A motor vehicle roof with two openable covers (18, 20) in which the rear cover (20) can be lowered at its front edge (20V) and the front cover (18) can be moved at least partially over the rear cover (20) in its lowered position. The front cover (18) can be raised at its rear edge (18H) and by means of support devices (24) which are located near its rear edge (18H) can be moved on guides (26) which are located laterally outward alongside of the rear cover (20), which is made as a spoiler cover.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a motor vehicle roof with two openable covers in which the rear cover can be lowered at its front edge and the front cover can be moved at least partially over the rear cover in its lowered position.
2. Description of Related Art
A motor vehicle roof of the above noted type is known from German Patent Application DE 100 13 723 A1 and corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 6,805,402. In this roof, the rear cover can be lowered on its front edge and the front cover which is made as a spoiler roof can be moved into one of several open configurations in which it extends at least partially over the lowered rear cover. The size of the maximally clearable roof opening corresponds to only a portion of the length of the front cover. The support of the front cover takes place in the manner which is typical for spoiler covers only in the front third so that the rear edge is exposed to major vibrations as a result of the wind forces which occur especially at high vehicle speeds.
Furthermore, German Patent Application DE 37 30 112 A1 and corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,496 disclose a motor vehicle roof with two covers, with a rear cover which can be completely lowered to such an extent that the front cover can be pushed to the rear over it. Ventilator positions by means of raising of the rear cover edges cannot be implemented there.
Another motor vehicle roof with two openable covers and one open configuration, in which the front cover can be moved to under the raised rear cover is known from German Patent Application DE 100 11 350 A1 and corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,457,770. The open configurations there also comprise ventilator positions with raised rear cover edges. The disadvantage in this motor vehicle roof is the limited headroom, especially for the rear-seat passengers, when the front cover is lowered and pushed to the rear.

Motor vehicle roof with two openable covers


A method for dispensing a desired number of oriented tablets from a bulk source into a well within a reagent container by moving the tablets by vibration into a number of parallel loading chutes and transfer chutes and displacing the desired number of tablets into a drop chute aligned over the well.

Automated clinical analyzers for determining the presence and levels of one or more selected analytes in relatively small biological liquid samples are widely used in hospital clinical laboratories. Preferred analyzers are equipped with an on-board supply of assay-specific reagents that are replenished by analyzing the assay demand pattern placed upon the analyzer. At a user selected time period before reagents within the analyzer's reagent inventory are exhausted, an alert message is provided so that appropriate measures may be undertaken to ensure an uninterrupted, timely supply of reagents.
For convenience and compactness within a chemical analyzer, it is desirable to store all reagents needed to conduct a single assay within contiguous compartments or vessels. Typical of such vessels is the multi-compartment or multi-well reagent container available for use in an analyzer known as the Dimension® Chemical Analyzer, sold by Dade Behring Inc., Deerfield, Ill. This multi-well container is in the form of a container strip like described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,943,030, and includes a rigid peripheral band formed integrally with each of several reagent containing wells so that the container strip generally tapers in a substantially elongated wedge-like manner from a first edge to a second edge.
To provide useful stability to the reagents between manufacture and use, it is sometimes necessary to lyophilize one or more reagents into a tablet form and to re-hydrate the tablets on-board an analyzer shortly before an assay is scheduled to be performed. During manufacture, a number of different reagent tablets may be placed in different wells within a multi-compartment reagent container and/or multiple numbers of the same tablet may be dispensed into the same well in order to provide the variety and quantity of reagent required to conduct an assay. For reasons of efficiency, it is desirable to automate the tablet loading process, however a number of obstacles are encountered during when transforming a bulk supply of tablets that have been lyophilized into carefully controlled numbers of different types of reagent tablets dispensed into specific ones of several reagent compartments.
A number of tablet dispensing devices are known, among them U.S. Pat. No. 6,478,185 that discloses a tablet vessel feed apparatus comprising a stock container for storing a plurality of tablet vessels, a vessel takeout section for taking out the tablet vessels from the stock container, and a conveyor for conveying the tablet vessels taken out from the stock container. This machine however is not suitable for dispensing into a multi-compartment container.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,061 discloses a tablet vessel feed apparatus applied to a tablet packing apparatus which has a plurality of feeder vessels containing different tablets respectively and packs the tablets discharged from each feeder vessel into a tablet vessel through a hopper. This machine is also not suitable for dispensing into a multi-compartment container.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,849,457 discloses a bead dispenser which is capable of preventing blockage or bridging of a bead receiving channel caused by a bottleneck of several biomaterial-coated beads at the inlet of the bead receiving channel using a spring mechanism which contacts and agitates the biomaterial-coated beads within the bead holding chamber.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,824,011 discloses a pellet dispensing device includes a rotatable cylinder having a plurality of chambers and a trigger mechanism for dispensing pellets one at a time but not simultaneously
U.S. Pat. No. 6,820,498 discloses an apparatus which enables orientation of tablets introduced into a measuring station of a tablet tester.
These and other publications are related to dispensing of single tables but none are suitable for automatically and/or simultaneously dispensing multiple tablets into different wells within a multi-well reagent container.

Method for dispensing tablets into a multi-compartment clinical reagent container


A compact fluorescent lamp includes a ballast having a control circuit. The control circuit regulates the amount of power supplied to the lamp based on samples representing lamp current and lamp voltage. The sample of lamp voltage supplied to the control circuit is limited so that it cannot drop below a minimum level thereby preventing excessive levels of current from flowing through the lamp at low lamp voltage.

This invention relates generally to a compact fluorescent lamp, and more particularly to a compact fluorescent lamp with overcurrent protection.
In amalgam lamps, such as a compact fluorescent lamp, the lamp voltage drops substantially when the amalgam temperature exceeds a predetermined level. The mercury vapor pressure is reduced causing the lamp voltage to drop. Under such conditions, regulation of lamp power, such as disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 08/642,318, can result in extremely high lamp currents and consequential destruction of the lamp electrodes and shortening of lamp life.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an improved compact fluorescent lamp which protects against excessive lamp current when regulating lamp power. The improved compact fluorescent lamp should particularly limit the maximum level of lamp current when lamp voltage is low.

Compact fluorescent lamp with overcurrent protection

Philips Electronics North America Corporation


A radio frequency (RF) test hat. The RF test hat may comprise: a cylinder having forward and aft ends, end cap, arm and strap assembly, first and second absorber materials, a receiving antenna, and lens. The end cap may couple to the forward end of the cylinder. The arm and strap assembly may hingedly couple to the aft end of the cylinder and may be configured to mount the RF test hat onto a pod or transmitting antenna. The first absorber material may be located within the forward end of the cylinder. The second absorber material may be located near the aft end of the cylinder. The receiving antenna, which may be disposed within the first absorber material, may measure the intensity of a beam of electromagnetic radiation. The lens, which may be located within the middle portion of the cylinder, may spread the beam across a larger surface area of the first absorber material.

Radio frequency (RF) and microwave testing is generally performed in labs or on the field to test beam characteristics of antennas and radiating systems. These tests, however, may expose personnel to dangerous levels of electromagnetic radiation and may cause interference to equipment during critical operations. In order to protect personnel and equipment, large metal containers may be positioned within the direct pathway of a beam of electromagnetic radiation emitted from the transmitting antenna under test. These larger containers are generally configured to absorb and capture the electromagnetic energy, Given that sufficient absorber material is needed to capture the RF energy and maintain a power density that would not damage the absorber material, these metal containers are large, heavy and often become extremely hot due to the absorption of concentrated RF energy. The absorber material may also degrade over time, which may unknowingly exposed personnel to dangerous levels of electromagnetic radiation. In this regard, there is a need for an apparatus that is compact and effective in absorbing dangerous levels of electromagnetic energy while reducing heat upon absorption.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


The present invention improves the accuracy of film thickness detection. A film thickness signal processing apparatus 230 is provided with a receiving unit 232 for receiving film thickness data output from an eddy-current sensor 210 for detecting the film thickness of a polishing object 102 along a surface to be polished thereof; an identifying unit 236 for identifying the effective range of the film thickness data on the basis of the film thickness data received by the receiving unit 232; and a correcting unit 238 for correcting the film thickness data within the effective range identified by the identifying unit 236.

