The present invention provides an aptamer binding to NGF and capable of forming a potential secondary structure represented by the formula (I):

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is the first neurotrophin identified in 1951, and is an important secretory protein involved in the development and survival of peripheral and central neurons. It consists of 118 amino acids, has a molecular weight of 13 kDa, and has S—S bonds at 3 positions in a molecule.
As NGF receptors, tyrosine kinase-type receptor TrkA with high affinity and p75 with low affinity which belongs to a tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily are known. These receptors act as a homodimer or heterodimer and are deeply involved in the development and maintenance of the nervous system. TrkA is a single-pass transmembrane receptor and has a tyrosine kinase structure in the intracellular domain. When NGF is bound, tyrosine phosphorylation occurs, the signal is transmitted to the downstream, and promotion of differentiation and survival maintenance of the cell occur.
As family receptors of TrkA, TrkB and TrkC are known. TrkB is bound to BDNF and NT-4/5, and TrkC is bound to NT-3. p75 shows lower ligand specificity as compared to TrkA and is also bound to BDNF, NT-3 and NT-4/5 besides NGF. While p75 is a single-pass transmembrane receptor, it does not have a tyrosine kinase domain on the cytoplasmic side. Like TrkA, it is expressed not only in nerve cells but also in non-nerve cells. This receptor is known to be involved in the promotion of differentiation and survival maintenance of the cell, as well as related to the induction of apoptosis and cell migration. The results of crystal structure analysis have suggested that an NGF homodimer binds to TrkA at 2:2 and to p75 at 2:1. An NGF homodimer sometimes binds to a heterodimer of TrkA and p75.
It is well known that NGF plays a key role in the nervous system. It has been clarified that NGF has an action to maintain survival of cholinergic neuron and is considered to be related in some way to Alzheimer's disease. In addition, since intracerebral administration of NGF improves memory disorders of old rats, it is also expected as a therapeutic drug for senile dementia.
NGF is also related to inflammation, and increased expression of NGF has been observed in patients with inflammatory diseases and inflammatory animal models. Systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, arthritis, interstitial cystitis, asthma and the like are the examples thereof. It has been reported that the synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis shows higher NGF concentration. In addition, increased NGF expression in rheumatoid arthritis model rats, and increase in mast cells and increased NGF expression in arthritis model mouse have been reported.
NGF is deeply involved in pain. When NGF is subcutaneously administered to human, a deep pain such as muscular pain continues for several days, and hyperalgesia of the injection site occurs. NGF knockout mouse and TrkA knockout mouse lacks unmyelinated nerve and do not feel pain. When NGF is intraperitoneally administered at 1 mg/kg to a mature rat, hyperalgesia against noxious heat and mechanical stimuli occurs. NGF transgenic mouse shows hyperalgesia unaccompanied by inflammatory conditions. In addition, it is known that the TrkA gene of patients with congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA) has abnormality, and pain sensation decreases when NGF gene has abnormality.
From the above, it is appreciated that an NGF inhibitor can be used as a therapeutic drug for pain such as nociceptive pain, inflammatory pain, neuropathic pain, carcinomatous pain, fibromyalgia pain and the like.
In recent years, applications of RNA aptamers to medicaments, diagnostic agents, and test drugs have been drawing attention; some RNA aptamers have already been in clinical study stage or in practical use. In December 2004, the world's first RNA aptamer drug, Macugen, was approved as a therapeutic drug for age-related macular degeneration in the US. An RNA aptamer refers to an RNA that binds specifically to a target substance such as a protein, and can be prepared using the SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment) method (Patent references 1-3). In the SELEX, an RNA that binds specifically to a target substance is selected from an RNA pool with about 1014 different nucleotide sequences. The RNA structure used has a random sequence of about 40 residues, which is flanked by primer sequences. This RNA pool is allowed to be assembled with a target substance, and only the RNA that has bound to the target substance is collected using a filter and the like. The RNA collected is amplified by RT-PCR, and this is used as a template for the next round. By repeating this operation about 10 times, an RNA aptamer that binds specifically to the target substance can be acquired.
Aptamer drugs, like antibody drugs, can target extracellular factors. With reference to many scientific papers and other reference materials in the public domain, aptamer drugs are judged to potentially surpass antibody drugs in some aspects. For example, aptamers often show higher binding force and higher specificity than do antibodies. Aptamers are unlikely to undergo immune elimination, and adverse reactions characteristic of antibodies, such as antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), do not occur with the use of aptamers. From the aspect of delivery, since aptamers are about 1/10 of antibody in size, delivery of a drug to the object site is easier. Since aptamers are produced by chemical synthesis, various modifications can be made easily, reduction of cost by large-scale production is possible. Meanwhile, the blood half-lives of aptamers are generally shorter than those of antibodies; however, this property is sometimes advantageous in view of toxicity. These facts lead to the conclusion that even when the same molecule is targeted, aptamer drugs potentially surpass antibody drugs.
The present inventors have produced an aptamer which binds to NGF and inhibits binding of NGF and an NGF receptor, and found that the aptamer inhibits a neurite outgrowth activity of NGF (patent document 4). Patent document 5 describes an aptamer to NGF, which is obtained by automated SELEX, and patent document 6 describes an altered product and a modified product of the aptamer obtained in patent document 4.

Abstract: wherein N is one nucleotide selected from the group consisting of A, G, C, U and T,                N11-N13, N21-N23, N32-N38 and N42-N48 are the same or different and each is a bond or 1 or 2 nucleotides selected from the group consisting of A, G, C, U and T,        N14, N24, N31, N41, N39 and N49 are the same or different and each is one nucleotide selected from the group consisting of A, G, C, U and T,        N14 and N24, N31 and N41, and N39 and N49 each form a Watson-Crick base pair,        N11-N12-N13-N14 and N21-N22-N23-N24 are nucleotide sequences capable of forming a stem structure in combination, and        N31-N32-N33-N34-N35-N36-N37-N38-N39 and N41-N42-N43-N44-N45-N46-N47-N48-N49 are nucleotide sequences capable of forming a stem structure in combination.


A computer-implemented system and method for exploring and filtering an information space based on attributes via an interactive display is provided. Entities related to an information space are retrieved. Attributes associated with the entities are identified. The entities are displayed as a list. A status representation of the entities and at least one attribute graph based on one of the attributes from the entity list are presented. A status of a user with respect to one or more of the entities is tracked. The status for the one or more entities is received from the user. The user status is applied to the status representation and the attribute graph.

Research is necessary to advance knowledge and is often conducted to increase a user's understanding about a particular issue or topic. Currently, a majority of the research is conducted via the Web. However, conducting research can be time consuming, inefficient, and inaccurate due to the large number of electronic documents available, which often times cannot be read in their entirety.
Conventionally, users conduct research by entering a query, locating results that satisfy the query, and reviewing at least a portion of the results, which are often provided as a list. For example, a user, writing a thesis paper on Prader-Willi syndrome, conducts research relating to the syndrome by identifying documents that mention or are related to the syndrome. Once accessed, the user can begin reviewing the documents, but is unable to determine how much of the material she has accessed with respect to the information space for Prader-Willi syndrome. Thus, the user must keep reading until he believes that he has covered an adequate amount of material. One indication that may signal to the user that he has reviewed enough of the material is when the user starts seeing some of the same material from different sources. However inherent memory limits severely restrict the ability of the user to keep a mental map of the progress in addition to the knowledge extracted from the documents review.
Also, using conventional search methods, the user is unable to identify how much of the information space she has researched and thus, does not know whether she should continue to conduct research or whether the documents she has accessed and reviewed are sufficient for covering the information on Prader-Willi. Accordingly, the current search tools fail to provide a user with an overview of an information space or provide the user with means for tracking progress through that space and recognizing when the topic has been sufficiently researched by the user.
Therefore, there is a need for providing tools that allow users to view a search space for a topic and track review progress of that space. Preferably the tools are interactive so the user can perform a guided filtering of the result set down to a manageable list for review.

Computer-implemented system and method for exploring and filtering an information space based on attributes via an interactive display


A communication system and method for enhancing the effectiveness of wireless and wired systems. The communication system is comprised of a communication management system and at least one wireless communication device to initiate the communication of marketing messages for marketing to the wireless communication device.

