on the shafts 103, 104 so as not to be able to move relative to the shafts 103, 104, respectively. Outer races of the radial bearings 107, 109 are fitted into receiving holes of the bearing housing 116 so as not to be able to move relative to the bearing housing 116. The outer races of the radial bearings 106 and 108 are fitted into receiving holes of the housing 115 so as to be able to move in the axial direction. Cone springs 117, 118 are disposed between bottom surfaces of the receiving holes of the housing 115 and the radial ball bearings 106, 108 so as to urge the outer races of the radial ball bearings 106, 108 toward the outside of the receiving holes of the housing 115.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion A shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6 shows the fundamentals of the supporting structure of the bearings shown in FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the outer race 106a of the ball bearing 106 can freely slide on the inner circumferential surface of the housing 115 in the axial direction and is urged toward the outside of the receiving holes of the housing 115 (leftward in FIG. 5) by the cone spring 117. The inner race 106b of the ball bearing 106 and the inner race 107b of the ball bearing 107 are fixed to the shaft 103 and the outer race 107a of the ball bearing 107 is fixed to the bearing housing 116. Since the cone spring 117 urges the outer race 106a leftward in FIG. 6, the shaft 103 is axially moved through the ball 106c and the inner race 106b until the axial gap and the radial gap disappear in the ball bearings 106, 107. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the clearance between the rotors 101, 102 and the clearance between the rotors 101, 102 and the housing 115. Therefore, it is able to decrease a leak of the fluid in the supercharger and the volume efficiency (the practical amount of discharged flow/the theoretical amount of discharged flow) can be improved.
Generally, when bearing steel used as a material of the outer and inner races of the bearing differs from the material of the shaft and the housing, the fit between the outer race and the housing and the fit between the inner race and the shaft become loose at high temperatures as a result of differences in the coefficients of thermal expansion between the different materials.
In particular, in case of the supercharger, a coefficient of thermal expansion of bearing steel normally used as a material of the outer race of the bearing differs from that of aluminum alloy normally used as a material of the housing. Thereby, when the temperature of the supercharger itself becomes high in operation in an atmosphere at a high temperature or in operation under high-load condition, the fit between the outer race of the bearing and the inner circumferential wall of the housing becomes loose. Further, in general, grease is sealed between the outer and the inner races of the bearing and the torque of the inner race is transmitted to the outer race through the grease (=by the agitation resistance of the grease) under the condition in which the inner race of the bearing is rotated with the shaft in a body.
Accordingly, in the above prior supporting structure, when the fit between the outer race of the bearing and the inner circumferential wall of the housing becomes loose in operation in an atmosphere at a high temperature or in operation under high-load conditions, the outer race urged by the cone spring is apt to be rotated by the agitation resistance of the grease and namely what is called, the creeping rotation of the outer race is easily generated. When the creeping rotation is generated remarkably, the fitting portion between the outer race of the ball bearing and the inner circumferential wall of the housing wears down. Therefore, in case that the above supporting structure is applied to the supercharger, for example, there exist the danger that interference between the rotors or between the rotor and the housing will occur.


A method of estimating user location involving collecting data from the access points in the network. The data can then be used to define a relationship, for example the loss of power experienced by a transmitted signal, between the access points. The relationship can be stored within a matrix, database or any other suitable storage method that can be referenced to determine the position of a user device within the network and correlated with corresponding measurements from a user device to determine the location of the user device within the network.

