An audio codec control technique is provided with improved multichannel data ordering capabilities. An audio codec controller comprises a first interface unit for performing data transfer to and from an audio codec, a second interface unit for performing data transfer from an external memory, and a data buffer for buffering data received from the external memory via the second interface unit. The controller further comprises a capture register for receiving from the data buffer data requested by the audio codec, and temporarily storing the received data. The first interface unit is connected to receive temporarily stored data from the capture register. The operation of the audio codec controller may be done in several operational modes including 2, 4, and 6-channel full-rate and half-rate modes.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to audio codec controllers such as AC (Audio Codec) '97 controllers, and in particular to the data transfer between such controllers and an audio codec.
2. Description of the Related Art
Present computer systems such as personal computers are usually provided with audio capabilities and include sound cards and speakers. PC (Personal Computer) audio hardware and applications are advancing fast, and there are a lot of fascinating new applications, including 3D gaming with positional audio, DVD playback, internet telephony, voice-recognition software, and so on. Many of these new applications require expensive sound cards while other applications can be used with low cost hardware.
Many motherboards include a specific sound chip on-board for providing built in audio capabilities. Other motherboards can provide such functionality without requiring the provision of a specific integrated circuit chip that does all the audio signal processing. Instead, such motherboards may include circuitry in compliance with the AC '97 specification. The AC '97 functionality may be performed by the chipset on the motherboard, e.g. by a southbridge device.
The AC '97 specification defines an audio codec architecture and digital interface which is specifically designed for implementing audio and modem I/O functionality in mainstream PC systems. In such architecture, an interface is provided that allows audio data to be processed in a rather inexpensive additional chip which includes an analog-to-digital converter together with some additional analog circuits. The real audio data processing is however done by the CPU (Central Processing Unit) of the computer system. An AC '97 architecture is shown in FIG. 1. The system includes an audio codec controller 110 which is also referred to as digital controller hereafter, and a set of, e.g., two codecs 180, 190. The codecs 180, 190 may be located on a circuit board or card 120, and there may be a primary codec 180 and a secondary codec 190. The codecs may be audio codecs, modem codecs, or combined audio/modem codecs, and both codecs 180, 190 may be provided in one or two physically separate integrated circuit chips.
The codecs 180, 190 perform digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital conversion, mixing, and analog I/O for audio (or modem) purposes, and always function as slaves to the audio codec controller 110. The controller is typically either a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) accelerator or a controller that comes integrated within core logic chipsets. The digital link that connects the audio codec controller 110 to the codecs 180, 190 is a bi-directional, 5-wire, serial TDM (Time Division Multiplexing) format interface, referred to as AC-link. The AC-link supports connections between a single audio codec controller 110 and up to four codecs 180, 190.
The audio codec controller 110 is further connected to the host memory 100 of the computer system, e.g. by means of a PCI bus. In the audio codec controller 110, there are respective interface controllers 130, 140 for controlling the data transfer at both interfaces. That is, the digital controller 110 comprises a bus master controller 130 and an AC-link interface controller 140.
As can be seen from FIG. 1, the audio codec controller 110 further comprises an input FIFO (first-in-first-out) buffer 150 and an output FIFO buffer 160 which are controlled by the FIFO controller 170. The buffers 150, 160 store data relating to one of the two independent data streams of the incoming and outgoing traffic. That is, the bus master controller 130 accesses the host memory 100 to receive audio data needed by one of the codecs 180, 190. The received data are stored in the output FIFO buffer 160 and are there made available to the AC-link interface controller 140 to be sent to the codec 180, 190. The input FIFO buffer 150 performs the corresponding function with respect to the data stream which originates at the codecs 180, 190.
In such audio sub-systems, there may be more than two channels in use. Particularly in 6-channel configurations, there may be separate channels for audio left-front, right-front, left-rear, right-rear, center-front, and subwoofer. In such cases, the handling of the output FIFO buffer 160 by FIFO controller 170 becomes rather difficult, and in particular the AC-link interface controller 140 needs to be provided with complicated hardware circuitry for accessing the output FIFO buffer 160 when building the serial data for the AC-link. This may lead to significant circuit development and manufacturing costs.

