A CPU of a mobile telephone can carry out both a standby operation for monitoring an incoming call addressed to the mobile telephone and an image processing operation for processing an image captured by a camera. When a camera-dedicated mode is selected, the standby operation is prohibited during an image capture operation of the camera. When the image captured by the camera is processed, negative effects of the standby operation on the process of the image captured by the camera can be avoided. In this manner, the image captured by the camera can be smoothly, appropriately processed, enhancing the operability of the mobile telephone.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal that has telephonic communication capability and includes a control means, which carries out both a standby operation for monitoring an incoming call and an image processing operation for processing an image captured by an image capture means. The present invention also relates to a program executed in such a mobile terminal.
2. Description of Related Art
A mobile telephone having a camera is known as one type of mobile terminals. Such a mobile telephone is capable of transmitting an image captured by the camera along with an e-mail message. The mobile telephone is also capable of displaying the captured image as a standby screen image or an incoming call notification screen image on its display. These features enhance the entertainment value of the mobile telephone. In order to reduce a cost of the mobile telephone, the mobile telephone can have one CPU (Central Processing Unit) that carries out both a standby operation for monitoring an incoming call and an image processing operation for processing the image captured by the camera. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the CPU can conduct the standby operation at predetermined time intervals, which are defined by a corresponding communication standard. Furthermore, the CPU can conduct the image processing operation for processing the captured image at the time periods, during which the standby operation is not conducted.
When a state of a radio environment around the mobile telephone is relatively good, the time required for searching a paging channel becomes relatively short, and thus the time required for conducting the standby operation becomes relatively short. On the other hand, when the state of the radio environment is relatively bad, the time required for searching the paging channel becomes relatively long, and thus the time required for conducting the standby operation becomes relatively long. As a result, in the above arrangement where the one CPU carries out both the standby operation and the image processing operation, when the state of the radio environment changes from the relatively good state to the relatively bad state, the time required for the standby operation becomes relatively long. In such a case, the standby operation cannot be finished when the image processing operation needs to be started (see t1 and t2 in FIG. 7B).
In the above arrangement where the CPU cannot simultaneously carry out both the standby operation and the image processing operation, when the standby operation is not finished at the time of starting the image processing operation, the image processing operation cannot be started if priority of the standby operation is higher than that of the image processing operation. This causes removal of some image frames, causing a reduction in the number of the image frames. Thus, image capturing performance of the mobile telephone is disadvantageously reduced. Furthermore, even if the CPU is capable of simultaneously carrying out both the standby operation and the image processing operation, performance of the CPU dedicated for the image processing operation is reduced since the CPU needs to sprit its performance between the standby operation and the image processing operation. Thus, the performance of the CPU dedicated for the image processing operation is reduced, and thus the number of the image frames is reduced. This causes a reduction in the image capturing performance of the mobile telephone.

Mobile terminal and program executed therein


A gray scale display method is provided. The method includes: dividing a matrix arrangement taking a pixel unit as a display unit into a matrix arrangement taking a plurality of pixel units as the display unit, where the display unit including the plurality of pixel units is a pixel module, and the pixel unit includes at least one sub-pixel; in a case that an average gray scale of the pixel module is smaller than a preset value, displaying a part of the pixel units of the pixel module with a preset gray scale, where the preset gray scale is larger than the average gray scale.

At present, due to inherent defects of an AMOLED (Active-matrix organic light-emitting diode) display device, the display effect of a low-gray scale image is not ideal enough, the color coordinates and the standard gamma curve have a larger deviation, and the lower the gray scale is, the larger the deviation is. That is, when a low-gradation picture is displayed, there is a deviation in color. The poor display effect of the low gray scale image becomes one of the main defects of the AMOLED screen.

Chengdu BOE OptoelectronicsTechnology Co., Ltd.


In an exemplary embodiment, a portable data device is insertable into a docking receptacle for communication with other devices. In route delivery operations and the like, a hand-held computerized data terminal is coupled with a docking unit for recharging of its batteries and communication e.g. with a printer. Preferably, the terminal can be loaded into the docking receptacle with a single motion. The terminal may be automatically positively locked in the receptacle as it is loaded with one hand; thus the terminal may be securely held in the receptacle of a portable printer even if the printer is dropped or subjected to a severe jolt. Removal may be accomplished by a push button-eject or by a single motion with one hand. The disclosure includes various docking configurations which may have non-critical alignment requirements, provide electrical contacts sealed against moisture, and economically accommodate different size terminals and the like. Programmed control of the printer-terminal system provides for feedback from the printer to a primary controller to confirm that each line of data has been actually printed.

In the route distribution industry, where a truck driver makes numerous deliveries to individual customers and locations, it is necessary for the driver to make a record of each delivery and to provide a delivery ticket or invoice to each customer along with the goods delivered. In one approach a printing device is mounted within the truck driver's vehicle. The printer receives a hand-held data entry unit and provides invoices or delivery tickets.
Briefcase type printer devices have been developed so that invoices can be created within the customers' stores. Such briefcase configurations may have a receptacle for receiving a data entry terminal unit.
In the data capture field generally, there are many applications where hand-held data terminals should be of rugged construction so as to survive rough handling. Many operators are not inclined toward painstaking or precise manipulations. An example is in the use of RF data capture terminals on forklift trucks in factories and warehouses where items to be transported are identified by bar codes. Other examples are found in the fields of route delivery and direct store delivery where many items are handled and the terminal means automates the accounting function. Even in applications where bar code data is transmitted on-line to a central station, it may be desirable for hand-held terminals to be inserted into docking apparatus for the interchange of data signals e.g. the loading of scheduling information or the like into the terminal at the beginning of a working shift. Further where terminal means has memory capacity for accumulating data during a delivery operation or the like, it may be desirable for such data to be transferred to a printer so that a hard copy may be produced. In cases where rechargeable batteries are used, the docking apparatus may provide for the recharging of such batteries at the same time as data communication is taking place.
It is conceived that it would be highly advantageous to provide a data capture system with docking apparatus adaptable to a wide range of terminal means, and which furthermore could be quickly and simply loaded in a relatively foolproof manner, and without requiring attention and care from operators engaged in physically demanding and arduous work routines. A docking apparatus would be desirable that completely avoids the use of mating pin and socket type electrical connections, and that does not rely on a specialized configuration of the terminal, e.g. the provision of an optical scanner tip which may be used for data communication.

