Values for a property of a layer in a composition over a period of time are established by sampling user input at a sequence of sample times to obtain a sequence of input values, corresponding the sequence of sample times with a sequence of layer times, and determining a sequence of property values for the first layer from the sequence of input values, the sequence of property values corresponding to the sequence of layer times.

The invention relates to defining a time-variable property in digital compositions.
A digital composition typically has a sequence of frames, each containing data describing, for example, the audio or visual content of the frame. When the composition is played, the frames are sequentially output, and temporal changes in the composition are conveyed by the changing data in sequentially output frames.
A composition includes at least one layer. A layer also contains a sequence of frames containing data, such as audio or visual data, and generally may be individually created and edited. If the composition has more than one layer, the data from temporally corresponding frames of each layer are combined to form data for corresponding composition frames.
A time-variable property, such as the position of a layer, is generally defined by numeric values in a layer, and changes in that property over time are represented by changes in the property value in sequential layer frames. Traditionally, values for a time-variable property are defined for selected frames of the layer, referred to as key frames. To enable smooth changes of the property value, curve fitting based on the property values defined for the key frames determines a continuous curve defining property values for the intermediate frames between the key frames.
Properly defining property values over time requires a user to input values for individual key frames, and may require the user to create additional key frames to ensure that the fitted curve does not improperly define the property values in intermediate frames. Property definition can thus be a time consuming process.

Defining a time-variable property in digital compositions


A process for the extraction and isolation of concentrated carnosic acid from plant matter of the Labiatae family including contacting the plant matter with a water-miscible solvent to form a plant extract and adjusting the pH of the plant extract to a level between 7 and 10 while adding water in an amount sufficient to cause precipitation of impurities while retaining the carnosic acid salt in solution. The impurities are separated and the remaining aqueous solution is acidified to precipitate a highly purified carnosic acid product which is essentially odorless, flavorless and colorless.

This invention relates generally to the field of preparing antioxidants from naturally occurring plant materials, i.e, Rosmarinus officinalis ("rosemary") and Salvia officinalis ("sage"). The process of this invention produces carnosic acid (See FIG. 1) of high purity.
Antioxidants serve in a number of important commercial applications, especially as ingredients in food products susceptible to degeneration, in one form or another, due to oxidation. "Antioxidants" are defined by the Food and Drug Administration (21 CFR .sctn. 170.3) as "substances used to preserve food by retarding deterioration, rancidity, or discoloration due to oxidation." Commercial applications include use in processed meat and poultry, salad dressings, seasonings, snacks, nuts, soup bases, edible fats and oils, natural foods, pet foods and packaging. In addition to foods, antioxidants have been used to prevent oxidation in various cosmetic and toiletry products and in medicinal or pharmaceutical preparations. The primary purpose in each of these applications is to prevent deterioration of desirable product characteristics by inhibiting oxidation.
More recently, antioxidants in food sources and dietary supplements have received attention for their potential to prevent or delay the onset of certain cancers and other chronic health conditions including heart disease, cataracts and aging. The theory is that, by preventing oxidation, these materials inhibit the formation of oxygen containing free radicals that are believed to play a significant role in initiation of these conditions and other chronic disorders.
The use of spices to prevent food deterioration as well as to impart flavor has been known for centuries. Because of their cost and availability, however, synthetic antioxidants, such as butyl hydroxyanisole ("BHA") and butylated hydroxytoluene ("BHT"), have been predominant in commercial food preparation. These antioxidants have proven quite effective. However, significant questions have been raised about their safety. For example, BHA has been identified as a "carcinogen" by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and has been banned in Europe. The safety of BHT has also been questioned.
Because of these concerns, there has been an increasing interest in the use of naturally occurring antioxidants in food preparation. These include various phenolic diterpenes, such as carnosic acid which is found in and can be isolated from certain spices, particularly rosemary and sage. Recent tests indicate that carnosic acid is significantly more effective than other naturally occurring antioxidants, as well as certain synthetic antioxidants, such as BHA and BHT. Antioxidants prepared from rosemary or sage extracts have certain additional advantages including the fact that they are stable at high temperatures compared to other antioxidants. As a result carnosic acid has a greater "carry-through" in commercial food preparation processes. In addition, carnosic acid is readily soluble in oil. Apart from its superior characteristics as an antioxidant, many consumers perceive that naturally occurring antioxidants, such as carnosic acid, are inherently safer than synthetic "preservatives."
Unfortunately, antioxidants extracted from naturally occurring materials also exhibit flavors, odors and colors that are undesirable in many applications. Accordingly, significant efforts have been expended to find commercially acceptable ways to extract antioxidants from these plant sources and to separate them from other naturally occurring compounds that give rise to these undesirable characteristics. Many processes have been tried, but suffer from various defects, such as cost, lack of selectivity in isolating the antioxidant, or poor yield.

High purity carnosic acid from rosemary and sage extracts by pH-controlled precipitation


Light emitted from a light source is modulated and projected on a screen. The screen includes a securing member, a diffuser plate supported by the securing member using a plurality of elastic members, where the elastic members are disposed so that the diffuser plate is resiliently displaced in two directions in the plane of the diffuser plate, and a driving unit that moves the diffuser plate with respect to the securing member in the two directions in the plane of the diffuser plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a screen and an image projection apparatus used for, for example, projection television sets for modulating light that contains coherent light and that is emitted from a light source and projecting the light onto the screen.
2. Description of the Related Art
Image projection apparatuses (optical projectors) are known that illuminate a light modulation unit, such as a liquid crystal panel, a digital micromirror device (DMD), or a light modulation element using a diffraction grating, using an illumination unit so as to project light transmitted or reflected by the light modulation unit onto a screen using a projection lens. Such image projection apparatuses separate the light into light in the red, green, and blue wavelength ranges, modulate the light of each color using the light modulation unit, and project the light of each color onto the screen so as to overlap the light. Thus, a color image is displayed. In general, a high-pressure mercury vapor lamp that provides high luminous efficiency in the visible light range is used for a light source of the image projection apparatuses. By using a high-pressure mercury vapor lamp, the image projection apparatuses can efficiently emit illumination light.
For example, rear-projection television sets in which an image modulated by a light modulation unit is projected onto the rear surface of a screen have several distinguishing characteristics among the currently available wide-screen television sets. In particular, in recent years, a wide screen liquid crystal television sets and plasma television sets have been in widespread use. The rear projection television sets have an advantage over the liquid crystal television sets and plasma television sets in terms of the weight and cost.
However, it is difficult for the rear-projection television sets to prevent the occurrence of shimmering across the screen known as scintillation caused by the nature of the screen, and therefore, it is difficult to provide images with a natural appearance.
Additionally, in recent years, a laser, in place of the high-pressure mercury vapor lamp, has been in widespread use as a light source for projection. A light source such as a semiconductor laser has a sharp spectrum compared with existing discharge lamps. Accordingly, the laser can provide a wide color range. In addition, the lifetime of the laser is longer than that of the lamp.
However, when the laser is used as the light source, viewers see a number of bright spots across the screen, referred to as speckle. The above-described scintillation is primarily caused by incoherent light from a diffusion material contained in the screen. In contrast, when a laser beam, which is coherent light, is emitted onto the screen, shimmering with perspective occurs due to the interference of the light. At that time, the viewers recognize the shimmering as speckle.
To reduce the speckle, for example, a method for vibrating the entire screen is proposed (refer to, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 55-65940).
In addition, to reduce the speckle and the scintillation, for example, a method for providing two layers having a diffusing function on the screen is proposed (refer to, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-133478).


A secure switch module to allow only authorized keyholders to power on an electronic device includes a lock, a key matching the lock, and a power switch. The lock includes a first lock pin electrically connected to a ground pin of a motherboard of the electronic device, and a second lock pin. The power switch includes a button, a first elastic conductive sheet electrically connected to the second lock pin, and a second elastic conductive sheet electrically connected to a power on pin of the motherboard. When the key is engaged with the lock and the button is pressed, the first lock pin is electrically connected to the second lock pin, the first elastic conductive sheet is electrically connected to the second elastic conductive sheet, the power on pin receives a low level signal, and the electronic device is turned on.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to electronic devices, and particularly to an electronic device comprising a secure switch module.
2. Description of Related Art
Most computer systems include a power button installed on a front panel of the computer systems. Anyone can power on the computer system by pressing the power button. Therefore, security of the computer system is reduced.

Electronic device and secure switch module thereof

HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.


A multiport vector network analyzer calibration employs measurements of an asymmetric reciprocal device to determine a value of a defining parameter of a calibration standard in a set of calibration standards. A method of determining a parameter value determines and reports the parameter value. A method of compensating a calibration determines the parameter value and employs the determined parameter value to optimize a set of error coefficients of an error model of the multiport vector network analyzer. A multiport vector network analyzer that includes a controller, a test set, and computer program executed by the controller, compensates a calibration using the determined parameter value and a set of optimized error coefficients. A calibration compensation system that includes a multiport vector network analyzer, a computer, and a computer program executed by the computer, determines and reports the parameter value.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to electronic test and measurement equipment. In particular, the present invention relates to calibration of electronic test and measurement equipment such as vector network analyzers.
2. Description of Related Art
A vector network analyzer (VNA) measures a performance of a radio frequency (RF) and/or microwave/millimeter wave device under test (DUT) and produces measured results in terms of network scattering parameters. As with all test and measurement equipment, VNAs introduce errors into measured S-parameter data produced for a given DUT. The presence of these errors distorts or corrupts the measurements of actual S-parameter data for the DUT.
Fortunately, the effects of at least the so-called 'systematic' errors introduced by the VNA and any associated test system (e.g., cables, connectors, fixture, etc) may be characterized and subsequently removed from measurements of the DUT through VNA calibration. Unfortunately, it is not always convenient or even possible, in many cases, to construct and/or characterize a set of calibration standards, the defining parameters of which are known with sufficient accuracy for calibration purposes over a frequency range of interest. Moreover, even in cases where it is possible to manufacture precision standards, the calibration standards may be very expensive owing to a need to control and accurately characterize the performance of such standards.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to calibrate a VNA without relying on using a set of calibration standards having accurately known characteristics. Such a calibration would solve a long-standing need in the area of calibrating a VNA using calibration standards.

