A system for training a neurome that emulates a brain of a user comprises a non-invasive brain interface assembly configured for detecting neural activity of the user in response to analog instances of a plurality of stimuli peripherally input into the brain of the user from at least one source of content, memory configured for storing a neurome configured for outputting a plurality of determined brain states of an avatar in response to inputs of the digital instances of the plurality of stimuli, and a neurome training processor configured for determining a plurality of brain states of the user based on the detected neural activity of the user, and modifying the neurome based on the plurality of determined brain states of the user and the plurality of determined brain states of the avatar.

There exist various environments in which it is desirable to learn the behavior of a person. For example, when a user visits certain locations on the Internet (e.g., web sites), the user enters information in the form of online activity, which may be recorded and analyzed to determine behavioral patterns and interests of the user. In turn, these behavioral patterns and interests may be used to target the user or other similar users to provide a more meaning and rich experience on the Internet, such as an Internet portal site (e.g., Yahoo! or Google).
In one specific example, merchants may offer products or services to users on the Internet. However, a user faces a profound number of possible choices when selecting most kinds of products or services, be it movies, music, books, travel, art, dining, employers, and so on, to the extent that the user must choose from well-publicized possibilities, such as through advertising, or rely on recommendations of others.
Merchants may employ a behavior targeting system that determines interests of a user in certain products or services based on the on-line activity of the user, which information can then be used to provide recommendations or serve advertisements pertaining to those products and services, to the user. A behavior targeting system is believed to benefit both the merchant, who provides their recommendations or advertisements to a target audience, and the user, who receives more relevant recommendations or advertisements in areas of interest of the user.
However, providing recommendations and advertisements to a particular user based on on-line activity of the user is limited to the amount of time that the user actively spends on the Internet, and thus, a behavior targeting system may only learn so much from a single sampling point, i.e., on-line activity of the user. Furthermore, on-line activity of the user may be misinterpreted by the behavior targeting system (e.g., an inadvertent click on a certain webpage may be misinterpreted as an interest by the user in the content of that webpage, a display of a webpage for an extended period of time may be misinterpreted as an interest by the user in that content of that webpage when, in fact, the user has walked away from the computer or has been otherwise distracted by real-life activity, etc.).
A behavior targeting system may sample multiple points, e.g., by monitoring on-line activity from a group of users that have user profiles that are similar to that of a particular user that a merchant desires to target with recommendations or advertisements. For example, a behavior targeting system may monitor the on-line activity of a group of users having the same demographic (e.g., ethnicity, age, gender, geographic location, etc.) as the targeted user. In this manner, a virtual infinite amount of on-line information is available to the behavior targeting system in an attempt to target a particular user for recommendations or advertisements. However, this technique does not attempt to predict the behavior of the targeted user, but instead relies on the assumption that the targeted user will have the same behavior as the collective behavior of the group of users from which on-line activity was sampled. As such, this type of behavior targeted system is limited in that it cannot specifically target a user.
A behavior targeting system may also perform a "shopping basket analysis" by making suggestions to a user based on products or services that have been purchased by other users at the same time as a product or service that has been selected by the targeted user. However, this technique relies on transactional dependency and does not allow prediction of preference of products or services that are not purchased, and is not specific to the targeted user, but rather to the transaction histories across all users that purchase that product or service.
In another related example, a merchant may be interested in determining how a particular user reacts to an on-line advertisement, so that the advertisement can be evaluated to determine the value of the advertisement. For example, many merchants purchase what are generally known in the industry as "banners," which are generally designed to invite and/or incite users to click on the banner, thereby revealing additional information regarding the products or services of the merchant. However, the impact that a banner has on user who has viewed the banner is often difficult to determine or otherwise evaluate. That is, merchants currently do not have mechanisms to evaluate the impact that, for example, a banner placed as an on-line advertisement has on a user who has viewed the banner and has not necessarily clicked on the banner. The reaction and determination of how users react to on-line marketing in advertising is generally limited. For example, information as to why a user did not click on a banner or to what extent that the advertisement had on a user (e.g., how a user feels about or reacts to an advertisement) that clicked on the banner, which may otherwise provide an indication of what will motivate the user to click on the advertisement and ultimately purchase the product or service associated with the advertisement, is not available to on-line marketing techniques that make conclusions merely on banner clicks alone.
As another example, on-line research that utilizes on-line surveys to capture information from users regarding a particular subject matter has overtaken traditional survey methods. One downfall of on-line surveys is that on-line surveys operate on a conscious level, and therefore, cannot capture a user's visceral reaction to the subject matter. For example, an on-line research study may involve presenting media (e.g., video or audio) to a user and request that the user complete a questionnaire at the completion of the media presentation to determine the user's impression of the media. Some users may not be truthful in their responses, and even if truthful, the on-line questionnaires will not be able to capture the subconscious mental states and reactions of the user to the media that the user just experienced in real-time.
There, thus, remains a better means of determining a user's behavior to a stimulus for a variety of purposes, including targeted advertising, assessing the effectiveness of on-line advertisements, and extracting more useful real-time information from users during an on-line research activity.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods for training and using a neurome that emulates the brain of a user


Novel pharmaceutical compositions which contain one of the reverse transcriptase inhibitors, viz., Zidovudine, Lamivudine or Stavudine in clinically efficacious amount and Meldonium as well as pharmaceutically applicable excipients. It has been proved that inclusion of Meldonium in these pharmaceutical compositions essentially diminishes the cardio- and neuro-toxicity of the reverse transcriptase inhibitor.

It is known that the infection of human immunodeficiency virus is one of the most frequent highly dangerous infections having contaged 37.7 million adults and 2.2 million children in late 2004 BROCKLEHURST, P, et al. Antiretrovirals for Reducing the Risk of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV Infection. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002, no. 2.
In HIV/AIDS treatment, Zidovudine (AZT), Stavudine and Lamivudine that inhibit polymerase-γ, a ferment responsible for HIV-1 mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (mtDNA) replication, are most widely used. Thus, Zidovudine and Stavudine and Lamivudine block the formation of new mitochondria and cause other side effects.
Meldonium, chemically, 3-(2,2,2-Trimethylhydrazinium) propionate is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,481,218 (INST ORGANICHESKOGO SINTEZA AK (SU)) 8 Jul. 1982.
Meldonium is extensively applied in medicine as an anti-ischemic and stress-protective drug in treating various cardio-vascular diseases and other pathologies involving ischemia.
Zidovudine, chemically, 3′-Azido-3′-deoxythymidine; azidothymidine; or AZT is a reverse transcriptase inhibitor. The therapeutic uses of zidovudine and related compounds, and their preparations were disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,232 (BURROUGHS WELLCOME CO (US)) 17 Sep. 1985.
Zidovudine is commercially available as 100 mg capsule, 300 mg tablet, 10 mg/mL in 20-mL single-use vial and 50 mg/5 mL in 240 mL syrup.
Lamivudine, chemically, (2R-cis)-4-Amino-1-[2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-oxathiolan-5-yl]-2(IH)-pyrimidinone; (−)-2′-deoxy-3′-thiacytidine; (−)-1-[(2R,5S)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-oxathiolan-5-yl]cytosine; or 3TC is a reverse transcriptase inhibitor. The therapeutic uses of lamivudine and related compounds and their preparations were disclosed in WO 9117159 (IAF BIOCHEM INT (CA)) 2 May 1991
Lamivudine is commercially available as 100 mg, 150 mg and 300 mg tablets; 10 mg/mL in 240 mL oral solution.
Stavudine, chemically, 2′,3′-Didehydro-3′-deoxythymidine; 1-(2,3-dideoxy-β-glycero-pent-2-enofuranosyl)thymine; or 3′-deoxy-2′-thymidinene is a reverse transcriptase inhibitor. The therapeutic uses of stavudine and related compounds and their preparations were disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,130,421 (BRISTOL MYERS CO (US)) 29 Apr. 1991
Stavudine is commercially available as 15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg and 40 mg capsules; and 1 mg/mL in 200 ml oral solution.
Several approaches are known how the adverse reactions caused by Zidovudine, Stavudine and Lamivudine toxicity may be restricted. Nevertheless, none has simultaneous effect on functioning of both cardiomyocytes and neurons.
For the purpose of diminishing mitochondrial damage, additional use of antioxidants, e.g. very high doses of Vitamin C and Vitamin E is recommended in particular cases BROCKLEHURST, P, et al. Antiretrovirals for Reducing the Risk of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV Infection. Cochrane Database Syst Rev., 2002, no. 2; FICHTENBAUM, C. J. Coronary Heart Disease Risk, Dyslipidemia, and Management in HIV-Infected Persons. HIV Clin Trials. 2004 November-December, vol. 5, no. 6, p. 416-433.
It is proved in trials on mice that daily doses of Vitamin C 1,250 mg/kg and daily doses of Vitamin E 75 mg/kg protect mitochondria against oxydative stress as well as reduce the activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and also confine the damage of mitochondrial ultrastructure. Creatine kinase (CK) activity similarly subsides which reinforces in case of zidovudine application PETERS, B. S., et al. Mitochondrial Myopathy Associated with Chronic Zidovudine Therapy in AIDS. Q J Med. 1993 January, vol. 86, no. 1, p. 5-15.
Coenzyme Q10 may be regarded as another substance capable of exerting a positive influence in preclusion of zidovudine adverse reactions by activating electron transfer in the respiration chain; riboflavin, tocopherol, succinates, ascorbinic acid, Menadione, and nicotinamide putatively inhibit the respiration chain blockage LARSSON, N. G., et al. Mitochondrial Myopathies. Acta Physiol Scand. 2001, no. 171, p. 225-233.
WO 9705864 (SIGMA TAU IND FARMACEUTI (IT); MENDES SRL (IT); MORETTI SONIA (IT)) 19 Jul. 1996 provides information concerning a novel use of L-carnitine, the derivatives thereof and their pharmacologically acceptable salts in combination with antiretroviral drugs for reducing ceramide levels, enhancing the activity of the aforesaid antiretroviral drugs for the therapeutic treatment of HIV-infection and AIDS and enhancing the immune system affected by these drugs.
In EP 0560275 A (SIGMA TAU IND FARMACEUTI (IT)) 9 Mar. 1993 were disclosed a novel therapeutic utilization of L-carnitine and the pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof for treating carnitine-depleted HIV-seropositive patients.