Data capture system with communicating and recharging docking apparatus, and modular printer and hand-held data terminal means cooperable therewith


A pharmaceutical formulation for prolonged release of the active ingredient 3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl)phenol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in a matrix containing between 1 and 80 wt. % of at least one pharmaceutically acceptable hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymer as a matrix forming agent and exhibiting in vivo the following release rate: 3 to 35% by weight (based on 100% by weight active ingredient) 3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methyl-propyl)phenol released after 0.5 hours; 5 to 50% by weight 3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methyl-propyl)phenol released after 1 hour; 10 to 75% by weight 3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methyl-propyl)phenol released after 2 hours; 15 to 82% by weight 3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methyl-propyl)phenol released after 3 hours; 30 to 97% by weight 3-(3-dimethylaminol-1-ethyl-2-methyl-propyl)phenol released after 6 hours; more than 50% by weight 3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methyl-propyl)phenol released after 12 hours; more than 70% by weight 3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methyl-propyl)phenol released after 18 hours, and more than 80% by weight 3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methyl-propyl)phenol released after 24 hours.

The present invention relates to a slow-release pharmaceutical formulation, containing 3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methyl-propyl)phenol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in a matrix.
3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methyl-propyl)phenol is known from European patent no. EP 693,475 as an analgesic pharmaceutical composition and can be administered orally. Conventional formulations for oral administration of 3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methyl-propyl)phenol lead to rapid release of the active ingredient in the gastrointestinal tract, so its analgesic action begins rapidly. At the same time, a rapid reduction in the action is observed. Therefore, the treatment of pronounced chronic pain with 3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methyl-propyl)phenol formerly required administration of the pharmaceutical composition at relatively short intervals, for example four to eight times daily, to ensure an adequately high concentration of active ingredient in the patient's blood plasma. However, the need for frequent dosing easily leads to errors in administration and to undesirable variations in concentration in the plasma which are detrimental to patient compliance and the therapeutic benefit, particularly when treating chronically painful conditions. It is therefore desirable to have a slow release pharmaceutical composition (retard formulation) for oral administration of the active ingredient, 3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methyl-propyl)phenol.
In the prior art, retard formulations are generally known for a large number of different active ingredients. Conventional forms of retardation include coating retardation and matrix retardation.
In coating retardation as described, for example, in published German patent application no. DE 36 25 458, the nucleus of a pharmaceutical composition containing an active ingredient is provided with a coating which consists of one or more hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic polymers and slows down release of the active ingredient.
In matrix retardation, the active ingredient is contained in a matrix which is formed from one or more excipients and controls release of the active ingredient. Published German patent application no. DE 33 09 516, for example, accordingly discloses a process for producing matrix formulations with hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) as excipient and slow release, in part, of the active ingredient, the excipient making up not more than one third of the weight of the formulation and consisting of at least one hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose having a methoxy content of 16 to 24% by weight, a hydroxypropyl content of 4 to 32% by weight and a numerically averaged molecular weight of at least 50,000. The formulations disclosed in DE 33 09 516 A1 contain HPMCs having viscosities (in a 2% by weight aqueous solution at 20° C.) between 15 and 30,000 cPs (15 to 30,000 mPa·s). Release behavior which is independent of the pH of the dissolution medium is not disclosed in DE 33 09 516 A1.

Prolonged release pharmaceutical composition containing 3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methyl-propyl)phenol


A residue deflector is disposed in a combine body, and positioned along an airflow path to guide residue from an exit end of a cleaning shoe and a threshing and separation assembly, to a residue chopper. The deflector is configured with a plurality of spaced fingers so that air can pass through the deflector between the fingers.

Large quantities of air are blown out of the back of agricultural combines. The air is generated by one or more fans in the combine and is used to separate grain from material other than grain (MOG). As the threshing, separating and cleaning capacity of combines increases, more airflow through the combine is provided. This increased airflow has meant that combines are made with a larger airflow path through the combine.
Some combines are configured with a chopper. The copper receives and chops the MOG before it leaves the combine. The chopped MOG can be spread by a spreader or dropped into a windrow.
As the airflow path through the combine increases, there is a risk that MOG that should be chopped will not be chopped, but will bypass the combine residue chopper and be thrown out the back of the combine. Further, some of the MOG may be chopped in the combine residue chopper, and thrown back into the combine cleaning shoe where it could damage the sieves and chaffers.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Straw deflector for an agricultural combine


A photoresist composition containing a photo-curing polymer and a photosensitive agent, wherein the photosensitive agent comprises at least two compounds selected from the group consisting of 4,4'-diazido-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonate sodium salt, 4,4'-diazo-2,2'-dibenzalacetone disulfonate disodium salt, 2,5-bis(4-azido-2-sulfobenzylidene) cyclopentanone disodium salt and 4,4'-diazido-2,2'-dicinnamylideneacetone sulfonate salt. By performing a lithography process using the photoresist composition, the exposure time can be shortened, thereby improving the yield of products.

The present invention relates to a photoresist composition, and more particularly, to a photoresist composition which can be used for forming a black matrix pattern for a cathode ray tube by using a lithography process and which can obtain a sufficient hardening effect even in a short exposure time.
In general, in the screen of a color cathode ray tube, green, blue and red-emitting phosphor patterns are arranged regularly in a dot or stripe form. Also, in order to improve contrast and color purity of the screen, a black matrix is formed between the respective phosphor patterns. The block matrix is generally formed by using a lithography process, like in forming the phosphor patterns.
The lithography process is comprised of the steps of coating, exposing and developing the photoresist. Here, the photoresist is divided into a positive type and a negative type, which is selectively used in consideration of the required sensitivity, shape and resolution of a pattern to be formed, and coherence to a substrate.
In more detail, in the case of using a positive photoresist, a slurry of photoresist and graphite is first manufactured. Next, the slurry is coated on the inner surface of a CRT panel, a shadow mask is provided, and then the slurry is exposed and developed to form a black matrix pattern.
However, in the case of using a negative photoresist, if the same method is used as in the case of the positive photoresist, the black matrix pattern may be formed at the portion where the phosphor patterns are to be formed. Accordingly, a process different from that using a positive photoresist must be adopted for forming the black matrix pattern.
In other words, a negative photoresist composition not containing graphite is coated on the inner surface of a CRT panel and then exposed and developed to form a resin pattern at the exposed portions where the phosphor patterns are to be formed. Graphite is coated on the resin pattern formed surface and then the resin pattern is etched using sulfuric acid, thereby forming the black matrix pattern.
The negative photoresist composition contains a photo-curing polymer resin and a photosensitive agent dissolved in an organic solvent. As the photosensitive agent, one of 4,4'-diazido-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonate sodium salt (DAS) is mainly used.
The photosensitive agent is sensitive to light and functions as a cross linking agent. If the negative photoresist is coated and then light is irradiated for a predetermined time, the photoresist is hardened by the cross linking reaction of the polymer with the photosensitive agent. Here, in order to reduce the time of the lithography process, it is necessary to shorten the exposure time. For this purpose, it is necessary to develop a photoresist having excellent photo-reactivity.


