It is detected on the basis of a change in an engine speed whether an out-of shelf condition in which a gear shft time exceeds a predetermined time is caused or not (step S11), and when the out-of shelf condition is caused, a lapping control processing corresponding to first engaging oil pressure setting means is executed so that a correction value is set to increase a line pressure supplied to each kind of engaging elements of an automatic transmission, and that the correction value is decreased as a gear shft load time elapses. At the same time, a learning control processing corresponding to a second engaging oil pressure setting means is executed (step S17) so that a variation of the engaging oil pressure due to the non-uniformity of engaging elements and the deterioration with age is learned, thereby to enable to automatically act a proper line pressure on each kind of engaging elements when either one of the automatic transmission or a controller which controls the automatic transmission is replaced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gear shift time automatic adjusting apparatus in an automatic transmission in which a gear shift time in the automatic transmission can be automatically adjusted when the automatic transmission or a control unit (controller) is replaced.
2. Description of the Related Art
A gear shift time automatic adjusting apparatus in an automatic transmission in the prior art is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid Open Publication Hei No. 5-99308 (hereinafter, referred to as a "first prior art example) and in Japanese Patent Laid Open Publication Hei No. 1-169164 (hereinafter, referred to as a "second prior art example).
The first prior art example was proposed by the applicant of the present application previously, and in the case where the automatic transmission is brand new, in order to achieve a gear shift in a set required time and to prevent elongation of the gear shift time as well as gear shift shock even when the lapping of friction materials constituting engaging elements is insufficient, a gear shift load applied to the engaging elements is detected, for example by detecting a throttle opening degree, and by accumulating this gear shift load, it is judged that the lapping of the friction materials is insufficient as long as the accumulated gear shift load is small, and an engaging oil pressure of initial characteristic having a higher oil pressure characteristic than a normal condition is applied to compensate for the insufficient lapping of the friction material. Here in the specification, the lapping means to lap or rub the pair of engaging elements, i.e., friction materials with other. In this case, when the lapping is sufficient, i.e., the friction materials are adapted sufficiently, the coefficient of friction of the friction materials is large, and when the lapping is insufficient, i.e., the friction materials are not adapted sufficiently, the coefficient of friction is small.
Furthemore, in the second prior art example, on the basis of an input rotational speed and an output rotational speed of a gear shift gear mechanism during gear shift, an inertia phase time representing a time during which a gear ratio representing a ratio between the input and the output rotational speed is measured at each throttle opening degree by inertia phase time measuring means. A line pressure during gear shift is controlled by line pressure regulating means so that the measured inertia phase time reaches a target value to thereby perform the so-called learning control which copes with the non-uniformity of line pressure control parts and the deterioration with age of the friction materials.
However, in the first prior art example, it is intended to control the engaging oil pressure supplied to the engaging elements on the basis of the accumulated gear shift load value. However, since the accumulated gear shift load value is managed by a controller which is independent of the automatic transmission, when this controller is replaced or the automatic transmission is replaced, an accumulated gear shift load value of a new controller will be different from the value of the previous controller, and thus, it is necessary to modify the accumulated gear shift load value of the new controller to coincide with the previous value. However, this is not only troublesome but also the modification is sometimes forgotten, and satisfactory engaging oil pressure control according to a correct accumulated gear shift load value may not be achieved in some cases. Furthermore, there is another unsolved problem in which it is impossible to cope with the non-uniformity and the deterioration with age of the coefficient of friction of the friction materials of the engaging elements, and the gear shift time will be deviated from a preset gear shift time.
Also, in the second prior art example, the learning control is performed so that an inertia phase time during which a gear ratio is changing coincides with a target value. However, since this learning control is carried out at each throttle opening degree, a fine correction can be made. On the other hand, since the learning is not performed as often at a throttle opening degree whose frequency of occurrence is small, unsolved problem is involved in which optimum control cannot be achieved. Furthermore, in the learning control, on the basis of a current deviation of the gear shift time, the oil pressure of the next time will be corrected, and thus although it is possible to cope with the deterioration with age (gradual change) of the friction materials, it is impossible to cope with large deterioration with age such as insufficient lapping as in the initial time of starting the use of the automatic transmission, and the gear shift time will be deviated from the set gear shift time.

Gear shift time automatic adjusting apparatus in automatic transmission


A wireless, battery powered tattooing apparatus employing a stable voltage regulator to provide stable control of the operation of the tattoo applicator. A user interface enables an artist to select a desired reciprocation frequency for the needle movement of the tattoo applicator. The selected setting is used to generate a particular voltage from the voltage regulator that in turn, controls the frequency of the needle reciprocations. A wireless receiver receives operational commands to control the tattoo applicator from a remote transmitter thereby keeping the artist's hands free to work.

Ascertaining the exact historical beginnings of a concept such as body tattoos is a difficult task at best but, research has clearly shown that it is certainly not a recent phenomenon. Some believe that the word tattoo is derived from combining the Polynesian word "TA" which means to strike something with the Tahitian word "TATAU" which means to mark something. The existence of tattoos has been determined to be at least five thousand years old. This belief was based on the 1991 discovery of a frozen body on a European mountain. The frozen body bore a total of 57 tattoos. Today, tattoos are included in the broad spectrum of body art. Body tattoos have considerable range from a small flower, initial, etc. to a full-body themed tattoo such as Tom Leppard whose entire body is covered with leopard spots.
Whatever is the tattoo of choice, it is clear tattoos are art. The typical tattoo bearer makes a statement about himself or herself through the tattoo, whether it is politically motivated, love motivated, vanity motivated or simply an affectionate attachment to the object or style of the tattoo. Likewise, the person applying the tattoo is certainly referred to as a tattoo artist.
As is typical with most artists, the tattoo artist uses a set of tools or objects to create art where there once was none. In the tattoo arena, the primary took that is utilized by the tattoo artist is the tattoo gun. The tattoo gun in the hand of a tattoo artist is similar to the brush in the hand of a painter or a piece of charcoal in the hand of a drawer. As such, the touch and feel of the tattoo gun becomes important to the tattoo artist and in essence becomes an extension of their artistic being. Thus, it is not surprising that in general, most available tattoo guns or applicators have a similar look and feel to them. It is a design that has become popular and accepted in the industry.
In the forming of a tattoo on skin, one or more needles carrying a small quantity of ink is utilized. The needle penetrates the skin leaving a small spot of the ink which will result in the production of the discoloration of the skin. Repeating this procedure numerous times in a particular pattern with one or more ink colors of ink will result in the production of a desired tattoo.
In the creation of most tattoos, it is required to insert a needle into the skin hundreds of times, and in some tattoos, even thousands of times. A common technique of producing a tattoo is to manually insert and withdraw a needle each and every time. In order to decrease the amount of time it takes to make a tattoo, in the past it has been known to use some kind of a mechanism that causes the needle to oscillate rapidly with the user only being required to carefully move the needle from one location to another. These locations are generally adjacent to each other, and the needle will be moved continually from these locations until the desired pattern of the tattoo is reproduced. In the past, this type of mechanism has been operated with a plugged in power source.
A very important feature of modern day tattoo guns is maintaining consistent oscillations of the needle(s). For instance, when an artist is drawing the lines or outlining the tattoo, the needle(s) oscillate at a first frequency. However, when the artist is shading in areas of the tattoo, the needles generally oscillate at a slower speed. In addition, in many circumstances the depth or range of needle motion is varied. For instance, the range can be modified to penetrate deeper into the skin for leathery or darker skins, and less deep for soft pale skins. In addition, certain looks can be achieved by varying the depth of the ink penetration. Thus, maintaining the oscillation frequency as well as the motion range of the oscillation is important to the artist to enable consistency in the application of the ink and control. In the past, the oscillation frequency has been provided by using a stabilized voltage source that is fed to the tattoo gun from an external voltage supply through one or more wires.
The current generation of tattoo machines is moving towards a wireless or non-connected type of arrangement. However, the typical wireless tattoo mechanisms on the market are either too unsanitary and/or have too much extra weight resulting in an artist having to o struggle while creating a tattoo or experiencing fatigue. There are numerous problems with existing wireless tattoo applicators. For instance, employing inefficient voltage conversion technology has resulted in using oversized batteries and hence, resulting in too much extra weight in the tattoo gun. In addition, the lack of universal compatibility has resulted in creating a sanitation issue in that a voltage controller which is used with a possibly infected glove may be used numerous times throughout the process of a tattoo. Another issue that is present in the state of the art is wireless interference that can effect the operation of the wireless tattoo applicator. Yet another issue relates to the inconsistency of power and/or frequency used to control the tattoo gun. Even further, the input voltage of the tattoo applicator can be influenced by the external power supply and is therefore unreliable.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a wireless or cordless tattoo mechanism that can improve the usability of the device from the artists' perspective, as well as provide a sanitary environment for both the artist and the customer.


A turbine engine includes an annular combustor having a combustion chamber defined between an annular outer wall and an annular inner wall. A diffuser case substantially encloses the annular outer and inner walls. A fuel nozzle extends through the diffuser case to an outlet that provides fuel to an interior chamber of the combustor. In one embodiment, front portions of the inner and outer walls curve toward one another and overlap to form an annular gap or manifold through which fuel is distributed to the combustion chamber.

