An image processing apparatus is provided that includes a display, a memory storing a plurality of functions in such a manner that associates the functions each with one of a plurality of categories, and a controller for causing the display to array and display objects representing respective functions that are a part of a plurality of functions. In response to a command to change the displayed objects, the controller changes the displayed objects on category basis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a user interface technique for accepting settings concerning various functions of an image processing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
A so-called multifunction machine (hereinafter referred to as "MFP (Multi-Functional Peripheral)" having multiple functions such as facsimile function and print function has been known. Increased functions of the MFP enable a user to use more functions with a single MFP. An operation panel of the MFP, however, has a limited size, and it is therefore difficult for the operation panel to simultaneously display keys corresponding to all available functions. If all function keys are to be displayed simultaneously on the operation panel, each key is made smaller and the space between keys is inevitably narrowed, resulting in increased operation errors and deteriorated usability.
Regarding this issue, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2010-008752 discloses an operation display apparatus for an electronic device as well as an image processing apparatus. According to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2010-008752, a function select display unit arranges, within a predetermined region, a plurality of function select keys used for selecting any of multiple functions of the electronic device. A mode change instruction unit has a mode change key placed outside the predetermined region for accepting an instruction to change a mode for preset function select keys. When the mode change key is operated, a change control unit changes the mode of the function select display unit, based on a mode change function allocated in advance to the mode change key, without changing the state of arrangement of the function select keys.
The technique disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2010-008752, however, is implemented on the condition that all selectable functions can be displayed simultaneously on the operation panel (see for example FIGS. 3, 5, and 6 of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2010-008752). The technique thus does not take into consideration the case where it is impossible to display all functions at the same time.
In the case where it is impossible for the operation panel to simultaneously display all functions to be displayed, namely the case where the operation panel can display only a part of the functions to be displayed, a technique may be used that allows a screen displayed on the operation panel to be scrolled so that the functions to be displayed are displayed in turn. When such a technique of scrolling the screen is used, it is often the case that all functions to be displayed are classified into categories based on the relevance and functions belonging to the same category are arranged and displayed close to each other.
As to such a technique, a user's scroll operation for example may cause the operation panel to display only a part of the functions that belong to a category of the user's interest. Under such a situation, if the user is unaccustomed to operating the MFP, the user may erroneously regard the functions currently displayed on the operation panel as all functions belonging to the category of the user's interest. The user may accordingly end a setting operation without taking into consideration other functions (that are not currently displayed on the operation panel).
If the functions that are not displayed on the operation panel include functions that are more preferable for the user than the currently displayed functions, the user may not be aware of the presence of the most preferable function belonging to the category of interest and accordingly select a function which is not the most preferable function. Consequently, the user cannot allow a job to be executed on a satisfactory setting condition.

Image processing apparatus, display method, and computer-readable storage medium storing display program

KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.


An electrical card connector for receiving two electronic cards (7, 8) different in sizes and shapes comprises an insulating header (1), a plurality of electrical contacts (5) retained in the insulating header (1) and each having an engaging portion (51) for electrically connecting with an inserted card (7, 8), and a metallic shell (3) covering on the insulating header (1). The metallic shell (3) further has a top wall (31) providing at three elastic pieces (311, 312, 313). Wherein the width between a first and second elastic pieces (311, 312) accords with the width of a first card (7), and the width between the first and a third elastic pieces (311, 313) accords with the width of a second card (8).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an electrical card connector, and in particular to an electrical card connector having an improved shell.
2. Description of Related Art
As the popularity of notebook computers increases, integrated circuit (IC) cards are becoming more common for increasing storage capacity or for interfacing the notebook computers with other devices. Electrical card connectors are commonly used to connect motherboards of the computers with the cards. Usually, the electrical card connector includes a shell which can electrically connect with an outer face of the IC card and perform electrostatic discharge (ESD) function.
As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,475,005, an electrical card connector comprises an insulative housing and a shell covering on the insulative housing, the shell and the insulative housing combine to define a receiving room for receiving a card. The shell has a pair of sidewalls and the front end of each sidewall, which is close to an opening of the receiving room, provides a stamped spring arm bending inwardly. When inserting the card into the electrical card connector, the spring arm can electrically connect with the outer face of the card so as to perform ESD function by a grounding plate of the electrical card connector connected with a printed circuit board (PCB). Another example disclosed in U.S. App. No. 2002/0102882 provides a card connector device which comprises a box shaped frame and a metal cover mounted on the frame. The cover has an upper plate providing three elastic pieces, which not only perform ESD function but also increase the contact between the card connector and an inserted card by the elastic pieces pressing downwardly against the card.
However, if a card connector allows two or more cards different in shapes and sizes to be simultaneously inserted therein, some cards may become positional excursion for being asymmetrically pressed by elastic pieces which perform ESD function provided on a shell of the card connector. As a result, the electrical connection between the card and the card connector may be not good and further the quality of the signal transmission may be not good.


The present disclosure relate to coupling components including valve structures and methods for forming the valve structures. The method includes attaching together a male valve piece (52) and a female valve piece (54) to form a valve structure that extends along a longitudinal axis. The method includes inserting the male (52) and female (54) valve pieces axially together. The method also includes using a swaging tool (200) to inelastically deform at least one of the male and female valve pieces from an insertion configuration to a locking configuration in which relative axial movement between the male and female valve pieces is prevented.

Quick connect couplings are used to quickly and securely couple together two fluid lines (e.g., airlines, hydraulic fluid lines, etc.). A typical quick connect coupling includes a coupler socket that receives a coupler plug. The coupler socket includes an internal valve structure that closes flow through the coupler socket when the coupler socket is disconnected from the coupler plug. Similarly, a coupler plug includes an internal valve structure that closes fluid flow through the coupler plug when the coupler plug is disconnected from the coupler socket. When the coupler plug is inserted into the coupler socket, the valve structures within the coupler socket and the coupler plug open such that fluid flow is allowed through the quick connect coupling. The coupler socket typically includes a retaining mechanism that automatically secures the coupler plug within the coupler socket when the coupler plug is inserted into the coupler socket. The retaining mechanism can be manually released to withdraw the coupler plug from the coupler socket. A typical quick connect coupling includes a plurality of seals that prevent fluid leakage at the interface between the coupler socket and the coupler plug.
While existing quick connect couplings are quite effective, improvements are still needed. For example, improved techniques for facilitating assembly are needed. Also, designs that assist in eliminating leakage paths are also desirable. Moreover, arrangements that prevent valve parts from loosening with respect to one another within the quick connect coupling are also desirable.