Wireless networks include, amongst other things, access points and user devices. User devices can be any device with an interface capable of enabling wireless networking using a wireless network, including, for example, laptops. Access points are devices which enable a user device to access a particular wireless network using, for example, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Once a user device has access to a wireless network it can send and receive data over the network.
It can be useful to estimate a user's location within a wireless network, for example if the services provided to a user device are dependent upon the location of the user device within the network. This is of particular difficulty when the user devices are mobile and therefore the components in the network are not static in nature.
In order to determine the location of devices within networks that can be accessed by mobile devices several solutions have been proposed. These include RF fingerprinting, time of arrival trilateration and use of a GPS device on the mobile device.
RF fingerprinting involves a survey of the area covered by the wireless network and evaluating the RF spectrum at certain points within the area. The system, or the mobile unit itself, can determine the RF spectrum of the user device and compare it to the RF spectrum of different points in the area as measured from the survey. This comparison can be used to define where the user device is in the network. However, this method of location determination requires resources to determine the received RF spectrum of points within the area. Furthermore, dynamics within the RF environment of the area can change, increasing the error in location estimation.
Time of arrival trilateration involves access points determining the time of flight for a transmission from a user device to the access point. From this time of flight a distance from the access point can be determined and the meeting point of these distances is an estimate of the location of the user device. However, to accurately estimate location using time of arrival trilateration requires a user device to be able to communicate with at least three access points within the network which may mean that the number of access points required to estimate location is greater than that required to service the network. Additionally, the estimation of time must be accurate with differences between the clocks on the user device and those on the access points resulting in time, and hence location, estimation errors.
Finally, the use of a GPS receiver, or other location determination equipment, in the user device can be used to determine the location of the user device. However, this is dependent upon the visibility of satellites at the point where the user device is located which may not be possible within a building. Providing each user device with a GPS receiver can also be costly.
Therefore, it is desirable to have an improved way of estimating the location of a user device in a wireless network.

Estimating user device location in a wireless network


The appliance comprises a container for receiving the soiled articles, a circulation pump for distributing a hot liquid to the container, a drain positioned in the container and connected to the pump for emptying the liquid from the container upon completion of a cycle and a hydroclone connected to the drain and the pump, for removing soil from the liquid such that about ninety percent (90%) of the liquid distributed to the container during one cycle can be utilized during at least one subsequent cycle. Another embodiment includes a dishwasher having a normal operating cycle, the dishwasher comprising a container for accommodating a plurality of articles, a circulation pump for delivering a liquid to the container and for circulating the liquid within the container, a diverter connected to the circulation pump for diverting at least a portion of the circulating liquid to a hydroclone while returning at least about ninety percent (90%) of the liquid diverted to the hydroclone to the circulating liquid, the returned liquid having at most about 0.02% solids contained therein.

The present invention relates generally to a machine for cleaning articles, more particularly to a machine having a system for reducing the amount of energy and water consumed during an operation cycle.
Reducing the amount of energy and water consumption in appliances such as dishwashers or clothes washers, is a significant problem, in part because a large amount of energy is needed to heat incoming water. For example, dishwashers use energy from two distinct sources. One source is the water-heating energy (WHE) consumed by the hot water heater that supplies hot water to the dishwasher. The second source is the electrical energy used to run the dishwasher pump and a resistance heating element enclosed in the dishwasher. The resistance heating element boosts the water temperature during wash and dries the dishes after they are clean.
The Department of Energy (DOE) requires manufacturers to measure the mechanical energy consumed by the motor and heating element with a kilowatt-hour meter and the quantity of water used with a flow meter and timer. The total energy consumption per cycle is defined as E=WHE+M, where WHE is the water heating energy used by the hot water heater to supply hot water to the dishwasher and M is the mechanical energy consumed by the motor and heating element, that is measured with the kilowatt-hour meter. Incoming 120.degree. F. hot water is assumed to be provided from a 50.degree. F. cold source with a constant volumetric specific heat (Cv) of Cv=0.00240 kwh/gal- .degree. F. The "Normal" cycle of a typical dishwasher uses a volume (V) of water for an entire cycle of V=9.1 gallons.
The equation for Water Heating Energy (WHE) is WHE=V Cv (T.sub.2 -T.sub.1), where T.sub.2 is the temperature of the heated water and T.sub.1 is the temperature of the water from the cold source. Therefore, the WHE for one cycle is 9.1 gal.times.0.0024 kwh/gal- F.times.70F=1.5288 kwh of water heating energy. The average mechanical energy consumption per cycle runs about 0.65 kwh. From Equation 1, the average total energy consumption for a "Normal" cycle is 2.1768 kwh. Therefore, reducing the water heating energy by reducing the water consumption has a major impact on the overall energy consumption of the dishwasher.
As stated above, the DOE energy rating for the dishwashers is based primarily on the amount of hot water consumed to complete the washing of one load. Most dishwashers presently require about 9.1 gallons of hot water per load. Each load requires about six (6) fills of fresh hot water, about 1.4 to about 1.9 gallons of hot water per fill. The first two fills are needed for the prewash cycles, followed by a fresh fill for the main wash cycles. The last three fills are needed for the two post rinse and one final rinse cycle. Based on six (6) fills (9.1 gallons of water), the DOE rating is about $59.00.
Prior efforts to recycle hot water from one fill to the next have usually involved the use of a screen (coarse or fine) and the use of a centrifuge to separate the soils. The screens often need to be removed and cleaned to prevent bacteria growth, and are, thus, inefficient and impractical. The centrifuge is efficient, but it has to be rotating at all times to provide efficient separation, which requires energy and the moving parts require more space and more maintenance.
Therefore, it is apparent from above that there exists a need in the art for reducing the energy consumption during wash loads of cleaning machines, such as dishwashers. Such systems and methods should at least partially recycle the water during a fill or reuse at least a portion of the same hot water from one cycle to another, thereby, achieving significant energy saving. For the hot water to be recycled or reused, it has to be separated from particles and any suspended or dissolved solids. It is a purpose of this invention, to fulfill these and other needs in the art in a manner more apparent to the skilled artisan once given the following disclosure.


