Based on first data transmitted from a game controller, a game apparatus executes game processing for catching a predetermined game character and transmits, to the game controller, second data corresponding to the game character as a target to be caught. Based on the transmitted second data, the game controller outputs a sound corresponding to the caught game character.

Conventionally, there is a game system where sensing information regarding a pedometer corresponding to a sensing result by a shake is transmitted to a game apparatus, and game processing is performed based on the sensing information.
In the game system, however, there is room for improvement in increasing a realistic feeling of a game performed by game processing.
Therefore, it is an object of an exemplary embodiment to provide a game system, a game processing method, a storage medium having stored therein a game program, a game apparatus, and a game controller that are capable of increasing a realistic feeling in a game where a game controller is used.
To achieve the above object, the exemplary embodiment can employ, for example, the following configurations. It should be noted that it is understood that, to interpret the descriptions of the claims, the scope of the claims should be interpreted only by the descriptions of the claims. If there is a conflict between the descriptions of the claims and the descriptions of the specification, the descriptions of the claims take precedence.
In an exemplary configuration of a game system according to an exemplary embodiment, a game system includes a game controller having an inertial sensor and configured to transmit first data based on an output from the inertial sensor to outside, and a game apparatus configured to communicate with the game controller. The game apparatus includes at least one processor configured to: receive the first data transmitted from the game controller; based on the first data, execute game processing for catching a predetermined game character; generate second data corresponding to the game character as a target to be caught in the game processing; and transmit the second data to the game controller. The game controller includes a receiver, a sound outputter, and a sound outputter. The receiver receives the second data transmitted from the game apparatus. The sound outputter outputs a sound. The sound output controller, based on the second data received by the receiver, causes the sound outputter to output a sound corresponding to the caught game character.
Based on the above, a sound corresponding to a game character caught by operating a game controller (e.g., the cry) is output from the game controller. Thus, it is possible to increase a realistic feeling in a game where a game character is caught.
Further, the game controller may further include a light-emitting section and a light emission control means. The light emission controller, based on the second data, causes the light emitter to emit light in a color corresponding to the caught game character.
Based on the above, the game controller emits light in a color corresponding to the game character caught by operating the game controller. Thus, it is possible to further increase the realistic feeling in the game where the game character is caught.
Further, the execution of a game where the game character is caught may be performed by determining success or failure of the catch of the game character.
Based on the above, in accordance with the success or failure of the catch of the game character, it is possible to control a sound to be output from the game controller.
Further, the at least one processor of the game apparatus may be further configured to, when it is determined that the catch of the game character is successful, further transmit, to the game controller, third data for outputting a sound corresponding to the game character. In this case, the receiver of the game controller may further receive the third data. In accordance with the fact that the receiver receives the third data, and based on the second data, the sound output controller may cause the sound outputter to output a sound corresponding to the game character of which the catch is successful.
Based on the above, when the catch of the game character is successful, the game controller can control the sound of the game character. Thus, it is possible to increase a realistic feeling in the situation where the catch of the game character is successful.
Further, the game controller may further include a light-emitting section and a light emission controller. The light emission controller, based on the second data, may cause the light emitter to emit light in a color corresponding to the caught game character. In this case, the at least one processor of the game apparatus may be further configured to, when it is determined that the catch of the game character is successful, transmit, to the game controller, fourth data for causing the light emitter to emit light in a color corresponding to the game character. The receiver of the game controller may further receive the fourth data. In accordance with the fact that the receiver receives the fourth data, and based on the second data, the light emission controller may cause the light emitter to emit light in a color corresponding to the game character of which the catch is successful.
Based on the above, when the catch of the game character is successful, the game controller can be caused to emit light in a color corresponding to the game character. Thus, it is possible to increase a realistic feeling in the situation where the catch of the game character is successful.
Further, the at least one processor of the game apparatus may be further configured to transmit, to the game controller, data indicating a result of determining the success or failure of the catch of the game character. The light emission controller may cause the light emitter to emit light in a color corresponding to the success or failure of the catch of the game character corresponding to the result of the determination.
Based on the above, it is possible to notify a user operating the game controller of the success or failure of the catch.
Further, the at least one processor of the game apparatus may be further configured to, before the success or failure of the catch of the game character is determined, transmit the second data corresponding to the game character to the game controller.
Based on the above, it is possible to reduce the influence of delay related to the transmission and reception of second data.
Further, the at least one processor of the game apparatus may be further configured to, before the catch, identify the game character as the target to be caught. In this case, before the success or failure of the catch of the game character is determined, the at least one processor of the game apparatus may transmit the second data corresponding to the identified game character to the game controller.
Based on the above, at the time when the game character is identified before being caught, second data corresponding to the identified game character is transmitted and received. Thus, it is possible to efficiently transmit and receive the second data.
Further, the game controller may further include a vibrator. In this case, the game system may further include a processor configured to, when a predetermined operation is performed on the game controller to catch the game character, vibrate the vibrator based on an output from the inertial sensor of the game controller.
Based on the above, not only a sound corresponding to the game character caught by operating the game controller but also a vibration is output from the game controller. Thus, it is possible to further increase the realistic feeling in the game where the game character is caught.
Further, the game controller may further include a vibrator. In this case, the game system may further include a processor configured to, before success or failure of the catch of the game character is finalized, intermittently vibrate the vibrator of the game controller.
Based on the above, before a user is informed of the success or failure of the catch, the game controller intermittently vibrates. Thus, it is possible to increase the sense of expectation of the user operating the game controller.
Further, in accordance with the fact that the game character is caught, and based on the second data, the sound output controller may cause the sound outputter to output a sound corresponding to the caught game character, and based on the second data and an output from the inertial sensor, further cause the sound outputter to output a sound corresponding to the caught game character after the catch, or based on after-the-catch data corresponding to the caught game character and an output from the inertial sensor that are received from the game apparatus separately from the second data, further cause the sound outputter to output a sound corresponding to the caught game character after the catch.
Based on the above, even after a catch game ends, it is possible to output a sound corresponding to the game character caught by operating game controller from the game controller.
Further, the game controller may further include a direction inputter. The at least one processor of the game apparatus may be further configured to, based on an operation on the direction inputter, execute a process of searching for the predetermined game character in a virtual world. In this case, the at least one processor of the game apparatus may execute game processing for catching the searched-for game character based on the first data. In accordance with the fact that the searched-for game character is caught, and based on the second data, the sound output controller may cause the sound outputter to output a sound corresponding to the caught game character.
Based on the above, it is possible to achieve a game where a game character searched for by operating a direction input section of the game controller is caught.
Further, the at least one processor of the game apparatus may be further configured to: display on a display screen a virtual space where an object that resembles an external appearance of the game controller is placed; and during the execution of the game processing, based on the first data received from the game controller, control a position and/or an orientation of the object in the virtual space. In this case, based on the first data received from the game controller, the position and/or the orientation of the object in the virtual space are controlled to correspond to a position and/or an orientation of the game controller in real space.
Based on the above, an object corresponding to the motion of the game controller in real space is displayed on a display screen. Thus, it is possible to give a user a feeling as if directly moving the object in a virtual space.
Further, the exemplary embodiment may be carried out in the forms of a game processing method, a storage medium having stored therein a game program, a game apparatus, and a game controller.
According to the exemplary embodiment, it is possible to increase a realistic feeling in a game where a game character is caught.
These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the exemplary embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Game system, game processing method, storage medium having stored therein game program, game apparatus, and game controller


This invention relates to a golf club set comprising at least seven iron type golf clubs of Nos. 3 to 9 the loft angle of which increases progressively within the range of 15.degree..ltoreq..theta..ltoreq.45.degree. and the club length of which becomes progressively smaller with a greater club number. A centroid distance L (mm) as a vertical distance drawn from the center of gravity of each of the iron type golf clubs to a plane crossing orthogonally a plane, which in turn crosses orthogonally the club face of each of the iron type golf clubs, and including the center axis of a shaft of each of the iron type golf clubs is set by a predetermined formula in association with the loft angle.

This invention relates to a golf club set comprising at least Nos. 3 to 9 iron type golf clubs. More particularly, the present invention relates to a golf club set which can make the difference of flying distances between clubs of which club numbers are different by one number (one-number different clubs) substantially constant when a golfer swings each club in substantially the same way (with the same swing force)
Golf clubs can be broadly classified into wood type golf clubs, iron type golf clubs and a putter. Among them, the wood type golf clubs are the clubs for mainly obtaining a large flying distance. Therefore, the wood type golf clubs generally have the club numbers of 1 to 5 having a small loft angle which can secure more easily a greater yardage. On the other hand, the iron type golf clubs are the clubs for mainly obtaining a correct yardage. Therefore, they generally have the club numbers of 3 to 9, a pitching wedge (PW) and a sand wedge (SW) having a large loft angle which can more easily loft the ball and can reduce its run.
Among the iron type golf clubs for obtaining the correct flying distance, the clubs Nos. 3 to 9 are used in most cases for full swing to hit the ball, but the wedges such as the PW and the SW are used for control shot in most cases by adjusting the swing force because they are used so as to obtain more correctly a distance shorter than about 100 yards. For this reason, the flying distance depends on the skill of a golfer in the cases of the wedges but in the case of Nos. 3 to 9 irons, the flying distance is more likely to be governed by performance of the golf clubs themselves because these clubs are generally used in the full swing.
According to the iron type golf club set of the prior art, however, the difference of the flying distances between one-number different clubs is not always substantially constant when the golf clubs Nos. 3 to 9 are fully swung in the same way (at the same swing force), but have certain variance. Though this variance must be adjusted by controlling the swing force, such a control of the swing force is an extremely difficult technique for amateur golfers. In other words, there remains the problem that the flying distance becomes extremely unstable when different club number irons are used.