A gimbal formed integral with a load beam by through etching a pattern at the end of the beam to define a pair of tabs connected by a pair of beams; half etching from the head direction one tab with an defined area masked to form a load button; and half etching the beam from the other direction to provide the proper gimbal stiffness. In practice, the head is glued to the other tab and load is applied through the button. The tabs are shaped to permit wire connections to top surface electrical contact terminals.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of flexures for supporting the slider which carries the read/write transducer in a hard disc drive data storage device, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a flexure which is particularly suited to use with a slider which has wire connection terminals for the transducer on its top surface.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
The above-cited co-pending U.S. patent application discloses a one-piece, or unitary, flexure for mounting a slider body which in turn includes a transducer for recording and retrieving data--also referred to as writing and reading, respectively--in the magnetic medium on the surface of a rigid rotating disc. The slider body includes a self-acting hydrodynamic air bearing surface which interacts with a very thin layer of air pulled along with the spinning disc to "fly" the slider slightly above the disc surface. The above-cited Patent Application includes claims concerning a slider mounting tab formed in its gimbal section and intended to be adhesively bonded to the top surface of the slider body in the area closely adjacent to the trailing edge of the slider body. Such an attachment scheme anticipates that the transducer used for reading and writing is located on the trailing surface of the slider body and that the transducer termination points--for connection via wires to the read/write electronics of the disc drive--are also located on the trailing surface of the slider body. Heads using this type of transducer termination are the most common in current use.
Recent developments in automated production techniques, however, have lead to the development of heads in which the transducer terminations are on the top surface of the slider body in the area closely adjacent the trailing surface of the slider body. Since the above-cited Patent Application anticipates using this portion of the slider for attachment to the flexure, another configuration of the gimbal components was needed to allow for the use of top-terminated head assemblies.

