A capacitor structure of a semiconductor device which includes a semiconductor substrate, a first metal layer formed on the substrate, and a second metal layer formed on the first metal layer. The first metal layer has a nitridation-treated film along its outer surface. A tungsten film having a rugged surface is formed on the entire outer surfaces of the first and second metal layers. Because of the nitridation-treated film along the first layer, the tungsten film will be uniformly distributed along the first and second metals. A thin dielectric film is then formed on the surface of the tungsten, followed by a third metal layer formed on the dielectric film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a capacitor structure of a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same, which has a suitable capacitance for use in the highly integrated device.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In general, as the integration of a semiconductor device (such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM)) increases, the area available to the capacitor becomes more limited. Each memory cell is manufactured by forming a transistor and a capacitor, which are active elements, on a substrate of limited area. According to the already determined design rule, the capacitor must be formed on a substrate where the transistor occupies a fixed area. Thus, it is difficult to manufacture a memory cell having a capacitor with a large capacity since the area occupied by the capacitor is decreased to that extent.
In order to overcome the limited area and obtain a capacitor having a capacitance suitably large enough for a highly integrated device, capacitors having a three-dimensional structure such as a stacked, a trench, a cylindrical, and a fin structure are used. If such a three-dimensional structure is used, a problem arises with respect to the reliability of the capacitor's dielectric film.
When a capacitor having the conventional three-dimensional structure is manufactured, the capacitor dielectric film will normally be composed of oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO). The problem with the ONO film, however, is its limited dielectric constant. Thus, even if the capacitor is manufactured having the conventional three-dimensional structure, the capacitor structure needs to become more complex as the integration is increased in order to obtain the desired capacitance. Accordingly, the ONO film is not a very suitable dielectric.
It should also be noted that if the thickness of the capacitor dielectric film is decreased, the capacitance can be increased. Thus, using a thin film is important not only because it will enable the device to be further miniaturized, but also because it will improve the device's capacitance. For example, in the 256 Mb DRAM, the effective thickness of the dielectric film must be reduced to about 3 nm or less using a SiO.sub.2 film.
However, research indicates that the effective thickness of the ONO film used now is limited to about 4 nm even if the nitridation anneal process is performed on it (refer to P. J. Wright and K. C. Saraswat, "Thickness limitation of SiO.sub.2 gate dielectrics for MOS ULSI", IEEE Trans. on Electron Devices, vol. 37, no. 8, 1990). Accordingly, where the ONO film is used in a capacitor, the structure of the capacitor storage node needs to become more complex in order to obtain a large capacitance.
Such complexity causes a severe topology problem in the stacked capacitor (such as the cylindrical structure or the fin structure), thereby requiring a high level of planarization technology. Even if planarization is accomplished, it is difficult to perform the subsequent process. For example, a contact hole having a large difference in depth must be filled in the subsequent wiring process. Further, where the capacitor has a trench structure, a high aspect ratio is present. Therefore, it is difficult to perform the etching process to form the trench, the cleaning process, and the silicon-filling process during the manufacturing of the opposite electrode within the trench.
Two types of manufacturing methods have emerged as methods for solving the aforementioned problems. The first method manufactures a storage node using a hemispherical grained silicon (HSG). Under this method, the surface of the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) silicon used as a capacitor storage node is formed into a rugged morphology instead of a smooth morphology. This increases the effective capacitor surface area in the capacitor region, although the area is still limited by the design and structure of the capacitor and semiconductor.
When the above described CVD silicon is deposited at a temperature of about 600.degree. C. or more, it has a smooth surface morphology such as with polycrystalline silicon. However, if the CVD silicon is deposited at a temperature of about 550.degree. C. or lower, and is heat-treated at temperatures around 580-600.degree. C., a rugged surface morphology is obtained whereby the hemispherical silicon grain protrudes. This hemispherical silicon grain increases the effective capacitor area to about 1.8-2.0 times that of the silicon surface of smooth morphology. Thus, a large capacitance can be obtained.
However, even if a HSG of good quality is obtained through the above described method, when the ONO film is used as the capacitor dielectric film, a capacitance of only about 9.1 fF/.mu.m.sup.2 can be secured with a high-step difference of about 0.8 .mu.m. In the case of a capacitor having the cylindrical structure, a high-step difference of about 1 .mu.m or more is necessary. Thus, the problem of having to increase the complexity of the capacitor arises again.
The second method that has emerged uses a capacitor dielectric film having a large dielectric constant (.sup.- r) (e.g., tantalum pentaoxide (Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5) (.sup.- r.24), PZT (.sup.- r.2000), BST (.sup.- r.300), and the like). The problem with these dielectrics is that if they are applied as a thin film, the dielectric constant is reduced rapidly and the leakage current is increased. This phenomenon will be described below.
In general, Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 uses a penta-ethoxytantalum (Ta(OC.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.5) as a source of Ta and injects O.sub.2 gas to form an oxide film. The thin film is then formed using the low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) method, the plasma-enhanced CVD method, or the electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) CVD method.
The dielectric constant of Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 is approximately 22-28, which is about 6 times that of SiO.sub.2. Further, if the proper heat treatment is performed after forming the thin film, the leakage current decreases to about 10.sup.-9 -10.sup.-7 A/cm.sup.2 under an electric field of 4 MV/cm. This particular type of dielectric is thus appropriate for use in the capacitor of a highly integrated memory device.
However, where silicon is used as the storage node a further complication can arise. When depositing the silicon, oxidation of its surface cannot be avoided, and a SiO.sub.2 film forms. Further, if heat treatment is performed after depositing the silicon, the SiO.sub.2 film grows all the more. When such a SiO.sub.2 film forms, the dielectric constant decreases and the desirable capacitance cannot be obtained.
One previously proposed solution to this problem was to nitrify the surface of the silicon layer constituting the storage node to form a silicon nitride film on the surface portion, followed by the depositing of the Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 film. As a result, improvements were reported in the dielectric constant, leakage current, and time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) as compared to when the silicon layer is not nitrified (refer to "Satoshi Kamiyana, Pierre-Yves Lesaicherre, Akihiko Ishitana, Akir Sakai, Akio Tanikawa, and Iwao Nishiyama, Extended Abstracts of the 1992 International Conference on Solid Devices and Materials, pp. 521-523", "P. C. Fazan, V. K. Mathews, R. L. Maddox, A. Ditali, N. Sandler and D. L. Kwong, Extended Abstracts of the 1992 International Conference on Solid Devices and Materials, pp. 697-698).
In addition, there is a method where the capacitance can be increased about 70% without a decrease in reliability. This is accomplished by forming the surface of the silicon electrode into a rugged morphology and using Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 as the capacitor dielectric film (refer to H. Watanabe, T. Tatsumi, T. Niiono, A. Sakai, S. Adachi, K. Koyama and T. Kikkawa, Extended Abstracts of the 1991 International Conference on Solid Devices and Materials, pp. 478-480). In this case, the capacitance is about 12.5 fF/.mu.m.sup.2. Thus, it is possible to apply the Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 film so long as no reproducibility problem occurs.
However, if the silicon layer is used as the lower electrode of the capacitor in the above structure, the dielectric constant of the Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 film decreases due to the oxide or nitride film formed by the oxidation or nitridation, regardless of the surface morphology. Thus, large capacitance cannot be obtained.
Due to the aforementioned problems another type of capacitor has been proposed. In this capacitor structure, a refractory metal (e.g., tungsten (W), titanium nitride (TiN), molybdenum (Mo), etc., or a refractory metal silicide, e.g., tungsten silicide (WSi.sub.2), tantalum silicide (TaSi.sub.2), cobalt silicide (coSi.sub.2), etc.) is used as the lower electrode instead of the silicon layer. Accordingly, the inherently high dielectric constant of the high dielectric can be obtained, thereby increasing the effective area of the capacitor. This structure will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the capacitor is comprised of a semiconductor substrate 1 wherein an impurity diffused region 2 is formed. An insulating film 3 is formed on the semiconductor substrate 1 with a contact hole 4 (of FIG. 2a). A Ti layer 5a is formed on the insulating film 3 and in the contact hole 4 (of FIG. 2a). A TiN layer 6 is formed on the Ti layer 5a and fills the contact hole 4 (of FIG. 2a). A tungsten film 7 is formed on the entire surface of the outer side of the TiN layer 6 and the Ti layer 5a. A dielectric film 8 is formed on the surface of the tungsten film 7, and an upper electrode 9 is formed on the entire surface of the substrate.
A method of manufacturing the aforementioned conventional capacitor will be described with reference to FIGS. 2a to 2e.
As shown in FIG. 2a, a semiconductor substrate 1, wherein an impurity diffused region 2 is formed in the surface, is prepared. An insulating film 3 is then formed on the semiconductor substrate 1 and is etched selectively to form a contact hole 4 and to expose impurity diffused region 2.
As shown in FIG. 2b, a Ti layer 5 and a TiN layer 6 are sequentially formed on the insulating film 3 and the impurity diffused region 2. The Ti layer 5 is deposited to maintain the ohmic contact with impurity diffused region 2. The TiN layer 6 is deposited to a thickness of about 0.5-1.0 .mu.m.
As shown in FIG. 2c, layers 5 and 6 are patterned to form a lower electrode using the lithography process.
As shown in FIG. 2d., tungsten is selectively deposited to a thickness of about 50-150 nm on the outer surface of the Ti layer 5a and the TiN layer 6a to form a tungsten film 7. The tungsten is deposited by using WF.sub.6 --H.sub.2, or WF.sub.6 --SiH.sub.4 --H.sub.2 at a temperature of 250-450.degree. C., through the LPCVD method. As a result, the tungsten film 7 has a rugged surface.
As shown in FIG. 2e, a capacitor dielectric film 8, e.g., a Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 film, is formed on the entire surface of the tungsten film 7, and then heat treatment is performed. Lastly, an upper electrode 9 is formed on the entire surface of the substrate, to complete the capacitor. This upper electrode is a refractory metal such as TiN, Mo, Co, Ta and W, or a metal silicide.
The conventional capacitor manufactured as described above has the following problems.
As shown in FIG. 2d, when the tungsten film 7 is deposited on the outer surface of the Ti layer 5a and the TiN layer 6a, the tungsten nuclei generate more rapidly on the Ti material than on the TiN material. Thus, tungsten film 7 grows on the surface of the Ti layer 5a sooner than on the TiN layer 6a.
Accordingly, the resulting tungsten film is not uniformly deposited over both the Ti layer 5a and the TiN layer 6a. This nonuniform depositing of the tungsten makes it difficult to manufacture a reliable capacitor and adversely affects the reproducibility of the capacitor.