Pharmaceutical composition on basis of reverse transcriptase inhibitor and meldonium


A method of providing a secure, reliable and verifiable seed generation a random number generator. The method includes determining a first input based upon at least one entropy source related to operation of the processing device. For example, the entropy source can be random information related to the current operation of a computing device. The method further includes accessing a secret input that is unique to the processing device and combining the first input and the secret input via a secure cryptographic combining function, wherein the secret input and the secure cryptographic combining function are stored in a hardware-based storage medium associated with a specific processing device such that they are accessible only by that specific processing device. Based upon the combination, the method includes determining a first output value and outputting the first output value as a random seed for a random number generator.

The ability to generate truly unpredictable numbers is critical for any number of security-related applications, including digital signatures, encryption, virtual private networks, electronic commerce, etc. Typically, to generate an unpredictable number, a processing device utilizes a random number generator. In operation, a seed is generated and input into the random number generator. The random number generator performs one or more transformational operations on the input seed and a random number is output. In normal operation, the uniqueness of the output of the random number generator is based upon the uniqueness of the seed being input.
Generating the seed for a random number generator can be difficult because computing devices are designed to be predictable. In operation, computing devices do not provide an easy way to determine entropy, or unknown input variables, for use in generating an unpredictable and random seed. Devices having limited processing capabilities such as hand-held mobile devices may not have inherent random entropy that can be used to seed a random number generator that is, for example, used to generate cryptographic keys (i.e., for applications such as generation of session keys and RSA public/private keys). As such, keys generated by mobile devices may be predictable if the means of generating the random number generator seed is known. For example, if a third party knows what specific algorithm or type of algorithm is used to generate the seed, as well as which specific random number generation techniques are being used, the third party can accurately reproduce both the seeds and the generated random numbers, thereby compromising the security of the mobile device.
One proposed solution for this problem is for a manufacturer to build support for seed generation directly into a central processing unit (CPU) chip at the hardware level. During operation of a particular application, if the application calls for a random number generation, the CPU can quickly generate a seed for a random number generator internally without any extra software calls or access. However, one problem with this approach is that third parties other than the manufacturer cannot verify that the seed generation is operating as suggested by a manufacturer. If the seed generation includes a security hole or flaw, it could be exploited without the user's knowledge, thereby allowing a party to reproduce the output of the random number generation by copying the generated seed.
This patent document describes methods and systems that are directed to addressing the issues described above.

CPU assisted seeding of a random number generator in an externally provable fashion


A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device is obtained of which tunnel oxide film can be made thinner and which can allow low voltage and power consumption. P type polycrystal silicon is used as a floating gate electrode. Thickness of a tunnel oxide film (first insulating film) is set to less than 10 nm. By using P type polysilicon as a material of the floating gate electrode, a barrier height of a well-type potential is increased from 3.1 eV to 4.4 eV, and thus the leak current is effectively prevented. Thus, the film thickness of the tunnel oxide film can be made less than 10 nm, and operating voltage can also be lowered. Therefore, reduction in power consumption and improvement in performance of the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device can be achieved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and more particularly to a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device having a floating gate electrode.
2. Description of the Background Art
Recently, a flash memory, a kind of nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices, has come to be well known. The flash memory is expected to be a memory device of the next generation because it can be manufactured at lower cost than a dynamic random access memory (DRAM).
FIG. 17 is a sectional view showing a memory cell of such a conventional flash memory. Referring to FIG. 17, in the conventional flash memory, an N type drain diffusion layer 102 and an N type source diffusion layer 103 are formed spaced apart by a prescribed distance, with a channel region sandwiched therebetween, at the main surface of a P well 101 formed at the surface of a silicon substrate (Si substrate)(not shown). On the channel region, a floating gate electrode 105 of an N type polycrystalline silicon film (hereinafter referred to as a "polysilicon film") is formed with a tunnel oxide film 104 therebetween. On floating gate electrode 105, an interlayer insulating film 106 of an ONO film is formed. On interlayer insulating film 106, a control gate electrode 107 is formed of N type polysilicon. A side wall oxide film 108 is formed on both sides of floating gate electrode 105 and control gate electrode 107.
Source 103 is connected to a corresponding source line (not shown), and drain diffusion layer 102 is connected to a corresponding bit line (not shown). Floating gate electrode 105 is for accumulating charges representing information, and control gate electrode 107 is connected to a corresponding word line (not shown).
In operation, erasing or writing is carried out by injecting electrons into floating gate electrode 105 or by extracting electrons accumulated in floating gate electrode 105, with the FN tunnel phenomenon of tunnel oxide film 104 or the channel hot electron phenomenon. Thus, thresholding/binarization is realized by the state of electrons in floating gate electrode 105, and "0" or "1" is read out according to the state.
In the flash memory or EEPROM, amount of electrons accumulated in floating gate electrode 105 is thresholded, thus the state of the transistor is represented by binary values. Therefore, the memory function is implemented. By surrounding floating gate electrode 105 with insulating films (tunnel oxide film 104 and interlayer insulating film 106), electrons accumulated in floating gate electrode 105 can be kept for as long a period as more than ten years, and thus the nonvolatile memory is implemented. Specifically, by surrounding floating gate electrode 105 with high band barriers formed between insulating films (104, 106) having wide band gaps and floating gate electrode 105, electrons in floating gate electrode 105 are prevented from escaping outside. In short, electrons are confined in a well-type potential.
Normally, an SiO.sub.2 film and an ONO film are used as insulating films (104, 106) surrounding floating gate electrode 105. The ONO film is used as interlayer insulating film 106 between control gate electrode 107 and floating gate electrode 105.
As floating gate electrode 105, N type polysilicon is generally used which can accumulate electrons and achieve resistance that is low enough as a electrode. Polysilicon is a most generally used electrode material in the current ULSI process because of many reasons. One of them is that polysilicon provides good junction interface with the SiO.sub.2 film. Since the N type polysilicon which includes a large amount of N type impurity is N type, it has a lot of free electrons in a film and, as a result, it has a metal property of low resistance. In a floating type nonvolatile semiconductor memory, data is stored by injecting and extracting electrons into and out of floating gate electrode 105 to control the amount of electrons accumulated in floating gate electrode 105. As floating gate electrode 105, is typically formed of N type polysilcon which is a low resistance electrode having a large amount of free electrons. Since an N type polysilicon film is used as floating gate electrode 105 in a conventional flash memory, conduction band electrons in floating gate electrode 105 are extracted toward silicon substrate 101 through tunnel oxide film 104 by using FN tunnel current, as shown in FIG. 18.
If the floating gate type nonvolatile semiconductor memory is miniaturized in a similar manner as miniaturization of other ULSI devices, operating voltage would be lowered while insulating films such as tunnel oxide film 104 and interlayer insulating film 106 are made thinner. In ULSI device development, this is a general understanding known as a scaling rule of an MOS type transistor.
However, tunnel oxide film 104 and interlayer insulating film 106 which are extremely thin may cause part of electrons accumulated in floating gate electrode 105 to pass through tunnel oxide film 104 or interlayer insulating film 106 and to leak into the silicon substrate or control gate electrode 107, due to the FN tunnel phenomenon, the direct tunnel phenomenon or the tunnel phenomenon through a trap in an insulating film. FIG. 19 shows a band for illustrating a mechanism of leak current at the time of data retention (with no voltage applied) of a conventional write (or erase) state. If tunnel oxide film 104 is thin, conduction band electrons in floating gate electrode 105 are conventionally leaked due to the FN tunnel phenomenon as shown in FIG. 19, thus degrading the data retention characteristics. For simplicity, interlayer insulating film 106 is not an ONO film but an SiO.sub.2 film in FIG. 19.
When thin tunnel oxide film 104 is used in a floating gate type nonvolatile semiconductor memory such as the EEPROM, stress on tunnel oxide film 104 due to repetition of writing and erasing operations causes leak current if an electric field applied to tunnel oxide film 104 is low. This is disclosed, for example, in K. Naruke et. al., IEDM Tech. Dig., p424, 1988 (reference 1).
The low electric field leak current caused by such stress is called stress induced leak current. When this type of stress induced current is caused in the floating gate type nonvolatile semiconductor memory, electrons accumulated in floating gate electrode 105 are gradually lost, while memory data is retained, due to a small electric field applied to tunnel oxide film 104. Therefore, it is believed that such a thin tunnel oxide film 104 as would cause this type of stress induced leak current can not be applied for the floating gate type nonvolatile semiconductor memory. In short, the characteristics of the stress induced leak current limits thinness of tunnel oxide film 104 of the floating gate type nonvolatile semiconductor memory.
Naruke et. al. and R. Moazzami et. al., IEDM Tech. Dig., p139, 1992 (reference 2) report that the stress induced current is caused significantly when tunnel oxide film 104 is thinner than 10 nm.
When tunnel oxide film 104 can not be made thinner in the floating gate type nonvolatile semiconductor memory, the operating voltage can not be lowered. It is therefore difficult to reduce power consumption. For a floating gate type nonvolatile semiconductor memory represented by a flash memory which dominates the market for portable machines, lower power consumption is essential. Since reduction in the operating voltage is strongly required, implementation of a substantially thinner insulating film (tunnel oxide film 104) as thin as that of other ULSI devices is necessary.
As described above, the stress induced current becomes undesirably large if a film thickness of tunnel oxide film 104 is less than 10 nm. Therefore, it is conventionally impossible to make tunnel oxide film 104 thinner. As a result, the operating voltage cannot be lowered, making it difficult to lower power consumption.

Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device having floating gate electrode


Systems and methods of vehicle climate control are provided. Specifically, a vehicle with climate control includes a number of sensors for sensing climate control information, such as human bodily conditions, e.g., temperature or heart rate, of the human occupants of the vehicle, a processing unit, and a climate control. The processing unit uses the sensed human bodily conditions data from the sensors to activate the climate control the adjust the climate conditions for the human occupants. In another aspect of the disclosure, stress level of the human operator of a vehicle can be detected by sensing the bodily conditions of the human operator, determining the stress level of the human operator based on the sensed bodily conditions, and displaying a warning if the stress level is over a certain limit.

Modern vehicles have various features that enhance the comforts of human operators and other occupants. Climate control is especially important for comfort, and further enhances human operational efficiency, which further enhances safety when operating the vehicle. As a vehicle usually operates in unshielded open terrain, the vehicle interior should provide a localized indoor environment with a stable temperature and/or climate within the comfortable human operational range.
Existing vehicle climate control systems typically sense interior temperature and compare the sensed interior temperature to temperature control settings or preferences of an occupant with the goal to maintain the sensed interior temperature within a close range of the setting or preference. When the sensed interior temperature is below the setting or preference, the climate control system heats the interior, and, when the sensed temperature is above the setting or preference, the climate control system cools the interior.
There is a need in the art to provide for a climate control in a vehicle that enhances the comforts of human operators and other occupants.


A cleaning roller system, which is preferable for use in a printer having a printing head, is disclosed. The cleaning roller system comprises an adhesive roller which is provided on a recording material feeding side relative to a print head, the adhesive roller has adhesive property, and is in contact with a surface of said recording material, and rotates in a direction of transporting said recording material.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a cleaning roller system preferable for use in a printer having a printing head (thermal head) and an operating method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Some of thermal head type printers utilize a thermal transfer type ribbon (toner ribbon) as recording material. As shown in FIG. 7, for example, this type of printer comprises a thermal head 1, a platen 5 disposed so as to oppose a resistive heating element 3 on the thermal head 1, a toner ribbon 7 to be interposed between the thermal head 1 and the platen 5 and to be wound up from a feeding side 7a to a winding side 7b, a guide roller 9 for guiding the toner ribbon 7 and a pair of pinch rollers 11 at an exit from the thermal head 1 and the platen 5. A recording sheet 13 is overlapped with the toner ribbon 7 and inserted between the thermal head 1 and the platen 5. Then, dots in the resistive heating element corresponding to an image to be printed are selectively heated so as to perform thermal transfer from the toner ribbon 7, so that the image is transferred to an image receiving plane of the recording sheet 13.
Further, some of thermal head type printers transfer an image directly to a heat sensitive film which is a recording material without use of the toner ribbon 7. This type of printer, as shown in FIG. 8 for example, comprises a thermal head 1, a platen 5 disposed so as to oppose the resistive heating element 3 of the thermal head 1, and a pair of pinch rollers 11 disposed at an exit from the thermal head 1 and the platen 5. A heat sensitive film 15 which is a recording material is inserted between the thermal head 1 and the platen 5. Then, dots in the resistive heating element corresponding to an image to be printed are selectively heated so as to produce colors directly on the heat sensitive film 15 thereby obtaining the image.
In the conventional printers shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the toner ribbon 7 or the heat sensitive film 15 is fed with being interposed between the thermal head 1 and the platen 5 and then a desired image is obtained on the recording sheet 13 or the heat sensitive film 15.
However, because the resistive heating element 3 of the thermal head 1 keeps in contact with a recording material upon transferring heat, if a foreign matter adheres to the recording material before it reaches the resistive heating element 3, the foreign matter carried with transportation of the recording material is caught by the resistive heating element 3. Contact between the resistive heating element 3 and the recording material is lost at that position so that black portion (i.e. line void) may be generated where the foreign matter passes in the recording material because thermal transfer is not realized there.

Cleaning roller system and operating method thereof

Seiko Instruments Information Device Inc.


The present invention provides:. a process for producing an alkali metal salt of an arylmercaptan compound, represented by general formula (3): ##STR1## which process comprises reacting a disulfide compound represented by general formula: ##STR2## with a hydroxide of an alkali metal M.sup.1 in the presence of a sulfur compound represented by general formula (2): EQU H.sub.(2-i) S(M.sup.1).sub.i (2) PA1 a process for producing an alkoxycarbonylalkylthioaryl compound represented by general formula (5): ##STR3## which process comprises reacting the above-mentioned alkalimetal salt of an arylmercaptan compound with a halogenofattyacid ester compound represented by general formula (4): EQU X.sup.1 R.sup.2 COOR.sup.3 (4). at pH 7-10; and a process for producing the above-mentioned alkoxycarbonylalkylthioaryl compound, which process comprises reacting the above-mentioned disulfide compound with the above-mentioned hydroxide of an alkali metal M.sup.1 in the presence of the above-mentioned sulfur compound to obtain an alkali metal salt of an arylmercaptan compound, and reacting said alkali metal salt, without isolating it, with the above-mentioned halogenofatty acid ester compound under the same condition as mentioned above.

A process for production of an arylmercaptan compound is known which comprises reducing an aryl disulfide compound with an iron powder or a zinc powder. This process, however, is troublesome in the disposal of the iron powder or zinc powder used. A process for production of an aryl mercaptan compound from a disulfide compound using an alkali hydroxide, is advantageous in that the process can be carried out under relatively mild reaction conditions. The process, however, has a drawback in that the yield of arylmercaptan compound (an intended product) is low because the product is partially oxidized to generate by-products such as arylsulfinic acid and the like; thus, the process has been unsuitable as an intermediate step for production of an alkoxycarbonylalkylthioaryl compound.
A 2,4-dihalo-5-methoxycarbonylthioaniline derivative obtained from 5,5'-(2,4-dihalogenoaniline) disulfide (which is an aryl disulfide compound above mentioned) represented by the following general formula: ##STR4## is unstable and cannot be isolated at a high yield. Thus, it has been difficult to produce, in industry, an intended alkoxycarbonylalkylthioaryl compound from a substituted aryldisulfide compound which is an expensive raw material.
The task to be achieved by the present invention is to provide industrial processes for producing a metal salt of an arylmercaptan compound and an alkoxycarbonylalkylthioaryl compound in an easy operation at a high yield.
In order to achieve the above task, the present inventors made a study hardly on a process for producing an alkoxycarbonylalkylthioaryl compound. As a result, the present inventors unexpectedly found out that by allowing a sulfur compound to be present in the reaction of an aryl disulfide compound with an alkali metal hydroxide, the aryl disulfide compound can be converted into an alkali metal salt of a corresponding arylmercaptan compound at a high yield, that by reacting said alkali metal salt with a halogenofatty acid ester compound at pH 7-10, said alkali metal salt can be converted into an alkoxycarbonylalkylthioaryl compound easily at a high yield, and that these reactions can be carried out continuously in the same reactor. The present invention has been completed based on the above findings.

