The objective of the invention is the computer-assisted selection of the optimal machine component for a use. In the selection, empirical values are collected to create a continuously improving system. To achieve this, the inventive method includes determining properties of the machine component and their corresponding influence quantities, possible uses for the machine component, and the influence quantities to be considered in the use-specific selection and design of the machine component. The method also includes receiving statements relating to the influence quantities and determining, influence quantity interactions. The method further includes formulating the influence quantities, feeding the use and associated influence quantities as inputs into a selection algorithm to select the machine component that is optimally suitable for the use, and supplying the selected machine component.

The invention relates to a method by which, in a computer-assisted manner, machine components can be determined that are particularly suitable for a specified use.
"Machine components" are understood below to mean individual machine elements or groups of interacting machine elements that are combined to form specific aggregates. Each machine element considered is a very small technical functional unit that is suitable for fulfilling the technically functional requirements arising from each technical use considered. The term "machine component" accordingly also encompasses the parts, raw materials or process parameters applied in the manufacture of machine components or their machine elements since the properties and functions of the components and elements considered here are always characterised by the manner in which they are manufactured and the materials and methods used for this.
Currently, machine components are generally designed according to standardised methods with respect to the respective use. This approach is simple, proven, and safe because it secures individual differences in the uses through generalised "safety factors".
This selection and design system is described in more detail, for example, in "Maschinenelemente 2, Prof. Schlecht", Addison-Wesley Verlag; 2nd edition (1 Nov. 2009), ISBN-13: 978-3827371461, or "Maschinenelemente, Roloff/Matek" Springer Vieweg; 21st edition, fully revised 2013 edition (9 Aug. 2013), ISBN-13: 978-3658023263.
A typical example of machine components that can be selected in the manner considered and newly presented here is belts for belt drives. The selection of such belts is usually made in accordance with the VDI guideline 2758 "Riemengetriebe" of June 1993.
The conventional procedure for the use-specific selection of such machine elements from machine elements supplied as in a catalogue, in particular manufactured according to a specific manufacturer specification, can be summarised as follows (see also enclosed FIG. 2).    (a) The conditions set by the intended use and to be considered in the selection of the machine element are ascertained. These conditions include, for example, the static and dynamic loads to which the machine element will be subject during operation, as well as external conditions such as ambient atmosphere, temperatures, friction pairs, machine concept, etc. under which the machine element is to be used.    (b) Taking into account the machine concept, the engineer specifies a certain type of machine element.    (c) c.1 For the machine element type specified in (b), the performance values to be generated by this machine element type are calculated based on the conditions to be considered (a).            c.2 The calculated performance values are assigned safety margins in order to secure inaccuracies in the performance value calculation (b) or unforeseeable uncertainties occurring in practical use.            (d) On the basis of the performance values assigned safety margins, the machine element suitable for the intended use is selected from the machine elements supplied as in a catalogue.
Work steps (c) and (d) are usually depicted by tables or diagrams, or alternatively also by suitable software by means of which, based on the conditions (a) to be considered and in accordance with the decision taken in step b), the performance values to be generated in each case by the relevant machine element can be determined.
This design methodology, which is appropriate for practice but based on comparatively rough estimates, has the following limitations and disadvantages:                A preliminary specification of a particular machine element type is made.        In the further design and selection of the suitable machine element, the view is accordingly restricted to this one machine element type. Alternative machine elements that would possibly better solve the particular drive task within the framework of the predetermined machine concept are no longer taken into account in the further consideration subsequent to the preliminary specification.        The expected service life of the particular machine element cannot be taken into account in the selection and design, since the selection is secured by such high safety factors that the theoretically achievable service life of the machine element is much higher than the service life required or desired in practice.        In general, the machine element is more precisely determined and designed depending on fewer influence quantities. Consideration of a plurality of different but mutually dependent or influencing selection criteria is generally not possible due to the associated computing time.        The concrete design of the selected machine element is generally performed without consideration for the influence quantities related to the use. At best, such influence quantities are included in a roughly generalised manner.        The design is always carried out with very high safety coefficients in order to cover, with sufficient certainty, influence quantities that are unknown or not considered in detail.        The overdimensioning occurring as a result of the generalisation and safeguarding by means of safety margins leads to an unnecessary increase in the price of the particular machine element.        The capabilities of the machine elements are not used optimally. Due to the generalisation and safeguarding by means of safety margins, solutions that could be used with great success in practice are not feasible.
With regard to a use in which drive forces are to be transmitted to a part to be moved, this means that the engineer first specifies, for example, "belts" as their chosen traction mechanism. As a result, in their further considerations, they no longer commit to alternative traction mechanisms or drives that would possibly better solve the driving task.
The design of endless toothed belts is then carried out based on performance values that are stated in catalogues and that the belt manufacturers publish in general terms, that is, not use-specifically. The details supplied by various manufacturers relating to the drive belts they offer are not comparable because it is not clear on which basis the details have been determined. In particular, it is not known on which service life basis the values have been determined. Detailed guidelines or standards on how comparable performance values can be determined do not currently exist. Instead, the manufacturers of drive belts define their own calculation and design methods. As a result, the properties and selection criteria indicated by the different manufacturers are not comparable, or at most can only be compared with substantial effort and considerable uncertainty. Thus, products with seemingly similar property profiles often prove not to be mutually interchangeable because the stated properties have been determined in different ways.
A rough guideline for the calculation of the requirements that drive belts must fulfil is given in the guideline VDI 2758. Section 3 states: "The belt drive must on the one hand work safely under the specified requirements or operating conditions (rotational speeds, torques, space requirements, overloads, shaft displacements, temperatures and other environmental influences) over a reasonable period of time and should on the other hand minimise the environmental impact (noise, vibrations, etc.)." The question as to how these requirements can be fulfilled whilst ensuring optimal utilisation of the performance potential provided by the drive belt remains open.

Method for computer-assisted selection of machine components


A torsional vibration damper having enhanced vibration damping performance is provided. The torsional vibration damper comprises: a vacant area existing between an outer circumference of the sun gear and an inner circumference of the ring gear outside of a revolving range of the planetary gears revolved as a result of relative rotation between the sun and the ring gear; and a mass increasing portion that is formed on the rotary member other than an input element and an output element within the vacant area in such a manner as to protrude from the rotary member.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the art of a vibration damper for suppressing torque pulses (i.e., vibrations) by an inertial torque.
Discussion of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,274 describes a torsional vibration damping apparatus comprising a planetary transmission in which a sun gear serves as an input element, and a carrier or a ring gear serves as an output element. In the planetary transmission, the sun gear is connected to a first mass, and the carrier or the ring gear is connected to a second mass. According to the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,274, coil springs are interposed between any of two rotary elements of the planetary transmission in such a manner as to permit an angular displacement therebetween to an extent which depends upon the extent of deformation of the coil springs.
The planetary gear unit used in a vibration damper is also described e.g., in JP-A-2009-14022 and JP-A-2010-1905. In the inertia device taught by JP-A-2009-14022, the planetary gear unit is used to obtain a large inertia force by increasing rotational speed of an inertia ring to be higher than an input speed. In turn, in the rotation fluctuation reduction device taught by JP-A-2010-1905, one of rotary elements of the planetary gear unit is connected to an output shaft of an engine to serve as an input element, other rotary element is attached to an inertial mass, and still another rotary element is selectively halted by a brake. According to the teachings of JP-A-2010-1905, an inertia torque counteracting torsional vibrations of the output shaft can be changed by halting a rotation of predetermined rotary element by the brake.
In the above-explained prior art documents, an inertial force counteracting vibrations is established by an inertial mass connected to any of the rotary elements of the planetary gear unit, and such inertial force can be increased by enlarging the inertial mass. According to the teachings of the above-explained prior art documents, however, the inertial masses are arranged in an axial direction of the planetary gear unit, and hence an axial length of the planetary gear unit may be elongated if the inertial masses are enlarged. Consequently, the vibration damping device may not be fitted into a powertrain easily.


An improved two column crude oil fractional distillation process, characterized by transfer of top product from the second column to specified locations in the first column, is disclosed.

