Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. A base station may determine a configuration including a set of signature waveforms for a micro-sleep mode of operation in shared spectrum, and may transmit the configuration to at least one user equipment (UE) served by the base station. Additionally, a UE may receive a configuration including a set of signature waveforms for a micro-sleep mode of operation in shared spectrum. The UE may detect at least one signature waveform of the set of signature waveforms, and in response to detecting the at least one signature waveform, operate in the micro-sleep mode for a period of time.

The following relates generally to wireless communication, and more specifically to methods, apparatuses, and systems for micro-sleep operation in a shared radio frequency spectrum (or shared spectrum).
Wireless communications systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing the available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of such multiple-access systems include code division multiple access (CDMA) systems, time division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) systems, and orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) systems, (e.g., a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, or a New Radio (NR) system). A wireless multiple-access communications system may include a number of base stations or access network nodes, each simultaneously supporting communication for multiple communication devices, which may be otherwise known as user equipment (UE).
In NR, it has been contemplated that the system will support some modes of communications over a shared spectrum or unlicensed radio frequency spectrum of a cellular network. Devices operating in the shared spectrum may employ a listen before talk (LBT) or clear channel assessment (CCA) procedure to ensure the medium is clear before transmitting in the shared spectrum. However, this is not required for devices operating in a licensed spectrum. In this regard, techniques for power saving may be important as devices operating in a shared spectrum deployment typically consume more power as compared to devices operating in a licensed spectrum deployment. Therefore, improved techniques for identifying scenarios when UE micro-sleep is feasible and implementing rules for base station guided UE micro-sleep mode of operation may be desirable.

Methods, apparatuses and systems for micro-sleep operation in shared spectrum


A method for fabricating a rotational-to-linear motion conversion mechanism which can avoid a planetary shaft from being tilted with respect to a sun shaft when the conversion mechanism is assembled. The method includes fabricating a subassembly with the planetary shaft being held in parallel to the sun shaft. The subassembly includes the sun shaft having a first and second sun gear at its opposing ends and a male thread at its center, the planetary shaft having a first planetary gear at its one end and a male thread at its center, a ring shaft having a female thread, and a first and second ring gear. The method also includes mating the second planetary gear with the second sun gear and the second ring gear while the second planetary gear is being fitted over the outer circumferential surface of the other end of the planetary shaft in the subassembly.

For example, as a rotational-to-linear motion conversion mechanism, one described in Patent Document 1 is known.
This conversion mechanism includes a pipe-shaped ring shaft, a sun shaft disposed inside the ring shaft to extend coaxially with the ring shaft, and a plurality of planetary shafts disposed between the sun shaft and the ring shaft to extend in the same direction as do the sun shaft and the ring shaft. A female thread is formed on the inner circumference of the ring shaft and a male thread is formed on the outer circumference of the sun shaft and on the outer circumference of the planetary shaft. The male thread of the planetary shaft is mated with the male thread of the sun shaft and the female thread of the ring shaft.
In the conversion mechanism configured as above, a rotational motion of the ring shaft will cause the planetary shaft to make a planetary motion, i.e., to rotate about its own axis while rotating about the axis of the sun shaft. The planetary motion of the planetary shaft in turn produces an axial linear motion of the sun shaft. The aforementioned conversion mechanism thus converts the rotational motion of the ring shaft to the linear motion of the sun shaft.    Patent Document 1: WO2004/094870 A1
In a process of fabricating the rotational-to-linear motion conversion mechanism, the inventor found that the planetary shaft is tilted between the ring shaft and the sun shaft from the parallel position (i.e., a position in which the axis of the planetary shaft is parallel to the axis of the sun shaft). The planetary shaft is possibly tilted in this manner for the following reason.
In the conversion mechanism, the number of threads of each component is set to a different value. Accordingly, engagements between the female thread of the ring shaft, the male thread of the sun shaft, and the male thread of each planetary shaft would produce backlash therebetween. The magnitude of backlash may vary depending on the setting of each number of threads. For this reason, in the process of fabricating the conversion mechanism, force acting radially upon the planetary shaft would cause the planetary shaft to displace and tilt with respect to the sun shaft by the amount of the backlash. Under this condition, each component of the conversion mechanism is fabricated.
In the conversion mechanism having the planetary shaft tilted with respect to its parallel position, the threads of each component are mated unevenly with each other, thereby accelerating local wearing of the threads with loss of service life. This also causes an increase in friction between the components, resulting in a decrease in the efficiency of conversion from rotational to linear motion.

Method of producing mechanism for converting rotational motion into linear motion


This invention provides methods to predict the degree of elevation of serum cholesterol levels in patients treated with immunosuppressive medication. This invention also provides treatment strategies based on these predictions and kits to carry out these methods.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention belongs to the fields of pharmacology and medicine and provides methods to determine which patients will develop elevated serum cholesterol levels during treatment with an immunosuppressant drug. In particular, this invention relates to the use of genomic analysis to identify patients at risk for developing increased cholesterol levels during immunosuppressant drug therapy and to methods to determine optimal treatment strategies for these patients.
2. Description of the Related Art
Immunosuppressant drugs have many important applications in modern medicine. These drugs are used to suppress the rejection of transplanted organs, including hearts, lungs and kidneys to prolong the useful life of the transplanted organ. In addition, immunosuppressant drugs are used to treat a wide variety of other diseases such as autoimmune diseases, myocarditis and rheumatoid arthritis. However, the immunosuppressant drugs have numerous, and sometimes severe, side effects which include causing cancer and lymphomas and producing a variety of toxic effects on internal organs, such as the kidney.
Because of the toxic effect of the immunosuppressant drugs, there has been a great deal of effort to develop less toxic alternatives and to find drugs whose mechanism of action differs from that of the other immunosuppressant drugs so that synergistic combinations can be used with fewer overall side effects.
Recently an anti-fungal, anti-tumor and immunosuppressive antibiotic called rapamycin (also known as sirolimus and RAPAMUNE™) has been found to be effective at inhibiting allograft rejection. Rapamycin has a mechanism of action that is unique and markedly different from that of other immunosuppressant drugs. Rapamycin and its derivatives, such as everolimus (CERTICAN™)(RAD) act by inhibiting the biochemical pathways involved in the G1-S phase progression of activated T cells in a Ca2+ independent manner. See Schuler et al., Transplantation, Vol. 64, pp. 36-42 (1997). In this way, rapamycin derivatives such as everolimus block cytokine signal transduction rather than blocking the production of cytokines as in the case of other immunosuppressant drugs, such as cyclosporine.
Rapamycin and its derivatives and mycophenolic acid are effective immunosuppressant drugs, however, in some patients the administration of these drugs has been found to cause elevations in serum cholesterol and triglycerides, i.e., hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipidemia. Both of these conditions are risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) and atherosclerosis in general, especially in diabetic patients.
Hypercholesterolemia itself, is a common condition and can be treated with several major classes of drugs. These include the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors or the so-called statins, the bile acid-binding resins and nicotinic acid.
Increased serum cholesterol levels during treatment with an immunosuppressant drug, such as rapamycin or its derivatives including, but not limited to, everolimus (CERTICAN™)(RAD) or with mycophenolic acid, is a serious adverse side effect. This is especially true for organ transplant patients since these patients require long-term (generally life long) treatment. The increase in serum cholesterol levels varies widely from patient to patient and prior to the present invention it was not possible to predict which patients would develop these increases. Thus, there is a need for methods to predict which patients will experience elevations in serum cholesterol when immunosuppressant drugs, such as rapamycin and its derivatives or mycophenolic acid are administered to patients, especially for long-term use.

Methods to predict cholesterol elevation during immunosuppressant therapy


Data storage devices and methods for updating firmware are disclosed. For example, one such data storage device includes a device firmware and a controller, where the controller operates in accordance with the device firmware. The controller determines whether or not the device firmware can be updated with new firmware at least partially based on whether or not the new firmware meets a criterion related to a configuration profile of the device firmware.

