A lithium ion secondary battery in which an electrode assembly is easily impregnated with an electrolyte is provided. The lithium ion secondary battery includes an electrode assembly wrapped by a sealing tape, an upper insulating plate positioned on the top of the electrode assembly, a lower insulating plate positioned at the bottom of the electrode assembly, a case for accommodating the electrode assembly, and a cap assembly for sealing the case. In one embodiment, the upper insulating plate has holes which may include a form of a mesh. In another embodiment, the lower insulating plate has various shapes of recesses on the surface. The surface of the lower insulating plate may be coated with a material that has an affinity for the electrolyte. An inner surface of the case may have various shapes of recesses or grooves. The sealing tape may be coated with a material that has an affinity for an electrolyte. Therefore, according to the principles of the present invention, the electrode assembly is easily impregnated with the electrolyte, and overall performance of the lithium ion secondary battery is improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lithium ion secondary battery, and more particularly, to a lithium ion secondary battery in which the impregnation property of an electrolyte is improved.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently, compact and light electrical and electronic apparatuses such as mobile telephones, notebook computers, and camcorders have been actively developed and produced. Battery packs are built in the portable electrical and electronic apparatuses so that the portable electrical and electronic apparatuses can used in a place where an additional power source is not provided. The built-in battery pack includes at least one battery that outputs a voltage of a uniform level in order to drive the portable electrical and electronic apparatus for a predetermined period.
A secondary battery that can be charged and discharged is recently used as the battery pack in consideration of economics. The secondary batteries include a nickel-cadmium (Ni—Cd) battery, a nickel-hydrogen (Ni—H) battery, a lithium metal battery, and a lithium ion battery.
The Ni—Cd battery and the Ni—H battery have been widely used as power sources of portable electronic apparatuses. The lithium ion secondary battery, however, has many advantages over the Ni—Cd battery and the Ni—H battery. The operation voltage of the lithium ion secondary battery is commonly 3.6V, which is three times higher than the operation voltages of the Ni—Cd battery and the Ni—H battery. The energy density per unit weigh of the lithium ion secondary battery is high. Therefore, the use of the lithium ion secondary battery rapidly increases.
In the lithium ion secondary battery, lithium based oxides are used as positive electrode active materials and carbon materials are used as negative electrode active materials. In general, the lithium ion secondary battery is divided into a liquid electrolyte battery and a polymer electrolyte battery depending on the kind of an electrolyte. The battery in which the liquid electrolyte is used is referred to as a lithium ion battery, and the battery in which the polymer electrolyte is used is referred to as a lithium polymer battery. Also, the lithium ion secondary battery is manufactured to have various shapes such as a cylinder type, a polygon type, and a pouch type.
In general, the cylinder type lithium ion secondary battery includes an electrode assembly fabricated by cylindrically winding a positive electrode plate coated with positive active materials, a negative electrode plate coated with negative active materials, and a separator positioned between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate. The separator prevent a direct contact between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate, which otherwise would cause a short, but lithium ions could move through the separator. The cylinder type lithium ion secondary battery also includes a cylinder type case in which the electrode assembly is accommodated, an electrolyte injected into the cylinder type case in which the lithium ions move, and a cap assembly coupled with the upper end of the cylinder type case.
The cylinder type lithium ion secondary battery is manufactured by the following method. First, a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator between the positive and negative electrodes are laminated together. The positive electrode is coated with a positive active materials, and connected to a positive electrode tab. The negative electrode plate is coated with the negative active materials and connected to a negative electrode tab. The laminated plate, which includes layers of the positive and negative electrode and the separator, is cylindrically wound to manufacture an electrode assembly. Then, the cylinder type electrode assembly is inserted into a cylinder type case so that the electrode assembly is fixed in the cylinder type case. Electrolyte is injected into the cylinder type case, and then, the cylinder type case is sealed by a cap assembly to complete the cylinder type lithium ion secondary battery.
Before inserting the electrode assembly into the cylinder type case, a lower insulating plate is inserted in order to insulate the electrode assembly from the cylinder type case. After inserting the electrode assembly into the cylinder type case and before sealing the cylinder type case, an upper insulating plate is inserted in order to insulate the electrode assembly from the cap assembly.
In the case of the polygon type lithium ion secondary battery, an insulating case for supporting the cap assembly and a lower insulating plate are inserted. The insulating case insulate the electrode assembly from a terminal plate, and the lower insulating plate insulate the electrode assembly from a polygon type case.
Since the insulating plates are commonly formed of polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP), the insulating plates do not have an affinity for the electrolyte. Therefore, the electrode assembly is not sufficiently impregnated with the electrolyte because of the insulating plates that have no affinity for the electrolyte. In the conventional upper insulating plate, holes are formed on the insulating plate around an opening into which a center pin is inserted. However, the size of holes are not sufficient for the electrolyte to freely flow to the electrode assembly positioned under the upper insulating plate. The holes around the opening may be clogged with the electrolyte preventing the flow of electrolyte. Also, the lower insulating plate is attached to the electrode assembly, so that the electrode assembly is not sufficiently impregnated with the electrolyte contained in the lower part of the case.
Furthermore, the density of the electrode assembly increases proportional to the capacity of the battery, so that the external diameter of the electrode assembly increases. When the external diameter of the electrode assembly increases, a space between the cylinder type case and the electrode assembly is reduce, so that it is difficult to impregnate the electrode assembly with the electrolyte. Therefore, it is necessary to form the upper insulating plate and the lower insulating plate in a manner that the electrode assembly is easily impregnated with the electrolyte.
A sealing tape is attached to the outer circumference of the electrode assembly in order to support and protect the wound electrode assembly. Since the sealing tape is commonly formed of polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP), the sealing tape does not have an affinity for the electrolyte. In the case of the cylinder type lithium ion battery (or the polygon type lithium ion battery), the case is made of metals such as aluminum, steel, and alloys. The inner surface of the case has an affinity for the electrolyte unlike the sealing tape.
When the electrode assembly is inserted into the cylinder type case, the outer circumference of the electrode assembly where the sealing tape is wound contacts the inner surface of the case. Therefore, the electrode assembly is prevented from being impregnated with the electrolyte due to the sealing tape that does not have an affinity for the electrolyte. Furthermore, as the capacity of the battery increases, the density of the electrode assembly increases, so that the degree of contact between the case and the sealing tape increases. In such a case, it is necessary to change the shape of the inner surface of the case to make the electrode assembly quickly impregnated with the electrolyte.


Provided is a cooking appliance. The cooking appliance includes a cavity assembly having a cooking chamber and a door that selectively opens or closes the cooking chamber. The cavity assembly includes a cavity including a plurality of plates defining a top surface, a bottom surface, and both side surfaces of the cooking chamber, wherein a first flange part is disposed on each of front end of the plurality of plates, and a front plate having an entrance opening through which food enters into the cooking chamber, the front plate including a second flange part. The first flange part and the second flange part line-contact each other.

The present disclosure relates to a cooking appliance.
Cooking appliances are home appliances that heat and cook food to be cooked (hereinafter, referred to as food). Such a cooking appliance includes a cavity assembly defining a cooking chamber in which food is cooked.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cavity assembly according to a related art, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of the cavity assembly according to the related art, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a door according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 1, a cavity assembly 10 includes a cooking chamber 11 therein. The cavity assembly 10 includes a cavity 110 and a front plate 200.
In detail, the cavity 100 has an approximately polyhedral shape with an opened front side. The cavity 100 includes an upper plate 110, a bottom plate 120, a pair of side plates 130, and a rear plate 140. The upper plate 110, the bottom plate 120, the pair of side plates 130, and the rear plate 140 define a top surface, a bottom surface, both side surfaces, and a rear surface of the cavity 100, respectively. Thus, the upper plate 110, the bottom plate 120, the pair of side plates 130, and the rear plate 140 may substantially define a top surface, a bottom surface, both side surfaces, and a back surface of the cooking chamber 11, respectively.
Also, the front plate 200 has a plate shape with a predetermined area. An entrance opening 201 is defined in the front plate 200. The entrance opening 201 is defined by cutting a portion of the front plate 200. Substantially, the entrance opening 201 may have a shape and size corresponding to those of the cavity 100.
The cavity 100 and the front plate 200 are welded and fixed to each other in a state where a front end of the cavity 100 contacts a back surface of the front plate 200.
Referring to FIG. 2, first flange parts 111, 121, 131, and 141 are disposed on the front end—substantially, front ends of the upper plate 110, the bottom plate 120, and the pair of side plates 130—of the cavity 100. Also, a second flange part 211 is disposed on an inner edge—substantially, an edge of the entrance opening 201—of the front plate 200.
The first flange parts 111, 121, 131, and 141 are bent in an approximately rectangular shape from the front ends of the upper plate 110, the bottom plate 120, and the pair of side plates 130 to extend in upper, lower, and both side directions, respectively. The second flange part 211 includes a first portion 213 bent approximately perpendicularly from the edge of the entrance opening 201, a second portion 215 bent approximately perpendicularly from a front end of the first portion 213 to extend parallel to the front plate 200, and a third portion 217 bent approximately perpendicularly from a front end of the second portion 215 to extend parallel to the first portion 213.
The front end of cavity 100 and the second flange part 211 is welded and fixed to each other in a state where the front end of the cavity 100 including the first flange parts 111, 121, 131, and 141 and a portion of the second flange part 211 contact each other.
Substantially, a front surface of the second portion 215 contacts rear surfaces of the first flange parts 111, 121, 131, and 141, and an outer surface of the front end of the cavity 100 contacts an inner surface of the third portion 217.
Referring to FIG. 3, a door for opening or closing the cooking chamber 1 includes a door panel 300, a font glass (not shown), a door frame 400, and a rear glass 500. The door panel 300 and the door frame 400 define front and back surfaces of the door 30, respectively. A front opening (not shown) and a rear opening 401 are defined in the door panel 300 and the door frame 400, respectively. Also, the front glass and the rear glass 500 are disposed on the front opening and the rear opening 401, respectively.
In a state where the door 30 covers the cooking chamber 11, an edge of a back surface of the door 30, substantially, an edge of a back surface of the door frame 400 contacts a front surface of the front plate 200. Also, a remaining portion of the back surface of the door frame 400 except for the edge of the back surface of the door frame 400, i.e., a central portion of the back surface of the door 30 is exposed to the inside of the cooking chamber 11. Thus, the central portion and the edge of the back surface of the door frame 400 may have a temperature difference therebetween.
However, in the cooking appliance according to the related art, heat generated while food is cooked within the cooking chamber 11 is transferred to the front plate 200 through the cavity 100. Thus, heat used for cooking the food within the cooking chamber 11 may be conducted through the cavity 100, the front plate 200, and the door frame 400 to cause heat losses.