The invention relates to an improved crude oil fractional distillation process. In particular, the invention relates to a method of crude oil fractional distillation characterized by improved energy efficiency.
Although modern crude oil distillation units are usually one column units, many two column units are still in use. However, the typical two column unit has two large disadvantages: (1) lower potential for heat recovery, and (2) poor fractionation between the two lightest fractions, i.e., the top products from the two columns. The invention overcomes both of these disadvantages.


A media access gateway comprises a wireless network interface, an authorization module, a filter information module, and a proxy mobility agent module. The wireless network interface selectively establishes a wireless link with a first interface of a wireless terminal that has a plurality of wireless interfaces. The authorization module determines a home agent corresponding to the wireless terminal. The filter information module receives filter information from one of the wireless terminal and a server and generates output filter information. The proxy mobility agent module transmits a binding update to the home agent. The binding update includes the output filter information.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
Referring now to FIG. 1, a functional block diagram of a wireless communications system is presented. A home network 102 receives packets from and sends packets to a distributed communications system 104, such as the Internet. A wireless terminal 106 wirelessly connects to the home network 102. For example only, the wireless terminal 106 may be a mobile phone, and the home network 102 may be the cellular network of a mobile phone operator.
The wireless terminal 106 is configured to work with the home network 102, and may be unable to connect to the networks of other carriers. In various implementations, the wireless terminal 106 may be able to view content from the distributed communications system 104 via the home network 102. The home network 102 may interconnect with the networks of other service providers and/or core networks.
Referring now to FIG. 2, a functional block diagram of a wireless communications system offering mobility is presented. The home network 102 is connected to one or more visited networks 110. For example only, FIG. 2 depicts three visited networks 110-1, 110-2, and 110-3. In various implementations, the visited networks 110 may be the networks of other service providers, including service providers in other countries.
A mobile wireless terminal 120 includes mobility features that allow it to communicate with the visited networks 110. For example, in FIG. 2, the mobile wireless terminal 120 has established a wireless connection to the visited network 110-1. The mobile wireless terminal 120 includes the code and data used to communicate with the home network 102 via the visited network 110-1. In this way, the mobile wireless terminal 120 can interface with the home network 102 even when connected to one of the visited networks 110. Because the mobile wireless terminal 120 itself includes mobility features, the mobile wireless terminal 120 may be described as supporting client mobile internet protocol (CMIP).
For example, mobile internet protocol (IP) for IP version 6 (IPv6) is described in request for comment (RFC) 3775, titled "Mobility Support in IPv6," the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Mobile IP for IP version 4 (IPv4) is described in RFC 3344, entitled "IP Mobility Support for IPv4," the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Referring now to FIG. 3, a functional block diagram depicts a wireless communications system that provides proxy mobility to the wireless terminal 106. A home network 150 communicates with visited networks 160-1, 160-2, and 160-3. The visited networks 160 provide transparent mobility to wireless terminals, such as the wireless terminal 106, which do not include mobility functionality. This may be referred to as proxy mobile IP (PMIP) or network mobile IP. Proxy mobility in IPv6 is described in an Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) draft titled "Proxy Mobile IPv6" (published Jun. 18, 2007 and available as "draft-ietf-netlmm-proxymip6-01.txt"), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
When the wireless terminal 106 attempts to establish a link with the visited network 160-1, the visited network 160-1 determines the network to which the wireless terminal 106 belongs. In this case, the visited network 160-1 determines that the home network 150 is the appropriate network. The visited network 160-1 then forwards packets from the wireless terminal 106 to the home network 150 and passes packets from the home network 150 to the wireless terminal 106. The wireless terminal 106 can therefore be oblivious to the fact that it is connected to the visited network 160-1 instead of to the home network 150.
Referring now to FIG. 4A, a functional block diagram and timeline of an implementation of client mobility are presented. The home network 102 includes a home agent (HA) 180. The HA 180 establishes the logical location of the mobile wireless terminal 120. Packets ultimately destined for the mobile wireless terminal 120 are sent to the HA 180, while packets from the mobile wireless terminal 120 will appear to originate from the location of the HA 180.
The mobile wireless terminal 120 may establish a connection to an access router (AR) 182 within the visited network 110-1. In various implementations, additional ARs (not shown) may be present. The AR 182 may communicate with other networks, including the home network 102.
When the mobile wireless terminal 120 connects to the visited network 110-1, the mobile wireless terminal 120 performs authentication and authorization with the access router 182. This may include communicating with an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server. The AAA server may retrieve information based on an identifier of the mobile wireless terminal 120, such as a network address identifier, that uniquely identifies the mobile wireless terminal 120. The AAA server may indicate to the AR 182 whether the mobile wireless terminal 120 should be allowed access and what services should be provided.
The mobile wireless terminal 120 receives a local address from the AR 182. Using this address, the mobile wireless terminal 120 can communicate with various network elements, including the HA 180. The mobile wireless terminal 120 transmits a binding update message to the HA 180. The HA 180 allocates a global home address HoA to the mobile wireless terminal 120. The HA 180 may create a binding cache entry that records information about the mobile wireless terminal 120, such as the current address of the mobile wireless terminal 120 and the allocated address HoA.
The HA 180 transmits a binding acknowledgement message to the mobile wireless terminal 120. The binding acknowledgement message includes HoA so that the mobile wireless terminal 120 is aware of its global home address. Packets sent from other network devices, such as other wireless terminals, are sent to that home address. The HA 180 receives those packets and forwards them to the mobile wireless terminal 120. Similarly, packets from the mobile wireless terminal 120 are first sent to the HA 180. The HA 180 then forwards the packets with a source address of HoA. To allow for packets to be exchanged between the mobile wireless terminal 120 and the HA 180, a tunnel is established between the mobile wireless terminal 120 and the HA 180.
Referring now to FIG. 4B, a functional block diagram and timeline of an implementation of proxy mobility are presented. The wireless terminal 106 may establish a connection to a media access gateway (MAG) 190 in the visited network 160-1. In various implementations, additional MAGs (not shown) may be present in the visited network 160-1. The MAG 190 may communicate with other networks, including the home network 150.
When the wireless terminal 106 connects to the MAG 190, the MAG 190 may authenticate the wireless terminal 106 and determine what services the wireless terminal 106 is authorized to access. The wireless terminal 106 then requests an address from the MAG 190. The MAG 190 determines a local mobility anchor (LMA) to which the wireless terminal 106 belongs. For example only, the MAG 190 may consult a home subscriber server (HSS) to determine the appropriate LMA.
The MAG 190 then sends a proxy binding update identifying the wireless terminal 106 to the identified LMA, which in this case is LMA 192, located in the home network 150. The LMA 192 allocates a home address HoA to the wireless terminal 106. The LMA 192 may also create a binding cache entry to record information about the wireless terminal 106. The LMA 192 sends a proxy binding acknowledgement including HoA to the MAG 190.
The MAG 190 and LMA 192 establish a tunnel for transfer of packets to and from the wireless terminal 106. The MAG 190 then assigns HoA to the wireless terminal 106. When the wireless terminal 106 transmits a packet, the MAG 190 sends that packet through the tunnel to the LMA 192. The LMA 192 then forwards the packet with a source address of HoA. When a packet arrives at the LMA 192 with a destination address of HoA, the LMA 192 sends the packet to the MAG 190 through the tunnel. The MAG 190 then forwards the packets to the wireless terminal 106.
Using this architecture, the wireless terminal 106 can be unaware of the mobility services provided by the MAG 190. The wireless terminal 106 has been assigned a home address and does not need to be aware that it is actually connected to the visited network 160-1 instead of the home network 150.

Multiple packet data network support over trusted access


A method for monitoring the operational reliability of rechargeable lithium cells including measuring the cell voltage and cell temperature, the cell is discharged if a predetermined cell limit voltage (UG) and a predetermined ambient limit temperature TG are exceeded at the same time, until a predetermined lower voltage level or a predetermined lower ambient temperature is reached. A circuit for carrying out the method has a first threshold value switch which responds when a predetermined upper limit voltage (UG) is exceeded in the cell, and a second threshold value switch (C) which responds when a predetermined ambient temperature limit (TG) is exceeded, and has a logic circuit (E) which connects (G) the cell to a load when the first and second threshold value switches respond at the same time, wherein both threshold value switches (C, D) are configured such that they trip when a lower cell voltage or a lower ambient temperature is reached.