In recent years, the wiring lines of circuits have become increasingly fine and the number of layers of multilayer interconnection has increased due to the high integration and densification of semiconductor devices. In order to realize multilayer interconnection while attempting to miniaturize circuits, surfaces of semiconductor devices have to be planarization-processed with high accuracy.
Chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) is known as a technique to planarize a surface of a semiconductor device. A polishing apparatus used to perform CMP is provided with a polishing table to which a polishing pad is attached, and a top ring for holding a polishing object (for example, a substrate, such as a semiconductor wafer, or various films formed on a surface of the substrate). The polishing apparatus polishes the polishing object by pressing the polishing object held on the top ring against the polishing pad while rotating the polishing table.
The polishing apparatus is provided with a film thickness measuring apparatus to detect the endpoint of a polishing process on the basis of the film thickness of the polishing object. The film thickness measuring apparatus is provided with a film thickness sensor for detecting the film thickness of the polishing object. Examples of the film thickness sensor typically include an eddy-current sensor and an optical sensor.
The eddy-current sensor or the optical sensor is disposed in a hole formed in the polishing table and detects a film thickness at the time phase of facing the polishing object, while revolving along with the rotation of the polishing table. The eddy-current sensor induces an eddy current in the polishing object, such as a conductive film, and detects the thickness of the polishing object from a change in a magnetic field caused by the eddy current induced in the polishing object. On the other hand, the optical sensor radiates light to the polishing object and measures an interference wave reflected from the polishing object, thereby detecting the thickness of the polishing object.
Incidentally, the film thickness sensor detects a film thickness while relatively moving along a surface to be polished of the polishing object along with the rotation of the polishing table. On the other hand, a magnetic field or light that the film thickness sensor uses to detect a film thickness has a spot diameter. Accordingly, in order for the output of the film thickness sensor to reach approximately 100%, the entire range of the spot diameter has to face the polishing object. That is, the entire range of the spot diameter of the film thickness sensor faces the polishing object under the condition of the film thickness sensor facing the central part of the surface to be polished of the polishing object, and therefore, the output of the film thickness sensor is approximately 100%. On the other hand, only part of the spot diameter of the film thickness sensor faces the polishing object under the condition of the film thickness sensor facing an edge part of the polishing object, and therefore, the output of the film thickness sensor does not reach 100%.
The related art is known to perform so-called edge cut processing in which processing is performed by discarding the output of the film thickness sensor in locations where the output of the film thickness sensor does not reach approximately 100% (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2005-11977 and 2005-121616).
In the related art, however, no consideration is given to the improvement of the accuracy of detecting a film thickness.
That is, the related art performs so-called edge cut processing in which processing is performed by discarding the output of the film thickness sensor in locations where the output of the film thickness sensor does not reach approximately 100%. It is therefore difficult to detect a film thickness with high accuracy at edge parts of the polishing object.
Hence, it is an object of the present invention to improve the accuracy of detecting the film thickness of an edge part and widen the effective range of sensor output to improve the in-plane uniformity of a polishing object.

Film thickness signal processing apparatus, polishing apparatus, film thickness signal processing method, and polishing method


If data is recorded using a disc with deviating characteristics and a recorder with deviating characteristics, data will not be appropriately recorded, and errors will occur in the read signal. Standard recording pulse parameters specifying recording pulse positions for plural possible mark length and space length combinations are read from a writable optical disc, these standard recording pulse parameters are then used for test writing, the standard recording pulse parameters are changed uniformly or individually, a best recording pulse parameter is thus obtained, and jitter can be reduced.

The DVD-RAM specification describes one example of a high data capacity rewritable optical disc, and devices capable of writing 2.6 gigabytes of data using a mark edge recording method to one side of a 12 cm diameter disc using a phase change recording film are available. Looking to achieve an even higher density optical disc medium, the present inventors have been studying a disc recording method (cf., JP2679596) capable of reducing shifting in the mark edge position as a result of heat interference between marks, a problem with high density recording in phase change optical disc media.
When this disc recording method records data to disc as amorphous marks using a mark edge recording technique, recording is accomplished using a laser beam of plural pulse streams, known as a multipulse beam. Because the size of the recorded marks and the distance of the space between marks is so small in high density recording, the heat of the laser light applied to form a particular mark is also transferred to the marks therebefore and thereafter, causing distortion in the shape of the particular mark and the marks therebefore and thereafter. To prevent this, marks are recorded by precompensating for heat interference between marks by changing the position of the first pulse in the multipulse stream used for pulse formation according to the relationship between the length of a particular mark and the length of the preceding space, and changing the position of the last pulse in the multipulse stream used for pulse formation according to the relationship between the length of the particular mark and the length of the following space. This control of recording pulse position is typically referred to as recording compensation. There are values in the recording pulse parameters (recording compensation parameters) that differ in specific mark and space combinations, resulting in tables such as shown in FIG. 2. The relationship between mark and space positions resulting from the values shown in the tables is shown in FIG. 3.
The recording pulse parameters for accomplishing recording compensation must be prestored to the optical disc or the disc recorder in order to achieve an actual optical disc recording and reproducing apparatus. Plural discs with different characteristics, that is, with different recording pulse parameters, can be used by recording these values to the disc so that the recording device can read the values when the disc is used.

Method and apparatus for determining recording pulse parameters for an optical disc

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The present invention relates to, inter alia, pharmaceutical compositions comprising a polyunsaturated fatty acid and to methods of using the same to treat or prevent cardiovascular-related diseases.

Mixed omega-3 fatty acid esters are typically encapsulated in type 2a gelatin capsules containing gelatin (˜43.4%), glycerol (˜20%) and water (˜36.6%) and do not experience stability problems throughout their shelf life. While chemically modified gelatins such as succinated/succinylated gelatin have been used to encapsulate reactive fill ingredients, such gelatin is not approved for use in the U.S. and other markets.

Stable pharmaceutical composition and methods of using same


There is provided a needle attachment position indicator device for use in a sewing machine of a type comprising a stitch pattern forming mechanism provided in a machine frame for permitting selection of one stitch pattern from a plurality of different stitch patterns, an actuator member disposed in the machine frame for permitting selection of the stitch pattern, an actuation mechanism disposed in the machine frame for setting the stitch pattern forming mechanism at selected stitch pattern in response to the selective actuation of the actuator member, and needle holding means having a plurality of needle attachment positions. The device includes an indicator member capable of indicating needle attachment position corresponding to the selected stitch pattern, in response to the selective actuation of the actuator member.

1. Field of the Invention:
This invention relates to a needle attachment position indicator deice for use in sewing machines.
2. Prior Arts:
A sewing machine is known which permits selection of one of a plurality of sewing or stitch patterns, such as twin-needle/four-thread overlock stitching, double chain stitching, etc. due to its construction in which a looper may be connected to or disconnected from an oscillating shaft or motion of the machine may be changed, by means of a stitch shifting dial. Such a machine is so designed that the stitch patterns capable of being performed by the machine will be indicated on a front cover thereof by means of literal indications. Thus, rotation of the stitch shifting dial causes a lamp or lamps adjacent to the literal indications to be turned on, whereby one may determine which stitch pattern is selected.
It is sometimes necessary to change the needle position upon changing stitch pattern. Thus, conventional sewing machines include a needle clamp A having a plurality of needle attachment positions a1-a4, so that needles B may be selectively positioned (FIGS. 8 and 9). If the needles are erroneously positioned, the intended stitch pattern will not be formed. In particular, and when the needle clamp has four (4) needle attachment positions, it is difficult to determine which position needles are to be attached to. By this, attachment or detachment of needles requires a significant period of time, thus decreasing operation efficiency.

