Clogging of an injection nozzle which supplies a reducing agent to the exhaust gas on an upstream side of a reduction catalyst in the exhaust gas passage is prevented, and the efficiency of NOx purification processing is improved. A reducing agent supply unit uses a detection signal of the exhaust gas temperature from a temperature detection device to set a supply quantity at or above a lower limit for cooling the interior of an injection nozzle to below the temperature at which urea water crystallizes, for the detected exhaust gas temperature, and supplies urea water to the injection nozzle at the set supply quantity. By such supply of urea water, the interior of the injection nozzle is cooled to below the temperature at which the urea water crystallizes. As a result, the urea water does not crystallize inside the injection nozzle, and clogging of the injection nozzle can be prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exhaust gas purifying apparatus for an engine, which uses a reducing agent to remove, by reduction, nitrogen oxide (NOx) discharged from a diesel engine, a gasoline engine, or the like, mounted on a mobile vehicle. In particular, it relates to an engine exhaust gas purifying apparatus that prevents clogging of an injection nozzle for supplying a reducing agent to an exhaust gas on an upstream side of a reducing catalyst, and when clogging in the injection nozzle occurs, clears such clogging, to improve the efficiency of NOx purification processing.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a system which purifies exhaust gas by removing particularly NOx from among particulate matters (PM) in exhaust gas discharged from an engine, several exhaust gas purifying apparatuses have been proposed. In these exhaust gas purifying apparatuses, a reduction catalyst is placed in the exhaust system of the engine, and a reducing agent is injection-supplied into an exhaust gas passage on the upstream side of the reduction catalyst, to thereby catalytically reduction react the NOx in the exhaust gas with the reducing agent, and thus purification process the NOx into harmless constituents. The reducing agent is stored in a liquid state at room temperature in a reservoir tank, and a necessary amount thereof is injection-supplied from an injection nozzle. The reduction reaction uses ammonia which has excellent reactivity with NOx, and a reducing agent water solution such as a urea aqueous solution, ammonia aqueous solution or the like that is hydrolyzed to produce ammonia easily is used as the reducing agent (refer for example to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-27627).
However, in the aforementioned conventional exhaust gas purifying apparatus, an amount of reducing agent supplied is controlled in accordance with the operation state of the engine (exhaust gas temperature, NOx discharge quantity, and so forth). However in some cases, depending on the operation state of the engine, the injection holes of the injection nozzle provided in the exhaust gas passage, or the passage leading thereto, may become clogged and it may become impossible to supply reducing agent sufficiently. As a result, the reduction reaction of the NOx with the above-mentioned reduction catalyst does not proceed smoothly, and there is a possibility of NOx being exhausted.
The above clogging of the injection nozzle is principally caused by the urea (referred to below as "solid urea") in the urea aqueous solution (referred to below as "urea water") serving as the reducing agent, crystallizing and solidifying in the injection holes, or the passage leading thereto. This is because urea water solidifies at 100° C., and hence when the urea water is heated above 100° C. urea crystals form. Here, during the normal injection supply of urea water by the injection nozzle, the urea water supplied from the reservoir tank, (urea water and compressed air in the case of a reducing agent supply system that supplies compressed air with urea water to the injection nozzle), cools the interior of the nozzle, so that even if the injection nozzle is heated by the exhaust gas from the engine, the urea water does not reach 100° C. However, in the case where the quantity of urea water supplied is reduced, so that the interior of the nozzle can no longer be cooled, there is a possibility that the urea water inside the nozzle could reach or exceed 100° C., and urea crystals could form, causing clogging.
Moreover the melting point of solid urea is 132° C. Therefore if the exhaust gas temperature close to the injection nozzle is raised by the exhaust gas from the engine, and the heat input to the injection nozzle is increased, the solid urea will melt and the clogging of the nozzle will be cleared.
However, in the case where a reduction agent supply means is a so-called air assisted type reduction agent supply means that supplies compressed air together with urea water to the injection nozzle to atomize the urea water and eject it, the compressed air that is constantly supplied to the injection nozzle cools the interior of the nozzle. Therefore, the temperature of the interior of the nozzle does not rise above 132° C., and melting of the solid urea is prevented. Consequently there is a possibility that solid urea that has crystallized and solidified will attached to the interior of the injection nozzle, and cause clogging of the nozzle. In this case, in order to raise the temperature of the interior of the injection nozzle to melt the sold urea, it is considered that the exhaust gas temperature inside the exhaust gas passage rises. However this may not be advisable for some engines.

Exhaust gas purifying apparatus for engine


A road-marking system has at least a first lighting module (4) provided in a road surface (1). The lighting module (4) is provided with a plurality of light emitting surfaces (14, 14′, . . . ). The lighting module (4) has connection means (7, 7) for providing electrical connection between the lighting module (4) and the electrical current supply conductor (6). Preferably, the current supply conductor (6) is provided in a duct (8) provided with an opening (8′) at the location of the lighting module (4).

The invention relates to a road marking system.
The invention further relates to a lighting module for use in a road marking system, a road surface provided with a road marking system, and a method of manufacturing a road marking system.
Such road marking systems are used in traffic guidance systems for marking paths to be followed by means of transport, such as roads for cars and other road users and runways for airplanes. One of the methods used by traffic planners in their efforts to reduce traffic jams is a so-called tidal flow system. In such a dynamic system, the direction of the traffic on multilane roads is changed in one or several lanes in accordance with the direction of the main flow of traffic. In an alternative embodiment, the number of lanes available for traffic moving in a certain direction is increased or decreased in dependence on the amount of traffic offered. It is a problem in these methods to indicate the direction of the desired traffic flow for a certain traffic lane in a flexible manner, or to change the subdivision of the road in a flexible manner. Known means for indicating the desired direction of the traffic flow comprise signaling lights next to or above the road.
Said road marking systems may have static applications in addition to their use as dynamic road marking systems. Static applications of road marking systems comprise the markings of portions of roads (for example straight portions or bends) which direct the traffic under certain weather conditions, for example during fog, rain, iciness, etc., and/or under certain lighting conditions, for example daylight, twilight, low position of the sun, night, etc.
Road marking systems may be provided in a road surface of the road, but also next to and/or above the road, for example on a crash barrier next to the road.
The principle of dynamic road marking is described in WO-A 00/020691 (PHN 17.533). This road marking system utilizes light emitted in the direction of the road user (driver), for example for realizing a flexible driving lane arrangement. A seemingly continuous (white) line is realized in that light dots present in a lighting module are placed at suitable distances from one another and are switched on. The impression of a continuous line is created because the road user perceives the road surface from a certain distance and at an angle. Switching on and off of the light in segments changes a dotted or interrupted line into a closed or continuous line marking. Such segments are, for example, three metes long, for example comprising twelve lighting modules with mutual spaces of approximately 25 cm. Thus, for example, segments of said length may be switched such that only one out of every four segments is burning, so that a broken line with the length of one segment followed by three times the length of one segment without light each time is created. A seemingly continuous (white) line is visible if all segments are switched on. It is also possible to move the lines through a suitable switching on or off of a line. In this manner, a normal two-lane road segment may be transformed into, for example, a road with three narrowed driving lanes (possibly in combination with a reduced maximum speed). Such road marking systems dynamically increase the capacity of an existing road. The lighting modules may also be used for alternative applications in which the mutual distances between the lighting modules are variable. Thus it is also possible, for example, to displace the lines (seemingly) in that a strip is switched on and off in a suitable manner.
WO-A 00/020691 and WO-A 01/92641 describe various embodiments of lighting modules which are also provided in the road surface. WO-A 01/92641 describes a sawcut arrangement for providing (electrical) supply and control cables in which sawcuts are provided which extend in longitudinal direction in the road surface. In this case an approximately 2.5 cm wide cable duct is sawn into the surface of the road to a depth that varies between 3 and 10 cm. The cable or cables is or are laid in such a cable duct, which is usually filled at the upper side with road metal or fine gravel. At the road surface level, the cable duct is usually closed by means of a bituminous or concrete-type substance. WO-A 01/92641 further describes lighting modules in the form of half discs into which the cable is introduced adjacent the surface of the road.