Process for production of thioaryl compound


A system and method is provided for delaying an outcome of a roulette game is disclosed. Accordingly, the system includes a roulette wheel and a glass cover attached to the roulette wheel, the glass cover configured to switch between a transparent state and an opaque state in response to electrical signals. Game circuitry is configured to operate a ball release mechanism to launch a ball around an inner circumference of the roulette wheel, and to send electrical signals to the glass cover while the ball is in to change the glass cover from the transparent state to the opaque state so that the ball cannot be viewed from outside the glass cover. After the ball has stopped, signals are sent to change the glass cover from the opaque state to the transparent state, so that the ball and the outcome of the game can be viewed.

The outcomes of various games, including casino games, may be decided according to one or more variables. In the game of roulette, a wheel is spun in one direction, and a ball in the opposite direction around a tilted circular track running around the inner circumference of the wheel. The ball eventually loses momentum and falls into one of a number of colored and numbered pockets on the wheel. However, for a time before the ball loses velocity, players may place wagers on where the ball will eventually end up. For example, a player may bet that the ball will land in a pocket for a specific number, color, or whether the number is going to be an odd or an even number. The game administrator (e.g., croupier or dealer) is responsible for stopping the betting before the ball loses velocity so that the players cannot estimate when or where the ball will fall.


A recording/reproducing medium having grooves, a land formed between the grooves, and land prepits formed on the land in which each of said land prepits has a most optimum design condition where a ratio (LLP Level/offset) between a voltage amplitude (LLP Level) of a land prepit detection signal and an offset level (offset) of an RF signal becomes more than about 10 or where an amplitude change of an RF signal through the land prepit becomes minimum. The recording/reproducing medium can be one of a DVD-R and a DVD-RW.

The present invention relates to a recording medium and a recording and reproducing system for the recording medium.
Heretofore, there is known the DVD (digital versatile disc),the DVD-R (DVD WRITE ONCE) and the DVD-RW (DVD-Re-Writable) as the rewritable disc.
As shown in the Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 9-17029, the DVD-R or DVD-RW (hereinafter called DVD) has a spiral or co-axial groove for recording information, a land between the grooves and a plurality of land prepits formed between the grooves. The land prepit is provided with various sets of information such as the address.
In such a disc, it is possible to read the information recorded on the groove and the information recorded on the land prepit at the same time.
However, there is a problem that signals reproduced from the information recorded on land prepits affect the RF signal reproduced from the information recorded on the groove as offset.
An object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium wherein information recorded on the groove and the land prepit can be accurately read out and a system capable of recording and reproducing with accuracy.
According to the present invention, there is provided a recording medium having a circular substrate, grooves formed on the substrate, a land formed between the grooves, a plurality of land prepits formed between the grooves, wherein the groove and the land prepit are formed so as to satisfy a following formula,
Gw/(xcex/NA)=0.2093{Lp/(xcex/NA)}2xe2x88x920.4342Lp/(xcex/NA)+0.332
where Gw is the width of the groove, Lp is the length of the land prepit in a radial direction of the substrate, Gd is the depth of the groove, xcex is the wave length of light used in a system for recording information on the recording medium, and NA is the numerical aperture of an objective in the system.
The present invention further provides a recording medium having a circular substrate, grooves formed on the substrate, a land formed between the grooves, a plurality of land prepits formed between the grooves, wherein the groove and the land prepit are formed so as to satisfy following formulae;
Gw/(xcex/NA)xe2x89xa70.2093{Lp/(xcex/NA)}2xe2x88x920.4342Lp/(xcex/NA)+0.332xe2x88x92(xe2x88x922.64Gd+0.1276)
Gw/(xcex/NA)xe2x89xa60.2093{Lp/(xcex/NA)}2xe2x88x920.4342Lp/(xcex/NA)+0.332+(xe2x88x924.48Gd+0.2112)
where Gw is the width of the groove, Lp is the length of the land prepit in a radial direction of the substrate, Gd is the depth of the groove, xcex is the wave length of light used in a system for recording information on the recording medium, and NA is the numerical aperture of an objective in the system.
The present invention still further provides a system of recording a medium having a circular substrate, grooves formed on the substrate, a land formed between the grooves, a plurality of land prepits formed between the grooves, wherein a wavelength of light for recording information on the medium and a numerical aperture of an objective of the system are provided so as to satisfy following formulae,
Gw/(xcex/NA)xe2x89xa70.2093{Lp/(xcex/NA)}2xe2x88x920.4342Lp/(xcex/NA)+0.332xe2x88x92(xe2x88x922.64Gd+0.1276)
Gw/(xcex/NA)xe2x89xa60.2093{Lp/(xcex/NA)}2xe2x88x920.4342Lp/(xcex/NA)+0.332+(xe2x88x924.48Gd+0.2112)
where Gw is the width of the groove, Lp is the length of the land prepit in a radial direction of the substrate, Gd is the depth of the groove.

Recording medium having grooves and prepits and a recording system for the recording medium


An image capture apparatus includes an image capture unit, a mode setting unit, a control unit, a wireless transmitting unit and a display unit. The image capture unit captures images. The mode setting unit is adapted to set one of a plurality of image capture modes in accordance with a selection by a user before the image capture unit captures the images. The control unit determines, according to the image capture mode set by the mode setting unit, three parameters to be applied to the captured images, the three parameters including a frame rate, the number of pixels, and a compression ratio. The wireless transmitting unit transmits the captured images by wireless after the three parameters determined by the control unit are applied to the captured images. The display unit displays the three parameters determined by the control unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image transmission apparatus for transmitting image data and a method therefor.
2. Related Background Art
In the past, in order to watch and listen to video and audio picked up by a VTR built-in video camera or a video camera, the VTR built-in video camera or the video camera is connected to a monitor through a cord.
Alternatively, in order to wirelessly connect the VTR or the video camera to the monitor, the VTR or the video camera is connected to a transmission unit which is separate from the VTR built-in video camera or the video camera and the video and the audio are transmitted by FM-modulated infrared rays.
Recently, it has been proposed to wireless-transmit the video and audio data picked up by the VTR-built-in video camera or the video camera as a digital signal.
However, in the case of a cord connection, the work required to connect the VTR built-in video camera or the video camera with the monitor is troublesome. Further, because of the cord connection, the freedom of image pickup and watching is limited.
On the other hand, in the case of the FM-modulated infrared ray wireless connection, since the infrared ray transmission unit is separate, the connection of the VTR built-in video camera or the video camera with the infrared ray transmission unit is again needed and problems of degradation of information due to shortage of transmitted information, interference and disturbance, restriction to the directivity and short transmission distance are involved. Further, since the transmission amount is limited to a certain amount (for example, 128 Kbits/sec), information which is different from the intention of the user of the video camera may be transmitted.

Image transmission apparatus and method therefor


A composite catalyst which comprises a catalyst particle and at least one member selected from the group consisting of a porous or net-form cation-exchange resin and a porous or net-form hydrophobia polymer, wherein the resin and polymer exist on the surface of the catalyst particle.