A filter is arranged in an exhaust passage of an engine. The filter supports a catalyst. An accumulating amount estimating means detects differential pressure of the filter to estimate an amount of soot accumulating on the filter. An oxidizing condition detecting means detects an oxidizing condition of soot accumulating on the filter. A forcible oxidizing means increases temperature of the filter more than oxidizing temperature of soot for forcibly oxidizing soot accumulating in the vicinity of the catalyst of the filter. When the oxidizing condition detecting means detects a condition, in which soot accumulating on the filter is only partially oxidized, the accumulating amount estimating means estimates the amount of soot accumulating on the filter after oxidizing soot accumulating in the vicinity of the catalyst using the forcible oxidizing means.

An internal combustion engine such as a diesel engine for a vehicle emits exhaust gas from an engine body. Exhaust gas includes particulate matters such as soot and soluble organic fraction (SOF). In general, a particulate filter is provided to an exhaust passage of an engine for collecting particulate matters, so that particulate matters are restricted from being discharged to the atmosphere.
When particulate matters such as soot are collected using a filter, the particulate matters accumulate on the filter, and the filter may be clogged. When the filter is clogged, pressure of exhaust gas may increase on the upstream of the filter. As a result, engine performance and fuel efficiency of the engine may be degraded. Therefore, in general, temperature of exhaust gas and a filter is increased to a specific temperature, which is equivalent to combustion temperature of soot, so that soot accumulating on the filter is burned and removed in a filter recovery operation. Thereby, the filter is capable of being restricted from causing clogging due to accumulation of soot.
However, when the filter recovery operation is performed in a condition, in which a large amount of soot accumulates on the filter, the accumulating soot quickly burns all together, and temperature of the filter may excessively increase. On the contrary, when the filter recovery operation is performed in a condition, in which a small amount of soot accumulates on the filter, the fuel efficiency of the engine may be degraded due to excessively repeating the filter recovery operation. Therefore, the amount of soot accumulating on the filter needs to be correctly detected for properly performing the filter recovery operation.
When a catalyst such as platinum is supported in the filter, soot accumulating in the vicinity of the catalyst on the filter is capable of being oxidized and burned by oxidation caused by the catalyst, even when temperature of the filter is less than the combustion temperature of soot.
A filter supporting a catalyst is disclosed in EP0766993B1 (JP-A-09-94434). In this filter structure, pieces of catalyst are supported on the surfaces of partition walls of the filter, and furthermore, pieces of catalyst are supported on the surfaces of pores (small holes) formed in the partition walls of the filter. Therefore, when soot accumulates around the catalyst supported on the surfaces of the partition walls and the pores, the soot is capable of being oxidized in the filter, even when temperature of the filter is less than the combustion temperature of soot. Thus, soot can be oxidized and burned at low temperature using the filter supporting the catalyst.
However, soot may not be oxidized and removed by the catalyst uniformly throughout the filter. For example, when temperature of exhaust gas increases, temperature difference may arise throughout the filter. In this case, soot accumulating on the filter may be partially oxidized by the catalyst.
In this situation, even when the amount of soot accumulating on the filter is the same, differential pressure between the upstream and the downstream of the filter may not be the same. Specifically, the differential pressure of the filter may vary depending on both the amount of soot, which is oxidized by the catalyst, and a region, in which oxidized soot accumulates on the filter. Accordingly, it is difficult to estimate the amount of soot, which accumulates on the filter, in accordance with the differential pressure of the filter.
An accumulating amount estimating device is disclosed in JP-A-2003-166413. In this accumulating amount estimating device, when the differential pressure of the filter does not reflect the amount (soot accumulating amount) of soot accumulating on the filter, the device estimates the soot accumulating amount in accordance with a past trend of the differential pressure of the filter in a predetermined period. Specifically, when a variation in differential pressure of the filter is less than a predetermined degree in the predetermined period, the device estimates the soot accumulating amount on the basis of the past variation in the differential pressure of the filter. Thereby, the accumulating amount of soot is capable of being estimated, even when the accumulating amount of soot is hard to be estimated in accordance with the difference pressure of the filter.
However, in the accumulating amount estimating device disclosed in JP-A-2003-166413, the accumulating amount of soot is estimated on the basis of the past trend of the differential pressure of the filter in a condition, in which the differential pressure of the filter does not represent the accumulating amount of soot. Accordingly, the estimation of the accumulating amount is not accurate in this device.

Accumulating amount estimating device detecting differential pressure of filter


A method for classifying beverages of natural origin, such as wine or coffee. Classification is carried out by means of NIR spectroscopy and corresponding numerical-mathematical conditioning of the spectral data of the individual beverage samples, wherein respective obtained spectra are then correlated with a predetermined beverage, class. By means of the method of the invention it is possible to classify wines by sort of wine, growing regions, grape, vine, vintage, kind of material or wood of the wine cask used, and varying degree of maturity of the wine, and by other chemical parameters. Coffee, for example, may be classified by coffee sort, country of origin, coffee growing region, roasting method and defined chemical parameters, e.g., caffeine content, or chlorogenic acid content.

The classification of wines, e.g., according to sort of wine, growing region, grape, and vintage, is at present only possible by the sensory subjective way through the excellently trained sense of smell and taste of a wine connoisseur. Besides the inaccuracies inherent in nature such as, e.g., in the differentiation of single vintages of a wine, these sensory qualities are limited to only a relatively small number of persons.
Accordingly attempts have not been scarce to examine the various wines by scientific methods, for instance the analysis of single chemical parameters such as sugar content, acidity, ethanol content etc., and/or by physico-chemical methods such as optical rotary dispersion, index of refraction etc., and achieve a classification as named at the outset through interpretation of the single data, a group of data, or the entirety of such data.
Owing to the complex composition of the wine on the one hand, but on the other hand the similarity of single parameters, any attempts at giving a reliable statement with the aid of analytical methods, e.g. about sort of wine, growing region, grape and vintage of a wine in question, have failed up to the present.
However, for various reasons it is sensible to have at one's disposal a reliable method for classifying wines. For one thing, monitoring trade products in terms of food technology and their conformity with statutory requirements is hereby possible, for it is possible to detect, e.g., whether the criteria of designation of the growing region are complied with, such as, e.g., whether or not an inadmissible blending with another grape/growing location exists. On the other hand, monitoring the production process and maturation in storage in the course of wine production by the wine grower would be conceivable with such a classification system.
Apart from the above mentioned classical prior art of wine analytics it is moreover known from the graduation thesis entitled, "Anwendung multivariater Methoden und kunstlicher neuronaler Netze zur Klassifizierung von Spirituosen mittels Headspace-GC/MS-Kopplung", presented by Patrick Kursawe, Chair for Analytical Chemistry of Ruhr-Universitat Bochum 1998, to classify various spirits ranging from grappa to rum, with relative reliability by applying multivariate methods and artificial neuronal networks and principal components analysis.
With regard to classification of wine by the modern chemometrical methods, Montanarella et al. (Montanarella, T., Bassani, M. R., Broas, O. (1995): Chemometric Classification of Some European Wines Using Pyrolysis Mass Spectrometry, Rapid Comm. Mass Spectrom. 9 (15), 1589-1593] have attempted, by utilizing various multivariate methods as well as backpropagation networks, to classify wines with regard to their country of origin with the aid of pyrolysiso mass spectra. A fine differentiation between different regions did, however, fail.


