A reflector arrangement for an acoustic wave device comprises an acoustic wave propagating substrate, reflection elements having at least two different widths separated by at least one gap breadth disposed on the acoustic wave propagating substrate. The at least two different widths enhance reflected waves produced by the propagating acoustic wave in such a fashion as to achieve a total acoustic reflectivity which is independent of variations in width of the reflection elements.

A broad variety of new demands are being placed on the electromagnetic spectrum, leading to difficulty in allocating radio wave frequency bands as new kinds of equipment based on radio wave communication are developed. Several recent examples of such developments include extremely light-weight, hand-portable cellular telephones, wireless local area networks for linking computer systems within office buildings in a readily reconfigurable fashion, wireless infant monitors, wristwatch-sized paging apparatus, and a host of other devices for promoting rapid, efficient, and flexible voice and data communication.
This has resulted in pressure to employ progressively higher radio frequencies (e.g., >500 MegaHertz) and need to utilize spectral space more efficiently. These trends create requirements for frequency selection components capable of high frequency operation and increasingly narrow passbands. Additionally needed are low insertion loss coupled with improved out-of-band signal rejection, in a small form factor and with low power consumption.
To meet these demands, there is at the present time much effort and expense going into research and development relating to acoustic wave devices such as filters, delay lines, resonator devices and lattice filters for a variety of practical applications. Acoustic wave devices are becoming particularly important in the construction of electronic signal processing equipment, such as radios, paging devices, and other high frequency electronic apparatus, because they can be readily constructed on planar surfaces using integrated circuit fabrication techniques, are robust and compact, require no initial or periodic adjustment, and consume no static power.
These devices operate by conversion of electrical signal energy into acoustic energy, which then propagates through or in the near surface region of a suitable acoustic medium. This energy conversion process often relies on the piezoelectric effect as manifested by materials which form certain non-centrosymmetric crystal types, such as ZnO, CdTe, LiNbO.sub.3, LiTaO.sub.3, SiO.sub.2, BiGeO.sub.20, GaAs, and the like. Acoustic energy is usually converted back to electrical energy by another or the originating transducer, producing the desired electronic performance. A basic equation describing signal frequency f.sub.sig, acoustic wavelength .lambda., and properties of the acoustic medium is: EQU .lambda.f.sub.sig =v.sub.s ( 1)
where v.sub.s represents acoustic velocity in the acoustic medium. For a given acoustic velocity v.sub.s, increased f.sub.sig requires reduced .lambda..
Wave propagating acoustic transducers rely on electrodes which are usually a fraction of a wavelength in width. Photolithographic constraints together with Eq. 1 determine an upper frequency limit by setting a lower electrode width limit. The current minimum electrode width is about one micrometer for practical mass-production equipment and techniques. This minimum electrode width sets the upper frequency limit between about one and two GigaHertz. At present, this is a frequency range of intense interest for development of new electronic products.
The material used for the transducer electrodes typically has either mass density or stiffness mismatch to the acoustic impedance of the acoustic medium. This often results in acoustic reflections from electrode structures. Examples of dense materials providing mass mismatch include gold, silver, osmium, and the like. Materials which are extremely stiff, and so produce stiffness mismatch, include chromium and tungsten.
Further, the mere presence of conductive materials engenders acoustic impedance mismatch through the piezoelectric effect, resulting in acoustic reflections. Materials such as aluminum and alloys thereof, which are flexible, have low density, are excellent electrical conductors, and which are easily prepared and patterned in thin film form, are preferred for such acoustic device electrodes.
Control of fabrication variables, such as the ratio of electrode width to spacing, metal thickness, and the like, becomes progressively more difficult as photolithographic limits are approached, i.e., as the desired electrode widths become smaller. This results in reduced fabrication yields for devices requiring electrode widths at or near the photolithographic and etching limits.
What is needed are techniques for device realization which are insensitive to manufacturing variations, which do not result in significant compromise of device capabilities or performance, and which are easily implemented in a fashion consistent with current acoustic device design, fabrication and use practices.

Method for processing robust acoustic reflectors


The present disclosure discloses an optical imaging lens assembly. The optical imaging lens assembly sequentially includes a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, a fifth lens, a sixth lens, and a seventh lens from an object side to an image side along an optical axis. Each of the first lens, the fourth lens, and the fifth lens has a positive refractive power or a negative refractive power. The second lens has a positive refractive power, and the third lens has a negative refractive power. At least one of the sixth lens and the seventh lens has a negative refractive power. An effective focal length f1 of the first lens and an effective focal length f2 of the second lens satisfy: f2/|f1|<0.5.

As science and technology develop, portable electronic products are gradually emerging. In particular, portable electronic products having camera functions are increasingly favored by the consumers. In recent years, with the performance improvement and size reduction of the commonly used photosensitive elements such as charge-coupled devices (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide semiconductor elements (CMOS), higher requirements on high imaging quality and miniaturization of the counterpart optical imaging lens assemblies have been brought forward, thereby increasing the difficulty in designing the lens assemblies.
In order to satisfy the miniaturization, the conventional means is to reduce the number of lenses in the optical imaging lens assembly as much as possible. However, the reduction of the number of the lenses may casue the lack of freedom in designing the lens assembly, making it difficult for the lens to meet the market demands for high imaging performances.


There is disclosed apparatuses and methods for a localized process system. The apparatuses and methods include a server for authenticating a user login for a localized process system; presenting a user with a project, comprising an asset, wherein the project is a movie, and wherein the asset is created for an original geographical territory; presenting a user with a display to order a localized version of the asset, wherein the localized version of the asset is a version of the asset that is customized for a second geographical territory that is different than the original geographical territory; receiving user input to create subtitles for the localized version of the asset, wherein the user selects himself to enter the subtitles; presenting the user with a display of a timed-text script that displays a time of the asset, and the dialog of the asset.

Field
This disclosure relates to a system to send and receive multimedia files via HTTP for purposes of generating automated localized audiovisual material with real time preview. The system can generate a customized and localized version of a multimedia file.
Description of the Related Art
Entertainment studios around the world release new media projects on a daily basis. These media projects include songs, movies, documentaries, TV shows, short films, trailers, featurettes, sound bites, teasers, feature films, commercials, film clips, red carpet interviews, feature film interviews, and digital billboards. Typically, these media projects are released in a certain language and have narration and graphics that are suitable for the chosen language of the project.
With the advancements in technology and the wide variety of media projects available online and accessible anywhere in the world, there is a desire to distribute these media projects quickly and efficiently in various languages, either by adding subtitles to the media project, or by modifying the dialogue of the media project. In addition, as viewers now are able to watch these media projects in various mediums, there is a need to provide these media projects in various usage formats, including broadcast, online, theatrical, educational and cross-media. The media projects originally released will need to be encoded based on the medium that the project will be used in.
Modifying each new media project released to create versions to support various regions and languages is a large task. Prior art systems required a user to manually modify the project into another language. However, such systems create a bottleneck because it is dependent on when the manual process of updating the project is completed.
As a result, there is a need for a system to facilitate the process of creating new versions of media projects which may need to be encoded into various formats and which support various regions and various languages, either through translations or subtitles into the desired languages.
Throughout this description, elements appearing in figures are assigned three-digit reference designators, where the most significant digit is the figure number where the element is introduced, and the two least significant digits are specific to the element. An element that is not described in conjunction with a figure may be presumed to have the same characteristics and function as a previously-described element having the same reference designator.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A display apparatus including a display area on a substrate, the display area including at least a display device; and a non-display area adjacent to the display area, wherein the non-display area includes a pull-in area, the pull-in area includes a wiring unit that includes a plurality of wires electrically connected to the display device of the display area, and a conductive pattern unit that is electrically connected to the display device and that includes at least one area separated from and overlapping the wiring unit, and the plurality of wires of the wiring unit are not arranged in parallel such that respective angles between an edge of the display area and at least two of the plurality of wires are different.

1. Field
Embodiments relate to a display apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, display apparatuses have been variously used. Also, the display apparatuses have become thin and light, and thus a usage range thereof tends to be widened.
For example, the display apparatuses tend to be replaced by a portable thin-film flat panel display apparatus.
The display apparatuses may include a display area that emits one or more visible rays to produce an image visible to a user. The display area may include one or more wires for facilitating the emission of the visible rays.
The display apparatuses may include a non-display area, other than the display area, for various purposes, e.g., an area which does not emit the visible rays when the user watches the display apparatuses. The non-display area may include one or more wires connected to the display area.