Multiport network analyzer calibration employing reciprocity of a device


Designs and constructions for facemasks which, when properly used, can enable a small child's head hair to be washed by a parent without interference by the child while preventing liquid being applied to the head hair from washing across eyes, nose and mouth. The facemask has handgrips at either side which are grasped by the hands of the child while the child presses a seal against his/her forehead. The facial designs of the masks present artistic renderings of animals' faces, cartoon characters, etc.

It is known to cover at least a portion of a person's face when certain substances are being applied to a person's scalp, such as when the person's hair and/or scalp is/are being treated and/or washed and rinsed.
A purpose of doing so is to protect a person's eyes, nose, and/or mouth from liquid or substances which may be carried by a liquid.


Disclosed in embodiments of the present invention are a control method and device for an alternating-current and direct-current conversion circuit, and a computer storage medium. The alternating-current and direct-current conversion circuit comprises a first commutation unit, a second commutation unit, and a coupling unit. By obtaining voltage information and current information of the alternating-current and direct-current conversion circuit, a controllable device of the first commutation unit can be controlled to be turned on in delay or turned off in advance; and the second commutation unit is controlled to work in a controllable rectification state or a controllable inversion state or an uncontrollable rectification state.

As a novel power distribution transformer, a power electronic transformer realizes AC/DC conversion by using a power electronic conversion technology and a high-frequency transformer, for usage needs of grid users. By using the high-frequency transformer, not only a volume and a weight of the power electronic transformer are greatly reduced, but also pollution to the environment is reduced. Meanwhile, since an output voltage of a secondary side is constant, it does not change due to a change of load. Therefore, the controllability is high, and the voltage, current and power factors of primary and secondary sides of the transformer can be controlled.
In related arts, there are mainly two implementation manners of an AC/DC conversion circuit of a power electronic transformer of a modular structure. One implementation manner is that an H-bridge chain structure is adopted in a high-voltage side. A DC side of an H-bridge module adopts a Dual Active Bridge (DAB) structure, and DC/DC conversion is achieved through a single-phase high-frequency transformer. The other implementation manner is that AC/DC conversion is completed by using a traditional Modular-Multilevel-Converter (MMC), and then DC/DC conversion is completed by capacitive voltage division and by further using the DAB structure with a single-phase high-frequency transformer. However, both of these implementation manners have the following problems. Due to power fluctuations in a single phase, capacitors of the DC side generate voltage fluctuations. Excessive voltage fluctuations may have a very adverse effect on the device. In addition, in the power electronic transformer using the MMC structure, regulation of a medium-voltage DC side is achieved by connecting capacitors in series, which not only lead to a large volume, but also bring difficulties in performing voltage equalization control.
By using various forms of intermediate-frequency or high-frequency transformers as coupling units, sub-modules DC/AC in the power electronic transformer of modular structure are cascaded together, and fluctuating power between three phase modules can be canceled by the coupling unit, but a module capacitance, a reactance of the coupling unit and an operating frequency of a DC/AC stage all affect voltage fluctuation of a module capacitor and the voltage and current phase of the coupling unit.

Control method and device for alternating-current and direct-current conversion circuit, and computer storage medium

Global Energy Interconnection Research Institute Co., Ltd


A method of downloading web content which downloads and stores web content at scheduled times. The method includes the steps of determining a number of web content addresses and corresponding download times, and downloading and storing web content at the web content addresses at the download times by the kiosk, before the kiosk displays any of the web content.

The present invention relates to self-service kiosks and more specifically to a method of downloading web content to a network kiosk in advance.
Retailers have a desire to sell their products over networks, such as global networks which are a part of the World Wide Web (WWW or "web") and which use the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP protocol). These retailers wish to provide Internet server web sites which offer the same features as Internet server web sites available to home shoppers who use their computers to connect to the Internet server web sites.
Kiosks provide a publicly-accessible computing platform for displaying web pages and other web-delivered content from retailer web sites. Kiosks may be located within a retailer's transaction establishment or elsewhere, such as in shopping malls. Kiosks may be easily networked to retailer web sites using the TCP/IP protocol. Web pages from web sites may be displayed using known and available web software, such as Microsoft® Internet Explorer software.
One problem with current global network service is bandwidth limitations. Bandwidth generally varies by type of connection, network usage levels, and time of day. Service problems are complicated by the fact that web pages differ in amount of content and web content differs in size. For example, a typical web page contains text, graphic images, and pointers or hypertext links to other web pages or content. However, web content may motion video files, which due to their size take significantly longer to download, even over high-speed or "T" series lines.
Various general methods of downloading web content are available today. Web browser software applications typically have the ability to store previously downloaded web content in temporary or cache files so that the same content need not be downloaded again the next time the web content is accessed. However, such methods are intended for general purpose operation and thus do not completely serve the needs of retailers. In particular, retailers do not want customers to walk away from their kiosks because web content is arriving to slowly.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a downloading method which relies on configuration information suited to the needs of retailers. It would also be desirable to provide a downloading method which can be configured by time of day.

Method of downloading web content to a network kiosk in advance


The mechanical stress indicator includes two stress indicating rings disposed between engagable fasteners. The stress indicating rings can assume three distinct cooperative positions, corresponding to a less than optimally tight condition of the fastener, an optimum tightness condition and an overtight condition. When the fastener arrangement is in the less than optimally tight condition the mos visually predominant surfaces are of a first code, which can be a first color. When the fastener arrangement is tightened to an optimum tightness condition the stress indicator is deflected and the most visually predominant surfaces, which differ from those of the less than optimally tight condition, are of a second code, which can be a second color that corresponds with the optimum torque condition. When the fastener arrangement is tightened to an overtight condition the stress indicating rings are deflected to a third position wherein the most visually predominant surfaces are of a third code, which can be a third color corresponding to the overtight condition. The stress indicator can include a fixed non-deflectable base ring that is also coded with a color to cooperate with the deflectable rings. A deflector stub can be formed on one of the fastener members to facilitate deflection of the stress indicator rings from an optimum tightness condition to an overtight condition.

This invention relates to devices for indicating proper installation of a fitting or fastener and more particularly to a mechanical stress indicator that visually indicates whether fastener or fitting is less than optimal, optimal or overtight.
The invention is especially applicable to fittings which rely on swaging to connect a tube to a male or female thread. Such fittings, a type of which, for example, is sold under the trademark Swagelok.RTM., include a male connector, a nut and two internal annular front and back ferrules which receive a tube. The male connector is externally threaded and has an internally tapered mouth that complements the outside taper of the front ferrule. The nut, which accommodates the back ferrule, is partially threaded and has a reduced unthreaded opening that accommodates the tube.
When the nut is tightened onto the male connector it causes the back ferrule to force the tapered front ferrule into the tapered mouth of the male connector. This forcing action compresses the tapered ferrule against the outside diameter of a preinstalled tube thereby binding the fitting to the tube to the extent that the tube yields circumferentially thus providing a mechanical seal. The term swaging, as used herein, is intended to mean the yielding of a tube circumferentially by a conical ferrule in a compression-type fitting.
If the tightening torque between the male connector and the nut is less than optimal the amount of yielding or swaging is less than optimal and the seal between the tube and the fitting will leak. If the tightening torque between the male connector and the nut is too tight, the tube and/or the front ferrule can excessively deform in a manner that prevents a leaktight seal between the tube and the fitting. Excessive deformation of the tube and/or ferrule can render subsequent removal of the tube/ferrule combination from the fitting difficult or impossible. When the tightening torque between the nut and the male connector is at an optimum level, the amount of swaging between the ferrule and the tube is optimum and the fitting parts cooperate to provide a leaktight seal around the tube, and between the ferrule and the nut.
Since a fitting normally has no built-in stress gauges, torque indicators or other means of assessing the appropriate amount of swaging, it is often difficult to recognize when a condition of optimum tightness is achieved. Although a torque wrench can measure the tightening torque applied to a fitting, such wrench may not be available at a time of need or may be inconvenient to use because of space requirements. Also, the use of torque measurements as a means of assessing the proper swaging of the tube/ferrule combination can unduly complicate an installation procedure.
One known installation procedure prescribed by a fitting manufacturer suggests initially tightening the fitting to a condition of finger tightness, scribing the nut at a 6 o'clock position and tightening the nut 11/4 turns. The problem with such instructions is that finger tightness is an arbitrary condition and a scribing tool may not be available to scribe a nut when a fitting is being installed.
Furthermore, even if the manufacturers' installation instructions are followed, the tightness of a fitting can be inconsistent because of discretionary interpretations of finger-tightness and 11/4 turns. Unfortunately, if a fitting is overtightened the tube and the ferrules which help provide the seal can be damaged. Such damage is not visually apparent, and once a fitting has been damaged because of overtightness, the damage cannot be undone.
Another known method of tightening a fitting to a condition of optimum torque includes use of a limit gauge that fits between the nut and the male connector. However, gauges are often unavailable or improperly used. Furthermore, if a fitting is overtightened and then loosened to satisfy a gauge measurement, any damage that may have been caused by overtightness cannot be cured by a subsequent torque reduction.
Visual inspection of an installed fitting will not indicate whether the tightening torque is too loose, too tight or just right. Visual inspections also do not provide adequate corroboration that a fitting is leaktight, or that proper tightening procedures were followed.
Stress indicators used in combination with fasteners are helpful for installers and inspectors if such indicators provide a visual indication of stress or torque that is applied to the fastener. Some known devices for indicating the stress condition or tightness of a mechanical component or fastener are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,824,481; 3,153,974; 3,224,316; 3,304,827; 3,474,701; 3,589,234; 4,170,163 and 4,636,120. However, such devices are generally built into the fastener and are not economical or feasible for use with a tube fitting of the type described.
It is thus desirable to provide a compact, simply structured mechanical stress indicator for a fastener or fitting that visually indicates, while an installation torque is being applied to the fastener or fitting and after the torque has been applied, whether the resulting installation or swage is less than optimal, optimal or overtight.