Needle attachment position indicator device


A pigment masterbatch, having a) 30-95 wt % of at least one pigment, b) 2-30 wt % of a compound A according to formula I,

A pigment masterbatch is a solid or liquid additive that is used for coloring a polymer composition. The masterbatch is a highly concentrated mixture of pigments and other components. The masterbatch is added to a polymer composition before and/or during extrusion of the polymer composition to obtain a colored polymer composition.
Masterbatches are described in, for example WO 2012/084865 and WO 2009/010673. WO 2012/084865 describes a masterbatch consisting of pigment and a mold release agent. The mold release agent is selected from the group consisting of low-molecular weight polyolefin oils, low-molecular weight polyolefin waxes, montan waxes and aliphatic or aromatic carboxylic acid esters of fatty acids and/or fatty alcohols.
WO 2009/010673 describes a process for the manufacturing of a masterbatch comprising the production of a mixture comprising at least one binder, at least one additive and/or at least one pigment and the pelletizing of said mixture. The binder can be chosen from several commercial waxes comprising alcohols or amides. Ethylene bis stearamide waxes are mentioned as an example.
In the prior art two types of pigment masterbatches are known. So called dry (or solid) masterbatches, which are in the form of powders or pellets, and so called liquid masterbatches, which are in the form of liquids. Dosing the dry masterbatches with a polymer composition to an extruder is relatively easy. However dosing a liquid masterbatch to a polymer composition in an extruder is cumbersome, gives rise to fouling of the working area and screw slip may occur, especially at higher loadings of liquid masterbatches. Furthermore liquid masterbatches tend to form agglomerates with flakes and/or powder resulting in clogging of the process equipment.
The pigment masterbatches of the prior art have a number of further disadvantages. In practice, for coloring different polymer compositions different pigment masterbatches must be prepared. Also coloring with pigment masterbatches can give the problem of non-uniform color distribution in the extrudate. Another problem is the change from one masterbatch to a different masterbatch on processing equipment. During this change cleaning of the equipment is necessary and cleaning of the equipment tends to take hours of time while making a lot of waste product.

Abstract: c) 1.0-10 wt % of a compound B according to formula C2H4(NHC(O)R3)2, and d) 1.5-20 wt % of a compound C, which contains at least one polyethyleneglycol moiety and at least one fatty acid moiety coupled to the polyethyleneglycol moiety, e) 0-50 wt % of a polymeric compound D, wherein R1 is an alkyl group comprising 1-20 carbon atoms and Z is hydrogen or a group according to the formula C(O)R2, wherein R2 is an alkyl group comprising 1-20 carbon atoms, and wherein R3 is a fatty acid moiety comprising 10-30 carbon atoms, and wherein the wt % are relative to the total weight of the pigment masterbatch.


A gearbox comprising a main unit comprising a first casing and a first hollow shaft, and a secondary unit comprising a second casing and a second hollow shaft, and a drive shaft comprising a first clutch portion and a second clutch portion, which engage the first and second hollow shafts in an angularly fixed and axially sliding manner. The gearbox further including an axial retaining device comprising an axial shoulder supported in a fixed potion by an axial end on one of the first or second hollow shafts, and an external radial projection arranged in an intermediate position, and an external radial projection arranged in an intermediate position along the drive shaft between the first and second clutch portions.

Some engines of such a type have a gearbox comprising a secondary unit, of the bevel gear type, for transferring the motion between two inclined axes; and a main unit, which is connected to the secondary unit by means of a drive shaft. In particular, the ends of such a drive shaft are coupled, respectively, to hollow shafts belonging to the two aforesaid units.
The hollow shaft of the main unit actuates an accessory assembly, arranged on the axial end opposite to the one into which the drive shaft is inserted. In other words, the main unit is axially interposed between the accessory assembly and the drive shaft.
During maintenance operations, the gearbox is disassembled so as to be able to remove and/or treat the two units separately. Therefore, during disassembly, the drive shaft must be disengaged from the secondary unit. In particular, in the engines described above, the drive shaft is axially extracted through the hollow shaft of the main unit, operating from the accessory assembly side, after having disengaged and removed the latter from the main unit.
However, this solution has some drawbacks. Indeed, the need to disengage and remove the accessory assembly implies relative long disassembly and maintenance times. Furthermore, relatively large axial clearance is required at the side of the main unit in order to be able to gain easy access to the corresponding hollow shaft to disengage and extract the drive shaft outwards.
In order to at least partially solve these drawbacks, the drive shaft in other turbofan jet engines is constituted by three or more pieces, which are fixed to one another, e.g. by means of bolts, which may be disengaged to disassemble and remove the drive shaft without need to remove the latter axially through the main unit. However, the fact of making the drive shaft in several pieces complicates the making and assembly and the drive shaft itself. Therefore this type of solution is not very satisfactory.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,631,735, which corresponds to the preamble of claim 1, the drive shaft comprises a splined portion which engages the hollow shaft of the main unit and is arranged in axial abutment against a ring arranged in a groove of such a hollow shaft. In use, such a ring prevents the drive shaft from being extracted from the hollow shaft of the main unit.
During disassembly, after having translated a cover, the ring can be accessed to be removed. After having removed the ring, the drive shaft is extracted from the hollow shaft of the main unit and remains coupled to the secondary unit only. However, as mentioned above, it is preferable to disengage the drive shaft out of the secondary unit, especially when it is the latter which is usually removed.

Gearbox and disassembly method for disengaging a drive shaft in such a gearbox


An integrated filter and modular jack for filtering a voice signal delivered over a digital subscriber line between a first communication circuit and a second communication circuit where the voice signal includes analog and digital portions. The modular filter jack includes a connector for receiving the voice signal from a first communication circuit, a high pass filter, and/or a low pass filter. The high pass filter includes a capacitor operatively associated with the connector to block the analog portion of the voice signal while passing the digital portion. The low pass filter includes an inductor operatively associated with the connector to block the digital portion of the voice signal while passing the analog portion. The modular filter jack also includes a receptacle operatively associated with the high pass filter and/or the low pass filter for receiving a connection element to make electrical contact between the first and second communication circuits.

The advent of high-speed Internet connections along existing telephone lines, where both voice communication and digital communication are operative, has resulted in the need for filters that will block signal interferences at high frequencies. The digital subscriber line (DSL) portion of a voice over digital subscriber line (VODSL) signal can cause garbled communication on a plain old telephone system (POTS) telephone. Similarly, telephone activity utilizing unfiltered signals can interrupt DSL service while in use with a computer.
When an end user orders VODSL service, inline filters must be used at the end user's premises to separate the DSL portion from the POTS portion. Multiple inline filters are sent to the end user in response to a VODSL order. Each of these conspicuous inline filters must be plugged into a wall jack and the end user's equipment is plugged into the inline filter. The need for the inline filters has resulted in unsightly external filters, or filters that form part of a permanent connector wall jack bracket for a wall jack and require installation of the new jack bracket using screw terminals after removal of the existing bracket.
In many instances, conversion to VODSL takes several days while awaiting arrival of these unattractive filters. After installation, subsequent use of a phone line necessitates the use of unsightly filters protruding or hanging from existing wall jacks.
It is with respect to these and other considerations that the present invention has been made.

Integrated filter and modular jack for voice over digital subscriber line service

BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation


Disclosed is a base station controller including processing units classified into a C-plane, a U-plane, and a T-plane. A plurality of subunits are provided in each plane, each subunit having a controller and a plurality of processing entities. Each controller of each subunits maintains a table which indicates the relationship among a name of the message transmitted and received by the C-plane to and from the outside in order to set up a call, a service identifier of the call which is set up using the message; and a name of the process entity which processes the call. Upon detection of a call failure, each plane controller searches the table with a message name, a user identifier, and a service identifier of the call. Then, each plane controller outputs alarm information including the user identifier, a subunit identifier, and the process entity name into a storage device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a base station controller for a radio communication network, and particularly, to a technique for collecting information upon occurrence of communication failure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Functions of a base station controller (or, Radio Network Controller (RNC)) in a radio communication network are classified into a C-plane (Control-Plane), a U-plane (User-Plane), and a T-plane (Transport-plane). The C-plane handles a call setup control process. The U-plane handles a user data transmission process. The T-plane handles an interface termination process.
Each plane includes a plurality of subunits having the same functions, respectively. The subunits take partial charge of the functions of the plane to which they belong. Generally, there exists a plurality of subunits having similar functions in the same plane.
Each of subunits has a controller and a plurality of process entity for executing the process to be handled by the subunit.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-032333 (Literature 1), Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-194064 (Literature 2), and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-247823 (Literature 3) disclose such a prior art. These literatures, however, omit description about the T-plane.
A communication operator manages a base station controller in such a radio communication network. The communication operator, upon receiving a claim from a user, investigates its cause. To perform such investigation, the communication operator needs a tool for collecting only the minimum necessary information.
For example, upon receiving a claim from a user notifying that an abnormal call release occurred, the communication operator needs to identify the cause of error. In order to identify the cause of error, the communication operator has to identify the subunit in which the error occurred, and to identify the process entity which caused the error in this subunit. Further, the communication operator collects information relating to all of the processing entities which handled the abnormally released call. The communication operator tries to investigate the cause based on the collected information.
The collected information does not only include the information relating to parts which caused the error but also includes the information relating to parts which did not cause the error. Since enormous is the quantity of the information to be collected and to be analyzed, it takes long time for the communication operator to identify the part or parts which brought the error of the specified call.
The base station controller processes an enormous number of calls. Therefore, due to the enormous amount of data to be collected and analyzed, investigating the cause takes a long time. Additionally, in a radio network system supporting multi-call, the amount of data per user increases.