Gimbal for a flexure for top-terminated heads


A delay locked loop circuit includes a phase comparison unit configured to compare a reference clock with a feedback clock and to output a phase comparison signal, a clock delay unit configured to delay a first reference clock in response to the phase comparison signal, to output a first delay locked clock, to delay one of the first delay locked clock and a second reference clock according to a frequency information signal, and to output a second delay locked clock, a delay locked clock generating unit configured to output a delay locked clock as a phase-mixed clock of the first delay locked clock and the second delay locked clock, the first delay locked clock, or the second delay locked clock in response to the frequency information signal and a delay transfer signal, and a delay replica model unit configured to reflect a delay condition of the reference clock.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a delay locked loop circuit for a semiconductor device.
A synchronous semiconductor device, including a double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), transfers data to external devices using an internal clock synchronized with an external clock inputted from an external device.
It is important to synchronize data outputted from a memory cell with an external clock provided by a memory controller to the memory cell in order to stably transfer data between the memory cell and the memory controller.
Herein, the data outputted from the memory cell is synchronized with the internal clock and is outputted. The internal clock is applied to be synchronized with the external clock when the internal clock is applied to the memory cell. However, the internal clock is not synchronized with the external clock when the internal clock is outputted to outside the memory cell because the internal clock is delayed when passing through internal elements of the memory cell.
Accordingly, in order to compensate for the delay and to stably transfer the data outputted from the memory cell, the internal clock should be synchronized with the external clock by adjusting a bus-loading time of the data to correctly align a delayed internal clock with an edge or a center of the external clock. The bus-loading time of the data represents the time for loading data on the bus.
A phase locked loop (PLL) circuit and a delayed locked loop (DLL) are used in a clock synchronization circuit for performing the operation described above.
If a frequency of the external clock and a frequency of the internal clock are different from each other, the PLL is used as the clock synchronization circuit because a frequency dividing function is requested. But, if a frequency of the external clock is identical to a frequency of the internal clock, the DLL is used as the clock synchronization circuit because the DLL is implemented in a smaller area than the PLL and is not as sensitive to a noise as the PLL.
Because the semiconductor device uses the same frequency, the DLL is widely used as the clock synchronization circuit.
In particular, a register controlled DLL is most widely used in the semiconductor device.
The register controlled DLL has a register for storing a locked delay value. The register controlled DLL performs a clock synchronization operation at a relatively small phase difference between the internal clock and the external clock in an initial operation of a semiconductor device by storing the locked delay value in the register when a power is switched off, and by loading the locked delay value stored in the register to lock the internal clock when the power is applied to the memory device. After the initial operation of the semiconductor device, the register controlled DLL may decrease a time consumed in the synchronization of the internal clock and the external clock by adjusting a variation width of the locked delay value of the register based on a phase difference between the internal clock and the external clock.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a register controlled DLL circuit in accordance with a conventional semiconductor device.
As shown in FIG. 1, a register controlled DLL circuit in accordance with a conventional semiconductor device includes a clock buffering unit 180, a phase comparison unit 100, a clock delay unit 120, a delay locked clock generating unit 140 and a delay replica model unit 160.
The clock buffering unit 180 receives an external clock CLK and an inverted clock CLK# of the external clock (hereinafter, referred to as an inverted external clock CLK#) inputted from an external device. The clock buffering unit 180 outputs a reference clock REFCLK to the phase comparison unit 100, and outputs a first reference clock REFCLK_F and a second reference clock REFCLK_R to the clock delay unit 120.
The clock comparison unit 100 receives the reference clock REFCLK and a feedback clock FBCLK, compares the reference clock REFCLK with the feedback clock FBCLK, and generates first and second delay control signals DLY_LOCK_CRL_F and DLY_LOCK_CRL_R.
The clock comparison unit 100 includes a clock phase comparison block 102 and a delay control signal generating block 104.
The clock phase comparison block 102 compares a phase of the reference clock REFCLK with a phase of the feedback clock FBCLK and generates a clock comparison signal PHASE_COMP.
The delay control signal generating block 104 generates the first delay control signal DLY_LOCK_CRL_F for controlling a delay operation of to a first clock delay block 122 of the clock delay unit 120 in response to the clock phase comparison signal PHASE_COMP, and generates the second delay control signal DLY_LOCK_CRL_R for controlling a delay operation of a second clock delay block 124 of the clock delay unit 120 in response to the clock phase comparison signal PHASE_COMP.
The clock delay unit 120 delays the first and second reference clocks REFCLK_F and REFCLK_R corresponding to first and second edges (e.g., a falling edge and a rising edge) of the reference clock in response to the first and second delay control signals DLY_LOCK_CRL_F and DLY_LOCK_CRL_R, respectively, and outputs first and second delay locked clocks DLLCLK_F and DLLCLK_R as delayed clocks of the first and second reference clocks REFCLK_F and REFCLK_R, respectively.
The clock delay unit 120 includes the first clock delay block 122 and the second clock delay block 124.
The first clock delay block 122 delays the first reference clock REFCLK_F by a delay amount corresponding to the first delay control signal DLY_LOCK_CRL_F outputted from the phase comparison unit 100, and outputs the first delay locked clock DLLCLK_F as the delayed clock of the first reference clock REFCLK_F.
The second clock delay block 124 delays the second reference clock REFCLK_R by a delay amount corresponding to the second delay control signal DLY_LOCK_CRL_R outputted from the phase comparison unit 100, and outputs the second delay locked clock DLLCLK_R as the delayed clock of the second reference clock REFCLK_R.
The delay locked clock generating unit 140 mixes a phase of the first delay locked clock DLLCLK_F and a phase of the second delay locked clock DLLCLK_R, and outputs a delay locked clock DLLCLK as a phase-mixed clock of the first and second delay locked clock DLLCLK_F and DLLCLK_R.
The delay replica model unit 160 reflects a delay time of a real output path of the reference clock REFCLK on the delay locked clock DLLCLK, and outputs the feedback clock FBCLK.
A basic locking operation of the register controlled DLL circuit in accordance with the conventional semiconductor device is described immediately below.
The first delay locked clock DLLCLK_F and the second delay locked clock DLLCLK_R are outputted by delaying the first reference clock REFCLK_F corresponding to a first edge of the reference clock REFCLK and the second reference clock REFCLK_R corresponding to a second edge of the reference clock REFCLK, respectively, in order to synchronize a rising edge of the reference clock REFCLK with a rising edge of the feedback clock FBCLK having a different phase before the locking state.
Herein, a phase of the first delay locked clock DLLCLK_F is mixed with a phase of the second delay locked clock DLLCLK_R to generate a delay locked clock DLLCLK. A real delay condition of the reference clock REFCLK is reflected on the delay locked clock DLLCLK, and the feedback clock FBCLK is outputted. As a phase delay amount of the first reference clock REFCLK_F and the second reference clock REFCLK_R increases, a phase difference between the reference clock REFCLK and the feedback clock FBCLK decreases.
Meanwhile, the clock delay unit 120 described above is configured to prevent a distortion of a duty ratio of the delay locked clock DLLCLK outputted from a DLL circuit.
In the case of an external clock CLK and an inverted external clock CLK# inputted from an external device, a distorted duty ratio may be inputted and a delay locked clock DLLCLK may have the distorted duty ratio when a delay locked operation is simply performed with the external clock CLK and the inverted external clock CLK#.
However, distortion of the duty ratio of the delay locked clock DLLCLK outputted from the DLL circuit is prevented by the DLL circuit as shown in FIG. 1.
When the external clock CLK and the inverted external clock CLK# have high frequencies, the duty ratio correction operation is requested. However, when the external clock CLK and the inverted external clock CLK# have low frequencies, the duty ratio correction operation is not requested.
That is, when the external clock CLK and the inverted external clock CLK# have high frequencies, the distortion of the duty ratio may cause a large jitter because one period of a clock is very short. However, when the external clock CLK and the inverted external clock CLK# have low frequencies, the distortion of the duty ratio may cause little jitter because one period of a clock is very long.
Further, when the external clock CLK and the inverted external clock CLK# have high frequencies, a delay amount of a clock delay unit, compensated according to a phase difference between the reference clock REFCLK and the feedback clock FBCLK, is very short because one period of a clock is very short. However, when the external clock CLK and the inverted external clock CLK# have low frequencies, a delay amount of a clock delay unit, compensated according to a phase difference between the reference clock REFCLK and the feedback clock FBCLK, is very long because one period of a clock is very long.
Accordingly, because the register controlled DLL circuit in accordance with the conventional semiconductor device performs a duty ratio correction operation irrespective of the frequencies of the external clock CLK and the inverted external clock CLK#, the operation of the register controlled DLL circuit is inefficient, and the clock delay unit must have a large area to generate a large delay amount for outputting the delay locked clock DLLCLK.


A method of measuring a thickness of a sheet being conveyed on a transport path includes rotating a substantially cylindrical reference surface disposed in the transport path and engaging a probe with the reference surface to determine a runout value for each of a set of positions along a circumference of the reference surface. The method further includes conveying the sheet on the transport path so that the sheet contacts the reference surface at one position of the set, engaging the probe with the sheet at the one position to determine a measured sheet thickness value, and adjusting the measured sheet thickness value based on the runout value for the one position to obtain an actual sheet thickness value.

Inserter machines are used to create mailpieces for many different applications. Inserters contain a generally modular array of components to carry out the various processes associated with mailpiece creation. The processes include preparing documents, assembling the documents associated with a given mailpiece, adding any designated inserts, stuffing the assembly into an envelope, and printing information on the envelope.
Inserter machines create mailpieces based on a data file that contains information regarding the individual mailpieces, or based on information read directly from a code on the documents of the mailpieces. In both arrangements, the inserter is instructed to create mailpieces having specific content pages and insert materials (or no insert materials), among other features.
Occasionally, processing errors occur in inserter machines that result in mailpiece errors, such as incorrect content pages and/or inserts. In one example, a mailpiece may include one or more fewer or additional content pages than intended. Such errors may be particularly significant where the content relates to private information, such as financial or health related information, for example. Accordingly, it may be desirable to verify that the mailpieces created by an inserter machine actually contain the intended contents.


The structured catalyst for oxidation for exhaust gas purification includes a support having a porous structure constituted by a zeolite-type compound, and at least one type of oxidation catalyst that is present in the support and selected from the group consisting of metal and metal oxide, the support having channels that communicate with each other, and the oxidation catalyst being present in at least the channels of the support.

