An auxiliary fuel injection unit includes two surge tanks partitioned by a wall surface, a butterfly valve for switching between connection and disconnection of two surge tanks, and one auxiliary fuel injection valve for injecting an auxiliary fuel in a direction opposing a direction of flow of intake air within the surge tank. The butterfly valve has a valve plate surface closing an opening provided in the surge tank wall surface and a rotation shaft for turning the plate surface. The auxiliary fuel injection valve has two injection holes connecting with each other, for injecting the auxiliary fuel toward the valve plate surface of the butterfly valve and toward the surge tank wall surface.

In an internal combustion engine, in particular in a multi-cylinder engine for a vehicle, a plurality of inlet pipes in the number corresponding to the number of the cylinders are provided for supplying air to a cylinder, and the internal combustion engine includes a surge tank connecting to the plurality of gathered inlet pipes. In addition, an electronically controlled fuel injection unit drives an auxiliary fuel injection valve called a cold start injector at the time of cold start, so as to attain excellent starting property (ignition quality, exhaust emission, or the like). The cold start injector is generally provided in the surge tank, and controlled in synchronization with a start switch based on detection of a temperature of engine cooling water. Normally, a single cold start injector is provided. Here, for uniform supply of a starter auxiliary fuel to all cylinders with a single cold start injector, whether or not an attachment position or a fuel injection direction of the cold start injector is appropriate is a factor significantly affecting the starting property.
Normally, one cold start injector having one injection hole is provided in the vicinity of a central portion of the surge tank, so as to inject the auxiliary fuel in a direction attaining uniform distribution of the fuel to all cylinders. In an inlet pipe having an asymmetrical shape, however, distribution of the auxiliary fuel tends to be unbalanced with only one cold start injector. Specifically, the auxiliary fuel is distributed more in a direction of travel of injection or in a direction of flow of intake air. In addition, in an engine having a surge tank including a plurality of chambers, it is difficult to uniformly supply the starting fuel to all cylinders without delay using one cold start injector. Publications shown below disclose related arts with regard to such a cold start injector.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 58-107831 (document 1) discloses an appropriate position of a cold start injector in an internal combustion engine, in which when a load to the internal combustion engine is small, supply of a fuel and intake air to operating cylinders is cut off and exhaust is returned to non-operating cylinders, so as to perform a partial cylinder operation. A partial operation control type internal combustion engine disclosed in document 1 cuts off fuel supply and intake air into the operating cylinders when a light load is applied to the engine using an intake shut-off valve provided in an inlet pipe path through which an operation-side surge tank connecting to gathered inlet pipes of operating cylinders connects with an inlet-side surge tank connecting to gathered inlet pipes of the non-operating cylinders and returns the exhaust to the non-operating cylinders, so as to perform a partial cylinder operation. A cold start injector is disposed in the inlet pipe path, and a starter auxiliary fuel injected from the cold start injector impinges perpendicularly on a valve wall surface of the intake shut-off valve.
With the partial operation control type internal combustion engine, the starter auxiliary fuel injected from the cold start injector impinges perpendicularly on the valve wall surface of the intake shut-off valve, and the auxiliary fuel is reliably atomized and diffused so that it is uniformly distributed to the operating cylinders and the non-operating cylinders, thereby reducing a starting time. Here, oil mist or deposit adhered on a valve element surface is blown off, so that the valve element surface and an area around a valve shaft are constantly maintained clean, thereby preventing lowering of a shut-off function of the intake shut-off valve.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 11-294225 (document 2) discloses a fuel injection unit for an internal combustion engine attaining a function for excellent distribution of a fuel using an auxiliary fuel injection valve shared by cylinders at the time of cold start and under high load. In the fuel injection unit for the internal combustion engine, an air intake path connecting to each cylinder is branched, and a collector extends in a direction of a cylinder row, through which one end, intake air is introduced. The fuel injection unit includes fuel supply means for injecting a fuel toward downstream with respect to an intake air current at least at the time of start and for injecting the fuel toward upstream with respect to the intake air current at least during a prescribed high-load operation, the fuel supply means being arranged on an intake air introduction side of the collector.
With the fuel injection unit for the internal combustion engine, at the time of start, in particular immediately after cranking, each cylinder takes in air that has originally been present in the collector. Accordingly, the fuel is injected from the upstream toward the downstream of the collector. That is, the entire air that has originally been present in the collector is mixed with fuel spray, whereby excellent starting property is attained. On the other hand, in the high-load operation, the fuel is injected toward the upstream so as to oppose to the intake air current. In this manner, the fuel can be distributed over a wide range on a cross-section of the intake air current, and mixing of the intake air current with the fuel spray is promoted, thereby attaining excellent distribution of the fuel to each cylinder.
On the other hand, in the partial operation control type internal combustion engine disclosed in document 1 described above, the auxiliary fuel injected from the cold start injector is carried away by the intake air flow, resulting in high concentration of an atmosphere in the downstream of the shut-off valve. That is, it is difficult to uniformly supply the auxiliary fuel to all cylinders.
In the fuel injection unit for the internal combustion engine disclosed in document 2, at the time of cold start, the fuel is injected from the cold start injector toward the downstream (cylinder side) of the intake air current. With such injection, however, it takes time for the auxiliary fuel to reach each cylinder, and starting with excellent response cannot be realized. In addition, as the inlet pipe has an asymmetrical shape, it is difficult to uniformly distribute the auxiliary fuel to each cylinder.
An engine having six cylinders or more sometimes adopts a variable induction system called ACIS (Acoustic Control Induction System). Here, pressure fluctuation occurs in the inlet pipe due to indirect intake strokes. The pressure fluctuation that still remains in the inlet pipe even after an intake valve is closed causes a pulsing effect, which in turn affects a next intake stroke. If the pressure fluctuation that remains after the intake valve is closed is in synchronization with the next intake stroke, a pressure at the time of opening of the valve is raised and an amount of intake air is increased, thereby improving a torque. In order to positively utilize this pulsation effect, the variable induction system switches an effective length of the inlet pipe path in accordance with a cycle of a pulsating flow that varies in accordance with an engine speed, so as to improve the torque at every engine speed.
Such a variable induction system is implemented, for example, by providing a partition wall in the surge tank, providing a valve of a butterfly type on the partition wall, and virtually varying an interval between cylinders by opening/closing the valve. In other words, two virtual lengths of an intake manifold are switched in order to improve intake efficiency in an entire range from low speed to high speed, thereby improving the torque.
The surge tank adopting such a variable induction system is constituted of a plurality of chambers. With the surge tank of such a shape, it is particularly difficult to uniformly supply the starter fuel to all cylinders without delay with a single cold start injector. Since a solution by increasing the number of the cold start injectors causes cost increase, adoption thereof is less likely.

Auxiliary fuel injection unit in internal combustion engine and control device for auxiliary fuel injection unit


A vehicle seat including an arrangement for resisting loads applied to the vehicle seat which comprises a seat base and a seat back; said arrangement including a link mechanism connected between the seat back and a support member connected to the vehicle. The link mechanism is arranged to prevent motion of the seat back beyond a predetermined position. There is also provided an adjustable tether arrangement including a tether means, the tether means being arranged to be mounted between the seat back and a vehicle body and the tether means including a tether strap and a retractor mechanism enabling the tether strap to extend or retract in accordance with allowed motion of the vehicle seat.

It is well known in vehicles to have seat belts attached directly to the vehicle and not to the seat. This has some advantages, such as the vehicle provides a solid anchor for the seat belt and therefore good resistance to application of a load to the seat belt. There are some disadvantages, however. In order to allow for adjustable reclining of the seat, or a change in position of the seat relative to the vehicle a seat belt which is attached to the vehicle will need to be readily adjustable. Because the position of a seat belt is fixed relative to the vehicle, in some adjusted positions of the seat belt the seat may not be in the ideal position for the user. In general, integrated seat belts (where the seat belts are attached to the seat and not to the vehicle) are considered to be safer than seat belts that are anchored to the vehicle. Further, in some cases it is difficult to anchor a seat belt to a vehicle and the seat belt must be integrated with the seat. Examples of this include public transport eg. seats on buses that are not near the walls of the vehicles. In suspension seats, where the seat is suspended relative to the vehicle for comfort, an integrated seat belt is a safer and more convenient option. Suspension seats are often used in large vehicles such as trucks and military vehicles. Further, in some cases, legislation requires that seats must have integrated seat belts.
Where a seat is provided with an integrated seat belt, the seat must be arranged to cope with the very high loads that may be applied in the event of an accident. With lap-sash type or harness type seat belts, where the belt is anchored to an upper portion of the seat back, the seat must be especially strong to resist collapsing when load is applied by the sash or harness. It is in fact often the case that for some types of vehicles where particularly large loads may be applied, only lap belts are provided.
In order to deal with the high loads applied to some seats, it is known to utilise tether straps which attach the seat frame to the vehicle. In this way, at least some of the load applied by the integrated seatbelt can be transmitted via the seat frame to the vehicle. In the event of an accident, the tether strap prevents the seat from collapsing or moving under load. A problem with tether straps is that they are of a fixed length and require adjustment whenever the position of the seat is adjusted or the seat height is changed. If the tether strap is not readjusted correctly. This can be dangerous.