Device for indicating the proper installation of fittings


An adapter for mounting an implement to a working arm of a working machine includes an acentric hole for an implement attachment. The adapter comprises a base element having one or more movement restricting formations, a shaft having a threading, and a nut for tightening the adapter to the implement attachment.

Working machines are known in which it is possible to change a working tool to a working arm of the working machine. These kinds of changeable working tools may also be called as implements. Such implements may be coupled to the working arm e.g. by using an implement attachment. The working arm usually comprises two or more axes or other bar-like members (e.g. pins) which can be positioned through holes of two side walls of the implement attachment. One problem with such arrangements is that the holes in the implement attachment are fixed and only fit to working arms for which they have been designed. In other words, such implement attachments fit only such working arms in which the mutual distance between the axes correspond with the mutual distance between the holes in the implement attachment.
Some implement attachments are known in which an adapter may be put into the holes of the two side walls of implement adapter. The adapter comprises an eccentric hole for receiving the axis, wherein the distance between the acentric holes of the adapters may be slightly varied by rotating the adapters in the holes of the implement attachment. For example, the patent U.S. Pat. No. 7,204,656 discloses such arrangement for implement attachments. The arrangement comprises two or more adapters having acentric hole for receiving the axes of the working arm and threaded holes positioned in the circularly near an edge of a base element of the adapter. These threaded holes are for receiving tips of bolts for fixing the adapters to the walls of the implement attachment. Similar holes need also be formed to the walls of the implement attachment so that the bolts can be put through the holes of the walls of the implement attachment and screwed to the threaded holes of the adapter. Such a construction needs accurate machining (i.e. location of the holes in the walls of the of the implement attachment and the threaded holes of the adapters need to be accurately aligned). Furthermore, a relatively large number of bolts are need for fixing and thus there need to be a relatively large number of threaded holes in the adapters and holes in the walls of the implement attachment. Therefore, if the same implement attachment should be fixed to a different working arm in which the distance between the axes is different, at least one pair of the adapters need to be rotated into another position. This requires a lot of unscrewing and screwing work due to the high number of bolts.
WO03069077A1 discloses a connector assembly for attaching an implement to a prime mover having spaced connecting pins, the connector assembly including a pair of spaced plates, each of the plates carrying a first receiver to receive a first of the connecting pins and a second receiver adapted to receive the second of the connecting pins, wherein at least one of the first and second receivers is an adjustable receiver rotatable about an axis and having a transverse bore spaced radially from the axis and rotatable relative thereto, whereby rotation of the adaptable receiver about the axis changes the relative spacing.
The rotatable receiver may be positioned so that the distance between the connecting pins corresponds with the implement. Rotation of the rotatable receiver may be prevented by putting one or more lock pins into a receiver. Axial movement of the rotatable receiver may be prevented by providing a chamfered end at the end of the pin which may receive a lock ring and putting a washer between the lock ring and a side plate of the connector assembly.
This kind of construction has several drawbacks. For example, it may be difficult to remove the lock ring when the distance between the pins need to be changed. It may also be difficult to put the lock ring back when the receivers need to be secured in their place. Moreover, distance between the side plates of the connector assembly is not adjustable, wherein the connector assembly can only be used with implements in which the distance is appropriate.


A portable device is shown for transporting asphalt repair materials for use in repairing potholes in asphalt pavements. The device has a body with a hopper compartment for transporting and dispensing asphalt mix materials. A dry, radiant heat source is located below the hopper compartment and heats the asphalt mix. Tack oils are held and dispensed from a separate tack oil tank.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to truck and/or trailer mounted portable devices for dispensing pavement repair materials and, specifically, to such a portable device for dispensing repair materials for asphalt pavements.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the past, as many as three vehicles were sometimes needed to repair openings and potholes in asphalt, concrete and other roadway surfaces. One vehicle provided an air compressor for use with various pneumatic repair tools which were used to dress the hole, crack or cavity to be filled. Another vehicle contained liquid asphalt tack material which would be sprayed into the dressed cavity, and a third vehicle would deliver asphalt mix material to the cavity. The asphalt would then be packed, compacted and leveled by hand to complete the repair.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,196,827, issued Apr. 8, 1980, entitled "Portable Machine For Transporting Heated Asphalt Products For Use In Repair Asphalt Pavement" shows a portable machine which was designed to incorporate all phases of the pavement repair into one mobile unit. The machine has a hopper for transporting asphalt mix, and a reservoir below the hopper having a heat source. The reservoir contained liquid asphalt tack material. The heat source is used to heat the liquid tack material, and the tack material is used to heat the asphalt mix in the hopper by heat transfer. Asphalt tack material is also dispensed from the tack material tank by means of spray equipment connected to a discharge valve on the rear of the truck.
In spite of being less expensive to operate in terms of material and labor, the previously described device possessed several different disadvantages. For example, the liquid asphalt tank carried on the unit was suitable for road oils and cutbacks but was not well suited for use with asphaltic cements. Also, in the case of the device described in the '827 patent, the liquid asphalt tank was not suited for use with asphalt emulsions, because the volatile contents of the emulsions would be driven off and dry out the materials.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,632, issued Jul. 31, 1990, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention showed a portable unit with a separate tack oil tank which was provided with its own heat source and which was designed to prevent phase separation of the tack oil materials to overcome some of the deficiencies of the prior art devices. This tank could be used successfully with both emulsions and asphalt cutback oils.
Both of the prior art devices utilized a liquid heat transfer medium to heat the asphalt hopper of the device and maintain the asphalt mix materials therein in a workable state. While a liquid heat transfer medium has been used successfully for many years to heat the asphalt hopper, there are disadvantages associated with the use of a liquid medium. Many of these disadvantages relate to the release of volatile components of the medium as it is repeatedly heated during use. The liquid medium must also be maintained and/or replaced at regular maintenance intervals.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to replace the liquid heat transfer medium used in the prior art to heat the hopper compartment of an asphalt repair apparatus with a dry, radiant heat source which does not require refill and which does not emit volatile organic emissions to the atmosphere.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a dry, radiant heat source for an asphalt repair apparatus which heat source safely and effectively heats the asphalt repair materials without hardening, burning or charring such materials.
Another object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus which is simple in design and economical to manufacture.

Asphalt repair apparatus with dry, radiant heat source


The present invention provides a conductive fabric comprising base cloth and a conductive metallic circuit structure formed on the surface of the base cloth. The conductive metallic circuit structure comprises at least one metallic seed layer and at least one chemical-plating layer. The metallic seed layer is an evaporation-deposition layer or a sputter-deposition layer and has a circuit pattern. The chemical-plating layer is applied over the surface of the metallic seed layer. The conductive fabric has improved conductivity and heat generation efficiency.

Conventional methods for forming a conductive fabric with circuit generally include printing conductive paste onto cloth, inserting metallic threads into cloth through weaving (or knitting), and the like. The method of printing conductive paste comprises blending polymer with metallic or other conductive powder; and then directly printing conductive paste onto the surface of cloth with a predetermined pattern via screen printing or other printing techniques. The method of inserting metallic threads into cloth comprises inserting metallic threads into cloth with a predetermined pattern through weaving (or knitting), and thus the metallic threads are woven (or knit) together with other materials such as wool, nylon, cotton, and synthetic blends. In these ways, a fabric with a conductive circuit can be provided.
There are several limitations associated with these conventional methods. For example, silver paste is generally used as the conductive paste. However, silver paste is expensive and thus increases the cost for making a conductive fabric. As to fabric knitted or woven with metallic thread, the content of the metallic thread has to be limited to keep the fabric flexible. In contrast, to achieve the conductivity (such as 5Ω) as achieved by the conductive paste, the content of the metallic threads has to be increased. It is a dilemma to achieve a desired conductivity of the fabric without reducing flexibility. Accordingly, for conventional methods, it is difficult to provide a high-quality conductive fabric at low cost. Therefore, there is a need to produce a conductive fabric with desired conductivity and heat generation efficiency in a cost-effective manner.

