Functions of an application may include multiple implementations that have corresponding behaviors but perform different garbage collection-related activities such that the different implementations may be executed during different garbage collection phases to reduce overall garbage collection overhead during application execution.

Garbage collection generally refers to a process of identifying unused areas of main memory storage and reclaiming those areas for reuse. In many object oriented computing languages, a computer executing an object oriented application allocates memory for each of the objects created by that application. Memory is generally allocated to, and freed from, the heap in blocks that are sized according to application requirements. Eventually, when objects are no longer being referenced by the application, the memory allocated for the created objects is reclaimed through a garbage collection process, which clears the objects from memory such that the once allocated memory is again available for use.
Some garbage collection processes may involve automatically determining which blocks of memory can be freed by marking objects that are in use and reclaiming the memory of objects that are not marked, a type of garbage collection process that is often referred to as mark-and-sweep garbage collection since useful portions of memory are marked as live during a mark phase, and all unmarked objects are then removed from allocated memory in a sweep phase. Another type of garbage collection process is often referred to as replicating garbage collection, which generally segments memory into "from" and "to" spaces, and copies objects determined to still be in use from the "from" space to the "to" space. Once all live objects have been copied to the "to" space, the remaining objects in the "from" space are removed and the roles of the "from" and "to" spaces are reversed, whereby the former "to" space becomes the new "from" space for the next phase of garbage collection.
Although the process of garbage collection frees memory, it may be problematic in applications where its unpredictable consumption of processor time affects the running of the application. Moreover, for real-time applications that are required to respond within specified time constraints, e.g., in varied environments such as automating semiconductor manufacturing lines, controlling electric power generators, autonomous vehicle controls, rocket launch systems, radar and sonar systems, telecommunication infrastructure management, etc., garbage collection is further complicated due to the frequent interruption of garbage collection that is required to ensure timely responsiveness by such applications.
Therefore, a continuing need exists in the art for garbage collection processes that are fast and efficient, e.g., for use in real-time applications and the like.

Compiling application with multiple function implementations for garbage collection

International Business Machines Corporation


A polymerizable liquid crystal compound represented by the following general formula (1):

Hitherto, about display devices such as a liquid crystal display device and a light emitting display device, a structure has been suggested in which optical members such as a retardation film and a polarizing plate are arranged onto their panel plane.
For example, in a light emitting display device such as an organic light emitting display device, a metallic electrode excellent in reflectivity is fitted thereto in order to use light from its light emitting layer effectively. In the meantime, the use of the metallic electrode makes the reflection of external light large. Thus, to restrain the external light reflection, the light emitting display device is known to use a circularly polarizing plate on its viewing side, the plate containing a quarter wavelength plate serving to convert linearly polarized light into circularly polarized light, and a polarizer.
In addition to the quarter wavelength plate, examples of retardation films include a half-wavelength plate that converts the polarization vibration plane of a linearly polarized light by 90° and the like. These retardation films can correctly convert a specific monochromatic light into a retardation of ¼ λ or ½ λ of the light wavelength. However, retardation films in the prior have a problem in that a polarized light emitted therethrough is converted into a colored polarized light. This is because materials constituting the retardation films have wavelength dispersion property with respect to retardation and a distribution occurs in the polarized state of each wavelength for white light in which light in the visible region is mixed. To prevent this problem, it is needed to control wavelength dispersion property to give a retardation designed for each wavelength, and there is a demand for a wide-bandwidth retardation film that can give a uniform retardation for light in a wide wavelength range, that is, a retardation film with reverse wavelength dispersion property.
A retardation film is produced by stretching a film or by applying a polymerizable composition containing a liquid crystal compound onto a support subjected to an alignment treatment, drying the solvent to align the liquid crystal compound, and then polymerizing the compound by ultraviolet rays or heat.
To produce the retardation film with reverse wavelength dispersion property, for example, a method for producing the retardation film by laminating two retardation layers at different angles in the alignment axis direction, were proposed (Patent Literatures 1 and 2). However, such a laminate has a problem in that it needs two retardation layers and the production is complicated when laminating the two retardation layers, and the thickness of the retardation film is large.
With the advancement and spread of mobile information terminals, there is an increasing demand for a thin display device. As a result, there is also a demand for a thin retardation film, which is a component of the display device.
Accordingly, the development of a liquid crystal compound with reverse wavelength dispersion property is underway, which has a property that enables the wavelength dispersion property of a birefringence index (Δn) to be small or reverse, such that a retardation layer with reverse wavelength dispersion property can be composed of one layer (for example, Patent Literatures 3 and 4). When the slope of a graph having the wavelength λ of incident light on the retardation film on the horizontal axis and its birefringence index (λn=refractive index ne for extraordinary light−refractive index no for ordinary light) on the vertical axis, is positive (upward-sloping), it is generally said that the wavelength dispersion of its birefringence index is reverse, or the liquid crystal compound serving as a material constituting the retardation film has reverse wavelength dispersion property.
However, for example, liquid crystal compounds with reverse wavelength dispersion property in the prior art, such as the compounds disclosed in Patent Literatures 3 and 4, have a small birefringence index (λn) and a large film thickness is needed to obtain a desired retardation (Re (λ)=birefringence index λn (λ)×film thickness d).
Also, for example, in a quarter wavelength plate, if ideal reverse wavelength dispersion property is obtained, light of all wavelengths in the visible region can be converted into circularly polarized light, and perfect antireflection of outside light is possible. However, since the reverse wavelength dispersion property of liquid crystal compounds with reverse wavelength dispersion property in the prior art is insufficient, it is needed to get closer to ideal reverse wavelength dispersion property.
As a polymerizable compound that has a practical low melting point, exhibits excellent solubility in a general-purpose solvent, and can produce an optical film that achieves uniform conversion of polarized light over a wide wavelength range, Patent Literature 5 discloses a structure in which one tetravalent benzene ring group in the main chain of a compound has two side chains. The polymerizable compound itself of Patent Literature 5 is shown to have no liquid crystallinity (Table 1 in Patent Literature 5). It is shown that an optical film with reverse wavelength dispersion property is obtained by mixing the polymerizable compound of Patent Literature 5 with a liquid crystal compound with reverse wavelength dispersion property in the prior art; however, the reverse wavelength dispersion property of the optical film is far from ideal reverse wavelength dispersion property.
As a polymerizable compound having high storage stability without crystal precipitation when added to a polymerizable composition, Patent Literature 6 discloses a polymerizable compound in which one trivalent benzene ring group M of the main chain of the compound has one side chain, and of two substituent groups in the main chain direction of the trivalent benzene ring group M, one substituent group has one ring structure, and the other substituent group has two ring structures.
As the polymerizable compound having high storage stability without crystal precipitation when added to a polymerizable composition, Patent Literature 7 discloses the same compound as Patent Literature 6 and the same structure as Patent Literature 5 in which one tetravalent benzene ring group in the main chain of the compound has two side chains.
Patent Literatures 6 and 7 merely show that no crystal precipitation occurs and high storage stability is obtained when the polymerizable compound is added to the polymerizable composition, and that discoloration and removal from a substrate are less likely to occur when an optical film is produced by adding the polymerizable compound to a base liquid crystal.

Polymerizable liquid crystal compound, polymerizable composition, polymer, retardation film, method for producing retardation film, transfer laminate, optical member, method for producing optical member, and display device

Abstract: (the symbols in the general formula (1) are as described in the DESCRIPTION.)


The present invention provides, as a method of analyzing the C-terminal amino acid sequence of a peptide with use of reaction technique for successively releasing the C-terminal amino acids, in which undesirable side reactions, such as cleavage of a peptide bond at the middle of the peptide, can be prevented and chemical treatments therein can be carried out under widely applicable conditions in the course of successive release of the C-terminal amino acids from a peptide, such a method comprising steps of dehydrating the gel on which a target peptide that has been separated by gel electrophoresis is held in the bound state; immersing it in a mixture solution of an alkanoic acid anhydride added with a small amount of a perfluoroalkanoic acid in a dipolar aprotic solvent to re-swell the gel carrier, forming a 5-oxazolone structure, at a temperature chosen in the range of from 30° C. to 80° C., followed by the cleavage of the 5-oxazolone ring to release the C-terminal amino acids, and then specifying the C-terminal amino acid sequence of the peptide based on the measured decrease in the molecular weight of a series of reaction products resulting therefrom.

