A remote control method comprises: providing a receiving device electrically connected with a display device; the receiving device establishing wireless communication connections respectively with a mobile internet device and a computer; a user inputting a control instruction to the mobile internet device to transmit the control instruction to the receiving device therefrom; the receiving device forwarding the control instruction to the computer; and the computer responding to the control instruction and transmitting a screen frame to the receiving device for the display device to output the screen frame. The remote control method may simplify the operating procedures for switching computers and enhance the communication quality between the mobile internet device and the computer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a remote control method, and more particularly to a remote control method for a mobile internet device to control a remote computer through a wireless area network.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A prior art remote control method requires a user to use a physical keyboard or mouse to operate a remote computer. However, the wireless keyboard or mouse not only increases the expense of the user but also consumes space. Besides, it may not be as convenient to operate the wireless keyboard or mouse in some environment, such as on a couch in a living room.
During the recent years, mobile internet devices (MID) such as smart phones, tablet PCs and the like have gained widespread popularity rapidly. Another prior art remote control method had also been developed. Referring to FIG. 1, a mobile internet device 10 may be capable of simulating a mouse or keyboard, and a user may then input to the mobile internet device 10 a mouse/keyboard instruction MKC, which is then transmitted to a remote computer 30 through a wireless communication interface on the mobile internet device 10. A screen frame SF of the computer 30 may be wirelessly transmitted to a receiving device 20 and the receiving device 20 sends the screen frame SF to a display device 40 for display. In such way, the user located in a living room may then operate the computer 30 in a home office or bedroom and view the results of the operation on the display device 40 (such as a TV). However, such remote control method has the following disadvantages: 1) since the mobile internet device 10 and the computer 30 are located in different rooms, there exists obstacles such as walls which may cause inferior connection quality; 2) in order to accommodate mobile internet devices 10 of different platforms, software applications corresponding to the platforms would need to be respectively installed on the computer 30; 3) if the user intends to operate another computer 30a, the user must disconnect the mobile internet device 10 and the receiving device 20 from the computer 30, and re-establish a connection with the computer 30a, a drawback in convenience of operation.
In summary, it is highly desirable the remote control process being simplified so as to facilitate operations of a user.

Remote control method, and system, receiving device, mobile internet device and recording medium for implementing the same


A wind measurement apparatus includes an upright post with an elongated swing arm pivotally connected to the upper end of the post and freely rotatable on a vertical pivot axis. A fin on the swing arm will direct the swing arm in the direction of the wind. A streamer attached to the rearward end of the swing arm will demonstrate the relative velocity of the wind.

(Not applicable)
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to wind vanes, and more particularly to an improved wind vane which shows both wind direction and approximate wind speed.
(2) Background Information
Various forms of wind measurement apparatus have been known for many years. The early wind vanes typically included a flat upright member sculpted to take the form of an animal or other desired shape, with an arrow which would point the vane in the direction from which the wind was coming.
While such wind vanes were effective in determining the direction of the wind, they were not designed to give an indication of the relative velocity of the wind, or in showing a previous direction of the wind.
It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved wind measurement apparatus.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved wind measurement apparatus which shows both wind direction and relative wind velocity.
A further object is to provide an improved wind measurement apparatus which is capable of showing a prior wind direction.
Still another object is to provide an improved wind measurement apparatus which is economical to manufacture and sturdy in construction.
These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
The wind measurement apparatus of the present invention includes an upright post with an elongated swing arm pivotally connected to the upper end of the post and freely rotatable on a vertical pivot axis. A fin on the swing arm will direct the swing arm in the direction of the wind. A streamer attached to the rearward end of the swing arm demonstrate the relative velocity of the wind.


Method, system, IC and design structure for meeting a performance requirement using redundant critical path circuits, are disclosed. In one embodiment, the IC includes a plurality of redundant critical path circuits, wherein at least one of the plurality of redundant critical path circuits meeting a performance requirement is operational and the others are non-operational.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure relates generally to integrated circuit (IC) chip fabrication and design, and more particularly, to a method, system, IC and design structure for meeting a performance requirement using redundant critical path circuits.
2. Background Art
In the integrated circuit (IC) fabrication industry, miniaturization of circuitry continues. As this occurs, process variability has become increasingly troublesome. For example, at smaller geometries (e.g., 90 nm, 65 nm or 45 nm technology nodes) absolute errors in oxide thickness, length and other dimensions present a larger percentage of errors. Further, worst case performance is not scaling at the same rate as circuit density, and significant variation can be observed within a single IC. Currently, most IC fabricators focus on maximizing performance of a given critical path, e.g., by increasing voltage, maintaining temperature, etc.

Redundant critical path circuits to meet performance requirement

International Business Machines Corporation


A lamp assembly for a vehicle is integrally formed in a vehicle panel which includes a concave recess for receiving a lamp socket and lamp. A plurality of lens receiving slots extend around the periphery of the concave recess for snap-fitting a lens to the panel. In a preferred embodiment, the concave recess is offset by a peripheral convex rim to position the lens toward the vehicle interior. In a preferred embodiment also, the panel is a vehicle headliner and the concave recess includes an aperture for receiving a spring clip which mounts a lamp socket to the headliner within the concave recess.

The present invention relates to an auxiliary light for a vehicle such as an automobile and particularly one which does not require a mounting bezel.
Vehicles typically include a variety of interior lighting such as overhead dome lights and door panel lights to assist ingress and egress, map reading lights and the like. In the past, such lighting assemblies have frequently been manufactured by companies specializing in light assemblies who provide them to automotive manufacturers for subsequent assembly into a finished vehicle. Such assemblies have, accordingly, been self-contained and will typically include a lamp housing with a trim bezel and a removable lens for access to fasteners for securing the housing to the vehicle support structure. Frequently, the lamp housing will also include a separate reflector for the bulb which adds another component to the lamp assembly. The resultant structure, although functioning well to providing illumination to the vehicle interior, is a complex, multi-component unit which is both costly in terms of parts and material but also in terms of assembly labor and subsequent installation in the vehicle or a subcomponent of the vehicle.
With the integration of vehicle parts such as door panels and headliners which are now frequently being supplied by a single manufacturer, the assembly of such prior art lamp structures is easier since they can be preassembled prior to the installation of the main vehicle panel into the vehicle during assembly. Nonetheless, the cost of such prior art assemblies and their assembly itself remains high.


A polycarbonate composition comprising a polycarbonate-polysiloxane copolymer resin and a glass flake additive wherein the polycarbonate-polysiloxane copolymer resin has a silicone content in the range of from 3.5 weight % to 7 weight % based on the total weight of the polycarbonate composition and wherein the polycarbonate-polysiloxane copolymer has a haze of less than 10% and wherein the glass flake additive is present in the range of 0.025 weight % to 0.70 weight % based on the total weight of the polycarbonate composition.

This application relates to a transparent article having a metallic flake appearance and having a high impact performance at low temperature conditions. Specifically, this application relates to compositions that possess low temperature ductility comprising metal oxide-coated or metal-coated glass platelets dispersed within a transparent polysiloxane-polycarbonate copolymer resin matrix, methods to make such compositions and articles derived from these compositions and methods, which articles possess low temperature ductility.
As thermoplastics become increasingly important in the marketplace, producers have sought to differentiate their products by making them more visually exciting to the customer. One desirable look for thermoplastics is a metal flake appearance. This appearance can be described as the look one could imagine if small pieces of very shiny metal were dispersed in molten glass, and the glass subsequently cooled. The flakes have a bright metallic glint, but one can perceive clear spaces between the flakes such that these regions of the article are completely transparent.
United States Statutory Invention Registration, US H1975 H, describes a thermoplastic article having a metallic flake appearance and a means of producing a thermoplastic article having a metallic flake appearance by extruding a thermoplastic polymer together with an amount of metal-oxide coated glass platelets effective to provide a metal flake appearance.
Previous thermoplastic compositions with metal oxide-coated glass platelets possessed poor impact performance (i.e., resistance to shattering upon impact), especially when subjected to low temperature conditions. The cause of this poor impact performance was thought to be due to an interaction of the metal oxide-coated platelet with the thermoplastic resin. It was surmised that the metal oxide-coated platelets served as stress concentrators in an impact situation, leading to easy breakage of an article containing them. Even the use of a high impact strength thermoplastic resin, such as a polycarbonate resin, did not eliminate the breakage issue. The impact problem becomes more severe as the temperature of the surroundings is reduced and as the amount of metal platelets is increased.
The reduction of impact strength of thermoplastic articles, which contain metal oxide coated platelets adversely impacts their market acceptance and commercial growth. For example, the use of articles with a metal flake appearance in many automotive interior applications is substantially limited because automotive producers require that only high impact strength thermoplastics be used in automotive interiors to prevent shattered plastic from causing injury to passengers in an automobile accident. The loss of impact strength for articles with a metal-oxide coated platelets also limits their use in many outdoor applications, for example outdoor postal boxes, where low temperature impact performance is critical.
The compositions and methods according to the present invention provide articles with both the desirable metal flake appearance and the high impact performance especially in low temperature environments.