The present invention relates to dynamic communication for wireless and wired roaming communications devices and methods for enhancing the communications channel medium, and in particular to the use of dynamic switching and addressing in wireless and wired communications to enhance the performance and cost effectiveness of wireless and wired media.
This invention relates to telecommunications networks, and more particularly to telecommunications networks employing dynamic protocol switching and addressing for communication links. The recent increase in wireless communications has created demands for less expensive means with faster response times and more system flexibility for universal access.
When the user requests communication from an area outside of the assigned geographic location, the requested communication must first be sent to the assigned geographic location and then forwarded to its final destination. Disadvantageously, static Internet Protocol (IP) addressing has been known to create long response times and possibly reduced throughput. Attempts have been made to solve some of these problems with dynamic IP addressing. Dynamic IP addressing assigns a new temporary IP address local to the requesting device according to its current location. Therefore, Internet access requests outside of the originally assigned network do not have to be routed back through the originally assigned network. Instead, communications may be processed directly at the geographic location of the new temporary local address.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,725 discloses a communication system having a local network communicating with a remote network for assigning a dynamic IP address to a communication device and an IP network by providing both local and non-local dynamic IP addressing to reduce the response times, increase service availability for Internet access requests, and allow access to more networks. Once a non-local dynamic IP address can be assigned to satisfy the address request, the non-local dynamic IP address will be maintained for the duration of the communication session between the communication device and the IP network. Therefore the notion of dynamic addressing is limited to the establishment of the communications session thus preventing dynamic addressing and switching to occur within one communications session.
When the user requests wireless communication using traditional cellular phone, the requested communication is channeled through an expensive resource with relatively limited bandwidth. Disadvantageously, cellular phone systems are becoming more bandwidth constrained as both the demand is increasing significantly and the applications demanding bandwidth are becoming more communications intensive. Attempts have been made to solve some of these problems with dual mode communications within the cellular bandwidth. Dual mode handsets utilizes low range cellular overlay cells to the requesting device to serve as a call forwarding transceiver according to its home location.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,259 discloses a multiple mode, personal wireless communications system that exists within a radiotelephone network serving general customers and provides additional services to a select group of customers. The system uses handsets that automatically switch between a standard cellular radiotelephone mode of operation and an enhanced cordless mode when the handsets are within range of pico cells that are interconnected to the public switched telephone network. The term "pico" is used herein to suggest a smaller size than conventional cellular radio telephone cells. Pico cells are provided at customer selected locations to cooperate with a framework of overlay cells that operate independently of the cells of the cellular network. Each pico cell is controlled via a framework of overlay cells that operates independently of the radiotelephone network and uses a unique control protocol on a small number of reserved cellular channels. Once the communications link is established, the inability to switch between modes prevents seamless operation. Therefore the notion of dynamic switching of modes is limited to the a) establishment of two modes within one radio per handset (in reality both modes are cellular modes simply using two channels, a low power channel and a high power channel), b) the handset is registered to one pico station designated as "home" that receives a call forwarded to the pico station telephone number, c) establishment of one communications link per pico station, and d) cancellation of short range pico mode when carried out of range of the pico station.
The present invention provides a new and improved wireless communications enhancement for conveying of analog and digital data and method of use.


A vehicular and marine fire suppression system for detecting and suppressing and quenching fires. The vehicular and marine fire suppression system including a first canister, a second canister and an actuation mechanism. The first canister houses a fire suppressing agent and is in fluid communication with a manifold assembly for providing delivery of the fire suppression agent from the first canister to the area to be protected by the fire suppression system. The second canister contains a pressurizing/agitation agent and is in fluid communication with the first canister via a valved actuator assembly. The second canister includes a threaded neck defining an outlet and a pierceable seal disposed about the outlet. The actuator assembly includes a piercing member for rupturing the pierceable seal of the second canister. The piercing member is in active engagement with a piston carried by a squib. Ignition of an explosive agent within the squib is used to drive the piston to an extended position thus causing the piercing member to rupture the pierceable seal of the first canister. State-of-the-art heat/smoke detection circuitry and a programmable logic circuit are provided for detecting a fire and delivering an electrical signal to the squib. A handle member and a linkage in operative engagement with the piercing member is provided for manual actuation of the fire suppression system. Alternatively, an electrically actuated solenoid could be used to actuate the piercing member.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to the field of fire suppression systems. More particularly, this invention relates to fire suppression systems that suppress fires originating in vehicular and marine systems and particularly in recreational vehicles.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the fields of vehicular and marine fire suppression, it is well known that effectiveness and efficiency of operation are critical factors in containing and quenching a fire. The importance of such factors is enhanced when considering fires within marine and automotive racing compartments, as well as in recreational vehicles, where escape from an engulfed vehicle is typically unlikely or where there is the potential for a wider scope of injury such as in a marina or a multi-car collision. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,635, ("the '635 patent"), McLane, the inventor of the present invention, along with Michael Doty disclosed a novel fire suppression system for use in vehicular or marine environments. And, while McLane and Doty taught that their fire suppression system was capable of manual, electrical, pneumatic or thermal activation, or of activation by any combination of those methods, they did not disclose a system for providing electrical and manual actuation of the fire suppression system. And, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that it is often desirable to provide for both automatic actuation, i.e. actuation controlled by an electronic controller or processor in communication with one or more sensors, and manual actuation.
Other fire suppression systems are known in the art. Typical of the art are those devices disclosed in the following U.S. patents:
U.S. Pat. No.Inventor(s)Issue Date5,727,635Doty et al.Mar. 17, 19986,189,624JamesFeb. 20, 20014,423,784BolenJan. 3, 19844,265,316FeeMay 5, 19814,580,638Jones et al.Apr. 8, 19863,949,812HayApr. 13, 19763,986,560Heath et al.Oct. 19, 19764,026,465KennyMay 31, 19774,042,521DunnAug. 16, 19774,073,464Hansen et al.Feb. 14, 19784,109,726Hansen et al.Aug. 29, 19784,136,851Hansen et al.Jan. 30, 19794,217,959PoulsenAug. 19, 19804,224,538CholinSep. 23, 19804,227,577IidaOct. 14, 19804,256,181SearcyMar. 17, 19814,305,469MorrisetteDec. 15, 19814,313,501EckertFeb. 2, 19824,373,588White et al.Feb. 15, 19834,520,871Miller et al.Jun. 4, 19854,651,952TavanoMar. 24, 19874,664,199Grant et al.May 12, 19874,779,683EnkOct. 25, 19884,784,354TavanoNov. 15, 19884,926,815CowleyMay 22, 19904,936,388Le Lande, Jr.Jun. 26, 19904,953,624TurnerSep. 4, 19904,986,365ShiehJan. 22, 19914,995,355CowleyFeb. 26, 19915,016,715AlasioMay 21, 19915,048,791Ellison et al.Sep. 17, 19915,063,998QuinnNov. 12, 19915,425,886SmithJun. 20, 19955,463,926FaughnNov. 7, 19955,511,456FaughnApr. 30, 19966,029,751Ford et al.Feb. 29, 20006,128,904Rosso, Jr. et al.Oct. 10, 2000
None of these devices disclose an automatic actuation system that can be readily, easily and efficiently adapted to the actuation mechanism of the '635 patent.


The invention is directed to a gas tight lance closing device at a cooling chimney hood for steel converters. An opening is provided in the cooling chimney for a jetting lance, which latter can be raised and lowered. The diameter of the opening is dimensioned in such a way that an annular gap remains between the inner edge of the opening and the outer circumference of the jetting lance. In order to close the chimney opening toward the lance so as to be gas tight and to enable operation at an internal overpressure of more than 0.1 bar and against a correspondingly large negative pressure without letting gas escape or letting in air, it is preferred that a base plate be securely installed at the chimney opening, that an identically shaped cover plate which can press against the base plate be fastened at the lance so as to be movable and sealed relative to the lance body by stuffing box packing, and that the cover plate have sealing rings on its underside and can be placed on the base plate and lifted from the latter by a driving device arranged at the jetting lance.

An opening is provided in the cooling chimney connected to a mouth of a steel converter for a jetting lance, through which the lance can be lowered into the converter. This opening must be substantially larger than the diameter of the lance in order to remove possible caking formed on the lance caused by slag when the lance is raised through the opening so to have no mechanical contact therewith. Movable mechanical dosing means are conventionally arranged at the chimney opening for narrowing the gap between the chimney opening and the tubular outer surface area of the lance as far as possible, but without hindering the vertical movability of the lance, and for limiting the escape of hot dust-confining converter gases. Covers are also often arranged at the lance which lie on the chimney opening when lowered so as to close it. It is also conventional to provide a further impediment to the escape of gas in that blocking media such as stem or nitrogen are injected at high pressure at the chimney opening by means of nozzles in an annular arrangement.
The known lance barriers mentioned above are not gas tight, and therefore, let gas escape even as a result of slight internal overpressure or external air can penetrate into the system due to internal negative pressure in the system.

Gas tight lance closure at a cooling chimney hood for steel convertors


A portable terminal may include a terminal body, a printed circuit board having a ground unit coupled to an antenna, and an electric field reducing unit to transfer a current flowing in the ground unit to a side surface of the terminal body and to reduce strength of an electric field.