Capacitor structure having a lower electrode with a rough surface, a plurality of metal layers and a nitridation treated film


A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Ingorch’ characterised by its large light purple flowers, early flowering, bright green foliage, ball shaped growth habit with excellent basal branching and good outdoor vigor.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct New Guinea Impatiens plant botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri and referred to by the cultivar name 'Ingorch.'
The new cultivar was developed in a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventor in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The new New Guinea Impatiens cultivar has an early flowering response, large flowers with attractive coloration and a good flowering behavior under field conditions.
The new cultivar is propagated from cuttings resulting from the cross in September 1999 of the proprietary New Guinea Impatiens selection identified as 'F 47-1' as female parent and the proprietary New Guinea Impatiens selection identified as 'F 47-3' as male parent. 'F 47-1' is not commercially available and has not been patented. 'F 47-3' is not commercially available and has not been patented.
As a result of this cross the present cultivar was selected in September 2000 in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands, in Gilroy, Calif., and in Angers, France over a period of several years. The distinctive characteristics of this new Impatiens are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction. It takes 8 to 10 weeks to produce a finished plant, starting from a rooted plug and planted in a 12 cm pot, depending on the temperature.


A protective case for a mobile electronic communication device having a user input interface includes a front cover configured to couple with a rear cover to define a volume for receiving the mobile electronic communication device, the front cover having an aperture aligned with the user input interface when the mobile electronic communication device is received in the volume; a transparent membrane provided between the front cover and the rear cover to be disposed over the user input interface when the mobile electronic communication device is received in the volume; and a compressible member arranged between the front cover and the membrane and separate from the front cover, the transparent membrane configured to provide a seal between the transparent membrane and the front cover when the mobile electronic communication device is received in the volume and the front cover is coupled to the rear cover.

1. Field
The disclosure relates generally cases and, in particular embodiments, to protective cases for mobile electronic communication devices.
2. Background
Mobile electronic communication devices, such as smart phones, tablets, or the like, typically contain sensitive and/or delicate electronics or other components. These devices can be subject to physical abuse and risks of damages from handling of the devices, especially given the portable nature of the devices (e.g., dropping of the devices, or otherwise subjecting the devices to physical shocks or other damage, etc.). Mobile electronic communication devices typically include housings that can withstand a certain level of physical shock. However, in an effort to improve aesthetics, the housings are typically designed to have finishes that look appealing, but often at the compromise of structural integrity. A nicely finished housing can be more prone to damage, including slight blemishes that may be more noticeable on such finishes. For example, the housings for some smart phones are finished with a highly polished metal back panel. Dents and/or scratches on the finished panel can be highly noticeable. Accordingly, a protective case that encloses some or the entire mobile electronic communication device can provide an additional level of protection to the sensitive electronics and the housing of the mobile electronic communication device.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Protective cases for mobile electronic communication devices


Systems and methods for providing differential motion to wing high lift devices are disclosed. A system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes a wing having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a first deployable lift device with a first spanwise location, and a second deployable lift device with a second spanwise location different than the first. The wing system can further include a drive system having a drive link operatively coupleable to both the first and second deployable lift devices, and a control system operatively coupled to the drive system. The control system can have a first configuration for which the drive link is operatively coupled to the first and second deployable lift devices, and activation of at least a portion of the drive link moves the first and second deployable lift devices together. In a second configuration, the drive link is operatively coupled to at least the first deployable lift device and operatively decoupled from the second deployable lift device, so that actuation of at least a portion of the drive link moves the first deployable lift device relative to the second deployable lift device.

Modern commercial transport aircraft have wings that are designed to be very efficient at high subsonic Mach numbers. Accordingly, the wings can provide relatively high fuel efficiency during cruise flight segments, which make up the bulk of a typical airliner flight plan, particularly for long range aircraft. These aircraft typically include other devices (e.g., leading edge devices, trailing edge devices, and spoilers) that change the shape of the aircraft wing during takeoff, descent, and/or landing. Accordingly, the shape of the wing can be temporarily changed to increase the lift and/or drag of the wing during non-cruise flight segments.
Continued competitive pressure on airlines and manufacturers has made fuel efficiency an increasingly important aspect of aircraft operations. Increasing fuel prices have exacerbated this pressure. However, existing systems may not improve aircraft fuel efficiency to desired levels, while still maintaining low costs for system development, manufacturing, operations, and maintenance, and while maintaining commonality with existing systems.


An antenna is provided. The antenna includes an antenna base; and a detection mechanism removably coupled to the antenna base that generates a detection signal for detecting whether an antenna mast is coupled to the antenna base.

Some vehicle antennas are installed by a dealer after production and prior to delivering the vehicle to a customer. These antennas include antenna masts that couple to an antenna receiver of the vehicle. The antenna mast is typically loose shipped with the vehicle. A removable shipping cap is placed on the loose shipped antenna mast to protect antenna threads that couple to the receiver.
In some cases, the dealer can forget to install the antenna mast before delivering the vehicle to the customer. In other cases, the assembly plant does not include the antenna mast with the vehicle as received at the dealership, therefore the dealer does not install the antenna mast.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide methods and systems for detecting the installation of the antenna mast. In addition, it is desirable to provide methods and systems for detecting whether the installation of the antenna mast was correct. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

Antenna mast detection methods and systems


In a process for cleaning short mineral fibers in which the fibers contaminated with foreign bodies are separated from the foreign bodies, at least starting with a certain size, whereby mechanical damage to the fibers is avoided. For this purpose, the crude fiber material to be cleaned is added to a carrier medium which is set in a flowing motion and subsequently passed along a separation apparatus with at least one slot-like recess in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the recess. Thus, at least part of the carrier medium passes from an upstream side through the recess, together with the fibers, to a downstream side. In this way, a fiber filtrate is produced, of which the degree of purity is solely determined by the width of the recess. The carrier medium mixed with the crude material can be circulated in the cleaning process, with the carrier medium separated from the clean fiber filtrate being continuously returned to said circulation as well.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for cleaning short mineral fibers that are contaminated with foreign bodies, which process uses a separation apparatus having a filter medium with slot-like recesses.
2. The Prior Art
Short fibers have an average length typically of 0.1 to 5 mm and an average diameter of approximately 0.1 to 10 .mu.m. The foreign bodies are predominantly non-fiber-like, nearly spherical particles, or fragments thereof, of the same material as the fibers, which originate as so-called "shots" with a diameter between about 50 and 2,000 .mu.m through the formation of droplets in the manufacture of the fibers, for example from highly viscous liquid in the free jet process.
Fiber composite materials include a fiber-reinforced metal matrix. When these fiber composite materials produced therefrom are cyclically stressed, shots of a size starting with a diameter of from 50 to 100 .mu.m cause cracking, especially within the metal matrix. In this way, the shots affect the otherwise good mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced metal matrix (for example, those used for the manufacture of pistons for internal-combustion engines) in an unfavorable way. For this reason, it is desirable to completely separate these shots from the fibers through suitable cleaning methods.
A known process for cleaning the fibers is the floatation of a preferably aqueous crude fiber suspension. In this process, the fibers are separated from the foreign bodies as a result of their greater specific surface area per unit volume. The drawback with this prior art process is that no complete separation of the fibers from the foreign bodies can be achieved. It is conceivable, for example, that shots contains in fiber balls are discharged together with the clean fiber suspension.
Another known process is the cleaning of the fibers through filtration of a preferably aqueous crude fiber suspension. As compared to floatation, complete separation of the mixture to be cleaned can be achieved through filtration. However, a problem with this prior art process is that there is always the filtration of fibers having a length greater than, for example, the width of the mesh of the sieve used for the filtration. The problem develops because after only a short time, a filter cake forms, which holds back both fibers and foreign bodies, which causes the separation process to stop. This problem can be resolved by the known methods of filtration only in an unsatisfactory way. As a result, a cleaning through filtration is, in the last analysis, possible only in connection with a mechanical damaging especially of the longer and longest fibers contained in the crude suspension. These fibers can break to a considerable extent, and may be partly obtained in powder form. In any case, the fibers cleaned by filtration are clearly shorter than in the starting condition.

Process for cleaning short mineral fibers


A pillow includes a head support, a neck support, and an opening extending entirely through a central portion of the pillow. The head support includes a top surface and a bottom surface, and defines a first height extending between the top and bottom surfaces. The neck support is coupled to the head support and includes a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface has a central portion and side portions. The central portion defines a second height extending between a base of the central portion and the bottom surface, and each of the side portions defines a third height extending between an apex of the respective side surface and the bottom surface. The third height is greater than the first and second heights.