The present invention relates to turbine engines, and more particularly to a combustor having an integral nozzle spraybar for a turbine engine, such as a tip turbine engine.
An aircraft gas turbine engine of the conventional turbofan type generally includes a forward bypass fan, a low pressure compressor, a middle core engine, and an aft low pressure turbine, all located along a common longitudinal axis. A high pressure compressor and a high pressure turbine of the core engine are interconnected by a high spool shaft. The high pressure compressor is rotatably driven to compress air entering the core engine to a relatively high pressure. This high pressure air is then mixed with fuel in a combustor, where it is ignited to form a high energy gas stream. The gas stream flows axially aft to rotatably drive the high pressure turbine, which rotatably drives the high pressure compressor via the high spool shaft. The gas stream leaving the high pressure turbine is expanded through the low pressure turbine, which rotatably drives the bypass fan and low pressure compressor via a low spool shaft.
Although highly efficient, conventional turbofan engines operate in an axial flow relationship. The axial flow relationship results in a relatively complicated elongated engine structure of considerable length relative to the engine diameter. This elongated shape may complicate or prevent packaging of the engine into particular applications.
A recent development in gas turbine engines is the tip turbine engine. Tip turbine engines may include a low pressure axial compressor directing core airflow into hollow fan blades. The hollow fan blades operate as a centrifugal compressor when rotating. Compressed core airflow from the hollow fan blades is mixed with fuel in an annular combustor, where it is ignited to form a high energy gas stream which drives the turbine that is integrated onto the tips of the hollow bypass fan blades for rotation therewith as generally disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos.: 20030192303; 20030192304; and 20040025490. The tip turbine engine provides a thrust-to-weight ratio equivalent to or greater than conventional turbofan engines of the same class, but within a package of significantly shorter length.
In conventional gas turbine engine, a plurality of nozzles inject fuel into the combustor from the outer diameter of the combustor. However, the combustor in the conventional gas turbine engine is much smaller than the combustor in the tip turbine engine. The combustor in the tip turbine engine is annular and has a much greater outer diameter. Therefore, using the known arrangement would require many times more nozzles injecting fuel into the combustor.


Apparatus for loading necked containers on a conveyor chain 3, 9 equipped with individual neck-gripping mandrels 4, 16, the mandrels and the containers being spaced apart by the same pitch P. The conveyor chain turns around an axis 11 such that the mandrels describe an arc-shaped path within the loading area. A rotating disk 1 for picking up the arriving containers is fitted with recesses 5 for individually housing the containers spaced apart by the pitch P, the disk being located beneath the conveyor chain and rotating in the same direction thereas around an axis 6 parallel to the axis 11 but offset therefrom. The diameter of the disk and the respective positions of the axes is such that the circular path of the recesses intersects the arc-shaped path of the mandrels at an angle of about 3.degree..

This invention concerns an apparatus for feeding plastic containers having necks, in particular bottles, to a conveyor equipped with devices for individually gripping the containers by their necks, the gripping devices being spaced apart by a predetermined pitch and the containers being fed to the apparatus one after the other and separated by the same pitch.
In container-manufacturing and/or filling equipment, the containers are, according to wide-spread practice, transported by transfer wheels, of which numerous embodiments are known. However, since these wheels perform only a transfer function, they are not mechanically structured to support stresses, such as vertical stresses engendered, for example, by forcibly driving a mandrel into the necks of the containers supported by the wheels.
Moreover, in the manufacturing equipment ovens used to heat the plastic material of the containers, container transfer may be accomplished by disks containing recesses which grasp the containers and bring them into position beneath the moving mandrels. However, in these conventional pieces of equipment the mandrels travel rectilinearly; the containers must, therefore, be transferred within the area of rectilinear travel of the mandrels, thereby requiring significant space for the equipment.

Apparatus for loading containers on a conveyor


The present invention relates generally to intracellular receptor recognition proteins or factors, termed Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription (STAT), to methods and compositions utilizing such factors, and to the antibodies reactive toward them, in assays and for diagnosing, preventing and/or treating cellular debilitation, derangement or dysfunction. More particularly, the present invention relates to particular functional domains of molecules that exhibit both receptor recognition and message delivery via DNA binding in receptor-ligand specific manner, i.e., that directly participate both in the interaction with the ligand-bound receptor at the cell surface and in the activity of transcription in the nucleus as a DNA binding protein. The invention likewise relates to the antibodies and other entities that are specific to the functional domain of a STAT protein and that would thereby selectively modulate its activity.

The STAT proteins have the dual purpose of, first, signal transduction from ligand-activated receptor kinase complexes followed by nuclear translocation and DNA binding to activate transcription (Darnell et al., 1994, Science 264:1415-1421). To function as specific transcriptional activators, STAT proteins by themselves or in combination with other proteins must have the ability to recognize specific DNA sequence elements in the promoters of their target genes. The binding of the STATs to DNA occurs only after tyrosine phosphorylation when the proteins form either homodimers (Shuai et al., 1994, Cell 76:821-828) or heterodimers (Schindler et al., 1992, Science 257:809-815: Zhong et al., 1994, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:4806-4810; Zhong et al., 1994. Science 264:95-98) that bind DNA either alone or in combination with other proteins (Fu et al., 1990, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:8555-8559; Schindler et al., 1992, Science 257:809-815). Since a number of mutations in the STAT proteins block phosphorylation and thus dimerization (Shuai et al., Science 261:1744-1746; Improta et al., 1994, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:4776-4780), and none of the STAT sequences resembles previously well-defined DNA binding domains in other proteins, it has not been possible to quickly and easily define the DNA binding domains of the STATs.
U.S. Ser. No. 07/980,498, filed Nov. 23, 1992 now abandoned, which is a Continuation-In-Part of copending U.S. Ser. No. 07/854,296, filed Mar. 19, 1992 now abandoned, and International Patent Publication No. WO 93/19179 (published 30 Sep. 1993, by James E. Darnell, Jr. et al.) (each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety) disclosed the existence of receptor recognition factors, now termed signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT). The nucleotide sequences of cDNA encoding receptor recognition factors having molecular weights of 113 kD (i.e., 113 kD protein, Stat113, or Stat2), 91 kD (i.e., 91 kD protein, Stat91, or Stat1.alpha.) and 84 kD (i.e., 84 kD protein, Stat84, or Stat1.beta.) are reiterated herein in SEQ ID NOS:1, 3, and 5, respectively: the corresponding deduced amino acid sequences of the STAT proteins are shown in SEQ ID NOS:2, 4, and 6, respectively. Stat84 was found to be a truncated form of Stat91. There is 42% amino acid sequence similarity between Stat113 and Stat91/84 in an overlapping 715 amino acid sequence, including four leucine and one valine heptad repeats in the middle helix region, and several tyrosine residues were conserved near the ends of both proteins. The receptor recognition proteins thus possess multiple properties, among them: 1) recognizing and being activated during such recognition by receptors; 2) being translocated to the nucleus by an inhibitable process (e.g., NaF inhibits translocation); and 3) combining with transcription activating proteins or acting themselves as transcription activation proteins, and that all of these properties are possessed by the proteins described herein. In particular, the proteins are activated by binding of interferons to receptors on cells, in particular interferon-.alpha. (all three Stat proteins) and interferon-.gamma. (Stat91).
U.S. application Ser. No. 08/126,595, filed Sep. 24, 1993 now abandoned, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, relates to identification of functional sites of Stat1.alpha., particularly identification of tyrosine-701 as the phosphorylation site, and the presence of a functional SH2 domain in the protein. This application further disclosed a murine Stat1 homolog (the nucleotide sequence is shown in SEQ ID NO:7; the amino acid sequence is shown in SEQ ID NO:8). Stat1 was further found to be active as a homodimer (Stat1.alpha.--Stat1.alpha., Stat1.alpha.-Stat.beta., and Stat.beta.--Stat.beta.) (U.S. application Ser. No. 08/212,184, filed Mar. 11, 1994, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). Additional Stat proteins, Stat3 (nucleotide sequence in SEQ ID NO:9 and amino acid sequence in SEQ ID NO:10) and Stat4 (nucleotide sequence in SEQ ID NO:11 and amino acid sequence in SEQ ID NO:12), were disclosed and characterized in U.S. applications Ser. No. 08/126,588, filed Sep. 24, 1993 now abandoned, and Ser. No. 08/212,185, filed Mar. 11, 1994 co-pending, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Functionally active regions of signal transducer and activator of transcription


A digital servo-control apparatus which controls the rotation of a servomotor on the basis of a digital position command value representative of a target position and a digital position feedback value output from a position detecting device. The apparatus comprises a device for calculating a feedforward value at intervals of a predetermined period on the basis of the amount of change of the position command value, a device for delaying the position command value by a period of time corresponding to an operation delay in the feedforward value calculating device, a device for calculating a velocity command value by adding the feedforward value to a deviation of the position feedback value from the position command value delayed by the delay device, and a device for driving the servomotor according to the velocity command value determined by the calculating device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital servo-control apparatus having feedforward function.
2. Description of the Prior Art
One type of servo-control apparatus that has analog feedforward function has heretofore been known.
In the analog feedforward control, the frequency of a command pulse is converted into a voltage, which is then added to the velocity command voltage and output to a servomotor driving circuit.
The conventional servo-control apparatus having the analog feedforward function suffers, however, from the problem that the feedforward value is delayed by a given time during the F/V conversion due to the time constant of hardware.
The above-described time lag (phase shift) causes a needless change of the command velocity. As a result, the servo system oscillates and chattering is generated on the machined surface of the workpiece, causing deformation of the finished configuration of the workpiece.