The invention relates to a circuit and method for monitoring the operational reliability of rechargeable lithium cells, by measuring and monitoring the cell voltage and the cell temperature.
Rechargeable lithium/ion cells require a special charging technique and, in particular, predetermined switch-off voltages must be complied with exactly while, if the charger fails, a protective circuit must prevent and inhibit further charging. When such cells are being discharged, specific voltage lower limits must not be infringed, to avoid irreversible damage to the cell. Lithium-ion cells are thus provided with special electronic protective switches which switch off at predetermined final charging and discharge voltages if the charger or the appliance behaves incorrectly and, together with special protection devices, are intended to protect the cell against unacceptable voltage levels and currents, and to prevent dangerous situations occurring, which could result in irreversible decomposition of the electrolyte and cell damage. Chargers with such monitoring functions are described, for example, in WO96/15563.
Thus, it would be advantageous to provide a method which further improves the operational reliability of rechargeable lithium cells.
This invention relates to a method for monitoring operational reliability of rechargeable lithium cells including measuring cell voltage and cell temperature, and discharging the cell if a predetermined cell limit voltage (UG) and a predetermined ambient limit temperature (TG) are exceeded substantially at the same time, until a predetermined lower voltage level or a predetermined lower ambient temperature is reached.
This invention also relates to a circuit arrangement for carrying out the above method and includes a first threshold value switch (D) connected to respond when a predetermined upper limit voltage (UG) is exceeded in the cell, a second threshold value switch (C) connected to respond when a predetermined ambient temperature limit (TG) is exceeded, and a logic circuit (E) which connects load resistance (G) to a load when the first and second threshold value switches (D) and (C) respond at substantially the same time, and wherein the first and second threshold value switches (C) and (D) are configured such that they trip when a lower cell voltage or a lower ambient temperature is reached.

Circuit and method for monitoring the operational reliability of rechargeable lithium cells


An OFDMA subframe carrying different data fields in different time segments may include a separate short training field (STF), and a separate set of long training fields (LTFs), for each of the data fields to accommodate time-reuse scheduling. Communicating a separate STF for each data field may allow receivers to re-adjust automatic gain control (AGC) when the data fields carry different numbers of space-time-streams. Likewise, communicating separate sets of LTFs for each data field may allow different beamforming parameters to be applied to different data fields.

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) waveforms are presently used to communicate over Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) air interfaces in fourth generation (4G) long term evolution (LTE) networks operating under the communications protocol defined by third generation partnership project (3GPP) technical standard (TS) 36.211 (2008), which is incorporated by reference herein as if reproduced in its entirety. OFDM waveforms provide many advantages over other waveforms, including the ease of implementation using fast Fourier transform (FFT) and inverse FFT (IFFT) and robustness against multi-path fading.

System and method for orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) transmission


The present invention discloses an inflatable lamp assembly a bladder and a light emitting apparatus that assembled together. The bladder includes a first bag portion, a second bag portion connected with an opening of the first bag portion, an air nozzle disposed on the firs bag portion, and a flange disposed at the opening of the second bag portion. The first bag portion and the second bag portion are co-formed an inflatable cell which is capable of being inflated and deflated by the air nozzle. The light emitting apparatus is received in a recess defined between the second bag portion and flange. As such, the light emitting apparatus can be firmly clamped in the recess when the inflatable cell is filled with air.

1. Field of Invention
From one aspect, the invention relates to a lamp assembly, and more especially to an inflatable lamp assembly. From another aspect, the invention relates to a bladder, and more especially to a bladder that can be assembled with a light emitting apparatus.
2. Related Prior Art
A conventional lamp cover is made of a transparent material, such as acrylic resin or glass. However, these types of the lamp cover is usually too big or too heavy to carry.
Taiwan Patent No. 69670 discloses an inflatable lamp cover that is easy to carry or to warehouse. The inflatable lamp further has a container melted with the bottom side of the lamp cover to accommodate a battery set therein for provide power to a lamp disposed in the lamp cover. The battery set is connected with the lamp cover by an embedded plate embedded in an opening of the container. However, it is quite inconvenient to assemble or detach.


An inspection device for determining the integrity of electrical circuits in a connector having one or more electrical terminals therein. The test device carries probes, corresponding in number and location to the terminals, and the probes and the terminals are at an angle to each other so that, when in test position, the tips of the probes contact a portion of the terminals other than that at which a mating connector would be inserted. This eliminates the possibility of distortion or wear on fragile connecting surfaces.

In Japanese Patent Publication 40669/92, a device is described wherein the base is provided with a connector holder fixed thereto, and a probe holder movable toward and away from the connector holder is slidably mounted on the base. The probe holder is provided with a plurality of probes. In operation, the connector is placed in the connector holder and the probe holder is moved toward the connector holder so that the probes enter into the cavity thereof and contact the terminals mounted inside. If the terminals are properly and correctly inserted in their respective cavities, a complete electrical circuit is formed and the device can so indicate. Alternatively, if the insertion is not correct, there is no complete circuit and the indicator is inoperative. From this, the integrity of the connector can be tested.
However, the foregoing device suffers from a certain disadvantage. The terminals are fitted with tongues which are intended to contact the male terminal to complete the connection. In the foregoing prior art device, the tips of the probes come into direct contact with the tongues, which are usually gold plated to insure good electrical contact. As a result of this construction, there are cases wherein the insertion of the probe damages the plated portion of the tongue, thereby impeding the formation of reliable electrical contacts between the female terminals and the male terminals mating therewith.


A system for providing a home health care service includes a health care center, a service recipient device, and the Internet that connects these components. The health care center: is constructed on the Internet; includes a database for registering personal data that are necessary for the health care of registered at-home patients as basic health care data and storing measurement data that are provided from at-home patients over the course of time; and has the functions of inferring the health conditions of at-home patients based on the measurement data as well as the basic health care data and offering services necessary for health care or services appropriate for inferred health conditions, to at-home patients. The service recipient device includes a biosensor and a signal processor. The biosensor detects chemical components contained in a substance that is discharged from the human body and converts detected values to electrical signals at the point of discharge. The signal processor performs processing of the output of the biosensor to automatically generate measurement data and transmits the measurement data to the health care center by way of the Internet. Chosen Drawing: FIG. 5