Conductive fabric and its preparation and applications


A ladder tie strap is wrapped around adjacent rungs of upper and lower ladder sections in an extension ladder to prevent the upper ladder section from accidentally retracting relative to the lower ladder section. A fair of tie straps may also be secured to the upper end of the ladder and fastened to a ladder support structure to stabilize the ladder against lateral movement. The structure may be a wall or a wire, and when a wire the straps are wrapped around the wire and around the ladder rung or ladder side members.

Ladders are all too often involved in accidents causing injuries to those using them. There are several different situations in which these accidents occur. Extension ladders have mechanical lock means for keeping the upper section extended but on occasion the mechanical lock is not fully engaged with a rung of the lower section, thereby allowing the upper ladder section to be retracted along the lower section.
Another situation is where the ladder is extended and the upper end is leaning on a wall such that a shifting of weight on the ladder can cause the ladder to slide laterally one direction or the other, causing the ladder to fall.
A third situation is where the upper end of the ladder is placed on a wire such as when cable TV lines are being worked on. The upper end of the ladder can slide along the wire laterally in either direction.
A typical way of stabilizing the ladder when leaning against a wall or wire is to have a person standing on the grounds holding the ladder against undesired movement. This is obviously inefficient and unreliable for preventing ladder accidents.


A high power Gysel multinode power network for an RF signal, having a plurality of RF ports, a plurality of RF isolation loads, each load being connected through a coaxial transmission line to a respective RF port, a combined port, comprising a first hub having a plurality of first radiating arms, each radiating arm comprising a coaxial transmission line extending to one of said RF ports, a node, comprising a second hub having a plurality of second radiating arms, each radiating arm comprising a coaxial transmission line extending to one of said RF isolation loads; and a common heat sink for dissipating heat from said plurality of RF isolation loads. The network is formed such that a normalized phase difference of the RF signal at a design frequency through said coaxial transmission line between each of said RF ports and said combined port is approximately equal to zero with respect to a portion of the RF signal traveling through said transmission line between each of said RF ports and a respective RF isolation load, through said transmission line between each of said RF isolation loads and said node, and through all other paths between said node and said combined port.

The N-way power combiner/divider according to the invention is a solution to high power coaxial combining or dividing. This new design has many improvements over other combining techniques. The invention is based on a circuit design by Ulrich H. Gysel of the Stanford Research Institute and was presented to the IEEE in 1975. Ulrich H. Gysel, A New N-Way Power Divider/Combiner Suitable for High Power Applications, IEEE-MTTS-5, International Symposium Digest, pg. 116, 1975. The Gysel design, referred to as a Gysel Network, is, in turn, an improvement to the N-Way combiner/divider devised by Wilkinson. E. J. Wilkinson, An N-Way Hybrid Power Divider, IRE Trans. on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. MTT-8, pp. 116-118 (January 1960). The improvements made by Gysel include: external isolation loads, easily realizable geometry and monitoring capabilities at the input ports. The original Wilkinson design was only applied to strip line systems. Years later, Harris Allied Broadcast Division incorporated the Gysel Network to a coaxial application in their Platinum.TM. Series FM Transmitter (trade mark of Harris Corporation). This solid state modular transmitter combined power modules to form a 10 kW output using the Gysel Network.
While the Gysel network is conceptually simple, implementing efficient high power combiners with coaxial transmission lines has remained difficult. Lower power systems, on the other hand, have been implemented using strip-line techniques and employing planar substrates. These techniques, however, are somewhat difficult to apply to high power load levels.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,904,990, expressly incorporated herein by reference, provides an N-way power divider with remote isolating resistors. U.S. Pat. No. 4,365,215, expressly incorporated herein by reference, provides a high power coaxial power divider. U.S. Pat. No. 4,369,415, expressly incorporated herein by reference, provides a coaxial transmission power line divider. U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,434, expressly incorporated herein by reference, provides an RF power amplifier with load mismatch compensation. U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,024, expressly incorporated herein by reference, provides a low loss power splitter. U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,166, expressly incorporated herein by reference, provides an N-way power combiner having N reject loads and a common heat sink. U.S. Pat. No. 5,164,689, expressly incorporated herein by reference, provides an N-way power combiner/divider. U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,604, expressly incorporated herein by reference, provides a broadband high power amplifier having an N-way power combiner. U.S. Pat. No. 5,410,281, expressly incorporated herein by reference, provides a microwave high power combiner/divider. U.S. Pat. No. 5,543,762, expressly incorporated herein by reference, provides an N-way impedance transforming power divider/combiner.
The following patents are related to the present invention, and are each expressly incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,747,026; 4,092,616; 4,163,955; 4,254,386; 4,263,559; 4,263,568; 4,328,471; 4,335,347; 4,401,955; 4,463,326; 4,543,545; 4,553,266; 4,590,446; 4,644,301; 4,652,880; 4,684,874; 4,693,694; 4,769,618; 4,835,496; 4,916,410; 4,926,145; 5,017,886; 5,021,755; 5,055,798; 5,079,527; 5,083,094; 5,121,084; 5,136,256; 5,150,084; 5,187,447; 5,206,611; 5,223,809; 5,256,987; 5,283,540; 5,304,943; 5,313,174; 5,329,248; 5,389,890; 5,445,546; 5,543,751; 5,561,395; and 5,576,671.


A night vision system including an image intensifier receiving light. A current detector monitors current at the image intensifier. A data filter is coupled to the current detector and determines if the received light includes coded light pulses matching a predetermined code. A controller is coupled to the data filter. The controller alters a parameter of the night vision system if the received light includes coded light pulses matching a predetermined code.

Night vision systems are used in a number of applications, including military, industrial, commercial, etc. In general, the systems operate by multiplying light received at an image intensifier tube to generate a visible image. There are situations where it is desirable to disable a night vision system remotely. For example, in a military setting, if a night vision system is acquired by enemy personnel, it is desirable to disable the night vision system. Thus, there is a need in the art for a night vision system having the capability of being controlled remotely.

Method, system and computer program for controlling a night vision system


This invention provides compounds of formula 1, having the structure

This invention relates to certain substituted 3-cyano quinoline compounds as well as the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The compounds of the present invention inhibit the HER-2 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) enzyme thereby inhibiting the abnormal growth of certain cell types. The compounds of this invention are anti-cancer agents and are useful for the treatment of cancer in mammals. This invention also relates to the use of 3-cyano quinolines in the treatment of cancer and the pharmaceutical preparations containing them.
Protein tyrosine kinases are a class of enzymes that catalyze the transfer of a phosphate group from ATP to a tyrosine residue located on a protein substrate. Protein tyrosine kinases clearly play a role in normal cell growth. Many of the growth factor receptor proteins function as tyrosine kinases and it is by this process that they effect signaling. The interaction of growth factors with these receptors is a necessary event in normal regulation of cell growth. However, under certain conditions, as a result of either mutation or over expression, these receptors can become deregulated, the result of which is uncontrolled cell proliferation which can lead to tumor growth and ultimately to the disease known as cancer [Walks, A. F., Adv. Cancer Res., 60, 43 (1993) and Parsons, J. T.; Parsons, S. J., Important Advances in Oncology, DeVita, V. T. Ed., J. B. Lippincott Co., Phila, 3 (1993)]. Among the growth factor receptor kinases and their proto-oncogenes that have been identified and which are targets of the compounds of this invention are the epidermal growth factor receptor kinase (EGF-R kinase, the protein product of the erbB oncogene), and the product produced by the erbB-2 (also referred to as the neu or HER-2) oncogene. Since the phosphorylation event is a necessary signal for cell division to occur and since over expressed or mutated kinases have been associated with cancer, an inhibitor of this event, a protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor, will have therapeutic value for the treatment of cancer and other diseases characterized by uncontrolled or abnormal cell growth. For example, over expression of the receptor kinase product of the erbB-2 oncogene has been associated with human breast and ovarian cancers [Slamon, D. J., et. al., Science, 244, 707 (1989) and Science, 235, 1146 (1987)]. Deregulation of EGF-R kinase has been associated with epidermoid tumors [Reiss, M., et al., Cancer Res., 51, 6254 (1991)], breast tumors [Macias, A., et. al., Anticancer Res., 7, 459 (1987)], and tumors involving other major organs [Gullick, W. J., Brit. Med. Bull., 47, 87 (1991)]. Because of the importance of the role played by deregulated receptor kinases in the pathogenesis of cancer, many recent studies have dealt with the development of specific PTK inhibitors as potential anti-cancer therapeutic agents [some recent reviews: Burke. T. R., Drugs Future, 17, 119 (1992) and Chang, C. J.; Geahlen, R. L., J. Nat. Prod., 55, 1529 (1992)]. The compounds of this invention inhibit the kinase activity of EGF-R and are therefore useful for treating certain disease states, such as cancer, that result, at least in part, from deregulation of this receptor.
The HER-2 gene (c-erbB-2, neu) encodes a 185 kDa transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor that has partial homology with other members of the epidermal growth factor receptor family [Shih, C., Padhy, L. C., Murray, M., et al. Transforming genes of carcinomas and neuroblastomas introduced into mouse fibroblasts, Nature, 290, 261-264 (1981)]. It is now known that normal human cells express a small constitutive amount of HER-2 protein on the plasma membrane. The activation of the HER-2 oncogene is believed to follow the binding of a yet unidentified growth factor ligand to the HER-2 receptor complex, which leads to heterodimerization, triggering a cascade of growth signals that culminates in gene activation. More specifically, the epidermal growth factor family can be subdivided into four groups based on their receptor-binding specificities (HER-1, HER-2, HER-3, and HER-4). HER-2 is the preferred heterodimerization partner of all other HER receptors. Over expression of HER-2 has been demonstrated to lead to increased tumorigenicity, tumor invasiveness, increased metastatic potential, and altered sensitivity to hormonal and chemotherapeutic agents in transfection studies in cellular and animal models [Pegram, M. D., Finn, R. S., Arzoo, K., et al. The effect of HER-2/neu over expression on chemotherapeutic drug sensitivity in human breast and ovarian cells Oncogene, 15, 537-547 (1997)].
HER-2 protein over expression has been reported to occur in approximately 30% of invasive human breast cancers, with HER-2 gene amplification detected in 95% or more of the specimens found to over express HER-2 protein, [Gebhardt, F., Zänker, K., Brandt, B. Differential expression of alternatively spliced c-erbB-2 mRNA in primary tumors, lymph node metastases, and bone marrow micro metastases from breast cancer patients Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 247, 319-323 (1998)].
U.S. Pat. No. 6,288,082 issued Sep. 11, 2001 (the '082 patent) discloses substituted 3-cyano quinoline compounds that inhibit epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The compounds of this application are distinguished from those of the '082 patent in their ability to act as potent HER-2 inhibitors.