Data transfer in audio codec controllers


A tube blank 2' whose inside is divided into an air chamber 3 and a sealant chamber 7 by a partition wall 5, is formed by extrusion and cut into a predetermined length. An air valve 6 is mounted to the tube blank 2' to communicate with the air chamber 3 and then, opposite ends of the tube blank is bonded by pressure bonding and vulcanized. A sealant charging bore 4.sub.1 is formed in the tube blank 2' to communicate with the sealant chamber 7. Thereafter, air is supplied to the air chamber 3 through the air valve 6 to urge the partition wall 5, thereby expelling the air from the sealant chamber 7. In this state, a sealant is supplied into the sealant chamber 7 through the sealant charging bore 4.sub.1. The sealant charging bore 4.sub.1 is closed by affixing a raw rubber sheet 19 and vulcanizing it.

In a usual tube-incorporated tire, if a tube gets a punctured wound caused by a nail or the like, air in the tube is leaked from the punctured wound through a small clearance between the tire and the tube and via a nipple bore in the rim to the outside and, the tire becomes flat.
Therefore, there is a conventionally known tube-incorporated tire including a liquid sealant which is previously injected in an appropriate amount for automatic emergence repairing of a puncture when the tube is punctured (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 58-74342).
In the above known tire, however, a capsule filled with the sealant is incorporated into the tube in forming the tube, and after the formation, the capsule is broken to charge the sealant into the tube. For this reason, when an external force is applied to break the capsule, not only the tube is prone to be damaged, but also the sealant may clog an air valve of the tube, and may clog a pressure gauge when an air pressure within the tube is measured.
To solve this problem, the inside of the tube may be divided into an air chamber filled with air, and a sealant chamber filled with the sealant, and the sealant may be charged directly into the sealant chamber without use of a capsule.

Process for producing sealant-contained tire tube


A microblind system has an array of overhanging stressed microblinds, each having an anchor portion attached a substrate and a mobile portion. The microblinds are responsive to electrostatic forces to mutate between a deployed configuration wherein the mobile portion obscure the substrate and a curled configuration wherein the mobile portion exposes the substrate. A transparent conductive layer permits the application of an electric field to the microblinds.

Low emission coatings have been applied on windows to limit the transmission of IR (heat) through the windows. These coatings are very widespread; however they are characterized by fixed transmission characteristics. For optimal energy efficiency, windows should allow the transmission of IR in the winter so it contributes to heating the building, and block it in the summer to help the building stay cool. The amount of visible light should also be tuned to optimise the comfort of ambient conditions to users and minimize the amount of general lighting needed.
Smart windows, in which the light transmission through the window can be controlled, have been developed using electrochromic layers, liquid crystals and suspended particles. Automated blinds systems located between two glass panes or inside buildings have also been developed.
Current technology for smart windows, which is mainly based on the use of electrochromic layers, has severe limitations in terms of lifetime, speed, maximum IR transmission and visual aspect. Macroblinds have also very severe drawbacks such as cost, reliability and visual appearance.
Rolling electrodes have been employed in telecommunications applications as, for example, light modulators. Such devices typically have small dimensions, in the order of 1 mm to 1 cm.

Microblinds and a method of fabrication thereof


An electrode composition for a lithium ion battery having the formula SixSnqMyCz where q, x, y, and z represent atomic percent values and (a) (q+x)>2y+z; (b) q≧0, (c) z≧0; and (d) M is one or more metals selected from manganese, molybdenum, niobium, tungsten, tantalum, iron, copper, titanium, vanadium, chromium, nickel, cobalt, zirconium, yttrium, or a combination thereof. The Si, Sn, M, and C elements are arranged in the form of a multi-phase microstructure comprising: (a) an amorphous phase comprising silicon; (b) a nanocrystalline phase comprising a metal silicide; and (c) a phase comprising silicon carbide phase when z>0; and (d) an amorphous phase comprising Sn when q>0.