In a method and apparatus for manufacturing an optical fiber cable, a metal band is gradually shaped into a lengthwise slotted tube, the optical fibers are introduced into the still open slotted tube, the lengthwise slot of the tube is welded and the outside diameter of the welded tube is reduced. The welded tube with the reduced outside diameter is wound at least once around a take-up reel. A force provided on the reduced outside diameter welded tube as it is wound on the take-up reel causes an elastic strain of 0.1 to 0.6% on the tube. The strain is released on the take-up reel to produce an overlength of the optical fibers relative to the reduced outside diameter welded tube.

1. Technical Field
The invention concerns a method for manufacturing an optical cable comprising a metal tube in which at least one optical fiber waveguide is located, wherein a metal band drawn from a supply reel is gradually shaped into a slotted tube, the optical fibers drawn from another supply spool are introduced into the still open slotted tube, the lengthwise slot of the slotted tube is welded, the outside diameter of the welded tube is reduced and the metal band, the optical fibers and the welded tube are transported by a storage reel.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A method for manufacturing such cables is known from EP 0 229 123 B1.
The manufacture of such optical cables involves the significant problem of economically producing an overlength of the optical fibers inside the cable. This overlength is necessary because of the very different thermal expansion coefficients of the metal and glass materials. To prevent mechanical stress of the optical fibers in the event the metal tube exposed to the elevated temperatures, the overlength should not be too small. On the other hand, the overlength should not be too large, since an unacceptable compression of the optical fibers could result when the metal tube is exposed to low temperatures, which leads to an increase in attenuation. The optical fibers must therefore contain an overlength which takes both aspects into consideration, so that unallowable stress conditions cannot occur under any circumstances.
With the method according to EP 0 229 123 B1, the overlength is obtained by introducing the optical fibers with a pushing device into the still open slotted tube at a higher speed than the slotted tube. According to an alternative, the optical fibers are guided by a filler tube to the storage reel area, where they are blown by flowing gas onto the outside surface of the metal tube.
With a method described by EP 0 456 836 A1, the drawn metal band contains a prestress and is thereby elastically strained.
In both methods, an accurate overlength of the optical fibers inside the metal tube is difficult to obtain.

Apparatus for manufacturing an optical cable from a metal tube


A memory device includes at least one segmented writing line formed by at least one writing segment. A programming circuit is controlled by a line address circuit in a writing mode of the memory device to program at least one memory cell coupled to the segmented writing line. A reading bit line is connected to a reading circuit for reading the contents of the cell in a reading mode of the memory device. The reading bit line cooperates in writing mode with the line address circuit to control the programming circuit of the segmented writing line.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the field of integrated circuit memories and, more particularly, integrated circuit memories having an architecture with segmented writing lines. The invention is typically, but not exclusively, applied to random access magnetic memories of the MRAM type having such an architecture.
2. Description of Related Art
The following description of the invention refers to a MRAM type memory; some reminders of its operation are given below.
MRAM (Magnetic Random Access Memories) are memories of the non-volatile type, where each memory cell is formed by a magnetic tunnel junction. This type of memory has all the combined advantages of present existing semiconductor memories: speed both of writing and of reading, low consumption, non-volatility, and insensitivity to radiations. These advantages are moreover combined with an increased possibility of integration due to the small size of the cells.
A magnetic random access memory typically comprises a matrix of memory cells disposed in rows and columns, across which are passed metallic tracks dedicated to writing and reading. The metallic writing tracks extending along the rows of memory cells are termed writing word lines, and the metallic tracks extending along the columns of cells are termed writing bit lines. Each memory cell so placed at the intersection of a word line and a bit line stores one bit of information in the form of magnetic orientation.
In the standard architecture, the addressing of memory cells for writing then takes place using magnetic fields induced by a matrix network of metallic lines subjected to current pulses; only the memory cell at the intersection of the two selected writing lines having to turn over. For reading, a low amplitude current is sent via a reading bit line and a CMOS control transistor, for example, to read the resistance of the junction. It is to be noted that in this type of memory the reading circuitry is at least partially dissociated from the writing circuitry.
Each of the memory cells is in fact constituted by two magnetic layers, separated by an electrical layer. Each magnetic layer has its own magnetic orientation. The magnetic orientation of one of the layers, termed free layer, may be modified, while the magnetic orientation of the other layer, termed fixed layer, is fixed in a particular orientation. The magnetic orientations of the two layers may occur in two situations: either parallel, that is, aligned in the same direction, or antiparallel, that is, aligned in opposite directions. These two directions, parallel and antiparallel, represent the logic values 1 and 0 respectively. As an alternative, the parallel state may be interpreted as logic 0 and the antiparallel state as logic 1.
Writing therefore consists, for such a memory cell, of positioning the magnetic orientation in the free layer as a function of the desired logic state, in a state either parallel or antiparallel with respect to the magnetic orientation of the fixed layer.
External magnetic fields are typically applied to a selected cell to turn over the magnetic orientation in the free layer of this cell from one state to another. To do this, a writing current is applied respectively to the word line and the bit line intersecting at the location of the selected memory cell. The writing currents applied in this way to the selected word line and bit line create magnetic fields which, when they are combined at the intersection of the word line and the bit line, create magnetic fields which enable the magnetic orientation of the free layer of the selected memory cell to be switched from the parallel to the antiparallel state, or vice versa, as a function of the datum which is to be written in the cell.
The switching from one state to another of a selected memory cell while writing requires high magnetic fields for which sufficiently high currents have to be circulated, of the order of tens of milliamps, at the level of the magnetic tracks constituting the word and writing bit lines at whose intersection the selected memory cell for writing is located.
Moreover, the conductive tracks constituting the writing lines are resistive in nature. The fact or passing a high current of the order of tens of milliamps over a writing line will therefore inevitably cause a fall of potential at its terminals, by Ohm's law. A relatively high supply voltage is therefore necessary at the level of the writing control circuits, to compensate for the fall of potential through metallic writing lines.
However, future memory topologies, particularly responding to increasing constraints of integration, will prevent the use of high voltage transistors for writing current control circuits. In this perspective, convergence to a single nominal supply voltage, for example 1.2 volts, is therefore more and more sought after.
In this context, a MRAM memory architecture may be envisaged with segmented writing word and/or bit lines. In fact, in such an architecture, such as for example described in the patent document U.S. Pat. No. 6,594,191 (the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference), the plural memory cells are disposed in segments along the memory plane. The writing bit and/or word lines crossing the memory plane are then themselves segmented, creating shorter writing current paths. This architecture then implies an equivalent resistive load of the weakest writing lines, thus allowing a lower nominal supply voltage because the line losses are smaller. Such a segmented writing line architecture also enables minimizing the probability of erroneous turnover of non-selected memory cells when writing. In fact, only the memory cells on the path of the selected line segment when writing will then be subjected to the magnetic field generated by passing the writing current through the segment, instead of the whole row and/or column of memory cells.
However, the installation of such an architecture with segmented writing word and/or bit lines implies a certain number of constraints, mainly bearing on the addressing of the different writing line segments.
To illustrate this statement, reference is made to FIG. 1, describing in a simplified manner a portion of an MRAM type memory plane according to a matrix architecture of segmented writing bit lines. A memory plane of the type considered then comprises plural segmented writing bit lines organized in a matrix according to a column architecture, typically 64, 128 or 256 lines, at whose intersection are located the MRAM type memory cells. To simplify the explanation, only two columns and two rows of memory cells have been shown.
Therefore only two writing bit line segments 10 and 20, extending along two columns of the memory plane, are shown with their associated writing circuitry. Two memory cells 30 and 40 are disposed at the intersection of a writing word line 50 and each of the writing bit line segments 10 and 20. An architecture furthermore comprising segmented writing word lines could also be envisaged. The writing circuitry associated with the writing bit line segments to be described could similarly be found at the level of the word line segments.
First of all, the writing bit line segments 10 and 20 are connected at one end to a supply 60, for example 1.2 volts. For writing addressing of one column among a plurality, column address decoding means are provided. These means are constituted by an address bus 70, carrying for example six column address signals in the case of a memory plane comprising 64 columns, associated with address decoding circuits 80 for each column, realized in static logic. The output of each column decoding circuit 80 is provide for piloting programming means 90 associated with the addressed writing bit line segment. These programming means 90, also ensuring the switching of the line segment to earth, are symbolically represented by a transistor of which the source is connected to an earth (ground) line 100, the drain is connected to the writing line segment 10 and the gate is controlled by the output of the column decoding circuit 80.
As for the reading circuitry, it is partially dissociated from the writing circuitry, and will be considered in more detail later in the description.
At this stage, it is suitable first of all to note that plural writing bit line segments (not shown) such as the segment 10, are cascaded along each column of the memory plane. For each cascaded segment of writing bit line, it is necessary to provide programming means, and associated address decoding means therefore have to be provided.
The major of disadvantage of such an architecture with segmented writing lines therefore resides in the necessary redundancy of the address decoding means at each occurrence of a writing line segment, so as to be able to select one writing segment among the plural segments.
In the perspective of a segmented architecture, and taking account of design requirements for increased density of the memories, reproducing the specific address decoding logic cannot be hoped for at the level of all the writing line segments, these elements in fact consuming much space on the memory plane.
There is accordingly a need to remedy the abovementioned disadvantages. It is proposed that a memory device include segmented writing lines in which addressing different writing line segments for writing does not lead to an overload of line address decoding means, and which does not penalize in terms of memory plane density.