Quick connect coupling with swaged valve components and method for assembling


Disclosed is a clock spring connector in which a flexible cable is wound reversely on inner and outer cylindrical units through a U-shaped turned-back portion within an air space defined by these cylindrical units, and a plurality of rollers connected by connecting plates are disposed. A radial movement of the flexible cable is regulated by the rollers connected by the connecting member. A tight-wind or rewind operation of the flexible cable can be surely effected. The connecting member prevents the adjacent rollers from impinging on each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a clock spring connector applied to a steering device or the like of an automobile, wherein an electrical connection between a fixed member and a movable member is performed by use of a flexible cable.
2. Related Background Art
In a clock spring connector, a fixed member is connected through a flexible cable to a movable member so mounted as to be rotatable relative to this fixed member. The clock spring connector is employed as an electrical connecting means between the fixed member and the movable member having a finite number of revolutions as in the case of a steering device of an automobile.
In this type of clock spring connector, the flexible cable is high in terms of percentage of occupying the total costs. Proposed in the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 3,763,455 is a clock spring connector constructed to reduce the costs by decreasing a length of a flexible cable needed.
FIG. 26 is a plan view schematically illustrating a construction of the clock spring connector disclosed in the aforementioned patent specification. As shown in the same figure, a movable member 101 is so mounted as to be rotatable relative to a cylindrical fixed member 100. Flexible cables 103, 104 are housed in an ring-like air space 102 defined by the fixed member 100 and the movable member 101. These flexible cables 103, 104 are led to the outside of the air space 102 in such a state that the cables are fixed respectively to the fixed member 100 and the movable member 101. The flexible cables are accommodated in the air space 102 in a state where the cables are wound on an outer cylindrical unit of the fixed body 100 and on an inner cylindrical unit of the movable 101 in winding directions reverse to each other. A U-shaped turned-back portion is formed in the position where the winding direction is turned back. Further, groups of a plurality of rollers 105, 106 are disposed in the peripheral direction in the air space 102. The turned-back portion of the flexible cable 103 is looped with one group of the rollers 105, while the turned-back portion of the flexible cable 104 is looped with the other group of the rollers 106.
In the thus constructed clock spring connector, when, e.g., the movable member 101 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 26, the turned-back portions of the flexible cables 103, 104 also move in the peripheral direction of the air space 102. The flexible cables 103, 104 are rewound on the outer cylindrical unit of the fixed member 100 in a denser winding state. In reverse to this, when the movable member 101 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 26, the turned-back portions of the flexible cables 103, 104 also move in the same direction. The flexible cables 103, 104 are tightly wound on the inner cylindrical unit of the movable member 101 more densely. Note that during such a tight-wind or rewind operation, the respective rollers 105, 106 undergo the force given from the turned-back portions of the flexible cables 103, 104 and thereby move in the same direction.
According to the clock spring connector in the conventional example described above, the winding directions of the flexible cables are reversed with respect to the inner and outer cylindrical units. Hence, the lengths of the flexible cables required can be remarkably decreased as well as reducing the costs as compared with such a clock spring connector that the flexible cables are wound (in an eddy state) on the inner and outer cylindrical units in the same direction. Besides, the plurality of rollers are disposed between the inner cylindrical unit wound with the flexible cable and the outer cylindrical unit wound with the flexible cable. The flexible cables can be thereby regulated in the radial direction over the entire periphery of the ring-like air space. The tight-wind or rewind operation can be performed smoothly.
However, a dimension (indicated by the symbol L in FIG. 26) between the flexible cable wound on the inner cylindrical unit and the flexible cable wound on the outer cylindrical unit fluctuates depending on the winding states of the flexible cables. The dimension L becomes maximum when all the flexible cables are rewound on the outer cylindrical unit having a larger diameter. Whereas if all the flexible cables are wound tightly on the inner cylindrical unit having a smaller diameter, the dimension L becomes minimum. For this reason, even when the plurality of rollers are closely disposed in the air space on the assumption that the dimension L is minimum, and if the flexible cable is rewound densely on the outer cylindrical unit to increase the dimension L, backlashes are produced between the respective rollers and the flexible cables. On the other hand, a dimension (indicated by the symbol M in FIG. 26) in the peripheral direction of the air space defined by the flexible cable wound on the inner cylindrical unit and by the flexible cable wound on the outer cylindrical unit also fluctuates depending on the winding states of the flexible cables. When the all the flexible cables are rewound on the outer cylindrical unit having the larger diameter, the dimension M becomes minimum. Whereas if all the flexible cables are wound tightly on the inner cylindrical unit having the smaller diameter, the dimension M becomes maximum. For this reason, even when the rollers are closely disposed in the air space on the assumption that the dimension M is minimum, and if the flexible cables are wound tightly on the inner cylindrical unit to increase the dimension M, the backlashes are produced between the adjacent rollers. Hence, there arises such a problem that the rollers impinge on each other to cause strange noises due to those backlashes.
Further, when rotating the movable member in a state where the backlashes, as described above, exist between the respective rollers--especially when rotating the movable member in the rewinding direction, the flexible cable wound on the inner cylindrical unit swells towards the outer cylindrical unit on the way to the turned-back portion in such a place that a gap in the peripheral direction between the adjacent rollers is widened. The flexible cable then sinks in this gap. A problem is also caused, wherein this swelled part is buckled due to a further rotation of the movable member, resulting in a damage to the flexible cable.
In addition, although the force to cause the rotation in the same direction acts on all the rollers because of the contact with the flexible cable, the respective rollers rotate in the directions opposite to each other in such a place that the adjacent rollers are contact each other. Consequently, there is caused a problem in which the rotations of the rollers are offset, and a motion of the flexible cable is unsmooth.
Furthermore, it is required that a clearance for smoothing the movement of the flexible cable 103 be provided between the upper crosswise end of the flexible cable 103 and the top surface of the air space 102. However, a curvature of a turned-back portion 103a of the flexible cable 103 is remarkably smaller than others, and hence the turned-back portion 103a somewhat swells crosswise. This swollen part rubs against the top and bottom surfaces of the air space 102 during its movement. This causes a problem in which the flexible cable 103 can not be led out smoothly through the turned-back portion 103a.


The present invention relates to a method of operating a crossbar switch (1) having a control logic (2) and n input ports (i—0, . . . , i_n-1) and m output ports (o—0, . . . , o_m-1), wherein information packets of p different priority levels are routed from said n input ports (i—0, . . . , i_n-1) to said m output ports (o—0, . . . , o_m-1). Within said control logic (2), a pool (CRA) of buffers (CRA—0, CRA—1, . . . ) is provided for each crosspoint (4) for temporarily storing address information related to said information packets.

The present invention relates to crossbar switches, and in particular to a method of operating a crossbar switch having a control logic and n input ports and m output ports, wherein information packets of p different priority levels are routed from said n input ports to said m output ports.
The present invention further relates to a crossbar switch having a control logic and n input ports and m output ports wherein information packets of p different priority levels are routed from said n input ports to said m output ports.
Additionally, the present invention relates to a networking system with at least one crossbar switch.
Crossbar switches are used in high performance computer systems and nodes of electronic networks such as communication networks to route an information packet arriving at an arbitrary input port to a specified output port.
A crossbar switch comprises n input crossbars each of which is assigned to one of said n input ports and m output crossbars each of which is assigned to one of said m output ports. An intersection of an input crossbar with an output crossbar is called crosspoint.
The routing of an information packet within a crossbar switch is controlled by a control logic that keeps track of incoming information packets. The control logic analyses header data of said information packets and stores address information related to said information packets in a buffer system which is reserved for this purpose and is assigned to the control logic.
The payload of said information packets is stored in a separate data buffer system according to said address information maintained by the control logic. Storing said address information and the corresponding payload avoids packet losses e.g. in case of multiple packets requiring to be routed to the same output port.
Advanced crossbar switches can handle information packages of different priorities. This feature ensures that packets with higher priority are routed to a specific output port first, even if packets with lower priority requiring the same output port have arrived at the crossbar switch earlier.
A further advanced feature, which is known as link paralleling, comprises temporarily building a logical input/output port out of several physical input/output ports. The bandwidth of such a logical port is increased by a factor corresponding to the number of physical ports used for link paralleling.
Within state-of-the-art crossbar switches, said buffer system of the control logic comprises buffers which are organized as linked lists or as FIFO-buffers. As already mentioned, the payload is stored in a separate data buffer.
A common approach regarding the buffer system of the control logic is to assign a buffer for storing address information to each crosspoint of the crossbar switch. Though it is possible to provide a single common data buffer for storing the payload of all incoming packets, another variant is referred to for the further explanations. This variant is characterized in that each crosspoint also has a dedicated data buffer for only storing the payload of the information packets referenced by the address information of the corresponding control logic buffer assigned to that crosspoint. The plurality of dedicated data buffers is also referred to as data buffer array in the present disclosure.
The following explanations refer to a single crosspoint of the crossbar switch and the corresponding buffer management.
The linked list buffer mechanism is not favorable since it only allows to read one address entry per cycle which for example is not sufficient for link paralleling. Especially in case of different priorities, traversing the linked list buffer takes too much time.
Using a FIFO-buffer avoids the lengthy operation of traversing the linked list. However, if there is more than one priority level, for each priority an extra buffer must be provided. This, in turn, has another advert effect. For example, if there are g_CRA=32 buffer entries provided in said data buffer for storing the payload of thirty-two information packets, the control logic of a crossbar switch supporting p=8 priority levels requires 8×32=256 FIFO-buffer entries for each crosspoint. Although there must be 256 FIFO-buffer entries provided, solely a maximum of 32 information packets, or their payload, respectively, can be stored by said FIFO-buffer in case of all packets having the same priority.

International Business Machines Corporation


An apparatus for treating an aqueous solution containing arsenic. The apparatus comprises a container that includes a housing, an inlet located at a first end of the housing and an outlet located at a second end opposite the first end. An outer wall extends between the first and second ends and enclosing a fluid flow path between the inlet and the outlet and an arsenic fixing agent is disposed in the fluid flow path. The arsenic fixing agent can include an insoluble rare earth-containing compound, more specifically, a compound comprising one or more of cerium, lanthanum, or praseodymium. The inlet and the outlet are adapted to be closed during transport and storage. The container is adapted to be sealed for long term disposal after exposure to an aqueous solution containing arsenic.