A CVD apparatus (2) forms an insulating film, which is a silicon oxide film, silicon nitride film, or silicon oxynitride film. The CVD apparatus includes a process chamber (8) to accommodate a target substrate (W), a support member (20) to support the target substrate in the process chamber, a heater (12) to heat the target substrate supported by the support member, an exhaust section (39) to vacuum-exhaust the process chamber, and a supply section (40) to supply a gas into the process chamber. The supply section includes a first circuit (42) to supply a first gas of a silane family gas, a second circuit (44) to supply a second gas, which is an oxidizing gas, nitriding gas, or oxynitriding gas, and a third circuit (46) to supply a third gas of a carbon hydride gas, and can supply the first, second, and third gases together.

Semiconductor devices include insulating films made of SiO2, PSG (Phospho Silicate Glass), P-SiO ("P" stands for formation by plasma CVD), P-SiN ("P" stands for formation by plasma CVD), SOG (Spin On Glass), Si3N4 (silicon nitride), etc. As a method of forming such a silicon oxide film or silicon nitride film on the surface of a semiconductor wafer, there is known a method of forming a film by thermal CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition), which employs a silane family gas, such as monosilane (SiH4), dichlorosilane (DCS: SiH2Cl2), hexa-chlorodisilane (HCD: Si2Cl6), bistertialbutylamino-silane (BTBAS: SiH2(NH(C4H9)2), as a silicon source gas.
Specifically, for example, where a silicon oxide film is deposited, the thermal CVD for forming the silicon oxide film is performed, using a gas combination, such as SiH4+N2O, SiH2Cl2+N2O, or TEOS (tetraethyl-orthosilicate)+O2. Where a silicon nitride film is deposited, the thermal CVD for forming the silicon nitride film is performed, using a gas combination, such as SiH2Cl2+NH3, or Si2Cl6+NH3.
Owing to the demands of increased miniaturization and integration of semiconductor devices, insulating films such as those described above need to be made thinner. Furthermore, in order to maintain the electric properties of the various films that lay below insulating films, the temperature used in thermal CVD in forming the insulating films needs to be lowered. In this respect, for example, where a silicon nitride film is deposited, thermal CVD for forming the silicon nitiride film is conventionally performed at a high temperature of about 760° C. In recent years, thermal CVD for forming the silicon nitiride film is performed at a lower temperature of about 600° C., as the case may be.
When semiconductor devices are fabricated, a conductive film and an insulating film as described above are stacked and pattern-etched to form a multi-layer structure. Where an insulating film is formed and another thin film is then formed thereon, contaminants such as organic substances and particles may have stuck to the surface of the insulating film. In order to remove the contaminants, a cleaning process is performed, as needed. In this case, the semiconductor wafer is immersed in a cleaning solution, such as dilute hydrofluoric acid, to etch the surface of the insulating film. By doing so, the surface of the insulating film is etched by a very small amount, thereby removing the contaminants.
Where an insulating film is formed by CVD at a high temperature of, e.g., about 760° C., the etching rate of the insulating film during cleaning is very small. Accordingly, the insulating film is not excessively etched by cleaning, and thus the cleaning process is performed with a high controllability in the film thickness. On the other hand, where an insulating film is formed by CVD at a low temperature of, e.g., about 600° C., the etching rate of the insulating film during cleaning is relatively large. Accordingly, the insulating film may be excessively etched by cleaning, and thus the cleaning process entails less controllability in the film thickness.

CVD method and device for forming silicon-containing insulation film


A fully transposed composite superconductor of the Roebel bar type is produced. The superconductor is formed from combines superconductors. The process step for forming the subconductors, which are being configured with a lateral projection into a region of a neighbouring subconductor, is separated from the stranding step. Carrier strips, which are coated with the superconductive material, are used as the conductors.

The method relates to a method for producing a fully transposed composite superconductor with an at least approximately rectangular cross section, which contains two or more conductor elements that are combined in the form of a transposed conductor bar, are composed of high-Tc superconductor material and each have an at least approximately rectangular cross section with a width B. In the method, the conductor elements are produced in a shape with a lateral projection, on the plane of the width B, into an area of an adjacent conductor element, and the conductor elements are twisted with one another. The invention also relates to a conductor produced using this method. A conductor such as this and the method for its production are disclosed in WO 01/59909.
High-power applications of high-Tc superconductors (referred to as HTC conductors in the following text), for example in order to produce a transformer, machine or other magnet windings, require low-loss conductors with alternating-current ratings up to the kiloamp range. In the past, only small cross section HTC ribbon conductors have been available, with current carrying capacities of up to a few 100 Aeff at 77 K in their own magnetic field. Furthermore, these ribbon conductors are mechanically highly sensitive, and their electrical characteristics are strongly dependent on the magnitude and the direction of the local magnetic field in which they are located.
There is therefore good reason to construct technically useable high-current superconductors composed of a large number of individual, parallel ribbon conductors, in the form of so-called composite conductors, for example according to DE 27 36 157 B2. Furthermore, the ribbon conductors (which are referred to in the following text as conductor elements or individual conductors) of such composite conductors are isolated from one another and are systematically transposed or twisted for alternating-current applications at industrial frequencies (in general up to 60 Hz), in order in this way to ensure a uniform current distribution throughout the entire cross section, and low alternating-current losses associated with this.
Corresponding transposed composite conductors, which are also referred to as twisted conductors or cable conductors, with a high alternating-current carrying capacity are in principle known. They may be designed as follows:                as so-called "conductor bars", for example in the form of transposed conductor bars or transposed conductors, with conductor elements composed of copper, for example for large alternating-current machines,        as so-called "twisted conductors", with conductor elements composed of copper for transformers or inductors, or        as so-called transposed "flat or round conductors" with conductor elements composed of metallic superconductors such as NbTi in copper (see the cited DE 27 36 157 B2).
In principle, transposition of HTC conductors is also known, in order to increase the alternating-current carrying capacity. In this context, specific configuration analyses and design information relate to:                continuous transposition of round or virtually round HTC conductors to form single or multiple cables (see, for example, the so-called "Rutherford Cable" in "IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond.", Vol. 7, No. 2, June 1997, pages 958 to 961),        achievement of a continuous transposition effect in power cables by variation of the pitch of twisted ribbon HTC conductor elements from one conductor layer to the next (so-called "Pitch Adjustment"; see WO 96/39705), and        so-called "in-situ transposition", that is to say step-by-step transposition during winding production directly on a winding former, for example a transformer winding (see, for example, "IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond.", Vol. 7, No. 2, June 1997, pages 298 to 301).
One possible embodiment of a fully transposed HTC composite superconductor with an at least approximately rectangular cross section, which contains two or more conductor elements combined in the form of a transposed conductor bar, as well as an apparatus for its production can be found in WO 01/59909 A1, which was cited in the introduction. One characteristic of this composite conductor is lateral bending of its ribbon conductor elements with a predetermined bending radius and a predetermined bending zone length. The production of the corresponding "upright bending zones", in which a change takes place to an area of an adjacent conductor element, is in this case carried out during the process of transposition. This process requires specific minimum dimensions with respect to the bending radii and bending zones, specifically, for each conductor element, a bending radius R which is greater than one hundred times the width B of the conductor element, and a bending or changeover zone length H which is greater than twenty times the width B. The full-transposition length of the known HTC composite conductor is therefore relatively large. The ribbon conductor elements which contain a HTC material based on the BiSrCaCuO system are preferably used for this purpose. Corresponding conductor elements generally have cores composed of this HTC material which are embedded in a normally conductive matrix, preferably composed of silver or of a silver alloy.
In addition to such single-core or multicore conductors (or conductor elements), corresponding HTC conductors in ribbon form may also be produced by coating a ribbon support on one or both sides with an HTC material (see, for example, "Physica C", Volumes 185 to 189, 1991, pages 1959 to 1960; "Appl. Phys. Left.", Volume 65, No. 15, Oct. 10, 1994, pages 1961 to 1963; "Appl. Phys. Left.", Volume 71, No. 18, Nov. 3, 1997, pages 2695 to 2697 or WO 00/46863). However, conductors such as these cannot be used without further measures for a design based on the known HTC composite conductor, since there is a risk there of damage to the HTC layer that is applied to the mounting ribbon, as a result of the upright bending step.

Method for producing a fully transposed high T


A system semiconductor device includes a system LSI cell portion and a global wiring layer. The system LSI cell portion has a plurality of functional blocks for realizing specific functions on a semiconductor chip. The global wiring layer has a wiring layer on a semiconductor substrate. The system LSI cell portion is laminated with the global wiring layer.