Highly ductile polycarbonate composition having a metallic-flake appearance


A method and a device for managing a node includes: initiating, by an application program, a first request by calling an interface function, where the first request is used to perform an operation on a feature node in a kernel; searching, based on a keyword of the interface function, a table used for node management for an entry corresponding to the feature node, where the entry includes a node identifier of the feature node and a user handle identifier of the feature node; and performing, by the user program, the operation on the feature node based on the user handle identifier. A program running in user space can be prevented from directly accessing a feature node in kernel space, thereby improving system security.

In an ANDROID™ system, a kernel is increasingly frequently upgraded. However, due to an original mechanism of the kernel, an entire kernel system is replaced even if one or some functions are upgraded and modified during an upgrade of the kernel. Based on this, a modular policy is used in a latest ANDROID™ version, and hardware and software are completely separated, so as to ensure that a software version used by a user is not limited by a chip platform, thereby achieving an independent upgrade between function modules.
A kernel object (Kernel Object, ko) technology actually implements functions (or referred to as features) by using kernel objects, so that the kernel can support a feature by dynamically loading a ko of the feature. In this way, an ANDROID™ community can maintain a latest kernel version, and once a problem such as a security vulnerability is found, modification can be performed in a timely manner through an independent upgrade, which does not affect an original function of a device, and can repair the security vulnerability in a timely manner.
A LINUX™ kernel currently supports dynamic loading and offloading functions of a module. A compiled kernel feature object (for example, XXX.ko) may be loaded to a memory of the system by using an insmod command, so that the kernel supports the feature. If the feature is not required, the feature may be removed from the memory by using an rmmod command. Other features of the kernel are not affected in the foregoing process.
In the foregoing process, the kernel needs to create a node, so that a program in user space accesses the feature of the kernel. The node may be referred to as a feature node, a kernel node, or a function node. Currently, a node that is usually loaded by using insmod is installed in a/sys/module directory of the kernel. In addition, a name of the node is preset in the program and does not change. In this way, a program in any user space can sense the node and access the node. A parameter in the node may be usually used to control behavior of the feature of the kernel. Consequently, convenience is provided for some malicious programs, and system security is affected.

Method and device for dynamically managing kernel node


Example systems, methods and storage media to provide a cross-enterprise workflow among clinical systems are disclosed. An example cross-enterprise enabled clinical information system includes a workflow manager to coordinate user workflows with respect to the system and associated content. The system includes an image services manager configured to manage images and associated services for the system and associated content. The workflow manager and image services manager are configured for cross-enterprise content sharing such that the system is to locally authenticate a user at the system and the system is to locally authorize a remote request for access to content at the system from a remote user that has been authenticated remotely. The system is arranged to provide content in response to the remote request after the remote authentication has been received and the system has verified the remote user's authorization for access.

Healthcare practitioners may review medical exam results stored in information systems such as hospital information systems (HIS), radiology information systems (RIS), clinical information systems (CIS), cardiovascular information systems (CVIS, etc., and storage systems such as picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), library information systems (LIS), and electronic medical records (EMR). Information stored can include patient medication orders, medical histories, imaging data, test results, diagnosis information, management information, and/or scheduling information, for example. The healthcare practitioners may obtain the information from information systems included in the healthcare environment, such as hospitals or clinics, in which the practitioner practices (e.g., local information systems) or from information systems included in other healthcare environment(s) (e.g., foreign or remote information system(s)).


A fishing tackle organizer, usable alone or with a tackle box system, provides convenient storage and display of fishing tackle. The organizer includes an elongated body having a plurality of sites for securing tackle, and a back surface with means for securing the organizer to a desired structure, such as, for example, in a tackle box, on a boat, a fishing dock or in a garage. Each of the plurality of sites includes a hole in the elongated body and may include either a surface slot extending from the hole or a recessed upper surface to allow tackle to sit securely within the organizer. A door panel may also be provided to close over the body to retain tackle within the holes. The tackle box system is customizable and may include at least one of the disclosed organizers fixed or detachably positioned within a closable container.

It is not uncommon for fisherman to own hundreds, even thousands of different fishing tackle, including lures, jigs, crankbait, bobbers, hooks, etc. Such fishing tackle is typically initially sorted and stored within multiple tackle boxes. With respect to fishing lures and crankbait, special shallow tackle boxes having dividers are used to help reduce an acceptable amount of tangling and chaos. Eventually, with the ever constant addition of new tackle, the tangle of multi-barbed hooks and neon colored bodies become too difficult, too common, and too much for even the most diligent fishermen. The result is a collection of tackle in complete disarray. Finding "just the right" lure becomes next to impossible.
Even for organized tackle boxes which allow for hanging of tackle, stability can be an issue which slows the selection process. For tournament fishermen, time can be a critical factor in competition. The need is not just for an organized tackle box, but for feature that allows the full complement of a fisherman's tackle to be accessible during fishing. A stable and accessible location for the display of tackle would greatly enhance the experience as well.
In addition to the organization and time issues, most fish tackle, fresh from dangling in water for some time, is put away and stored wet. This can lead to odor, rust and even tackle degradation for some materials. Current tackle storage bins and boxes, even while providing drainage holes or slots, do not facilitate proper drying of tackle.
By providing a unique customized organizer with multiple beneficial features, capable of use with and without a customizable tackle box, the utility, tackle access, stability and overall sanitation and life of the tackle, as well as the enjoyment of the fishing experience by the user, are greatly improved. Until the invention of the present application, these and other problems in the prior art went either unnoticed or unsolved by those skilled in the art. The present invention provides unique organization, storage and stability to any fishing trip without sacrificing portability features, design, style or affordability.

Fishing lure organizer and tackle box system


An upper-body stabilization garment includes a front portion to contact a front upper-body region of a subject, and a rear portion to contact a rear upper-body region of the subject. A plurality of elastomeric strips form an X-pattern on the front and or rear of the garment. The strips forming the X-pattern have at least one end attached to a side seam of the garment.

The present invention relates to garments, and more particularly to garments known generally in the art as compression shirts or shoulder stabilization shirts.
Compression shirts are garments worn by individuals for a variety of purposes, but are primarily worn by active individuals and athletes participating in sports activities. Essentially, a compression shirt serves as a type of upper body girdle, providing compressive support to several areas of the wearer's body, including the shoulders, arms, torso, chest, back and abdomen areas. Compression shirts are often used by individuals during sports activities to reduce muscle fatigue, improve thermoregulation by wicking perspiration away from the body, and maintaining muscle warmth to reduce the potential for muscle strains. These garments may be worn by individuals as a preventative measure, or to provide additional support for areas weakened by injury.
Compression shirts are often manufactured using stretchable or elastomeric fabrics such as nylon, polyester, Lycra™ and Spandex™. Typically, a compression shirt is constructed such that this elastomeric fabric is placed in tension when the shirt is pulled onto the wearer's body, thereby providing some degree of compressive support for the wearer. The particular part of the body receiving this compressive support depends upon the nature of the construction of the garment.
Simple shirt's, although capable of providing some general level of compression to portions of a user's body, generally do not target such compression to a particular area of the wearer's body and not to others; rather, they simply "squeeze" whatever portion of the body the fabric overlies.
Further, such shirts do not′necessarily provide resistance to undesired ranges of movement. They do not provide any specific resistance to certain unidirectional and multidirectional motions. In many instances, limiting certain muscle and joint actions is very important when one is trying to heal from an injury such as a shoulder separation or rotator cuff tendonitis. Other prior art shirts have attempted to address disorders of the shoulder by adding various straining straps or fabric panels. Examples of shirts using straining straps or fabric panels are U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,937,442, 6,892,396, and 7,871,388. However, these shirts do not effectively limit certain muscle and joint actions for the arms, shoulders, and torso.
To prevent or treat shoulder injuries, special taping techniques to limit joint and muscle motions have been used for years in sports medicine. These taping techniques must be performed by persons possessing special skills and knowledge, and for hygienic reasons may only be used for short durations.
Until now there has not been a single garment that reproduces the arm, shoulder, and torso anatomy to provide specific unidirectional and multidirectional support to both muscle and joint action. There remains a pressing need for a compression shirt which is constructed to provide not only general compressive forces to the areas of the body covered by the shirt, but also to provide specific extra forces to certain areas of the body to limit certain undesired joint movements and muscle activities in the shoulders, arms, and torso. Specifically, a better upper body garment is needed for the prevention and treatment of shoulder instabilities, rotator cuff tendonitis, muscle weakness and strains, torso and abdominal muscle injuries, as well as for improving postural control.


A display device includes an inaction control circuit and a DCK-PLL circuit. The inaction control circuit stops driving of driving circuits, such as a signal line driving circuit, a scanning line driving circuit, analog circuit and the like, which are provided for driving an active matrix panel. The inaction control circuit stops the control circuits in a non-refresh period where all scanning lines become non-scanning state and provided between refresh periods for scanning a screen of the active matrix panel. The inaction control circuit also stops driving of the DCK-PLL circuit in the non-refresh period, in addition to stopping driving of the driving circuits.