With respect to peptides and proteins collected from nature, the identification of their amino acid sequences are essential information to make a study of the biological properties and functions of the peptides and proteins in question. Currently, the full-length amino acid sequences for peptides and proteins are determined as deduced amino acid sequences, based on corresponding gene information thereof, for instance, nucleotide sequences of the genomic genes or c-DNAs produced from m-RNAs which encode their peptides. However, in identifying the genomic genes or the c-DNAs produced from m-RNAs which encode these peptides, the knowledge of partial amino acid sequences of the peptides is still required.
It is generally considered that, as the knowledge of the partial amino acid sequences of peptide, the N-terminal amino acid sequence and C-terminal amino acid sequence of peptide are particularly useful. Specifically, for example, in selecting a c-DNA which encodes an aimed peptide from a c-DNA library prepared from a large number of m-RNAs, if the N-terminal amino acid sequence and C-terminal amino acid sequence thereof are known, the aimed c-DNA can be selected by using nucleic acid probes that are produced based on said amino acid sequences of the two termini. Alternatively, the aimed c-DNA can be amplified selectively by applying PCR with use of oligonucleotide primers that are produced based on the amino acid sequences of the two termini.
As the method for analyzing the N-terminal amino acid sequence of a peptide, there has been conventionally used a method of subjecting a pure peptide sample obtained by isolation and purification to Edman degradation to successively degrade the N-terminal amino acids therefrom and identify the resulting amino acid derivatives. Meanwhile, as the method for analyzing the C-terminal amino acid sequence of a peptide, there has been proposed a method comprising steps of releasing the C-terminal amino acids successively from such a pure peptide sample by means of chemical technique and identifying the C-terminal amino acids released thereby, based on the molecular weight differences between the original peptide and truncated peptides that are obtained as reaction products therefrom. As the process for releasing the C-terminal amino acids successively by means of chemical technique, there is proposed, for example, a process comprising steps of allowing a vapor generated from a high concentration aqueous solution of pentafluoropropanoic acid (CF3CF2COOH) or a high concentration aqueous solution of heptafluorobutanoic acid (CF3CF2CF2COOH), to act on a dried pure peptide sample under heating up condition of at 90° C., and thereby carrying out selective hydrolysis of the C-terminal amino acids, which is enhanced by said perfluoroalkanoic acid [Tsugita, A. et al., Eur. J. Biochem. 206, 691-696 (1992)]. In addition, there is also proposed a process using, in place of said high concentration aqueous solution of a perfluoroalkanoic acid, a solution of pentafluoropropanoic acid anhydride [(CF3CF2CO)2O] in acetonitrile or a solution of heptafluorobutanoic acid anhydride [(CF3CF2CF2CO)2O] in acetonitrile, which process comprises steps of allowing a vapor generated from the solution, to act on a dried peptide under cooling down condition, for example, at −18° C., and thereby conducting selective release of the C-terminal amino acids, which is forced by said perfluoroalkanoic acid anhydride [Tsugita, A. et al., Chem. Lett. 1992, 235-238; Takamoto, K. et al., Eur. J. Biochem. 228, 362-372 (1995)].
In said method for selectively releasing the C-terminal amino acids by allowing a perfluoroalkanoic acid or a perfluoroalkanoic acid anhydride, which are supplied in vapor phase as a vapor thereof, to act on a dried pure peptide sample, it has been reported that an oxazolone ring structure is once formed from the C-terminal amino acids, as a reaction intermediate, through a dehydration reaction shown by the following reaction scheme (I):
and then, the perfluoroalkanoic acid acts on the oxazolone ring to give rise to a reaction shown by the following reaction scheme (II):
as a result, reaction of selectively releasing the C-terminal amino acids therefrom is achieved.
As the above reaction of selectively releasing the C-terminal amino acid proceeds successively, there is obtained, at a timing when a given treatment time has passed, a mixture comprising a series of reaction products in which one to ten odd amino acid residues have been removed from the C-terminus of the original peptide, respectively. This mixture comprising a series of reaction products is subjected to mass spectrometry to measure the masses of the ion species derived from the reaction products, whereby can be obtained a series of peaks exhibiting the mass differences, which reflect the C-terminal amino acid sequence. Specifically explaining, the individual reaction products are formed in reaction of successively releasing the C-terminal amino acids from the original peptide; hence, for example, a set of reaction products including several members in series, where up to several amino acid residues have been removed from the original peptide, are subjected to mass spectrometry and, thereby, the masses of corresponding ion species thereto can be analyzed collectively, which enables determination of C-terminal amino acid sequence of such several amino acid residues at one time.
Incidentally, for example, the information of C-terminal amino acid sequence used in production of nucleic acid probe or primer may originally be, in terms of the nucleotide sequence which codes such amino acid sequence, about 18 to 24 bases and accordingly about 6 to 8 amino acids. The identification of C-terminal amino acid sequence of up to ten odd amino acid residues is required only in very rare cases. Therefore, the above methods for preparation of treated sample comprising a series of reaction products, in which all the removals extending up to 10 amino acid resides are included, by the reaction of releasing the C-terminal amino acids from the dried peptide, where a vapor of a perfluoroalkanoic acid or a perfluoroalkanoic acid anhydride are supplied in vapor phase and allowed to act thereon, are suitable for the above-mentioned purposes.

Method of analyzing C-terminal amino acid sequence of peptide


Methods and compositions are provided for the diagnosis and treatment of iron overload diseases and iron deficiency diseases.

Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is a common disease characterized by excess iron deposition in the major organs of the body (Dadone, M. M. et al. AM. J. Clin. Pathol. 78:196-207 (1982); Edwards, C. Q. et al. N. Engl. J. Med. 18:1355-1362. (1988); McLaren, C. E., et al. Blood 86:2021-2027 (1995); Bothwell, T. H. et al., The metabolic and molecular basis of inherited disease (ed. C. R. Scriver, E.A.) 2237-2269 (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1995); Bacon, B. R. et al., Hepatology. A textbook of liver disease (eds. Zakim, D. & Boyer, T. D.) 1439-1472 (W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia, 1996). A candidate gene for this disease, HFE, was identified by positional cloning (Feder, J. N., et al. Nature Genetics 13:399-408 (1996)). The gene, a novel member of the MHC class I family, was found to have a mutation, cysteine 282→tyrosine (C282Y), in 83% of patient chromosomes (Feder, J. N., et al. Nature Genetics 13:399-408 (1996)). This mutation eliminates the ability of HFE to associate with β2-microglobulin (β2m) and prevents cell-surface expression (Feder, J. N., et al., J. Biol. Chem. 272:14025-14028 (1997)). However, the relationship of this class I-like molecule to the regulation of iron metabolism has remained obscure.
Thus, an object of the instant invention is to provide a molecular basis for the relationship of HFE to iron metabolism, and diagnostic and therapeutic agents for the treatment of iron overload diseases and iron deficiency diseases.

Methods and compositions for diagnosis and treatment of iron overload diseases and iron deficiency diseases


A stapling device includes a housing pivotally attached to a base member and having a channel for receiving staples, a staple drive plate slidably received in the housing and movable to drive the staples, a staple pushing device includes a casing slidably engaged in the channel of the housing and a pusher for forcing the staples forwardly toward the staple drive plate, and an actuating device for actuating the staple drive plate to drive the staples. The staple pushing device may be easily and readily assembled into the housing, and includes a projection or protrusion for detachably anchoring the staple pushing device to the housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stapling device, and more particularly to a stapling device having a staple pushing device openable rearwardly from a stapler housing, to allow staples to be easily and quickly changed with new staples, to allow the staple pushing device to be easily disassembled or disengaged form the stapler housing and to be easily assembled together.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various kinds of typical stapling devices have been developed and comprise a base member having an anvil plate, a staple magazine member and a driving member provided with a staple drive plate. A staple guide member and a staple feeder are coupled to the driving member, to feed the staples toward the driving member, and to allow the staples to be suitably driven or hammered by the driving member.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,355 to Wu discloses one of the typical stapling devices also comprising a staple guide member and a staple feeder to feed the staples toward a driving member. The driving member should be opened or rotated relative to the staple magazine member, to allow new staples to be engaged or fed into the staple magazine member.
In operation, the users may have to use their one hand to hold the base member, and use the other hand to open or rotate the driving member relative to the staple magazine member, and then to use one of the hands to move the staple guide member and/or the staple feeder, to allow the new staples to be engaged or fed into the staple magazine member. However, it will be difficult for the users to open the driving member, and then to change or to insert the new staples.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional staplers or stapling devices.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Stapling device having rear housing opening


A fibrous web that includes a cationic polymer that contains a cationic monomer comprising a cationic functional group having an affinity for the negatively charged cell walls of bacteria and a hydrophobic monomer comprising a hydrophobic functional group is provided. The molar ratio of the cationic monomer to the hydrophobic monomer is greater than about 1:1. The affinity of the cationic polymer for the bacteria allows the web to capture bacteria, thereby removing them from a surface or liquid, without the use of harsh chemicals, and also inhibiting their spread to other surfaces and liquids that may contact the web.

The presence of various microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi can put the population at risk for developing numerous illnesses and diseases. For instance, these microorganisms can be present on surfaces in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, restaurants, grocery stores, kitchens, bathrooms, gyms, etc. as well as in liquids such as drinking water. One approach for killing and/or removing these microorganisms is by using solutions containing detergents, biocides, antibiotics, or other chemicals. These solutions may also be impregnated into fibrous webs, such as wipes and nonwovens, for delivery to a contaminated surface or for filtration. However, although these substances can be successful in killing or removing the microorganisms, exposure to these chemicals can be harmful. Further, increased use can lead to the microorganisms having increased resistance to such chemicals. Additionally, over time, the use of such chemicals can corrode or damage the surfaces to which they are applied.
As concerns grow about allergic or toxicological reactions to chemicals and about the increasing resistance of bacteria to common chemicals and treatments, it has become more desirous to avoid harsh chemicals while still providing a fibrous web for removing microorganisms. Thus, to alleviate the aforementioned problems, another approach has been to attempt to remove the microorganisms without the use of chemicals, such as by utilizing the electrostatic interactions of the negatively charged bacteria. However, webs for capturing and trapping negatively charged bacteria are generally limited to the application of metal cation solutions such as aluminum cations to the surface of a web. First of all, these methods only utilize the cationic functionalities to interact with the negatively charged bacteria. Secondly, the metal cations are capable of leaching from the web and contaminating the surface and/or liquid that is in contact with the web.
In light of the above, a need exists for a technique for capturing and retaining microorganisms, such as bacteria, without the use of harsh chemicals.

