A semiconductor memory device that suppresses an increase in the circuit area which is originated from the layout of address signal lines. The semiconductor memory device includes refresh address counters, a switch circuit, and address holding circuits. The refresh address counters generate refresh address signals associated with banks in response to a refresh request signal. The switch circuit selectively outputs the external address signal and a refresh address signal generated by one of the refresh address counters in accordance with the refresh request signal. Each of the address holding circuits holds the refresh address signal or the external address signal output from the switch circuit and supplies the held address signal to an associated one of the banks.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device having a plurality of banks, and, more particularly, to a semiconductor memory device which performs write and read operations on a selected bank and a refresh operation on non-selected banks in parallel.
The recent achievement of larger capacity and a greater number of bits demands the use of DRAMs each of which has a plurality of banks mounted on a same semiconductor substrate and performs write and read operations on a selected bank and a refresh operation on non-selected banks in parallel.
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) 100 according to the prior art. The SDRAM 100 includes a plurality of banks MB0 to MBn mounted on a semiconductor substrate. The SDRAM 100 is independently accessable by the individual banks, so that each bank operates as an independent DRAM.
Each of the banks MB0-MBn includes a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cells, a memory cell select circuit which selects memory cells in accordance with an address signal, a data write circuit which writes cell information in selected memory cells and a data read circuit which reads cell information from selected memory cells.
The SDRAM 100 further includes refresh address counters RC0 to RCn corresponding to the banks MB0-MBn and a switch circuit SW1 connected between the refresh address counters RC0-RCn and the banks MB0-MBn. Every time the refresh address counters RC0-RCn receive a refresh request signal RQ, they generate refresh address signals RA00 to RA09, RA10 to RA19, and RAn0 to RAn9 of, for example, 10 bits corresponding to the banks MB0-MBn, through a count-up operation, and provide the refresh address signals to the switch circuit SW1.
The switch circuit SW1 receives external address signals EA0 to EA9 and bank control signals BC0 to BCn from external circuits and supplies address signals A00 to A09, A10 to A19, and An0 to An9 to the respective banks MB0-MBn via ten respective signal lines. The external address signals EA0-EA9 are used to perform a write operation or read operation with respect to the banks MB0-MBn. The bank control signals BC0-BCn are used to select any bank on which a write operation or read operation is to be performed.
The switch circuit SW1 selects, for example, the address signals A00-A09 provided to the bank MB0 from the external address signals EA0-EA9 and the refresh address signals RA00-RA09. Likewise, the switch circuit SW1 selects the address signals A10-A19 provided to the bank MB1 from the external address signals EA0-EA9 and the refresh address signals RA10-RA19. Further, the switch circuit SW1 selects the address signals An0-An9 provided to the bank MBn from the external address signals EA0-EA9 and the refresh address signals RAn0-RAn9.
The operation of the SDRAM 100 will be discussed referring to FIG. 2. The individual banks MB0-MBn operate in synchrony with an external clock signal CLK. When an active signal ACTV is provided to the bank MB0 at a first timing t1 and the bank control signal BC0 is provided to the switch circuit SW1, for example, the switch circuit SW1 selects the external address signals EA0-EA9 and provides the selected external address signals (address signals A00-A09) to the bank MB0. The bank MB0 is enabled by the active signal ACTV and executes a write operation or a read operation in accordance with the external address signals EA0-EA9.
At the same time, the refresh request signal RQ is provided to each of the refresh address counters RC0-RCn. Each of the refresh address counters RC0-RCn performs the count-up operation and provides a refresh address signal to the switch circuit SW1.
The switch circuit SW1 provides refresh address signals (address signals A10-A19, An0-An9) to the non-selected banks MB1-MBn to perform a refresh operation of the cell information.
When the active signal ACTV is provided to the bank MB1 at a second time t2 and the bank control signal BC1 is provided to the switch circuit SW1, the switch circuit SW1 provides the external address signals EA0-EA9 (address signals A10-A19) to the bank MB1. The bank MB1 is enabled by the active signal ACTV and performs a write operation or a read operation in accordance with the external address signals EA0-EA9.
At the same time, the switch circuit SW1 respectively provides refresh address signals to the non-selected banks MB0 and MB2-MBn to refresh cell information. Thereafter, such a write operation or a read operation and refresh operation are repeated.
When a self-refresh command is provided to the individual banks MB0-MBn, the refresh request signal RQ which is generated within the chip is provided to the individual refresh address counters RC0-RCn. Then, the refresh address signals provided from the refresh address counters RC0-RCn are provided to the respective banks MB0-MBn via the switch circuit SW1, and all of the banks MB0-MBn perform a refresh operation simultaneously.
The SDRAM 100 requires that the same number of address signal lines as the number of bits of the address signals should be laid between the switch circuit SW1 and the banks MB0-MBn. As the number of banks increases, therefore, the number of address signal lines increases. This results in an inevitable increase in the layout area for the address signal lines, thus increasing the area of the SDRAM 100.
Since the write operation or read operation of a selected bank and the refresh operation of non-selected banks are executed simultaneously, the peak of the consumed current of the entire device is relatively high.
When a self-refresh command is provided to each of the banks MB0-MBn, all of the banks perform the refresh operation simultaneously. The peak of the operational current in this case is relatively high. To supply the current in a stable manner, even at the time of such a peak, the power lines should have a relatively wide width. This also increases the area of the SDRAM 100.
No refresh operation is needed for any bank that has just finished a write operation or a read operation in accordance with the external address signals EA0-EA9. However, a bank that just finished a write operation or a read operation together with the other non-selected banks actually do undergo a refresh operation. This means that the bank consumes a wasteful current. In other words, the overall consumed current of the SDRAM 100 increases.
Accordingly, it is a first object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor memory device that suppresses an increase in the circuit area which is originated from the layout of address signal lines.
It is a second object of the invention to provide a semiconductor memory device which suppresses the peak of the operational current of each bank, thus reducing the overall consumed current.
In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor memory device including a plurality of banks, a plurality of refresh address counters, a switch circuit, and a plurality of address holding circuits. Each of the plurality of banks performs a write operation and read operation according to an external address signal and a refresh operation according to a refresh address signal. The plurality of refresh address counters generate a plurality of refresh address signals associated with the plurality of banks in response to a refresh request signal. The switch circuit is connected to the plurality of refresh address counters and selectively outputs the external address signal and a refresh address signal generated by one of the plurality of refresh address counters in accordance with the refresh request signal. Each of the plurality of address holding circuits is connected between the switch circuit and the plurality of banks, holds one of the refresh address signals and the external address signal outputs from the switch circuit, and supplies the held address signal to an associated one of the banks.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of refreshing a semiconductor memory device having a plurality of banks. The method includes generating a plurality of refresh address signals associated with the plurality of banks, supplying the plurality of refresh address signals in a time-divisional manner, holding a refresh address signal to be provided to an associated one of the banks, and refreshing the associated one of the banks in accordance with the held refresh address signal.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.

Semiconductor memory device and refreshing method of semiconductor memory device


A flat rack comprising, a cargo platform for carrying a load, terminal bulkheads for enclosing the cargo platform and two intermediate bulkheads positioned between the terminal bulkheads at equal distance from the center of gravity of the flat rack. Each of the intermediate bulkheads is equipped with lifting points suitable therefore. Optionally, the distance between the intermediate bulkheads is between 20′ and 40′. More specifically, the distance between the intermediate bulkheads may be 34′. A method for loading or offloading a cargo vessel loaded with a plurality of flat racks. The method comprises operating a crane adapted to lift at least one of the plurality of flat racks as described herein above.

Marine transportation is the lowest contributor per ton to greenhouse gas emissions. Customers today are more conscious of the environment and may choose to include marine shipping in their plans rather than relying strictly on ground transportation in order to be more energy efficient and reduce the negative effects of greenhouse gases on the environment. Marine transportation also contributes to less road wear and tear and is proven to be a cheaper alternative to road transport.
For several years, attempts have been made to address challenges related to increasing vessels capacity and the needs of clients wishing to use a marine service to transport cargo that would traditionally be carried on flat bed road trailers. This cargo includes, among others, construction materials, recyclable materials (e.g., crushed cars), project cargo and other specialized freight, including cargo associated with the oil and mining industries. Generally, this cargo cannot be containerized, and therefore has historically been shipped via flat bed trailers.
The present invention addresses these challenges.


A connector system includes an adapter with a first mating portion, a second mating portion and a transition portion. A continuous outer wall extends across the first mating portion, the transition portion and the second mating potion. A first terminal positioned in the adapter. At least one receptacle has a receptacle mating section and a receptacle transition section. A continuous receptacle outer conductive wall extends across the receptacle mating section and the receptacle transition section. A receptacle inner wall extends perpendicular to the receptacle outer wall. A second terminal is positioned in the at least one receptacle. A retention member is provided in the receptacle mating section. The continuous outer wall and the continuous receptacle outer wall form a grounding shield minimizing signal leakage from the first terminal and the second terminal.