In a switch, the speed at which contacts are separated from each other is increased without depending on the speed at which an operating member is operated, so that an arc is prevented from being generated, to prevent the operating member to be deformed by heat generation and prevent the durability of the switch to be decreased due to the abrasion of the contacts. A movable contact member having movable contacts at both its ends is swingably supported with a common fixed contact projecting upward and serving as a fulcrum. A leaf spring is fixed to a slider. The leaf spring has a portion projecting in a U shape. The U-shaped portion is engaged with the center of the movable contact member. When the slider is moved, the U-shaped portion is distorted in the transverse direction. When the slider is further moved, the U-shaped portion gets beyond the fulcrum, so that the movable contact is rapidly separated from a normally open fixed contact.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a switch with contacts, and more particularly, to a switch applicable to a power window switch for vehicle use, for example.
1. Description of the Prior Art
As this type of switch, a slide switch, a seesaw switch, and a slide-type seesaw switch have been conventionally known. Representatives of the prior art switch will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing a switch main body of a slide switch, wherein a slider 111 operated from outside is movably supported on a terminal base 113 having fixed contacts, and a movable contact 116 is supported in the slider 111 and is pushed by a spring 117. When the slider 111 is slid, the movable contact 116 is moved. Consequently, a normally open fixed contact 115o and a common fixed contact 115m are switched.
FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing a seesaw switch, wherein an operation knob 104 is rotatably supported on a switch case 103, and a pushing member 108 biased by a spring 107 is held in the operation knob 104. The pushing member 108 pushes a movable contact member 116 supported in seesaw fashion on a terminal base 113 which has fixed contacts 115. When the operation knob 104 is rotated, a point at which the pushing member 108 pushes the movable contact member 116 is displaced, and the movable contact member 116 is rotated in seesaw fashion. Consequently, the contacts are switched.
In these types of switches, however, the spring or the pushing member merely pushes the movable contact. Therefore, the speed at which the contacts are separated from each other is determined by the speed at which the slider (or the knob) is operated.
In a state where the fixed contact and the movable contact are brought into contact with each other, and a current flows therethrough, an arc is liable to generate when the movable contact is separated from the fixed contact. If the speed at which the movable contact is separated from the fixed contact is low, arc energy is increased.
A power window switch for vehicle use, for example, may, in some cases, be subjected to tampering for reducing the speed at which the slider or the knob is operated. Consequently, the speed at which contacts are separated from each other is reduced so that arc energy is extremely increased. Therefore, the slider composed of a resin molded part is deformed due to heat generated by switching the contacts, and the durability of the switch is decreased by the abrasion of the contacts. Further, a high-cost material having good heat resistance or a high-cost and large-sized contact material having good arc resistance must be used.


A memory controller specifies, from a nonvolatile memory, a final page candidate, which is a candidate to be the physical page to which data is last written in a logical block. The memory controller executes an upward check process to determine whether the number of programmed physical pages is among a first range number of physical pages in a reverse order from the final page candidate is equal to or greater than a first reference value. The memory controller executes a downward check process determining whether the number of programmed physical pages is among a second range number of physical pages existing in the downward order from the final page candidate is equal to or less than a second reference value, and specifies the physical page to which data is last written in the logical block from results of the upward check process and the downward check process.