Fibrous web comprising a cationic polymer for capturing microorganisms


An auto-index method enabling to select words used for heading of an index based on an indexing object extraction condition set by a user. In order to generate an index intended for electronic document files, words and phrases are extracted from document files that may become an object for creating an index, the positions of words and phrases on an electronic publication at the time of extracting are extracted, an indexing object extraction condition inputted by a user is received and extracted words and phrases and the indexing object extraction condition are compared with each other to thereby extract index objective words and phrases.

The present invention relates to an auto-index method intended for electronic publications, i.e., general document files as contents and a method of utilizing the same.
In general prior art, when words and phrases that become candidates for an index are included in the text of electronic publications, a compiling operator designates words and phrases of respective index candidates to thereby compile an index. As a method of compiling an index by designating words and phrases of index candidates, there are two ways for example, as follows.
A first indexing method includes compiling an index, when words and phrases of respective index candidates are registered in an index candidate dictionary, by extracting index locations at the same time. A second indexing method includes compiling an index by retrieving a word in the dictionary again and extracting the location of the retrieved and obtained word.
One of the indexing methods of this type has been disclosed in JP-A-62-154025 for instance. In this prior art, is indicated whether the word is to be registered in an index or not, when Japanese characters "hirakana" are converted into a word or phrase combined with Chinese characters "kanji" at time of composing a document or sentence. This is an operation peculiar to a Japanese word processor. In the case of an English word processor for instance, this operation corresponds to a technique of inputting several words and performing conversion to replace these words with other words.
In this prior art, however, since indication of index registration is performed by a user operation, the workload of an index compiler (User) becomes heavy when the number of registration words is large.
Further, JP-A-61-75952 discloses a technique for retrieving a required document file from a plurality of document files using keywords extracted from the respective document files. Those words that are inputted frequently are selected and extracted while sentences are being inputted. Then, the extracted word and a similar word thereof are made into a set, which is handled as a keyword and stored in the file. According to this method, all of the extracted words and phrases are related to documents as keywords and stored in the file. In this prior art, however, the words and phrases to which an index is actually compiled are not selected.
As described above, a method appropriate for compiling an index has not been known in either technique. There has been such a problem that an efficient method requires a heavy workload. Further, although indexing of electronic document files has been made in the prior art, no consideration has been given to a method of outputting documents using the indexing, i.e., a method of utilizing a compiled index.

Auto-index method for electronic document files and recording medium utilizing a word/phrase analytical program


A thermal transfer recording apparatus for performing the recording of an image on a recording medium by transferring ink contained in an ink sheet to the recording medium has an ink sheet, a conveyance unit for conveying the ink sheet, a recording medium conveyance unit for conveying the recording medium, a recording unit for recording an image on the recording medium by activating the ink sheet, a counting unit for counting the black dot numbers in the current line, a timing unit for measuring the elapsed time since the image recording in the last line by the recording unit, and a control unit for controlling the ink sheet to be conveyed for a predetermined length without conveying the recording medium in accordance with the timing value of the timing unit and the counting value of the counting unit subsequent to the current line recording by the recording, thus making it possible to separate the ink sheet and recording sheet more reliably to maintain a high recording quality.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording apparatus for recording images on a recording medium by transferring ink contained in an ink sheet to the recording medium, and a facsimile apparatus using the aforesaid apparatus.
2. Related Background Art
In general, a thermal transfer printer uses an ink sheet with a thermally fusible (or thermally sublimable) ink coated on the base film thereof, and selectively heats such ink sheet by the thermal head in response to image signals in order to transfer the fused (or sublimated) ink to a recording sheet for image recording. Usually, an ink sheet of the kind is such that the contained ink is completely transferred to the recording sheet for one image recording (the so-called one-time sheet). Therefore, it is necessary to convey the ink sheet for an amount equivalent to the length of one recorded character or one line of image after the image recording has been completed, so that the unused portion of the ink sheet can reliably be brought forward to the position for the next recording. Thus the consumption of the ink sheet becomes great and the running cost of the thermal transfer printer tends to be higher than that of a usual thermal printer using thermal sheets for recording.
With a view to solving a problem such as this, there has been proposed a thermal transfer printer in which a recording sheet and an ink sheet are conveyed with a difference in the conveying speeds thereof such as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Patent Application No. 57-83471, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 58-201686, and Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-58917.
The present invention is designed to make a further development of those patents disclosed in the aforesaid applications or publication.
As the ink sheet to be used for these thermal transfer printers, there is known an ink sheet (multiprint sheet) capable of recording images plural times (n). Then, when a length L of recording is continuously performed using this ink sheet, it is possible to carry on such a recording by making the length of the ink sheet conveyed after each image recording has been completed or while the image is being recorded shorter than the length L by (L/n:n>1). Hence, the efficiency with which the ink sheet can be used becomes more than the conventional case by n times, and a reduction of the running cost of the thermal transfer printer can be expected. Hereinafter, this recording method is referred to as multiprint.
In the case of a multiprint such as this, the ink layer of the ink sheet is heated by n times separately. Then, at each time of heating, the ink transfer to the recording sheet is performed by generating a shearing force between the fused ink on the ink layer and the ink yet to be fused thereon. As a result, if, for example, the temperature of ink is lowered due to a longer period of time having elapsed before the recording of the next line subsequent to the recording of one line, the force required to shear the fused ink and the ink yet to be fused (sublimated) becomes greater, leading to a problem that the ink sheet and recording sheet are not easily separable. This condition is particularly conspicuous when a one line recording data contains more black information, and in a facsimile apparatus or the like in which a time interval between a current line and the next line is not constant and such time intervals tend to be comparatively long so, this condition presents a problem.
In other words, when black information is contained in a considerable amount, the force required to shear between ink layers becomes great if the recording cycle is long because the ink which has once been fused is cooled and this phenomenon appears as an adhesion of the ink sheet to the recording sheet. Therefore, there is a possibility that if a predetermined number of lines should be recorded subsequent to having recorded a line information containing higher black dot numbers, an adhesion such as this occurs depending on its recording cycle and black data rate in one line. If such adhesive force is increased, an elongation of the ink sheet, deflection of the rubber of the platen roller, and the like are generated, making the velocities of the ink sheet and recording sheet essentially equal. Hence, the relative velocities thereof are brought into a level close to substantially zero and there is a possibility that the recording quality is lowered due to the multiprint thus applied.

Thermal transfer recording apparatus and facsimile apparatus using the aforesaid apparatus


The present invention relates to a method for recovery of high purity carbon dioxide from a gaseous source and uses thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to the production of high purity carbon dioxide, which is substantially free of nitrogen, oxygen, nitrogen oxides, sulphurous compounds and volatile organic contaminants, particularly benzene. The present invention also relates to a method for removal of benzene from a carbon dioxide feeding gas as well as the use of said high purity carbon dioxide in foodstuffs.