An air cooled motor controller includes a substrate and at least one inductor assembly arranged on the substrate. The at least one inductor assembly includes a outer cylindrical housing, a wound inductor core arranged within the outer cylindrical housing, and a inner cylindrical housing arranged within the wound inductor core, wherein the inner cylindrical housing defines an inner cylindrical cavity configured to transmit air, and wherein the outer cylindrical housing and the inner cylindrical housing define at least one cylindrical gap in fluid communication with the inner cylindrical cavity and configured to transmit air. The motor controller also includes at least one air source in fluid communication with the at least one cylindrical gap.

The present invention is generally directed to motor controllers, and more particularly, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed to air cooled motor controllers drawing cooling air from a plurality of air sources.
Conventionally, motor controllers are cooled by directing air flow over their components. Air flow is directed to various heat dissipating sources, for example, heat sinks. However, in emerging motor controllers there is increased power dissipation requirements, especially from insulated gate bipolar transistor power modules and associated inductors. The associated inductors are typically potted with a potting compound which requires a metal housing for structural support. Both the metal housing and potting compound add weight and cost to an entire inductor assembly. Furthermore, the metal housing and potting compound limit airflow about the actual inductors, and therefore, limit heat dissipation and increase airflow requirements to meet optimum operating temperature ranges.


A vehicle recognizing apparatus which does not require a sophisticated image processing function of a vehicle on a recognizing side and allows a recognized vehicle to be immediately and accurately recognized by a simple image processing system. A pair of first and second infrared markers on the left and right sides are, respectively, placed at a pair of left and right vehicle components. Furthermore, a third infrared marker is provided to form a virtual triangle which may be easily distinguished by a recognizing system from extraneous infrared light sources.

In order to cause the presence of a two-wheeled vehicle to be recognized by other drivers, in some areas, the driver of a two-wheeled vehicle is required to drive with the vehicle's lights on during both the day and night. To further address this visibility issue, developments have been made for vehicle recognition systems in which the presence of a vehicle equipped with such an apparatus is recognized by another vehicle and the recognizing vehicle performs a predetermined control process, or alternately, a vehicle equipped with such an apparatus first recognizes the presence of the other vehicle and then executes a predetermined control process.
Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 10-115519 proposes a vehicle position recognition system wherein a preceding vehicle is provided with three or more infrared LEDs facing rearwardly, and a following vehicle is provided with a camera whose field of view encompasses the rear face of the vehicle body of the preceding vehicle. Based on an infrared image of the preceding vehicle taken by the camera of the following vehicle, the distance between the vehicles and relative motion are determined.
However, in vehicle recognition systems which utilize infrared light, it is necessary to accurately and immediately recognize whether infrared light detected by an imaging device of the recognizing vehicle is a proper signal-light emitted from a light emitting element for vehicle recognition, or just infrared light from an extraneous source. This requires a sophisticated image processing function within the recognizing system.
In addition, in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 10-115519, the infrared LEDs to be recognized need to be disposed at a plurality of places on the preceding vehicle. However, when the preceding or oncoming vehicle is a two-wheeled vehicle, it is difficult to locate the infrared LEDs so that an accurate vehicle distance and relative motion can be determined. Furthermore, it is difficult to arrange a number of infrared LEDs without detracting significantly from the aesthetic beauty of the vehicle.
The present disclosure discloses a vehicle recognizing apparatus which solves many of the problems associated with existing vehicle recognizing apparatuses.


A liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a structure for fixing a wire from a backlight. The LCD device includes a liquid crystal module (LCM) having an LCD panel for displaying images and a backlight for uniformly irradiating light to the LCD panel; a wire connected to and extending from the backlight; a main support arranged below the LCM; a first rib arranged at one side of the main support; a through-hole arranged within the main support adjacent the first rib; a guide panel for supporting the LCD panel; and a second rib arranged on the guide panel in correspondence with the through-hole on the main support.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to liquid crystal display (LCD) devices, and more particularly, to structures for securely fixing wires of backlights used in LCD devices.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Due to recent developments of the information society, demand for various types of display devices continue to increase. Accordingly, various flat panel display devices such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs), plasma display panels (PDPs), electro-luminescent displays (ELDs), vacuum fluorescent displays (VFDs), and the like, have been developed and are currently used in various information devices.
Due to their thin profile, low weight, and low power consumption characteristics, LCDs are widely used as substitutes for Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) and are commonly employed as displays in notebook computers, computer monitors, and televisions.
Typically, LCD devices include an LCD panel for displaying images and a driving part for applying driving signals to the LCD panel. LCD panels generally include first and second glass substrates bonded to each other and spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance wherein a layer of liquid crystal material is injected between the bonded first and second glass substrates.
The first glass substrate (i.e., the TFT array substrate) generally supports a plurality of gate lines spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance and extending along a first direction; a plurality of data lines spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance and extending along a second direction, substantially perpendicular to the first direction to cross the plurality of gate lines; a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix pattern and formed in pixel regions defined by crossings of the plurality of gate and data lines; and a plurality of thin film transistors (TFTs) for transmitting signals applied from the plurality of data lines to respective ones of the plurality of pixel electrodes in response to signals applied from the plurality of gate lines.
The second glass substrate (i.e., the color filter substrate) generally supports a black matrix layer for preventing light from being transmitted by the LCD panel in regions outside the pixel regions; a red/green/blue (R/G/B) color filter layer for selectively transmitting light of predetermined wavelengths (i.e., for displaying color); and a common electrode for generating images. In-Plane Switching (IPS) mode LCD devices include a unique type of LCD panel wherein the common electrode is formed on the first glass substrate instead of the second glass substrate.
The predetermined distance by which the first and second glass substrates are spaced apart from each other (i.e., the cell gap) is uniformly maintained by spacers. Moreover, the first and second substrates are bonded to each other using a seal pattern having a liquid crystal injection hole. After the first and second glass substrates are bonded to each other, liquid crystal material is injected through the liquid crystal injection hole and into the cell gap to form the layer of liquid crystal material.
LCD panels do not emit light by themselves. Rather, LCD panels control the degree to which light supplied by an external light source is transmitted to display images. Typically, light can be uniformly supplied by external light sources such as backlights. Examples of backlights currently used with LCD devices include Electro-Luminescence (EL) cells, Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps (CCFLs), and Hot Cathode Fluorescent Lamps (HCFLs). Due to their long lifetime, low power consumption characteristics, and thin profile, CCFLs are commonly used as backlights for LCD devices such as large-sized color TFT-LCD devices.
FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a related art liquid crystal module (LCM) of a LCD device.
Referring to FIG. 1, related art LCMs generally include a backlight unit 12 and an LCD panel 11 arranged between a main support 13, formed of a plastic material, and a top case 20, formed of a metal material. Generally, a guide panel 14, components of the backlight unit 12 (e.g., a reflecting plate 12a, a light-guiding plate 12b, a first diffusing or protecting sheet 12c, a first prism sheet 12d, a second prism sheet 12e, and a second diffusing or protecting sheet 12f), a lower polarizing plate 11b, the LCD panel 11, and an upper polarizing plate 11a, are sequentially stacked on the main support 13.
Backlights may be classified as direct-type or edge-type depending on their location relative to the LCD panel and the manner in which the light they supply is directed to the LCD panel. For example, direct-type backlights irradiate light directly to a lower side of the LCD panel. Edge-type backlights, however, are arranged in side portions of the main support 13 and irradiate light to the light-guiding plate 12b, wherein light incident the light-guiding plate 12b subsequently becomes uniformly distributed and transmitted to the lower side of the LCD panel 11.
As mentioned above, Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps (CCFLs) are commonly used as backlights within LCM. Accordingly, a CCFL used within LCD devices is usually coupled to an inverter mounted on a rear of the LCM 10 by wires extending from a side or rear portion of the LCM 10. Typically, the wires are often soldered to a power source connector part of the CCFL. The inverter converts externally provided Direct Current (DC) electricity into Alternating Current (AC) electricity, wherein the AC electricity is used by the CCFL to emit light.
While assembling the LCM 10 and the LCD device, the wires connecting the CCFL to the inverter may become dislodged or twisted. As a result, the wires may become separated, damaged, or disconnected from the CCFL. To prevent the wires from becoming damaged or otherwise disconnected, wire fixing structures must be incorporated within the LCM 10.
FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a related art wire fixing structure within the LCM shown in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 2, the LCD panel 11 is supported by an upper side of the guide panel 14 while the main support 13 and the light-guiding plate 12b are arranged beneath a lower side of the guide panel 14. Further, a hook 30 extends from the main support 13, is formed in a "" type shape at one side of the main support 13, and receives a wire 25 connected to a Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL) (not shown) of the backlight unit 12. Once the wire 25 is inserted into the hook 30, a pad 31 must be inserted into a space between the end of the hook 30 and a side portion of the main support 13 to prevent the wires 25 from being separated and/or removed from an opening of the hook 30 during LCM and LCD device fabrication (e.g., during transferring processes).
The pad 31 is formed of an elastic material, such as sponge, to facilitate its insertion into the space between the side portion of the main support 13 and the end of the hook 30. Accordingly, the related art wire fixing structure includes the hook 30, provided in the shape of a "" and extending from the main support 13, as well as the elastic pad 31, provided to close the opening of the hook 30.
Use of the aforementioned related art wire fixing structure, however, is disadvantageous because additional components, such as the pad 31, are required. Attendant with the insertion of the pad 31, manual processes required to insert the pad 31 into the space between the side portion of the main support 13 and the end of the hook 30, and the like, must undesirably be performed, thereby increasing manufacturing cost of the LCD device, and lowering the yield of the process itself. Furthermore, since the pad 31 is formed of elastic material such as a sponge, the pad 31 is easily deformable, facilitating accidental movement of the wires 25 into the space between the hook 30 and the main support 13. Moreover, when the LCM is shaken, the pad 31 can even be removed from the space between the side portion of the main support 13 and the end of the hook 30, thereby enabling the wires 25 to be completely removed from the hook, damaged, and disconnected from the CCFL. Lastly, because the pad 31 is formed of elastic material, such as a sponge, foreign materials such as dust particles are generated and can statically adhere to the screen of the LCM device, thereby deteriorating a picture quality of the resultant LCD device.