Due to the increasing complexity of electronic components, it is desirable to fit more components in less space on a circuit board or other substrate. Consequently, the spacing between signal traces and contacts within circuit boards has been reduced, while the number of signal traces and contacts housed in the circuit boards has increased, thereby increasing the need for electrical connectors that are capable of handling higher and higher speeds and to do so with greater and greater densities.
Coaxial connectors and adaptors for providing interconnection between circuit boards is well known in the industry. Such connectors and adaptors may have a subminiature push-on (SMP) interface. The known adapters have tines which provide a mechanical and electrical interconnector with an outer conductive surface of a mating connector. However, as the size of the connectors and adapters decreased to accommodate the increased density of the circuit boards, the tines of the adaptors are required to become smaller and less robust, causing the tines to be prone to damage during mating and shipping. In addition, the tines often allow for unwanted signal leakage between adjacent connectors, thereby requiring the use of conductive gaskets to provide sufficient shielding to minimize cross-talk, as well as other acceptable electrical and mechanical characteristics.
It would, therefore, be beneficial to provide a coaxial connector system which improves signal isolation of board to board connections. In addition, it would be beneficial to provide a coaxial connector system which has an adapter with a continuous, uninterrupted and solid outer conductor to enhance the signal isolation of board to board connections.


A method for restructuring an excessive underlying mortgage in excess of its current market value so that the value of the restructured underlying mortgage and the property to which it attaches exceeds the values prior to the restructuring. The method determines an existing underlying mortgage utilizing parameters which include a principal amount, a maturity date, an interest rate and payment periods. Thereafter, a first market value mortgage portion, which is substantially equal to the current mortgage value of the existing mortgage, and a second excess portion, which is the difference between the remaining principal balance of the existing underlying mortgage and the first market value portion, is determined. As such, the existing underlying mortgage is transferred into or replaced by the first market value portion and the second excess portion so that the principal of the remaining underlying mortgage is, in a most preferred form of the invention, substantially the same as the total of the principals of the first market value portion and the second excess portion. Thereafter, each shareholder's amount and percentage of liability in respect of the assessment in accordance with the number of shares owned by each shareholder is calculated.

Disclosed herein is a method for restructuring existing debt obligations on over-leveraged assets such as real property, whereby an existing obligation or mortgage is restructured or replaced by two-tier financing in which the first tier is a conventional first mortgage in an amount supported by current conservative lending standards. This first tier conventional first mortgage is referred to herein as the "Market Value Mortgage" or "MVM".
The second tier financing, which may take the form of a second mortgage or a portion of the first mortgage, is supplemented by separate debt, herein referred to as an assessment, imposed by the corporation on all of the asset's owners or shareholders ("shareholders") on the basis of their individual pro rata ownership portions of the asset. As used herein, the term "second mortgage" is intended to denote another or additional mortgage, and is not intended to refer to a mortgage that is secondary to another such that the rights of the mortgagee are inferior or subject to the rights of a mortgagee of another mortgage instrument. The second mortgage and assessment may be amortized over the same term of the first tier loan with the amortization paid by each shareholder on a fixed periodic basis. This second tier, excess or over-leveraged portion is referred to herein as a "Re-Equitizing Super-Secured Mortgage" or "RSM". The most important features of the RSM is that the assessment which supplements the RSM has separate recourse by the corporation to the individual shareholders, making the instrument more valuable to a lender on a risk/reward basis and it is due on sale of a shareholder's interest in the asset upon which it is a lien.
In addition to the implementation of the RSM, the method involves the servicing and collection of both the MVM and RSM assessment components. As each shareholder is obligated to pay on a pro rata basis their RSM assessment which covers debt service on the RSM, such amounts or RSM payment are paid to an escrow account. As such, it is then necessary to both monitor the RSM collections and payments on the RSM, as well as to periodically calculate the interest and balance due after each RSM payment date for each individual shareholder. Additionally, due to the requirement that shareholders pay on sale of their ownership interest in the property, ("units"), the remaining balance of the pro rata RSM mortgage assessment, calculations of amounts due on sale to satisfy unpaid balances on the mortgage reduction assessment must also be preformed periodically. Moreover, once the mortgage modification is in place, shareholders who are attempting to sell their units will be able to inform potential buyers of the carrying costs for the units that will be in effect for new shareholders less the debt service, principal and interest of the RSM. As such, calculations for the new maintenance to be charged a new owner must also be periodically performed.

Method for implementing a restructuring exchange of an excessive undivided debt


In one embodiment a method is provided. The method comprises inserting a first end of a P-type semiconductor pin in a first through hole via in a substrate; inserting a first end of an N-type semiconductor pin in a second through hole via in the substrate; and electrically connecting the first ends of the P and N-type semiconductor pins to form a precursor Peltier cooling device which in cooperation with a semiconductor die, bridges the P and N-type semiconductor pins between their ends remote from the first ends to define a Peltier cooling device in the substrate.

A semiconductor die typically generates a significant amount of heat and is required to be cooled for reliable operation. Existing cooling techniques are limited to the removal of heat through a back side of the semiconductor die. For example, a heat sink or a fan may be mounted to the back side of the die in order to remove heat. However, most of the heat is generated at a circuit side of the semiconductor die which is remote from the back side and because of thermal resistance between the circuit side and the back side, the effectiveness of cooling by heat removal through the back side of the semiconductor die is reduced.
FIG. 1 of the drawings shows a semiconductor package 100 which includes a cooling mechanism that is illustrative of the above-described cooling techniques. Referring to FIG. 1, the semiconductor package 100 includes a semiconductor die 102 which is bonded to a substrate 104 by a plurality of conductive bumps 108. The semiconductor die 102 includes a back side 102.1 and a circuit side 102.2. Mounted to the back side 102.1 is a heat sink 106 which includes a plurality of thermal fins 106.1. Typically, the heat sink 106 is of a conductive material which operates to draw heat by conduction from the semiconductor die 102 and to radiate the heat through the fins 106.1. It will be appreciated that the larger the surface area of the fins 106.1, and the larger the area of the heat sink 106 that is in contact with the semiconductor die 102, the more effective the cooling. Accordingly, as semiconductor dies reduce in size, the effectiveness of cooling by mounting heat sinks to a back side of a semiconductor die is reduced, since the available semiconductor die back side area is reduced.

Silicon die substrate manufacturing process and silicon die substrate with integrated cooling mechanism


Optoelectronic materials are provided that are bistable organic tautomeric compositions that intraconvert dithio or diseleno carbamate esters and cyclic 1,3-dithia- or -diselena-2-iminium salts of π-conjugated bis-anthracenyl compounds. Specifically disclosed are compounds having the formula:

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a class of novel narcissistic valence tautomeric molecules that individually function as optoelectronic switching devices. More specifically, these intramolecular devices are polyene-linked bis-anthracenyl compounds that are optically active and bear a dichalcogenide carbamate ester on one terminal position and a dichalcogenide iminium salt on the other terminal position, to provide compounds that are capable of undergoing valence tautomerization between degenerate cationic tautomeric forms which are enantiomeric to each other. The present invention describes a class of optoelectronic compositions which can be resolved and arranged as molecular switching devices useful for application as chemical sensors or for the transmission, modulation, storage or processing of information.
2. Related Art
Chemical compounds that tautomerize between two degenerate structures are known as narcissistic compounds and their tautomerization a narcissistic reaction [L. Salem, Acc. Chem. Res., Vol. 4, pp. 322-328 (1971).] When such narcissistic compounds are asymmetric, narcissistic reaction results in intraconversion between enantiomeric forms of the molecule. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,237,067 (R. R. Schumaker, Aug. 17, 1993), there is described a particular subset of asymmetric narcissistic compounds useful as molecular switching devices, of Formula (1) below:
where X is S or Se; where R and R1 are alkyl, or alkyl that together form a ring of carbon atoms; and where An is the anion of a strong acid. The chiral Z element, which changes chirality on tautomerization, is preferably —CH—CH2— so that a preferred structure and its narcissistic reaction is illustrated below (Scheme 1, where R=H):

In further elaboration of this structure, a series of derivatives was prepared in which the R substituents were substituted by a variety of multi-cyclic aromatic compounds, for example, 9,9-fluorenyl, 9,9-xanthenyl, 9,9-anthraquinonyl [J. P. Parakka et al., Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., Vol. 1006, pp. 94-103 (2003) and references therein]. All of these new narcissistic compounds were shown to be thermally active chiroptical switches. One compound, namely a 9,9-[4,5-bis(dithiophenyl)-anthraquinonyl] derivative, was shown to be optically switchable in the solid state.
Scheme 1 illustrates the principle of coupling together on common atoms, a dithiocarbamate ring-closing and a dithioiminium ring-opening to result in an asymmetric narcissistic reaction.
A non-obvious extension of this principle would be the separation of the coupled ring-closing dithiocarbamate and the ring-opening dithioiminium reaction on two different anthracenyl ring systems that are conjugatively linked by π-bonds that pass through an asymmetric ring system that changes chirality during the narcissistic reaction. This novel design takes advantage of the unique property of the aromatic anthracene molecule to undergo addition across the 9,10 carbons (the central ring) of the molecule [see: J. March, Advanced Organic Chemistry, 3rd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., p. 40 (1985)]. In addition, this novel design permits the incorporation of the asymmetric central ring system of the molecule as a resolved (optically active) component whereas this is not feasible in the structure of Scheme 1.

Abstract: where X is sulfur or selenium; where the R and R1 groups are alkyl or alkyl that together form a ring of carbon atoms; where An is the anion of a strong acid; and where the Z element is a chiral ring-completing system of atoms that changes chirality on tautomerization. These molecules are in themselves molecular-sized optoelectronic switching devices.