Pillows typically raise the head of a user from off a bed at an incline when the user is laying in a back sleeping position. If the head is inclined from the bed, pressure is placed on the neck as the neck is pushed into a head forward position. It may also induce kyphosis by curving the neck to compensate. Additionally, pillows typically have a consistent height and do not address spinal alignment when a user is laying in a side sleeping position and/or accommodate use in either the back or side sleeping positions as the height of a pillow for the side sleeping position is different than the height of a pillow for the back sleeping position to account for correct sleeping posture for a healthy back and neck.

Pillow for healthy ergonomic positioning of the neck and spine


A method for solid-state/melt extrusion, as can be accomplished using a unitary extruder apparatus comprising a solid-state shearing zone and a melt-state extrusion zone.

Although twin-screw extrusion (TSE) has long been established as one of the most prominent techniques for processing pure polymers as well as polymer composites and nanocomposites, the shear mixing in TSE is often not sufficiently rigorous to exfoliate (separate) and/or disperse (spread) the fillers in composites and nanocomposites. In addition, a long period of exposure to high temperature conditions in TSE can lead to thermal degradation of the materials. These limitations often render TSE ineffective for producing high-performance polymer composites and/or nanocomposites. The solid-state shear pulverization (SSSP) technique has recently been proven as a novel technique to achieve better exfoliation and/or dispersion in polymer composite and/or nanocomposite systems relative to TSE. However, the SSSP technique yields a powder as output or extrudate, which for some intended applications, e.g., those requiring injection molding of the output to shape/mold into a product, is less desirable in terms of ease of handling and safety than the pelletized output from melt extrusion. Furthermore, even when SSSP is followed by melt-extrusion, there would be energy requirements from the two separate instruments, making this two-step process somewhat energy inefficient.
Therefore, a need exists for an extrusion approach that not only achieves good exfoliation and/or dispersion in polymer composites and/or nanocomposites, but also facilitates the production of a non-powder output, thereby eliminating safety concerns and/or problems with powder handling, in a single instrument. In addition, there is a need to develop an approach that is much more energy efficient than the two-step SSSP followed by melt extrusion approach.

Process for producing exfoliated and/or dispersed polymer composites and/or nanocomposites via solid-state/melt extrusion (SSME)


There is disclosed a radiation stable shield for use in space or high altitude applications. The shield comprises a plurality of overlapping planar glass flakes which are held in a lamellar matrix of flexible polymeric material. The flakes are each formed of a radiation stable glass which is suitable for use in space or high altitude applications. The flakes are arranged in alignment with the lamellar direction of the matrix.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radiation stable shield, and more particularly relates to a radiation stable shield for use in space applications.
(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
U.S. Pat. No, 4,243,460 relates to a conductive laminate and a method of producing the same.
G. B. U.S. Pat. No. 2,457,129 relates to an electromagnetic shielding paint composition.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,889 relates to an anti-corrosive coating composition and a process for formation of anti-corrosive coatings.
An article entitled, Pseudomorphic Glass to Enable High Efficiency Space Photovoltaic Devices, by David M. Wilt, et al. and published at the 37th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, at pp. 1949-1954 relates to pseudomorphic glass to enable high efficiency space photovoltaic devices.


The skateboard wheel and axle assembly includes an axle rigidly mounted in a hangar, with opposite ends of the axle extending from the hangar. Each end of the axle has an axial blind bore defined therein closed by an end cap and a plurality of holes defined radially adjacent the end cap. A spring-biased detent pin slidably mounted in the bore urges a plurality of detent balls to partially extend from the radially disposed holes. The detent balls engage an annular groove defined in the inner race of the outer wheel bearing to retain the wheel on the axle. The detent pin has a release arm extending through aligned slots in the axle and the hangar that can be retracted, compressing the bias spring, in order to withdraw the detent balls from the groove so that the wheel can be pulled off the axle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to skateboards, and particularly to a wheel and axle assembly that provides for a quick release coupling between the wheel and the axle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wheels of skateboards, roller skates and the like are typically made from polyurethane or other plastics and, thus, are subject to fracture, erosion and other forms of damage during use. The wheels include bearings press fit into the wheel hubs that occasionally become misaligned. Typical skateboard wheels are held to their respective axles by nuts threaded onto the axles. Replacement of the wheels requires use of a wrench to remove the retaining nut, which requires some time and effort. In addition to the time and effort required to remove the nuts, close contact with the wheels, and particularly with the axles or bearings, may result in axle grease or the like staining the user's clothing or skin.
It would be desirable to provide a wheel and axle assembly that provides for quick release of the wheel from the axle without the use of tools. Thus, a skateboard wheel and axle assembly solving the aforementioned problems is desired.


A time division multiplex communication system applicable to an automotive vehicle and a method for communicating data between a master station and a plurality of slave stations are disclosed in which a master station is provided for sequentially accessing a plurality of slave stations according to a predetermined calling order within a predetermined period of time and for transmitting a required information to any of the slave stations on the basis of information received from one accessed slave station. A transmission line is connected between the master station and the plurality of the slave stations, and the master station is provided with a logic portion which, responsive to the information from the one accessed slave station, is active for changing the predetermined calling order in a subsequent cycle of the predetermined period of time according to the information received by the master station from the one accessed slave station so as to enhance a characteristic of the system for suitably responding to the information from the one accessed slave station.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a system and method for communicating data between terminals applicable to automotive vehicles.
(2) Background art
Various kinds of systems and methods for communicating data between terminals applicable to automotive vehicles have been proposed in which the information related to operations of a multiple number of operation portions is transmitted in a multiplex transmission mode via a fewer number of connection lines.
Such types of data communication systems are exemplified by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,809,266 issued on Feb. 28, 1989, 4,926,417 issued on May 15, 1990, and 4,821,262 issued on Apr. 11, 1989.
Another previously proposed multiplex communication system will be explained below.
A vehicle is constituted, for example, by an engine compartment portion, dash board portion, instrument panel portion, and trunk portion. A first multiplex transmission module is installed on the engine compartment portion. A second multiplex transmission module is installed on the dash board portion. A third multiplex transmission module is installed on the instrument panel portion. A fourth multiplex transmission module is installed on the trunk portion.
The first multiplex transmission module is connected to a multiplex transmission line and switch load supply line. The second multiplex transmission module controls a vehicle lamp group in accordance with control data and is also connected to the multiplex transmission line. The first multiplex transmission module controls a front vehicle lamp group. Signal groups are transmitted from front vehicle lamps as well as an AT (automatic transmission) position switch group and an AT shift sensor group, the signals from these groups being superposed on the multiplex transmission line.
In the same way, the second multiplex transmission module controls the vehicle lamp group from control data derived from a plurality of switches and dash board peripheral switch groups installed on peripherals of the dash board portion.
The third multiplex transmission module installed on the instrument panel portion controls the instrument lamp group constituted by a plurality of lamps.
The fourth multiplex transmission module installed on the trunk portion controls rear vehicle lamp group.
In the previously proposed multiplex transmission system, a single multiplex transmission module installed on, e.g., the engine compartment portion, controls the lamp group at both sides of the vehicle, i.e., right front lamp group and left front lamp group. Therefore, if trouble occurs in the multiplex transmission module, both right and left front lamps cannot operate.
If separate multiple transmission modules to control the right and left front lamp groups are installed so that each front lamp groups can independently be controlled, the above drawback can be overcome.
In another previously proposed system, separate multiple transmission modules are installed for groups of terminals present at the left side and the right side of the vehicle. Further, these multiple transmission modules are located in a common housing with their respective terminals. Therefore, a number of connection lines between the terminals and operation portions, i.e., the number of (connector) harnesses, can be reduced.
Even if trouble occurs in one of the multiple transmission modules present at the left side of the vehicle in a pair of multiple transmission modules corresponding to terminals present at the left side and at the right side of the vehicle as described above, operation of the other multiple transmission module can be maintained.
However, in such a previously proposed multiplex communication system as described above, the number of multiplex transmission modules (which are configured as slave stations linked to a master station) are increased and sequential polling is carried out for the slave stations according to a calling order previously set so that communication between the master station and a selected slave station is carried out according to the calling order. Hence, a predetermined time is required for the master station to poll all of the slave stations, the polling cycle terminating with the last station according to the calling order. Therefore, a time delay often occurs between a time when an operator operates a particular operation portion until the time when the corresponding terminal is activated.
For example, assuming there are ten slave stations to be called in a given calling cycle. Referring to FIG. 4(a) a slave station 100 is associated with a headlamp switch, a slave station 200 being associated with a left headlamp and a slave station 600 associated with a right headlamp. When the head lamp switch associated with the first slave station 100, (called at a time T.sub.0), is operated at a time T.sub.1 after the first slave station has been called, the information from the head lamp switch will not be recognized until the station is called again in the subsequent calling cycle. That is to say, at a time T.sub.10 (the beginning of the next calling cycle), the information that the light switch 100 has been operated will be present in the system. After the information is received by the terminal the head lamp arranged on a front left side of the vehicle will be operated, becoming ON when the slave station 200 is called at the time T.sub.11. The right headlamp will not be operated until the slave station 600 for the front right headlamp is called at a time T.sub.16. Hence, at a time T.sub.17 when the callings to all appropriate slave stations is ended, the illumination of the pair of left and right headlamps is completed. Hence, in a case where a data time T.sub.f of the system data format is set at, e.g., 3.5 milliseconds, a response delay time of 3.5 ms occurs between each slave station from the time T.sub.1 to T.sub.17 (refer to FIG. 4) causing considerable delay to occur between the operation of the left headlamp and that of the right headlamp.
In addition, e.g., in a case where a hazard switch is operated to indicate an emergency condition, or to caution other drivers that the vehicle is stopped, it is necessary to simultaneously operate signal lamps arranged on the front right and front left sides of the vehicle so as to blink at a regular frequency. In such a case, if a delay occurs between a time when the multiplex transmission module which governs the terminal group arranged on the front left side of the vehicle is called and a time when the multiplex transmission module which governs the terminal group arranged on the front right side of the vehicle is called, the signal lamps arranged on each side of the vehicle cannot blink simultaneously. Therefore, further improvement is required.