A system and method of trading option contracts, such as foreign currency option contracts, is described. In one embodiment, a system and method for web-based or network-based interactive trading of currency options is described. Users of the system provide volatility runs of currency options, deal on existing offers to sell or bids to buy, or may improve on existing offers to sell or bids to buy. The system and method provide automatic price quotations for a requested option contract by polling internal volatility surfaces of users for prices on the requested contract, and ensure a more orderly pattern of trades by categorizing the users into discrete tiers which determine a user's obligations to provide offers and bids to the system and which determine a user's opportunities and rights to trade on the system.

A buyer of an option contract acquires a right to buy a specific property at a specified price within a specified period of time. There are markets for trading in option contracts for currency, commodities, stocks, bonds and other financial instruments. Options trading presents unique problems, and therefore computerized trading of such options over networks accessed by remote users must be tailored for use in options trading.
Banks that provide currency option products to their clients also deal with each other in order to manage currency risk. Currency options in the interbank market are primarily traded between banks on a one-to-one basis (direct market) or are brokered by a currency options broker (broker market).
In the direct market, banks communicate with each other directly. One bank contacts another requesting a price on an option contract that it wishes to buy or sell in order to manage the risk in its portfolio. The bank that is contacted may "make a market" on the option, meaning that it provides both a bid (a price at which it is willing to buy an option contract) and an offer (a price at which it is willing to sell the same option contract) to the bank seeking the price on the option. The bank seeking the price may choose to buy, sell or do nothing. The benefit of the direct market is that a bank may contact many banks and deal with each of them, thus transferring a lot of risk to a number of different banks. The disadvantage is that the bank will have to cross the bid/offer spread (the difference in price between the offer to sell and the bid to buy the same option contract) and will therefore not necessarily find the best price in the market.
In the broker market, the bank seeking a price on an option (referred to as the "Interest") contacts a broker who in turn makes a market on the option as a result of contacting many other banks. The particular option that the Interest bank wishes to deal is known as the specific-interest. The broker attempts to solicit a price on the specific-interest option from banks called market makers. The broker then assembles the best bid and best offer from the prices obtained from the market makers, and the broker provides this composite price to the Interest. At no stage until a deal is done will anyone except the broker know the identity of either the market maker banks or the Interest. When the Interest sees the price, it may buy or sell or do nothing, or, if it wishes, contribute a better bid or offer to the composite price.
Once the Interest has seen the price and has responded in some way, the broker may then show the price to other banks. These banks may in turn provide better bids and offers inside the price until the bid and offer meet and a deal is made. At this point the broker will identify the counterparties to each other, and, if they are willing to deal with each other from a credit perspective, the remaining economic details of the deal are agreed to and the deal is confirmed. The deal occurs bilaterally between the two banks. The broker is not involved as a principal but acts as an arranger in return for a fee.
One disadvantage of the broker market is that the banks themselves must undertake a final stage of credit checking after a bid and offer are met and after the identity of each party is revealed. The imperfect nature of the credit process can cause problems in a fast-moving market.
All derivatives reference the price of an underlying asset, and in the case of currency options, this asset is foreign exchange spot rate. A disadvantage of the broker market is that market makers are often held to certain option prices when the spot rate of exchange for the underlying currency changes dramatically. Typically, market markers do not like to be held to quoted prices as the spot rate of exchange moves rapidly. This is because the spot price may be "breaking out" of a range, in which case the market perceives options to be cheap and will try to buy them on the market maker's offer, or because the price is drifting back into an old range which can mean that the market is looking to sell. Brokers attempt to protect market makers by not quoting their prices if the spot rate moves dramatically, but this is done on an ad-hoc basis.
Similarly, market makers wish to avoid having stale prices on the market. Brokers try to avoid quoting stale prices, but what is meant by "stale" is generally not clearly defined, and the misunderstandings that arise from this lack of clarity frequently result in prices being withdrawn from the market too soon or too late.
A form of trading that does not go through either the direct or broker markets is so-called "autodealing" or "volatility surface trading." The prices for puts and calls are often quoted in units of volatility, rather than in monetary terms. Volatility is a measure of the change in value of an option contract which may be calculated if the spot rate, strike price, time to expiry and the foreign currency interest rate and domestic currency interest rate are known. The relationship between these parameters is expressed as the Black-Scholes equation, a universally adopted methodology. After an option contract is bought or sold at a specified volatility, the volatility is converted into a monetary purchase price for the option contract using the Black-Scholes equation. A volatility surface is a three-variable relationship wherein a volatility price can be calculated so long as a given time to expire and given strike price are provided.
Large banks typically provide prices on many option contracts each day, both to traditional clients and to smaller banks. To avoid overloading users with hundreds of pricing requests, many large banks have internally implemented volatility surface trading systems, which allow small trades to be priced automatically. The impetus behind the creation of these systems has been to reduce the manual workload for traders, whose time is quite valuable.
The volatility surface trading system must have or be able to calculate the volatility of any option that is requested. The banks therefore provide a "surface" of volatility, defining the volatility, and thus price, of any option that falls within the defined two-dimensional space of time-to-expiry and strike. This surface is updated throughout the trading day. The normal implementation has been to provide the system with a series of volatilities (hence prices) for commonly traded strikes and tenors. The system can then interpolate according to certain rules a "surface" of volatilities for each desired strike and tenor.
A bank customer who requests an option contract at a particular time-to-expiry and a particular strike price is given an automatic price quote for the transaction in terms of volatility, which is convertible into a monetary price. The rules tend to vary from bank to bank but are broadly similar in general terms. Once the "surface" has been created, it is a relatively simple matter to provide a volatility for any option simply by looking up the correct strike and tenor. Users of the system have the advantages of quick pricing of small specific interests. However, the interpolation of volatility surfaces tend to vary from bank to bank because each bank has a separate set of rules for adopting a surface.
Although banks' interpolation rules are broadly similar, they are different enough to cause economically significant differences in volatilities from different banks for a particular interpolated option. This can lead to arbitrage, wherein market participants take advantage of small price differences in equivalent option contracts, to the detriment of the banks making the market.
Accordingly, an accessible electronic trading system that provides counterparties a means for assuring credit before a deal takes place while maintaining anonymity is desirable. Such a system would also provide market makers with the means, for every price and every currency pair: to define the exact spot price that should result in either a bid or an offer becoming invalid, to automatically withdraw invalid prices, to define a time cut-off for each price, and to automatically withdraw prices at the defined time cut-off. It is also desirable to provide a system that limits arbitrage on volatility surface trading.
The design and implementation of any automatic or computerized trading system is difficult. Designing a system which accounts for the creditworthiness of the buyer and seller users of the system and separately maintains current prices for options is especially difficult since there is a complex relationship between credit worthiness and the acceptable option contract price. Existing electronic or computerized trading systems which are not primarily designed for trading options contain inherent inefficiencies in either or both of these systems components and in the time, cost, resources and price transparency.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,627 to Togher et al. describes a computerized trading system dealing with financial instruments such as foreign currency by selectively distributing anonymous price quotes in accordance with pre-established credit limits. The system reviews credit information provided by counterparties using the system and automatically determines whether a predetermined level of credit is currently available from a potential party to a transaction prior to submitting a price quotation to the other potential party based on the information provided. By prescreening bids and offers input by parties, each party is only provided with "dealable" prices from counterparties for which credit compatibility exists. The system is directed to trading foreign currency and not currency options and thus does not provide the more complex system requirements for trading option instruments.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,082 to Silverman et al. describes a negotiated matching system that uses a "matching computer" to identify a bid and an offer from suitable counterparties based on transaction data and ranking data supplied by each of the parties. Matched counterparties are then provided a communication link to further negotiate the terms of the transactions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,787,402 to Potter et al. describes a system for trading currencies in which a user inputs the characteristics of the transaction it desires and the system automatically generates an offer in response to the user's request. The user has a specified amount of time to accept the offer, after which the offer is updated.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,905,974 to Fraser et al. describes a system for automated trading in which bids and offers are displayed on customers' terminal screens. A customer may hit a bid or lift an offer, which initiates transactions at a set price point. The system uses five different trading states in which customers with active bids or offers are given priority to make trades. The system is designed to reward current customers providing active bids and offers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,462 to Midorikawa et al. describes an electronic dealing system that manages credit lines between customers and updates the credit lines as transactions occur between the customers. It also describes grouping a set of customers into a home group for setting a common credit line between the group and another customer.
The trading of options in financial instruments presents varying unique complexities which have not been adequately addressed by the prior art systems such as those discussed above. In addition, the advent of the Internet and related web-based and thin-client-based technologies now provides a platform for the development of a network-based currency option trading system and method, which the present invention addresses.