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a testing device that is installed in a toilet for testing for components such as glucose, blood, protein, hormones, and vitamins that are contained in urine, and particularly to a urine glucose testing device.
The present invention further relates to a method of providing a home health care service that provides health care services to help an individual in his own home (hereinafter referred to as an xe2x80x9cat-home patientxe2x80x9d) to manage his or her own health using the testing device; and to a system for providing a home health care service to implement this method.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the following explanation, the terms xe2x80x9chomexe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cat-homexe2x80x9d do not necessarily mean that the individual is in his or her own home. The concept xe2x80x9cat homexe2x80x9d may also include cases in which the individual is in a facility that is not provided for health care, such as the company or government office where the individual is employed.
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 319647/96 proposes a toilet-installed urine glucose inspector device that has a urine inspecting capability to sample and analyze urine by using a toilet and thus aid in an individual""s health check. This device relates particularly to a sampling device for sampling urine that an individual has excreted into a toilet for urinalysis, and more specifically, to a washing mechanism of a urine collection vessel.
In this sampling device, a urine collection vessel is attached to the end of a swing arm. When sampling urine, the urine collection vessel moves by the rotation of the swing arm from a rest position that is directly below the toilet seat to a sampling position that is inside the toilet [bowl]. Urine that is collected in the urine collection vessel is conducted by way of a urine tube and urine intake tube to a urinalysis device that is outside the toilet and then tested. After sampling the urine, the urine collection vessel returns by the rotation of the swing arm to the rest position that is below the seat, where it is washed by a washing fluid that is sprayed from a nozzle.
This urine inspector device has the following defects:
The separation of the position of the urine collection vessel from the location of the device that inspects the collected urine necessitates not only piping such as a urine intake tube and a urine suction tube, but in addition, a pump for drawing up the urine to the urine inspector and solenoid valves for controlling the introduction and discharge of urine to the urine inspector.
The device is therefore large, its mechanism is complex, its potential for breakdown is high, and its maintenance costs are high. The device has additional problems in that it requires a considerable amount of time for a urine test, it uses a large quantity of chemical agents, and it must hold a large quantity of water for maintain the interior of the device clean. This example is hereinafter referred to as the first example of the prior art.
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 170512/98 describes a toilet with a urine glucose sensor capable of easily checking for urine glucose. This example is hereinafter referred to as the second example of the prior art.
This toilet is provided with: an arm, a urine glucose sensor advancing/retracting mechanism for advancing the arm to a prescribed position in the toilet and then retracting it; and a sensor section that senses urine glucose. The sensor section is attached to the end of the arm so as to allow easy removal. After excretion of urine, the urine glucose sensor is lowered and dipped into urine in a receptacle of the toilet. The urine glucose contained in the urine in the receptacle is then checked. After use, the sensor section is subjected to washing with water, application of protective fluid, and is then retracted to a housed position. The urine glucose sensor can thus be used repeatedly.
The problem with the second example of the prior art is that when urine is discharged, the urine mixes with water that normally fills the urine receptacle. The mixture ratio of this urine and water mixture is not always fixed. For example, the same individual may sometimes pass a large quantity and at other times pass a small quantity of urine. In addition, the amount of urine discharged each time may also be influenced by temperature or the individual""s age, with the result that reproducible measurement values cannot be obtained.
Furthermore, the specification describes that, in order to obtain an accurate measurement value, it is preferable to eliminate water from the receptacle by performing operations such as first flushing to rinse out the urine receptacle and additional blowing with compressed air.
As a result, the urine sensor according to the second example of the prior art is capable of only an approximate check, and various drive units or additional mechanisms are necessary if an accurate check is desired.
Explanation next concerns home health care. Conventionally, methods of managing health at home have typically involved regular recording of the measurements of instruments that can easily be procured for home use such as a thermometer, scale, sphygmomanometer [blood pressure gauge], or body fat scale and then consulting a doctor if abnormal values occur.
For diseases such as diabetes, renal disease, and liver disease in which the morbidity can be judged based on the values of chemical components of urine, urine is collected in a provided container and then inspected at a hospital or health center.
Services have also been available as health care services on the Internet in which, through the input of qualitative data of an individual""s morbidity and quantitative numerical data such as height, weight, and data from periodic medical examinations, possible diseases are automatically displayed along with a doctor""s comments.
However, the above-described home health care methods and Internet health care services have the following problems.
First, an at-home patient will not seek a doctor""s diagnosis or give an input to the Internet regarding his or her morbidity in the absence of symptoms that he or she notices him- or herself. As a result, an at-home patient may neglect to receive a doctor""s diagnosis if he or she is not conscious of symptoms. Even if the at-home patient is aware of symptoms, he or she may lack the medical knowledge to judge whether the symptoms call for a doctor""s diagnosis and the patient may therefore fail to receive a doctor""s attention.
A second problem, relating in particular to health care for a morbidity such as diabetes that requires urinalysis, is the inconvenience of having to go to a hospital or health center to have an inspection of urine. This inconvenience originates from the impossibility of checking for urine glucose at home. Furthermore, as is well known, urine glucose varies with the passage of time after eating or with an individual""s physiological condition. The patient is therefore normally required to abstain from eating for a prescribed period of time preceding a urine-test when receiving an examination at a hospital or health center. Due to this inconvenience, there has been the problem that, for morbities that by nature require daily health care, no method has existed for health care other than yearly periodic examinations by the company or government office in which the patient is employed, or by the municipality.
The third problem is that, with regard to home health care services up to the present, it has been difficult to obtain, at home, sufficient and successive data required for health care for a morbidity. As a result, the at-home patient derives relatively little benefit relative to the difficulty entailed for input of the actual state of health of the at-home patient. There is consequently the problem that home health care services are not usually practical as a business.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a toilet-installed urine testing device that offers an improvement over the above-described first and second examples of the prior art as well as can provide easy, at-home urine testing over a period of time.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a home health care service employing the urine testing device of the present invention.
In order to achieve the above-described objects of the present invention, the urine testing device of the present invention comprising: a urine collector for collecting urine inside a toilet; a biosensor exchangeably attached inside said urine collector for detecting predetermined chemical components contained in urine to generate electrical signals; a support member for supporting said urine collector and also supporting a transmission path of said electrical signals, the support member being constructed so that urine collector may be automatically or manually moved from a housing location to a prescribed use position in the toilet bowl and vice versa; and a signal processor disposed outside the toilet for processing electrical signals supplied from the biosensor through the transmission path.
The signal processor preferably comprises an arithmetic unit that operates said electrical signals and at least one of a storage unit that stores at least one of the electrical signals and the operation results of the arithmetic unit, and a display unit that displays at least one of the electrical signals and the operation results.
The signal processor is preferably provided with a sensor calibration device.
The signal processor is preferably provided with terminals for transmitting the electrical signals and operation results of the arithmetic unit.
In this way, when the urine collector is moved to a predetermined use position to collect urine at the time of excretion, the urine is poured onto the biosensor attached inside the urine collector. The biosensor detects predetermined chemical components and generates electrical signals inside the bowl. The electrical signals is sent to the signal processor located outside the bowl through the support member.
Thus, there is no need to conduct the urine to a signal processor disposed at a location separated from the toilet bowl by pump, as with the case of the first example of the prior art.
Consequently, there is no need for components such as tubes, pumps, and solenoid valves, so that the urine testing device can be made smaller and lighter. In addition, the simplification in structure both reduces fabrication costs and decreases the potential for breakdowns caused by dirt or foam. Furthermore, since there is no need to dilute the urine, the use of chemical agents can be greatly reduced, and the costs of using the device can be decreased. Finally, the present urine testing device shortens the measurement time and therefore allows urine tests to be carried out more frequently.
Unlike the urine testing device of the second example of the prior art, the position in which urine is collected is not fixed in the present invention.
Thus, urine can be collected at any desired location without mixing of urine and water. It is to be noted that the desired location for the urine collector differs depending on, for example, sex.
In this way, the problem of the second example of the prior art can be overcome.
Next, concerning at-home health care service, the following setups are necessary in order that at-home health care service is practical as a business:
1) any at-home patient can create measurement data necessary for health care of his or her own even if the at-home patient has no special technical knowledge;
2) it is feasible to collect measurement data created by a great number of at-home patients without difficulties; and
3) it is feasible to manage centralizedly the collected data and to infer the health conditions of an at-home patient base on the measurement data and provide the at-home patient with an appropriate service for the inferred health conditions.
In order to realize the above-described setups, a first method of providing a home heath care service according to the present invention comprises steps of:
constructing a health care center on the Internet, said health care center having personal data necessary for the health care of registered at-home patients as basic health care data and also having the capability of inferring the health conditions of the at-home patients from measurement data provided by the at-home patients and said basic health care data and offering services necessary for health care or services appropriate to the inferred health conditions to said at-home patients;
distributing biosensor devices to at-home patients who wish to receive a home health care service, said biosensor device having a capability of detecting predetermined chemical components contained in a substance discharged from a human body and automatically generating electrical measurement data at the position of discharge as occasion arises;