Carbon dioxide is a well-known gas, which is present in the atmosphere. It is released to the atmosphere in large amounts by fermentation processes, limestone calcinations, and all forms of combustion processes of carbon and carbon compounds. In the recent decades, the attention in respect of said emission has been rising, because of the environmental problem due to future climate changes via the Greenhouse effect. Consequently, extensive work has been performed over the years in order to develop processes for the removal of carbon dioxide from combustion gases. If possible, a subsequent recovery of carbon dioxide may make those processes economically feasible.
One type of conventional method for the recovery of carbon dioxide from a gaseous source is the absorption method, in which carbon dioxide is absorbed in an absorbing agent. If other gases, such as oxygen, are present in the gaseous source, said other gases may also be absorbed chemically and/or physically. This will be the case if an amine-based agent is used as the absorbing agent.
It is well-known from the prior art that when O2 is present in the carbon dioxide-containing gaseous source, and when alkanolamine is used as the absorbing agent, said O2 will be transferred into the alkanolamine-containing absorbing agent during the absorption procedure. As a consequence an unwanted degradation of alkanolamine as well as corrosion problems will occur due to the presence of O2.
Many prior art documents relate to this problem. EP 1 059 110 discloses a system for recovering absorbate such as carbon dioxide using an alkanolamine absorbent fluid, wherein the loaded absorbent is heated in a two step heating procedure prior to the separation of the absorbate from the absorbent, and wherein the loaded absorbent is deoxygenated after the first heating step and prior to the second heating step. The deoxygenation takes place by means of depressurisation.
In EP 1 061 045 a system for recovering absorbate such as carbon dioxide from an oxygen-containing mixture is described, wherein carbon dioxide is concentrated in an alkanolamine-containing absorption fluid, oxygen is separated from the absorption fluid, and carbon dioxide is steam stripped from the absorption fluid and recovered. In this system, the oxygen is separated from the absorption fluid by passing the carbon dioxide loaded absorbent comprising dissolved oxygen in countercurrent mass transfer contact with oxygen scavenging gas.
In other cases, nitrogen oxides (also named NOx), sulphurous compounds and volatile organics may be present as contaminants in addition to O2 in the gaseous source. These contaminants will also be absorbed chemically and/or physically in the absorbing agent, when an amine-based agent is used as the absorbing agent.
In a conventional plant for production of high purity carbon dioxide, the carbon dioxide is firstly absorbed in an absorbing agent and afterwards the carbon dioxide and the absorbing agent is separated in a stripper column. However, part of the contaminants present in the feed gas is absorbed together with carbon dioxide during the absorption step. When separating the carbon dioxide from the absorbing agent in a subsequent stripper process, part of the absorbed contaminants will also be released in the stripper off gas together with the carbon dioxide. The stripper off gas will further contain N2 and O2 in some amounts.
When producing food grade carbon dioxide or other carbon dioxide applications, where a high purity is required, these contaminants must be removed from the stripper off gas in down stream equipment in order to obtain the required purity. Conventional technology available for removing such contaminants includes scrubbing, oxidation, adsorption and distillation.
The first step of the down stream purification of the stripper off gas is most often an oxidation process. In this oxidation step any NOx's present is oxidised to nitrate, which subsequently may be removed as a liquid phase. Furthermore, if sulphur is present as hydrogen sulphide, this compound is oxidised to free sulphur. Unfortunately, this oxidation requires a large supply of chemicals. Various oxidation agents may be used. In particular, potassium permanganate is widely used. However, this particular chemical is highly hazardous and, furthermore, as potassium permanganate may be used for the production of explosives, it is to be expected that commercial use of this chemical may at some point be forbidden.
In the next step of the down stream purification the carbon dioxide containing gas is passed to a dehydrator. In this dehydrator any water present in the gas is absorbed and thereby removed from the gas stream. However, if any residues of acetaldehyde and/or volatile oxygenates are present in the gas, these compounds are also removed in the dehydrator.
In the last step of the down stream purification, the gaseous carbon dioxide is liquefied in a condenser. In the condenser, it is possible to remove any residues of NO, which may still be present. This, however, is not the case for any residues of NO2. In fact if any NO2 is present when the gas reaches the condenser, or if any NO2 is produced inside the condenser, for example due to oxidation of NO, said NO2 will be transferred to the liquid phase in the condenser and is subsequently almost impossible to remove.
Furthermore, carbon dioxide streams may comprise various amounts of volatile organic compounds, such as benzene, which due to regulatory restrictions and internal standards, must be removed to contents as low as in the range of parts per billion (ppb).
Traditionally, benzene residues in the gaseous stream are removed in a carbon filter in a down stream operating unit, which carbon filter is designed to remove the specific content of benzene in the stream.
However, if the composition of the gaseous stream varies for a specific process, so that the carbon filter is not able to retain all benzene present in the gaseous stream, carbon dioxide comprising too high concentrations of benzene may reach the end product such as soft drinks, which would have a seriously adverse impact in a health risk perspective, but certainly also from a marketing point of view.
Additionally, further means for more efficient purification of gaseous streams is always an ongoing need in the field.

Method for the removal of contaminants from a carbon dioxide feeding liquid stream


A container assembly for use in a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle includes a housing having a storage space. The housing has an outer surface and an opening formed in the outer surface providing access to the storage space. The container assembly also includes a door movably coupled to the housing for movement between a closed position covering the opening and preventing access to the storage space and an open position disposed below the outer surface to reveal the opening and allow access to the storage space. This allows the container assembly to slide beneath a bin lid of a center console when the door of the container assembly is in either the closed position or the open position without interfering with the bin door.

Motor vehicles typically include bins, compartments and containers located throughout the passenger compartment for storing such items. As vehicle owners carry an ever increasing plurality of accessories and gadgets, such as coins, pens, phones, music players, GPS receivers, satellite radios, personal digital assistants and the like, vehicle manufacturers are, in response to this trend, striving to design storage to manage these accessories within the passenger compartment.
It remains desirable to provide improved bin and container storage in the passenger compartment to address to the growing needs of potential new vehicle buyers.

Motor vehicle center console assembly having a container assembly with a flush door

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.


Provided is a touch panel device which prevents a problem such as generation of Newton's rings even if an air layer between the touch panel device and a display device has a small thickness. This capacitance type touch panel device (100) includes: a protective transparent base (10) having an observation-side surface and a display device-side surface; and two polymer films with position detection electrode layers (20b, 22; 30b, 32) which are arranged on the display device-side surface of the protective transparent base. The difference between the minimum value and the maximum value of the linear expansion coefficients in the surface direction of all the polymer films (20b; 30b) arranged on the display device-side surface of the protective transparent base is 10.0×10−6 cm/cm·° C. or below. Furthermore, the display device with a touch panel device (100, 200, 300) according to the present invention has such a touch panel device.

Display devices equipped with touch panel devices, e.g. liquid crystal displays equipped with touch panel devices, are used for mobile phones and other mobile electronic devices, consumer electronics, and unmanned reception devices and other stationary-type customer assistance terminals.
As touch panel devices, contact film types, electrostatic capacity types, photosensor types, etc. are known. Among these, electrostatic capacitance-type touch panel devices are excellent in transmission rate of light from the display devices, durability, etc. Further, electrostatic capacitance-type touch panel devices are excellent in the point that they enable multipoint detection (multi-touch) by arranging, as a vertical and horizontal two-dimensional matrix, two types of position-detecting electrodes consisting of vertical position-detecting electrodes and horizontal position-detecting electrodes (Patent Document 1).
Incidentally, in a display device equipped with a touch panel device, the touch panel device is not entirely bonded to the display surface of the display device. Rather, in the general practice, an air layer of about 0.5 to 1.0 mm is provided between the touch panel device and display device (Patent Documents 2 and 3).
The reasons of providing an air layer of about 0.5 to 1.0 mm between the touch panel device and the display device are, e.g., the following (1) and (2):
(1) Since a touch panel device and a display device differ in production conditions, it is difficult or impossible to integrally produce the touch panel device and the display device so as to completely eliminate any clearance. Further, when the touch panel device and the display device are not integrally produced, if it is found, at the final stage of production, that the touch panel device does not suitably work, it is possible to detach the touch panel device, which does not suitably work, from the display surface of the display device, and exchange it with a new touch panel device. Therefore, the touch panel device and the display device are preferably not integrally produced.
(2) If the thickness of the air layer between the touch panel device and the display device is too small, the light reflected at the interface between the touch panel device and the air layer (i.e., the top side interface of the air layer), and the light reflected at the interface between the display device and the air layer (i.e., the bottom side interface of the air layer) interfere with each other, and thereby Newton rings (moire) are formed. Incidentally, when the thickness of the air layer between the touch panel device and the display device is sufficiently large, e.g. when the thickness of the air layer is about 1.0 mm, the difference in paths of the reflected lights, which are respectively reflected at the top and bottom side interfaces of the air layer, is large, and therefore no interference substantially occurs.
Regarding the Newton ring-formation problem in item (2) above, Patent Documents 2 and 3 propose to fill the air layer between the touch panel device and the display device with a resin material to form a resin layer, and thereby eliminate reflection at the top and bottom side interfaces of the air layer.
However, when filling with a resin material, even if finding, at the final stage of production, that the touch panel device does not suitably work, it is sometimes difficult to detach the touch panel device, which does not suitably word, from the display surface of the display device, and exchange it with a new touch panel device. Further, when filling with a resin material, it is sometimes difficult to fill it with preventing air bubbles from entering into the resin material. Still further, when filling with a resin material, naturally the weight increases.
Further, regarding the Newton ring-formation problem in item (2) above, Patent Document 3 proposes to provide unevenness to the surface of the touch panel device and the air layer-side surface of the display device, and thereby prevent reflection at the top and bottom side interfaces of the air layer.
However, when providing unevenness to the air-layer-side surfaces with unevenness, there is a problem of increasing in the haze due to the unevenness.

Touch panel device and display device with touch panel device


A control method to control a display unit in which a video signal is supplied by an external device to display the video signal, the control method including: dividing EDID information of the display unit in essential EDID information that is required to display the video signal and non-essential EDID information excluding the essential EDID information; and storing the essential EDID information in a non-changeable memory and at least a part of the non-essential EDID information in the changeable memory.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display unit and a control method thereof, and, more particularly, to a display unit having a non-changeable memory and a changeable memory to separately store extended display identification (EDID) information by dividing the EDID information and a control method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Extended display identification (EDID) information is information to identify a display unit and includes a variety of information required to identify the display unit.
For example, the EDID information may comprise display information such as an EDID header, a manufacturer identifying code, a product identifying code, a manufacturing date, a EDID structure version, a basic display variable and a property, a color property, timing information and a checksum byte to detect an error.
The EDID information is stored in an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) by a manufacturing process and is stored as one of analog data and digital data according to a video signal supplied from an external device.
When a user turns on the display unit, the EDID information stored in the EEPROM is read by a microcontroller unit and the EDID information stored in the EEPROM is tested for whether the EDID information has an error.
The error is determined by testing whether a result of an addition of the EDID bytes is equal to 0. That is, if the addition of the EDID bytes is equal to 0 without an overflow, an error is determined to have not occurred. A value of the checksum byte is previously set to make the result of the addition of the EDID bytes equal to 0 and the checksum byte is included in the EDID information to be stored.
Thus, if the result of the addition of the EDID bytes is equal to 0, the EDID information is determined to not have an error. Otherwise, the error is determined to have occurred in the EDID information or when the microcontroller unit reads the EDID information.
If the EDID information is determined to not have the error, the microcontroller unit of the display unit stores the EDID information stored in the EEPROM in a random access memory (RAM) to make the EDID information stored in the EEPROM accessible by an external device.
If a conventional computer is booted, an operating system (OS) of the computer reads out the EDID information from the RAM of the display unit through a plug and play (PnP) and installs a driver that is proper for the display unit.
For the PnP, a display data channel (DDC) that is proposed as a standard by video electronics standards association (VESA) is selected as a communication standard for a communication between the display unit and a computer main body. The DDC standard includes a DDC 1 standard supporting a one-way transmission and a DDC 2B standard, a DDC 2AB standard and a E-DDC standard supporting a two-way transmission, thereby enabling a communication between the computer main body and the display unit.
However, in the conventional computer, if an error occurs and incorrect EDID information is input in the computer main body, the display unit cannot display a picture. Moreover, a long time is required to store the EDID information in the EEPROM by the manufacturing process.