A portable electronic device includes a stationary cover (10), a sliding mechanism (40) fixed with the stationary cover, a first sliding body (20) slidably connected to the sliding mechanism; and a second sliding body (30) slidably connected to the sliding mechanism and arranged to be abreast with the first sliding body. The stationary cover is slidably connected with the first sliding body and the second sliding body by the sliding mechanism, and the first sliding body and/or the second sliding body are/is operative to reveal out from the stationary cover.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to portable electronic devices, particularly to a portable electronic device with a dual-sliding structure.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
With the development of information technology, portable electronic devices have been increasingly widely used with multiplicity of functions. A mobile telephone is exemplified as a portable electronic device that provides wireless communication services to its subscriber. Rapid development in the field of information and telecommunication business has made it possible for mobile users to use a variety of functions and types of mobile phones available on the market. These mobile telephone terminals are generally classified into three or more types of terminals, such as, e.g., a bar-type terminal, a flip-type terminal with a flip cover, and a foldable terminal with a folding mechanism adapted to be opened and closed about a main body at a given angle.
In the meantime, as more diverse design concepts are introduced in the design of mobile communication terminals, a sliding type of mobile terminal has recently become widely used. The sliding-type terminal is quite popular because of its convenient operation and unconventional design. A general sliding-type terminal includes an upper housing, a main body and a sliding mechanism. The upper housing and the main body are slidably connected by the sliding mechanism. A screen is provided in the upper housing. A keypads module is configured in the main body. The upper housing is slidably opened or closed relative to the main body. However, these sliding type mobile terminals do not yet offer a wide keypads area, and for this reason, more than one different characters or numerals are usually set together in one key. Therefore, it may create an inconvenience for the users. In communication or in game, the users have to manually select a desired input content by pressing the same key many times.
Therefore, a portable electronic device (e.g., a mobile phone) with a new sliding mechanism is desired in order to overcome the above-described shortcomings.


A power supply device for driving has a switching control circuit that switches a switching element for a power source, and an output voltage generation portion that generates a predetermined output voltage in accordance with the switching of the switching element for the power source. In addition, the output voltage generation portion includes an overvoltage detection circuit that detects an overvoltage. Furthermore, the switching control circuit includes an output voltage suppression processing unit that suppresses an increase in the output voltage when the overvoltage is detected. In this case, if the overvoltage is detected, the output voltage suppression processing unit suppresses an increase in the output voltage. In the period of time until an operation of a power supply circuit portion being stopped, the output voltage does not exceed a gate withstand voltage of a power element.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a power supply device for driving.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, an electric vehicle, for example, an electric automobile, is equipped with a drive device. In the drive device, revolutions that are generated by the driving of a drive motor are transferred to a drive wheel, causing the electric automobile to run. Furthermore, for example, in the drive device of a hybrid-type vehicle, an engine and a generator are provided as well as the drive motor. Power is generated by the generator through the driving of the engine, and the power that is generated thereby can be stored in a battery.
For example, the drive motor has a rotor, which is provided so as to be rotatable and includes a pair of magnetic poles, and a stator, which is provided outwardly in a radial direction from the rotor and includes a U-phase coil, a V-phase coil and a W-phase coil. In addition, the drive motor is driven by the supply of U-phase current, V-phase current and W-phase current to each coil, enabling the generation of torque from the drive motor, in other words, drive motor torque.
For this purpose, the battery and an inverter are connected, and direct current is supplied from the battery to the inverter. The inverter is structured with a plurality of transistors as power elements, which are switched in a predetermined pattern based on a pulse width modulation signal generated by a drive motor control device, causing current of each of the phases to be generated. In addition, a power supply device for driving is provided in order to generate a required voltage for switching each of the transistors. A power supply circuit portion is connected to the inverter in the power supply device for driving, and U-phase, V-phase and W-phase voltage that is generated in the power supply circuit portion is supplied to the inverter.
Note that FETs may be used for the transistors in the inverter, and three IGBTs that constitute transistor modules may also be used. Furthermore, an IPM (intelligent power module), where the inverter and a drive circuit are integrally formed, may be used. When FETs or IGBTs are used, each FET or each IGBT constitutes a power element.
FIG. 2 is a diagram of a power supply device for driving. In the diagram, reference numeral 21 denotes a power supply circuit portion. Reference numeral 22 denotes an IPM that includes an inverter (not shown in the diagram) for driving a drive motor (not shown in the diagram), and a drive circuit (not shown in the diagram). Reference numeral 23 denotes a drive motor control device that controls the drive motor. Connectors Cn1 and Cn2 are provided in the power supply circuit portion 21, connectors Cn3 and Cn4 are provided in the IPM 22, and connectors Cn5 and Cn6 are provided in the drive motor control device 23.
Note that, in accordance with an ignition (IG) switch (not shown in the diagram) being switched ON, a voltage from a battery (not shown in the diagram), which is a power supply voltage for auxiliary equipment, is supplied as an ignition voltage to the power supply circuit portion 21 through the drive motor control device 23. In addition, the power supply circuit portion 21 is provided with items, such as a transformer (not shown in the diagram) for generating a +15 (V) base voltage based on the ignition voltage, and, on the primary side of the transformer, a FET that interrupts a current and generates a predetermined primary current as a switching element for a power supply, and a switching control circuit (not shown in the diagram) that generates a duty signal, sends the duty signal to the FET, causing the FET to be switched, and, on the secondary side of the transformer, phase power supply circuits for each phase, namely a U-phase power supply circuit, a V-phase power supply circuit, a W-phase power supply circuit, an X-phase power supply circuit, a Y-phase power supply circuit, and a Z-phase power supply circuit, that generate a +15 (V) voltage of each phase in accordance with the switching of the FET, and a feedback circuit that is provided on the primary side in order to, in accordance with the +15 (V) voltages of each phase that are generated on the secondary side, feedback those voltages.
If, for example an abnormality is generated in the switching control circuit, the feedback circuit or the like in the power supply circuit portion 21, causing the generation of a surplus voltage, in other words, an overvoltage, then an overvoltage detection circuit that is provided in each phase power supply circuit detects the overvoltage, generates a detection signal and sends it to a fail detection circuit. If the detection signal is sent to the fail detection circuit, an interface circuit makes a READY signal low level and sends it to the drive motor control device 23. In addition, if the drive motor control device 23 judges that the READY signal is low level, a circuit that supplies the ignition voltage to the power supply circuit portion 21 is cut off, causing operation of the power supply circuit portion 21 to stop.
In this conventional power supply device for driving, however, in the period of time between the overvoltage detection circuit detecting the overvoltage, and the operation of the power supply circuit 21 being caused to stop, it is possible that the IPM 22, more specifically items such as a transistor, a drive circuit or the like (not shown in the diagram) of the IPM 22, may fracture.


A method and system are presented directed to a light valve projector with a laser-phosphor light converter. The phosphor converter converts excitation light in order to provide light to a light valve projector. The phosphor converter reduces the étendue of laser-phosphor light sources using a light pipe integrator system. The light pipe integrator system includes a light pipe integrator configured to mix the excitation light and reduce the spot size of excitation light entering the system from, e.g., a laser array. The excitation light is imaged onto a phosphor as it exits the light pipe integrator. The phosphor emits fluorescent light, in response to being illuminated by the excitation light, that enters the light pipe integrator. The light pipe integrator reduces the emission angles of the fluorescent light while maintaining the étendue of the fluorescent light. The system and method may include a reflective polarizer to polarize the fluorescent light.