California Molecular Electronics Corporation


A dual powered flashlight responsive to an audible smoke detector alarm includes a sound sensor for sensing an audible smoke detector alarm and producing an electrical alarm signal in response; a frequency-sensitive amplifier amplifying the electrical alarm signal but not other signals; an integrator for integrating the electrical alarm signal amplified by the frequency-sensitive amplifier and for generating a trigger signal only when the integrated signal exceeds a threshold; a lamp; a battery connector for receiving a battery for providing current for illuminating the lamp; a power supply including a mains connector connectable to electrical power lines and powering the frequency-sensitive amplifier and the integrator; and a switch receiving the trigger signal and a power supply signal from the power supply for connecting the lamp to the battery in response to at least one of a trigger signal and absence of application of electrical power to the mains connector. The flashlight illuminates automatically in the event of a power failure or generation of a smoke detector alarm and remains illuminated so long as the power failure or alarm continues or upon unplugging from the power lines to aid in escape from smoke or a power failure.

The invention provides a flashlight activated in response to a power failure or an alarm produced by a smoke detector so that a person in a dark and/or smoke-filled or smoke-filling room can use the light to escape. Flashlights activated by an audible smoke detector alarm are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,432,041 describes a flashlight powered entirely by internal batteries and retained by a holster mounted on a wall. The flashlight responds to a smoke detector alarm by turning on the light. The flashlight includes a spring activated switch. When the flashlight is withdrawn from the holster, a retaining force on a plug within the flashlight is released so the plug is ejected, closing a switch, and the flashlight remains illuminated. In the absence of removal of the flashlight from the holster, the light is extinguished automatically after a delay following termination of the smoke detector alarm. The lamp of this flashlight and the alarm detection circuitry of this flashlight are powered solely by internal batteries that are gradually consumed in operating the audible alarm detector while listening for a smoke detector alarm. Therefore, the flashlight described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,432,041 includes a low voltage detector for warning the user that the batteries have declined sufficiently in power to require replacement.
It is desirable in a flashlight activated by an audible smoke detector alarm to provide a long-life power source. Preferably, batteries are employed so that the flashlight is portable. To extend the lifetime of the batteries to the shelf life of the batteries, it is desired that the batteries not be drained during times when the flashlight is not illuminated.

Dual powered, smoke detector activated flashlight


The present invention provides a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core obtained by molding under heat a specific rubber composition and having a cover of at least three layers which is composed of a thermoplastic resin material and encases the core. By optimizing the deflection of the core under a specific load, optimizing the hardness at the center of the core and the hardnesses of the innermost cover layer, outermost cover layer and intermediate cover layer, setting the combined thickness of the cover layers to at least a specific value, and forming the innermost cover layer of a highly neutralized ionomer resin composition, the spin rate of the ball on shots taken with a driver can be significantly reduced, enabling the distance traveled by the ball to be increased. Moreover, the ball has a good feel on shots with a driver.

The present invention relates to a multi-piece golf ball having a core and three or more cover layers. More specifically, the invention relates to a multi-piece solid golf ball which has a high initial velocity and a good feel on shots taken with a driver, and which has a good spin performance on approach shots.
Numerous golf balls with multilayer covers have hitherto been disclosed. For example, various golf balls with multilayer covers are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,833,553, 6,126,559, 6,220,972, 6,561,928 and 6,309,314. However, these prior-art golf balls do not have a good spin receptivity on approach shots near the green.
A multilayer golf ball is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,608, but this ball has a poor controllability on approach shots.
In the golf balls with multilayer covers disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,779,562, 6,117,025, 6,152,834, 6,394,914, 6,213,895 and 6,994,638, the hardness relationships within the multilayer cover have been optimized. Yet, it has been difficult to achieve a sufficiently high ball initial velocity on shots taken with a driver, particularly on shots taken with a driver at a high head speed.
Up until now, golf balls obtained by using a conventional ionomer resin to form the innermost cover layer which directly encases the core have not had a good rebound. To compensate, one known approach has been to reduce the spin rate by increasing the thickness of the inner cover layer made of ionomer resin. Unfortunately, this has the opposite effect of lowering the rebound. Moreover, increasing the hardness of the intermediate cover layer so as to increase the rebound has the undesirable effect of lowering the spin performance on approach shots.
The use of highly neutralized ionomer resins as golf ball cover materials is known to the art, but such covers are relatively thin. Although the golf balls obtained in such cases do have an improved rebound compared with golf balls obtained using prior-art ionomer resins, the spin rate-lowering effect on shots taken with a driver has been rather negligible.


In an exemplary embodiment, a sliding component includes an annular stationary side seal ring 5 fixed to the stationary side and an annular rotating side seal ring 3 to be rotated together with a rotating shaft, in which by relatively rotating opposing sealing faces S of the stationary side seal ring 5 and the rotating side seal ring 3, a silicate-containing sealed fluid present on one side in the radial direction of the relatively rotating sealing faces S is sealed, wherein an amorphous carbon film 8 formed by using a hydrocarbon gas containing no silicon compound is provided on at least any one of the sealing faces S of the stationary side seal ring 5 and the rotating side seal ring 3, and content of silicon of the amorphous carbon film 8 is 1.5 at % or less.

In order to maintain a sealing property in the long term in a mechanical seal serving as an example of a sliding component, contradictory conditions of "sealing" and "lubrication" have to be compatible with each other. In particular, in recent years, for environmental measures, etc., there is a growing demand to furthermore reduce friction and extend the life while preventing leakage of a sealed fluid.
A method of reducing friction can be achieved by providing a dynamic pressure generation mechanism between sealing faces by rotation, and sliding in a state where a liquid film is interposed, a so-called fluid lubrication state. For example, in Patent Document 1, as an example of the dynamic pressure generation mechanism, a Rayleigh step that generates positive dynamic pressure on the sealing face and a reversed Rayleigh step that generates a negative dynamic pressure are formed, and following relative rotation of a pair of sliding components, positive pressure is generated between the sealing faces by the Rayleigh step, a fluid film is actively interposed between the sealing faces, and the fluid lubrication state is maintained, and negative pressure is generated by the reversed Rayleigh step and leakage is prevented, so that contradictory conditions of "lubrication" and "sealing" are compatible with each other.
Meanwhile, from a viewpoint of extension of the life, carbon, silicon carbide (SiC), cemented carbide, etc. are conventionally used as a sliding material of the mechanical seal. Especially, silicon carbide is often used for the reason that silicon carbide is excellent in corrosion resistance, wear resistance, etc. (for example, see Patent Documents 2 and 3).
Silicon carbide is a favorable material as the sliding material of the mechanical seal but expensive and poor in a machining property. Thus, for cheaper price, more excellent corrosion resistance and wear resistance, and improvement in the machining property, coating of sealing faces of seal rings with diamond-like carbon (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "DLC") is proposed (for example, see Patent Document 4). Further, there is a known technology that sealing faces of seal rings of a mechanical seal are coated with DLC in order to improve initial fitting between the sealing faces of the seal rings (for example, see Patent Document 5).


A method for spectrally shaping a communication signal is provided. The method comprises generating a plurality of spreading codes, assigning a probability to each of the plurality of spreading codes, and modulating the communication signal by hopping between the plurality of spreading codes such that a time-average proportion of time spent using any one of the plurality of spreading codes is equal to the probability assigned to that spreading code.

Multiple access (MA) schemes are used to simultaneously share available bandwidth among a plurality of users in a communication system. In conventional MA applications, a finite and contiguous amount of spectrum is designated for a particular system. The use of the spectrum is typically considered unconstrained.
In recent years, however, the increasing demand for ubiquitous computing has resulted in a radio spectrum crowded with users seeking reliable and high bit-rate communication. For example, the Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (UNII) band at 5.2 GHz contains a wide variety of signals such as microwave ovens, RF tags, cordless telephones, Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs), etc.
The MA problem has evolved, therefore, to include not only the sharing of spectrum among users of a single system but also the sharing of spectrum among multiple, frequency-adjacent systems. In other words, a MA wireless system must frequently coexist in frequency with numerous, disparate, and uncoordinated interferers.
This coexistence requirement necessitates that a system's signal be spectrally-shaped to limit its interference to signals of wireless systems that exist in the same frequency band.
One common spectrum shaping approach is based on orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA). Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) distributes data over a large number of OFDM carriers that are spaced apart at precise frequencies.
Accordingly, spectrum shaping in OFDMA is achieved by turning off a set of OFDM carriers at frequencies occupied by existing signals or at which strong interference is present. In practice, however, existing signals or interference are not necessarily centered at OFDM carriers, but can spectrally leak into adjacent frequency bands forcing a large number of the carriers to be turned off. This spectral leakage problem can severely impact the capacity of an OFDMA-based spectrum shaping approach.
What is needed therefore is an efficient spectrum shaping technique for multiple access communication in constrained spectrums.

Spectrum shaping using code-hopping CDMA


The excavator bucket attachment apparatus provides an improved attachment of an existing excavator bucket to the existing lift arm and hydraulic cylinder. The apparatus replaces a plurality of attachment components, including 4 attachment pins, with a more basic assembly that saves considerable parts cost and labor in maintenance of a bucket attachment. The apparatus further provides a method of conversion of an existing bucket attachment to the present apparatus.

Buckets, such as those attached to excavators, are typically attached via a plurality of parts. Typically the parts include two upper pins with retainers and bushings, two lower pins with bushings, an H-member, and other related parts. Upkeep involves maintenance of these existing parts and, periodically, parts replacement, which obviously includes labor time and costs, along with machine down time. This will clearly result in significant savings. The present apparatus provides a modification to the attachment of a bucket to the lift arm and hydraulic cylinder of such machinery that reduces the number of parts several-fold and thereby reduces parts and labor to only a fraction of what is normally incurred.