A handle shaft support structure rotatably supports a handle shaft on a reel unit, and includes a boss portion, a roller type one-way clutch, and a pair of seal members. The boss portion is a cylindrical member that is detachably mounted to the reel unit. The one-way clutch includes an outer ring that is non-rotatably coupled to the inner peripheral surface of the boss portion, an inner ring that is arranged on the outer periphery of the handle shaft and is integrally rotatably coupled to the handle shaft, and rolling elements that are arranged between the outer and inner rings. The one-way clutch supports the handle shaft rotatably only in one direction. The pair of seal members are members that are arranged on the both sides of the one-way clutch to seal the one-way clutch.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dual bearing reel handle shaft support structure, and in particular to a dual bearing reel handle shaft support structure that rotatably supports a handle shaft on a reel unit of a dual bearing reel.
2. Background Information
Generally, a dual bearing reel has a handle shaft with a handle non-rotatably coupled thereto. In order to activate the drag mechanism of the dual bearing reel, this type of handle shaft is prohibited from rotating in the line reel-out direction by a one-way clutch. The type of one-way clutch employed is a roller type one-way clutch, which is capable of supporting the rotation of a the handle shaft and can prohibit the handle shaft from rotating in one direction (See, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-58401). In order to prevent the intrusion of foreign matter such as liquids into the interior of a reel through the one-way clutch, conventional one-way clutches are located in a boss portion that is formed to protrude from a side cover. A seal member is arranged on the outside in the axial direction of the one-way clutch. The one-way clutch is mounted to the boss portion by press-fitting or fitting. The seal member is mounted to the boss portion after the one-way clutch is mounted.
Also, among one-way clutches that are used for spinning reels, a one-way clutch is known in which a seal member is attached to the one-way clutch (See, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication 2004-350650). In a conventional one-way clutch, seal members are arranged on the both ends between the inner and outer rings of the one-way clutch.
In conventional one-way clutches, seal members are arranged outside of the one-way clutch. Here, the seal members are required to be mounted after the one-way clutch is mounted to the boss portion. This makes the task of installation of the seal members time consuming, and increases manufacturing costs.
In other known configurations, the seal members are required to be mounted in the one-way clutch, which also increases the cost of the one-way clutch.

Dual bearing reel handle shaft structure


An adhesive composition having two distinct reaction mechanisms, a first being the reaction between a tri-functional isocyanate and an active hydrogen compound and a second begin the free radical initiation of an acrylic monomer. This adhesive develops tack strength through the first reaction allowing two substrates to remain in position relative to one another while the free radical cure of the acrylic monomer takes place to fully bond the substrates together, for example when adhering a rubber liner to the inside of a metallic tank.

In the prior art tank lining practice, uncured rubber is bonded to a steel tank inner portion using a solvent-based adhesive. The solvent based adhesive is applied on both the rubber and steel substrates. After the solvent evaporates, the adhesive layer has a tacky consistency. The two surfaces are then mated together. The tacky adhesive provides a holding power so that the rubber stays in place. The lined tank will then be heated to cure both rubber and adhesive at the same time. One heating method is to pressurize the tank with steam.
The solvents in the adhesive mixture are emitted to the atmosphere, polluting the environment, and potentially impacting workers' health. In addition, the process is complex, long, and energy-consuming.
Recent developments in 100% reactive acrylic-based adhesives have allowed their use in tank lining and repair applications. These adhesives are dispensed as a creamy paste that will harden gradually. These adhesives are effective in horizontal bonding applications, but may not be suited for vertical or inverted bonding as in the tank lining situation where >80% bonding is vertical or overhead. The adhesive needs to have immediate holding power so that the attached elastomer sheet will not slip before the adhesive can fully cure.

Elastomer adhesive with rapid tack development


A memory management unit (MMU) is disclosed for managing a memory storing data arranged within a plurality of memory pages. The MMU includes a security check unit (SCU) receiving a linear address generated during execution of a current instruction. The linear address has a corresponding physical address residing within a selected memory page. The SCU uses the linear address to access one or more security attribute data structures located in the memory to obtain a security attribute of the selected memory page. The SCU compares a numerical value conveyed by a security attribute of the current instruction to a numerical value conveyed by the security attribute of the selected memory page, and produces an output signal dependent upon a result of the comparison. The MMU accesses the selected memory page dependent upon the output signal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to memory management systems and methods, and, more particularly, to memory management systems and methods that provide protection for data stored within a memory.
2. Description of the Related Art
A typical computer system includes a memory hierarchy to obtain a relatively high level of performance at a relatively low cost. Instructions of several different software programs are typically stored on a relatively large but slow non-volatile storage unit (e.g., a disk drive unit). When a user selects one of the programs for execution, the instructions of the selected program are copied into a main memory unit (e.g., random access memory (RAM)), and a central processing unit (CPU) obtains the instructions of the selected program from the main memory unit. A well-known virtual memory management technique allows the CPU to access data structures larger in size than that of the main memory unit by storing only a portion of the data structures within the main memory unit at any given time. Remainders of the data structures are stored within the relatively large but slow non-volatile storage unit, and are copied into the main memory unit only when needed.
Virtual memory is typically implemented by dividing an address space of the CPU into multiple blocks called page frames or "pages." Only data corresponding to a portion of the pages is stored within the main memory unit at any given time. When the CPU generates an address within a given page, and a copy of that page is not located within the main memory unit, the required page of data is copied from the relatively large but slow non-volatile storage unit into the main memory unit. In the process, another page of data may be copied from the main memory unit to the non-volatile storage unit to make room for the required page.
The popular 80x86 (x86) processor architecture includes specialized hardware elements to support a protected virtual address mode (i.e., a protected mode). FIGS. 1-3 will now be used to describe how an x86 processor implements both virtual memory and memory protection features. FIG. 1 is a diagram of a well-known linear-to-physical address translation mechanism 100 of the x86 processor architecture. An address translation mechanism 100 is embodied within an x86 processor, and involves a linear address 102 produced within the x86 processor, a page table directory (i.e., a page directory) 104, multiple page tables including a page table 106, multiple page frames including a page frame 108, and a control register (CR3) 110. The page directory 104 and the multiple page tables are paged memory data structures created and maintained by operating system software (i.e., an operating system). The page directory 104 is always located within the memory (e.g., the main memory unit). For simplicity, the page table 106 and the page frame 108 will also be assumed to reside in the memory.
As indicated in FIG. 1, the linear address 102 is divided into three portions to accomplish the linear-to-physical address translation. The highest ordered bits of the CR3 110 are used to store a page directory base register. The page directory base register is a base address of a memory page containing the page directory 104. The page directory 104 includes multiple page directory entries, including a page directory entry 112. An upper "directory index" portion of the linear address 102, including the highest ordered or most significant bits of the linear address 102, is used as an index into the page directory 104. The page directory entry 112 is selected from within the page directory 104 using the page directory base address of the CR3 110 and the upper "directory index" portion of the linear address 102.
FIG. 2 is a diagram of a page directory entry format 200 of the x86 processor architecture. As indicated in FIG. 2, the highest ordered (i.e., most significant) bits of a given page directory entry contain a page table base address, where the page table base address is a base address of a memory page containing a corresponding page table. The page table base address of the page directory entry 112 is used to select the corresponding page table 106.
Referring back to FIG. 1, the page table 106 includes multiple page table entries, including a page table entry 114. A middle "table index" portion of the linear address 102 is used as an index into the page table 106, thereby selecting the page table entry 114. FIG. 3 is a diagram of a page table entry format 300 of the x86 processor architecture. As indicated in FIG. 3, the highest ordered (i.e., most significant) bits of a given page table entry contain a page frame base address, where the page frame base address is a base address of a corresponding page frame.
Referring again to FIG. 1, the page frame base address of the page table entry 114 is used to select the corresponding page frame 108. The page frame 108 includes multiple memory locations. A lower or "offset" portion of the linear address 102 is used as an index into the page frame 108. When combined, the page frame base address of the page table entry 114 and the offset portion of the linear address 102 produce the physical address corresponding to the linear address 102, and indicate a memory location 116 within the page frame 108. The memory location 116 has the physical address resulting from the linear-to-physical address translation.
Regarding the memory protection features, the page directory entry format 200 of FIG. 2 and the page table entry format 300 of FIG. 3 include a user/supervisor (U/S) bit and a read/write (R/W) bit. The contents of the U/S and R/W bits are used by the operating system to protect corresponding page frames (i.e., memory pages) from unauthorized access. U/S=0 is used to denote operating system memory pages, and corresponds to a "supervisor" level of the operating system. The supervisor level of the operating system corresponds to a current privilege level 0 (CPL0) of software programs and routines executed by the x86 processor. U/S=1 is used to indicate user memory pages, and corresponds to a "user" level of the operating system. The user level of the operating system corresponds to CPL3 of the x86 processor. (The user level may also correspond to CPL1 and/or CPL2 of the x86 processor.)
The R/W bit is used to indicate types of accesses allowed to the corresponding memory page. R/W=0 indicates the only read accesses are allowed to the corresponding memory page (i.e., the corresponding memory page is "read-only"). R/W=1 indicates that both read and write accesses are allowed to the corresponding memory page (i.e., the corresponding memory page is "read-write").
During the linear-to-physical address translation operation of FIG. 1, the contents of the U/S bits of the page directory entry 112 and the page table entry 114, corresponding to the page frame 108, are logically ANDed to determine if the access to the page frame 108 is authorized. Similarly, the contents of the R/W bits of the page directory entry 112 and the page table entry 114 are logically ANDed to determine if the access to the page frame 108 is authorized. If the logical combinations of the U/S and R/W bits indicate the access to the page frame 108 is authorized, the memory location 116 is accessed using the physical address. On the other hand, if the logical combinations of the U/S and R/W bits indicate that the access to the page frame 108 is not authorized, the memory location 116 is not accessed, and a protection fault indication is signaled.
Unfortunately, the above described memory protection mechanisms of the x86 processor architecture are not sufficient to protect data stored in the memory. For example, any software program or routine executing at the supervisor level (e.g., having a CPL of 0) can access any portion of the memory, and can modify (i.e., write to) any portion of the memory that is not marked "read-only" (R/W=0). In addition, by virtue of executing at the supervisor level, the software program or routine can change the attributes (i.e., the U/S and R/W bits) of any portion of the memory. The software program or routine can thus change any portion of the memory marked "read-only" to "read-write" (R/W=1), and then proceed to modify that portion of the memory.
The present invention is directed to a method that may solve, or at least reduce, some or all of the aforementioned problems, and systems incorporating the method.