Generally, as shown in FIG. 10, an active matrix display device includes an active matrix panel 101 having pixels aligned in a matrix manner, a signal line driving circuit 102 for driving a data signal line (not shown) in the active matrix panel 101, a scanning line driving circuit 103 for driving a scanning line (not shown) in the active matrix panel 101, a frame memory 104 for storing a digital image signal transferred to the signal line driving circuit 102, and an analog circuit 105 for generating a signal (level voltage) which converts a digital image signal into an analog signal at the signal line driving circuit 102.
The display device further includes a dot clock oscillation circuit (DCK oscillation circuit) 106, an H counter 107, and a V counter 108.
The DCK oscillation circuit 106 oscillates a dot clock for transferring a digital image signal stored in the frame memory 104 to the signal line driving circuit 102 on a frame by frame basis. The dot clock oscillated from the DCK oscillation circuit 106 is supplied to the signal line driving circuit 102 so as to be used as a sampling clock of an image signal.
Further, the dot clock oscillated from the DCK oscillation circuit 106 is also supplied to the H counter 107. The H counter 107 generates a horizontal synchronization series signal based on the dot clock which has been supplied, and this horizontal synchronization series signal is supplied to the signal line driving circuit 102 and the scanning line driving circuit 103.
The horizontal synchronization series signal is used in the signal line driving circuit 102 as an output timing signal of the image signal for determining output timing to the active matrix panel 101, and is used in the scanning line driving circuit 103 as an output timing signal of the scanning signal for determining output timing to an active matrix panel 101.
Further, the horizontal synchronization series signal generated in the H counter 107 is supplied to the V counter 108. The V counter 108 generates a vertical synchronization series signal from the horizontal synchronization series signal, and supplies this signal to the scanning line driving circuit 103 so as to be used as a timing signal for controlling scanning start timing of the scanning line.
FIG. 11 shows respective waveforms of a dot clock (DCK) oscillated in the DCK oscillation circuit 106, a horizontal synchronization series signal (Hsync) generated in the H counter 107 and a vertical synchronization series signal (V sync) generated in the V counter 108 in a display device having the foregoing arrangement.
Note that, since the DCK is higher in speed than the other signals (Hsync, Vsync), the period of this signal is dense (painted black) in the waveform shown in FIG. 11.
In the display device having the foregoing arrangement, the scanning signal line in the active matrix panel 101 is driven at the timings shown in FIG. 14(a). More specifically, the display device carries out display by sequentially applying a ON voltage to the scanning signal lines G(0), G(1), G(2), G(3), . . . so as to turn on TFTs connected to the respective scanning lines. Here, "a scanning period" designates a period where a given scanning line is on. Further, a retrace period is provided between the respective scanning periods.
However, assuming that the active matrix panel 101 is a hold-type display element, which is, for example, a TFT liquid crystal panel, a period for holding a charge by the liquid crystal may be provided between the respective scanning periods. Since the charge is held by the liquid crystal in this period, no voltage application is necessary to the liquid crystal. Therefore, the driving circuits for driving the active matrix panel 101 are not required to be driven in this period. This period is referred to as an inaction period.
A display device as an assumable example to realize such a driving method is shown in FIG. 12. This display device including an inaction control circuit 109 for stopping driving circuits, i.e., a signal line driving circuit 102, a scanning line driving circuit 103, and an analog circuit 105.
The inaction control circuit 109 generates a scan signal (Scan signal) shown in FIG. 13 from a horizontal synchronization series signal generated in the V counter 108, and supplies the Scan signal to the signal line driving circuit 102, the scanning line driving circuit 103, and the analog circuit 105.
The Scan signal is a binary signal whose level becomes high in the scanning period and becomes low in the inaction period. Accordingly, if the device is arranged to carry out operations of the signal line driving circuit 102, the scanning line driving circuit 103 and the analog circuit 105 when the level of the supplied Scan signal is high, and to stop their operations when the level is low, power consumption in the inaction period can be reduced. Such a technology is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 312253/2001 (published on Nov. 9, 2001 (Corresponding U.S. Pub. No. 2002/0180673A1)).
Here, with reference to FIGS. 15(a) and 15(b), the following will explain the respective power consumptions in case of performing the driving method for a display device shown in FIG. 14(a) and the driving method for a display device shown in FIG. 14(b).
FIG. 15(a) shows power consumption of the driving method for a display device shown in FIG. 14(a), and FIG. 15(b) shows power consumption of the driving method for a display device shown in FIG. 14(b).
In the driving method for a display device shown in FIG. 14(a), the all circuits included in the display device are always in operation, and therefore, as shown in FIG. 15(a), power consumption in one frame period is equal to the average power consumption of the display device. In this case, it is assumed that power consumption in one frame period is 10 mW.
On the other hand, in the driving method for a display device shown in FIG. 14(b), among the circuits included in the display device, the signal line driving circuit 102, the scanning line driving circuit 103 and the analog circuit 105 are controlled to stop their operations in a non-refresh period (the inaction period), and therefore the power consumption is high in a refresh period (the scanning period) and low in the non-refresh period, thus reducing average power consumption of the display device.
Incidentally, since the display device shown in FIG. 12 is arranged so that a signal (horizontal synchronization series signal, vertical synchronization series signal) for determining a frame for scanning and a frame for non-scanning is generated based on a dot clock from the DCK oscillation circuit 106, the DCK oscillation circuit 106 is driven even in the non-refresh period.
Besides, the DCK oscillation circuit 106 consumes great power due to the function for generating a high-speed clock such as a timing clock used in the refresh period for determining such as writing timing.
Therefore, even though reduction of the average power consumption is attempted by using the driving method for a display device shown in FIG. 14(b) which can reduce power consumption in the inaction period, the operation of the DCK oscillation circuit 106 which consumes more power than the other driving circuits (the signal line driving circuit 102, the scanning line driving circuit 103 and the analog circuit 105) in the non-refresh period prevents the power consumption in the non-refresh period from being greatly reduced.
For example, when the DCK oscillation circuit 106 operates at 500 kHz, the power consumption is found as 2 mW according to the graph shown in FIG. 16. That is, the average power consumption in the non-refresh period shown in FIG. 15(b) becomes close to 2 mW.
Here, assuming that the power consumption in the refresh period is 10 mW, and the power consumption ratio of the refresh period to the non-refresh period is 1:9, the average power consumption is found as follows.(10 mW×1+2 mW×9)/10=2.8 mW.
If the ratio of non refresh period is increased, the average power consumption can be decreased; however, the average power consumption still only becomes closer to 2 mW, i.e., the power consumption in the non-scanning period, and the reduction cannot go further. More specifically, it is impossible to reduce the power consumption less than the power consumed in the circuits operating in the non-refresh period.

Display device and driving method thereof


An end surface portion 8a of a gear housing 8, which is located on a motor unit 2 side of the gear housing 8, is opposed to the motor unit 2 and laterally extends. A brush holder 10 includes a plate portion 13 that is opposed to the end surface portion 8a. A case 15, which receives the control circuit board 14, is formed separately from the plate portion 13. A receiving through hole, through which the circuit board receiver 15 is receivable, is formed in the plate portion 13. The case 15 is constructed to be positionable next to the yoke 5 in a state where the case 15 is received through the receiving through hole. The yoke 5, the gear housing 8, the brush holder 10, the control circuit board 14 and the case 15 are assembleable in a direction parallel to an axial direction of the motor unit 2. The control circuit board 14 projects from the gear housing 8 on the motor unit 2 side, and a projected part of the control circuit board 14, which projects from the gear housing 8 on the motor unit 2 side, is received in the case 15. In this way, in the motor that integrally includes the motor unit, the speed reducing unit and the control circuit board, the gear housing of the speed reducing unit can be made compact, and the assembly work can be simplified.

Motors include, for example, a vehicular motor. In general, the vehicular motor includes a motor unit and a speed reducing unit, and the speed reducing unit decelerates the motor unit and is assembled integrally with the motor unit. The motor unit includes a yoke housing, which receives, for example, an armature and magnets. The speed reducing unit includes a resin gear housing, which receives a speed reducing worm mechanism that decelerates rotation transmitted from the armature.
one such motor is referred to as a smart type motor, which includes a control circuit board that controls rotation of the motor unit. There are various known motor arrangements, each of which includes the control circuit board. In one known arrangement (hereinafter, referred to as an arrangement 1), the control circuit board is received integrally in, for example, the gear housing. In another known arrangement (hereinafter, referred to as an arrangement 2), the control circuit board is modularized and is formed as a separate component, which is formed separately from the motor unit and the speed reducing unit, and the control circuit board is assembled integrally to the motor unit or to the speed reducing unit.
However, in the arrangement 1, a receiver, which receives the control circuit board, is formed integrally in the gear housing, so that a size of the gear housing is disadvantageously increased. Furthermore, the gear housing, which has the receiver for receiving the control circuit board, is not interchangeable with a gear housing of another type of motor, which does not integrally include the control circuit board, i.e., a gear housing of a normal type motor. Thus, versatility of the gear housing cannot be achieved, disadvantageously resulting in an increase in the manufacturing costs.
In the arrangement 2, assembling of the yoke housing with the gear housing is performed separately from assembling of the circuit board housing, which receives the control circuit board, with the yoke housing or the gear housing. Thus, the entire assembly work disadvantageously becomes lengthy.
The present invention addresses the above disadvantages. Thus, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a motor, which integrally includes a motor unit, a speed reducing unit and a control circuit board and which achieves a compact size of a gear housing of the speed reducing unit and achieves simplification of assembly work.