Protein tyrosine kinase enzyme inhibitors

Abstract: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 are described within the specification.


A magnetic recording/reproducing device for recording/reproducing information signals for one recording unit over a plurality of recording tracks by helically scanning a magnetic tape with rotary heads. The information signals for one recording unit are recorded on the plurality of recording tracks on the magnetic tape, and guard bands are formed simultaneously between the one recording units. The recording density is substantially improved. Erase heads overwrite the information signals on the magnetic tape and the plurality of recording tracks for one recording unit on the magnetic tape are erased en block, which prevents over-erasing unerased portions during editing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic recording/reproducing device and suitable particularly for an application to a device for recording and reproducing desired information signals by helically scanning a magnetic tape with rotary heads.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional magnetic recording/reproducing device, has a digital video tape recorder for helically scanning a magnetic tape with rotary heads and thereby effecting record/reproduction of information signals consisting of, e.g., digital video signals on and from recording tracks formed obliquely to a traveling direction of the magnetic tape.
This type of digital video tape recorder includes a D-1 format digital video tape recorder, based on so-called SMPTE (American Movie & Television Engineer Association) standards, for recording and reproducing component digital video signals and also a D-2 format digital video tape recorder, based on the SMPTE standards, for recording and reproducing composite digital video signals. Both of the devices record the video signals for one field over the plurality of recording tracks.
A so-called guard band recording is adopted in the D-1 format digital video tape recorder. As illustrated in FIG. 7(A), the digital video signals are recorded on a magnetic tape 1 in format in which guard bands GB are interposed between respective recording tracks T11, T12, T13, T14, T15, T16, . . . , T1N.
So-called azimuth solid recording is adopted in the D-2 format digital video tape recorder. As illustrated in FIG. 7(B), the digital video signals are recorded on recording tracks T21, T22, T23, T24, T25, T26, . . . , T2N having sequentially alternately different azimuths on the magnetic tape 1.
The recording tracks T1N based on the D-1 format shown in FIG. 7(A) are formed in the direction inclined to the traveling direction of the magnetic tape 1 with the guard bands GB being interposed between the respective tracks. Digital audio signals AD for 4 channels are recorded on the central parts thereof, while digital video signals VD1, VD2 are recorded on upper and lower parts thereof. Note that in the case of the D-1 format, the digital video signals VD1, VD2 for one field are recorded on, e.g., 10 or 12 pieces of the recording tracks T1N.
The recording tracks T2N based on the D-2 format shown in FIG. 7(B) are formed in the direction inclined to the traveling direction of the magnetic tape 1 having sequentially different azimuths. The digital video signals VD are recorded on the central parts thereof. Digital video audio signals A1, A2, A3, A4 for 4 channels are recorded on upper and lower parts thereof by a double recording method. Note that in the case of the D-2 format, the digital video signals VD for one field are recorded on, e.g., six pieces of recording tracks T2N.
In the digital video tape recorders described above, if track pitches of the recording tracks are narrowed to improve the recording density, the efficiency is poor corresponding to the existence of the guard bands in the D-1 format guard band record. This results in a problem in that the track pitch is widened.
The D-2 format digital video tape recorder adopts the azimuth solid recording using no guard band and is therefore considered to be fundamentally suitable for ameliorating the recording density by narrowing the track pitches of the recording tracks.
When the track pitches of the recording tracks are further narrowed, however, and if a tracking error is caused on the occasion of effecting an editing process by overwriting, as depicted in FIG. 8, an old recording track T24 having an equiphase azimuth contain some unerased portions at this overwrite starting part T21N. A problem is thereby caused, wherein the S/N ratio is deteriorated, and the error rate during the reproduction deteriorates so as to cause a decline of image quality.
As depicted in FIG. 9, if the tracking error is produced when only one-channel information of the digital audio signals is to be replaced, the same problem occurs. Some unerased portions of the old recording tracks A1 having the equiphase azimuth exist for of digital audio signal A1N which are to be replaced, resulting in noises.
For eliminating the remainder of such old recording tracks T24, A1 having the equiphase azimuth, the old recording tracks T24, A1 can be erased in advance of the overwrite recording by use of a flying erase head.
In this case, however, if a head width of the flying erase head is selectively set to a value which is narrower than a track width of the recording track, a problem occurs because the old recording tracks having equiphase are left on both sides. Whereas if set to a value wider than the track width of the recording track, the two necessary adjacent recording tracks are erased, making it difficult to form the guard band. This is not acceptable in actual equipment.


A system and method for mitigating problems associated with automatic execution of initialization code is provided. The system includes an initialization method activator that can call a class initialization method at a predetermined execution point. The system also includes a deadlock analyzer that can determine whether calling the initialization method will create a deadlock, and, if a deadlock is detected that can resolve such a deadlock. The system also includes a semantic analyzing component that can analyze a semantic type associated with the initialization method and a domain uniqueness analyzer that can analyze the uniqueness of the domain with which the class will interact, to facilitate determining where to place code that will check whether a class is initialized, and if the class is not initialized that will invoke the class initializing method.

Systems that employ classes may benefit from having a global state associated with such classes initialized to a known and valid state. To facilitate establishing state, classes may employ initialization logic, which may be implemented in an initialization method. Conventionally, such initialization methods are invoked by a user of the class. But deferring initialization to user invocation of initialization methods can create problems. Thus, execution of initialization methods may be migrated from user control to system and/or programmatic control.
To facilitate such control, classes can define special methods that are to be executed automatically by a runtime during class initialization. However, the automatic execution of such special methods can lead to unexpected problems (e.g., delays, deadlocks). Problems like delays and deadlocks that are caused by automatic execution of initialization code can be exacerbated in multi-threaded environments.
Conventionally, runtime environments may be constrained to attempting to run a class initialization method on the first access to a class. Such conventional implementations may rely on a flag to record and/or monitor whether a class initialization method has been run, and thus, whether the class is initialized. But with complex scenarios (e.g., class dependency loops, race conditions) encountered in complicated thread situations, a flag may not be effective in mitigating problems associated with delays and/or deadlocks. Thus there remains a need for a system and method to mitigate problems associated with automatic execution of class initialization code.