The presence of arsenic in waters and other aqueous solutions or streams may originate from or have been concentrated through geochemical reactions, mining and smelting operations, the land-filling of industrial wastes, the disposal of chemical agents, as well as the past manufacture and use of arsenic-containing pesticides. Because the presence of high levels of arsenic may have carcinogenic and other deleterious effects on living organisms and because humans are primarily exposed to arsenic through drinking water, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the World Health Organization have set the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for arsenic in drinking water at 10 parts per billion (ppb). As a result, federal and state governments and utility districts require a simple, low cost method for removing arsenic from ground water and other sources of potable water. In addition, those active in industries such as mining, metal refining, steel manufacturing, glass manufacturing, chemical and petro-chemical and power generation are looking to remove or reduce the amount of arsenic in their process streams, effluents and byproducts.
Arsenic can occur in the inorganic form in aquatic environments as the result of dissolution of solid phase arsenic such as arsenolite (As2O3), arsenic anhydride As2O5) and realgar (AsS2). Arsenic can have four oxidation or valence states in water, i.e., −3, 0, +3, and +5. Under normal conditions, arsenic is typically found in such solutions in the +3 and +5 oxidation states, usually in the form of arsenite (AsO2−1) and arsenate (As4−3). The oxidation state has a significant impact on the ability to remove the arsenic from solution. For example, effective removal of arsenic by coagulation techniques requires that the arsenic be in the arsenate form. Arsenite, in which the arsenic exists in the +3 oxidation state, is only partially removed by adsorption and coagulation techniques because its main form, arsenious acid (HAsO2), is a weak acid and remains un-ionized at pH levels between 5 and 8 at which adsorption is most effective.
Various technologies have been developed to remove arsenic from aqueous systems. Examples of such techniques include ion exchange with anion exchange resins, precipitation, electrodialysis, and adsorption on high surface area materials, such as alumina, activated carbon, various iron-containing compositions, lanthanum oxides and hydrous cerium dioxide. Some of these arsenic removal technologies have been made available commercially for point of entry systems, point of use and other small scale applications. However, such systems are focused on treating relatively small volumes of drinking water and are not suited or sufficiently robust for treating high volume industrial streams that can contain a diverse set of contaminants.
A simplified apparatus is needed that can be used to safely remove and dispose of arsenic from high volume aqueous streams and solutions that contain a diverse set of contaminants that may otherwise interfere with arsenic removal.

Apparatus for treating a flow of an aqueous solution containing arsenic


A retractable foil mechanism for use in an aquatic vessel is provided comprising: a foil arranged to extend substantially parallel to a first axis when in a retracted position; a rotation axis about which the foil can rotate; means for causing an acting force (F) to act on the foil in a first direction parallel to the first axis so as, in use, to move the foil and the rotation axis in the first direction; and a moment creation arrangement configured such that, in use, the acting force (F) on the foil creates a moment which causes the foil to rotate about the rotation axis while the rotation axis is moving in the first direction.

It is known to use one or more foils, also known as wings or fins, below the waterline to improve the stability and efficiency of aquatic vessels such as ships or boats. When the vessel is subjected to waves, the foils will typically reduce wave induced motions such as pitch and roll. The foils will also typically provide forward propulsion thus improving fuel consumption efficiency and speed of the vessel.
It is known to retract the foils within the hull of an aquatic vessel when the foils are not required, for example in calm water. This reduces the drag on the vessel. To be most effective in producing thrust and reducing pitch motion, foils should ideally be mounted as far forward on an aquatic vessel as possible. Typically, the bow and front end of the hull is relatively narrow and so there is relatively little space available to store retractable foils in this part of the hull.
Many previous means of attaching foils to a hull use struts which extend downwardly from the hull and to which the foils are attached. An example of this is shown in GB 1179881 A. Such struts may have a negative effect on the vessel's ability to manoeuvre and so it is preferred to avoid the use of struts altogether.
FR 2 563 177 discloses a retractable foil mechanism for use in the hull of a vessel. In this system the foils are retracted to be stored in a substantially vertical orientation fully within the hull. The foils are deployed through an aperture in the base of the hull by exerting a vertical force on a guide rod to push the foils downwardly. Once the foils are fully descended externally of the hull, they are rotated by a cog mechanism provided on the foils and guide rod so that the foils extend substantially horizontally under the vessel in a fully deployed condition. In this arrangement, it is only possible for the foils to be deployed through an aperture on the centreline of the vessel such that they extend from a point below the hull and outwardly from the centreline when deployed.
The present invention seeks to provide a retractable foil mechanism which can be provided at the forward end of an aquatic vessel and which allows a foil to extend outwardly from a side of the hull at any desired height when in the deployed condition.


A lock assembly comprising a throw bolt, a bolt holder and a bolt keeper. The bolt comprises a cutting barrier and a bolt casing, the bolt casing being more corrosion-resistant than the cutting barrier, and the cutting barrier being more abrasion-resistant that the bolt casing. When assembled, the cutting barrier will be enclosed within the bolt casing.

This disclosure relates generally to lock assemblies for locking door or gates, to bolts and bolt assemblies, to methods of assembling and using the lock assemblies; particularly but not exclusively to long-throw bolt locks.
Doors or gate mechanisms may be classified according to the degree to which they will resist attempted break-in by means of certain attack tools. For example, some door- and gateways may be designed to resist break-in attacks by means of screwdrivers, pliers and rubber hammers; some may be designed to resist break-in attacks by means of a hacksaw or crowbar; and some may be designed to resist break-in attacks by means of chisels, or heavy-duty saws and power drills. Some door- and gateways may be designed to resist a casual attack using simple tools, where the intruder is expected to be concerned with the noise and time required for breaking in; some may be designed to resist well-prepared forced entry by experienced intruders, who may be less concerned with the noise and time required. For example, some lock systems may comprise bolts provided with hardened pins.
There are various standards for classifying the break-in protection provided by various kinds of lock systems. For example, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) have set standards for lock-and-handle sets, and for lock bolts (the standard A156.5). Sold Secure™ provide standards for locks, which may be classified as Gold, Silver or Bronze, depending on factors such as the time, tools and expertise required for a break-in attack on the lock system.

Throw lock assemblies, throw bolt assemblies, and methods for assembling and using same


A system (100) for monitoring and assessing the performance of a project includes a computer (120) and a software program associated with the computer (120), with the software program and computer (120) operable in combination to receive project task data from a project management software file, determine current earned value (EV) information from the project task data, and graphically displaying the earned value information. A method for monitoring and assessing the performance of a project may be accomplished by entering task data for each task of the project in a project management software file; obtaining (158) the task data from the project management software file; calculating (160) a current earned value position; obtaining (182) historical earned value positions if any exists; and displaying (162, 184) the current earned value position and any historical earned value positions.

Good project management is an important factor to the success of a project. A project may be thought of as a collection of activities and tasks designed to achieve a specific goal of the organization, with specific performance or quality requirements while meeting any subject time and cost constraints. Project management refers to managing the activities that lead to the successful completion of a project. Project management focuses on finite deadlines and objectives. A number of tools may be used to assist with project management and assessment.
A fundamental scheduling technique used in project management is the Critical Path Method (CPM). With this model, the tasks that must be completed are determined and task data developed for each. The task data may include the start date, time required, sequencing requirements, finish date, cost effort, and resources. When all the tasks are determined, the path of tasks on the longest sequence for completion of the project becomes what is known as the "critical path" and the tasks on it "critical tasks." The sequencing of tasks in the project may be graphically presented in what is known as a PERT chart. The tasks and their duration may also be presented with a bar chart known as a Gantt chart.
A typical large project may be thought of as having four phases: (a) start up, (b) planning, (c) execution, and (d) close-down. During the planning phase, the numerous tasks that make up the project are determined and task data for each are determined. A baseline may be established when all of the project stakeholders concur on the appropriate plan. The baseline is the approved project plan (amount and timing) for a work assignment, output, set of outputs, or overall project. As used here, cost is an all-inclusive term that includes either dollars or effort hours. The baseline represents cost and effort expenditures with respect to time and activities. The resources necessary to complete project activities provide the basis for determining the cost and effort requirements. This determination is initially performed in the project planning stage and revisited whenever baseline revisions are deemed necessary.
The baseline is referenced throughout the project with the actual data. The actual data refers to the start and finish dates for tasks and actual costs, e.g., actual effort hours, applied or spent on a work assignment, output, set of outputs, or the overall project. At periodic time intervals during the project, the actuals and baseline are compared to determine a variance from the plan and also to forecast anticipated completion dates and costs for all remaining work. The forecast is the predicted cost, e.g., effort hours, to be spent to complete the remainder of a work assignment, output, set of outputs, or the overall project.
One of the more commonly used software packages for project schedule management is Microsoft.RTM. Project, which comes in numerous versions such as Microsoft.RTM. Project for Windows.RTM. 95. Microsoft.RTM. Project allows for task data such as duration, start date, finish date, and resources to be entered. As the project advances information on actual performance may be entered and information developed and presented concerning the performance of the project to date. See generally, Tim Pyron and Kathryne Valentine, Using Microsoft.RTM. Project for Windows.RTM. 95 (special ed. 1996). Microsoft Project.RTM. and other software systems for project management (collectively "project management software") do not, however, provide sufficient or readily-accessible earned value (EV) analysis information.
In managing a project, earned value (EV) analysis is applied to provide a more objective measurement of a project's cost and schedule performance than other project management methods. EV information facilitates analysis of the project's cost and schedule. For example, by comparing earned value with a baseline, the value of the work accomplished is compared to the value of the work planned. By comparing earned value and actuals, the value of work accomplished is compared to the value of the costs actually spent.