Vehicle seat with arrangement for resisting loads applied to the seat


A foldable bicycle includes a head strut, a seat strut, and first and second bracing struts pivotally mounted to one another about four pivot axes such that lifting of a pivot joint of the first and second bracing struts towards the head strut results in turning of the first and second bracing struts to bring the bicycle into a folded position, where front and rear wheels are closer to each other and are held in tandem. A locking member is disposed to releasably lock the second bracing strut from turning relative to the first bracing strut when the bicycle is in a position of use.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a foldable bicycle, more particularly to a foldable bicycle with four linking joints for folding and unfolding the bicycle without the need to detach any component parts therefrom.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in a Taiwanese publication No. M265307, entitled "Rapidly and Easily Foldable Bicycle," there is disclosed a foldable bicycle 1 which includes a head tube 11, a bottom tube 12, a seat tube 13, a saddle 14, a locking device 15, front and rear wheels 161,162, and a transmitting device 17. The bottom tube 12 has one end pivoted to the head tube 11 at a first pivot point 121. The seat tube 13 has an end pivoted to the head tube 11 at a second pivot point 131, and an opposite end pivoted to the other end of the bottom tube 12 at a third pivot point 132. The saddle 14 is mounted on the seat tube 13 away from the head tube 11. The locking device 15 includes a sleeve 151 sleeved on the head tube 11, and a quick-release fastener 152 disposed to fasten the sleeve 151 to the head tube 11. The front and rear wheels 161,162 are pivotally mounted on two end extensions of the bottom tube 12. The transmitting device 17 is mounted on the bottom tube 12 to drive the rear wheel 162 so as to generate rotation of the wheels 161,162.
When it is desired to fold the bicycle 1, the fastener 152 is released so as to permit movement of the first pivot point 121 along the head tube 11. The head tube 11, the bottom tube 12 and the seat tube 13 can be folded by virtue of the second and third pivot points 131,132. However, it is difficult to move the bottom tube 12 along the head tube 11 smoothly due to change of the pivot angle therebetween during the folding operation, thereby resulting in inconvenient to the operator. Moreover, since the front and rear wheels 161,162 have the same wheel radius, they have to be relatively turned so as not to interfere with each other. Thus, the front and rear wheels 161,162 can not be maintained in tandem after folding to enable the folded bicycle to be pushed along, thereby resulting in inconvenience during transport of the bicycle 1.


The transmission control unit of the device transmits sample data while changing the setting of output amplitude and emphasis of the transmitter within a prescribed range. The transmission processing unit of the device generates an eye diagram from the sample data received by the receiver, detects receivable phase-range data from the eye diagram, and transmits the same. The optimization processing unit of the device writes the phase-range data transmitted from the device into the table in correspondence to the output amplitude and emphasis of which the setting has been changed, determines optimum values of output amplitude and emphasis from the table obtained upon the completion of setting change within the prescribed range, and sets the same in the transmitter of the device. Then, the device, serving as the transmitting side, determines optimum values of output amplitude and emphasis of the transmitter and sets the same.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device having a communication function, an automatic transmitter adjusting method, a system and a program applicable to a high-speed serial transmission interface or the like performing two-way data transmission of the order of giga-bit per second. More particularly, the invention relates to a device having a communication function, an automatic transmitter adjusting method, a system and a program capable of adjusting properties of a transmitter such as output amplitude and emphasis to optimum values on the basis of transmission of sample data.
2. Description of the Related Art
As input/output interfaces of personal computers or embedded devices, for example, PCI buses had conventionally been used. More recently, however, along with the tendency toward a higher processor operating frequency, high-speed serial interfaces of giga bit/second (Gbps) have been industrialized, and are becoming more and more popular.
Such a high-speed serial interface uses a differential transmission line comprising two signal lines having opposite polarities for transmission of bits. More specifically, the differential output of a transmitter (driver) of a device is connected to two signal lines, and the two signal lines are connected to the differential input of the receiver of the destination device. Since the characteristic impedance of the transmission line is regulated, for example, to 50Ω, the two signal lines terminates with a resistance of, for example, 50Ω at each device.
The adoption of such a differential transmission line improves the resistance to so-called common mode noise which acts simultaneously on two signal lines, facilitates high-speed operation by reducing the signal amplitude on the receiving side, and inhibits power loss caused by terminal resistance.
As a differential transmission line operates in a single direction, two-way transmission is ensured by using four signal lines. These four signal lines for carrying out two-way transmission are referred to as a lane. For example, in PCI Express known as a high-speed serial interface, the maximum data transfer rate per direction is 2.5 G bits/second (2.5 Gps). The actual maximum data transfer rate is however 2.0 G bits/second corresponding to 80% thereof, and for a lane, it becomes 4.0 G bits/second.
However, in such a conventional high-speed serial interface, permitting high-speed transmission of the giga-bit order per second, it is necessary to evaluate and determine optimum set values of output amplitude and emphasis of the transmitter for each device through a real-machine test, and determination of optimum values requires much time and labor.
That is, a real-machine evaluation is based on an operation comprising the steps of high-speed-serial-transmitting sample data from a transmitter by use of a signal generator, displaying an eye diagram by entering the sample data into a measuring instrument, and finding optimum values by changing the output amplitude and emphasis of the transmitter so that the amplitude is appropriate and the jitter becomes minimum from the eye diagram. For example, display of an eye diagram of a run of measurement requires transmission of sample data for 20 to 30 seconds, and this should be done for all the states of which the setting can be changed of the output amplitude and emphasis. Finding optimum values of output amplitude and emphasis thus becomes a very troublesome operation requiring much time and labor.
In the case of multiple lanes, furthermore, determining an optimum value for each lane is difficult since it takes too much time and labor. It is therefore inevitable to use a method of making a confirmation for a typical lane and adopting similar transmitting conditions for the other lanes. This causes a problem in that adjustment of high-speed serial interfaces is not always necessary and sufficient.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device having a communication function, an automatic transmitter adjusting method, a system and a program in which optimum values of output amplitude and emphasis of the transmitter through automatic adjustment without requiring an artificial real-machine evaluation.

Device having communication function, method for automatically adjusting transmitter, system and program


In an all-wheel drive train for a motor vehicle wherein the drive torque of the engine of the motor vehicle is transmitted from the transmission output shaft partially to the rear axle and partially to the front axle via an offset transmission structure and a laterally arranged drive shaft extending from the offset transmission structure past the transmission to the front axle of the motor vehicle extends from the offset transmission forwardly at a certain opening angle in close proximity to the transmission structure which narrows down toward the rear so that the rear end of the lateral drive shaft is relatively close to the center axis of the transmission.

The invention relates to an all-wheel drive train with an engine mounted longitudinally in a motor vehicle including a transfer gear for transferring part of the engine output torque to the front wheels via a side shaft extending from the transfer gear past the engine to the front axle of the vehicle.
EP 1 238 847 A1 discloses an all-wheel drive train in which an engine and a transmission adjoining the engine are installed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and some of the drive torque is transmitted to a rear axle via a drive shaft and a rear-axle differential transmission. Another part of the drive torque is transmitted via an angled gear pair to a lateral shaft which is directed to the front axle past the transmission at a certain opening angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicles.
The basic concept of such an all-wheel drive train is well-known for example from EP 1 273 473 A1.
It is the object of the present invention is to integrate a clutch in such an all-wheel drive train, which clutch can be designed, for example, as a central differential lock or as a Bonanza effect element, that is, a torque shock damping device.