The present invention provides a joined back panel structure of display device, which includes: a first mounting member that is L-shaped and a second mounting member, a third mounting member, a fourth mounting member, and a fifth mounting member that are linear, ends of the first mounting member, the second mounting member, and the third mounting member are sequentially connected to form an enclosed outer frame, the fourth mounting member being disposed inside the outer frame and having two ends connected to the outer frame, the fifth mounting member being disposed inside the outer frame and having two ends connected to the outer frame so as to form a hollow back panel. The outer frame of the present invention has an improved structural strength and low cast and is easy to manufacture. It is possible to join mounting members that are manufactured by the same mold, after being properly cut, in order to form back panels of various sizes so that the production mold of back panel can be shared to thereby reduce material cost and mold cost.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a joined back panel structure of display device, and in particular to a joined back panel structure applicable to a backlight module of a TFT-LCD (Thin Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Display) display device.
2. The Related Arts
A liquid crystal display is commonly abbreviated as LCD, and the operation principle is placing liquid crystal molecules between two parallel pieces of glass. A plurality of tiny vertical and horizontal conductive wires is arranged between the pieces of glass and change of direction of the liquid crystal molecules is controlled through application of electricity so as to refract light outwards to form an image. The liquid crystal display is now widely used due to various advantages of being compact in size, saving of power, and being free of radiations. A backlight module is an important component of the liquid crystal display and a known backlight module generally comprises an optic film, a light guide plate, a backlight unit, and a back panel. To meet the requirements of large-sized liquid crystal display devices, the known back panel is generally a unitary back panel that is integrally formed by means of metal stamping or plastic injection molding. However, the unitary back panel increases the weight of the display device, needs more material for production, and may cause a higher cost. Further, the large-sized back panel requires use of large-sized and high-cost stamping facility in the manufacturing process, and also, the size of mold used in the back panel manufacturing process is large, the structure is complicated and thus the cost is high.
To overcome the above problems, Chinese Patent No. CN201672468 discloses a structure of rear-side back panel for backlight module, which uses a plurality of mounting strips joined together to form the rear-side back panel with the mounting strips intersecting each other. However, the rear-side back panel disclosed in this patent uses a large number of mounting strips and the connection and mounting is complicated. Further, it requires separate manufacturing of these mounting strips, leading to an increase of secondary processing. Further, the structural strength of the back panel, especially the structural strength of the outer frame, is insufficient, making it not possible to meet the needs of using the back panel.

Joined back panel structure of display device

SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A fiber-composite rotor blade, especially of a rotary-wing aircraft, with a predefined rotor blade profile that has a predefined outer contour of the profile. The fiber-composite rotor blade includes a fiber-composite rotor blade structure having an upper and a lower cover skin and a profile core situated between them, and at least one highly extensible cable integrated into the fiber-composite rotor blade structure in the direction of the span of the rotor blade, whereby the cable can be connected to a functional device that can be attached onto or into the fiber-composite rotor blade structure. The cable is a highly extensible power and/or signal transmission cable that includes at least one cable strand with at least one first cable core made of an electrically insulating, elastic plastic material, and at least one first cable wire that is wound around the first cable core at a predefined pitch angle, like a spiral and free of crossovers.

Rotor blades made of fiber-composite materials are used especially in rotors of modern rotary-wing aircraft such as, for example, helicopters, because of their special suitability for high, alternating dynamic and aerodynamic loads. In recent times, such rotor blades have been increasingly equipped with special functional devices that make it possible, for example, to systematically influence the aerodynamic and acoustic properties of a rotor. These functional devices can be, for example, actuators for an adjustable rotor blade flap arranged near the tip of the rotor blade, sensors installed on the rotor blade, a heating unit in the rotor blade, or the like. Especially well-suited actuators for adjustable rotor blade flaps are piezoelectric actuators that are actuated or controlled electrically. Power and signal transmission cables are required to supply power to such functional devices or else for signal or data transmission. Starting from an interface on the side of the rotor head or from a blade connection area of the rotor blade, these cables often have to extend over a large part of the span of the rotor blade all the way to the functional device (and sometimes back again as well).
During rotor operation, the rotor blades are subjected to extreme stresses and strains due to the enormous centrifugal forces of up to about 1000 grams or more. Moreover, the rotor blades are severely deformed by alternating dynamic and aerodynamic forces during a rotation of the rotor blade. During a rotation of the rotor blade, the rotor blades execute flapping, tilting and twisting movements that lead to a bending and twisting of the fiber-composite rotor blade structure. If the rotor blade is equipped with power and signal transmission cables, it has been found that, under the described high dynamic loads, the wires or conductors of the cable very quickly break or fail. Especially electric signal or power transmission cables having metal wires or conductors fail quite soon. Consequently, sufficient fatigue strength of the cable can no longer be ensured. The result of this, in turn, is that it is not possible to ensure reliable operation of the appertaining functional device that is being supplied with power by such a cable or that receives or emits signals via such a cable. Moreover, if the cable fails, the appertaining rotor blade in which this cable is installed has to be replaced or repaired. This, however, entails tremendous technical effort and costs.
In the case of certain applications or cable designs, for example, coaxial cables or the like, it is also necessary for the wires/conductors of the cable to be shielded. However, it has been found that the shielding of these cables also fails too soon as a result of the above-mentioned high centrifugal forces so that reliable shielding cannot be ensured.
The installation of power and/or signal transmission cables in the rotor blade is also very complex. Up until now, conventional cables of the above-mentioned type have been laid in cable conduits that are created on the surface in the fiber-composite rotor blade structure and in the predefined rotor blade profile. For this purpose, the cable is glued into the cable conduit and the conduit is covered, sealed with filler paste and the filler paste is subsequently ground so that the contour matches the predefined outer contour of the profile of the rotor blade. This matching of the contour is of special importance since the rotor blade profile is an aerodynamically effective profile over essentially the entire span of the rotor blade and any deviation from a predefined target outer contour of the profile has a detrimental effect on the aerodynamic properties of the rotor blade. If the cable that has been installed in this manner fails, the filler paste has to be cut away and removed, while making sure that the load-bearing fiber-composite rotor blade structure is not damaged in this process. Consequently, repeated installation of a cable in and dismantling of a cable from a fiber-composite rotor blade is extremely complex and is associated with a great deal of production and assembly work as well as considerable costs. Therefore, it would be desirable if it were possible to could reduce the installation and dismantling work for the cable.

Highly extensible power and/or signal transmission cable as well as rotor blade with such a cable