A polyhedral IC package is provided with a plurality of pins for the purpose of connection to an semiconductor chip on each of the faces thereof, this IC package being stacked or arranged in a row by causing these pins to coincide with one another, thereby enabling three-dimensional arrangement of the IC package and in increase in the number of pins, without having to make the spacing between pins narrower. It is possible to provide an access hole on each face of the polyhedron for the purpose of enabling a physical interface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an IC package in which signal transfer elements, such as pads or connecting terminals or the like (hereinafter referred to as pins) are disposed on a plurality of faces of a polyhedron, and more particularly to a polyhedral IC package which is designed with consideration given to a device that is suited for three-dimensional mounting.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 10(A) and 10(B) is a perspective view which shows an IC package of the past.
An IC package is generally the means of implementing an IC that requires a large number of pins, and in which the pins are arranged in a matrix pattern as shown in the drawing.
This example is one which shows the construction of an IC package that is used with a multi-layer printed circuit board in the past, FIG. 10 (A) showing the solder side, from which the pins 302 are clearly visible, and FIG. 10 (B) showing the front, component side, from which the pins 302 are barely visible.
As shown in FIG. 10 (A) and FIG. 10 (B), the pins 302 are mounted on only one side.
FIG. 11 is a drawing which shows the internal construction of the above-noted example.
The internal construction is this example is one formed by a semiconductor 303, the conductive leads 304, and the bonding wires 305, which make connections between the semiconductor 303 and the conductive leads 304.
As shown in this drawing, because the pins 302 are arranged on one base surface, in order to increase the number of pins, it is necessary either to reduce the spacing between pins, or to make the IC package itself larger.
However, the pin spacing is limited by considerations of mounting accuracy and of electrical characteristics, and enlargement of the IC package is also limited, because of the effect of conductive lead extension on electrical characteristics and the need to achieve mounting density.
Additionally, while the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications Nos. 61-99361 and 7-86493 describe a method of wiring a plurality of semiconductor chips arranged almost in a straight line on a plan and on a face of a polyhedron, this method is one of shortening the wiring length between a plurality of semiconductor chips which are mounted within an IC package, rather than one which would provide a direct solution to the problem of wiring between IC packages.
In the case in which an IC package is mounted three-dimensionally, with the exception of an IC that is mounted on an outer surface, because access from the outside becomes impossible, it is impossible to mount an interface such as an interface for light, for fluid, or for gas.
Additionally, cooling and maintenance of an IC package located in a deep part becomes extremely difficult.
In the above-described prior art, because pins were only mounted on one surface of a three-dimensional IC package, with improvement in the functionality of ICs, the number of pins required on an IC package increases, and the resulting increase in the number of pins is accompanied by the problem of a narrowing of the pin-to-pin spacing.
To establish spacing between pins, as the demand for an increase in the number of IC package pins increases, because the distance between the semiconductor chip and the IC package pins increases, the wiring length between the semiconductor chip inside the IC package and the outside of the IC package becomes long, this presenting the problem of a worsening of the electrical characteristics.
Additionally, because the electrical interface between IC packages is implemented by transmission via the pattern on a printed circuit board, the transmission paths become long, and the wiring length between IC packages becomes long, this leading to the problem of a worsening of the electrical characteristics.
Additionally, if IC packages are mounted three-dimensionally, with the exception of an IC package which is located on an outer surface, because access from the outside is impossible, when IC packages are mounted three-dimensionally, with the exception of an IC package that is located on an outer surface, it is not possible to mount an interface such as an interface, for light, fluid, or gas, or other non-electrical interface.
When mounting IC packages to a multi-layer printed circuit board, there are cases in which the circuit configuration of the printed circuit board makes it difficult to make electrical contact with the terminals on the surface for adhesion to the substrate, and in inspection after mounting, there are cases in which it is difficult to make electrical contact with a terminal near an IC package terminal for the purpose of measuring the electrical characteristics.
Additionally, because of circuit configuration and electrical characteristics considerations, there is a need to mount components and wiring with high density in the region of an IC package, and also in order to mount components which require a physical mounting spacing on one and the same board, circuitry becomes concentrated only in the region of an IC package, resulting in a localized high circuit density.
To accommodate this, a problem arises in that the entire board must be made multi-layer.
In view of the above-described drawbacks in the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide polyhedral IC package which enables an increase in the number of pins without making the spacing between pins narrow.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a polyhedral IC package which shortens the distance between a semiconductor chip that is mounted in the IC package and the pins thereof.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a polyhedral IC package that facilitates three-dimensional mounting.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a polyhedral IC package that, when mounting three-dimensionally, enables access from the outside to an IC package, even if the package is not located on an outer surface.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a polyhedral IC package which, after mounting, enables the measurement of electrical characteristics in the region of a terminal.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a polyhedral IC package which, by mounting a plurality of the IC packages onto a printed circuit board, enables the achievement of a high-density printed circuit board with a small amount of partially high-concentration regions.

Polyhedral IC package for making three dimensionally expandable assemblies


Systems and methods are described for storing a media stream on a storage medium, wherein the media stream is based upon at least one source file. An index file for the media stream is created, and the at least one source file is processed to create at least one media file that is stored on the storage medium. The index file is updated to reference at least a portion of the at least one media file, and the index file is stored on the storage medium. Such techniques may be useful, for example, in encoding information onto a disk drive, flash drive or other portable media compatible with a placeshifting audio/video player or the like.

Historically, consumers generally viewed television programming as it was received live from a broadcast, cable or satellite source. As analog and digital recording devices (e.g., video cassette recorders, as well as digital/personal video recorders) became more prevalent, consumers have been increasingly able to shift their television viewing to more convenient viewing times. Even more recently, the ability to "place shift" television viewing from one location to another has become more widespread. Using the various SLINGBOX products available from Sling Media of Foster City, Calif., for example, consumers are able remotely view television programming or other video signals that are provided by a receiver, media player, recorder or other media source that is physically located at a different place than the viewer. Traditionally, content has been placeshifted primarily from a receiver or recorder over a digital network to a personal computer, wireless phone or other portable device. Viewing placeshifted content on a remotely-located television, however, has traditionally been relatively difficult because most televisions do not have network connectivity or other mechanisms for communicating with remotely-located media sources.
In addition, consumers are showing increased interest in viewing and placeshifting digital content that is produced or received from a digital camera, network server and/or the like. Such content might include consumer-generated content (e.g., home movies or digital clips created by the consumer), as well as any content that has been ripped from a physical media (e.g., a compact disk (CD), digital versatile disk (DVD), and/or the like), or obtained from any free or fee-based online source. Such content may include movies on demand, video clips obtained from an online clipping or file sharing service, or any other content as appropriate. Much of this content is in digital format that is traditionally decoded and viewed on a personal computer or the like. While it would frequently be desirable to view stored digital content on a conventional television, in practice this can be a challenge. Among other issues to be overcome, user-generated or user-stored content files are frequently relatively large in size (e.g., several gigabytes or more), making payback difficult on many devices (such as televisions) that may not have disk-based or other suitable file systems able to accommodate such files.
As a result, it is desirable to create systems, methods and/or devices that are able to present stored media content on a conventional television or similar display. These and other desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background section.

Systems and methods for creating logical media streams for media storage and playback


A floor pump includes a base, a cylinder, a hose assembly, a valve assembly, a piston rod, and a pressure sensing device. The cylinder is mounted on the base. The hose assembly includes a hose, a nozzle, and a recess connected with each other. The valve assembly is mounted in the base and connected between the cylinder and the hose assembly. The piston rod is connected with a piston reciprocable inside the cylinder. The pressure sensing device is disposed in the recess and interconnected with the valve assembly. The pressure sensing device can measure the pressure value of the air flowing into the pressure sensing recess and is connectable with a mobile electronic device via wireless transmission for indicating the air pressure value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a floor pump and, in particular, to a floor pump that can measure the air pressure value of an inflatable and then transmit the value measured thereby via wireless transmission to a mobile electronic device for indicating the air pressure value of the inflatable immediately.
2. Description of the Related Art
Formerly, bicycles are employed for transportation, bicycle commuting, and utility cycling. As time advances, the use of bicycles gradually changes from vehicles to fitness equipment. Bicycles can be categorized in different ways: such as by function, by number of riders, by general construction, by gearing or by manner of propulsion. The more common types include utility bicycles, mountain bicycles, racing bicycles, touring bicycles, hybrid bicycles, cruiser bicycles, and BMX bikes. The price range for bicycles goes from as low as hundreds of dollars to as much as tens of thousands. Moreover, air pumps designed for inflating bicycle tires have had huge changes. The inflation pressure of bicycle tires ranges from below 30 PSI (2 BAR; 207 KPA) for tubeless mountain bike tires to 220 PSI (15 BAR; 1,517 KPA) for tubular track racing tires, so air pumps for inflating bicycle tires must have a pressure gauge for indicating the pressure values. Several basic types of air pumps for bikes are available, such as floor pumps and portable pumps. However, the shape of the floor pump is abrupt and inharmonious in order to mount a conventional mechanical pressure gauge. Thus, the scale and unit on the gauge will be very small, making it hard to indicate the air pressure value accurately. Moreover, the pressure gauge is usually installed on the bottom of the floor pump. Thus, the distance between the eyes of users and the gauge is quite far, making it difficult to see the pressure value. On the other hand, the pressure gauge also can be installed on the handle of the floor pump to reduce the distance between the eyes of users and the gauge, but the handle moves up and down during the pump operation. The pressure value is still hard to see.
The present invention is, therefore, intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art.