Base station controller for radio communication network and method of collecting alarm information thereof


A 3D stacked package structure includes a first unit, a molding unit, a conductive unit and a second unit. The first unit includes a first substrate and at least one first electronic component, and the first substrate has at least one runner and at least one first conductive pad. The molding unit includes a top portion, a frame, and at least one connection connected between the top portion and the frame. The conductive unit includes at least one conductor passing through the frame and electrically connected to the first conductive pad. Therefore, the first unit can be stacked on the second unit through the frame of the molding unit, and the first unit can be electrically connected to the second unit through the conductor of the conductive unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The instant disclosure relates to a package structure and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly to a 3D (three-dimensional) stacked package structure and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of Related Art
With process technologies of integrated circuit (IC) develop rapidly, the integration density of a chip inner circuit increases and an area for the conductive lines decreases. With the reduction of the area of pads and metal wires, continuous improvements of the chip stacked technology are required to adapt for more miniaturized chip.
The stacked package technology (or being called 3D package technology) is used to stack a plurality of chips or a plurality of substrates having a plurality of chips and electronic components, and then electrically connect the chips or the substrates, which can increase over two times density on same chip and becomes the main technique for solving high-density memory presently.

3D stacked package structure and method of manufacturing the same

Universal Scientific Industrial (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

Universal Global Scientific Industrial Co., Ltd.


This invention provides ultra-low noise lasers with exceptional performance through the use of ultra-low loss microresonator based filters/reflectors including multiple (≧3) microresonator rings with different ring radii. The ultra-low loss microresonators provide a long effective laser cavity length enabling very narrow linewidth laser operation, with multiple (≧3) microresonators providing extremely high selectivity of the lasing mode over a very wide wavelength range; supporting single wavelength and widely tunable wavelength laser operation. The highly selective and also low loss filter/reflector supports high output power operation of the lasers.

The device concepts are based on the use of microresonator rings as the filter elements within a laser cavity, either as part of a reflector at one or both ends of a linear laser cavity, or part of the filter within a ring laser cavity. These laser cavity designs have been used previously with optical microresonator rings forming the filters/reflectors; in these previous cases the devices used a maximum of two microresonators with different ring circumferences, placed in series to provide the filter function, this filter function having limitations leading to reduced laser performance; relatively large linewidth, low output power, poor relative intensity noise (RIN), and limited mode selectivity.
Previous tunable laser designs based on ring reflectors in a linear cavity, using a III-V monolithic semiconductor platform such as "Full C-Band Tuning Operation of Semiconductor Double-Ring Resonator-Coupled Laser With Low Tuning Current" by T. Segawa et al, IEEE PHOTONICS TECHNOLOGY LETTERS, 19, pages 1322-1324, 2007, and "Microring-Resonator-Based Widely Tunable Lasers", by S. Matsuo et al, IEEE JOURNAL of SELECTED TOPICS in QUANTUM ELECTRONICS, 15, pages 545 to 554, 2009, or using a silicon photonics platform such as "Compact, lower-power-consumption wavelength tunable laser fabricated with silicon photonic-wire waveguide micro-ring resonators", by T. Chu T et el, OPTICS EXPRESS, 17, pages 14063 to 14068, 2009, and "25 kHz Narrow Spectral Bandwidth of a Wavelength Tunable Diode Laser with a Short Waveguide-Based External Cavity", by R. M. Oldenbeuving et al, LASER PHYSICS LETTERS, 10, 015804, 2013, utilized a reflector incorporating two microresonator rings with slightly different circumference, and therefore different Free Spectral Range (FSR). These two microresonator rings are tuned using a Vernier approach; one resonance from each ring is aligned to provide a small pass band through the combined filter, all other wavelengths within the gain bandwidth of the gain element being blocked. A ring-cavity laser, also using two microresonator rings and the Vernier effect for tuning, described in "Widely tunable vernier ring laser on hybrid silicon", by J. C. Kulme et al, OPTICS EXPRESS, 21, pages 19718 to 19722, 2013, was fabricated using heterogeneous integration on a silicon photonics platform. A schematic and picture of the monolithically integrated III-V laser by Matsuo is shown in FIG. 1, with the version more recently developed using silicon nitride (Si3N4) waveguides on an SOI substrate and an external gain chip, by Oldenbeuving, shown in FIG. 2(a); the power reflectivity of the reflector in this device is shown in FIG. 2(b).
The III-V based device in FIG. 1 used the facets on both sides of the laser for reflectors, with the two microresonator rings filtering the signal passing though them in a double pass scheme. The device in FIG. 2(a) had an external gain chip, and achieved reasonable results; C-Band tenability, <25 kHz linewidth, and 50 dB Side Mode Suppression Ratio (SMSR), however, the output power of the laser was very low, only 1 mW. The 50 dB SMSR, while typical for this and other reported devices, and for distributed feedback (DFB) lasers, indicates too high a value for the RIN of the device for use in RF photonics and other high performance applications, as the RIN of a laser is directly proportional to its SMSR value. An SMSR of ˜70 dB can be seen in lasers with very low RIN. The designed reflector response for the device in FIG. 2(a) is shown in FIG. 2(b); this reflector has insufficient suppression of reflections from the non-lasing cavity modes to obtain ultra-low noise operation.
One group of previous works utilized two small veguide based microresonator rings with different FSR, e.g. III-V or silicon microresonators, to provide the correct mode selectivity for singlemode lasing; the smaller the rings the higher the FSR, and the higher overall mode selectivity. Tunable lasers that covered the C-Band (1535-1565 nm) were fabricated, however, the relatively high optical loss of silicon or III-V waveguides, especially when used in small microresonators (radii of ˜10 microns), e.g. 2 to 4 dB/cm for silicon, gave rise to lossy filters/reflectors, and therefore short effective cavity lengths—which do not provide the required narrow linewidth operation and high power needed for advanced systems. The small microresonators are also operated with high Q, providing very high power density within the rings—leading to self-heating (and changing the ring resonance frequency) and also nonlinear effects within the rings. This limits the possible power levels at which these devices can operate.
A lower loss waveguide/microresonator material, Si3N4 was used in prior art, where the dual ring microresonator based reflector was coupled to a semiconductor gain chip to form the external cavity laser (ECL) through hybrid integration. Reasonable results were found, but again, by using two microresonator rings and the Vernier effect in the reflector, using low but not ultra-low loss waveguides/microresonators, devices had limited mode selectivity, had low output power and relatively large linewidth.
There is a need for an increase in the effective cavity length of laser devices, while at the same time keeping optical losses low and mode selectivity high over a wide wavelength range, in order to overcome current limitations in laser devices which do not provide sufficiently narrow linewidth operation while also providing high output power and low RIN. There is a need for lasers with this high performance that can operate at a specific wavelength, or be able to be broadly tunable over a wide wavelength range.

Low noise, high power, multiple-microresonator based laser


A Quality of Service functionality is provided for Machine to machine device communications that allows a single IMS session to support a plurality of different data streams. In one embodiment a single IMS session is used to support a plurality of different data streams that arise from a single application type, while in another embodiment, a single IMS session is used to support a plurality of different data streams across a plurality of different devices and applications. Through the use of a single IMS session, signaling is reduced and QoS can be offered without impacting a large number of nodes. An IMS User Agent is deployed to aid in providing this functionality.