Metal alloys have been proposed as anodes for lithium ion batteries. These alloy-type anodes generally exhibit higher capacities relative to intercalation-type anodes such as graphite. One problem with such alloys, however, is that they often exhibit relatively poor cycle life and poor coulombic efficiency due to fragmentation of the alloy particles during the expansion and contraction associated with compositional changes in the alloys.

Silicon-containing alloys useful as electrodes for lithium-ion batteries


Embodiments of the invention include methods and materials for preparing organic semiconducting layers, for example one used in an organic semiconductor device including a substrate with a nanostructured surface and a polymeric semiconductor film overlying the nanostructured surface. Aspects of the invention use capillary action to modulate polymer chain self-assembly on a surface and unidirectional alignment at a critical buried interface where charge carriers migrate between a dielectric and the polymer. By controlling the properties of the surfaces upon which polymers are disposed, artisans can enhance the transistor saturated mobilities of conjugated polymers.

There is great interest in a new generation of electronic devices which use organic semiconductors as their active components, such as organic light-emitting transistors (OLETs) and organic photovoltaics (OPVs). In particular, there is interest in conjugated polymer based organic semiconductors because they combine the electrical properties of semiconductors with the mechanical properties of plastics. Furthermore, since these materials can be processed relatively inexpensively with techniques such as spin-coating and ink jet printing, conjugated polymers are finding increased applications in optoelectronic devices such as plastic light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and photovoltaic cells. With an ability to form active layers in these types of electronic devices, conjugated polymers provide promising materials for optimizing the performance of existing devices as well as the development of new devices.
Charge mobility is one of the most important factors in the performance of semiconducting polymers for use in thin-film transistors (TFTs) [1, 2] and photovoltaic cells [3-5]. The effort to boost the charge-carrier mobility of conjugated polymers has spanned over thirty years [33, 42-44]. Ideal semiconducting polymers must exhibit high mobility to be competitive in TFTs and photovoltaic cells, where rapid charge transport is crucial to device performance. In polymer light-emitting diodes [6-8], electrochemical cells [9], and biosensors [10], however, efficient light emission is the critical factor, but charge transport is also essential. Due to the high degree of conformational freedom of macromolecular chains and the irregular interchain entanglement, polymers tend to form disordered structures at nanometer to micrometer length scales. This disorder impedes charge transport. High charge mobility can only be obtained when the polymer chains align in a linear configuration favorable for charge delocalization along the conjugated backbone. In order to allow efficient long-range transport within a polymer film, microscopic molecular packing and macroscopic anisotropic alignment must be created.
A great deal of effort has been devoted to designing new materials in order to induce anisotropic alignment of polymer chains by strengthening intermolecular interactions, such as hydrogen bonding [11], sulphur-fluorine interactions [2], and π-π stacking [12, 13]. So far, however, semiconducting polymers have not been demonstrated to self-assemble into large-scale, ordered structures. There have been many attempts to improve charge transport mobility through material processing, such as the application of shear force with the use of doctor blading [14], dip coating [15], strain stretching [16], Langmuir-Blodgett deposition [17], and topographical patterning [18]. Although these processing methods have demonstrated progress toward molecular assembly and chain alignment, the measured TFT mobilities have remained insufficient for most applications (typically less than 3 cm2V−1 s−1) [2, 15, 18].
There is no solution-based processing technology that is capable of creating semiconducting polymer thin-films showing self-assembly of aligned nanocrystalline domains with charge transport mobilities comparable to values obtained in inorganic semiconductors. A strategy to macroscopically self-assemble semiconducting polymers and thereby harness their unique potential for anisotropic charge transport is needed for enhancing their performance and accelerating their applications in technologies such as optoelectronics.