Floor pump capable of transmitting air pressure value via wireless transmission to mobile electronic device for indication


This invention relates to rescue boards that are constructed of several individual pieces. Such structures of this type, generally, allow the rescue personnel to extricate an unconscious or injured person from a confined space through a small opening and onto a backboard for transport to a medical facility.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to rescue boards that are constructed of several individual pieces. Such structures of this type, generally, allow the rescue personnel to extricate an unconscious or injured person from a confined space through a small opening and onto a backboard for transport to a medical facility.
2. Description of the Related Art
It has come to the attention of the present inventors that when attempting to rescue an unconscious or injured person from a confined space having a small opening, standard equipment will not go through the small hole. Consequently, this requires that the unconscious person be raised to the level of the small hole. This, typically, requires at least four individuals to raise the person and work the individual through the hole. However, due to the opening size, the number of people that could enter the confined space through the small hole is limited. Also, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations prohibit persons from entering a confined space for a rescue to only trained rescue personnel.
It is also known, in body restraint devices of the board-type, to employ different techniques and apparatus for the purpose of securing a patient to the board for transportation to a medical facility. Exemplary of such prior art are U.S. Pat. No. 2,675,564 ('564) to R. C. Hughes, entitled "Stretcher", U.S. Pat. No. 4,259,950 ('950) to A. P. Klippel, entitled "Extrication Backbrace", and U.S. Pat. No. 4,506,664 ('664) to R. A. Brault, entitled "Spineboard". While these devices are made for the purpose of securing a patient to the board for transportation to a medical facility, these devices would not be able to be used to extricate an unconscious or injured person from a confined space through a small opening and onto a backboard for subsequent transport to the medical facility. Therefore, a more advantageous device, then, would be presented if the device could be used in a confined space having a small opening.
It is apparent from the above that there exists a need in the art for a rescue board which is light weight through simplicity of parts and uniqueness of structure, and which at least equals the securing techniques of the known rescue devices, but which at the same time is capable of being used to extricate an unconscious or injured person from a confined space having a small opening. It is the purpose of this invention to fulfill this and other needs in the art in a manner more apparent to the skilled artisan once given the following disclosure.


A high-pressure pump includes a plunger capable of reciprocating, and a housing having a pressurizing chamber in which fuel is pressurized by the plunger, and a fuel chamber through which the fuel flows toward and from the pressurizing chamber. The pump includes a spring that biases the plunger so as to increase the volume of the pressurizing chamber, and a spring seat that is fixed to the housing and is in contact with one end of the spring. A first space that communicates with the fuel chamber via a fuel passage is provided between the bottom of the spring seat and the housing, and a top face of the bottom exposed to the first space is covered with a heatinginsulating member.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a high-pressure pump.
2. Description of Related Art
A high-pressure pump used for supplying fuel to injectors of an internal combustion engine, such as a diesel engine or a gasoline engine, includes a plunger capable of reciprocating in a cylinder, and a housing having a pressurizing chamber in which the fuel is pressurized by the plunger, and a fuel chamber through which the fuel flows toward and from the pressurizing chamber. A known example of the high-pressure pump (as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-185410 (JP-A-2010-185410)) includes a damper device for dampening pressure pulsation of the fuel which occurs due to reciprocating movement of the plunger.
The high-pressure pump as described in JP-A-2010-185410 includes a spring that biases the plunger in such a direction as to increase the volume of the pressurizing chamber, and a spring seat (corresponding to an oil seal holder 25 shown in JP-A-2010-185410) that is fixed to the housing and is in abutting contact with one end of the spring. Also, a space (corresponding to a passage 107 shown in JP-A-2010-185410) through which the fuel flows is provided between the bottom of the spring seat and the housing, and the space communicates with the fuel chamber via a fuel passage (corresponding to a passage 108 shown in JP-A-2010-185410) formed in the housing.
In operation, the spring seat may receive heat of engine oil for lubricating cams, springs, etc., to be heated to a high temperature, and the fuel flowing in the above-mentioned space may receive the heat from the spring seat, so that the temperature of the fuel in the high-pressure pump may be generally increased. Due to the temperature rise of the fuel, vapor may be produced in the high-pressure pump, and may affect control of the discharge amount of the high-pressure pump. In particular, when the engine is operating in fuel-cut mode, or when the engine is stopped while it is in a high-load operating condition (i.e., when the engine is in a condition of so-called "high-temperature dead soak"), for example, the fuel having a high temperature remains in the high-pressure pump, and the above-described situation may occur.


A smoke alarm system specifically designed to detect smoke near a kitchen stove includes a transmitter assembly having a smoke detection device housed within an enclosure which hangs upon an oven door handle or other such appendage. The transmitter assembly further comprises a transmitter module that generates a wireless signal upon detection of smoke and transmits the signal to a remote receiver. When activated by the signal from the transmitter assembly, the receiver assembly produces sound and illumination type alarms, thereby warning occupants of smoke that is emanating from the stove, and the need to take immediate corrective action.

As any home owner will attest, security is an area of primary concern. Due to the fact that people tend to place a high value on their property and personal safety, the marketplace has responded with a variety of products that are intended to protect one's life and property. Perhaps the most common of these products is the smoke alarm. While such devices work with smoke that is generated anywhere in a home, such smoke often originates in the kitchen from food cooking on, or in the stove. Many valuable seconds can be lost before such smoke is detected at smoke detectors located a distance away. By then, smoke has permeated throughout the kitchen, and may even develop into a full fire. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which smoke generated from cooking on a stove can be detected as soon as possible in order to avoid the problems as described above.


In accordance with the present invention, there are provided carboxylate compounds and liquid compositions thereof represented by the following formula (A) ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents one group selected from the group consisting of alkyl group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, alkoxy group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms and halogenated alkyl group of 6 to 18 carbon atoms, C* represents an asymmetric carbon atom, and R.sup.2 represents a group represented by the following formula (A)--(CH.sub.2).sub.m --CH.sub.3 or (B)--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --COOR.sub.3 wherein m represents an integer of 2 to 6, n represents an integer of 0 to 5, and R.sup.3 represents alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms.

CRT devices have heretofore been used most widely as display devices of office appliances.
In the field of appliances, such as office appliances having display devices, there is an increasing demand in recent years for miniaturing or weight saving appliances or enlarging or thinning the screen of display devices. On that account, in place of conventional CRT devices, various new types of display devices have been developed with the view of answering to uses thereof or demands therefor. For instance, display devices such as liquid crystal display, plasma display, LED display, EL display and ECD display have been developed.
Of these display devices mentioned above, liquid crystal display basically has such a function that electric signals are given to switching elements comprising a liquid crystal compound, wherein the liquid crystal compound present in said switching elements is changed in its state, thereby to control the shielding and transmission of light and develop the electrical signals on the display device. Such liquid crystal display device as illustrated above has already been put to practical use not only as a display device of the aforementioned office appliances but also as a display device of digital watch or portable game and, at the same time, has come to be used recently as a display device of moving picture such as small-sized television.
In the above-mentioned display devices using liquid crystal compounds, various driving methods are already known. For example, as the driving method of liquid crystal display presently used, there is a TN (twisted nematic) mode. This TN mode is to carry out display by utilization of dielectric anisotropy of the molecule in the nematic phase of the liquid crystal compound, wherein the display is driven by energy proportional to the multiple of the electrical field given from outside (f.varies.E.sup.2).
In the switching elements of liquid crystal adopting this TN mode, however, there is involved such problems that in order to change the image being displayed, the driving time is prolonged, because the position of the molecule of the liquid crystal compound in the element must be changed, and also the voltage necessary for changing the position of the molecules of the liquid crystal compound, that is, the power consumption becomes large. In such switching elements as mentioned above, there is also such a problem that because the switching threshold value characteristic to the element is not so good, when the position of the molecules of the liquid crystal compound is changed at high speed and changeover operation is intended to carry out, leakage of voltage may occur and voltage may be given to the molecules which are not to be given the voltage and therefore contrast of the images may markedly decrease
Because of the above-mentioned problems associated with the conventional display method relying on TN mode as mentioned above, the display devices utilizing TN mode are not suitable particularly for large screen display devices or display devices for moving pictures such as small-sized digital television.
Furthermore, there are being used display devices utilizing STN (super twisted nematic) mode in which the switching threshold value and the like as mentioned above have been improved. By virture of utilization of such STN mode, a contrast of the display devices certainly improves because of its improved threshold value characteristics.
However, this display method is identical with the method utilizing TN mode in that both methods utilize the dielectric anisotropy, and accordingly because of their long switching time, the display devices utilizing this STN mode do not have sufficient characteristics as required for large screen display devices or devices for moving picture such as small-sized digital television.
In contrast thereto, R. B. Meyer et al. suggested in 1975 that organic compounds synthesized by them exhibit ferroelectric properties, and further suggested in 1980 that element comprising cells having a small gap filled with these ferroelectric liquid crystal compounds may be used as optical switching elements, i.e., display devices.
In distinction to switching elements utilizing TN mode or STN mode, the switching elements using such ferroelectric liquid crystal compounds as mentioned above are able to function as switching elements only by changing the direction of molecular orientation of said liquid crystal compounds and hence the switching time required for operating the switching elements is markedly shortened. Further, because a value of Ps.times.E obtained from a spontaneous polarization (Ps) of the ferroelectric liquid crystal compound and an intensity of the electric field (E) applied is an effective energy output for changing the direction of molecular orientation of said liquid crystal compound, power consumption required therefor can be markedly minimized. Such ferroelectric liquid crystal compounds as mentioned above are suitable particularly as display devices for large screen or moving picture, because they have two steady states depending upon the direction of electric field applied, that is, bistability and also very favorable switching threshold value characteristics.
When these ferroelectric liquid crystal compounds are intended for use in optical switching elements, they are required to have such characteristics as an operating temperature in the vicinity of ambient temperature (room temperature), a wide operating temperature zone, a high switching speed and an appropriate switching threshold value voltage. Particularly, of these characteristics, the operating temperature range is especially important when the ferroelectric liquid crystal compounds are used in optical switching elements
However, there are many ferroelectric liquid crystal compounds which are unusable for optical switching elements, because their operating temperature range does not agree with their service temperature range, in spite of the fact that other characteristics of said compounds are excellent [refer for example, to R. B. Meyer et al. J. de Phys., Vol. 36L, p. 69 (1975) and a paper reported by M. Taguchi and T. Harada, "Proceedings of Eleventh Conference on Liquid Crystal"p. 168 (1985)].