The present invention is a transmission apparatus and a data communication channel processing method that make it possible to realize construction of a monitoring and controlling data communication network in accordance with a network management form desired by a user or an already existing network management form in a network conforming to SONET, SDH, etc., and the transmission apparatus is configured so as to comprise a data communication channel terminator for selectively performing termination processing of an signal received by a data communication channel in accordance with an area attribute setting and a data communication channel pass-through unit for passing through a signal for which termination processing is not performed by the data communication channel terminator to a transmission apparatus belonging to another area.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transmission apparatus and a data communication channel processing method and, for example, to a transmission apparatus and a data communication channel processing method suitable to use for management (monitoring, control) of a network conforming to the SONET (Synchronous Optical Network) or the SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) system.
(2) Description of Related Art
At present, as a user network interface for realizing B-ISDN (Broadband aspects of Integrated Services Digital Network), SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) [referred to as SONET (Synchronous Optical Network) in North America] is standardized as an international standard for the purpose to integrate the already existing digital hierarchy in each country of the world.
Then, an example of the SONET/SDH network configuration is a network configuration comprising a data communication network (DCN:Data Communication Network) for transmitting data for monitoring and controlling a transmission apparatus (NE: Network Element), which is a component in the network, independently of a network for transmitting main signals.
In such a network, a monitoring and controlling terminal that functions as an NMS (Network Management System) for a SONET/SDH network communicates with an NE constituting the SONET/SDH network via the DCN and transmits and receives monitoring and controlling information for performing an NE control and a line control by, for example, an OSI (Open System Interconnection) packet, thereby performing monitoring and control of the NE constituting the SONET/SDH network (for example, operation setting of each NE and a line control when an alarm signal is detected).
By the way, the DCN is constructed so as to have a data communication channel (DCC: Data Communication Channel) terminated between NEs and an NE that generates and terminates the DCC and terminates a monitoring and controlling packet (OSI packet) included in the DCC, and further routes monitoring and controlling information between DCCs.
Further, the DCC transmits an OSI packet for monitoring and controlling the SONET/SDH network and the NE and an IP packet used for other purposes by using, for example, a part (for example, the three bytes in the third row shown by the diagonally shaded area in FIG. 9) of a section overhead (SOH) in a SONET overhead (Overhead Byte) on a main signal interface (main signal frame) shown in FIG. 9. For example, a TL1 message, an NE system software file and a database (DB) file, etc., are transmitted by the OSI packet.
Here, the SOH is information that is terminated both at a relay regeneration station (regenerator node) and at a terminal station (multiplexing/demultiplexing node) and in SONET, information that is also referred to as a line overhead (LOH) and terminated only at the terminal station is defined. For the LOH, a byte for the DCC is defined, however, the LOH is not used for the current network management because not terminated at a relay station.
As a form of a network that uses the above-described SONET/SDH (hereinafter, SDH is assumed to be included when indicated just as SONET), there is a network form, for example, as shown in FIG. 10.
The SONET/SDH network shown in FIG. 10 is configured so as to comprise a monitoring and controlling terminal (monitoring and controlling system) 101, SONET transmission apparatuses to be monitored and controlled, that is, level 2 (L2) SONET transmission apparatuses (SONET L2 NE) 300-M (simply referred to as "NE300" when a distinction is not made) and level 1 (L1) SONET transmission apparatuses (SONET L1 NE) 400-M-N (M=0, 1, 2, . . . , N=0, 1, 2, . . . ) (hereinafter, simply referred to as "NE400" when a distinction is not made) in one DCN 100 and these SONET transmission apparatuses 300 and 400 are managed (monitored and controlled) by the monitoring and controlling terminal 101 for each of areas 200-0 to 200-M (hereinafter, simply referred to as "area 200" when a distinction is not made).
In other words, the level 2 NE300-i (i=0 to M) and the level 1 NE400-i-j (j=1 to N) constitute one area 200-i (#i) to be monitored and controlled and the NE group to be monitored and controlled is set with the area 200 as a unit. Here, the L2 NE300 means an NE, which is a communication gateway across the areas 200, and L1 NE400 means an NE other than that.
Then, the monitoring and controlling terminal 101 as an NMS hierarchically manages the NE 300, which is a communication gateway across the areas 200, and the NE 400 provided under the control of the NE 300, thereby the DCN 100 can be managed hierarchically for each area 200. Here, which of the areas 200 the NE 300 and NE 400 belong to is determined by, for example, a predetermined parameter set to the NE and the information (area attribute) can also be set by the DCC.
Now, all of the NEs (NE 300 and NE 400) existing in the DCN 100 manage the address information about all of the NEs within the capacity of a memory for managing address information and enable routing of the monitoring and controlling information among all of the NEs. Here, the memory for managing address information is provided to each NE (NE 300 and NE 400) and stores the address information, a routing table, etc.
In one DCN 100, up to M+1 (for example, 250) areas 200 can be managed and in each area 200, up to N+1 (for example, 300) units including the NE 300 and the NE 400 can be managed.
By such a hierarchical network management method, the NE 400 can manage as much information as necessary for the routing of the monitoring and controlling information (OSI packet) in the area 200 and the NE 300 can manage as much information as necessary for the routing within the local area 200 and between the areas 200, thereby it is made possible to transmit and receive the monitoring and controlling information among all of the NEs in the DCN 100.
By the way, the number of manageable areas (manageable upper limit area number: M+1) in one DCN 100 described above and the number of manageable NEs (manageable upper limit NE number: N+1) in one area 200 is limited by the memory size of the memory for managing address information provided in the NE and the search rate of the routing information, and in the most recent NE, for example, M+1=250 and N+1=300, approximately. This means that the NE 300 can manage up to 250 pieces of address information and the NE 400 can manage up to 300 pieces of address information of the NE in the area 200.
In other words, by using the hierarchical network management method as shown in FIG. 10, it is made possible to manage up to 300 (manageable upper limit NE number)×250 (manageable upper limit area number)=75000 NEs in one DCN 100 with the memory size of the memory for managing address information provided in the most recent SONET transmission apparatus.
Note that, in the patent document 1 to be described later, a label switching technology is disclosed, which combines an ATM switch and a data relay control device in order to transfer a large amount of data at high speed in an IP network, and cut-through transfer of data under specific conditions is also disclosed.
Further, in the patent document 2 to be described later, a control as to whether or not a packet is cut through based on mapping of the packet for considerably reducing routing processing in a packet transmission system is disclosed.
[Patent document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-92085
[Patent document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-244562
According to the technologies described above, in the most recent SONET transmission apparatus, up to 250 areas 200 can be managed in one DCN 100 and further by managing up to 300 NEs for each of the areas 200, up to 250×300=75000 NEs can be managed in one DCN 100, however, the hierarchical NE management with the presence of L1 and L2 NEs as shown in FIG. 10 is complex and not necessarily easy, therefore, some users may be reluctant to use and the number of NEs to be managed at the initial stage of the construction of a network is comparatively small, therefore, it is frequent that the NEs are managed only in the single area 200, not divided in the DCN 100 by the desire of a user.
In this case, up to N+1 (for example, 300 here) NEs can be managed in one DCN 100, however, when the number of NEs in the network increases by the coupling of a plurality of already existing networks, the expansion of a network, etc., there frequently occurs the case where the number of NEs in the DCN 100 exceeds the manageable upper limit NE number (here, N+1).
Here, the network state when the number of NEs in the DCN 100 exceeds the manageable upper limit NE number is explained by using FIG. 11.
For example, in a state in which the four NEs 400-0-0, 400-0-1, 400-0-2, and 400-0-3 constituting an already existing ring network (ring A) and the four NEs 400-0-4, 400-0-5, 400-0-6, and 400-0-7 constituting an already existing ring network (ring B) are managed as one area 200-0 by the monitoring and controlling system 101, as described above, each NE 400 manages address information of all the NEs 400 in the area 200-0 in a table.
Then, when a new NE 400-0-(N+1) is added in the area 200-0, the neighboring NEs 400-0-3 and 400-0-4 detect the addition of the NE 400-0-(N+1) and update the memory for managing address information (routing table) of the local station, and notify the other NEs 400 in the area 200-0 of the updated information. Due to this, the memory for managing address information of all the NEs 400 in the area 200-0 is updated.
When, however, a new NE 400-0-(N+1) is added in a state in which the number of NEs in the area 200-0 reaches the manageable upper limit NE number, it is not possible for each NE 400 in the area 200-0 to newly register the address information of the newly added NE 400-0-(N+1) to the memory for managing address information because of limitation of the memory size.
Therefore, it is not possible to communicate with the added NE 400-0-(N+1) and further, it is not possible to communicate with the NE 400-0-3 connected ahead of the NE 400-0-(N+1). As a result, a phenomenon occurs that monitoring and control of the NE 400 constituting the ring network A that is monitored and controlled hitherto cannot be performed any longer.
Further, when the already provided DCN 100 is constructed by one area 200-0, when the area management as shown in FIG. 10 is applied following an increase in the number of NEs, a review of the DCN architecture, an area resetting of the already provided NE, etc., are required, however, when such a setting is performed, communication via the NE 400 in question is disconnected in the meantime, therefore, monitoring and control of the NE 400 connected ahead of the NE 400 in question cannot be performed and there arises a problem that such a resetting cannot be performed for management.
Because of this, a method is demanded, which realizes addition of the NE 400 in the number exceeding the manageable upper limit NE number without the need to considerably modify the already provided network configuration (a configuration in which all of the NEs 400 present in a network are managed in one area 200-0).
The methods disclosed in the above-mentioned patent documents 1 and 2 are not aimed at the area management in the DCN 100, therefore, the above-mentioned problem cannot be solved.

Transmission apparatus and data communication channel processing method


The present invention is directed to a composition consisting of a series of novel biologically active 33-mer peptides.

Lactoferrin is a single chain metal binding glycoprotein. Many cell types, such as monocytes, macrophages, lymphocytes, and brush-border cells in the intestine, are known to have lactoferrin receptors. Lactoferrin is found mainly in external secretions of mucosal epithelia such as breast milk, saliva, tears, bile, and pancreatic fluid and has a wide array of functions related to host primary defense mechanisms. For example, lactoferrin has been reported to activate natural killer (NK) cells, induce colony stimulating activity, activate polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), regulate granulopoeisis, enhance antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity, stimulate lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activity, and potentiate macrophage toxicity. Lactoferrins have been reported to have a number of beneficial effects including anti-infective, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and anti-cancer activities.
Recombinant human lactoferrin has previously been described as being purified after expression in a variety of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms including aspergillus (U.S. Pat. No. 6,080,559), cattle (U.S. Pat. No. 5,919,913), rice, corn, Sacharomcyes (U.S. Pat. No. 6,228,614) and Pichia pastoris (U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,455,687, 6,277,817, 6,066,469). Also described are expression systems for the expression of full-length human lactoferrins (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 6,100,054). In all cases, part of the teaching is expression of the full length cDNA and purification of the intact protein whose N-terminal, after processing of the leader peptide, is the amino acid glycine. Nuijens, et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,333,311) separately describe variants of human lactoferrin but their focus is limited to deletion or substitution of arginine residues found in the N-terminal domain of lactoferrin.
LF contains a strongly basic region close to its N-terminus and binds to a variety of anionic biological molecules including lipid A (Appelmelk et al., Infect. Immun. 62:2628-2632 (1994)) and glycosaminoglycans which occur on the surface of most cells and in most extracellular matrices (Mann et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269: 23661-7 (1994)). Lactoferricin H (residues 1-47) and lactoferricin B (residue 17-41) are released by pepsinolysis of human or bovine LF, respectively, and may have more potent antibacterial activity than the native proteins (Bellamy et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 1121: 130-136 (1992)). A region composed of residues 28-34 is reported to contribute to the high affinity binding of human LF and lactoferricin H to endotoxin (Elass-Rochard et al., Biochem. J. 312: 839-845 (1995)). LF and lactoferricin B have been shown to inhibit the endotoxin-induced interleukin-6 response in human monocytic cells (Mattsby-Baltzer et al., Pediatr. Res. 40: 257-262 (1996)). Previously identified fragments of LF which exhibit antimicrobial activity were isolated from pepsin hydrolysates of LF (Tomita et al., (1993) U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,028; Tomita et al., (1994) U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,633; Tomita et al., (1994) U.S. Pat. No. 5,317,084; Tomita et al., (1997) U.S. Pat. No. 5,656,591).
Previous studies have established that the N-terminal 33 residues of human LF represent the minimal sequence that mediates binding of the protein to anionic polysaccharides such as glycosaminoglycans (Mann et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269: 23661-7 (1994)). This sequence contains a cationic head (residues 1-6) and tail (residues 28-33) which combine to form the glycosaminoglycan-binding site. In further studies described by Mann in U.S. Pat. No. 6,399,570, lactoferrin peptide fragments having up to the first 51 amino acids encompassed endotoxin neutralizing ability and antimicrobial activity. Mann further showed that up to 17 amino acids could be deleted from the C-terminus and up to 3 amino acids could be deleted N-terminus of the 51 amino acid long peptide while retaining the endotoxin neutralizing ability and antimicrobial activity.
The present invention is the first to describe a peptide composition that consists of lactoferrin related peptides which are at least 33 amino acids in length in which at least four amino acids at the C and/or N terminus are substituted for positive amino acids resulting in an enhancement of its biological activity.