An optical pickup device has a semiconductor in which 2 light emitters laser emitting laser beams having different wavelengths for a DVD and CD are mounted on one package and disposes optical-system lenses with reference to a main beam for a DVD such that a long axis of an elliptic beam which is emitted from each light emitter for a CD and DVD and irradiated onto a disc is tilted at about 35° to the radius direction of a disc. This prevents an aberration from being generated in a converging spot at the DVD side due to image height and exhibits sufficient performance of lens to keep all CT, MTF and jitter in comparatively favorable conditions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical pickup device for reading information from a plurality of discs having different reading wavelengths, more particularly, to an optical pickup device comprising a semiconductor laser device whose a plurality of light emitters emitting laser beams with different wavelengths were integrated and a photodetector disposed correspondingly.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a DVD/CD reproduction device is known which shares each optical pickup device for a CD disc reproduction device and a DVD disc reproduction device, and reads information through different wavelengths to each other.
As can be understood by comparing structures of CD and DVD discs, the thickness of the protective layer for a DVD disc is about one-half that of a CD disc, therefore, where an optical pickup using a monofocal lens reproduces both discs, when an optical beam which is optimum to reproduce a DVD disc is converged on the information recording surface, since the protective layer of a CD disc through which an optical beam is transmitted is larger than that of a DVD disc, a spherical aberration occurs in the optical beam, which does not allow the optimum optical beam to be converged on the information recording surface of a CD disc. Therefore, there is an optical pickup with a biofocal lens which is capable of focusing on different points on the same straight line and irradiating 2 laser beams to form a beam spot corresponding to the size of each information pit.
This kind of optical pickup device comprises a light emitter to emit the laser beam with the optimum wavelength (780 nm) to read information from a CD having a comparatively low recording density and a light emitter to emit the optimum laser beam with the optimum wavelength (650 nm) to read information from a DVD having a high recording density, and alternatively drives and controls either light emitter by discriminating the type of the disc. A reflecting light generated by irradiating an information reading light onto a disc is irradiated onto a photodetector. In this kind of DVD/CD reproducing system requiring 2 light emitters, where either one of the light emitters is irradiated from the surface which is perpendicular to the other one of light emitters, it is necessary to hold a space in which an optical system is disposed, which increases in size of the device.
To prevent this optical pickup device from increasing in size, it is proposed that 2 light emitters emitting laser beams having different wavelengths for a DVD and CD are integrated and by using a semiconductor device emitting a laser beam alternatively and a photodetector corresponding to 2 light emitters, this semiconductor laser device is disposed such that straight lines connecting to each light-emitting point of a plurality of light emitters come in contact with the track tangential line of the disc to be reproduced (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-209957 and No. 2001-184698).
In the configurations as shown in the these patent laid-open publications, a plurality of laser beams having different wavelengths can be guided through a single optical path, which allows a compact space. However, more specifically, since the positions of 2 light emitters are different, it is necessary to take those positions to the optical axis of the objective lens into consideration. When the center of the light source does not coincide with the optical axis, the image height is high and some aberration exists. Since this aberration may affect reading signals adversely, it is recommended to reduce it as much as possible. In addition, since the NA of a DVD is larger than that of a CD and on the contrary, the beam spot of a DVD is smaller than that of a CD, the aberration upon reproduction of a DVD is larger than that upon reproduction of a CD regardless of the high image and in addition, the rate of increase in aberration upon reproduction of a DVD is also larger in comparison with that of a CD. Accordingly, the semiconductor laser is configured such that a 650 nm light emitter is disposed on the center axis of the optical system or the distance from the 650 nm light emitter to the center axis of the optical system is smaller than that from a 780 nm light emitter to the center axis of the optical system.


A connector assembly with improved retention characteristics includes opposing plug and receptacle connector housings, each containing conductive terminals. The terminals of one of the connector housings, preferably the plug connector housing include body portions with separate contact and locking portions extending upwardly therefrom and spaced apart from each other define a nest therebetween. The nest receives a portion of the other connector housing and the terminal contact and locking portions engage opposing sides of the other connector housing portion. The contact portions fictionally engage the other connector housing terminals while the locking portions positively engage recesses formed in the other connector housing.

The present invention relates generally to electrical connectors of reduced size, and more particularly to surface mount miniature connector assemblies with improved means for holding the components of the connector assembly together.
The trend of the electronics industry is to constantly reduce the size of electronic devices. Many electronic devices rely upon circuitry formed upon various printed circuit boards. These printed circuit boards must be joined together with connectors in a manner to effectively and reliably interconnect the circuits on one circuit board to the circuits on another circuit board.
In order to permit the connection of two circuit boards in parallel planes and to reduce the size of electronic devices, the connector industry developed the surface mount connector. A typical surface mount connector utilizes a plug-type male connector component that unites with an opposing receptacle-type, or female connector component. Both connector components are of low profile, allowing the circuit boards to be closely spaced to each other. When the connector components are engaged together, the mating terminals of the connector components form an electrical connection between the circuits of the two circuit boards.
It is desirable to retain the connector components in engagement with each other and to fulfill their need, locking mechanisms have been developed for such connectors. The use of locking mechanisms that are separate from the connector components may lead to more complex structure and larger sizes of connectors. When the locking mechanisms are formed as part of the connector component housings, they waste space that could be used on the connector and because the mechanisms are made entirely from plastic, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,884, issued Apr. 6, 1993, the locking mechanism will not be that strong.
In some connection applications the size of the connector portions themselves are extremely small, in what is known as the "micro-miniature" range where the connectors may have length and width dimensions as small as approximately 5 mm by 2 mm and height dimensions as small as approximately 2 mm. The approach in the industry with small size connectors is to utilize frictional force to hold the connectors together. However, such frictional forces will not always reliably resist accidental unmating. Additionally, insertion forces cannot be so excessive as to cause difficultly in mating such connectors. Accordingly, the need exists for a surface mount board to board connector that has a high degree of mechanical integrity and a sufficiently strong withdrawal force and a sufficiently light insertion force.
The present invention is therefore directed to an electric connector assembly which overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages and assures a stable holding force to hold the associated connector components together no matter how small the connector size.

Electric connector assembly with improved retention characteristics


Disclosed is a flat panel display device which comprises a power supply unit provided on a first PCB and supplying the power; an image driver provided on a second PCB and controlling predetermined images to be displayed; and a signal processor provided on a third PCB, connected to the image driver via a differential signal interface, converting the image signals provided from the outside into a format of signals that fits the flat panel display panel, and providing the converted signals to the image driver. The present invention reduces the EMI.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flat panel display device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a flat panel display device for various input signals providing an optimized configuration of integration, structure and production of the flat panel display device.
(b) Description of the Related Art
In the 1990's, production of display devices such as CRTs, LCDs, PDPs and ELs became very competitive, developing markets and prototypes.
For example, the LCD is generally used for portable screens of under 13″ and the CRT for a monitor screen of 15 to 20″ at present, but it is supposed that these other devices will compete with the TFT LCD, and the CRT will continuously take the lead in the market of television sets of 20 to 30″. But if the display features and process of Plasma Addressed LCD (PALCD) or TFT LCD become advantageous to users, the situation may change. Also, in the display market of screens of 30 to 40 inches, the CRT and PDP will compete, and in the display market of screens of over 40 inches, conventional type PDPs, projection type LCD projectors, CRT projectors and DMD projectors will compete.
Also, the inorganic ELs have military instrument markets, the LCDs have indoor and interactive display markets, and the organic ELs and FEDs are being researched as next generation display devices.
As described above, the display device markets are gradually switching to flat panel display devices with larger screens and slimmer thickness.
The LCD monitor, which is an example of common flat display devices, comprises an LCD module, an inverter for providing back light, and a signal processing printed circuit board (PCB) for receiving analog R, G and B signals, video signals such as NTSC and digital signals such as the transition minimized differential signaling (TDMS) signals, and performing signal processing such as scaling and on screen display (OSD) functions.
However, since the signals are transmitted between the PCB and the inter-board via the TTL signal method, EMI problems occur. Particularly, since high-speed signals are transmitted between a signal processing PCB and an LCD control PCB, and because of differences of common ground levels of the different PCBs, the LCD monitor has an EMI problem.
To solve the above-noted problems, data are transmitted between the signal processing PCB and the LCD control PCB via the low voltage differential signal (LVDS) method, and a shield process and a ferrite core are provided, but these increase production costs.
Further, a power generation block is divided into an image driving power generator, a scaler power generator and a back light driving inverter and each of them is installed on respective PCB blocks, and since the power is supplied to the scaler power generator and then to an inner analog/digital converter or to the image driving power generator, a very high current flows via a cable, which renders the device vulnerable to the EMI.
In addition, since the power generation blocks are scattered on the respective PCB blocks and there is a lot of data transmission between the PCB blocks, many functions are repeated.
Also, since the PCB blocks include three units, digital signals and driving power connections are increased and therefore the cost for solving EMI problems increases. In other words, an additional unit for installing three PCBs and EMI shielding increases the thickness and weight of the product and limits the product design.


A fastener for installation in a workpiece, the fastener comprising a pin and a body comprising a shell and a radially enlarged head, wherein a first engaging means comprising a nylon sleeve is located within a bore of the shell, and a second engaging means comprising a plurality of barbs is located on the exterior of at least part of the pin shank, and wherein the pin shank is insertable into the bore of the body from an end of the body remote from the head end, such that the first and second engaging means mutually engage.