Carboxylate compounds, liquid crystal compositions containing said compounds and liquid crystal element


A fuel routing structure for use in a vehicle having a V-type engine is provided. The structure has fewer parts, is compact, and facilitates ease of assembly and maintenance for a vehicle where fuel injection valves are attached to an intake manifold, which contains an intake passage communicating with intake ports of a pair of cylinder banks. Each fuel injection valve is attached to an upper part of the intake manifold, so that center lines of the fuel injection valves corresponding to both banks are crossed at an intersection over the intake manifold when a vehicle is viewed from the side. A fuel rail is provided with a fuel passage pipe, the axis of which is arranged in the vicinity of the intersection of the center lines of the fuel injection valves. The axis of the fuel passage pipe may be parallel to the crankshaft and may extend linearly and connected to all the fuel injection valves.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fuel and air routing structure for a V-type engine in a vehicle, the engine including cylinder heads provided in longitudinally arranged V-shaped banks. The fuel routing structure includes a member forming an intake passage communicating with intake ports of cylinder heads arranged between the pair of banks. Fuel injection valves for injecting fuel into the intake passage corresponding to each intake port are attached to the intake manifold.
2. Description of the Background Art
The fuel routing structure of a V-type engine for a vehicle in which fuel injection valves corresponding to each cylinder in cylinder heads of both banks are attached to an intake manifold common to a pair of banks and arranged between both banks is already known. An example of such a fuel routing structure is disclosed, for example, in JP-A No. 204969/2000.
However, in the above-mentioned conventional type fuel routing structure, both a fuel rail connected to the fuel injection valve corresponding to one bank and a fuel rail connected to the fuel injection valve corresponding to the other bank are required. Thus, a large number of parts are required for the structure, the fuel routing structure is intricate, and in addition, assembly and maintenance of the structure is troublesome.
The present invention is made in view of such a situation and the object is to provide fuel supply equipment of a V-type engine for a vehicle where fuel is supplied to each fuel injection valve by a structure in which the number of parts is reduced, which is compact and in addition, operability in assembly and in maintenance is enhanced.

Fuel routing structure for a V-type engine


Methods for the continuous production of compressed board are disclosed including drying lignocellulosic fibrous material, gluing the lignocellulosic fibrous material, forming a mat, and pre-compressing the mat by controllably adding steam to the mat in an amount such that the temperature of the mat is increased to between about 60 and 90.degree. C.

Methods of producing boards of lignocellulosic material are well known and have significant practical applications. Such manufacturing methods include the following main steps: breaking up of the raw material into particles having a suitable size and/or fibers, drying to a predetermined moisture ratio, and gluing the material before or after the drying step, forming the glued material into a mat which may be constructed of several layers, possibly cold pre-compressing, preheating, water spraying of surfaces, etc., a heat compressing under pressure and heat in a stroke compressor or a continuous compressor until the board is finished.
During conventional heat compressing, the compressed material is primarily heated by using heat coils from adjacent heating plates or steel bands. These have a temperature of 150-200.degree. Celsius depending on the type of product that is being compressed, the type of glue used, desired capacity, etc. In this way, the moisture in the material closest to the heat sources is evaporated so that a dry layer is developed in this area and the steam front gradually moves towards the center of the board from each side as compression continues. When the dry layer has been developed this means that the temperature in this layer is at least 100.degree. Celsius, which initiates the curing of conventional glues. When the steam front has reached the center, the temperature at the center has reached at least 100.degree. Celsius, and the board even starts to cure at its center so that the compression can be stopped within a couple of seconds. This applies to situations when conventional urea formaldehyde glue (UF) and similar glues are used, such as melamine fortified (MUF) glue. When other glues, having a higher curing temperature, are used, then a higher temperature and a greater steam pressure is required in the board before any curing can start.
To achieve the desired density, a compressor must apply a high surface pressure at a high temperature. This is not a problem for non-continuous compression in a so-called stroke compressor but such compressors have other drawbacks, such as worse thickness tolerances, etc. When continuous compressors are used, the requirement for high surface pressures and high temperatures at the same time have led to expensive high precision solutions with regard to the roller felt between the steel band and the heating plate positioned therebelow. The method of providing heat to the board by means of heat coils makes the heating relatively time consuming, which results in long compression lengths (large compression surfaces).
The heating can also be achieved by delivering steam to the mat to be compressed. In this way, the heating time is drastically shortened and, in addition, the resistance of the material to compression is drastically reduced when steam is introduced so that less compression forces and smaller compression surfaces are required. An injection box may be used to inject steam into the material mat which, however, has certain drawbacks. To avoid these drawbacks, compression rollers have been developed that are perforated and function as a steam delivery member. Such apparatus is disclosed in Swedish Patent No. 502,810.
The use of steam injection for heating the material is well known in the industry. For example, reference is made to European Patent No. 383,572; U.S. Pat. No. 2,480,851; British Patent No. 999,696; German Patent No. 2,058,820; German Patent Application Nos. 36 40 682 and 40 09 883; and Australian Patent No. 57390/86, which show different examples of how steam is injected during continuous processes to produce fiber boards.
According to the method of German Patent Application No. 36 40 682, the steam injection is applied during a pre-compression stage. Immediately after pre-compression, the material mat is passed near a steam box or a similar device where it is exposed to a steam flow to such an extent that the curing temperature of the binders are not exceeded, which normally means a temperature of between about 65 and 90.degree. Celsius. The material is then compressed to a completed form while being exposed to additional heat so that it cures.
Because the steam in this method is injected after the actual pre-compression step and is mainly a preparation for subsequent treatment steps, it does not affect the condition of the material mat in the pre-compression step.
According to the method of German Patent Application No. 20 58 820, the steam is introduced during the actual pre-compression step. This can result in the temperature of the fiber mat being increased such that the glue or binders start to cure, which with conventional glues occurs at a temperature exceeding 100.degree. Celsius. This creates problems for performing the subsequent treatment step.
The object of the present invention is to achieve pre-compression with steam delivery in such a way that the subsequent steps are not made more difficult to perform.

Method of continuous production of lignocellulosic boards


A sensor assembly for use with a master cylinder is described. The master cylinder comprises an input-side activation element to which a signal transmitter element is coupled. The sensor module comprises a travel sensor for sensing travel carried out by the activation element, and a position sensor for sensing when a predefined position of the activation element is reached.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of motor vehicle brake systems. To be more precise, a sensor assembly for use with a master cylinder of such a brake system is described.
It has already been known for a long time to provide the master cylinder with one or more sensors. For example, the hydraulic pressure prevailing in the master cylinder is a frequently interesting quantity, and for this reason many master cylinders are equipped with a hydraulic pressure sensor. The hydraulic pressure in the master cylinder determined by a sensor can be used to detect the driver input. Furthermore, the vacuum in a vacuum brake booster can be calculated from the master cylinder pressure via a model and hence the operability of the booster determined.
In DE 10 2004 013 191 A, it is proposed to provide in the master cylinder a vacuum region communicating with a vacuum chamber of a vacuum brake booster, and to arrange a vacuum sensor in this vacuum region of the master cylinder. A particular configuration provides for integrating the vacuum sensor with a position sensor of a stop light switch in a sensor assembly and for providing the entire sensor assembly in the vacuum region of the master cylinder.
The sensor assembly known from DE 10 2004 013 191 A comprises a finger-like carrier element, at the tip of which the vacuum sensor and the position sensor are accommodated. For positioning the sensors in the vacuum region of the master cylinder, the carrier element with the sensors accommodated at the front is passed through a channel formed in the master cylinder and opening into the vacuum region.
It has turned out that a vacuum sensor involves considerable cost. For this reason, it is desirable to dispense with the vacuum sensor, at least in low-cost vehicles. Separately from this, it has been found that a travel sensor for determining the brake pedal travel is also frequently installed in addition to the position sensor. This travel sensor may be installed at different places in the region of the brake pedal and requires dedicated mounting and cabling solutions.


The present invention discloses a display stand has a mounting seat connected on a support structure, internally provided with an accommodating cavity and having a slot communicated with the accommodating cavity at the top in an open way, a supporting arm having an insertion end capable of being inserted into the accommodating cavity of the mounting seat from the slot of the mounting seat, and a locking mechanism disposed on the mounting seat or supporting arm, for locking or unlocking the insertion end of the supporting arm in the accommodating cavity. When the insertion end of the supporting arm is locked, the supporting arm is limited within the accommodating cavity of the mounting seat, and when the insertion end of the supporting arm is unlocked, the insertion end of the supporting arm may be taken out from the slot of the mounting seat.