As the environmental awareness increases in recent years, automobile exhaust gas regulations are getting more severe. Exhaust gases discharged from automobiles include hazardous substances such as carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), and particulate matter (PM). Environmental standards require that the amounts of these hazardous substances in the exhaust gas be less than or equal to predetermined concentrations. In particular, exhaust gas discharged from diesel engine cars contains large amounts of hazardous substances, so that reduction of the hazardous substances in exhaust gas is strongly demanded.
Therefore, in the related art, exhaust gas treatment devices are installed in automobiles, whereby the amounts of hazardous substances in the exhaust gas are reduced so as to conform to environmental standards. For example, gaseous hazardous substances such as carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons are detoxified by oxidation with an oxidation catalyst. In addition, particulate matter is collected and removed with a filter. However, due to the fact that particulate matter is deposited in the filter over time of use and the pressure loss in the filter increases, the collecting efficiency of the particulate matter is reduced. In addition, particulate matter deposited in the filter causes reduction of engine output and deterioration of fuel consumption. The particulate matter is composed of, for example, solid soot and soluble organic fractions (SOF). Thus, particulate matter collected in the filter is combusted and oxidized to remove the particulate matter, and thus the filter is regenerated.
In order to efficiently perform oxidation of the gaseous hazardous substances and particulate matter described above, oxidation catalysts are typically used. These oxidation catalysts are generally supported on a heat resistant support.
U.S. 2003/0,109,383 proposes a ceramic catalyst body as a structured catalyst for exhaust gas purification for diesel cars, in which a ceramic support is disposed on a ceramic surface of a substrate, and both a main catalyst component and a co-catalyst component are supported on the ceramic support. In this ceramic catalyst body, a large number of pores formed from lattice defects and the like in the crystal lattice are formed in the surface of a ceramic support made of γ-alumina, and a main catalyst component including Ce—Zr, Pt, and the like is directly supported near the surface of the ceramic support.
Journal of the Society of Oil Engineers (1994) vol. 37, No. 5, p. 480 to 491 reports catalytic activity of oxidation catalysts composed of various metals and metal oxides in a CO oxidation reaction. More specifically, it is reported that Ag2O, Co3O4, MnO2, CuO, NiO, Cr2O3, Fe2O3, SnO2, CdO, ZnO, TiO2, V2O5, MoO3, WO3, Bi2O3, MgO, Al2O3, SiO2, Pd, Pt, Au, and others have catalytic activity in a CO oxidation reaction (Table 1).

Structured catalyst for oxidation for exhaust gas purification, method for producing same, automobile exhaust gas treatment device, catalytic molding, and gas purification method


A dry composition for oral ingestion characterized by comprising as an active ingredient a gas-releasing substance which releases gas by soak with water, and further comprising a gel base in an amount sufficient for gel formation; a gel composition for oral ingestion formed by adding water or a liquid diluent to the dry compound when taking; and a mixed feed obtainable by mixing the gel composition with a feed, are disclosed.

Recently, not only a maintenance of the effectiveness, safety, and quality of drugs, but also an alleviation of the burden on patients during oral ingestion, has been demanded in the medical sense. This is because there is an increasing trend in the number of patients having a difficulty when taking food (for example, a person with dentures, a person unable to properly chew, or a patient suffering from dysphagia) due to the progressive aging of society, and there is a growing number of patients having a difficulty when taking medicaments by oral administration.
Formulations for oral administration are commonly provided, for example, as solutions, capsules, granules, pills, powders, tablets, or syrups. The definitions of these formulations are described in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia. When a person having a difficulty when swallowing takes such a formulation together with water, a formulation such as powders or granules sometimes exists in the oral cavity, or a formulation such as tablets, pills, or capsules can sometimes cause choking when taken by the person.
To resolve these disadvantages, various pharmaceutical compositions have been proposed. For example, an agent which enables an easy swallowing is known (patent reference 1). According to this agent, a medicament may be formulated with a gel base and a sugar alcohol and, immediately before taking, may be mixed with water or an appropriate liquid substance, to rapidly form a gel (or a jelly) without heating or cooling. According to the disclosures of patent reference 1, when a water-soluble gelatin is used as the gel base, a hard-jelly formulation ideal for an agent which enables an easy swallowing may be obtained, but a gelation time thereof is approximately 45 minutes. Patent reference 1 also discloses that a hard-jelly formulation may be obtained within 1 minute, without heating or cooling, by using a combination of water-soluble gelatin (a gel base) and erythritol (a sugar alcohol). In general, heating or cooling is required to obtain a hard jel by using a gel base. Therefore, it is practically useful to obtain such a hard jel at room temperature in a short time, as disclosed in patent reference 1. However, since sugar alcohols have a high hygroscopicity and are easily liquefied, the combinations thereof with medicaments in which the stability is lost by humidity are limited. Particularly, in the case of the spherical adsorbing carbons described below, an adsorption capacity is decreased while in contact with water, and thus, combinations of the spherical adsorbing carbons and sugar alcohols are inappropriate.
Further, a use of a gel base to enable an easy taking of medicaments, together with a masked agent in which a bad taste (for example, bitterness, astringency, or acidity) of medicaments is alleviated by masking, is known (patent reference 2). Patent reference 2 also discloses that a rapid gelation by only adding water at room temperature without heating or cooling is important, and discloses examples in which a masked bitter antimicrobial agent was used together with a gel base, by using a gelation caused by crosslinking of alginate and a polyvalent metal ion. However, a gelation time of each example was several minutes, and a gelation in a short time was not attained. Further, an agent used together with the gel base was a masked agent which masked bad tastes, and it was not proposed as a general purpose technique.
Furthermore, a use of a gel base for improving difficulty of deglutition of specific antitumor agents is known (patent reference 3). The object of the technique described in patent reference 3 is to provide a jelly formulation capable of enabling an easy taking of a mixing agent of tegafur and uracil as an antitumor agent, for a patient suffering from dysphagia or an intraoral disorder caused as a side effect of the mixing agent. The formulation is provided as a lyophilized product obtained by preparing a jelled gel with a gel base and lyophilizing the jelled gel. Although, when the lyophilized product is returned to a jelled gel formulation by adding water thereto, the jelled gel formulation may be obtained in a short time at room temperature without heating or cooling, it is generally necessary to perform a heating or cooling treatment when preparing the lyophilized product, and it sometimes takes a long time to carry out these treatments. Further, facilities for preparing the lyophilized product are necessary, and that leads to higher costs. Furthermore, in the case of the spherical adsorbing carbons described below, when such a lyophilized product, which is obtained by preparing a jelled gel with a gel base and lyophilizing the jelled gel, is returned to a jelled gel formulation by adding water thereto, when taking, a gel formulation cannot be prepared in a short time because a gas-releasing property of the spherical adsorbing carbons is lost.
An adsorbent for internal use capable of being orally administered and alleviating functional disorders of kidneys or the liver has been developed and is in use (patent reference 4). The adsorbent for internal use consists of a porous carbonaceous substance having specific functional groups (i.e., a modified spherical activated carbon); is very safe and stable to a body; and has a useful selective adsorbability, that is, an excellent adsorbability of harmful substances in the presence of a bile acid in the intestine, and a low adsorbability of useful substances such as digestive enzymes in the intestine. Further, the adsorbent for internal use is widely and clinically used for a patient suffering from a disorder of a liver or renal function, as an oral medicament having few side effects such as constipation. The adsorbent disclosed in patent reference 4 is manufactured by preparing spherical activated carbons from pitches such as petroleum pitch as a carbon source, and subjecting the spherical activated carbons to an oxidation treatment and a reduction treatment. Further, an adsorbent for oral administration in which the above selective adsorbability (i.e., an excellent adsorbability of harmful substances and a low adsorbability of useful substances in the intestine) is improved is known (patent reference 5). The adsorbent for oral administration disclosed in patent reference 5 is based on the findings that the selective adsorbability is improved when a volume of pores having a pore diameter of 20 to 15000 nm is 0.04 mL/g or more and less than 0.10 mL/g, and thus, can effectively adsorb harmful substances, and is extremely useful for diseases in which a suppression of the adsorbability of useful substances in the intestine is desired.
The adsorbent for internal use is generally provided in the form of fine granules or capsules. Since a dose is relatively large, it was desirable to improve the ease of taking. For example, when taking fine granules, some patients dislike a feeling of any residual in the oral cavity. Further, many patients feel repulsion and pain when taking relatively large medicaments such as capsules, and further, many patients cannot take granules or capsules without taking in a large quantity of water.
Further, for patients suffering from a renal disease or renal failure, an amount of water to take is limited, and such patients are required to take minimal water when ingesting granules or capsules. Therefore, patients who essentially need a large quantity of water when taking granules or capsules feel intense pain when doing so.
[Patent Reference 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2002-104997
[Patent Reference 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2000-103730
[Patent Reference 3] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 11-322606
[Patent Reference 4] Japanese Examined Patent Publication (Kokoku) No. 62-11611
[Patent Reference 5] Japanese Patent No. 3522708

