Aerial vehicles are equipped with propellers having clutch mechanisms that contract around a shaft when the propellers are not rotating, or are rotating at low angular velocities, and expand around the shaft when the propellers are rotating at sufficiently high angular velocities. The clutch mechanisms surround one or more fixed posts within an opening or window defined therein. When the clutch mechanisms contract into a closed position, components of the clutch mechanisms come into contact with the posts, and the propellers are forced to remain in an alignment defined by the posts. When the clutch mechanisms expand into an open position, such components may rotate freely without contacting the posts. The clutch mechanisms cause propellers to remain aligned in desired orientations when the propellers are not required for operation, thereby reducing drag or adverse acoustic effects.

The use of unmanned aerial vehicles such as helicopters having two or more propellers is increasingly common. Such vehicles, which may include quad-copters (e.g., a helicopter having four rotatable propellers), octo-copters (e.g., a helicopter having eight rotatable propellers), or other vertical take-off and landing (or VTOL) aircraft having two or more propellers, are frequently utilized in numerous personal, commercial or industrial applications.
The availability of excess lift is most essential during take-off and landing evolutions of an unmanned aerial vehicle. Precision control of altitude is critical when an unmanned aerial vehicle attempts to take off from or land at a given location, in order to enable the unmanned aerial vehicle to avoid any surrounding objects, structures, animals (e.g., humans) or other unmanned aerial vehicles that may be located nearby. Accordingly, multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicles are commonly equipped with greater lift capacity than is commonly utilized or required during most transiting operations, in order to ensure that sufficient lift is available when needed, primarily in take-offs or landings.
In order to conserve onboard electrical power when excess lift is not desired, the powered rotation of one or more propellers of a unmanned aerial vehicle may be shut down when the unmanned aerial vehicle is transiting, or in a thrust mode, such as after the unmanned aerial vehicle has successfully taken off, and recommenced when the unmanned aerial vehicle prepares to land at a given location. For example, an unmanned aerial vehicle may feature sets of thrust propellers and lift propellers. When a maximum amount of lift is desired, both the thrust propellers and the lift propellers may be operated. When the maximum amount of lift is no longer desired, however, the operation of the lift propellers may be stopped, thereby reducing the amount of electrical power consumed during operations. A propeller that is provided on an operating unmanned aerial vehicle and is at rest may create undesirable drag, however, and restrict the stability of the unmanned aerial vehicle during transiting operations.


A package structure for a semiconductor device comprises a substrate having a main surface and a back surface, a semiconductor chip formed on the main surface of the substrate, a package covering the semiconductor chip, radiation protrude electrodes and connection protrude electrodes. The radiation protrude electrodes are formed on the back surface of the substrate in a chip area where said semiconductor chip is located. Each of the radiation protrude electrodes are formed with a first pitch so that the radiation protrude electrodes make one body joining layer when the package structure is subjected to a heat treatment. The connection protrude electrodes are formed on the back surface of the substrate in a peripheral area of the chip area. Each of the connection protrude electrodes formed with a second pitch which is larger than the first pitch so that the connection protrude electrodes stay individual when the package structure is subjected to a heat treatment.

The present invention relates to a package structure for a semiconductor device, and more particularly, it relates to a package structure having radiation solder bumps and connection solder bumps on a back surface of the package structure.
A conventional semiconductor device includes a package for covering a semiconductor chip, a substrate having a main surface on which the semiconductor chip is formed and radiation solder bumps and connection solder bumps formed on the back surface of the substrate.
The radiation solder bumps are formed in the center area of the back surface of the substrate. The connection solder bumps are formed in the peripheral area which surrounds the center area of the substrate. The connection solder bumps are electrically connected to electrodes of the semiconductor chip through conductive lines formed in the substrate. Therefore, the connection solder bumps have a function as terminals for connecting the semiconductor device to an outside circuit.
When the semiconductor device is mounted on a circuit board, the semiconductor device is subjected to a heat treatment (it is called as a reflow stop). The circuit board has radiation pads located in corresponding position to the radiation solder bumps and connection pads located in corresponding position to the connection solder bumps. The radiation solder bumps and connection solder bumps are malted by the heat treatment so that both of the solder bumps are connected and joined to the pads, respectively. Therefore, the semiconductor device is fixed on the circuit board.
Each of the connection solder bumps should be connected to one of the connection pads independently. Therefore, the connection solder bumps are formed with a predetermined pitch so that the adjacent connection solder bumps should not joined each other by the heat treatment (it is called as a solder bridge).
The radiation bumps which are not connected to the electrodes of the semiconductor chip are formed with the same pitch of the connection solder bumps. The heat energy generated by the semiconductor chip in the package is transferred to the circuit board through a thermal conduction part including the radiation bumps and radiation pads. The transferred heat energy is diffused in the circuit board and outgoing from the circuit board.
Since the radiation solder bumps are formed with the same pitch of the connection solder bumps, a cross sectional area of the thermal conduction part is relatively small and a coefficient of thermal conductivity thereof is low.

Package structure for a semiconductor device


Solid state laser gain media of the composition Cr.sup.+3 :XYZF.sub.6 wherein X is an alkali metal ion; Y is an alkaline earth metal ion, Cd.sup.+2 or Mg.sup.+2 ; and Z is Al.sup.+3, Ga.sup.+3 or Sc.sup.+3 are provided with gradient Cr doping levels for reducing thermally generated stress/strain in the lasing operation.

Wavelength tunable solid state lasers have gained considerable commercial importance because they avoid the inconvenience inherent in tunable dye lasers. U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,349 to Payne et al. discloses a new family of tunable, chromium-doped fluoride crystal laser gain media of the composition Cr.sup.+3 :XYZF.sub.6 wherein X is an alkali metal ion; Y is an alkaline earth metal ion, Cd.sup.+2 or Mg.sup.+2 ; and Z is Al.sup.+3, Ga.sup.+3 or Sc.sup.+3. These include Cr.sup.+3 :LiCaAlF.sub.6 ("Cr:LiCAF"), Cr.sup.+3 :LiSrAlF.sub.6 ("Cr:LiSAF"), and Cr.sup.+3 :LiSrGaF.sub.6 ("Cr:LiSGaF"). Unfortunately, these crystals are somewhat frangible, and tend to fracture on unequal heating, as may occur on pumping--especially longitudinal pumping with a single wavelength pump source--of uniformly doped laser hosts made therefrom where the outer surfaces are cooled except for the end faces. Because of the exponential decay of the transmission function, the intensity I of a beam transversing a crystal is EQU I=I.sub.o e(-.alpha.l)
where I.sub.0 is the initial input, .alpha. is the absorption coefficient at a given pump wavelength and l is the distance along the crystal. Absorbed energy translates into heat. Thus, much more energy (heat) is deposited at the entrance end of the host than further into the crystal. In tests with 6.35 and 5 mm diameter LiSAF rods of approximately 6 cm length, the input end of the rods shattered at 15-18 Watts input levels when almost all of the pump energy was absorbed. Stress/strain calculations and thermal deposition profiles indicated large areas of stress/strain due to high thermal gradients due to exterior surface cooling except for the endfaces, and poor thermo-mechanical material properties. This can lead to catastrophic failure of the crystal without prior warning as the input power is increased. Longitudinal pumping of a uniformly doped host can also cause localized thermal augmentation due to Excited State Absorption (ESA) and upconversion under process conditions, both of which are exacerbated by uneven pump energy absorption in accordance with the above-stated absorption formula. Further, the fluorescence lifetime in these crystals is strongly temperature dependent near room temperature, resulting in reduced stored energy in higher temperature areas and lower quantum efficiency, producing more localized heat.

Gradient doped solid state laser gain media


A liquid cartridge includes a liquid chamber with a liquid outlet configured to supply the liquid from an interior of the chamber to an exterior of the liquid chamber. A body is positioned in the chamber and is movable between a first position wherein movement of the body is restricted, and a second position wherein the body is movable along a movement path between the first and second positions. The body has a plurality of sides. A detector is positioned in the chamber and is movable in response to movement of the body between the first and second positions. The body defines a plurality openings that extend into the body through at least two sides of the body. A plurality of resist surfaces are formed by the plurality of openings, and the resist surfaces are configured to resist movement of the body between the first and second positions.

A known inkjet recording apparatus records an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink stored in an ink tank from nozzles. In such an inkjet recording apparatus, a change in viscosity of ink stored in the ink tank may cause clogging in the nozzles and/or deterioration of image recording quality.
In order to avoid an occurrence of such problems, the inkjet recording apparatus calculates the viscosity of ink stored in the ink tank and performs an appropriate preliminary discharge in accordance with the result of the ink viscosity calculation. More specifically, the inkjet recording apparatus calculates the ink viscosity based on an amount of ink remaining in the ink tank and a time elapsed from placement of the ink tank in the inkjet recording apparatus.