collecting the measurement data of each registered at-home patient to said health care center from at-home patients by way of the Internet; and
managing time-varying health conditions of at-home patients over a period of time based on the collected measurement data as well as said basic health care data and offering necessary services for maintaining the health of at-home patients.
Capability of the biosensor device of automatically creating the measurement data at the discharge position allows the at-home patent easily to create measurement data by a simple operation that he or she only moves the biosensor to the use position from the housing position without necessitating any technical knowledge for obtaining the measurement data.
In this way, setup 1) above can be realized.
Creating the measurement data in a form of an electric signal allows the data to be collected easily to the health care center constructed on the Internet by way of the Internet.
In this way, setup 2) above can be realized.
The measurement data collected from the at-home patients are subject to centralized management of the health care center that has a capability of providing services necessary for health care or services appropriate for the inferred health conditions to the at-home patients.
In this way, setup 3) above can be realized.
It is to be noted that the term xe2x80x9cposition of dischargexe2x80x9d used in connection with a biosensor device means the position of the substance as it is discharged, i.e., in the case in which the substance is urine, the position of discharge refers to xe2x80x9cinside a toilet bowlxe2x80x9d. This term is distinguished in concept from a position to which the discharged substance is guided artificially by a pipe or the like after discharge.
It is also to be noted that the detection of the discharge by the biosensor is not necessarily performed every time urine, for example, is excreted. However, because the chemical composition of an excrement from a human body ordinarily changes depending on the physiological conditions of the human body, it is desirable to detect a discharge or an excrement allowing for a time of an event that affects the physiology of a human body such as a mealtime or sleeping hours.
A system for providing a home health care service according to the present invention comprises:
a health care center constructed on the Internet and provided with a database for registering, as basic health care data, personal data necessary for the health care of registered at-home patients and for storing measurement data provided by at-home patients as occasion arises over a period of time, said health care center having a function of inferring the health conditions of the at-home patients based on said measurement data as well as said basic health care data and offering services necessary for health care or services appropriate to the inferred health conditions, to the at-home patients; and
a service recipient device belonging to an at-home patient comprising: a biosensor for detecting predetermined chemical components that are contained in a substance discharged from said at-home patient and converting the detected values of the chemical components to electrical signals at the point of discharge when the discharge is conducted; a signal processor for processing an output of the biosensor and automatically generating measurement data as well as performing control of the communication between the service recipient device and the health care center; and a information terminal for interfacing the signal processor and said Internet;
wherein: the service recipient device delivers, under output control of the signal processor, measurement data that have been generated over a period of time together with time data that indicate the times when the biosensor detected the chemical component to said Internet, designating the health care center as the transmission destination; and the service recipient device receives, under input control of the signal processor, information transmitted from the health care center by way of the Internet; and
wherein the health care center, when judging the transmission source of received measurement data being a service recipient device belonging to a registered at-home patient, stores the measurement data to the data base, and as demand arises, the health care center infers the health condition of the at-home patient based on stored measurement data and with reference to the registered basic health care data and offers information necessary for health care or services appropriate for the inferred health condition, to the at-home patient.
Because a biosensor automatically generates electrical measurement data of prescribed chemical components that are contained within urine, the first home health care service system of the present invention enable the collection of necessary data without requiring the at-home patient to perform any inconvenient procedures. The management of the health of a large number of at-home patients can therefore be centralized, and a home health care service can thus be organized as a business.
The substance discharged from said at-home patient can be urine excreted from the at-home patient.
In this embodiment, the biosensor, arranged inside a toilet at the time of operation, detects those measurement components among the chemical components of urine that relate to a morbidity and that change according to a daily health condition, and converts the detected values to electrical signals.
The signal processor is arranged outside of the toilet, processes electrical signals generated by said biosensor, and generates measurement data.
The health care center preferably includes an expert system for inferring the health condition of an at-home patient based on measurement data provided by the at-home patient and said basic health care data registered in a database. If the possibility of a disease of the at-home patient is inferred, the health care center searches for optimum advice for the disease through the expert system.
The health care center can have full-time specialists as staffs, or affiliated specialists who are linked to the health care center over the Internet, who are able to diagnose the health condition of the at-home patient based on measurement data provided by at-home patient and said basic health care data to provide support to the at-home patient for health care.
The health care center preferably has full-time specialists as staffs, or affiliated specialists who are linked with the health care center on the Internet, who are able to provide support to the at-home patient regarding dietary treatment, exercise therapy, or medication, as a service appropriate to an inferred health condition.
The health care center preferably affiliates with a food supplier, who is linked to the health care center on the Internet and offers food planned by the health care center to at-home patients for implementing dietary treatment appropriate for an inferred health condition.
The health care center preferably offers, as a basic service to all registered at-home patients, measurement data that have been organized and processed so as to allow easy comprehension of information relating to a specific morbidity associated with chemical components that have been measured by the biosensor. The health care center can offer, as a selective service that can be selected by at-home patients, support provided by said specialists for the specific morbidity.
As the selective service, a precise examination for a morbidity that has been inferred from measurement data can be performed at home using instructional information and materials that have been sent beforehand to an at-home patient.
The health care center preferably has a business-affiliation with a testing company having a function of testing a morbidity of at-home patients, and, as a selective service, provides the testing company with basic health care data and measurement data of an at-home patient and has the testing company perform prescribed tests of the morbidity.
The morbidity can be diabetes, and the biosensor is a sensor capable of measuring glucose, ketone bodies, hydroxybutyric acid, C peptides, or other chemical components that relate to diabetes.
The morbidity can be a liver disease, and said biosensor is a sensor capable of measuring bile acid, pyruvic acid, urobilinogen, bilirubin, or other chemical components that relate to liver diseases.
The morbidity can be a renal disease, and the biosensor is a sensor capable of measuring protein, albumin, creatinine, oxalic acid, or other chemical components that relate to renal diseases.
The biosensor can be a sensor capable of measuring lactic acid, the pH of urine, or other chemical components that serve as indicators of the degree of stress or fatigue.
The service recipient device preferably has the functions of measuring the number of times a biosensor has been used, the cumulative amount of time the biosensor has been used and a calibration value of a biosensor and sending these measurement values to said health care center as biosensor maintenance data.
In this embodiment, the health care center, as a biosensor maintenance service, stores the maintenance data in a database, notifies the at-home patient of the current biosensor state, and gives advance notice of the life of the biosensor to the at-home patient, based on the maintenance data stored in the database.
A second method of providing a home health care service is implemented in the above-described system for providing a home health care service having a capability of providing the biosensor maintenance service.
The method includes steps of:
analyzing trends in frequency of use based on the maintenance data stored in said database,
deducing the time for biosensor exchange and the time that consumable supplies become necessary,
delivering necessary materials before there is a lack of necessary materials, and
determining monthly service charges according to the frequency of the exchange of the biosensors and the supply of the consumables, and billing the charges.
A third method of providing a home health care service by means of a health care center constructed on the Internet. The health care center has the functions of: registering, as basic health care data, personal data necessary for the health care of registered at-home patients; inferring the health conditions of at-home patients based on measurement data relating to a specific morbidity and said basic health care data, wherein said measurement data are provided by at-home patients; and offering services necessary for health care or services appropriate for inferred health conditions to at-home patients.
The third method includes steps of:
classifying said personal data and the morbidities of registered at-home patients into a plurality of categories based on measurement data, and creating lists of at-home patients belonging to each of these categories;
recruiting at-home patients who wish to communicate with each other by way of said Internet; and
releasing the list of at-home patients of the same category as a recruited at-home patient to the recruited at-home patient.
A fourth method of providing a home heath care service, includes steps of:
constructing a health care center on the Internet, said health care center having personal data necessary for the health care of registered at-home patients as basic health care data and also having the capability of inferring the health conditions of the at-home patients from measurement data provided by the at-home patients and basic health care data and offering services necessary for health care or services appropriate to the inferred health conditions to said at-home patients;
distributing biosensor devices to at-home patients who wish to receive a home health care service, said biosensor device having a capability of detecting predetermined chemical components contained in a substance discharged from a human body and automatically generating electrical measurement data at the position of discharge as occasion arises;
collecting the measurement data of each registered at-home patient to said health care center from at-home patients by way of said Internet; and
issuing a certificate for requesting a discount of a life insurance premium when said measurement data are within a prescribed range for at least both a predetermined period and a predetermined number of times.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description referring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate examples of preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Method of providing a home health care service and system for providing a home health care service