In a memory system using a NAND type flash memory as a storage medium, two searches are used when searching a last written physical page (hereinafter, referred to as a final valid page).
When there is a defective physical page or an erased and damaged physical page (hereinafter, both may be collectively referred to as a non-erased page) on the physical page after the final valid page, the non-erased page may be erroneously determined as a programmed state. Therefore, a maximum value of a time required for a start-up process is large.
Examples of related art include Japanese Patent No. 4524309.

Memory system and control method thereof


A method is described for identifying and prioritizing, for remediating, impactful problems in a mobile wireless communications network. The method includes rendering a human observable representation of problem impact at particular geographic units within a grid corresponding to a geographic area of interest. The method includes tabling mobile wireless communication network data in a database, generating a problem impact grid for a geographic area of interest sub-divided into sub-areas of specified dimensions and rendering a listing representing a prioritized set of mobile wireless communication network issues arranged in accordance with magnitude of values assigned to sub-areas of the problem impact grid.

Changes in usage patterns by customers of mobile wireless communications services, with an increased emphasis on smart phone-based data traffic as opposed to voice, have placed unprecedented demand upon underlying physical network infrastructures (e.g. cell sites) that support such services. Proliferation of smart phones and their use to carry out high volume/data-rate communications—including streaming video transmissions—has resulted in exponential growth in the volume of data flowing over wireless networks. The substantially increased data transmission volume via existing physical networks challenges the capabilities of the infrastructure to such a degree that choices often need to be made between desirable upgrades/remedial measures for many, if not all, cell sites and/or associated routers/servers. The increased volume of data communications presents a challenge for service providers who must ensure reliable mobile wireless service for most, if not all, users.
Moreover, users have become accustomed to receiving mobile wireless service at unprecedented levels of quality and reliability. The high degree of reliability achieved by mobile wireless services has resulted in many mobile wireless subscribers foregoing conventional landline service. Such subscribers rely heavily upon mobile wireless service to meet their communication needs. Given the increased reliance of subscribers, it is imperative for the underlying mobile wireless network infrastructure to be properly maintained. When parts of the mobile wireless network infrastructure are unable to adequately support subscriber needs at particular locations in the network, such parts (e.g., cell sites or portions thereof) must be identified. Thereafter, the cause(s) of the identified performance failure need to be identified, and solutions are proposed.
Mobile wireless network service providers possess limited resources for maintaining and improving their network infrastructure. As a consequence, mobile wireless network service providers are challenged to quickly and accurately identify, with a high level of confidence, changes (e.g. remedies and upgrades) to components that are most impactful on increasing an overall level of user satisfaction and quality of voice/data communication services rendered by the mobile wireless network as a whole.
A wide variety of network operation information is consulted by network maintenance engineers and technicians. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are a type of network operation information used to measure the performance and capacity of wireless networks. Actual data throughput demand, and the mobile wireless network's ability to meet the data throughput demand are important Key Performance Indicator (KPI) types. Examples of other KPI types include: data sessions, transactions per unit time (e.g., second), disk usage, CPU usage, memory usage, data attempts, data sessions, data volume, and messages per unit time. Vast quantities of KPI data points are acquired for processing/analyzing during the course of a period of review for purposes of analyzing user data throughput demand on various mobile wireless network components and the mobile wireless network components' ability to meet such demand.
Network service providers do not have unlimited access to resources for addressing every need evidenced by acquired KPI's. A challenge to maintaining a mobile wireless data network, based upon monitored performance and capacity measurements, is to ensure proper allocation of limited resources for repairing and/or upgrading existing network infrastructure components. However, identifying points/causes of poor data transmission service at a particular part of a mobile wireless communication network is insufficient when a quantity of such points exceeds current resources that a network service provider can commit to address identified needs.
A first challenge, to conducting a meaningful analysis and proposing a beneficial long term response to identified problems/needs in a mobile wireless data network, is the massive volume of raw network performance (e.g., KPI) data acquired by various components of the mobile wireless network. During the course of an evaluation period, a mobile wireless data network management system acquires millions of potentially useful data points for processing. It would take years for such information to be evaluated manually. Therefore, some form of automated evaluation process is essential.
Another challenge involves determining relative importance of proposed remedial efforts to operation of the mobile wireless communications network as a whole. In an environment of limited resources for maintaining/improving network component operation, tools are needed to quickly and reliably compare the value of contemplated remedial/improvement measures applied to particular network components.

Determining cell site performance impact for a population of cell sites of a mobile wireless data network