Memory architecture with segmented writing lines


With leverage of a second arm, in a connector locking mechanism that releases a lock of a first arm that corresponds to a locking arm body, a working face of a supporting portion of the second arm is arranged on an upper surface of an upper wall portion of a fitting hood portion of a second connector housing. The fitting hood portion fits with respect to a first connector housing. The working face of the supporting portion of each of a pair of the second arms is arranged so as to be a plane perpendicular to a pressing-down direction of an operating end of each of the second arms.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to a connector locking mechanism in which a lock releasing arm that releases a lock by leverage is integrally formed with a locking arm integrally formed with a connector housing.
Related Art
FIGS. 18 to 20A and 20B illustrate connector locking mechanisms in the related art described in JP 2001-250636 A.
FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an external configuration of a locking arm only taken out of the connector locking mechanism in the related art. FIG. 19 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of a first connector housing including a locking arm arranged therein. FIGS. 20A and 20B are partial longitudinal cross-sectional views illustrating the first connector housing and a second connector housing that have fitted into each other, and the first connector housing and the second connector housing that have been detached from each other, respectively.
As illustrated in FIGS. 20A and 20B, the rocking mechanism is arranged between the first connector housing 11 of a first connector 10 and the second connector housing 21 of a second connector 20 that have fitted into each other. The locking mechanism includes the locking arm 30 arranged toward the first connector housing 11 and a locking protrusion 25 arranged toward the second connector housing 21.
For convenience, a fitting direction and a fitting releasing direction between the first connector housing 11 and the second connector housing 21 as longitudinal direction and directions that are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and are perpendicular to each other as vertical direction and lateral direction, will be described. Note that, three pairs of directions illustrated in FIGS. 18 to 20B (front, rear, left, right, up, and down) are based on the first connector housing 11.
As illustrated in FIGS. 19, 20A and 20B, the locking arm 30 has been arranged flexible in the vertical direction, on the upper side of an upper wall 14 of the first connector housing 11.
Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIGS. 20A and 20B, the locking protrusion 25 has been arranged so as to protrude on the upper side of an upper wall portion of a fitting hood portion 22 of the second connector housing 21. The locking protrusion 25 engages with the locking arm 30 by using flexure of the locking arm 30 when the first connector housing 11 and the second connector housing 21 fit into each other. In an engaging state illustrated in FIG. 20B, the locking protrusion 25 generates locking force for preventing the first connector housing 11 and the second connector housing 21 from moving in the fitting releasing direction (backward).
As illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19, the locking arm 30 includes a first arm 32 and a second arm 40. The first arm 32 corresponds to a locking arm body. The second arm 40 corresponds to a lock releasing arm and is integrally formed so as to bend back from a top end of the first arm 32.
The first arm 32 is a cantilever arm that extends a free end 34 forward from a fixing end 31 that has been fixed on an upper wall 14 of the first connector housing 11. The free end 34 is displaceable in the vertical direction due to flexibility of the arm.
The second arm 40 includes a loading end 41, an operating end 42, and a supporting portion 45. The loading end 41 to be a point of load of a lever is coupled to the free end 34 of the first arm 32. The operating end 42 to be a point of effort of the lever extends backward from the loading end 41 so as to be arranged at a rear end. The supporting portion 45 to be a fulcrum of the lever is arranged on a lower surface between the operating end 42 and the loading end 41.
An engaging recess portion 33 with which the locking protrusion 25 is engaged, and a locking wall portion 35 positioned on the front side of the engaging recess portion 33 are arranged at the free end 34 of the first arm 32. The loading end 41 of the second arm 40 is integrally formed with the locking wall portion 35 arranged at the free end 34 of the first arm 32.
As illustrated in 20A, the locking wall portion 35 of the first arm 32 slides with respect to the locking protrusion 25 in accordance with a fitting between the first connector housing 11 and the second connector housing 21. The first arm 32 bends upward so that the free end 34 of the first arm 32 is displaced upward. In accordance with progress of the fitting between the first connector housing 11 and the second connector housing 21, the locking wall portion 35 of the first arm 32 further gets over the locking protrusion 25. The locking protrusion 25 engages with the engaging recess portion 33 due to return operation of the flexure of the first arm 32 after the locking wall portion 35 of the first arm 32 gets over the locking protrusion 25. Accordingly, the locking wall portion 35 of the first arm 32 serves to generate locking force for preventing the first and second connector housings 11 and 21 from being detached, between the locking wall portion 35 of the first arm 32 and the locking protrusion 25.
As illustrated in FIGS. 20 A and 20B, the locking mechanism presses the operating end 42 of the second arm 40 down as illustrated in an arrow N1 so as to rock the second arm 40 with, as the fulcrum P, a contact point with a working face on the first connector housing 11 of the supporting portion 45. Furthermore, leverage of the second arm 40 lifts the free end 34 (locking wall portion 35) of the first arm 32 coupled to the loading end 41 on the opposite side of the operating end 42 interposing the fulcrum P so as to release the engagement of the locking protrusion 25 with respect to the engaging recess portion 33.
Note that, before the releasing operation, the supporting portion 45 of the second arm 40 floats with a gap d with respect to the working face on the first connector housing 11. When the releasing operation is performed, the supporting portion 45 of the second arm 40 abuts on the working face on the first connector housing 11 so as to serve as the fulcrum P of the rocking.


The invention under consideration refers to a circuit arrangement for a switch-mode power supply, wherein the switch-mode power supply has a primary side, which can be connected to a supply voltage, and a secondary side, which can be connected to a consumer, and wherein the circuit arrangement comprises a primary-sided switch, a control circuit for controlling the primary-sided switch and additional active primary-sided components. Furthermore, the invention under consideration also refers to a switch-mode power supply with an active primary-sided circuit arrangement of that type. In order to specify an improved circuit arrangement that overcomes the disadvantages of the known solutions and that makes it possible to assemble a switch-mode power supply in miniaturised form in a manner that is particularly simple and economical while still complying with applicable safety standards, the control circuit is formed by a first integrated semiconductor chip and the primary-sided switch and the additional components are integrated in at least one additional semiconductor chip, said semiconductor chip being separate from the control circuit and being arranged on a single circuit carrier shared with the control circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a circuit arrangement for a switch-mode power supply, wherein the switch-mode power supply has a primary side, which can be connected to a supply voltage, and a secondary side, which can be connected to a consumer, and wherein the circuit arrangement comprises a primary-sided switch, a control circuit for controlling the primary-sided switch and additional active primary-sided components. Furthermore, the invention under consideration also refers to a switch-mode power supply with such an active primary-sided circuit arrangement.
2. Description of the Related Art
Charging devices in the low power range are normally implemented as switch-mode power supplies today. Because of the compact design and low weight, these have gained acceptance in many application cases and are superseding the traditional linear devices. In spite of the advancing integration of separate circuit components, such as in the form of integrated circuits specific to the user (so-called ASICs, or Application Specific Integrated Circuits), for example, the electronics needed for a switch-mode power supply are still comparatively complex and the primary-sided circuit arrangement of a switch-mode power supply of that type consists of more than 20 separate circuit components.
FIG. 1, in the form of a wiring diagram, shows the circuit diagram of the primary side of a switch-mode power supply with primary regulation. The total of 24 components can be assigned here as follows: a converter-transformer 120, in which only the primary-sided winding 122 and the auxiliary winding 124 are depicted, 16 passive components, such as resistors, inductors and capacitors, and up to eight active components. The active components form the active primary-sided circuit arrangement of the switch-mode power supply and comprise four single diodes, which form a bridge rectifier 106, the switching transistor 102, an ASIC for pulse width modulation of the primary-sided switching transistor as control circuit 104 of the primary-sided switch 102, an auxiliary voltage diode 108 and a snubber diode 110.
In order to reduce the space requirements of the single components, there are currently various approaches, most of which are, however, not far-reaching enough and extend over only a few elements.
For example, in the area of the passive components, various resistors and even RC functions are integrated in one element array.
From the US American printed patent specification U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,123, it is furthermore known to accommodate the primary-sided switch and the control circuit for a switch-mode power supply on a common substrate and to produce it as a hybrid IC.
The solution disclosed in this publication, however, has the disadvantage that a major portion of the space-consuming elements, such as the rectifier or the auxiliary voltage and snubber diodes are still provided as external elements. Therefore, although this known solution achieves increased stability of the switch-mode power supply because of the spatial proximity of the control circuit and the primary-sided switch, no more extensive advantages are achieved with regard to miniaturization of a switch-mode power supply of that type.
Furthermore, from U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,301, a switch-mode power supply is known in which a printed converter is used. The active components, i.e., the bridge rectifier, primary-sided switch, control circuit and secondary diode are integrated in a single chip in this case and, assembled with the printed converter in a shared substrate. The contacting between this active chip and the voltage-converting area is accomplished via a further wiring layer. The contacting to the active chip is produced here via appropriate openings in the chip. The active element is consequently a constituent of a fully integrated switch-mode power supply and is not produced as a separate IC in its own IC housing.
The solution shown here therefore has, firstly, the disadvantage that the secondary diode that is also integrated does not make possible primary/secondary separation according to applicable standards. Furthermore, the technical solution of a fully integrated switch-mode power supply represents a very complex concept that can only be realized with high manufacturing costs.
In addition to the mentioned complexity of the components, the manufacture of the known switch-mode power supplies additionally requires complex logistics for the procurement of the single components and substantial investments in pick-and-place machines and testing technology for the manufacture.