An annular combustion chamber of a turbine engine, the chamber including inner and outer coaxial walls forming two surfaces of revolution, which are connected together upstream by an annular chamber end wall including injection systems passing therethrough, each including an injector and at least one swirler for producing a rotating air stream that mixes downstream with fuel from the injector, and at least one ignition spark plug mounted in an orifice of the outer wall downstream from the injection systems. The spark plug is situated circumferentially between two adjacent injection systems that are configured to produce two air/fuel mixture sheets rotating in opposite directions.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an annular combustion chamber of a turbine engine such as an airplane turbojet or turboprop.
Description of the Related Art
In known manner, an annular combustion chamber of a turbine engine receives a stream of air from an upstream high pressure compressor and it delivers a stream of hot gas downstream for driving rotors of high pressure and low pressure turbines.
An annular combustion chamber comprises two coaxial walls forming surfaces of revolution that extend one inside the other and that are connected together and their upstream ends by an annular chamber end wall that includes openings for mounting fuel injection systems.
Each injection system has means for supporting the head of a fuel injector and at least one swirler, which is arranged downstream from the injector head, coaxially about its axis, and which delivers a stream of air that is rotating in order to form a mixture of air and fuel that is to be burnt in the combustion chamber.
The swirlers of the injection systems are fed with air coming from an annular diffuser mounted at the outlet from the high pressure compressor that is arranged upstream from the combustion chamber.
Each swirler opens out downstream into the inside of a mixer bowl having a substantially frustoconical downstream wall that flares downstream and that is formed with an annular row of air injection orifices that are regularly distributed around the axis of the bowl.
At least one ignition spark plug is mounted in an orifice in the outer annular wall of the combustion chamber, downstream from the fuel injection systems.
In operation, the air leaving the high pressure compressor flows inside each injection system. The air/fuel mixture is ejected from each injection system and forms a substantially frustoconical rotating sheet of air and fuel that flares downstream. The flare angle of the sheet is a function of the flare angle of the frustoconical wall of the mixer bowl, and of the dimensions of the air injection orifices formed in said frustoconical wall. Thus, the larger the diameter of the orifices in the mixer bowl, the greater the flow rate of air passing each through each of these orifices and the smaller the extent to which the air/fuel mixture sheet flares. Likewise, the further upstream the holes are positioned along the frustoconical wall, the greater the aerodynamic blocking and the less the extent to which the air/fuel mixture sheet flares.
In the prior art, the injection systems of the combustion chamber produce air/fuel mixture sheets that all rotate in the same direction. The direction of rotation may equally well be clockwise or counterclockwise when looking at the injection systems from downstream.
In order to improve ignition of the air/fuel mixture sheets, it is known to arrange a spark plug on the axis of an injection system.
In its application FR 2 943 199, the Applicant proposes increasing the flare angle of the fuel sheet produced by the injection system situated closest to the spark plug. That type of configuration is found to be effective, but it can lead to the inside end of the spark plug being wetted by droplets of fuel, and that is not desirable in order to conserve optimum operation of the spark plug.

Annular combustion chamber in a turbine engine


An electromagnetic flow meter for measuring flow rate of a fluid passing therethrough includes a conduit defining a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a measuring section positioned between the inlet and the outlet. The flow meter also includes a single coil for generating a magnetic field across the measuring section and electrodes for detecting induced electrical potential due to the fluid passage. The flow meter also includes means for conditioning the flow through the measuring section. The combination of the single coil and the flow conditioning means provides a flow meter with a desired level of accuracy. The single coil and the electrodes may be arranged so that the integral of a weight function, which defines the sensitivity of the flow meter to fluid velocity through different parts of the measuring section, over the first half of a measuring section closest to the coil is between 0.4 and 1.3 times the integral of the weight function over the other half of the measuring section.

Electromagnetic flow meters, and their modes of operation, are well known. In use, an electromagnetic field is generated whose lines of flux are mutually perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flow tube through which the fluid to be metered is conducted and to the transverse axis along which the electrodes are located at diametrically opposed positions with respect to the tube. The operating principles are based on Faraday's Law of induction, which states that the voltage induced across any conductor as it moves at right angles through a magnetic field will be proportional to the velocity of that conductor. The metered fluid effectively constitutes a series of fluid conductors moving through the magnetic field; the more rapid the rate of flow, the greater the instantaneous values of the voltage established at the electrodes.
Electromagnetic flow metering is a mature and robust technology with the first commercial units being sold over 50 years ago. However, the cost of electromagnetic flow meters is relatively high mainly due to the materials used in their construction and necessarily high labour costs.
Existing commercial electromagnetic flow meters employ two coils positioned on either side of the flow tube in order to try to generate a homogenous magnetic field across the flow tube. Typically bobbin coils wound on suitable pole pieces are used.


Disclosed is an encoding/decoding apparatus of a HARQ system using LDPC codes. A first LDPC code encoding apparatus encodes input information data and transmits the encoded data to the decoding apparatus. An interleaver interleaves the input information data. A second LDPC code encoder in parallel with the first LDPC code encoder performs LDPC code encoding on an output of the interleaver so as to transmit it to the decoding apparatus. The first LDPC code encoder transmits an output signal to the decoding apparatus at odd numbered retransmissions in response to a retransmission request from the decoding apparatus, and the second LDPC code encoder transmits an output signal to the decoding apparatus at even numbered retransmissions in response to the retransmission request from the decoding apparatus.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) system, and in particular, to an encoding/decoding apparatus of the HARQ system for enhancing error correction performance and packet data transmission efficiency by utilizing Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) codes and by interleaving packets for retransmission.
(b) Description of the Related Art
In communication systems, two basic strategies for dealing with errors have been developed. One is to include only enough redundancy to allow a receiver to deduce that an error has occurred, but not which error, and have it request a retransmission to the sender (Automatic Repeat Request: ARQ). The other way is to include enough redundant information along with each data block sent to enable the receiver to deduce what the transmitted character must have been (Forward Error Correction: FEC). The former uses error-detecting codes, and the latter uses error-correcting codes.
Transmission systems, particularly mobile communication systems, have recently begun to use a combination of ARQ protocols and FEC for high speed data transmission, which is called Hybrid ARQ (HARQ). HARQ compensates for drawbacks of ARQ, i.e., a decrease of throughput due to a large number of retransmissions for low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), by combining with FEC. In HARQ, turbo codes are used for FEC, and Chase combining and Incremental Redundancy are used for ARQ.
In Evolution Data Only (EV-DO) and High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) systems, information is transmitted in packet units encoded by a turbo encoder, and the packet is decoded at the receiver by a turbo decoder using the same encoding/decoding scheme. When the turbo decoder fails to decode the packet, the receiver reports the decoding failure to the transmitter so as to retransmit the packet.
At the receiver, whether or not the packet is successfully decoded is determined by a CRC check on the output of the decoder. When the packet passes the CRC check, the receiver transmits an acknowledgement (ACK) to the transmitter. Otherwise, the receiver transmits a negative acknowledgement (NACK) to the transmitter. The transmitter transmits the next data packet when receiving the ACK. On the other hand, if receiving a NACK, the transmitter retransmits the packet up to a predetermined number of times.
In Chase combining, the transmitter uses the same data packet at both initial transmission and retransmission, and then the receiver combines the initially transmitted packet with the retransmitted packet and performs a decoding operation on the combined packet. The transmitter transmits the next packet when receiving an ACK, and retransmits the previously transmitted packet up to a predetermined number of times when receiving a NACK.
Typically, the transmitter adds redundancy bits to the data to be transmitted so as to allow the decoder to perform correction. In the Incremental Redundancy scheme, the transmitter increments redundancy bits when the packet is retransmitted, i.e., increases a coding rate of retransmission from that of an initial transmission, resulting in enhancement of decoding efficiency at the receiver. Accordingly, the receiver performs the decoding operation using the initially transmitted packet and the retransmitted packet. Chase combining can obtain a diversity gain without an increase of system complexity since the same packet is retransmitted. On the other hand, the Incremental Redundancy increases the system complexity at both the encoder and decoder since the coding rate varies whenever the retransmission is performed again. However, the Incremental Redundancy relatively improves the decoding probability of the transmitted data using the different coding rates. Accordingly, the Incremental Redundancy scheme has been known to show high performance since it provides both diversity gain and coding gain. That is, Incremental Redundancy is superior to Chase combining in view of system performance, while Chase combining is superior to Incremental Redundancy in view of low system complexity.
Two outstanding error correction coding schemes are Block codes and Trellis codes. One Example of Block codes is LDPC codes, and an example of Trellis codes is a convolutional turbo code.
In the case of block codes, the characteristics of the encoder and decoder are determined by a Generating matrix (G) and a Parity Check matrix (H). Basically, the LDPC code is encoded by one encoder and then repeatedly decoded by one decoder so as to show a high performance identical with the turbo code. At that time, the decoder performs decoding by calculating a probability satisfying the relationship (H·C=0) of the parity check bit matrix (H) and a received codeword (C).
In the case of a Trellis code, the encoder encodes a Trellis code using a generator polynomial, and the decoder performs decoding by calculating all of the probabilities of the Trellis codes.
As described above, even though LDPC coding allows the decoder to calculate the relationships (H C=0) of the parity check matrix (H) and the received codeword (C) in parallel, Trellis coding does not support the parallel calculation of the probabilities which increases calculation time.
The turbo code is generated with two convolutional component encoders separated by one interleaver, and is then decoded by two decoders recursively so as to guarantee performance. That is, it is not expected to obtain good performance of the turbo code with only one encoder and one decoder.
FIG. 1 is a conceptual view illustrating a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) scheme adopted to EV-DO and HSDPA systems.
In FIG. 1, the turbo code encoder consists of first and second convolutional encoders, an interleaver, and a puncturer. The turbo code encoder is a HARQ encoder (The construction of the turbo code encoder is identical when the retransmission function is disabled).
A conventional HARQ technique will be described hereinafter when Chase combining is performed in a ⅓ code rate.
Firstly, the transmitter sends data X, Y1, and Z2, and the receiver performs decoding and CRC. As a result of the CRC, the receiver stores the data and requests retransmission of the data when the decoding has failed such that the transmitter retransmits the X, Y1, and Z2.
When the receiver fails to decode the data again and the current number of retransmission times does not exceed the predetermined number of retransmission times, the receiver requests retransmission again. This process continues until the number of retransmission times reaches the predetermined number of retransmission times.
On the other hand, when the data X, Y1, and Z2 are transmitted in the Incremental Redundancy scheme and the receiver fails to decode the data, the receiver stores the decoding result and requests retransmission of the data. Upon reception of the retransmission request, the transmitter transmits the data X′, Y2, and Z1 and the receiver performs decoding using the currently received data and the previously stored data. When the receiver fails to decode the data again and the current number of retransmission times does not exceed the predetermined number of retransmission times, the receiver requests retransmission again. The transmitter sends the data X, Y1, and Z2 during the odd numbered retransmissions and the data X′, Y2, Z1 during the even numbered retransmissions. This process continues until the number of retransmissions reaches the predetermined number.
The error correction scheme using the turbo codes as described above has drawbacks of an error floor effect in which the system performance is not improved even when increasing signal power at the operation point, and it requires much decoding time due to the sequential decoding operation in units of symbols.