Machine to machine (M2M) devices (also referred to a machine-type communications (MTC) devices) are growing in importance and distribution as they provide for an improved monitoring and control infrastructure. The M2M devices serve as platforms for applications that make use of the sensors and communications equipment provided by the M2M devices. In an IMS environment, it is the application-device pairing that is considered as a unique entity, not the device itself. This can allow for the traffic of each application to be treated differently, and to be routed differently.
Many M2M devices rely on a mobile network for data connectivity. If each of these devices maintains a unique identity and freely communicates with which ever nodes it wants to, the network resources consumed by a large number of these devices quickly becomes unmanageable. To address this, there is interest in making use of already existing IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network infrastructure to manage these devices. The use of the existing telecommunications infrastructure to provide services to the M2M devices allows for simplified deployment of these devices in a managed manner.
As these deployments have increased there has been increased interest in additional features for M2M services, including the ability of M2M communications to be sent with a Quality of Service. Many problems arise as a result of attempting to provide a Quality of Service guarantee between applications when the communication crosses different service capability layers (SCL) in an IMS network.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a system and method that obviate or mitigate the above described problems

Quality of service support for machine-to-machine applications


A semiconductor circuit includes a test control unit configured to generate a driving activation signal and a sensing activation signal in response to a command and an address; a pad; a driver configured to drive the pad to a predetermined level in response to activation of the driving activation signal; and a sensing unit configured to compare a voltage level of the pad with a reference voltage in response to activation of the sensing activation signal, and output a sensing signal.

1. Technical Field
Various embodiments relate to a semiconductor circuit, and more particularly, to a semiconductor circuit and a leakage current test system using the same.
2. Related Art
In a semiconductor circuit, the number of pins is increasing as high speed processing of a large capacity is demanded.
Under this situation, a leakage current test circuit capable of self-testing pin leakage current, that is, performing a test inside a semiconductor circuit, is being used.
As an example of a conventional leakage current test circuit, there is disclosed "Contactless Digital Testing of IC Pin Leakage Currents (Stephen Sunter, Charles McDonald and Givargis Danialy)" in 2001 IEEE.
A leakage current test by a conventional leakage current test circuit is performed in such a manner that a pad is retained in a floating state for a predetermined time after being driven and then a voltage level variation by leakage current is measured.
However, the conventional leakage current test circuit has the following problems.
First, since it is impossible to solve a problem caused due to the fact that the capacitance of a pin to be applied to a pad is changed according to a process variation, the reliability of the test is likely to deteriorate.
Second, since a circuit configuration for generating a time from a state in which the pad is floated to until the voltage level variation is measured, that is, an internal delay time, is needed, a circuit area is likely to increase.

Semiconductor circuit and leakage current test system


A distributed processing method based on a consistency protocol is provided. The method includes: transmitting a decree prepare request including a first decree number, the decree prepare request requesting other nodes to promise to no longer accept a fast write operation initiated by a leader node whose leader number is less than the first decree number, the first decree number representing a leader number of a current node, and the leader number representing a number of a decree at which the current node that becomes a leader node is located; and in response to receiving decree promises from at least a preset quantity of nodes among the other nodes, enabling the fast write operation from a subsequent decree number of a second decree number determined based on the decree promises, each of the decree promises including the first decree number.

A distributed processing system is designed such that each device included in the system performs the same operation and stores the same information, thereby implementing complete redundant backup. Even if all devices but one in the system are faulty, a user is allowed to continuously perform effective operations. The Paxos consistency protocol, proposed by Leslie Lamport in 1990, is one of the most effective fundamental theories for implementing the distributed processing system. Data transmission among a plurality of servers is performed by using a procedure and an algorithm defined by the Paxos protocol. In a case that any communication information may be lost or a server is faulty, data of the plurality of servers can still remain consistent.
A complete Paxos protocol procedure normally includes two stages. The first stage is referred to as a prepare-promise stage, during which a node receiving a data operation request initiates, as a proposer, a prepare request to other nodes through broadcasting, and proceeds to the next stage only after receiving promises of most of the nodes. The second stage is referred to as a ballot-vote stage, during which the proposer successfully completing the first stage initiates a ballot for the current operation through broadcasting, and the second stage succeeds after most of the nodes cast votes according to the algorithm defined in the Paxos protocol, representing that the data operation is accepted by the system, and all the nodes have reached consistency on the current data operation.
The first stage and the second stage may be considered as two serial network interaction processes. Complete execution of the two stages can ensure that each data operation of all the nodes remains consistent, but completion of one data operation consumes a relatively long time and causes relatively large network overheads.

Distributed processing method and apparatus based on consistency protocol and storage medium

TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED


A navigation system used by a user includes a navigation unit and a portable device. The navigation unit generates navigation-related output. The navigation unit transmits the navigation-related output to the portable device over a wireless communication link. The portable device receives the navigation-related output and uses at least a portion of the navigation-related output for processing performed thereby. In one embodiment, the portable device includes an input interface to receive user input from a user of the portable device. In such an embodiment, the portable device transmits the navigation-related input to the navigation unit over the wireless communication link, and the navigation unit uses at least a portion of the navigation-related input to generate the navigation-related output.

Navigation systems are typically used to provide information indicative of position and/or movement. For example, in one exemplary navigation system, one or more inertial sensors are used to generate information indicative of movement. Examples of such inertial sensors include gyroscopes and accelerometers. In one such navigation system, one or more magnetic sensors are also used to generate information indicative of direction. An example of such a magnetic sensor is a magnetometer. In one such navigation system, one or more barometric pressure sensors are also used to generate information indicative of altitude. The information generated by such sensors is processed to provide positional and/or movement information.
In one application, a navigation system is used to generate information indicative of the position and/or motion of a particular human. However, in applications where the sensors are subject to a wide and/or unpredictable range of human movements, the complexity of navigational algorithms and/or the quality of the sensors used in such an application typically must be increased in order to handle and/or compensate for such movements and still provide the desired navigational information. This can increase the cost and/or size of such a system.

Personal navigation device for use with portable device


An electrochromic device includes an optically transparent first substrate, a first transparent conductor disposed on the first substrate, a counter electrode disposed on the first transparent conductor, an optically transparent, ionically conductive first capping layer disposed on the counter electrode, and configured to permit diffusion of alkali metal ions, and to block the diffusion of organic compounds and carbon, an optically transparent second substrate, a second transparent conductor disposed on the second substrate, a working electrode comprising electrochromic nanoparticles disposed on the second transparent conductor, and an electrolyte disposed between the first capping layer and the working electrode.

Residential and commercial buildings represent a prime opportunity to improve energy efficiency and sustainability in the United States. The buildings sector alone accounts for 40% of the United States' yearly energy consumption (40 quadrillion BTUs, or "quads", out of 100 total), and 8% of the world's energy use. Lighting and thermal management each represent about 30% of the energy used within a typical building, which corresponds to around twelve quads each of yearly energy consumption in the US. Windows cover an estimated area of about 2,500 square km in the US and are a critical component of building energy efficiency as they strongly affect the amount of natural light and solar gain that enters a building. Recent progress has been made toward improving window energy efficiency through the use of inexpensive static coatings that either retain heat in cold climates (low emissive films) or reject solar heat gain in warm climates (near-infrared rejection films).
Currently, static window coatings can be manufactured at relatively low cost. However, these window coatings are static and not well suited for locations with varying climates. An electrochromic (EC) window coating overcomes these limitations by enhancing the window performance in all climates. EC window coatings undergo a reversible change in optical properties when driven by an applied potential. Some EC devices may include a working electrode, a solid state electrolyte, and a counter electrode sandwiched between two transparent conductor layers and an outer glass layer. The working electrode may include a metal oxide active material.

Electrochromic device including capping layer


An electric-motor control apparatus includes: a command generation unit; a drive detector; a drive-current detection unit; a current-control computation unit; a steady-state-load calculation unit; a first steady-state-load reference-value storage unit; and a tension-variation analysis unit. The command generation unit outputs a drive command signal of an electric motor; the drive detector outputs a drive detection signal of the electric motor; the control computation unit receives the drive detection signal and the drive command signal and outputs a current command value; the drive-current detection unit outputs a drive-current detection value; the current-control computation unit outputs the drive current to the electric motor; and the steady-state-load calculation unit outputs a steady-state-load calculation value. The first steady-state-load reference-value storage unit stores a first steady-state-load reference value; and the tension-variation analysis unit outputs a tension-variation analysis value.