Active primary-sided circuit arrangement for a switch-mode power supply


A multidimensional optical storage medium is provided for storing a plurality of holographic images representative of data. An interrogation network generates a search argument including a target data field to be simultaneously searched for over at least a segment of the optical storage medium. The interrogation network couples the search argument into the optical storage medium and extracts a set of address fields at which data fields in the storage medium that match the target data field of the search argument are stored.

This invention relates generally to holographic memories. More particularly, it relates to methods and apparatus for implementing a content addressable holographic memory.
Traditionally, computers have utilized location addressable memory devices. Location addressable memories are accessed by specifying an address for a memory location where data is stored. Such memory devices have included semiconductor memories, magnetic tapes and disks, and optical disks. As computers have become more powerful, both the storage capacity of memory devices and the speed increased. Nevertheless, a limiting factor with respect to the speed at which a computer can operate remains the time that is required to access data stored in memory.
One factor that renders location addressable memories inherently slow is that each location must be accessed individually. This inherent slowness of traditional memories is even more apparent during computations that require database sorting or searching. Such sorting and searching applications become even more time consuming as the size of the database becomes increasingly large.
Designers use various approaches to minimize the long search times associated with location addressable memories. One approach is to utilize search algorithms, such as hash coding, that minimize the number of comparisons that need be performed. Another approach is to utilize hardware architectures, such as pipelining, that enable multiple comparisons to take place simultaneously. However, as the processing speed of computers has increased, these approaches have become ineffective.
The disadvantages of traditional memories are most apparent in modern parallel processing computers. Parallel processing computers employ multiple processor units and exploit application parallelisms to decrease their execution time. Since location addressable memories are accessed serially, those memories create serious data flow bottlenecks in computers which utilize massively parallel architectures.
Content addressable memories (CAMs) have developed in response to this problem. In a CAM, data is accessed based on the data itself, as opposed to the address corresponding to its storage location. In a CAM based system, as in a traditional system, the processor presents a search argument to the CAM. However, unlike a traditional memory, the CAM simultaneously compares the search argument with the contents of a plurality of storage locations in the CAM. Upon identifying a match, the CAM couples the matching data to the processor. Theoretically, such a system reduces any number of comparisons down to one comparison. Consequently, the time to locate any particular search argument is independent of the size of the database being searched. However, in reality CAM based systems suffer from several problems.
In some conventional memory systems, the memory to be searched is read into a processor thus, placing practical limitations on the size of the memory which can be searched simultaneously. In other prior art systems, the processor accesses the memory by way of a pre-defined index of key words and phrases. This is done to reduce the input/output bandwidth requirements of the memory. Consequently, either the memory must have an extremely large bandwidth, or searches can only be performed using a limited set of key words.
Disadvantages of existing CAMs are that they are expensive to build and have substantially lower storage density than do location addressable memories. This results from the overhead circuitry required to perform comparisons, manipulations, and output selection.
Consequently, one object of the present invention is to provide a content addressable memory system which eliminates the need to read the contents of the memory into a digital data processor prior to being able to search the memory.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a content addressable memory system having an improved storage capacity.
Another object of the invention is to provide a content addressable memory system with improved access time while reducing the input/output bandwidth requirements of the memory.
A further object of the invention is to provide a content addressable memory system wherein the memory is addressable without using a previously prepared index of key words and phrases.
An additional object is to provide a content addressable memory system having a relatively inexpensive cost per on-line megabyte of memory.
Other general and specific objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

Content addressable optical data storage system


A suspending system for supporting one or more brackets from a utility basket includes a pair of conventional, vertically-aligned keyhole slots in a side wall of the basket, but further utilizes a slot in an adjacent horizontal lip of the basket to add rigidity to the basket as well as support for the bracket after installation. The use of the keyhole slots enables a bracket to be installed or removed quickly if desired, without requiring tools for the installation or removal.

Suspension brackets, even of the shape illustrated, have been known and used in this particular environment. They are typically mounted with conventional screws to the relatively thin vertical side walls of the basket, often putting severe strain on the fasteners whenever a heavy load such as a gallon can of paint is hung from the bracket.


A protection apparatus detects and reduces overpressure in a fluid pipeline. First and second pipeline valves are connected in series along the pipeline and are independently switchable between open and closed positions. A pressure transducer determines the fluid pressure in the pipeline at a point intermediate the first and second pipeline valves. A bypass line has a first end connected to the pipeline between the input end and the first pipeline valve and a second end connected to the pipeline between the first and second pipeline valves. A bypass valve is connected along the bypass line. A vent line is connected to the bypass line between the bypass valve and the second end of the bypass line. A vent valve is connected along the vent line.

Hydrocarbon wells, for example subsea oil wells, require a pipeline through which the hydrocarbon fluid is transported. In the case of subsea wells, these may be of substantial length, sometimes several tens of kilometres long. Consequently, the pipeline is a major cost element of the fluid extraction system. Many subsea wells have to contend with very high fluid pressures, for example as high as 700 bar. For a pipeline to withstand such pressure would require it to have a substantial wall thickness, and it is not cost effective to implement this for long pipelines. To decrease cost, it is preferable instead to reduce the maximum operating pressure of the pipeline, typically to about 200 bar, using devices such as valves or chokes to reduce the fluid pressure from the well. However, a failure of the pressure reducing device may result in overpressure in the pipeline with disastrous results. To prevent this happening, a pipeline protection system is typically incorporated into the pipeline proximate the well. Such a system must have high integrity and virtually guarantee to prevent any overpressure from the well from reaching the pipeline.
FIG. 1 shows a typical conventional high integrity pipeline protection system (HIPPS). Two hydraulically operated 'HIPPS' barrier valves 1 and 2 are inserted in the fluid extraction flow line 3, prior to the thinner walled pipeline 4. These valves are opened when their operating hydraulic cylinders are fed with hydraulic pressure, and closed, typically under spring pressure, when the hydraulic pressure is removed and vented, i.e. they are failsafe. Pressure transducers 5, 6 and 7 are fitted between the valves 1 and 2. The pressure transducers 5, 6 and 7 are connected to a subsea control module (SCM) 8, which houses a hard-wired and thus also high integrity, electronic safety critical control board. This board produces an output that energises directional control valves (DCVs) which in turn operate the valves 1 and 2. The DCVs are also failsafe in that they close the hydraulic pressure source, and open the valve 1 and 2 actuating cylinders to vent when de-energised. Thus loss of electrical or hydraulic power causes the valves 1 and 2 to close. The safety critical control board in the SEM 8 contains logic that de-energises the DCVs if two out of the three transducers 5, 6 and 7 indicate a pressure level that exceeds a pre-set limit. This limit is set to a pressure that is less than the safe operating pressure of the pipeline 4. The use of two failsafe HIPPS valves, three pressure transducers and failsafe DCVs ensures high integrity of the system.
Employment of a HIPPS system not only reduces installation costs, but also allows for reduced rating of downstream equipment, such as risers, separators and process plant and permits high pressure fields to be commercially viable by allowing them to tie into existing infrastructures.
Although such known HIPPS systems are effective at protecting the pipeline, they are relatively basic, and do not address the problem of reducing the overpressure in the fluid system, which should be reduced before the HIPPS valves are re-opened and normal operation resumed. It is of course preferable that the overpressure is reduced in a controlled manner which minimizes the risk of component damage.


A mirror system for a vehicle includes at least one exterior mirror having a reflective element, a housing for the reflective element, a positioning device for selectively positioning the reflective element, and a light for emitting light generally downwardly from the mirror housing on an area adjacent the side of the vehicle. A control is responsive to the vehicle reverse gear selector being in reverse gear for causing the positioning device to position the reflective element to a downwardly tilted position, wherein the driver can view an area adjacent a side of the vehicle. The control actuates the light when the reflective element is in the downwardly tilted position in order to illuminate objects in that area. In a preferred embodiment, the control actuates the light through a lockout circuit which normally allows the light to be activated only when the vehicle is not operating. The control includes an override for the lockout circuit which allows the light to be activated even when the vehicle is operating when, and only when, reverse gear is selected.