Encoding/decoding apparatus using low density parity check code

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Insitute


For a single input/output circuit, changing an input/output form is enabled by a simple configuration. In the input/output circuit, a circuit section includes power supply terminals and ground terminals. A switching section is switchable between a first state in which a power supply line and a ground line are coupled to one of the power supply terminals and one of the ground terminals and a second state in which the power supply line and the ground line are coupled to the other one of the power supply terminals and the other one of the ground terminals. The circuit section operates as a circuit corresponding to one of an open collector output and an open emitter output in the first state and operates as a circuit corresponding to the other one of the open collector output and the open emitter output in the second state.

In a case in which different devices are coupled to each other and used, a signal is transferred therebetween using a general-purpose input/output circuit in some cases. However, when an input/output form differs depending on devices that are used, a signal cannot be transferred. As output circuit types, there are, for example, open collector output circuits and open emitter output circuits. For an open collector output circuit, an input circuit corresponding thereto is needed and, for an open emitter output circuit, an input circuit corresponding thereto is needed.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-108208, a configuration in which a common circuit of an input/output circuit and an individual corresponding section that differs depending on a circuit form are separated and a plurality of individual corresponding sections are provided to thus enable changing the circuit form is proposed.
Incidentally, in the configuration of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-108208, in order to enable changing the circuit form, it is needed to provide a plurality of input/output circuits, resulting in a redundant circuit configuration.
In view of the foregoing, the present disclosure has been devised and it is therefore an object of the present disclosure to enable changing an input/output form for a single input/output circuit by a simple configuration.

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


To be capable of precisely positioning a head on a track of a high-density disk rotated at high speed in the disk drive, a head suspension has a plate (3) to be attached to a carriage of the disk drive and turned around a spindle, a load beam (5) having a rigid part (11) and a resilient part (17) and supported by the plate, a front end of the rigid part applying load on a head (13) that writes and reads information to and from the disk, a flexure (7) supporting the head, and an extension (15) having a length (L2) and extending from the plate along the rigid part of the load beam toward the head. The flexure is supported at least by the extension of the plate, and at least supporting the flexure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a head suspension for a disk drive incorporated in an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
A hard disk drive (HDD) records and reproduces information to and from rotating magnetic or magneto-optical disks. The HDD has a carriage driven by a positioning motor, to turn around a spindle.
An example of the carriage is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,765. The carriage of this disclosure includes carriage arms, a head suspension attached to a front end of each carriage arm, a head attached to the head suspension, and a slider attached to the head. When disks in a disk drive where the carriage is arranged are rotated at high speed, the sliders slightly float from the disks, and air bearings are formed between the disks and the sliders.
FIG. 27 is a sectional view showing a part of a disk drive with head suspensions according to a prior art. The disk drive 101 has a carriage 105. The carriage 105 is driven by a positioning motor 107 such as a voice coil motor, to turn around a spindle 103. The carriage 105 has a plurality of (four in FIG. 27) carriage arms 109 each having at least one head suspension 111 with a head 113 arranged at a front end thereof.
The carriage 105 is turned around the spindle 103, to move each head 113 onto a target track on a disk 115. The head 113 has a slider 117 facing the track on the disk 115, a transducer (not shown) held by the slider 117, and the like.
When the disks 115 are rotated at high speed, air enters between the disks 115 and the sliders 117 and forms air bearings at there to slightly float the sliders 117 from the disks 115.
FIG. 28 shows an example of the head suspension 111. The head suspension  111 includes a load beam 119 made of a precision thin plate spring, a flexure 121 made of a very thin plate spring fixed to the load beam 119 by, for example, laser welding, and a base plate 123 fixed to a base part of the load beam 119 by, for example, laser welding. The base plate 123 is fixed to a head suspension fitting face of the carriage arm 109.
Recent hard disk drives employ high-density disks and drive the disks at high speed. Such high-density disks involve narrow tracks. Due to such narrow tracks and vibration such as butterfly-mode vibration on the head suspension 111 caused by, for example, air disturbance even at high frequencies, it is difficult to correctly maintain the head 113 on a track of a disk.
Many studies and improvements have been made for the carriage arms and head suspensions in connection with controlling amplitudes for various resonance modes, increasing resonance frequencies, and suppressing air disturbance.
According to the prior art of FIG. 28, the flexure 121 is fixed to the load beam 119, and therefore, the load beam 119 is directly affected by the weight of the flexure 121 including the slider 117, to decrease a resonance frequency. In addition, the movement and vibration of the flexure 121 due to the movement of the slider 117 are directly transmitted to the load beam 119, to deteriorate the vibration characteristics of the load beam 119.
These circumstances make it difficult to correctly control amplitudes and precisely position the head 113 on a track on a high-density, high-speed disk.

Disk drive head suspension with flexure and load beam supported on opposite sides of carriage arm


A method of modeling an integrated circuit includes: specifying a layout for the integrated circuit, wherein the layout includes a plurality of devices arranged in a plurality of layers and a plurality of connections between the layers; specifying locations for a source point and an observation point for the integrated circuit; determining a plurality of static images for the source point and the observation point; determining a plurality of discrete complex images for the source point and the observation point; determining a Green's-function value for the source point and the observation point by combining the static images and the discrete complex images; and saving at least some values based on the Green's-function value.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to integrated circuits and more particularly to modeling integrated circuits with multiple layers.
2. Description of Related Art
The full-wave electromagnetic solver has become an essential part in the design flow for radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) serving as both a design and a verification tool. A three-dimensional broadband full-wave solver based on the integral equation (IE) method with the pre-corrected Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) acceleration has been developed to fulfill these functions [1].
The multilayer Green's function evaluation is essential to the performance of an IE solver. Various approaches have been developed to accelerate the efficient computation of multilayer Green's functions, such as the discrete complex image method (DCIM) [2], the fast Hankel transform (FHT) [3], and the window function based method [4]. The DCIM has been widely employed and improved since its debut. Two-level DCIM [5] was developed to split the original path into two. By sampling the paths at different rates, the method improved the efficiency and accuracy comparing the original one-level algorithm. Generalized surface wave pole extraction was developed to extend the DCIM to general multilayer media [6].
For on-chip applications, the semiconductor process must first be examined. The vertical cross-section of the metallization layers of a typical four-metal-layer semiconductor process is shown in FIG. 2. In order to fill the IE matrix entries efficiently, a 3D Green's function database is deployed [1]. The database is populated with the value of the Green's function between several source points at z′ and observation points at z for various horizontal distances ρ. Even with the aid of such a database, the rapid evaluation of the Green's function for each matrix entry is critical. Note that the distance between the adjacent layers is only a few microns or less, which causes the spectral kernel of Green's functions to decay slowly. Consequently, number of sampling points has to be increased to accurately capture the whole spectrum, which will slow down the DCIM dramatically because the generalized pencil of function (GPOF) method [9] in the DCIM has computation time proportional to O(Ns3), Ns is the number of sampling points. For that reason, accelerating convergence of the spectral kernel is necessary before applying the GPOF.
Thus, there is a need for improved methods for evaluating Green's functions for modeling multilayer integrated circuits.

Evaluating Green's functions for modeling multilayer integrated circuits


According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a stacked layer structure including first to n-th semiconductor layers (n is a natural number equal to or larger than 2) stacked in a first direction which is perpendicular to a surface of a semiconductor substrate, and an upper insulating layer stacked on the n-th semiconductor layer, the stacked layer structure extending in a second direction which is parallel to the surface of the semiconductor substrate, and first to n-th NAND strings provided on surfaces of the first to n-th semiconductor layers in a third direction which is perpendicular to the first and second directions respectively.