System and method for project management and assessment


A novel apparatus for producing combined presentation of light and aroma to produce a desired overall sensory effect. The includes a fragrance dispenser (31), a light source (42), an audio system (52), and a microprocessor (99). The fragrance dispenser (31) is refillable and controllable, so as to adjust the rate at which the fragrance dispenser dispenses a fragrance. The light source (42) comprises a plurality of LEDs (40a-40c) of at least two different colors and is controllable so as to adjust the operation of the plurality of LEDs (40a-40c). The audio system (52) controls sounds to be emitted from the apparatus. The microprocessor (99) controls the rate at which the fragrance dispenser (31) dispenses fragrance and the operation of the light source (42) and audio system (52).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the integrated presentation of ambient conditions, including various combinations of aroma, light, and sound. More particularly, this invention relates to the controlled and coordinated emission of light and fragrance into a given area such as a room or a region of a yard to create a desired atmosphere within the given area. Even more particularly, this invention relates to the combined presentation of at least two of light, sound, and aroma to produce a desired sensory effect on persons within a given area, through a network of devices for providing fragrance, light, and sound, or a single device which coordinates the emission of the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Automatic light controllers for controlling ambient light in a room are well known. Also known are devices for controlling the temperature and/or humidity in a room and devices for controlling a fragrance to be dispensed in a room. In addition, acoustic generators for generating soothing natural sounds and/or music are also known.
Lighting devices which emit different colored light, such as from light emitting diodes (LEDs) are generally known, as demonstrated with respect to the use of multiple light emitting diodes (LED's) in a single unit, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,283. Illumination arrangements which are controlled remotely are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,016,038; 6,150,774; 6,166,496; 6,211,626; 6,292,901; and 6,340,868.
With respect to the many devices known for dispensing fragrance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,410 discloses an electrostatic vapor/aerosol generator for supplying aromatic oil, deodorant, disinfectant, fumigant, fungicide, insecticide or bactericide to a room. U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,418 discloses an adjustable aerosol dispenser for supplying different amounts of a fragrance into a room according to sensed light, odor, sound, etc., within the room. U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,975 discloses a device for emitting a vaporized substance into the atmosphere according to the setting of a timer. U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,369 discloses an electrostatic sprayer which can spray insecticides, which can be controlled according to selected on times and off times, and which incorporates a sensor to sense the available power for continued operation. U.S. Pat. No. 4,689,515 discloses an ultrasonic liquid atomizer with automatic frequency control. U.S. Pat. No. 3,543,122 and Pat. No. 3,615,041 disclose aerosol dispensers having timers for controlling the operation of the dispensers according to preset times.
Acoustic generators for generating sound and/or playing sounds/music stored in a memory are known in the art. These can be found in conventional clock radios, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,689. Other examples of acoustic generators may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,452,270 and 6,423,892.
The known multicolor lighting, sound, and atmospheric control devices, however, are independently constructed and it is difficult to control the resultant overall effect when several of these devices are used in the same room or area. In addition, the prior art has been capable of producing only limited ambient effects and, consequently, the conditions which have been produced by prior art arrangements are normally recognized as being artificial and not natural. The known devices also do not provide multiple coordinated functions, such as multicolor lighting control together with controlled emission of a fragrance to produce a light presentation with accompanying fragrance variance.
There are, however, plug-in night lights known in the art which dispense fragrance. An example of this type of device can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,478,440. Nevertheless, devices of this nature provide limited control of ambient conditions and do not allow for coordinated presentations of various mixtures of light, sound, and aroma.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,203 discusses triggering a fragrance based on a signal related to the change of a movie frame or the like. U.S. Pat. No. 5,734,590 discusses triggering an aroma based on a "utility signal." Again, however, these patents do not describe a device, or network of devices, that allows for the setting and/or programming of a fully coordinated presentation of light, sound, and aroma as detailed below.

Coordinated emission of fragrance, light, and sound


Current control values are established for an electric motor including providing a table of motor current control values as a function of motor operating angle, providing a torque request signal indicative of the desired amount of torque to be supplied by the motor, and providing a torque command signal having a value functionally related to the torque request signal and a feed-forward torque signal. The motor operating angle is monitored and the motor is energized using current control values from the table in response to the torque command signal. The amount of torque ripple experienced by the motor is measured when the motor is energized. The measured torque ripple is filtered using a time domain filter and a time domain filtered torque ripple signal is provided. The time domain filtered torque ripple signal is then averaged and the averaged time domain filtered torque ripple signal is then filtered using a spatial domain filter, the spatially filtered averaged time domain filtered torque ripple signal is the used as the feed-forward torque signal. The current control values output to the motor is stored as a function of motor operating angle for the provided torque request value when the torque ripple value is less than a predetermined value.

An inherent problem, known in the art as "torque ripple," exists in the use of electric motors of the type in which motor commutation is controlled in response to sensed motor rotor position. Motors of this type are commonly used as stepping motors to control the position or orientation of a driven member. When such a motor is continuously energized, the amount of torque produced by the motor varies as a function of the motor's rotor position. This variation in the torque is the motor's torque ripple. The torque ripple is the amount of the fluctuation between a maximum torque and a minimum torque as the motor is driven at a constant rate and constant load. Since the motor is continuously energized, the torque ripple also varies over time.
One particular type of electric motor that exhibits torque ripple during its use is a variable reluctance motor. Variable reluctance motors and their principle of operation are known in the art. These motors are well suited to many applications due to their high torque-to-inertia operating ratio. A limiting factor in the use of a variable reluctance motor for continuous drive systems, however, has been the torque ripple they exhibit during use.
Known systems have utilized various techniques for controlling torque and torque ripple during operation of a variable reluctance motor. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,868,477 to Anderson et al., is directed to an arrangement for controlling torque and torque ripple in a variable reluctance motor. In accordance with the '477 patent, a constant current is applied to each motor phase. In response to this applied constant current, a torque waveform as a function of rotor position is generated for each motor phase. A plurality of torque waveforms are generated by applying a plurality of constant current values. The plurality of torque waveforms are then used to determine a table of values. Each value in the table corresponds to the current to be supplied to a motor phase for a given rotor position to achieve the desired motor torque with reduced torque ripple.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,038 is directed to an arrangement for estimating torque generated by a switched reluctance motor using a look-up table to generate a torque estimate based upon phase current and rotor position. The estimated torque is used as a torque feedback signal to a controller to modulate motor phase current commands to reduce torque ripple.
A basic problem with known motor control systems is that these systems assume a linear superposition of the torque generated by the individual phase coils of the motor. In effect, these systems assume that the sum of the torque generated by exciting adjacent coils individually is the same as the motor output torque when the two phases are simultaneously excited. Control arrangements that make this assumption often exhibit torque ripple during motor operation.
Another control arrangement for reducing torque ripple in a switched reluctance motor has been proposed in a paper entitled "Control of Switched Reluctance Motor Torque for Force Control Applications" by Andrew A. Goldenberg, Izhak Laniado, Pawel Kuzan, and Chin Zhou, IEEE Transactions On Industrial Electronics, Vol. 41, No. 4, August 1994, pages 461-466. In accordance with the article, the switched reluctance motor torque function is evaluated off-line by (1) commanding a constant current using a proposed commutation algorithm, (2) moving the motor one electrical period, and (3) measuring the torque during this movement. The procedure is repeated with distinct current values from zero to a maximum value so as to get a set of torque curves versus position and current. The set of curves is used to generate a look-up table. Torque versus position and current is smoothed using an inverse torque function. The torque function is estimated by taking the average of the measured torque in two directions and then subtracting friction from the measured torque. Friction is compensated using feed-forward controllers to provide a current correction term derived from the look-up table.

Method and apparatus for reducing torque ripple in an electric motor using anticasual filtering


A light guide plate includes a body having a bottom surface and a light output surface opposite to the bottom surface. A scattering structure is formed on the bottom surface. The scattering structure includes a plurality of scattering dots located in the form of a plurality of concentric shapes about the center. A backlight module using the light guide plate is also provided.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a light guide plates and a backlight modules and, particularly, to a light guide plate for direct-type backlight module and a direct-type backlight module.
2. Description of Related Art
Currently, because liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are thin, lightweight, long lasting, and consume little power, they are extensively used in a variety of electronic devices. However, liquid crystal displays are not self-luminescent, therefore, backlight modules are typically required. Generally, backlight modules can be categorized as either direct-type backlight modules or edge-type backlight modules. Because direct-type backlight modules can provide high illumination in comparison with edge-type backlight modules, direct-type backlight modules are more widely employed in numerous applications.
A light guide plate for direct-type backlight module according to a related art includes a top light output surface, a bottom surface opposite to the light output surface and at least one side connecting the bottom surface and the top light output surface. At least one of the bottom surface and the top light output surface includes a center and a plurality of scattering dots. The scattering dots are arranged at random. However, a light source, for example, a point light source, usually emits column-shape lights and the light guide plate is in square or rectangle form. Therefore, the light output from the light guide plate is not uniform, thereby reduces the uniformity of illumination of the direct-type backlight module.
What is needed, therefore, is to provide a light guide plate and a direct-type backlight module using the same that have improved uniformity of illumination.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate at least one embodiment of the present light guide plate and direct-type backlight module, in at least one form, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure in any manner.