The present invention relates to a composite catalyst suitable for use in solid polymer electrolyte type fuel cells and to processes for producing the catalyst.
A solid polymer electrolyte type fuel cell (PEFC) is an apparatus which employs a solid ion-exchange membrane as an electrolyte and in which a fuel (e.g., hydrogen gas) and an oxidizing agent (e.g., oxygen gas) are supplied respectively to the anode and the cathode to electrochemically react these feed materials on the catalyst surfaces, thereby obtaining an electric power.
For example, in the case of using hydrogen gas and oxygen gas as a fuel and an oxidizing agent, respectively, the electrochemical reactions occurring at the electrodes are as follows.
Anode: H2xe2x86x922H++2exe2x88x92
Cathode: 1/202+2H++2exe2x88x92xe2x86x92H2O
Overall reaction: H2+1/202xe2x86x92H2O
As the formulae given above show, the reactions at the anode and cathode necessitate the feed of oxygen and hydrogen gases and the transfer of protons (H+) and electrons (exe2x88x92). Namely, all these reactions proceed only at sites where the feed and transfer are satisfied simultaneously.
An electrode for fuel cells is diagrammatically shown in FIG. 25. This electrode has a catalyst layer 261 and a gas diffusion layer 263. The catalyst layer 261 is constituted, for example, of a mixture of carbon particles supporting catalyst metal 265 and a solid polymer electrolyte 271. The particles 265 and the electrolyte 271 are three-dimensionally distributed so that the layer has pores 267 in inner parts thereof, i.e., is porous. The gas diffusion layer 263 is constituted of a porous electro-conductive material 269, which comprises, e.g., a porous carbon paper. This electrode is bonded to a cation-exchange membrane 275 to thereby fabricate a fuel cell. This gas diffusion layer 263 provides not only to secure passageways for transferring the oxygen gas and hydrogen gas fed externally as reactants to a surface of the catalyst layer 261 but also to provides passageways for discharging the water yielded in the catalyst layer of the cathode from a surface of the catalyst layer 261 to the outside of the cell. On the other hand, in the catalyst layer 261, the carbon supporting catalyst metal 265 forms electro-conductive channels and the solid polymer electrolyte 271 forms proton-conductive channels. The pores 267 function not only as feed channels through which the oxygen or hydrogen gas transferred to a surface of the catalyst layer 261 is supplied to inner parts of the catalyst layer but also as gas diffusion channels for discharging the water yielded in inner parts of the catalyst layer (cathode) to a surface of its layer. These three kinds of channels are three-dimensionally distributed in the catalyst layer 261 to form innumerable sites where gas transfer can occur simultaneously with the transfer of protons (H+) and electrons (exe2x88x92). Thus, sites for the electrode reactions are provided.
Incidentally, the solid polymer electrolyte 271 comprising a cation-exchange resin used as a proton conductor shows satisfactory proton conductivity only when it is in a hydrous state. Consequently, for preventing the solid polymer electrolyte 271 from drying, a technique is being used in which the gases to be supplied to the anode and cathode are humidified before being supplied. However, this technique has aroused a problem that when the solid polymer electrolyte type fuel cell is operated at a high current density, water floods on the surface of the catalyst layer 261 and in the pores 267 to inhibit gas diffusion, resulting in a considerably reduced output. Especially, this problem is tend to be occurred because the reaction yields water in it.
A technique generally employed for avoiding the water flooding caused by water generation and gas humidification is to impart water repellency to an electrode by incorporating polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) particles 273, which exhibits excellent hydrophobic property, together with catalyst particles 265 in the formation of a catalyst layer or by applying PTFE particles 273 to the surface of an porous electro-conductive material 269. However, in order to prevent water flooding enough in the electrode during high-current-density operation, it is necessary to incorporate PTFE particles 273 in an even larger amount to thereby enhance water repellency. Although highly water-repellent, the PTFE particles 273 do not have gas-diffusing properties, not to mention electron conductivity and proton conductivity. Because of this, mixing of large amount of the PTFE particles block electron-conductive channels, proton-conductive channels, and gas diffusion channels, arousing a problem that the output of the fuel cell is reduced rather than increased. In addition, the pores 267 formed among the catalyst particles 265 are partly clogged by the cation-exchange resin and, as a result, the gas diffusion channels are partly blocked to prevent a reactant gas from being supplied to the whole catalyst layer 261 including minute regions thereof. Namely, there has been a problem that the degree of catalyst utilization is low and the fuel cell has a high concentration overvoltage and hence a low cell voltage.
A first object of the invention is to provide a composite catalyst capable of high electron conductivity, proton conductivity, and gas-diffusing properties while preventing water flooding. A second object of the invention is-to provide gas-diffusing properties while improving proton conductivity by adhering a cation-exchange resin to the surface of a catalyst to thereby improve the degree of catalyst utilization.
The invention provides a composite catalyst characterized by comprising catalyst particles and, adherent to the surface thereof, a porous or net-form cation-exchange resin and/or a porous or net-form hydrophobic polymer.
The adhesion of a cation-exchange resin to the surface of catalyst particles improves the proton conductivity of the catalyst surface. Since the porous or net-form cation-exchange resin is adherent to the surface of the catalyst particles so as to leave the catalyst surface partly exposed, reactant gases can reach the surface of the catalyst particles through the pores or net openings of the resin, whereby the degree of catalyst utilization can be improved. The adhesion of a hydrophobic polymer to the surface of catalyst particles is effective in preventing water flooding in an electrode. Furthermore, since the resin or polymer is adherent to the surface of the catalyst Particles so as to leave the catalyst surface partly exposed, electron conductivity, proton conductivity, and gas-diffusing properties can be secured.
In the case of the composite catalyst having both a porous or net-form cation-exchange resin and a porous or net-form hydrophobic polymer which are adherent to the surface of the catalyst particles, it is a matter of course that the effects brought about when the resin and polymer are used alone can be obtained simultaneously. Furthermore, in the invention, the catalyst particles preferably have a porous or net-form cation-exchange resin adherent to the surface thereof and further have a hydrophobic polymer adherent thereto in the pores or net openings of the cation-exchange resin so as to leave the surface of the catalyst particles partly exposed. Consequently, this hydrophobic polymer is in close contact with the cation-exchange resin and the catalyst particles. This promotes to form site where transfer of protons (H+) and transfer of electrons (exe2x88x92) can occur simultaneously, whereby the output of a fuel cell can be further improved.
The composite catalyst of the invention can be produced by a process which comprises the steps of: adhering a solution (a) prepared by dissolving a cation-exchange resin and/or a hydrophobic polymer in a solvent to the surface of catalyst particles; and subsequently undergoing phase separation resulting in removing the solvent from the solution (a). It is preferable that the step of phase separation is occurred by extracting the solvent from solution (a) with solution (b) which is insoluble for the resin or polymer in the solution (a) and is compatible with solvent.
In this process, the solution (a) prepared by dissolving a cation-exchange resin and/or a hydrophobic polymer in a solvent first adheres to the surface of catalyst particles. Thereafter, these catalyst particles are brought into contact with a solution (b) which is insoluble for the resin or polymer and is compatible with the solvent. As a result, the solvent is immediately replace by solution (b) Namely, the resin or polymer molecules coagulate resulting in formation a porous or net-form cation-exchange resin and/or hydrophobic polymer on the surface of catalyst particles.
The present invention relates to:
(1) A composite catalyst which comprises a catalyst particle and at least one member member selected from the group consisting of a porous or net-form cation-exchange resin and a porous or net-form hydrophobic polymer, wherein the resin and polymer exist on the surface of the catalyst particle.
(2) The composite catalyst of (1), wherein the catalyst particle preferably comprises a carbon supporting catalyst metal (i.e., the catalyst particle comprises a carbon particle and a catalyst metal provided thereon).
(3) The composite catalyst of (1), wherein the hydrophobic polymer is a fluoropolymer.
(4) The composite catalyst of (1), wherein the amount of the adherent hydrophobic polymer is from 0.01 to 30 wt % based on the catalyst particle.
(5) The composite catalyst of (1), wherein the amount of the adherent cation-exchange resin is from 1.0 to 100 wt % based on the catalyst particle. 100 wt % based on the catalyst particle.
(6) A process for producing a composite catalyst which comprises the steps of:
adhering a solution (a) prepared by dissolving at least one member selected from the group consisting of a cation-exchange resin and a hydrophobic polymer in a solvent to the surface of a catalyst particle; and
subsequently undergoing phase separation resulting in removing the solvent from the solution (a).
(7) The process of (6), wherein the step of phase separation is occurred by extracting the solvent from the solution (a) with an solution (b) which is insoluble for the resin or polymer in the solution (a) and is compatible with the solvent.
(8) A process for producing an electrode for fuel cells which comprises:
adhering a solution (a) prepared by dissolving at least one member selected from the group consisting of a cation-exchange resin and a hydrophobic polymer in a solvent to the surface of a catalyst particle;
subsequently undergoing a phase separation of solution (a) so as to remove the solvent to produce a composite catalyst; and
pressing a mixture comprising the composite catalyst to form a catalyst layer.

Composite catalyst for solid polymer electrolyte type fuel cell and processes for producing the same