A discharge-lamp lighting apparatus includes first and second cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) and first and second transformers. The second transformer has a primary winding connected in parallel to one of primary and secondary windings of the first transformer, a first secondary winding, and a second secondary winding. Each of the first and second secondary windings of the second transformer is connected to the secondary winding of the first transformer with polarities being set so that a voltage of each secondary winding of the second transformer becomes additive to a voltage of the secondary winding of the first transformer. The first CCFL is connected in parallel to a series circuit that includes the secondary winding of the first transformer and the first secondary winding of the second transformer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus for lighting discharge lamps such as cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs), and particularly, to a technique of simultaneously driving a plurality of CCFLs.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a view showing a configuration of a discharge-lamp lighting apparatus according to a related art. This apparatus includes a DC power source E connected in series with a first switching element Q1 and a second switching element Q2. The first and second switching elements Q1 and Q2 are turned on and off in response to control signals from a control circuit 10. The control circuit 10 conducts PWM control, phase control, frequency control, or the like to control the on/off operation of the first and second switching elements Q1 and Q2.
The second switching element Q2 is connected in parallel to a quasi-voltage-resonance capacitor C6. The element Q2 is also connected in parallel to a series circuit that includes a primary winding P1 of a first transformer T1 and a current resonance capacitor C4. The first transformer T1 has a leakage inductance Lr for managing resonance operation.
A secondary winding S1 of the first transformer T1 is connected, through a resistor RS, in parallel to a series circuit that includes a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (hereinafter referred to as CCFL) 11a and a ballast capacitor C11 and a series circuit that includes a CCFL 11b and a ballast capacitor C12. The resistor RS is a current detection resistor to detect a current. A signal representative of the current detected by the resistor RS is fed back to the control circuit 10 on the primary side. According to the signal fed back from the resistor RS, the control circuit 10 controls on/off operation of the first and second switching elements Q1 and Q2, thereby controlling an AC voltage applied to the primary winding P1 of the first transformer T1.
FIG. 2 shows a voltage-current characteristic of a typical CCFL. The CCFL has a negative resistance characteristic that a current (lamp current) increases as an applied voltage (lamp voltage) decreases. To relieve the negative resistance characteristic, an impedance element is inserted in series with a CCFL in the discharge-lamp lighting apparatus. The impedance element must have a sufficient value to absorb the negative resistance characteristic of the CCFL. When driving a single CCFL, the discharge-lamp lighting apparatus uses the leakage inductance Lr of the first transformer T1 as the impedance element.
When simultaneously driving a plurality of CCFLs, simply connecting the CCFLs in parallel with one another causes a problem that a CCFL that is first turned on triggers a voltage drop due to impedance to prevent the other CCFLs from being turned on. To avoid this problem, an impedance element is inserted in series with each CCFL. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the impedance elements are the ballast capacitors C11 and C12. With the ballast capacitors C11 and C12, a voltage applied to the secondary winding S1 of the first transformer T1 becomes free from the ON or OFF state of any CCFL, and therefore, all CCFLs are surely turned on.
Another example of the discharge-lamp lighting apparatus is a multi-lamp drive system disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-31383. This multi-lamp drive system drives a lamp set consisting of first and second lamps. The system includes a drive circuit for converting a DC signal into an AC signal, a transformer whose primary side is electrically connected to the driver circuit and whose secondary side provides an AC power source, and a current balance circuit electrically connected to the lamp set to balance currents passed to the first and second lamps. The current balance circuit has a core, a first winding electrically connected to the first lamp, and a second winding electrically connected to the second lamp. The first and second windings are wound around the same core and have the same number of turns.


An image sensor package including a PCB including bonding areas, an image sensor including bonding pads on edge portions thereof on the PCB, bonding wires connecting the bonding pads with the bonding areas, an insulating adhesion film attaching the bonding wires to the bonding pads on the edge portions of the image sensor, a heat spread pattern spaced apart from the bonding wires and the image sensor on the insulating adhesion film, a supporting holder spaced apart from the edge portions of the image sensor, encloses the image sensor, contacts a top surface of the heat spread pattern and the PCB, and includes a supporting portion at an upper portion thereof, and a transparent cover covering the image sensor on the supporting portion of the supporting holder and spaced apart from the top surface of the image sensor is provided.

1. Field
Example embodiments of the inventive concepts relate to image sensor packages. More particularly, some example embodiments of the inventive concepts relate to image sensor packages that may be used for a photo device.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image sensor that may be used for various fields such as digital cameras, portable equipment, scanners, computers, cars, etc., may convert a received external light into an electric signal. According to the miniaturization of an optical instrument, the image sensor may be manufactured as a package type, which has a comparable size to a chip size of the optical instrument. The image sensor mounted on an image sensor package may be desired to have a high performance without deterioration of an image. In order to obtain a clear image using the image sensor, a structure of the image sensor package may be optimized.


A method and apparatus for detecting an X-ray, the apparatus includes a detector which comprises a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels for detecting an X-ray transmitted by a body to be examined are arranged in a matrix form, a read-out unit which reads out electrical signals corresponding to the detected X-ray from the pixel array, and a reset controller which controls the pixel array to be reset after the X ray is detected, by performing switching so that the plurality of pixels of the pixel array are commonly connected to the reset power source.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method of detecting X-rays, and an X-ray imaging system.
2. Description of the Related Art
X-ray imaging systems project X-rays toward an object such as a human body and detect X-rays that have passed through the object, thereby acquiring an image of the internal structure of the object. X-ray technology is currently used for practical applications in the medical field, the industrial field, the science field, and the like. In particular, in the medical field, X-ray technology is used as a tool for diagnosing the health of a patient. Since an X-ray image of an anatomical structure of a human body is acquired by using X-ray technology, X-ray technology may contribute to ascertaining a pathological phenomenon, a disease, or an abnormal anatomical internal structure of a human body.

Apparatus and method of detecting X-ray, and X-ray imaging system


A system, method and computer program are provided for a control server in a client/server environment wherein an API framework facilitates scalable, network transparent, integrated multimedia content loading and data streaming. Concurrent real time content loading and data streaming are possible and techniques are included for admitting new streams only when they can be serviced without negatively affecting current system performance.

Client/Server computing has become a common technology enabling resource sharing by network connected users. As prices have decreased and performance criteria have improved, client/server technology has more and more been applied to the sharing of digital multimedia data. Encoding digital multimedia data, especially video data, requires large amounts of storage. A real time constant rate of data delivery is also required lest there be jitter and break up in what should be smooth motion video. These storage and data delivery requirements present unique problems in multimedia client/server computing environments.
Available systems usually provide content loading, input, and data streaming, output, as separate and nonoverlapping operations steps. Therefore, these operations tend to be time consuming, inefficient and not very satisfactory to users.
Typically, servers serve client applications via programming interfaces which vary among themselves. These server access differences require interface specific applications to be written. Thus, it is very difficult to take advantage of the capabilities available in the server for concurrency and real time shared access to multimedia data actually stored in real time.
It would, therefore, be desirable to be able to write integrated applications for concurrently accessing in real time multimedia data available to one or more servers interconnected over one or more networks. There is a need for multimedia server programming services having the flexibility to permit simultaneous multimedia data inputs and outputs while sharing resources available at the server and over the network. Such integrated applications would allow for optimization of server resource utilization with no diminution of service quality. Integrated, network-type transparent applications would enable the request of a combination of services for multimedia data loading and streaming. Further, it is desirable that server management of server and network resource sharing be transparent to provide to the ability to scale up to support additional clients.
In current use are systems for delivering video files from a network for view. Often, it is necessary to prepare for viewing by downloading the video file, which means adequate storage space must be available. It would be desirable to have real time video play; that is, to provide video stream without the necessity of first downloading and possibly storing the entire file before play can begin.
There have been prior art solutions proposed for some aspects of the problems noted above. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,244 to Gupta et al, issued Sep. 10, 1996, describes a scalable multimedia network and the underlying message structure for APIs useful in the telephony and cable television industries for providing interactive multimedia services to end users. U.S. Pat. No. 5,307,456 to MacKay, issued Apr. 26, 1994 relates to an integrated multimedia production and authoring system and includes a real time network for interconnecting a variety of multimedia resources and a number of production control workstations. The system is scalable to allow any computer system to be used by an individual producer as an edit workstation for accessing any of the network available resources through an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) to create, edit and store multimedia productions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,942 to Agarwal, issued Apr. 16, 1996 relates to intra/inter decision rules for encoding and decoding video signals for used in point-to-point live audio, video, data conferencing between two PC systems. U.S. Pat. No. 5,550,982 to Long et al, issued Aug. 27, 1996 discloses a video application server including software for managing multiple simultaneous video streams transmitted across a local area network (LAN) in a client/server environment.
In a multimedia client/server environment with real time delivery requirements, there is a critical need for resource management. Optimum utilization of system resources, including disk, CPU, bus, and network adapter bandwidth, while avoiding system degradation is essential. Prior art efforts to reach such a level of resource management have not been entirely successful. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,465 to Gusella et al., issued Apr. 18, 1995, relates to an admission control scheme which does not address control of resources within a given machine in a network. U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,525 to Shan et al., issued Jun. 28, 1994, relates to a resource allocation technique in a best efforts environment, which is not immediately applicable in real time situations. Similarly U.S. Pat. No. 5,548,724 to Akazawa et al., issued Aug. 20, 1996, describes load balancing across file servers in a best efforts environment, not readily adaptable to the constraints of real time situations. U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,007 to Kobayashi et al., issued May 13, 1997, addresses server load distribution in a manner that is independent of considerations of current loads on server or disks. U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,327 to Dan et al., issued Aug. 6, 1996, deals with disk load in a multi client set up, but does not address the effects of current load levels of the server CPU, bus or network adapters.