As technology advances, the size of an integrated circuit that performs certain function has in general been shrinking continuously. More processing power, and more data storage capacity, can be packed into the same space that would be required previously for the same processing power or data storage capacity. As a result, the form factor of today's electronic devices is smaller, often much smaller, than the form factor of electronic devices from yesteryears. For example, universal serial bus ("USB") flash drives, a type of electronic device used mainly for data storage, may have a physical size smaller than a typical lighter but a data storage capacity ranging from 1 to 64 gigabytes.
Smaller form factor brings the benefit of portability. It has become possible for consumers to store relatively large amounts of information, including data, video, and music files, in a portable data storage device that can be easily carried from place to place. The relatively light weight and small physical size of portable data storage devices make them an ideal solution not only for data storage external to a host computer system, but also for data transfer between one computer and another. In the example of USB flash drives, a user can plug the device into a USB port of a first computer, computer A, to transfer data from computer A to the device, and then plug the device into a USB port of a second computer, computer B, to transfer data from the device to computer B. This is especially useful when data transfer between the two computers via other means is inconvenient or unavailable.
Like many electronic devices, a portable data storage device typically includes a microcontroller that manages the operations of the device based on an embedded computer program known as firmware. The firmware may be embedded in a hardware device, such as the microcontroller, provided on flash read-only memory ("ROM") or other type of non-volatile media that is part of the portable data storage device, or provided as a binary file that can be uploaded onto the device by a user. Regardless of the type of device, its firmware typically may be updated post-manufacturing, also known as field firmware update. Vendors of electronic devices using firmware provide firmware updates for various reasons, such as fixing bugs, adding new functionality. Because firmware updates can improve the performance, reliability, and even the available functionality of a device, vendors of electronic devices typically make firmware updates available regularly so that consumers can make field firmware updates for their devices. For instance, recording devices, such as optical media writers (DVD, CD, HD DVD, Blu-ray), are known to have field firmware updates regularly to ensure the hardware is kept up to date and compatible with the latest development in the technology. Similarly, portable data storage devices, such as USB flash drives and the like, also need field firmware updates from time to time.
Field firmware update, however, is not without potential risks or difficulties. One potential risk relates to the integrity of a newly received firmware that is meant to be used to update the existing firmware. More specifically, for example, a new firmware received by a user via the Internet could potentially have been tampered with by a hacker. One solution to ensuring the integrity of new firmware is the use of public key infrastructure ("PKI"), a well-known art in the field of cryptography. Under a PKI arrangement, computer users are enabled to be authenticated to each other without prior contact, and to use the private key information to encrypt messages, such as new firmware for firmware updates, to each other. When an encrypted message is received by a receiving party the message is destined for, the receiving party uses a sender public key to decrypt the encrypted message.
Another potential risk associated with field firmware updates is the possibility of loading firmware into a wrong platform. For example, a new firmware that works only with a first portable data storage device having a memory manufactured by vendor A could possibly be loaded into a second portable data storage device having a memory manufactured by vendor B. Even if the new firmware has no integrity problem as discussed above, it nevertheless should not be used to update the existing firmware in the second portable data storage device. This is because if an unaware user updates the existing firmware in the second portable data storage device with the new firmware that is meant for the first portable data storage device, the second portable data storage device could be rendered inoperable as a result of the firmware update.
There is, therefore, a need for a method and system to ensure portable data storage devices are updated with correct firmware.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for field firmware updates in data storage systems


A method of managing a system of minimally invasive surgery. The management method includes providing a practitioner with a minimally invasive surgery system including a controller. One or more use parameters is stored to memory associated with the controller. In addition, an electrosurgical probe having its own memory is provided to mate with the remaining elements of the system. Complementary use parameters are stored in the memory of the probe. The management method also includes communicating and comparing the use parameters of the controller with the complementary use parameters of the probe and managing the use of the electrosurgical probe according to the use parameters.

The human nervous system is used to send and receive signals. The pathway taken by the nerve signals conveys sensory information such as pain, heat, cold and touch and command signals which cause movement (e.g. muscle contractions).
Often extraneous, undesired, or abnormal signals are generated (or are transmitted) along nervous system pathways. Examples include, but are not limited to, the pinching of a minor nerve in the back, which causes extreme back pain. Similarly, the compression or other activation of certain nerves may cause referred pain. Certain diseases also may compromise the lining of nerves such that signals are spontaneously generated, which can cause a variety of maladies, from seizures to pain or (in extreme conditions) even death. Abnormal signal activations can cause many other problems including (but not limited to) twitching, tics, seizures, distortions, cramps, disabilities (in addition to pain), other undesirable conditions, or other painful, abnormal, undesirable, socially or physically detrimental afflictions.
In other situations, the normal conduction of nerve signals can cause undesirable effects. For example in cosmetic applications the activation of the corrugator supercilli muscle causes frown lines which may result in permanent distortion of the brow (or forehead); giving the appearance of premature aging. By interruption of the corrugator supercilli activation nerves, this phenomenon may be terminated. Direct surgical interruption of nerves is however a difficult procedure.
Traditional electrosurgical procedures use either a unipolar or bipolar device connected to that energy source. A unipolar electrode system includes a small surface area electrode, and a return electrode. The return electrode is generally larger in size, and is either resistively or capacitively coupled to the body. Since the same amount of current must flow through each electrode to complete the circuit; the heat generated in the return electrode is dissipated over a larger surface area, and whenever possible, the return electrode is located in areas of high blood flow (such as the biceps, buttocks or other muscular or highly vascularized area) so that heat generated is rapidly carried away, thus preventing a heat rise and consequent burns of the tissue. One advantage of a unipolar system is the ability to place the unipolar probe exactly where it is needed and optimally focus electrosurgical energy where desired. One disadvantage of a unipolar system is that the return electrode must be properly placed and in contact throughout the procedure. A resistive return electrode would typically be coated with a conductive paste or jelly. If the contact with the patient is reduced or if the jelly dries out, a high-current density area may result, increasing the probability for burns at the contact point.
Typical bipolar electrode systems are generally based upon a dual surface device (such as forceps, tweezers, pliers and other grasping type instruments) where the two separate surfaces can be brought together mechanically under force. Each opposing surface is connected to one of the two source connections of the electrosurgical generator. Subsequently, the desired object is held and compressed between the two surfaces. When the electrosurgical energy is applied, it is concentrated (and focused) so that tissue can be cut, desiccated, burned, killed, stunned, closed, destroyed or sealed between the grasping surfaces. Assuming the instrument has been designed and used properly, the resulting current flow will be constrained within the target tissue between the two surfaces. One disadvantage of a conventional bipolar system is that the target tissue must be properly located and isolated between these surfaces. Also, to reduce extraneous current flow the electrodes can not make contact with other tissue, which often requires visual guidance (such as direct visualization, use of a scope, ultrasound or other direct visualization methods) so that the target tissue is properly contained within the bipolar electrodes themselves, prior to application of electrical energy.
In recent years, considerable efforts have been made to refine sources of RF or electrical energy, as well as devices for applying electrical energy to specific targeted tissue. Various applications such as tachyarrhythmia ablation have been developed, whereby accessory pathways within the heart conduct electrical energy in an abnormal pattern. This abnormal signal flow results in excessive and potentially lethal cardiac arrhythmias. RF ablation delivers electrical energy in either a bipolar or unipolar configuration utilizing a long catheter, similar to an electrophysiology (EP) catheter. An EP catheter consisting of a long system of wires and supporting structures normally introduced via an artery or vein which leads into the heart is manipulated using various guidance techniques, such as measurement of electrical activity, ultrasonic guidance, and/or X-ray visualization, into the target area. Electrical energy is then applied and the target tissue is destroyed.
A wide variety of technology in the development of related systems, devices and EP products has already been disclosed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,397,339, issued Mar. 14, 1995, describes a multipolar electrode catheter, which can be used to stimulate, ablate, obtain intercardiac signals, and can expand and enlarge itself inside the heart. Other applications include the ability to destroy plaque formations in the interior of lumens within the body; using RF energy applied near, or at the tip of, catheters such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,809 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,914. In these applications a more advanced catheter which is similar to the EP catheters described above contains an array of electrodes that are able to selectively apply energy in a specific direction. Such devices allow ablation and removal of asymmetric deposits or obstructions within lumens in the body. U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,431 discloses another catheter based system for removing obstructions from within blood vessels. Parins, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,717 discloses yet another catheter to selectively remove stenotic lesions from the interior walls of blood vessels. Auth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,364,393 describes a modification of the above technologies whereby a small guide wire which goes through an angioplasty device and is typically 110 cm or longer has an electrically energized tip, which creates a path to follow and thus guides itself through the obstructions.
In applications of a similar nature, catheters which carry larger energy bursts, for example from a defibrillator into chambers of the heart have been disclosed. These catheters are used to destroy both tissues and structures as described in Cunningham (U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,671).
Traditional treatments for the elimination of glabellar furrowing have included surgical forehead lifts, resection of corrugator supercilli muscle, as described by Guyuron, Michelow and Thomas in pi Corrugator Supercilli Muscle Resection Through Blepharoplastylncision, Plastic Reconstructive Surgery 95 691-696 (1995). Also, surgical division of the corrugator supercilli motor nerves is used and was described by Ellis and Bakala in Anatomy of the Motor Innervation of the Corrugator Supercilli Muscle: Clinical Significance and Development of a New Surgical Technique for Frowning, J Otolaryngology 27; 222-227 (1998). These techniques described are highly invasive and sometimes temporary as nerves regenerate over time and repeat or alternative procedures are required.
More recently, a less invasive procedure to treat glabellar furrowing involves injection of botulinum toxin (Botox) directly into the muscle. This produces a flaccid paralysis and is best described in The New England Journal of Medicine, 324:1186-1194 (1991). While minimally invasive, this technique is predictably transient; so, it must be re-done every few months.
Specific efforts to use RF energy via a two needle bipolar system has been described by Hernandez-Zendejas and Guerrero-Santos in: Percutaneous Selective Radio-Frequency Neuroablation in Plastic Surgery, Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 18:41 pp 41-48 (1994) The authors described a bipolar system using two parallel needle type electrodes. Utley and Goode described a similar system in Radio-frequency Ablation of the Nerve to the Corrugator Muscle for Elimination of Glabellar Furrowing, Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, January-March, 99, VI P 46-48, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,545. These systems were apparently unable to produce permanent results possibly because of limitations inherent in a two needle bipolar configuration. Thus, as is the case with Botox, the parallel needle electrode systems would typically require periodic repeat procedures.
There are many ways of properly locating an active electrode near the target tissue and determining if it is in close proximity to the nerve. Traditional methods in the cardiac ablation field have included stimulation by using either unipolar and bipolar energy by means of a test pacemaker pulse prior to the implantation of a pacemaker or other stimulation device. A method of threshold analysis called the strength duration curve has been used for many years. This curve consists of a vertical axis (or Y-axis) typically voltage, current, charge or other measure of amplitude, and has a horizontal axis (or X-axis) of pulse duration (typically in milliseconds). Such a curve is a rapidly declining line, which decreases exponentially as the pulse width is increased.
Various stimulation devices have been made and patented. One process of stimulation and ablation using a two-needle system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,545. The stimulation may also be implemented negatively, where tissue not responsive to stimulation is ablated as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,826 (issued Jul. 21, 1998).