An improved semiconductor is provided whereby n-grade and the p-top layers are defined by a series of discretely placed n-type and p-type diffusion segments. Also provided are methods for fabricating such a semiconductor.

Diffused metal oxide semiconductor (DMOS) devices are characterized by a source region and a backgate region that are diffused at the same time. The transistor channel is formed by the difference in the two diffusions and not a separation implantation, which results in a decreased channel length. The shorter channel allows for low power dissipation and high speed capability.
A lateral diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) device has its source and drain at the surface of the wafer causing a lateral current. Two important parameters in the design of LDMOS devices are breakdown voltage and on-state resistance. It is preferred to have a high breakdown voltage and a low on-state resistance to provide a device having relatively lower power consumption when operated under high voltage. Additionally, a low on-state resistance provides a higher drain current when the device is saturated, which tends to improve the operating speed of the device.
FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of a drift region of a conventional LDMOS device. The LDMOS device 1 of FIG. 1 having a LDMOS region 10 called out by the box as illustrated. The LDMOS device 1 is defined by a source side 20 and a drain side 30.
FIG. 2 illustrates a plan view of the LDMOS region 10 called out in FIG. 1. The LDMOS region 10 having a plurality of p-type diffusion layers or p-top regions 40 substantially continuously extending from the source side 20 to the drain side 30, the plurality of p-top regions 40 disposed in a high voltage n-type well (HVNW). Thus, the conventional LDMOS region 10 is defined by sections of n-type grade or n-grade region 50 disposed on the plurality of p-top regions 40 separated by n-grade region 50 not disposed over any p-top layer.
FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 taken along the AA′ section line. This representation of a conventional LDMOS has a p-substrate 60 in which an HVNW 70 has been disposed. A first p-well 80 is formed in the p-substrate 60 while a second p-well 90 is formed in the HVNW 70, the first p-well 80 having a p+ doped region 100 and the second p-well 90 having another p+ doped region 110 adjacent to an n+ doped source region 120. An n+ doped drain region 130 has been formed in the HVNW 70. This section of the LDMOS region 10 is represented by an n-grade region 50 disposed on one of the plurality of p-top regions 40. An etched field oxide isolation region 140 substantially separates the doped regions 100, 110, 120, 130.
Any control gate structure 150 known in the art may be used in the LDMOS device. For example the control gate structure 150 may comprise a conductive layer disposed on a dielectric layer. The control gate structure 150 may additionally comprise dielectric sidewall spacers. An etched interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer 160 is disposed over the defined structure. A first etched metal layer 170 is provided having a network of contacts through the ILD layer 160. The exemplary conventional LDMOS of FIG. 3A additionally shows an inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer 180 upon which is disposed a second etched metal layer 190 providing a network of contacts through the IMD layer 180.
FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 taken along the BB′ section line. This cross-sectional view of the conventional LDMOS has the same structure identified in FIG. 3A except that a p-top layer is not disposed in the HVNW 70.
High voltage LDMOS devices have a variety of uses in semiconductors. For example, LDMOS devices may be used to convert relatively high voltage to relatively low voltage or as switching power transistors that are configured to drive a load. However, the specific on-resistance of the conventional high voltage LDMOS can still be too high as a result of the interaction between the n-grade region and the fully doped p-type region. There remains a need in the art for improved LDMOS devices, in particular, high voltage LDMOS devices having an even lower specific on-resistance.

Semiconductor device having varying p-top and n-grade regions


The goggles have two eyepieces connected by an elastomeric strap forming a nosepiece, the length of which is adjustable by loosening a pair of adjustment screws. Each eyepiece has an upper contour portion having a smooth incurve to conform to the upper eye socket. The lower portion of each eyepiece has a smooth incurve with an excurvation in the vicinity of the nosepiece to conform to the lower eye socket. Each eyepiece flares outwardly to form a widened eye socket contacting surface. Each of these surfaces slopes radially outward of the eyepiece and toward the front thereof. In this manner, when worn, the surfaces produce a radially outward pressure on the eye socket and require only a minimum layer of form padding to insure a watertight seal. The goggles are also equipped with an elastic head strap attached to a plastic hook end which fits into an aperture on one of the eyepieces for easy attachment thereto.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to eye protectors and particularly to eye goggles which may be worn during swimming, skiing and other sports.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many types of goggles for the protection of one's eyes during pursuit of athletic endeavors have been proposed in the past. Goggles used for athletic activities, especially those used when swimming, should be light in weight, easily attached and removed from the users' head, comfortable to wear, and streamlined. Also, when used for swimming the goggles must provide an adequate seal between the eye sockets of the user and the peripheral edge of the goggles in order that no water will enter the area interiorly of the goggles. Such water of course distorts vision and thereby hinders rather than aids the swimmer. Goggles proposed for the purpose of providing for the above-described needs include those shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,051,557 issued Oct. 4, 1977 to Bengtson et al. The Bengtson et al goggles have a pair of identical eyepieces with each eyepiece having an upper and a lower incurved surface attached to padding for providing a water-tight seal between the goggles and the user. The Bengtson et al goggles also include a nosepiece formed with a plurality of stops for adjusting the nosepiece. This adjustment system is cumbersome and difficult to use. Also, the straps employed in the goggles do not allow an easy attachment of the goggles to the head of the user.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,264,351 issued Dec. 2, 1941 to Willson shows a headband strap for use with safety goggles. The goggles shown in the patent have eyepieces incorporating a curved surface to conform to the head of the user. Each eyepiece has a lateral excurved surface for making contact with the temple of the user and an incurved surface for contact with the skull surrounding the eye socket. The strap used in Willson includes an inelastic tubular head-band which provides a positive limit of stretch to a resilient member disposed in the head-band.


A process for making a bismuth-containing solid dose form composition is described which includes an agglomeration step with binder in a high shear mixer.

Pink Pepto-bismol.RTM. liquid, which has bismuth subsalicylate as its active ingredient, is popular among consumers for quick relief of heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea, and nausea. Some consumers, though, do not like the taste or feel of such a liquid in their mouths, nor do they wish to chew a tablet with a similar taste. A swallowable tablet would be ideal for those consumers, but it is technically difficult to formulate and make a swallowable, bismuth-containing tablet which will give quick relief. To be valued by consumers, such a tablet must break up quickly in the stomach so that the active ingredient is absorbed into the blood rapidly enough to provide quick relief. An especially preferred, swallowable, bismuth-containing solid dose form provides relief from symptoms in about the same amount of time as liquid Pepto-bismol.RTM. takes to provide relief.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,197, Bolt et al, issued Jul. 6, 1993, describes a chewable tablet which includes a medicament in a chewable base such as mannitol and an effervescent couple such as citric acid-sodium bicarbonate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,714, Kuhrts, issued Mar. 17, 1992 describes a prolonged dosage composition consisting essentially of a gel-forming dietary fiber, a biologically absorbable drug or other therapeutic agent, and certain disintegrants, namely, a physiologically acceptable edible acid and a mineral salt which release a physiologically acceptable gas upon ingestion.

Process for making solid dose forms containing bismuth


A three piece axle and wheel spindle assembly for vehicular trailers wherein a damaged spindle may be replaced at will, characterized by corresponding axle and spindle flange plates, the former defining a positive spindle flange plate positioners, the latter a removable plate, inter-locking therewith. Lefthand and righthand spindle flange plates each form a cam slide, corresponding to a cam positioner against the axle flange plate and a receptor flange seat for the axle plate. Removal and replacement of one or the other wheel spindle may be effected en route and without any axle dismantling from the trailer. Fastening bolts of the three piece assembly are readily accessible, due to their disposition at right angles to the axis of the axle.

Conventional trailer axles are known to comprise a unitary, one piece construction such that repairing a damaged spindle thereon requires removing the entire axle from the trailer. Removal of the entire axle is time consuming and inordinately costly. Moreover, repair may not be undertaken en route, and the trailer must be towed to a repair facility. The present three piece trailer axle with removable stub spindles is adapted to use on trailers such as are towed into and out of harsh environments, or moved under abnormal road and trail conditions such that axle spindles with associated wheel bearings may suffer damage. By way of example, boat trailer axles and spindles submerged in salt or fresh water are often misaligned and worn by corrosion, dirt, etc. Likewise, utilities trailers exposed to sand and dust are subjected to the same environment. The invention thus is characterized by an axle assembly having readily removable and replaceable spindles wherein the assembly is constructed in three parts, namely the center axle section, with axle flange plates; a lefthand spindle flange and a righthand spindle flange plate, these spindle flange plates being bolted, transversely to the axle flange plates.