This invention relates generally to vehicle rearview mirror systems and, more particularly, to exterior mirror systems that are adapted to provide rearward vision during parking maneuvers.
Conventional exterior mirrors of a vehicle are not of much assistance to the driver when reversing the vehicle into tight spaces. The reason is that the exterior mirrors are typically adjusted in order to provide vision directly rearwardly of the vehicle. During parking maneuvers, including rearwardly maneuvering of the vehicle into a parking space, it would be desirable to be able to observe, through the rearview mirrors, impediments to the side of the vehicle including adjacent vehicles, elevated curbs, posts, and the like.
One solution to providing vision to the side of a vehicle during reversing maneuvers is the power tilt mirror. A power tilt mirror responds to the vehicle being placed in a reverse gear mode by rotating the exterior mirror, or mirrors, about a horizontal axis to a downwardly tilted orientation. This allows the driver to observe areas to the side of the vehicle rather than areas principally to the rear of the vehicle. The tilting of the mirror may be accomplished by a separate tilt mechanism provided specifically for the power tilt function or may be provided by programming the memory function of a conventional remote positioning device to respond to the vehicle being placed in reverse gear by going in the downward tilt memory position. A power tilt exterior mirror is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,671 issued to Kaspar for an OUTSIDE REAR-VIEW MIRROR FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE HAVING A REVERSE GEAR.
The difficulty with such power tilt mirror is that the driver is unable to observe objects at the side of the vehicle at night. The reason is that the side of the vehicle is not illuminated at night when the vehicle is being operated. Although vehicles are equipped with backing lights which illuminate the rear of the vehicle during backing maneuvers, such lights do not adequately illuminate objects at the side of the vehicle. Therefore, the power tilt mirror has not achieved its intended object of providing visual assistance to the driver of a vehicle who is rearwardly maneuvering a vehicle, at night, into a parking space.

Illuminated power tilt exterior mirror for vehicle


A socket for use in the burn-in test, which is characterized in that a contact element and a fixed member are displaced from their original positions in connection with the forward motion of the cover member for charging an IC package into the main socket body. Upon the return of the fixed member and the contact element to their respective initial positions, the leads of the IC package are held between them, thereby carrying out the reliable fixing of the IC package. Additionally, the fixed member is integrally constructed with a compressive part of molded resin and a metal part that supports the compressive part.

This invention relates to a socket having a contact element which is to be elastically compressed to an electrical part so as to establish electric contact in connection with the installation of a semiconductor integrated circuit chip (IC) by inserting a molded IC package such as for example, a socket for IC chip use.
As the IC package has become thinner and smaller in size in recent years, and as applications for surface installations have increased, the quality of the product has become more difficult to control. This situation makes for testing and the elimination of unacceptable products very important.
With this fact in mind, standard testing (such as a heat resistant test that is called a burn-in test) of IC packages including IC packages for surface installation is performed in which IC packages are placed in a testing furnace so as to distinguish the good from the bad products.
One type of socket as known in the prior art used for such testing is the so-called ZIP (zig-zag in-line package) socket 10 which is shown in FIGS. 9 through 11. An IC package 2 which is installed on this ZIP socket is designed so that the loads 5a and 5b extending from the bottom of the molded resin portion of the IC 2a are in two rows for insertion into the socket 10 as clearly shown in FIG. 9. The contact element 4 of the socket is formed as a single metal piece which is bent back at its lower end with the bent part being inserted into the base of the socket.
For installation of the IC package, the IC package 2 is faced in the perpendicular direction and the leads are inserted into the respective lead insertion holes 3 corresponding to the various leads. Each lead is inserted between the mutually facing elastic holding parts 4a and 4b of the pin-shaped contact element 4 that has been positioned in the lead insertion hole 3 so as to elastically hold the lead as shown in the drawings. An action opposite to that described above is carried out in order to withdraw the IC package 2 from the socket.
It has been found, however, that the aforementioned ZIP socket has certain shortcomings. In an automated operation for insertion and withdrawal from the socket, the IC package may be positioned sideways on the tray because of its shape which requires that the packages have to be repositioned in the perpendicular (vertical) direction before they are inserted into the socket with the consequence that the steps required for automation become more complicated. Additionally, the leads 5a and 5b of the IC are pushed into the gap between the mutually facing holding parts 4a and 4b thereby separating these holding parts and giving rise to the possibility of the leads and contacts being deformed.


An electrode for measuring a bio potential includes a conductive adhesive having one side configured to have at least two metal electrodes attached thereto while the electrode is being used, and another side configured to be attached to a living body while the electrode is being used, the conductive adhesive having a predetermined area and a predetermined thickness; and a supporting element configured to support the conductive adhesive while the conductive adhesive is attached to the living body; wherein an impedance is formed between the at least two metal electrodes while the at least two metal electrodes are attached to the side of the conductive adhesive, the impedance depending on a thickness of the conductive adhesive and having a value that prevents the at least two metal electrodes from being shorted together.

1. Field
This disclosure relates to an electrode for measuring a bio potential, a method of manufacturing the electrode, and a system for measuring a physiological signal.
2. Description of Related Art
Recent healthcare systems improve accuracy and convenience of diagnosis by measuring various physiological signals in daily life. In particular, smart healthcare systems for providing health-related services through personal health information databases, helping medical staff to perform telediagnoses, and delivering results of diagnoses and prescriptions to patients are being introduced.
A human body is a conductor in which an electrical field is formed due to an action potential that is generated by electrical excitation of cells. Therefore, electrical characteristics of the internal part of a body may be measured by detecting a small amount of current or detecting a change in current with respect to external stimuli in the body.
Generally, various bio potentials, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG), an electromyogram (EMG), an electroencephalogram (EEG), galvanic skin resistance (GSR), electrooculography (EOG), body temperature, heartbeat, blood pressure, and body movement, may be measured by using such a principle, and an electrode for a living body is used to detect changes in such physiological signals.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an electrode for a living body attached to the skin of a user, and a portable measuring system. An electrode for a living body is a medium for connecting the skin of a user to a system for measuring a physiological signal (hereinafter, a physiological signal measuring system), and affects the quality of the measured physiological signals and user convenience. In daily life, in order for an electrode for a living body to be attached to the living body of a user and to measure physiological signals of the user all of the time, various technical problems with respect to accuracy of measurement, communication, power consumption, and the technical problems need to be resolved.
In order to always have a physiological signal measuring system on a living body in daily life, an area of an electrode that is in contact with the skin of the body needs to be minimized to reduce skin irritation. In addition, it is necessary to reduce motion artifacts to accurately measure physiological signals during exercise.
FIG. 2 illustrates an example of noise generated in a measured physiological signal due to a change in an interface caused by a movement of a body, and shows that a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the measured physiological signal is reduced by the movement of the body.

Electrode for measuring bio potential, method of manufacturing the electrode, and system for measuring physiological signal


The present invention provides a pneumatic tire comprising raised indicia on a sidewall of the tire, the raised indicia comprising a plurality of superposed layers of a curable elastomer composition.

Pneumatic tires often desirably have indicial markings, such as trademarks or other markings. These indicia typically are formed directly into the rubber sidewall during the tire molding process. Thus, the indicia may be raised lettering or other shapes, and may be colored with white pigments or other colorants in the rubber compound.
White sidewall tires are very popular with car makers. Tires having other types of appliques on the sidewalls thereof, such as lettering, logos, decals, or bar codes and the like, are also very popular. However, the construction of tires having white sidewalls or decorative appliques on the sidewall thereof is a complicated procedure. It generally involves the co-extrusion of a black sidewall rubber with a white sidewall rubber and laminating a protective cover strip over the white rubber to form a sidewall preassembly. This tire sidewall preassembly is then applied in sequence with the other required tire components to the tire building drum to form a green or uncured tire. The green tire is then typically cured in a tire press, with the desired applique being formed by the grooves in the tire mold. After the tire has been cured, it is carefully ground and buffed to expose the decorative applique which was previously covered and protected by the cover strip.
Co-extrusion is a complicated process which involves the utilization of sophisticated equipment and a large number of profile dies. The grinding and buffing step which is required to remove the cover strip is also complicated and labor intensive. These additional steps, which are required in building tires having decorative appliques on a sidewall thereof, adds significantly to the cost of building the tire.
In conventional white sidewall tires, the white rubber component represents a very substantial portion of the sidewall. However, it is desirable for tires to have thin sidewalls in order to attain desired performance characteristics. Accordingly, the decorative applique on the sidewall of a tire should be as thin as possible. Nevertheless, certain production and performance criteria has limited the degree to which the thickness of sidewall applique can be reduced.
There are additional problems associated with tires having decorative applique on a sidewall thereof which are built using standard techniques. For instance, such tires have more blemishes, imperfections, and voids in the sidewall area as compared to black sidewall tires. Additionally, problems associated with the white sidewall splice opening sometimes also occur. Misalignment of the white sidewall preassembly relative to mold grooves is a frequently-encountered problem which leads to blemished tires. The grinding procedure used in building standard tires having decorative appliques on a sidewall thereof sometimes leads to the formation of surface crack sites.
For the aforementioned reasons, tire having decorative appliques on a sidewall thereof and the conventional procedures used in building such tires leave much to be desired. To obviate these shortcomings associated with standard techniques for building tires having decorative appliques on a sidewall thereof, it has been proposed to replace the previously known sidewall decorative features with appliques which are painted on to conventional black wall tires. However, painting designs on to the sidewall of tires has not proven to be a satisfactory answer to the problem. This is largely due to the fact that designs which are painted on are quite thin and can be easily damaged by scraping, scuffing and the like.
The concept of applying premolded tire sidewall appliques to standard black wall tires has also been proposed. Difficulties have been encountered with maintaining adequate adhesion between the sidewall applique and the tire. Also, tires made utilizing such techniques typically have inferior scuff resistance such that the applique fails at the interface.
It is sometimes desired to apply indicia directly to an already molded and cured tire, typically on the sidewall area. To do this, various coatings and paints have been used to form indicia. However, poor adhesion or durability of the coatings usually leads to unacceptable performance of this type of indicia.
It would, therefore, be desirable to have a tire with indicia applied to a cured tire sidewall surface, wherein the indicial coating material offers good adhesion and durability.