In a machine apparatus that includes a drive mechanism that uses a belt, the belt may be stretched and thereby decreases in installation tension, thus causing reduction in friction between the belt and a pulley and thereby a slip between the belt and the pulley. When the belt is a toothed belt, the decrease in installation tension of the belt causes a phenomenon called a tooth skipping between the toothed belt and the pulley. A slip or a tooth skipping caused between the belt and the pulley may lead to reduction in efficiency of power transmission and degradation in synchronism between the input side and the output side.
The degradation in synchronism due to a slip or a skipping caused between the belt and the pulley poses a significant problem for apparatuses such as industrial apparatuses that require accuracy; thus, appropriate installation tension of the belt needs to be maintained. To maintain an appropriate installation tension of the belt, the installation tension of the belt needs to be measured regularly. Interrupting a machine apparatus in order to measure the tension regularly, however, reduces the operation hours; thus, there is a demand for a function to measure the tension during the operation of a machine apparatus.
An electric booster is disclosed in Patent Literature 1, in which elastic deformation of a support portion of a bearing on which installation tension of a belt acts as a radial load is measured, using a strain sensor attached on the support portion, and used to estimate the installation tension of the belt, and, when the estimated tension is equal to or less than a threshold value, an abnormal tension reduction is detected.
A pressure control method for an electric injection molding machine is disclosed in Patent Literature 2, in which a screw angular velocity, belt tension, and a resin pressure are estimated, for use in pressure control of the resin, using an observer from an angular velocity and a torque command of a motor that drives the screw of the injection molding machine via a belt transfer mechanism.
A conveying apparatus is disclosed in Patent Literature 3, in which an anomaly is detected by detecting belt tension that acts on a dependent-side pulley.


A ring gear is an annular gear having an annular base portion with a predetermined constant width, and the annular base portion is provided with a gear on an entire periphery thereof. The base portion includes a first wall thickness portion having a first wall thickness, and a second wall thickness portion having a second wall thickness thicker than the first wall thickness.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an annular gear that is used as a mechanism for transmitting power in various power transmission devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Cited as one example of power transmission devices is a transmission mounted in a vehicle. In a transmission, a combination of various types of gears is used to transmit power, and a planetary gear unit is used in many cases. Gears that construct the planetary gear unit are a ring gear, a sun gear, and a pinion gear. As the ring gear, an annular gear with internal teeth is used. As the sun gear and a pinion gear, annular gears with external teeth are used.
Meanwhile, noise generated in the transmission has been a problem in the past, particularly gear noise. To address the problem, a transmission case is reinforced and vehicle sound insulation is strengthened. This, however, results in an increase in cost and weight. Further, countermeasures have not yet been taken for the aforementioned various types of annular gears from the standpoint of gear noise reduction.


An efficient technique for producing deterministically polarized single photons uses liquid-crystal hosts of either monomeric or oligomeric/polymeric form to preferentially align the single emitters for maximum excitation efficiency. Deterministic molecular alignment also provides deterministically polarized output photons; using planar-aligned cholesteric liquid crystal hosts as 1-D photonic-band-gap microcavities tunable to the emitter fluorescence band to increase source efficiency, using liquid crystal technology to prevent emitter bleaching. Emitters comprise soluble dyes, inorganic nanocrystals or trivalent rare-earth chelates.

The present invention is directed to quantum information technology, e.g., quantum cryptography. It relates to an efficient, room-temperature source of polarized single photons and more particularly to such a source using deterministically aligned single emitters in a planar aligned liquid crystal host.
Quantum information in the form of quantum communications and quantum computing is an exceedingly active field today. See, for instance, the following books: M. A. Nielsen and I. L. Chuang, Quantum computation and quantum information, Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press, 2001, D. Bouwmeester, A. Ekert, A. Zeilinger, Eds., The physics of quantum information: quantum cryptography, quantum teleportation, quantum computation, Springer: Berlin, 2000, and the following review paper: N. Gisin, G. Ribordy, W. Tittel, and H. Zbinden, Rev. Mod. Phys., vol. 74, 145. 2002. Numerous theoretical concepts promise powerful quantum-mechanics-based tools that, to date, wait for realization pending the arrival of reliable hardware. A single-photon source (SPS) that efficiently produces photons with antibunching characteristics is one such pivotal hardware element for quantum information technology. Using a SPS, secure quantum communication will prevent any potential eavesdropper from intercepting a message without the receiver's noticing. (E. Klarreich, Nature, vol. 418, 270-272, 2002)
In another implementation, a SPS becomes the key hardware element for quantum computers with linear optical elements and photodetectors (See the following paper: E. Knill, R. Laflamme, and G. J. Milburn, Nature, vol. 409, 46-52, 2001). Again, its practical realization is held back in part by difficulties in developing robust sources of antibunched photons on demand.
In spite of several solutions for SPSs presented in the literature, significant drawbacks remain. They are the reason for current quantum communication systems being baud-rate bottlenecked so that photon numbers from ordinary photon sources may be attenuated to the single-photon level (˜0.1 photon per pulse on average). An efficient (with an order of magnitude higher photon number per pulse) and reliable light source that delivers a train of pulses containing one and one photon only is a very timely challenge. To meet this challenge, several issues need addressing, from achieving full control of the quantum properties of the source to easy handling and integrability of these properties in a practical quantum computer and/or communication setup. In addition, in quantum information systems it is desirable to deal with single photons synchronized to an external clock, namely, triggerable single photons. Polarization states of single photons are also important as they enable polarization-qubit encoding of information.
The critical issue in producing single photons by a method other than by trivial attenuation of a beam is the very low concentration of photons emitters dispersed in a host, such that within a laser focal spot only one emitter becomes excited which can emit only one photon at a time. Most current SPSs, e.g., based on semiconductor heterostructures, operate only at liquid He temperature—a major impediment to widespread use. (See the following papers: J. Kim, O. Benson, H. Kan, Y. A. Yamamoto, Nature, vol. 397, 500-503, 1999; A. Imamoglu and Y. Yamamoto, Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 72, 210-213, 1994; E. Moreau, I. Robert, J. M. Gérard, I. Abram, L. Manin, V. Thiery-Mieg, Appl. Phys. Lett., vol. 79, 2865-2867, 2001; P. Michler, A. Kiraz, C. Becher, W. V. Schoenfeld, P. M. Petroff, L. Zhang, E. Hu, A. Imamoglu, Science, vol. 290, 2282-2285, 2000; C. Santori, M. Pelton, G. Solomon, Y. Dale, and Y. Yamamoto, Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 86, 1502-1505, 2001; M. Pelton, C. Santori, J. Vu{hacek over (c)}ković, B. Zhang, G. S. Solomon, J. Plant, and Y. Yamamoto, Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 89, 233602, 2002; Z. L. Yuan, B. E. Kardynal, R. M. Stevenson, A. J. Shields, C. J. Lobo, K. Cooper, N. S. Beattie, D. A. Ritchie, M. Pepper, Science, vol. 295, 102-105, 2002).
Of the known room-temperature (RT) SPSs, only those based on single-dye-molecule fluorescence can be used in much higher speed systems than other RTSPSs. This SPS was developed in the following papers: W. P. Ambrose, P. M. Goodwin, J. Enderlein, D. J. Semin, J. C. Martin, R. A. Keller, Chem. Phys. Lett., vol. 269, 365-370, 1997; L. Fleury, J.-M. Segura, G. Zumofen, B. Hecht, and U. P. Wild, Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 84, 1148-1151, 2000; B. Lounis and W. E. Moerner, Nature, vol. 407, 491-493, 2000; F. Treussart, A. Clouqueur, C. Grossman, and J.-F. Roch, Opt. Lett., vol. 26, 1504-1506, 2001; F. Treussart, R. Alleaume, V. Le Floch, L. T. Xiao, J. M. Courty, J. F. Roch, Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 89, no. 9, 093601-4, 2002, and in the US Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0146052 A1, Oct. 10, 2002 by W. E. Moerner and B. Lounis. Alternatives such as color centers in diamond and colloidal semiconductor CdSe—ZnS quantum dots possess unacceptably long fluorescence lifetimes. For instance, the diamond color center has a 11.6-ns and 22.7 ns fluorescence life time in mono- and polycrystal, and CdSe—ZnS quantum dots one of ˜22 ns. (See, for example, the following papers: C. Kurtsiefer, S. Mayer, P. Zarda and H. Weinfurter, "Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 85, 290-293, 2000; R. Brouri, A. Beveratos, J.-P. Poizat and P. Grangier, Opt. Lett., vol. 25, 1294-1296, 2000; A. Beveratos, R. Brouri, T. Gacoin, J.-P. Poizat, and P. Grangier, Phys. Rev. A, vol. 64, 061802(R), 2001; A. Beveratos, S. Kuhn, R. Brouri, T. Gacoin, J. P. Poizat, P. Grangier, Europ. Phys. Journ. D, vol. 18, 191-196, 2002; A. Beveratos, R. Brouri, T. Gacoin, A. Villing, J. P. Poizat, P. Granger, Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 89, no. 18, 187901-4, 2002; P. Michler, A. Imamoglu, M. D. Mason, P. J. Carson, G. F. Strouse, and S. K. Buratto, Nature, vol. 406, 968-970, 2000; B. Lounis, H. A. Bechtel, D. Gerion, P. Alivisatos, W. E. Moemer, Chem. Phys. Lett., vol. 329, 399-404, 2000; G. Messin, J. P. Hermier, E. Giacobino, P. Desbiolles, and M. Dahan, Opt. Lett., vol. 26, 1891-1893, 2001).
The key advantage of dye molecules is that their excited-state life-time of only a few nanoseconds permits excitation repetition rates above ˜100 MHz. In dye-based SPSs, one of the current challenges is dye bleaching. However, recently single terrylene molecules have been doped into p-terphenyl molecular crystals (10−11 moles of terrylene per mole of p-terphenyl) prepared by a sublimation procedure that produced tiny platelets. In this host, the dye is protected from exposure to diffusing quenchers (such as oxygen), and benefits from strong phonon emission into the host, preventing rapid thermal decomposition of the dye under intense illumination (B. Lounis and W. E. Moerner, Nature, vol. 407, 491-493, 2000; the US Patent Application 20020146052 A1, Oct. 10, 2002 by W. E. Moemer and B. Lounis; L. Fleury, J.-M. Segura, G. Zumofen, B. Hecht, and U. P. Wild, Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 84, 1148-1151, 2000). For "thick" p-terphenyl crystals (˜10 μm), this system becomes extremely photostable, allowing hours of continuous illumination of individual molecules without photobleaching. It assures long-term spectral stability and reproducibility from one terrylene absorber to the next. Pumped by periodic, short-pulse laser radiation, single photons were generated at predetermined times at pump-pulse-repetition rates within the accuracy of the emission lifetime (˜3.8 ns). Technical implementation of this system is difficult as these monoclinic, sublimation-produced microcrystals are stress sensitive and fragile. In addition, terrylene's molecular dipole moment in the p-terphenyl host crystal takes on an orientation perpendicular to the platelet's surface (i.e., perpendicular to the incident light's E-field). This, in turn, leads to poor coupling with the polarized excitation light, prompting poor fluorescence emission even at high excitation intensities (saturation intensity is about 1 MW/cm2 at room temperature).
In spite of the elegance of the terrylene/p-terphenyl experiments, this technology must be considered unrealistic for practical application. Its weak point is also a background from "ordinary photons" from out-of-focus molecules or Raman scattering, because of the very high pumping intensities required. Emitted photons are not polarized deterministically (there is no known, efficient method for aligning rapidly a multitude of micrometer-sized, monoclinic crystallites relative to one another). Note that noncrystalline, amorphous hosts, e.g., polymers, do not (1) offer the same spectral stability in single-molecule emission even in the case of terrylene, (2) provide long-time protection against bleaching. To date, no crystal hosts other than the fragile, sublimated p-terphenyl flakes have been proposed in single-dye-molecule room-temperature experiments.