A tree stand, for attaching onto a tree and creating an elevated platform thereon, comprising a platform having a pair of side members, a pair of seat supports pivotally attached to the platform, a bracing system for fixing an angle between the platform and side members, and a pair of upper levelers and a pair of lower levelers. The lower levelers extend from the side members and adjust to the contours of the tree. The upper levelers extend from the seat supports and further aid adjustment to the contours of the tree. The bracing system is adjustable to adjust the angle between the platforms and seat supports. A seat assembly is mounted to the seat supports and provides height adjustment to the user. The adjustability of the upper levelers, lower levelers, and bracing system help ensure that a horizontal platform can be achieved despite trees of varying configurations and lean angles.

The invention relates to a self leveling tree stand. More particularly, the invention relates to a tree stand which provides a portable platform which may be quickly and easily mounted in a tree, and which has several leveling adaptations to create a level platform despite the formation and lean angle of the tree.
Tree stands are often used by hunters, nature observers, photographers, and campers to achieve a higher vantage point than could be obtained while at ground level. Once securely mounted in a tree, the stand gives the user to ability to see for further distances as well as see terrain which would otherwise be obscured by undergrowth. When used for hunting in particular, the stand provides the hunter with an advantage, since the senses of many wild animals are naturally attuned to dangers at ground level, making it less likely that the hunter will be detected by the game.
Various stands are available on the market which will provide a comfortable and safe platform when used on a tree having a certain angle and a certain configuration. However, it is well known that trees grow in an infinite number of configurations. May of these configurations are either incompatible with these tree stands, or may be used with these tree stands with less than ideal results.
Generally when using a tree stand, it is desirable that the platform and seat is perfectly level. A level tree stand gives the user the greatest sense of security and perhaps the greatest amount of actual safety.
Accordingly, several attempts have been made in the prior art to provide a "leveling" tree stand—which has provisions for leveling the stand in circumstances which would otherwise leave the platform extending at a non-horizontal angle. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 36,276 to Smith, discloses a tree stand which allows adjustment of the bracing cables in attempt to level the platform under certain conditions. U.S. Pat. No. 6,085,868 to Anthony et al. discloses a portable tree stand which allows adjustment of the seat and platform with respect to each other, but provides little adaptability to the tree itself. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,016,733 to Bradley and 6,363,941 to Richard, both discloses tree stands which use a centrally located cradle, coplanar with the platform, to help adjust the angle of the platform.
While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter.


An image display apparatus includes a light source emitting light; an optical scanner scanning a predetermined scanning zone with light from the light source to render a display image; a light intensity detector detecting a light intensity of light from the light source; a memory storing relationships between control currents provided to the light source and light intensities; and one or more processors controlling, on the basis of the control current and light intensity relationships stored in the memory, a control current to display the display image with light from the light source. When the optical scanner scans an area outside the display image, the one or more processors detect by the light intensity detector a light intensity of light for the scanning, and update on the basis of the light intensity the relationships stored in the memory.

A laser-scanning-type projector is adopted in an on-vehicle HUD that has a navigation function for a vehicle driver, and so forth, because the laser-scanning-type projector has satisfactory visibility, enabling implementation of a clear contrast. In such a HUD, in order to reduce an uncomfortable feeling of a viewer such as a driver, light control technology of changing brightness of a display image of a HUD depending on the outside light is known.
Patent document 1 discloses a laser-beam display apparatus for maintaining reproducibility of a video signal in an on-vehicle HUD regardless of the intensity of the outside light. The laser-beam display apparatus according to Patent document 1 has a plurality of light control LUTs (look-up tables) storing light control intensities for respective steps of a plurality of light control steps with gradation levels used as indexes. According to the technology of Patent document 1, with reference to the previously stored light control LUTs, the brightness of laser light is controlled according to input light control settings and video signals.

Image display apparatus, on-vehicle system, and image display method


A management system which makes it possible to appropriately manage a managed apparatus, while securely maintaining productivity of the managed apparatus. The system includes a management apparatus, the managed apparatus and an HTTP server. The managed apparatus is provided with a connection controlling section that periodically connects the managed apparatus to the HTTP server at a regular connecting timing, so as to read information sent from and write apparatus information into the HTTP server. The connection controlling section determines whether or not the managed apparatus should actually be connected to the HTTP server at the regular connecting timing, based on a load status or a presence or absence of a current job of the managed apparatus and connects it to the HTTP server asynchronously with the regular connecting timing, when determining that the managed apparatus should not be connected to the HTTP server at the regular connecting timing.

The present invention relates to a management system that includes a management apparatus and a managed apparatus, a management method and a control program to be employed for the management system, and specifically relates to a management system in which the management apparatus and the managed apparatus are coupled to each other through a server, a management method and a control program to be employed for the management system.
In recent years, there have been increasingly proliferated in the market, a copier, a MFP (Multi Function Peripheral), etc., each of which is provided with a copy function, a facsimile function, a printer function, a scanner function, etc., (hereinafter, referred to as an image forming apparatus as a general term for each of them). Since an operating ratio of such the image forming apparatus is relatively high, and further, it is necessary for the user to periodically apply maintenance and inspection processing to such the image forming apparatus due to a wide variety of consumable parts used for such the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus, serving as the managed apparatus, is coupled to the management apparatus through a certain communication network, so that the management apparatus acquires apparatus information indicating statuses of the image forming apparatus concerned, so as to conduct operations for controlling the image forming apparatus, based on the apparatus information acquired from the image forming apparatus concerned.
For instance, with respect to the copy data management system, which is provided with such a terminal device that transmits data representing various kinds of information, such as a number of paper sheets copied by the copier concerned, an operating history of the user, etc., a request for maintenance, etc., to the intensive control apparatus for controlling the concerned copier through a telephone line, JP2876632 (Japanese Patent Publication) sets forth a configuration of the system, which includes: a transmitting section to transmit the abovementioned data to the terminal device; a telephone device; a line connecting section to connect any one of the telephone device and the transmitting section to the telephone line; and a control section to connect the transmitting section to the telephone line so as to transmit the abovementioned data after waiting a predetermined time interval, when the data transmitting condition is established and the telephone device is in a busy status.
In this connection, in order to securely control the image forming apparatus serving as the managed apparatus, it is necessary for the image forming apparatus to periodically transmit its own apparatus information at regular intervals to the management apparatus. However, since the secure maintenance of the productivity is very important for such the production apparatus having a high operating ratio as the image forming apparatus, if a certain job is suspended due to the implementation of operations for communicating with the management apparatus, there arise a problem that the productivity of the image forming apparatus concerned would be deteriorated.
To overcome the abovementioned problem, it may be considered such a method that the operations for communicating with the management apparatus are conducted only during the time when the image forming apparatus enters into the job waiting status. However, since the production apparatus that is continuously operated for 24 hours with the high operating ratio hardly enters into the job waiting status, such the production apparatus as abovementioned could not communicate with the management apparatus indefinitely. Accordingly, there arise another problem that it becomes impossible for the management apparatus to appropriately control the image forming apparatus based on the current apparatus information.
As mentioned in the foregoing, with respect to the communicating operations between the management apparatus and the managed apparatus, it is necessary to take it into account not to deteriorate the productivity of the managed apparatus. However, if excessively great importance is given to the productivity of the managed apparatus, it becomes impossible for the management apparatus to grasp the current statuses of the managed apparatus, as aforementioned. Accordingly, it becomes important to find a compromise between factors derived from productive viewpoints and those derived from controlling viewpoints, so as to appropriately conduct the information communicating operations at an appropriate timing.

Management system, management method and program for appropriately managing a managed apparatus while securely maintaining productivity of the managed apparatus

Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.


MOS transistors having a low junction capacitance between their halo regions and their source/drain extension regions and methods for manufacturing the same are disclosed. A disclosed MOS transistor includes: a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type; a gate insulating layer pattern and a gate on an active region of the substrate; spacers on side walls of the gate; source/drain extension regions of a second conductivity type within the substrate on opposite sides of the gate, the source/drain extension regions having a graded junction structure; halo impurity regions of the first conductivity type within the substrate under opposite edges of the gate adjacent respective ones of the source/drain extension regions; and source/drain regions of the second conductivity type within the substrate on opposite sides of the spacer.

FIGS. 1A to 1E are cross sectional views illustrating a prior art method of manufacturing a conventional MOS transistor. Referring to FIG. 1A, an active region where a MOS transistor is to be formed is defined by forming isolation layers 110 in a p-type semiconductor substrate 100. Next, a gate insulating pattern 120 and a gate 130 are sequentially formed on the active region of the substrate 100. The active region under the gate 130 serves as a channel region.
Referring to FIG. 1B, in order to reduce the short channel effect, a first ion implanting process is performed to form halo impurity regions 141 in a vicinity of the channel region under the gate 130. The halo impurity regions 141 are formed in the first ion implanting process by implanting p-type impurities in a tilted direction (the directions of the arrows in FIG. 1B) with respect to the substrate 100.
Referring to FIG. 1C, a second ion implanting process is performed to form source/drain extension regions 142, (i.e., lightly doped drain (LDD) regions) within the substrate 100 on opposite sides of the gate 130. The second ion implanting process is performed by implanting lightly doped n-type impurities in a vertical direction (the direction of the arrows in FIG. 1C) with respect to the substrate 100. In some cases, the second ion implanting process may be performed prior to the first ion implanting process. In addition, although not shown in the figure, an oxide layer may be formed as an ion implanting buffer layer on the surface of the substrate 100 prior to the second ion implanting process.
Referring to FIG. 1D, gate spacers 150 are formed on opposite side walls of the gate 130. Next, a third ion implanting process is performed to form source/drain regions 143 within the substrate 100 at opposite sides of the spacers 150 by implanting heavily doped n-type impurities in the vertical direction (the direction of the arrows in FIG. 1D) with respect to the substrate 100.
Referring to FIG. 1E, a silicide process is then performed to form metal silicide layers 160 on the source/drain regions 143 and the gate 130.
In a conventional MOS transistor, (e.g., a transistor used as a logic device), the junction capacitance between the halo impurity regions 141 and the source/drain extension regions 142 reduces the switching speed. However, the junction capacitance cannot be completely removed due to the structural characteristics of the device. Therefore, there is a demand for reducing the junction capacitance as much as possible.