System and method applicable to automotive vehicles utilizing time division multiplex mode for communicating data between master and slave stations


The present invention discloses two new related substances (6) and (7) of Anastrozole synthesis from Q.A. Salt (5) as in Scheme—1 and purification procedures to get Anastrozole (1) free from (6) and (7).

Synthesis of Anastrozole is reported in U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,437 and European Patent Application EP 0,296,749. The synthetic route mentioned in the said patents suffers a major disadvantage of the formation of Anastrozole regioisomer (2).

To overcome the formation of regioisomer (2), another synthetic route is reported in U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,437; in which compound (3) is reacted with 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole (4) to form quaternary ammonium salt (5), which further undergoes diazotisation reaction to give Anastrozole (1) free from regioisomeric impurity (2) (Scheme—1).

It has been observed that the cyano groups undergo hydrolysis in various conditions to form hydrolysed related compounds.


A two-component color developer containing a toner and a resin-coated carrier, the toner containing at least a polyester resin as a binding resin, an organic pigment as a colorant and inorganic fine particles as an external additive, wherein the inorganic fine particles have a negative polarity, the toner has a volume resistivity of 40×109 to 220×109 Ωcm and a negative polarity, and the carrier has a coat durability of 90% or greater.

With recent development of electronic devices, color imaging, high image quality and high imaging speed are required in the art of image formation by electrophotography, and there have been various developments in technology for achieving colorization, particle size reduction and ensured fixing ability in toner, and ensured stability in toner and developer against environmental variation, and so on.
For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. HEI 11 (1999)-272016 (Patent Document 1) discloses an electrophotographic toner mainly containing a binding resin, a colorant, an azo metal compound and a triphenylmethane compound, and having a volume resistivity of 3×1010 to 15×1010 Ωcm, wherein the content ratio by weight of the azo metal compound to the triphenylmethane compound is 3:97 to 97:3.
Thereby, an electrophotographic toner which can be applied to copying machines and the like including whichever of positively and negatively charged photoreceptors and which maintains stable tribocharge properties over a long period of time is provided, and a sufficient image density and stable image properties with less background fogging are achieved.
In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-316306 (Patent Document 2) discloses an electrophotographic two-component developer including toner particles containing a binding resin, a colorant and a charge controlling agent; and a silicon resin-coated ferrite-based carrier, wherein the colorant content is 10% by weight or more with respect to the total amount of the toner particles, the toner particles have a specific volume resistance of 20×109 to 85×109 Ωcm, and the ferrite-based carrier has a resistance of 2.0×1010 to 1.0×1012 Ωcm when a 500-V DC electric field is applied by a bridge method at a distance of 6.5 mm.
Thereby, an electrophotographic two-component developer is provided which allows toner therein to be given a sufficient amount of charge so that high-quality images can be steadily formed even in image formation under a high-temperature and high-humidity environment, image formation from a document having a so high coverage that the image density exceeds 35%, or the like.

Two-component color developer and image formation device using same


A handle is adapted to be held by a player and a striking end is adapted to contact and propel an object. A structure for a hockey stick is described by using a single, hollow tube of composite material, wherein tubular “ports” extend through the hollow tube. The ends of the ports are bonded to the walls of the hollow tube. The ports improve the stiffness, strength, aerodynamics and comfort of the hockey stick.

The present invention relates to a composite structure for a hockey stick.
Hockey stick systems have traditionally been made from wood. Wood has been a convenient and traditional material to use but is limited in strength and weight. The wood stick is solid and can be made from a multi ply lamination in order to improve strength.
Recent developments have improved hockey sticks by making them out of metal such as aluminum. Such sticks are typically made from a one piece extruded aluminum tube to which can be attached a blade and handle. The tubular construction offers a lighter weight and also easy attachment for the blade and handle.
More recent developments have advanced hockey stick performance by using composite materials such as fiber reinforced resins such as carbon fiber in an epoxy resin. These sticks are tubular in form to maximize strength and minimize weight.
Composite materials are attractive alternatives to wood, because there exists a large selection of fiber types and resin types, the combinations of which can produce a multitude of options suitable for replacement to wood. These composite laminates have the advantage of being stiffer, stronger, and less susceptible to environmental changes than wood.
One of the first patents describing composite materials used for hockey sticks is U.S. Pat. No. 4,086,115 to Sweet which discloses a tubular hockey stick manufactured using fiberglass fibers in a polyester resin made using a pultrusion process.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,419,553 and 5,303,916 to Rogers disclose an improved hockey stick made from composite materials, also made using the pultrusion process, with the addition of specific fiber orientation in order to improve the stiffness and strength of the stick.
The pultrusion process has also been used to create a hockey stick of two tubes with an internal wall in between. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,549,947, 5,688,571, 5,888,601, 6,129,962 to Quigley, et. al., describe a continuous manufacturing operation to produce a hockey stick with continuous fiber reinforcement. The limitations of making a hockey stick using a pulltrusion process are that fiber placement cannot be changed along the length of the structure and the cross-section cannot be varied along its length.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,836 to Carroll, U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,955 to Calapp, U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,696 to Calapp, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,633 to Conroy all describe tubular hockey stick systems made from fiber reinforced resin materials with specific fiber orientation in order to achieve desired performance characteristics.
There exists a continuing need for an improved hockey stick system. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

Hockey stick having a single, hollow primary tube


The signal generating apparatus includes a signal modulating unit, a selection signal generating unit, and a phase adjusting unit. The signal modulating unit is utilized for processing a modulation upon an input signal to generate a modulated signal. The selection signal generating unit is utilized for generating at least a first selection signal. The phase adjusting unit is coupled to the signal modulating unit and the selection signal generating unit, and is utilized for receiving the modulated signal and adjusting a pulse width of the modulated signal to generate an output signal according to the first selection signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a signal generating scheme, and more particularly, to a signal generating apparatus and related method for performing a phase modulation upon a pulse width modulation signal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A digital power amplifier (also called a class-D power amplifier) has an advantage of high efficiency and therefore is generally applied to a variety of audio processing equipments. A digital audio power amplifier utilizes a pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit to generate a pulse width modulation signal according to a digital input signal, for controlling the operation of a power output stage.
Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a spectrum diagram showing a pulse width modulation signal Spulse outputted by a prior art PWM circuit. In the time domain, a period of the pulse width modulation signal Spulse equals 1/ft, where ft is a carrier frequency of the pulse width modulation signal Spulse. The PWM circuit performs a PWM operation upon each cycle of the pulse width modulation signal Spulse, so each pulse width of the pulse width modulation signal Spulse may be different from each other. However, in this spectrum diagram, the pulse width modulation signal Spulse comprises three components. The first component includes the original data signal pulses 11 that arise in base band. The second component includes carrier frequencies 12, i.e. the frequencies ft, 2*ft, and 3*ft. The third component includes noise components 13 (i.e. oblique lines) shown in FIG. 1. As a result, by observing FIG. 1, it can be seen that a problem caused by serious electromagnetic interference (EMI) is introduced into the noise components 13 and the carrier frequencies 12.

Signal generating apparatus and related method


One embodiment of the present invention is a cap insert for a combustor fuel nozzle cap assembly. The cap insert generally includes a cap plate that defines a fuel nozzle passage and may have an upstream peripheral edge. An impingement plate having a body may generally define an axially extending annular sleeve and a radially outer portion that circumferentially surrounds the body. The radially outer portion may include an upstream end axially separated from a downstream end. The axially extending annular sleeve may define an annular passage through the body. The cap plate upstream peripheral edge may be contiguous with the downstream end of the impingement plate body radially outer portion.

Gas turbines often include a compressor, a number of combustors, and a turbine. Typically, the compressor and the turbine are aligned along a common axis, and the combustors are positioned between the compressor and the turbine in a circular array about the common axis. In operation, the compressor creates a compressed working fluid, such as compressed air, which is supplied to the combustors. A fuel is supplied to the combustor through one or more fuel nozzles and at least a portion of the compressed working fluid and the fuel are mixed to form a combustible fuel-air mixture. The fuel-air mixture is ignited in a combustion zone that is generally downstream from the fuel nozzles, thus creating a rapidly expanding hot gas. The hot gas flows from the combustor into the turbine. The hot gas imparts kinetic energy to multiple stages of rotatable blades that are coupled to a turbine shaft within the turbine, thus rotating the turbine shaft and producing work.
To increase turbine efficiency, modern combustors may be operated at high temperatures which generate high thermal stresses on various components disposed within the combustor. As a result, at least a portion of the compressed working supplied to the combustor may be used to cool the components before being mixed with the fuel for combustion. For example, many modern combustors may include a generally annular cap assembly that at least partially surrounds the fuel nozzles. The cap assembly generally provides structural support for the fuel nozzles and may at least partially define a flow path for the fuel-air mixture to follow just prior to entering the combustion zone. Certain cap assemblies include a generally annular cap plate that is disposed at a downstream end of the cap assembly and that is adjacent to the combustion zone.
Current cap assembly designs generally comprise of multiple complex components, thereby requiring complex manufacturing and assembly techniques. The complexity of the current cap assembly designs generally require multiple connection points such as welds joints or brazed joints, thereby increasing the probability of cycle fatigue and potentially limiting the life of the cap assembly. In addition, the complexity of the designs may significantly increase the time required to assemble and/or disassemble and/or repair the cap assembly, thereby resulting in additional labor costs and outage costs. Therefore, a cap assembly that requires fewer components and that may be less costly to assemble and/or repair would be useful.