Efficient room-temperature source of polarized single photons


An antenna system comprises an antenna assembly having an angle of electrical tilt and a plurality of antenna elements each arranged to receive signals through a respective transmission line. Each transmission line is shortened or lengthened by moving a coupling link along two transmission line parts which the link couples: this adjusts signal phase supplied to each antenna element individually, and controls the angle of electrical tilt of the antenna assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved apparatus for permitting steering of an antenna system and in particular to an apparatus for adjusting the phase of signals supplied to each element of an antenna system having a plurality of antenna elements. The antenna system is suitable for use in many telecommunications systems but finds particular application in cellular mobile radio networks, commonly referred to as mobile telephone networks.
2. Description of the Art
Operators of cellular mobile radio networks generally employ their own base-stations each of which includes one or more antennas. In a cellular mobile radio network, the antennas are a factor in defining the desired coverage area which is generally divided into a number of overlapping cells, each associated with a respective antenna and base station. Each cell contains a fixed-location base station which communicates with the mobile radios in that cell. The base stations themselves are interconnected by other means of communication, either fixed land-lines or by radio link, and are arranged in a grid or meshed structure allowing mobile radios throughout the cell coverage area to communicate with each other as well as with the public telephone network outside the cellular mobile radio network.
The antennas used in such networks are often composite devices known as phased array antennas which comprise a plurality (usually eight or more) or array of individual antenna elements or dipoles. The direction of maximum sensitivity of the antenna, i.e. the vertical or horizontal direction of the main beam or "boresight" of the antenna pattern, may be altered by adjusting the phase relationship between the sub-arrays. This has the effect of allowing the beam to be steered to modify the coverage area of the antenna.
In particular, operators of phased array antennas in cellular mobile radio networks have a requirement to adjust the vertical radiation pattern (VRP), also known as the "tilt", of the antenna since this has a significant effect on the coverage area of the antenna. Adjustment of the coverage area may be required, for example, owing to changes in the network structure or the addition or removal of other base stations or antennas in the cell.
The adjustment of the angle of tilt of an antenna is known and is conventionally achieved by mechanical means, electrical means, or both, within the antenna itself. When tilt is adjusted mechanically, for example by mechanically moving the antenna elements themselves or by mechanically moving the antenna radome, such an adjustment is often referred to as "adjustment of the angle of mechanical tilt". The effect of adjusting the angle of mechanical tilt is to reposition the boresight such that it points either above or below the horizon. When tilt is adjusted electrically, by adjusting the phase of signals supplied to the antenna elements without physically moving either the antenna radome or the antenna elements themselves, such an adjustment is commonly referred to as "adjustment of the angle of electrical tilt". The effect of adjusting the angle of electrical tilt is also to reposition the boresight so that it points either above or below the horizon but, in this case, is achieved by changing the time delay between signals fed to each element (or group of elements) in the array.
The elements in the antenna implementing controllable electrical tilt are normally grouped into sub-arrays, each sub-array comprising one or more elements. By changing the time delay of the signal fed to each sub-array, the electrical tilt of the beam may be adjusted. The time delay may be achieved by changing the phase of the RF carrier. Providing that the phase delay is proportional to frequency across the band of interest, and the phase response extrapolated to zero frequency has a zero intercept, then the phase delay produces a time delay. Phase shift and time delay are thus synonymous.
A disadvantage of this method, however, is that only relatively coarse adjustment of the time delay to each element of the antenna is possible resulting in a non-optimum gain and radiation pattern, particularly when tilted.
It is also known to provide an antenna which allows the time delay of the signal applied to each element in the array to be adjusted independently. A system which permits such independent adjustment of signals applied to individual antenna elements is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,905,462.