Vehicular axle assembly with removable and replaceable spindles


An apparatus for generating random numbers includes a source for generating random quantum phenomena, a detector to detect instances of the random quantum phenomena, and a recorder to record the instances of the random quantum phenomena for use in generating random numbers.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to random number generators and in particular to random number generators based on detection of quantum phenomena.
2. Description of the Related Art
A random number generator is a device which produces a stream of random numbers or numbers that are nearly random, and not always the same number. A number in this stream is said to be fully random if it has no "memory" of what has gone before it. Statistically speaking, its conditional probability distribution given the past, being independent of its past, equals its unconditional probability distribution. Moreover, it is usually desirable that, for each integer n≧1, the so-called marginal distribution of the nth number in the stream have the same distribution as the first one. The numbers are then said to be stationary (or have identical distributions). For simplicity, all sequences of truly random numbers are generally to be interpreted as being fully random and stationary, and as possibly having equally likely occurrences of each number being produced, as the context might hopefully indicate. It has proved to be very difficult to produce truly random numbers. While people may be capable of producing somewhat random numbers by picking numbers out one at a time, they certainly cannot do so fast enough to meet the requirements of modern usage. Therefore, for all practical purposes, machines are used to produce random numbers.
Most machines and methods heretofore employed for producing random numbers are either "deterministic"—they follow a fixed, totally predictable recipe—or else are still far from truly random. Some devices produce nearly truly random numbers, but they are subject to being skewed by external influences or are very delicate and expensive to maintain. For many purposes an approximation of randomness has turned out to be acceptable. For an increasing number of other purposes, something closely approximating true randomness is a necessity.
Random numbers are most commonly thought of as having security applications such as for sending encrypted messages. Random numbers are useful for security purposes because they create inherently unpredictable sequences which cannot be easily duplicated, studiously replicated or discovered by accident. For many lower security applications, a random number generator with a reasonable degree of randomness will suffice. Higher security applications demand a greater degree of true randomness.
Another problem that exists with current random number generators, apart from the "level of randomness" of the numbers that they are able to produce, is that sufficient numbers of random numbers cannot be produced quickly enough for contemporary applications. This is significant in security applications where messages are encoded with a string of random numbers by adding a bit in the string to each bit in the message. The result appears to be nonsense to any recipient until it is decoded by subtracting out the string to recover the message. Ideally, the random number string should be as long as the message itself. In practice, a string—known as a "key"—is used repeatedly and it is hoped the string cannot be discovered. The length of the key is critically important because each additional random bit in the string doubles the security level of the cipher. Naturally, if production of sufficient numbers of random numbers were possible and practical, the level of security enjoyed for encrypted messages would increase exponentially.
In addition to security applications, random numbers are increasingly essential for scientific investigations including studies of physical laws, investigations and constructions of probability distributions, analyses of the performance of mathematical algorithms in principle and as applied practically to devices, and notably for development of artificial intelligence. Random number generators are used in the assessment of the performance of machines to help construct a large variety of representative situations. The sampling thus obtained provides feedback which is used to learn more about the process or operation being studied. As with security applications, problems exist regarding the availability of a sufficient volume of random numbers and with the true randomness of the numbers produced. In a growing number of areas of scientific inquiry, the ability to produce large numbers of random numbers can be critical. Certain research, such as large-scale Monte Carlo simulations, requires millions of random numbers to yield useful information. In sensitive analyses where essentially true randomness in a sampling is necessary to obtain sound results, any significant lack of randomness can unacceptably skew test data and frustrate the research.
In part due to the need for large numbers of random numbers, the technique of producing "pseudo-random" numbers evolved. Pseudo-random numbers are generated using an arithmetical algorithm having an output of numbers which can pass many statistical tests of randomness. Another important aspect of arithmetically produced random numbers is that they can be replicated. This is useful for purposes of testing and analyses, but potentially disastrous for security applications. While pseudo-random numbers are statistically random for most applications, and have the application specific advantage of being reproducible, they suffer from one major flaw—they repeat. For example, a popular pseudo-random number generator is the linear-congruential generator. The linear-congruential generator of degree k produces non-negative integers less than some given integer m, where m≧2. At some point, if the generator is asked to produce mk+k integers, its last k integers must have already occurred previously. Since each integer produced by the generator is based on the same algorithm, and is therefore dependent on the previous k integers, this leads into a cycle of repetition that the generator cannot escape. In this sense, each pseudo-random number generator has a finite period. The best linear-congruential generators have a period exceeding 2 billion. Shift-register algorithms have been used to greatly extend the period of the generator. Even so, the fact remains that, regardless of the length of the period of a pseudo-random number generator, the numbers which are the product of the technique are ultimately deterministic and certainly not truly random.
Most machines are understood to function in the realm of classical mechanics according to the physical laws stated by Newton. The Newtonian world (including the essentially mechanistic world of Maxwell's equations concerning the behavior of electricity and magnetism) has at its core, the feature and key premise that if all the initial conditions (positions, velocities, charges, etc.) of the components of an isolated physical system are known, all of its future behavior can be known and predicted. It is therefore ultimately deterministic, the generation of truly random numbers or random behavior therefrom being inherently impossible.
Moving closer to the observation of quantum phenomena, many devices have been constructed that take sample measurements of a physical process (sometimes a macro-scopic, but sometimes a micro-scopic process). The measurements are converted into a sequence of elements, each element hopefully having little or no memory (but whether these elements actually lack memory of any of their predecessors depends both on the measuring apparatus and the physical process). Production of random numbers from a physical process creates a string of numbers which, even if not purely random, may seem to be highly so and is largely unrepeatable. This lack of repeatability is a liability in scientific applications, but can be circumvented by recording and/or storing the actual numbers generated if it is not too costly. Conversely, lack of repeatability itself is not necessarily a disadvantage and may well be an asset in security applications and the investigation of artificial intelligence.
Ostensibly random numbers can be generated using "noise" created by minor fluctuations in electronic circuits. It is disputed whether such electronic noise devices generate true random numbers. Unfortunately, they are often innately slower than pseudo-random number generators making them unsuitable for any application where a substantial quantity of random numbers is required. Another drawback to noise based random number generators is that their delicate construction requires constant, minute checking to verify that the device has not skewed away from producing true randomness. Electronic noise devices can become unstable over time. Noise levels are typically affected by fluctuations in temperature and line voltage. Lastly, such devices are very sensitive to surrounding electro-magnetic fields so that any fluctuation in nearby electromagnetic fields can change the output of the device in a deterministic way, thereby skewing the noise away from randomness.
Because radioactive decay is thought to be a memoryless quantum process, independent from atom to atom, random numbers have been produced by monitoring the successive decay times of a chunk of radioactive material. Devices which do so are believed to produce essentially truly random results as opposed to electronic noise devices. However, radioactive materials must be shielded and may therefore be inappropriate for many locations, such as personal computers. As with noise based devices, radioactive decay devices produce random numbers at unacceptably slow rates.
Recently there have been advances in the production of random numbers using spatially stochastic processes. Using a two-dimensional position-sensitive photon-counting detector, the locations of detected photoevents on a two-dimensional detector are tracked. A random sequence of numbers is produced based upon the location (not the time) of photoelectrons emitted from a photocathode. While promising, random number generation based on photoevent locations suffers from a number of vexing problems. The photoevent random number generator is large in size, making it impractical for many applications. It is also complicated to set up and is dependent on position, resolution, speed and dead time.
Other advances in related fields have focused on the polarized nature of light. Photons have many different polarizations. If a photon is passed at normal incidence through a birefringent crystal, such as calcite, the photon will pass straight through the crystal, with its polarization unchanged if it is polarized perpendicular to what is referred to herein as the optic axis of the crystal. If the photon entering the crystal is already polarized along the optic axis, it will emerge with its polarization unchanged but be shifted to a different path than the photons with perpendicular polarization. The photons that have emerged from the crystal can be detected using detectors, such as photomultiplier tubes, established in the two respective paths. If a photon enters the crystal with an axis of polarization, say, half-way between the two rectilinear polarization directions, it will be repolarized into either rectilinear polarization direction and follow its corresponding path with equal probability. These repolarized photons are believed to lose all memory of their original diagonal polarization. Relying on the use of two detectors, the diagonally polarized photons have been utilized by quantum cryptographers to advance a clever scheme for secure exchange of a secret random key that can subsequently be used to send secret messages. An essential part of the scheme is to thwart eavesdroppers to the message, using the random repolarization of incident photons having polarizations diagonal to the optic axis of the crystal. Any measurements by the eavesdropper of such photons would repolarize them and erase the message content inherent in their original polarizations.