Provided are a method, system, and program for making data available to an application program. A cursor is generated positioned with respect to a result table, wherein the cursor specifies a search criteria, and wherein the result table includes rows from a base table that satisfy the search criteria. A fetch request is received indicating to position the cursor on a plurality of rows of the result table. The cursor is positioned on the plurality of rows of the result table indicated in the fetch request that satisfy the search criteria.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method, system, and program for positioning a cursor on rows of a result table.
2. Description of the Related Art
Database programs include a feature referred to as cursors. A cursor is a named control structure used by an application program to point to a row of interest within some set of rows and to retrieve rows from the set, possibly making updates and deletions. A cursor points to rows from a database table that satisfy a structured query language (SQL) query against the table. The rows in the table that satisfy the SQL query comprise a result table of data. The SQL query includes an SQL SELECT statement and a WHERE clause to qualify rows according to a search condition. An application can then access data on a row-by-row basis from the result table.
If the result table is static, then the result table may be materialized in a workfile. Alternatively, the cursor may be dynamic and point directly to the rows in the base table. In such case, the result table is not materialized in a workfile and the cursor is updateable when the base table is updated.
After a cursor is opened or initialized, an application program may issue fetch statements to move a cursor positioned on a row one or more rows, forward or backward, from a current cursor position. In current implementations, if a cursor is implemented as sensitive, then changes made to the database after the result table is materialized are visible to the cursor. The cursor has some level of sensitivity to any updates or deletes made to the rows underlying its result table after the table is materialized. The cursor may further be sensitive to positioned updates or deletes using the same cursor. Additionally, the cursor can have sensitivity to committed changes made outside this cursor. A static cursor specifies that the size of the result table and the order of the rows does not change after the cursor is opened. Rows inserted into the underlying table are not added to the result table regardless of how the rows are inserted. Rows in the result table do not move if columns in the ORDER BY clause are updated in rows that have already been materialized. Positioned updates and deletes are allowed if the result table is updatable. The SELECT statement of a cursor that is defined as SENSITIVE STATIC cannot contain an INSERT statement. Further, a static cursor may have visibility to changes made by this cursor using positioned updates or deletes. Committed changes made outside this cursor are visible with the SENSITIVE option of the FETCH statement. A FETCH SENSITIVE can result in a hole in the result table (that is, a difference between the result table and its underlying base table). If an updated row in the base table of a cursor no longer satisfies the predicate of its SELECT statement, an update hole occurs in the result table. If a row of a cursor was deleted in the base table, a delete hole occurs in the result table. When a FETCH SENSITIVE detects an update hole, no data is returned (a warning is issued), and the cursor is left positioned on the update hole. When a FETCH SENSITIVE detects a delete hole, no data is returned (a warning is issued), and the cursor is left positioned on the delete hole.
Open DataBase Connectivity (ODBC) is a standard database access method to allow applications to access data in a database management system (DBMS). An ODBC driver translates the application's queries into statements that the DBMS understands. The ODBC standards describe scrollable, keyset driven, static and dynamic cursors. The ODBC standards mention that cursors may be updateable or nonupdateable. Cursors are defined as updateable if the application is capable of modifying the data in the cursor result table. As discussed, the result table may be implemented in a work file or comprise the rows pointed to by the cursor in the base table. The ODBC also mentions that when positioned on a row in an updateable cursor, the application can perform position updates or delete operations that target the base table rows used to build the current row in the cursor.
The ODBC defines the following types of cursors:                scrollable cursor: allows the application to fetch forward or backward from the current position, i.e., from anywhere, in the result table. With a scrollable cursor, your application can request by position the data presented in the current row. Typical scrolling requests include moving one row forward, one row back, to the beginning, or to the end of the result table. With a scrollable cursor, the application can request that a certain row of data be made the current row more than once.        forward-only cursor: allows the application to fetch forward serially from the start to end of the result table.        keyset cursor: the rows in the result table are identified by the value present in a designated column.        static cursors contain data that was placed in the cursor when it was created. A static cursor may be sensitive, where changes are accessible to the cursor, or static insensitive where no changes are visible.        dynamic cursors: Dynamic cursors reflect all changes made to the rows in their result table when scrolling through the cursor. The data values, order, and membership of the rows in the result table can change on each fetch. All UPDATE, INSERT, and DELETE statements made by all users are visible through the cursor. Updates are visible immediately if they are made through the cursor. Updates made outside the cursor are not visible until they are committed, unless the cursor transaction isolation level is set to read uncommitted. Updates made outside the cursor by the same transaction as that which defines the cursor are immediately visible.

Method, system, and program for positioning a cursor on rows of a result table

International Business Machines Corporation


A system for protecting user's body from the attacks of electro-sensitive animals is provided. The system includes a frequency generator, a modulator, a controller, a level shifter, plurality of electrodes and a power source to provide power to the controller. The controller generates pattern for the modulator and further the controller controls the frequency generator and the level shifter. The frequency generator generates waveforms and frequencies on the instructions programmed by the user in the controller. The modulator then mixes the pattern with waveforms or frequencies. The level shifter shifts results of the modulator to a higher voltage level and further transmits the polarized waveforms and frequencies to the plurality of electrodes. At least one of the electrodes emits the alternating electric field around the user's body as per the pattern, waveforms and frequencies from the level shifter and the another electrode to couple the electric field floating to ground and resulting in creating an aura of electric field around the user's body and further facilitating in protecting the user's body from the attack of electro-sensitive animals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a wearable device for avoiding attacks from electro-sensitive animals, and more particularly relates to a wearable device for avoiding attacks from electro-sensitive animals by using alternating electric field.
2. Description of Related Art
Insects, especially mosquitoes, can sense a human from distance away by detecting a molecular combination of evaporation from human (animal) skin (dermis). Mosquitoes spread malaria that annually affects two hundred million people and results in two million deaths every year. Diseases like arboviruses, plague, enteric diseases, lyme disease, sleeping sickness, American Trypanosomiasis and others come from the bite or stitch of an insect. Millions of people suffer from itching and scratching as well as possible infections caused by insect attacks. Although, it is well known how they find their host, still it is a challenge to prevent insect attacks.
Typical commercial products deliver chemicals to prevent stitches and bites by confusing the insect's sensitive sensing system with an overwhelming smell. There are a variety of sprays, oils and creams on the market. They all have to be applied either directly on the skin, or sprayed in the environment. However, such products are not comfortable to use, and some of the chemicals are irritants when they get into eyes or harmful for children and smaller animals. Therefore, there is a need of a wearable device to protect attacks from electro-sensitive animals by using alternating electrical field. Further, the wearable device should protect attacks from electro-sensitive animals without the use of chemicals or expensive methods.

Device to avoid attacks from electro-sensitive animals


A lens mount for eyeglasses lenses is provided with at least one bite means as an engagement means to permit locating the lenses relative to the lens mount and thus relative to a temple and/or bridge engaging in turn the lens mount. The bite means positively engage the surface of the lenses such that any twisting of the lenses relative to the lens mount is prevented. In a preferred embodiment the lens mount is configured as a bolt/nut design, the bite means being configured as protuberances on the underside of a bolt head opposing the lens.

The present invention relates to a lens mount for frameless eyeglasses.
Various lens mounts for frameless eyeglasses are known from prior art as briefly discussed in the following, all of which have in common that the design is complex, the components of which are complicated in production and prone to faults in assembly.
Thus, for example, an arrangement is known in which a pair of bolts is provided at the edge of an eyeglasses lens in the region of the temple, both of which penetrate the lens and are joined in common to the temple via one or two bridging members, the intention of the arrangement of the two bolts spaced away from each other to locate the lens by means of a corresponding nut being to prevent twisting of the temple relative to the lens.
Although another known mount for an eyeglasses lens comprises only one bolt penetrating the lens in its edge region and is likewise located by means of a nut, a notch is ground into the edge of the lens to safeguard against twisting. Inserted fitted in this notch is a locking pin which the same as the bolt is fixedly connected to the temple. By this arrangement of bolt and locking pin the lens is held in place at two points relative to the temple to prevent twisting of the lens.
Accordingly, solutions thus read from prior art which although they prevent twisting of the lens relative to the temple they necessitate, however, precise positioning in production and assembly by the arrangement of at least two locating points. The configuration of known arrangements involves multiple parts and is thus expensive in production.