Network transparent access framework for multimedia serving


A method for making a bearing cap in which the bearing cap has first and second parts with precisely mating surfaces. The first part is cast such that the mating surfaces thereof are formed with protrusions terminating in enlarged heads. The second part is cast in place against the first part such precisely mating surfaces are formed with the second part enveloping the protrusions. The two parts thus cast are forced apart from each other such that the protrusions fracture across the narrowed neck portions by which the heads are joined.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bearing cap and, more particularly, to a cast bearing cap having precisely interfitting and mating parts and to a method for making such a bearing cap.
2. Description of the Related Art
The term "bearing cap" as used herein denotes a device used to surround, support, and guide a rotating or reciprocating shaft. A typical use is at a point of penetration of the shaft through a housing or enclosure such as at the passage of a camshaft or crankshaft through an engine block. Another typical use is at the passage of a crankshaft through a piston connecting rod. The bearing cap may make direct contact with the shaft, or, as is more frequently the case, the bearing cap may surround a bearing which, in turn, directly contacts the shaft. In either event, the bearing caps must be manufactured to close tolerances in order to provide a close, uniform fit around the shaft or bearing.
Bearing caps are frequently formed as split rings having two parts surrounding the shaft or bearing and joined together along a diametric line. With such split rings, not only must the central bore fit closely to the shaft or bearing, but the parts of the caps must fit precisely together at the mating surfaces of the parts of the caps. If the parts of the caps are manufactured separately and individually for subsequent machining and assembly, it is difficult to maintain the tolerances necessary to provide a sufficiently precise fit.
It has been proposed in the prior art to manufacture a two part bearing cap from a unitary bar stock or a cast unitary metal ring. The two parts of the bearing cap are made by first defining a diametric fracture plane by forming weakened diametric notches or grooves on the outer surfaces of the ring on either side of the central opening of the ring. Force is applied to the portions of the ring at opposite sides of the notches or grooves sufficient to fracture the ring along the fracture plane and form two separate ring halves. The intended result of this method is that the fractured diametric surfaces of the ring halves will mate precisely when the ring halves are placed around a shaft or bearing and brought back together.
In practice, however, the aforementioned prior art method has significant drawbacks. First, when the ring is fractured, the metal at the fracture surface is frequently splintered or distorted. Because of this distortion, the fracture surfaces do not precisely mate together when the ring halves are brought together. Second, since the ring must be fractured across its entire diametric cross-sectional area, the force required to produce the fracture is huge. Such force is concentrated at the points where the fracturing device contacts the ring, thus causing the ring to bend and lose its desired dimensions. Third, an embedded steel reinforcing insert may not be used since the internal boundaries between the steel insert and the surrounding cast metal will define stress lines. The ring will tend to fracture along these stress lines rather than along the intended diametric plane.
In another prior art method of manufacturing a two part bearing cap, two semicylindrical halves are first formed separately. The mating diametric surfaces of each half are machined and bores are drilled into the surfaces. Dowels are inserted into the bores and the two halves are assembled together aligned by the dowels. Next, the central opening of the assembled bearing cap is machined to the desired diameter and finish. The halves are then disassembled.
This second prior method also presents significant drawbacks. The method is quite costly, requiring dowels, a step of machining the four mating surfaces, and a step of drilling the four bores for the dowels. Several close tolerances must be held, including the positioning and diameter of the dowel bores and the flatness and orientation of the mating surfaces. A step of assembling bearing cap parts is required before the central opening can be machined, and it may be necessary to bolt the bearing cap parts together before the machining can be done.
Accordingly, there is a heretofore unmet need for a bearing cap having parts which precisely intermit and an economical method for making such a bearing cap.


A semiconductor device comprises a substrate, a ferroelectric capacitor which includes a ferroelectric film on the substrate, and a stress application layer which applies tensile or compressive stress to the ferroelectric film of the ferroelectric capacitor by applying stress to the substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a semiconductor device, and more specifically relates to a FeRAM (ferroelectric random-access memory) which stores information in a ferroelectric capacitor containing a ferroelectric film. Moreover, the present invention relates to a fixture for measurement of electrical property of a ferroelectric film capacitor within a semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a flash memory (electrically-rewritable non-volatile memory) which supplies the information in the form of charge to the floating-gate electrode has been often used as the auxiliary memory of a personal computer or the like. On the other hand, there has been proposed a FeRAM (ferroelectric random-access memory) which stores information in a ferroelectric capacitor in the form of spontaneous polarization of the ferroelectric capacitor, instead of the floating gate electrode as in the flash memory.
In the FeRAM, the ferroelectric materials used in the ferroelectric capacitor include PZT (Pb(Zr, Ti)03), PLZT (Pb(Zr, La, Ti)03), each having the perovskite crystal structure, and bismuth layered ferroelectric substance oxide SBT (SrBi2Ta2O9) having the layered perovskite crystal structure. In the FeRAM, the spontaneous polarization of the capacitor is controlled by the electric field applied, and it has the advantages of high writing speed and low power dissipation. The FeRAM is appropriate for use in a large-scale integrated circuit.
FIG. 1 shows the composition of a memory cell in a conventional FeRAM. As shown in FIG. 1, the memory cell is arranged in the 2T2C composition, and two transfer transistors T1 and T2 and two capacitors C1 and C2 are used in order to store the 1-bit information. The memory cell carries out such complementary operation that the data "0" is stored in one of the capacitors and the data "1" is stored in the other capacitor.
Specifically, when writing information, the transfer transistors T1 and T2 are turned ON by the word line WL, and the data "0" or "1" is inputted to the bit line BL and the data "1" or "0" is inputted to the complementary bit line /BL, so that the complementary information is written in the capacitors C1 and C2 respectively. The complementary information is held in the capacitors as the direction of polarization of the ferroelectric materials of the capacitors.
Moreover, when reading the information, the transfer transistors T1 and T2 are turned ON by the word line WL, and the voltage equivalent to the voltage by the polarization of the capacitors C1 and C2 is applied to the bit line BL and the complementary bit line /BL, so that the sense amplifier 202 reads out the information held by the capacitors according to a difference between the voltage of the bit line BL and the voltage of the complementary bit line /BL.
It has been reported previously that during the integration of the ferroelectric film into a device, under certain processing conditions degradation of the electrical property of the ferroelectric film which is a dielectric substance of the ferroelectric capacitor in the FeRAM arises over time, and read operation sensing margin of the FeRAM capacitor is reduced.
FIG. 2 shows the electric field versus polarization characteristics of a ferroelectric material.
As shown in FIG. 2, the ferroelectric film has the hysteresis characteristics. For example, when the electric field is applied higher than 2.5 times the negative coercive force −Ec with the ferroelectric film initially in the state of remanent polarization +Pr, will be reversed. The polarization will be saturated when the applied electric field is −Es. which is approximately 2.5 times the Ec or higher. And when the applied electric field is released, it will be in the state of the negative remanent polarization −Pr.
The change of the coercive force Ec and the loss of the remanent polarization Pr are major problems among the degradation of the electrical properties of the ferroelectric film.
It is known that the phenomena originate due to the trapped charge at the interface between the lower electrode layer and the upper electrode layer which sandwiches the ferroelectric film, or the point defect such as oxygen vacancies of the ferroelectric film. Moreover, it is known that degradation of the above-mentioned electrical property will be accelerated by heating or irradiation of UV light.
In addition to the above causes, there is the problem that the hysteresis characteristic of the ferroelectric film will change with the stress applied to the ferroelectric film. For example, the hysteresis characteristic of the ferroelectric film is shifted to positive or negative direction of the applied voltage. In such a case, the coercive voltage Ec changes, and even if a normal writing voltage is applied, the polarization is not reversed by the writing operation.
The stresses applied to the ferroelectric film include the stress applied to the interface of the ferroelectric film by the upper electrode directly formed on the ferroelectric film, the stress by the interlayer dielectric film, the passivation film or the circuit pattern used for multi-layer interconnection structure, and the stress guided to the ferroelectric film with the stress applied to the whole substrate when the ferroelectric film is formed.
Moreover, a silicon substrate having a thickness of about 0.65 mm is usually used for manufacturing FeRAM. Before the semiconductor circuit of FeRAM is formed and packaged, the grinding of the backside of the substrate is carried out, so that the silicon substrate is thinned. When the silicon substrate is thinned, there is an expectation that the influence by the above-mentioned stress by the interlayer dielectric film or the like increases further.