A method and system for a bandwidth efficient medium access control (MAC) protocol is provided, which may comprise communicating a request to transmit (RTS) signal to a receiving station to determine if a channel is available for transmission. A clear to send (CTS) acknowledgement signal may be received from the receiving station if the channel is available for transmission. A plurality of medium access control (MAC) protocol data unit (MPDU) fragments separated by a point coordination function (PCF) interframe space (PIFS) interval may be transmitted in response to the received CTS acknowledgement signal.

The IEEE 802.11 protocol provides support for two different medium access control (MAC) mechanisms that may be utilized for transporting asynchronous and time bounded services. The first mechanism is distributed coordination function (DCF) and the second is point coordination function (PCF). The distributed coordination function utilizes best effort for facilitating communication of information in which access devices with information to transmit have an equal opportunity to transmit information. The point coordination function may be utilized to communicate time sensitive or latency sensitive information. In this regard, the point coordination function utilizes a polling mechanism, which may be controlled by an access point (AP).
The standard distributed coordination function for medium access may be inefficient in terms of bandwidth utilization, especially at higher physical layer (PHY) speeds, for example, 54 Mbps or higher. The DCF may be adapted to solve problems such as network congestion and high packet error rate (PER) typically associated with some wireless links. The DCF may also exponentially increase backoff and positive acknowledgments (PACKs). The backoff time for each MAC protocol data unit (MPDU) may increase exponentially for retransmissions and the PACK for each MPDU may render bandwidth utilization inefficient at high physical layer (PHY) speeds. Furthermore, When DCFs are utilized without request to send (RTS)/clear to send (CTS) acknowledgement signals, it may not be possible to distinguish between collisions and errors. As a result, larger backoffs than necessary are required. The RTS/CTS mechanism when utilized in conjunction with regular DCF, may diminish efficiency even more, and as a result, may be rarely utilized. For example, in a case where no RTS/CTS is utilized, transmitting a 1500 byte frame including MAC header at 54 Mbps takes 248 μs. The sum of the average backoff, PACK and the short interframe space (SIFS) takes 130 μs, when PACK is transmitted at 24 Mbps. The overhead air time may be more than half the data air time.
The distributed coordination function may not be the most bandwidth efficient transport mechanism. The IEEE 802.11 standard defines a bursting method for MAC protocol data units (MPDUs), called fragmentation. In this regard, MAC service data units (MSDU) may be fragmented at the MAC level to a number of smaller MPDUs. The individual MPDUs comprising one MSDU may be transmitted in a "burst", in which the interframe spacing is a SIFS. Hence, a typical frame exchange sequence under fragmentation would be DATA-SIFS-PACK-DATA-SIFS-PACK, for example, with an optional RTS/CTS exchange in the beginning. However, fragmentation was defined in the 802.11 standard as a means to combat unreliable wireless links having high packet error rates (PER). In reliable wireless links, that is, those with low packet error rates, fragmentation may decrease MAC efficiency, since it introduces MAC headers on each MPDU, and SIFS intervals between MPDUs.
The IEEE 802.11e draft standard defines block acknowledgement policies that eliminate the need for individual acknowledgements (PACKs) for each MPDU. However, this block PACK mechanism introduces extra overhead comprising block PACK request frames and block PACK response frames. The IEEE 802.11e draft standard also defines contention free periods of time allocated to specific devices, where frames may be transmitted with a SIFS period. The mechanism for this allocation may be complex, and may include overhead for the polling mechanisms involved.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

Method and system for a bandwidth efficient medium access control (MAC) protocol


Apparatus and method for acquiring an infrared spectrum of a sample having or suspected to have an amide I band, an amide II band, an amide III band, an amide A band, an OH stretching region or a combination thereof. A representative method includes providing a sample; providing an internal reflecting element (IRE) with a functionalized tip; contacting the sample with the IRE to form a sample-IRE interface; directing a beam of infrared (IR) radiation through the IRE under conditions such that the IR radiation interacts with the sample-IRE interface once; recording a reflectance profile over a range of preselected frequencies, whereby an infrared spectrum of the of a sample having or suspected of having an amide I band, an amide II band, an amide III band, an amide A band, an OH stretching region or a combination thereof, disposed in an aqueous solution is acquired. Representative apparatus includes an internal reflecting element (IRE) comprising a reflection face located on the IRE at a region of intended contact between the IRE and a solublized sample; an infrared radiation source for supplying an evanescent wave of infrared radiation and directing the same from the outside of the IRE to the inside thereof so as to cause the infrared radiation to be incident on the reflection face, wherein the infrared radiation is reflected from the reflection face once; a sample cell; a functionalized tip comprising a surface-immobilized probe that partially or completely fills the volume exposed to the evanescent wave; and a detector for detecting the once-reflected infrared radiation.