Ablation apparatus and system to limit nerve conduction


An image processing apparatus. A camera inputs an image of a face of a person to be recognized. A recognition area detection section generates a difference image between the input image and a predetermined pattern, and detects a recognition area whose value is above a threshold from the input image. An input data generation section converts the recognition area to a predetermined input data. A similarity calculation section calculates a similarity by comparing the predetermined input data with a predetermined dictionary data. A view position of the camera is located lower than a position of the face of the person. A direction of the optical axis of the camera represents an angle of elevation from a horizontal direction.

In an image pattern recognition apparatus for recognizing a reflected intensity image of an object, an image captured by reflected light from object surface (the reflected intensity image) is input (image input processing). An image area as a recognition object is extracted from the input image (pattern extraction processing). The image area is converted to a pattern of predetermined size (pattern normalization processing). This pattern is converted to predetermined input data (feature extraction processing). This input data is compared with dictionary data previously registered and a similarity is calculated (similarity calculation processing).
In the pattern extraction processing, a background subtraction method, a temporal subtraction method, and a template matching method are selectively used. In the background subtraction method, a difference between an image not including a recognition object (background image) and an image including the recognition object (input image) is calculated, and an area of large difference value is extracted as an area including the recognition object. In the temporal subtraction method, a difference between two images inputted at different times is calculated, and an area of large difference value is extracted as an area including the recognition object detected by movement. In the template matching method, a template representing image feature of the recognition object is scanned on the input image, and an area of largest correlative value is extracted as an area including the recognition object. The background subtraction method and the temporal subtraction method are superior to the template matching method for quickly executing the pattern extraction processing.
In a similarity calculation processing, a distance evaluation method, a subspace method and a mutual subspace method are selectively used. In the distance evaluation method, input data and dictionary data are respectively represented as a vector of the same dimension and the same feature; a distance between both vectors is evaluated; and an object in the input data is recognized by evaluation. In the subspace method, the dictionary data is represented as a dictionary subspace generated from a plurality of vectors; a distance between the input vector and the dictionary subspace is evaluated; and the object in the input data is recognized by evaluation. In the mutual subspace method, the input data is also represented as an input subspace generated from a plurality of vectors; a distance between the input subspace and the dictionary subspace is evaluated; and the object in the input data is recognized by evaluation. In each method, a similarity between the input data and the dictionary data is converted to a similarity in order to recognize the object.
However, in the background difference method and the time difference method, the following two problems are well known.
(1) If a plurality of objects are included in the input image, the area of the recognition object is not extracted from the input image. As a result, by using the template matching method, each difference area must be verified based on image feature.
(2) If illumination environment changes because of weather variation or time passage, unexpected noise is mixed into the difference value. As a result, the area of the recognition object is not correctly extracted.
In order to solve these problems, it is necessary that th recognition object obtains high difference value in the difference image. Concretely speaking, the following two solution ideas are necessary.
(A) A camera means is controlled in order to capture the recognition object only in the input image.
(B) The difference value is calculated using an image representation not effected by illumination changes.
However, in the prior art, concrete means of two solution ideas (A) (B) are not considered as for above-mentioned two problems (1) (2). As a result, the image pattern recognition to quickly extract the recognition object using the difference is difficult.
Furthermore, in Japanese Patent Disclosure (Kokai) PH9-251534, a person recognition method is disclosed for a person's face as the recognition object. In this method, a pattern extraction processing by the template matching method is combined with a similarity calculation processing by the mutual subspace method. The pattern extraction, the pattern normalization, and the similarity calculation are stably executed for change of facial direction and expression. Especially, in order to extract facial parts such as pupils and nostrils, a separability filter strong in change of illumination is used. In this case, the pattern normalization is executed based on location of the facial parts so that the normalized pattern is not varied by change of facial direction or expression. In this method, the nostrils are used as the facial parts. Therefore, the camera (image input means) is located at lower part of a display to which a user faces in order to capture the nostrils of the user in the image. However, in this method, the following two problems exist.
(3) Concrete or detail condition for location of the camera is not disclosed. The detection of the facial parts is not assured if the camera is arbitrarily located.
(4) In order to stably detect the facial parts of the user from the input image, an idea to positively keep the user in such situation is not disclosed. As a result, the detection of the facial parts fails because of a caprice or whim of the user.
As mentioned-above, in the image pattern recognition method of the prior art, following two problems occur.
(1) A simple recognition object is not captured in the image. As a result, a pattern of the recognition object is not correctly extracted by the difference processing only.
(2) The noise area except for the recognition object is included in the difference value by noise cause such as illumination change. As a result, the pattern of the recognition object is not stably extracted by the difference processing only.
Furthermore, in the person identification method of the prior art, the following two problems occur.
(3) The location method of the camera means to assure the extraction of the facial parts is not apparent. As a result, a possibility to fail to extract the facial parts remains.
(4) A target means to lead the user to assure the extraction of the facial parts does not exist. As a result, the possibility to fail to extract the facial parts remains.


A honeycomb structure is disclosed in which plural honeycomb units are adhered through the intermediary of an adhesive layer and in the honeycomb unit plural cells are juxtaposed to each other in the longitudinal direction thereof through the intermediary of a cell wall, characterized in that a ratio of a specific surface area of the honeycomb unit to that of the adhesive layer is approximately 1.0 or greater.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a honeycomb structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a catalyst for converting exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine has been manufactured by carrying a high specific surface area material such as activated alumina and a catalytic metal including a metal such as platinum as a component thereof on the surface of a catalyst carrier having a cordierite-based honeycomb unit.
For example, a catalyst for converting exhaust gas that includes a honeycomb-shaped carrier substrate, a catalyst carrying layer formed on the surface of a cell wall of the carrier substrate, and a catalytic noble metal and a NOx occluding material carried on the catalyst carrying layer, characterized in that the catalyst carrying layer is provided such that a portion existing in a range from the surface thereof to a depth of 100 μm occupies 80% or greater of the total volume of the catalyst carrying layer, is disclosed in JP-A-10-263416.
Also, a method for manufacturing a honeycomb-shaped fiber reinforced ceramic object characterized by extrusion-molding a composition containing ceramic powder, an inorganic fiber, an inorganic material with a binding property, and, if necessary, an organic binder having plasticity, into a honeycomb shape, then drying the extrusion-molded object, and subsequently firing it at a temperature equal to or less than the melting point or oxidation point of the inorganic fiber, is disclosed in JP-A-5-213681.
Further, a honeycomb catalyst for processing exhaust gas containing CO at a low concentration, in which a catalyst component containing a noble metal is carried on a porous honeycomb carrier provided by extrusion-molding and firing its material, wherein the thickness of an inner wall of the honeycomb catalyst is 0.1 through 0.5 mm and the length of it along the direction of gas flow is 50 through 200 mm, is disclosed in JP-A-2003-245547.
Additionally, the entire contents of JP-A-10-263416, JP-A-5-213681, and JP-A-2003-245547 are hereby incorporated by reference.


The present invention is a portable device for administering spinal decompression therapy. The device features a compact size and an innovative tension control mechanism to facilitate, in particular, a therapy for imbibition. The use of fabric for a sling and a platform adds comfort features while reducing weight.