MOS transistors and methods of manufacturing the same


An electronic device holder is provided. In one aspect, a strap or a back plate, such as a molded plastic strap, is provided to facilitate holding an electronic device. In another aspect, a device cradle is provided that can hold an electronic device and facilitate retention and management of associated device cables. In another aspect, the strap or back plate can comprise a set of connector stations that conform to a standardized form-factor, wherein the connector stations are adapted to accept a standardized insert.

Modern life is filled with electronic devices. Cellular phones, music players, video players, digital cameras, global positioning system (gps) devices, radios, handheld gaming devices, etc., all offer tremendous convenience. However, these and other electronic device each come with an array of chargers, charging cables, data cables, and so on that can become a nightmare to keep track of. As a result, the user can often become frustrated by lost cables, inconvenient locations for charging their devices, and an unsightly rat's nest of the myriad of cables required to keep the user's devices operating. For instance, considerations such as how long of a cord a user would need to have to charge his or her electronic device, would the electronic device just dangle from the power supply, would the electronic device be sitting on a table or a shelf, and so on are constant considerations to accommodate the requirements of various electronic devices.
In addition, an increasing availability of structured cable products and home entertainment, networking, and automation products have presented new ways to take advantage of many of the electronic devices of modern life. For instance, it is increasingly common that new homes are built with the ability to transmit or receive information including audio, video, data, voice, from virtually any room in the house, whereas in years past, such mundane offerings as telephone and cable television were considered an afterthought. As a result, users have begun to demand more convenient and flexible ways to consume their digital media (e.g., music, movies, pictures, etc.), and for which demand conventional products have only offered a patchwork of potential solutions.
It is thus desired to provide structures, articles of manufacture, devices, systems, and methods that improve upon these and other deficiencies.


Apparatus for grinding tapers and points on elongated needle workpieces having frame means and needle workpiece transport means associated with the frame means for transporting a plurality of the workpieces. The workpiece transport means has a predetermined curvature and workpiece feeder means is mounted adjacent the frame means for feeding workpieces to the workpiece transport means. The grinding means is preferably a grinding wheel disposed adjacent the workpiece transport means to engage workpieces while supported by workpiece supporting means and has a major diameter at a first end and a minor diameter at a second end, the major diameter being greater than the minor diameter. The diameters are connected by a curved grinding surface the diameter of which increases progressively therebetween. The curvature of the grinding wheel in the first third portion between the major and minor diameters is of greater mean curvature than the mean curvature of the corresponding opposed portion of the workpiece transport means. The second third portion of the grinding wheel is of greater mean curvature than the mean curvature of the corresponding opposed portion of the workpiece transport means.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to apparatus and method for grinding tapers on elongated stock and more particularly for grinding points on needle stock.
2. Description of the Related Art
The production of quality needles from raw stock involves many different processes and machinery. These varying processes and machinery become more critical in the preparation of surgical needles where the environment of intended use is in humans or animals. Some of the processes involved in the production of surgical grade needles include, inter alia: straightening spooled wire stock; cutting needle blanks from raw stock; providing a bore for receiving suture thread at one end of the blank; tapering or grinding points at the other end of the blank, flat pressing a portion of the needle barrel to facilitate easier grasping by surgical instrumentation; and, where curved needles are desired, curving the needle. During each of these several steps, extreme care must be taken to ensure that only the intended working of the needle is performed and that the other parts of the needle remain undisturbed.
Machines for grinding points of needles are known. Such machines include the Type NS 6, 8, 11 and 15 automatic point grinding machines available from SCHUMAG Machinery, Inc. of Norwood, N.J. Those machines utilize, for example, a transport wheel and saddle arrangement to present wire shafts to a grinding wheel so as to grind points on the ends of the shafts. A notched wheel is provided for spacing apart the wire shafts and presenting them to the grinding wheel surface. Different sized notched wheels are required for different wire shaft diameters. Thus, in order to change diameter shafts being ground, the appropriate notched wheel must first be installed before grinding of the differing diameter shaft needle blanks can take place. This requires shutting down production and fitting the machine with the appropriate notched wheel each time stock having a diameter not appropriate for the current wheel is to be ground.
Additionally, to operate efficiently, these machines require that the minimum wire shaft length must be longer than many of the surgical needles presently in use, thus necessitating additional finishing steps to refine the dimensions of the needles. Therefore, in order to form a finished needle, for example, having a length of 0.875 inches, stock of at least 1-3/4 inches would have to first be ground and then be clipped to the desired length. By performing the grinding first and then having to clip the needle shaft to the desired length, chances are increased that the needle point will become damaged during handling and clipping. Moreover, clipping the end of needle stock necessitates additional processing and quality control steps. Specifically, any burrs or other irregularities created from the clipping must be removed and samples inspected to ensure the quality of the work.
Machines for grinding point of needles are known to utilize workpiece feed hoppers and workpiece off-load hoppers. Workpiece feed hoppers provide storage means for storing the workpieces and outlet means for discharging the workpieces to a feed point on the point grinding machine. The workpiece off-load hoppers, similarly, have inlet means for receiving workpieces from an off-load point of the point grinding machine and storage means for storing the workpieces. A problem encountered with both the workpiece feed hoppers and with the workpiece off-load hoppers is the jamming of workpieces at the respective feed and off-load points. Jamming typically occurs when two or more workpieces become wedged against each other at the feed and off-load points. In response to the occurrence of jamming, agitating means has been employed to vibrate the workpieces to prevent as well to correct the jamming of workpieces. Although the use of agitating means provides an improved flow of workpieces to and from the point-grinding machine, the geometry of the hoppers remains such that a plurality of workpieces can jam at the feed point and at the off-load point resulting in the shutting down of production to locate the jam and remove the blockage.
With respect to the storage aspect of the workpiece feed and off-load hoppers, known hoppers are mounted to the point grinding machine in a manner which does not facilitate an expedient replacement of hoppers. Typically, workpiece feed hoppers are supplied or filled with a set amount or batch of workpieces to be machined. When the workpiece feed hopper is empty, production ceases until a refilling operation occurs. Similarly, when the workpiece off-load hopper is full, production must be halted until the hopper can be unloaded. The loading and unloading of workpiece feed and off-load hoppers is time consuming and accordingly a significant cost. There is a need to provide workpiece hoppers which minimize the time required to load and unload workpieces from said hoppers.
Down time of known point grinding machines is also encountered when a change in the size of workpieces is desired. The feeding means of the point grinding machine is, like the workpiece hoppers, affixed in a permanent manner to the point grinding machine. The feeder means, not efficiently mounted to facilitate a quick replacement thereof, must be adjusted to properly interface with each size of workpiece to pass therethrough. Adjustment means are typically provided, but again, require production to cease for a significant time while the adjustment takes place. A need therefore exists for providing feeder means which minimize the time required to set up for a different sized workpiece.
Although, as mentioned above, adjustment means are typically provided on known point grinding machines, the adjustment means do not generally provide multiple axis adjustment capability for varying the spacial relationship of the grinding wheel and the transport wheel. As a result, the adjustment means do not adequately compensate for wear of the grinding wheel. A need therefore exists for providing improved adjustment means which provide maximum compensation for wear of the grinding wheel by providing multiple axis adjustment capability. Secondly, as known grinding wheels experience wear which cannot be compensated for by adjustment means, the wheels are redressed in order to maintain the optimum grinding surface configuration. Redressing methods, however, are dangerous and time consuming. Redressing is required because the wheel does not wear equally along the wheel surface, and therefore the areas of greater wear need to be redressed in order to recapture the optimum surface configuration. If the configuration of the wheel were such that the wheel would wear equally along its surface thereby maintaining on optimum surface configuration while experiencing only a reduction in diameter, then adjustment means would be capable of compensating for the wear of the wheel by simply restoring the desired spacial relationship between the grinding wheel and the transport wheel. A need therefore exists for a grinding wheel which has a fixed optimum shape which is configured to wear evenly, minimizing redressing of the wheel, and facilitating wear compensation through adjustment means.
Finally, grinding wheels employed by these known devices typically have a first edge, and a second edge, with respective diameters of the first edge and second edge of substantially equal value. An intermediate portion of the grinding wheel disposed between the first edge and second edge, generally has a smaller diameter than that of the first edge and second edge. Typically, at a point on the intermediate portion equidistant to the first edge and second edge, the diameter of the grinding wheel is less than that at any other point between the first and second edges. As workpieces are exposed to grinding wheel with the above described conventional design, a surface of the workpiece is first put into contact with the grinding wheel at the first edge. As the workpiece is directed towards the midpoint of the grinding wheel, smaller surfaces of the workpiece are exposed to the grinding wheel thereby forming a taper on the workpiece. When the workpiece reaches the midpoint of the grinding wheel, a point has typically been formed on the workpiece. As the workpiece is further directed from the midpoint to the second edge of the grinding wheel, the grinding wheel does not provide grinding on an untreated portion of the workpiece, but is exposed to tapered and point portions of the workpiece. The second half of these known grinding wheels, the second half being the portion of the grinding wheel from the midpoint to the second edge, provides redundant exposure of the grinding wheel to the workpiece. A need therefore exists for a grinding wheel which is capable of grinding tapers and points on elongated stock while minimizing the time and cost associated with redundant exposure of the grinding wheel to the workpiece.
When it is necessary to grind different sized workpieces, or to replace a worn grinding wheel, known grinding machines generally require a significant amount of time to first replace the grinding wheel, and then adjust other components of the grinding machine to accommodate the new wheel. A need therefore exists for a grinding apparatus having grinding wheel which are capable of being replaced with minimum down time and cost associated with the replacement.
When performing the grinding operation using known grinding wheels, known methods attempt to have the same grinding wheel perform all of the grinding on the needle stock, including critical point forming. Typically, it is very difficult to achieve desired point geometry with the same grinding wheel which has an abrasiveness capable of removing large amounts of needle stock material. Accordingly, when using one grinding wheel to perform "roughing" and "polishing," desired needle stock point geometry is often not achieved. A need therefore exists for a method of grinding needle stock tapers and points which achieves desired needle point geometry. The present invention is directed toward apparatus and method for grinding high quality surgical needles while avoiding the disadvantages of known devices.