Semiconductor device and its manufacture method, and measurement fixture for the semiconductor device


In a plasma etching apparatus, an inactive gas and a reactive gas are supplied from a gas spouting surface of a shower head, and are turned into plasma by means of RF discharge, so that a semiconductor wafer placed on a susceptor is etched by the plasma. The inactive gas is continuously supplied from inactive gas spouting holes formed all over the gas spouting surface. The reactive gas is supplied from reactive gas spouting holes, which are formed all over the gas spouting surface and divided into a plurality of groups, by repeatedly scanning the groups in a time-sharing manner.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for subjecting a target object, such as a semiconductor wafer or LCD substrate, to a process, using plasma generated by means of radio frequency (RF) discharge, and in particular to a method and apparatus for subjecting a target object having a large surface area to plasma etching or plasma deposition at a high planar uniformity and a high processing rate.
In processes of manufacturing semiconductors, various kinds of plasma processes, such as etching, are performed on a target object, such as a semiconductor wafer, in a plasma atmosphere, while plasma is generated in a process chamber. In recent years, target objects of this kind have become higher in their diameter or surface area, such that, for example, semiconductor wafers have changed their size from 6 inches to 8 inches and further to 12 inches (300 mm), in order to decrease the processing cost per unit surface area of the target objects.
In consideration of this demand, researches have been conducted on plasma processing apparatuses for processing a target object of a large surface area. It is thought that, as a type of generating plasma used in such processing apparatuses, the parallel plate type or the ICP (Inductively Coupled Plasma) type is promising. This is because, the other types of generating plasma, such as the ECR (Electron Cyclotron Resonance) type and the helicon wave type, are apt to produce a plurality of modes, thereby bringing about a difficulty in obtaining uniform plasma, when a plasma source becomes large in accordance with a target object.
There is another problem caused due to a large magnet in these plasma processing apparatuses. In this case, where plasma is spread by means of diffusion due to gradient of a magnetic field without making a plasma source larger, electrons are accelerated at the peripheral region, thereby causing plasma properties to be different between the central region and the peripheral region.
Further, if a wafer larger than an 8-inch (200 mm) wafer needs to be provided with process properties, such as processing rate, selectivity, and processed shape, which are equal to those obtained relative to the 8-inch wafer, the flow rate of a process gas should be increased in proportion to an increase in the surface area of the target surface. In this case, where the height of a plasma space, i.e., the distance between upper and lower electrodes in the parallel plate type, is maintained to be equal to that of a conventional apparatus, the aspect ratio of the plasma space between its height and width becomes greater with an increase in the surface area of the target surface, thereby reducing its exhausting conductance. As a result, a high vacuum suitable for a plasma process is hardly obtained while causing a large predetermined amount of a processing gas to flow, in consideration of the performance of, e.g., a vacuum pump currently being used. For example, as compared with an 8-inch wafer, a 300-mm (12-inch) wafer increases its surface area 2.24 times larger, and thus requires a 2.24 times greater amount of processing gas, thereby bringing about a difficulty in vacuum exhaustion. Further, exhaustion of a reactive gas differs between the central and peripheral regions of the target surface, and thus process properties, such as a processing rate, are not uniform between the central and peripheral regions of the target surface.
It can be assumed that the exhausting conductance should be increased by expanding the distance between the electrodes so as to allow the vacuum exhaustion to be performed easily. In this case, however, if its dissociated gas state is to be the same as that in a conventional apparatus while preventing the plasma density from lowering, it is necessary to set the residence time of the gas in the plasma space to be also equal. As a result, the flowing amount of the gas has to be increased, thereby further bringing about a difficulty in vacuum exhaustion.


In a graph displaying method and apparatus and a processing operation monitoring apparatus, a succession of graph points representing the progress of a process are sequentially displayed from one side to the other on the graph display area of a screen, one added at a time to the leading end of the graph. When the latest graph point arrives at the right end of the graph display area, the graph is shifted back leftwardly to a predetermined position at a speed that can be followed by the operator's eyes, whereupon an additional succession of graph points are sequentially displayed at the leading end of the graph. While the graph is being shifted from the right end of the graph display area to the predetermined position, a plurality of transient graphs is successively displayed from the start position of the movement to the terminating position, thus maintaining continuity of the displaying graph so that the operator can monitor the progress of the process without interruption and/or misrecognition.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a graph displaying method and apparatus and a processing operation monitoring apparatus for displaying measured data, as a graph, on a display screen and more particularly to a technical concept for displaying a transient graph in which the graph to be displayed is varied in coordinate by winding up the displayed graph, by changing a display range or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, a graph displaying method is known in which a new data point of data generated in time series is at all times displayed as an additional graph point on the right end of a display screen while old data points are displayed so as to be moved toward the left end of the display screen. However, in this conventional method, the graph normally continues moving from the right side to the left side on the display screen so that it is difficult for an operator to observe the graph.
To this end, a graph displaying apparatus in an effort to solve the conventional problem is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 11751/1986. In the graph displaying apparatus, a succession of graph points are displayed in order rightwardly from a reference position, located in the midst of a graph display area of a display screen, one graph point at a time being added to the leading end of the graph. When the latest graph point reaches the end of the graph display area, the entire graph is caused to jump back leftwardly along a time axis in such a manner that the end of the graph meets the reference position. This process is hereinafter called a "winding-up process". As subsequent data are generated, an additional succession of graph points representing the subsequent data are displayed in order, restarting off rightwardly from the reference position. When the right end of the new succession of graph points arrives at the end of the graph display area, then another winding-up process is performed. Therefore, only when the right end of the graph reaches the end of the graph display area, the graph is instantaneously moved to the reference position, without moving all the time.
According to this prior concept of the Japanese Publication 11751/1986, it is easy to monitor the data because the graph is kept still until the right end of the graph arrives at the end of the graph display area, whereupon a winding-up process is performed, namely, the graph is instantaneously moved back to the start position. Since continuity of the graph on the display screen is gone down about this graph winding-up action, the operator's monitoring of the graph would be interrupted due to the graph winding-up process.
In particular, assume that the reference position is located in the midst of the graph display area in order to leave on the display screen the past data points which for a predetermined time precedes the latest data point at the time immediately after the graph winding-up action. In this case, the more the old data points are secured, the narrower a part of the graph display area between the reference position and the rightside end of the display screen is obtained. As a consequence, the winding-up action would occur frequently to thereby break the operator's monitoring at increased frequency.

Graph displaying method and apparatus and processing operation monitoring apparatus


A client computer system and associated method in a computer network over which are provided programs with methods. The client computer is capable of executing the programs with reduced run-time memory space requirements. Specifically, a network communications interface receives the methods of the programs and a network communications manager loads uncompressed in available space in the run-time memory the methods when they are received. An execution controller controls execution of the programs so that the methods are invoked and not invoked at various times during execution of the programs. A compressor compresses in the memory compressible ones of the uncompressed methods that are not invoked so that space is made available in the run-time memory. The compressor also decompresses in available space in the run-time memory decompressible ones of the methods so that they may be invoked.