Traction devices for stretching the neck and spine are commonly used in hospitals, physical therapy clinics and other therapeutic venues. Typically, such devices apply a measured amount of force directed to decompress the spine and give relief from back pain caused by injury or degenerative effects. Specifically, they are used to treat disc bulges, disc herniations, facet syndrome, nerve impingement, spinal/foraminal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis in the spine, muscle spasm, tension headaches, decreased joint space, decreased range of motion and facet joint inflammation. Typically, the apparatus includes some type of sling or harness to cradle the head with pressure applied thereto by means of pulleys and weights, often involving fixtures to a bed or wall. Commonly, assistance from another is needed to setup the gear and monitor its use.
In the technology of non-surgical spinal decompression, one therapy of particular utility is that of Imbibition. Imbitition involves the gentle stretching and relaxing of the spine to foster hydration and blood flow to the spinal discs. Such action applied along the cervical spine can create a negative pressure in the center of the intervertebral disc. The negative pressure fosters a suctioning effect, or vacuum phenomenon, which reduces the size of a herniated or bulging disc's gelatinous internal nucleus pulposus. The technique diminishes, or eliminates, nerve compression, while an osmotic gradient is created thereby helping to bring nutrients and water into the disc. The intervertebral discs have poor circulation and depend upon receiving nutrition by diffusion across the end plates of vertebrae above and below.
The "pumping action" created by the stretching and relaxing occurs naturally in the healthy case with daily motions and body positions. In the damaged or degenerative case, however, this gratuitous pumping action may be reduced or lost with disastrous effect to the already-poor circulation. A non-invasive remedial therapy, therefore, is to re-supply the disks with nutrients and blood that help the disks heal from inside out. This type of therapy is preferably practiced on a daily basis; and, therefore, as a matter of practicality, must be free from an institutional setting. Hence, the need arises for portable traction devices that are readily at hand for unassisted use.
Portable traction devices are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,378 to Chitwood and U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,816 to Granberg. In both cases, a bed or platform supports a prone patient over a box frame housing a take-up apparatus. The take-up apparatus selectively applies tension to a head harness through an attached boom structure. The large frame members, such as the box, however, do not lend themselves to a compact configuration for storage or travel. It would be hard to imagine the Chitwood or Granberg device used in a hotel room on a trip, for example.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,202 to Miller discloses an apparatus without the bed which can be disassembled for storage. The storage configuration, nevertheless, made unwieldy by one out-sized frame member, is anything but compact. In addition, Miller teaches an overhead control requiring the patient to lift one or more arms to reach and operate the control. The lifting of an arm, and particularly the upper arm, from its prone position at rest activates the back musculature. Tension in the back muscles is not conducive to the relaxing effect sought in Imbibition Therapy. Further, Miller applies tension through a ratchet mechanism that cannot be incrementally backed off without tripping a release and jarringly withdrawing tension. Preferably, in the case of Imbibition, the tightening and slackening are smoothly applied in incremental measure and without the patient feeling abruptness or discontinuity.
There is an unfulfilled need in the state-of-art for an easy-to-assemble traction device which can be reduced to a compact and travel-friendly profile, and which can be operated to apply tension optimally to the spine for Imbibition Therapy and for pain relief.


Disclosed is a paste pattern formation method comprising the steps of: forming a transfer pattern material on a film base material to prepare a transfer film; sticking the transfer film on a substrate on which a transfer pattern is formed so that the transfer pattern material contacts the substrate; separating the film base material from the transfer pattern material; filling a paste into the transfer pattern depression; solidifying the paste; and removing the transfer pattern material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a paste pattern formation method. More particularly, the present invention relates to a paste pattern formation method for forming a paste pattern having a high aspect ratio. The present invention also relates to a transfer film used in this paste pattern formation method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various types of patterns are formed in electrical devices. For example, predetermined electrode patterns are formed on the top and bottom surfaces in solar cells. In addition, predetermined wiring patterns are formed on a substrate in wiring boards. Moreover, patterns of barrier ribs for separating each dot, address wires, electrodes and so on are formed in plasma display panels (PDP).
The ability to easily produce patterns having a high aspect ratio is an important issue common to these applications.
With respect to the electrode patterns of solar cells, it is preferable to reduce the surface area occupied by the electrode pattern on the light-receiving surface in order to increase the light receiving surface area of the solar cell. However, reduction in the cross-sectional area of the electrode pattern causes a decrease in electrical conductivity of the electrode pattern. Consequently, it is desirable to enhance the electrical conductivity of the electrode pattern by forming an electrode pattern that has adequate thickness in the perpendicular direction. In other words, an electrode pattern having a high aspect ratio is preferred.
In a wiring board, the use of a fine wiring pattern is desirable to achieve high density, and in this case as well, a wiring pattern having a high aspect ratio is desirable.
In PDP, if the barrier ribs are too wide, the dot pitch becomes large and it is not possible to achieve high resolution. Consequently, it is desirable to narrow the barrier ribs and in this case as well, barrier ribs having a high aspect ratio are desirable.
An example of a method for forming a desired pattern having a high aspect ratio in these applications consists of repeatedly carrying out screen printing. In the case of screen printing, however, since there are limits on the amount of paste that can be coated in a single coating, in order to form a pattern of adequate thickness; it is necessary to repeatedly print the paste many times. In addition, in the case of printing several times, it is difficult to position the coating paste with high precision each time.
Therefore, a technique is known in which patterning is carried out using a photosensitive paste as a means of forming a thick film pattern without using screen printing (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-107698). However, processes using photosensitive paste require an expensive investment with respect to the mask, developing apparatus and so on, and production costs tend to be high. In addition, since the electrically conductive or insulating fine powder contained in the paste is optically opaque, random reflection occurs within the paste composition during exposure when the coating thickness is increased, thereby preventing light from adequately reaching deep portions of the paste. Consequently, it is difficult to obtain a pattern of high aspect ratio simply by using a photosensitive paste and developing directly. Moreover, since photosensitive paste has poor storage stability, control and transport of materials is bothersome.
In consideration of these circumstances, a technique is used in which a thick film pattern is formed which does not require a photosensitive paste (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-290017). This document discloses a technology in which, after forming a pattern by injecting a metallized paste into a groove pattern, and transferring the metallized paste to a ceramic substrate. In the case of forming a pattern and then transferring it to a substrate in this manner, an adhesion means is required to suitably transfer the pattern to the substrate. Examples of such adhesion means include an adhesive layer or blending-in a pressure-sensitive adhesive component into the pattern. However, in the case of using an adhesive layer, not only is there the added step of forming the adhesive layer, there is also the risk of the adhesive layer components diffusing into the pattern, as well as a decrease in electrical conductivity or other predetermined pattern properties. In addition, in the case of blending a pressure-sensitive adhesive component into the pattern, it is difficult to select a preferable pressure-sensitive adhesive component so that the required properties of the pattern do not decrease due to the addition of the pressure-sensitive adhesive component. Moreover, as is described in this document, in the case of transferring to a substrate following pattern formation, there is the risk of the pattern itself being deformed or the desired aspect ratio being unable to be obtained due to pressure applied to the pattern during transfer.

Paste patterns formation method and transfer film used therein


Apparatus and methods for communication system state information change to wireless devices in a content server network in a resource and power efficient manner are disclosed. In particular, a disclosed method for conveying system state information to a wireless device includes sending a primary message including first information configured to communicate a current system state to the wireless device, and then sending second information set usable by the wireless device to update system state information. By summarizing or abbreviating the first information, a receiving device can easily compare to past system states to determine whether further processing, such as processing of the second information, is needed, thereby affording the conservation of processing and power resources of a receiving device. Corresponding apparatus are also disclosed.

1. Field
The present application relates to apparatus and methods for communicating system state information change to wireless devices, and more particularly to communicating changes in system state information using an abbreviated primary message in order to conserve power and system resources.
2. Background
In a wireless broadcast environment, such as in orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) broadcast systems, wireless devices need to obtain the latest or updated system state information so that users of such devices can access and receive the latest data or content over the wireless broadcast network with minimal delay. Specifically, in order to obtain the latest system state information, a wireless device needs to continuously receive and process the updated information. This procedure, however, introduces significant drainage on the wireless device power resources and, therefore, reduces its standby time. It is axiomatic that mobile devices by their nature have limited power and processing resources. Thus, the requirement to obtain the latest system state information, which utilizes processing and power resources, introduces many challenges for power conservation in wireless devices.

Apparatus and methods for communicating system state information change to wireless devices


A discharge amount calculating device for calculating the discharge amount of a fluid from a fluid ejecting apparatus is disclosed, in which the fluid ejecting apparatus is capable of ejecting at least one fluid onto a target at a discharge amount of multiple stages. The discharge amount calculating device includes a plurality of calculating sections that calculate the discharge amount of the fluid at the respective multiple stages based on a bit number of input data, a desired number of calculating sections not exceeding 2n being provided, in which n is a positive integer, and a converting section that converts the inputted discharge amount data of n bits into bit number data corresponding to any one of the plurality of calculating sections, and outputs the converted data to the plurality of calculating sections.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a discharge amount calculating device and a fluid ejecting apparatus.
2. Related Art
A fluid ejecting apparatus has been proposed to obtain the total amounts (i.e., an amount of consumption) of the respective colors of ink ejected from nozzles by adding the driving time (the number of ink droplets) of the driving mechanism provided in a print head and a driving power value (i.e., the size of ink droplet). One example of the fluid ejecting apparatus is disclosed in JP-A-2005-111707. The system mentioned in the publication JP-A-2005-111707 can obtain the remaining amount of ink by deducting the obtained ink consumption from the ink storage amount stored in an ink cartridge.
It is necessary for the discharge amount calculating device disclosed in the publication JP-A-2005-111707 to design and manufacture a discharge amount calculating device for obtaining a discharge amount of ink suitable for the apparatus, for example, when the apparatus is modified or altered to have a new configuration. However, a discharge amount calculating device is required which can more properly cope with configurations with an discharge amount of ink to be ejected at multiple stages or ink of various kinds, since the design and manufacture of the discharge amount calculating device needs labor power.