A display stand is a stand for connection of a computer display whereby a display can be borne, and requirements of consumers on angle and height of the display can be met. The display stand has been widely used in daily life of people, including work and study, and is very popular with people. The display stand generally has two types: a desktop display stand and a floor display stand in accordance with its mounting way. The desktop display stand in the prior art is often connected to a desktop or table top, and structurally comprises a supporting arm, an adjusting arm, a display mounting frame and a grip slipper, the lower end of the supporting arm is rotatably connected with the grip slipper, the upper end of the supporting arm is rotatably connected with the adjusting arm, the adjusting arm is connected with the display mounting frame, and the adjusting arm is used for angle adjustment in left-right and upper-lower directions. The grip slipper of the display stand in the prior art is gripped on the desktop, taking the application for a patent with the authorized publication No. CN103953829B entitled "FLAT-PANEL DISPLAY STAND" in the website of the CNIPA as an example. In the above application, the grip slipper comprises a support plate connected to the bottom of a base, an adjusting screw rod is in threaded connection on the support plate, the lower end of the adjusting screw rod is connected with a rotary knob, the upper end of the adjusting screw rod is fixedly connected with a washer, a space for gripping on the desktop is reserved between the washer and the base, and the support body can be fixedly connected to the desktop through the adjusting screw rod. Or the grip slipper used comprises bolts capable of passing through threading holes on the desktop, and the display stand is fixedly connected on the desktop through the bolts. In the prior art, connecting the display stand on the desktop either by a grip slipper or by connection bolts causes inconvenience in mounting, in particular, a qualified mounting person or experienced man is needed in the mounting process as it is very troublesome and labored, and in contrast, mounting is disenabled by women with less strength. Further, in disassembly, it is also labored to unscrew the adjusting screw rod or connection bolts, thus operation is inconvenient.

Display stand and mounting method thereof


The invention provides a method for purification of hydroxylamine so as to have a substantial reduction of cations and anions. The method involves passing a solution of hydroxylamine through at least one strong acid ion exchange bed which has been pretreated with dilute hydrochloric acid and then through at least one strong base anion exchange resin bed which has been pretreated or regenerated with a non-metal amino or hydroxide base solution.

Hydroxylamine has found many uses in a variety of industries. In the pharmaceutical industry for the preparation of specialty drugs and in connection with stripping compositions for photoresists within the microelectronic industry it has found wide use. In both the pharmaceutical industry and for photoresist and residue removal treatment it is important that the product is free of metal cation and anion impurities.
The use of ion exchange for purifying hydroxylamines is well known. However, resin conditioning and regeneration in the purification process of the prior art has not dealt with the reduction of trace metals or the possibility of exothermic reactions resulting from the decomposition of hydroxylamine.
Additionally, the order of ion exchange is critical to maintaining stability of the hydroxylamine within the ion exchange cylinder. It has been found that anion exchange followed by cation exchange can lead to rapid decomposition of hydroxylamine and produce explosive consequences within the cation resin cylinder.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,147,623 of Koff et al., which is herein incorporated by reference, discloses the purification of hydroxylamine by ion exclusion which includes use of anion exchange resin in which hydroxylammonium salts are passed. The ion exchange resin is primarily utilized as a reaction source for the hydroxylamine salt neutralizer on a small scale rather than for separation of metal cation and anion impurities.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,765 to Koff et al., which is herein incorporated by reference, discloses the separation of hydroxylamine from a solution of hydroxylammonium salt through the use of a cation exchange resin. The process does not teach the removal of anions or the use of anion exchange resins.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,762 to Cawlfield et al. discloses treating solutions of hydroxylammonium salts containing excess acid by passing the solutions through a weak base ion exchange resin.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,166,842 discloses a process of extracting hydroxylammonium ions from a solution utilizing a cation exchange resin which included the further step of converting the hydroxylammonium ions to hydroxylamine.
None of the prior art teach the removal of cations and anions from hydroxylamine so as to produce a highly purified hydroxylamine having a low concentration of sodium, potassium, and other metal ions.


A magnetic-field-measuring probe includes at least one magnetoresistive or magnetoinductive sensor which is sensitive to the magnetic field along a privileged measurement axis. The probe includes: at least two magnetoresistive or magnetoinductive sensors (14, 16) which are rigidly connected to one another in a position such that the privileged measurement axes thereof are parallel and offset in relation to one another in a direction that is transverse to the privileged measurement axes; and output terminals specific to each magnetoresistive or magnetoinductive sensor, in order to supply a signal that is representative of the magnetic field measured by each sensor along the privileged measurement axis thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a probe for measuring a magnetic field comprising at least one magnetoresistive or magnetoinductive sensor which is sensitive to the magnetic field along a selected measurement axis.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is envisaged to measure the magnetic field produced by an electronic circuit during operation by using a magnetoresistive sensor and, more precisely, a sensor of the GMR type (Giant Magneto Resistor) or TMR type (Tunneling Magneto Resistance). These are known as MTJ (Magnetic Tunnel Junction) and SDT (Spin Dependent Tunneling).
Magnetoresistive sensors of this type are electronic elements whose resistance varies in accordance with the magnetic field in which they are placed.
In installations which are currently known, the magnetoresistive sensor placed above the electronic circuit to be analysed is connected to a processing chain.
The magnetoresistive sensor thus allows a value to be obtained which is representative of the magnetic field produced at one point by the electronic circuit during operation. A probe of this type does not allow the circuit to be characterised precisely and in particular does not allow the structure of the circuit to be determined in a precise manner, and in particular the position of the tracks which it comprises.


The introduction of a curable organosilicone composition that affords a very releasable, highly printable cured film that is strongly adhesive for such substrates as polyester film and so forth.. Curable organosilicone composition that is composed of (A) polyorganosiloxane-grafted, aliphatic ally unsaturated polyester (B) organopolysiloxane that contains at least 3 silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms in each molecule, and (C) hydrosilylation-reaction catalyst.

Curable organosilicone compositions that have good release properties are known in the art. For example, Japanese Patent Publication [Kokoku]Number Sho 47-23325 [23,325/1972] discloses a composition comprised of a of silanol-endblocked polydimethylsiloxane, an organopolysiloxane having at least 5 silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms in each molecule, and an organotin curing catalyst. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 4,332,844 discloses a composition comprised of a polydimethylsiloxane having silicon- bonded aliphatically unsaturated groups, an organopolysi loxane having at least 2 silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms in each molecule, and a platinum group metal catalyst. With each of these compositions, the film afforded by cure under specified conditions is highly releasing and is therefore used in a wide variety of industrial sectors as a release coating.
However, these curable compositions suffer from various drawbacks in their applications as release coatings. These compositions are poorly adhesive for polyester film and polypropylene film substrates. A particular problem is that their cured films cannot be printed. As a consequence, adhesion by the cured film for the substrate has typically been improved by subjecting the fi].m substrate to a plasma treatment prior to application of the curable composition. However, this procedure is economically disadvantageous because it requires an extra process in the form of the plasma treatment. Moreover, it does not solve the problem of poor printability, and it has been necessary to accept major limitations on both concept and design.
It is an object of the present invention the introduction of a curable organosilicone composition that forms a highly releasing cured film that is strongly adhesive for such substrates as polyester film and that has good printing properties.


This invention is a paper-based concrete form member and a method for using it. The forms may be made from layers of paper honeycomb material or corrugate. The forms may be structured to be hollow, if so desired. They are principally useful in forming recesses or voids in concrete structures although they may be used to form the edges of concrete products during construction of these products.

During the construction of buildings, parking structures, and the like, concrete is often the material of choice for floors, walls, supporting structures, and other building components. It is recognized that substantial voids may be specifically placed within the poured concrete structures to minimize the volume of concrete introduced into the structure and hence minimize the resulting cost, but without substantially affecting the strength of that resulting structure. It is common, for instance, to pour a concrete floor over a number of boxes so as to form an egg-crate shape on the bottom side of the structure. The region between the recesses may be considered as concrete beams.
Formation of such recesses in concrete structures is typically through the use of wood or metal forms. Obviously, such forms are often difficult or impossible to remove from the underside of a concrete structure. Moreover, the presence of those unremoved forms may add significant weight and corrodible (or termite-infestable) components to the structure. Some have proposed the use of paper forms to produce voids in concrete structures.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,823,442, to Miller et al., teaches the use of a carton form suitable for the production of recesses or voids in concrete wall or floor structures. The form is in the shape of a longitudinal tray constructed of folded corrugate sheets. The tray is supported in a rigid fashion by a filler structure also formed of corrugate. The filler is produced by folding a corrugate strip into a zig-zag series of folds so to form rectangles. The ends of the folded rectangles are stapled to the interior sides of the trays to form webs within the resulting rigid box. The corrugate may be waterproofed or lubricated so, respectively, to provide additional structural strength during the pouring step or to allow removal of the form after the curing step.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,512,747, to Stark, describes a form used in producing an elongated void in a poured concrete structure. The corrugate form is made by assembling a pair (or more) of mirror-image sheets by folding them in such a way to form either a square cross-section or octagonal cross-section sleeve. The edges of the outer sheets are formed into corrugate inner structures, or pads, which form ribs within the resulting sleeve.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,381,929, to Bancher, teaches a flat concrete construction form assembly produced using, preferably, a paper honeycomb core, fiberboard outer cover, and a lightweight metal framework holding the core and center coverings together. The spacing between a pair of these construction-form assemblies may be adjusted by use of a cooperating set of clips (which fit into grooves found in the lightweight metal framework) and some large U-shaped clips which space the set of form assemblies apart at a particular distance.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,059, to Sawyer, describes a concrete forming member produced from a core of polystyrene or polyurethane and preferably having a flexible, non-permeable plastic film appended to the core. The impermeable face may be contoured to define a decorative pattern, such as an artificial brick facing, or the cast concrete. In some variations of the invention, a structural element is appended to the remote side of the plastic forming member to allow support of the structure during concrete pouring.
None of the cited references show the use of concrete forms produced primarily of paper honeycomb, which forms are self-supporting, and which are physically able to support workers during the pouring step.