NAND flash memories are used widely as mass storage memory devices. In recent years, memory devices have been miniaturized for cost reduction and increased capacity per bit, and further miniaturization is a great demand in this technical field. However, before proceeding miniaturization of flash memories, there are many issues to be solved such as development of lithography techniques and inhibition of short channel effect, interdevice interference, and interdevice variations. Thus, a miniaturization technique simply directed to improvement of a plane structure will not be enough to sustainably increase storage density of memory devices in future.
Considering the above, techniques to shift such a conventional two-dimensional (plane) structure to a three-dimensional (solid) structure have been developed in recent years for higher memory cell integration, and various kinds of three-dimensional nonvolatile semiconductor storage devices have been proposed. One of them is a vertical gate (VG) semiconductor memory structure which includes a fin with stacked semiconductor layers (active areas) on each of which a NAND string is arranged.
The VG semiconductor memory structure has a layout substantially similar to that of a two-dimensional NAND including peripheral devices and the like, and contacts corresponding to the semiconductor layers and gate contacts can be formed therein at the same time.
The VG semiconductor memory structure can be classified broadly into two types by its memory cell structure. One is a vertical gate-floating gate (VG-FG) type in which charge storage layers are electrically floating, and the other is a vertical gate-metal/oxide/nitride/oxide/silicon (VG-MONOS) type in which charge storage layers trap the charge.
In the VG-FG type, the charge storage layer must be provided independently memory cell by memory cell for proper function of the memory device. In the VG-MONOS type, the charge storage layer must be separated memory cell by memory cell, especially, in the direction of extension of the NAND string (extension of the fin) for improved performance of the memory device.
Considering these points, the separation of the charge storage layer in the direction of extension of the NAND string is performed at the same time when the control gate is patterned into lines and spaces using a hard mask preliminarily formed on the fin as a mask.
However, the hard mask is also used to process the fin. Thus, the width of the hard mask must be shrunk to an optimal value necessary for self-aligned separation of the charge storage layer after the fin is processed but before the control gate is patterned into lines and spaces.
Such a hard mask shrink is performed by isotropic etching and conventionally, there has been a problem that the initial thickness of the hard mask must be large enough before the etching. The hard mask whose thickness is large enough becomes a part of the fin (the uppermost layer) and enlarges the height of the fin. Thus, the aspect ratio of a trench between adjacent fins is enlarged and consequently, the degree of difficulty in forming memory cells on each semiconductor layer increases.
Furthermore, the controllability is not good in the hard mask shrink by isotropic etching. In that case, a process margin in separating the charge storage layer, that is, the amount of shrink must be preset relatively large. Due to this process margin, the width of the fin between the control gates becomes partly very narrow. To prevent this, the initial width of the fins must be set wide (which is disadvantageous to the miniaturization purpose). They are problems in this technical field, too.

Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method of manufacturing the same


Animating speech of an avatar representing a participant in a mobile communication including selecting one or more images; selecting a generic animation template; fitting the one or more images with the generic animation template; texture wrapping the one more images over the generic animation template; and displaying the one or more images texture wrapped over the generic animation template. Receiving an audio speech signal; identifying a series of phonemes; and for each phoneme: identifying a new mouth position for the mouth of the generic animation template; altering the mouth position to the new mouth position; texture wrapping a portion of the one or more images corresponding to the altered mouth position; displaying the texture wrapped portion of the one or more images corresponding to the altered mouth position of the mouth of the generic animation template; and playing the portion of the audio speech signal represented by the phoneme.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention is data processing, or, more specifically, methods, apparatus, and products for animating speech of an avatar representing a participant in a mobile communication.
2. Description of Related Art
The development of the EDVAC computer system of 1948 is often cited as the beginning of the computer era. Since that time, computer systems have evolved into extremely complicated devices. Today's computers are much more sophisticated than early systems such as the EDVAC. Computer systems typically include a combination of hardware and software components, application programs, operating systems, processors, buses, memory, input/output devices, and so on. As advances in semiconductor processing and computer architecture push the performance of the computer higher and higher, more sophisticated computer software has evolved to take advantage of the higher performance of the hardware, resulting in computer systems today that are much more powerful than just a few years ago.
Typical computer systems may be implemented in many devices, including, for example cellular phones. Although computer systems implemented in cellular phones are powerful, networks connecting cellular phones create a bottleneck for communications. Real-time video conferencing between cellular phones across a network, for example, is difficult to implement due to the large amount of bandwidth required for transmission of audio and video data corresponding to a real-time video and audio feed. Today there exists no low-bandwidth, or lightweight, method of displaying a representation of a cellular phone user across a network.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

International Business Machines Corporation


Management of a call between a calling party that is a mobile terminal in a first cellular network and a called party that is a mobile terminal in a second cellular network is provided by: receiving at an Application Server, AS, of the first cellular network a request to establish a call with the called party from the calling party, the called party being identified in the indication by a circuit-switched identifier; identifying a registration for the called party in the first cellular network using the circuit-switched identifier for the called party, the registration providing a packet-switched identifier for the called party; and setting up a call between the calling party and the called party of the first cellular network by initiating a packet-switched connection from the AS in the first cellular network to the called party in the second cellular network using the packet-switched identifier for the called party.

Cellular (e.g. GSM or UMTS (3G)) architectures include a core network (CN) and a radio access network (RAN). Mobile terminals, once authenticated to a given network, place calls by first reserving a suitable channel on the RAN and then requesting connection to other terminals giving a called number (MSISDN) to identify the called party. The CN looks up at least one database to locate the called party terminal and to allow a call to be terminated at that called party terminal. Where the called party terminal belongs to a second network (different from the given network with which the calling party terminal is authenticated), this requires the establishment of a radio access channel from a mobile terminal to the core network of a first cellular network; the establishment of a link between the first network and a second cellular network; and the establishment of a further radio access channel to a second mobile terminal via the second cellular network.
The Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) is a set of core network servers logically sited behind the gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) in the packet switched domain of a cellular telecommunications network. The servers process signalling between terminals. The aim of IMS is to allow users such as mobile telephone network service providers to provide services to their subscribers as efficiently and effectively as possible and independently of the manner by which its network is accessed. The IMS architecture is intended to support, for example, the following communication types: voice, video, instant messaging, "presence" (a user's availability for contact), location based services, e-mail and web. Further communication types are likely to be added in the future.
3GPP has chosen session initiation protocol (SIP) for managing these sessions. The SIP protocol is a session-based protocol designed to establish IP-based communication sessions between two or more terminals. SIP is used as a means of signalling, end-to-end, the initiation, modification and termination of packet switched sessions. Once a SIP session has been established, communication between the terminals can be carried out using a variety of different protocols (for example, those designed for streaming audio and video). These protocols are defined in SIP session initiation messages.
With IMS, users are no longer restricted to a separate voice call or data session. Sessions can be established between terminals that allow a variety of communication types to be used and media to be exchanged. The sessions are dynamic in nature in that they can be adapted to meet the needs of the end users. For example, two such users might start a session with an exchange of instant messages and then decide that they wish to change to a voice call, possibly with video. This is all possible within the IMS framework. If a user wishes to send a file to another user and the users already have a session established between each other (for example, a voice session), the session can be re-defined to allow a data file exchange to take place. This session redefinition is transparent to the end user.
International calls made in conventional fixed line (e.g. PSTN) or cellular (e.g. GSM or UMTS (3G)) telecommunications architectures are readily identifiable as such to a calling party (originator) because making such a call requires the use of an international dialing code. In addition, network service providers are conventionally allocated dialing codes, which codes each network service provider has been allocated being publicly available. Accordingly, it has been possible for a calling party to determine that a conventional call will be an "international" call before making the call.
The SIP protocol identifies a terminal by an address of the form "user@domain". If a user (the calling party) wishes to establish a session, which may be for any supported communication type, with another user (the called party), signalling will initially be directed to the called party using an address of this form. Such an address provides no indication of the geographical location of the called party. Even if, for example, the domain includes an identifier of a country, such as the domain ".co.uk", such a domain can be the address of a terminal neither located in that country nor registered with a network service provider of that country. As a result, the calling party, using SIP, does not know in advance of initiating a session whether the called party's terminal is registered in the same country as the calling party's terminal, or in another country. The charge payable by the calling party to the network service provider with which the calling party is registered for the session is typically dependent upon the country in which the called party's terminal is registered. An international call conventionally attracts a higher charge rate.
Furthermore each party that wishes to access the additional services offered by the IMS needs to subscribe to the required services.
Clearly, the calling party may wish to know the applicable charge rate to confirm that charges payable to the network service provider will not exceed what should be expected.
One disadvantage of conventional international call connection is the requirement for the reservation of a significant amount of network resource in both originating and terminating networks—the call establishment signalling inevitably requires HLR resource as well as MSC/VLR resource—as well as the provision of a suitable international carrier interface between the two networks. In turn, the use of additional resource is reflected in the cost of the service provided to customers.
IP call connection reduces the signalling overhead but imposes other constraints—notably the need for IP multimedia Subsystem (IMS) subscriptions for both originator and terminating party.