This invention relates to a system semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same, and in particular, to a system semiconductor device having a plurality of functional blocks.
The conventional system LSI (Large-Scale-lntegrated circuit) generally includes a plurality of functional blocks. Herein, it is to be noted that the functional block serves as a circuit unit for realizing a specific function. In such a system LSI, complex functions are integrated on one chip.
The conventional method of manufacturing the system LSI has been carried out as follows.
A plurality of functional blocks are first fabricated on a silicon chip. Thereafter, a circuit wiring layer which electrically connects the functional blocks to each other is formed on the silicon chip by the use of a metal vaporizing method or a metal plating method.
Subsequently, an insulating film is formed thereon and the circuit wiring layer and the insulating layer are sequentially laminated. Thereby, a global wiring layer serving as a multi-wiring layer is formed on the silicon chip.
Thus, a plurality of circuit wiring layers and insulating layers conventionally has been laminated for many times to manufacture the system LSI.
However, the conventional system LSI has the following problems.
First, manufacturing yield is degraded. This reason will be explained below. Namely, an external stress is applied or stress-migration occurs because a plurality of circuit wiring layers and insulating layers are laminated.
Under this circumstance, the circuit wiring layer is peeled from the insulating layer. Consequently, a physical strength is inevitably lowered.
Further, an electrical connection between layers is damaged. In consequence, electrical connection reliability is readily degraded.
Second, a manufacturing duration becomes long. This reason will be explained as follows.
Namely, after the system LSI is fabricated, a plurality circuit wiring layers and insulating layers are alternately laminated on a system LSI cell. To this end, complex and many steps are inevitably required.
Third, selection degree of freedom concerning materials of the global wiring layer and manufacturing processes is lowered. This reason will be described below.
That is, the manufacturing process of the global wiring layer or the materials of the circuit wiring layers and the insulating layers are restricted in dependency upon a laminating process. Consequently, the manufacturing process and the material can not freely or suitably selected.
Fourth, physical characteristics and electrical characteristics are degraded, and the manufacturing cost becomes high. This reason will be explained as follows.
The manufacturing process of the global wiring line layer or the materials of the circuit wiring layers and the insulating layers are restricted in accordance with the laminating process. Consequently, the manufacturing process and the material can not freely or suitably selected.
Fifth, the electrical characteristic for a high-frequency signal is degraded. This reason will be explained below.
That is, a system LSI cell portion and the global wiring line layer are adjacently arranged to each other. In consequence, dielectric constants are enhanced to each other, and impedance of the circuit is also increased.

System semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same


A power stage of a voltage regulator includes a first switch for connecting a load to a supply voltage in a first switching state of the power stage, a second switch for connecting the load to ground in a second switching state of the power stage and driver circuitry for setting the power stage in the first switching state, the second switching state or a non-switching state in which both switches are off responsive to a switching control signal received by the power stage. A power management unit moves the power stage from a nominal power mode to a first low power mode if the power stage is in the non-switching state for a predetermined time period.

Voltage regulators are widely used in modern electronic systems for a variety of applications such as computing (server and mobile) and POLs (Point-of-Load Systems) for telecommunications because of their high efficiency and small amount of area/volume consumed by such converters. Widely accepted voltage regulator topologies include buck, boost, buck-boost, forward, flyback, half-bridge, full-bridge, and SEPIC topologies. Multiphase buck converters are particularly well suited for providing high current at low voltages needed by high-performance integrated circuits such as microprocessors, graphics processors, and network processors. Buck converters are implemented with active components such as a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller IC (integrated circuit), driver circuitry, one or more phases including power MOSFETs (metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors), and passive components such as inductors, transformers or coupled inductors, capacitors, and resistors. Multiple phases (power stages) can be connected in parallel to the load through respective inductors to meet high output current requirements.
Voltage regulators ideally have high efficiency under all load conditions, including light load, and low power loss when the regulator is off. High power voltage regulators often employ separate controllers and power stages. For example, high power DC-DC voltage regulators typically have a single phase (power stage) or multiple phases e.g. in the case of multiphase buck converters. The power stages of a voltage regulator can be discrete (separate driver and power switch packages) or integrated (one package contains driver and power switches). Integrated power stages include advanced circuitry such as internal supply rails, bootstrap supply, integrated current sense, integrated temperature sense, etc. Light load conditions result in periods where the power stage has little or no activity. Multiphase converters typically have the ability to drop phases, where one or more phases are not actively switching and not supporting any of the additional current. In addition, for extremely light load currents, phases may be operating in pulse frequency mode, where a substantial amount of time passes between switch cycles in which the power stage is not switching. Thus, DC-DC voltage regulators have multiple operating modes where having one or more power stages in sleep mode is desirable to reduce power loss. The delay associated with exiting sleep mode is an important performance parameter for the power stage, in certain cases some exit delay is acceptable, and in other cases the power stage must immediately respond to changes in its input.
Some conventional DC-DC voltage regulators forgo the complexities associated with implementing power stage sleep mode, and therefore do not offer this feature. For these regulators some internal circuitry that could otherwise be disabled remains on in the power stage, unnecessarily increasing power dissipation of the voltage regulator. Other conventional DC-DC voltage regulators provide a dedicated pin for indicating when the power stage should enter sleep mode. This approach requires the controller and each power stage (phase) of the voltage regulator to have an extra pin/signal for enabling this feature, increasing the system size and cost. Also, voltage regulation is conventionally disabled in sleep mode which requires high latency for the power stage to resume normal voltage regulation upon exiting the sleep mode. Also, conventional sleep mode implementations do not optimize pulse frequency and phase drop modes of operation relative to power stage power dissipation.

Voltage regulator with power stage sleep modes


Anti-TRAIL-R1 and R2 antibodies or functional fragments thereof, having at least one property selected from the following (a) to (c) of:

In the living body, physiological cell death caused by normal cell alternation is referred to as apoptosis, and is distinguished from necrosis, which is pathological cell death [see Kerr, et al. (1972) Br. J. Cancer 26, 239]. Apoptosis is the phenomenon generally observed in the process of, for example, embryogenesis and the selection of lymphocytes (T cells and B cells) [see Itoh, S., et al. (1991) Cell 66, 233–243]. It is thought that when cells which should originally be eliminated by apoptosis are not removed, this may cause cancer, lupus, herpes virus infection, and other problems. Moreover, when cells that originally should survive are eliminated by apoptosis, this can cause diseases and pathological conditions such as AIDS, Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, retinitis pigmentosa, aplastic anemia, myocardial infarction, cerebral apoplexy or toxic substances-induced hepatopathy [see Kataoka, S., et al. (1996) The Oncologist 1, 399–401].
During apoptosis, characteristic phenomena such as curved cell surfaces, condensation of nuclear chromatin, fragmentation of chromosomal DNA, and loss of mitochondrial function are observed. Various intrinsic and extrinsic signals are thought to cause these cellular changes. As intrinsic signals, it has been reported that oncogenes such as myc and bcl-2 and tumor suppressor genes such as p53 are involved in apoptosis induction [see KATAOKA et al., (1993) JIKKEN IGAKU 11, 17, 2324–2328]. As extrinsic signals, it is known that chemotherapy drugs, radiation or the like induces apoptosis [see KATAOKA et al., (1994) SAISHIN IGAKU 49, 6, 1152–1157].
As molecules involved in such apoptosis, molecules belonging to tumor necrosis factor family (TNF family) such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), tumor necrosis factor-β (TNF-β) and Fas ligand have been identified. TNF-α and TNF-β have been reported to induce apoptosis in carcinoma cells [see Schmid et al., (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 83, 1881; see Dealtry et al., (1987) Eur. J. Immunol. 17, 689]. Since mice having mutant Fas or Fas ligands develop the conditions of autoimmune disease, it has been strongly suggested that the Fas ligands have a function of eliminating self-reactive lymphocytes by apoptosis in the periphery [see Krammer, et al., (1994) Curr. Op. Immunol. 6, 279–289; see Nagata, et al., (1995) Science 267, 1449–1456]. It has been reported that agonistic mouse monoclonal antibodies that bind specifically to Fas exert apoptosis-inducing activity against carcinoma cells to the same level as that exerted by TNF-α [Yonehara, et al., (1989) J. Exp. Med. 169, 1747–1756].
These TNF family molecules transmit signals into cells by binding to specific receptors on the cell surfaces. Plural receptors for TNF family molecules are known, and they are referred to as TNF receptor family molecules.
TNF receptor family molecules are defined by the presence of cysteine-rich repetition of an extracellular domain. Among them, Fas and TNFR1, which are receptors of a Fas ligand and a TNF-α, contain within the cells a region referred to as a "death domain" sharing homology with reaper, a Drosophila suicide gene [see Golstein, P., et al. (1995) Cell 81, 185–186; see White, K., et al. (1994) Science 264, 677–683] and such death domain is essential for signal transduction for apoptosis. Activation of Fas promotes the association of an adapter molecule FADD/MORT1 containing the death domain, and induces the activation of caspase-8 bound to FADD/MORT1. The activated caspase-8 activates downstream caspase molecules in sequence, thereby finally leading the cells to apoptosis [see Nagata, S., (1997) Cell 88, 355–365].
Recently, a novel TNF family molecule that induces apoptosis has been found. Wiley et al., [see Immunity (1995) 3, 673–682] named the molecule "TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand" or briefly "TRAIL." This molecule is also referred to as "Apo-2 ligand" or "Apo-2L" [see Pitt, R. M., et al. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 12687–12690]. For convenience, this molecule is referred to as TRAIL in this specification.
Unlike the Fas ligand, TRAIL is detected at a significant level in many human tissues (e.g., spleen, lungs, prostate, thymus, ovary, small intestine, large intestine, peripheral blood lymphocyte, placenta and kidney). TRAIL is constitutively transcribed in some cell lines. TRAIL has also been shown to rapidly activate apoptosis at a significantly faster pace than that induced by TNF, within a time frame resembling death signal transduction by Fas [see Marsters, S. A., et al., (1996) Curr. Biol. 6, 750–752].
Now 5 proteins have already been identified as TRAIL receptors. Two receptors, TRAIL-R1 (also referred to as DR4) and TRAIL-R2 (also referred to as DR5), have both been reported to have death domains within the intracellular regions. The transcript of TRAIL-R1 is recognized in many human tissues including the spleen, peripheral blood leukocytes, small intestine and the thymus. The transcript of TRAIL-R2 has been detected in many tissues including the spleen, peripheral blood lymphocytes and the ovary [see Pan, G., et al. (1997) Science 276, 111–113; see Pan, G., et al. (1997) Science 277, 815–818; see Walczak, H., et al. (1997) EMBO J 16 (17) 5386–5397].
The presence of the two forms of TRAIL-R2 resulting from alternative splicing and the high expression amount of TRAIL-R2 comprising 440 amino acids in carcinoma cells has been reported [see Screaton, G. R., et al., (1997) Curr Biol 7 (9), 693–696; see Arai, T., et al., (1998) Cancer Letters 133, 197–204].
Recombinant human TRAIL is a recombinant protein comprising the extracellular region of TRAIL, and has been reported to induce apoptosis in many types of carcinoma cells [see Griffith, T. S., et al. (1998) Curr. Opin. Immunol., 10, 559–563].
Furthermore, the recombinant human TRAIL has exerted an effect on a tumor-bearing mouse model using human colon carcinoma cells and breast carcinoma cells [see Walczak, H., et al. (1999) Nature Medicine 5, 2, 157–163]. Unlike TNF-α or FAS ligands also belonging to the TNF receptor family and having apoptosis-inducing activity, TRAIL did not provide damage to the normal tissues of mice or cynomolgus monkeys [see Ashkenazi, A., et al. (1999) J. Clin. Invest. 104, 155–162].
Based on these reports, it is thought that TRAIL selectively induces death in tumor cells. However, such selectivity has not yet been supported theoretically since TRAIL receptors are also expressed in normal cells. Moreover, the recombinant human TRAIL has recently been reported to induce apoptosis in normal human hepatocytes [see Jo, M., et al. (2000) Nature Medicine 6, No. 5, 564–567] and reported to induce apoptosis also in human brain cells [see Nitsch, R., et al. (2000) The Lancet 356, 827–828]. Because agonistic anti-Fas antibodies, which induce apoptosis in hepatocytes, induce fulminant hepatitis in a very short time and thus cause death in mice and chimpanzees, cell death induction by TRAIL on hepatocytes has attracted attention as a particularly significant issue. The safety of using TRAIL as a pharmaceutical product for humans has been questioned [see Nagata, S., (2000) Nature Medicine 6, 5, 502–503].
It has also been reported that the presence or absence of the cell-death-inducing activity of TRAIL on hepatocytes depends on the type of recombinant TRAIL protein [see Lawrence, D., et al. (2001) Nature Medicine 7, 4, 383–385]. However, the safety of the recombinant TRAIL protein is still being studied.
Recently, anti-Fas antibodies that do not induce hepatopathy when administered to mice have been reported for the first time [see Ichikawa, K., et al. (2000) International Immunology 12, No. 4, 555–562]. There have been no known recombinant Fas ligands confirmed not to induce hepatopathy. This suggests that antibodies having activity that may be unavailable from ligands can be obtained. However, the theoretical background of the reason that the antibodies show no hepatotoxicity in spite of inducing apoptosis in T cells has not been revealed. For example, in the case of a different antigen such as TRAIL, it has not been demonstrated whether or not agonistic antibodies having no toxicity can be obtained.
TRAIL binds to TRAIL-R1, TRAIL-R2, or both, and induces apoptosis. However, via which receptor the signals to induce apoptosis in hepatocytes are introduced by TRAIL has not been shown. Furthermore, no research has been done based on the idea of whether hepatotoxicity can be avoided by adding TRAIL-R1/R2 selectivity to agonistic antibodies.
An effective therapeutic means against malignant tumors involves removing carcinoma cells and protecting normal tissues or cells. A drug whose action mechanism is apoptosis induction by the recombinant human TRAIL may cause damages to normal tissues, particularly the liver and the brain, even if it is able to remove carcinoma cells.
Currently, monoclonal antibodies such as a chimeric antibody targeting CD20, which is a receptor present on the cell membrane, and a humanized antibody targeting Her2/neu are used against malignant tumors as target diseases, and their therapeutic effects have been recognized. Since antibodies have characteristics including a long half-life in blood and high specificity to antigens, they are particularly useful as anti-tumor agents. For example, in the case of antibodies targeting tumor-specific antigens, the administered antibodies are assumed to accumulate in tumors. Thus, attack against carcinoma cells by the immune system can be expected by complement-dependent cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. In addition, the binding of a drug such as a radionuclide, a cytotoxic substance or the like to the antibodies enables the efficient delivery of the drug bound to the antibody to tumor sites. At the same time, reduced side effects can be expected due to decreased amounts of the drug having reached other non-specific tissues. When tumor-specific antigens have activity to induce cell death, antibodies having agonistic activity are administered, and when tumor-specific antigens are involved in cell proliferation and survival, antibodies having neutralization activity are administered. And then, the accumulation of tumor-specific antibodies and suppression of tumor growth or regression of tumors due to the activity of the antibodies can be expected.
It is thought to be appropriate to apply antibodies as anti-tumor agents because of the characteristics described above. In addition, if antibodies are those against TRAIL receptors, antibodies that may be obtained can avoid causing damage to the liver, which is unable to avoid with the recombinant human TRAIL, and have equivalent apoptosis-inducing activity against carcinoma cells.

Abstract: (a) having activity to induce apoptosis in carcinoma cells expressing TRAIL-R1 and/or TRAIL-R2;

Abstract: (b) not having effect on normal human cells expressing TRAIL-R1 and/or TRAIL-R2; and

Abstract: (c) not inducing human hepatocyte toxicity.


An apparatus has a multi-eye image pickup apparatus comprising left and right image pickup systems for picking up two images, left and right image memories for storing the left and right images picked up by the left and right image pickup systems, a corresponding point extracting portion for determining a partial image common to the left and right images from the left and right images stored in the left and right image memories, a combining conversion portion and a combined image memory for combining the left and right images to form an image, based on the result of determination by the corresponding point extracting portion, and an image outputting portion for separating the image combined by the combining conversion portion and then stored in the combined image memory, into separate images to output the separate images as images for constructing a panorama image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus using an image pickup apparatus employing image pickup devices such as the CCD (charge coupled device), and more particularly to an image processing apparatus using a multi-eye image pickup apparatus consisting of a plurality of image pickup devices and imaging optical systems such as lenses, etc.
2. Related Background Art
There are recently proposed multi-eye image pickup apparatus for producing a wide panorama image or a high-definition image, having a plurality of image pickup systems each composed of an imaging optical system and an image pickup device, by which images of a common object are taken whereby image signals obtained from the respective image pickup devices are used to produce a combined image.
As a method for obtaining the panorama image there is one in which a plurality of image pickup systems simultaneously take a plurality of images different in object region, a same object existing in the images is extracted, and the images are combined based on information about relative positions between the images of the object, thus obtaining a combined panorama image. As a method for obtaining the high-definition image there is one in which a same object exiting in the images is extracted similarly as in case of the panorama image and an interpolation process is carried out based on information about relative positions in the images to newly obtain a high-definition image.
FIG. 12 shows an example of a multi-eye image pickup apparatus based on the principle of the method for obtaining the high-definition image, in which there are a left image pickup system 1010.sub.L and a right image pickup system 1010.sub.R and images of an object 1101 are taken by the left image pickup system 1010.sub.L and the right image pickup system 1010.sub.R. An image processing apparatus 1120 performs corresponding point extraction from a left image I.sub.L obtained by the left image pickup system 1010.sub.L and a right image I.sub.R obtained by the right image pickup system 1010.sub.R to combine them with each other, whereby a single, higher-definition output image I.sub.out is obtained as compared with the image of the object taken by each single image pickup system.