The present invention relates to a fastener for insertion through aligned apertures in workpiece members thereby to secure the members together, and particularly for fasteners suitable for low grip applications, i.e. applications wherein the total width of the workpiece members being secured together is relatively small.
A currently known fastener for insertion through aligned apertures in workpiece members is commercially available under the Registered Trade Mark AVTAINER, as illustrated in FIGS. 1a to 3. The known fastener 2 comprises a pin 6 (as shown in FIG. 1a), and a body 4 (as shown in FIG. 1b). The pin comprises a shaft 42, a head 44, and a breakneck point 46. The body comprises a shell 8 and a nylon sleeve 10. The shell 8 comprises a radially enlarged head 12 at one end and an elongated shank 14 protruding therefrom, and a bore 16 extending axially completely through the body 4. The sleeve 10, which is located inside the elongated shank 14 of the shell 8, forms a first engaging means, and a barbed portion 52 comprising a plurality of annular barbs 18 on the pin 6 form a second engaging means.
FIGS. 2a and 2b illustrate the installation sequence of fastener 2 into a workpiece comprising workpiece members 20, 22. Firstly, as shown in FIG. 2a, the pin 6 is driven into the aligned apertures 54, 56 provided in the workpiece members 20, 22, by applying a force to the pin head 44. A plain portion 78 of the pin shank 42 is a press fit within the workpiece apertures 54, 56. FIG. 2a shows the pin 6 after it has been driven into the aligned apertures 54, 56.
Subsequently the body 4 is pushed, shank 14 first, onto the protruding end of the pin shank 42, until the leading end of the sleeve 10 abuts the barbed portion 52 of the pin 6. FIG. 2b shows the fastener after this stage has been completed.
The installation of the fastener 2 is completed by using a tool (not shown) to simultaneously pull the pin 42 shank and force the body 4 further along the pin shank 42 until the barbs 18 of the pin 6 mutually engage with the sleeve 10 of the body 4, and the underside surface 58 of the shell head 12 abuts the outer face 72 of workpiece member 22 remote from the pin head 44. The pin shank 142 is pulled until the it fails in tension at the breakneck point 46.
FIG. 3 shows the fastener 2 fully installed into the workpiece to secure workpiece members 20, 22 together, wherein the barbs 18 of the pin 6 are embedded into sleeve 10 of the body 4. The grip, i.e. the total thickness of the workpiece members 20, 22, is indicated by S. To provide the necessary tensile strength of the installed fastener 2, all barbs 18 must be engaged with the sleeve 10, and therefore the grip S must be greater than the length L of the shank 14, because the sleeve 10 is enclosed within this length, and this length must be less than the grip S to ensure that the joint is secured. Although the minimum grip could be reduced by reducing the length of the fastener 2, this would also result in an unacceptable reduction in tensile strength of the installed fastener. A reduction in the length over which the barbs 18 mutually engage with the sleeve 10 would result in an unacceptable reduction in the tensile strength of the installed fastener 2.
Accordingly, the minimum grip of the prior art fastener is restricted by the length of the shell, as the fastener cannot be used for grip values below the value of the shell length.
An aim of the present invention is to provide a fastener in which the minimum grip value is not limited by the length of the shell.
Accordingly the present invention provides, in a first aspect, a fastener comprising a pin and a body; the pin comprising a radially enlarged head at one end and an elongated shank protruding therefrom; the body comprising a shell having a radially and axially enlarged head at a head end and an elongated shank protruding therefrom, and wherein an underhead contact surface is provided on the shell head; and wherein a bore extends axially throughout the shell head and the shell shank; the body further comprising a first engaging means located within at least part of the bore and having a leading end and a trailing end, the leading end being further away from the head end of the shell than the trailing end; wherein a second engaging means is located on the exterior of at least part of the pin shank, wherein the pin shank is insertable into the bore of the body from an end of the body remote from the head end, such that the first and second engaging means mutually engage, wherein the underhead contact surface of the shell head is located at an axial level between the leading end and the trailing end of the first engaging means.
The head of the body may be formed of a radiused member, wherein underhead contact surface is provided on an annular flange of the radiused member.
The first engaging means preferably comprises a nylon sleeve, and the second engaging means preferably comprises a plurality of barbs.
The present invention provides, in a further aspect, a method of securing a workpiece together using a fastener comprising a pin and a body; the pin comprising a radially enlarged head at one end and an elongated shank protruding herefrom; the body comprising a shell having a radially and axially enlarged head at a head end and an elongated shank protruding therefrom, and wherein an underhead contact surface is provided on the shell head; and wherein a bore extends axially throughout the shell head and the shell shank; the body further comprising a first engaging means located within at least part of the bore and having a leading end and a trailing end, the leading end being further away from the head end of the shell than the trailing end; wherein a second engaging means is located on the exterior of at least part of the pin shank, wherein the pin shank is insertable into the bore of the body from an end of the body remote from the head end, such that the first and second engaging means mutually engage, wherein the underhead contact surface of the shell head is located at an axial level between the leading end and the trailing end of the first engaging means, wherein the workpiece comprises a first and a second workpiece member, which method comprises; inserting the pin of the fastener into aligned apertures in the first and second workpiece members until an underside surface of the pin head abuts an outer face of the first workpiece member and part of the pin shank protrudes from an outer face of the second workpiece member; subsequently, positioning the body of the fastener, shank first, over the protruding end of the pin shank, until the leading end of the first engaging means abuts the second engaging means; subsequently, applying pressure to the body thereby to push the body into the apertures of the first and second workpiece members, until the underhead contact surface contacts the outer face of the second workpiece member; and pulling the protruding end of the pin shank relative to the body, thereby causing the first engaging means and the second engaging means to mutually engage; wherein the protruding end of the pin shank is pulled relative to the body until the pin shank breaks at a breakneck point.


A surface coordinating agent is allowed to contact an aqueous slurry of transition metal-containing pigment particles to increase the hydrophilicity of the surface of such particles. The modified pigment particles disperse easily in a wide variety of solvents, and provide stable, dispersions having a small mean pigment particle size and narrow particle size distribution.

Pigments that are used in polar environments must be readily dispersible and must be hydrophilic. Among the most important pigments are those comprised of a transition metal or an oxide or complex thereof. Accordingly, it is important for certain applications to be able to render hydrophilic or to increase the hydrophilicity of the surface of such transition metal-containing pigment particles.
Treatments to render iron-containing materials hydrophobic are known and are used to render the iron-containing pigments suitable for use in many ink applications; however, most of the applications for iron-containing materials, especially iron oxide, are hydrophilic (as in paint). Though the surface of most iron-containing materials inherently is hydrophilic in nature, a further increase in surface hydrophilicity will lead to more compatibility with the polar vehicle systems used in various applications.
Thus, a need exists for a fast and economical way to render hydrophilic or to increase the hydrophilicity of the surface of transition metal-containing pigment particles, so that such particles can be easily dispersed in a wide variety of solvents or vehicle systems. Such a need is met by the method of the present invention.


A medicated module containing a medicament is configured for removable attachment to the mouthpiece of an inhaler. The inhaler may contain a first medicament such that a single firing of the inhaler will deliver both medicaments to the user.

Certain diseases or require treatment of many patients with a same or similar dose of medicament. The medicaments or drug compounds need to be delivered in a fast, secure and cost effective way. This invention is of particular benefit where the therapy requires oral application of a medicament.
This invention is beneficial where one or more drugs need to be delivered for inhalation, especially when a sterile medicament shall be given to one or more patients with a single inhaler device.
Certain disease states require treatment using one or more different medicaments. Some drug compounds need to be delivered in a specific relationship with each other in order to deliver the optimum therapeutic dose. This invention is of particular benefit where combination therapy is desirable, but not possible in a single formulation for reasons such as, but not limited to, stability, compromised therapeutic performance, and/or toxicology.
For example, in some cases it might be beneficial to treat a person suffering from diabetes with a combination of a long acting insulin along with a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). This GLP-1 is derived from the transcription product of the proglucagon gene. GLP-1 is found in the body and is secreted by the intestinal L cell as a gut hormone. GLP-1 possesses several physiological properties that make it (and its analogs) a subject of intensive investigation as a potential treatment of diabetes mellitus. Alternatively, other combination of drugs such as those to treat asthma, e.g., LABA (Long acting beta agonists) and Cortico-steroids could be used in this invention.
The term "drug" or "medicament", as used herein, means a pharmaceutical formulation containing at least one pharmaceutically active compound, for example for the treatment of obstructive airway or lung diseases such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), allergies, diabetes mellitus.
The active pharmaceutical compound is preferably selected from the group consisting of active pharmaceutical compounds suitable for inhalation, preferably antiallergenic, antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, antitussive agents, bronchodilators, anticholinergic drugs, and combinations thereof.
The active pharmaceutical compound may for example be chosen from:
an insulin such as human insulin, e.g. a recombinant human insulin, or a human insulin analogue or derivative, a glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) or an analogue or derivative thereof, or exendin-3 or exendin-4 or an analogue or derivative of exendin-3 or exendin-4;
an adrenergic agent such as a short acting β2-agonists (e.g. Salbutamol, Albuterol, Levosalbutamol, Fenoterol, Terbutaline, Pirbuterol, Procaterol, Bitolterol, Rimiterol, Carbuterol, Tulobuterol, Reproterol), a long acting β2-agonist (LABA, e.g. Arformoterol, Bambuterol, Clenbuterol, Formoterol, Salmeterol), an ultra LABA (e.g. Indacaterol) or another adrenergic agent (e.g. Epinephrine, Hexoprenaline, Isoprenaline (Isoproterenol), Orciprenaline (Metaproterenol));
a glucocorticoid (e.g. Beclometasone, Budesonide, Ciclesonide, Fluticasone, Mometasone, Flunisolide, Betamethasone, Triamcinolone);
an anticholinergic agent or muscarinic antagonist (e.g. Ipratropium bromide, Oxitropium bromide, Tiotropium bromide);
a mast cell stabilizer (e.g. Cromoglicate, Nedocromil);
a xanthine derivative (e.g. Doxofylline, Enprofylline, Theobromine, Theophylline, Aminophylline, Choline theophyllinate);
an eicosanoid inhibitor, such as a leukotriene antagonist (e.g. Montelukast, Pranlukast, Zafirlukast), a lipoxygenase inhibitor (e.g. Zileuton) or a thromboxane receptor antagonist (e.g. Ramatroban, Seratrodast);
or a combination of any two, three or more of the above-mentioned compound classes or compounds (e.g. Budesonide/Formoterol, Fluticasone/Salmeterol, Ipratropium bromide/Salbutamol, Mometasone/Formoterol);
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate or esters of any of the above named compounds
Pharmaceutically acceptable salts are for example acid addition salts and basic salts. Acid addition salts are e.g. a chloride, bromide, iodide, nitrate, carbonate, sulfate, methylsulfate, phosphate, acetate, benzoate, benzenesulfonate, fumarate, malonate, tartrate, succinate, citrate, lactate, gluconate, glutamate, edetate, mesylate, pamoate, pantothenate or a hydroxy-naphthoate salt. Basic salts are for example salts having a cation selected from alkali or alkaline, e.g. Na+, or K+, or Ca2+, or an ammonium ion N+(R1)(R2)(R3)(R4), wherein R1 to R4 independently of each other mean: hydrogen, an optionally substituted C1-C6-alkyl group, an optionally substituted C2-C6-alkenyl group, an optionally substituted C6-C10-aryl group, or an optionally substituted C6-C10-heteroaryl group. Further examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts are described in "Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences" 17. ed. Alfonso R. Gennaro (Ed.), Mark Publishing Company, Easton, Pa., U.S.A., 1985 and in Encyclopedia of Pharmaceutical Technology. Pharmaceutically acceptable ester may for example be acetates, propionates, phosphates, succinates or etabonates.
Pharmaceutically acceptable solvates are for example hydrates.
A number of potential problems can arise when delivering two active medicaments or "agents" simultaneously. As just one example, the two active agents when present in a single container may interact with each other during the long-term, shelf life storage of the formulation. Therefore, there are certain advantages to storing the active components separately and then potentially combine them at the point of delivery, e.g. injection, needle-less injection, pumps, or inhalation. However, any potential process for combining the two or more agents needs to be straightforward and convenient for the user to perform reliably, repeatedly, and safely.
One further concern is that the quantities and/or proportions of each active agent making up the potential combination dose or therapy may need to be varied for each user or at different stages of their therapy. Again, as just one example, one or more active agents may require a titration period to gradually introduce a patient to a "maintenance" dose. A further example would be if one active agent requires a non-adjustable fixed dose while the other agent is varied in response to a patient's symptoms or physical condition. This potential concern could mean that pre-mixed formulations of multiple active agents may not be suitable as these pre-mixed formulations would have a fixed ratio of the active components, which could not be varied by the healthcare professional or user.
Additional concerns may arise where a multi-drug compound therapy is required, because certain users may not be able to cope with having to use more than one drug delivery system or make the necessary accurate calculation of the required dose combination. This is especially true for users with dexterity or computational difficulties.
Accordingly, there exists a strong need to provide devices and methods for the delivery of two or more medicaments in a single activation of an inhaler-type drug delivery device, such a pressurized metered dose inhaler that is simple and safe for the user to perform and that also tends to reduce a patient's anxiety towards taking repeated doses of medicaments.