A pedestrian-warning light system for a vehicle is disclosed herein. The pedestrian-warning light system includes a sensing device mountable with respect to a vehicle and operable to detect a pedestrian within a zone adjacent to the front of the vehicle. The zone extends along a first axis. The sensing device is operable to emit a detection signal in response to the pedestrian being in the zone. The pedestrian-warning light system also includes a lighting arrangement mountable within the vehicle and operable to concurrently emit light into the vehicle and away from the vehicle in a first direction toward the zone and away from the vehicle in a second direction at least partially opposite to the first direction away from the zone. The pedestrian-warning light system also includes a controller mountable with respect to the vehicle and operable to receive the detection signal from the sensing device and in response actuate the lighting arrangement for warning the pedestrian, and a driver of the vehicle, and drivers of other vehicles.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to pedestrian detection systems for vehicles.
2. Description of Related Prior Art
U.S. Pub. No. 2011/0128161 discloses a VEHICULAR WARNING DEVICE FOR PEDESTRIANS. The pedestrian warning system of the '161 publication includes a sensing device that is provided on the vehicle for detecting a pedestrian within a predetermined zone around the vehicle. A warning device on the vehicle generates a warning signal perceived by the pedestrian outside the vehicle indicating a presence of the vehicle. A speed sensor senses a speed of the vehicle. A controller is configured to receive a signal from the sensing device indicating the detection of the pedestrian within the predetermined zone. The controller determines whether the speed of the vehicle is within a predetermine speed range. The controller actuates the warning device for warning the pedestrian of the close proximity to the vehicle in response to determining the vehicle traveling at a respective speed is within the predetermined speed range and detecting the presence of the pedestrian within the predetermined zone.

Pedestrian warning light system for vehicles with illumination in different directions


A solenoid valve includes: a valve body having a fitting hole; a tubular sleeve fitted in a fitting hole and having a valve hole, a supply port, and an output port; and a spool valve that is accommodated in the valve hole of the sleeve and that changes a flow passage area between the supply port and the output port by moving axially. A pair of recessed portions is formed in an outer peripheral face of the sleeve, at positions on axially opposite sides of the supply port, so as to extend in the circumferential direction of the sleeve. A strip-shaped first strainer is fitted in the recessed portions. A cutout into which a pressure for suppressing an offset of the central axis of the sleeve from the central axis of the fitting hole, is formed in the sleeve so as to be communicated with the supply port.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to a solenoid valve that outputs hydraulic fluid on the basis of an exciting current applied to a coil, and more specifically to a solenoid valve having a strainer that blocks entry of foreign matter into the solenoid valve.
2. Description of Related Art
There is a conventional solenoid valve that includes a shaft-shaped spool valve housed in a tubular sleeve so as to be movable in its axial direction, and that is configured such that a flow passage of hydraulic fluid and a flow passage area are changed by moving the spool valve in the axial direction. In some solenoid valves of this type, a strainer that blocks entry of foreign matter is arranged at a supply port for the hydraulic fluid (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-258161 (JP 2006-258161 A).
The strainer described in JP 2006-258161 A has an arc-shaped filter portion and a pair of engaging portions. The engaging portions are engaged with engaged portions formed in a strainer-attached portion of the sleeve. The strainer-attached portion is formed in a U-shape so as to surround the spool valve.
The sleeve is fitted in a fitting hole formed in a valve body, and the hydraulic fluid is supplied into the supply port through a supply passage of the valve body. In the solenoid valve described in JP 2006-258161 A, the strainer-attached portion is formed so as to be asymmetric with respect to the central axis of the sleeve. As a result, the central axis of the sleeve may be offset from the central axis of the fitting hole of the valve body due to the hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic fluid supplied to the supply port.
If the central axis of the sleeve is offset from the central axis of the fitting hole of the valve body, the amount of leakage of the hydraulic fluid is increased. With an increase in the amount of leakage of the hydraulic fluid, the load on an oil pump that discharges the hydraulic fluid increases.


To provide a chloroprene rubber composition that provides excellent low temperature characteristics such as low temperature permanent compression set and dynamic characteristics at low temperature and provides good permanent compression set, mechanical strength, and processing characteristics also at high temperature thus to achieve excellent characteristics within a wide temperature region, and a vulcanizate and a molding thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a chloroprene rubber composition, a vulcanizate thereof, and molding using them. More specifically, the present invention relates to a chloroprene rubber composition used for rubber moldings such as a wiper blade and a vibration isolator.
2. Description of the Related Art
Chloroprene rubber is excellent in heat resistance, weather resistance, ozone resistance, chemical resistance, and other properties and has been used in wide variety of fields such as general industrial rubber products, automobile parts, and adhesives. Such a chloroprene rubber molded piece is typically produced by molding a chloroprene rubber composition including a chloroprene rubber in combination with a vulcanizing agent, a vulcanization accelerator, a filler, and other components into a predetermined shape and then vulcanization.
Examples of the vulcanization accelerator used for such a production process include a thiourea vulcanization accelerator, a thiazole vulcanization accelerator, a thiuram vulcanization accelerator, and a guanidine vulcanization accelerator (for example, see Patent Document 1). For example, in a chloroprene rubber composition described in Patent Document 1, combination use of a thiourea vulcanization accelerator and a thiuram vulcanization accelerator intends to improve both scorch stability and permanent compression set characteristics.
Meanwhile, the chloroprene rubber is inferior in low temperature characteristics. To address the problem, chloroprene rubber compositions have been developed for improving low temperature resistivity (see Patent Documents 2 and 3). In addition, a high damping rubber composition has been developed (see Patent Document 4). The composition includes a natural rubber and a chloroprene rubber, and the natural rubber alone is vulcanized, thus improving damping characteristics.

Chloroprene rubber composition, and vulcanizates and moldings thereof

Abstract: To a chloroprene rubber including a 2,3-dichlorobutadiene unit in an amount of 5 to 20% by mass, a natural rubber is added so as to give a ratio (chloroprene rubber/natural rubber) of 60/40 to 95/5 by mass ratio. Then, with respect to 100 parts by mass of the rubber components, ethylene thiourea is added in an amount of 0.1 to 3.0 parts by mass and dipentamethylenethiuram tetrasulfide is added in an amount of 0.1 to 3.0 parts by mass, thereby preparing the chloroprene rubber composition.


Provided is a mounting structure for mounting a pilot valve assembly to a flow reversing valve assembly. The mounting structure includes a mounting bracket and a cover plate. Disposed through a face panel of the mounting bracket is an aperture that defines an axis line. The cover plate is generally parallel to and offset from the face panel. A solenoid coil having a central bore is placed between the face panel and the cover plate such that the central bore aligns with the axis line. A pilot valve body included with the pilot valve assembly is partially inserted through the aperture and into the central bore. Extending over the un-inserted portion of the pilot valve body is a sleeve including a spring. The sleeve and spring are arranged such that the spring urges the mounting bracket, the solenoid coil, and the cover plate toward one another.

Reversing valve assemblies are typically used in fluid flow systems in which a fluid is directed to flow in various alternative loops or circuits. For instance, heat pumps are specialized refrigeration systems that can be selectively configured to operate in either of two different modes. In the first mode, known as the cooling mode, energy in the form of heat is removed from an "inside" environment and transferred to an "outside" environment. In the second mode, known as the heating mode, heat energy is transferred to the inside environment. To convey the heat energy, the heat pump system utilizes a compressor to circulate fluid refrigerant through a closed-circuit system that includes heat transfer coils located in each environment. In addition to circulating the refrigerant, the compressor is used to impart thermodynamic energy into the system.
To change the heat pump system between heating and cooling modes, the system includes the reversing valve assembly which can be selectively manipulated to alter the flow of refrigerant. The reversing valve assembly typically includes a reversing valve body having multiple ports that are interconnected with the heat transfer coils and the compressor. The reversing valve body also encloses a movable valve member that can be selectively placed between two different positions wherein the valve member directs refrigerant flow between different groupings of the ports. The valve member is moved in response to a change in actuating pressure that is supplied to the reversing valve body. Fluid refrigerant drawn off from the system is typically used as the source for the actuating pressure.
To control the change in the actuating pressure and thereby control the motion of the valve member, the reversing valve assembly typically includes a pilot valve assembly that is attached to the reversing valve body. The pilot valve assembly is an electrically-operated device that is in fluid communication with both the reversing valve body and the heat pump system to draw off refrigerant. To change the actuating pressure supplied to the reversing valve body, the pilot valve assembly includes an elongated pilot valve body having a plunger reciprocally movable therein. Different positions of the plunger cause the pilot valve assembly to alter the supply of the actuating pressure to the reversing valve body. The position of the plunger can be altered by activating a solenoid coil that surrounds a portion of the pilot valve body.
To attach the pilot valve assembly to the reversing valve body, often a mounting bracket is rigidly joined to the reversing valve body. The pilot valve body can be received in and extend from the mounting bracket. To secure the pilot valve body to the mounting bracket, the pilot valve body is often crimped in place or retained to the mounting bracket with a retainer clip. Typically, the solenoid coil is provided with a distinct solenoid coil frame that must be separately installed to the mounting frame with another fastener. This prior art attachment method requires the use of separate mounting brackets and coil frames. Additionally, the solenoid coil frame is often installed over the extended portion of the pilot valve body in a cantilevered fashion. Cantilevered mounting of the solenoid coil subjects the pilot valve assembly to possible damage due to impact during handling and installation of the reversing valve assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,582, assigned to Ranco Incorporated, herein incorporated in its entirety by reference, addresses the drawbacks of separately mounting the pilot valve body and the solenoid coil frame. U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,582 describes mounting an anchoring panel to the reversing valve body, then fixing a cylindrical hub to the anchoring panel. The pilot valve body is then inserted into the cylindrical hub such that a portion of the valve body projects away from the anchoring panel. A solenoid coil is next inserted over a projecting portion of the pilot valve body and placed adjacent to the anchoring panel. A retainer panel is detachably connected to the projecting portion of the pilot valve body to enclose the solenoid coil between the anchoring panel and retainer panel.
Typically, to detachably connect the retainer panel, a threaded nut is fastened over the projecting portion of the pilot valve body thereby clamping the solenoid coil between the anchoring panel and retainer panel. Care must be taken during assembly to avoid over-tightening the nut and damaging the solenoid coil. Also, in actual production of the reversing valve assembly described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,582, the pilot valve body and the cylindrical hub attached to the anchoring panel are often press fit together, therefore requiring precisely machined parts. All this adds to the complexity and expense of the reversing valve assembly.