An output buffer circuit includes a pull-up section for connecting therethrough a source line Vcc and an impedance control terminal, a comparator for comparing the potential of the impedance control terminal against a potential of Vcc/2, an UP/DOWN counter for up- and down-counting clock pulses of a clock signal based on the result of the comparison, a D/A converter for converting an output from the UP/DOWN counter, an output section, connected between the source line Vcc and an output terminal, for receiving an input data signal to output an output data signal based on the input data signal. The output from the D/A converter controls both the ON-resistances of the pull-up section and the output section. The output impedance of the output buffer circuit is controlled based on the resistance of an external resistor connected between the impedance control terminal and ground.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an output buffer circuit having a variable output impedance, and more particularly, to an improvement of such an output buffer circuit to obtain a higher speed with a reduced circuit scale.
(b) Description of the Related Art
In general, it is desired for an output buffer circuit to adapt to a low amplitude signal along with a higher speed of signal transmission. In order for the adaptation, it is necessary to remove or reduce the reflection of the transmitted data signal along the signal transmission line. The removal of the reflection is generally achieved by an impedance matching between the output impedance of the output buffer circuit and the impedance of the signal transmission line connected thereto. The impedance matching can be obtained by an output circuit having a variable output impedance.
FIG. 1 is shows a conventional output buffer circuit having a variable output impedance. The buffer circuit includes an impedance control terminal 21, a pull-up section 26 including parallel nMOS transistors 27 to 29, a comparator 15, UP/DOWN counter 16, a NOR gate array 30 including NOR gates 31 to 33, and an output section 34 including parallel nMOS transistors 35 to 37.
The impedance control terminal 21 is connected to the source line Vcc via the pull-up section 26 and to the ground via an external resistor 14 provided outside the chip of the semiconductor device having the output buffer circuit. The comparator 15 compares the potential of the impedance control terminal 21 against a voltage level of Vcc/2 to deliver a high level or a low level to the UP/DOWN counter 16 based on the result of the comparison. The UP/DOWN counter 16 receives a count clock signal 103 through a clock input terminal 23 and up-counts the clock pulses of the count clock signal if the potential of the impedance control terminal 21 is lower than Vcc/2, and down-counts if the potential of the impedance control terminal 21 is higher than Vcc/2.
The coded outputs 104 to 106 of the UP/DOWN counter 16 are delivered to the respective gates of nMOS transistors 27 to 29 in the pull-up section 26 and to respective first inputs of NOR gates 31 to 33 in the NOR gate array 30. If the potential of the impedance control terminal 21 is lower than Vcc/2, the potential of the impedance control terminal 21 is raised by nMOS transistors 27 to 29 in the pull-up section 26 by increasing the ON-current thereof, whereas if the potential of the impedance control terminal 21 is higher than Vcc/2, the potential of the impedance control terminal 21 is lowered by nMOS transistors 27 to 29. After iterated control, nMOS transistors 27 to 29 in the pull-up section 26 enters into a stable state wherein the overall resistance of nMOS transistors 27 to 29 is substantially equal to the resistance of the external resistor 14. Thus, the impedance control terminal 21 stays substantially at Vcc/2, while being subjected to a slight UP/DOWN control by 1 bit of the coded outputs 104 to 106.
On the other hand, the coded outputs 104 to 106 supplied to the respective first inputs of NOR gates 31 to 33 in the NOR gate array 30 are NORed with a data signal 108 supplied through a data input terminal 14 to the respective second inputs of NOR gates 31 to 33. The NORed data are supplied to respective gates of nMOS transistors 35 to 37 in the output section 34, and control the ON-resistances of nMOS transistors 35 to 37 in the output section 36 similarly to the ON-resistances of nMOS transistors 27 to 29 in the pull-up section 26. After the pull-up section 26 enters into the stable state, so long as the data signal 108 supplied through the data input terminal 24 is at a L-level, the output impedance at the output terminal 25 of the output buffer circuit is determined by the overall ON-resistance of nMOS transistors 35 to 37, which is determined by the overall ON-resistance of transistors 25 to 27 and the ratio of the overall transistor size of nMOS transistors 27 to 29 to the overall transistor size of nMOS transistors 37 to 39. Thus, it is possible to control the output impedance at the output terminal 25 based on resistance of the external resistor 14 during transmission of a high level signal. The resistance of the external resistor 14 can be selected at any value from outside to remove the signal reflection.
In the conventional output buffer circuit, the data input terminal 24 for receiving the data signal 108 has a large parasitic capacitance because of the plurality of NOR gates 31 to 33 connected to the data input terminal 24, which impedes a high speed signal transmission.
In addition, the number of nMOS transistors 27 to 29 in the pull-up section 26 and the number of nMOS transistors 35 to 37 in the output section 34 are large, which raise the circuit scale of the output buffer circuit.

Output buffer circuit having a variable output impedance


A variable-stroke radial-plunger-type apparatus for use as an air compressor, for example, has a main shaft rotatably disposed in a casing assembly, an eccentric collar angularly movably mounted on a eccentric crankpin of the main shaft, and a coupling ring angularly movably mounted on the eccentric collar. A plurality of radial plungers with inner ends coupled to the coupling ring are slidably fitted in respective cylinders that are rockably supported it the casing assembly. The angular movement of the eccentric collar on the crankpin is adjusted by a stroke adjusting mechanism. The coupling ring can be positioned with respect to the main shaft and the casing assembly by a W-mechanism. The W-mechanism may comprise external and internal gears or pulleys and sprockets.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radial-plunger-type apparatus such as a pump, a compressor, or the like which has cylinders and plungers that extend radially around a main shaft, and more particularly to such a radial-plunger-type apparatus with plungers reciprocally movable in respective cylinders over variable strokes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
One variable-stroke radial-plunger-type apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 3-37465, for example, filed by the assignee of the present application. The disclosed variable-stroke radial-plunger-type apparatus will be described below with reference to FIG. 16 of the accompanying drawings.
As shown in FIG. 16, the variable-stroke radial-plunger-type apparatus comprises a main shaft (not shown) having an axis C1 and including an integral crankpin 501 having an axis C2 displaced off the axis C1. When the main shaft rotates about its own axis C1, the crankpin 501 revolves around the axis C1. An eccentric collar 502 is relatively rotatably mounted on the crankpin 501. The eccentric collar 502 has an outer circumferential surface 502 a whose center C3 of curvature is displaced off the axis C2 of the crankpin 501.
The variable-stroke radial-plunger-type apparatus has a stroke adjusting mechanism for adjusting the angle through which the eccentric collar 502 is angularly moved on the crankpin 501, i.e., the angular displacement of the eccentric collar 502 on the crankpin 501. The eccentric collar 502 can be held at a certain angle with respect to the crankpin 501, so that the eccentric collar 502 and the crankpin 501 can revolve together around the axis C1 in response to rotation of the main shaft. When the angular displacement of the eccentric collar 502 on the crankpin 501 is adjusted, the distance of the center C3 from the axis C1, i.e., the radius of revolution of the center C3 around the axis C1, is adjusted.
A coupling ring 503 is relatively rotatably mounted on the outer circumferential surface 502 a of the eccentric collar 502 through a bearing 502. To the coupling ring 503, there are connected a plurality of radial rockable plungers 505 through respective coupling pins 504 at circumferentially equal intervals and a single radial fixed plunger 506 integral with the coupling ring 503. The apparatus also includes a cylinder casing 510 rotatable with respect to the main shaft. A plurality of cylinders 508 are rockably mounted on the cylinder casing 510 through respective supporting pins 511 at circumferentially equal intervals around the axis C1. The plungers 505, 506 are slidably fitted in radially inwardly opening cylinder bores in the respective cylinders 508.
When the cylinder casing 510, for example, is held against rotation, and the main shaft is rotated to cause the crankpin 501 and the eccentric collar 502 to revolve around the axis C1, the coupling ring 503 also revolves with the crankpin 501 and the eccentric collar 502 around the axis C1, causing the plungers 505, 506 to reciprocally move in the respective cylinders 508 for thereby drawing a working fluid such as air, oil, etc. into and discharging the working fluid out of the cylinders 508. Thus, the apparatus operates as a pump or compressor.
The rate at which the working fluid is discharged from the apparatus is proportional to the reciprocating stroke of the plungers 505, 506 in the cylinders 508 provided the main shaft rotates at a constant speed. Stated otherwise, the rate at which the working fluid is discharged from the apparatus can be varied or adjusted when the reciprocating stroke of the plungers 505, 506 is adjusted.
The reciprocating stroke of the plungers 505, 506 can be adjusted by the stroke adjusting mechanism which adjusts the angular displacement of the eccentric collar 502 with respect to the crankpin 501. Adjustment of the angle of the angular displacement of the eccentric collar 502 results in adjustment of the radius of revolution of the center C3 around the axis C1. Since the coupling ring 503 is mounted on the outer circumferential surface 502a of the eccentric collar 502, the reciprocating stroke of the plungers 505, 506 is adjusted when the radius of revolution of the coupling ring 503 around the axis C1 is adjusted by the stroke adjusting mechanism.
In the above variable-stroke radial-plunger-type apparatus, when the plunger stroke is adjusted by the stroke adjusting mechanism, the compression ratio of the plunger-piston assembly is simultaneously caused to vary. The compression ratio varies such that the compression ratio is maximum when the plunger stroke is maximum, and the compression ratio is minimum when the plunger stroke is minimum. Therefore, the compression ratio varies according to characteristics which are different from those which are actually required for the apparatus operating as a pump or compressor.
Such compression ratio varying characteristics will be described below with reference to FIGS. 17A, 17B and 18A, 18B of the accompanying drawings.
In FIGS. 17A and 17B, the angular displacement of the eccentric collar 502 is adjusted by the stroke adjusting mechanism to keep the axis C1, the axis C2, and the center C3 (which is also the center of the coupling ring 503) successively in line with each other. At this time, the radius of revolution of the center C3 is maximum, and so is the reciprocating stroke S of the plunger 505.
In the position shown in FIG. 17A, the plunger 505 is positioned at the top dead center. When the crankpin 501 and the eccentric collar 502 turns 180.degree. about the axis C1, they reach the position shown in FIG. 17B, with the plunger 505 positioned at the bottom dead center. At this time, the reciprocating stroke of the plunger 505 from the top dead center to the bottom dead center is indicated by S1. The compression ratio RC1 of the plunger-piston assembly is now represented as follows: EQU RC1=(S1+D1)/D1=S1/D1+1
where D1 is the clearance in the cylinder 108 when the plunger 505 is at the top dead center, i.e., the distance between the upper end of the plunger 505 and the upper end of the cylinder bore in the cylinder 508 when the plunger 505 is at the top dead center.
Then, the angular displacement of the eccentric collar 502 is adjusted by the stroke adjusting mechanism to position the axis C1, the axis C2, and the center C3 as shown in FIG. 18A. The radius of revolution of the center C3 around the axis C1 is reduced, and so is the reciprocating stroke S of the plunger 505.
The plunger 505 is at the top dead center in the position shown in FIG. 18A. When the crankpin 501 and the eccentric collar 502 turns 180.degree. about the axis C1, they reach the position shown in FIG. 18B, with the plunger 505 positioned at the bottom dead center. At this time, the reciprocating stroke of the plunger 505 from the top dead center to the bottom dead center is indicated by S2, and is smaller than the reciprocating stroke S1 shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B. When the plunger 505 is at the top dead center, a clearance D2 is left in the cylinder 508, the clearance D2 being larger than the clearance D1 shown in FIG. 17A. The compression ratio RC2 of the plunger-piston assembly is now represented as follows: EQU RC2=(S2+D2)/D2=S2/D2+1.
Since S1>S2 and D1<D2, the compression ratio RC1 is larger than the compression ratio RC2. In the variable-stroke radial-plunger-type apparatus, therefore, as shown in FIG. 19 of the accompanying drawings, the compression ratio RC is maximum when the plunger stroke is maximum to maximize the rate at which the working fluid is discharged, and the compression ratio RC is reduced as the plunger stroke is reduced to reduce the rate at which the working fluid is discharged.
Generally, if the working fluid is compressible, e.g., if it is air, the operation efficiency of the apparatus is higher as the compression ratio RC is higher. The efficiency of the variable-stroke radial-plunger-type apparatus is maximum when the rate of discharge of the working fluid is maximum. However, as the rate of discharge of the working fluid is reduced, the efficiency of the apparatus is also reduced.
In the case where the variable-stroke radial-plunger-type apparatus is used as an air compressor, for example, it is preferable to supply a reservoir air tank with a large amount of air even under low pressure when the reservoir tank is almost empty, and to supply the reservoir tank with a small amount of air under high pressure when the reservoir tank stores much air and has an increased inner pressure. The variable-stroke radial-plunger-type apparatus poses one problem here in that since the compression ratio is reduced as the plunger stroke is reduced to reduce the rate of discharge of air, the variable-stroke radial-plunger-type apparatus cannot supply air under high pressure when the rate of discharge of air is reduced.