A bias voltage generator generates the same bias voltage VBB for different external power supply voltages EVCC (for example, for EVCC=3.3V or 5.0V). During power-up, the charge pump that generates VBB is controlled by an enable signal ExtEn referenced to EVCC. Later an internal supply voltage IVCC becomes fully developed to a value independent from EVCC (for example, IVCC=3.0V), and the charge pump becomes controlled by an enable signal IntEn referenced to IVCC. This enable signal IntEn will cause VBB to reach its target value, for example, -1.5V. This target value is independent of EVCC. During power-up, when the charge pump is controlled by ExtEn, the bias voltage VBB is driven to an intermediate value (for example, -0.5V or -1V). This intermediate value depends on EVCC, but is below the target value in magnitude. The intermediate value reduces the likelihood of latch-up during power-up, but the intermediate value does not go beyond the target value thus does not create a significant pn-junction current leakage in semiconductor regions to which the bias voltage is applied.

The present invention relates to generation of signals, and more particularly to generation of signals from other signals that take time to develop on power-up.
Some circuits develop signals not from signals immediately available on power-up, e.g. from an external power supply voltage, but from other signals that take time to develop during power-up, e.g. from an internal power supply voltage. One reason for using an internal power supply may be a desire to be able to use the same circuit with different external power supply voltages. Consider, for example, a semiconductor memory in which a substrate or a well is biased by a bias voltage selected to reduce transistor leakage current or to adjust transistor threshold voltages or junction capacitances. The bias voltage generator has to generate the correct bias voltages for different external power supply voltages. Bias voltage generation could be simplified if the bias voltage could be generated from an internal power supply voltage independent of the external power supply voltage level. However, the internal power supply voltage takes time to develop on power-up, which causes problems described below in connection with FIG. 2.
FIG. 1 illustrates a bias voltage generator 110 generating a bias voltage VBB from an external power supply voltage EVCC in a dynamic random access memory (DRAM). VBB is a negative voltage which biases the P substrate or P wells in which the NMOS transistors of DRAM cells are fabricated. The possible nominal EVCC values are 3.3V and 5.0V. However, the 5.0V EVCC could subject the transistors to high stresses. To avoid these stresses, the circuitry that drives the transistors uses an internally generated power supply voltage IVCC. IVCC is generated from EVCC so that IVCC is about 3.0V for either 3.3V or 5.0V EVCC values. Since IVCC is the same for different EVCC values, and since the DRAM cell transistors are driven by IVCC, VBB can be the same for different EVCC values. (In FIG. 1, VBB is about -1.5V.)
To generate the same VBB from different EVCC voltages, VBB generator 110 uses a fuse F1. When fuse F1 is intact, fuse F1 shunts the resistor R3 connected in parallel with the fuse. The resistor R3 is connected in series with resistors R2 and R1 between VBB and EVCC. If the memory is to operate at EVCC=3.3V, the fuse is blown. If the memory is to operate at EVCC=5.0V, the fuse is left intact. The resistors R1, R2, R3 are selected so that when VBB is at the desired value of -1.5V, the node 120 between the resistors R1 and R2 is at half EVCC (that is, 1.65V when EVCC=3.3V and the fuse is blown; 2.5V when EVCC=5.0V and the fuse is intact). Half EVCC is the trip voltage of CMOS inverter 124 whose input is connected to node 120. (The letter E inside the inverter symbol means that the inverter is powered by EVCC. The reference voltage is assumed ground unless mentioned otherwise.) Inverters 124, 130, 134, 138 are connected in series between node 120 and charge pump 140. These inverters are powered by EVCC. The output of inverter 138 provides the charge pump enable signal VBE. The charge pump is on when VBE is high. The charge pump is off when VBE is low. Thus, when VBB rises above -1.5V, the charge pump turns on. When VBB falls to -1.5V, the charge pump turns off.
Some embodiments use a mask option instead of fuse F1.
To eliminate the fuse or the mask option, some DRAMs generate the bias voltage VBB from IVCC because IVCC has the same value for different EVCC levels. See VBB generator 210 in FIG. 2. In VBB generator 210, resistors R4 and R5 are connected in series between IVCC and VBB. Node 120 between the resistors R4 and R5 is connected to the input of inverter 214 powered by IVCC. The output of inverter 214 is connected to the input on inverter 218 also powered by IVCC. The output signal IntEn of inverter 218 is provided to the charge pump (not shown) as the enable signal VBE. The resistors R4 and R5 are selected so that when VBB is at the desired value of -1.5V, node 120 is at the trip voltage of inverter 214. The trip voltage is one-half of IVCC, that is, 1.5V.
Bias voltage generator 210 has the following disadvantages associated with power-up. Since the internal voltage IVCC is used by many circuits in the memory, the IVCC terminal has a fairly large capacitance. Therefore, on power-up, a large amount of time elapses before IVCC develops. Another reason why IVCC is slow to develop is the use of low-power, slow circuitry for IVCC generation. The circuitry is made slow to reduce its DC power consumption. Because IVCC is slow to develop, IntEn does not enable the charge pump until long after the power has been turned on. During that period of time, the potential of the substrate or P wells biased by VBB could become positive, causing a latch-up.
One solution of this problem is to use the inverse of IntEn, i.e. the signal IntEn-, to control the charge pump. (IntEn- is generated from IntEn by inverter 230 powered by IVCC.) In such a circuit, the charge pump is turned on when IntEn- is low. The circuitry (not shown) detecting the level of IntEn-, and the charge pump, are driven by EVCC. Therefore, this circuitry and the charge pump become fully operational right away, before IVCC develops. When the power is first turned on, IntEn- is low, and hence the charge pump turns on right away. However, the charge pump will not turn off until IVCC develops, because IntEn- will be low until IVCC develops. By the time the pump turns off, VBB could become too low, for example, about -3V or -4V. Such low VBB values could increase the current leakage across pn-junctions in the wells or substrate biased by VBB. The memory cells could get discharged, losing information.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved generator of bias voltages and other signals that are generated from signals which take time to develop on power-up.