Light sources outputting red, green, and blue (RGB) light are required in many applications (e.g., light valve projectors). For low brightness light valve projectors RGB light emitting diodes (LEDs) can be used. As the efficiency of green LEDs is currently inferior to red and blue LEDs, the green LED is typically the limiting factor in maximal achievable brightness. RGB Laser light sources can be used to build extremely high brightness light valve projectors. Blue and red laser diode arrays are available as sources for the blue and red light respectively. However, currently green laser diodes have low efficiency and low output power. Frequency doubled green lasers are available at high power, but are much more expensive then red and blue diode lasers.
In order to create cost effective, high brightness, RGB light sources, phosphor conversion technology has been used to convert lower wavelength excitation light like blue or near-UV laser light into higher wavelength light like green, yellow or red light. An RGB light source may be created, e.g., utilizing a red laser diode array, a blue laser diode array, and a phosphor that emits green light when illuminated with blue light (i.e., from the blue laser diode array). The use of green phosphors in RGB light sources may, however, limit the utility of the light source.
When illuminated with an excitation light source, phosphors emit fluorescent light in nearly every direction, significantly growing the étendue of a light source and making it difficult to collect a majority of the emitted light from the phosphor. Using a lens systems to collect a majority of the emitted light will further grow the étendue of the light source. In order to function with the highest possible effectiveness as a light source, the étendue of the light source needs to be smaller than the étendue of the projector. In order to meet this requirement and reduce the étendue, the excitation light source may be limited to illuminating a smaller area (spot size) of the phosphor. However, problematically, the smaller the illuminated spot size, the higher the energy density and the more difficult it becomes to cool the phosphor and maintain the highest conversion efficiency on the phosphor.
In addition to étendue concerns, the use of phosphors in RGB light sources introduces other limitations. For example, light from an excitation light needs to be evenly distributed across a phosphor to avoid the creation of hotspots in the phosphor where locally, due to thermal quenching, the efficiency is significantly reduced. Additionally, light emitted from a phosphor is not polarized and, thus, phosphors cannot be used in applications requiring polarized light.

Light valve projector with laser-phosphor light converter


Octahedral molecular sieve sorbents and catalysts are disclosed, including silver hollandite and cryptomelane. These materials can be used, for example, to catalyze the oxidation of COx (e.g., CO), NOx (e.g., NO), hydrocarbons (e.g., C3H6) and/or sulfur-containing compounds. The disclosed materials also may be used to catalyze other reactions, such as the reduction of NO2. In some cases, the disclosed materials are capable of sorbing certain products from the reactions they catalyze. Silver hollandite, in particular, can be used to remove a substantial portion of certain sulfur-containing compounds from a gas or liquid by catalysis and/or sorption. The gas or liquid can be, for example, natural gas or a liquid hydrocarbon.

The combustion waste gases (i.e. the exhaust) of thermal power plants, factories, on-road vehicles, diesel generators, and the like typically contain SOx and NOx. State and federal regulations limit the permissible amounts of these emissions because they create environment problems, such as acid rain. Accordingly, there is a continual need for improvements in the cost effective and efficient control of these emissions.
One mechanism for limiting NOx and SOx emissions is to remove or scrub the pollutants from the exhaust gas using a sorption bed, trap or similar device. Because many NOx traps have been found to be poisoned by the presence of SOx, it is important to remove as much SOx from the exhaust gas as possible. However, as compared to the large volume of studies on NOx reduction, SOx removal using solid sorbents is an area in need of scientific advancement. Certain types of materials have been identified as possible solid sorbents for use in SOx sorption beds and traps, such as calcium oxide and alkalized alumina (Na/Al2O3 or K/Al2O3), copper-based sorbents (e.g., Cu/Al2O3), promoted metal oxides (e.g., TiO2, Al2O3 and ZrO2), promoted cerium oxide (La- or Cu-doped CeO2), and supported cobalt (Co/Al2O3). Unfortunately, over the temperature range of about 250° C. to 475° C., these materials typically have a relatively low sorption capacity. For example, their total sorption capacity of SO2 is typically less than about 10 wt % based on the weight of the sorbent, and their breakthrough sorption capacity can be substantially lower, depending on operating conditions. As it is combustion in this temperature range that leads to a significant portion of the total SOx emissions, a greater sorption capacity at these temperatures is needed.
One approach to increasing the sorption capacity of SOx sorption beds is to provide an oxidation catalyst upstream or admixed with the bed so as to convert most of the SO2 to SO3, since SO3 is generally more readily sorbed than SO2 due to its ability to form stable surface sulfates. However, the cost of recovery of the oxidation catalyst (frequently a precious metal) and the relatively poor conversion efficiency of SO2 to SO3 at temperatures below about 300° C. limits the effectiveness of this approach as well.


According to one aspect, an optical read/write device for reading and/or writing an optical disc includes a base, optical pickup head, and a driving mechanism for slidably driving the optical pickup head. The driving mechanism includes a worm gear, a motor for rotating the worm gear, and a rack disposed between the worm gear and the optical pickup head for transferring motion from the worm gear to the optical pickup head. The rack includes a fastening portion for fixing the rack to the optical pickup head, a mesh portion for engaging with the worm gear, a restricting portion connected to the mesh portion for being blocked by the gear seat when the mesh portion is pressed by the worm gear to prevent the mesh portion from disengaging from the worm gear, and a connecting portion for connecting the fastening portion with the restricting portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to optical read/write devices and, more particularly, to a mechanism for driving an optical pickup head of an optical read/write device.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, an optical pickup head records or reproduces information while moving across a recording data storage medium such as a disc. The optical pickup head includes a light source, for emitting laser light, and an objective lens for focusing the laser light to form an optical spot on the disc. As such, the optical pickup head is able to write or read information to or from the optical disc. The optical pickup head is driven by an optical pickup head driving mechanism, so that the optical pickup head moves along a path corresponding to a radial direction of the optical disc.
A conventional optical pickup head driving mechanism includes a motor, a worm gear connected to a rotor of the motor, and a gear portion attached to the optical pickup head. The gear portion engages with the worm gear. The motor drives the worm gear to rotate and the gear portion is moved linearly by the worm gear. Thus the optical pickup head is moved linearly along a radial direction of the optical disc correspondingly.
However, the optical pickup head cannot be moved precisely because stress between the worm gear and the gear portion may cause the gear portion to disengage with the worm gear.
Therefore, a need exists for an optical read/write device resolving the above problem in the industry.

Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd.


Signals propagating in one communication channel can generate crosstalk interference in another communication channel. A crosstalk cancellation device can process the signals causing the crosstalk interference and generate a crosstalk cancellation signal that can compensate for the crosstalk when applied to the channel receiving crosstalk interference. The crosstalk cancellation device can include a model of the crosstalk effect that generates a signal emulating the actual crosstalk both in form an in timing. The crosstalk cancellation device can include a controller that monitors crosstalk-compensated communication signals and adjusts the model to enhance crosstalk cancellation performance. The crosstalk cancellation device can have a mode of self configuration or calibration in which defined test signals can be transmitted on the crosstalk-generating channel and the crosstalk-receiving channel.