Methods and apparatus provide for: requiring that a content provider seeking to have its content executed by a processing system enter into an accord with a processing system provider; receiving a second key and a digital signature from the content provider to the processing system provider, the second key being operable to decrypt the content when it has been encrypted with a first key, and the digital signature indicating that the accord has been reached; receiving the encrypted content from the content provider in a memory of the processing system; and preventing use of one or more processing resources of the processing system that are otherwise operable to facilitate the execution of the content unless the digital signature is received from the processing system provider.

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for managing processing resources in a processing system to achieve control of content distribution and/or execution on the processing system and to achieve desirable commercial objectives.
In recent years, there has been an insatiable desire for faster computer processing data throughputs because cutting-edge computer applications are becoming more and more complex, and are placing ever increasing demands on processing systems. Graphics applications are among those that place the highest demands on a processing system because they require such vast numbers of data accesses, data computations, and data manipulations in relatively short periods of time to achieve desirable visual results.
Designers and manufacturers of processing systems are meeting the challenge to achieve faster processing speeds such that more and more complex software applications may be executed. A conventional business model dictates that the designer/manufacturer of the processing system may obtain a price commensurate with the capabilities of the system from a user seeking to purchase the processing system and execute content (e.g., programs) thereon. The conventional business model also dictates that the content may be developed by a third party or by the designer/manufacturer of the processing system. The designer/manufacturer may also license the third party to develop content for execution on the processing system.
Depending on the processing system architecture and the operating system running thereon, conventional business models and processing system designs cannot guarantee that a third party can be prevented from developing content for execution on the processing system unless a license or other form of compensation is obtained. For example, it may be desirable to have an open system architecture (hardware and software) in order to encourage the development of newer and more advanced content for enjoyment by the user. Unfortunately, an open system architecture does not provide many opportunities for controlling the execution of the content oh the processing system by the designer/manufacturer. Thus, the designer/manufacturer may find it difficult to share in the profits of content sales.
One approach to permitting the designer/manufacturer to share in the profits of content sales is disclosed in co-pending U.S. Patent Application No. 60/650,750, filed Feb. 7, 2005, entitled METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN A PROCESSOR, (further reference number SC04023US00), the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. This approach provides a processing system in which the ability of an application program to utilize the resources of the processing system are strictly regulated by the operating system of the processing system. Content providers (such as game developers, etc.) purchase the ability to use certain resources of the processing system upon which they wish to have their content executed. (Some of the resources of a processing system, such as a video game console, include a disc controller (CD, DVD, etc.), graphics chips, hard disc (HD) components, tuner circuitry, network interface circuitry, etc.) The purchase may take on many different forms, such as a one-time payment, a royalty-based payment schedule, etc. The usage may be unlimited or time limited.
The regulation of access to the resources of the processing system may be achieved by requiring the presentation of usage information, such as an authentication code and/or digital signature to the processing system. In return for payment, an authorizing entity (such as the designer/manufacturer of the processing system) may provide a private key of a private/public key pair to the content provider. The provider may run a known hash algorithm on the content to get a hash result and then encrypt the content and the hash result. As the operating system of the processing system may readily control whether certain resources are enabled to a program, the processing system may prevent the content from using certain resources unless: (1) the content and the hash result can be decrypted using the public key of the private/public key pair, and (2) the hash result matches an independently run hash of the content.
Although the above approach addresses the issue of permitting the designer/manufacturer to share in the profits of content sales, it has the consequence of preventing the user from executing shareware and freeware on the processing system. Indeed, providers of shareware and freeware are not likely to be in a position to purchase the ability to utilize the processing resources of a processing system from the designer/manufacturer. Thus, the user will be foreclosed from executing many shareware and/or freeware programs on the processing system.
Accordingly, there are needs in the art for new methods and apparatus for managing processing resources in a processing system such that the advantages of an open system architecture may be realized, the designer/manufacturer of the processing system may share in the rewards of content development and sales, and the user may enjoy the benefits of executing shareware and freeware programs on the processing system.

Methods and apparatus for content control using processor resource management


The present invention provides a non-human bone metastasis model animal in which tumor cells capable of inducing bone metastasis by peripheral administration have been introduced, and a method for producing the animal.

Lung cancer is an increasingly common cause of cancer-related death in the world, and over 90% of deaths from lung cancer can be attributed to metastasis (Yano, S. et al., Int. J. Cancer 67:211-217, 1996). Lung cancer is histologically classified into two groups, small cell carcinoma (SCLC) and non-small cell carcinoma (NSCLC), based on different clinical behavior (the rate of tumor growth, the pattern of tumor progression, the sensitivity to chemo- and radiotherapy). In both type, however, metastasis to the multiple organs are frequently observed at the time of the diagnosis. Bone, following the liver and brain, is the third most common organs of metastasis in lung cancer patients. In particular, bone metastasis causes various severe symptoms by inducing pathological fracture, compression of spinal cord, and hypercalcemia, and reduces the quality of life of the patients (Iguchi, H. et al., Cancer Res. 56:4040-4043, 1996). Though palliative radiotherapy is given to reduce the symptoms for patients with bone metastasis, novel therapeutic modality is necessary for these patients to improve their prognosis.
Recently much attention has been paid to develop bone metastasis model with human cancer cells in order to understand the molecular mechanism and to develop therapeutic modality. When cancer cells were injected through the intracardiac route in immunodeficient mice, melanoma (Arguello, F. et al., Cancer Res. 48:6876-6881, 1988; Nakai, M. et al., Cancer Res. 52:5395-5399, 1988), breast cancer (Hall, D. G. and Stocia, G., J. Bone Miner. Res. 9:221-230, 1994; Sasaki, A. et al., Cancer Res. 55:3551-3557, 1995), prostate cancer (Shevrin, D. H. et al., Prostate 19:149-154, 1991), and lung cancer (Iguchi, H. et al., Cancer Res. 56:4040-4043, 1996) have been reported to produce bone metastasis.
In these models, tumor cells were inoculated into left ventricle of the heart and bone metastasis was developed in 75% recipient mice. However, intracardiac inoculation of tumor cells does not seem to be technically easy, and is associated with sudden death to some extent. Therefore, intracardiac injection of tumor cells imposes a lot of burden on animals, causing an ethical and economic problems.

Non-human animal exhibiting bone metastasis of tumor cells

Abstract: The bone metastasis model animal in the present invention may be useful for understanding the biology of bone metastasis and developing novel therapeutic strategies for lung cancer patient with multi-organ metastases, including bone metastasis.


The present invention provides glucopyranosyloxypyrazole derivatives represented by the general formula:

Diabetes is one of lifestyle-related diseases with the background of change of eating habit and lack of exercise. Hence, diet and exercise therapies are performed in patients with diabetes. Furthermore, when its sufficient control and continuous performance are difficult, drug treatment is simultaneously performed. Now, biguanides, sulfonylureas and insulin sensitivity enhancers have been employed as antidiabetic agents. However, biguanides and sulfonylureas show occasionally adverse effects such as lactic acidosis and hypoglycemia, respectively. In a case of using insulin sensitivity enhancers, adverse effects such as edema occasionally are observed, and it is also concerned for advancing obesity. Therefore, in order to solve these problems, it has been desired to develop antidiabetic agents having a new mechanism.
In recent years, development of new type antidiabetic agents has been progressing, which promote urinary glucose excretion and lower blood glucose level by preventing excess glucose reabsorption at the kidney (J. Clin. Invest., Vol. 79, pp. 1510-1515 (1987)). In addition, it is reported that SGLT2 (Na+/glucose cotransporter 2) is present in the S1 segment of the kidney's proximal tubule and participates mainly in reabsorption of glucose filtrated through glomerular (J. Clin. Invest., Vol. 93, pp. 397-404 (1994)). Accordingly, inhibiting a human SGLT2 activity prevents reabsorption of excess glucose at the kidney, subsequently promotes excreting excess glucose though the urine, and normalizes blood glucose level. Therefore, fast development of antidiabetic agents, which have a potent inhibitory activity in human SGLT2 and have a new mechanism, has been desired. Also, since such agents promote the excretion of excess glucose though the urine and consequently the glucose accumulation in the body is decreased, they are also expected to have a preventing or alleviating effect on obesity and a urinating effect. Furthermore, the agents are considered to be useful for various related diseases which occur accompanying the progress of diabetes or obesity due to hyperglycemia.
As compounds having pyrazole moiety, it is described that WAY-123783 increased an amount of excreted glucose in normal mice. However, its effects in human are not described at all (J. Med. Chem., Vol. 39, pp. 3920-3928 (1996)).