A method (250) for signaling a facsimile pass through mode over a voice over internet protocol voice service is disclosed. The method (250) includes: establishing (260) a voice over internet protocol call; detecting (270) that a facsimile tone has been received by a sender; and sending (280) a facsimile pass through notify message, from the sender, in response to detecting that the facsimile tone has been received. Advantageously, the method 250 can be adapted to inform the voice over internet protocol service provider about the details of an ongoing facsimile call in pass through mode. Advantageously, this can provide usage information, quality of transmission information, billing information and other useful information.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a method for signaling a facsimile pass through mode over a VOIP voice service.
2. Introduction
Due to the advancement in high speed bandwidth transmission to home users, many cable operators and Passive Optical Network operators have chosen to provide Triple Play services (Voice, Video and Data services) over an IP backbone. For example, Verizon provides Triple Play services to its Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) customers and uses Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP or Voice Over IP), Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and Real Time Protocol (RTP) for voice services. Based on an end user needs, various types of Optical Network Terminals (ONT) are chosen.
SIP is used as a signaling protocol between Optical Network Terminals (ONTs) via the Optical Line Terminals (OLTs) and the endpoints are connected to the ports available in the Optical Network Terminals. Verizon supports Class-5 supplementary services for voice.
When using a facsimile pass through mode of signaling over VOIP voice service in ONTs, there is a need for using SIP signaling to indicate a facsimile pass through, rather than indicate a two way call.
The following steps show how the FAX Pass thru mode is typically chosen: First, User A goes off hook and dials User B's number. This information gets passed to User B via SIP signaling from one ONT device to another via Optical Line Terminals (OLT).
Next, User B is alerted and goes off hook and answers the call. Both Users A and B use a vocoder, such as G711U codec, via SDP negotiation done via INVITE-200 OK-ACK messages.
Next, according to "draft-ietf-sipping-realtimefax-01.txt" and "draft-mule-sip-t38callflows-01.txt", User B would send a re-INVITE request back to User A requesting codec T.38 only if it supports it. But, in the case where User B does not support the T.38 codec, it would stay with the already negotiated codec G711U codec.
And next, when User A sends a fax detect tone, User B detects it and starts the fax reception. But, user A is not notified that the fax tone is detected and therefore, the call status of User A as seen on Network switching device OLT (Optical Line Termination) is "2 way" instead of a "fax call". This is a problem with facsimile communications in connection with OLTs and ONTs.
Therefore, when it comes to billing the caller for a "fax call" made, the status of this call would be shown as a "2way" call instead of a "fax call". Applicant is not aware of a solution provided in relevant standards for a method for signaling a facsimile pass through mode over a VOIP voice service.
There is yet a further need to provide enhanced tracking of calls, for enhancing usage information, quality of service and improved billing, which can use many components already found in communication systems utilizing VOIP voice service. Thus, a method that addresses these issues and problems would be considered an improvement in the art.

Method for signaling a facsimile pass through mode over a VOIP voice service


At least a mobile terminal 10, base station radio apparatuses 20a and 20b that communicate with the mobile terminal 10, and a radio base station control apparatus 30 that controls the transmission powers of the base station radio apparatuses 20a and 20b are at least provided. When a handover function test is performed between cells that are covered by the base station radio apparatuses 20a and 20b, the radio base station control apparatus 30 calculates a difference between the levels of the reception fields of the base station radio apparatuses 20a and 20b that cover the cells for which the handover test of the mobile terminal 10 is to be performed. Then, the radio base station control apparatus 30 controls the transmission powers of the base station radio apparatuses 20a and 20b so that the difference is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value. Thereafter, the radio base station control apparatus 30 performs the handover function test between the cells covered by the base station radio apparatuses 20a and 20b, the difference between the levels of the reception fields from which is equal to or smaller than the threshold value.

For a spectrum spread mobile communication system, when a soft/softer handover testing function between two cells is to be performed, a location must be searched for whereat a transmission wave can be received from two base station radio apparatuses that cover these two cells, and whereat an electric field environment is a soft/softer handover enabled environment.
However, it is difficult for a requested soft/softer handover area between cells to be searched for in an actual field, because the radio environment can not be predicted.
It is also believed that a soft/softer handover test can be performed while a radio environment is being searched for by employing, for the test, a measurement device that can measure the radio environment. As disadvantages in this case, a measurement device for measuring the radio environment is necessary and time for finding the radio environment is required.
Thus, there has been proposed a base station testing apparatus of a CDMA type, for example, that reproduces the softer handover state between arbitrary sectors by controlling three coupling levels between the mobile terminal of the base station testing apparatus and multiple sector compatible transmitter/receivers of a base station, i.e., a coupling level indicating the best call connection state, a coupling level indicating a call connection start enabling state and a coupling level indicating a call disconnection state, and that can perform a softer handover function test by reproduction of this softer handover state (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-252588).
However, when a handover function test is to be conducted using the above described testing apparatus, not only is such a testing apparatus required, but also there is a problem in that the control process may become complicated, because three coupling levels, i.e., the coupling level for the best call connection state, the coupling level for the call connection start enabling state and the coupling level for the call disconnection level, must be controlled between the mobile terminal of the base station testing apparatus that performs the test and the multiple sector compatible transmitter/receivers of the base station.

Handover function testing method and spectrum spread mobile communications system


A system can comprise a plurality of containers that are coupled together as a movable unit. A plurality of container-feeding assemblies can be configured to simultaneously deliver respective yarns into respective containers of the plurality of containers. A header can be selectively attachable to a tufting machine, the header having a longitudinal axis. A retainer can be configured to extend across the header along the longitudinal axis to secure the respective yarns in respective positions relative to each other along the longitudinal axis.

Yarn is conventionally transported on yarn packages, or yarn cones, that are stacked (e.g., in three layers of twelve yarn packages per layer) and transported from a heatset tunnel to a creel for further processing. A yarn package can often weigh between ten and twenty pounds. Thus, a substantial amount of labor is required to handle and transport the yarn packages from the heatset tunnel to the creel. Additionally, creels take up large amounts of space (having a cost associated therewith), and can be an ergonomic concern, requiring operators to work over their heads to load heavy yarn packages. Accordingly, an alternative to using a creel is desirable.

Methods and devices for transporting yarn


The present invention provides a method and apparatus for a self-cleaning valve assembly. The valve is adapted to cycle and thereby clean the valve assembly in response to one or more predefined parameters which are programmed into a programmable controller. The valve is additionally configured to cycle according to one or more of several different methods which have been shown to efficiently clean the valve assembly. In this manner, the valve assembly is automatically cleaned improving the efficiency thereof and eliminating stuck valve warranty returns.

Since debris can build up in a valve assembly over time and thereby increase valve friction, it is desirable to provide a self-cleaning valve assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the self-cleaning valve assembly of the present invention is implemented in a transmission; however, it should be appreciated that the self-cleaning valve assembly may be used with any number of other devices as well.
The industry standard for valve bore clearances on transmission control systems is 0.0008″ to 0.0023″ diametrical clearance. This allows for 0.0005″ total tolerance on the valve diameter and 0.001″ total tolerance on the valve bore. These tolerances are well established and it is difficult to reduce the tolerance further without much more expensive part processing. It has been observed that if the filtration system does not filter out debris greater than 0.0008″, there is the potential for debris to cause valve sticking. Typically, automotive filters trap debris at sizes above 0.0024″. While higher filtration levels can provide better protection, such filters plug too quickly to be practical.
Valves are particularly sensitive to debris that is about the same size as the valve clearance. Single particles can be wedged between valve and valve body, solidly sticking the valve. Another situation can occur where particles smaller than the diametral clearance can accumulate between the valve and the valve body and gradually increase friction to the point that valve stroke times are delayed or the valve momentarily sticks. Large buildups can cause friction to overcome the return spring force causing the valve to stick in a stroked position.


Valves 4,5 are disposed in such a portion which is defined in an end portion of a piston 30 of an adjusting cylinder body 1 and which does not contact a load giving body 7, thereby preventing deformation by compression caused in incorporation positions of the valves 4,5 and leakage of a filling within the cylinder body 1.

FIG. 3 shows a running portion of an ordinary crawler type vehicle. As shown, the running portion thereof is disposed with a driving wheel at one part of a truck frame 8 and with an idle wheel 10 at another part thereof, and is wrapped thereover with a crawler 11. For adjusting tension of the crawler 11, there is disposed an adjusting cylinder 1 via a buffer spring 12 within the truck frame 8 at the side of the idle wheel 10.
FIGS. 4 and 5 show exemplified structures having such an adjusting cylinder. The tension of the crawler is adjusted by adjusting the cylinder strokes by charing into or discharging a filling such as a grease out of the adjusting cylinder body 1. Therefore, a filling valve 4 for pouring the filling and a relief valve 5 for discharging it are disposed in the cylinder communicating with a grease passage 6, respectively (FIG. 4 shows an example where the valves 4,5 are placed in a piston portion 3, and FIG. 5 shows another example where the valves 4,5 are placed in a cylinder part 2).
Meantime, it has recently been found that the adjusting cylinder is effected with compressive load of pressure as high as from several ten to hundred tons, caused by getting foreign matters into the crawler while running (shown with (A) portions). When the cylinder receives the compressive load of such high pressure, the portion incorporated with the valves is compressively deformed, whereby a valve seat surface is deformed into an ellipse, the filling gets out of the cylinder and the adjustment about loosening of the crawler does not go ahead.
As a countermeasure thereagainst, it will be assumed that the tension adjusting cylinder is made large scaled so that the area of receiving the pressure due to the compressive load is increased, resulting in decreasing a compressive stress. However cost-up cannot be inevitably involved in company with making large scale, and the large scale is limited by sizes in running parts of the vehicle, and it is difficult to realize such a countermeasure.
Further, it may be also theoretically considered that the valves incorporated part is disposed outside of the adjusting cylinder body by such as a hose, however this is not an actual structure because an ultra high pressure is generated thereabout.
In view of the above mentioned circumstances of the prior art, the invention has been designed and is to provide an improved structure incorporated with the valves, in which the valves incorporated portion is prevented from the compressive deformation so as to avoid the leakage of the filling within the cylinder, so that the adjustment of the crawler may be well performed.