Increased consumption of communication services fuels a need for increased data carrying capacity or bandwidth in communication systems. A phenomenon known as crosstalk often occurs in these communication systems and can impair high-speed signal transmission and thus limit communication bandwidth to an undesirably low level.
Crosstalk is a condition that arises in communications systems wherein a signal in one communication channel is corrupted by interference (or bleed-over) from a different signal being communicated over another channel. The interference may arise due to a variety of effects. For example, in electrical systems such as circuit boards, electrical connectors, and twisted pair cable bundles, each electrical path serves as a channel. At high communication speeds, these conductive paths behave like antennae, both radiating and receiving electromagnetic energy. The radiated energy from one channel, referred to herein as the "aggressing channel," is undesirably coupled into or received by another channel, referred to herein as the "victim channel." This undesirable transfer of signal energy, known as "crosstalk," can compromise data integrity on the receiving channel. Crosstalk is typically bidirectional in that a single channel can both radiate energy to one or more other channels and receive energy from one or more other channels.
Crosstalk is emerging as a significant barrier to increasing throughput rates of communications systems. When not specifically addressed, crosstalk often manifests itself as noise. In particular, crosstalk degrades signal quality by increasing uncertainty in the received signal value thereby making reliable communications more difficult, i.e. data errors occur with increased probability. In other words, crosstalk typically becomes more problematic at increased data rates. Not only does crosstalk reduce signal integrity, but additionally, the amount of crosstalk often increases with the bandwidth of the aggressing signal, thereby making higher data rate communications more difficult. This is particularly the case in electrical systems employing binary or multi-level signaling, since the conductive paths over which such signals flow radiate and receive energy more efficiently at the high frequencies associated with the level transitions in these signals. In other words, each signal in a binary or multi-level communication signal is composed of high-frequency signal components that are more susceptible to crosstalk degradation compared to lower frequency components.
The crosstalk impediment to increasing data throughput rates is further compounded by the tendency of the high-frequency content of the victim signal to attenuate heavily over long signal transmission path lengths (e.g. circuit traces that are several inches in length for multi-gigabit per second data rates). That is, high-frequency components of a communication signal not only receive a relatively high level of crosstalk interference, but also are susceptible to interference because they are often weak due to transmission losses.
While these attenuated high-frequency components can be amplified via a technique known as channel equalization, such channel equalization frequently increases noise and crosstalk as a byproduct of amplifying the high-frequency signals that carry data. The amount of crosstalk present in a communication link often limits the level of equalization that can be utilized to restore signal integrity. For example, at the multi-gigabit per second data rates desired for next-generation backplane systems, the level of crosstalk energy on a communication channel can exceed the level of victim signal energy at the high frequencies that underlie such high-speed communication. In this condition, extraneous or stray signal energy can dominate the energy of the desirable data-carrying signals, thus rendering communicating at these data rates impractical with most conventional system architectures.
The term "noise," as used herein, is distinct from crosstalk and refers to a completely random phenomenon. Crosstalk, in contrast, is a deterministic, but often unknown, parameter. The conventional art includes knowledge that it is theoretically possible to modify a system in order to mitigate crosstalk. In particular, with definitions of: (i) the data communicated over an interfering or aggressing channel; and (ii) the signal transformation that occurs in coupling from the aggressing channel to the victim channel, the crosstalk can be theoretically determined and cancelled. That is, those skilled in the art understand that crosstalk signal degradation can be cancelled if the data carried by a communication signal that is input into a communication channel is known and the signal transformation imposed on the communication signal by crosstalk is also known. However, achieving a level of definition of this signal transformation having sufficient precision and accuracy to support a practical implementation of a system that adequately cancels crosstalk is difficult with conventional technology. Consequently, conventional technology that addresses crosstalk is generally insufficient for high-speed (e.g. multi-gigabit per second) communications systems. Thus, there is a need in the art to cancel crosstalk so as to improve victim signal fidelity and remove the barrier that crosstalk often poses to increasing data throughput rates.
While the physics giving rise to crosstalk (e.g. electromagnetic coupling in electrical systems or four-wave-mixing in optical systems) is well understood, this understanding alone does not provide direct and simple models for the crosstalk transfer function. One common reason for conventional modeling difficulties is that the relative geometries of the victim and aggressor signal paths heavily influence the transfer function of the crosstalk effect, and these paths can be quite convoluted. In other words, signal path complexity typically checks efforts to model crosstalk using conventional modeling methods based on analyzing signal conduits. Furthermore, it is generally undesirable to design a crosstalk canceller for a predetermined specific crosstalk response since: (i) a system may have many different responses for different victim-aggressor pairs (each requiring a specific design); and (ii) different systems may need different sets of designs. Thus, there is a need in the art for a crosstalk cancellation system and method with sufficient flexibility to: (i) accommodate the variety of crosstalk transfer functions that can stem from ordinary operations of a given system; and (ii) self-calibrate in order to avoid a complex manual task of characterizing and adjusting for each victim-aggressor pair.
While the general concept of crosstalk cancellation is known in the conventional art, conventional crosstalk cancellation is typically not applicable to high-speed environments, such as channels supporting multi-gigabaud rates. Conventional crosstalk cancellation is typically implemented in an entirely digital environment, wherein the accessible aggressing data signals and received victim signals are digitized, and a microprocessor implements the cancellation processes. The analog-to-digital converters and microprocessors needed to implement this digital crosstalk cancellation in a high-speed environment are usually excessively complex, resulting in unacceptable power consumption and product cost.
To address these representative deficiencies in the art, what is needed is a capability for crosstalk cancellation compatible with high-speed environments but with low power consumption and reasonable production cost. A capability is further needed for automatically calibrating or configuring crosstalk cancellation devices. Such capabilities would facilitate higher data rates and improve bandwidth in diverse communication applications.

Method and system for crosstalk cancellation


To provide a lithium secondary battery with a high critical discharge current even under a low temperature condition, with an excellent cycle characteristic and reduced manufacturing cost. The lithium secondary battery includes a wound type electrode body comprising a positive electrode plate, and a negative electrode plate both of which have been wound around a core via a separator, the electrode body being impregnated with a non-aqueous electrolyte, and a cylindrical case for housing the electrode body and the non-aqueous electrolyte; the case having at least one opening at either end thereof, which can be sealed. The separator is subjected to drying treatment after the electrode body is inserted into the cylindrical case.

The present invention relates to a lithium secondary battery providing high output even under a low temperature condition, with an excellent cycle characteristic and reduced manufacturing cost.
Lithium secondary batteries are widely used as small and high energy density chargeable/dischargeable secondary batteries providing power supplies for portable communication devices and electronic devices such as notebook personal computers in recent years. Furthermore, with increasing concern about resource saving and energy saving against a background of international protection of the global environment, lithium secondary batteries are also expected as batteries for driving motors of electric vehicles (EV) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) for which the automobile industry is studying the development of a positive marketing campaign or as effective means for using electric power by saving nighttime electric power, and there is a strong urge to commercialize large-capacity lithium secondary batteries suitable for these applications.
Lithium secondary batteries generally use lithium transition metal complex oxides as positive active materials and carbonaceous materials such as hard carbon and graphite as negative active materials. Since the reaction potential of a lithium secondary battery is as high as approximately 4.1 V, no conventional water-based electrolyte can be used as its electrolyte, and therefore a non-aqueous electrolyte which is a lithium compound as an electrolyte dissolved into an organic solvent is used instead. A charging reaction takes place when Li+ in the positive active material is transferred through the non-aqueous electrolyte to and captured by the negative active material, and a reverse battery reaction takes place during a discharge.
Among such lithium secondary batteries, a relatively large capacity lithium secondary battery suitable for an EV or HEV, etc. preferably uses as its electrode body a wound type electrode body 1 as shown in FIG. 1 made up of electrode plates (positive electrode plate 2 and negative electrode plate 3) to which current collector tabs (positive current collector tab 5, negative current collector tab 6) functioning as lead wires are attached, wound around a core 7 with a separator 4 inserted in between to prevent the two electrode plates from contacting each other.
The positive electrode plate 2 and the negative electrode plate 3 are layers formed by applying respective electrode active materials (which refer to both positive active material and negative active material) to both surfaces of the current collector substrates such as metal foil. The positive current collector tab 5 and the negative current collector tab 6 can be attached to exposed metal foils at the ends of the positive electrode plate 2 and the negative electrode plate 3 at predetermined intervals using a suitable means such as ultrasonic welding during an operation wherein the positive electrode plate 2, and the negative electrode plate 3 are wound around the core 7, by sandwiching a separator 4.
Batteries used for an EV or HEV or the like may be required not only to have a large capacity but also to produce an instantaneous discharge of high current especially at the time of starting the engine or climbing a slope, etc. That is, the development of batteries having a characteristic of high in critical discharge current is required.
Here, focusing attention on the separator made of a porous film of polyolefin, etc. inserted between the positive and negative electrode plates, the separator does not always have excellent wettability for the non-aqueous electrolyte, that is, affinity or permeability, which is considered to cause not a little influence on characteristics of the battery.
JP-A-2001-6747 discloses a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery which uses paper having predetermined physical properties as a separator and improves battery characteristics. Even the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery described in the above publication does not provide sufficient performance as a battery for which a discharge of instantaneous high current is required. Furthermore, a battery which is supposed to be installed and used under a low-temperature condition, for example, a vehicle-mounted battery, etc. needs to demonstrate sufficient battery characteristics even under such a condition and therefore there is a demand for further improvements.