The sequencing of the human genome presents enormous opportunities for the determination of the mechanisms of many protein-based diseases. However, the interpretation and application of acquired genetic data will rely, at least in part, on an ability to determine protein secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure. Although the Human Genome Project can potentially unlock the amino acid sequence of many proteins, the activity of a protein is not determined only its amino acid sequence. Higher order structure plays an equally important, if not more important, role. Indeed, the prediction of secondary structure based on primary sequence is one of the most important problems in biology.
A goal of protein folding research efforts has been to solve various forms of protein structure by analyzing the primary amino acid sequence and thus to allow an interpretation of human genome sequence data in terms of protein structure. Teichmann et al., (2000) Bioinformatics 16:117-24; Zhang & Zhang, (2000) Biopolymers 53: 539-49. This effort, however, is far from complete and currently available technology is expected to rely heavily on the field of proteomics to determine the structure and function of the vast number of proteins now known only by their primary amino acid sequence. Preferably, techniques that provide rapid access to secondary structure information can be combined with known primary sequence information and homology modeling to gain structural information on a large number of proteins. Teichmann et al., (2000) Bioinformatics 16:117-24.; Zhang & Zhang, (2000) Biopolymers 53: 539-49.
Infrared (IR) spectroscopy is well established as a valuable technique for assessing protein secondary structure in solution. One particular form of IR spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), has become an especially preferred form of IR spectroscopy for the study of protein secondary structure. FTIR has great utility in the rapid determination of secondary structure because it offers accurate, high-resolution spectra with excellent sensitivity and signal-to-noise (S/N) ratios, as compared to other forms of infrared spectroscopy. Kumosinski & Unruh, (1994) in ACS Symposium Series 576, Molecular Modeling: From Virtual Tools to Real Problems, (Kumosinski & Liebman, eds.) pp. 71-98; Susi & Byler, (1986) Method. Enzymol. 130: 290-311. Over the last thirty years, these properties of FTIR have been increasingly recognized and FTIR has developed into a reliable and accurate technique for the identification of structural features of a variety of sample, including protein secondary structure. Susi & Byler, (1986) Method. Enzymol. 130: 290-311; Byler & Susi (1986) Biopolymers 25: 469-87; Jencks, (1986) Method. Enzymol. 6 (125): 914-29; Douseeau & Pezolet, (1990) Biochem. 29: 8771-79; Purcell & Susi, (1984) J. Biochem. Bioph. Meth. 9: 193-99; Miyazawa, (1960) J. Chem. Phys. 32(6): 1647-52; Krimm, (1962) J. Mol. Biol. 4: 528-40; Krimm & Abe, (1972) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 69 (10): 2788-92; Miyazawa et al., (1956) J. Chem. Phys. 24(2): 408-18.
Proteins are known to have nine characteristic absorption bands in the mid-infrared region (approximately 1250 cm−1 to 1850 cm−1) that yield conformational insight and are known as the amide A, B, and I-VII bands. Susi & Byler, (1986) Method. Enzymol. 130: 290-311; Susi (1972) Method. Enzymol. 26 Pt.C: 455-72. The secondary structure of proteins has primarily been characterized by the frequency of the amide I and II bands. Susi & Byler, (1986) Method. Enzymol. 130: 290-311; Jencks, (1986) Method. Enzymol. 6 (125): 914-29; Miyazawa (1960) J. Chem. Phys. 32(6): 1647-52; Krimm (1962) J. Mol. Biol. 4: 528-40; Krimm & Abe, (1972) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 69(10): 2788-92; Miyazawa et al., (1956) J. Chem. Phys. 24(2): 408-18; Susi, (1972) Method. Enzymol. 26 Pt. C: 455-72. The characterization of protein samples almost exclusively by the amide I and amide II bands of the protein's IR spectrum, is due to limitations imposed by the presence of large solvent bands of both water (H2O) and deuterium oxide (D2O) that obscure regions of the infrared spectrum where additional informative bands can be observed. In effect, the solvent bands overlap the other bands present in a sample, which, therefore, cannot be clearly observed.
There is, however, a volume of information that can be used to derive structural information about a sample by analyzing the shape and position of bands in the amide I region of the spectrum. Studies have indicated that the quantity and quality of various amide I band frequencies are indicative of the presence of α-helices, β-sheets and random coil structures. Yang et al., (1985) Appl. Spectrosc. 39(2): 282-87; Byler & Susi, (1986) Biopolymers 25: 469-87; Susi & Byler, (1988) Appl. Spectrosc. 42(5): 819-25; Matsui & Tanaka, (1987) Appl. Spectrosc. 41(5): 861-65; Jakobsen et al., (1986) Biopolymers 25: 639-54; Wasacz et al., (1987) Biochem. 26: 1464-70. Often, however, conventional IR techniques cannot identify this information due to overlap of solvent signals with protein signals.
Attenuated total reflectance (ATR) is a technique useful for spectrally analyzing liquids having absorptions that are too strong for conventional transmission analysis. This condition is commonly encountered in the infrared (IR) region of the spectrum, which is the spectral region that encompasses the fundamental frequencies of most molecular vibrations. ATR has also found some application in the ultra-violet (UV) and visible regions for the analysis of dyes and other strongly absorbing water-soluble substances.
Water is an ideal solvent for biological samples. However, when used in transmission FTIR experiments it causes serious errors in the amide I region (1630-1690 cm−1) due to the strong absorption of H2O at about 1640 cm−1. Susi & Byler, (1986) Method. Enzymol. 130: 290-311; Byler & Susi, (1986) Biopolymers 25: 469-87; Jencks, (1986) Method. Enzymol. 6 (125): 914-29; Douseeau & Pezolet, (1990) Biochem. 29: 8771-79; Susi, (1972) Method. Enzymol. 26 Pt.C: 455-72. The absorption of water masks the absorption of a protein to such an extent that cell pathlengths of less than 6 microns must be used when analyzing a protein in an aqueous solution. Douseeau & Pezolet, (1990) Biochem. 29: 8771-79; Chittur, (1998) Biomaterials 19: 357-69. Furthermore, only the amide II region (1480-1575 cm−1) can be reliably obtained in most protein spectra in which the protein is disposed in an aqueous solution. Polytetrafluoroethylene and other spacers are not generally available in thicknesses of less than 6 microns, thus limiting options for transmission FTIR experiments in aqueous solution. Because H2O signals can mask the amide I region, deuterium oxide (D2O) is often used as a solvent. The strong D-O-D and H—O—H bending modes, however, still obscure the spectral regions from 1150-1250 cm−1 and 1600-1800 cm−1, respectively. Jencks, (1986) Method. Enzymol. 6 (125): 914-29.
In theory, both the amide I and amide II protein bands can be resolved, if spectra in both H2O and D2O solvents are obtained. The deuterium exchanged amide I and amide II bands are referred to as amide I′ and amide II′ bands in the spectroscopy literature. However, the exchange of proteins in D2O for the determination of spectra is tedious and can compromise the integrity of the sample. There are at least two notable problems associated with the use of D2O: first, hydrogen atoms within the protein exchange with deuterium over wide range of time scales unless the protein is fully denatured (Susi, (1972) Method. Enzymol. 26 Pt.C: 455-72; Powell et al., (1986) Appl. Spectrosc. 40(3): 339-44; Nabet & Pezolet, (1997) Appl. Spectrosc. 51(4): 466-69; Dousseau et al., (1989) Appl. Spectrosc. 43(3): 538-42); and second, bands due the species H—O-D, D-O-D, and H—O—H are all present upon the introduction of D2O unless an absolutely complete exchange of hydrogen for deuterium, a process known as "deuteration", is achieved. Jencks, (1986) Method. Enzymol. 6 (125): 914-29. The exchange of N—H with N-D also shifts the amide II′ band from 1550 to 1450 cm−1 (Jencks, (1986) Method. Enzymol. 6 (125): 914-29; Dousseau et al., (1989) Appl. Spectrosc. 43(3): 538-42) and the presence of H—O-D in solution overlaps the amide II′ and amide A′ regions.
For reasons of convenience, the majority of FTIR structural investigations have focused on secondary structure information acquired from protein spectra of the amide I′ band in D2O solution. The current state of the art for FTIR investigation of secondary structure requires placing proteins between two salt windows (typically these windows are fashioned of calcium fluoride or other salt) and orienting the windows so that they are separated by a thin pathlength space. An IR spectrum is subsequently acquired. Typical pathlength spaces are on the order of 6 to 25 microns. Barium fluoride, zinc selenide and other materials are also used for manufacturing windows.
These windows, however, can be costly and fragile and can have short lifespans. Additionally, such cells have the associated drawbacks that it is difficult to inject a sample into the ultrathin pathlength and to extract a sample from the ultrathin pathlength. Sample recovery can be a primary concern when the sample comprises a quantity of protein that is difficult to purify. A viable alternative to the traditional IR techniques is the use of the FTIR-ATR techniques. However, even certain FTIR-ATR techniques have drawbacks when the technique is used to study protein in aqueous solution. For the bending mode of water, there is typically an absorbance of 0.04 per reflection. Thus, for a typical waveguide with about 20 reflections, the absorbance of water is about 0.8 in the region of the amide I band. Solvent subtraction is possible but tedious in this case. In the region of the amide A band, the absorbance of the symmetric OH stretch is 0.16 per reflection. Thus, for a typical waveguide, the absorbance is about 3.2, prohibiting observation in this region. Multi-pass FTIR-ATR techniques that can be useful to acquire a spectrum from non-aqueous samples cannot, therefore, be effectively applied to protein samples which are best disposed in aqueous buffer to maintain sample integrity.
Thus, what is needed is a method that permits the observation of the spectral bands of a sample that appear in the IR region of the spectrum. A desirable method would be inexpensive, accurate and would eliminate the need for specialized equipment. Such a method would be easily automated for rapid data acquisition and analysis of many samples.

Single pass attenuated total reflection fourier transform infrared microscopy apparatus and method for identifying protein secondary structure, surface charge and binding affinity


The present invention provides a composition comprising an effective amount of Lactobacillus plantarum CECT 7481 and Lactobacillus brevis CECT 7480. Said strains exhibit various functional properties that make them suitable for their use in the improvement of oral health. Such properties include not only good antagonistic properties against oral pathogens, but also the ability to colonize the oral cavity and a low acidification profile. The invention also provides for the use of said composition as a probiotic and/or a medicament for oral health applications as well as products containing said composition.

Dental plaque-related diseases, particularly gingivitis, periodontitis and caries, represent a major part of the global burden of oral diseases.
Periodontal diseases (gingivitis and periodontitis) are largely caused by specific gram-negative anaerobic bacterial infections, leading to the initial destruction of the soft connective tissue and, subsequently, to the disruption of the underlying alveolar bone and ligament supporting the teeth. The bacterial species Porphyromonas gingivalis has been implicated as a major etiologic agent in the development and progression of periodontitis. Other species also contributing to gingival inflammation are Treponema denticola, Prevotella denticola and Fusobacterium nucleatum. Based on the World Health Organization surveys, most children have signs of gingivitis, and among adults the initial stages of periodontal disease are highly prevalent. For example, in Europe, an estimated 15-35% of the adult population suffers from this multifactorial disease.
Dental caries (also known as tooth decay) is a disease wherein bacterial processes damage hard tooth structure. Steptococcus mutans is one of a few specialized organisms equipped with receptors that help for better adhesion to the surface of teeth, thus being an early coloniser of the dental surface and the most significant contributor to caries. The growth and metabolism of this pioneer species creates an acidic environment in the mouth which causes the highly mineralized tooth enamel to be vulnerable to decay.
In addition to the above, one further oral disorder is believed to affect a large proportion of the population: halitosis. Also referred to as bad breath, halitosis is caused by a number of volatile compounds which are derived from the bacterial degradation of sulphur-containing amino acids. The implicated bacteria (mostly Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Porphyromonas intermedia, and Treponema denticola) are located in stagnant areas in the oral cavity, such as the dorsal surface of tongue, periodontal pockets, and interproximal areas. This affection has a significant impact—personally and socially—on those who suffer from it, and is estimated to be the third-most-frequent reason for seeking dental aid, following tooth decay and periodontal disease.
Oral bacteria form a biofilm (dental plaque) on all hard and soft oral tissues which is considered to be the principal etiologic agent in the pathological conditions of the mouth. The accumulation of bacteria within the biofilm, facilitated by poor oral health maintenance, predisposes to allogenic shifts in the microbial community, leading to the onset of periodontal inflammation and caries formation, as well as contributing to halitosis.
Yeasts, and particularly, Candida albicans, may also be the cause of disorders in the oral cavity. The elderly are vulnerable to Candida infection provoked by chronic diseases, medication, poor oral hygiene, reduced salivary flow, or the impairment of the immune system. Even though the colonization by Candida may be asymptomatic, heavy growth usually leads to local candidiasis, with various types of mucosal lesions and symptoms.
Modifying the pathogenic potential of the microbiota within the oral cavity would be an interesting strategy in combating these disorders. On this direction, the introduction of probiotic lactobacilli to partially replace pathogenic microorganisms is a promising means for controlling oral infections. However, as compared with gastrointestinal affections, the use of probiotics for oral health applications has been scarcely studied. At present, very few commercial products containing probiotics are being marketed which incorporate such a health applications.
One of these products is Prodentis® from BioGaia. Prodentis is a chewing gum that contains a probiotic L. reuteri ATCC 55730 strain and has demonstrated to reduce gingivitis in a clinical trial (Twetman S, et al. "Short-term effect of chewing gums containing probiotic Lactobacillus— reuteri on the levels of inflammatory mediators in gingival crevicular fluid". Acta Odontol Scand, 2009, vol. 67, p. 19-24). This same strain, L. reuteri ATCC 55730, has been reported to exert a strong antagonistic activity against cariogenic Streptococcus mutans (Caglar E, et al. "Salivary mutans streptococci and lactobacilli levels after ingestion of the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus—reuteri ATCC 55730 by straws or tablets". Acta Odontol Scand, 2009, vol. 64, p. 314-318). However, little is known about the impact of L. reuteri ATCC 55730 on other oral pathogens. Further, L. reuteri has been isolated from the intestine, not from the oral cavity, and it is not known whether this strain has the ability to form biofilms or otherwise colonise this environment in order to have a long-lasting effect. It has been shown that Lactobacillus sp. vary greatly in their adherent capacity to saliva-coated surfaces in a test model system mimicking oral cavity conditions (Stamatova I, et al. "In vitro evaluation of yoghurt starter lactobacilli and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG adhesion to saliva-coated surfaces". Oral Microbiol Immunol, 2009, vol. 24, p. 218-223).
Streptococcus salivarius K12 is another commercial probiotic intended for use in the oral cavity. S. salivarius K12 was isolated from the saliva of a healthy child and has been shown to perform in vitro antimicrobial activity against various bacterial species incriminated in the etiology of halitosis (Burton J P, et al. "Preliminary study of the effect of probiotic Streptococcus salivarius K12 on oral malodor parameters". J Appl Microbiol, 2006, vol. 100, p. 754-764). However, the beneficial effects of this strain are limited to the amelioration of halitosis symptoms.
Probiotics have therefore a potentiality to provide beneficial effects in the oral cavity, provided that suitable probiotic strains are identified. In this attempt, it is necessary to consider the putative benefits for the host, but also the safety of the strain, as well as possible adverse effects in the oral cavity. The latter acquires special relevance while contemplating the use of oral lactobacilli, since certain oral lactobacilli have been described as cariogenic due to their high acidogenic potential which favours the degradation of hard tissues, such as enamel and dentine.
Despite the advances in the field of oral probiotics, it is clear from the above that new probiotic strains are needed which, having a wide spectrum of benefits in the oral cavity, do not present adverse effects.