An array of non-volatile memory cells includes a row with N cells and M cells. In a partial-storage step, a datum is stored in a first portion of the N cells of the row. A second portion of the N cells of the row are in an “erase” state. A first error correction code associated with the datum is stored in the M cells along with a first enable bit or guard-cell which is indicative of whether the first error correction code is active. The number of M cells, adjacent to the N cells of the row, is defined on the basis of the number N of cells. In the event the datum stored in the first portion of the N cells of the row is subsequently updated or manipulated, a second error correction code associated with the updated or manipulated datum is determined and stored in the second portion of the N cells of the row along with a second guard-cell which is indicative of whether the second error correction code is active. At that point, the first guard-cell is modified to indicate that the first error correction code is not active.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a storing method for a non-volatile memory cell array with error correction code (such as a code used for identifying and correcting, in the reading step, a possible faulty cell containing a wrong stored datum).
The present invention also relates to a memory electronic device comprising non-volatile memory cells organized with a plurality of arrays of N memory cells, which is able to store data or information as a group of bits, each array being associated with an error correction code to identify and recover a possible faulty cell containing wrong bits.
The invention particularly, but not exclusively, relates to a memory device of the Flash type and the following description is made with reference to this field of application by way of illustration only.
2. Description of Related Art
As is well known, memory electronic devices with non-volatile memory cells of the Flash type are widely used to store a huge amount of information in a compact support, with high capacity and reliability.
Non-volatile memory electronic devices are devices integrated on a semiconductor substrate comprising a plurality of cells normally organized in a matrix, comprising a plurality of sectors each with rows and columns of cells.
The cells of Flash memories can be of the two-level type, and in this case the values stored can be two, corresponding to a logic value 0 and to a logic value 1 which, from the electric point of view, make reference to a value of the threshold voltage Vth. The amount of information being stored in such a functional context is equal to one bit per cell.
Alternatively, Flash memory cells can be of the multilevel type, which results, from the electric point of view, in a number of possible values of the threshold voltage higher than one, and their value depends on the number of bits being stored in the same cell. The amount of information which can be stored in a single multilevel cell is much increased over that which can be stored a two-level type cell.
To better understand the aspects of the present invention it is important to understand how the programming steps occur in multilevel Flash cells.
The writing operation of a Flash cell consists in varying the threshold voltage thereof by the desired amount, and storing electrons in the floating gate region.
To program the cell while obtaining threshold voltage distributions with a precision being sufficient for the realization of multiple levels, the voltage applied onto the control gate terminal can be variable with step-like increases starting from a minimum value to the attainment of a maximum value. The width of the voltage step, being the gate terminal under optimal conditions, is equal to the threshold jump which is to be obtained.
The use of a step-like gate voltage raises a timing problem to efficiently bring the programming step to an end. To minimize the duration of the programming times it is convenient to program a high number of cells in parallel.
The programming in parallel can occur by using an algorithm called "program & verify", in the course of whose execution each programming pulse is followed by a reading step of the cells, during the programming, to determine if they have reached the threshold value or not.
If a given cell has been correctly programmed, it will no longer receive any programming pulse, while the cells which have not reached a desired threshold yet will be reprogrammed by the same algorithm. To this aim some programming circuits are used which allow one to selectively apply, onto the drain terminals of the cells to be programmed, predetermined values of programming voltages.
In the meantime, also the voltage to be applied onto the source terminal is to be kept under control with great accuracy, both during the programming step and during the reading step.
For multilevel cells, the accurate control of the distributions of the cell thresholds becomes fundamental so that these are correctly positioned below the programmed threshold voltage values Vth for the written cells and below the erase verify potential for the erased cells.
Flash memory cells have a great capacity of maintaining the datum stored. However, on the order of some cells out of a million cells, there exist cells, called anomalous or faulty cells, which have a capacity of keeping or preserving the stored datum for much less time than that of the so called "typical" cell.
The presence of the anomalous cells in memory devices is a source of criticality during the storage and/or the reading of the data inserted and, naturally, in multilevel devices such criticality, induced by the anomalous cells, increases.
To maintain a high reliability level in Flash memory electronic devices the use of a storing method is known comprising an error correction code (ECC) which is a code generated during the storage so as to protect against an error present in the stored bits.
In reading, this error correction code (ECC) allows one to identify and to correct a datum read by a faulty cell positioned inside an array of N cells.
The code (ECC) of the known type has proved to be efficient in increasing the reliability of a memory electronic device. However, its use has a remarkable limitation.
It is known, in fact, that a common operation on the memory electronic devices is re-storage or bit manipulation. This is an operation which allows the storage transition of one or more cells of an array (such as the passage of the logic value of a cell from "0" to "1"), but which does not allow the contrary transition (such as to erase the cell to "0").
The re-storage operation or bit manipulation, is generally requested in software implementing a flash file system, i.e., in the algorithms implementing a file system.
Further to the re-storage operation, a new code (ECC) is redefined or recalculated but it is not certain that the new error correction code has, with respect to the old one, the re-storage transitions 1→0. In practice the new error correction code (ECC) redefined does not ensure that the code itself can be stored, since there exists a high probability that the transition 0→1 is required and the cells where the re-storage or bit manipulation has been carried out are covered.
A solution to this problem, already applied in some types of Flash memory electronic devices, for example those of the NAND type, has overcome the problem by prearranging a suitable writing area for the code (ECC) having dimensions equal to a multiple with respect to a minimum necessary area. Thus, during the re-storage, the code (ECC) can be updated or refreshed for some times and be re-written in different points. For example each N bytes, usually equal to 512, M are allocated, typically 16 additional bytes, accessible with dedicated commands, for the management of the ECC or error correction, independently from the fact that there exists an effective need of refreshing the memory content.
The re-written code (ECC) ensures the covering of the re-programmed areas.
Although advantageous under several aspects and substantially meeting the aim, the solution proposed shows however some drawbacks.
In fact, the solution is devoid of universality since it cannot be applied to all the typologies of Flash non-volatile memory devices.
For example, the solution cannot be applied to the devices of the "execute in place" type where the high requests for performances in reading require that the possible error correction occurs with a very small delay, in the order of a few nanoseconds.
In fact, the application of this solution in an "execute in place" device would involve that the reading of the data stored in an array of N cells and in the code (ECC) occurs simultaneously and that the possible error of a bit in one of the N cells of the array is instantaneously corrected.
Moreover, the solution proposed needs to read, in a serial way, all the codes (ECC), generated further to a bit manipulation and stored in the writing area arranged, until the valid one to be applied in the reading step for the correction is found. This naturally implies a remarkable increase of the access time for the device which penalizes its performances.
The technical problem underlying the present invention is that of devising a storing method for an array of N cells of a non-volatile memory device provided with code (ECC), the method having such functional characteristics as to allow to make the code (ECC) reliable and usable further to re-storage or bit manipulation of the array of N cells.
Another aim of the invention is that of providing a method which can be universally applied to all the non-volatile memory devices.
A further aim of the present invention is that of devising a device comprising a plurality of arrays of N cells of non-volatile memories with an error correction code (ECC), this code being quickly accessible and identifiable, avoiding the penalization of the access time and maintaining, in the meantime, the device performances high, as well as of avoiding the increase of the area intended for the storage of the memory cells overcoming the limits and the drawbacks of the solutions proposed by the prior art.

Data storing method for a non-volatile memory cell array having an error correction code


The present invention provides an improved control methodology for maximum power point tracking (MPPT), anti-islanding, and output current regulation for distributed generation sources connected to a utility grid. The control includes enhancements for MPPT and regulating the inverter output-current that is sourced into the utility grid. In addition, the functions associated with MPPT, anti-islanding detection and output current regulation are integrated together; the MPPT algorithm operates in conjunction with the anti-islanding detection, and the output current regulation operates in conjunction with the MPPT algorithm.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to distributed generation systems. More specifically, the present invention provides an inverter control methodology for maximum power point tracking (MPPT), anti-islanding, and output current regulation for distributed generation sources connected to a utility grid.
2. Related Art
The available power output from a solar photovoltaic (PV) array (comprised of one or more solar photovoltaic panels configured in some combination of parallel and series) depends on the amount of sunlight hitting the array (the insolation) and the array temperature. The output power is the product of the array voltage and array current. It is a characteristic of solar PV arrays, as well as other distributed energy sources, that the output voltage drops as the output current increases. With solar PV arrays, the output voltage drops monotonically with increasing output current. At some level of output current, the output voltage will begin to drop much more rapidly. Once this occurs, the power being output by the solar PV array begins to drop.
FIG. 1 shows a qualitative plot of array output voltage versus array output current for one level of insolation and one array temperature. Also shown in FIG. 1 is the power output by the solar PV array, indicating that the peak power delivered by the array occurs when the solar PV array is operating at the "knee" of the voltage-current characteristic. The voltage and power curves given in FIG. 1 change for other levels of insolation and array temperature, though they always maintain similar shapes. It is a standard objective to preferentially load the solar PV array so that it is operated at the maximum power point. Because of dynamic changes in array temperature and insolation, the tracking of the maximum power point is a dynamic process. Further, the double-valued nature of the cell power as a function of array current demands resolution of which side of the maximum power point the inverter is on in order to move in the correct direction toward the point of maximum power.
Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) under variable conditions (i.e. changing light intensity, changing temperature, and different solar photovoltaic characteristics) has been proposed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,404,472 (Steigerwald), U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,662 (Baker), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,832 (Kandatsu), incorporated herein by reference. Steigerwald proposes the perturb and observe method for detecting the maximum power point (MPP) to handle rapid changes in insolation. The commanded value of array current (the output current gain) is compared to the actual array current, and a decision is made to increase or decrease the command value. The magnitude of the output power change is compared with the expected change in magnitude. The current command is then changed in the direction associated with an increase in the array power. Baker proposes measuring the voltage and current from the array, so as to keep the slope of the voltage versus current curve at unity magnitude by changing the output power. The methodology uses a reference value that is determined by superimposing a current load on the array. The change in array voltage is used as an indication of the present operating point on the voltage versus current slope. Kandatsu proposes a method that forces the output power variation nearly to zero so as to maximize the average output power around the MPP. This method is used when the rate of change of the insolation is small; otherwise a method similar to the MPP method used by Steigerwald becomes active during rapid changes.
Kasa et al., "Robust Control for Maximum Power Point Tracking Photovoltaic Power System," Proceedings of the IEEE Power Conversion Conf., pp. 827-832, September 2002, proposes voltage control via the perturb and observe method and using an extra controller to maintain stability in the face of loose tolerances in array (solar PV array) parallel capacitance. Yaoqin et al., "A New Maximum Power Point Tracking Control Scheme for Wind Generation," Proceedings of the IEEE Power System Technology Conf. (PowerCon), pp. 144-148, February 2002, also uses the perturb and observe method as applied specifically to wind turbines. Pan et al., "A Fast Maximum Power Point Tracker for Photovoltaic Power Systems," Proceedings of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Conf. (IECON), pp. 390-393, March 1999, uses a different method by controlling the array current by a continuous analog controller. Each of the above-mentioned articles is incorporated herein by reference.
Another issue with utility interactive inverters is the detection of islanding. An islanding condition is created when the utility supply is interrupted but the inverter continues to provide energy to the utility system. If such a condition were allowed to persist, utility personnel are put at risk if they should come in contact with the section of the utility system that is energized by the inverter. For this reason, it is a safety requirement that any inverter that interacts with the utility be able to detect when the utility becomes de-energized. When such a condition is detected, the inverter must disconnect itself from the utility within a fixed amount of time. There are various ways to detect an islanding condition, but the most common approach is the one promulgated by Sandia National Laboratory. With this approach a small amount of positive feedback is used to modify the inverter output current amplitude and frequency based on the natural variations of the utility voltage and frequency. In this way the inverter is always trying to push the utility toward conditions that will cause the inverter to disconnect itself. This method is effective if the utility grid is sufficiently strong to resist the destabilizing actions of the inverter.
Methods to prevent islanding using voltage or frequency deviations has been proposed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,219,623 (Wills), incorporated herein by reference. Wills proposes: when a number of deviations have been detected over a given period of time, the control tries to force the output voltage or frequency in an accelerating manner outside the limits of normal grid operation to trigger a fault condition to shut down. This is similar in nature to the anti-islanding algorithm developed by Sandia National Laboratory. The essence of this algorithm is the use of a small amount of positive feedback in the inverter control so that increases in line frequency cause the inverter to try and increase frequency still further. Voltage variations are handled in a similar manner.
A third issue of importance to the performance of a utility-interactive inverter is the control of the inverter output current waveform. The general objective is to force the inverter output current to be of the same shape as the utility voltage and in phase with the utility voltage. That is, the output current waveform should be of low distortion.
There is a need, therefore, for an improved inverter control methodology for maximum power point tracking (MPPT), anti-islanding, and output current regulation for distributed generation sources connected to a utility grid.