A connector 1 according to the invention comprises a main body 10 for receiving the front end of a flat cable 2 being inserted therein, a movable pressurizing member 11 adapted to press and rigidly secure in position the flat cable 2 inserted into the main body 10 and projections 13 arranged either on the main body 10 or on the pressurizing member 11 so as to be engaged respectively with the corresponding holes 23 of the flat cable 2 when the front end of the flat cable is inserted into the connector 1 to take a right position in the connector 1. The flat cable 2 comprises a flexible base member 21 and wires 22 formed in the flexible base member 21, the flexible base member 21 being provided with holes 23 to be engaged respectively with the corresponding projections 13 arranged in the connector 1 when the flexible base member 21 is inserted into the connector 1 to take a right position in the connector 1.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a flat cable formed by arranging wires in a flexible base member and also to a connector for receiving and rigidly securing such a flat cable as well as to an electronic device using such a connector for electric connection.
The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. P2003-327498 filed on Sep. 19, 2003, and No. P2003-386173 filed on Nov. 17, 2003, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference into this application.
2. Related Background Art
Many flat cables have been and being used for electrically connecting circuit boards. Such a flat cable is formed by arranging a plurality of wires in parallel with each other in a flexible base member of an electrically insulating material and adapted to be effectively used for wiring and electrically connecting circuit boards with or without movable parts interposed between them.
Generally, a flat cable is rigidly secured to a connector by inserting the flat cable into the connector in a right direction until the former abuts the latter, which is then pressed by means of a press member. For this operation, the operator needs to visually ensure that the flat cable has been inserted to the right position in the connector.
A flat cable to be mounted into a connector by cutting a hole through the flat cable at an engagement section thereof to be engaged with the connector is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 10-93212 and also in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-92457.
However, any of the above-cited known flat cables needs a jig to be used when it is fitted to a connector. The use of a jig makes the operation of fitting a flat cable to a connector a cumbersome one. Additionally, there arise problems including that the flat cable is inserted incompletely into the connector and/or fitted to the latter aslant more often than not.

Flat cable and connector as well as electronic device


A system for alleviating the appearance of scar tissue, said system comprising a combination of two compounds; a first compound having properties that perform skin regeneration; and a second compound having properties that provide a physical barrier adapted to protect scar tissue by insulating it from ambient air while maintaining and protecting said first compound that is combined therewith.

Scars are not very desirable to most people. Scars can be the result of accidents or surgery, including reconstructive surgery such as for esthetic purposes. Scars or skin lesions can also be caused by a variety of treatments and or skin diseases such as burns, withdrawals of tattoos, laser treatments, dermabrasion, acids, acne cysts, hypertrophic scars, keloids, etc.
Although there have been several techniques, methods and technologies developed over the years to speed up skin regeneration and minimize the look of scars, such as silicone sheets placed over scars to cover a skin treatment compound as well as the skin itself, these techniques—such as silicone sheets—can disintegrate and require help to keep them in place (medical adhesive tape, tailored gauze, etc.), and as such there is no effective system that is easy to implement and which gives excellent results. There is thus a need for improvement.

System and method for alleviating the appearance of scars and/or scar tissue


A method is provided for preventing or reducing the adverse effects of photodynamic therapy such as collateral damage by regulating the localized phototoxicity of an effector photosensitizer molecule. During photodynamic therapy, the activity of the effector photosensitizer molecule in neighboring tissues of the tissue targeted for destruction is quenched by a quenching photosensitizer molecule.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to photodynamic therapy and a method for preventing or reducing adverse effects during photodynamic therapy. In particular, the present invention relates to photodynamic therapy for age-related macular degeneration and tumors.
2. Description of the Related Art
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment modality that is gradually entering clinical medicine. PDT is used to treat light-accessible localized tumors at sites where avoiding deforming surgery is a priority (McCaughan, 1984; Dougherty, 1984). PDT is also used in ophthalmology where it is an accepted treatment modality for causing occlusion of pathological microvessels emerging from the retinal choroid in the neovascular form of age related macular degeneration (Brown et al., 2001; Schmidt-Erfurth et al., 1999).
Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is a manifestation that occurs in elderly people, in which choroidal neovascularization (development of pathological blood vessels emerging from the choroid) is the major cause of blindness due to damage to the retinal pigmented epithelium and to the optic nerve (McLeod et al., 2000). These abnormal blood vessels cause apoptosis of the retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells and consequently degeneration of neural retina photoreceptor cells. Since AMD is the primary cause of blindness in the elderly and constitutes a major cause of suffering and diminished quality of life, major efforts are directed to the treatment of AMD.
Current approaches to contain this problem have thus far focused on destroying these blood vessels by photodynamic therapy. The pathological vessel is photosensitized and irradiated with a concerted beam of laser light at wavelengths absorbed by the photosensitizer, i.e., argon laser at 689 nm with verteporfin as the photosensitizer. Reactive oxygen species such as singlet oxygen and free radicals are generated in this process and induce photodynamic damage (phototoxicity) to the endothelial cell layers that line the blood vessel, leading to ultimate destruction of the pathological vessel.
The sole photosensitizer that is approved for clinical use in photodynamic therapy of AMD is a benzoporphyrin derivative verteporfin known by its trade name VISUDYNE. This compound is a lipophilic reagent that attaches to low density lipoprotein (LDL) in the plasma and enters cells via the LDL receptor system. It has a visible range absorption peak at 689 nm, and a laser source is used in photosensitization.
A major disadvantage to this treatment modality is attributed to the pharmacokinetic properties of verteporfin (VISUDYNE), where there is a strict time-related limitation. Following intravenous administration, VISUDYNE remains in the intravascular compartment for only 30 minutes after which time it begins to disperse in the tissues. In the eye, the compound extravasates to the adjacent retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE), an ultra thin layer consisting of only 10 layers of cells. Laser therapy administered when VISUDYNE has spread to the RPE results in damage to the RPE, apoptosis (self-induced programmed cell death) of these cells and irreversible blindness. Clinicians, therefore, have a limited time frame of 20 minutes to no more than 30 minutes after intravenous administration of VISUDYNE to complete the laser portion of the treatment. Even within this limited time frame, the pathological nature of the vessel can, in many cases, lead to premature or accelerated leakage of the compound to the adjacent RPE and the laser treatment can result in severe adverse effects, such as extensive injury to the thin layer of macular RPE and vision impairment (Michels et al., 2002). As a result, ophthalmologists remain uneasy about performing these photodynamic treatments, and even when done, only the minimal number of treatments are applied resulting in low suboptimal cure rates.
In the absence of any other satisfactory treatment for AMD, ophthalmologists have been looking for ways to improve the level of RPE protection from phototoxicity and prevent collateral damage. These efforts focused on generating elevated levels of antioxidants in the RPE to neutralize cytotoxic reactive oxygen species resulting from photosensitization (Ochsner et al., 1997). However, obtaining high protective antioxidant concentrations in the RPE that will be selective and not include the endothelium of the choroidal vasculature targeted for destruction has yet to be achieved.
Hypericin is an aromatic polycyclic dione (perihydroxylated naphthodianthrone; dianthraquinone) compound which has previously been found to possess photodynamic properties (Duran et al., 1986 and Giese, 1980). It is lipophilic and has visible range light absorption peaks at 545 and 589 nm. The chemical structure of hypericin is shown in FIG. 1A. In the presence of light (and possibly other sources of energy), this compound excites oxygen to its singlet state and is capable of generating superoxide radicals which can lead, among other things, to oxidation of tryptophan imidazole groups in proteins and oxidation of fatty acids in biological systems.
Hypericin exhibits numerous potent biological activities, some of which have been found to occur in complete darkness. While inhibition of protein kinase C (Takahashi et al., 1989) and inhibition of MAP kinase activation (Agostinis et al., 1995) have been reported to be light dependent, recent unpublished work from the laboratory of the present inventor indicates that MAP kinase activation can occur in complete darkness. The present inventor and his colleagues have also investigated the use of hypericin and its quinone-containing analogs in the inactivation of retroviruses. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,435; Degar et al. (1991); Lavie et al. (1989); Lavie et al. (1989); Lavie et al. (1990); Lavie et al. (1991); Meruelo et al. (1988); Meruelo et al. (1991); Valentine et al. (1989); and Weiner et al. (1989). Hypericin is now considered as a potentially effective antiviral drug which can be used against a number of diseases caused by viruses.
Furthermore, hypericin has been found to cause (A) inhibition of cytotoxic T cell mediated cytotoxicity (U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,714 diseases) and can be used to inhibit T cell mediated diseases such as psoriasis; (B) anticancer activities in vivo against highly metastatic murine breast adenocarcinoma and anaplastic squamous cell carcinoma (U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,001,882 and 6,229,048 B1), and (C) inhibition of angiogenesis induced with heparanase or FGF-2 in the rat eye pocket model (U.S. Pat. No. 6,229,048 B1).
Citation of any document herein is not intended as an admission that such document is pertinent prior art, or considered material to the patentability of any claim of the present application. Any statement as to content or a date of any document is based on the information available to applicant at the time of filing and does not constitute an admission as to the correctness of such a statement.