Computer systems are now being built or configured to take advantage of properties of programs whose code is in an architecture neutral (AN) binary format, hereinafter referred to as AN code. Thus, the AN code of these programs is independent of the specific architecture or platform of the computer system.
The term architecture is defined for the purposes of this document to mean the operating characteristics of a family of computer models. Examples of specific architectures include Macintosh computers, IBM PC compatible computers using the DOS or Windows operating systems, Sun Microsystems computers running the Solaris operating system, and computer systems using the Unix operating system.
The term architecture specific (AS) is defined for the purposes of this document to refer to the requirement that the code of certain programs be in a binary format, hereinafter referred to AS code, for execution only on computer systems with a specific computer architecture. Thus, programs with code written in a conventional programming language (e.g., C language) and compiled for a specific architecture (e.g., IBM compatible PC) can only run on that architecture or emulators of that architecture.
The term architecture neutral (AN) is defined for the purposes of this document to refer to programs whose compiled code can be executed on a variety of computer systems with different architectures. For example, a computer system with a specific architecture can be configured with a Java (a trademark of Sun Microsystems) virtual machine module. The Java virtual machine module enables execution of programs with code written in the Java programming language and compiled into bytecode, hereinafter referred to as Java bytecode, for the instruction set of the Java virtual machine. Java bytecode is independent of the specific architecture of the computer system.
Important features of programs with AN code include their portability. For example, since programs in AN code can be executed on any computer system configured to execute the AN code regardless of the computer system's specific architecture, these programs can be easily transported over a network from one computer system to another. For example, programs compiled into Java bytecode can be executed on any computer system with a Java virtual machine module and can be easily transported over a network from one computer system to another using a HotJava (a trademark of Sun Microsystems) network communications manager.
Furthermore, another important feature related to the portability of programs compiled into Java bytecode is the verifiability of such programs.
Specifically, the Java virtual machine module can easily verify that these programs satisfy predefined integrity criteria. Such integrity criteria include stack and data type usage restrictions that ensure that Java bytecode cannot overflow or underflow the Java virtual machine module' s stack and that all instructions in Java bytecode utilize only data whose data type matches the data type restrictions for those instructions. As a result, a program in Java bytecode cannot forge object pointers and generally cannot access system resources other than those which the user has explicitly granted it permission to use.
For these reasons, computer systems are being configured for execution of programs in AN code that are received over a network. In fact, in some cases, such computer systems may not even require a secondary memory (e.g., a hard disk) since the programs are loaded directly into the run-time (i.e., execution-time) memory (e.g., random access memory (RAM)) of the computer system. As a result, the user of such a computer system is freed from the cycle of software purchase, installation, configuration and upgrade that is currently typical of software products.
The just described features of AN code make it particularly attractive for use with small or cheap computer systems that are networked and are loaded with AN code on demand. For example, these kinds of computer systems may be video games, personal digital assistants (PDAs), cellular phones, or other similar computer systems or computer operated devices.
Unfortunately, however, programs in AN code run slower than the same programs in AS code. For example, programs in Java bytecode executed by a Java virtual machine module typically run 2.5 to 20 times as slow as the equivalent program in AS code. Thus, a user of a computer system may find it desirable to receive over a network AS code of a program so that the AS code can be executed on the specific architecture of the computer system. However, to ensure that these programs are securely shipped to a computer system, the network would have to be closed or trusted or these programs have to have embedded digital signatures which can be verified.
Moreover, AS code which has been generated from AN is much larger than the original AN code. For example, AS code generated from Java bytecode is typically 2 to 5 times the size of the Java bytecode. Thus, a fixed amount of run-time memory can hold substantially less compiled AS code than AN code. However, as mentioned previously, AS code is much faster than AN code from which it is generated and may be the only way to achieve adequate performance.
In the just described computer systems, price is extremely important. In practice, one of the most significant costs in building such computer systems is the amount of run-time memory that is required for execution of loaded programs. It is therefore very important to reduce the amount of run-time memory required by these computer systems since such a reduction produces a strong competitive advantage.
Furthermore, in the computer systems of the type described above, it may not be possible to page to secondary memory. In this case, the AN or AS code received over a network could be cached in the run-time memory and flushed when its space in the run-time memory is required. However, when execution of the flushed program is to be continued, the original code must again be downloaded over the network. This significantly affects the execution speed of the program. Furthermore, even in computer systems where it is possible to page to secondary memory, the time required to retrieve the code from the secondary memory may be too costly.
In the present invention, compression and then decompression of the code of a program received over a network is used to reduce the storage cost of the code in the run-time memory. Since this is much faster than flushing code and retrieving it, the execution speed of the code is not significantly affected by compression and decompression.

Computer system and method for executing methods of downloaded programs with reduced run-time memory space requirements


A floating barrel nut may be used to retain a nut in a seat of a segmented cylindrical slug. In one embodiment, the barrel nut according to this disclosure may comprise: a nut with a threaded shaft and a flange that is chamfered on its lower end; a cylindrical slug that has been segmented along a plane that is parallel to the cylindrical axis, said slug having a head and a foot; two pins; wherein said nut is configured to float between the head and foot of the slug; wherein said shaft features an indentation on opposite sides thereof; and, wherein said pins are attached to the head and foot of the slug and sit in the indentations of the shaft. In another embodiment the pins are bent around the shaft.

Field of Invention
The present application is within the field of threaded fasteners. In particular, this application is in the field of barrel nuts.
Background of the Invention
A barrel nut is typified by a segmented cylindrical slug (segmented by a plane that is parallel to the cylindrical axis) with a threaded bore that is perpendicular to the length of the segmented cylinder. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 1,671,757 (issued May 29, 1928) or U.S. Pat. No. 2,809,686 (issued Oct. 15, 1957). Operably, barrel nuts may be employed for fastening together panels, wherein the slug of the barrel nut is positioned inside a cylindrical hole in one panel so that the nut's threaded bore is transverse to the cylindrical hole and aligned with an access hole formed in the other panel. When so positioned inside a cylindrical hole, the barrel nut is captive or self-wrenching so that a bolt can be inserted through the access hole and threaded into the nut. Given said operability, the threaded bore of a barrel nut is frequently configured to float within the segmented cylindrical slug so that some alignment between the threaded bore and the access hole can be achieved after insertion of the nut into the cylindrical hole. Said floating configuration is typically accomplished by loosely providing a nut to a seat formed in the segmented side of the slug. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 2,903,035 (issued Sep. 8, 1959), U.S. Pat. No. 2,920,672 (issued Jan. 12, 1960), U.S. Pat. No. 3,081,809 (issued Mar. 19, 1963), U.S. Pat. No. 3,192,982 (issued Jul. 6, 1965), U.S. Pat. No. 3,205,927 (issued Sep. 14, 1965), U.S. Pat. No. 3,322,177 (issued May 30, 1967), U.S. Pat. No. 4,119,130 (issued Oct. 10, 1978), U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,207 (issued Aug. 29, 1989), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,032,047 (issued Jul. 16, 1991). Floating barrel nuts become useless whenever the loose nut disassociates from its seat in the slug. Thus, a need exists for a means for retaining the nut within its seat in the segmented cylindrical slug of a barrel nut.
One approach to retaining a nut in a seat of a segmented cylindrical slug of a barrel nut is shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,903,035; 2,920,672; 3,081,809; 3,192,982; and 3,205,927. In those patents, a nut with a square flange and threaded shaft is seated in the segmented side of the slug via sliding the nut along its flange between a head and foot at either end of the slug in a direction that is parallel to the segment plane. Still referring to those patents, the nut is retained in its seat via placing a small pin through the head and foot at opposite corners of the segment plane so that the nut is confined within the seat via interaction between the pins and the nut's flange or shaft. Although a common means for retaining a nut in the slug of a barrel nut, a pin has not been a satisfactory nut retaining means in many instances because the pin, being secured to the slug at only one of its ends, can be easily bent whereby the pin no longer interacts with the flange or shaft of the nut to retain the nut in its seat. Thus, a need still remains for a more effective means for retaining the nut within its seat in the segmented cylindrical slug.
In view of the foregoing, the pin may be improved as a retaining means by extending each pin across the entire length of the slug so that it is connected at both the head and foot of the slug. Thus far, this has been practically unachievable in view of the NAS 577 standard for barrel nuts. Front views of a NAS 577 barrel nut 1 with a nut 10 and slug 14 is provided as FIGS. 10A and 10B. According to said NAS standard, with reference to FIGS. 10A and 10B, the edge of the cylindrical shaft 11 of the nut 10 corresponds with the edge of the flange 12 so that the extension of the pin 13 across the slug 14 is blocked by the shaft 11 of the nut 10. Referring to FIG. 10A, this blockage cannot be avoided by moving the pins 13 outward (in dashed lines) relative to the nut because, in such a configuration, the nut 10 would not be retained by the pins (see FIG. 10A). Referring to FIG. 10B, the pin location cannot be moved outwardly by extending the flange 12 (in dashed lines) on the sides of the floating nut 10 because such extension would result in the flange 12 protruding beyond the curving surface of the slug 14 whereby the profile of the barrel nut 1 would not be a semi-circle (see FIG. 10B). U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,032,047 and 3,192,982 appear to disclose barrel nut structures that are stabilized via attachment of said structures at both the head and foot of the slug of a barrel nut, but said structures are for purposes of positioning a barrel nut inside the cylindrical hole of a panel and do not serve nut retention purposes beyond the pins described above. As result, a need still remains for a more effective means for retaining the nut within its seat in the segmented cylindrical slug of a barrel nut.

Floating barrel nut assembly and related methods


The monitoring of a brake is disclosed. The brake includes first and second braking surfaces and a magnetizing device arranged to move the braking surfaces to an open state, in which the braking surfaces are separated from each other, and to a closed state, in which the braking surfaces are connected to each other. During the monitoring of the brake, the time is measured that elapses from the change in the magnetic field caused by the magnetizing device to the shift of the braking surfaces from one state to another.