Radial-pluger-type apparatus with variable plunger stroke


An offboard power supply for a PHEV has an electric motor. A battery pack is coupled to the electric motor. An internal combustion engine (ICE) is coupled to the battery pack. An offboard power supply control module is coupled to the battery pack to direct power stored in the battery pack to an offboard electric power-consuming device coupled to the offboard power supply control module. A sensor module monitors emissions levels around the PHEV and allows for charging of the battery pack by the ICE when the emission levels around the PHEV are at or below a predetermined value.

A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is a hybrid vehicle which may have an electric motor and an internal combustion engine (ICE). The PHEV may use rechargeable batteries, or another energy storage device (hereinafter rechargeable batteries), that can be restored to full charge by connecting the rechargeable batteries via a plug to an external electric power source such as an electric wall socket. The rechargeable batteries may also be recharged through operation of the ICE.
PHEVs may operated primarily by electric propulsion. The ICE may be used to assist vehicle propulsion in limited circumstances such as high speed and/or high power demand operations due to system constraints. The ICE may further be used after the usable power stored in the rechargeable batteries has depleted. By relying on electrical energy from the grid to charge the battery and then using that energy for a significant fraction of vehicle travel, the amount of fuel consumed by the PHEV is greatly reduced, especially when the traveling distance is close to the primary PHEV range.
When the PHEV is not in use, the rechargeable batteries may store a significant amount of electrical energy. The stored electrical energy generally goes unused unless the electric motor in the PHEV is used to propel the PHEV. The electrical energy stored in the rechargeable batteries may be used to power electric power-consuming systems and or devices when the PHEV is not in use. Unfortunately, presently PHEVs do not allow for this functionality.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a system and method that overcome the above problems.

Offboard power supply system having emission level evaluation for an electric vehicle


A brake mechanism for a fishing reel has a spool shaft, braking pieces radially displaceably disposed on the spool shaft or a rotating system interlocked with a spool, an annular friction member contactable by the braking pieces under a centrifugal force occurring with rotation of the spool, thereby applying a braking force to the spool, and a braking force adjusting device operable from outside a reel body for adjusting a pressure of contact between the braking pieces and friction member when the spool is rotated. The braking force adjusting device includes permanent magnets provided on the braking pieces, magnets opposed to the braking pieces across the friction member, and a mechanism for adjusting quantities of magnetic flux applied from the magnets to the braking pieces.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a brake mechanism for a fishing reel, and more particularly to an improvement in a brake mechanism having radially displaceable braking pieces disposed on a spool shaft or a rotating system interlocked with a spool, and a friction member contactable by the braking pieces under the centrifugal force occurring with rotation of the spool, thereby applying a braking force to the spool rotation.
2. Description of the Related Art
A known brake mechanism as constructed above (hereinafter called a centrifugal brake) is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1955-8116, for example. This centrifugal brake includes rod-like members extending radially of a shaft rotatable with a spool, tubular braking pieces slidably mounted on the rod-like members, and an annular friction member disposed outwardly of a locus of revolution of the braking pieces. When the spool rotates, the braking pieces move into contact with the friction member and a braking force based on the friction is applied to the spool rotation.
The above centrifugal brake applies the braking force reliably with rotation of the spool immediately after bait casting action, and is often employed in existing baitcasting reels. To adjust the braking force of the known centrifugal brake, the reel body is disassembled to expose the brake and replace the braking pieces with those having a different coefficient of friction or a different weight.
On the other hand, lures and other baits are changed frequently in a fishing mode called bait casting. It is sometimes desirable to adjust the braking force after changing the baits.
This type of brake mechanism is intended for suppressing backlash at a casting time. The heavier the bait is, the stronger the braking force should be.
With the conventional brake mechanism, however, adjustment of the braking force requires a troublesome operation as noted above. Moreover, the braking force is adjustable only stepwise, which makes it difficult to adjust the braking force with subtlety. Thus, there is room for improvement.
The braking force is steplessly adjustable in the case of what is known as a mag-brake having an electric conductor mounted in a spool driving system, and magnets positionally adjustably mounted on a reel body. However, the mag-brake cannot apply the braking force immediately after bait casting action as reliably as the centrifugal brake. Thus, there are demands for a centrifugal brake whose braking force is steplessly adjustable.


A method, apparatus, and computer program product for detecting a connection configuration of a network system. An embodiment includes acquiring first and second network data flowing in the network system; determining whether the contents of the first network data are identical with those of the second network data, and whether a destination address of the first network data is identical with a source address of the second network data; and providing output indicating that a load balancing apparatus is set to have the source address of the second network data, and that a cluster node is set to have a destination address of the second network data, in response to a determination that there is a coincidence in the above-mentioned determining step. The embodiment makes it possible to grasp a logical connection relationship of a current network, without relying on memory of a system administrator.

The present invention relates to grasping, from network data, information on connection of nodes each of which is a component of a load balancing system configured with a redundant system.
Recently, companies have been constructing many systems for their customers or internal use via the Internet or intranet in order to provide various services. In order to prevent damage due to a loss of business opportunity or suspension of business operation, these systems are generally load balancing systems, in which loads are balanced by each processing, and which are redundant. In particular, in Web systems used in mission-critical business operation, a load balancing apparatus is often used to configure a cluster for the purposes of achievement of high availability and high speed.
In the field of system management or business management, system configuration information is used for analysis of impact of each system component upon a whole system or business. Although a system administrator should grasp the system configuration information, it is difficult to grasp the system configuration information with accuracy and in real time in some cases: where, as time goes by, the system administrator is changed, or the system administrator often comes to have a dim memory of the system configuration information; and where there are many system administrators, when a single company operates many systems for business or customers.
Some of the load balancing systems adopt a MAC (Media Access Control) transfer mode, which involves using a virtual IP (Internet Protocol) address and a MAC address for transfer via a load balancing server, in order that users can unconsciously access the systems.
The load balancing system based on the MAC transfer mode is configured of a load balancing server and one or more cluster nodes, which are installed in the same segment. The load balancing server receives a packet destined for a virtual IP address for use in a cluster, rewrites only Ethernet layer information, and forwards the packet to an Ethernet address (or a MAC address) of a cluster node by use of uniquely set ARP (Address Resolution Protocol table) information. On the other hand, the cluster node is set to receive the packet destined for the virtual IP address. The cluster node recognizes that the packet is received directly from a client, and sends back the packet directly to the client, without passing through the load balancing server.
As a result of automatic detection of the load balancing system based on the MAC transfer mode, however, the load balancing system is recognized as one node having a virtual IP address, whereby it is made impossible to grasp the overall configuration of the load balancing system. In other words, network analysis of IP or higher layers leads to a recognition that packets with the identical contents are overlapping. Even if MAC address information in the packet is used for analysis, it is necessary to analyze by use of knowledge of a correspondence between, in a monitor segment, a physical network structure (a relationship between MAC and IP addresses) and a logical network structure. For example, when two transactions having the identical contents but different MAC addresses are observed, it is required to determine whether this overlap is caused by MAC transfer, or packets on different channels are monitored in an overlapping manner. Additionally, there may be a case of merely retransmitting between communication devices, and thereby it is difficult to determine.
H. Kashima discloses a method for grasping a calling relationship by using transaction information in "Network-based Problem Determination for Distributed Computer Systems," ICDE 2005. The method disclosed in non-patent document 1 finds the calling relationship, provided that there is a transaction having IP or higher layer information. The method is incapable of finding the system configuration formed of the load balancing system. The method is aimed at solely analysis by using the found configuration information.
In a load balancing system, in order to grasp an overall redundant system for impact analysis, it is needed to acquire information on a connection relationship of load balancing servers and cluster nodes based on the MAC transfer mode.