Apparatus for steering an antenna system


A deterioration diagnosis device for an oxidation catalyst includes: a multi-gas sensor disposed in an exhaust passage downstream of an oxidation catalyst, the multi-gas sensor including a NO2 sensor unit and a NOX sensor unit, the NO2 sensor unit directly detecting a NO2 concentration in exhaust gas after passing through the oxidation catalyst, and the NOX sensor unit directly detecting a NOX concentration in the exhaust gas; an NO concentration calculation unit configured to calculate an NO concentration in the exhaust gas after passing through the oxidation catalyst based on the NO2 concentration and the NOX concentration; and a deterioration judgment unit configured to determine a deterioration degree of the oxidation catalyst from an evaluation value based on the NO concentration calculated by the NO concentration calculation unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device that diagnoses the deterioration of oxidation catalyst used for an exhaust gas purifier of an internal combustion engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, emissions regulation of diesel engines has been tightened. Accordingly, removing Particulate Matter (hereinafter also referred to as "PM") from exhaust air is desired by trapping PM included in the exhaust air from a diesel engine and burning the trapped PM. In this regard, an engine includes a particulate filter (a Diesel Particulate Filter, hereinafter also referred to as "DPF") to trap the PM at its exhaust passage. The DPF is made of a material such as ceramic and stainless steel. To trap the PM, the DPF includes, for example, a honeycomb structure. If the PM is excessively trapped, the DPF becomes clogged. Therefore, as one method, the DPF includes an oxidation catalyst (Diesel Oxidation Catalyst, hereinafter also referred to as "DOC") at an upstream location. The DOC oxidizes NO in the exhaust air to NO2 using an oxidation catalyst. Use of the NO2 thus generated allows the DOC to also oxidize and burn the PM trapped by the DPF. Thus, the PM is removed to continuously regenerate the DPF.
The performance of the DOC to generate NO2 deteriorates over time due to usage. Accordingly, the regeneration performance of the DPF is also deteriorated. Therefore, a device that diagnoses the deterioration degree of the DOC has been developed (see JP-A-2012-36860).
First, this diagnosis device estimates a NOX value in the exhaust air immediately after being discharged from the engine based on engine revolution and an engine load. Also, the NOX value at the downstream side of the DOC is directly detected by a NOX sensor installed at the downstream of the DOC. Next, a NO2 ratio is calculated using these two NOX values. The concentration of NO2 that has passed through the DPF is obtained from the NO2 ratio. The deterioration degree of the DOC is determined from this NO2 concentration.

Deterioration diagnosis device for oxidation catalyst


A heat treating apparatus comprises a reaction tube for receiving a plurality of articles to be treated and a heating unit surrounding at least part of the reaction tube. The reaction tube comprises a first structural section, at least part of which is surrounded by the heating unit and a second structural section, at least part of which extends from the heating unit. The first structural section is made of material having thermal resistivity and thermal conductivity higher than the second structural section.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a heat treating apparatus and more particularly to the improvement of a heat treatment apparatus in which process gas is introduced into a reaction tube, with the reaction tube receiving articles to be heat-treated therein.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the conventional manufacturing process for semiconductor wafers a heat treating apparatus is used in which articles such as semiconductor wafers to be treated are placed in a reaction tube and are heat-treated by means of a CVD process, oxidation and diffusion.
The reaction tube of the heat treating apparatus is made of quartz (SiO.sub.2) and formed integrally. A gas introducing pipe and a gas exhausting pipe are provided at the lower portion of the reaction tube. The gas introducing pipe is adapted to cause the exterior of the reaction tube to communicate with the interior thereof. The forward end of the gas introducing pipe extends to the upper position of the interior of the reaction tube.
The gas exhausting pipe projects from the lower position of the reaction pipe.
On a boat provided in the gas exhausting pipe is disposed semiconductor wafers piled up at predetermined intervals. The boat carrying the semiconductor wafers is provided on a warming tubular member (heat holding member) which is raised and lowered by means of a lifting mechanism so that the semiconductor wafers are received in the reaction tube and are taken out therefrom.
When the warming tubular member is raised by means of the lifting mechanism and the semiconductor wafers are fully received in the reaction tube, the reaction tube is completely closed.
Heating means consisting of a heat generator and a heat insulating element is provided in the external region of the reaction tube. The heat generator is attached to the inner peripheral wall of the heat insulating element.
Process gas is introduced from the gas introducing pipe into the reaction tube, and the interior of the reaction tube is heated by means of the heat generator to a predetermined temperature (1,200.degree. C., for example). The semiconductor wafers are heat-treated due to the chemical reaction of the process gas which is being heated.
The reaction tube of this conventional heat treating apparatus is made of SiO.sub.2 from which few impurities are discharged during the heat treatment.
However, the reaction tube made of SiO.sub.2 encounters the problem in that it is likely to be distorted when it is heated at a high temperature (about 1,200.degree. C., for example) for a long time. In place of SiO.sub.2, silicon carbide (SiC) which has a higher thermal resistivity or, in other words, is resistant to the effects of heat, and is thus little distorted at a high temperature might be used for manufacturing a reaction tube in order to suppress the thermal distortion of the reaction tube.
Since, however, the machinability of SiC is poor, it is difficult to manufacture relatively complicated parts of a reaction tube, such as a gas introducing pipe and a gas exhausting pipe, with SiC. Further, the thermal conductivity of SiC is more than ten times larger than that of SiO.sub.2. Thus, when the entire reaction tube is made of SiC, a large amount heat is radiated from the lower region of the reaction tube which is not covered with a heat insulator. The portion in which semiconductors are loaded is affected by the heat radiation and the uniform thermal distribution in the region is disturbed.
In the conventional heat treatment process, a reacting substance is likely to become attached to the gas introducing pipe. In order to perform the heat treatment in a good condition, therefore, the gas introducing pipe must be washed and the attached reacting substance must be removed therefrom. The gas introducing pipe in the reaction pipe must be changed according to the kind of heat treatment process which is selected from various kinds of heat treatment processes. Since, however, the conventional gas introducing pipe is integrally formed with the reaction tube, the tube cannot be washed or changed easily.


An image forming apparatus 100 includes an intermediate transfer belt 21, a reading section 25, and an intermediate transfer unit 2 having a supplementary roller 26. The intermediate transfer belt 21 is passed over a drive roller 22 and an idle roller 23, and moves along a predetermined circulating path. The reading section 25 reads a concentration of a toner image from a surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21. The supplementary roller 26 is in contact with a rear face of the intermediate transfer belt 21 in such a manner that a gap between a reading face of the reading section 25 and the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21 is kept constant. The supplementary roller 26 is disposed on a downstream side of the reading section 25 in a horizontal direction by a predetermined distance S. The predetermined distance S is a distance from a center M of the reading section 25 to a point of contact P at which the supplementary roller 26 is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 21 in a horizontal direction.

The present invention relates to a belt unit provided with a reading section that reads a toner image borne on a surface of an endless belt and to an image forming apparatus.
Among image forming apparatus according to the electrophotography method is one that is provided with a belt unit transferring a toner image using the endless belt to an object to which the transferring is made.
Due to environmental variations such as temperature, humidity and/or the like and deterioration with passage of time such as degradation of an image bearing member and/or degradation of the toner, it is made impossible for the belt unit to maintain a pertinent concentration of the toner image that is borne on the endless belt, which occasionally results in image quality failure. In this regard, as disclosed in the Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2008-241958 bulletin, among the image forming apparatus each provided with a belt unit is one in which concentration of the toner image is adjusted by forming a reference toner image onto the endless belt with a predetermined imaging condition, then reading the concentration of the reference toner image from the surface of the endless belt by the reading section, and then changing the imaging condition so that the concentration that is read becomes a predetermined reference concentration. In order for the reading section to read the concentration of the reference toner image accurately, it is necessary to prevent flapping of the endless belt while keeping a gap between the reading section and the surface of the endless belt constant; therefore, when the reading is carried out by the reading section, a supplementary roller is caused to be in contact with a rear face of the endless belt.
Further, the reading section sometimes includes means for detecting meandering quantity of the endless belt for use in meandering adjustment of the endless belt.
Yet, because the endless belt is curved at a portion that is in contact with the supplementary roller, toner's falling from the curved surface can occasionally occur. If the falling toner sticks to a reading face, it follows that the reading section becomes unable to read the toner image from the surface of the endless belt accurately.
The present invention is directed to providing a belt unit that can prevent the toner falling from the endless belt from sticking to the reading face of the reading section, and an image forming apparatus.