Brakes used in hoisting devices are critical to the operation of the hoisting device both in terms of economy and safety. The malfunction of a brake may lead to dropping the load, whereby other parts of the hoisting device may be damaged and there is a risk that the persons working close by will get hurt.
Brakes used in hoisting devices are conventional disc brakes, in which disc-like friction material rotating along with the motor axle presses against an anchor plate and deceleration takes place.
The friction surface wears during deceleration. If the friction surface wears out, the braking effect of the brake decreases significantly and the brake can no longer operate as designed. Thus, the brake malfunctions.
The condition of a brake is typically monitored manually by measuring the thickness of the friction surface with a slide gauge. So as to be able to measure the friction surface, a possible brake casing thus needs to be dismantled, and after the measurement and the possibly required brake maintenance, the casing needs to be closed again. Brake monitoring thus entails manual labour that is time-consuming and subject to errors. In addition, in hoisting devices, in which the brake is high up, as in harbour cranes, there is a risk that the maintenance person may fall and taking this into account may further add to the time required to perform maintenance.
During the checking of the brake of the hoisting device, the production machine to which the brake is mounted is not available for use for its conventional work. A harbour crane under brake maintenance, for instance, is then out of use during the checking of the brake. However, in terms of economy, the downtime of an expensive apparatus like a harbour crane should be kept as rare and short as possible. Therefore, it is desirable that breaks in the operation of production machines are as short as possible. By scheduling the production breaks, it is possible to shorten the downtime, as the maintenance work can be planned better.
In terms of safety, the wear of a hoisting device brake causes a risk by increasing the probability of the malfunction of the brake, which may cause economic losses, if the hoisting device or its parts break or people in the vicinity of the hoisting device are hurt or damage is caused to the production line or other property. For example, if the brake does not close, the load of the hoisting device may fall. Also, if the brake does not close, the motor of the hoisting device may run against the brake and the brake may overheat and even explode.


A hand held marking device including a male marker and female marker for engagably fitting to one another. The hand held marking device provides for access to two daubers in fluid communication with different sources of ink in independent reservoirs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to devices for applying a fluid on a surface desired to be coated, and more particularly, the present invention relates to marking devices for applying ink on surfaces and the like.
2. Prior Art
Bingo is a game wherein the game player has a bingo card which comprises numerous square blocks, usually twenty-five, arranged in rows and columns, and each block containing a numeral therein. As the game master announces a number for a particular column, the game player marks the appropriate square.
Of course, quickly and effectively applying ink to bingo cards is important to the game player. It is very difficult to memorize the numbers called by the game master, and the corresponding squares on the bingo card to be marked. Game players presently use simple ink marking devices which allow the player to apply ink to the square called by the game master. Frequently, numerous bingo games are played simultaneously. Oftentimes in bingo, numerous games are played within games. Certain types of games require the game player to consider all the cards and remark particular blocks which may already have been daubed or coated with ink. This task becomes quite difficult and confusing when only one-colored ink is available to be used by the game player, as it is almost impossible to distinguish the old markings from the new markings.
Thus, game players presently use a plurality of different colored markers while playing bingo. A problem exists with this technique in that precious time is lost in putting down one marker, looking for a different colored marker, picking up and handling the new marker, and locating the square to be marked.
Hence, there is presently a great need for a marking device which allows the game player to place different colored inks on bingo cards, while permitting the game player to make the ink change quickly and efficiently, such that no time is wasted or burden imposed in making the color change. The present invention provides the solution to this long felt need.


A communication system of this invention is constituted by a controller which accommodates a plurality of extensions connected to an office line and telephones, and includes a facsimile unit for performing facsimile communication with another communication apparatus through the office line, and a plurality of telephones connected to the extensions. The controller can inform an operation state during facsimile communication to the connecting telephone. The operation state of the facsimile unit can be recognized at the telephone. Information received by the facsimile unit can be confirmed at the telephone, and some data received by the facsimile unit can be controlled by the telephone. A registration result of an index number can be commonly used by the telephone and the facsimile unit.

The present invention relates to a communication system, which is connected to another communication apparatus through a communication medium, and consists of a controller which has a facsimile communication function, connects a plurality of telephone terminals, and performs channel control with the telephone terminals, and the telephone terminals connected to the controller.
The present invention also relates to a communication system comprising, e.g., a plurality of telephone communication apparatuses, and a facsimile apparatus and, more particularly, to a communication system in which these communication apparatuses can share index number dialing function.
The present invention further relates to a communication system incorporating a line control unit and a facsimile communication control unit, and can connect a plurality of telephone terminals.
As a conventional communication system constituted by connecting a plurality of telephones and a plurality of data communication apparatuses through a plurality of communication media, a system comprising a main controller which accommodates a large number of telephones lines and outside lines connected to facsimile apparatuses and key telephones and performs channel control among telephone lines is known.
FIG. 53 shows the arrangement of this system. As shown in FIG. 53, facsimile apparatuses 110 and 111 and a plurality of key telephones A 102, B 103, and C 104 are respectively connected to extensions 130 to 134, and a main controller 101 for performing channel formation control among these extensions and channel control among the extensions and connecting outside lines 121 to 123 is arranged. The main controller 101 also comprises a power supply unit for supplying power to the key telephones.
As another example, telephone lines 130 and 131 connected to the facsimile apparatuses 110 and 112 are separated from the remaining extensions 132 to 134. Normally, these lines 130 and 131 are connected to two of the outside lines 121 to 123, and each comprises a pair of signal lines which are disconnected from the outside lines using a manual selector or the like. The key telephones 102 to 104 are used as special-purpose telephones for the main controller. Each of the telephone lines 132 to 134 serving as connecting telephone lines comprises a total of two pairs of signal lines, i.e., a pair of control and power supply signal lines in addition to normal telephone line signal lines.
In this system, however, the key telephones and the facsimile apparatuses are not related to each other, and the facsimile apparatuses are merely connected to the controller of the key telephones and are not systematically connected. For this reason, this system has only a function of originating a call through the telephone lines of the facsimile apparatuses when the telephone line connected to the facsimile apparatuses is not busy.
When the facsimile apparatus as a non-telephone terminal receives information, a user must come to the non-telephone terminal to check if information reception is performed. If not, he or she cannot know the presence/absence of reception.
If the user knows that data reception was performed and comes to the facsimile apparatus to check if the received data is one addressed to him, the received data is often one addressed to a third party, and he often proves fruitless.
In order to avoid this, in addition to data transmission, a calling party calls a party to be called using another telephone line, and then transmits information to the called party, or must send a message indicating that the information has been transmitted.
When data reception or transmission processing is performed, a user cannot know when the communication is ended, and must frequently come to the communication apparatus to check if the communication is ended when there is urgent transmission data. In particular, when a user sits far from the facsimile apparatus, this results in poor efficiency.
When the facsimile apparatus as the non-telephone terminal performs data communication, a transmission-side operator cannot send specific information to a reception-side operator. More specifically, if letters "emergency" are inserted in a part of transmission image information, a receiver does not perform special processing for these letters, and only prints out these letters together with other information.
When the facsimile apparatus as the non-telephone terminal performs confidential reception, apparatuses other than one which performed this reception cannot detect the confidential reception.
Therefore, a user must come to the non-telephone terminal to check if the confidential reception is performed. If not, he cannot know the presence/absence of confidential reception.
When confidential reception is performed, the non-telephone terminal (e.g., the facsimile apparatus) cannot be effectively used unless the received data is output. When confidential reception is performed, it is preferably detected as quickly as possible.
While the facsimile apparatus as the non-telephone terminal performs information transmission/reception, a talking reservation cannot be made using a telephone, and the talking (telephone) reservation can only be made using an additional telephone integrally connected to the facsimile apparatus.
For this reason, a user must come to the non-telephone terminal every time he wants to make telephone reservation.
When the facsimile apparatus as the non-telephone terminal receives information, even if an amount of remaining recording paper sheets becomes small and hence, the number of sheets to be received becomes small, the user must come to the facsimile apparatus to check the remaining amount. For this reason, the user cannot know an exchange timing of recording paper, and reception is often interrupted.
The conventional facsimile apparatus or private telephone apparatus normally comprises an "index number dialing" function.
This function includes an "index number dialing" function in a narrow sense with which call originating processing is performed using a telephone number registered beforehand in correspondence with an index number upon depression of a combination of a key for selecting (designating) an index number function and a numerical key for inputting an index number, and a "one-touch dialing" function for originating a call of a registered telephone number upon depression of a single key.
Facsimile apparatuses and telephones must be connected to a central office network to provide their functions. However, since the facsimile apparatus is not always operated, it is inadvisable to fix one telephone line specially for the facsimile apparatus in view of running cost or the like.
In this situation, the present applicant proposed a facsimile apparatus incorporating a line exchange circuit. With this facsimile apparatus, a plurality of telephones and the facsimile apparatus share a central office line, and its exchange operation is performed by the line exchange circuit incorporated in the facsimile apparatus.
In this case, the telephone and the facsimile apparatus have basically different functions. An index number registered in the facsimile apparatus cannot be used by the telephone, and vice versa. In general, registration of an index telephone number to a telephone and that to a facsimile apparatus should be performed separately.
However, in view of cost of the apparatuses, it is preferable that index numbers are commonly used.
When a facsimile apparatus with a handset is used, the handset can be used as a handset for a telephone. When a call is originated from this handset, an index telephone number registered to the normal telephone is preferably accessed.
In a conventional communication system incorporating a line control unit and a facsimile communication control unit and capable of connecting a plurality of telephone terminals, when a telephone reservation is made using a telephone reservation function of facsimile communication, an operator call is made after message transmission is completed.
The conventional telephone reservation processing will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 54 and 55.
FIG. 54 illustrates a case wherein a telephone reservation is made from a transmission side, and FIG. 55 illustrates a case wherein a telephone reservation is made from a reception side.
A case will be described first with reference to FIG. 54 wherein a telephone reservation is made from the transmission side.
When a telephone reservation was made and message transmission was ended, the transmission-side apparatus sends out an RTC (Return To Control) signal indicating the last line data of a one-page message. The transmission side then sends out a preamble (a frame used for performing synchronization at the reception side in order to normally receive a binary code information portion following the preamble), and a PRI-Q signal (transmission-side telephone reservation signal). For example, the PRI-Q signal can be sent out a maximum of three times at equal time intervals until a response signal indicating that an operator answers the phone from the reception side is detected.
When the response signal from a party called is detected, the transmission side causes the facsimile communication control unit to generate a ringing tone of a telephone, thus performing a call of an operator who made the reservation. After a transmission-side operator who made the telephone reservation responds to this call, the transmission side sends out a PRI-Q signal (indicating off-hook), and switches a telephone line from the facsimile communication unit to a special-purpose connecting telephone. Thus, voice communication is allowed.
On the other hand, when the above-mentioned PRI-Q signal is received, the reception side causes the facsimile communication control unit to generate a telephone ringing tone to perform an operator call. When the operator answers this call, the reception-side apparatus sends out a "preamble+PIP/PIN" (reception-side operator answers the phone), and switches a telephone line from the facsimile control unit to a special-purpose connecting telephone. For this reason, when the transmission-side operator answers the phone, talking communication is allowed.
The operator call from the transmission side has been described.
A case will be described with reference to FIG. 55 wherein a telephone reservation is made from the reception-side apparatus.
When transmission of a one-page message is completed, the transmission-side apparatus sends out a "message+RTC" signal, and then sends out a "preamble+Q" (post message signal). Then, the transmission-side apparatus waits for a response signal from the reception-side apparatus.
In this case, since the telephone reservation was made at the reception-side apparatus, the response signal PIP/PIN (telephone reservation from the reception side) is received from the reception-side apparatus. When this signal is received, the facsimile communication control unit generates a ringing tone of a telephone to perform an operator call. When an operator answers the phone, a PRI-Q signal indicating that the operator is on the phone is sent to the reception-side apparatus, and a telephone line is switched from the facsimile communication control unit to the special-purpose connecting telephone.
When the telephone reservation was made and the post message signal Q is received, the reception-side apparatus sends out the signal PIP/PIN since the telephone reservation was made. When the PRI-Q signal from the transmission side, indicating that the operator is on the line, is received, the facsimile communication control unit generates a telephone ringing tone to perform an operator call. When an operator answers the phone, the signal PIP/PIN indicating an operator's response is sent out, and a telephone line is switched from the facsimile communication control unit to the special-purpose connecting telephone. Thus, talking communication is allowed.
Note that a hatched portion in FIGS. 54 and 55 indicates a preamble. This also applies to FIGS. 11, 12, and 13 to be described later.
However, in this case, the telephone line connected to the apparatus is connected to the facsimile communication control unit, and is not connected to a telephone terminal. For this reason, a ringing tone of the operator call is generated from only the facsimile communication control unit. Therefore, when an operator sits far from the facsimile communication control unit, he cannot often answer the phone.