1. Field
Embodiments of the present invention may relate to a portable terminal having an electric field reducing unit to minimize or reduce interference between a portable terminal (or mobile terminal) and a hearing aid.
2. Background
A portable terminal is a portable device that is equipped with one or more functions such as a voice/video telephony call function, an information input/output function, a data storage function, etc. A portable terminal may include a mobile terminal (or a wireless terminal).
The portable terminal has incorporated various complicated functions, such as taking photos or videos, reproducing music files or video files, playing games, receiving broadcasts, etc. The portable terminal has also been implemented as an integrated multimedia device.
There is a concern about how electromagnetic waves generated by the portable terminal may affect a human body. In particular, there are concerns about interference between a user's hearing aid and the portable terminal. One concern is that electromagnetic waves generated by the portable terminal may cause malfunction of the hearing aid.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has established rules for Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) such that manufacturers of hearing aids and wireless devices comply with HAC. This trend is becoming more worldwide.
Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) may refer to authentication and test items for compatibility that allows a hearing aid and a portable terminal to be simultaneously used without interference. Magnetic fields generated by the portable terminal may be sensed and amplified by a telecoil (T-coil) of the hearing aid, and then transferred to the user who wears the hearing aid in voice call signals. HAC has established measurement methods for a magnetic response of the hearing aid and reference (specified) values.
As one example of measurement methods for HAC, FIG. 1 illustrates measuring strength of an electric field generated at a periphery of a receiver of a portable terminal. More specifically FIG. 1 shows that a terminal body 10 includes a receiver 11 provided at one end of the terminal body 10. FIG. 1 also shows a measurement area 12 for measuring strength of generated electric waves is provided at a certain area based on the receiver 11.
The measurement area 12 may have a size of 5 cm×5 cm at a height of 1 cm from the terminal body 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the measurement area 12 may include 9 grids 13. A strength of electric fields formed in each of the grids 13 may be measured using a probe for measuring an electric field. Among 8 grids, except a grid 14 positioned at a central portion, 3 grids 13 having a greatest amount of electromagnetic waves may be excluded. A maximum value may be set among the grid 14 positioned at the central portion and the remaining 5 grids 13, so that this value may be less than a preset reference value.
Research has been done to reduce strength of electric fields formed at a periphery of a receiver to satisfy the above standard in designing and manufacturing portable terminals.


An H-bridge circuit which includes four power transistors (an npn pull-down and a pnp pull-up for each of the output terminals). Two control circuits are connected to drive these transistors in a complementary crossover configuration, so that each control circuit can turn on the pull-up transistor on one side of the load and the pull-down transistor on the opposite side of the load. Each of the power transistors is paralleled (base-to-base) by a smaller transistor which provides a scaled current output (proportional to that of the corresponding power transistor) to the opposite control circuit. The control circuit includes static current-thresholding disable logic, which prevents turn-on until the currents through the opposite power devices have declined to threshold levels. Thus, as long as either control circuit is driving one of the pull-up transistors into in the on-state, the other control circuit will not be able to turn on the pull-down transistor which is in series with the active pull-up transistor. This efficiently prevents any condition of unlimited crowbar current, without adding any excess delay or causing any high-impedance condition at the output.