Apparatus and method for grinding needle workpieces


An end node in a packet-switched network is proposed wherein the end node is arranged to exchange packets consisting of a packet header and payload data with a server node connected to the packet-switched network. The end node includes at least one module adapted to extract quality of service parameter values from the headers of packets received over the packet-switched network and to insert the extracted quality of service parameter value in the headers of packets destined for transmission to the server node over the packet-switched network. In this manner the end node automatically adapts the quality of service parameters received over the packet-switched network to correspond with the type of quality of service defined in received packets. Such a system means that only the server node need be configured with the quality of service parameters applicable on the particular packet switched network, so greatly reducing the installation and configuration overheads in a multi-user network.

When an IP-based network is utilised for the transmission of certain quality-sensitive services, such as voice or video data, there is a need to prioritise this kind of traffic. Previously, IP networks could offer only a "best effort" quality of service, wherein no differentiation was made between traffic types within a network element and packets were routinely dropped in the event of congestion. More recently IP networks are offering some quality of service guarantees. One example is the differentiated service, which provides a so-called "soft Quality of Service" mechanism that adds some information to an IP packet header so that intermediate nodes in the network, such as routers, can handle these packets differently. However, the settings of these parameters are not standardised. Consequently the values used to indicate specific levels of quality of service differ from IP network to IP network.
In present-day systems the quality of service parameters are conventionally set at network end points, although these parameters can be changed at intermediate nodes if these are configured to do so. The problem with implementing such a solution is that all clients using the network need to know which quality of service settings apply in any particular network. This is particularly problematic in systems where mobile communication services incorporate an IP network, for example, in an unlicensed radio access network, as all mobile stations that may at some time connect to the network must know the applicable settings. A similar problem arises when several data services with different quality of service needs are offered. The configuration of all the clients becomes very burdensome. While manual configuration by each client is possible, this presupposes a certain skill and knowledge and is consequently error-prone and ultimately unreliable. Configuration of a mobile station could be achieved by the transmission of an SMS, however, this also requires some action by the end user, such as accepting the SMS and some system must be provided for dispatching the SMSs to the appropriate mobile stations.

Automatic adaptation of quality of service over packet-switched networks


A circuit for protecting a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) device is configured to hold down or pull down a voltage at a gate of the protected MOS device during an electrostatic discharge (ESD) event. The circuit includes at least one active device or capacitance-providing element connected to the gate of the protected MOS device, configured to pull down or hold down the voltage at the gate of the protected MOS device when the ESD event occurs.

The present invention relates to configurations for providing robust electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection for high voltage semiconductor devices.
In high voltage semiconductor circuits, protection from damage due to ESD events is important. ESD protection circuits are generally known for this purpose. However, in some circuits, conventional ESD protection circuits may not be sufficient to protect the semiconductor devices in the circuits from damage. For example, in some situations it is difficult to provide sufficient ESD protection in a circuit configuration where a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) device, such as a doubly diffused MOS (DMOS) device, is placed in parallel with an ESD clamp device. When the DMOS drain and the ESD clamp cathode are both positive (for example, placed across a supply voltage and ground), the gate of the DMOS device can be pulled high, turning the device on, and the DMOS device can "snap-back" (enter a mode of operation in which large amounts of current are conducted with a reduced voltage) and incur destruction at a voltage significantly lower than the rated breakdown value of the DMOS device and the ESD clamp turn-on voltage.
It would be useful to provide a circuit configuration to hold down or pull down the gate of the DMOS device during an ESD pulse, to turn the device off and increase its snap-back voltage to be nearer to the rated breakdown voltage of the device.

Anti-snapback circuitry for metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor


Provided herein are methods for treating cancers by administering immunomodulatory compounds in combination with artemisinin or a derivative thereof. In particular, methods for treating cancers by administering lenalidomide in combination with artemisinin or a derivative thereof are provided.