Valves incorporated structure in a tension adjusting cylinder body for a crawler type vehicle


A soap foam dispenser which includes a metering pump and an air pump having pistons that are arranged in a mutually parallel relationship. An actuating lever for the dispenser is arranged so that it is movable in a direction of displacement of the two pistons. A movable housing cover serves as the actuating lever and is movable in a direction of the travelling path of the two pistons.

The invention concerns a soap foam dispenser having a storage container for a soap solution, a metering pump for the soap solution, an air pump for the feed of foaming air, and a movable actuating lever for simultaneous actuation of both pumps.
A soap foam dispenser of that kind is to be found for example in EP-A-19 582. A hand lever which is arranged beneath the dispenser and which is to be pulled towards the user is pivotably connected to the pistons of the two pumps, the piston of the metering pump being displaced horizontally and the piston of the air pump being displaced vertically.
Now the object of the present invention is to improve the actuating mechanism of the two pumps and for that purpose the invention proposes that the two pumps have pistons which are arranged in mutually parallel relationship and the actuating lever is movable in the direction of displacement of the two pistons. That arrangement therefore eliminates the actual hand lever and the coupling elements connecting it to the two pump pistons and the overall structure is simplified.

Hagleitner Betriebshygiene GES.M.B.H. & Co. KG


A position determination method in a mobile unit uses the telephone number of a wireline telephone and a reverse phone-book operation for determining the location of a mobile unit. In one embodiment, a method for determining the location of a mobile unit using a telephone number of a wireline telephone in the vicinity of the mobile unit includes receiving at a server the telephone number transmitted from the mobile unit using wireless communication through a data network, retrieving an address associated with the telephone number in the server, and retrieving a location of the mobile unit based on the address. The server may provide location-relevant information using the location information. The system and method of the present invention provides a low cost solution to position determination in wireless hand-held devices and can be used to supplement the conventional positioning systems.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and a method for position determination, and more particularly to a system and a method for determining the location of a roving mobile unit and providing location relevant information to the mobile unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, commercial applications based on positioning systems have been developed. Location-relevant services, which provide information or perform services based on the geographical location of a mobile client, are examples of such positioning system applications. A location-relevant service can be used to provide travel-related services (e.g., driving directions) based on the position of the mobile client. One example of a location-relevant service is described, for example, in copending and commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/422,116, entitled "Method for Distribution of Locality-Relevant Information using a Network" of Rodric C. Fan, filed Oct. 20, 1999 ("the '116 application"). To provide an example regarding the architecture and application of a location-relevant information system, the disclosure of the '116 application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Typically, a location-relevant system includes a location-relevant service server accessible by multiple mobile units over a communication system, which includes wireless links to the mobile units. The mobile units provide their positions based on a positioning system. The position of a mobile unit can be provided, for example, by the Global Positioning System (GPS) or, in a cellular telephone network, by a process called triangulation which is based on signal delays from system base stations of known fixed locations. Due to technology limitations at the present time, it is costly to integrate the capabilities of both positioning and wireless communication of such a mobile unit into a hand-held device, such as a mobile telephone or a personal digital assistant (PDA).
Even if a hand-held device is equipped with a positioning system, inherent shortcomings of existing positioning system technology limit the hand-held device's ability to determine its position solely based on the positioning system. Often, there are geographical areas in which the positioning system does not function, such as when the positioning system is not able to acquire the necessary positioning signals. For example, when GPS is used for position determination, a GPS receiver must be able to observe four or more GPS satellites in orbit around the earth and acquire information from the GPS satellites. Because a GPS receiver requires an unobstructed view of the GPS satellites, the GPS receiver typically does not work well indoors where the satellite signals may be obstructed or weak, or in urban areas where buildings often obstruct the view of the GPS satellites. On the other hand, when position determination using triangulation in a cellular telephone network is used, the hand-held device must be able to obtain signals from three surrounding base stations. Thus, such a positioning system relies on the availability of cellular base stations in the area and typically has limited service range.
Nonetheless, there is a great demand in incorporating position determination capability in a wireless mobile unit, particularly in a hand-held device, to enable a user of the mobile unit to conveniently obtain location-relevant information. Furthermore, recent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandate for enhanced 911 emergency services (E911) requires a wireless telephone to be capable of providing location information for 911 calls. Thus, position determination in wireless telephones is becoming a necessity in order to meet the requirements of the E911 service.
A position determination method using the United States zip code has been described. To determine a user's current location, the user of a mobile unit keys in the 5-digit United States zip code of the area the user is currently located. The location-relevant service uses the zip code to determine the current location of the mobile unit. This method has several shortcomings. First, the position determination is not accurate because the method only determines in which geographical area covered by that zip code the mobile unit is located. The geographical area covered by a zip code can be very large. Thus, the zip code based position determination can only provide a gross estimate of the mobile unit's location. Second, the zip code based position determination method requires the user of a mobile unit to know the zip code of her current location. However, when the user is lost or traveling in an unfamiliar area, it is not likely that the user would know the zip code of her current location. Therefore, the zip code based position determination method is not practical in operation.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide means for obtaining location information of mobile units, particularly in areas where the existing positioning systems cannot provide adequate service.

Method for obtaining location information of a mobile unit using a wireline telephone number


The semiconductor package includes two electrical contacts and a semiconductor device coupled to opposing sides of a substrate. The substrate defines at least one via extending at least partially there through. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor low-speed interface electrically coupled to one of the electrical contacts through the via, and a semiconductor high-speed interface electrically coupled to flexible tape. The flexible tape is also electrically coupled to the other one of the electrical contacts.

As computer systems evolve, so does the demand for increased speed and performance. Since semiconductor packages (also known as integrated circuit (IC) or chip packages) continue to have a significant effect on system performance, packaging design has also continued to evolve to keep pace with the demand for increased performance. In fact, as system frequency and edge-rate speeds increase, package effects have become increasingly significant. These package effects present system designers with numerous challenges when designing packages. For example, system designers need to take into consideration: trace impedance, crosstalk, skew and mostly impedance discontinuities at the semiconductor-to-substrate interface, at the substrate itself and at the substrate-to-PCB (printed circuit board) interface.
The semiconductor-to-substrate interface in ball grid array (BGA) packages is usually made via bonding wires or flip-chip bumps. This creates impedance discontinuities at the semiconductor-to-substrate interface, which may be minimized with lower bump heights or shorter wire lengths. Similarly, solder balls at the substrate-to-PCB board interface also cause impedance discontinuities, which may be controlled using anti-pads on the substrate and/or PCB. However, these lower bump heights, shorter wire lengths or anti-pads increase design complexity and may not be suitable for some package constructions.
Furthermore, vias and dielectric materials used in conventional, low cost, laminate substrates also create problems for high-speed signaling. For example, through-hole vias that extend through multi-layer substrates often form unused portions or stubs that add parasitic capacitance and produce signal reflections, both of which degrade signal quality. Although back-drilling and other techniques may be used to reduce the stub portions of the vias, such efforts further increase manufacturing costs and may not be suitable or possible for some package constructions. More recently, ceramic substrates with smaller vias or substrates with controllable build-up layers and smaller vias have been used in BGA packages to control the impedance discontinuities for high-speed signals. However, these new substrates are usually very expensive. Accordingly, current substrates are either lost cost with low performance or high cost with high performance. Accordingly, a high performance, but low cost, substrate to be used in a semiconductor package would be highly desirable.
Moreover, as current package designs may include both high-speed and low-speed signals, not all of the signals require the detailed design attention given to high-speed signals. Accordingly, a system that only addresses package effects for high-speed signals would be highly desirable.
Like reference numerals refer to the same or similar components throughout the several views of the drawings.