A communication device provides data to a data acquiring node based on a consensus of a plurality of participating nodes. The communication device includes a processor. The processor divides the data into N data components. N is an integer equal to or larger than two. When the N data components are stored in different storage areas, the processor encrypts addresses of storage areas in which the data components are respectively stored with respective public keys of N participating nodes among the plurality of participating nodes. The processor transmits access right information that indicates the data acquiring node has a right to access the data and the encrypted N addresses to the plurality of participating nodes.

Data trading markets for providing services to sell and purchase data have been spreading in recent years. Participants of such data trading markets can provide their own data on the market. The participants can also obtain or purchase data provided on the market.
On the other hands, the blockchain technology, which manages data in a tamper-proof state in a decentralized environment without any administrator, has been attracting attentions. The blockchain technology achieves a tamper-proof distributed ledger by plural participants or all participants verifying a transaction. Methods of using the blockchain have been proposed for supporting data trading markets.
In systems such as the blockchain in which plural distributed nodes cooperatively execute a process, consensus algorithms are used to synchronize processing results across all nodes. The consensus algorithms allow a process to be confirmed after plural participating nodes verify processing details and processing results.
In data trading systems, data registration and data acquisition are carried out. In data registration procedures, information related to data to be registered (e.g., metadata) is used. Such metadata includes access policy information that indicates to which user(s) the data can be disclosed. In data acquiring procedures, a data provider verifies access policies and transmits data when a user requesting the data is confirmed to have the right to access the data.
Note that methods of safely storing highly confidential data with small hardware resources have been proposed (e.g., Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2006-311383). In addition, methods of securely storing data in cloud computing resources have been proposed (e.g. Japanese National Publication of International Patent Application No. 2012-527838). Moreover, methods of improving anonymity in communications over a network have been proposed (e.g., Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2017-079350).
In the blockchain, as described above, a transaction is verified by plural participants. A consensus of all participants is formed in accordance with plural verification results.
PoW (Proof of Work) has been widely used as one of consensus algorithms. PoW is suitable for a case of forming a consensus in a network consisting of an unspecified number of participants because of its strict approval processes. Therefore, when a transaction requested from an unspecified number of participants is processed in data trade services, consensus may be formed by PoW. However, when consensus is formed by PoW, it may take a long time until a requested transaction is executed.

Communication device and communication method used in decentralized network


A producing method of a wired circuit board that can prevent meandering of the elongate base material conveyed with the rolls and also prevent entry of air bubbles in between a light-transparency protecting film and a photosensitive solder resist layer when the light-transparency protecting film is laminated on the photosensitive solder resist layer. After a conductive pattern 3 is formed on the front side of the elongate base material 1 by the additive process, a narrow stiffener sheet 7 smaller in width than the elongate base material 1 is provided on the back side of the elongate base material 1. Then, after the photosensitive solder resist layer 10 is formed on the front side of the elongate base material 1 to cover the conductive pattern 3, the light-transparency protecting film 11 is laminated on the front side of the photosensitive solder resist layer 10. Thereafter, the photosensitive solder resist layer 10 is exposed to light through the light-transparency protecting film 11. Then, after the light-transparency protecting film 11 is stripped off from the photosensitive solder resist layer 10, the photosensitive solder resist layer 10 was developed and then cured by heating. Thereafter, the narrow stiffener sheet 7 is stripped off from the elongate base material. The flexible wired circuit board is produced in the manner described above.

1. Field of the Invention
This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Appln. No. 2004-299254, filed Oct. 13, 2004, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
The present invention relates to a producing method of a wired circuit board and, more particularly, to a method of producing a wired circuit board while conveying an elongate base material using rolls.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As is known, the roll-to-roll process is used for forming a conductive pattern and the like on a surface of elongate base material while conveying the elongate base material by using rolls, in order to provide an improved production efficiency of the wired circuit board.
Along with the trend toward lighter, thinner, and more compact electronic components, the trend in wired circuit boards is also toward thinner profile. A thin, elongate, base material is however creased or get wrinkled when conveyed using rolls. Prior art proposes an attempt solution to prevent this that a carrier film is adhesively bonded to a surface of a thin, copper clad laminate (e.g. JP Laid-open (Unexamined) Patent Publication No. Hei 6-132628).
Also, prior art proposes improvement of the process of coating a photosensitive solder resist using a roll coater, to prevent adhesion of foreign matter to a surface of the photosensitive solder resist. In the improvement, after the resist layer is dried to volatilize solvent components of the resist layer, a light-transparency protecting film is laminated on the resist layer and a solder resist pattern is provided on the surface of the protecting film. Then, after the resulting resist layer is exposed to light, the protecting film is removed from the resist layer and the resist layer is developed (e.g. JP Laid-open (Unexamined) Patent Publication No. 2004-79844).
Meanwhile, along with improvements in fine conductive pattern in recent years, the additive process of forming a conductive pattern by electrolytic plating is in widespread use. However, when the conductive pattern is formed on the base material by the electrolytic plating, the following problems occur. In general, in the electrolytic plating, a current density becomes higher at both widthwise end portions of the elongate base material than at a widthwise central portion of the same. Due to this, deposition of the electrolytic plating is promoted at the both widthwise end portions of the elongate base material, so that thickness of the conductive pattern plated is apt to become larger at the both widthwise end portions of the elongate base material than at the widthwise central portion of the same.
When this elongate base material is coated with the photosensitive solder resist to cover the conductive pattern by the roll coater, the conductive pattern formed to have a larger thickness at the both widthwise end portions of the elongate base material is brought into contact with the roll coater, to cause meander of the elongate base material conveyed with the rollers disadvantageously.
Also, when the protecting film is laminated on the surface of the photosensitive solder resist, the elongate base material and protecting film is conveyed while being held in sandwich relation between a pair of upper and lower nip rollers and being pressurized by the nip rollers. When the conductive pattern has a larger thickness at the both widthwise end portions of the elongate base material than at the widthwise central portion of the same, the pressure cannot be uniformly applied on the elongate base material including portions thereof close to the both ends thereof, to cause entry of air bubbles in between the photosensitive solder resist and the protecting film. This will cause scattering of light in the subsequent exposure process, and as such can cause production of pinholes in the subsequent development process disadvantageously.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A writing instrument has a supply chamber connected to reserve chamber by a refilling valve actuated by a plunger which is controlled by a push button formed with a self-closing membrane type valve through which the reserve chamber can be filled from a receptacle by a hollow needle. A separating valve at the end of the plunger closes before the refilling valve is opened to ensure that no ink under pressure will be forced into the ink flow regulator and point of the instrument during the refilling process.

German patent document DE-U-86 20 385 describes a writing instrument of the aforedescribed type having a reserve chamber which, in the usual orientation of the instrument for writing purposes, is located above the supply chamber. The valve element of the refilling valve is connected with a plunger which is actuatable at the end of the reserve chamber opposite the end of the instrument provided with the writing tip or nib. By depressing this end of the plunger, the valve element is displaced from its normally closed position into an open position and then subsequently can return to its closed position.
With the known writing instrument of this patent document, in the closed position of the refilling valve, the volume of the supply chamber is exclusively effective. The supply chamber can be so constructed that the greatest amount of air possible is permitted via the equalizing capacity of the capillary system, to dominate the flow of ink from the tip. This ensures that nonuniform ink flow is avoided and ragged writing is prevented.
When the supply chamber is emptied in the course of writing, it must be refilled with ink from the reservoir chamber.
The writing instrument of DE-U-86 20 385 has the drawback that after the supply chamber has been refilled from the reservoir chamber, refilling of the reserve chamber with ink is not possible and thus the instrument must be discarded when the ink in both the supply chamber and the reserve chamber has been fully consumed.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,646,777 discloses a refillable writing instrument in which the supply chamber at the end opposite that provided with the pen point, is provided with a piston pump which can allow a suction tube projecting from the supply chamber to be operated. To refill the supply chamber, the suction tube is immersed in ink in an ink vessel and by up-and-down movement of the instrument, the piston pump is actuated.
This system has the drawback that, during refilling, the pressure rise in the supply chamber causes ink in the flow regulator to feed through the pen point or tip and contaminate the fingers of the user and the exterior of the instrument. Overfilling of the supply chamber and the ink compartment in the flow regulator can readily occur with this system so that the writing produced by the instrument can be ragged. Finally, the instrument is difficult to manipulate and, because of the suction tube projecting from the supply chamber, required that an additional protective cap or sleeve be provided.