Herbal remedies involving the Sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua) have been traditionally used in China as a treatment for a variety of ailments, including fever and rheumatism. The major active ingredient artemisinin was identified and isolated in the 1970s, and its particular activity as a compound targeting malaria was investigated ever since.
2.1 Artemisinins
Studies involving a structure-activity relationship analyses of the original parental artemisinin molecule have focused on developing the hemisuccinate ester of artemisinin known as artesunate (ART), which taken together with its siblings have resulted in a family of compounds collectively known as the "artemisinins." These agents are amongst the most potent and rapidly-acting anti-malarial agents known, and are efficacious against parasites that are resistant to established anti-malarial drugs such as chloroquine and pyrimethamine (Li et al., 1984, Lancet. 2:1360-1361; Krishna et al., 2008. Trends Phurniacol Sci. 29:520-7). The mechanism of action of artemisinins has yet to be defined, but studies have described a role for free-radicals. Specifically, induced de novo production of reactive hydroxyl moieties and superoxides within the malarial parasite, have been reported that damages intracellular processes and causes death (Meshnick S R. 2002. Int J Parasitol. 32:1655-60; Golenser et al., 2006 Int Parasitol. 36:1427-41). In spite of the lack of a definitive mechanism, the World Health Organisation have recommended that all anti-malarial therapies should contain an artemisinin component, especially when used as a first line treatment.
There is growing evidence supporting a role of ART and other artemisinins in cancer therapy (Efferth et al., 2001, Int Oncol, 18:767-73; Efferth et at, 2007, PLoS One, 2:e693; Efferth et al., 2007, Trends Mol Med, 13:353-61; Li et at, 2007, Int J Cancer; 121:1360-5; Chen et al., 2009, Anticancer Drugs, 20:131-40; Du et at, 2010, Cancer Chemother Pharmacol, 65:895-902; Gravett et al., 2010, Cancer Chemother Pharmacol, [Epub ahead of print]; Michaelis et al., 2010, Biochem Pharmacol, 79:130-6). Anti-proliferative activity has been described in vitro for this class of agent in a wide spectrum of tumour cell lines as well as in primary material derived from patients. The mechanism(s) underlying these activities are unclear, and have included i) actions on cell cycle proteins that determine transit through G1 restriction (Hou et al., 2008, Clin Cancer Res, 14:5519-30); ii) disruptions to the intrinsic apoptotic pathway that it drive towards a pro-apoptotic outcome (Du et al., 2010, Cancer Chemother Pharmacol, 65:895-902; Michaelis et at, 2010, Biochem Pharmacol, 79:130-6; Zhou et al., 2008, Anticancer Drugs, 19:247-55); iii) anti-angiogenic and anti-metastatic properties (Anfosso et al., 2006, Pharmacogenomics J, 6:269-78; Zhou et at, 2007, Vascul Pharmacol, 47:131-8; Rasheed et al., 2010, Int J Cancer, 127(6):1475-85); and iv) inhibition of NF-kB (Li et al., 2009 Int J Hematol, 90:513-21; Li et al., 2010, Int Immunopharmacol, 10:344-50). The diversity in the targets of ART, naturally lends support to the possibility that it be used in combination with other agents that mutually support each other (Liu W M, 2008, Curr Clin Pharmacol, 3:108-17). Indeed, there were reports on non-antagonistic interactions between ART and ART-related compound with common anti-cancer drugs (Gravett et al., 2010, Cancer Chemother Pharmacol, [Epub ahead of print]; Li et al., 2010, Int Immunopharmacol, 10:344-50) as well as enhanced activities in combinations with more novel treatment modalities such as erlotinib and rituximab (Efferth et at, 2004, Biochem Pharmacol. 67:1689-1700: Sieber et al., 2009, Int J Oncol, 35:149-58).
There is currently only limited and simplistic published data exploring the value of ART as a combination partner in treatment regimens. These studies have used simple approaches to studying drug-drug interactions, and as a consequence, their conclusions are still open to debate.
2.2 Artemisinin Derivatives (ARTds)
Structure-activity relationship analyses of the original parental artemisinin molecule have also yielded a novel class of trioxanes, designated the artemisinin derivatives (ARTds), which are amongst the most potent antimalarial agents known. ARTds are thought to target multiple cellular processes within the Plasmodium sp. parasite that causes malaria, and for that reason can be more than a 1.000 times more effective than the more standard antimalarial treatments such as chloroquine and pyrimethamine (Haynes et al., 2006, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed Engl. 45, 2082-2088). Furthermore, the ARTds are much faster acting than most of these treatments (Li et al., 1984, Lancet, 2: 1360-1361; Li, et al., 1994, Trans. R. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg. 88 Suppl 1, S5-S6), and can also clear drug-resistant strains of the parasite. These impressive qualities and activities have resulted in the World Health Organisation recommending that all antimalarials be combined with an ARTd component when used first line (WHO Guidelines for the treatment of malaria (2006)).
One notable example of a ARTd is artemisone (ATM). ATM has emerged as a therapeutic candidate and possesses sustained activity in plasma compared to sister compounds. This renders it significantly more active against the most common malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum than other antimalarial drugs (Haynes et al., 2006, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed Engl. 45, 2082-2088; Vivas et al., 2007, J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 59, 658-665; Ramharter et al., 2006. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 75: 637-639). It has almost negligible toxicity (Nagelschmitz et al., 2008. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 52: 3085-3091), and benefits from having low production costs by being synthesised from the parental artemisinin compound in just 3-steps.
In recent years the ARTds have also been shown to have anticancer properties, through their ability to reduce cell number in a variety of solid tumours in vitro (Woerdenbag et al., 1993, J. Nat. Prod. 56: 849-856; Efferth et al., 2001, Int. J. Oncol. 18: 767-773; Chen et al. 2003, Pharmacol. Res. 48: 231-236; Nakase et al., 2008. Int. J. Pharm. 354: 28-33) and in ex vivo animal models (Li et al. 2007, Int. J. Cancer 121: 1360-1365). Activity has also been seen in humans (Berger et al. 2005, Oncol. Rep. 14, 1599-1603; Singh et al. 2006. Integr. Cancer Ther. 5: 391-394), and a recent phase II study in patients with lung cancer reported ARTd combinations could extend short-term survival and time-to-progression rates (Zhang et al., 2008, Zhong. Xi. Yi. Jie. Xue. Bao. 6: 134-138). Studies have identified several potential mechanisms for the ARTds against cancer cells. However, a single mechanism has yet to be defined. The ARTds have been shown to be anti-proliferative through that action on key cell cycle regulatory proteins such as p21waf1cip1 and cyclin D1 (Hou et al., 2008, Clin. Cancer Res. 14: 5519-5530); pro-apoptotic by manipulating the Bax:Bcl-2 rheostat (Singh, et al. 2004, Anticancer Res. 24: 2277-2280; Zhou et al., 2008, Anticancer Drugs 19: 247-255); anti-angiogenic by targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (Chen et al., 2004, Cancer Chemother. Pharmacol. 53:423-432; Wartenberg et al., 2003, Lab Invest. 83: 1647-1655); and anti-migratory through their effects on αVβ3 integrins (Buommino et al., 2009, Invest New Drugs 27: 412-418). The multi-modal character of these classically antimalarial drugs, allied to their low host toxicity even at high doses (Ribeiro et al., 1998, Med. Trop. (Mars.) 58: 50-53; Gordi et al., 2004, Toxicol. Lett. 147: 99-107), reinforce their development as a novel anti-cancer agent.
It has been known for some time that the efficacy of ARTds is significantly enhanced when used in combination with other agents, which is an approach that may be beneficial in cancer. Indeed, ARTds have already shown some synergy with common chemotherapy (Adjuik et al., 2004, Lancet, 363 (9402):9-17). Furthermore, cancer cells can become addicted to certain pathways, which ultimately lead to drug resistance when single agents that target specific pathways are used (Liu W M. 2008, Curr Clin Pharmacol., 2:108-17). Consequently, using drugs that display a wider target-window, such as the ARTds, in combination with more established cytotoxic drugs may improve overall activity.
Citation of any references in this Section of the application is not to be construed as an admission that such references is prior art to the present application.

Methods of treating cancer using a combination of an immunomodulatory compound and an artemisinin or a derivative thereof


A sample handling plate 1 has wells 4 on the side of the surface 1a thereof, and lightening portions 6 on the side of the reverse 1b thereof, each of the wells 4 substantially having the same shape and volume as those of each of the lightening portions 6 so that the amount of shrinkage on the side of the surface 1a is equal to that on the side of the reverse 1b during cooling after the injection molding.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a sample handling plate used for analyzing very small amounts of various samples (e.g., micro vital substances such as viruses and bacteria, vital formations such as cells and biopolymers, organic compounds other than biopolymers, inorganic substances and inorganic compounds). More specifically, the invention relates to a sample handling plate of a plastic, glass or the like, which is capable of being used for simultaneously examining the functions of a large number of genes and which is also capable of being used as a reactor in the PCR method for amplifying DNAs.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, of various methods for examining the functions of genes, the micro array technique capable of simultaneously examining thousands kinds to tens of thousands kinds of genes has been particularly noticed in the field of genome medical science and biochemistry.
In such a technical background, as shown in FIG. 24, there has been proposed an apparatus for holding small volumes of liquids, wherein a large number of substantially pyramidal minute wells (recessed portions) 101 are formed in a single flat plate 100 and wherein various liquid samples to be analyzed can be injected into the wells 101 to be simultaneously analyzed (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,027,695).
As shown in FIG. 25, there has been also proposed a technique for forming a large number of protrusions 103 on the surface of a plate 102 to hold culture tissues or samples to be analyzed on the top faces 104 of the protrusions 103 (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 7-115958 and 2003-4742).
As shown in FIG. 26, there has been also proposed an electrophoresis chip wherein fine grooves (recessed portions) 105 for moving a sample due to electrophoresis are formed in the surface 107 of a plate 106 for separating and extracting a chargeable substance (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-310613).
In addition, there has been proposed a technique wherein a large number of samples are allowed to adhere to the surface of a flat plate at dense scattered points (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-130879).
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 27, there has been proposed a plastic plate 108 which is capable of being used for carrying out tissue culture and immune analysis and which is capable of being used for many purposes, such as observation of morphology, measurement of absorbance, and measurement of fluorescence and fermentation. This plastic plate 108 is a plate of a transparent resin having a thickness of 0.5 mm or less and having a large number of wells 110 for housing therein a sample, and the plastic plate 108 is held in a holder 111 having a thickness of 1.0 mm or more (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-17155).
However, in the plates 100 and 102 disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,027,695 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 7-115958 and 2003-4742, the shape of the surface having the large number of wells (recessed portions) 101 or protrusions 103 is quite different from the shape of the reverse having no wells 101 or protrusions 103. Therefore, if the plate 100 or 102 is formed by the injection molding, the shrinkage percentage on the side of the surface is different from that on the side of the reverse during the injection molding, so that there are some cases where the resin plate 100 or 102 may warp as shown in FIG. 28.
If the plate 106 disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2000-310613 and 2003-130879 is formed of a resin material, there are some cases where the plate 106 may warp due to the temperature difference between the surface and reverse sides since there are some cases where the plate 106 may be heated for promoting hybridization or the like (see FIG. 28).
When the plate 100, 102 or 106 thus warps, if a sample is measured by an optical measuring unit having a narrow focal point using laser beams or the like, the position of the focal point is displaced, so that there is the possibility that the precision of measurement deteriorates. Furthermore, as measures to prevent the warpage of the plates 100 and 102 disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,027,695 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 7-115958 and 2003-4742, it is effective to form a plate having a constant thickness as the plastic plate 108 disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-17155. However, the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-17155 is directed to the plastic plate 108 wherein the volume of each well 110 is about one hundred microliters, so that the technique can not be used for forming such a small plate that the volume of each well 110 is about tens nanoliters. That is, if wells 110 having a very small volume of about tens nanoliters are densely formed, it is difficult to form the plastic plate 108 by the injection molding so that the plate 108 has a constant thickness.
Furthermore, if a plate of a material, such as a glass, other than plastics is used as a sample handling plate, the same warpage of the plate as that of a plastic plate may be caused. Therefore, it is desired to take measures to prevent such warpage.