Composition of lactoferrin related peptides and uses thereof


A rail fastening clip is used with a rail clip support having a rail clip slot of the kind used in K plates. The rail clip is formed from a U shaped member made of metal plate having a base and two arms tapered from the base to their tips, with the arms being bent inwardly beyond the base in a large arc and the tips are bent back toward the base and oriented for contact with the foot of the rail. The base is adapted to fit in the K plate slot of the rail clip support. The base of the clip has a leading edge remote from the arms that contacts the upper interior surface of the support slot to form at least a line of contact with the upper interior surface of the slot. The line of contact is about 6 mm. The design overcomes the problem of rotation of the clip within the support slot and is a more cost effective clip than that currently used with K plates.

Dog spikes have been used to hold rails down to wooden railway sleepers for a very long time and in some places they are still used. While they are cheap and simple they do not provide longitudinal restraint to the rail and additional rail anchors must be used for this.
In Europe an upgraded method of clamping the rail to the tie came into use which was made up of a steel plate (commonly called a K plate) under each rail and the plate was attached to the tie by the means of screw spikes. The rail in turn was clamped to the K. plate by means of two tee bolts in each plate which acted upon 2 clamps holding the rail down when the nuts on the captive tee bolts were tightened. However in spite of large spring washers underneath the nuts on the tee bolts they tended to work loose due to vibration in service. Men were employed to walk along the track and keep these bolts tight.
British patent 781406 discloses an elastic clip which was driven into the slot originally intended to hold the head of the tee bolts on the K plate and the toe of this clip acted on the top of the rail base and held it down thus eliminating the tee bolts and nuts. Patent 781406 was filed in October 1955 and in some parts of the world the clip is still being manufactured. It is known as the DE clip and although the patent shows it being made from round bar most of the clips are in fact made from 12 mm square bar with a 3 mm radius on each corner. The slot in the K. plate has a flat bottom with an upper surface comprising two sides each forming an arc and a slot between them to accommodate the tee bolt.
In some locations cast metal shoulders have been used in concrete ties which have a similar slot to the K. plate and were originally designed to accept the DE clip.
The K plate slot does not match the square bar used in the D E clip very well and the bar is not as high as the slot so the base of the clip takes up an angle as it is restrained in the slot. The forward part of the base bears on the top of the slot and the back of the base sits on the bottom of the slot. The front top part of the D E clip base is shaped to match the circular arcs on the top of the slot.
However this arrangement does not provide very good rotational location for the clip and in track when the clips are viewed from the top it is common to see the D E clip central axis out of alignment with the tie centre. This is often caused by track working machines such as ballast plows which apply indirect forces through the ballast to the sides of the clips. The misalignment tends to cause damage to the clips particularly when they are removed and a general loss of efficiency of the system which is eliminated by this new improved fastener which also has other important advantages.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,563 discloses an improved rail clip formed from metal plate with tapered legs. However because of the superior performance of the flat plate & tapered leg configuration the thickness of the material is much less than for the DE clip but since the height of the slot in the K plate is fixed this plate form of rail clip is not suitable for the K plate slot.
It is an object of this invention to provide a modification to the clip described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,563 so that it can perform effectively in slots of the K plate type. It is a further object of this invention to provide a rail clip that has a reduced tendency to rotate within the slot.


An anchoring arrangement for lawn edging material of the type used for defining borders of lawns and gardens. The edging material is formed of a resilient, extruded, molded plastic material and includes a relatively thin vertical wall member, which preferably has a retaining flange projecting laterally outward from a lower end thereof. The primary feature of the invention is the provision of hollow tubes that extend through the edging material and are adapted to hold plant seeds until they germinate and mature, so that the roots of the plants will anchor the material in place in the ground.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to lawn edging material of the type used to form lawn or garden borders, and more particularly to an anchoring arrangement for retaining lawn edging material in place in the ground. The arrangement includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced tubes adapted to hold plant seeds whose roots serve to anchor the material in the ground after the seeds have germinated and the plants have matured.
2. Description of the Background Art
A background art search directed to the subject matter of this application conducted in the United States Patent and Trademark Office disclosed the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,571,491; 2,281,927; 2,812,618; 3,387,786; 3,472,133; 3,485,449; 3,788,001; 3,841,022; 4,080,755; 4,281,473; 4,321,769; 4,353,183; 4,442,627; 4,644,685; 4,761,923; 4,846,655.
None of the patents uncovered in the search discloses an anchoring arrangement for lawn edging material that includes longitudinally spaced seed holding tubes for holding plant seeds and having openings that allow roots of plants to pass out of the tubes and into the ground, so that after the seeds have germinated the plant roots can anchor the material in the ground.

Lawn edging material anchoring arrangement


The treatment accessory for an endoscope is inserted in or removed from a forceps channel of the endoscope through an inlet of the forceps channel. The treatment accessory includes a treatment device and a flexible shaft. The treatment device is provided at a first end of the flexible shaft. The flexible shaft is provided with a marking at a predetermined portion thereof. The treatment device is located at a predetermined position inside the forceps channel when a predetermined portion of the marking is located at the inlet of the forceps channel.

The present invention relates to treatment accessories for an endoscope. During use, a treatment accessory is inserted in a forceps channel of the endoscope; however, as the treatment accessory is being inserted through the forceps channel of the endoscope, before the distal end of the treatment accessory appears in an observing field of the endoscope, the distal end will have already been extended from the end of the forceps channel by a certain amount. Since a treatment device such as a forceps device is connected to the distal end of the treatment accessory, if the treatment accessory is pushed and extended from the forceps channel excessively, the treatment accessory may damage a mucous layer inside a human cavity.
In a conventional treatment accessory, the above problem is prevented, by providing an index mark on a manipulation portion of the treatment accessory such that the extending amount of the treatment accessory is recognized. An example of such a treatment accessory is disclosed in JP Utility Model Provisional Publication SHO 52-158589, and JP Utility Model Provisional Publication SHO 61-203009.
However, since the viscera (human tissue) or the like are continuously moving, once the affected part comes into the observing field, it is preferable that the treatment accessory be pushed quickly through the forceps channel.
In this case, even though an index mark is formed on the treatment accessory, in a quick insertion, the treatment accessory may be inserted more than intended and the viscera (human tissue) may be damaged.
Further, since there are various endoscopes having different lengths of forceps channels, the treatment accessory is generally formed to have a length that is appropriate for use in an endoscope having a forceps channel of a particular length. Accordingly, a plurality of treatment accessories which have different lengths must be available.
However, having a plurality of treatment accessories for endoscopes having different forceps channel lengths is not economical. A long treatment accessory may also be used for an endoscope having a shorter forceps channel, however, if the treatment accessory is relatively long with respect to the forceps channel, there is a risk that when the treatment accessory is inserted in the forceps channel, the treatment accessory may be inserted too far and may damage tissue inside a body.
Further to the above, the treatment accessory should be removed from the forceps channel as soon as the affected part has been treated. However, while the treatment accessory is being removed (pulled out of the forceps channel), it is difficult to judge the length of the treatment accessory, such that, if the treatment device is removed quickly, the flexible shaft may jump on exiting the forceps channel such that a collected sample or other substance may be dislodged and sprinkled around the room.


This invention relates to therapeutic infusion assemblies, more specifically a device for the subcutaneous delivery of a fluid from a remote source. Applicant provides a base assembly which has a fluid channel therein and a cannula extending vertically downward from a flat bottom. A fluid connector member which receives a fluid bearing line from the remote fluid source and the fluid connector member pivotably and removably connects to the base member. The manner of connection is “hinged” allowing the fluid connector to move from a non-use position by rotation downward to a used position. In the use position a fluid channel in the fluid connector will connect with a fluid channel in the base to provide fluid to the cannula and to the patient.