Generation of signals from other signals that take time to develop on power-up


A pair of conductive rubber electrodes including measurement surfaces opposite to a surface of a dielectric layer of an electrostatic chuck as an objective of measurement, in which the measurement surfaces are arranged at an interval individually on the same plane, are provided. A direct-current power supply and an ammeter are connected to the pair of conductive rubber electrodes. The conductive rubber electrodes have resistance values equal to each other, and have a shape in which the measurement surfaces have areas equal to each other, in which volume resistivities are 1×105 Ω·cm or less, and hardness is within a range of 60 to 80 Hs in JIS-A hardness. An interval between the conductive rubber electrodes is six times or more a thickness of the dielectric layer of the electrostatic chuck as the objective of the measurement.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a volume resistivity measurement apparatus for a dielectric layer of an electrostatic chuck, and to a method using the apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electrostatic chuck is used for sucking and holding a semiconductor substrate, for example, in the case of performing a variety of treatments such as deposition and etching for the semiconductor substrate or in the case of carrying the semiconductor substrate among treatment apparatuses in a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device. As such an electrostatic chuck, there is one including a plate-like base made of ceramics, in which one of planes of the base is a holding surface of the semiconductor substrate, and an electrostatic electrode is embedded in the base in the vicinity of the holding surface. When electric power is supplied to the electrostatic electrode from the outside, a region between the electrostatic electrode and the holding surface in the base is polarized to become a dielectric layer. Then, electrostatic force is generated on the holding surface, thus making it possible to suck the semiconductor substrate. In the electrostatic chuck having such a basic principle, main suction force for holding the substrate is broadly divided based on volume resistivity of the dielectric layer. In this connection, there are an electrostatic chuck using Coulomb force as main suction force, and an electrostatic chuck using Johnson-Rahbek force as main suction force.
The volume resistivity of the dielectric layer of the electrostatic chuck is an important factor that affects product characteristics of the electrostatic chuck, and the dielectric layer is required to have predetermined volume resistivity. This volume resistivity of the dielectric layer of the electrostatic chuck is sometimes varied depending on manufacturing conditions thereof in a manufacturing process of the electrostatic chuck. Therefore, it is useful to confirm the volume resistivity of the dielectric layer of the manufactured electrostatic chuck in order also to enhance yield of the product.
Heretofore, as a method of measuring the volume resistivity of the electrostatic chuck having the base made of ceramics, there has been a method conforming to JIS-K6911. Moreover, in the case of carrying out the above-described method conforming to JIS-K6911, thermal sticking sometimes occurs on conductive rubbers coated on surfaces of electrodes, which are in contact with a sample. In order to prevent the thermal sticking, there has been a volume resistivity measurement apparatus in which a current limiting resistor is connected in series to a direct-current power supply (Japanese Patent. Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-88900).
However, these method and apparatus are ones to arrange opposite electrodes so that the opposite electrodes can sandwich such a measurement sample therebetween, and then to measure the volume resistivity between the opposite electrodes. Accordingly, when the measurement sample is the electrostatic chuck, these method and apparatus are ones to entirely measure the volume resistivity of the base of the electrostatic chuck. Therefore, these method and apparatus are not ones to partially measure the volume resistivity of the dielectric layer of the electrostatic chuck.
Therefore, heretofore, in order to measure the volume resistivity of only the dielectric layer of the electrostatic chuck, the following procedures have been taken. First, a hole that reaches the electrostatic electrode embedded in the base is drilled from a surface of the base, which is opposite with the holding surface. Then, a part of the electrostatic electrode is exposed to a bottom surface of the hole, a measurement terminal is electrically connected to the exposed electrostatic electrode, and the electrostatic electrode is utilized as one of measuring electrodes. In addition, the other measuring electrode is provided on a surface of the dielectric layer, that is, on the holding surface of the base in a manner of being opposite to the above-described one measuring electrode. Then, a voltage is applied between these measuring electrodes, and a current value is measured. In such a way, the volume resistivity has been obtained.
In the method as described above, which is of measuring the volume resistivity of the dielectric layer by drilling the hole that reaches the electrostatic electrode embedded in the base from the opposite surface of the base with the holding surface, and by exposing a part of the electrostatic electrode to the bottom surface of the hole, time and labor are required for a drilling process of the hole when the base of the electrostatic chuck is made of ceramics. The measurement of the volume resistivity of the dielectric layer is performed in order to confirm whether or not the electrostatic chucks have the predetermined volume resistivity for each of lots among which the manufacturing conditions sometimes differ. Hence, in the case where the time and the labor are required for the drilling process implemented in order to measure the volume resistivity, when an electrostatic chuck defective in terms of the volume resistivity occurs, it takes time to give feedback to discontinue production of the electrostatic chucks. This may undesirably result in manufacture of a large quantity of defective pieces.
The present invention advantageously solves the above-described problems. It is an object of the present invention to provide a volume resistivity measurement apparatus for a dielectric layer of an electrostatic chuck, which makes it possible to measure the volume resistivity of the dielectric layer of the electrostatic chuck without implementing the drilling process for the electrostatic chuck to be manufactured, thus enabling rapid measurement of the volume resistivity, and to provide a measurement method using the apparatus.

Volume resistivity measurement apparatus for dielectric layer of electrostatic chuck and measurement method using the apparatus


A chromatography cartridge assembly includes a cartridge with a flexible wall defining a chamber, and a porous, polymeric, hydrophilic, chromatography media contained within the chamber. The chromatography media has an operating pressure rating greater than 3 bars. The flexible wall forms a movable diaphragm for compressing the chromatography media. The chromatography cartridge assembly includes a flow distributor, flow collector, and sieves formed from a hydrophilic material. A compression module defines a pressure chamber for containing a pressurized fluid. The pressurized fluid acts to move the flexible wall of the cartridge assembly. The compression module has a pressure ratings greater than 3 bars.

This invention relates to liquid chromatography columns useful in biomolecule separations.
Matrix materials used in liquid chromatography for separations of biomolecules must be hydrophilic to prevent denaturation of the biomolecule leading to precipitation and non-specific adsorption on the matrix material. Standard matrix materials used for bioseparations have been soft gels such as sepharose.RTM. with pressure ratings up to 3 bars. This limits the pressure that can be applied to the process fluid, thus limiting the speed of separation. Matrix materials have conventionally been packed in glass or stainless steel housings.
Advances in materials technology have led to the development of a new class of polymeric, hydrophilic and rigid support matrices that have much higher pressure ratings and can achieve better resolution. These materials include Emphaze.TM., POROS.RTM., HyperD.TM., Fractogel.RTM., and Sources.TM..


An image processing device includes: a road surface detecting section to detect a road surface region from an input image based on a shot image obtained by shooting with a camera; a time-series verifying section to perform time-series verification to verify a result of detection of the road surface region in the input image in a time-series manner; a detection region selecting section to set a detection region for detection of an object in the input image according to the result of detection of the road surface region by the road surface detecting section and a result of the time-series verification by the time-series verifying section; and a detecting section to detect the object in the detection region.

In the recent years, in order to prevent accidents such as collision of vehicles and collision of a human being and a vehicle, techniques which monitor the conditions around the own vehicle through an in-vehicle camera and upon detection of a hazard, give a warning to the driver and also automatically control the behavior of the own vehicle have been progressing. For hazard prevention and safety of the own vehicle and automated driving control as mentioned above, it is necessary to take a vehicle present around the own vehicle as the object of observation and continue monitoring its approach all the time. In these techniques, not only a vehicle as the object of observation but also various things such as surrounding structures show up in the background in the image taken by the in-vehicle camera. For this reason, it has been difficult to identify and detect the object of observation accurately, which may cause erroneous detection.
As a technique for solving erroneous detection due to the background in the image as mentioned above, a technique has been proposed to recognize, in the image, a road surface region on which a vehicle can travel and perform vehicle detection in the road surface region. In this relation, for example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a method in which a gradation diagram is made from a parallax image taken by a stereo camera and using the gradation diagram, a road surface in the image is identified to decide whether or not a vehicle can travel in the region.

Image processing device, outside recognition device


A method and apparatus for estimating the number of distinct values in a database table selects one of several numerical methods to solve a model of the number of distinct values in a database table based on a table size, a sample size, and the number of distinct values in the sample. The sample may be a sample previously collected for purposes other than to estimate the number of distinct values, and the number of records in the sample and the number of distinct values in the sample may be determined at the time the sample was collected.

The invention relates to methods and apparatus for optimizing queries in a relational database system.
A database is a collection of information. A relational database is a database that is perceived by its users as a collection of tables. Each table arranges items and attributes of the items in rows and columns respectively. Each table row corresponds to an item (also referred to as a record or tuple), and each table column corresponds to an attribute of the item (referred to as a field, an attribute type, or field type).
To retrieve information from a database, the user of a database system constructs a query. A query contains one or more operations that specify information to retrieve from the database. The system scans tables in the database to execute the query.
A database system can optimize a query by arranging the order of query operations. The number of distinct values for an attribute is one statistic that a database system uses to optimize queries. When the actual number of distinct values is unknown, a database system can use an estimate.
An accurate estimate of the number of distinct values for an attribute is useful in methods for optimizing a query involving multiple join operations. A database system can use the estimate in methods that determine the order in which to join tables. An accurate estimate of the number of distinct values for an attribute is also useful in methods that reorder and group items.

Estimating the number of distinct values for an attribute in a relational database table


An adapter for a motor head of an electric submersible pump enables a motor head having a pothole and cutaway to provide a direct-connect for a motor lead extension cable run downhole to the motor section of the pump. The adapter has a curved conduit independent of the motor head that positions adjacent the side of the motor head in the provided cutaway. The conduit's downhole end affixes (bolts) to the motor head with the end disposing in the pothole of the motor head. The conduit's uphole end affixes (bolts) adjacent the uphole end of the motor head. A termination block disposed in the conduit's uphole has sockets that are electrically connected to motor components via internal leads running through the conduit and the pothole. A mating termination on the end of a motor lead extension cable affixes (bolts) to the conduit's uphole end, and pin on the termination electrically couple to the sockets to convey power to the motor section.