High discharge current lithium secondary battery and method of manufacture


A semiconductor memory device includes first and second bit lines, memory cells each including first and second storage nodes, which are connected through selecting transistors to the first and second bit lines, respectively, a pre-charge circuit configured to pre-charge the first and second bit lines to a predetermined potential so as to read data, a hold circuit configured to maintain a potential level of the first and second bit lines, a read circuit connected to the first bit line, and a leak circuit having one terminal connected to the second bit line and another terminal connected to a ground. The leak circuit allows a current to leak from the second bit line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device, more particularly to a static random access memory (SRAM).
2. Description of the Related Art
With the recent progress in the fine patterning technology and the demand for improved system performance, more and more semiconductor memory devices having large storage capacity and operating at high speed are developed. FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of an SRAM.
Referring to FIG. 8, a plurality of memory cells MC are arranged in a column direction which a bit line extends to. The memory cells MC are divided into a plurality of sub-arrays, each including a predetermined number of memory cells MC. Word lines WL and a pair of local bit lines LBL and /LBL are provided for each sub-array. In each sub-array, the memory cells are connected to the local bit lines LBL and /LBL and the corresponding ones of the word lines WL. A write circuit and a pre-charge circuit are connected to the local bit lines LBL and /LBL. A pair of global bit lines WGBL and /WGBL used for writing are connected to the write circuit. Local bit line LBL is connected to the read circuit, which in turn is connected to global bit line RGBL used for reading.
In the SRAM having the above configuration, the read circuit is connected only to the local bit line LBL. This single-end read circuit is advantageous in that it helps reduce the number of global bit lines required. In general, if the capacitance load on the bit lines, which are due to the capacitance of memory cells and the wiring capacitance, increases, the read operation is inevitably low in speed. However, if the local bit lines are provided in layers as in the SRAM shown in FIG. 8, the capacitance load on the bit lines can be reduced.
To access the SRAM, word lines are activated. In general, the pre-charging operation is stopped for the local bit lines of the sub-arrays for which the pre-charging operation is performed until then and which includes the activated word lines. This selective pre-charging operation is accomplished by selecting areas of the corresponding sub-arrays on the basis of address signals entered for the activation of the word lines.
In practice, however, there may be a case where this area selection cannot be performed. Also, there may be a case where signals for selecting the areas are too slow for the SRAM to wait for. An example of an apparatus where this problem occurs is a translation lookaside buffer (TLB) wherein a content address memory (CAM) and an SRAM are connected together. The CAM and the SRAM are connected together by means of a plurality of matching lines. In the TLB, word lines WL are selected by activation signals which the CAM generates on the basis of address signals. Signals used for selecting areas must be generated by use of the matching lines. Therefore, the area selection signals are generated after the activation signals used for selecting word lines are generated. In other words, the SRAM cannot operate until the area selection signals are generated or determined. As a result, a long time is required before data is output.
To solve this problem, it may be thought not to perform the pre-charging operation for all local bit lines for which the pre-charging operation is performed until then, irrespective of whether there are word lines that are activated. If this measure is taken, the local bit lines of the areas where the word lines are not activated, are set in the so-called "floating high state." The floating high state is a state where power source voltage Vcc first applied, raising the potential level to high, and then the application of the power source voltage Vcc stops. If this phenomenon occurs, leak current increases especially in miniaturized transistors. In addition, the leak current from a local bit line may increase if many transistors (which are likely to be leak current sources) are connected to that local bit line. If the leak current is too large in amount, a high potential level cannot be maintained in the floating high state, and the potential level of the local bit lines drops to low, resulting in a malfunction or an undesirable phenomenon.
To prevent this malfunction or undesirable phenomenon, it is thought to add a P-type MOS transistor and connect this transistor to the local bit lines to maintain a high potential state. FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of a circuit to which such a P-type MOS transistor is added. However, an SRAM having this configuration does not function well because the addition of the P-type MOS transistor conflicts with the operation of reading memory cells at low level. As a result, the read operation will be slow.
As a relevant technology, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 4-167295 discloses how to prevent read data from becoming indefinite when an address signal does not select any of the word lines.


An automatic power control apparatus for use in a radio communication system employing a Time Division Multiplexing Access (TDMA) system according to the present invention has a level varying unit for amplifying a modulated wave that is output from a transmitter at an amplification factor specified by an external device, a level detecting unit for detecting a power level of a modulated wave, a computing unit for computing a power level of a non-modulated wave which is varied by a modulated wave obtained by linearly modulating a carrier wave in response to a modulation signal generated based on digital data, and a comparing unit that is used for comparing power levels. In the automatic power control apparatus, and amplification factor of the level varying unit is adjusted so that the power levels compared by the comparing unit become equal to each other during a transmission period of the non-modulated wave. Finally, the level varying unit is then operated at the amplification factor during a transmission period of the modulated wave.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automatic power control apparatus for stabilizing a level of output power in a radio communication system such as a cellular radio telephone system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a radio communication system such as a cellular radio telephone system, generally, automatic power control (referred to as APC hereinafter) is performed to stabilize a level of output power while the system is operating.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a conventional APC apparatus. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a variable amplifier for amplifying a transmit signal output from a transmitter (not shown). The transmit signal is supplied to, for example, an antenna (not shown) via the variable amplifier 1. The transmit signal is also supplied from the variable amplifier 1 to a level detector 2. The level detector 2 outputs a detection signal having a voltage corresponding to a power level of the transmit signal. The detection signal is then input to a comparator circuit 3 comprising a differential amplifier 31, a variable resistor VR, and resistors R1, R2 and R3. A reference voltage VB is also applied to the comparator circuit 3 from a variable power source 4. The comparator circuit 3 compares the voltage of the detection signal output from the level detector 2 with the reference voltage VB and then supplies a difference between the voltages to a control voltage delivering circuit 5 as a comparison output voltage.
The control voltage delivering circuit 5, which is constituted of a Darlington circuit, amplifies the comparison output voltage output from the comparator circuit 3 and supplies the amplified voltage to the variable amplifier 1 as a control voltage of the amplifier 1. The variable amplifier 1 amplifies the transmit signal at a gain corresponding to the control voltage supplied from the control voltage delivering circuit 5.
Consequently, the transmit signal output from the variable amplifier 1 is always stabilized so as to have a fixed power level which depends upon the reference voltage VB preset in the variable power source 4.
Digital modulation for modulating an analog carrier by a digital signal has recently been popularized in a radio communication system. For example, quadrative amplitude modulation (referred to as QAM hereinafter) system is generally known as the digital modulation. The use of such digital modulation enables so-called time-sharing transmission. For effective use of channels, a time division multiplexing access (referred to as TDMA hereinafter) system has been adopted.
A transmitter of a radio communication system to which the QAM and TDMA are applied, will be outlined. In the TDMA, the transmitter performs a transmission operation only during the time slots assigned to the transmitter itself. When the transmission operation is performed, a predetermined period t0, during which a non-modulated wave is output, is set in the initial part of each of the time slots as shown in FIG. 5(b), and the APC apparatus automatically controls power so that the non-modulated wave is adjusted to have a predetermined level P during the period t0.
In the QAM, generally, an instantaneous level of a modulated wave varies with digital data to be transmitted. More specifically, when the QAM is performed using a digital pulse, the digital pulse is caused to pass through a low-pass filter to restrict the bandwidth of the digital pulse. Since the digital pulse is expanded with respect to time by the restriction of bandwidth, the waveform of the pulse is influenced by its preceding and succeeding pulses. This means that the level of a non-modulated wave varies with a modulation signal of a modulated wave subsequent to the non-modulated wave. Since the ratio of an average level of a signal transmitted during the time slot to that of a signal transmitted during the non-modulated wave output period changes with each of the time slots, an error .DELTA.P occurs in the average level between the time slots as shown in FIG. 5(b). FIG. 5(a) is a view showing time slots in which TDMA signals are generated, and the hatched portions in FIG. 5(a) show time slots assigned to the transmitter. FIG. 5(b) is a view showing the waveforms of transmit signals output from the variable amplifier 1.
As described above, when the conventional APC apparatus is applied to a radio communication system wherein linear modulation such as the QAM is used as a modulation system and the TDMA is used as a multiplexing access system, an error occurs in average power every time slot, and automatic power control cannot be correctly performed.


The present invention provides a chromatography column and a method for isolating nucleic acid molecules. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a double-layer column of a first anion exchange membrane and a second serially coupled silica membrane. Upon flowing a nucleic acid-containing solution through the first anion exchange membrane, the nucleic acid binds to and then elutes from the first membrane. The eluted solution then flows serially through the second silica membrane, which the nucleic acid binds to and then elutes from. Due to this novel serial coupled double-layer principle, the present invention is particularly suitable for co-isolating RNA and DNA, for isolating nucleic acid embraced by proteins, e.g., viruses, and for isolating diluted nucleic acid in a large volume, e.g., plasma. In addition, the eluted nucleic acid is ready for downstream applications.