The present invention relates to H-shaped bridge circuit, and particularly to integrated circuits which include H-shaped bridge switching circuits.
H-shaped bridge circuits provide a convenient way to obtain a bipolar output from a unipolar power supply. Such circuits are very commonly used for DC motor control and other applications..sup.1 FNT .sup.1 Some examples of published literature in this area include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,111,381, "H-bridge flyback recirculator" (filed Aug. 12, 1991); 5,111,378, "DC chopper converter"; 5,079,924, "Circuit for controlling a free-piston engine in particular of a refrigerator compressor"; 4,988,931, "Motor driving device"; and 4,562,387, "Vehicle power window control"; all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
An example of an H-shaped bridge circuit is shown in FIG. 1. The circuit shown has an input terminal In and two output terminals Out1 and Out2 between which a load L is connected. Four bipolar transistors Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4, of which the first two are of the pnp type and the second two are of the npn type, are connected between the output terminals Out1 and Out2 and the two poles of a direct-current voltage supply Vs in the manner shown. In the embodiment illustrated, the negative pole of the supply is connected to ground.
The bases of the transistors Q1 and Q4 are connected to two outputs of a first control circuit C1, the input of which is connected to the input terminal In. The bases of the transistors Q2 and Q3 are connected to corresponding outputs of a second control circuit C2 which is structurally identical to C1 and the input of which is connected to the terminal In by means of an inverter INV.
In operation, when a level-"1" signal is applied to the input In, the control circuit C1 makes the power transistors Q1 and Q4 conductive and the control circuit C2 keeps the power transistors Q2 and Q3 cut off. In this situation, a current IL flows through the load L in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1.
When a level-"0" signal is applied to the input In, the control circuit C1 cuts off the power transistors Q1 and Q4 and the control circuit C2 makes the transistors Q1 and Q3 conductive. A current IL thus flows through the load L in the direction opposite that indicated by the arrow of FIG. 1.
In a bridge circuit of the type described above with reference to FIG. 1, it is of fundamental importance that current should not be conducted simultaneously in the two electronic power switches which are connected to the same output terminal. Should this occur, a very large current would be drawn from the supply with a serious risk of damage to the power switches, both as a result of the high intensity of the current passing through them and because of the related thermal effects.
Some bridge circuits have circuitry for slowing the reversal of the voltage (current) in the load. In these solutions, the problem of preventing an upper power switch and the adjacent lower power switch from conducting simultaneously is more complex since the conductive power switches remain conductive throughout the time taken by the voltage in the load to change from its initial value to its final value. In order to take account of the time taken by the transition of the voltage in the load, it is therefore necessary further to delay the change to the conductive condition of the power switch which was originally cut off.
A solution commonly used to prevent the simultaneous conduction of current in the two power switches which are connected to the same output terminal in upper and lower positions consists of the introduction of a delay between the switching-off of one switch and the switching-on of the other.
Since it is difficult to determine very precisely the duration of the delay, for safety, it has to be suitably oversized.
If the bridge circuit also has means for limiting the speed of the reversal of the voltage in the load, the delay has to be increased further to take account of the voltage-transition time and the related uncertainty with which that time is determined.
In any case, long delay times limit the maximum frequency at which the current in the load can be reversed. Moreover, in bridge circuits produced in the form of integrated circuits, there is a considerable increase in the area of silicon needed.
In bridge circuits in which, after switching, the current is recirculated by the same power switch which supplied the load before switching, the other power switch must be switched on only after the time taken by the recirculation has elapsed. Since the recirculation time depends on the characteristics of the load, the provision of a given delay limits the use of the bridge circuit in question to loads of certain types.
The present invention advantageously provides an H-shaped bridge circuit of the type specified above which, in a very reliable manner, prevents the simultaneous conduction (crossover conduction) of two electronic power switches connected to the same output terminal, without having the disadvantages of the prior art outlined above.
According to one class of embodiments of the invention, this object is achieved by an H-shaped bridge circuit in which the driver circuitry includes: at least one first and one second auxiliary electronic switch which are connected respectively to an electronic power switch of the first pair and to an electronic power switch of the second pair so that, in operation, the current flowing through each auxiliary electronic switch depends on the current flowing through the associated electronic power switch, and comparator and enabling circuitry connected to the auxiliary electronic switches for supplying a signal to enable current to be conducted through one of the pairs of electronic power switches only when the current flowing through the auxiliary switch associated with the other pair has fallen below a predetermined value.
Preferably, according to a further class of embodiments, the driver circuit means include two pairs of auxiliary electronic switches, each of which is connected to an associated electronic power switch so that, in operation, the current flowing through each auxiliary switch is a fraction of the current flowing through the associated power switch. In this case, the comparator and enabling circuitry is arranged to supply the signal for enabling current to be conducted through one of the pairs of power switches only when the currents flowing through both the auxiliary switches associated with the other pair of power switches have fallen below predetermined values.
According to at least some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided an H-bridge amplifier circuit, comprising: first and second output terminals; a first pull-down power transistor connected between said first output terminal and a first power supply connection, and a first pull-up power transistor connected between said first output terminal and a second power supply connection which is more positive than said first power supply connection; and a second pull-down power transistor connected between said second output terminal and said first power supply connection, and a second pull-up power transistor connected between said second output terminal and said second power supply connection; and a first control circuit connected to control said first pull-up power transistor and said second pull-down power transistor, and a second control circuit connected to control said second pull-up power transistor and said first pull-down power transistor; said first and second control circuits each having at least one respective enable/disable input; a first auxiliary pull-down transistor connected, in parallel with said first power pull-down transistor, to provide said first control circuit with a respective monitoring current which is proportional to the current output of said first pull-down transistor; and a first auxiliary pull-up transistor connected, in parallel with said first power pull-up transistor, to provide said second control circuit with a respective monitoring current which is proportional to the current output of said first pull-down transistor; and a second auxiliary pull-up transistor connected, in parallel with said second power pull-up transistor, to provide said first control circuit with a respective monitoring current which is proportional to the current output of said first pull-down transistor; and a second auxiliary pull-down transistor connected, in parallel with said second power pull-down transistor, to provide said second control circuit with a respective monitoring current which is proportional to the current output of said first pull-down transistor; wherein said first and second control circuit each contain current-thresholding disable logic connected to receive at least two said monitoring currents from at least one of said auxiliary transistors, and to disable activation of power transistors by said control circuit if either said monitoring current is greater than a predetermined respective magnitude.
According to at least some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided an integrated circuit H-bridge amplifier, comprising: first and second output terminals; a first pull-down power transistor connected between said first output terminal and a first power supply connection, and a first pull-up power transistor connected between said first output terminal and a second power supply connection which is more positive than said first power supply connection; and a second pull-down power transistor connected between said second output terminal and said first power supply connection, and a second pull-up power transistor connected between said second output terminal and said second power supply connection; and a first control circuit connected to control said first pull-up power transistor and said second pull-down power transistor, and a second control circuit connected to control said second pull-up power transistor and said first pull-down power transistor; said first and second control circuits each having at least one respective enable/disable input; at least two different transistors selected from the group consisting of: 1) a first auxiliary pull-down transistor connected, in parallel with said first power pull-down transistor, to provide said first control circuit with a monitoring current which is proportional to and smaller than the current output of said first pull-down transistor; and 2) a first auxiliary pull-up transistor connected, in parallel with said first power pull-up transistor, to provide said second control circuit with a monitoring current which is proportional to and smaller than the current output of said first pull-down transistor; and 3) a second auxiliary pull-up transistor connected, in parallel with said second power pull-up transistor, to provide said first control circuit with a monitoring current which is proportional to and smaller than the current output of said first pull-down transistor; and 4) a second auxiliary pull-down transistor connected, in parallel with said second power pull-down transistor, to provide said second control circuit with a monitoring current which is proportional to and smaller than the current output of said first pull-down transistor; wherein said first and second control circuit each contain current-thresholding disable logic connected to receive at least one said monitoring current from at least one of said auxiliary transistors, and to disable activation of power transistors by said control circuit if said monitoring current is greater than a predetermined respective magnitude.
According to at least some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided an integrated circuit H-bridge amplifier, comprising: first and second output terminals; a first pull-down power device connected between said first output terminal and a first power supply connection, and a first pull-up power device connected between said first output terminal and a second power supply connection which is more positive than said first power supply connection; and a second pull-down power device connected between said second output terminal and said first power supply connection, and a second pull-up power device connected between said second output terminal and said second power supply connection; and a first control circuit connected to control said first pull-up power device and said second pull-down power device, and a second control circuit connected to control said second pull-up power device and said first pull-down power device; said first and second control circuits each having at least one respective enable/disable input; at least two different devices selected from the group consisting of: 1) a first auxiliary pull-down device connected to said first power supply connection and connected to be controlled by said second control circuit in parallel with said first power pull-down device and connected to supply an enable signal to said first control circuit accordingly; and 2) a first auxiliary pull-up device connected to said second power supply connection and connected to be controlled by said first control circuit in parallel with said first power pull-up device and connected to supply an enable signal to said second control circuit accordingly; and 3) a second auxiliary pull-up device connected to said second power supply connection and connected to be controlled by said second control circuit in parallel with said second power pull-up device and connected to supply an enable signal to said first control circuit accordingly; and 4) a second auxiliary pull-down device connected to said first power supply connection and connected to be controlled by said first control circuit in parallel with said second power pull-down device and connected to supply an enable signal to said second control circuit accordingly.
According to at least some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided an integrated circuit H-bridge amplifier, comprising: first and second output terminals; a first pull-down power transistor connected between said first output terminal and a first power supply connection, and a first pull-up power transistor connected between said first output terminal and a second power supply connection which is more positive than said first power supply connection; and a second pull-down power transistor connected between said second output terminal and said first power supply connection, and a second pull-up power transistor connected between said second output terminal and said second power supply connection; and a first control circuit connected to control said first pull-up power transistor and said second pull-down power transistor, and a second control circuit connected to control said second pull-up power transistor and said first pull-down power transistor; said first and second control circuits each having at least one respective enable/disable input; at least two different transistors selected from the group consisting of: 1) a first auxiliary pull-down transistor connected to said first power supply connection and connected to be controlled by said second control circuit in parallel with said first power pull-down transistor and connected to supply an enable signal to said first control circuit accordingly; and 2) a first auxiliary pull-up transistor connected to said second power supply connection and connected to be controlled by said first control circuit in parallel with said first power pull-up transistor and connected to supply an enable signal to said second control circuit accordingly; and 3) a second auxiliary pull-up transistor connected to said second power supply connection and connected to be controlled by said second control circuit in parallel with said second power pull-up transistor and connected to supply an enable signal to said first control circuit accordingly; and 4) a second auxiliary pull-down transistor connected to said first power supply connection and connected to be controlled by said first control circuit in parallel with said second power pull-down transistor and connected to supply an enable signal to said second control circuit accordingly.
According to at least some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a method for operating an H-bridge switching circuit in accordance with a digital input signal, comprising the steps of: when said digital input signal is in a first state: turning on a first pull-down power transistor, which is connected to drive said first output terminal low, and turning off a first pull-up power transistor which is connected to drive said first output terminal high when turned on, and turning on a second pull-up power transistor which is connected to drive said second output terminal high, and turning off a second pull-down power transistor which is connected to drive said first output terminal low when turned on; when said digital input signal is in a second state opposite to said first state: turning off said first pull-down transistor, and turning on said first pull-up power transistor, and turning off said second pull-up transistor, and turning on said second pull-down transistor; monitoring the current passed by said first pull-up power device, and blocking said step (a.i.) whenever the instantaneous value of the current passed by said first pull-up power device is greater than a predetermined quantity; and monitoring the current passed by said second pull-up power device, and preventing said step (b.iv.) whenever the instantaneous value of the current passed by said second pull-up power device is greater than a predetermined quantity.
According to at least some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a method for operating an H-bridge switching circuit in accordance with a digital input signal, comprising the steps of: when said digital input signal is in a first state: turning on a first pull-down power transistor, which is connected to drive said first output terminal low, and turning off a first pull-up power transistor which is connected to drive said first output terminal high when turned on, and turning on a second pull-up power transistor which is connected to drive said second output terminal high, and turning off a second pull-down power transistor which is connected to drive said first output terminal low when turned on; when said digital input signal is in a second state opposite to said first state: turning off said first pull-down transistor, and turning on said first pull-up power transistor, and turning off said second pull-up transistor, and turning on said second pull-down transistor; monitoring the current passed by said first pull-up power device, and blocking said step (a.i.) whenever the instantaneous value of the current passed by said first pull-up power device is greater than a predetermined quantity; and monitoring the current passed by said second pull-up power device, and preventing said step (b.iv) whenever the instantaneous value of the current passed by said second pull-up power device is greater than a predetermined quantity; monitoring the current passed by said first pull-down power device, and preventing said step (b.ii.) of turning on said first pull-up power transistor whenever the instantaneous value of the current passed by said first pull-down power device is greater than a predetermined quantity; and monitoring the current passed by said second pull-down power device, and preventing said step (a.iii.) of turning on said second pull-up power transistor whenever the instantaneous value of the current passed by said second pull-down power device is greater than a predetermined quantity.

H-bridge circuit with protection against crossover conduction


A method and apparatus for modeling words based on match scores representing (a) the closeness of a match between probabilistic word models and the acoustic features of at least two utterances, and (b) the closeness of a match between word models and the spelling of the word. A match score is calculated for a selection set of one or more probabilistic word models. A match score is also calculated for an expansion set comprising the probabilistic word models in the selection set and one probabilistic word model from a candidate set. If the expansion set match score improves the selection set match score by a selected nonzero threshold value, the word is modelled with the word models in the expansion set. If the expansion set match score does not improve the selection set match score by the selected nonzero threshold value, the word is modelled with the words in the selection set.

The invention relates to machine recognition of spoken words. More particularly, the invention relates to methods and apparatus for generating machine models of spoken words, and articles for configuring machines to perform such methods.
In a speech recognition machine, each word in the machine vocabulary is represented by a set of one or more models. When a user desires to add a new word to the vocabulary of the speech recognizer, at least one model corresponding to the new word must be generated.
A method of generating a speech recognition model of a word based on the spelling of the word and one utterance of the word is described in an article by J. M. Lucassen et al entitled "An Information Theoretic Approach to the Automatic Determination of Phonemic Baseforms" (Proceedings of the 1984 IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing, Vol. 3, pages 42.5.1-42.5.4, March 1984).
An unrecognized problem in the Lucassen et al method occurs if the user utters the new word multiple times. Each utterance of the new word will likely generate a different model. Since it will likely be impractical to store all of the word models generated by all of the utterances of the new word, there is a need to select a subset of one or more word models for the new word.