High mobility polymer thin-film transistors with capillarity-mediated self-assembly

The Regents of the University of California


A transmission/reception arrangement for a diagnostic magnetic resonance apparatus has an antenna, a matching and tuning circuit and a signal transmission line. The antenna together with the matching and tuning circuit is fashioned for exciting and/or receiving proton magnetic resonance signals having a first frequency. A reactance circuit is connected between the matching and tuning circuit and the signal transmission line. The reactance circuit is fashioned such that a reflection factor to the second transmission line substantially disappears at a second frequency. The apparatus is thus provided with the capability of conducting examinations using hyperpolarized gases, while still preserving the capability of conducting imaging with conventional proton (.sup.1 H) signals without modification.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a transmission/reception arrangement for a diagnostic magnetic resonance apparatus of the type having an antenna, a matching and tuning circuit, and a signal transmission line, the antenna being fashioned together with the matching and tuning circuit for exciting and/or receiving proton magnetic resonance signals at a particular frequency.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,467,282 discloses a transmission/reception arrangement of the above type. The apparatus has an antenna for exciting and/or receiving proton magnetic resonance signals at a frequency that is determined by the basic magnetic field. The relationship between the frequency of the magnetic resonance signals and the basic magnetic field is predetermined by the gyromagnetic constant. To compensate for detuning of the antenna as a result of the introduction of a patient to be examined into the examination volume, a matching and tuning two-port circuit is provided. The matching and tuning circuit is fundamentally composed of an adjustable series capacitance and an adjustable parallel capacitance as disclosed in detail in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,208,537. The antenna is optimized for proton imaging for employment in medical diagnostics.
Multiply resonant antenna arrangements as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,304, are employed for magnetic resonance spectroscopy examination. The matching and tuning circuit belonging to the antenna is fashioned so as to be multiply resonant therein.
Imaging with hyperpolarized gases a topic currently under active discussion in this field, for example, for imaging the lung, which offers new employment possibilities for a whole-body magnetic resonance apparatus. Imaging with inert gases such as, for example, xenon (.sup.129 Xe) and helium (.sup.3 He) that are polarized by optical pumping with a laser light source are in the foreground of the discussions involving this technique. Polarization degrees of above 50% thus can be achieved. The gyromagnetic constants of .sup.129 Xe and .sup.3 He, however, differ substantially from the gyromagnetic constant of hydrogen. Whereas hydrogen has a gyromagnetic constant of 42.7 MHZ per Tesla, the gyromagnetic constant of .sup.3 He is only approximately 32.3 MHZ per Tesla and that of .sup.129 Xe is only approximately 11.8 MHZ per Tesla. Some non-hyperpolarized gases also exhibit imaging properties that can be utilized in medical diagnostics. These Include gases that contain fluorine such as, for example, carbon tetrafloride (CF.sub.4) and sulfurhexafluoride (SF.sub.6). As in conventional proton imaging, these gases are polarized with a highly uniform basic magnetic field. The gyromagnetic constant of fluorine, at 40 MHZ per Tesla differs significantly from the gyromagnetic constant of protons. A conventional resonance apparatus thus can not be employed without further modification for imaging of hyperpolarized gases or such non-hyperpolarized gases. In particular, the employment of a conventional whole-body transmission antenna for lung imagings making use of the imaging processes of these gases would be desirable because of the large-volume and uniform excitation which could be achieved.

Transmission/reception arrangement for a diagnostic magnetic resonance apparatus


Nuclear reaction detectors capable of position sensitivity with submillimeter resolution in two dimensions are each provided by placing arrays of scintillation or wave length shifting optical fibers formed of a plurality of such optical fibers in a side-by-side relationship in X and Y directions with a layer of nuclear reactive material operatively associated with surface regions of the optical fiber arrays. Each nuclear reaction occurring in the layer of nuclear reactive material produces energetic particles for simultaneously providing a light pulse in a single optical fiber in the X oriented array and in a single optical fiber in the Y oriented array. These pulses of light are transmitted to a signal producing circuit for providing signals indicative of the X-Y coordinates of each nuclear event.