Network-based autodiscovery system for MAC forwarding dispatcher

International Business Machines Corporation


A hydraulic pressure control system for an automatic transmission is capable of reducing the size and simplifying the structure of a lockup controlling hydraulic circuit. An oil pressure output from a solenoid valve acts on an oil pressure chamber. The internal pressure of another oil pressure chamber becomes high only in a forward low-speed range and becomes low in all of the other gear shift ranges. The internal pressure of another oil pressure chamber becomes high only in forward ranges and becomes low in neutral and reverse ranges. The valve member moves in accordance with oil pressures applied to the oil pressure chambers to change over oil paths connected to a clutch control oil chamber and a torque converter oil chamber, whereby a lockup clutch assumes one of engaged, slip, and released states. Since an oil pressure signal according to a gear shift range and a vehicular running range is fed to the changeover valve and on the basis of this signal the changeover valve determines whether the engagement of the lockup clutch is to be permitted or inhibited, the circuit of a lockup control unit can be reduced in size and simplified.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hydraulic pressure control system for controlling a speed change mechanism of an automatic transmission hydraulically.
2. Description of Related Art
In a conventional automatic transmission which is often used for vehicles and the like, the hydraulic pressure to be applied to frictional coupling elements is controlled in a changeover fashion by means of a hydraulic pressure control valve. Shift control is performed by a manual operation using a shift lever which is operated by a driver to select one of forward, neutral and reverse gear shift ranges, or an automatic gear shift using an automatic transmission controlling computer, or an electronic control unit which determines a coupled or uncoupled state of friction coupling elements so as to give an appropriate gear ratio in accordance with a throttle valve opening of an engine.
Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 7-264171 proposes a type of a hydraulic pressure control system for an automatic transmission which is provided with a lockup clutch for preventing the occurrence of slip in a torque converter at the time of power transfer from an engine and thereby improving the power transfer efficiency. The hydraulic pressure control system described therein includes, as lockup controller, a changeover valve for changing over oil paths between a release chamber and a locking chamber of a lockup clutch, and a solenoid valve for controlling the hydraulic pressure of the release chamber. Such a lockup controller is usually provided with a gear shift range determining valve which generates a lockup permit signal according to a vehicular gear shift range to operate the changeover valve.
In the above conventional hydraulic pressure control system, however, it is necessary to use a gear shift range determining valve as the lockup controller in addition to a direction change-over valve which is constituted by a spool valve. Consequently, there has been the problem that a hydraulic circuit used in the lockup controller becomes complicated and larger in size.


Surround sound recording is a tedious task requiring the use of many microphones. The invention aims at enabling the use of two-channel microphones (or stereo microphones) for multi-channel surround recording. A conventional stereo microphone, or a two-channel microphone specifically optimized for use with the proposed algorithm, is used to generate two signals. A post-processor is applied to the microphone generated signals to convert them to multi-channel surround.

Surround sound is becoming widely used. Thus, the demand for convenient and cost effective recording of multi-channel surround sound is increasing. In the professional music recording domain, for example for recording of classical concerts, various techniques are being used for surround recording. When the goal is to capture the "natural spatial aspect" of a performance or concert, usually one microphone is used for each channel of the multi-channel surround audio signal. The main recording, obtained from a microphone associated with each surround channel, is often modified by using additional microphone signals, denoted spot or support microphones.
The currently used surround recording techniques are for various reasons not suitable for many applications, for example due to a requirement of small size of the microphone configuration and due to cost reasons. The Soundfield microphone manufactured by SoundField Ltd, UK, based on four nearly coincident microphones, fulfills the requirement of being relatively small. But it is a rather high-end microphone not suitable for low cost applications.
Many devices in the professional, semi-professional, and consumer domain are based on a capability to record and store a two-channel stereo signal. For example video cameras often provide only up to two audio channels which can be recorded. Some cameras provide up to four channels, but often at lower quality. Thus, even if a cost effective surround microphone would be available, it could often not be conveniently used due to the lack of devices to record and store surround audio signals.

Processing microphone generated signals to generate surround sound

Abstract: This aim is achieved through a method to generate multiple output audio channels (y1, . . . , yM) from two microphone generated audio channels (x1, x2), in which the number of output channels is equal or higher than two, this method comprising the steps of:                determine directions of sound components related to the microphone characteristics        determine compensation gains of sound components related to the microphone characteristics        generating the output audio channels, y1, . . . , yM, by using the microphone generated audio channels, x1, x2, directions, and compensation gains.

Fraunhofer-Gessellschaft zur Foerderung Angewandten Forschung E.V.


An apparatus and method for aligning an end effector that is attached to a robotic arm of a disk certification system. The end effector includes a disk paddle that is pivotally connected to an end effector housing. The end effector housing has a center opening that can receive a gripper subassembly. The disk paddle grabs a disk which has a center opening. The disk paddle is aligned by placing the end effector onto an alignment plate so that a center alignment pin of the plate is inserted into the center opening of the housing, and an outer alignment pin is inserted into the center opening of the disk. The end effector has an adjustment screw that can be adjusted to vary the position of the disk paddle so that the outer alignment pin is accurately positioned within the disk center opening. After alignment the end effector can be attached to the robotic arm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an end effector for a robotic system that certifies magnetic disks.
2. Description of Related Art
The magnetic disks of hard disk drives are typically tested in an apparatus commonly referred to as a disk certifier. The disk certifier has a spindle motor which spins a magnetic disk while a recording head writes and reads data from the disk. The disks are typically loaded onto the certifier by a robotic arm assembly which pulls a magnetic disk out of a disk tray and places the disk onto the spindle motor. When the certification process is completed the robotic assembly transfers the disk from the spindle motor back to a tray.
Disk certification stations typically contain a number of certifiers located about a single robotic arm assembly. The robotic assembly includes an end effector which has a pair of disk paddles that can transfer disks between the trays and the various certifiers.
When a disk certification system is installed the robotic arm assembly must be "taught" the movement between the certifiers and the disk trays. It has been found that the disk paddles of the robotic arm may become damaged during the installation of the system. The damaged paddle must be replaced with a new part. Installation of a new paddle may result in a different paddle location relative to the remaining portion of the end effector and robotic arm. The new paddle position necessitates a "reteaching" of the robotic arm. The reteaching process requires time and may result in damage to the system. It would therefore be desirable to provide an apparatus and method for aligning an end effector to accurately locate the disk paddles of the end effector.

End effector for a robotic arm of a disk certifier


The flexible printed circuit board includes a base material with a connection terminal and a signal wiring formed thereon, a first cover layer disposed on a first side of the base material, and a second cover layer disposed on a second side different from the first side. The display panel is connected to the connection terminal. The first cover layer is spaced from an end portion of the display panel by a gap of a predetermined size thereby leaving at least one of the connection terminal and the signal wiring exposed. The second cover layer overlaps with the gap in a planar view. A second end portion of the second cover layer is disposed on an opposite side the display panel. A shape of the second end portion is formed to be wavy or concavo-convex including crests and troughs.

The present invention relates to a display device and, more particularly, to the structure of a connecting part of a display device for connecting a flexible printed circuit board which inputs control signals to a display panel.
In a prior-art liquid crystal display device, a liquid crystal display panel includes, as shown in FIG. 6, a first substrate SUB1 and a second substrate SUB2 which are disposed to oppose each other via a liquid crystal layer, not shown. On the upper surface of the second substrate SUB2 disposed on the viewer's side, an upper polarization plate POL is attached. A lower polarization plate, not shown, is attached to the first substrate SUB1 disposed on the back side. On the surface on the liquid crystal layer side of the first substrate SUB1, such elements as pixel electrodes and thin-film transistors are formed. A drive circuit DR is mounted in an end portion of the first substrate SUB1. Also, a flexible printed circuit board FPC is electrically connected to the end portion of the first substrate SUB1. Control signals for image display are inputted from the flexible printed circuit board FPC to the drive circuit DR.
The flexible printed circuit board FPC includes a base film BF used as a base material and signal lines of metallic (e.g. copper) thin film are formed on a surface of the base film BF. The signal lines are covered with a cover layer of resin CV1 formed over the surface of the base film BF. The flexible printed circuit board FPC is electrically connected to the first substrate SUB1 via an anisotropic conductive film using connection terminals formed by laminating, for example, nickel (Ni) and gold (Au) over the signal line portions in an area (indicated by dashed-line ellipse B in FIG. 6) where the signal lines are exposed with the cover layer CV1 partly removed.
In a general flexible printed circuit board FPC, a portion, in an area along the end portion of the first substrate SUB1, of the cover layer CV1 is removed leaving the cover layer CV1 with a linear end portion. Therefore, when the flexible printed circuit board FPC is bent, bending points are generated to concentrate in an area along the linear end portion of the cover layer CV1 of the flexible printed circuit board FPC. This first causes the hard and brittle nickel (Ni) layer of the printed circuit board FPC to be broken, eventually causing signal lines to be broken.
As a means of solving the above problem, a liquid crystal display device has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H9 (1997)-138387 (Patent Document 1) and a corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 5,838,412 (Patent Document 2). The technique described in the above Patent Documents 1 and 2 is illustrated in FIG. 7 which is an enlarged view of where the flexible printed circuit board is connected to the first substrate SUB1 as seen in the direction of blank arrow P3 in FIG. 6. As shown in ellipse C in FIG. 7, the end portion of the cover layer CV1 is formed to be wavy including crests and troughs so that bending points generated when the flexible printed circuit board FPC is bent are distributed without being concentrated. This prevents the nickel (Ni) layer of the connection terminals and the signal lines formed on the flexible printed circuit board FPC from being broken.