A test control circuit and method for performing a standardized test in a semiconductor memory device which has a structure such that it is difficult to perform a test operation using a standardized test mode. The test control method of a semiconductor memory device includes the steps of: arranging in the memory device a fuse capable of being electrically blown; receiving a plurality of external input signals applied to the memory device; generating a blocking signal based on the plurality of external input signals and the status of the electrical fuse; generating a parallel test enable signal based on the blocking signal and the plurality of external input signals, wherein, when the blocking signal is of a first logic level, the parallel test enable signal will indicate performance under either a parallel test mode or a normal operation mode based on the plurality of external input signals, and when the blocking signal is of a second logic level, the fuse is blown and the parallel test enable signal permanently indicates operation in a normal opreration mode.

The present invention relates to a test control circuit and method of a semiconductor memory device. In particular, the present invention relates to a test control circuit and method for performing a standardized test in a semiconductor memory device which has a structure that makes it difficult to perform a standard test-mode test operation following production.
To ensure the reliability of a semiconductor memory device, semiconductor manufacturers generally perform a variety of tests on completed memory devices, either in a wafer state or a package state. Currently, the time required to complete this testing is proportionally large, compared to the actual production time for the memory devices. This increased testing time also leads to a corresponding increase in the amount of resources used in testing, e.g., equipment, time, human efforts and so on. The added time and resources required for testing ultimately increase both the final cost and the final speed of production for the finished memory device.
To solve the foregoing problems, JEDEC (Joint Electron Device Engineering Council) has proposed standardized test methods for a typical dynamic memory. An example of one of these test methods, a parallel test method, is shown in FIG. 1. This testing is performed under a timing scheme referred to as a W & C before R (WCBR) mode. The parallel test method satisfies the WCBR condition during a time interval T1 of FIG. 1, and can reduce the test time by simultaneously performing tests throughout a plurality of bits in a read/write operation for cells provided within the semiconductor memory during a time interval T2. A signal R used in FIG. 1 represents a row address strobe signal RAS and a signal C represents a column address strobe signal CAS. A signal .PHI.PTE represents a parallel test enable signal and a signal W represents a write signal. Signals .PHI.R, .PHI.C, and .PHI.W respectively represent inverted signals of the signals RAS, CAS, and W, each being delayed through a buffer.
An example of this parallel test method, known to those skilled in the art, is disclosed in Masaki Kumanoya, et al., "A 90ns IMb DRAM with Multi-bit Test Mode", pp. 240-241, "1985 IEEE INTERNATIONAL SOLID-STATE CIRCUITS CONFERENCE DIGEST OF TECHNICAL PAPERS."
The use of the specific timing described above, i.e., using the WCBR mode to control the timing of a parallel test, has been confined to products conforming to the JEDEC standards. Accordingly, for example, since the 16M memory sets the WCBR mode as the condition for entry into a parallel test mode, a 16M DRAM memory having a 16 multi-bit input and output (I/O) structure cannot perform the parallel test under the WCBR mode. In addition, other non-parallel tests methods require such a prolonged test time as to make them inadequate for the test of a large memory device. It is very desirable, therefore, to create conditions that allow testing of a large memory device using WCBR timing. However, since the WCBR timing is not standardized, a common memory controller having a control function for a common memory may malfunction.

Method and apparatus for a test control circuit of a semiconductor memory device


A compound bow with a retention device to hold the bow in a partially drawn position permitting the user to relax tension on the bowstring and remain motionless while hunting or to replace the bowstring. The retention device includes a ratchet or similar unidirectional device allowing rotation of an eccentric wheel in only one direction until it has rotated through a predetermined angle, and thereafter a release device releases the retention device to allow free rotation of the eccentric wheel. A lock is provided to selectively prevent rotation of the eccentric wheel.

This invention relates to archery bows, and particularly to compound bows.
A major advance in archery bows is the compound bow, disclosed in Allen U.S. Pat. No. 3,486,495. The compound bow, comprising a system of metal cables and eccentric wheels attached to the limbs of the bow, makes it possible to store a greater amount of energy in the drawn bow than is possible in conventional bows requiring the same maximum pulling force to reach the fully drawn position, yet requires less pulling force to hold the bow in the fully drawn condition. Because the pulling force required at the fully drawn position is less than the maximum pull weight, a lighter, more flexible arrow may be used with a compound bow than with a conventional bow having the same pull weight. The compound bow, therefore, provides higher arrow initial velocity and a flatter trajectory over a given range, allowing greater accuracy.
The sport of hunting game with bows of all types requires great stealth and skill in order to approach the quarry within the short range capability of the weapon, draw the bow, and aim shoot an arrow before the bird or animal is aware of the bowhunter's presence. Any movement by the bowhunter must be slow and deliberate, in order not to attract the attention of the quarry. Once within range, the hunter nocks an arrow on the bowstring and draws his bow, preferably while his quarry has not yet noticed him. If the animal notices the hunter, the hunter must instantly choose between continuing to full draw and releasing the arrow, thus making a hasty shot, and attempting to remain motionless with the bow at partial draw. The great difficulty with the latter alternative is that the hunter's arm and shoulder muscles quickly begin to fatigue and tremble while opposing the force of the partially drawn bow, causing both an unsteady aim and movement that is likely to be noticed by the animal.
This problem is more exaggerated in a compound bow than in a conventional bow. As the compound bow is drawn, the eccentric wheels are rotated by the cables, causing the force required to draw the bow to rapidly increase during the early stage of drawing the bow, reaching a point of peak pull somewhat short of the fully drawn position of the bow. As the bow is drawn further, to the fully drawn position, the pulling force required thereafter gradually decreases. In contrast, the pull of a conventional bow increases nearly linearly with the distance through which the bow has been drawn. As a result, except within a small final portion of the draw distance, the user of a compound bow, in holding his bow in a partially drawn position, must oppose a force which is greater than that of a conventional bow of similar pull weight. Even further exaggerating this problem, the reduced pull force of a fully drawn compound bow allows accurate use of a compound bow whose peak pull is greater than the maximum pull of the strongest conventional bow which a given person could accurately use.
One attempted solution to this problem is the bowstring release device disclosed in Barrick U.S. Pat. No. 4,041,925, which holds the bow in a fully drawn condition. The Barrick device, however, is incapable of holding the bow partially drawn and allowing continuation toward a full draw. Additionally, use of such a device is illegal in many states. Such devices also have the drawbacks of being too cumbersome for use in hunting and of tending to interfere with the cables of compound bows.
So as to avoid having to nock an arrow on the somewhat hard and inelastic cable which passes around the eccentric wheels, most compound bows include a bowstring of softer material, fastened usually by hooks to two separate lengths of cable which pass around the respective eccentric wheels. Because of the mechanical advantage provided by the cable and eccentric wheel arrangement, the limbs of a compound bow are very stiff, making it very difficult to flex the bow to replace such a bowstring. Restringing a compound bow may also require the use of special tools and a series of adjustments to return the bow to its properly tuned shooting condition. While some compound bows are equipped with a double set of bowstring attachment points on the cables, allowing installation of a new bowstring while the old bowstring remains attached, even this arrangement requires some outside means of maintaining tension on the old bowstring while installing a new bowstring on the second pair of attachment points.
Since shooting accuracy depends on skillful familiarity with the characteristics of the particular bow in its properly adjusted condition, for best hunting accuracy it is preferable to leave a compound bow strung and adjusted during travel to a hunting locality. Some states, however, prohibit transportation of a bow which is ready to shoot. A device is needed, therefore, which can disable a compound bow without removal of the bowstring, to allow its transportation without need for extensive adjustment prior to use.
What is needed, therefore, is a device capable of allowing a bowhunter using a compound bow to relax his tension on the bowstring while the bow is partially drawn without making a movement which is likely to be noticed by the game, which will facilitate replacement of the bowstring, and which is capable of disabling the bow without removal of the bowstring.

Device for retaining a compound bow in a partially drawn condition