The use of monoclonal antibodies specific for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Specifically, to a monoclonal antibody IgG2A secreted by the cell line of 8A4/G9 hybridoma specifically directed to the M2-1 viral antigen, which is associated with the nucleocapside of the virus. The antibodies can be used for assays for the detection and/or determination of RSV infection. The antibodies are in the pure state and do not contain any other contaminating biological material. A method for preventing and treating the infection caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in a given host is provided, including the administration of a composition containing the monoclonal antibodies secreted by the 8A4/G9 hybridoma in sufficient doses to prevent the disease. The antibody can be humanized in order to minimize the possibility of an immune response against the same in the patient. In addition, it can be used to obtain any pharmaceutical form of the formulation of the monoclonal antibodies secreted by the 8A4/G9 hybridoma, which are suitable for the treatment or prevention of the disease caused by RSV. It also provides methods for detection and diagnosis of RSV viral antigens in biological samples using the monoclonal antibodies produced and secreted by cells of the 8A4/G9 hybridoma.

Acute respiratory tract infections are the major cause of pediatric hospitalizations and deaths worldwide (Bryce, Boschi-Pinto et al. 2005). During the cold months, respiratory tract infections caused by viruses are exacerbated and produce an increased number of cases, a situation that acquires the features of an outbreak. The viruses causing these epidemics in the pediatric population are mainly respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus (ADV) and influenza virus. Another causative agent of respiratory tract infections is metapneumovirus (hMPV), a recently identified virus and which causes severe respiratory infections in children under two years of age (van den Hoogen, Herfst et al. 2004), although its diagnosis is not widespread. However, RSV is the major causative agent of acute respiratory tract infections in infants worldwide, causing severe outbreaks in winter months. According to WHO, the virus infects 64 million people annually, of which 160,000 die (www.who.int). Infection by this virus causes a wide range of clinical conditions, which may be mild such as rhinitis or more severe, such as pneumonias or bronchiolitis; the most severe diseases are seen in infants, preterm, children with congenital heart diseases and in immunocompromised children (Cabalka 2004). In addition, the infection caused by this virus is extremely common and recurrent, since almost 100% of children over three years have presented at least one episode of RSV infection (Bont, Versteegh et al. 2002). Since this infection does not leave adequate immunological memory reinfections are frequent, declining its severity with increasing patient age. However, reinfected individuals act as reservoirs and are a source of infection for infants younger than 1 year of age, those who develop severe respiratory symptoms. In Chile, during the cold months (May-August) this virus is the cause of 70% of acute lower respiratory tract infections requiring hospitalization (Avendano, Palomino et al. 2003), being the cause of the death of 0.1% of them. Although this percentage is low, the large number of cases makes the number of deaths very significant. This situation causes the saturation of emergency healthcare services, which often has made necessary the implementation of emergency measures in health services, including the conversion of hospital beds for pediatric patients, suspension of elective and scheduled surgeries and recruitment of supporting staff during the months when the outbreak occurs. The RSV diagnostic method often used in hospital facilities is a diagnostic test based on the detection of viral antigens by direct immunofluorescence of nasopharyngeal swabs. The limitation of this test is related to the need of having trained personnel for processing and analysis of samples and, besides, the results of said test are not immediately acquire, leaving a period of time within which the patient remains undiagnosed, but the infection continues its course. Due to this problem, the development of efficient monoclonal antibodies, which can be used for creating alternative detection test for RSV requiring minimum training and being fast to perform (as, e.g., immunochromatographic test), appear as necessary alternative to meet this need, since they allow the specific recognition of viral antigens in samples from patients infected with RSV, and also requiring a small amount of sample. Thus, our invention results in an antibody capable to detect low amounts of RSV antigens very efficiently and effectively, allowing the development of a fast, efficient and accurate alternative detection and diagnostic method for patients infected with RSV, in order to establish an appropriate and early treatment having effect in the development of the disease. Furthermore, the efficiency of our antibody allows us to suggest their use for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions for treatment and/or prophylaxis of RSV infection. The antibody of the invention is specifically a monoclonal antibody recognizing M2-1 protein of human RSV and which is secreted by 8A4/G9 hybridoma.

Monoclonal antibodies specific for the M2-1 antigen of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile


[Object] The invention is intended to provide a medical image processing apparatus in which improvement of accuracy of boundary detection of a heart is achieved.

A medical image processing apparatus of the related art is configured to access a volume data of a heart, detect a boundary by fitting a deformable boundary model into a structure in the volume data, specify one or more characteristic points on the basis of the boundary model, and display an image of the heart on the basis of the characteristic points on a display.

Medical image processing apparatus and method thereof

Abstract: [Solving Means] A medical image processing apparatus acquires volume data of a heat, detects a three-dimensional left ventricle coordinate system composed of three axes including at least a left ventricle long axis of the heart from the volume data; uses a boundary model expressed in the left ventricle coordinate system and detects a left ventricle boundary from the volume data, and displays a cross-sectional image orthogonal to at least one axis of the three axes of the left ventricle coordinate system together with the detected left ventricle boundary on the cross-sectional image.


An image forming apparatus, having an SSD as an auxiliary storage device, which is capable of preventing loss of data in the auxiliary storage device caused by lapse of a retention period in a power save state or a power off state. In a case where the auxiliary storage device is determined to be an SSD based on type information that is acquired when the image forming apparatus is activated, a predicted retention period is calculated, and is set in a part of the apparatus that operates in the power save state. The part of the apparatus that operates in the power save state causes the image forming apparatus to transit from the power save state to a normal state based on the set predicted retention period.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a control method thereof, and a storage medium, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus which includes an SSD as an auxiliary storage device and which is capable of preventing loss of data in the SSD caused by continuance of a power save state or a power off state, a control method thereof, and a storage medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, an SSD (Solid State Drive) is more often used as the auxiliary storage device of an image forming apparatus. Compared with a conventional HDD (Hard Disc Drive), the SSD is superior from the standpoint of access time, heat generation, operation sound, impact performance, power consumption, and size.
Generally, an SSD has a plurality of flash memories, installed therein, in which data is saved. With the flash memory, data is saved or erased by electrons being injected into or ejected from a floating gate covered with an insulating material, and at this time, the insulating material has a high voltage applied thereto with the insulating material deteriorated, which causes data to be lost due to self-discharge after a predetermined period of time, that is, after a retention period (a data retention period).
For example, there is a report that, if an SSD used over a period of time specified by JEDEC (Joint Electron Device Engineering Council) is not energized, data in the SSD is unfavorably lost in three months. Also, due to densification of an integrated circuit used in the SSD, data in the SSD is possibly lost due to cutoff of power over a shorter period of time.
With recent power-saving trend, some image forming apparatuses are configured to de-energize the auxiliary storage device at the time of shifting from a normal state to a power save state. In a case where an SSD is used as the auxiliary storage device of such an image forming apparatus, the power save state having continued with the retention period of the SSD elapsed causes the data in the SSD to be lost. Also, when the power of the image forming apparatus is turned off, the auxiliary storage device is not energized, which incurs loss of data if the power off state continues over a long period of time.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2013-47913 proposes an information processing apparatus that prevents loss of data from a non-volatile storage device by not writing in the non-volatile storage device when the life of the non-volatile storage device is near expiration. However, the proposed technique cannot prevent loss of data due to lapse of the retention period of an SSD.
Also, recent improved multi-functionality of the image forming apparatus allows software operating on the image forming apparatus to become complex with increased scale. Moreover, to use past application development resources, a highly portable application independent of the hardware is, in many cases, operated on a versatile OS installed on the image forming apparatus.
However, it is difficult to prevent loss of data in a non-volatile storage device of an image forming apparatus having a versatile OS, installed therein, on which an application not aware of hardware operates on the versatile OS.
The technique disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2013-47913 aims to maintain data retention reliability of a non-volatile storage device by suppressing writing in the non-volatile storage device. However, with an image forming apparatus having a versatile OS, installed therein, on which a complex, large-scale application operates, it is difficult to maintain the data retention reliability of the non-volatile storage device (an auxiliary storage device such as an SSD). That is, maintenance of the data retention reliability requires to grasp all the behaviors of the complex, large-scale application, and to perfectly control access from the application to the auxiliary storage device, for example, to eliminate the amount of writing in the auxiliary storage device.
However, with an image forming apparatus having a versatile OS having a complex, large-scale application operating thereon a versatile OS, it is extremely difficult to perfectly control access from the application to an auxiliary storage device, that is, it is difficult to increase the data retention reliability of the auxiliary storage device such as an SSD of such an image forming apparatus.