Communication system and data communication method


In a discrete multitone spread spectrum system, a base station receives a transmission burst from a remote unit being installed that includes delay compensation pilot tones that are uniformly spread throughout the transmission bandwidth. The arrival time transmission burst is not synchronized with the other remote units transmitting to the base station. The base station measures the phase delay of each tone and calculates the delay of the remote unit from the slope of the line of phase angle versus tone frequency. The base station transmits a signal to the remote unit that includes the magnitude and direction of the delay, which allows the remote unit to adapt the timing of its transmission to be synchronized with the other remote units.

Wireless communications systems, such as cellular and personal communications systems, operate over limited spectral bandwidths. They must make highly effective use of the scarce bandwidth resource to provide good service to a large population of users. Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) protocol has been used by wireless communications systems to efficiently make use of limited bandwidths. The protocol uses a unique code to distinguish each user's data signal from other users' data signals. Knowledge of the unique code, with which any specific information is transmitted, permits the separation and reconstruction of each user's message at the receiving end of the communication channel.
The personal wireless access network (PWAN) system described in the referenced Alamouti, Stolarz, et al. patent application, uses a form of the CDMA protocol known as discrete multitone spread spectrum (DMT-SS) to provide efficient communications between a base station and a plurality of remote units. In this protocol, the user's data signal is modulated by a set of weighted discrete frequencies or tones. The weights are spreading codes that distribute the data signal over many discrete tones covering a broad range of frequencies or tones. The weights are complex numbers with the real component acting to modulate the amplitude of a tone while the complex component of the weight acts to modulate the phase of the same tone. Each tone in the weighted tone set bears the same data signal. Plural users at the transmitting station can use the same tone set to transmit their data, but each of the users sharing the tone set has a different set of spreading codes. The weighted tone set for a particular user is transmitted to the receiving station where it is processed with despreading codes related to the user's spreading codes, to recover the user's data signal. For each of the spatially separated antennas at the receiver, the received multitone signals are transformed from time domain signals to frequency domain signals. Despreading weights are assigned to each frequency component of the signals received by each antenna element. The values of the despreading weights are combined with the received signals to obtain an optimized approximation of individual transmitted signals characterized by a particular multitone set and transmitting location. The PWAN system has a total of 2560 discrete tones (carriers) equally spaced in 8 MHz of available bandwidth in the range of 1850 to 1990 MHz. The spacing between the tones is 3.125 kHz. The total set of tones are numbered consecutively from 0 to 2559 starting from the lowest frequency tone. The tones are used to carry traffic messages and overhead messages between the base station and the plurality of remote units. The traffic tones are divided into 32 traffic partitions, with each traffic channel requiring at least one traffic partition of 72 tones.
In addition, the PWAN system uses overhead tones to establish synchronization and to pass control information between the base station and the remote units. A Common Link Channel (CLC) is used by the base to transmit control information to the Remote Units. A Common Access Channel (CAC) is used to transmit messages from the Remote Unit to the Base. There is one grouping of tones assigned to each channel. These overhead channels are used in common by all of the remote units when they are exchanging control messages with the base station.
In the PWAN system, Time Division Duplexing, (TDD) is used by the base station and the remote unit to transmit data and control information in both directions over the same multi-tone frequency channel. Transmission from the base station to the remote unit is called forward transmission and transmission from the remote unit to the base station is called reverse transmission. The time between recurrent transmissions from either the remote unit or the base station is the TDD period. In every TDD period, there are four consecutive transmission bursts in each direction. Data is transmitted in each burst using multiple tones. The base station and each remote unit must synchronize and conform to the TDD timing structure and both the base station and the remote unit must synchronize to a framing structure. All remote units and base stations must be synchronized so that all remote units transmit at the same time and then all base stations transmit at the same time. When a remote unit initially powers up, it must acquire synchronization from the base station so that It can exchange control and traffic messages within the prescribed TDD time format. The remote unit must also acquire phase synchronization for the DMT-SS signals so that the remote is operating at the same frequency and phase as the base station.
When a remote unit is first installed, it transmits a signal over the CAC channel to the base station. This signal will probably be received at the base station at a time which is not the same as the other remote units transmitting to the base station. The difference between the expected time of the signal, and the time that the signal actually arrives at the base station, is the delay.
Previous systems that compensate for this delay have included systems which have a delay time measurement resolution that is limited. Furthermore, delay time measurement in a DMT-SS protocol is subject to both noise noise and multipath fading.

Delay compensation in a discrete multitone spread spectrum communications system