Discharge amount calculating device and fluid ejecting apparatus


A dimmable LED lamp assembly includes a power supply configured to receive an input power signal and produce a DC lamp current, a LED lamp coupled to the DC lamp current and configured to produce an amount of light corresponding to an amount of the DC lamp current, and a dimming controller coupled to the power supply and configured to adjust the amount of DC lamp current. The dimming controller is coupled to the input power signal and is further configured to determine a required dimming level based on the input power signal and to adjust the amount of DC lamp current such that the amount of light produced by the LED lamp corresponds to the determined required dimming level.

1. Field
The aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to traffic signals and in particular to dimming of LED traffic signal lamps.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, there has been a great deal of effort directed towards developing lighting systems that use less electrical power. A significant amount of energy is wasted by present commercial traffic control lighting systems when operated at a single level of power. The high light output typically required for visibility during daylight operation greatly exceeds that which is required for visibility during the nighttime hours and can also create excessive amounts of glare for drivers approaching the signal light at night leading to unsafe driving conditions. To overcome these problems, street traffic controllers have been developed that are capable of controlling the light level of signal lights such that full brightness is used during daylight hours, and a dimmed, more energy efficient and less glaring light level is used during nighttime.
Early street traffic controllers were designed for use with incandescent signal lamps that were typically operated directly off the local mains power, such as the 110 volt, 60 Hertz grid power available in North America. A common approach used to dim incandescent signal lamps is to use a form of pulse width modulation known as phase control dimming to adjust the amount of power delivered to the incandescent signal lamp. In phase control dimming a gated diode like device, such as a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR), thyristor, or triode for alternating current (TRIAC), is used to shut off the current each time the mains voltage, which is used to supply power to the lamp, changes direction. The current is then turned back on a variable amount of time (phase angle) after the start of each alternating current half cycle, thereby controlling the amount of power delivered to the lamp. Various forms of phase control dimming are used in traffic controllers that all have the characteristic of turning the lamp power signal off for a portion of each half cycle of the input power. Common forms of phase control dimming are referred to as forward phase control dimming and reverse phase control dimming.
FIG. 1 illustrates graphs 101, 102 of lamp power signals produced by forward phase control dimming. Each graph shows voltage along the vertical axis and time along the horizontal axis. In forward phase control dimming, the lamp power signal is turned on part way through each half cycle of the input power. By controlling the point or phase angle at which the lamp power signal is turned on, the amount of power contained in the lamp power signal may be varied. Graph 101 illustrates a lamp power signal produced by a load switch comprising a TRIAC device configured to provide forward phase control dimming. In certain load switches the input power is rectified along with phase control resulting in a DC forward phase control dimming signal as shown in graph 102. Such a lamp power signal 102 may be produced by a load switch comprising a rectifier and a SCR device. Alternatively, reverse phase control dimming may be used in a traffic signal load switch.
Reverse phase control dimming is where the lamp power signal is turned off for an amount of time before the end of each half cycle as illustrated by graph 201 shown in FIG. 2. Each graph in FIG. 2 shows voltage along the vertical axis and time along the horizontal axis. Reverse phase control dimming may also be applied along with rectification resulting in a reverse phase control dimming signal as illustrated in graph 202. With any of these phase control signals 101, 102, 201, 202, the resulting lamp power signal may be viewed as a pulse width modulated signal where the duty cycle is related to the signal's power content. For the purposes of this disclosure, the duty cycle of a phase clipped AC signal, such as those shown in graphs 101, 102, 201, and 202, is defined as the ratio of on-time, i.e. the amount of time where the voltage is non-zero, to off-time, i.e. the amount of time where the voltage is substantially zero, and phase clipped signals such as those illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 are referred to as phase control dimming signals.
Replacing incandescent signal lamps with Light Emitting Diode (LED) light sources has become a commonly used approach for reducing energy consumption. It has been long known that LED lights or LED lamps can provide significant reductions in the amount of electricity consumed by traffic signaling applications and also provide better reliability, lower heat generation, improved vibration resistance, and longer lifetimes of the traffic signaling. LED replacement lamps typically comprise an array of individual LED elements arranged in a circular pattern such that the unit is the same size as a standard incandescent traffic signal lamp. By using arrays with a large number of individual elements, failure of several individual elements can be tolerated before the lamp unit needs to be replaced leading to longer overall lamp lifetime. This gradual failure mode also avoids the unsafe condition resulting from failure of an incandescent lamp, such as when the red stop lamp burns out.
It is expensive, and can take extended periods of time, to replace an entire signaling system, including controller, wiring, and light fixtures, with signaling systems designed for use with LED lamps. An attractive alternative to replacing the entire system is to create LED replacement signal lamps that are both physically and electrically compatible with current incandescent signal lamp standards, allowing the more efficient and reliable LED replacement lamps to be retrofit directly into older systems without making any other changes to the older systems. This also allows for a gradual upgrade of older systems by installing an LED replacement lamp each time an older incandescent lamp burns out. The LED light elements used in these replacement signal lamps require low level DC power, often around 12 volts DC. Small switching power supplies are typically included in LED replacement signal lamp assemblies to convert the AC mains voltage supplied by existing traffic control systems into the low level DC voltage required by LED light elements. Unfortunately, the switching power supplies used in LED replacement lamps regulate the lamp power internally and need only a small amount of input power. Consequently LED lamps that include switching supplies produce the same light level even when the input power is reduced by phase control dimming. LED light elements used in these replacement lamps have the capability of varying their brightness according to the amount of current applied, but due to the nature of the switching supplies used these capabilities are largely unused. Thus, the dimming capabilities of the existing street traffic controllers are nullified by the LED replacement lamps. Therefore, there exists a need for LED replacement signal lamps that provide dimming capabilities similar to incandescent lamps.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a system that addresses at least some of the problems identified above.


A forgery-preventive fretwork paper comprising a support layer and an engraving coating layer, the support layer being a stretched laminate which comprises a biaxially stretched propylene resin film layer as a base layer and, laminated thereto on each of front and back sides thereof, a uniaxially stretched propylene resin film layer containing fine inorganic powder, wherein said support layer has (1) an opacity (JIS P-8138) of from 50 to 100% and (2) a density (JIS P-8188) of from 0.70 to 1.4 g/cm.sup.3, and the paper bearing an engraving extending into the engraving coating layer or to one of the uniaxially stretched films of the support layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a forgery-preventive fretwork paper which is suitable for use in traveler's checks, securities, ID cards, passports, and the like which all are less forgeable.
2. Discussion of the Background
Traveler's checks, securities, and ID cards are required to be less forgeable. Forgery-preventive techniques for these have included the following.
Group I:
(1) To use a print containing a fluorescent substance therein. PA1 (2) To print with a magnetic ink to enable any change in ink density to be visually recognized based on a magnetic function. PA1 (3) To print with a printing ink containing a photochromic dye (see JP-A-60-79992; the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application"). PA1 (4) To print with an ink having specific reflection-spectroscopic properties or with two or more inks which differ from each other in reflectance by at least a given value. PA1 (5) A print produced overprinting of drawing line which changes angle drawing line and consists of 10,000 lines of colorless transparent ink for concave printing after ink drying is complete (see JP-A-5-177919). PA1 (6) To form an appearance which enables forgery detection, as in a print bearing a fretwork (latent image) (see JP-A-6-15794). PA1 (7) A print having a device which makes the characters and designs on copies thereof difficult to interpret or which produces a warning mark on copies thereof (see JP-A-U-59-64271; the term "JP-A-U" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese utility model application"). PA1 (8) A print obtained with a special magnetic ink so that mere copies of the print can be revealed as fakes by a discriminator, or a print bearing halftone dots so that copies of the print differ from the original in dot density (see JP-B-56-19273 and JP-B-2-51742; the term "JP-B" as used herein means an "examined Japanese patent publication"); and a print bearing concealed characters which cannot be read with the naked eye but are readable by a discriminator (see JP-A-62-130874). PA1 (1) an opacity (JIS P-8138) of from 50 to 100% and PA1 (2) a density (JIS P-8118) of from 0.70 to 1.4 g/cm.sup.3, and said paper bearing an engraving extending into said engraving coating layer or to one of said uniaxially stretched films of said support layer.
Group II:
Group III:
The forgery-preventive techniques given above in Groups I to III each is not a perfect forgery-preventive measure because most of the originals produced using these techniques can be copied by photolithography. The prior art techniques further have a drawback that since the printed characters or images peel off during the use of real checks or securities due to the poor adhesion of the printing ink to the sheet base and such checks or securities are sometimes misjudged to be fakes. It is therefore necessary to collect such real checks or securities and exchange them for fresh ones. In addition, even real checks or securities rumple during use, and the rumpled checks or securities are often rejected by a discriminator.
On the other hand, a fretwork paper comprising a support layer and an engraving layer is disclosed in JP-B-8-13539, which is characterized in that the support layer has an opacity of 70% or lower and the engraving layer has an opacity of 40% or higher, the opacity of the support layer being always lower than that of the engraving layer by at least 30%, and that an engraving is formed therein which extends from the engraving layer to the support layer. This prior art fretwork paper is advantageous in that discrimination is easy, and that the paper is effective in forgery prevention because the paper, in which the support comprises a transparent poly(ethylene terephthalate) film coated on each side with a pigmented coating layer and the engraving layer comprises a pigmented coating layer, is not easily available because of the complicated process for producing the same. However, the above fretwork paper has drawbacks that the resin film as the support is apt to develop burrs (whiskers) upon engraving, and that the paper is apt to rumple during paper feed or discharge or during use.
An object of the present invention is to provide a forgery-preventive fretwork paper which comprises a support layer and an engraving coating layer, and in which the drawbacks described above are mitigated by using a specific stretched laminate as the support layer.


Techniques and tools for encoding and decoding a block of frequency coefficients are presented. An encoder selects a scan order from multiple available scan orders and then applies the selected scan order to a two-dimensional matrix of transform coefficients, grouping non-zero values of the frequency coefficients together in a one-dimensional string. The encoder entropy encodes the one-dimensional string of coefficient values according to a multi-level nested set representation. In decoding, a decoder entropy decodes the one-dimensional string of coefficient values from the multi-level nested set representation. The decoder selects the scan order from among multiple available scan orders and then reorders the coefficients back into a two-dimensional matrix using the selected scan order.

When a picture such as a frame of video or a still image is encoded, an encoder typically splits the visual data into blocks of sample values. The encoder performs a frequency transform such as a discrete coefficient transform (DCT) to convert the block of sample values into a block of transform coefficients. The transform coefficient by convention shown at the upper left of the block is generally referred to as the DC coefficient, and the other coefficients are generally referred to as the AC coefficients. For most blocks of sample values, a frequency transform tends to group non-zero values of the transform coefficients towards the upper-left, lower frequency section of the block of transform coefficients.
After the frequency transform, the encoder quantizes the transform coefficient values. The quantization generally reduces the number of possible values for the DC and AC coefficients. This usually reduces resolution as well as fidelity of the quantized values to the original coefficient values, but it makes subsequent entropy encoding more effective. The quantization also tends to "remove" the higher frequency coefficients (generally grouped in the lower right side of the block), when the higher frequency coefficients have low amplitudes that are quantized to zero.
FIG. 1 shows one example of an 8×8 block (100) of transform coefficients after quantization. In this exemplary block (100), the value 25 in the upper left corner of the block is the DC coefficient, and the other 63 values are the AC coefficients. Although the highest-amplitude coefficients in the block (100) are the low frequency coefficients in the upper left, along the right side, the block includes a cluster of non-zero coefficient values at higher frequencies.
After the transform coefficients have been quantized, the encoder entropy encodes the quantized transform coefficients. One common method of encoding a block of transform coefficients starts by reordering the block using a "zig-zag" scan order (200) as shown in FIG. 2. In this method, the encoder maps the values of the transform coefficients from a two-dimensional array into a one-dimensional string according to the scan order (200). The scan order (200) begins in the top left of the block (100) with the DC coefficient, traverses the AC coefficients of the block (100) at positions 1 and 2, traverses the AC coefficients at positions 3, 4, and 5, and so on. The scanning continues diagonally across the block (100) according to the scan order (200), finishing in the lower right corner of the block (100) with the highest frequency AC coefficient at position 63. Because the quantization operation typically quantizes to zero a significant portion of the lower-value, higher-frequency coefficients, while preserving non-zero values for the higher-value, lower-frequency coefficients, zigzag scan reordering commonly results in most of the remaining non-zero transform coefficients being near the beginning of the one-dimensional string and a large number of zero values being at the end of the string.
FIG. 2 shows an exemplary one-dimensional string (250) that results from applying the scan order (200) to the block (100) of transform coefficients. In this example, the one-dimensional string (250) starts with the value 25 corresponding to the DC coefficient of the block (100). The scan order then reads the value 12, followed by two values of 0, a value of −52, and so on. The symbol "EOB" signifies "End of Block" and indicates that all of the remaining values in the block are 0.
The encoder then entropy encodes the one-dimensional vector of coefficient values using run length coding or run level coding. In run level coding, the encoder traverses the one-dimensional vector, encoding each run of consecutive zero values as a run count, and encoding each non-zero value as a level. For simple encoding, the encoder assigns variable length codes such as Huffman codes to the run counts and level values.
One problem with the simple encoding is that the run count can vary from 0 to 64, requiring an alphabet of 65 codes just for the run count. If the encoder jointly encodes a run count with a subsequent non-zero level value (to take advantage of correlation between run count and level values), the size of the run count-level alphabet is much larger, which increases the complexity of the entropy encoding (e.g., due to code table sizes and lookup operations). Using escape codes for less frequent combinations helps control code table size but can decrease coding efficiency.
Another problem with run-level coding arises when the encoder uses the same possible code values for run-level combinations regardless of which AC coefficients are being encoded. If the chance of encountering a long run of zero values increases for higher frequency AC coefficients, using the same possible code values for run-level combinations hurts efficiency.
Finally, reordering using the zigzag scan order (200) shown in FIG. 2 can, in some cases, hurt encoding efficiency. In general, neighboring coefficient values within a block are correlated—if a transform coefficient value is zero, its neighbors are more likely to be zero, and if a transform coefficient value is non-zero, its neighbors are more likely to be non-zero. Reordering using the zigzag scan order (200) in some cases separates neighboring coefficient positions (e.g., positions 15 and 27) in the one-dimensional vector. For example, although the non-zero coefficients in the block (100) in FIG. 1 appear in two clusters, the non-zero coefficient values in the one-dimensional string (250) of FIG. 2 are interrupted 4 times by a series of one or more "0" values.
Given the critical importance of encoding and decoding to digital video, it is not surprising that video encoding and decoding are richly developed fields. Whatever the benefits of previous video encoding and decoding techniques, however, they do not have the advantages of the following techniques and tools.

Multi-level representation of reordered transform coefficients


A buckle assembly for a seat belt system includes a belt buckle, a transmission mechanism arranged to move the belt buckle from a first position to a second position, and an electric motor for driving the transmission mechanism. The motor includes a stator and a rotor rotatably mounted to the stator. The rotor includes a motor shaft, a commutator fixed to the motor shaft, a rotor core fixed to the motor shaft and rotor windings wound about teeth of the rotor core and electrically connected to segments of the commutator. The rotor windings include a plurality of winding units. Each winding unit includes at least two coils, the coils of each winding unit being wound about the same teeth and electrically connected to a same pair of segments, in parallel.

Seat belt systems were developed to secure the occupant of a vehicle against harmful movement that may result during a collision or a sudden stop. The systems reduce the likelihood and severity of injury in a traffic collision by stopping the vehicle occupant from hitting hard against interior elements of the vehicle or other passengers (the so-called second impact), by keeping occupants positioned correctly for maximum benefit from the airbag and by preventing occupants being ejected from the seat of the vehicle.
A traditional seat belt system usually comprises a seat belt for restraining the occupant in the seat, a belt winder for tightening or loosing the seat belt, a tongue plate slidably arranged on the seat belt, and a belt buckle assembly which comprises a belt buckle detachably engagable with the tongue plate, and a driver for moving the belt buckle relative to the occupant. The movement of the belt buckle is able to adjust the effective length of the seat belt, so the belt buckle assembly is typically used as a belt tensioner.
FIG. 4 illustrates a winding scheme of a traditional permanent magnet direct current (PMDC) motor used for driving the belt buckle in a seat belt system. The rotor windings comprise a plurality of coils wound about teeth of the rotor core and electrically connected to segments of a commutator. For example, coil C1′ is wound about teeth T1 and T2 and connected to segments S1 and S2. Coil C2′ is wound about teeth T2 and T3 and connected to segments S2 and S3. The PMDC motor comprises two brushes to feed electric current to the rotor windings. The rotor windings form two parallel branches. When a coil such as coil C1′ is open, one of the branches will be open. The motor as well as the seat belt system will malfunction. It is dangerous to drive a car having a malfunctioning seat belt buckle assembly.
Therefore, there is a desire for a seat belt buckle assembly with improved reliability.


A routing tool for cutting material and an associated apparatus and method are provided. The tool includes a substantially cylindrical shaft member having a shank portion and a cutting portion. The cutting portion includes a plurality of cutting teeth disposed peripherally about a first helix and an intersecting second helix. Each cutting tooth defines a first cutting clearance on a first cutting edge and a first clearance on a first non-cutting edge. The cutting tooth defines a second cutting clearance on a second cutting edge and a second clearance on a second non-cutting edge. A flat extends on each cutting tooth resulting in a circular land on an outside diameter of the cutting portion.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to routing and, more specifically, to a tool and method for cutting and shaping materials using a router.
2) Description of Related Art
Routing is a process used to trim or cut various metal, plastic, and ceramic materials. Routers can also be used to cut composite laminated materials such as graphite. Composite laminated materials are commonly used in the airline and automotive industries due to its high strength to weight ratio, as well as its versatility to accommodate a variety of technical needs. Stiffer materials such as graphite or boron are typically embedded as fibers within a metallic or nonmetallic sheet. Alternatively, sheets of stiffer materials can be laminated to metallic or nonmetallic sheets. An example of a typical composite material is fiberglass. Because of the composite material's high strength, the router must be designed to withstand high resistance and friction when cutting. Thus, the router must be fabricated with a strong metal or carbide in order to withstand these high stresses, as well as to resist wear and dulling.
Routers are capable of cutting different shapes and patterns along an edge, trimming edges, or cutting patterns or holes in the composite material. Prior art cutters have included various features to cut composite materials, such as helical flutes having notches, grooves, or lands intended to help with improving surface finish or chip removal. The flutes may be varied in number and orientation, as well as flute geometry. Two types of routers normally used to cut composite materials are diamond plated rotary files and carbide rotary diamond point ground rasps (i.e. herringbone ground cutters).
One example of a tool used to cut composite materials is U.S. Pat. No. 4,990,035 to Scheuch et al. (" '035 patent"). The '035 patent discloses a herringbone milling tool 1 having a clamping shank 2 and a cutting part 3, wherein there are staggered teeth extending about a helix. The staggered teeth are generally described as having a substantially pyramidal shape. The cutting part 3 defines cutting edges 5 and divider grooves 7, wherein the divider grooves extend at an opposite angle α2 to an angle α1 defining the cutting edges. "The divider grooves 7 form a secondary cutting edge 8 which, however, does not act as an actual cutting edge" (col. 4, lines 20–22). The '035 patent describes the milling cutter as capable of cutting integrated circuit boards, such as those that are reinforced with glass-fiber.
Another example of a cutting tool is U.S. Pat. No. 2,855,657 to Erhardt ("'657 patent"). The '657 patent has cutting teeth 2 arranged about a single helix. Notches 5 are disposed between the cutting teeth and serve as chip breakers. Chip breakers are not actually used to cut the workpiece, but are used to break up the chips as the cutting edges on the cutting teeth 2 are advanced through the workpiece.
Despite these features, additional innovations in cutting tooth geometry for cutting tools such as routers are desired to promote better surface finish in composite materials. Typical carbide or high-speed steels tools do not produce a desirable surface finish due to the heat generated and the abrasive nature of the graphite. Thus, the router must be able to cut and evacuate chips rapidly in order to avoid excessive heat production, which ultimately leads to poor surface finish and chattering. Chattering refers to the router flutes vibrating in a direction opposite to the direction being cut. Carbide and steel cutters dull easily, which produces excessive heat. Heat generation also leads to delamination of the material being cut. Delamination refers to separation of the layers of composite material and leads to a poor edge finish, which ultimately needs hand sanding to eliminate the delamination. Similarly, diamond coated tools do not produce an acceptable surface finish on the part, and hand sanding is usually required to clean up the parts. Also, diamond pointed tools usually have sharp points that wear out quickly and chip off easily.
It would therefore be advantageous to provide a router with an improved cutting tooth geometry that is capable of effectively cutting composite material. In addition, it would be advantageous to provide a router that produces minimal delamination and chattering. Finally, it would be advantageous to provide a router having cutting teeth that do not chip or dull easily.


An object is to allow intuitively understand whether display information displayed on a display device indicates favorable state or unfavorable state for a user. An acquisition unit 11 acquires energy-related information. A communication unit 13 is connected to a display device 3 and an operation device 4. Display information to be displayed on the display device 3 has a stratum structure including first display information as a top tier and second display information, the first display information including at least two categories which express the favorability about the energy-related information, the second display information including plural kinds of information so that the lower tier includes more detailed information. An information generation unit 14 transmits second display information to the display device 3 upon receiving a request from the operation device 4 when first display information is displayed on the display device 3.

There has been proposed a device which is capable of displaying information such as attainment level of targets about use of energy (e.g., electricity) and contribution to energy saving, on a screen device (e.g., see JP2009-47682A).
However, this kind of device has problems that: the device displays the information stereotypically (uniformly); and it is elusive for a user to understand whether the information indicates favorable state or unfavorable state.

Energy management assistance device, energy management assistance system, and program

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.