Glucopyranosyloxypyrazole derivatives and use thereof in medicines

Abstract: wherein R represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group or a group forming a prodrug; one of Q and T represents a

Abstract: group represented by the general formula:(wherein P represents a hydrogen atom or a group forming a prodrug), while the other represents a lower alkyl group or a halo(lower alkyl) group; R2 represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a lower alkoxy group, a lower alkylthio group, a halo(lower alkyl) group or a halogen atom; and with the proviso that P does not represent a hydrogen atom when R represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which exert an inhibitory activity in human SGLT2 and have an improved oral absorption, and therefore are useful as agents for the prevention or treatment of a disease associated with hyperglycemia such as diabetes, diabetic complications or obesity, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and pharmaceutical uses thereof.


An electronic circuit includes transistors having first to third terminals, the third terminal controlling the current between the first terminal and the third terminal. The electronic circuit includes: a cascode amplifier (10) including an input transistor (Q1) receiving an input signal (IN) through the third terminal, and an output transistor (QO) having the first terminal connected to the second terminal of the input transistor (QI), the third terminal connected to the ground potential via a capacitor (C1) and the second terminal outputting therethrough an output signal; and a control circuit (20) including a control transistor receiving a control signal through the third terminal, and a diode connected to the first and second terminals of the control transistor (QC) in series. The third terminal of the output transistor (QO) of the cascode amplifier (10) is connected to the ground potential through the control transistor (QC) and the diode (D). The electronic circuit has a reduced signal switching time.

In a high-frequency circuit used in a wireless communication circuit, an electronic circuit adapted for switching the signal paths and gain therein is required. FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of a high-frequency transmission/reception unit arranged in general mobile wireless equipment. There is used an electronic circuit for switching signal paths of a high-frequency signal in a transmission/reception antenna switch 102 and in a transmission/reception oscillator switch 112, and also an electronic circuit for varying the circuit property and gain is used in part of a low noise amplifier 103, an intermediate frequency amplifier 106, a driver amplifier 110, and a transmission amplifier 111. Hereinafter, as examples of conventional electronic circuits, two high-frequency switches and one gain-variable amplifier will be described.
FIG. 11 shows an exemplified configuration of the conventional electronic circuit constituting a high-frequency switch (refer to Jpn. Pat. Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-278109, FIG. 1). In this electronic circuit, a transistor QI and a transistor QO are cascode-connected, and the base of the transistor QI is supplied with a high-frequency input signal from an input terminal IN. The transistor QO has its base connected to a capacitor C1 for grounding the transistor with high frequency and a control signal terminal CTL. When the transistor QO is turned on or off by a signal from the control signal terminal CTL, a high-frequency signal output from a signal output terminal OUT is varied.
FIG. 13 shows an exemplified configuration of the conventional electronic circuit constituting a high-frequency switch (refer to Jpn. Pat. Laid-Open Publication No. 9-121119, FIG. 1). In this electronic circuit, a transistor QI has its collector cascode-connected to emitter-connected transistors QO1 and QO2, and the base of the transistor QI is supplied with a high-frequency input signal from an input terminal IN. The transistors QO1 and QO2 have their bases connected to capacitors C1 and C2 for grounding the transistors with high frequency and switches SW1 and SW2 for switching the on/off of the transistors QO1 and QO2, respectively. When the switches SW1 and SW2 are switched, signal output terminals OUT1 and OUT2 are switched.
FIG. 14 shows an exemplified configuration of the conventional electronic circuit constituting a gain-variable amplifier (refer to Jpn. Pat. Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-151983, FIG. 1). In this electronic circuit, a cascode amplifier including a transistor QI1 that has its source grounded and a transistor QO1 that has its base grounded through a capacitor C1, and a cascode amplifier including a transistor QI2 that has its source grounded and a transistor QO2 that has its base grounded through a capacitor C2 are arranged in parallel, and the transistor QI2 has its gate connected to the drain of the transistor QIO through a capacitor C3. The gate of the transistor QI1 is supplied with a high-frequency input signal from an input terminal IN. When the biases of the transistor QO1 and transistor QO2 are controlled by a control power source Vc connected through resistors R1 and R3, gains of the cascode amplifiers are controlled.
The techniques as described above are common in controlling the bias of the base of a base-grounded or gate-grounded transistor, which is grounded through a capacitor, of a cascode amplifier so as to switch the circuit performance and signal paths.
In the conventional electronic circuits in which the bias of the base of a base-grounded or gate-grounded transistor, which is grounded through a capacitor, of a cascode amplifier is controlled so as to switch the circuit performance and signal paths, there is a raised problem that the switching time is delayed because it takes time to charge or discharge grounded capacitors.
For example, in an electronic circuit shown in FIG. 12 which includes the conventional switch shown in FIG. 11 and a control circuit having a transistor QC, resistors R2 and R3, when turning on the transistor QO, the capacitor C1 is charged by a power source Vcc2 through a resistor R1. It is assumed here that the charging voltage of the capacitor C1 when the switch is off is V0, the voltage between the collector and emitter when the transistor QI is turned on is VCEQI, the voltage between the base and emitter when the transistor QO is turned on is VBEQO, and the base current until the transistor QO is turned on is sufficiently small. Time required for the switch to be turned on from off is equal to time required for the charging voltage VC1 of the capacitor C1 to be charged to VCEQI+VBEQO from V0.
The charging voltage VC1 at time "t" after the control circuit is switched is represented by the following expression 1:VC1(t)=(V0−Vcc2)exp{−t/(R1·C1)}+Vcc2  (1)That is, the switching time from off to on significantly depends on a time constant of the resistor R1 and capacitor C1.
FIG. 16 shows a graph indicative of the relation between the charging voltage VC1 and time "t" which is obtained when the R1 is 10 kO, C1 is 10 pF, Vcc2 is 3.0 V, V0 is 0.2 V, VCEQI is 0.6 V, and VBEQO is 1.2 V. It is to be noted that the switching time required to get to the state of VC1(t)>VCEQI+VBEQO is 77 ns. The switching time from off to on can be reduced by increasing the value of the resistor R2 to increase the charging voltage V0 at the time of off. On the other hand, since the switching time from on to off similarly depends on the time constant of the resistor R2 and capacitor C1, the switching time from on to off is undesirably increased.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic circuit that can reduce the delay of the switching time due to the charging time of a grounded capacitor.