Method and apparatus for generating models of spoken words based on a small number of utterances

International Business Machines Corporation


Disclosed is a facsimile apparatus that has a modulating/demodulating device that is operable at a low voltage. The facsimile apparatus of the present invention comprises, in its receiving system, loss means for reducing a level of a received signal; control means for instructing, for the loss means, a reduction value for the level of the received signal; incoming level detection means for storing a voltage value that corresponds to a predetermined level for each transfer mode, and for detecting an incoming level during initial identification procedures; user equalizing means, and comprises, in its transmitting system, gain/loss means, for altering a level of a signal transmitted by a modulating/demodulating device; control means for instructing, for the gain/loss means, a value for alteration of the level of the signal; loss means for reducing the level of the signal; and user equalizing means.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus, and in particular to a facsimile apparatus that includes a modulating/demodulating device that can be driven at a low voltage.
2. Related Background Art
There are some conventional modulating/demodulating devices that are driven at high voltages, such as +12 V to -12 V, or +5 V to -12 V, for example. In a facsimile apparatus that employs such a modulating/demodulating device, a peripheral or external circuit (hereafter referred to as a "peripheral circuit") that transmits a signal to, or receives a signal from, an external device is provided on the outside of the modulating/demodulating device. Since the drive voltage for the modulating/demodulating circuit is high, for the transmission of 0 dB a signal from the modulating/demodulating circuit is transmitted externally without being amplified by the peripheral circuit. For reception of 0 dB, a signal from the external device is received by the modulating/demodulating circuit without being amplified by the peripheral circuit.
Recently, in consonance with the high scale circuit integration, such as LSI, defects occur due to the heat generated in a circuit. To eliminate the defect, various highly integrated circuits have been produced, including a modulating/demodulating circuit that is driven at a low voltage, 0 to +5 V, for example. A modulating/demodulating device that is driven by a single power source of +5 V mainly tends to be employed.
Some facsimile apparatuses employ such a modulating/demodulating device that can be driven by a single power source that has a low voltage output.
Since a signal received from, or transmitted to, a modulating/demodulating device that can be driven by a low voltage falls within a voltage range having a maximum limit of 3.5 Vp-p, amplification and attenuation processing by the peripheral circuit is required. When the transmission of 0 dB is to be performed where the prevailing conditions involve a transfer mode of 9600 b/s, the performance of QAM modulation, the provision of an internal 7.2 km cable equalizer in the modulating/demodulating device, and a constant amplification rate for the peripheral circuit, a signal must be sent to a circuit at a level of about 8 Vp-p. Thus, the peripheral circuit has to increase the level by about 7.2 dB. This increased level value is acquired by the following expression: EQU 20 log(8/3.5)=7.2(dB).
Since the amplification rate of the peripheral circuit is a constant value, to transmit a signal of -8.0 dB, for example, the modulating/demodulating device outputs an attenuated signal of 1.39 Vp-p (1.39 Vp-p is acquired as x in 20 log(x/8.0)=-15.2). Accordingly, the modulating/demodulating device performs attenuation and the peripheral circuit thereafter performs amplification, which is a wasteful process.
To perform the setting for the receipt of a signal of 0 dB, attenuation of approximately 7.2 dB (=20 log(8.0/3.5)) must be performed by the peripheral circuit. As the attenuation rate of the peripheral circuit is constant, however, when a signal of -40 dB is received, the input level to the modulating/demodulating device is reduced to -47.2 (=-40-7.2) dB and the S/N ratio is accordingly decreased.
In a facsimile apparatus that employs a modulating/demodulating device that can be driven at a low voltage, the S/N ratio will be reduced by a process whereby for transmission a modulating/demodulating device attenuates a signal and thereafter a peripheral circuit amplifies the resultant signal, or a process whereby for reception the peripheral circuit attenuates a received signal and thereafter transmits the resultant signal to the modulating/demodulating circuit, even though the modulating/demodulating circuit can receive a signal directly.


Laminar structures of PVF and substantially amorphous resin such as PEKK, backfilled with injection molding resin, exhibit an excellent combination of physical and aesthetic properties.

Polyvinylfluoride (PVF), commercially available in film form, is used in a wide variety of protective and decorative applications. Typically, PVF is laminated to another surface. For example, it is often the top surface on aluminum or polyvinyl chloride panels used for house siding.
PVF has also been used for surfacing interior aircraft panels, bonded to a substrate that forms the basic structural component of such panels. Bloom, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,135, describes thick laminates of PVF and polyaryletherketoneketone (PEKK), in which the thickness of the PEKK is greater than about 625 micrometers.
Still other laminar structures have previously been developed which, through careful regulation of the thicknesses of the components, can be embossed without the inclusion of embossing resin.
Despite prior improvements in this area, particular difficulty has been encountered in the past in the preparation of complex shapes. For example, passenger service units for aircraft interiors are difficult to surface with prior laminates, the performance properties of which would otherwise suit them well for such uses. Moreover, particularly in aircraft construction, materials are desirable which generate little or no smoke when exposed to high temperatures.


A tape printing apparatus that prints a character string including a plurality of character regions divided by specified delimiting codes, which composes of space codes, tab codes and new block codes, onto a tape, there is provided a normal printing means for performing normal printing with the character region being in a normal order, and an inversed printing means for performing inversed order printing for printing a character string with the character regions being in inversed order.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a tape printing apparatus that prints characters or symbols onto a tape upon mounting a tape cassette therein.
2. Description of Related Art
Japanese Patent Publication No. 2,556,232 (Pages 3 to 6, FIG. 4) discloses a tape printing apparatus that includes a display portion and an input portion, for inputting characters, symbols or pictographic characters. The tape printing apparatus is provided with a cassette accommodating portion. The cassette accommodates therein a tape that is to be printed and an ink ribbon. A thermal head that fuses the ink ribbon to adhere to the tape is provided at a position opposing the tape and the ink ribbon of the cassette. In this manner, characters, etc. that have been input through the input portion can be printed onto the tape.
FIG. 16 illustrates one example of use of the tape printing apparatus of the above arrangement. In the example, a tape 102 that has been printed using the tape printing apparatus is adhered onto a surface of a plurality of circuit breakers 101 aligned on a distribution board 100. The tape 102 is formed with character regions 102a to 102d printed with characters indicating connectors corresponding to the respective breakers 101 to which they are connected. The plurality of character regions 102a to 102d are printed successively at specified intervals. In this manner, it is possible to simply indicate connectors to which the respective breakers 101 are to be connected.
Blank spaces between adjoining character regions 102a to 102d can be formed by space regions or tab regions by operating a space key or a tab key that are provided at the input portion. The input portion is also provided with a new block key. The new block key forms blocks of specified intervals. It is thus possible to perform printing upon aligning a plurality of character regions at specified intervals through blocks comprised of fixed regions of specified length.


Improving the audio QoS of a video call service in a weak signal environment is accomplished. To do this, even if data is damaged in a weak signal environment during a video call using a mobile station in the weak signal environment, an audio call is preferentially processed such that a minimum audio QoS can be secured. If a transmitting mobile station enters into a weak signal environment while transmitting audio data and video data together during a video call, the transmitting mobile station transmits only audio data, and in response to this, a receiving mobile station processes the audio data transmitted during a set time interval and continuously reproduces the audio data. Audio interruption can be reduced, thereby securing a minimum audio QoS.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method of providing a video call service in a mobile station, and in particular, to a method of providing a video call service in a mobile station so as to preferentially guarantee an audio quality of service (QoS) in a weak signal environment during a video call.
2. Description of the Related Art
Commonly, a video call service in a transmitting mobile station is achieved by compressing audio and video (A/V) data and transmitting it to a receiving mobile station. The A/V data is compressed to transmit more data in a given bandwidth. In such a video call method using a mobile station, control data is inserted in the compressed A/V data using a data service function and transmitted/received through a traffic channel. However, the reliability of the QoS is not guaranteed due to a delay and jitter resulting from the channel characteristics. Thus, a predetermined protocol is used in a transmitting mobile station to realize real-time streaming by detecting a data loss occurring in such a transmitting/receiving process.
A/V data is mainly damaged during transmission in a wireless environment, and to correct for the damage, the A/V data is transmitted with control data to identify an error using a protocol such as Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP), H.324M, H.323, or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). In particular, H.323 that is an International Telecommunication Union-Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) video call standard is a protocol to transmit compressed A/V data in a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) based transmitting mobile station. According to some of the above-described protocols, data loss can be recovered through re-transmission. However, since a video call needs real-time streaming, the protocols using the re-transmission technique are not used, and data is only minimally corrected using error correction code or discarded in a case where an error is discovered as a result of an integrity check.
In the WCDMA, H.324M is used to perform a video call, so the description will proceed based on H.324M, a 3rd generation (3G) video call standard protocol. A process of providing a video call service will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a method of providing a video call service in a conventional transmitting mobile station, and FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a method of performing a video call in a conventional receiving mobile station.
Referring to FIG. 1, according to H.324M, every MUX-PDU (Multiplex-Protocol Data Unit) 20 is created by multiplexing encoded audio data 10 with video data every 20 ms. Then, the transmitting mobile station transmits the MUX-PDUs 20 to an air network through traffic channels S10 to S60 at a preset time interval. In the receiving mobile station, audio data and video data are separated from A/V data transmitted through the channels S10 to S60 by demultiplexing the transmitted A/V data as illustrated in FIG. 2, and the separated audio data and video data are transmitted to a codec decoder outputting audio and video signals.
However, a video call in a handoff area or in a weak signal environment area in which the strength of an electronic wave is weak experiences occasional video freezing and audio interruption. For example, while a MUX-PDU can be normally received in a good channel state of the channel S10 and audio data A0 can be reproduced for 20 ms, audio reproduction cannot be achieved for 40 ms due to loss of MUX-PDUs in bad channel states of the channels S20 and S30, and then when a normal MUX-PDU is received through the channel S40, audio reproduction can be achieved for 20 ms. Likewise, according channel states, audio interruption occurs by obtaining audio data A0, A3, and A5 among entire audio data A0 to A5 as illustrated in reference numeral 30 of FIG. 2.
From the point of view of a user, since an image output using previous data is continuously displayed even if video data is damaged, the user can continue to view the other party's face although it is a frozen image. However, audio interruption considerably degrades the service, and if the audio interruption exceeds a predetermined level, the audio is hardly audible. This phenomenon makes QoS of video data seem better than QoS of audio data from the point of view of the user. However, from the point of view of a mobile station transmitting/receiving data via the air, since audio and video data is combined single data, the QoS of the audio and video data are the same. That is, damage to A/V data means that both the audio data and the video data are damaged, and since there is no method of performing quality management by separating the A/V data, reliability of QoS of both the audio data and the video data is degraded.