Writing instrument with refillable reservoir


A nozzle assembly for a gas turbine aircraft engine is provided. The nozzle assembly includes a nacelle and a core cowl positioned at least partially within the nacelle such that the core cowl and the nacelle are aligned substantially concentrically to each other defining an annular fan bypass duct. A first member couples the nacelle to the core cowl and includes a first flap hingedly coupled to each sidewall of the first member. An opposing second member couples the nacelle to the core cowl and includes a second flap hingedly coupled to each sidewall of the second member. The first flaps and the second flaps are selectively positionable between a first operational position and a second operational position to vary a throat area of said fan bypass duct. A turbofan engine assembly and a method for operating the same are also provided.

This invention relates generally to airflow in turbofan engines, and more specifically to regulating the airflow through the fan duct area.
At least one known turbofan engine assembly includes a fan assembly and a core gas turbine engine enclosed in an annular core cowl. Additionally, a fan nacelle surrounds a portion of the core gas turbine engine. The core cowl and fan nacelle generally form a fan nozzle duct area (A18). While operating the turbofan engine assembly, a portion of the air flowing from the fan assembly flows through the core gas turbine engine and another portion of the air flows through the fan nozzle duct area.
In some turbofan engine assemblies, the fan nozzle duct area can be manipulated in order to alter engine performance. For example, some turbofan engines utilize a translating core cowl as a thrust reverser without blocker doors by essentially reducing the fan nozzle duct area.
Additional methods and assemblies are needed to vary the fan nozzle duct area to increase cycle performance at take-off and descent portions.

Turbofan engine nozzle assembly and method of operating same


A connector has a retainer (40) mounted on a housing (10) for movement between a temporary locking position and a main locking position in a direction (Y) oblique to a fit-in direction (X) of the housing (10). Terminal fittings (70) can be inserted into the housing (10) when the retainer (40) is at the temporary locking position and are locked in housing (10) when the retainer (40) is at the main locking position. The housing (10) has a locking part (28) and the retainer (40) has a to-be-locked portion (52) that can be locked together. Locking surfaces of the locking part (28) and the to-be-locked portion (52) are inclined to the movement direction (Y) of the retainer (40) and to the fit-in direction (X) of the housing (10).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 7,056,159 describes a connector with a housing that can be fit in a mating housing and a retainer that is mounted in a retainer insertion hole formed in the housing. The retainer can be moved in the retainer mount hole between a temporary locking position and a main locking position along a direction that extends oblique to the fit-in direction of the housing. Terminal fittings can be inserted into the housing and removed therefrom when the retainer is disposed at the temporary locking position. However, the retainer prevents the removal of the terminal fittings from the housing when the retainer is at the main locking position. The housing has a locking part and the retainer has a to-be-locked portion that can be locked to the locking part. The locking part and the to-be-locked portion are locked to each other at the main locking position along the fit-in direction of the housing.
The electric wire connected with the terminal fitting may be pulled rearward when the retainer is at the main locking position and may exert a separation force that urges the retainer obliquely toward the temporary locking position. At this time, the direction in which the retainer separates from the housing is almost coincident with the direction in which the locking part and the to-be-locked portion are locked together, even though the retainer deviates to a low extent from the direction in which the locking part and the to-be-locked portion are locked to each other. Thus, there is a fear that the to-be-locked portion will unlock from the locking part if the separation force applied to the retainer is excessively large, and hence the retainer may be removed inadvertently from the housing.
The invention has been completed in view of the situation described above. Therefore it is an object of the invention to provide a connector in which a retainer can be prevented from being inadvertently removed from a housing.

Connector with retainer and retainer locking surfaces aligned oblique to movement direction of retainer


A process for dissolution of spent high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters and then combining the complexed filter solution with other radioactive wastes prior to calcining the mixed and blended waste feed. The process is an alternate to a prior method of acid leaching the spent filters which is an inefficient method of treating spent HEPA filters for disposal.

Filters are used in hot cells or areas in which work is performed on equipment or substances that produce significant levels of radiation that may be threatening to humans. For instance, in hot cells, the work that is done is performed by electromechanical manipulators, master-slave manipulators, and overhead cranes, operated from remote locations by humans who are shielded from the radiation. Air in hot cells is circulated and filtered to prevent the release of radioactive materials to the environment. It is also necessary to filter the gases emanating from process equipment in hot cells. Such air or other gas is filtered to remove particulate matter that may be radioactive or hazardous. The filters and their housings are thus located in the hot cell and are radioactive or contaminated with radioactive materials or other hazardous elements.
A method of recovering hazardous wastes collected on a phenolic resin filter used to filter fluid systems is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,916 issued Feb. 26, 1991. This method dissolves the phenolic fiber material and particulate contained in the filter cartridge by 8-12 molar nitric acid at temperatures of 160.degree.-190.degree. F. This patent is assigned to the U.S. Department of Energy.
HEPA filters are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,922 issued on Sept. 12, 1988, and also assigned to the U.S. Department of Energy.
A HEPA filter or complex of filters must be removed and replaced when particulate buildup creates an excessive pressure drop in the off-gas system. After replacement, the used filters require some form of regulated disposal method that prevents spread of the radioactive or hazardous particulates. Spent HEPA filters from nuclear facilities are typically classified as high-level, transuranic (TRU), and mixed waste, which is impossible to dispose of without processing.
Because of the difference of the filter media from the HEPA filter of the present process, the above phenolic filter process is not appropriate for the HEPA filter dissolution. HEPA filter materials are primarily silicon (SiO.sub.2), boron (B.sub.2 O.sub.3), aluminum oxide (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3), and KEVLAR.TM..
As an alternative, a HEPA filter leach system may be used to "clean" the filter element; however, leaching tests of these HEPA filters in some cases has failed to remove enough mercury for the filters to meet EPA toxic concentration leach procedure (TCLP) test limits. Accordingly, it would be desirable to have an alternative to leaching. The present invention, filter media dissolution in an HF mixture, has been developed as a disposal method.

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy


Liquid crystal displays and fabrication methods thereof. The liquid crystal display comprises a first substrate with an active matrix of a plurality of pixels. A second substrate is provided opposing the first substrate. A liquid crystal layer is interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. Each pixel comprises a polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer corresponding to a first liquid crystal region and a non-polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer corresponding to a second liquid crystal region.

The invention relates to liquid crystal displays and fabrication methods thereof, and more particularly, to polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) displays and fabrication methods thereof.
Among flat panel displays, liquid crystal displays (LCDs) exhibit characteristics of light weight, low power consumption, and good outdoor reliability, and are therefore widely applied in portable computers, notebooks, mobile phones, and personal digital assistances (PDAs). Conventional twisted nematic mode LCDs are disadvantageous due to their small viewing angle. Some proposed LCDs, such as, in-plane switching mode LCD (IPS-LCD) or multi-domain vertical alignment LCD (MVA-LCD) attempt to improve the viewing characteristics of conventional LCDs.
Conventional MVA-LCDs, however, possess less transparency than TN mode LCDs. Moreover, conventional MVA-LCDs image sticking may occur in display over a long period of time. U.S. Pat. No. 6,781,665, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a method for fabricating a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) display. The polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) display is formed by mixing liquid crystal and monomer and radiating UV thereon with a bias. Polymers dispersed in liquid crystal can help liquid crystal recovery, thereby reducing imaging sticking.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional method for fabricating a polymer dispersed liquid crystal display. A liquid crystal display panel is disposed in an ultra-violet light irradiation chamber 32. A power supply 30 applies a bias between an upper electrode 34 and a lower electrode 36. A liquid crystal layer 38 between the upper electrode 34 and the lower electrode 36 comprises a mixture of liquid crystal and monomer. When the liquid display panel is irradiated by UV light, the monomer is polymerized to form a continuous network. Moreover, during polymerization, the orientation of the liquid crystal becomes more consistent with the polymer.
FIG. 2 is a cross section of a conventional polymer dispersed liquid crystal display. After an irradiating or a heating process, monomers in the liquid crystal layer 38 between upper substrate 10 and lower substrate 20 are polymerized into polymer structures 13. Polymer structures 13 are formed adjacent to alignment layers 46a and 46b. Polymer structures 13 can aid in liquid crystal recovery, thereby reducing image sticking.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,194, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) display. Monomers are added into liquid crystal. The mixture of monomers and liquid crystals in each of red, green, and blue color pixels are separately polymerized with UV irradiation under different biases, thereby creating a different polymer structure in each pixel.