This invention relates to therapeutic infusion assemblies and, more specifically, to a device for subcutaneous delivery of a fluid to a patient. The present invention provides an infusion set having a pivoting fluid connector and a base assembly having a base unit and a molded septum. The invention is easy to manufacture and assemble and is simple to use.
Prior art infusion sets provide a number of ways for engaging a fluid connector to a base. The base typically has a vertical cannula depending downward from a flat bottom. The fluid connector typically has a fluid line carrying fluid from a remote reservoir to the base. The fluid connector is typically adapted to being removed from the base of the infusion assembly so that one may have freedom of movement, by disconnecting the fluid connector and leaving only the base attached to the patient.
Many prior art infusion assemblies use septums, piercable with a needle. The septums perform one or more functions. For example, prior art infusion assemblies use a septum with a hollow needle for repeatedly piercing the septum. The piercing needle is normally a part of the fluid connector and adapted for delivery of a fluid from a remote reservoir through the needle to the patient. The base assembly usually includes a cannula which will receive the fluid and introduce it into the patient. The prior art shows that the septums also receive an insertion needle for initially affixing the infusion assembly to the patient.
One of the typical functions of a septum is to releasably seal a chamber, usually within a base assembly, when a needle is urged through it and subsequently removed. A septum may be disk shaped or tabular shaped and defines a wall that seals or separates two cavities. It is typically soft enough to be pierced repeatedly by a needle and reform its shape when the needle is removed. It may or may not include a self sealing slit. Further, the walls of the septum are typically under some compression such that when a needle is removed, resiliency will allow the septum to reform its integrity and maintain the seal between two cavities.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a base assembly includes a septum. The base assembly has a cannula, and the cannula has a lumen axis. A septum in the base assembly aligned with the lumen axis is provided so that the insertion needle may be used to pierce the septum, passing through the cannula and setting the infusion assembly onto the patient. In the septum, vertical and horizontal channels are typically provided. The vertical channel is generally vertical with respect to the flat bottom of the base and the horizontal channel is horizontal with respect to the base. The vertical and horizontal channels are in fluid communication. The junction of the two channels is below that section of the septum intended for receiving the insertion needle.
Also provided is a novel fluid connector for pivotal engagement with the base assembly. The fluid connector has a fluid channel therein. The base assembly and the fluid connector are adapted such that the fluid connector may move from a first (non-operational) position to a second position (operational). The operational position provides fluid engagement with the horizontal channel of the base assembly to the fluid channel in the fluid connector. That is, the base assembly and the fluid connector are designed such that they pivotally engage to move the fluid connector from an operational position wherein the fluid channel therein is in axial alignment and in fluid communication with the horizontal channel of the base assembly (sometimes also referred to as a "use" or "down" position) to a non-operational position wherein the fluid channel of the fluid connector is parallel to the vertical channel of the base assembly and perpendicular to the horizontal channel of the base assembly (sometimes also referred to as the "nonuse" or "up" position).
Another feature of the present invention is a hinged leg having a foot section extending perpendicularly therefrom. The hinged leg may be part of the base assembly. In a first position biased upwardly and adjacent a fluid entry portal in the septum, the foot of the hinged leg blocks the entry portal to prevent material from entry or exit from the portal. In this blocking position, the fluid connector is not engaged with the septum and fluid is not communicating through the base assembly into the patient. When the fluid connector is engaged with the base assembly in operational positions, the hinged leg is urged downwardly and the foot is no longer blocking the entry portal. When the fluid connector is aligned in this arrangement fluid may be delivered through the infusion assembly and into the patient.

Low profile, pivotal connection infusion assembly


A manufacturing device of a semiconductor package includes: a holding element for holding a substrate; a bonding element for holding the package and bonding a first metal bump of the package to a second metal bump of the substrate; a monitoring element for irradiating an infrared light toward the substrate and monitoring an electrode pad under the second metal bump based on a reflected light reflected on the pad; and a determination element for determining a state of a bonding surface between the first and second metal bumps based on monitoring information of the pad. The monitoring element faces the bonding element through the holding element, the substrate and the package.

For example, a technique described in JP-A-2001-60605 is formerly known as the manufacturing device of the semiconductor package and the manufacturing method of the semiconductor package of this kind. In this technique, for example, a wiring electrode constructed by aluminum (Al) is first formed on a semiconductor package surface. On the other hand, a metallic bump constructed by e.g., gold (Au) is formed on an electrode pad arranged on a mounting substrate and constructed by e.g., aluminum (Al). When the semiconductor package is mounted to the mounting substrate, the wiring electrode of the semiconductor package and the metallic bump of the mounting substrate are opposed and come in contact with each other. Pressure and ultrasonic vibration are then applied to these wiring electrode and metallic bump. As its result, the wiring electrode and the metallic bump are joined in a solid phase, and an Au—Al alloy film is generated. Thus, the semiconductor package is mounted to the mounting substrate by a so-called flip chip joining method.
In such a related art, the above semiconductor package is formed from a material (e.g., silicon, etc.) able to transmit infrared light in advance. Next, after a joining process of the wiring electrode and the metallic bump is terminated, these are conveyed to equipment different from equipment executing this joining process, and an image of the joining portion of the wiring metal and the metallic bump is picked up by using e.g., the infrared light over the above semiconductor package. As an inspecting process, a state of the joining portion of the wiring electrode and the metallic bump is then inspected on the basis of image information obtained in this way. Thus, the state of the joining portion is inspected as an independent inspecting process after the joining process. Therefore, the semiconductor package evaluated as an unpreferable state of the joining portion is not flowed to a subsequent process, but can be excluded. The semiconductor package evaluated as a preferable state of the joining portion can be flowed to the subsequent process. In its turn, generation of an inferior product can be restrained. However, after the termination of the joining process, it is necessary to convey the above semiconductor package to the different equipment for executing the inspecting process. Therefore, a reduction of production efficiency of the semiconductor package is caused.
Thus, it is required to provide a manufacturing device of the semiconductor package and a manufacturing method of the semiconductor package able to improve production efficiency while the generation of an inferior product is restrained.

Manufacturing device of semiconductor package and manufacturing method of semiconductor package


A wireless-communication system includes a first network and a second network (e.g., an EV-DO network and a 1xRTT network, respectively). A wireless-communication-system entity determines that a mobile station is engaged in a first type of communication (e.g., a voice call) via the first network. In response to making the determination, the entity configures the second network to send second-network data (e.g., 1xRTT page messages) to the mobile station via an inter-network connection interface.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
A typical cellular wireless network may include a number of base stations that radiate to define wireless coverage areas, such as sectors and cells, in which mobile stations such as cell phones, tablet computers, tracking devices, embedded wireless modules, and other wirelessly-equipped communication devices can operate. In turn, each base station may be communicatively coupled to network infrastructure that provides connectivity to one or more transport networks such as the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and/or the Internet. With this arrangement, a mobile station within coverage of a wireless network may engage in air-interface communication with a base station and may thereby communicate via the base station with various remote network entities or with other mobile stations served by the base station.
In general, a cellular wireless network may operate in accordance with a particular air-interface protocol or "radio access technology," with communications from the base stations to mobile stations defining a downlink or forward link and communications from the mobile stations to the base stations defining an uplink or reverse link. Examples of existing air-interface protocols include Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) protocols such as IS-95, 1xRTT, and Enhanced Voice-Data Only (EV-DO); Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) protocols such as General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) and Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE); Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS); Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS); Long-Term Evolution (LTE); Wi-Fi; and Bluetooth. Each protocol may define its own procedures for registration of mobile stations, initiation of communications, handoff between coverage areas, and functions related to air-interface communication.
In accordance with the air-interface protocol, each coverage area may operate on one or more carrier frequencies and may define a number of air-interface channels for carrying information between the base station and mobile stations. Each carrier represents a physical transmission interface, i.e., a frequency used to transmit data, while a logical channel is used to transmit data, organize transmitted data, and identify each data type (such as traffic, control, and broadcast data). Forward-link and reverse-link communication may occur on respectively different carriers.
Each coverage area may define a forward-link control channel (or "forward paging channel") used to transmit messages such as call setup procedures and registration instructions. Each carrier in a coverage area may include several forward paging channels, and each mobile station may be associated with at least one forward paging channel. The mobile-station forward-paging-channel assignments in a base station coverage area may be distributed over the available forward paging channels.
Mobile stations may be configured to periodically monitor their associated forward paging channel during an assigned time slot. The frequency at which a mobile station monitors its associated forward paging channel could vary, perhaps from once every few hundred milliseconds to once every several minutes.

Methods and systems for suppressing tune away of mobile stations


A method for the preparation of sevoflurane which comprises (a) providing a liquid mixture of (CF.sub.3).sub.2 CHOCH.sub.2 Cl, hydrogen fluoride, and an amine and (b) reacting the mixture, to form (CF.sub.3).sub.2 CHOCH.sub.2 F.