A test handler is disclosed in the present invention. The test handler may include a test tray on which a plurality of inserts are arrayed for loading at least one semiconductor device, at least one opening unit for simultaneously opening one part of the plurality of inserts which are arrayed on one part of the test tray, and a test tray transfer apparatus for allowing the opening unit to simultaneously open other parts of the plurality of inserts which are arrayed on another part of the test tray as the test tray is transferred. Therefore, although semiconductor devices to be tested change their sizes, the replaced parts of the test handler are reduced in number, thereby reducing manufacturing cost and replacement work time. The inventive test handler reduces semiconductor devices loading time, reduces jamming, increases teaching efficiency and improves space utilization efficiency. Furthermore, the test handler can be applied to various types of testers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a test handler, and, more particularly, to a loading part of a test handler for transferring and loading semiconductor devices to a tray.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a test handler supports testing of semiconductor devices manufactured by a predetermined manufacturing process, sorts the semiconductor devices into different levels according to the test results, and loads the semiconductor devices onto user trays. Test handlers have been disclosed in many published documents.
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a conventional test handler 100. The major parts of the conventional test handler 100 will now be briefly described with reference to FIG. 1.
The conventional test handler 100 includes a loading apparatus 110, a soak chamber 120, a test chamber 130, a de-soak chamber 140, an unloading apparatus 150, two insert-opening apparatus 160a and 160b, and two posture changing apparatus 170a and 170b. Each part of the test handler 100 will be described in more detail below.
The loading apparatus 110 transfers and loads semiconductor devices loaded on user trays 10a to a test tray 11a posed at a present loading position.
The soak chamber 120 has a temperature environment for pre-heating/pre-cooling the semiconductor devices loaded on the test tray. The soak chamber 120 sequentially receives the test trays on which the semiconductor devices are loaded by the loading apparatus 110. After the test tray enters the soak chamber 120, the test tray is translated closely toward the test chamber 130 and arranged sequentially with its vertical posture. While translating, the semiconductor devices loaded on the test tray are sufficiently pre-heated/pre-cooled.
The test chamber 130 is installed to the test handler, for testing the semiconductor devices loaded onto two test trays 11b and 11c translated from the soak chamber 120. For this, the test chamber 130 has a temperature environment for testing the semiconductor devices.
The de-soak chamber 140 (or a 'restoring chamber') restores the heated or cooled semiconductor devices to normal temperature.
The unloading apparatus 150 sorts the semiconductor devices loaded on the test tray outputted from the de-soak chamber 140 into different levels, and transfers and loads (an unloading step) the semiconductor devices onto a user tray 10b.
Here, the loading apparatus 110 or the unloading apparatus 150 includes at least one pick and place apparatus (not shown) for adsorbing and withdrawing the semiconductor devices loaded on the user trays or the test tray, and for supplying the semiconductor devices to the user trays or the test tray. For example, the pick and place apparatus adsorbs and withdraws the semiconductor devices from the user tray and then supplies them to the test tray in a loading operation. The pick and place apparatus adsorbs and withdraws the semiconductor devices from the test tray and then supplies them to a sorting table (not shown), or from the sorting table to the user trays in an unloading operation.
On the other hand, the two insert-opening apparatus 160a and 160b open inserts arrayed as a matrix-form on the test trays 11a and 11b correspondingly situated above their upper sides, respectively, such that the loading apparatus 110 or unloading apparatus 150 can perform loading or unloading, respectively.
The posture changing apparatus 170a changes the horizontal posture of the test tray 11a to the vertical posture thereof. The posture changing apparatus 170b changes the vertical posture of the test tray translated from the de-soak chamber 140 to the horizontal posture thereof.
The following is a more detailed description for the posture changing of the test tray in the test handler 100.
Firstly, an empty test tray like a test tray 11a is situated at the lower side of the loading apparatus 110. After semiconductor devices are loaded on the empty test tray (and becomes a test tray), the test tray is transferred to the posture changing apparatus 170a sited at the back side of the loading apparatus 110, and then posture-changed. Thereafter, the test tray is translated to the backside of the soak chamber 120 and then enters the test chamber 130. The test tray is horizontally transferred in two rows (or one row), upper and lower, in the test chamber 130. Here, the semiconductor devices on the test tray are tested by a tester (not shown) located at the middle portion of the test chamber 130. After being forwardly translated through the de-soak chamber 140, the test tray of the vertical posture is supplied to the posture changing apparatus 170b located at the backside of the unloading apparatus 150. The posture changing apparatus 170b changes the vertical posture of the test tray to the horizontal posture. The horizontally posture-changed test tray is transferred to the unloading apparatus 150 to unload the semiconductor devices. After unloading, the test tray is transferred to the lower direction of the loading apparatus 110. As such, the test tray performs sequentially the above-described procedure to test the semiconductor devices loaded thereon.
After loading the semiconductor devices onto the inserts arrayed in a matrix-form, the test tray is transferred, posture-changed, and tested. To achieve these operations, the inserts must have a mechanical configuration to stably receive the semiconductor devices. Such a configuration was already published in Korean Patent No. 10-0486412, entitled "TEST TRAY INSERT OF TEST HANDLER" that was filed by the applicant of this application (hereinafter, referred to as a 'cited application') and which is hereby incorporated by reference. As disclosed in the cited application, the inserts are configured to include a housing for receiving the semiconductor devices, a pair of stoppers for opening the insert as the stoppers rotate to release the insert at both the ends of the housing, and a pair of lockers elastically supported by compression springs, for preventing rotation of the stoppers and linearly being movable. Therefore, as long as the lockers do not overcome the elastic forces of the compression springs and move linearly to release the stoppers, in other words, as long as the inserts are not opened, the semiconductor devices cannot be received or separated by or from the housing.
However, when the loading apparatus 110 performs such a loading, the inserts must be opened to allow the housing to receive the semiconductor devices stably. Also, when the unloading apparatus 150 performs such an unloading, the insert must be opened to separate the semiconductor devices from the housing. Therefore, in order to open the inserts, the two insert-opening apparatus 160a and 160b, each correspondingly located at the lower sides of the loading apparatus 110 and unloading apparatus 150, must operate the lockers to release the stoppers, in which the test trays 11a and 11d are each sited between the insert-opening apparatus 160a and the loading apparatus 110 and between the insert-opening apparatus 160b and the unloading apparatus 150.
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a conventional insert-opening apparatus (160a or 160b).
The conventional insert-opening apparatus (160a or 160b) includes a base plate 161, a base cylinder 162 for linearly transferring the base plate 161 toward a test tray, and four opening units 163a, 163b, 163c and 163d which are mounted on the base plate 161 in a 2×2 matrix form along the test tray direction. The four opening units 163a, 163b, 163c and 163d correspondingly include: plate openers 163a-1, 163b-1, 163c-1 and 163d-1, each of which occupies a quarter of the test tray and arrays a plurality of pairs of opening pins 163-1 in a 2×8 matrix form, which are integrally formed, in which the plat opener 163a-1, for example, opens the inserts in the quarter area allocated thereto simultaneously; and ascending/descending cylinders 163a-2 and 163c-2 for linearly transferring the plate openers 163a-1, 163b-1, 163c-1 and 163d-1 toward the test tray. Here, the plate openers are described as a 'site decision unit' in the cited application. On the other hand, FIG. 2 does not show ascending/descending cylinders for linearly transferring the plate openers 163b-1 and 163d-1.
The following is a description of operations of the conventional insert-opening apparatus 160a and 160b shown in FIG. 2.
Firstly, the base cylinder 162 transfers the base plate 161 closely to the test tray to secure a necessary distance for opening operations of the opening units 163a, 163b, 163c and 163d. After that, any one of the four opening units 163a, 163b, 163c and 163d, for example opening unit 163a, operates to open the inserts arrayed in the quarter area corresponding to the opening unit 163a. For example, when the ascending/descending cylinder 163a-2 transfers the plate opener 163a-i toward the test tray, the pairs of opening pins 163-1 of the plate opener 163a-1 push and linearly transfer pairs of lockers mounted in each inserts, and rotate pairs of stoppers, thereby opening the insert.
As such, each of the four opening units 163a, 163b, 163c and 163d opens 16 inserts arrayed in ¼ area of the test tray, respectively, such that the whole inserts arrayed in the test tray can be opened. More specifically, the four opening units 163a, 163b, 163c and 163d operate sequentially as follows: for example, after the opening unit 163a opens the inserts arrayed in a quarter of the test tray allocated thereto and the semiconductor devices are loaded or separated in or from the opened inserts, the inserts are closed; and then, the opening unit 163b opens the inserts arrayed in another quarter of the test ray allocated thereto, and so on.
As such, the opening units 163a, 163b, 163c, and 163d are sequentially operated so as not to apply a relatively large force to the test tray, which may cause the test tray to bend. More specifically, when the four opening units are operated simultaneously, a relatively large force may be applied to the test tray, and when such a large force-applying state is maintained for a long time, the test tray may bend. Accordingly, a pick and place device including the loading apparatus 110 and unloading apparatus 150 should be configured to be light for a rapid processing speed and a rapid response speed. The pick and place apparatus is generally configured to adsorb and transfer no more than 16 semiconductor devices. Therefore, since it is enough that the inserts are opened in concert with a one-time processing capacity of the pick and place apparatus (as only the number of inserts corresponding to the one-time processing capacity is sequentially opened), the force applied to the test tray can be minimized to prevent the test tray from bending.
On the other hand, the test handler is tending to be developed to test a number of semiconductor devices at a time. Presently, a test tray arraying 32 or 64 inserts is commonly used, but, recently, a large-sized test tray having 128 or 160 inserts has been developed and will be sold on the market.
However, due to a structural restriction, the pick and place apparatus still has the capacity to test a maximum of 16 inserts. Therefore, in the case when a large-sized test tray is used, where 8 or 10 opening units should be installed, the production cost of the test handler would be increased.
Also, when the type of semiconductor devices to be tested is changed or new type of tester is applied to the test handler, the test tray must be replaced. In this case, additional work should be done, such as adjusting the distance between a pair of opening pins. Therefore, all of the opening units, etc., should be replaced, respectively. When 8 or 10 opening units are installed to a large-sized test tray, such replacement work requires a lot of time and increased replacement costs, and causes a waste of resources.
Also, when a large-sized test tray is applied, the pick and place apparatus should perform transferring and loading the semiconductor devices at positions corresponding to 8 or 10 opening units, respectively. With an increase of transferring points, jams occur frequently. When the pick and place apparatus performs a teaching (which means 'to measure' and 'to input' starting points and end points of movements of apparatuses driven by a motor), all positions corresponding to the 8 or 10 opening units should be applied. So the teaching will be difficult and take more time.
On the other hand, there is a waste of time in the loading part while a test tray is transferred. When a loading to test tray is completed, the base cylinder takes down the base plate to take down the insert-opening apparatus. After the loading-completed test tray is transferred to a rotator and confirmation is performed to insure that no test tray is in the loading part, another test tray is pushed to enter the lower side of the loading part. The insert-opening apparatus is lifted up to situate the test tray to a loading position, and then the opening units and the pick and place apparatus each perform a loading again. As such, since the pick and place apparatus should stop its operation during a time interval between a time point when one test tray completes its loading and a time point when another test tray starts its loading, the loading time is extended, which is disadvantageous in the conventional test handler.