Method of providing video call service in mobile station in a weak signal environment


A projection apparatus includes a casing, a motherboard, a power board, a light source, and a projection lens. The motherboard includes a host circuit board, a light valve, and a CPU, and is contained inside the casing. The light valve and the CPU are on the host circuit board. The power board includes a power circuit board and an AC/DC power module. The power circuit board is contained inside the casing, and the AC/DC power module is on the power circuit board. The light source is used to produce an illuminating beam. The light valve is used to transform the illuminating beam into an image beam. The projection lens is used to transform the image beam into a projecting beam. The power circuit board is parallel to the host circuit board. An optical axis of the projection lens is perpendicular to the host circuit board and power circuit board.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to an optical apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to a projection apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
A projection apparatus is an apparatus used to produce an image with large size. The imaging mechanism of the projection apparatus is that an illuminating beam generated by a light source is transformed into an image beam by a light valve and then the image beam is further transformed into a projecting beam by a projection lens, so as to project the projecting beam onto a screen or a wall to form an image. Due to the development of projecting technology and reducing the fabrication cost, the application of projection apparatus has extended from the use in business to the use in home.
For a conventional projection apparatus, the appearance of the conventional projection apparatus usually is a flat shape, so the circuit boards inside the conventional projection apparatus are usually divided into two circuit boards. One circuit board includes a digital micro or device (DMD) chip and a control module of the DMD chip. Another circuit board includes the central processing unit (CPU) of the projection apparatus. In addition, the signals between the two circuit boards are transmitted by an one-to-one connector or a flat cable. However, the above assembling manner may cause an abnormal image or an abnormal operation of the host, due to the factors of poor quality for the connector or the flat cable, poor assembly tolerance, and improper assembly. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,155,687, 7,301,691, and 7,883,215 have disclosed an projection apparatus, of which the DMD chip is directly implemented on the motherboard to reduce abnormal effect due to the above factors of poor quality for the connector or the flat cable, poor assembly tolerance, and improper assembly.
Further, the electrical connector of the projection apparatus for communicating with an external device is usually implemented on the edge region of the motherboard and the port of the connector is exposed to an opening of the apparatus casing. As a result, the projection apparatus can receive the electronic signals from outside, such as the video signals, to correspondingly produce the image. However, when the appearance of the apparatus casing has been changed, the location of the connector on the motherboard has to be adjusted as well. This would cause re-design for the motherboard. The cost would increase. The U.S. Patent Publication 2010/0073581 also discloses a projector, which uses an expansion module by external attachment to receive the video signal.


There is provided an image forming device, including an image holding unit configured to hold an image formed by developing material, a developing material case configured to accommodate the developing material and to have a supplying opening facing the image holding unit, a carrying unit having a plurality of carrying electrodes, the carrying unit being configured to carry the developing material accommodated in the developing material case toward the image holding unit by generating a traveling electric field through the plurality of carrying electrodes, at least one vibrator that vibrates the carrying unit, and a vibrating region moving unit configured to move a vibrating region vibrated by the at least one vibrator along the carrying unit in accordance with an amount of the developing material in the developing material case.

1. Technical Field
Aspects of the present invention relate to an image forming device having a function of generating a traveling electric field for carrying developing material.
2. Related Art
In general, a developing material carrying device which carries developing material through a traveling electric field is provided with a carrying body having a plurality of line-like electrodes aligned in a line. In the developing material carrying device, a traveling electric field is generated by successively applying a polyphase alternating voltage to the electrodes of the carrying body to carry charged developing material.
However, such a developing material carrying device has a drawback that the developing material agglutinates on the carrying body. If such a phenomenon occurs, the developing material can not be carried smoothly.
Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. SHO 61-73167 (hereafter, referred to as JP SHO 61-73167A) discloses an example of a developing material carrying device provided with a vibrator fixed to at a certain position in the developing material carrying device to cause a vibrating motion at a certain position of a carrying unit. Such a configuration of the developing material carrying device makes it possible to vibrate the entire carrying unit and thereby to collapse the agglutinated developing material by applying the vibration to the certain position of the carrying unit.

Image forming device having a developing material case with a moving vibrating region


The present invention provides an audio player wearable around the neck which comprises vertical direction recognition sensor 2 for recognizing hanging state wherein a casing 10 is hung from the neck using a neck strap 11 and holding state wherein the casing 10 is turned upside down from said hanging state and is held in the hand, and a control circuit 3 for change-over-controlling the presentation state of the display 8 in accordance with the recognition result obtained by the vertical direction recognition sensor 2. This can avoid the problem when the display is turned upside down between the hanging state and the holding state of the casing.

In recent years already in wide use have been portable audio players having incorporated therein a memory storing audio data, and wherein the audio data is read from the memory to reproduce the data as voice. The user manipulates the audio player of the type described to perform reproduction operation with the player hung from the neck using a neck strap, enabling the user to enjoy listening to music while walking. Further the audio player of the type described comprises a casing having a display arranged on its front surface. The user can perform the manipulation for various reproduction operations while monitoring the display.
With the audio player wearable around the neck described, the presentation of the display arranged on the surface of the casing is shown as in a normal vertical direction when the user holds the player in his hand to perform key manipulation. After the start of the reproduction operation, when the user listens to music with the player hung up, the casing is turned upside down, so that the presentation of the display is viewed as vertically reversed by the person who is facing the user. Particularly, since the audio player wearable around the neck is worn for fashion sense, it is not preferable that the presentation of the display is shown as vertically reversed when the player is viewed by the person facing the user.
An object of the present invention is to provide an audio player wearable around the neck which is adapted to avoid the problem when the display is turned upside down between the hanging state and the holding state of the casing.


A semiconductor memory device comprises: a memory cell array including a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit line pairs containing a first bit line and a second bit line, and a plurality of memory cells; a plurality of replica bit lines formed in the same manner as the first and second bit lines; a write buffer circuit operative to drive the first or second bit line to the ground voltage; a replica write buffer circuit operative to drive the replica bit lines to the ground voltage; and a boot strap circuit operative to drive the first or second bit line currently driven to the ground voltage further to a negative potential at a timing when the potential on the replica bit lines reaches a certain value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device, and more particularly to a semiconductor memory device operable on low voltage, such as an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory).
2. Description of the Related Art
An LSI used in mobile instruments is required to reduce the power consumption to extend the battery-driven time. Lowering the supply voltage is effective to reduce the power consumption. An increase in characteristic dispersion among elements due to the progression of scaling in recent years, however, reduces the operational margin of the SRAM used in the LSI and makes it difficult to lower the operating voltage of the SRAM. The operating voltage of the SRAM defines the supply voltage of the LSI and accordingly makes it difficult to lower the supply voltage of the entire LSI. Operation of the SRAM on lower supply voltage deteriorates the write characteristic of the SRAM as a problem.
To deal with this problem, a method has been proposed, which comprises shifting one of two bit lines connected to an SRAM cell to a negative potential on writing (see K. Nii et al., "A 45-nm Single-port and Dual-port SRAM family with Robust Read/Write Stabilizing Circuitry under DVFS Environment", 2008 Symposium on VLSI Circuits Digest of Technical Papers, P 212-213) When a boot strap circuit is used to shift one of the bit lines to the negative potential, a gate-source voltage of a transfer NMOS transistor in the SRAM cell can be boosted, thereby improving the write characteristic of the SRAM.
The use of the boot strap circuit to shift the bit line to the negative potential on writing, however, causes the following problem. The timing of shifting the bit line to the negative potential by the boot strap circuit and the level of the negative potential applied to the bit line vary depending on the capacitance of the bit line and so forth. A number of SRAMs having different word line lengths and bit line lengths are used inside the LSI. The bit lines having different bit line lengths differ from each other in bit line capacitance. Therefore, the timing of shifting the bit line to the negative potential and the level of the negative potential applied to the bit line may vary and deteriorate the characteristic of writing data to the SRAM possibly.