Method for preventing or reducing collateral phototoxic damage to neighboring tissues during photodynamic therapy of a target tissue


The present invention provides an optical element capable of preventing a ghost in the use for a sensor such as a CCD or CMOS. In the optical element including an optical function surface of high surface accuracy and a flange formed around the surface, the optical function surface having an optical surface diameter somewhat larger than an effective diameter in order to secure high surface accuracy for the effective diameter, a parting diameter of a molding die is made larger than the optical surface diameter and a parting position is disposed outside the optical surface diameter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical element used for a sensor such as a CCD and CMOS, and particularly relates to an optical element and a method of molding the same whereby a ghost is prevented.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, as compact digital cameras mounted in mobile telephones or the like have increased in functionality and accuracy, higher accuracy is demanded of small sensor lenses used for the digital cameras.
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a lens using a sensor (including a CCD and CMOS) of a compact digital camera mounted in a mobile telephone or the like.
In a sensor lens 100 of FIG. 1, first to third optical elements 101 to 103 are fixed to a lens-barrel 105 with adhesive 104 and the optical elements with the lens-barrel are mounted in a mounting holder 106 which has a cover glass 107. In the sensor lens 100, light incident from a condensing port 105a of the lens-barrel 105 converges through the first to third lenses 101 to 103 and an image is formed on a sensor image-forming surface 108.
For example, an optical element used for a sensor lens includes a glass grind lens, a glass molded lens, and a plastic lens. Such an optical element is constituted of an optical function surface of high surface accuracy and a flange formed around the surface.
In the sensor lens using the optical element composed of the optical function surface of high surface accuracy and a flange formed around the surface, the sensor image-forming surface is adversely affected by the scattering of light having been incident outside the optical function surface of the optical element, resulting in a ghost or flare. For example, unexpected light (scattered light) is caused by internal reflection in the optical element and a mechanical part such as a lens-barrel. The scattered light reaches the sensor image-forming surface and causes a ghost or flare. A sensor lens is known which comprises a stopper 109 for interrupting the entry of scattered light into a sensor image-forming surface, the scattered light having been caused by a light beam incident outside an optical function surface, e.g., on a flange, so that a ghost or flare caused by the scattered light is prevented (e.g., Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-107111 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-298885).
However, even in the sensor lens comprising the stopper 109 for interrupting scattered light caused by light having been incident outside the optical function surface, e.g., on the flange, it is not possible to completely eliminate a ghost. Further, as compact digital cameras have increased in functionality and accuracy, just a small ghost seriously affects the function and accuracy.
A solution for preventing such a small ghost is to reduce the interior diameter of the stopper 109. However, when the stopper 109 is reduced in internal diameter, a peripheral luminous flux decreases in light quantity as compared with a central luminous flux, thereby darkening the corners of an image.

Optical element and method of molding the same


A new and distinct Scabiosa plant named ‘Vivid Imagination’ characterized by strongly variegated leaves with lime green margins on green leaves, medium size violet flowers, a compact habit, and excellent vigor.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Scabiosa plant given the name 'Vivid Imagination'. Scabiosa is in the family Dipsacaceae. This new cultivar originated from a whole plant mutation of Scabiosa 'Vivid Violet' found at the nursery in Canby, Oreg.
Compared to the mother plant, Scabiosa 'Vivid Violet' U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,260, the new cultivar is variegated with the leaf margins lime rather than green. In addition the habit is more compact and the plant is less hardy.
Compared to Scabiosa columbaria 'Pink Lemonade', U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,094, the new cultivar has violet rather than pink flower color and variegation occurs along the entire margin rather than mostly on the lobes.


The present invention relates to a semiconductor package having a conductive molding compound to prevent static charge accumulation. By using a conductive molding compound heat conductivity is also increased and heat generated by the semiconductor chip is more effectively dissipated externally. Additionally, the conductive compound blocks electromagnetic waves making possible an optimal semiconductor package satisfying the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and increasing the reliability of the semiconductor chip especially when processing high-speed signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor package and, more particularly, to a semiconductor package having a sealant or molding compound including conductive material, and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A recent trend in the electronic industry is to manufacture reliable, light, compact, high-speed, multifunctional, and high-performance electronic products at low costs. The package assembly technology enables manufacture of such electronic products. One of the typical packages developed recently is a ball grid array (BGA) package.
Compared to a conventional plastic package, the BGA package requires a minimum mounting area of a motherboard and has improved electrical characteristics. Unlike the conventional plastic package, the BGA package uses a printed circuit board instead of a lead frame. The printed circuit board has an advantage of higher mounting density on, for example, a mother board because contact points, e.g., solder balls, can be formed on an entire undersurface of the printed circuit board, e.g., on the surface of the printed circuit board opposite that surface mounting the semiconductor chip.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional BGA package 100. The semiconductor package 100 includes a semiconductor chip 110, a substrate 120, bonding wires 140, a sealant 160, and solder balls 150.
The substrate 120 includes an insulating substrate 121, substrate pads 122 formed on the insulating substrate 121 and electrically connecting the substrate 120 to the semiconductor chip 110, ball pads 123 formed at the bottom of the insulating substrate 121 for electrical connection to an external device (not shown), a substrate-insulating layer 124 formed at the bottom of the insulating substrate 121 and exposing the ball pads 123, and an under bump metallization (UBM) layer 125 formed on the ball pad 123 to improve the adhesive strength between the solder balls 150 and the ball pads 123. The semiconductor chip 110 is bonded with an upper surface of the substrate 120 via a chip-adhesion layer 130.
The semiconductor chip 110 includes chip pads 112 on a chip substrate 111, and a passivation layer 113 formed on the chip substrate 111 and exposing the chip pads 112.
Each of the bonding wires 140 electrically connects one of the substrate pads 122 of the substrate 120 to one of the chip pads 112 of the semiconductor chip 110. In general, the bonding wires 140 are formed of gold (Au).
The sealant 160 is formed of epoxy resin, and seals a part of the upper surface of the substrate 120, the semiconductor chip 110, and the bonding wires 140. The sealant 160 protects the semiconductor chip 110 and the bonding wires 140 from a mechanical or electrical shock.
The solder balls 150 are formed on the UBM layer 125 at the bottom of the substrate 120, and act as external terminals of the semiconductor package 100.
Such a conventional semiconductor package has the certain disadvantages, including the following. First, the conventional semiconductor package may be damaged by an electrical shock caused by polarization. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the polarization that occurs in the sealant 160 of the conventional semiconductor package 100 of FIG. 1. Since the sealant 160 is formed of epoxy, an insulating material, electric current is not discharged to the outside. Thus, negative charges E2 are concentrated in one side as shown in FIG. 2, thereby causing an uneven distribution of charges in the sealant 160. In FIG. 2, E1 denotes positive charges. The polarization causes static electricity to occur. An integrated circuit of the semiconductor chip 110 may be damaged by an electrical shock caused by such static electricity.
Second, the sealant 160, typically epoxy, has poor heat conductivity. Heat generated from the semiconductor chip 110, as sealed within sealant 160, is not completely dissipated to the outside. When the semiconductor chip 110 operates at a high temperature for a given time, the integrated circuit of the semiconductor chip 110 may malfunction.
Third, as the semiconductor chip 110 operating speed increases, electromagnetic interference (EMI) in the semiconductor chip 110, or from the outside of the semiconductor chip 110, may cause a critical problem. However, it is difficult to effectively block an electromagnetic wave causing the EMI because the sealant 160 of the conventional semiconductor package 100 is formed of insulating resin, e.g., epoxy. Accordingly, optimum design of a semiconductor package, e.g., able to satisfy the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) on a system level, may not be achievable.

Semiconductor package with conductive molding compound and manufacturing method thereof


To implement low-delay and highly reliable communication in a more suitable manner.

A wireless access method and a wireless network for cellular mobile communication (hereinafter, also referred to as "Long Term Evolution (LTE)", "LTE-Advanced (LTE-A)", "LTE-Advanced Pro (LTE-A Pro)", "New Radio (NR)", "New Radio Access Technology (NRAT)", "Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (EUTRA)", or "Further EUTRA (FEUTRA)") are under discussion in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Note that LTE includes LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, and EUTRA, and NR includes the fifth-generation mobile wireless communication (5G), NRAT, and FEUTRA in the following description. In LTE and NR, a base station apparatus (base station) is also referred to as an evolved Node B (eNodeB), and a terminal apparatus (mobile station, mobile station apparatus, or terminal) is also referred to as user equipment (UE). LTE and NR are each a cellular communication system in which a plurality of areas covered by a base station apparatus is arranged in a cell-like manner. A single base station apparatus may manage a plurality of cells.
NR is a next-generation wireless access method to replace LTE, and is a radio access technology (RAT) different from LTE. NR is an access technology that can be applied to various use cases including enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), massive machine type communications (mMTC), and ultra reliable and low latency communications (URLLC). NR is studied with a view to achieving a technology framework for dealing with usage scenarios, requirements, deployment scenarios, and the like in those use cases. Details of operation in an unlicensed band, which is one of the use cases, are disclosed in, for example, Non-Patent Document 1.