Image forming apparatus having power save function, control method thereof, and storage medium


A note facility which documents the progress of a student in producing human speech. The facility stores a set of notes in a note file in a computer memory. Each of the set of notes contains textual information generally descriptive of the human speech produced at a given time during the training. A set of speech samples is also stored and attached to selected ones of the set of notes. Each of the speech samples is a digitized version of the human speech produced. The facility analyzes the human speech produced at least one of the given times to produce speech statistics which are presented to the user interface. The speech statistics can be stored in a note and the statistics note attached to the set of notes containing the descriptive text. Navigation through the note file can review each of the notes for the subjective opinion of the student's progress, statistics of an objective acoustic analysis of the speech and listen to the speech file on which the opinion is based. The facility creates reports by allowing the user to select particular notes within the set of notes for inclusion in the report. When the report function is invoked, the selected notes are incorporated within the report.

This invention relates generally to analysis of human speech. More particularly, it relates to a note taking function which allows speech professionals to document the progress of a student by generating a report which includes written description, speech statistics and speech samples.
There are several professions in which speech professionals make assessments of the accuracy and progress in producing particular types of human speech. Speech pathologists are professionals who work with individuals who do not speak in a "normal" manner. This may be due to various speech impediments or physical deficiencies which impair these individuals' abilities to produce what would be considered normal human speech. Typically, a speech pathologist will work with such an individual over a period of time to teach him how to more accurately produce the desired sounds. Similarly, language coaches teach a student a foreign language, with the proper accent and so forth. Actors frequently use dialect coaches; professional singers take voice lessons. Although the type of speech and sounds vary within the particular disciplines of these specialties, they share common thread in that human speech is made and, through a series of lessons, hopely improved.
Like many tasks in today's society, computers and computer software have provided important tools to improve these processes. SpeechViewer is an IBM product that provides analytical feedback about speech production. It is used by Speech and Language Pathologists, Teachers of the Deaf, and other professionals who work with voice, dialect, foreign languages, and singing. SpeechViewer computes acoustic analyses, such as fundamental frequency, signal intensity, and spectral information and transforms the data into animated graphical feedback that varies as functions of sound.
While the professionals using the product were pleased with various analysis functions provided in prior versions of the product, SpeechViewer lacked features helpful in documenting the findings which were made through the use of the product. For example, speech pathologists are usually obligated to maintain detailed clinical notes for the purposes of charting patient progress. In the public school environment, Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) must be filed to identify the characteristics of a student's disability, the objectives of planned remediation, the outcome of that remediation, and planning of future remediation services. For non-school services that are paid by 3rd party payers, such as insurance companies and Medicare, equivalent documentation is required to justify the quality of care for compensation. Even when the speech professional was not obligated to produce a report, e.g., private voice lessons, such a capability might be welcome.
Until the present invention, speech professionals typically relied on manual documentation, i.e. pencil-and-paper procedures. While more general purpose applications such as word processors can be used to generate reports, they did not provide any means of providing speech analysis. No single tool was available which could analyze speech, gather information and present it in a report format.
The present invention provides a solution to this problem.

Computer note facility for documenting speech training

International Business Machines Corporation


A tool changer for a machine tool includes an arm support disposed between a spindle head and a tool magazine to be reciprocally moved along the spindle relative to the spindle, a pair of tool changing arms mounted for rocking motion on support shafts further mounted on the arm support to cross the spindle, respectively, holding mechanisms on one ends of the tool changing arms respectively, and a rotating mechanism for rotating the tool changing arms by 180 degrees about a center shaft parallel with the spindle. Each holding mechanism has a moving pin and a spring for urging the moving pin in a direction of projection of the pin. The moving pins are engaged with a tool attached to the spindle and another tool located at a standby position of the tool magazine when the tool changing arms are rocked about the support shafts so that the tools are detachably held by the holding mechanisms respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a tool changer for a machine tool which changes tools between a spindle mounted on a spindle head of the machine tool and a tool magazine provided with a plurality of tools.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional tool changers include those of the finger type and those of the transfer type. The tool changer of the finger type comprises a changing head rotatable and vertically movable. The changing head is provided with two pairs of opposed gripping claws each pair serving as a holding mechanism for holding a tool. Each pair of gripping claws are driven by a cam mechanism etc. to be opened and closed.
The tool changer of the finger type executes a tool changing operation in the following manner. First, a subsequently used tool is located at a standby position in a tool magazine. A tool currently attached to a spindle of a spindle head is gripped by one pair of gripping claws, whereas the tool located at the standby position is gripped by the other pair of gripping claws. The changing head is then moved downward so that the tools are pulled out of the spindle and the tool magazine respectively. The changing head is then rotated 180 degrees horizontally so that the positions of the tools are changed to each other. Thereafter, the changing head is moved upward so that the subsequently used tool is attached to the spindle, whereas the last used tool is returned to the tool magazine. Each pair of gripping claws are released from the gripping state, whereby the tool changing operation is completed.
According to the tool changer of the finger type, the changing head is rotated 180 degrees in one direction in every tool changing operation. This simplifies the mechanical construction of the tool changer for the control of rotation of the changing head. However, the gripping claws are used in the holding mechanism to detachably hold the tool. The gripping claws require a complicated opening and closing mechanism for opening and closing the gripping claws by means of the cam mechanism etc. Furthermore, the operations of the mechanism for opening and closing the gripping claws need to be synchronized with the rotation and the axial movement of the changing head. Consequently, the manufacturing cost of the tool changer is increased, and a high speed changing operation cannot be attained by the tool changer of the finger type.
On the other hand, the tool changer of the transfer type comprises a pivot arm normally and reversibly rotatable about a pivot and vertically movable. Two holding mechanisms are provided on both ends of the pivot and have moving pins axially urged by springs respectively.
The tool changer of the transfer type executes a tool changing operation in the following manner. First, a subsequently used tool is located at a standby position in a tool magazine. The pivot arm is located at a change standby position. The pivot arm is then rotated by an angle of .theta. in the reverse direction so that a tool currently attached to a spindle of a spindle head and the tool located at the standby position are gripped by the holding mechanisms provided on both ends of the pivot arm respectively. The pivot arm is then moved downward so that the tools are pulled out of the spindle and the tool magazine respectively. The pivot arm is then rotated 180 degrees in the normal direction so that the positions of the tools are changed to each other. The pivot arm is then moved upward so that the subsequently used tool is attached to the spindle, whereas the last used tool is returned to the tool magazine. Thereafter, the pivot arm is further rotated by the angle of in the normal direction to be returned to the change standby position, and each holding mechanism is released from the holding state.
According to the tool changer of the transfer type, the moving pins are urged by the respective springs in each holding mechanism thereof. Thus, since each holding mechanism has a simple construction, the manufacturing cost thereof can be reduced. Furthermore, a complicated control is not required for each holding mechanism. However, the pivot arm requires to be rotated in the normal and reverse directions in every tool changing operation. Furthermore, the pivot arm requires the two rotation angles of .theta. and 180 degrees. These requirements complicate the mechanical construction for the control of rotation of the pivot arm.


A control method of an optical element, including light sources to emit lights having different wavelengths from each other, and ring modulators connected in cascade along a light waveguide, is disclosed. Each ring modulator includes a ring resonator, and a wavelength adjustment electrode to adjust a resonance wavelength in the ring resonator, wherein the lights from the light sources are multiplexed to enter the light waveguide. The method includes having a light source emit the light; adjusting power to the wavelength adjustment electrode in each ring modulator, to obtain a value of the power causing the resonance wavelength of the ring resonator, equivalent to the wavelength of the light emitted from the light source; obtaining a relationship between the light sources and the values of the power corresponding to the ring modulators; and selecting the ring modulators corresponding to the light sources based on the relationship.

As one of optical communication technologies, there has been a large-capacity optical fiber communication system that uses a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technology. In such a large-capacity optical fiber communication system that uses a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technology, light signals formed by multiple light sources having different wavelengths are transmitted as WDM signals in an optical fiber, which makes large-capacity communication possible. Namely, such WDM signals are transmitted so that signals having wavelengths different from each other are transmitted as signal components of independent channels, respectively, and hence, large-capacity communication is realized. A wavelength division multiplexing communication apparatus that uses such a wavelength division multiplexing technology includes demultiplexers to separate signal components corresponding to respective wavelengths in an optical fiber, and modulators to generate signal components corresponding to the respective wavelengths to be input into the optical fiber.

PHOTONICS ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION