Exercise apparatus for guided exercise movement includes a primary arm pivotally mounted to a frame for pivotal movement about a fixed pivot relative to the frame, a movement arm pivotally mounted to the primary arm for pivotal movement relative to the primary arm about a floating pivot relative to the frame, a stationary cam fixed on the frame, and a follower on the movement arm engaging the stationary cam and guided thereby to control the path of movement of the movement arm about the floating pivot during movement of the primary arm about the fixed pivot. The cam has a cam track surface controlling compound movement of the movement arm.

The invention relates to exercise apparatus providing guided exercise movement.
Various types of exercise apparatus providing various types of exercise movements are known in the prior art. Drawbacks of such equipment include complicated linkages and multi-part mechanisms used to accomplish desired motion.
The present invention provides exercise apparatus with a simplified mechanism for guided exercise movement. The invention further enables the guided exercise movement along a selectively configurable path.


A method of global data placement. The method includes assigning one or more workloads to one or more compute servers such that each workload flows to one compute server, assigning the data chunks that the workloads accesses to one or more storage servers, and determining how the workloads access the data.

More and more, the emerging model of enterprise computing is one where compute and storage resources are distributed globally. To derive most benefit from the investment in the infrastructure, resources are preferred to be consolidated into one pool. Users may then be able to just run an application on the pool, without needing to consider how and where the resources were actually derived from. However, to make best use of the available resources, the system should be able to make efficient allocation decisions, such as deciding where an application is run, where some database is stored, or how much bandwidth is allocated on some network for one application.
Users may generate workloads where each workload is an application with computational and storage requirements. Each of these workloads may be assigned to a compute server to perform the required computations. The data that the workloads access may also be assigned storage servers from which the compute server accesses the data.
However, costs are incurred in such environments. For instance, the cost of running a workload on a server could be measured in the amount of time the application used the server, the cost of locating a piece of data on a storage server could be measured in the amount of storage space used, or the cost of using a network link could be measured in the amount of bandwidth that was consumed. The problem then becomes matching workloads with the appropriate resources to minimize costs.
One approach to allocating resources is the storage configuration approach, as described by Alvarez et al., "Minerva: An Automated Resource Provisioning Tool for Large-Scale Storage Systems," ACM Transactions on Computer Systems, 2001 and Anderson et al., "Hippodrome: Running Circles Around the Storage Administrator," Conference on File and Storage Technologies, 2002. The storage configuration approach involves placing data onto storage devices subject to capacity and utilization constraints, while minimizing the cost of the storage devices.
However, the storage configuration approach assumes computation to be local to the storage and is separately assigned. In particular, there is no network latency between computation and storage. Thus, the storage configuration approach is not suitable when modeling behavior of a system whose resources are distributed.
There have been other works that attempt to solve variants of the data placement problems such as the file assignment approach, web object placement approach, and the web cache placement approach. However, these approaches had many deficiencies such as inability to explore load-balancing issues, computational inefficiency, lack of provable quality solution and/or performance, and the like.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


The present invention provides a semiconductor device wherein the area of a peripheral circuit region with respect to a pixel region is reduced, and provides a manufacturing method of the semiconductor device. A semiconductor device according to the present invention is characterized by having a pixel region 1, peripheral circuit regions 2a to 2c arranged in at least a part of the periphery of the pixel region, and a wiring formed in the peripheral circuit region, and by having a wiring multilayered with two or more layers. At least one layer of the multilyered wiring is formed from a low resistance material. Transistors are formed in the peripheral circuit region, and the multilayer wiring with two or more layers is formed on the upper side of the transistors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device, and more specifically to a technique of reducing the area of a peripheral circuit region with respect to a pixel region that has one or more pixels. The present invention also relates to a technique of improving an aperture ratio of the pixel region by giving the peripheral circuit region ("border frame") a smaller width through a multilayer wiring.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 6 is a plan view schematically showing a chip in a conventional liquid crystal display device.
This chip in the liquid crystal display device has a pixel region 101, which has a square shape in plan view. The pixel region 101 is composed of one or more pixels. Placed in the periphery (above, to the left, and to the right) of the pixel region 101 are peripheral circuits 102a to 102c. The chip is arranged on a substrate (or this chip and similar chips are arranged on the same substrate). The peripheral circuits 102a to 102c each have a thin rectangular shape in plan view, and the shorter sides of each rectangular are 2 to 3 mm in length. The reason each of the peripheral circuits needs a width of 2 to 3 mm is because power supply lines, clock lines, and other wirings formed in the peripheral circuit are on the order of tens to hundreds of μm in width, thus taking up a large area.
The peripheral circuits 102a to 102c have TFTs (thin film transistors). Those TFTs have gate electrodes formed from a refractory metal such as polysilicon or W. The gate electrodes are for applying a gate voltage to specific TFT active layers, and the gate electrodes of the plural TFTs are electrically connected with one another. The gate electrodes are electrically connected to intersecting wirings. The wirings electrically connect the plural TFTs with one another, and are placed in a layer above the gate electrodes. The wirings also connect the TFTs to pixel electrodes. The wirings have a laminated structure composed of, for example, an Al film and a barrier metal film. The barrier metal film is a single layer or a multilayer structure of Ti, TiN, Ta, TaN, W, or the like.
Formed in a layer above the wiring layer is a black mask, which is an Al film or the like. The black mask has a light-shielding function and an electric potential blocking ability. A pixel electrode is formed from ITO in a layer above the black mask.
[Reference 1: JP 09-43630 A ]
As mentioned above, the peripheral circuit region (the peripheral circuits constituting a "border frame" around the pixel region) has a width of 2 to 3 mm. Because, the peripheral circuit region is desired to have a narrower width because reduction in width of the peripheral circuit region (border frame) leads to an improvement in aperture ratio of the pixel region. To elaborate, reduction in width of the peripheral circuit region gives the pixel region a larger area when the chip size is equal and accordingly the area of each pixel is increased, thus increasing the area of the aperture in each pixel and improving the brightness. On the other hand, when the pixel region has the same area, reduction in width of the peripheral circuit region makes it possible to reduce the chip size and the chip becomes more suitable for mass production.
In the conventional liquid crystal display device described above, the wiring layer is a single layer and raising the degree of integration in the wiring layer is difficult due to limitations of a photolithography system or the like. When wirings are formed in the same layer, the wirings take up a large area and the proportion of the area of the driver circuit and other peripheral circuits to the entire chip area is accordingly large, presenting an obstacle to reduction in width of the peripheral circuit region.
When the peripheral circuit region has a large width, the wirings electrically connecting plural pixels with one another also tend to have an extended length since the wirings run across the pixel region. This could result in higher-than-ideal resistance for the wirings and a shortage of current to be supplied to the TFTs.
In addition, the gate electrodes formed in a layer below the wirings tend to be made thicker in order to lower the resistance of the gate electrodes. Thicker gate electrodes increase the level difference in the base of the wiring layer to reduce the patterning margin in forming the wirings. This could result in level discontinuity in the wirings patterned.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A mobile terminal in a mobile communication system in which a server performs routing control based on registration information sent from the plurality of mobile terminals, including; an exchanging unit configured to exchange, with another mobile terminal, link information showing a link set in the another mobile terminal, and operational information showing whether the another mobile terminal is operating as a registering terminal which sends the registration information to the server or the another mobile terminal is operating as a non-registering terminal which does not send the registration information to the server; and a judgment unit configured to make a judgment on whether the mobile terminal should operate as the registering terminal or the mobile terminal should operate as the non-registering terminal, based on the link information and the operational information which are received from the another mobile terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile communication method in which a server performs routing control based on registration information sent from a plurality of mobile terminals, and to a mobile terminal used in the mobile communication method.
2. Description of the Related Art
A mobile communication method, in which a server in a core network such as a cellular network performs routing control based on a topology of a wireless multi-hop network, has been conventionally discussed.
With reference to FIGS. 1a to 1e, a description will be given of a conventional mobile communication method as described above.
Firstly, each mobile terminal 13 can grasp information showing a link state of a mobile terminal which is reachable within two hops, by regularly exchanging Hello packets, such as one used in the optimized link state routing protocol (OLSR), with another mobile terminal 13.
Secondly, as shown in FIG. 1A, each mobile terminal 13 sends registration information including identification information on an adjacent mobile terminal, its own identification information and its own location information, to a server 14 in a core network called the cellular aided mobile ad hoc network (CAMA) agent.
Here, the registration information is information necessary for the server 14 to manage a topology of a wireless multi-hop network 10. Incidentally, the location information is assumed to be obtained by GPS and the like.
Thirdly, as shown in FIG. 1B, the mobile terminal 13 requesting to start communication sends a communication request to the server 14.
Fourthly, as shown in FIG. 1C, the server 14, which has received the communication request, calculates a route related to the communication request based on the topology of the wireless multi-hop network 10 managed by itself.
Fifthly, as shown in FIG. 1D, the server 14 notifies the mobile terminal 13 which has requested the communication start, of the calculated route information.
Sixthly, as shown in FIG. 1E, the mobile terminal 13 sends data in the wireless multi-hop network 10 based on the route information notified from the server 14.
However, all mobile terminals 13 are required to access the server 14 in a core network 11 regularly or according to a change in a link state. Therefore, if the sending of the registration information to the core network 11 by the plurality of mobile terminals 13 often takes place, the processing amount of the server 14 increases. Thus, a communication amount between the server 14 and the mobile terminals 13 increases, and there has been a problem in that the amount of the power consumption of the mobile terminal 13 increases.

Mobile terminal and mobile communication method


A tunable element in the microwave frequency range is described that may include one or more tunable elements that are directly digitally controlled by a digital bus connecting a digital control circuit to each controlled element. In particular, each digital signal is filtered by a digital isolation technique so that the signal reaches the tunable elements with very low noise. The low noise digital signals are then converted to analog control voltages. The direct D/A conversion is accomplished by a special D/A converter which is manufactured as an integral part of a substrate. This D/A converter in accordance with the invention may consist of a resistor ladder or a directly digitally controlled capacitor. The direct digitally controlled capacitor may be a cantilevered type capacitor having multiple separate electrodes or sub-plates representing binary bits that may be used to control the capacitor. A low cost microwave oscillator is disclosed in which some of the filters and oscillators are direct digitally tuned elements.

This invention relates generally to a communications device and in particular to direct digitally tunable microwave oscillators and filters that enable a low-cost high-speed digital transceiver in the millimeter wave frequency range.
Telecommunication deregulation and the growth of the Internet are causing a large demand for broadband communications network access to homes and offices at increasing bit rates. For Internet access, a Digital Subscriber Loop (DSL) service and similar techniques are becoming popular. However, the speed of the DSL service is limited by the fact that the data travels over long telephone twisted copper wire pairs. Cable modems are also becoming prevalent methods of Internet and telephony access. However, the return channel for a cable modem is quite limited in speed by the nature of cable distribution technology. Fiber optics offers higher access speeds than the other systems and services, but fiber does not currently reach most homes and offices and installation of new fiber is very expensive.
To overcome these limitations with current systems, service providers and users are considering using digital wireless communications as a possible alternative access system. Various radio frequency bands are in fact currently allocated to applications that include broadband wireless access, however, most of the available bandwidth is in the millimeter wave range, ranging roughly from 15 to 66 GHz. Among these bands, the USA Local Multipoint Distributed Services (LMDS) bands in the 28 to 30 GHz range are a good example of a licensed band intended for telecom access applications. Since LMDS is a licensed band, the license owner has the exclusive rights to use the band for such services, thus ensuring interference-free operation.
LMDS services may use point to multipoint communication networks. The LMDS service provider typically maintains base station antennas on tall structures to maintain line of sight to a large number of user-buildings in a sector. Each subscribed user gets a small transceiver installed outdoors. While the base station cost is divided among many users, the subscriber transceiver serves only one user or at the most few users in a shared building. Thus, the cost of the transceiver must be kept low for the LMDS service to be economical. The option of reducing the cost of the transceiver by using a lower frequency is not always practical since it may be precluded by spectrum availability limitations so that millimeter wave transceivers are desirable, but too expensive for many applications. To make millimeter wave communications cost effective, a drastic cost reduction of the millimeter wave transceivers is required.
A typical millimeter wave transceiver includes a frequency synthesizer that generates the final millimeter wave frequency with an offset of a few GHz depending on the particular radio application. The synthesizer is required for accurately setting the exact transmit and receive frequencies of the communications. An undesirable by-product of frequency synthesis is phase noise that must be kept within acceptable performance levels for a particular radio link. Furthermore, a synthesizer may require a large tuning range, usually a few hundred MHz, to allow it to tune to alternate channels. A common way of implementing a synthesizer is to use a base phase locked loop at a lower frequency, such as around 2 GHz, and a chain of frequency multipliers. For example, a 28 GHz signal may be synthesized from a 1.75 GHz signal multiplied by 16 (i.e., 2×2×2×2) which may be implemented using a chain of four frequency doublers.
There are several limitations to the above typical frequency synthesizer. The cost of the synthesizer is significant because the frequency doublers add complexity and cost. Furthermore, the synthesizer is very sensitive to noise. In particular, the phase locked-loop in the synthesizer has a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). The tuning voltage of that VCO causes the final frequency of the VCO to vary by a few MHz so that one millivolt of noise in the phase locked loop control voltage may cause a frequency deviation of 500 kHz. This frequency deviation may cause temporary loss of frequency lock and large bit errors in the communications data stream which are both undesirable.
Apart from the frequency synthesizer, the millimeter-wave filters in a transceiver also increase the cost of the transceiver, especially in frequency division duplex (FDD) transceivers in which a diplexer is used. The above is also true for a time division duplex (TDD) receiver which also needs filters. Thus, it is desirable to provide a direct digitally tunable oscillator and filter that overcomes the above limitations and problems with typical oscillators and filters that may be used in millimeter wave transceiver devices and systems and it is to this end that the present invention is directed.

Direct digitally tunable microwave oscillators and filters


A printer for printing both image information and additional character information superimposed on the image. The printer comprises an additional character information generation circuit, a display circuit for displaying the additional character information generated by the additional character information generation circuit, and a selecting circuit for selecting characters and/or symbols in the additional character information. A plurality of additional character information symbols and/or characters are displayed on a display unit for selection purposes.

The present invention relates to printers. Specifically, the invention relates to a printer with means for superimposing additional character information onto/into a printed image.
Video printers for producing hard copies of video images generated by image sources such as tuners, VCR's, video-disc playback units, computers, and so forth are known. A video printer normally is connected to an image display monitor that displays a source (input) image to be printed. Examples of video printers are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. SHO 63-127890 and Japanese Patent Application No. SHO 63-161801, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.
It is desirable to print character information (hereinafter referred to as a caption) such as a title for and/or description of an image along with the image to be printed. Hereinafter, the term "caption" refers to a collection of symbols including alphanumeric characters and the like selected to be printed along with an image while the term "character information" refers to symbols which can be used to create a caption. Thus, e.g., character information can include an alphabet while a caption includes a word or words formed by combining selected letters of the alphabet.
One system for accomplishing this creates a caption by operation of a computer and its keyboard, jointly displays a still image and the caption on a monitor, and transmits the caption along with the still image to a printer. This system is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. SHO 63-1179, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.
With respect to a printer, it is possible to create and print a caption along with printed information in a similar manner. However, when the conventional method is applied to a printer, since a caption is input by means of another computer which is not used for the printer, it is necessary to operate a keyboard, i.e., type in the caption information via a keyboard. In addition, the caption being input must be transferred from the computer to the printer through an RS-232-C interface or the like. As a result, the number of key strokes can increase thereby complicating the operation. In addition, a printer that is not equipped with such an interface cannot print the caption.


A rubber composition containing (A) 100 parts by weight of an amorphous or low-crystalline ethylene-.alpha.-olefin copolymer rubber having an ethylene content of 70 to 90 mole %, a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of 3.0 or more and a Mooney viscosity ML.sub.1+4 (100.degree. C.) of 5 to 80; and (B) 1 to 120 parts by weight of a liquid ethylene-.alpha.-olefin random copolymer having an ethylene content of 40 to 90 mole % and an intrinsic viscosity [.eta.] of 0.01 to 0.4 dl/g as measured in decalin at 135.degree. C.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rubber composition. More specifically, it relates to a rubber composition containing an amorphous or low crystalline ethylene-.alpha.-olefin copolymer rubber and a liquid ethylene-.alpha.-olefin random copolymer and having an excellent processability, thermal aging resistance and wear resistance, which is particularly usable for general rubber articles such as a belt for industrial use, a hose, and a seal or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Rubbers having a backbone which comprises a single bond are known to have an excellent thermal aging resistance, and a typical example thereof is an amorphous ethylene-propylene-diene copolymer rubber. This rubber comprises ethylene-propylene as a main component, and a diene such as dicyclopentadiene, ethylidene-norbornene or the like is random copolymerized to permit a crosslinking by sulfur. If a stronger thermal aging resistance is required, however, an amorphous ethylene-propylene copolymer rubber free of such a diene is preferred. In view of vulcanizing factors such as the sulfur used for crosslinking the amorphous ethylene-propylene-diene copolymer rubber, a polysulfide bond in addition to a monosulfide bond may be present in the rubber. Such a polysulfide bond is unsuitable for heat-resistant use because of its low heat-resistance. On the other hand, a vulcanizing agent such as an organic peroxide used in an amorphous ethylene-.alpha.-olefin copolymer rubber, particularly in an amorphous ethylene-propylene copolymer rubber, has an excellent thermal stability because a sigma bonding is formed between molecules. However ethylene-.alpha.-olefin copolymer rubbers still have an unsatisfactory thermal aging resistance or wear resistance as a material of maintenance-free products such as a heat-resistant belt, hose or the like which can be used for a long period without impairing their properties. As a means for solving the problem, an increase of the ethylene content in an amorphous ethylene-.alpha.-olefin copolymer is known, but an amorphous ethylene-.alpha.-olefin copolymer rubber having a high content of ethylene has a remarkably inferior roll processability, and thus is not used in practice for the forming of articles.
Currently, a material having properties antagonistic to each other, such as a high ethylene content and excellent roll processability, is required, but commercially available amorphous ethylene-.alpha.-olefin copolymer rubbers, in particular an amorphous ethylenepropylene copolymer rubber, are now designed with a stress on the roll processability thereof and have a low ethylene content of about 60 mole %, and thus such copolymers have problems with regard to the thermal aging resistance or wear resistance thereof.


The present invention relates to image rejection calibration in a radio frequency (RF) receiver. In one embodiment, the receiver includes a receiver front-end and an image rejection calibration system. The image rejection calibration system provides a first test signal to an RF input of the receiver front-end, and obtains first measurements of a quadrature output signal output from the receiver front-end while the first test signal is applied to the RF input. The image rejection calibration system then applies a second test signal to the RF input of the receiver front-end that is approximately 90 degrees out-of-phase with the first test signal, and obtains second measurements of the quadrature output signal while the second test signal is applied to the RF input. Based on the first and second measurements, the image rejection calibration system determines an amplitude error and a phase error of the receiver front-end.

In a heterodyne architecture, a received signal is downconverted to an intermediate frequency (IF), rather than to baseband, for signal processing using a mixing operation. One inherent problem in heterodyne receivers is that when downconverting the received signal to the desired intermediate frequency, an image of the received signal is also converted to the desired intermediate frequency as a result of the mixing operation. More specifically, because the mixing operation does not preserve the polarity of the difference between its two input frequencies, the receive frequency and the image frequency, which are located at an equal distance from either side of a local oscillator (LO) frequency used in the mixing operation, are translated to the same IF frequency. Since power of the image signal may not be regulated and can be much higher than that of the desired signal, image rejection must be performed.
In order to provide image rejection, many heterodyne receivers utilize a quadrature architecture. More specifically, the received signal is downconverted to the desired intermediate frequency using a quadrature mixing operation. However, achievable image rejection of such quadrature architectures is limited by the amount of I/Q mismatch in the receiver. As such, there is a need for a system and method of correcting I/Q mismatch in a heterodyne receiver in order to improve image rejection.


A method for mitigating traffic congestions in a communication network uses concatenated data packets to transmit information between terminals, e.g., edge proxies, of the network. Embodiments of the invention are directed to packet communications over military or commercial networks. In one application, the method is implemented in a network using High Assurance Internet Protocol Encryption (HAIPE).

Communication networks may experience traffic congestion events. During such events, performance of data, voice, or video communications degrades and may fall below acceptable levels. In particular, traffic congestions are more likely to occur in military and commercial networks using data encryption techniques.
FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary conventional datagram 100 that may be used for transmitting encrypted information in an Internet Protocol (IP) based communication system. The datagram 100 includes an encryption overhead block 110 and a packet 120 having an IP header 122 and a payload 124. The encryption overhead block 110 generally includes an IP header 112, an encryption header 114, and an encryption trailer 116.
Encryption techniques commonly produce large amounts of overhead that significantly increases the traffic load in a network. For example, in the datagram 100, a bit length of the encryption overhead block 110 may exceed by more than two times a bit length of the packet 120. Correspondingly, limited bandwidths of the respective networks may prevent use of effective encryption techniques that tend to generate large overhead traffic.
Therefore, despite the considerable effort in the art devoted to avoidance or mitigation of traffic congestions in communication network, further improvements would be desirable.

Method and system for mitigating traffic congestions in a communication network


A servo controlling method for controlling an information processing apparatus using a hologram. The method includes a step of irradiating a holographic recording medium with light having a first wavelength and irradiating the holographic recording medium with light having a second wavelength, different from the first wavelength, a step of directing first return light by the light of the first wavelength and second return light by the light of the second wavelength to be incident on the same light receiving element, and a step of performing servo control by separating the first return light from the second return light at the light receiving element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical information reproducing method and an optical information recording and reproducing apparatus, for irradiating a hologram recording medium with an information beam and a reference beam to form an interference pattern, for recording information in the recording medium by the interference pattern, and for reproducing the information from the recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Holographic recording, using holography and thereby recording information in a recording medium, is generally performed by overlapping an information beam having image information with a reference beam not having the image information in a recording medium, and writing an interference pattern prepared in this case in the recording medium. The recorded image information is reproduced by irradiating the reference beam to the recording medium and diffracting the reference beam by the interference pattern. By modulating the image information in accordance with the information to be recorded, it is possible to record optical information in the recording medium at a high density.
A holographic memory is described in, for example, Hideki Hirogome, et al., "Near Holographic Medium realizes 200G bytes in 2006 "NIKKEI ELECTRONIICS" No. 891, pages 105-114, Jan. 17, 2005". FIG. 14 is a conventional recording and reproducing apparatus using a holographic memory, which explains the optical system of a coaxial-type holographic memory system (optical information recording and reproducing apparatus) referred to as the colinear mode.
This optical information recording and reproducing apparatus records and reproduces information in and from a discoid hologram recording medium 216. Specifically, by irradiating the recording medium 216 with a signal beam modulated by information and a reference beam not modulated by information, at the same time, and making them interfere, a volume hologram is formed in the recording medium 216 to record information. Moreover, by irradiating the recording medium 216 with a weak reference beam, the reproduced image of a volume hologram is obtained, and information is reproduced. The volume hologram of the recording medium is a mode for positively using the thickness direction of the recording medium and, thereby, three-dimensionally writing an interference pattern. This is a mode for improving a diffraction efficiency and increasing a recording capacity, by using multiple recording. A digital volume hologram is a hologram recording mode restricting image information to be recorded to a binary digital pattern, while using a recording mode the same as in the case of a volume hologram.
The illustrated optical system is provided with a first light source 201 for generating a laser beam used to record and to reproduce information, a spatial light modulator (hereafter referred to as an SLM) 204 for modulating a signal beam, and a two-dimensional light receiving element 219 for detecting reproduced light.
An optical information recording and reproducing apparatus is provided with, not only the first light source 201 for recording and reproducing hologrammed optical information, but also, a second light source 220 constituted of a red laser, having no photosensitivity for the recording medium 216. It is possible to accurately detect the displacement of the recording medium 216 by using the second light source 220, and using the reflection film of the recording medium 216 as a reference plane. Thereby, even if side-runout or eccentricity occurs in the recording medium 216, it is possible to dynamically make a recording spot follow a recording medium plane, by using an optical servo technique, and to record an interference pattern at a high accuracy. This tracking is briefly described below.
The linear polarized-light flux emitted from the second light source 220, constituted of a red laser, or the like, passes through a beam splitter (hereafter, referred to as a BS) 221, is changed to a parallel light flux by a lens 222, reflected by a mirror 223 and a dichroic beam splitter (DBS) 211, and turned to the recording medium 216. The light flux passing through a quarter wave plate (QWP) 212 and converted into circular polarized light (for example, clockwise circular polarized light) is reflected from a mirror 213, enters an objective lens 214, and is collected by the reflection film of the recording medium 216 as a very small optical spot. The reflected light flux becomes counterclockwise circular polarized light, enters the objective lens 214 again, is changed to a parallel light flux, reflected from a mirror 213, passes through the QWP 212, and is converted into linear polarized light flux vertical to polarized light on an approach route. The light flux reflected by the DBS 211 passes through the mirror 223 and lens 222, similarly to the case of the approach route, is reflected by the BS 221 and led to a photodetector 224. The photodetector 224 has a plurality of light receiving planes to detect the positional information on a reflection plane. According to the detection result, it is possible to perform focus and tracking of the objective lens 214. This focus and tracking are the same as those performed in a conventionally-well-known optical information recording and reproducing apparatus using a CD or a DVD.
The above-described colinear-mode holographic memory system performs servo control, such as tracking, by using, not only a laser beam (e.g., a green laser beam from a first light source) having a relatively short wavelength for recording and reproducing the hologram, but also, a relatively-long-wavelength laser beam (e.g., a red laser beam from a second light source), in which a recording medium does not have photosensitivity. Therefore, even when executing optical servo, a hologram recording material is not photosensitized, and the recording-and-reproducing characteristic is not deteriorated. Moreover, the system dynamically follows the disturbance, such as eccentricity or side-runout, and can perform recording and reproducing at a high accuracy.
However, in the case of the above-described conventional optical-information recording and reproducing apparatus, a red-laser return beam for servo, including servo information, and a green laser return beam for recording and reproducing, including recorded information, are received by separate sensors. Therefore, the cost is increased due to the increase of the number of components, downsizing of an optical head is interrupted, the cost of the whole system is increased, and the whole apparatus is increased in size.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical information reproducing method capable of receiving a laser return beam for servo, including servo information and a laser return beam for recording and reproducing, including recorded information, by the same light receiving element and, thereby, realizing downsizing and cost reduction of an optical head.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an optical information recording and reproducing apparatus capable of receiving a laser return for servo, including servo information, and a laser return beam for recording and reproducing, including recorded information, by the same light receiving element and, thereby, realizing downsizing and cost reduction of an optical head.

Servo controlling method of optical information processing apparatus and optical information recording and reproducing apparatus


System and method for providing type-II (and higher order) phase-locked loops (PLLs) with a fast signal acquisition mode. A preferred embodiment comprises a loop filter with a proportional loop gain path (proportional loop gain circuit 1115) and an integral loop gain block (integral loop gain block 1120). The proportional loop gain path is used during signal acquisition to provide large loop bandwidth, hence fast signal acquisition of a desired signal. Then, during the PLL's signal tracking phase, the integral loop gain block is enabled and its output is combined with output from the proportional loop gain path to provide higher order filtering of the desired signal. An offset that may be present due to the use of the proportional loop gain path can be measured and subtracted to help improve signal tracking settling times.

An all digital phase-locked loop (ADPLL) is a digital circuit with a digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) which can be periodically adjusted so that the DCO's output phase tracks the phase (and hence, the frequency) of a reference signal.
The order of a PLL may have an effect upon the noise filtering capabilities of the PLL. For example, a type-I PLL (with a pole located at DC and due to the frequency-to-phase conversion mechanism) may be able to provide −20 dB/decade filtering of the DCO (or voltage controlled oscillator (VCO)), the reference signal, and the time-to-digital converter (TDC) phase noise. A type-II PLL (with two poles located at DC), on the other hand, may be able to provide −40 dB/decade filtering of the same under special conditions. Additionally, with respect to the DCO, type-I PLLs tend to flatten close-in 1/ω2 phase noise, while type-II PLLs have a capability to attenuate 1/ω2 phase noise by 20 dB/decade. Therefore, the use of type-II (and higher order) PLLs can be preferred due to their improved noise filtering capabilities.
However, type-II PLLs tend to have long transient settling times (when compared to type-I PLLs). The long transient settling time means that a type-II PLL will typically take longer to acquire a signal than a type-I PLL and that more time is needed for initial conditions to be eliminated from the PLL. The greater acquisition and settling times can place a limit on the frequency of the signal being tracked by the PLL.
One solution combines type-I and type-II operation and uses a type-I PLL for an initial signal acquisition phase and then switches to a type-II PLL for a signal tracking phase. The use of the type-I PLL permits a speedy lock onto the desired signal while the type-II PLL affords the noise filtering advantages of the type-II PLL.
One disadvantage of the prior art is that the use of a type-II PLL may result in slow signal acquisition and settling. This may be due in part to a type-II PLL's longer transients. The small loop bandwidth can increase the amount of time that it takes for signals to be acquired and initial conditions to settle.
A second disadvantage of the prior art is that an offset is present in the phase error from the use of the type-I PLL in the initial signal acquisition mode. This offset can increase the amount of time that the type-II PLL will require prior to being able to fully track the desired signal. This may be due to the type-II PLL's increased transients. Once again, this can have an effect on how soon the PLL is able to lock onto the desired signal.

Type-II all-digital phase-locked loop (PLL)


Isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides encoded thereby are described, together with the use of those products for making transgenic plants with increased tolerance to abiotic stress (e.g., high or low temperature, drought, flood).

Plants are constantly exposed to a variety of biotic (e.g., pathogen infection and insect herbivory) and abiotic (e.g., high or low temperature, drought, flood, anaerobic conditions and salinity) stresses. To survive these challenges, plants have developed elaborate mechanisms to perceive external signals and to manifest adaptive responses with proper physiological and morphological changes (Bohnert et al., 1995). Plants exposed to heat and/or low water or drought conditions typically have low yields of plant material, seeds, fruit and other edible products. Practically all agricultural regions are prone to drought due to climatic variation or socio-economic constraints on water resources. It would, therefore, be of great interest and importance to be able to identify genes that confer drought tolerance to thereby enable one to create transformed plants (such as crop plants) with improved ability to survive water limiting conditions.
In the field of agriculture and forestry efforts are constantly being made to produce plants with an increased growth potential in order to feed the ever-increasing world population and to guarantee the supply of reproducible raw materials. This is done conventionally through plant breeding. The breeding process is, however, both time-consuming and labor-intensive. Furthermore, appropriate breeding programs must be performed for each relevant plant species.
Availability and maintenance of a reproducible stream of food and feed has been a high priority throughout the history of human civilization and lies at the origin of agriculture. Specialists and researchers in the fields of agronomy science, agriculture, crop science, horticulture, and forest science are even today constantly striving to find and produce plants with an increased growth potential to feed an increasing world population and to guarantee a supply of reproducible raw materials. The robust level of research in these fields of science indicates the level of importance leaders in every geographic environment and climate around the world place on providing sustainable sources of food, feed and energy for the population.
Great progress has been made in using molecular genetics approaches to manipulate plants to provide better crops. Through introduction and expression of recombinant nucleic acid molecules in plants, researchers are now poised to provide the community with plant species tailored to grow more efficiently and produce more product despite unique geographic and/or climatic environments. These new approaches have the additional advantage of not being limited to one plant species, but instead being applicable to multiple different plant species (1).

Nucleotide sequences and polypeptides encoded thereby for enhancing plant drought tolerance


A striker reinforcement plate for support of a striker member on an automotive vehicle body. The plate has a first substantially planar face, including at least two holes for receiving mating bolts or screws. A flange extends from multiple edges of the face substantially perpendicular to the face. The flange includes mounting tabs extending outwardly and substantially perpendicular to the flange. The mounting tabs are provided for mating with an automotive vehicle pillar. The face of the striker reinforcement plate mates with a rear surface of a striker stiffener.

The present disclosure relates generally to vehicles and, more specifically, to reinforcement of vehicle doors. In particular, it relates to reinforcement of the striker element which is a component of the door locking mechanism.
It is known to provide a vehicle with a body having a door opening. It is also known to provide a door pivotally or slidably connected to the body to open and close the door opening. A door can be pivotally mounted on hinges or slidably mounted on tracks. In either embodiment, the door is equipped with a latch mechanism that mates with a striker element mounted to a pillar on the vehicle body.
It is further known that vehicles may have imposition of external side loads during operation. A striker element is one of the main items keeping a door mated to the automotive frame. The pillar carries the striker, which engages the latch mechanism carried by the door to secure the door in a closed orientation with respect to the automotive frame. The latch and striker are designed to work together to secure the door against the pillar, and prevent the door from inadvertently opening in the event of a crash. Since the striker is set and adjusted from the door opening, attaching the striker to the door opening panel or to the body side panel may not provide sufficient strength to manage the loads required during the side impact or pull-out tests. Reinforcement may be required to allow the striker and the striker reinforcement to distribute the load over a greater area. A typical striker reinforcement is a plate attached to the side of the pillar.
To reduce the likelihood of ejection through door openings by keeping vehicle doors closed in crashes, it is desirable that the vehicle's side door, while in the fully latched position, shall not separate from the vehicle when a total force of 18,000 N is applied along the vehicles transverse axis. The striker stiffener reinforcement plate of the present disclosure advantageously helps achieve these standards.


A wireless communication apparatus of the present invention that uses an adaptive modulation radio scheme, includes: two-system transmission paths of an active system transmission path and an auxiliary system transmission path; a line information acquiring unit that acquires line information indicating line states of the active system transmission path and the auxiliary system transmission path; and a signal processing unit that determines whether or not a fault occurs in the active system transmission path and the auxiliary system transmission path, based on the line information acquired by the line information acquiring unit. The signal processing unit performs a setting so as to perform wireless communication using the two-system transmission paths of the active system transmission path and the auxiliary system transmission path, in a case of determining that a fault does not occur in the active system transmission path and the auxiliary system transmission path. The signal processing unit performs a setting so as to perform wireless communication using only the transmission path in which a fault does not occur among the active system transmission path and the auxiliary system transmission path, in a case of determining that a fault occurs in either one of the active system transmission path and the auxiliary system transmission path.

There is conventionally known a twin-path constitution that provides two systems of communication paths, so that when a fault occurs in one communication path, the other communication path is switched over to so as to prevent the communication path from being severed. FIG. 2 shows the twin-path constitution in a conventional wireless communication apparatus. In the wireless communication apparatus (sending side) 101, a LAN (Local Area Network) signal that is input via a layer 2 switch 102 is converted to a wireless frame via a wireless frame converting unit 103. The wireless frame converting unit 103 branches the signal to output an active system main signal 106 and an auxiliary system main signal 107 to an active system modulation/demodulation unit 104 and an auxiliary system modulation/demodulation unit 105, respectively. The active system modulation/demodulation unit 104 and the auxiliary system modulation/demodulation unit 105 transmit the active system main signal 106 and the auxiliary system main signal 107 by wireless communication, respectively.
In a wireless communication apparatus (receiving side) 201, an active system main signal 207 and an auxiliary system main signal 208 that have demodulated by an active system modulation/demodulation unit 202 and an auxiliary system modulation/demodulation unit 203, respectively, are input to a signal selection switch 204. The signal selection switch 204 selects the active system main signal 207, and outputs it via a wireless frame converting unit 205 and a layer 2 switch 206. In the case of a fault occurring in the active system, the signal selection switch 204 switches over so as to select the auxiliary system main signal 208 and outputs it.
Patent Document 1 discloses as a conventional art a channel multiplexing method that enhances availability of the entire network system without revising a device loaded with an existing channel multiplexing technology. This channel multiplexing method, in the case of a fault being detected, interrupts all LAN channels belonging to the same group as the LAN channel in which the fault occurred, presses an information repeater apparatus and a channel multiplexer unit in the terminal to use another LAN channel in which no fault has occurred, and then continues performing the communication.
Patent Document 2 discloses a wireless communication system that transmits a switching signal to a monitor control board of a host station and suspends polling during switchover execution in order to achieve stable monitor control, when switching between an active line and an auxiliary line occurs. By this system, a non-communication state until the timeout for waiting for the response from the slave station is detected can be eliminated, and notification failure of an alarm to the host station or a loss of response of the control can be prevented.

Wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication method


A modified noble metal catalyst based calorimetric sensor for sensing non-methane hydrocarbons in an automotive exhaust gas stream includes a first sensing element (105) with an output that provides a signal (111) indicative of a concentration of indicative of non-methane hydrocarbons, hydrogen (H.sub.2), and carbon monoxide (CO). A compensating sensing element (107) has an output that provides a compensating signal (113) indicative of a concentration of hydrogen (H.sub.2) and carbon monoxide (CO). A circuit for combining the signal and the compensating signal provides a combined signal indicative of a measure of non-methane hydrocarbons in the automotive exhaust gas stream.

Calorimetric sensors are often employed to measure gas concentration of one gas or a combination of gases. Certain prior art calorimetric sensors are constructed using noble metals as catalysts to determine concentrations of certain gases, or groups of gases. Noble metal catalysts promote oxidation of a combustible gases, or gases to be measured. Oxidation reactions generate heat, which causes a rise in temperature proximate an area of the reaction. A resulting increase in temperature can be sensed, and used to indicate a concentration of the combustible gas or gases under measure.
As a practical matter, catalysts are rarely selectively reactive to a particular gas molecule. As a result, gases other than the selected one, or selected group, of interest can cause interference during a measurement process. Therefore, the achievement of a reasonable degree of gas molecule selectivity is a major technical hurdle to overcome in sensor design.
An example of gas interference can be seen in application of a hydrocarbon sensor located in an exhaust gas plenum of a vehicle. Hydrocarbon sensors are required to measure concentration of non-methane (or heavy) hydrocarbons in internal combustion engine exhaust gas streams in the presence of other combustible gases.
The need for employing hydrocarbon sensors in vehicular applications, particularly automotive vehicles, is driven by environmental emissions legislation that is regularly being changed to require lower and lower emissions of pollutants from vehicles--hydrocarbons included. In particular, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is leading an effort with their LEV (Low Emission Vehicle) and ULEV (Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) standards and the accompanying OBDII (On-Board Diagnostics II) requirement. For a LEV, OBDII requires detection of changes in catalytic converter non-methane hydrocarbon conversion efficiency of the order of 1-2%. This corresponds to a requirement to detect changes in emitted non-methane hydrocarbons of tens of PPM (parts per million).
Internal combustion engines exhaust gases including hydrogen (H.sub.2), carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH.sub.4), carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2), non-methane hydrocarbons (CH.sub.x), nitric oxide (NO), and water vapor (H.sub.2 O). Sensors that are currently available cannot selectively detect non-methane hydrocarbons (CH.sub.x) in these engine exhaust gas streams. In hydrocarbon sensors using noble metals as a catalyst, it is very difficult to eliminate hydrogen (H.sub.2) interference, when other combustible gases such as non-methane hydrocarbons have to be measured selectively.
What is needed is an improved non-methane hydrocarbon sensor that is less sensitive to interference from combustible gasses in the exhaust gas stream, other than non-methane hydrocarbons, particularly hydrogen (H.sub.2)

Modified noble metal catalyst based calorimetric sensor and method


A vibration-reducing portal box assembly for mounting a wheel of an off-road vehicle includes a housing with a receptacle adapted to receive a stock axle shaft of an off-road vehicle, an output shaft operably connectable to a stock axle received in the housing and effective to rotate upon rotation of said stock axle, and a wheel hub having a central opening adapted to receive said output shaft, and adapted to turn a wheel mounted to said wheel hub upon rotation of said output shaft. The output shaft has a tapered portion connecting its proximal end to its distal end. The wheel hub has a tapered portion adapted to matingly receive the tapered portion of the output shaft. The output shaft may be connected to the stock axle shaft by a geared linking mechanism.

Portal boxes are known to ATV and UTV enthusiasts for providing increased ground clearance, or lift, and the low gearing needed for bigger tires. Such boxes are typically mounted to an ATV/UTV by first mounting a backing plate to the suspension of the vehicle, and by then mounting the portal box to the backing plate. U.S. Pat. No. 8,985,264 to Shirley is one example of such a device.
Among the improvements made by applicant to portal gear box assemblies are improvements designed to lengthen the wheelbase of the vehicle and to provide the ability to select among several wheelbase lengths. Improvements to the braking power provided by portal gear boxes are also being developed. But the connection between the portal output shaft and the associated wheel hub has never been optimized to improve reduce vibration in the wheel.
A need therefore exists for a portal box shaft and hub assembly that reduces wheel vibration and associated wear. The present invention addresses that need.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Assembly for mounting a wheel to a portal gear box of an off-road vehicle


A fishing rod holder for holding a fly rod and reel is disclosed, the rod having a reel seat to which the reel is attached, the reel having a reel bracket for attachment to the reel seat. A first width is defined between spaced points of attachment of the bracket to the reel seat, and a second width is defined generally between spaced intersection points where the bracket and a circumference of the reel intersect to define a crevice. The holder comprises a standard for attachment to an associated structure; and a rod and reel support cradle carried by the standard having a pair of spaced cradle arms; the cradle including an open cradle top, and an open cradle side providing a space for receiving the reel. A cradle bottom receives the rod and reel in a holding position wherein a first distance between the cradle arms near the cradle bottom is less than the reel diameter and generally greater than the second width of the bracket to fit within the crevice.

This invention relates to a fishing rod holder, and more particularly to a holder for a fly rod and reel which may be attached to an associated structure such as a boat rail, fishing dock and the like.
Heretofore, various rod holders have been proposed for various types of fishing rods. Typically the rod holder includes a standard for attachment to the associated structure, and a cradle carried by the standard which supports the fishing rod in a fishing position, i.e., a generally horizontal, slightly inclined, position. The cradle often consists of a pair of spaced arms carried by the standard in the form of a fork with hooks on the free ends. Typically the butt of the rod would be held under one of the hooks and rest in the other hook.
While the prior fishing rod holders have been suitable for their intended use, a suitable rod holder for a fly rod and reel, or a suitable holder for tightly gripping a fishing reel while secured to a rod, has not been heretofore provided.
Accordingly, an important object of the present invention appears to provide a rod holder which may be affixed to an associated structure for securely holding a fly rod and reel.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a rod holder for a fly rod and reel which may be attached to a boat and securely hold the fly rod and reel during travel, particularly over rough water in a secure position.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a rod holder which may be attached to an associated structure for securely holding a fly rod and reel which allows the fly rod to be easily inserted into the rod holder and quickly removed.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a rod holder which securely grips a reel of a fishing rod.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a rod holder which may be adjusted to accommodate a variety of fishing reel sizes and types.


A light condenser suitable for EUV lithography that includes reflective rings concentric to an optical axis. Each ring has a reflective surface to reflect light rays emanating from a light source so that the light rays converge towards a mask to produce Köhler illumination on the mask. The reflective surface has a curve segment that includes a section of a parabolic curve that is rotated relative to an optical axis and has a focal point at the light source.

Light condensers are used for example, in extreme ultra-violet (EUV) lithography systems. In EUV, an EUV light source illuminates a mask having a lithography pattern. The projection optics may take the form of a combination of mirrors used to project an image of the lithography pattern onto a substrate (e.g., a silicon wafer) coated with a layer of photo-resist. The lithography pattern is transferred to the substrate by developing the photo-resist and etching exposed portions of the substrate surface. Because EUV light has a very short wavelength, it can be used to generate patterns on the substrate with very small dimensions. An EUV light source may be a plasma generated by focusing a high-energy laser beam onto a stream of inert gas, such as Xenon, to produce ionized gas molecules. The plasma may also be generated by an electric arc. Light rays are emitted when the ionized gas molecules transition from higher energy states to lower energy states. Plasma sources typically have irregular brightness distributions. For good results in lithography, it is desirable for the light that reaches the substrate to be relatively uniform.


A color image processing apparatus performs color image display using a red display, green display, blue display and white display. The apparatus includes a white signal generation circuit generating a white signal W based on an input red signal Rin for the red display, an input green signal Gin for the green display, and an input blue signal Bin for the blue display, a yellow signal generation circuit generating a yellow signal Ye, based on the input red signal Rin, the input green signal Gin, and the generated white signal W, and a first output white signal generation circuit generating a first output white signal Wout(1) for the white display, based on the generated white signal W and the generated yellow signal Ye.

A color image display apparatus employs a CRT, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Device), a DLP (Digital Light Processing Device), a PDP, or the like.
In these color image display devices, three primary colors of red, green and blue are used as the fundamental colors, but in some of LCD displays and DLP projectors, white may be added to enhance the luminosity (e.g., refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-241551).
The entire disclosure of the above patent document is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
For example, in a one-chip DLP data projector of field sequential type, a full color image display is made using a four-color color wheel of red, green, blue and white (e.g., refer to A. Kunzman, G. Pettitt, "White Enhancement for Color-Sequential DLP", SID International Symposium Digest of Technical Papers", U.S.A., SID (Society for Information Display), May 1998, Vol. 29, pp. 121-124).
The entire disclosure of the above non-patent document is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Such one-chip DLP data projector can improve the luminosity and contrast and reduce power consumption of the lamp.
Referring chiefly to FIG. 10 that is a block diagram of a conventional color image processing apparatus, the configuration and operation of the conventional color image processing apparatus will be more specifically described below.
The conventional color image processing apparatus displays a full color image using a liquid crystal pixel 5 having a red pixel 1 for making the red display, a green pixel 2 for making the green display, a blue pixel 3 for making the blue display and a white pixel 4 for making the white display, as shown in FIG. 11 that is an explanatory diagram of the conventional liquid crystal pixel 5.
A white signal generation circuit 1000 generates a white signal of 8 bitsW=min(Rin,Gin,Bin),  (Formula 1)based on an input red signal Rin of 8 bits for making the red display to be inputted, an input green signal Gin of 8 bits for making the green display to be inputted, and an input blue signal Bin of 8 bits for making the blue display to be inputted.
In this manner, in the conventional color image processing apparatus, the white signal W is generated to add white to enhance the luminosity.
However, the present inventor has noticed that the conventional color image display using the red display, green display, blue display, and white display may cause a sense of incompatibility in the appearance of the colors of yellow, cyan and magenta.
More specifically, the present inventor has made sure that particularly yellow remarkably tends to look darker among yellow, cyan and magenta.

Color image processing apparatus, color image processing method, program and recording medium


A method of modifying an electrostatic chuck that electrostatically attracts a processing object is provided. The method includes a gas supplying step of supplying a gas containing hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) into a chamber accommodating the electrostatic chuck having a surface that is fluorinated; and a modifying step of turning the gas supplied to the chamber into plasma using a high frequency power, exposing the electrostatic chuck to the plasma, and modifying the fluorinated surface of the electrostatic chuck.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of modifying an electrostatic chuck and a plasma processing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a wafer etching process is performed using plasma, a reaction by-product is deposited on the inner wall surface of a processing chamber. When the thickness of the deposited reaction by-product reaches a predetermined thickness or greater, a portion of the deposited reaction by-product may peel off and turn into particles that may have adverse effects on the wafer etching process. Accordingly, a cleaning process for removing the deposited reaction by-product from the chamber and a process for adjusting the atmosphere within the chamber are periodically performed.
Recently, in efforts to reduce costs, the so-called waferless dry cleaning (also referred to as "WLDC" hereinafter) technique for cleaning a chamber without the use of a cleaning wafer is becoming widespread (see e.g., Patent Document 1). According to this technique, a waferless cleaning process is performed, and as a result, an electrostatic chuck is exposed to plasma during the cleaning process.
Particularly, when an etching process is performed on a silicon-based film, WLDC may be performed using a gas mixture of SF6 gas and O2 gas or a gas mixture of CF4 gas and O2 gas to remove a silicon-based reaction by-product deposited on the inner wall surface of the chamber. When the electrostatic chuck is exposed to plasma generated from such fluorine gases, the surface of the electrostatic chuck may be gradually fluorinated. For example, in a case where the surface of the electrostatic chuck is formed by a yttrium oxide (Y2O3) spray coating, the electrostatic chuck surface may be fluorinated and modified to yttrium fluorine (YF). YF has a lower volume resistivity compared to Y2O3. Accordingly, when the electrostatic chuck surface is modified to YF, a current flows more easily on the electrostatic chuck surface. Thus, when the electrostatic chuck surface is Y2O3, the electrostatic chuck generates a Coulomb force to attract a wafer, whereas when the electrostatic chuck surface is modified to YF, the electrostatic chuck also generates a Johnsen-Rahbek force to attract the wafer so that the electrostatic attraction force of the electrostatic chuck for attracting the wafer is increased. As a result, a torque exerted on a support pin upon separating the wafer from the electrostatic chuck (referred to as "pin torque" hereinafter) gradually increases and separation of the wafer from the electrostatic chuck may become more difficult. In turn, the wafer may be prone to bombardment-related damage or cracking upon separation from the electrostatic chuck.
In this respect, a technique is known for preventing such bombardment-related damage and cracking of the wafer by adjusting discharge conditions for separating the wafer according to an increase in the electrostatic attraction force (see e.g., PCT Japanese Translation Patent Publication No. 2008-519431).
However, when discharge conditions for separating the wafer are adjusted according to an increase in the electrostatic attraction force, a discharge time upon wafer separation may be increased and adjustment operations may have to be repeatedly performed. As a result, throughput may decrease and productivity may be degraded.
With respect to the above-mentioned problems, if the electrostatic chuck surface can be prevented from being fluorinated, the electrostatic attraction force may be prevented from increasing, the discharge time for separating the wafer may not have to be increased, adjustment operations as described above may not have to be performed, and productivity may be improved as a result.
Accordingly, there is a demand for a technique for preventing the surface of the electrostatic chuck from being fluorinated.

Method of modifying electrostatic chuck and plasma processing apparatus


The accuracy of instruments used to measure the specific heat of heat transfer fluids is limited by the accumulation of bubbles, debris or loose surface films on an active measurement surface. Accumulated bubbles, debris or loose film may be reduced or eliminated by using an agitator to cause relative motion between a working fluid and an active surface of a specific heat sensor. The accumulation of bubbles, debris or loose film may also be reduced or eliminated by electrolytically cleaning an electrically conductive heat transfer surface.

The present invention deals generally with calorimetry and more specifically with apparatus and method for improving calorimetric measurements by defining and controlling the sensing area across which a heat flux occurs. The subject matter of the present invention relates to that of the inventor's U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/941,101, entitled "Asymmetric Specific Heat Meter".

Specific heat meter with improved accuracy


A system and method for monitoring the health of an identity services engine (ISE) system is disclosed. The method includes obtaining, from a plurality of ISE nodes within an ISE system, historical performance metrics for the plurality of ISE nodes; computing, based on the historical performance metrics, a model for the plurality of ISE nodes representing healthy behavior for the plurality of ISE nodes; obtaining, from the plurality of ISE nodes, real-time performance metrics for the plurality of ISE nodes; comparing the real-time performance metrics for the plurality of ISE nodes to the model for the plurality of ISE nodes; determining, based on the comparing, a health of the plurality of ISE nodes; and configuring the ISE system to route network traffic away from unhealthy ISE nodes.

An Identity Services Engine (ISE) is a network access control system that may be used for authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA). AAA is a process for controlling access to network resources, enforcing network policies, and auditing usage of the network resources. Authentication may provide a way of identifying a user of a device by, for example, determining that the user has provided a valid user name and an associated password before granting access to the network resources. If the provided user name and associated password match credentials stored in, for example, a database, then the user is granted access to the network resources. After successful authentication, the ISE may determine which commands or instructions for which the user is authorized. Accounting measures an amount of network resources the user consumes during network access.

Automatic monitoring of the health of an identity services engine


A chemical vapor infiltration method for densifying porous substrates disposed in annular stacks. The substrates to be densified (12) are loaded inside a reaction chamber (11) of an infiltration oven, being disposed in at least one annular stack (30) defining an interior passage (31) with spaces (33) being formed between the substrates. The gas admitted into the reaction chamber is channelled on leaving a preheating zone (18) towards one of the two volumes constituted by the inside and the outside of the, or each, stack of substrates, and preferably towards the smaller volume. This volume (31) is closed at its opposite end so that the gas flows from admission into the chamber to its exhaust from the chamber from the inside to the outside of the, or each, stack, or vice versa, with the gas passing through the spaces between the substrates and diffusing into them.

The field of application of the invention lies in particular in manufacturing composite material parts comprising a porous substrate or "preform" densified by a matrix.
To manufacture composite material parts, in particular thermostructural composite material parts constituted by a refractory fiber preform (e.g. carbon or ceramic fibers) densified by a refractory matrix (e.g. carbon or ceramic), it is common practice to use chemical vapor infiltration methods. Examples of such parts are carbon--carbon (C--C) composite nozzles for thrusters, or C--C composite brake disks, in particular for airplane brakes.
Densifying porous substrates by chemical vapor infiltration consists in placing the substrates in a reaction chamber of an infiltration installation by means of support tooling, and in admitting into the chamber a gas having one or more components constituted by precursors for the material that is to be deposited within the substrates for the purpose of densifying them. Infiltration conditions, in particular gas composition and flow rate, and also temperature and pressure inside the chamber are selected to enable the gas to diffuse within the accessible internal pores of the substrates so that the desired material is deposited therein by a component of the gas decomposing or by a reaction between a plurality of the components thereof.
The conditions required for chemical vapor infiltration of pyrolytic carbon or "pyrocarbon" have been known for a long time to the person skilled in the art. The precursor for carbon is an alkane, an alkyl, or an alkene, generally propane, methane, or a mixture thereof. Infiltration is performed at a temperature of about 1000.degree. C. at a pressure of about 1 kPa, for example. The infiltration conditions required for chemical vapor infiltration of materials other than carbon, in particular ceramic materials, are also well known. On this topic, reference may be made in particular to document FR-A-2 401 888.
In an industrial installation for chemical vapor infiltration, it is usual to load the reaction chamber with a plurality of substrates or preforms to be densified simultaneously, by using support tooling comprising, in particular, trays and spacers. When the preforms are annular, they may be stacked in a longitudinal direction of the reaction chamber. The gas containing the precursor(s) of the material to be deposited within the preforms is admitted at one longitudinal end of the chamber, while the residual gas is evacuated from the opposite end where it is extracted by pumping means. Means are generally provided to preheat the gas before it reaches the preforms to be densified, e.g. means in the form of perforated preheating plates through which the gas passes on being admitted into the reaction chamber.
A real difficulty encountered with known chemical vapor infiltration methods is to ensure that the microstructure of the material deposited within the substrates is constant. In the particular case of composite material parts, the expected properties of said parts require the microstructure of the matrix to be constant and of the kind desired. Thus, in the example of infiltrating pyrolytic carbon or "pyrocarbon", variations in infiltration conditions, even very small variations, can lead to changes in the microstructure of the pyrocarbon. Unfortunately pyrocarbons of the smooth laminar type, of the rough laminar type, and of the isotropic type have properties that are quite distinct. For example, if it is desired to obtain a graphitable pyrocarbon matrix by heat treatment, it is preferable to obtain a rough laminar type microstructure. In practice, in spite of the care given to controlling infiltration conditions, changes are observed in the microstructure of the pyrocarbon deposited within preforms, in particular within the preforms that are furthest from the access for the gas into the chamber. Such irregular microstructure has sometimes gone as far as forming soot and as forming undesirable dendritic growths in the reaction chamber.
To solve that problem, attempts have been made to significantly increase the flow rate of the gas admitted into the chamber, such that similar gas is presented to all of the preforms in the load. However it is then necessary to provide a more powerful pumping device, which is therefore more expensive, and more gas is consumed. In addition, the effectiveness of the preheating is decreased if the gas passes more quickly through the preheater plates. To bring the gas to the desired temperature not later than its first contact with a preform to be densified, it is necessary to increase the number of preheating plates, but that is detrimental to the working volume available inside the chamber, and thus to the overall throughput of the installation.

Vapour phase chemical infiltration process for densifying porous substrates disposed in annular stacks


An image-forming device has an image-carrying unit, a transferring unit, a power-supplying unit, a current-detecting unit, a voltage-detecting unit, a memory unit, and a controller. The power-supplying unit supplies voltage and current to the transferring unit to transfer a toner onto a recording medium. The current-detecting unit detects the current flowing in the transferring unit. The voltage-detecting unit detects the voltage applied to the transferring unit. The memory unit stores a characteristic curve indicating a correlation between an optimal current and at least the detected voltage. The optimal current enables the transferring unit to transfer the toner supported on the image-carrying unit onto the recording medium. The controller controls the power-supplying unit to supply the optimal current to the transferring unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image-forming device, and particularly to a control of the power supplied to transferring means provided in the image-forming device.
2. Description of Related Art
In an image-forming device, electrical resistance in the transferring means, image-carrying member, and recording paper interposed between the transferring means and image-carrying member can fluctuate greatly due to ambient conditions (particularly temperature and humidity). Hence, the image-forming device must adjust the power supply to adapt to changes in the ambient conditions. An insufficient power supply may cause toner to scatter on the recording paper due to an insufficient force for depositing the toner. Further, toner that is not transferred onto the recording paper but remains on the image-carrying member may be mistakenly transferred onto the recording paper at another position. Conversely, if the power supply is excessive, electrical discharge may result in damage to the image-carrying member.
A method of controlling power supply has been disclosed in Japanese unexamined patent application publication No. HEI-6-308844. In this method, a characteristic curve for the optimal voltage and measured current is prepared for each output voltage applied to the transferring means. The characteristic curve corresponding to the current output voltage is selected, and control is performed based on this characteristic curve in order to achieve an optimal output voltage corresponding to the currently measured current value.
However, Japanese unexamined patent application publication No. HEI-6-308844 does not explicitly describe how the characteristic curve is derived, and it has been difficult to determine whether optimal power control can be achieved.

Image-forming device with power supplying unit


A mini-Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector assembly with more terminals is used to fasten the transfer speed. A mini-USB connector assembly includes a male USB connector and a female USB connector. The male USB connector includes an isolation body, a front metallic housing, a rear metallic housing and a plurality of terminals. Periphery of the main body is enclosed by the rear metallic housing. The terminals are manufactured by an insert molding process, and the terminals are positioned alongside on the bottom surface of the extension plates. The female USB connector includes a corresponding isolation body, a corresponding metallic housing and a plurality of corresponding terminals. The corresponding terminals are manufactured by an insert molding process, and the corresponding terminals are positioned alongside on the bottom surface of the corresponding extension plates. The male USB connector and the female USB connector respectively have 8 terminals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mini-USB connector assembly, and in particular to a mini connector assembly with a universal series bus interface that is suitable for portable electronic appliance and is plug-and-play.
2. Description of Related Art
Universal Serial Bus (USB) interfaces are introduced to computer-related appliances. The USB interface is configured to support plug-and-play device and is hot-swappable. That is, the USB interface has a capability to be plugged or unplugged without removing the power or rebooting the computer. One USB connector is allowed for up to 127 peripherals to be attached including speakers, telephone sets, CD-ROM drives, joysticks, magnetic tap devices, keyboards, scanners and digital cameras. The USB connection ports are usually positioned near parallel ports or serial ports.
Especially, mini-USB ports are implemented in portable electronic appliances so that the portable electronic appliances are plug-and-play. To be compatible with current specification, the mini-USB ports are only configured with four terminals so that the mini-USB ports do not deal with demand for more data and higher transfer speed.
Thus, there is a need for a new mini-USB connector assembly.

Mini-universal serial bus connector assembly


A connector for flexible hoses, comprising: a hollow main body forming an element for coupling with a flexible hose comprising at least two ramp-like annular elements, separated by at least one circumferential recess and forming a housing for a sealing element; at least one sealing element, designed to be positioned in the recess; and at least one clamping element designed to apply a force in a radial direction on the outer surface of the flexible hose when the flexible hose is coupled with the hollow main body, and operating in conjunction with the sealing element to allow, in use, a sealed coupling between the flexible hose and the hollow main body.

An example of a prior art connector is described in document WO 95/33157.
That document describes a body with two circumferential recesses which house two sealing elements having an arched shape in the zone in contact with the inner surface of the hose. The ratio of the size of the recesses and of the sealing element, together with the geometry of the sealing element, guarantees that a seal is maintained.
It should be noticed that in the connector described in document WO95/33157, the high level of interference present between the hose and the connector requires a special widening tool to allow fitting of the connector in the hose.
This is due to the fact that the body is equipped with ramp-like elements which are also designed to prevent the connector from coming off the hose.
However, it should be noticed that such ramp-like elements may cause tears on the inner part of the hose.
But such a connector does not allow lasting performance, due to the relatively large dimensions of the contact surface between the hose and the sealing element.
Another example of a prior art connector is described in document WO 00/19137.
Document WO 00/19137 describes a connector in which the positioning and holding in place of O-ring type sealing elements is guaranteed by the size of the recess.
In that connector the O-ring cross-section centre point is positioned below the edge of the recess.
Outside the hose, at each sealing element, there is a metal clip, clamped to a predetermined diameter, thus applying a pressure between the inner surface of the hose and the sealing element, sufficient to guarantee a correct seal for the assembly.
Application of the pressure needed to guarantee the connector seal can be carried out using crimped rings or reusable systems.
One problem with the connector described above is due to the fact that the shape of the connector at the recesses for housing the O-ring sealing elements, with a circular cross-section, does not guarantee that such sealing elements remain in position during fitting of the hose, particularly where lubricants are not used. In fact, the hose drags the O-ring axially along the connector, imparting a rotary movement and forcing it out of its seat, even if the depth of the seat is greater than the radius of the O-ring.
It should be noticed that the chain of dimensional tolerances of the assembly made up of the connector, the O-ring and the hose, together with the variability of the mechanical features of the elastomers used, may create the disadvantage of forcing the O-ring out of the recess and dragging it on the cylindrical element by means of a rolling phenomenon.
That disadvantage causes delays and various problems in operations for assembling the hose-connector system and, in the worst cases, may result in a connector malfunction.
Document EP 1933073 describes a connector which has a profile with a plurality of ramps and a seat interposed between two ramps in which an O-ring is inserted.
The seat for the sealing element is shaped with a bottom wall and two lateral walls at right angles to it. The sealing element is inserted in the seat with axial play.
This type of connector has the same disadvantage as previously encountered, that is to say, the O-ring is forced out of the seat during the assembly step.
Connectors substantially similar to the previous one in EP 1933073 are described in documents DE202008006797, EP 1882876 and WO03/064912. Even for those types of connectors there is the disadvantage of the O-ring being forced out of the seat during the assembly step.


A photosensitive resin composition includes a polymer compound having a component of Formula (I) and a sensitizer having a cationic group in the molecule: ##STR1## (wherein X denotes a cationic species, and n is 0, 1 or 2.) The photosensitive resin composition is high in sensitivity, good in storage stability, and easy to produce, and is suitable for use in a screen printing plate, formation of black matrix or phosphor pattern of a color cathode-ray tube, a CCD or LCD color filter, a printing color proof, and various etching resists.

Heretofore, as water-soluble photosensitive resin compositions for the formation of a screen printing plate, the formation of black matrix or phosphor pattern of a color cathode-ray tube or the formation of a color filter of CCD and LCD, natural proteins such as gelatin, casein, and glue combined with a bichromate salt, or water-soluble polymers such as hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate combined with a diazonium salt have been used. However, these photosensitive resin compositions have problems of environmental pollution and poor storage stability.
Further, a photosensitive resin composition based on a water-soluble polymer such as polyvinylpyrrolidone combined with a water-soluble bisazide compound is also used. However, this composition has a problem of low sensitivity.
Therefore, development is being conducted for high-sensitivity photosensitive resins. For example, Laid-open Japanese Patent Application Nos. 4-26849(1992), 2-204750(1990), 2-173007(1990), 2-92905(1990), 1-302348(1989), 5-197141(1993), and 5-11442(1993) disclose azide polymers having azide groups in the side chain as high-sensitivity photosensitive resins.
These azide polymers are high in sensitivity, but still have problems of complicated production process and poor storage stability.
Further, as a water-soluble photosensitive resin which is high in sensitivity and good in storage stability, Japanese Patent Publication 565761(1981) discloses styrylpyridinium group pendant polyvinylalcohol (abbreviated as "SbQ-PVA"), but this photosensitive resin has a problem in that a satisfactory resolution cannot be obtained because the photosensitive resin is inferior in water resistance and thus tends to swell during developing.


A resonator apparatus and a method for electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements are disclosed. The resonator apparatus comprises a dielectric resonator and a sample vessel extending through the resonator. The sample vessel is configured as one single flexible tube. Means are provided for conveying a liquid sample substance through the flexible tube. According to the method a liquid sample substance is guided through the sample vessel, wherein the sample substance is gated by cyclically conveying and stopping, resp., a flow of the sample substance. A measurement is conducted within the resonator when the flow of sample substance is stopped.

Document DE 41 25 655 A1 discloses a resonator apparatus for electron spin resonance spectroscopy. This prior art resonator apparatus utilizes a dielectric resonator ring. The microwave energy required for exciting the resonance is fed via a coaxial cable terminating in a coupling loop. The coupling loop serves as an antenna located in the exterior area of the resonance ring, and is adapted to be displaced in a direction parallel to the axis thereof. A conventional sample tube, closed at its bottom, is used as the sample vessel, and, therefore, the sample tube contains a solid sample substance.
Therefore, this prior art apparatus, as disclosed, is not suitable for measuring liquid samples.
Document DE 30 29 754 A1 discloses a probe head for electron spin resonance measurements. This prior art probe head, too, utilizes a dielectric resonance ring as a resonant element. However, in this prior art probe head the microwave excitation is effected via a hollow waveguide and a slit iris for coupling microwave energy into the resonance ring.
This prior art probe head, too, is only suited for measuring solid samples.
Document WO 01/36994 A1 discloses a method and an apparatus for investigating the durability of liquid food stuffs by means of electron spin resonance.
According to the described method, the durability of beer is preferably determined by means of electron spin resonance. For that purpose, the prior art apparatus utilizes a sample vessel provided with a plurality of elongate sample areas having a minimum radial dimension. The sample vessel either consists of a solid block having a corresponding plurality of axial bores, or is made up of a bundle of capillaries. The probe vessel extends through a hollow cavity. The liquid sample substance flows through the cavity at a location where the magnetic field strength is at a maximum because all bores or capillaries are located in that area of maximum magnetic field strength.
These prior art apparatuses, however, have the disadvantage that the extremely thin sample channels tend to clog. For example, one individual thin sample channel may be clogged either by a solid particle within the liquid sample substance, or by gas bubbles contained within the sample substance. This may happen mainly in connection with those sample substances having a gas diluted therein, such as, for example, beer or other carbonated food stuffs. In that case, the result of the measurement is substantially affected. Moreover, with these prior art apparatuses the cleaning of the capillary-like sample channels presents a problem.
Finally, it is generally known in the art of electron spin resonance measurements on liquid samples to use so-called "flat cells", as are used within hollow cavity resonators for the conventional TE102 mode of excitation. The term "flat cell" designates a sample vessel consisting of an originally cylindrical glass tube being compressed over a certain axial length so that only a flat parallelepiped sample volume remains in that flattened area.
Flat cells, however, also have the disadvantage that rinsing and cleaning presents a problem because the sample substance does not flow sufficiently through the lateral corners in the transition between the circular cylindrical and the flat section of the flat cell.
All prior art apparatuses, further, have the common disadvantage that the sample vessels, to the extent as they are configured for a sample substance flowing therethrough, always have to be connected within the experimental setup via special couplings and fittings which conventionally consist of metal and, hence, tend to corrode. Finally, not all prior art sample assemblies are adapted for measurements on liquid samples that are at an elevated temperature of, for example, 60° C.
It is, therefore, an object underlying the present invention to provide an improved resonator apparatus as well as a corresponding method, such that the aforementioned disadvantages are avoided. In particular, the invention shall enable fast, undisturbed and sensitive measurements on liquid sample substances, and allow a quick change between sample substances without needing to change the sample vessel.

Resonator apparatus for electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements and method for measuring electron spin resonance (ESR) signals


The invention provides compositions and methods that employ compounds that can stimulate proliferation of fibroblasts or keratinocytes and/or stimulate production of collagen by fibroblasts. These compositions and methods are useful for treating gum- and skin-related conditions.

Skin is subject to insults by many extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Extrinsic factors that can adversely affect the skin include ultraviolet radiation (e.g., from sun exposure), environmental pollution, wind, heat, low humidity, harsh surfactants, abrasives, and the like. Intrinsic factors that lead to skin problems include chronological aging and other biochemical changes from within the skin. Whether extrinsic or intrinsic, these factors result in visible signs of skin aging and damage, such as wrinkling, roughness and histological changes. Moreover, to many people, skin wrinkles are a reminder of the disappearance of youth. As a result, the elimination of wrinkles has become a concern for many people. Anti-wrinkle treatments range from cosmetic creams and moisturizers to various forms of cosmetic surgery.
Extrinsic or intrinsic factors may result in the thinning and general degradation of the skin. For example, as the skin naturally ages, there is a reduction in the cells and the blood vessels that supply the skin. There is also a flattening of the dermal-epidermal junction that results in weaker mechanical resistance of this junction. See, for example, Oikarinen, "The Aging of Skin: Chronoaging Versus Photoaging," Photodermatol. Photoimmunol. Photomed., vol. 7, pp. 3–4, 1990, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Skin contains an elaborate network of elastin fibers that is responsible for maintaining its elastic properties. With excessive exposure to sunlight the elastic fiber system becomes hyperplastic, disorganized and ultimately disrupted. This process is known as actinic elastosis and it is a principal cause of wrinkling, discoloration and laxity of the skin in the exposed areas of the body. As new fibroblasts, endothelial cells and keratinocytes form, the skin can repair itself. However, the skin becomes less able to do so as it ages. Therefore, agents that can accelerate the growth and repair of prematurely aged skin are needed.
Wound healing is also accelerated by increased cellular proliferation and migration of certain cell types. The mechanisms involved in wound healing are often divided into four phases: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and maturation. During inflammation, leucocytes accumulate to combat bacteria and the permeability blood vessel walls increases, leading to swelling. If an infection does not develop the number of leucocytes diminishes. Monocytes replace the leukocytes. Macrophages and lymphocytes release growth factors (cytokines) as well as a number of chemical substances, such as histamine, serotonin, and prostaglandins. These substances help regulate the wound healing process. In the proliferation phase, new fibroblasts, endothelial cells and keratinocytes arise, connective tissue is formed, new blood vessels grow and injured tissue is regenerated. Fibroblasts become dominant after about a week, the inflammation decreases and the strength of the tissues around the wound site increases rapidly. During the maturation phase collagen is laid down and scar tissue is formed. This maturation phase might go on for a long time during which time, tissues of various types are regenerated. In order to obtain an optimal healing of skin and associated tissues, the supply of different vitamins and trace elements as well as nutrients should be sufficient as well as the oxygen supply.
While certain skin care compositions are available on the market, such compositions do not effectively stimulate the growth of new skin tissues. Hence, there is a need for formulations that not only improve the appearance but also the health of skin. Ideally, such formulations would provide a range of useful activities such as, for example, wound healing, scar reduction, soothing rashes, eliminating wrinkles and reducing the signs of aging.