Communication apparatus, communication method, and program

Abstract: A communication apparatus including: a control unit that performs control such that data are transmitted to a transmission destination via at least any one of a plurality of channels shared in communication with each of a plurality of apparatuses; and a determination unit that determines whether or not the plurality of channels is available for transmission of the same data, in which the control unit performs control such that in a case where at least one of the plurality of channels has continued to be available for data transmission beyond a period set for the channel, data are transmitted by use of the channel.


A method of manufacturing an as-cast composite roll by metallurgically bonding one or more rings of cemented carbide to a cast iron casing. The composite roll may be used for hot or cold rolling. The cast iron has the following composition in addition to Fe, in weight %, 1.9-2.8% Si, 0.02-0.10% Mg, 0.5-4% Ni, 0.1-1% Mn, balance Fe and a Ceqv=2.5-6.

The present invention relates to a composite roll including at least one cemented carbide ring and nodular cast iron casing. The composite roll can be available as a complete roll or as a roll ring to be attached to a driving spindle.
Composite rolls with cemented carbide for hot or cold rolling comprise one or more cemented carbide rings with a casing of cast iron attached to a (driving) spindle by various couplings and locking devices. One problem with such rolls is that during cooling from the casting temperature the casing shrinks more than the cemented carbide ring. As a result, inwardly directed forces on the cemented carbide ring are produced, giving rise to axially directed tensile stresses on the outer surface of the cemented carbide ring, which are acting perpendicularly to microcracks generated in the roll surface during rolling. Under the influence of these tensile stresses the microcracks propagate in depth, which may cause roll breakage or need for an excessive amount of dressing, limiting the total rolling capacity of the roll.
One solution to this problem is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,056, according to which one or more cemented carbide rings are cast into a casing of an essentially graphitic cast iron having bainite and preferably 15-20 weight % residual austenite, which during one or more subsequent heat treatment steps totally or partly is transformed to bainite. In this way, a favorable stress state is obtained. However, this heat treatment is a costly and time consuming operation which would be desirable to eliminate. Swedish Patent Application No. 9100405-1 corresponding to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,248,289 and 5,359,772, discloses that even a complete roll can be made in the same way with maintained good bond between the cast iron and the cemented carbide. However, heat treatment of complete rolls with a length of up to 2500 mm requires furnaces with large dimensions and long cycle heat treatments which increases the door to door time. The resulting structure with a mix of bainite and residual austenite is also very difficult to machine.
The present invention seeks to overcome disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art composite rolls.
According to the present invention it has been found that by using an alloy giving an as-cast material with a structure of pearlite and ferrite, the desired state of stress is provided in combination with a good metallurgical bond without subsequent heat treatment of the roll. The cast iron is easily machined in an as-cast condition and has a hardness-toughness-strength which is well balanced during use of the roll.

Method of manufacture of as-cast composite roll


A feed-through subassembly includes a plurality of wires. The feed-through subassembly is positioned in a holding device such that the plurality of wires are pointed in an upward direction. A protective tube is placed over the plurality of wires. Heat is applied to the protective tube. A portion or all of the protective tube is shrunk.

Numerous devices (e.g., implantable medical devices (IMDs) electrochemical cells, etc.) are hermetically sealed. Hermetically sealed containers prevent liquid from contacting electronic components within a device. To connect with the electronic components, a feed-through assembly is inserted into a portion of the container.
A typical feed-through assembly consists of a conductive part (e.g., wires etc.), a ferrule, an insulator member (e.g. glass, ceramic etc.), and a seal. The ferrule includes an aperture configured to receive the insulator member. A seal is located between the ferrule and the insulator member. An eyelet, slipped over wires and seated into the insulator member, protects the insulator member from weld splatter. Weld splatter occurs during a subsequent welding operation to close the container. Failure to properly seat the eyelet into the insulator member may result in a defective feed-through assembly.
Presently, a semi-automated method seats an eyelet into the insulator member. In this operation, a device holds a feed-through subassembly in position. The wires extend from the feed-through subassembly in an upward direction while the eyelet is slid over wires and into the insulator member. The feed-through assembly then undergoes a welding operation to close the container. The equipment for the welding operation holds the feed-through assembly such that the wires are pointed down. An eyelet that is not properly seated may slip off during the welding operation. Once the eyelet slips from its original position, the insulator member is exposed to random weld splatter resulting from a subsequent welding operation. A large amount of the devices are deemed defective due to weld splatter. For example, some production runs produce 50% defective feed-through assemblies. Defective feed-through assemblies are typically discarded resulting in lost wages and material. It is therefore desirable to have a method that overcomes the limitations associated with a conventional feed-through assembly process.