The present invention relates to a chromatography column and a method for isolating nucleic acid. It is particularly suitable for co-isolating RNA and DNA, for isolating nucleic acid contained in a particle, e.g., virus, and for isolating diluted nucleic acid in a large volume, e.g., plasma.
Nucleic Acid Isolation
Nucleic acid isolation is an important step for many biochemical and diagnostic uses, e.g., cloning, transformation, restriction digestion, in vitro transcription, amplification, sequencing. However, it can not be easily carried out because of the presence of large amounts of cellular and other contaminants, e.g., proteins, carbohydrates, and small metabolites in crude samples. Thus, simple, fast, efficient, reliable, and cost-effective methods are needed.
Silica-Based Isolation
The silica- or silicon dioxide-based method has become a popular method for isolating nucleic acid that use controlled pore glass, filters embedded with silica particles, silica gel particles, resins comprising silica in the form of diatomaceous earth, and glass fibers1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
The basic procedure is simple. DNA or RNA is bound to the surface of silica resin or membrane in the presence of a high concentration of chaotrophic salts, contaminants are washed away, and DNA is eluted in water or low-salt buffer.
The principle of silica-based isolation is based on the high affinity of the negatively charged DNA backbone towards the positively charged silica surface10 under concentrated chaotrophic salt conditions, e.g., sodium iodide (NaI), sodium perchlorate (NaCIO4), guanidinium hydrochloride (GuHCl), and guanidinium thiocyanate (GuTC).
The effects of ionic strength, temperature, pH, DNA size and conformation on the binding of nucleic acid to the silica surface were investigated11. For example, the binding capacity of the silica surface is linearly related to the chaotrophic salt concentration. Additionally, at a given chaotrophic salt concentration, the binding capacity to the silica surface of any type of DNA is higher at a lower pH value.
GuTC and GuHCl are commonly used for binding nucleic acid to the silica surface. NaI and NaCIO4 are also used to a lesser extent. GuTC at a concentration of 4 M to 6 M works best, while GuHCl is used at a higher concentration of 6 M. The binding efficiency is significantly improved in the presence of ethanol or propanol. In order to control the pH value of the binding reagent, sodium acetate and Tris-HCl buffers, ranging from pH 6 to 7.5 are often used. Moreover, guanidinium salts, e.g., GuTC, are known to efficiently lyse cells and denature proteins4, eliminating the need for adding denaturing enzymes, e.g., proteinase.
Spin and vacuum chromatography columns are commonly used within which silica resin or membrane is packed as the stationary phase, e.g., those of PureYield plasmid midiprep system and WizardPlus minipreps DNA purification system from Promega, QIAprep miniprep kit from Qiagen, and EZgene plasmid purification miniprep kit from Bioland.
The silica-based method provides a quick, convenient, and efficient method. The purified DNA is qualified and ready to use for a wide variety of downstream applications. However, the starting volume of samples, e.g., plasma, is limited because up to 3 volumes of chaotrophic salt solution should be added to one volume of the DNA or RNA samples to reach the effective chaotropic salt concentration required by silica binding.
Anion Exchange-Based Isolation
The method of anion exchange resin and membrane is also commonly used for isolating nucleic acid. In this procedure, DNA is bound to the anion exchanger in the presence of a low salt concentration at a low pH. DNA is eluted in the presence of a high salt concentration at a high pH value12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 9.
The binding principle is based on the interaction between the negatively charged phosphates of the DNA backbone and the positively charged group, e.g., DEAE, on the surface. The salt concentration and pH value of a solution used determine whether DNA is bound or eluted.
Anion exchange bead-based columns, often gravity flow driven, are common, e.g., QIAGEN genomic-tips kit. The QIAGEN resin contains porous silica bead as support coated with diethylaminoethanol (DEAE) functional group. Others include Pall AcroSep chromatography columns with DEAE weak anion exchange ceramic HyperD F bead and with Q strong anion exchange ceramic HyperD F bead.
In contrast to the bead-based columns, anion exchange membrane columns, often spin or vacuum flow driven, are available. They have the advantages of high flow rate, low cost, and high throughput, e.g., Vivapure weak anion exchange mini D membrane spin column and Vivapure strong anion exchange mini Q membrane spin column21.
Anion exchange columns provide an easy, safe, and reliable method for the isolation of nucleic acid from various types of samples. The prepared nucleic acid is of superior purity equivalent to two rounds of purification on CsCl gradient centrifuge. However, the eluted nucleic acid is not ready to use because of the high salt concentration in the elution buffer. An extra step of ethanol or isopropanol precipitation is typically needed to remove the salt.

Chromatography column and method for isolating nucleic acid


An assay device and method for measuring the concentration of HDL-associated cholesterol in a blood-fluid sample. The device includes a glass-fiber sieving matrix capable of separating soluble and precipitated material migrating through the matrix, and a reagent reservoir in the matrix, for releasing a reagent effective to selectively precipitate LDL and VLDL particles, while permitting soluble HDL to migrate through the matrix. The glass fibers are coated with a polymer coating to prevent binding of HDL to the fibers in the presence of the precipitating reagent.

There is a trend toward widespread testing of blood and other body-fluids for analytes which are predictive of health conditions, such as risk of coronary disease. The amount of cholesterol present in the blood is one factor which is related to the risk of coronary artery disease.
Cholesterol circulates in the blood predominantly in the protein-bound form. The proteins which transport cholesterol are the lipoproteins, which are subdivided into three classes based on their density. The very-low density lipoproteins (VLDL) are triglyceride-rich lipoproteins which are synthesized in the liver and ultimately converted to low-density lipoproteins (LDL), which transport most of the plasma cholesterol in humans. The high-density lipoproteins (HDL) are lipoproteins which are involved in the catabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, and in the removal of cholesterol from peripheral tissues and transport to the liver. An inverse relationship between serum HDL levels and risk of coronary disease has been established. In particular, if the proportion of serum cholesterol associated with HDL is low, the risk of coronary disease is increased.
In view of the importance of relative serum cholesterol levels in risk assessment and management of atherogenic disease, considerable effort has been spent screening large populations of both normal and high-risk individuals for serum levels of HDL, LDL, as well as total cholesterol and triglycerides. The effectiveness of treatments of high-risk individuals has been monitored by regular testing of serum levels of cholesterol in the various lipoprotein compartments.
One method for specific HDL cholesterol testing is based on the selective precipitation of non-HDL lipoproteins in serum by polyanionic compounds, such as dextran sulfate, heparin, and phosphotungstate, in the presence of a group-II cation, such as Mg.sup.2+, Mn.sup.2+, and Ca.sup.2+. The specificity and degree of precipitation are dependent on a variety of factors, including the type and concentration of the polyanion/metal agent. In general, the order of precipitation of serum cholesterol particles, with increasing concentration of polyanion is VLDL, LDL, and HDL. HDL usually remains soluble at concentrations of heparin or dextran sulfate which completely precipitate lower density particles, although minor apoE species of HDL may be co-precipitated with lower density particles. By selective precipitation of lower density particles, HDL serum cholesterol levels can be determined.
In a typical lipid assay procedure, a small volume of blood is drawn and centrifuged to produce a clear plasma or serum sample fluid. The sample fluid is then aliquoted into several assay tubes, for determination of (a) total serum cholesterol, (b) triglycerides, and (c) HDL cholesterol. The HDL sample is precipitated, as above, and the lower density particles are removed by filtration or centrifugation prior to cholesterol detection. The samples are then reacted with an enzyme mix containing cholesterol esterase, cholesterol oxidase, peroxidase and a dye which can be oxidized to a distinctly colored product in the presence of H.sub.2 O.sub.2. The tubes may be read spectrophotometrically, and the desired total, HDL and LDL cholesterol values determined.
Despite the accuracy and reliability which can be achieved with the liquid-phase cholesterol assay just described, the assay has a number of limitations for use in widespread screening. First, the method uses a venous blood sample, requiring a trained technician to draw and fractionate the blood sample, and aliquot the treated blood to individual assay tubes. At least one of the sample tubes (for HDL determination) must be treated with a precipitating agent, and further processed to remove precipitated material. Although some of these procedures can be automated, analytical machines designed for this purpose are expensive and not widely available outside of large hospitals.
The invention disclosed in above-cited co-pending patent application provides an assay device which substantially overcomes many of the above-mentioned problems associated with liquid-assay procedures for measuring serum cholesterol levels. In one embodiment, the device is designed for measuring the concentration of HDL-associated cholesterol, in a blood sample also containing LDL and VLDL particles. The device includes a sieving matrix capable of separating soluble and precipitated lipoproteins as a fluid sample migrates through the matrix. A reservoir associated with the matrix is designed to release a precipitating agent, for selectively precipitating LDL and VLDL, as fluid sample is drawn into and through the matrix. This allows HDL separation from the precipitated lipoproteins, based on faster HDL migration through the sieving matrix. The fluid sample thus depleted of non-HDL lipoproteins is assayed for cholesterol.
In studies carried out in support of the above invention, it was discovered that exposure of blood fluid samples to the reagent used in precipitating the HDL and LDL particles also resulted in binding of HDL to the glass particles, resulting in spuriously low HDL cholesterol values. This problem is addressed and overcome in the present invention.

High-density lipoprotein solid-base assay device