A fuse component (1) has a fusible conductor (2) which extends in a gas filled cavity (3) within a cylindrical tube (4) between two end surfaces (8). Two end caps (5) of an electrically conductive material are applied to the ends of the tube (4) so that an electrical contact is produced with the fusible conductor (2). At at least one of the two ends of the tube (4), a sealing body of a plastic material, which is predominantly elastically compressible but at the same time capable of creep, is introduced into a gap between the base of the end cap and the end surface (8) of the tube (4) and into a portion of the cavity adjacent to the cap base. The sealing body has been compressed between the end surface (8) and the cap base during the manufacture of the fuse component (1) when positioning the end cap (5). The compressed sealing body (7) attempts to expand again, whereby it expands principally into the cavity (3). If a sudden pressure rise occurs in the cavity shortly after its introduction during the manufacturing process as a result of a temperature increase, it can occur that this overpressure balances out into the external surroundings via a temporarily formed passage between the tube, the sealing body and the end cap. The passage which is formed is then sealed again as a result of the ability of the plastic material to creep.

The invention relates to a fuse component with a fusible conductor, which extends within a gas filled cavity in a cylindrical tube between two end surfaces of the tube, two end caps of an electrically conductive material being applied to the two ends of the tube such that a respective electrical contact with the fusible conductor is produced. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing such a fuse component.
Tubular fuse components of the type referred to above have been known for a long time. There are, for instance, fuse components, in which the cylindrical tube consists of a ceramic material and has a circular cylindrical internal cavity and a rectangular outer contour with rounded edges. The fusible conductor is, for instance, a wire, which extends diagonally within the cavity such that it contacts the walls of the tube merely at its ends. The wire of the fusible conductor is passed around the end surfaces of the tube, whereby the ends of the fusible conductor wire engage the external walls of the tube. Metallic end caps are placed on the two ends of the tube. The end caps can, for instance, be of an elastic material and pressed on to the ends of the tube, whereby the pressing on process ensures not only a firm fit of the end cap but also electrical contact with the fusible conductor. The metal caps can also be secured to the ends of the tube by adhesive or, after appropriate preparation of the surface of the outer wall of the tube, soldered to it. A number of techniques are known for applying the end caps which ensure not only a firm fit of the caps but also good electrical contact with the fusible conductor.
There are fuse components of the type referred to above, in which a gap remains between the end caps and the wall of the tube such that the interior of the tube is connected to the surroundings of the tube via the gap. In this event, there is a gas exchange between the cavity and the surroundings. In the event of heating and expansion of the gas in the cavity, it flows out of the cavity so that a relatively rapid pressure balance occurs.
There are additionally fuse components, in which the caps are so applied to the end of the tube that the cavity is hermetically sealed. With these components, the cavity can be filled with air or with a special gas (for instance nitrogen) under normal pressure or reduced pressure.
If the fusible conductor in the interior of the tube is ruptured (blows; i.e., the fuse cuts out), an arc generally forms. The impulsive energy supply as a result of the arc heats the gas optionally present in the cavity and the materials which vaporize when blowing occurs. With a fuse component with a hermetically sealed cavity and an air or gas filling, the energy supplied by the arc results in a sudden, step increase in the pressure in the cavity of the fuse component. This pressure pulse has a quenching action on the arc and is thus desirable.
Of disadvantage, however, with a fuse component with a hermetically sealed cavity is the fact that the pressure increase in the cavity is also produced if the fuse component is heated from the exterior, for instance in the manufacturing process. Such heating occurs, for instance, when the end caps are briefly brought to a relatively high temperature to produce a solder connection between the ends of the fusible conductor and the positioned, metallic end caps. A temperature increase can also occur during a curing process of an adhesive, which is to connect the end caps to the tube. The pressure increase, associated with such heating, in the interior of the tube results in an undesired loading of the fuse component and possibly in the formation of a pressure balancing passage (capillary passage) between the cavity in the tube and the surroundings through the gap between the tube and the end cap. The formation of such an undesired capillary adjacent to the fusible conductor was determined, for instance, in fuse components which are sealed in their end regions with a pourable silicone.
It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a fuse component of the type referred to above, whose interior is hermetically sealed, in operation, but in which the problems of the type referred to above occurring in the event of sudden temperature and pressure increases during manufacture of the component are avoided.
This object is solved by a fuse component with the features of claim 1. The object is also solved by a method of manufacturing a fuse component with the features of claim 10.

Tubular fuse component with end caps with a hermetically sealing plastic sealing body insert


A two-legged walking robot includes a pair of foot members a calf member provided above each foot member, a double-axis ankle joint provided between the foot member and the calf member to allow the foot member to rotate relative to the calf member in forward and backward directions and in right and left directions. The robot also includes a femoral member provided above each calf member, a single-axis knee joint provided between the calf member and the femoral member, a hip member provided above the femoral member, and a double-axis hip joint provided between the femoral member and the hip member to allow the femoral member to rotate relative to the hip member in the forward, backward, right, and left directions. Thus, the two-legged walking robot operates similar to a human ankle, knee and hip.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a two-legged walking robot, and more particularly, to a two-legged walking robot having improved joint parts.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a two-legged walking robot includes a skeletal frame to provide a pair of legs like human legs, a joint part pivotably provided between bones of the skeletal frame, and an actuator connected to bones to rotate the bones at the joint part.
The skeletal frame includes a foot member to step on a ground like a human foot, a calf member provided above the foot member, a femoral member provided above the calf member, and a hip member provided above the femoral member like a human hip.
The joint part includes an ankle joint provided between the foot member and the calf member, a knee joint provided between the calf member and the femoral member, and a hip joint provided between the femoral member and the hip member.
In the two-legged walking robot, the actuator connecting the foot member with the calf member rotates the foot member relative to the calf member about the ankle joint. The actuator connecting the calf member with the femoral member rotates the calf member relative to the femoral member about the knee joint, and the actuator connecting the femoral member with the hip member rotates the femoral member relative to the hip member about the hip joint.
As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional two-legged walking robot includes a foot member 11, a calf member 12, a femoral member 13, and a hip member 14, which are respectively connected by joint parts 15, 16, 17 and assembled into a leg assembly to support a robot body. Hereinafter, to avoid repetitive description, a mechanism of one leg assembly will be described because the left leg assembly and the right leg assembly are of the same configuration. The joint parts include an ankle joint 15, a knee joint 16 and a hip joint 17.
In the leg assembly, each member is connected to an actuator to provide a four-bar linkage (e.g., quadric crank mechanism). The actuator makes a linear-sliding motion with a ball screw. The linear-sliding motion changes a rotation angle between links, thereby bending or stretching the leg assemblies of the walking robot.
More particularly, to cause the bending and stretching operation in the ankle joint 15, a middle part of a first actuator 30a is pivotably connected to a middle part of the calf member 12 by a first link 21, and a slider 35a of the first actuator 30a is pivotably connected to a middle part of the foot member 11.
To cause the bending and stretching operation in the knee joint 16, a lower part of a second actuator 30b is pivotably connected to an upper part of the foot member 11 by a second link 22, and a middle part of the second actuator 30b is pivotably connected to a middle part of the femoral member 13 by a third link 23.
To cause the bending and stretching operation in the hip joint 17, a lower part of a third actuator 30c is pivotably connected to an upper part of the femoral member 13 by a fourth link 24, and a middle part of the third actuator 30c is pivotably connected to the hip member 14 by a fifth link 25.
According to the above, the bending and stretching operations in the joints 15, 16, 17 are performed by the actuators 30a, 30b, 30c, respectively.
The actuator 30a, 30b, 30c includes a motor 31a, 31b, 31c to rotate the ball screw 33a, 33b, 33c, an encoder 32a, 32b, 32c to determine a rotation state of the motor 31a, 31b, 31c, a guide rail 34a, 34b, 34c disposed parallel with the ball screw 33a, 33b, 33c, and the slider 35a, 35b, 35c coupled to the guide rail 34a, 34b, 34c and linearly movable by rotation of the ball screw 33a, 33b, 33c.
The slider 35a, 35b, 35c has a first part slidingly coupled to the guide rail 34a, 34b, 34c, and a second part having a female screw engaged with the ball screw 33a, 33b, 33c to be operated by the rotation of the ball screw 33a, 33b, 33c. The encoder 32a, 32b, 32c is attached to a rear of the motor 31a, 31b, 31c and employed to servo-control the motor 31a, 31b, 31c.
According to the above configuration, a walking operation of the conventional two-legged walking robot is achieved by the actuators 30a, 30b, 30c connected to the joints 15, 16, 17.
However, in the conventional two-legged walking robot, the joints 15, 16, 17 allow the leg assemblies to be bent and stretched in only forward and backward directions, so that the leg assemblies have a low degree of freedom as compared to the human legs.