Liquid crystal displays with liquid crystal molecules and polymers in which the polymers adhere to the substrates and capsulate the molecules


A snap ring removal/installation tool for removing crescent shaped split snap ring from a snap ring retaining groove in a shaft. The tool comprises a flat, rigid body having a head at one end with an aperture extending therethrough. The aperture is comprised of a front section and a rear section. The front section is defined by a pair of spaced apart side walls joined by a curved front wall. The rear section is defined by a pair a spaced apart side walls joined by a curved rear wall opposite the curved front wall. The side walls of the rear section are spaced apart a lesser distance than the side walls of the front section, thereby defining laterally extending shoulders or ledges between said side walls of the rear section and the side walls of the front section. These shoulders serve as abutment members which engage the prongs of the snap ring to force the snap ring out of its retaining groove.

Normally cylinder plugs of locks are retained in a cylinder plug housing by, inter alia, a retaining ring disposed in a retaining ring groove on the cylinder plug stem. When it is desired to change the cylinder plug it is first necessary to remove the retaining ring from the retaining ring groove. The present invention provides a simple and easy to use hand tool for removing the retaining ring from the retaining ring groove in the stem of a cylinder plug so that the cylinder plug can be removed from its housing. The tool of the instant invention can also be used to insert the retaining ring into the retaining ring groove.

Retaining ring removal and installation tool


9.alpha.-hydroxy-17-keto steroids are prepared by fermenting steroids having a C-17-side chain of 5-10 carbon atoms inclusive, with the novel Mycobacterium species CBS 482.86. Starting from various substrates containing a 5-10 C carbon chain on C-17, 9.alpha.-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione, 7.alpha.,9.alpha.,12.alpha.-trihydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione or 9.alpha.-hydroxyandrost-4,11-diene-3,17-dione is obtained in high yield. The resulting compounds are useful intermediates in the synthesis of therapeutically important steroids, particularly corticosteroids.

It is well known that steroid molecules can be transformed by microorganisms (W. Charney, H. L. Herzog, Microbial Transformations of Steroids). Many processes using microbiological transformations of steroids have been developed, to replace cumbersome and expensive chemical processes. A cheap source for the preparation of useful steroid intermediates are the abundantly available sterols, for example cholesterol and sitosterol. Microorganisms have been selected which are able to use these steroids as a carbon source. In several patent publications, e.g. Dutch patent applications NL 6513718 and NL 6705450, the microbiological degradation of the C-17-side chain with the preservation of the steroid nucleus is described. With specific inhibitor compounds and later also with specially developed mutants, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,684,657, 3,759,791 or 4,345,029, it was possible to obtain in high yield androst-4-ene-3,17-dione and androsta-1,4-diene-3,17- dione, which are starting compounds for the synthesis of therapeutically useful steroids.
Among the microbiologically prepared steroids 9.alpha.-hydroxy-17-keto steroids are important because they are valuable starting compounds for the preparation of corticosteroids (J. Org. Chem. (1979) 44, 1582). The necessary introduction in prospective corticosteroids of a hydroxyl group on C-11 and optionally of a halogen atom on C-9 can be carried out by easy, well established chemical reactions, departing from this class of compounds.
A preferred compound of this type is 9.alpha.-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione, originally described in J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 80 (1958), 6148. It possesses anti-androgenic and anti-oestrogenic activity, but it is mainly used as an intermediate in the synthesis of therapeutically valuable corticosteroids (see e.g. European patent application EP-A-0263569).
In the following patent publications several methods are disclosed for obtaining 9.alpha.-hydroxy-17-keto steroids, particularly 9.alpha.-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione:
a. Microbiological introduction of the 9.alpha.-hydroxyl group starting from androst-4-ene-3,17-dione using e.g. a microorganism of the genus Nocardia (U.S. Pat. No. 4,397,947) or a Corynespora cassicola strain (European patent application EP-A-0027829).
b. U.S. Pat. No. 3,759,791 (examples 6 and 7) describes the presence of 9.alpha.-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione in the broth after the fermentation of sterols with a Mycobacterium strain. According to U.S. Pat. No. 4,035,236 Mycobacterium fortuitum NRRL B-8119 is able, though in a rather low yield, to degrade the C-17-side chain of sterols with the simultaneous introduction of the 9.alpha.-hydroxyl group. Besides the low yield, which is caused predominantly by the gradual further degradation of the desired product during incubation, a drawback of this process is that the microorganism is considered to be an opportunistic pathogen.
c. East German patent DD 232167 discloses the preparation of 9.alpha.-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione by the strain Mycobacterium fortuitum N10 (ZIMET 10849). According to a special feature the yield is raised to 40-50% by adding a finely dispersed, hydrophobic organic polymer to the fermentation medium.
d. The preparation of 9.alpha.-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione departing from sterols by using a Mycobacterium strain is also described in Japanese patent application JP 55/85397, but only a low yield is reported.
e. According to British patent application GB 2197869, published Jun. 2, 1988, production of 9.alpha.-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione is effected by sterol fermentation using a strain of the novel Mycobacterium roseum species. From 100 g sterol 28.5 g product is obtained.

Preparation of 9-.alpha.-hydroxy-17-keto steroids using Mycobacterium species CBS 482.86


Provided is an all-in-one type light guide plate including a plurality of prism-shaped structures that are integrally formed on the all-in-one light guide plate and which totally internally reflect light incident from a light source and emit the totally internally reflected light.

1. Field of the Invention
Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate to a backlight and a method of manufacturing a light guide plate, and more particularly, to a backlight having an all-in-one type light guide plate and a method of manufacturing the all-in-one type light guide plate.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typically, backlights are used to illuminate flat displays, for example, liquid crystal displays, and are mainly classified as direct light emitting type backlights or light guide plate type backlights depending on the positions of the light sources. Light guide plate type backlights may be also classified as flat type backlights or wedge type backlights.
In direct light emitting type backlights, a light source is installed close below a light exit surface, thereby enabling a surface light emission. Advantageously, direct light emitting type backlights include more light sources in comparison with light guide plate type backlights, thus increasing light brightness and widening the light exit surface. However, in direct light emitting type backlights, power consumption is higher because many light sources are used. Also, it is difficult to realize thin film direct light emitting type backlights because the shape of light sources is reflected, and thus light uniformity is severely reduced.
In light guide plate type backlights, a light guide plate is employed to guide light to a light exit surface. Light sources are disposed on a side surface of the light guide plate. The number of light sources is limited according to a length of a side surface of the light guide plate. Advantageously, thin film light guide plate type backlights can be realized easily. On the other hand, a process for making light brightness uniform on the entire light exit surface is complicated in comparison with direct light emitting type backlights.
Flat type backlights are used in monitors or when high-brightness is required. In flat type backlights, the light sources may be fixed to two or all four edges of the light guide plate. To increase light brightness when a plurality of light sources are used, an edge thickness of the light guide plate should be uniform.
Wedge type backlights are used in devices, such as notebook computers, in which it is difficult to use several light sources due to limited power resources. Only one surface constituting a light incident portion is widened and other surface is narrowed, to thereby reduce the weight of the backlight.
Light sources used in light guide plate type backlights may be line light-sources and point light-sources. A cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) may be used as a line light-source. In this case, electrodes at both ends of the CCFL are installed within a pipe. A light emitting diode (LED) may be used a point light-source. Advantageously, the CCFL emits strong white light having high-brightness and high-uniformity, and allows design enlargement. However, the CCFL is operated via a high frequency alternating current (AC) signal and at a narrow range of an operation temperature. Meanwhile, the performance of the LED is inferior to that of the CCFL in view of light brightness and uniformity. However, the LED has advantages of operating via a direct current (DC) signal and at a wide range of operation temperatures. In addition, LEDs have long lifespans and can be used to make a thin film direct light emitting type backlight.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically illustrating a conventional side emitting type backlight.
Referring to FIG. 1, line light-sources 10 are installed at both sides 21 and 22 of a light guide plate 20. A light path converter 23 is formed on a lower surface of the light guide plate 20 to guide light incident from the line light-sources 10.
A plurality of prisms or prism-shaped structures 30 are formed on an upper side of the light guide plate 20 to diffuse the light coming out from an exit surface 24 into the upper side of the light guide plate 20. The prism-shaped structures 30 are fixed to the upper side of the light guide plate 20 by an adhesive layer 31.
The light incident from the line light-sources 10 into the light guide plate 20 is guided to the exit surface 24 of the light guide plate 20 by the light path converter 23. The light passes through an adhesive layer 31 and diffuses to the upper side of the light guide plate 20 through the prism-shaped structures 30.
Since the prism-shaped structures 30 are fixed to the upper side of the light guide plate 20 by the adhesive layer 31, the light incident into prism-shaped structures 30 must pass through the adhesive layer 31. Thus, the adhesive layer 31 affects the transmission of light. In particular, since the backlight performance depends on an adhering degree of the adhesive force, the adhesive layer 31 should be removed to increase the backlight performance.

Backlight having all-in-one type light guide plate and method of manufacturing all-in-one type light guide plate