Dry composition for oral ingestion and gel composition prepared just before use for oral ingestion


A method and apparatus of combining an ion volume, a lens stack, and an ion optic that similarly cooperates with a detached multipole ion guide is herein incorporated into a single sub-assembly that can be removed from a mass spectrometer instrument without venting. Such an arrangement allows an operator to clean all parts of the ion path that get contaminated in normal operation, reassemble and reinsert in a timely manner and then pump down to an acceptable vacuum without having to vent the system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of mass spectrometry, and more particularly to the field of removable ionization chambers and removable components in associated ion guides that are often configured for mass spectrometers.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
The ion source utilized in conventional mass spectrometers can include an ion volume, a lens stack, and a radio frequency (RF) multipole ion guide. Currently, the ion volume can be removed without venting the instrument. Such an arrangement enables a user to remove the contaminated parts associated with the ion volume, clean them, or replace them so as to continue operating the instrument without breaking the vacuum. However, such a solution only works when the cleanliness of parts configured within the ion volume is the limiting factor in restoring the ion source performance. When the lens stack or the ion guide becomes contaminated such that the instrument sensitivity is inadequate, the instrument must be vented and the entire source must be removed for cleaning.
Background information for an system having interchangeable ionization chambers, is described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,388,531, entitled "Ionizer Having Interchangeable Ionization Chamber," issued Jun. 14, 1983, to Stafford et al., including the following, "An ionizer adapted to be placed in a vacuum envelope for providing ions of a sample to be analyzed is disclosed herein and includes an electron source, ion accelerating and focusing electrodes and an interchangeable ionization chamber . . . . "
Additional background information for a mass spectrometer having a replaceable ionization chamber, is described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,723,729, entitled "Ionization Chamber For Use With A Mass Spectrometer," issued Mar. 27, 1973, to Kruger et al., including the following, "A replaceable ionization chamber for a mass spectrometer comprises an ionization region defined by two parallel perforated membranes attached to concentric tubular electrodes which are separated by the ionization region. Two filaments and two electron focusing electrodes are symmetrically disposed about the periphery of the ionization region, and sample input ports are similarly disposed about the periphery."
Background information for a mass spectrometer having segmented RF ion guides, is described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,034,292 B1, entitled "Mass Spectrometry With Segmented RF Multiple Ion Guides In Various Pressure Regions," issued Apr. 25, 2006, to Whitehouse et al., including the following, "A mass spectrometer is configured with individual multipole ion guides, configured in an assembly in alignment along a common centerline wherein at least a portion of at least one multipole ion guide mounted in the assembly resides in a vacuum region with higher background pressure, and the other portion resides in a vacuum region with lower background pressure. Said multipole ion guides are operated in mass to charge selection and ion fragmentation modes, in either a high or low pressure region, said region being selected according to the optimum pressure or pressure gradient for the function performed. The diameter, lengths and applied frequencies and phases on these contiguous ion guides may be the same or may differ. A variety of MS and MS/MSn analysis functions can be achieved using a series of contiguous multipole ion guides operating in either higher background vacuum pressures, or along pressure gradients in the region where the pressure drops from high to low pressure, or in low pressure regions. Individual sets of RF, +/−DC and resonant frequency waveform voltage supplies provide potentials to the rods of each multipole ion guide allowing the operation of ion transmission, ion trapping, mass to charge selection and ion fragmentation functions independently in each ion guide."
Accordingly, a large customer need exists for a single mass spectrometer ion source sub-assembly (i.e., an ion source, lens stack, and a pre-filter configured as part of the ion guide), which collectively can be removed from the instrument without venting the system. Such an arrangement allows a user to clean all parts of the ion path that get contaminated in normal operation in a time efficient manner. The present invention is directed to such a need.