Inverter control methodology for distributed generation sources connected to a utility grid


A zoom lens comprises, in order from an object, a first lens group (G1) having negative refractive power, a second lens group (G2) having positive refractive power, a third lens group (G3) having negative refractive power, and a fourth lens group (G4) having positive refractive power to satisfy the following conditional expression:1.60<(−f1)/fw<2.50                where, f1 denotes a focal length of the first lens group; and        fw denotes a focal length of the zoom lens as a whole in a wide-angle end state.

As a zoom lens to be used in a photographing optical system such as a digital camera, a film camera, and a video camera, a large aperture zoom lens has been proposed (see Patent Document 1, for example). In such a large aperture zoom lens, achievement of a further wide angle while maintaining an aperture ratio has been difficult because a lens aberration increases. For example, it has been difficult to obtain such a large aperture zoom lens in which a half angle of view becomes about 45 degrees in a wide-angle end state.

Zoom lens, optical apparatus and method for manufacturing the zoom lens


A control unit of an electric power supply system causes, responsive to a closing command signal, a switch corresponding to R phase to be thrown at a timing when a stationary magnetic flux and a residual magnetic flux of R phase are coincident with each other and then subsequently causes other switches corresponding to S phase and T phase to be thrown at a timing which is delayed from a zero point of an alternating voltage of R phase by a predetermined phase angle of 0-30 degrees, such that the difference of the stationary magnetic flux and the residual magnetic flux of each of S phase and T phase is minimum. Therefore, an exciting incoming current which flows into a three-phase transformer at a time of throwing a three-phase breaker provided with interpole capacitors can be suppressed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an incoming current suppression device, particularly to the incoming current suppression device which suppresses an exciting incoming current flowing from a three-phase AC power supply into a three-phase transformer through a three-phase breaker.
2. Description of the Background Art
Conventionally it is known that a transient current, which refers to an exciting incoming current, flows from the three-phase AC power supply to the three-phase transformer when throwing the three-phase breaker. The exciting incoming current becomes several times to ten times larger than the rated current of the three-phase transformer and causes instantaneous drop of the three-phase alternating voltage and the like.
As a method of suppressing the exciting incoming current, a method is known where a residual magnetic flux of each phase of the three-phase transformer is detected, and the alternating voltage of a reference phase is thrown at a timing when a stationary magnetic flux and the residual magnetic flux of the reference phase are coincident with each other, followed by throwing the alternating voltages of two remaining phases at the timing when the alternating voltage of the reference phase becomes 0 (for example, see Japanese Patent Laying-Open Nos. 2004-208394 and 2006-040566.)
In the conventional incoming current suppression method, it is a precondition that the stationary magnetic flux and the residual magnetic flux of each remaining phase are coincident with each other at the timing when the alternating voltage of the reference phase becomes 0.
However, in a case where an interpole capacitor is connected in parallel to each of three switches included in the three-phase breaker, the three-phase alternating voltage is supplied to the three-phase transformer through the three interpole capacitors even if the three switches are opened. For this reason, the residual magnetic flux of each phase of the three-phase transformer is the magnetic flux of a direct-current component on which the magnetic flux of a commercial frequency component is superposed.
Therefore, the residual magnetic fluxes of the two remaining phases are not always substantially the same at the time of throwing the reference phase, even if the direct-current components of the residual magnetic fluxes of the two remaining phases are substantially the same. If the two remaining phases are thrown at the above-mentioned timing under the state where the residual magnetic fluxes of the two remaining phases have some difference, the stationary magnetic flux and the residual phase of the two remaining phases will not be coincident with each other and thus a large exciting incoming current will flow.


A SOWC for use with a vehicle transmission is provided. The clutch includes outer and inner elements, also referred to as races, with the latter oriented concentrically within the former about an axis of rotation. A selection mechanism, which may be annular plates operatively connected with the side of the races and with one another, is selectively rotatable with respect to the inner and outer elements between different positions. Pivotable rocker elements are positioned between the races and are movable along cammed slots of the annular plates when the annular plates are rotated to establish a forward, a reverse, and a neutral operating mode corresponding with the different positions of the annular plates. In some embodiments, in the neutral operating mode, none of the rocker elements are in contact with the inner race.

In a variety of mechanical devices, including the powertrains of vehicle automatic transmissions, overrunning clutches are used to produce a one-way driving connection between an input and an output race of the overrunning clutch. Specifically, the clutch is capable of transmitting torque when the rotation of one race with respect to the other is in one direction, and the clutch overruns, or freewheels, when the rotational direction of one race with respect to the other is reversed.
The shape and orientation of the input and output races with respect to each other may vary depending on design. Some one-way clutches have input and output races that are oriented radially concentric with respect to each other. In another design, the confronting faces of the input and output races are planar.
The mechanical means used to lock a one-way clutch are varied, but commonly consist of rollers, sprags, rockers, or strut types of torque transmitting elements positioned between an input and an output race. Depending on the particular type of one-way clutch and the direction of rotation, each of the races contains unique surface features that engage one or more of the torque transmitting elements.
The operating modes of a basic one-way clutch are a locked mode in one given direction, and a freewheel mode in the opposite direction. In this type of one-way clutch, the operating mode of the clutch is determined only by the direction of torque being applied to the input race.
The increased complexity of power transmitting mechanisms has led to a class of selectable one-way clutches, henceforth referred to as SOWC's. A SOWC is similar to a one-way clutch in basic operation as described above. However, as the name implies, SOWC's are capable of producing a driving connection between an input and output race in one or both rotational directions and/or are also able to freewheel in one or both rotational directions.
In a SOWC, a moveable selector ring or plate, henceforth to be called a selector plate, is commonly employed to restrict the free movement of one or more of the torque transmitting elements to achieve the various operating modes. For example, but not limited to the following, in a first position of a selector plate in a SOWC, the torque transmitting elements may have movement that is unrestricted by the selector plate, while in a second position of the selector plate, some or all of the elements may be either held in contact with the confronting face, or kept from contacting the confronting face.

Rocker-type selectable one-way clutch with neutral position


A method of checking sleep mode function in a TV, and in particular an improved method of checking a sleep mode function in a TV which is capable of turning off power when there is no response to a message outputted for confirming a viewer's continued viewing at periodic intervals when a set sleep mode time is reached, includes confirming whether a set sleep mode time is reached, outputting a message to be displayed on the screen for confirming the viewer's continued viewing at every predetermined interval of time when the set sleep mode time is reached, and confirming a response to the message from the viewer and turning off power when there is no response to the message from the viewer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of checking sleep mode function in a TV, and in particular to an improved method of checking sleep mode function in a TV which is capable of turning off power when there is no response to a message prompting a viewer for confirming whether a continued viewing is desired after a predetermined time when a set sleep mode time is reached.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In general, a power-off-time function is provided in a TV and the like such as a television or a video cassette tape recorder (VCR) so as to prevent wasting of power by the apparatus when a viewer falls asleep while watching television.
A viewer can take advantage of the power-off-time function of a TV and the like at midnight, or at a time when a viewer easily falls asleep.
When a viewer falls asleep while watching a program with a sleep mode set in a TV or the like, and then a set sleep mode time, i.e. the predetermined time is reached (the predetermined time when power is to be turned off), power to the device is automatically turned off, and thereby the wasting of power and the shortening of durability caused by an unnecessary operation can be prevented.
However, in today's society, people are stressed and tired due to work, and often fall asleep while watching TV, but usually set the sleep mode time longer than required.
When the viewer falls asleep before the set sleep mode time is reached, the TV may be undesirably kept on for a long period of time, resulting in waste of power and shortening of durability as well.
In addition, since power is to be automatically turned off when a set sleep mode time is reached, when the viewer wishes to continue watching TV past the set sleep mode time, the viewer has a little inconvenience of turning on again the turned off TV after the set sleep mode time has expired.

Method of checking sleep mode function in a TV