The present invention relates generally to radiation detectors employing scintillation or wave length shifting optical fiber arrays arranged in a two-dimensional X-Y plane for providing signals indicative of the locations of nuclear reactions occurring in the X-Y plane. More particularly, the present invention is directed to such radiation detectors wherein the optical fiber arrays are each provided by a plurality of side-by-side optical fibers with these optical fiber arrays disposed perpendicular to one another and in the X-Y plane and with a planar layer of nuclear reactive material operatively associated with the optical fiber arrays. Each nuclear particle or ray that contacts and reacts with the layer of nuclear reactive material will simultaneously provide a light pulse in a single optical fiber in each optical fiber array with these light pulses together being used to determine the X-Y coordinates of each nuclear reaction with a resolution of less than one millimeter (mm).
Position sensitive radiation detectors are of significant interest in many experimental and production applications. For example, the determination of essentially the precise location of neutron activity in research facilities, including those employing cold and thermal neutron scattering experiments, is often of considerable importance in achieving the goal of the research. Also, in production facilities involving nuclear activity such as in the production of tritium in a nuclear reactor, the dimensional profiles of the reactor target materials are important considerations in the operation of the reactor and the production of the tritium. Further, an accurate determination of fission density distribution in a nuclear reactor is a significant criterion in the design and operation of the reactor. Also, with the storage of fissile material in storage vaults, the imaging of the fissile material stored in each location in the vault would provide a valuable monitoring mechanism.
Various types of position sensitive neutron detectors have been recently developed and are described in the literature such as in the article, "Experience With Position-Sensitive Neutron Detectors at the Intense Pulsed Neutron Source", R. K. Crawford et al, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, A299 (1990) pp. 17-24. The position sensitive neutron detectors described in this article include detectors employing .sup.6 Li-glass scintillators in connection with multiple channel photomultiplier arrays and .sup.3 He proportional counters for providing two-dimensional (X-Y) coordinates of neutron activity with spatial resolutions in the range of about 0.7 to 14.0 mm.