The development of fluorine substituted volatile anesthetics has revolutionized surgery. The fluorine substituted volatile anesthetics which are now available have properties which approach ideal drug behavior. In use, the fluorinated volatile anesthetics are inhaled by a patient, dissolve in the patient's blood and rapidly produce unconsciousness. Unconsciousness is maintained while administration is continued, and upon discontinuing administration they are exhaled. As the anesthetics are exhaled, the patient returns to consciousness. An ideal fluorine containing volatile anesthetic produces quality anesthesia, has rapid onset, rapid recovery, muscle relaxation, sedation, and analgesia.
Commercially available volatile fluorinated anesthetics include desflurane (CF.sub.3 CHFOCHF.sub.2), enflurane (CHClFCF.sub.2 OCHF.sub.2), halothane (CF.sub.3 CHBrCl), isoflurane (CF.sub.3 CHCIOCHF.sub.2) and sevoflurane ((CF.sub.3).sub.2 CHOCH.sub.2 F). The physical properties of volatile fluorinated anesthetics are important to the anesthesiologist. These physical properties include boiling point, specific gravity, vapor density, vapor pressure, oil/gas partition coefficient and blood/gas partition coefficient (percent of the anesthetic found in a known quantity of blood versus the percent found in a known volume of atmosphere above the blood sample). The blood-gas partition coefficient is considered to be particularly important, as it serves as a significant aid in predicting the time a patient needs to awaken from anesthesia.
Although each of the molecules depicted above has its own unique characteristics that provide a set of parameters needed to commercially develop it as an anesthetic, the chemical properties and chemical purity of the fluorinated volatile anesthetic are particularly important. Of particular interest is the general reactivity of the compound, as well as the stability of the anesthetic to light, air, soda-lime, and a variety of metals and nonmetallic materials which may contact the anesthetic during a normal surgical procedure. Additionally, the minimum flammable concentration of the anesthetic in pure oxygen, or 70% nitrous oxide and 30% oxygen, must be determined to ensure that it is well out of the range of the effective concentration of anesthetic used in surgery.
The chemical purity of the fluorine substituted volatile anesthetic is of utmost importance, requiring clean methods of production and extensive manufacturing controls. Additionally, the synthesis of these anesthetics requires consideration of many factors not normally encountered in the medicinal chemistry arena, i.e., the need to produce millions of pounds of pharmaceuticals with the highest standards of purity. In contrast to volatile anesthetics, many drugs are typically administered in milligram quantities. As a result, a fraction of a percent of an impurity in a few milligrams of a drug can be easily eliminated by the patient. However, since 10 to 50 grams of a volatile anesthetic are typically used during the course of a normal surgical procedure, the same concentration of impurity can reach a toxic level. Accordingly, it is highly desirable to find synthetic routes that give high purity fluorine substituted volatile anesthetics.
The compound 1,1, 1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropyl fluoromethyl ether (also known as sevoflurane) is an important volatile anesthetic agent particularly suited for administration to patients during outpatient surgery. Sevoflurane is known to provide patients with a rapid rate of recovery from the anesthesia. An additional advantage of this anesthetic agent is that it can be used as an induction agent since it is not pungent and allows a rapid and smooth induction without breath holding or laryngospasm as may occur with other inhalation agents. A smooth uneventful induction is especially valuable for pediatric anesthesia where the use of intravenous induction agents can result in numerous problems and is often contraindicated.
A number of methods of preparing 1,1, 1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropyl fluoromethyl ether have been described. U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,092 describes four methods of preparation, three of which start with 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropyl methyl ether. This ether is a well known compound, the preparation of which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,911,024. The specific reaction chemistries disclosed in the '092 patent are summarized below: EQU (CF.sub.3).sub.2 CHOCH.sub.3 +Cl.sub.2 .fwdarw.(CF.sub.3).sub.2 CHOCH.sub.2 Cl.fwdarw.(CF.sub.3).sub.2 CHOCH.sub.2 F (1)
In equation (1), the chlorinated ether is converted to the fluorinated form by reacting it in the presence of potassium fluoride (KF) in sulfolane. EQU 6 (CF.sub.3).sub.2 CHOCH.sub.2 Cl+2 BrF.sub.3 .fwdarw.6 (CF.sub.3).sub.2 CHOCH.sub.2 F+3 Cl.sub.2 +Br.sub.2 (2) EQU 3 (CF.sub.3).sub.2 CHOCH.sub.3 +2 BrF.sub.3 .fwdarw.3(CF.sub.3).sub.2 CHOCH.sub.2 F+3 HF+Br.sub.2 (3)
None of the three routes above are suitable for economical large scale manufacture. The method employing potassium fluoride requires high temperatures and long reaction times. The other two methods require the use of expensive and dangerous bromine trifluoride.
The fourth method described in the '092 patent starts with 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol which is reacted with hydrogen fluoride and formaldehyde in a fluoromethylation reaction as shown in reaction (4): EQU (CF.sub.3).sub.2 CHOH+CH.sub.2 O+HF.fwdarw.(CF.sub.3).sub.2 CHOCH.sub.2 F+H.sub.2 O (4)
Although reaction (4) uses economical reagents and is potentially attractive in a commercial synthesis, yields are poor due to the formation of polyether byproducts.
Several other methods for preparation of 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropyl fluoromethyl ether have also been reported. For example, a direct fluorination reaction using elemental fluorine in argon was reported in U.S. Pat. No. 3,897,502. The reaction is shown in equation (5) below: EQU (CF.sub.3).sub.2 CHOCH.sub.3 .fwdarw.(CF.sub.3).sub.2 CHOCH.sub.2 F (5)
The reaction of equation (5) is carried out in the presence of fluorine (F.sub.2) and argon. The method of the '502 patent is not suitable for large scale commercial synthesis since yields are not good and the method uses elemental fluorine, an expensive and difficult to handle reagent.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,874,901 discloses a halogen exchange reaction using NaF under supercritical conditions (temperature: 250-325.degree. C., pressure: 60 to 80 atmospheres) as described in reaction (6) below: EQU (CF.sub.3).sub.2 CHOCH.sub.2 Cl+NaF.fwdarw.(CF.sub.3).sub.2 CHOCH.sub.2 F (6)
The utility of the method of the '901 patent is limited because of the extremely high temperatures and pressures required.
A fluorodecarboxylation synthesis was reported in U.S. Pat. No. 4,996,371 as shown in equation (7): EQU (CF.sub.3).sub.2 CHOH +C1CH.sub.2 COOH.fwdarw. EQU (CF.sub.3).sub.2 CHOCH.sub.2 COOH+BrF.sub.3 .fwdarw.(CF.sub.3).sub.2 CHOCH.sub.2 F (7)
Again, the method of the '371 patent uses the expensive and dangerous bromine trifluoride reactant and is not suitable for commercial manufacture.
Another even more expensive synthesis using large quantities of bromine trifluoride is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,874,902. The reaction chemistry of the '902 patent is exemplified below: EQU (CCl.sub.3).sub.2 CHOH.fwdarw.(CCl.sub.3).sub.2 CHOCH.sub.3 .fwdarw. EQU (CCl.sub.3).sub.2 CHOCH.sub.2 Cl+BrF.sub.3 .fwdarw.(CF.sub.3).sub.2 CHOCH.sub.2 F (8)
A further method of synthesis claimed to be suitable for manufacture of 1,1,1,3,3,3 hexafluoroisopropyl fluoromethyl ether on a large scale is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,250,334; this method starts with hexafluoroisopropanol and uses hydrogen fluoride and sulfuric acid as reactants as shown in equation (9): EQU (CF.sub.3).sub.2 CHOH+CH.sub.2 O+HF+H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 .fwdarw.(CF.sub.3).sub.2 CHOCH.sub.2 F (9)
Although yields of 90% are claimed, conversions are only 33 to 38%. The method of the '334 patent suffers the further disadvantage that a large stoichiometric excesses of formaldehyde, hydrogen fluoride, and sulfuric acid are required. The use of such excesses could result in large amounts of hazardous waste byproducts containing formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. It is also possible that this waste product would contain bis-fluoromethyl ether, structurally related to the carcinogenic bis-chloromethyl ether.
Synthesis of fluoroethers has been reported in DE 2823969 A1. As taught in that publication, a number of chloromethyl ethyl and chloromethyl n-propyl ethers were reacted with amines and anhydrous hydrogen fluoride to give the corresponding fluoromethyl ethers. Example 1 of the '969 publication is given in equation (10): EQU CF.sub.3 CHFCF.sub.2 OCH.sub.2 Cl+(Et).sub.3 N+HF.fwdarw.CF.sub.3 CHFCF.sub.2 OCH.sub.2 F (10)
However, the reaction of the more sterically hindered and predictably less reactive isopropyl chloromethylethers was not reported.
It would therefore be desirable to have a synthesis of 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropyl fluoromethyl ether which does not use expensive reagents, such as elemental fluorine or bromine trifluoride, does not involve the use of high temperatures and pressures, and does not create large amounts of hazardous waste as a byproduct.

Method for the preparation of sevoflurane


Disclosed is a driving device capable of stably operating a plurality of actuators.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a driving device that drives a driven member and an optical apparatus including the driving device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A driving device has been known which includes actuators, each having a piezoelectric element that is expanded or contracted in response to a driving signal, and outputs the driving signal to each of the actuators to move a driven member (for example, see JP-A-11-155292). The driving device disclosed in JP-A-11-155292 stores the waveforms of the driving signals, changes the waveforms of the driving signals on the basis of a driving direction and a driving speed, and supplies the changed driving signals to the piezoelectric elements, thereby controlling the actuators.
The driving device disclosed in JP-A-11-155292 adopts a control method of repeatedly changing the operational state of each actuator between a driving state and a stop state in order to precisely move the driven member. In addition, when only one driving state and only one stop state are arranged between movement amount check times, there is a large difference between an expected value and an actual movement amount. Therefore, the following control method (decimation driving) is considered: a plurality of pulse signals continuously input to an actuator are decimated at a predetermined timing to set a plurality of stop states, and a driving state and a stop state are repeated between movement amount check times to reduce the difference between an expected value and an actual movement amount.
However, when the above-mentioned decimation driving method is applied to the driving device disclosed in JP-A-11-155292 to control a plurality of actuators at the same time, in the stop state, no current is consumed by the driving device. However, in the driving state, a current is supplied to all the actuators at the same time, and the instantaneous current consumed by the entire driving device is increased. As a result, the current consumption of a power supply becomes unstable, and the operation of the actuator becomes unstable.

Abstract: Control units supply driving signals to piezoelectric elements to control actuators such that the actuators repeatedly change their operational states between a driving state and a stop state. In addition, the control units control the actuators to enter the stop state at different timings. As such, since the actuators enter the stop state at different timings, it is possible to reduce or prevent the situation that all of the actuators stop at the same time by shifting the use timing of a power supply circuit. In addition, it is possible to reduce or prevent the situation that all of the actuators are driven at the same time and a current is supplied to all the actuators at the same time.