A method of forming a field effect transistor comprises providing a substrate comprising a biaxially strained layer of a semiconductor material. A gate electrode is formed on the biaxially strained layer of semiconductor material. A raised source region and a raised drain region are formed adjacent the gate electrode. Ions of a dopant material are implanted into the raised source region and the raised drain region to form an extended source region and an extended drain region. Moreover, in methods of forming a field effect transistor according to embodiments of the present invention, a gate electrode can be formed in a recess of a layer of semiconductor material. Thus, a field effect transistor wherein a source side channel contact region and a drain side channel contact region located adjacent a channel region are subject to biaxial strain can be obtained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the formation of integrated circuits, and, more particularly, to the formation of field effect transistors having a channel region with a specified intrinsic stress to improve the charge carrier mobility.
2. Description of the Related Art
Integrated circuits comprise a large number of individual circuit elements, such as transistors, capacitors and resistors. These elements are connected internally to form complex circuits, such as memory devices, logic devices and microprocessors. The performance of integrated circuits can be improved by increasing the number of functional elements in the circuit in order to increase their functionality and/or by increasing the speed of operation of the circuit elements. A reduction of feature sizes allows the formation of a greater number of circuit elements on the same area, hence allowing an extension of the functionality of the circuit, and also reduces signal propagation delays, thus making an increase of the speed of operation of circuit elements possible.
Field effect transistors are used as switching elements in integrated circuits. They allow control of a current flowing through a channel region located between a source region and a drain region. The source region and the drain region are highly doped. In N-type transistors, the source and drain regions are doped with an N-type dopant. Conversely, in P-type transistors, the source and drain regions are doped with a P-type dopant. The doping of the channel region is inverse to the doping of the source region and the drain region. The conductivity of the channel region is controlled by a gate voltage applied to a gate electrode formed above the channel region and separated therefrom by a thin insulating layer. Depending on the gate voltage, the channel region may be switched between a conductive "on" state and a substantially non-conductive "off" state.
When reducing the size of field effect transistors, it is important to maintain a high conductivity of the channel region in the "on" state. The conductivity of the channel region in the "on" state depends on the dopant concentration in the channel region, the mobility of the charge carriers, the extension of the channel region in the width direction of the transistor and the distance between the source region and the drain region, which is commonly denoted as "channel length." While a reduction of the width of the channel region leads to a decrease of the channel conductivity, a reduction of the channel length enhances the channel conductivity. An increase of the charge carrier mobility leads to an increase of the channel conductivity.
As feature sizes are reduced, the extension of the channel region in the width direction is also reduced. A reduction of the channel length entails a plurality of issues associated therewith. First, advanced techniques of photolithography and etching have to be provided in order to reliably and reproducibly create transistors having short channel lengths. Moreover, highly sophisticated dopant profiles, in the vertical direction as well as in the lateral direction, are required in the source region and in the drain region in order to provide a low sheet resistivity and a low contact resistivity in combination with a desired channel controllability.
In view of the problems associated with a further reduction of the channel length, it has been proposed to also enhance the performance of field effect transistors by increasing the charge carrier mobility in the channel region. In principle, at least two approaches may be used to increase the charge carrier mobility.
First, the dopant concentration in the channel region may be reduced. Thus, the probability of scattering events of charge carriers in the channel region is reduced, which leads to an increase of the conductivity of the channel region. Reducing the dopant concentration in the channel region, however, significantly affects the threshold voltage of the transistor device. This makes the reduction of dopant concentration a less attractive approach.
Second, the lattice structure in the channel region may be modified by creating tensile or compressive strain. This leads to a modified mobility of electrons and holes, respectively. Depending on the magnitude of the strain, a biaxial tensile strain may increase the mobility of electrons in a silicon layer on an insulating substrate or a substrate comprising an insulating layer provided under the silicon layer by up to 300%, and may also increase the hole mobility when above a 30% SiGe equivalent level. The mobility of holes may also be increased by providing a silicon layer having a compressive strain.
A method of forming a filed effect transistor wherein the channel region is formed in a strained silicon layer provided on an insulating layer will be described in the following with reference to FIGS. 1a-1f.
FIG. 1a shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a semiconductor structure 100 in a first stage of the prior art manufacturing process. A substrate 101, which may, for example, comprise a silicon wafer, is provided. On the substrate, a layer 102 of an insulating material is formed, for example by means of known methods of deposition and/or oxidation. In some examples of prior art processes, the layer 102 of insulating material may comprise silicon dioxide.
In addition to the substrate 101, an auxiliary substrate 103, which is shown in FIG. 1b, is provided. On the auxiliary substrate 103, a strain-creating layer 104 and a layer 105 of a semiconductor material are formed. This may be done by means of known deposition techniques such as chemical vapor deposition and/or plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The layer 105 of semiconductor material may comprise silicon.
The strain-creating layer 104 comprises a material having a lattice constant other than the lattice constant of the semiconductor material 105. When the semiconductor material of the layer 105 is deposited on the strain-creating layer 104, the crystalline structure of the semiconductor material 105 is influenced by the crystal lattice of the strain-creating layer 104. Thus, a global biaxial strain can be created in the layer 105 of semiconductor material.
If the lattice constant of the material of the strain-creating layer 104 is greater than the lattice constant which the semiconductor material of the layer 105 adopts in a bulk crystal, the atoms in the layer 105 arrange at a greater distance than in a bulk crystal of the semiconductor material. Thus, the layer 105 of semiconductor material comprises a tensile strain. Conversely, if the lattice constant of the material of the strain-creating layer 104 is smaller than that of the semiconductor material of layer 105 in a bulk crystal, the layer 105 of semiconductor material is formed with an intrinsic compressive strain. In examples of prior art processes wherein the layer 105 of semiconductor material comprises silicon, a strain-creating layer 104 comprising an alloy of silicon and germanium may be used to create a tensile strain. In order to create a compressive strain in the layer 105 when comprising silicon, the strain-creating layer 104 may be made of an alloy of silicon and carbon.
The auxiliary substrate 103 is bonded to the substrate 101. To this end, the auxiliary substrate 103 and the substrate 101 are arranged such that the layer 105 of semiconductor material and the layer 102 of insulating material contact each other, as shown in FIG. 1c. Then, a known bonding technique, such as anodic bonding, is employed to fix the layer 105 of semiconductor material to the layer 102 of insulating material.
A schematic cross-sectional view of the semiconductor structure 100 in a later stage of the manufacturing process according to the state of the art is shown in FIG. 1d. The auxiliary substrate 103 and the strain-creating layer 104 are removed, for example by means of grinding, etching or delamination. Then, the substrate 101 comprises on its surface the layer 105 of semiconductor material over the layer 102 of insulating material. The biaxial strain in the layer 105 of semiconductor material, which has been induced by the presence of the strain-creating layer 104 in the formation of the layer 105, is substantially preserved after the removal of the strain-creating layer 104. Therefore, the layer 105 of semiconductor material still comprises a biaxial strain.
A schematic cross-sectional view of the semiconductor structure 100 in a further stage of the manufacturing process according to the state of the art is shown in FIG. 1e. Shallow trench isolations 106, 107 which may be part of one continuous trench isolation structure are formed in the layer 105 of semiconductor material. The shallow trench isolations 106, 107 and the layer 102 of insulating material insulate a portion of the layer 105 of semiconductor material from the rest of the layer 105. Then, an active region 181 is created in the region between the shallow trench isolations 106, 107, for example by means of a known ion implantation process, wherein ions of a dopant material are introduced into the layer 105 of semiconductor material.
Subsequently, a gate electrode 109, which is separated from the active region 181 by a gate insulation layer 108, is formed over the active region. In the formation of the gate electrode 109 and the gate insulation layer 108, as well as in the formation of the shallow trench isolations 106, 107, techniques known to persons skilled in the art, such as advanced methods of deposition, photolithography, etching and oxidation, may be employed.
After the formation of the gate electrode 109, the semiconductor structure 100 is irradiated with ions 110 of a dopant material, which are indicated by arrows in FIG. 1e. The ions impinge on the layer 105 of semiconductor material and penetrate the layer 105 of semiconductor material. Thus, dopant material is introduced into the layer 105 of semiconductor material to form an extended source region 111 and an extended drain region 112. The gate electrode 109 absorbs ions impinging thereon such that substantially no dopant material is introduced into a channel region 123 below the gate electrode 109. The impact of the ions removes atoms of the semiconductor material in the layer 105 from their sites in the strained crystal lattice. At typical ion doses used in advanced methods of manufacturing a field effect transistor, the semiconductor material in the extended source region 111 and the extended drain region 112 is amorphized.
A further stage of the manufacturing process according to the state of the art is shown in FIG. 1f. Sidewall spacers 119, 120 are formed adjacent the gate electrode 109, which may be done by means of well-known methods comprising an isotropic deposition of a layer of a sidewall spacer material and an anisotropic etching process. Then, a further ion implantation, as indicated by arrows 190 in FIG. 1f, is performed to create a source region 113 and a drain region 114. Similar to the formation of the extended source region 111 and the extended drain region 112, the ion implantation into the source region 113 and the drain region 114 may lead to an amorphization of the semiconductor material 105. Finally, an annealing process may be performed to re-crystallize the semiconductor material 105 in the source region 113, the drain region 114, the extended source region 111 and the extended drain region 112.
A problem of the method of forming a field effect transistor according to the state of the art is that the strain-induced enhancement of the mobility of electrons and/or holes in the channel region is significantly reduced at short channel lengths. While in transistors having a relatively large channel length considerably greater than about 50 nm or more, an increase of the drive current by up to 100% may be obtained, in transistors having a relatively short channel length of about 50 nm or less, only an increase of the transistor drive current of about 5-10% is observed.
The present invention is directed to various methods and systems that may solve, or at least reduce, some or all of the aforementioned problems.

Method of forming a field effect transistor


An expandable arbor is provided for assembling a plurality of laminas into a lamination, wherein each lamina has a central opening and a plurality of slots extending radially from the central opening. The arbor includes a base portion and an expandable core that is disposed to extend axially from the base portion. The arbor further includes a plurality of key holders disposed around the core. Each key holder is configured in the form of an elongated shaft that extends axially from the base portion and has a polygonal transverse cross-section. Each key holder is further configured with a plurality of faces, and each face defines a key receptacle therein for holding a key.

The present invention relates generally to the manufacture of electromechanical machines, such as electric motors. More particularly, the invention relates to an expanding arbor used in manufacturing a laminated stator or armature for use in such a machine.
Expanding arbors are often used in the manufacture of lamination assemblies. For example, an expanding arbor may be employed to hold a stack of individual laminas that are to be connected together by welding or cleating. A laminated stator formed in this manner has a cylindrical central opening through which the rotor of the electromechanical machine extends. The lamina includes a plurality of individual teeth defining slots that carry the machine windings. It will be appreciated that each individual lamina is similarly provided with a central opening and these radially extending slots.
In order to produce a stator lamination assembly, the laminas must be aligned and stacked to the proper height. To achieve this result, the individual laminas are stacked on the arbor, which has a vertical core that passes through the central openings of the stacked laminas. In operation, the vertical core expands radially against the inner circumference of the individual laminas. As a result, the central openings of all of the laminas stacked on the arbor are concentrically aligned.
It also is necessary to radially align all of the slots of the individual laminas before the lamina stack can be connected together to form the lamination assembly. This is typically accomplished using a plurality of hardened fixtures known as alignment keys. The keys are symmetrically spaced about the vertical core member so that each key engages a corresponding slot gap in each of the laminas. Typically, four to six keys are used in order achieve desired quality levels of the finished product. The keys collectively function to force the slots of each lamina into radial alignment with the slots of the other laminas. Each key is sized and configured for the slot of the stator being stacked on the arbor. Different stators have varying numbers of slots, and slots with different gaps. Each such gap requires a correspondingly sized key.
Setting up expanding arbors of the prior art for different lamination sizes and types is time consuming. Before the laminas of a new stator are stacked onto the arbor, the vertical core member must be equipped with the keys required for the particular slot gap of that stator. It may take approximately twelve to fifteen minutes to set up an arbor with the new alignment keys. This set-up time is inefficient, and thus impacts the productivity of the manufacturing facility.

Quick setup expanding arbor for lamination assembly of an electrochemical machine


A method for dry-cleaning garments which comprises treating them with an azeotropic solvent of propylene glycol tertiary-butyl ether and water.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a novel dry-cleaning solvent and a method for effecting dry-cleaning using said solvent. More particularly, the present invention relates to a solvent which is comparable or superior to perchloroethylene in its attributes and benefits, but which does not suffer from the serious environmental, health and occupational negatives and problems associated with the use of perchloroethylene.