Reversing valve assembly with improved pilot valve mounting structure


A method, system and computer program product, the method comprising: receiving a user document describing at least a part of a system to be tested; computing a similarity measurement between the user document and documents in a document corpus, each describing at least part of a system and associated with a combinatorial model representing the at least part of the system, wherein the combinatorial model comprises a set of attributes, a respective domain for each attribute defining possible values for the attribute, and restrictions, wherein each restriction comprises at least one attribute, a respective value and a logical operator, based upon the similarity measurement, selecting selected documents from the document corpus; obtaining one or more combinatorial models corresponding to the selected documents; selecting elements from the combinatorial models; generating an initial combinatorial model for the user document, wherein said generating comprises adding the elements to the initial combinatorial model.

Effective software testing is crucial to achieving a competitive software product. Testing may be part of any stage of the product development, including design, unit testing, system testing, or the like. Testing may be planned and implemented by generating and executing a test model.
A combinatorial model for testing a system is also referred to as Cartesian-product model, and comprises a set of attributes, values or value ranges for the attributes (also referred to as domains), and restrictions on value combinations that may not appear together. Such a model spans a space of valid tests for a tested design, unit, system or any other entity: each combination of values to the attributes that does not violate any restriction corresponds to a valid test. Each combination of attributes or a subset of attributes, which is excluded by one or more restrictions, is referred to as an illegal combination.
For example, a model for testing a computer may comprise a CPU attribute with possible values consisting of the available CPUs, an operating system (OS) attribute with possible values consisting of the available OSs, and restrictions that rule out impossible CPU and OS combinations, such as a low performance CPU with modern high-resource-consuming OS.
Combinatorial models have a variety of usages. One such usage is functional coverage analysis of a System Under Test. Another usage is in Combinatorial Test Design (CTD). CTD is a test planning technique that selects a small subset of the valid test space that covers a predefined coverage goal. The coverage goal may define an interaction level of attributes that are to be covered, such as every n-wise combinations of values.
Preparing a combinatorial model for a system may be a difficult task for a user, such as a verification engineer, a QA staff member, or the like. In particular, defining the attributes and values, and correctly capturing the restrictions over the model may be important yet labor-intensive and non-trivial tasks. Incorrect or suboptimal capturing of the attributes may lead to a problematic model that cannot provide the intended usage. Under-restricting the model may yield tests that cannot be executed and may cause coverage gaps if such tests are skipped or manually modified, while over-restricting the model may also yield coverage gaps in the areas that are wrongly restricted.


An FED has a cathode, an anode and an insulating supporting device. The cathode has a plurality of cathode electron emitter layers and a cathode substrate. The cathode has a plurality of cathode ribs disposed on the cathode substrate, and the cathode ribs are used for laterally separating any respective two cathode ribs. The anode has a phosphors layer and an anode substrate. The insulating supporting device is arranged between the cathode ribs and the anode, and has a reflection layer facing the anode and a gate made of a conductive material and disposed above the cathode ribs. The reflection layer is capable of reflecting light emitted from the phosphors layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an FED, and particularly relates to an FED including an insulating supporting device with a reflection layer.
2. Background of the Invention
There are several categories of a flat panel display (FPD), such as, for example, a field emission display (FED), a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), an organic electro-luminescence display (OELD), or a reflection-type liquid crystal display (LCD). Thinness, lightness, low power consumption, and portability are the common features of the FEDs mentioned above. The FED has many similarities with conventional cathode ray tubes (CRT). As for the CRT, electrons are accelerated in a vacuum towards phosphors, which then glows. The main difference with the CRT is that the electrons are generated by field emission rather than thermal emission, so the device consumes much less power and can be turned on instantly. Instead of one single electron gun, each pixel includes several thousands of sub-micrometer or even nanometer tips from which electrons are emitted. The tips, made of low work-function materials, and in particular of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) nowadays, are sharp, so that the local field strengths become high enough for even a moderately low gate voltage.
A conventional FED illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a unit within an anode 10a and a cathode 20a disposed therein, and an insulating supporting member 15a (or a spacer) arranged between the anode 10a and the cathode 20a for separating the anode 10a from the cathode 10a and supporting the anode 10a. The anode 10a includes an anode glass substrate 11a, an anode conductive layer 12a, and a phosphors layer 13a arranged sequentially. The cathode 20a includes a cathode glass substrate 21a, a cathode electrode layer 22a, a cathode electron emitter layer 23a, a dielectric layer 24a, and a gate layer 25a arranged sequentially. The insulating supporting member 15a is connected between the anode 10a and the cathode 10a for support. The cathode electron emitter layer 13a generates electrons for emission onto the phosphors layer 13a to produce light via an additional electric field, so as to excite the phosphors layer 13a to luminesce. Furthermore, the cathode electrode layer 22a is made from cathode conductive lines parallel to one another, and the gate layer 25a is made from gate conductive lines parallel to one another. The gate conductive lines are orthogonal to the cathode conductive lines. In addition, an additional voltage is forced between the gate layer 25a and the cathode electrode layer 22a. An electron beam provided by the gate layer is controlled to switch due to the orthogonal arrangement between the gate conductive lines and the cathode conductive lines. For ease of moving the electrons, a vacuum of 10−7 Torr is accordingly formed therein, a mean free path of the electrons is provided, and, furthermore, the vacuum protects the cathode electron emitter layer 223a and the phosphors layer 13a from pollution. In order to accelerate the electrons for impact, there should be a proper distance between the anode 10a and the cathode 20a. After the anode 10a, including the anode conductive layer 12a and the phosphors layer 13a, is provided with the high power, the electron beam is energized enough to excite the phosphors.
However, conventional methods make the conventional FED still hard to mass-produce due to the complicated procedures and the precise fabrications, especially for displays with large sizes. Other conventional methods using a thick film technology can be used for large size displays, but still do not provide high resolution. In addition, the relative pastes and materials are hard to implant.
In recent years, a new insulating supporting member is shaped of a panel as a rib. Referring to FIG. 1, an expansion coefficient of this material is similar to that of glass. The thickness of the plate-like device ranges from 500 μm to 1500 μm, and the plate-like device has a plurality of apertures 42′ etched therein. A diameter of each aperture 42′ can meet the FED unit (including the anode and the cathode). The plate-like device is used for a support. The conventional supporting member is shaped as a glass ball, a cross, or a strip via an adhesive stuck thereto in advance. After a sintering process, a plate-like device is made thereby. The supporting member has a size ranging from 50 μm to 200 μm. Because of the micro size, the plate-like device encounters some problems in manufacture. First, the manufacturing process is complicated. The equipment needs more precision due to the micro size. Second, the plate-like device sticky with the adhesive is polluted easily; because the conventional plate-like device uses the adhesive to connect to a panel and a sintering process is required, the adhesive easily pollutes the panel. Third after the sintering process, the solvent contained in the adhesive will escape therefrom to pollute the panel.
Hence, an improvement over the prior art is required to overcome the disadvantages thereof.

FED with insulating supporting device having reflection layer


A method and apparatus for dispensing ink to an ink fountain of a printing press. A flexible bag of ink is utilized and is compressed for forcing the ink into the fountain, and a sensor determines the level of ink in the fountain and thus controls the force on the bag, that is, the compressor on the bag.

In the presently established manners of dispensing printing press ink, the ink may be commonly taken from a rigid container and dispensed into the fountain, and this can be done manually. In some of the prior art arrangements, the ink would be supplied to the press fountain manually, and the original ink containers would necessarily be left for the ink therein to dry out and not be usable. This, and other manners, represent the prior art and are found to be time consuming, unclean, wasteful with ink, and requiring constant monitoring by the press operator. In some instances, such as that shown in U.S. Pat. 4,699,054, there is the utilization of a bag of ink which feeds, but only by gravity, into a cartridge for the movement of the ink. Printing press ink does not readily respond to gravity flow, and in the aforesaid prior art, the cartridge and its connecting parts were necessarily employed and normally become wasted parts since they cannot be cleaned and reused.
The prior art is also aware of the employment of a sensor in the printing press ink fountain for determining the level of ink in-the fountain, and the sensor may be connected to a computer which controls an ink pump for supplying ink to the fountain. Such an arrangement is that which is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,604. In that arrangement, the ink is dispensed from tanks which are connected to the fountain, and pumps are employed for moving the ink from the tank to the fountain. The arrangement is such that the tanks must be completely emptied after each print run, or the remaining ink in the tank is to be wasted, and the tanks must be specially cleaned, including the connecting lines, before refilling the tank and, of course, before changing the color of the ink.
The present invention improves upon the prior art in that it provides a method and apparatus for dispensing ink to a printing press and doing so in a manner wherein the ink is initially contained in a flexible dispensing bag and is directed to the press fountain in a simplified, automated, and reliable arrangement. More specifically, the ink is dispensed by means of sensing the level of ink in the fountain and correspondingly activating a dispenser which causes the ink to flow from the flexible bag and into the fountain. As such, there is no requirement for pumps, valves, and also no requirement for manual operations and attendance because the entire arrangement is automated, and uses only a solenoid valve.
The present invention also includes a provision and utilization of a flexible ink-containing bag which renders the entire arrangement self-contained and thus clean with regard to the handling of the ink. Other parts of the system are also arranged for easy cleaning and thus expediting the maintaining of the equipment in clean condition and the changing of the operation to different colors of ink.
Still further, the present invention provides for the handling of printing press ink in a manner wherein the operation can be interrupted at any time and the quantity of ink yet to be dispensed, such as that in the flexible bag, can be readily preserved, including the removal of the bag from the remainder of the apparatus. Also, the present arrangement is such that bags of varying sizes can be accommodated. Also, the bags can be completely evacuated in only the normal course of operation.
Another specific object is the arrangement of the dispensing system wherein the system transporting the ink can be readily cleaned at the appropriate time, and such convenience is established by having the components of the system easily disassembled for the cleaning.
Additionally, an object is to provide a flexible bag supplying the ink, and to arrange that the bag is evacuated of its ink directly into the ink fountain, that is, without the need for any interconnecting parts or method steps between the bag and the fountain.
Further, there is the provision of the parts and method steps whereby an ink dispenser manifold is disposed directly above the fountain and distributes ink evenly into the fountain, and it utilizes a distribution nozzle outlet which restricts the ink flow to impart shear to the ink to improve flow by breaking the Thixotropic nature of printing ink. The Thixotropic nature of ink causes it to resist flow if it is stationary for a while, so it is preferred to pressurize it to initiate the flow, otherwise, it has a very high vicosity.
Also, the arrangement is such that there is a direct indication of the quantity of the ink in the bag, at any point in the operation. Further, when no further ink is to be moved through the system, then there can be an evacuation of the remaining ink and thereby preliminarily clean or evacuate the ink from the system simply by utilizing the system in its normal arrangement.

Method and apparatus for dispensing ink to a printing press


An antenna apparatus is disclosed which comprises: a printed circuit board; a first loop antenna, arranged along one side of the printed circuit board, wound more than one turn; a second loop antenna, arranged along the side, wound less than one turn, one end of the first loop antenna and one end of the second loop antenna being fixed to a first area on the printed circuit board near the side; and a capacitor, fixed to a second area of the printed circuit board remote from the first area near the side, having one end connected to another end of the first loop antenna and another end connected to another end of the second loop antenna. In the antenna apparatus, the first and second loop antennas may comprise conductive rods. In the antenna apparatus, the first and second loop antennas may comprise stripe conductive plates. In the antenna apparatus, the first area and second area are remote with a distance from 5 mm to 15 mm, or a distance more than 15 mm to 30 mm, favorably, or a distance more than 30, most favorably.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an antenna apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A loop antenna is used for the VHF and UHF bands because its structure is simple and a loss is relatively little when it is held near a human body.
A double loop antenna is also known of which gain is improved.
FIG. 10 is a schematic drawing of a prior art double loop antenna. The prior art double loop antenna comprises a first loop antenna 121, a first feeding point 125 for connecting the first loop antenna 121 to a receiving circuit 123 through an input capacitor 124 on a printed circuit board 122, a capacitor 126 coupled to the first loop antenna 121 in series, a second loop antenna 127 connected to the capacitor 126, a second feeding point 128 located on the side of the first feeding point 125 for connecting the second loop antenna 127 to the ground common to the receiving circuit123, and a variable capacitor 129.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A system and method for using Psuedo-Noise (PN) phase to determine frame start of a data frame is provided. The system and method includes at least two PN component codes, wherein the at least two PN component codes are relatively prime. A received PN composite encoded signal is correlated with at least one of the PN component codes and a frame start is determined. With reference to frame start at least one training sequence bit is located. The training bits may be overwritten on FEC encoded frame data such that a FEC decoder may be used to recover data overwritten by the training sequence bit(s).

Spread spectrum (SS) systems, which may be CDMA systems, are well known in the art. SS systems can employ a transmission technique in which a pseudo-noise (PN) PN-code is used as a modulating waveform to spread the signal energy over a bandwidth much greater than the signal information bandwidth. At the receiver the signal is de-spread using a synchronized replica of the PN-code. The receiver can include an adaptive filter, such as one embodied in the form of a rake receiver, that is used for parallel correlation (acquisition) and multipath mitigation (tracking) of a received spread spectrum signal.
A variety of multiple access communication systems have been developed for transferring information among a large number of system users. Techniques employed by such multiple access communication systems include time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), and AM modulation schemes, such as amplitude companded single sideband (ACSSB), the basics of which are well known in the art.
In Spread Spectrum (SS) or TDMA-SS transmission systems a succession of short-duration bursts emanating from a number of different stations are presented to a demodulator. Each burst may contain data frames from one or more data channels. Furthermore, the data frames may be interleaved data frames. Each data frame (interleaved or otherwise) generally contains a sync word used by the demodulator for frame synchronization purposes. In addition, one or more data frames may contain known bit patterns or training sequences used by the demodulator to improve the quality of reception. In general the location of these training sequences within a data frame are known in relation to the location of the sync word. It will be appreciated therefore that the sync word must be rapidly identified by the demodulator.
It should be noted that data frame synchronization is required as well in non-burst communication systems, such as continuous or substantially continuous transmission systems.
It can be appreciated that using sync words can result in certain disadvantages being realized. As examples, the use of sync words can: 1) require additional data bandwidth; 2) decrease available payload data space; 3) introduce a susceptibility of the sync word to corruption by noise or jamming, 4) introduce a potential for false synchronization; and 5) require some amount of additional time for a demodulator to search for and correlate with sync word.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a system and method for rapid synchronization of a received signal, such as one containing data frames, and, when desired, the locating of bit patterns, such as training bits, in real time, or near real time, with respect to demodulator functions.

System and method for predictive synchronization for locating interleaving frames and demodulation training sequences


An improved grate riser assembly for use with catch basins and the like comprising vertically open rectangular frames with two opposing frame sections carrying inwardly projecting horizontally grate support flanges. Cooperating grates have opposite end portions of parallel spaced apart grate members resting on the flanges. The grate riser assembly includes two or more grate risers having vertically open generally rectangular frames coextensive with a catch basin frame and with opposing vertical side and end wall sections of a height substantially equal to the depth of pavement overlay. The frame rests atop a catch basin frame with its top edge substantially level with the top surface of the pavement overlay. At least two horizontally spaced connectors depend from each of two opposing grate riser frame sections to support a pair of elevated horizontal grate support members. The connectors on one frame section are spaced widely apart and on the other frame section narrowly apart. The grate support members have notches therein for receiving vertically the connectors associated with the opposite support member. The second grate riser is rotated through 180.degree. so that the notches thereon receive the connectors of the grate riser therebeneath. The grate is disposed within the second grate riser so as to accommodate a second pavement overlay.

This invention relates to grate risers for catch basins of the type shown and described in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,544,302 entitled CATCH BASIN GRATE RISER.
Conventional catch basins are formed with generally rectangular frames having at least two similar opposing frame sections each of which carries an inwardly projecting horizontally support flange. The grates associated With the frames include a plurality of parallel spaced apart elongated grate members which are adapted to rest at opposite end portions on the aforementioned frame flanges. The grates are conventionally held in position within the frame by gravity.
When an associated road surface is repaved, there are three conventional techniques employed in raising catch basins to the level of the top surface of the new pavement or overlay.
The first of the conventional techniques requires the aforementioned parts of the catch basin to be removed together with a precast concrete supporting member which is usually associated therewith. Bricks or the like may then be employed to support the precast concrete member at the desired elevated position whereupon the concrete member, the catch basin frame, and the grate are repositioned With the bricks therebeneath.
A second technique or method involves the welding of sections of angle iron or the like to the opposite end portions of the grate at lower portions thereof. This results in the grate being elevated to the desired level while the frame remains in its original position. At its end portions the grate is of course exposed to paving material which may find its way between the grate members and this of course creates a detrimental condition.
A third method involves the welding of a new frame to the top of the existing frame of the catch basin. This of course accommodates only the raising of the catch basin elements an increment equal to the height of the original frame and grate. Thus, if a conventional 31/2 inch frame and grate are employed, the elevation thereof can only be 31/2 inches. The paving on the other hand may have a desired thickness of only 11/2 inches.
As will be apparent, each of the foregoing techniques or methods involves an inefficient and time consuming operation. The removal and replacement of all or part of a catch basin of course requires a substantial expenditure in time. A resulting delay in the paving operation occurs and it is also necessary to employ heavy equipment when the concrete member is removed. At a minimum, and in the practice of each of the foregoing methods, operations such as welding or brick laying are involved. This may require considerable time and expense and even a possible transfer of parts to a welding shop etc.
The grate riser of the aforementioned patent may be installed in a highly efficient and rapid operation and there is no interference Whatsoever With the associated road paving operation. The grate is merely removed from the catch basin, the grate riser is deposited within the frame of the catch basin and the grate is then returned to its initial position except for the elevation thereof by the grate riser. That is, the grate is maintained precisely in a desired position horizontally but is elevated by the grate riser to the exact height required by the thickness of the new pavement.
As will be apparent, the patented grate riser is a highly efficient tool in a repaving operation and has found wide acceptance. There is, however, one major problem which arises in the use of the grate riser. Only a single repavement or pavement overlay can be accomplished.
It is the general object of the present invention to provide an improved grate riser assembly wherein two or more grate risers can be stacked atop one another to accommodate two or more repaving operations or pavement overlays.