Memory management system and method providing linear address based memory access security


The present invention is to provide a vertical axis wind engine comprising at least one arm each having its center rotatably coupled to a vertical axis mounted on a base on the ground, each pair of the upper and lower arms adapted to define an airfoil receiving space for pivotably mounting an airfoil by pivot pins thereof; and at least one elastic stop member each provided on the arm proximate the airfoil and spaced from the pivot pins, each stop member adapted to limit a pivot angle of the airfoil and lift the pivot limitation for allowing the airfoil to pivot when the airfoil experiences a wind force larger than a maximum resistance force thereof, preventing the components of the wind engine from being damaged by strong wind or when the wind engine is operating in high speed.

Conventionally, a wind engine is classified as a horizontal axis wind engine or a vertical axis wind engine based on the orientation of rotating axes of its vanes. For vanes of the vertical axis wind engine, they are pivotably mounted in a frame. The frame is fixedly coupled to a vertical axis. Its transmission is provided near the ground. To the contrary, in the horizontal axis wind engine each vane has its horizontal axis provided above the ground by a relatively long distance. Moreover, each of a plurality of vanes of a vertical axis wind engine can adapt itself to wind by providing a wide contour in a windward condition for fully taking advantage of the force of wind and thus for generating larger torque. To the contrary, each vane can adapt itself to wind by providing a narrow contour in a leeward condition for decreasing wind friction. As an end, wind's rotation on the vanes can be maximized for rotating the wind engine. As such, many power companies have spent much time and cost in research and development of commercial wind engines which almost all are vertical axis type wind engines due to above reason.
U.S. Pat. No. 226,357 to Saccone issued on Apr. 6, 1880 discloses an early vertical axis wind engine 10 as shown in FIG. 1. The vertical axis wind engine 10 comprises a plurality of vanes 11 of flat surface each pivotably mounted near a free end of one of a plurality of arms (five are shown) 12 of a star configuration. The arms 12 are adapted to rotate in response to wind blowing over surfaces of the vanes 11. Also, the vanes 11 orbit a central, vertical axis 13. Each vane 11 can adapt itself to wind by providing a wide contour in a windward condition for fully taking advantage of the force of wind. To the contrary, each vane 11 can adapt itself to wind by providing a narrow contour in a leeward condition for decreasing wind friction. However, factors such as air dynamics and construction of the vanes 11 were not taken into consideration in the patent. As such, an abrupt operation often occurs when the wind engine 10 rotates. That is, its operation is not smooth. Further, the vanes 11 tend to cause the wind engine 10 to rotate intermittently due to centrifugal force. As such, the rotating speed of the wind engine 10 may decrease greatly. And in turn, both the arms 12 and the vertical axis 13 rotate in a speed less than wind speed.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,038,467 to Zonoski issued on Apr. 21, 1936 discloses another vertical axis wind engine 20 as shown in FIG. 2. The vertical axis wind engine 20 comprises a plurality of flat vanes 21 coupled to a rotatable frame 22. Also, each vane 21 is pivotal about a pivotal axis 211 thereof and orbits a vertical axis 23 at a center of the frame 22. The wind engine 20 is excellent in a two-phase balance. Each vane 21 is adapted to pivot about 170 degrees from windward side (i.e., having a high rotation torque) to leeward side (i.e., having a low wind friction). Ideally, a draft phase is capable of rotating more than 180 degrees per revolution of the frame 22 of the wind engine 20. However, in fact the draft phase is only able to rotate an angle less than 180 degrees due to wind shadow and interference of vanes 21. As an end, the performance of the wind engine 20 is greatly lowered.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,383,801 to Pryor issued on May 17, 1983 discloses yet another vertical axis wind engine 30 as shown in FIG. 3. The vertical axis wind engine 30 comprises a plurality of airfoils 31 pivotably mounted in a rotatable frame 32. Each airfoil 31 is designed according to the principles of air dynamics such that the frame 32 is adapted to rotate in response to wind acting on the airfoils 31. An anemoscope 34 is formed in the frame 32 via a connection to the terminal end 33 of the center shaft. An angle-of-attack of each airfoil 31 is adapted to change in response to wind direction shown by the anemoscope 34. However, such vertical axis wind engine 30 is complicated in its mechanism. The angle-of-attack of each airfoil 31 can be adjusted to an optimum only when each airfoil 31 is disposed in either upwind or leeward. As to positions other than above (e.g., side wind condition), the performance is much lowered. It is thus often that the vertical axis wind engine 30 cannot start to operate automatically even in windy weather.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,688,842 to Boatner issued on Feb. 10, 2004 discloses a vertical axis wind engine 40 as shown in FIG. 4. The wind engine 40 comprises a rotor 42 including four upper arms and four lower arms, and four airfoils 41 each pivotably mounted between two corresponding upper and lower arms of the rotor 42 by means of a pivotal axis, each airfoil 41 adapted to change its angle-of-attack in response to the force of wind acting thereon. The airfoils 41 thus pivot to cause the rotor 42 to rotate about a vertical axis 43. Further, a drive shaft in the vertical axis 43 functions as means for coupling rotational movement from the rotor 42 to an electric power generator. It is noted that in the patent each airfoil 41 is limited to pivot an angle defined by first and second stop members 441 and 442. Such stop mechanism enables each airfoil 41 to align its orientation according to wind. Further, the airfoils 41 are adapted to orbit the vertical axis 43. By configuring as above, each airfoil 41 is able to combine lift and drag in low speed into lift only when the rotor 42 is rotating at a speed the same as or even higher than the speed of wind. As an end, the force of wind can be effectively utilized for converting into rotational movement of a useful device. Thus, continuing improvements of vertical axis wind engine are constantly being sought.


A polyurea resin having excellent mechanical properties along with high heat resistance can be prepared by the reaction of an aromatic polyamine component and an aliphatic polyisocyanate component, in which the aromatic polyamine component is a combination of a first aromatic polyamine compound which is typically a polyoxyalkylene bis(aminobenzoate) compound and a second aromatic polyamine compound selected from various classes of aromatic polyamine compounds different from the first aromatic polyamine compound in a specified weight proportion. The polyurea resin can be imparted with further improved heat resistance when the aliphatic polyisocyanate component is a combination of an aliphatic diisocyanate compound and a cyclic trimer of an aliphatic polyisocyanate compound in a specified weight proportion.

The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of a polyurea resin. More particularly, the invention relates to a method for the preparation of a polyurea resin having a high hardness and usefulness as a molding material of various kinds of rollers, e.g., calendering rollers, used in the industries of paper, fabrics, magnetic tapes and the like, casters and the like as well as excellent heat resistance by the reaction of a polyamine compound and a polyisocyanate compound.
As is disclosed in Japanese Patent Kokai 63-202612, a method is known for the preparation of a high-hardness polyurea resin having usefulness as a material of high-hardness rollers and the like, in which an aromatic polyamine compound such as a derivative of aminobenzoic acid and a polyisocyanate are reacted. This method, however, is not quite satisfactory because the hardness of the polyurea resin prepared by this method is not high enough for the purpose although the resin obtained by the method is excellent in respect of the impact strength and heat resistance.
Alternatively, a proposal is made in Japanese Patent Kokai 64-1715, according to which a polyurea resin is prepared by the reaction of an aromatic polyamine compound and a cyclic trimer of an aliphatic polyisocyanate compound. Although the resin obtained by this method has a sufficiently high hardness, the resin cannot be used in practical applications where high toughness of the resin is required because of the very poor impact strength of the resin.
Thus, no prior art method has been established by which a polyurea resin having a high hardness and excellent heat resistance and still having good impact strength suitable for practical applications can be easily prepared.