A typical electrical submersible pump (ESP) system 20 shown in FIG. 1 suspends from production tubing 16 in a wellbore casing 14 that penetrates a formation. A motor section 30 located on the bottom of the ESP system 20 operates a pump section 50. A seal section 40 positioned between the motor and pump sections 30 and 50 equalizes pressure in the motor section 30 with the external hydrostatic pressure. The pump section 50 connects to the production tubing 16 by a discharge head and has one or more pumps to lift fluid into the production tubing 16. The pumps in this section 50 can include centrifugal pumps, gear pumps, vane pumps, progressive cavity pumps, or the like and can have several stages.
To provide power and control to the motor section 30, a switchboard or variable-frequency drive (VFD) 22 at the surface connects to a junction box 24, and a surface cable 26 connects from the junction box 24 to the wellhead 12. The surface cable 26 then passes through a penetrator at the wellhead 12 and is now called an electric submersible pump (ESP) cable 28. The ESP cable 28 extends within the casing 14 down the length of the production tubing 16 and 28 is typically banded or strapped to the production tubing 16 at various intervals. Most of the length of the cable 28 has a round configuration. At some point near the pump section 50, the round ESP cable 28 is spliced by a splice component 29 to a flatter cable 70, typically called a motor lead extension (MLE) cable. The flatter MLE cable 70 is better suited to fit in the annulus between the pump section 30 and the casing 14 where the clearances can be very tight and where damage to the MLE cable 70 can occur. At a motor head 60, the MLE cable 70 connects to the head's pothead 62 and supplies electrical power to the motors in the motor section 30. Multiple motors may be stacked in tandem in the motor section 30 depending on the number of pump stages and the like used in the system 20.
In use, the VFD 22 receives power from a utility grid or generator (not shown). When the ESP system 20 is started, the motor section 30 draws the required voltage via the cables 28 and 70 and generates pump rotation. As the fluid comes into the well through the casing's perforations, the fluid passes the motor section 30 and the seal section 40 and enters the pump's intake 52. Inside, each pump stage (impeller/diffuser combination) adds pressure or head to the fluid at a given rate. Eventually, the fluid builds up enough pressure as it reaches the top of the pump section 50 so the fluid can be lifted to the surface through the production tubing 16.
As is known, the MLE cable 70 has conductors, insulation, barriers, jackets, armor, and the like, and these components can be arranged in different configurations depending on the implementation and the required power capacity. For example, the MLE cable 70 usually has a rigid outer jacket of stainless steel or galvanized steel armor that encloses several (e.g., three) inner cable legs. Typically, the MLE cable 70 has a flat configuration with the individual cable legs positioned side-by-side in the outer jacket, although other arrangements are also used.
Two or more electrical motors are typically connected in tandem to drive large pumps, and the motors can usually be three-phase, AC motors. The motors come in single, upper, center and lower tandem sections. Because the MLE cable 70 provides power to the ESP motors, failure in the cable 70 or its connection to the head 60 will prevent the ESP system 20 from operating properly (if at all). Therefore, it is important that the connection of the MLE cable 70 to the motor head 60 minimizes potential damage to the MLE cable 70 during installation and operation so the ESP system 20 will have optimum runlife.
In FIG. 2A, a typical upper tandem motor head 60A is shown for a motor section 30 of an ESP system. The head 60A connects to the seal section 40 above and connects to a tubular housing 32 of the motor section 30 below. A drive shaft 34 interconnected between the motor and seal sections 30/40 passes through the head's central passage 62. A guard sheath 63 separates portion of the shaft 34 from the interior of the motor section 30, and upper and lower bushings may be used to support the shaft 34 in the head 60A. Within the motor section 30, the shaft 34 has a rotor 38 positioned within a stator 36 of an electric motor, which may be a three-phase motor requiring three electrical conductors. The MLE cable 70 connects to the pothole 64 in the side of the head 60A via a pothead connector 72. From the pothead connector 72, internal conductors 74 then connect internally to the components of the motor section 30 to power the motors.
The connection of the MLE cable 70 to the upper tandem motor head 60A in FIG. 2A represents a typical configuration that uses the pothead 64 in the side of the motor head 60A for connection of the MLE cable 70. As an alternative to this configuration, the upper tandem motor head can be designed with a "pregnant" or "goitered" configuration to provide a direct-connect for the MLE cable 70.
FIG. 2B show an example of a "pregnant" or "goitered" upper tandem motor head 60B. As shown, the head 60B has many of the same components as the previous head 60A so that like reference numbers are used for the same components. The body of this pregnant head 60B is different, however. As shown, the head 60B has a bulging portion 66 with a channel 67. The MLE cable 70 connects with a direct connection 73 to the bulge's channel 67, and conductors 74 pass through the channel 67 to components of the motor section 30. Due to the required dimensions and physical characteristics of this type of head 60B, the head 60B has to be initially cast and then machined to obtain the finished part with the unique bulging portion 66 and channel 67. This type of head 60B must also be uniquely designed for a particular implementation, which increases the cost required to manufacture this more complicated type of motor head 60B.
What is needed is a way for virtually any type of upper tandem motor head (either new or used) to be easily converted into a direct-connect head for motor lead extensions so as to eliminate the cost of configuring a "unique" head for each implementation and to provide greater flexibility in meeting the needs of a given installation.

Adapter for motor lead extension to electric submersible pump


A speech recognition adaptation method for a vehicle having a telematics unit with an embedded speech recognition system. Speech is received and pre-processed to generate acoustic feature vectors, and an adaptation parameter is applied to the acoustic feature vectors to yield transformed acoustic feature vectors. The transformed acoustic feature vectors are decoded and a hypothesis of the speech is selected, and the adaptation parameter is trained using acoustic feature vectors from the hypothesis. The method also includes one or more of the following steps: the speech is observed for a certain characteristic and the trained adaptation parameter is saved in accordance with the certain characteristic for use in transforming feature vectors of subsequent speech having the certain characteristic; use of the trained adaptation parameter persists from one vehicle ignition cycle to the next; and use of the trained adaptation parameter is ceased upon detection of a system fault.

ASR technologies enable microphone-equipped computing devices to interpret speech and thereby provide an alternative to conventional human-to-computer input devices such as keyboards or keypads. A typical ASR system includes several basic elements. A microphone and acoustic interface receives a user's speech and digitizes it into acoustic data. An acoustic pre-processor parses the acoustic data into information-bearing acoustic features. A decoder then uses acoustic models to decode the acoustic features and generate several hypotheses, and can include decision logic to select a best hypothesis of subwords and words corresponding to the users' speech.
In one implementation, vehicle telecommunications devices are equipped with voice dialing features to initiate a telecommunication session. Such voice dialing features are enabled by ASR technology to detect the presence of discrete speech such as a spoken command or spoken control words. For example, a user can initiate a phone call using an ASR-equipped telephone by speaking a command such as "Call" and then speaking digits of a telephone number to be dialed. Ideally, the ASR system performs well regardless of the particular user, the user's dialect, the user's gender, and any ambient noise in the environment in which the ASR system is used.
ASR systems typically include ASR adaptation routines in an attempt to train the ASR system for better performance despite differences in user, user gender, user dialect, or environmental conditions. Using model adaptation techniques, acoustic models are transformed with an adaptation parameter to better match incoming acoustic feature vectors. Conversely, using run time adaptation (RTA) techniques, acoustic feature vectors are transformed with an adaptation parameter to better match acoustic models. Conventional ASR adaptation routines are initialized with default identity matrix parameters, which are independent of user or environmental characteristics. Unfortunately, however, conventional ASR adaptation often requires users to excessively repeat training utterances to train the adaptation parameters to the particular user and to ambient environmental characteristics. Such repetition can frustrate the users.

Applying speech recognition adaptation in an automated speech recognition system of a telematics-equipped vehicle


A personal communications portal maintains presence information about a user who may be available at one or more terminal devices on one or more access networks comprising a multiple access network. The access networks may operate in different transmission modes and may utilize different signaling formats (text, graphics, voice, video, etc.). A watched party specifies preferences as to who may contact him, at what times, on what kind of network and device. A watching party requesting to contact the watched party may be given direct contact information for contacting the user, may be given indirect contact information for contacting the user without being informed of the watched party's whereabouts, may be placed directly in communication with the watched party, or may forward a message to the user. If the caller is forwarding a message to the user or is placed in communication with the user, and if caller and user are using different transmission modes or different signaling formats, the personal communications portal mediates communication appropriately. Further, the personal communications portal may determine the watched party's physical location based upon the presence information received from the multiple access network and possibly from information received related to events which take place outside of the multiple access network, but which are reported to the portal.