Removable ion source that does not require venting of the vacuum chamber


There is disclosed a transmitting system which is capable of recovering a fault efficiently, thereby improving transmission quality. When a fault has occurred, a fault message-sending section notifies a fault message including information of a detected location of occurrence of the fault to other devices. A relay/transfer section carries out label switching operation on a packet having a label added thereto and relay/transfer of the packet. The integer calculation section performs a function operation based on flow information of an input packet to calculate one integer corresponding to one input packet. A path-setting section classifies the calculated integer into one of sections divided by boundary values and sets the section as a path for transferring the input packet. Further, the path-setting section adjusts the boundary values, when a fault message is received, or depending on the state of communication. An ingress edge transfer device adds a label to a packet for transferring the packet via the set path.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a transmission system and a transmitting device, and more particularly to a transmission system that carries out control operations for recovering a fault which has occurred, thereby performing transmission control, and a transmitting device for carrying out control operations for recovering a fault which has occurred, thereby performing transmission control.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, the traffic of IP (Internet Protocol) packets is increased along with the increasingly widespread use of the Internet. Further, the data contents of the IP packets are more diversified, and in addition to conventional computer data, data of sounds, motion pictures and the like requiring real time properties are increased.
In line with the above circumstances, to shorten a time period for transferring IP packets, a layer 2 label switching technology of adding an address label to each IP packet has been proposed.
The label switching technology is a high-speed packet transfer technology which is capable of realizing the layer 3 communication between different networks, which has been conventionally realized by using routers, by directly connecting the networks to each other in the layer 2 without using an upper layer. For the label switching technology, a method called MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching) has been developed.
In MPLS, all control operations are carried out by IP (Internet Protocol), and a label with a fixed length is added to each IP packet to enable the IP packet to be transferred throughout a network by the label. The MPLS method is based on the concept of a label path, and is largely different in characteristics from the conventional IP in that it is connection-oriented.
The method of fault recovery control of MPLS includes a global repair method and a local repair method. The global repair method is a path-end switching method for recovering from a fault at path ends (at the inlet (ingress) and outlet (egress) of an MPLS network), while the local repair method is a fault-end switching method for switching a local path where a fault has occurred to another at the ends of the local path (between routers close to a link where the fault has occurred). When a line fault or the like has occurred, the above recovery control operations are carried out to set a route for recovering the fault, thereby recovering from the fault.
However, in the above-described conventional fault recovery control performed by the global repair method, when a path having a fault is switched to a path for recovering the fault, load applied to the fault recovering path after completion of the switching has not been considered at all.
Therefore, there is a fear that traffic loads are concentrated on the fault recovering path, which causes biased traffic and degraded operating efficiency of the system.
On the other hand, in the conventional fault recovery control performed by the local repair method, a route bypassing the local path in which a fault has occurred is searched for at an end of the local path, and then the packet is transferred to the route, i.e. a path for recovering the fault. This search processing takes much time, and hence hinders realization of efficient high-speed transfer.

Transmission system and transmitting device


The present invention provides a method for appraising the condition of a polishing cloth, and a method for manufacturing semiconductor wafers employing the disclosed appraisal method, allowing acceptably low light point defect numbers of semiconductor wafers to be maintained. The disclosed method comprises polishing the semiconductor wafer using a polishing cloth, washing the wafer, and drying the wafer. The size of particles comprising light point defects is chosen, and the number of light point defects on the semiconductor wafer is counted. Typically, the diameter of particles comprising light point defects is set as 0.12 xcexcm or greater. The polishing cloth is exchanged when the number of light point defects counted exceeds a prescribed number.

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 10-057992, which has a priority date of Mar. 10, 1998. This application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a method for appraising the condition of a polishing cloth used to polish semiconductor wafers, and a method for making semiconductor wafers using a polishing cloth so appraised. In particular, the invention relates to ensuring the cleanliness of semiconductor wafers produced using a polishing cloth.
The quality of a semiconductor wafer that is polished with a polishing cloth is specified by the shape quality and the cleanliness of the surface thereof. The shape quality is evaluated using the micro-roughness measurement, such as the peak-to-valley (P-V) measurement, or by a measurement of uneven thickness (e.g., Total Thickness Variation (TTV) or (LTV)). The cleanliness of the surface is determined by counting the number of particles on the surface. The diameter of particles to be counted becomes smaller year by year due to the increasingly stringent demands of industry, making them increasingly difficult to distinguish from crystal original pits (COP). Therefore, in practice, particles are counted as part of a light point defect (LPD) number, in which particles and COP are counted together. In the LPD measurement technique, the surface of the semiconductor wafer is irradiated with laser light. Where a particle or COP exists, the reflected light from the laser is scattered. The existence of particles or COPs is detected by receivers that measure the scattered light. In the LPD measurement, the particle diameter is preset and the total number of particles and COPs that are the same size or larger than that preset diameter are counted.
However, the measured LPD number is just a measurement result. To obtain better semiconductor wafer quality, factors affecting that quality need to be improved. As a result of the inventor""s studies, it has been discovered that the condition of polishing cloths used to polish semiconductor wafers is one such factor. However, the conventional index used to judge the condition of polishing cloths is based only on a measurement of the polished off thickness. Thus, this conventional method evaluates only the rate at which the polishing cloth polishes the semiconductor wafer. Therefore, under conventional methods, the polishing cloth will not be exchanged so long as it continues to polish off a certain thickness of semiconductor material, even if the LPD number increases. This means that a low LPD number cannot be maintained if the polishing rate of the cloth has not deteriorated. Simply counting the number of times that a polishing cloth has been used does not allow for consistently low LPD numbers to be maintained. The subject matter of the present invention is to provide a method for appraising the condition of a polishing cloth, and to provide a method for manufacturing semiconductor wafers employing the appraisal method, to allow low LPD numbers to consistently be maintained.
The present invention includes a method for appraising the condition of a polishing cloth used to polish semiconductor wafers. The method includes measuring the number of LPDs on the polished surface of the semiconductor wafer after it has been polished using the polishing cloth that is being appraised. In particular, after the wafer has been polished, washed, and dried, the number of LPDs having a certain diameter or greater are counted. The condition of the polishing cloth is appraised by the number of LPDs, this number being a cloth quality index. When the number of LPDs reaches or exceeds a prescribed number, the polishing cloth is exchanged for a fresh one before the next semiconductor wafer is polished. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the diameter of particles comprising the LPDs to be counted is greater than about 0.12 xcexcm. In a most preferred embodiment, the diameter of particles comprising the LPDs to be counted is greater than a certain diameter, and that certain diameter is from about 0.12 xcexcm to about 0.16 xcexcm.
The present invention also includes a method for manufacturing semiconductor wafers that are polished using a polishing cloth, while maintaining consistently low LPD numbers. The method includes polishing a semiconductor wafer using a polishing cloth, and determining the number of LPDs having a certain particle size or greater. When the number of LPDs of the specified size or greater meets or exceeds a prescribed number, the polishing cloth is exchanged for a new one. This exchange takes place before the next semiconductor wafer is to be polished. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the size of particles comprising LPDs is greater than about 0.12 xcexcm. In a most preferred embodiment, the diameter of particles comprising the LPDs to be counted is greater than a certain diameter, and that certain diameter is from about 0.12 xcexcm to about 0.16 xcexcm.