Semiconductor package with low and high-speed signal paths


In a moving mechanism, a contact is disposed on a moving body, and the contact is in contact with a positioning member so as to move the moving body by 180 degrees. With this structure, the accurate regulation of the position of the moving body can be realized with only a slight improvement in the conventional moving mechanism, and the object can be inexpensively realized. Also, since the position detecting means, the signal processing means, etc., are not required other than the moving mechanism, necessary and sufficient functions can be realized with the minimum structure without requiring excessive energy and space.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a moving mechanism and an electronic device with the moving mechanism, and more particularly to a moving mechanism characterized in that a positioning mechanism is disposed on a moving body and an electronic device with such a moving mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
Up to now, there has been known a moving mechanism provided with an actuator that rotates a moving body in response to a signal emitted from a drive circuit. For example, a drive signal of a given frequency is produced by a variable transmitter and then applied to a piezo-electric vibrator (piezoelectric element) through a power amplifier, to thereby allow the piezo-electric vibrator to generate an oscillatory wave. Also, the piezo-electric vibrator transmits the oscillatory wave to a vibrating body which is formed of an elastic body to which the piezo-electric vibrator is joined, and a substance which is in contact with the elastic body under a given pressure, that is, an ultrasonic motor that operates the moving body is exemplified as a conventional moving mechanism with that actuator (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 8-251952).
However, in the conventional moving mechanism thus structure, although a driving force that allows the moving body to move in a given direction can be obtained, because there exists no means for detecting a position of the moving body or regulating the moving amount, the position of the moving body cannot be accurately fixed at a given position.
Also, there has been proposed a method in which positional information is detected by an encoder or the like to control the actuator as means for accurately detecting and regulating the position of the moving body. However,the encoder per se is expensive, and also in order to move the moving body to a desired position, means for processing the positional information outputted from the encoder and means for controlling the actuator are required, thereby leading to a circumstance in which the device is not prevented from being complicated or large-sized and the product price is not prevented from rising.
The present invention has been made to eliminate the above problems, and therefore an object of the present invention is to obtain a moving mechanism which is capable of accurate positioning with a simple structure without using detecting means such as an encoder.
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a moving mechanism, comprising: an actuator that rotates a moving body; a support plate having said actuator; a positioning member disposed on said support member; a first contact disposed on said moving body; and a second contact disposed on said moving body; wherein said first contact and said positioning member are in contact with each other when said moving body rotates clockwise, said second contact and said positioning member are in contact with each other when said moving body rotates counterclockwise, and a movement angle, between a position at which said first contact of said moving body and said positioning member are in contact with each other and a position at which said second contact of said moving body and said positioning member are in contact with each other, is 180 degrees.
According to the above structure, because the accurate regulation of the position of the moving body can be realized with only a slight improvement in the conventional moving mechanism, the above object can be achieved inexpensively, resulting in a high economical effect. Also, since the position detecting means, the signal processing means, etc., are not required other than the moving mechanism, necessary and sufficient functions are provided without requiring excessive energy and space.
In addition, with the structure in which the moving direction of the moving body is merely made variable, the positioning of 180 degrees is enabled, and the sure positioning can be made under simple control.
Also, according to the present invention, in the above moving mechanism, a sensor that senses the movements of said positioning member and said moving body is disposed on said positioning member or said moving body.
According to the above structure, the completion of the positioning of the moving body can be accurately sensed with the results that the useless use of an energy is suppressed, and the moving body and the contacts are prevented from being deteriorated due to the useless movement, thereby being capable of improving the durability.
Also, according to the present invention, in the above moving mechanism, an ultrasonic motor is used for said actuator.
According to the above structure, a retaining torque is provided even at the time of the non-energization of the ultrasonic motor, thereby being capable of realizing a power saving structure which does not require a power for retaining the position of the moving body when the positioning of the moving body is completed. Also, since the ultrasonic motor is different in operating principle from the electromagnetic actuator which has been frequently employed up to now, a structure which has not been found up to now such that the thinning of the device in the direction of a rotating axis can be expected can be realized.
In addition, since the torque is large as compared with the electromagnetic actuator of the same volume, the downsizing of the device can be realized.
Further, according to the present invention, in said moving mechanism, at least one optical fiber that penetrates said moving body and projects toward said support plate side is disposed on said moving body, at least one optical fiber that projects toward said moving body side is disposed on said support plate, and an optical path that passes through the optical fiber disposed on said moving body and the optical fiber disposed on said support plate is changed by the movement of said moving body.
According to the above structure, the position of the optical fiber disposed on the moving body is changed in accordance with the rotation of the moving body, thereby being capable of completing a switch mechanism that selects the combination of the lights that pass through the optical fiber disposed on the moving body and the optical fiber disposed on the support plate. In particular, for example, in the case where a plurality of optical fibers are provided such that two optical fibers are disposed on each of the support plate and the moving body, there is obtained an excellent feature that the combination of plural pairs of optical fibers can be changed at the same time in accordance with the movement of one moving body.
Further, according to the present invention, there is provided an electronic device including the above moving mechanism therein, wherein a power is supplied to the actuator that constitutes the moving mechanism from a power supply disposed within the device, and the driving of the actuator is controlled by a control section.
The electronic device includes all of electronic devices to which the moving mechanisms of an optical switch, a measuring device, various light source generating devices such as a laser beam generating device, a light receiving device, a communication switching device, an optical circuit, etc., are applicable.
According to the present invention, with the above structure, the electronic device with the moving mechanism capable of positioning the moving body can be realized.

Moving mechanism having a positioning mechanism and electronic device with the moving mechanism


A heat-melting glue gun including a body shell in which a heating member containing a heat-melting glue stick, a glue stick feeding means, a gas cylinder, and a current producer are mounted. A conduit pipe extends from the gas cylinder to end with a nozzle located below the heating member which is wrapped with a layer of thermal conductive net with good heat transfer ability. Wire lines having first ends connected to positive and negative electrodes of the current producer extend their second ends to points properly above the nozzle. When a flint in the current producer is struck, an instantaneous current is generated to cause a short-circuit spark to occur between the two second ends of the wire lines. Gas supplied from the gas cylinder and jetting from the nozzle is ignited by the spark to burn below the heating member, causing the glue stick in the heating member to be heat melted.

The present invention relates to an improved heat-melting glue gun which has simple and compact structure and is more convenient for use.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional heat-melting glue gun 10 which includes a heating member 11 receiving a heat-melting glue stick 20 therein. The heating member 11 is heated by high temperature caused by an electric resistance, so that the heat-melting glue stick 20 in the heating member is melted to bond things together.
In brief, the conventional heat-melting glue gun 10 utilizes electric resistance to produce thermal energy needed to melt the glue stick 20. To achieve this purpose, a wire 12 must be provided as an interface between the glue gun and an electric power source to produce necessary electric resistance. The wire 12 usually has limited length and therefore, an extension cord is frequently needed when a long distance exists between a socket--the electric power source--and a place at where a gluing work proceeds. Such prolonged wire will often bring inconvenience to a user of the heat-melting glue gun. Moreover, the high-temperature heating member 11 will possibly unexpectedly contact with and destroy the electric wire skin and causes exposed conductors of the wire 12. A dangerous electric shock will occur when the heated heating member 11 unexpectedly contacts with an exposed conductor.
In a worse condition, when the skin of the wire 12 is melted by the heating member 11 to expose conductors for the positive and negative electrodes and the two conductors are electrically connected through the heating member 11, a serious short circuit will occur to injure the user and even cause a fire.
Another disadvantage existing in such conventional heat-melting glue gun is that a very high power consumption is needed to produce thermal energy through electric resistance. This is, of course, unacceptable from an energy-saving point of view.
It is therefore tried by the inventor to develop an improved heat-melting glue gun with simple components and structure to eliminate the drawbacks existing in the conventional heat-melting glue gun.


An adjustable X-Y stage (10) comprises a single monolithic member from which regions have been cut to define a central mounting portion (19), a peripheral frame portion (20) a plurality of moveable portions (21), each located between the central mounting portion and the peripheral frame portion, a plurality of first spring portions (22), each interconnecting one of the moveable portions to the central mounting portion, and a plurality of second spring portions (23), each being adjacent a moveable portion and each interconnecting the peripheral frame portion to the central mounting portion. A plurality of screws (12-15), each adapted to extend through the peripheral frame portion (20), engages one of the moveable portions (21) to permit adjustments of the central mounting portion (19) in transverse X and Y directions.

As greater use of photonics devices is made for such purposes as optical communications and optical computing, there has developed a demand for components that can aid in the assembly of apparatus used in such systems. It has long been recognized that appropriate packaging apparatus must be developed which will aid in the assembly of photonics and optical components with relative alignments that are extremely precise. For example, it is not uncommon that lasers or laser arrays must be packaged with alignment tolerances that are accurate to within one or less than one micron. The copending application of Basavanhally et al., Ser. No. 07/705,229, filed May 24, 1991, describes the need for accurately aligned optical fiber bundles. Photodetectors, photodetector arrays, lens arrays, mirrors, and other optical devices all perform various functions within optical systems and may require great precision in their alignment within packages.
There is a great deal of literature concerning general adjustment of optical devices, but comparatively little concerning adjustments with tolerances in the micron or sub-micron range. When such high precision is required, friction between component elements usually leads to nonlinearities due to sticking and slipping motions, hysteresis, wear, and other factors. Flexture structures have been proposed for avoiding some of such nonlinearities, but such structures usually do not provide X direction motion that is completely independent of Y direction motion. Piezoelectric elements have been used to give small incremental movements, but it would often be useful for such small movements to be accurately deamplified.
Accordingly, there is a continuing long-felt need for methods and apparatus that permit optical and photonics devices to be packaged within X-Y adjustment stages with X and Y direction alignment tolerances in the micron or sub-micron range, and which are relatively simple to use.