Recent advances in personal communications have enabled people to employ a variety of communication devices (e.g. one or more wireline telephones such as an office phone and a home phone, one or more wireless telephones, one or more desktop PCs equipped with a connection to the Internet such as through a modem connected to a plain old telephone service (POTS) line, ISDN line, T1 line, T3 line, digital subscriber line (DSL) line, or cable, one or more portable PCs similarly equipped, a FAX machine, a pager, a personal data assistant (PDA), etc.). Further, the capabilities of individual devices continue to expand (e.g. modern voice telephones are often equipped with displays, etc.). Many of these devices provide access to one or more networks, such as the Internet, PSTN, etc.
There is currently a thrust to develop a method of delivering a variety of services independent of the access network employed. Many of the services involve mobility (e.g., the ability to access location-specific travel services such as local restaurant listings, guides, and reservations while on the road).
When considering the delivery of services to mobile users, it is useful to distinguish between two types of mobility: terminal mobility (i.e., the ability for an individual to roam with a particular device across some geographic location without interrupting service) and personal mobility (i.e., the ability for an individual to move from one device to another, while seamlessly preserving access to a common set of services). In some cases, it is desirable to provide the ability to migrate a service from one device to another without interrupting the service.
Terminal Mobility
Considerable effort has been devoted to supporting terminal mobility. Wireless LANs (e.g., IEEE 802.11) and wireless cellular networks typically implement terminal mobility at layer 2 (relative to Internet Protocol (IP)). In addition, Mobile IP (RFC 2002) is a layer-3 solution that has been developed for generalized IP networks.
One of the challenges in providing terminal mobility is the ability to route packets efficiently in the network. Essentially, once a node is associated with a given IP address, packets destined to that node may only be routed to the topological location corresponding to the address, which may be distant from the node's physical location. Thus, if an individual from Europe visits North America, packets routed to the IP address corresponding to the individual's device will be routed through Europe even if communicating with local services. As such, when roaming across wide geographic areas (e.g., country to country), it may be preferable to modify a node's IP address, even at the cost of losing existing connections.
Personal Mobility
Traditionally, user services have been associated with specific access networks which in turn have been associated with specific devices (PCs may send messages only to other PCs over the Internet, telephones may send voice messages only to other telephones over the public switched telephone network (PSTN), etc.).
FIG. 1 generally depicts the conventional situation. A user's receipt of information from a service or of messages from another user has traditionally depended on a user's presence at a particular telephone set, a particular email address, etc. A barrier to achieving widespread personal mobility has been the lack of unification among access networks.
Instant messaging services are coming into widespread use. In an instant messaging service, a user may be reached only when on line in a particular access network (e.g., when logged on to an Internet service provider (ISP) under a login name that is registered with the instant messaging service, etc.). If a user is reachable by some other means (wireline phone, cell phone, pager, PDA, FAX, etc.), the present instant messaging services have no way to determine that the user is available and thus list the user as unreachable or logged off.
In other forms of user-to-user communication (e.g. telephone communications), a caller is currently unable to reach a called party who is unreachable at a telephone number known to the caller. For example, a potential called party staying in a hotel is reachable through the hotel's telephone number, but potential callers may not know that the called party is away from home. Although they might know the called party's home phone number and might call it, they would not succeed in speaking to the called party. Thus, in conventional systems, end-user services are associated with specific access networks, which in turn are associated with specific devices having specific addressing (specific telephone numbers, specific email addresses, etc.).

Independent contact spanning multiple access networks


A silicon carbide vertical field effect transistor includes a first-conductive-type silicon carbide substrate; a low-concentration first-conductive-type silicon carbide layer formed on a surface of the first-conductive-type silicon carbide substrate; second-conductive-type regions selectively formed on a surface of the first-conductive-type silicon carbide layer; first-conductive-type source regions formed in the second-conductive-type regions; a high-concentration second-conductive-type region formed between the first-conductive-type source regions in the second-conductive-type region; a source electrode electrically connected to the high-concentration second-conductive-type region and a first-conductive-type source region; a gate insulating film formed from the first-conductive-type source regions formed in adjacent second-conductive-type regions, onto the second-conductive-type regions and the first-conductive-type silicon carbide layer; a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film; and a drain electrode on the back side of the first-conductive-type silicon carbide substrate, wherein an avalanche generating unit is disposed between the second-conductive-type region and the first-conductive-type silicon carbide layer.

A silicon carbide vertical field effect transistor (see, e.g., Paten Document 1) such as a vertical MOS field effect transistor (MOSFET) is conventionally used with a semiconductor device as a switching device formed on a silicon carbide substrate. Although a silicon carbide vertical MOSFET is exemplarily illustrated and described as a silicon carbide vertical field effect transistor in this description, this is, of course, not a limitation of the present invention.
FIG 6 depicts a cross-sectional view of an N-channel MOSFET, which is a conventional silicon carbide (hereinafter abbreviated as "SiC") field effect transistor.
An N-type SiC layer 2 is formed on a surface of an N-type SiC substrate 1; multiple P-type regions 3 are formed on a surface of the N-type SiC layer 2; an N-type source region 4 and a P-type contact region 5 are formed on a surface of the P-type region 3; and a source electrode 8 is formed on surfaces of the N-type source region 4 and the P-type contact region 5. A gate electrode 7 is formed via a gate insulating film 6 on surfaces of the P-type regions 3 and the N-type SiC layer 2 between the N-type source regions 5. A drain electrode 9 is formed on a back side.
FIG 7 is a cross-sectional view of another N-channel MOSFET formed by using a P-type SiC layer on a surface. The N-type SiC layer 2 is formed on a surface of the N-type SiC substrate 1 and multiple P-type regions 10 are formed on a surface of the N-type SiC layer 2. A P-type SiC layer 11 is further formed on the surface. An N-type region 12 is formed in the P-type SiC layer 11 on the N-type SiC layer 2 where the P-type region 10 is not formed; the N-type source region 4 and the P-type contact region 5 are formed on a surface of the P-type silicon carbide region 11; and the source electrode 8 is formed on surfaces of the N-type source region 4 and the P-type contact region 5. The gate electrode 7 is formed via the gate insulating film 6 on surfaces of the P-type regions 3 and the N-type silicon carbide layer between the N-type source regions 5. The drain electrode 9 is formed on the back side.
In the MOSFETs of the structures depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7, and if voltage less than or equal to a gate threshold value is applied to the gate electrode 7 while positive voltage is applied to the drain electrode 9 relative to the source electrode 8, PN-junction between the P-type region 3 and the N-type SiC layer 2, or the P-type SiC layer 11 and the N-type region 12 is inversely-biased and therefore, no current flows.
On the other hand, if voltage greater than or equal to the gate threshold value is applied to the gate electrode 7, the formation of an inversion layer on the surface of the P-type region 3 or the P-type SiC layer 11 immediately below the gate electrode 7 causes current to flow and therefore, the switching operation of the MOSFET can be achieved by the voltage applied to the gate electrode 7.
However, if high voltage is applied to the drain electrode, particularly when the MOSFET is turned off, high voltage is applied to the drain electrode. In this case, if a large electric field is applied to the gate insulating film, insulation breakdown of the gate insulating film may occur or the reliability of the gate insulating film may significantly be reduced.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. H11-121748

Silicon carbide vertical field effect transistor

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY


A method and wireless communication system for providing QoS in a wireless network communicating through a point-to-point network are provided. The method includes: (a) at least one of intermediate nodes and a receiving node, selecting at least one QoS management node among different nodes within a predetermined range which are not included on a forwarding route, the forwarding route reaching from a transmitting node to the receiving node via at least one intermediate node satisfying QoS requirements; (b) the selected QoS management node, managing QoS management information of the different nodes which are not included on the forwarding route; and (c) the QoS management node, changing the forwarding route on the basis of the QoS management information so that the changed forwarding route passes through a different node satisfying the QoS requirements, if it is expected that at least one intermediate existing on the forwarding route will not satisfy the QoS requirements. Therefore, it is possible to reduce end-to-end delay and route discontinuity and provide QoS in a wireless communication system.

This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 2003-48431, filed on Jul. 15, 2003, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless network, and more particularly, to a method and wireless communication system for providing Quality of Service (QoS), in a wireless network that communicates via a point-to-point network.
2. Description of the Related Art
A wireless network that communicates via a point-to-point network (called 'Ad Hoc networking') uses an autonomous communication system in which mobile wireless nodes set and maintain appropriate forwarding routes without managements or fixed network structures such as a center server and a repeater. Such a point-to-point wireless network is applicable to military purposes, police purposes, rescue purposes, and is also applicable to wireless communications used in home or office.
However, since wireless nodes are limited in their transmission ranges on the point-to-point wireless network, the respective nodes should perform a function that forwards data and also have a function which routes forwarding routes. Also, the wireless network should newly set forwarding routes according to movements of the respective nodes, unlike fixed networks. Furthermore, as requirements for QoS (Quality of Service) become higher, a wireless network satisfying QoS requirements such as delay, transmission capacity, jitter, etc., regardless of movements of respective nodes, is necessary.
To provide QoS in such a wireless network communicating via the point-to-point network, a related art routing protocol uses an In-band signaling method. This In-band signaling method is a method in which a transmitting node sets a forwarding route using a packet including QoS requirements in its IP header, and a receiving node reports the QoS states of nodes existing on the forwarding route to the transmitting node. If the transmitting node receives from the receiving node a message indicating that no node on the forwarding route satisfies the QoS requirements, the transmitting node searches for a new route satisfying the QoS requirements and newly sets a forwarding route. As a result, due to such repeated searches for a forwarding route, discontinuity exists in a packet transmission service and accordingly end-to-end delay is caused.

Method and wireless network system for providing QoS on wireless network communicating via point-to-point network


A helmet includes a band member mounted integrally to the helmet, with the band member having first and second end portions extending below the helmet, with each end portion including a generally U-shaped deflector structure arranged for positioning in adjacency relative to each ear of an individual bicyclist.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to bicycle apparatus, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved bicyclist air deflector apparatus wherein the same is arranged to position an air deflector structure forwardly of each individual's ear during a bicycling procedure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Ear muff type structure employed for typical usage is cumbersome and awkward in use in a bicycling procedure, wherein as bicycle helmets are typically of a close fitting interrelationship to an individual's head, the ear muff structure is not arranged for ease of fitting relative to an interior surface of the helmet structure. By contrast, the instant invention sets forth an integral structure mounted within the helmet having projecting resilient tabs that position deflector structure forwardly of each individual's ear and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.