Method for positioning an eyelet in a feed-through assembly


A cancellation circuit is provided for canceling undesirable intermodulation (IM) products in electrical circuitry. The IM cancellation circuit includes a stepping spectrum analyzer which recognizes and measures the frequencies and amplitudes of different signal components of an RF signal across a desired frequency band. This information is forwarded to a processor which contains look-up tables or the like which provides information relating to the frequencies and/or amplitudes of signal components which are intended to reside in the RF signal. By comparison of the look-up tables to the frequencies and amplitudes measured and recognized by the sweeping spectrum analyzer, the processor of the cancellation circuit is able to determine whether the signal components in the RF signal are intended xe2x80x9cinformationxe2x80x9d carrying signals or unintended IM products. Where the processor has determined that a signal component is an unintended IM product, the processor controls a variable voltage controlled oscillator and variable amplifier to create a cancellation signal having an identical frequency and amplitude as the frequency and amplitude of the IM product. A phase shifter is provided to shift the phase of the cancellation signal 180 degrees with respect to the IM product and the cancellation signal is combined with the RF signal to produce an output signal having the IM product canceled.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to techniques for detecting and canceling intermodulation distortion in amplifiers, including radio frequency amplifiers.
2. Description of the Related Art
The present invention relates to the reduction of distortion in electrical circuitry. More particularly, the present invention relates to distortion reduction circuitry particularly suitable for amplifiers.
Radio frequency (RF) systems, such as cellular and microwave communication systems, typically require input signals to be fed into an RF power amplifier. Unfortunately, all amplifiers tend to distort the input signal at some power level and to generally cause the amplifier output to contain undesirable distortion products, spurious products, noise perturbations and intermodulation (IM) products. For purposes of simplicity, these will collectively be referred to as IM products. These IM products can cause undesirable interference over the amplifier frequency range. It is for these reasons that most amplifiers must incorporate some form of correction mechanism into the signal flow path through the amplifier.
One conventional method for reducing IM products uses a spectral analysis approach. This approach involves scanning the output of the amplifier using a receiver tuned to the frequency of candidate IM products. The IM level is measured and a linearizer is manually adjusted to minimize the IM product. This procedure is repeated until each of the IM products have a magnitude below a predetermined acceptable level. In a similar approach, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,105 issued to Myer, a portion of the output signal is taken and combined with an input signal which has been adjusted in phase and amplitude. The signal combination isolates the distortion component, which is then adjusted in phase and gain. This isolation distortion component is then added back to the output signal by means of a coupler to eliminate the distortion component. Unfortunately, the amount of distortion reduction available using this feed forward technique is limited by the accuracy of the gain and phase adjustments.
In addition, there appears to be a problem in the number of samples realized in several basic feed forward techniques. Samples in these systems are available only at the time that the phase detector circuit detects a correlated signal. This leads to poor error signal resolution and it is this error signal that is used to cancel corresponding spurs.
Moreover, it is believed that many cellular communication base stations do not function at full capacity because of serious linearity problems in the base station""s components. In addition, the need for increased capacity accompanying the expansion of cellular communications is forcing requirements for transmission standards of RF equipment to become too stringent to be met by construction of most present day amplifier circuits. Moreover, both Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) modulation require greater linearity and an absence of IM products that can not be routinely obtained by presently available high efficiency RF power amplifiers. Accordingly, it is clear that present correction techniques for eliminating IM products are not acceptable for evolving communications systems.
Thus, there is a need for a cancellation circuit that reduces IM products in electronic circuitry such as power amplifiers.
It would also be highly advantageous if the IM cancellation circuit were inexpensive to manufacture and highly reliable.
Moreover, it would be highly advantageous if the IM cancellation could be provided in a compact and lightweight constriction.
Briefly, in accordance with the invention, I provide an improved apparatus and method for automatically reducing IM products in electrical circuits. It is believed that this IM cancellation circuit is particularly suitable for application with amplifiers that amplify an input carrier signal.
In its most basic form, the IM product cancellation circuit includes a first coupler for sampling an input carrier signal. The coupler isolates a portion of the signal, preferably 6 dB below the input carrier signal so as to not substantially affect the energy level of the input carrier signal. This sample signal is then routed to a stepping spectrum analyzer which detects and measures the frequency and amplitude of the signal components of the carrier signal including its intended components and any IM products in the carrier signal. The stepping spectrum analyzer transmits the information relating to the frequency and amplitude of the different signal components in the carrier signal to a processor. Meanwhile, the processor stores information relating to the identity of the amplitude and/or frequency or frequency bands of intended signal components in the carrier signal. This information is typically in the form of look-up tables which identifies the amplitude or frequency, or in the case of TDMA or CDMA systems, the frequency band where the intended signal components are expected to reside. In this manner, the processor, by referencing this look-up table, can determine whether the signal components detected and measured by the stepping spectrum analyzer are intended signal components or unintended IM products.
The IM product canceling circuit further includes a variable voltage controlled oscillator, variable amplifier and variable phase shifter. The voltage controlled oscillator, amplifier and phase shifter are connected in series for creating an oscillator signal which can be controlled in amplitude and phase. The operation of the voltage controlled oscillator, amplifier and phase shifter are all controlled by the processor. Upon recognition and measurement of an IM product by the stepping spectrum analyzer and processor, the processor controls the voltage controlled oscillator, amplifier and phase shifter to produce an oscillating signal which is substantially identical in amplitude and frequency to a detected IM product but shifted in phase by 180 degree. This oscillating signal acts as an IM cancellation signal as the signal is fed back into the original carrier signal by means of a coupler or the like, such as a combiner. The original carrier signal is then output from the coupler retaining all of the original characteristics of the intended signal components except that the unintended IM product is canceled by the cancellation signal.
In a preferred embodiment, the IM cancellation circuit includes a feedback circuit. After the IM product is canceled, the output carrier signal is sampled by splitting the output signal with a coupler or the like to produce a sample of the output carrier signal. This sample of the output carrier signal is routed back to, in turn, the stepping spectrum analyzer and processor. The stepping spectrum analyzer and processor are thus able to confirm that the IM product has been canceled. In the alternative, where it has been determined that the cancellation signal is being transmitted at an incorrect frequency, amplitude or phase, the voltage controlled oscillator, amplifier and phase shifter are automatically adjusted by the processor until the cancellation signal correctly cancels the unintended IM product.
As would be understood by those skilled in the art, the aforementioned described cancellation circuit would only cancel a single unintended IM product. Where the carrier signal is likely to have more than one unintended IM product, the cancellation circuit is provided with a plurality of variable voltage controlled oscillators, variable amplifiers and variable phase shifters. Each set of these voltage controlled oscillators, amplifiers and phase shifters are connected in series to the processor for creating a plurality of cancellation signals where necessary.
In an additional preferred embodiment, the IM product cancellation signal is adapted for use with an amplifier. A portion of the output from the amplifier is forwarded to the stepping spectrum analyzer for recognition and measurement of not only the intended signal components but also any IM products. This information is sent to the processor which determines whether the signals received by the stepping spectrum analyzer are intended signal components or unintended IM products. Whether the carrier signal includes IM products can be determined by comparison of the received signals to look-up tables, which identify the amplitude and/or frequency band of the intended signal components. If a detected signal is not listed in the look-up table, the signal is recognized as an IM product.
In an additional embodiment, the amplifier input signal is split with a first component going to the amplifier and a second component, typically 6 dB below the signal input to the amplifier, being sent to the stepping spectrum analyzer for analysis. The frequencies of signals originally input in the amplifier are identified as intended signal components and stored in the processor. The frequencies of the intended signal components are then compared with the frequencies of signals output from the amplifier. IM products can then be identified as appearing at frequencies not appearing in the amplifier input signal. The processor then controls the variable voltage controlled oscillator and variable amplifier to produce a cancellation signal having a frequency and amplitude substantially equal to the frequency and amplitude of the IM product. The cancellation signal is then shifted in phase 180 degree with respect to the phase of the IM product and combined with the carrier signal by means of a coupler or the like. The resulting carrier signal is thus xe2x80x9ccleansedxe2x80x9d with the IM product removed.
In still an additional preferred embodiment, the amplifier circuit includes a traditional feed forward correction circuit. The feed forward correction circuit will typically cancel much of the noise and IM products of an amplifier. However, the components of the feed forward correction circuit, such as combiners, amplifiers and phase shifters, etc., typically add additional IM products to the amplifier output. These IM products can be canceled by application of the IM cancellation circuit of the present invention. As described above, the output signal from the amplifier is split with a component going to the stepping spectrum analyzer. IM products are then recognized by the processor by use of a look-up table or by comparison to an analysis of the original amplifier input signal. The processor then controls the variable controlled oscillator, variable amplifier and variable phase shifter to produce a cancellation signal substantially equal in frequency and amplitude to the IM product but shifted in phase by 180 degree. This cancellation signal is then combined with the amplifier output signal to cancel the unintended IM product.
A preferred embodiment of the stepping spectrum analyzer for use in application with the present invention is substantially similar to the automated frequency stepping noise measurement test system disclosed and described in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/313,435 which is incorporated by reference herein. In a preferred embodiment, the stepping spectrum analyzer includes a variable low noise source for producing a low noise signal having an adjustable frequency. The variable low noise source includes two outputs for outputting identical low noise signals, or is coupled to a splitter for splitting a low noise signal into two identical low noise signals. The first low noise signal is routed to a coupler that combines the first low noise signal with that portion of the input carrier signal comprising the sample signal. The second low noise signal is routed to a variable phase shifter, which adjusts the phase of the second low noise signal to be 90 degrees out of phase (in phase quadrature) with respect to the first low noise signal which has been combined with the sample signal. The sample signal, carrying the intended carrier signal components and any unintended IM products, and the first low noise signal are then sent together to a mixer where the signal is mixed with the second low noise signal which has been adjusted in phase. Due to the inherent characteristics of a mixer, the low noise source signals are canceled in the mixer output signal by having the second low noise signal shifted in phase 90 degrees with respect to the first low noise signal. Moreover, the mixer is nonlinear producing an output signal including only a single sideband with respect to the frequency of the low noise signal but having double the amplitude. The signal output from the mixer, hereinafter referred to as a xe2x80x9cmeasurement test signalxe2x80x9d, is then sent to a variable low noise matching amplifier. The variable low-noise matching variable-gain amplifier both amplifies the measurement test signal and acts as a buffer. The matching variable-gain amplifier is constructed to add very low noise or IM products so as to not interfere with the IM measurements by the stepping spectrum analyzer and provides for amplification of the measurement test signal to enhance the ability of the stepping spectrum analyzer to measure any IM products in the original sample signal.
After passing through the low-noise matching amplifier, the measurement test signal is sent to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) which converts the analog measurement test signal into digital data. The digital data is then transmitted to a processor for evaluation. The processor of the stepping spectrum analyzer may be separate and independent from the processor which controls the variable voltage controlled oscillator, variable amplifier and phase shifter which creates the IM product cancellation signal, or both processor functions may be combined in a single processor. The processor of the stepping spectrum analyzer uses standard, windowed, fast or discreet Fourier transforms to accurately measure the characteristics of the measurement test signal and whether it includes any IM products. These Fourier transforms are known to those skilled in the art and will not be discussed in detail herein.
The processor of the stepping spectrum analyzer is connected to a plurality of control lines to the variable amplifier, variable low noise source, variable phase shifter and variable low noise matching amplifier. These control connections enable the processor to automatically set levels and make adjustments to the amplifier, low noise source, phase shifter and matching amplifier to xe2x80x9cstepxe2x80x9d the low noise source across a desired frequency band at different offset frequencies in order to identify the IM products in that frequency band. To control the stepping spectrum analyzer, the processor takes the digitized output from the ADC to both calibrate the system and to ensure that the amplifier, low noise source and phase shifter are set to correct levels. More particularly, the output from the ADC enables the processor to determine whether the low noise source is providing the first and second low noise signals at a correct frequency.
By evaluating the output from the ADC, the processor can also confirm that the phase shifters are properly maintaining the signals received by the mixer in phase quadrature. If any of these components are not functioning optimally, the processor automatically makes required adjustments to ensure proper recognition and measurement of any IM products in the carrier signal. Once the frequency characteristics are recognized and measured by the stepping spectrum analyzer, this signal information is sent to the processor which controls the variable voltage controlled oscillator, variable amplifier and variable phase shifter which produce the cancellation signal. This processor (by comparison of the signal information to internal look-up tables) determines whether the carrier signal is carrying any unintended IM products and controls the variable controlled oscillator, variable amplifier and variable phase shifter to produce a cancellation signal which is combined with the carrier signal to cancel an unintended IM product.
In one embodiment, phase shifters are provided in relatively lower-power circuit paths rather than relatively higher-power circuit paths in order to allow relatively lower-power phase shifters to be used.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus and method for canceling IM products in electronic circuitry.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an IM cancellation circuit which is inexpensive to manufacture, highly reliable, compact and of lightweight construction.
These and other further advantages of the present invention will be appreciated by those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings.

Intermodulation product cancellation circuit