Grate riser assembly for use with catch basins and the like


An OTDM transmitting method and transmitter realizing an OTDM distortion-free transmission substantially not relying upon dispersion. A time division multiplexed OTDM signal from an OTDM signal transmitter (1) enters an optical Fourier transform unit (2). Optical Fourier transform can be carried out most accurately so long as the optical pulse is a chirp-free Fourier transform limit pulse. The optical Fourier transform unit (2) converts the time waveform of the pulse into a signal on the frequency axis, and an optical inverse Fourier transform unit (2′) converts a spectral shape on the frequency axis into a time waveform (pulse). An optical fiber transmission line (3) is a transmission line having an arbitrary dispersion and a polarization mode dispersion. These dispersions may involve a time variation. An OTDM signal receiver (4) demultiplexes a transmission signal into low-speed optical signals, in a light region, receives optical pulses for respective channels and converts them into electric signals.

In optical-fiber communication, time division multiplexing (TDM) and wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) are used as multiplexing techniques for increasing the number of signal channels served by a single fiber-optic line and making effective use of the line. Especially, a method known as optical time division multiplexing (OTDM) enables optical transmission at a rate higher than any electric processing speed, by dividing an optical pulse into channels, modulating data at the base repetition frequency of the pulse train before multiplexing, and performing time-division multiplexing of each channel in the optical domain.
In 40-Gb/s or higher ultrahigh-speed OTDM transmission, for instance, the pulse interval is quite smaller than in conventional transmission systems. Accordingly, light to be used as a signal must be a very short pulse having a pulse width of several picoseconds to sub-picoseconds. When OTDM transmission is implemented with those very short pulses, one of important issues is to reduce signal waveform distortions due to linear effects of the optical fiber such as chromatic dispersion and polarization dispersion.
Experimental results of ultrahigh-speed OTDM transmission reported so far include 480-km transmission at 160 Gb/s, 100-km transmission at 640 Gb/s, and 70-km transmission at 1.28 Tb/s (see non-patent documents 1 to 3). In those experiments, time-domain waveform distortions of the transmission signal were reduced by using a dispersion compensating fiber or a dispersion slope compensating fiber and controlling the dispersion value and dispersion slope of the entire transmission fiber very precisely.
The present inventors have filed patent applications on an optical transmission method and apparatus which compensate for arbitrary dispersion, polarization-mode dispersion, and waveform distortions of the signal transmitted through an optical fiber having timing jitter, simultaneously and completely by a Fourier transform (patent document 1), and on an optical pulse compressor and optical pulse generator which compress the time width of an optical pulse output from a pulse light source at a certain ratio and provide a certain pulse waveform, with very short pulse techniques used in ultrahigh-speed optical transmission and optical measurement (patent document 2).
Non-Patent Document 1
J. L. Auge, M. Cavallari, M. Jones, P. Kean, D. Watley, and A. Hadjifotiou, "Single channel 160 Gb/s OTDM propagation over 480 km of standard fiber using a 40 GHz semiconductor mode-locked laser pulse source," Optical Fiber Communication Conference (OFC) 2002, Paper TuA3.
Non-Patent Document 2
Takashi Yamamoto, Eiji Yoshida, Koichi Tamura, Masataka Nakazawa, "640-Gb/s OTDM signal transmission over 100 km, using femtosecond pulses," the Transactions (C), the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers of Japan, Vol. J83-B, pp. 625-633, 2000.
Non-Patent Document 3
Takashi Yamamoto, Koichi Tamura, Masataka Nakazawa, "1.28-Tb/s OTDM transmission of femtosecond pulses over 70 km, using simultaneous compensation of third-order or fourth-order dispersion by a phase modulator," the Transactions (B), the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers of Japan, Vol. J84-B, pp. 1587-1597, 2001
Patent Document 1
Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-23973
Patent Document 2
Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-109708


An ink jet pen that is equipped with a free ink chamber. The ink jet pen has a free ink chamber in fluid communication with a negative pressure producing chamber. The negative pressure producing chamber is in communication with a printhead. The ink jet pen has a power source and a surface detection device. The surface detection device is adapted to move along a surface of the substrate.

Ink jet printing is a conventional technique by which printing is accomplished without contact between the printing apparatus and the substrate, or medium, on which the desired print characters are deposited. Such printing is accomplished by ejecting ink from an ink jet printhead of the printing apparatus via numerous methods which employ, for example, pressurized nozzles, electrostatic fields, piezo-electric elements and/or heaters for vapor phase droplet formation.
Recently there has been a desire for a hand-held printer, which utilizes the same ink jet printing technology. One embodiment of this hand-held printer is an ink jet pen. The ink jet pen utilizes a printhead to deposit ink on a substrate rather than utilizing a conventional ballpoint roller or felt tip marker of a conventional pen. A user of the ink jet pen activates the pen to begin writing and moves the ink jet pen in a similar motion as a user would move a conventional pen to deposit ink on the substrate. It is desired that the ink jet pen be similar in shape and/or size to a conventional pen to allow the user to efficiently and effectively use the ink jet pen for writing. Accordingly, the conventional components of ink jet printing must be miniaturized to fit in the conventional long and slender shape of a pen.
Thus, ink reservoirs of the hand-held ink jet pen differ from conventional ink jet printer cartridge ink reservoirs in their shape and size. Since the size of the ink jet pen is desired to be limited, the overall efficiency of the ink jet system is desired to be increased. One potential drawback of a long and slender reservoir is that it deviates from the spherical shape which theoretically holds the largest amount of ink for a small surface area. One solution known in the art to attempt to overcome this opportunity for improvement is to increase the efficiency of the reservoir material which produces a negative pressure to avoid drooling of the ink. However, there potentially remains a substantial quantity of ink stranded in the reservoir material which can affect the page yield of the ink reservoir and therefore the overall efficiency of the ink jet pen. As such, there is a need for an ink jet pen with increased efficiency in overall yield from the ink reservoir. Accordingly, improved ink jet pens are desired.


The present invention is directed to facilitate debugging in a semiconductor integrated circuit device including a plurality of microprocessors. A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes: a plurality of processors; a plurality of debug interfaces enabling debugging of the corresponding processors; a plurality of common terminals shared by the plurality of debug interfaces; a selection circuit capable of selectively connecting the plurality of debug interfaces to the common terminals; and a controller capable of controlling selecting operation in the selection circuit in accordance with a predetermined instruction. A first selector capable of selectively connecting the plurality of debug interfaces to a TRST terminal in the terminal group conformed with the JTAG specifications, and a second selector capable of selectively connecting the plurality of debug interfaces to terminals other than the TRST terminal are provided. With the configuration, even in the case where the number of processors increases, the invention can flexibly address the increase.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit device including a plurality of microprocessors and, more particularly, to a technique for facilitating debugging in the semiconductor integrated circuit device.
A semiconductor integrated circuit device in which a plurality of microprocessors are formed on a single semiconductor substrate is a technique attracting attention in recent years.
As a method of debugging a semiconductor integrated circuit device including a plurality of microprocessors, a first technique is known in which a group of debug terminals of the same number as that of mounted processors is provide for a semiconductor integrated circuit device, and debugging devices are connected to the terminals, thereby individually debugging any of the processors by using the corresponding debugging device. A second technique is also known in which a debug terminal group is provided for a semiconductor integrated circuit device, and TAP controllers connected to processors are connected in series, thereby debugging all of the processors by using one debugging device (refer to, for example, the second and third paragraphs in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-164367).
Further, a third technique is also known which provides: a plurality of processors; a debug executing unit for executing debugging of the plurality of processors; a TAP (Test Access Port) for controlling the debug executing unit; a terminal group connected to an external debugging apparatus; and a selector for selecting at least one or all of processors to be subjected to the debugging. With the configuration, a processor to be debugged can be selected (refer to, for example, the nine and subsequent paragraphs in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-164367).

Test access control for plural processors of an integrated circuit