Method for the preparation of a polyurea resin


A portable electricity generation device comprises a plurality of fuel cells, each fuel cell having an anode end with a catalyst facilitating the separation of hydrogen atoms into electrons and protons, a cathode end facilitating the combination of the electrons and protons into water molecules in the presence of oxygen, and a current bearing portion providing a current path for the electrons to traverse. The electricity generation device also includes a fuel storage container for storing a supply of hydrogen and delivering the supply of hydrogen to an anode end of the plurality of fuel cells so as to initiate a flow of the electrons through the current bearing portion. In addition, the portable electricity generation device includes an air moving device configured to direct atmospheric air toward a cathode end of the plurality of fuel cells, wherein the air moving device is positioned to convectively cool the plurality of fuel cells as it supplies atmospheric air to the cathode end.

Small portable electrical and electronic devices have typically used batteries for power. However, conventional batteries have limited energy storage capacity. Thus, applications like professional video cameras, laptop computers, and cell phones often require longer runtimes than batteries can provide.
These conventional batteries can be replaced by a fuel cell integrated with a fuel storage container that stores hydrogen, hydrogen rich gas, or a substance from which hydrogen can be extracted on demand. Such a fuel cell includes an anode end for splitting hydrogen atoms into electrons and protons, a current bearing portion providing a pathway for the electrons, a medium such as a proton exchange membrane providing a pathway for the protons, and a cathode end for rejoining the electrons and protons into water molecules in the presence of oxygen. Such a fuel cell can thus generate electricity over a longer time period than conventional batteries can, provided that the hydrogen in the storage container is periodically refreshed.
It is therefore desirable to develop a hydrogen fuel cell electricity generation device capable of supplying electricity for a longer period of time than conventional batteries.
As conventional batteries can be designed to power small, portable devices, it is also desirable to develop a hydrogen fuel cell electricity generation device that is sufficiently small and lightweight to be of use in portable electrical and electronic devices.


A phase-locked loop includes a phase/frequency detector for generating phase error signal according to a reference signal and an input signal, a charge pump for outputting a voltage signal according to the phase error signal, a voltage-controlled oscillator for outputting an output signal corresponding to the phase error signal according to the voltage signal, an adaptive adjusting unit for outputting a control signal according to the phase error signal, so as to form a nonlinear between the output signal and the phase error signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a phase-locked loop, and more particularly, to a phase-locked loop with nonlinear phase-error response characteristic.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a functional block diagram of a conventional analog phase-locked loop (PLL) 10. The PLL 10 comprises a phase/frequency detector (PFD) 12, a charge pump (CP) 14, a charge control circuit 16, a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) 18, and a frequency divider 20. The PFD 12 compares a reference signal and a feedback signal generated by the frequency divider 20, and generates a phase error signal, whose magnitude is proportional to a phase/frequency difference between the reference signal and the feedback signal. The CP 14 charges/discharges the charge control circuit 16 according to the phase error signal. The charge control circuit 16 generates a control voltage signal in accordance with the charges stored by the charge control circuit 16. The VCO 18 generates an output signal according to the control voltage signal, the output signal having a frequency proportional to a magnitude of the control voltage signal. The frequency divider 20 divides the output signal output from the VCO 18 and outputs the feedback signal to the PFD 12.
A conventional PLL's 10 phase-error response characteristic, i.e. a corresponding relation between the phase error signal and the output signal, is usually linear. In some circumstances and applications, the PLL's 10 phase-error response characteristic is nonlinear, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, and this is usually done by the charge control circuit 16. However, the charge control circuit 16 of the conventional PLL 10 can't be adjusted adaptively because the components thereof such as the resistor and the capacitor shown in FIG. 1 have fixed characteristics. Moreover, due to the process variation and other unexpected factors, the characteristics of electronic components of the analog PLL 10 differ significantly, and the phase-error response characteristic of the analog PLL 10 is therefore neither controllable nor predictable.

Phase locked loop with nonlinear phase-error response characteristic


The present invention is a unique semi-automatic mop wringer. The mop wringer comprises a hollow housing vertically movably supported on a supporting structure by a suspension mechanism. The housing is engaged with the supporting structure through a rack-and-gear mechanism, so that a downward motion of the housing can be transmitted into the rotation of crank members which in turn drive a wringer roller to squeeze the mop against a wringer plate mounted inside the housing. A user can use the present invention mop wringer to wring a mop by placing the mop inside the housing, holding the mop holder and applying a downward force. The downward motion of the housing causes the wringer roller to move in a circular path to squeeze the mop against the wringer plate. When the user withdraws the downward force, the housing moves back upwardly to allow the user to repeat the process. When the wringer roller has completed the squeezing motion, the wringer roller can automatically complete the remaining portion of the circular path.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of mop wringers. More particularly the present invention relates to the field of hand-operated mop wringers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Mop wringers are used for wringing mops. The majority of mop wringers currently used in general households and ordinary businesses or institutions are hand-operated. A hand-operated mop wringer is usually mounted on top of a small water basket. A user can rinse a mop in the water basket and then drain the mop with the mop wringer.
A conventional hand-operated mop wringer typically includes a housing which can be mounted on top of the small water basket. The housing supports two wringer plates. The two wringer plates are oppositely disposed and spring biased in a spaced apart relationship. Each wringer plate has a plurality of small apertures for draining the water. The housing further supports a mechanism which can drive the two wringer plates moving towards each other.
The driving mechanism can be operated through a wringer handle. The wringer handle is pivotedly mounted at its lower end to the housing.
To drain a mop with the mop wringer, a user first places the mop between the two wringer plates, then pushes down the upper end of the wringer handle. Each time the upper end of the wringer handle is pressed, the two wringer plates will move towards each other and squeeze the mop. When the upper end of the wringer handle is released, the two wringer plates will separate and the wringer handle swings back. The user can then remove the mop from the wringer.
The conventional hand-operated mop wringer described above has many disadvantages. For example, a user of the conventional hand-operated mop wringer has to bend down to operate the wringer handle. This is because the conventional mop wringer requires a two-hand operation which often puts the user in an awkward position. The user must use one hand to hold the handle of the mop, and use the other hand to operate the handle of the wringer. The user usually needs to maintain the mop handle in a generally upright orientation with one hand, while bending down to completely push the wringer handle down with the other hand.
In addition, the effectiveness of the conventional hand-operated mop wringer depends on the strength of the user. To drain the mop more effectively, the user needs to push the wringer handle down harder. In other words, how hard the two wringer plates squeeze the mop depends on how hard the user pushes the wringer handle. A user with less strength often has to repeat the operation several times to drain the mop as desired. Furthermore, the user often needs to operate the wringer handle repeatedly to drain the mop as desired.
These drawbacks of the convention mop wringer are very undesirable for people with less physical strength, especially elderly people. Even for people with normal strength, the awkward and laborious operation of the mop wringer increases their fatigue very rapidly. Therefore, it is highly desirable to have a new type of mop wringer which can overcome the shortcomings of the prior are hand-operated mop wringers.


A new mathematical technique called the T-sequence is a primality testing method. A similar approach can be applied to perform fast factoring for numerous special cases, a method that can, in all likelihood, be extended to the general case, making possible a general and fast factoring algorithm. The same T-sequence can be used to construct a prime number formula and a good random number generator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to prime and composite number computing and applications of the same, e.g., in the area of data security.
2. State of the Art
Prime numbers (2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, . . . , those positive integers divisible only by themselves or 1) are the most fundamental building blocks of math, and with the invention of the public key ciphers (RSA, El Gamal and the like), they now form the backbone of computer security. Basically there are two problems related to the use of prime numbers in these fields, namely primality testing and factoring. The primality testing problem is about testing and determining whether a given arbitrary positive integer is a prime number or a composite (non-prime) number. For a composite number, the factoring problem requires determining the composite number's prime factors. Practicality demands that these two problems have to be solved in polynomial time (computations being proportional to the number of digits and therefore fast), not exponential time (computations being proportional to the size of the numbers themselves and therefore too slow).
Traditionally, to decide whether a small integer is prime or composite, one can try to factor it with the smaller primes, but this trial division is too tedious for numbers greater than, say, 40 digits. Previously, experts have only been able to test for general primality up to about 2000 digits with certainty in a week of standard PC computational time. Several other faster methods have been devised to test larger integers, but they too fall short of expectations.
Presently over the Internet, record-size prime numbers over 10,000 or 100,000 digits are frequently found and published by researchers, but they are confined to special forms only (e.g., the most famous being the Lucas-Lehmer test for Mersenne numbers of the form 2M−1). If given an arbitrary number, however, these researchers cannot test it in polynomial time. The stringent demands of several important ciphers require testing and generating large prime number of arbitrary forms and sizes.
There are four conditions in solving these problems:                1. Polynomial-time algorithm: the algorithm's speed needs to be proportional to a small power of the number of digits of that integer, e.g. d3, instead of sub-exponential or exponential time, e.g., 2d.        2. 100% generality, i.e., the primality or factors of any arbitrary number can be determined.        3. Provability, i.e., it can be shown to work in all cases mathematically and no counterexamples can be found.        4. Deterministic in nature, i.e., the algorithm can determine the primality of a number with certainty and not with statistical probability.
Present techniques are unable to satisfy all four of these conditions simultaneously.