A metal cutting tool includes a tool body rotatable about a center axis and a tool tip mounted on a front surface of said tool body for performing a cutting operation. A draw bar mounted axially in the tool body draws a rear surface of the tool tip toward the front surface of the tool body. Those front and rear surfaces include radial projections and radial recesses receiving the projections. The projections are wedgingly connected in the recesses to transmit all axial and rotational forces between the tool body and tool tip.

The present invention relates to a tool for rotary, chip removing machining, comprising a tool body, a tool tip and means for retention. The tool body has a front surface and the tool tip has an end surface provided to detachably face each other. The body has a shank portion. The invention also relates to a separate tool tip and a tool body.

Tool body and removable tool tip for chip removing machining


The method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes the steps of (a) forming a metal film over a semiconductor substrate including a gate electrode on a surface thereof, an insulating sidewall covering a side surface of the gate electrode therewith, and source and drain regions formed therein, (b) forming a metal silicide film both on the gate electrode and the source and drain regions by thermally treating the semiconductor substrate to cause the metal film to react with silicon, and (c) etching out a non-silicided portion of the metal film, and further includes the step of (d) removing a portion of the non-silicided portion remaining non-etched or the metal film, by means of plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The step (d) may be carried out between the steps (a) and (b), between the steps (b) and (c), or after the step (c). The method is applied to a salicide structure semiconductor device, and makes it possible to completely remove a metal film or a metal silicide film formed on a sidewall by virtue of etching performance of plasma-enhanced CVD to thereby prevent occurrence of short-circuit between a gate electrode and source/drain regions without causing reduction in a thickness of a silicide film and side-etching of a silicide film.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method of fabricating a semiconductor device, and more particularly to a method of fabricating a transistor having silicide films formed both on source/drain regions and a gate electrode in self-aligned fashion, namely a transistor having a self-aligned silicide (salicide) structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
With demands in reduction in size and high integration of a semiconductor device, a gate electrode has been more and more reduced in both size and thickness, and source and drain regions have been made to have a shallower junction depth. This causes a gate wiring to have a greater resistance, and also causes source and drain regions to have a greater sheet resistance. In addition, higher integration of a semiconductor device causes a longer wire length, and, on the other hand, a semiconductor device is demanded to operate at higher speed. As a result, it is no longer possible for a conventional polysilicon gate electrode to provide a semiconductor device having desired performances.
In order to solve such a problem, there has been suggested and used a salicide (self-aligned silicide) structure in which there are formed metal silicide films such as titanium silicide are formed both on a polysilicon gate electrode and source/drain regions of a transistor in self-aligned fashion to thereby reduce resistance of a gate electrode and source/drain regions.
However, the above mentioned salicide structure poses a problem that a silicon dioxide film reacts with titanium on a sidewall to thereby produce titanium, though in a quite small amount, to thereby cause short-circuits between a gate electrode and source/drain regions.
As a countermeasure to the problem, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-34933 has suggested carrying out wet etching for removal of a portion at which the short-circuits is to take place. Hereinbelow will be explained the method suggested in the above mentioned Publication, with reference to FIGS. 1A to 1D which are cross-sectional views showing respective step of the method.
As illustrated in Fig. 1A, a gate polysilicon film 3 is formed on a silicon substrate 1 with a gate insulating film 2 sandwiched therebetween, and then a sidewall 5 is formed around a side surface of the gate polysilicon film 3. The sidewall 5 is made of insulating material. The silicon substrate 1 has source and drain regions 4 therein a part of which is in exposure to atmosphere. A resultant is entirely covered with a titanium film 6 by sputtering or evaporation.
Then, the semiconductor substrate 1 is thermally treated to thereby form titanium silicide films 7 on both the gate polysilicon film 3 and the source and drain regions 4, as illustrated in FIG. 1B.
Then, non-reacted portions 6a of the titanium film 6 are etched for removal by using an etchant such as a mixture solution of H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 and H.sub.2 O.sub.2 which removes titanium in titanium silicide with great etching selectivity. Regardless of this etching, portions 7a of the titanium silicide film 7, though in a quite small amount, remain non-etched on the sidewall 5, as illustrated in Fig. 1C.
Thereafter, the portions 7a of the titanium silicide film 7 are removed by using an etchant such as a mixture solution of NH.sub.4 OH and H.sub.2 O.sub.2 which removes titanium in titanium silicide with small etching selectivity. Thus, the titanium silicide having been formed on the sidewall is removed, and hence it is possible to prevent occurrence of short-circuits between the gate electrode 3 and the source and drain regions 4.
However, the above mentioned method suggested in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-34933 has two problems as follows: one of them is that titanium silicide films formed on both the gate polysilicon film and the source and drain regions are also etched out simultaneously with the removal of the titanium silicide film remaining non-etched on the sidewall, resulting in an increase in a resistance in the gate electrode and the source and drain regions; the other is that a resistance would be further increased in the gate electrode and the source and drain regions, since interfaces between the titanium silicide film and the gate polysilicon film and also between the titanium silicide film and the silicon substrate are side-etched.
For another example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-99171 has suggested a method of fabricating a MOS transistor which method is capable of decreasing a sheet resistance without occurrence of bridging. This method includes the steps of forming a gate electrode on a silicon substrate, forming source and drain diffusion layers, depositing a titanium film all over a resultant and thermally treat the resultant to thereby form TiSi.sub.2 layers, and selectively removing non-reacted titanium and titanium compounds other than TiSi.sub.2 by using a mixture solution of H.sub.2 O.sub.2 and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 (H.sub.2 O.sub.2 :H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 =1:1).
However, this method has the same problems as those of the first mentioned prior method, namely the above mentioned two problems.

Method of fabricating salicide-structure semiconductor device


An optical amplifier is disclosed having a substantially uniform spectral gain. In an exemplary embodiment, the optical amplifier comprises a planar waveguide including a substrate, which includes a region doped with rare earth element. The optical amplifier also comprises an optical fiber including a core doped with the rare earth element. The optical fiber is optically coupled to the planar waveguide.

Optical communication systems are known which carry an optical channel of a single wavelength over one or more optical fibers. To convey information from plural sources, time-division multiplexing (TDM) is frequently employed. In TDM, a particular time slot is assigned to each signal source, and the complete signal is constructed from portions associated with each time slot. While this is a useful technique for carrying plural information sources on a single optical channel, its capacity is limited by fiber dispersion and the need to generate high peak power pulses.
Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) has been explored as an approach for increasing the capacity of existing fiber optic networks. In a WDM system, plural optical signal channels are carried over a single optical fiber with each channel being assigned a particular wavelength. Since each optical channel itself can be time division multiplexed, the overall information carrying capacity of the fiber optic network can be increased substantially.
Optical channels in a WDM system are frequently transmitted over silica based optical fibers, which typically have relatively low loss at wavelengths within a range of 1520 to 1580 nm. WDM optical signal channels at wavelengths within this low loss "window" can be transmitted over distances of approximately 50 km without significant attenuation. For distances beyond 50 km, however, optical amplifiers are required to compensate for optical fiber loss.
Optical amplifiers have been developed which include a gain medium doped with a rare earth element, such as erbium, praseodymium, neodymium, and tellurium. The most commonly used rare earth element is erbium because it produces the greatest gain within the wavelength range of 1520 to 1580 nm. The erbium doped medium is "pumped" with light at a selected wavelength, e.g., 980 nm, to provide amplification or gain at wavelengths within the low loss window of the optical fiber.
However, erbium doped amplifiers do not uniformly amplify light within the spectral region of 1520 to 1580 nm. For example, an optical channel at a wavelength of 1540 nm is typically amplified 4 dB more than an optical channel at a wavelength of 1555 nm. While such a large variation in gain can be tolerated in a system with only one optical amplifier, it typically cannot be tolerated in a system with plural optical amplifiers or numerous, narrowly-spaced optical channels. In these environments, much of the pump power supplies energy for amplifying light at the high gain wavelengths rather than amplifying the low gain wavelengths. As a result, low gain wavelengths suffer excessive noise accumulation after propagating through several amplifiers.
Accordingly, optical amplifiers providing substantially uniform spectral gain have been developed. In particular, optical amplifiers including an optical filter provided between first and second stages of an erbium doped fiber are known to provide gain flatness. In these amplifiers, the first stage is operated in a high power mode. Although the second stage introduces more noise than the first, the overall noise output by the amplifier is low due to the low noise signal of the first stage. The optical filter selectively attenuates the high gain wavelengths, while passing the low gain wavelengths, so that the gain is substantially equal for each wavelength output from the second stage. The optical filter can include any one of a fiber Bragg grating, fiber acousto-optic tunable filter, Mach-Zehnder filter, thin film filter, and a split beam filter.
However, when the optical filter is combined with other components in the optical amplifier, such as other filters which may be present, the overall loss of the optical amplifier may increase. Accordingly, there is a need for an optical amplifier having reduced loss.

Gain flattening utilizing a two-stage erbium-based amplifier

Industrial Technology Research Institute