The protection circuit for a power source of an electronic device capable of providing a certain range of current values to a peripheral unit comprising a power storage unit. The protection circuit comprises a first and second charging paths and a voltage detector. The voltage detector switches the first charging path to turn on the first switch, when the voltage value of the power storage unit 30 is lower than the threshold voltage, the power source can charge the power storage unit by the first switch, wherein the current limiting device limits the current value of first charging path to lower than a predetermined. The voltage detector switches the first charging path to breakup the second switch and the voltage detector switches to the first charging path to turn on the first switch.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a protection circuit, and more specifically to a protection circuit capable of limiting a power source of an electronic device outputting a predetermined range of current for charging a peripheral unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electronic devices typically generate an excessive starting current and voltage, when connecting or disconnecting a peripheral component. These actions affect normal equipment operation and potentially damage the electronic devices.
Conventional protection circuits fabricated by separated components have drawbacks of low reliability and high cost for maintenance. To meet special application, many systems provide protection circuits for avoiding damages of ESD, surge current, overcurrent, undervoltage and overvoltage, and for carrying out current limiting to satisfy various requirements. Some protection circuits are for meeting special industry standards, such as UL, USB, IEEE, CSA or IEC. The protection circuits used for protecting equipments or operators typically have an adjustable current limiting function for avoiding equipment damages when plugging in or out peripheral components from the equipments. Surge current protection is the basic requirement for a current-limiting circuit to prevent surge current induced by a large capacitive load plugging in the equipment. Additionally, the current limiting function can also reduce the output of a power source to prevent generating arc when connecting a peripheral.
Examples of peripheral units for general communication used include global system for mobile card (GSM), general packet radio service card (GPRS), both devices require higher power for wireless transmission and therefore many large capacitive loads, for the power amplifiers to carry out wireless transmission, are built in the peripheral units. When a peripheral unit with large capacitive loads plugs in an electronic system such as a personal digital assistant, notebook or personal computer, the large capacitive loads may induce high charging current flowing from the power source installed in the electronic system to the peripheral unit and cause damages and instability.
Therefore, the invention provides a small fast inexpensive protection circuit. The protection circuit can additionally prevent high current, due to a short circuit.

Protection circuit limiting current applied to peripheral devices


An overlay measurement method using a reference image is an effective method for an overlay measurement in a product circuit. However, there is a problem that it is not possible to obtain an ideal reference image in a process of prototyping.

Generally, a semiconductor product requires plural times of exposure processes to form a circuit pattern necessary for an operation. For example, in the manufacture of the semiconductor product configured of circuit patterns of plural layers, in addition to an exposure process for forming the circuit pattern of each layer, an exposure process for forming a hole connecting each layer is necessary.
In the semiconductor manufacture, it is important to adjust a position of the circuit pattern formed by the plural times of the exposure processes within an allowable range. In a case where the position of the circuit pattern is not within the allowable range, an appropriate electrical characteristic is not obtained and a yield is reduced. Therefore, a differential (an overlay) of the circuit pattern between the exposures is measured and fed back to an exposure device.
In an overlay measurement of the related art, a dedicated mark provided around a chip is optically measured and an overlay measurement result inside the chip is obtained by an interpolation thereof. However, according to a miniaturization of a semiconductor process, the allowable range of the overlay is also reducing, and a necessity of directly measuring the overlay measurement at an arbitrary position of the product circuit pattern of the device is increasing.
PTL 1 discloses a method in which a reference image of a measurement place is captured in advance, a circuit pattern formed in each layer is recognized for both of the measurement images captured for the measurement, a position deviation amount of the reference image and the measurement images with respect to each pattern are independently measured, and the overlay is calculated from a difference of the calculated position deviation amount.

Measurement device, method and display device

Abstract: A measurement device described in a specific embodiment of the present invention includes an imaging unit that captures an image of a circuit pattern of a semiconductor wafer surface by an optical microscope or an electronic microscope, a pattern recognition unit that extracts a first pattern and a second pattern from the image captured by the imaging unit, a reference image generation unit that synthesizes a first reference image using the first pattern extracted from a plurality of the images and synthesizes a second reference image using the second pattern extracted from the plurality of images, a quantification unit that quantifies a first difference that is a difference between the first reference image and the first pattern and a second difference that is a difference between the second reference image and the second pattern, and a calculation unit that calculates an overlay amount included in the circuit pattern using the first difference and the second difference.


A baffle assembly for insertion into an ink supply reservoir includes a first baffle plate having a first end and a second end, wherein a first end plate is coupled to the first end of the first baffle plate and a second end plate is coupled to the second end of the first baffle plate. The first baffle plate, the first end plate, and the second end plate form an integral structure. When the baffle assembly is inserted into the ink supply reservoir, a distance, "b", between the first baffle plate and an adjacent side-wall of the ink supply reservoir satisfies the inequality relationship b<(g/a)Dm/2k, wherein "g" is the local acceleration of gravity; "a" is the acceleration experienced by the ink supply reservoir during a change in a travel direction, "Dm" is the change in an ejected ink drop mass due to a change in an ink reservoir pressure in the ink supply reservoir, and "k" is a slope of the ink drop mass versus the ink reservoir pressure. The baffle assembly loosely divides a volume of the ink supply reservoir into a plurality of smaller compartments. An ink flow between the plurality of compartments may be provided by a gap between the baffle plates and the floor of the ink supply reservoir.

Baffle elements have long been used to limit the amount of movement of the liquid in a reservoir. Baffles have been incorporated into ink jet print head cartridges to reduce the mass of the liquid ink allowed to slosh unimpeded by the containing walls of the ink supply reservoir. The use of baffles in ink reservoirs has been disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,408,257; 4,631,558; 4,484,202; and 4,463,362. Prior baffles incorporated into ink supply reservoirs are integral with, or permanently attached to, at least one of the walls forming the ink supply reservoir.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,257 discloses an ink tank, or reservoir, having an inner wall portion or member attached to the bottom face of a sub-tank, and arranged in a diagonal direction to prevent ink in the sub-tank from vibrating greatly.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,558 discloses an ink liquid reservoir mounted on a reciprocating cartridge in an ink jet system printer having a plurality of standing plates that are disposed in the ink liquid reservoir in a manner such that the top free edge of the standing plates are separated from the sealing wall of the ink liquid reservoir. The standing plates are secured to the bottom wall of the ink liquid reservoir.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,484,202 discloses an ink reservoir containing a plurality of vertically arranged baffles, or plate elements. The plate elements create a series of narrow compartments. An opening is provided in each baffle plate to enable flow of ink fluid among the separate compartments formed by the baffles. The baffles constrain excessive movement of the ink into narrow spaces as the print head is moved in a lateral direction by an appropriate carriage during the printing operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,362 discloses an ink reservoir which includes a plurality of baffles to provide individual ink tanks for print heads and to prevent or substantially minimize the sloshing motion of the ink as the reservoir is accelerated and decelerated during the printing operation. The baffles are in the form of plates extending from the front wall to the rear wall of the reservoir and are formed as an integral part of the reservoir at the floor thereof. A plurality of apertures are provided in the baffle plates near the bottom thereof and located near the rear wall of the reservoir for equalizing the levels of ink in the respective baffle-formed chambers or tanks.
Regardless of whether the baffles are formed integral with the ink supply reservoir body, or are later attached to one or more of the walls of the ink reservoir body, the baffles form rigid structures which generate shock waves within the ink as the ink is sloshed from side-to-side in the ink supply reservoir. Furthermore, ink supply reservoirs having rigidly mounted baffles are complex to manufacture, in that either the baffles must be formed as a part of the reservoir body during the molding process, or the baffles are separately molded from the reservoir body and attached to one or more walls of the ink supply reservoir after the ink supply reservoir is molded, thereby requiring additional steps in its manufacture.

Insertable baffle for an ink supply reservoir


A drive assembly is provided for a rail vehicle, having at least one motor, at least one wheel set shaft or at least one rail vehicle wheel, and at least one elastic coupling that has at least one elastic device, wherein the at least one elastic coupling is embodied to couple the at least one motor directly to the wheel set shaft or directly to the at least one rail vehicle wheel.

The present invention relates to a drive assembly for a rail vehicle. The present invention also relates to a wheel set and to a bogie having such a drive assembly. Traction motors of rail vehicles are frequently used in combination with a transmission. The purpose of the transmission is to adapt the speed level of the motors to the speed level of the wheel set and of the wheels since electric motors are usually operated at higher speeds than the wheels. Advances in the field of electric motors and inverters make it possible to use motors without transmissions. These advances permit electric motors to operate at lower speeds.

SÜDDEUTSCHE GELENKSCHEIBENFABRIK GMBH & CO. KG


A Liquefied Petroleum Injection (LPI) fuel pump diagnosis system for determining the operation state of a fuel pump by analyzing a signal inputted from a fuel pump driver of an LPG tank into an interface box, including a fuel pump relay that provides power to the fuel pump and cut-off solenoid valves, an LPG switch that allows a user to isolate the fuel supply, a voltage detector disposed in the interface box that detects a voltage between the LPG switch and the fuel pump relay by being connected to a signal line that connects the LPG switch and fuel pump relay, and an ECU of the interface box that determines whether a signal line connecting the fuel pump driver and interface box is disconnected by determining whether the LPG switch is on or off through analysis of the voltage detected via the voltage detector.

Generally, a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) fuel is injected directly into the engine in a Liquefied Petroleum Injection (LPI) fuel system for improving the engine output and reducing exhaust gas of an LPG vehicle. In the LPI fuel system, an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) of an interface box diagnoses a fuel pump base on a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signal inputted from a fuel pump driver. If no PWM signal is inputted into the ECU, then a signal line is determined to be disconnected and a warning lamp is illuminated.
However, one drawback in a conventional LPI fuel system is that if the user turns off an LPG switch while driving, thus preventing the PWM signal from being inputted into the interface box, the ECU of the interface box still determines that the signal line is disconnected and erroneously illuminates the warning lamp.
Another drawback in a conventional LPI fuel system is that a diode is connected to a cut-off solenoid valve or the like to protect the system from a voltage surge generated according to the on/off operation of the LPG switch. This complicates the configuration of the diagnosis system and increases manufacturing costs.

Diagnosis system for liquefied petroleum injection fuel pump