T-sequence apparatus and method for general deterministic polynomial-time primality testing and composite factoring


In an elevator system driven by a linear motor a small consistent air gap must be maintained between two elements of a linear motor for proper and efficient operation of the system. The air gap within the linear motor can be maintained and adjusted by utilizing a roller cam adjuster. The roller cam adjuster is disposed on a side of a moving portion of the linear motor and is supported by a plate with a roller disposed therein. As the roller cam adjuster is adjusted, the air gap can be either increased or decreased depending upon the need.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a linear motor driving an elevator, and more particularly to maintaining an air gap between primary and secondary portions thereof.
2. Background Art
A typical elevator system comprises an elevator car and a counter weight each suspended on opposite ends of a hoist rope disposed in an elevator hoistway. The elevator system also includes a linear motor generating a thrust force that facilitates movement of a counter weight. As the counter weight is alternatingly moved up and down by the linear motor the elevator car moves correspondingly thereto.
Linear motors include a rotor, frequently referred to as a secondary, and a stator, referred to as a primary. The primary or stator is typically attached to the counter weight and is engaged in linear motion, whereas the secondary or rotor is stationary and is fixedly attached to an inner wall of the hoistway.
To insure proper operation of the motor, a specified air gap must be maintained between the primary and secondary portions of the motor. The two portions of the motor are pulled together by attraction forces that exceed the thrust force of the motor. If the primary and secondary portions come in contact with each other, a short circuit may be caused. Furthermore, a small constant air gap increases efficiency as well. Thus, maintaining a constant air gap is of utmost importance. Older versions of the linear motors employ guide rails on which the primary motor was suspended, wherein these guide rails get deformed with time due to the attraction forces between the primary and secondary portions of the linear motor.
U.K. Pat. No. 2,237,555A disclosed a device for maintaining the air gap, which includes a single roller assembly and is attached to the moving primary motor. The air gap is maintained through the adjustment of two adjusting rods. However, there is still a need for more precise adjustment of the air gap and for an easier means of adjusting the air gap.


This present invention is provided with: a semiconductor laser for emitting laser light in a plurality of channels; optical waveguides optically coupled in a corresponding manner to the semiconductor lasers, the optical waveguides propagating laser light as input light for each channel; optical modulators for modulating the input light and generating an optical signal; and an optical signal output unit coupled to the optical modulators, the optical signal output unit outputting the optical signal propagated from the optical modulators to the exterior. The present invention is characterized in that the semiconductor laser is arranged on the opposite side from an optical branching unit and the optical modulators, with the optical signal output unit interposed therebetween, in the plane of an opto-electric hybrid board.

Recently, problems such as signal delay due to electric wiring, generation of heat, generation of EMI (electromagnetic radiation noise), and so on have been surfaced in the connection between electronic devices such as boards, computers, peripheral devices, and so on. For solving such problems arising in electric wiring, optical interconnection, that is constructed by use of a silicon photonics technique, is being developed (Non-patent-related Document 1). The silicon photonics is a technique relating to optical elements, and it uses silicon as material; and the optical interconnection is a technique for communicating signals by converting electric signals from an external device into optical signals and converting optical signals into electric signals. In Non-patent-related Document 1, an example of signal transmission between LSI chips is shown; however, transmission of converted signals between devices, in which the transmission is carried out by use of fibers via optical connectors, is also possible.
Regarding such optical interconnection in an opto-electric hybrid board, it is required to construct the opto-electric hybrid board in such a manner that the construction of connection for inputting/outputting electric signals and the construction of connection for inputting/outputting optical signals do not interfere with each other; and it is also required that the opto-electric hybrid board has a structure that makes possible to carry out electrical connection in a simple manner, and has a construction that makes possible to carry out precise and simple optical connection in a simple manner by simplifying the construction of optical connection.
FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic top views that show prior-art optical integrated circuits for optical transmitters placed on opto-electric hybrid boards. In FIG. 1, arrangement of typical optical elements such as optical waveguide elements and so on is shown. On the other hand, in FIG. 2, optical waveguide elements and so on are not shown; however, instead thereof, arrangement of circuit elements such as input pads (electrically conductive pins in this example) for high-speed electric signals, a driver IC, and so on is shown. This type of optical integrated circuit can be downsized and made to be highly dense by forming it within a silicon substrate by using the silicon photonics technique.
In an optical integrated circuit 100 in FIG. 1, the laser light, that is emitted by a semiconductor laser 1 and inputted via optical coupling, propagates through an optical waveguide 3 via a spot size converter 2; and the laser light is coupled to a coupler (an MMI coupler) 4. In the optical coupler 4, the laser light is divided into plural pieces of input light, and the pieces of the input light propagate through optical waveguides 5a that are constructed as curved waveguides having curved parts 5a; and the pieces of the input light are inputted to an optical modulator array 60 in which plural optical modulators are arranged. The optical signals outputted from the optical modulator array 60 are coupled, via optical waveguides 7, to an optical signal outputting element array 80 in which plural optical signal outputting elements are arranged; and the optical signals are outputted from the optical signal outputting elements to the outside via optical fibers and so on.
As shown in FIG. 2, in an opto-electric hybrid board, an electric I/O array 90 that is formed by arranging, along fringe parts of the board, plural input pads for electrical connection for high-speed electric signals, and a driver IC 50 for controlling optical modulation are placed; and electrical connecting wires 95 of high-speed electric wiring are further formed on the opto-electric hybrid board. On the opto-electric hybrid board, the area for placing the driver IC 50 overlaps with the area of the optical modulator array 60; the driver IC is placed above the optical modulator; and the direction of propagation of the light within the optical modulator and the direction of propagation of the electric signal within the driver IC coincide with each other. Thus, the laser 1 is placed in such a manner that it avoids the electric I/O array 90 and the electrical connecting wires (in this example, it is placed on a corner part of the plane).
Although the above is shown as an example of an optical integrated circuit for an optical transmitter, an example of a transmission unit in an optical transmitted/received is similar to that described above.

Optical transmitter or transmission unit in optical transmitter/receiver provided on opto-electric hybrid board

PHOTONICS ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION


A field emission display (FED) driver sequentially provided with an amplifier for amplifying an input video signal, a sample-and-hold circuit for sampling and holding the amplified video signal, a display having a plurality of pixels for displaying the signal sampled by the sample-and-hold circuit, and a biasing power source causing a field emission to the display, for generating an image, the FED driver includes a detector for detecting a current change of the respective pixels of the display, an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter connected to the output of the detector for converting the output signal of the detector into a digital signal, a memory device wherein the information which is a basis for the luminescence characteristics of the respective pixels is stored, a subtracter for receiving and differentiating the output signal of the A/D converter and the signal supplied from the memory device, a luminescence processor for obtaining the luminescence characteristics of the respective pixels supplied from the subtracter and storing the same, and an adder for adding the digitized video signal to the signal output from the luminescence processor. Therefore, the luminescence characteristics of pixels are improved and a high picture quality can be obtained.

The present invention relates to a field emission display (FED) driver, and more particularly, to a field emission display (FED) driver which has a constant pixel luminescence characteristic throughout a display.
Generally, flat panel displays adopt a matrix driving method according to their structural characteristics, and an amplitude modulation method or a pulse width modulation method is used for a gray scale implementation.
A field emission display (FED) uses both modulation methods. However, since the pulse width modulation method has a limit in implementing a gray scale, the amplitude modulation method is mainly used.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are circuit diagrams of a conventional FED driver, in which FIG. 1A shows an FED driver adopting an amplitude modulation method, and FIG. 1B shows an FED driver adopting a pulse width modulation method.
Referring to FIG. 1A, an input video signal is radiated onto the respective pixels of a display 7 constituted by an FED via an amplifer 3 for amplifying a video signal and a sample-and-hold circuit 5 for sampling according to a sampling rate and storing (holding) the sampled information to display the video signal amplified by the amplifier 3, thereby generating an image. In the FED driver shown in FIG. 1A, a biasing power source 9 creating a field emission is serially connected to ground.
As described above, an FED driver circuit which uses the amplitude modulation method is complicated, and does not have a standard integrated circuit. In addition, although the characteristic of each pixel may be different and a defective pixel may be generated, a compensating circuit is not provided.
Referring to FIG. 1B, an input video signal is converted into a digital signal by an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter 13. The digital signal is radiated into the respective pixels of a display 17 constituted by an FED via a pulse width modulator 15, thereby generating an image. However, since the pulse width modulation method is limited in the gray scale it can implement, the FED driver adopting this method shown in FIG. 1B cannot satisfy a delicate scale implementation, displaying an image with the delicate pixel differences and inherent characteristics of each pixel, similar to the FED driver adopting the amplitude modulation method. Also, since the compensation of a defective pixel is not performed, the circuit life is shortened.