Method for appraising the condition of a semiconductor polishing cloth


A system includes a voltage regulator module, a voltage comparator module, and a current limiting module. The voltage regulator module regulates an input voltage supplied by a power supply and supplies an output current to a load. The voltage comparator module compares the input voltage to a first threshold. The current limiting module decreases the output current when the input voltage decreases to less than or equal to the first threshold, decreases the output current until the input voltage increases to greater than the first threshold, and decreases the output current by an additional predetermined amount after the input voltage increases to greater than the first threshold.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
Handheld devices such as smartphones, tablets, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and electronic books (e-Books) are typically powered by rechargeable batteries. The handheld devices include charging modules to charge the batteries. The charging modules use DC power received from a DC power supply to charge the batteries. AC adapters typically provide the DC power to the charging modules.

Adaptive input current limiting for switch-mode chargers


A method may include receiving, by a transceiver, an upload content from a device among a plurality of devices, determining, by a controller, use conditions associated with each of the plurality of devices, forming a group of more than one device among the plurality of devices, based on the upload content and the use conditions; and transmitting, by the transceiver, the upload content to the group of more than one device simultaneously.

The proliferation of mobile wireless devices has created a strong demand for increase in data accessibility and bandwidth. For example, as the emerging cloud services allow users to access and share data remotely from centralized cloud storage on many mobile clients, users' demand for cloud storage space and access bandwidth will grow substantially.
In a cloud-based storage and content distribution scheme, users may share the content generated or uploaded with any of the user's registered devices or with other users' devices. All devices sharing such contents may have virtually simultaneous availability of the content continuously.
This sharing may be done via unicast communication connections to wireless communication networks. Unicast communication may refer to the communication of information to a single specific destination in a single transmission from a source. Because a single piece of content may be shared with multiple devices, unicast distribution of the identical information may result in waste of bandwidth resources and may lower the capacity of the communication network. A network in this configuration may suffer capacity issues and cause unsatisfactory user experience.
Thus, there is a need for an improved way of communicating content to multiple devices.

Managing multicast groups and schedule to improve telecommunication bandwidth utilization and power efficiency


A step wave power converter comprises multiple different bridge circuits configured to convert DC voltage inputs into AC voltage outputs. A controller is configured to estimate an average voltage output from the multiple different bridge circuits for controlling the current output from the multiple different bridge circuits. The number of bridge circuits needed to provide the estimated average output voltage is identified and the identified bridge circuits controlled during a next switching period to generate a combined inverter output voltage that corresponds with the estimated average output voltage.

Various step wave power converters exist for transforming a DC voltage into a step wave AC output. Step wave power converters use different transformers for each step of the step wave output. The primary windings of the different transformers are electrically coupled to the DC power source through bridge circuits. Gates in the bridge circuits control the flow of current through the primary windings to produce steps of the AC output from the secondary winding.
Unfortunately, step wave power converters are bulky and require multiple transformers for each step. Also, the total number of steps in the AC output directly correspond with the number of transformers used for producing the output. To get better resolution in a three-phase AC waveform output, even more transformers must be added to the power converter, further increasing its bulkiness.
A further drawback of certain power converters is that the step wave AC output is generally blocky as a result of the mere addition of positive and/or negative block steps to form the AC waveform output. Although blocky AC waveforms are acceptable for many applications, they are less than desirable for use in many modern electronic devices such as computers, televisions, etc., which perform better and last longer when power is supplied to them using a closely regulated AC power supply.
Current control is important to inverter power quality. The three major techniques used for regulating the current of a Voltage Source Inverter (VSI) are hysteresis, ramp comparison, and predictive current control. Hysteresis current controllers utilize hysteresis in comparing load currents to the references. A ramp comparison controller compares the error current signal with a triangular carrier waveform to generate inverter gating pulses. Predictive controllers calculate the inverter voltages required to force the measured currents to follow a reference current.
Predictive controllers offer the advantages of a more precise current control with minimal distortion, and also can be fully implemented on a digital platform. On the other hand predictive controllers require more computing resources and require a good knowledge of system parameters and can be sensitive to incorrect identification of load parameters. Some predictive current control schemes also are not designed for step-wave inverters.

Prediction scheme for step wave power converter and inductive inverter topology

Abstract: In another embodiment, one or more transformers are associated with the different bridge circuits. Inductors are coupled between the bridge circuits and the primary windings of the associated transformers. The inductors filter the current output from the bridge circuits prior to feeding the current into the transformers.


An auxiliary device includes a base, two rotatable arms, and an elastic member. The two arms are rotatably connected to the base and each includes a mating surface that defines a recess. The recesses of the two arms cooperatively form a through hole when the mating surface is in contact with each other. The through hole includes, from top to bottom, a first tapered hole portion, an annular groove, a second tapered hole portion, and a round hole portion. The annular groove is used to receive a head of a screw, and the round hole portion has a lateral surface is used to contact a shank of the screw to keep the screw upright. The elastic member is arranged between the two rotatable arms and applies a pushing force to the two rotatable arms.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an auxiliary device for maintaining a screw upright prior to the screw being turned and engaged in a hole.
2. Description of Related Art
Some tablet computers include a magnet for attracting an external protective cover. In manufacturing such tablet computers, it is found that the magnet may attract a screw that is ready to be screwed into two components of the tablet computer, and cause the screw to deflect. The threaded hole of the two components may be damaged if the deflected screw is then turned by an electric screwdriver.

Auxiliary device for maintaining a screw upright

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