Two-dimensional position sensitive radiation detectors


A calendar timepiece has a main plate, a time indicator mounted on the main plate for undergoing rotational movement to indicate time information, a date indicator mounted for undergoing rotation to indicate date information, and a date indicator driving wheel mounted on the main plate for undergoing rotation. A date jumper is disposed on the main plate and has a train wheel comprised of a date indicator setting portion for controlling rotation of the date indicator by engagement with the inner teeth portion of the date indicator. The date indicator setting portion has a first setting portion for contacting a tip of a first tooth of the date indicator, a second setting portion, and a third setting portion for contacting a tip of a second tooth of the date indicator. Each of the first, second, and third setting portions has a generally linear surface portion disposed at an angle relative to one another.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a calendar timepiece. Particularly, the invention relates to a timepiece with a calendar which incorporates a movement having a small-sized and thin-sized construction.
2. Description of the Prior Art
(1) Conventional Calendar Mechanism Disclosed in Patent Literature 1: JP-A-10-104365 (Pages 3–5, FIG. 1)
According to a conventional timepiece with calendar, an hour wheel is brought in mesh with an intermediate date indicator driving wheel of an intermediate date indicator driving wheel & pinion. An intermediate date indicator driving pinion of the intermediate date indicator driving wheel & pinion is brought in mesh with a date indicator driving wheel. A date indicator is rotatably integrated to a main plate. The date indicator is rotated by a date indicator driving finger of the date indicator driving wheel. The date indicator driving wheel includes the date indicator driving finger for rotating the date indicator and a day indicator driving finger for rotating a day indicator. A date indicator setting portion of a date jumper is engaged with an inner teeth portion of the date indicator to set rotation of the date indicator. A date jumper spring portion of the date jumper is extended in a direction reverse to a direction of rotating the date indicator with the date indicator setting portion as a reference (for example, refer to Patent Literature 1).
(2) Conventional Calendar Mechanism Disclosed in Patent Literature 2: JP-UM-A50-76863 (Pages 2–5, FIG. 1)
Further, according to another conventional timepiece with calendar, a calendar feed member having a calendar feed finger engaged with a cam provided at a date indicator driving wheel is urged in accordance with shift of an engagement point from a lower portion to a higher portion of the cam. Further, the calendar feed finger drives a calendar indicating member by an amount of one date by rotating the calendar feed member by discharging a biasing force when the engagement point is rapidly shifted from a highest portion to a lowest portion of the cam (for example, refer to Patent Literature 2).
(3) Conventional Calendar Mechanism Disclosed in Nonpatent Literature 1: "The Theory of Horology" by Charles-Andre Reymondin et al., The Swiss Federation of Technical Colleges. 1999. Pgs. 194–198.
Further, according to another conventional calendar mechanism of a timepiece, a 24 hour wheel operates a date lever. A pin of the date lever is pressed to a tooth portion of a date indicator by a return spring. A date lever spring presses the date lever to a finger of the 24 hour wheel. At midnight, the finger of the 24 hour wheel leaves a front end of the date lever and the date lever is swiftly returned to an original position by the return spring. At this occasion, the pin of the date lever rotates the date indicator (see, for example, nonpatent literature 1).
(4) Other Conventional Calendar Mechanisms:
(4•1) Structure of Calendar Apparatus
With reference to FIG. 24 and FIG. 25, according to another conventional calendar mechanism, a date indicator 920 is rotatably integrated to a main plate 902 on a back side (dial side) of a movement. A date indicator driving finger 930 is integrally provided with a date indicator driving wheel 906. The date indicator driving finger 930 rotates the date indicator 920 by rotating the date indicator driving wheel 906. A date indicator setting transmission wheel 912 is brought in mesh with a date corrector setting wheel 914. The date corrector setting wheel 914 is pivotably integrated to a circular arc long hole 902h of the main plate 902. A date corrector cam 916 is integrally provided with the date corrector setting wheel 914. Referring to FIG. 25, when the date corrector setting wheel 914 is disposed at a first position pivoted in one direction in a state in which a winding stem 910 is disposed at 1 stage, the date corrector cam 916 is brought in mesh with an inner teeth portion 920a of the date indicator 920. When the date corrector setting wheel 914 is disposed at a second position pivoted to other direction, the date corrector cam 916 is not brought in mesh with the inner teeth portion 920a of the date indicator 920. In the state in which the winding stem 910 at 1 stage, the inner teeth portion 920a of the date indicator 920 can be rotated by the date corrector cam 916 by rotating the date corrector setting wheel 914 and the date corrector cam 916 via rotation of the date indicator setting transmission wheel 912.
In reference to FIG. 24 and FIG. 25 and FIG. 29, a date jumper 940 is provided at the main plate 902. The date jumper 940 includes a base portion 941, a date indicator setting portion 942 and a date jumper spring portion 944. The base portion 941 is fixed to the main plate 902. The date indicator setting portion 942 of the date jumper 940 is engaged with the inner teeth portion 920a of the date indicator 920 to set rotation of the date indicator 920. In FIG. 24, a rotating direction of the date indicator 920 is the clockwise direction.
(4•2) Structure of Date Feeding Mechanism
In reference to FIG. 24 and FIG. 29, the date indicator driving wheel 906 is rotatably integrated to the main plate 902. The date indicator driving finger 930 includes a central portion 931 integrally provided to the date indicator driving wheel 906, a spring portion 932 in a shape of a circular arc extended from the central portion 931 and a date indicator feeding portion 933 for rotating the date indicator 920. A clearance 931b is provided between an inner peripheral portion of the spring portion 932 and an outer peripheral portion of the central portion 931. As shown by an arrow mark in FIG. 29, the date indicator 920 is rotated in the clockwise direction. Similarly, as shown by an arrow mark in FIG. 29, also the date indicator driving wheel 906 is rotated in the clockwise direction.
In reference to FIG. 29, FIG. 29 shows a state in which the date indicator feeding portion 933 of the date indicator driving finger 930 is rotated along with the date indicator driving wheel 906 and is just brought into contact with the inner teeth portion 920a of the date indicator 920. The state is defined as a state in which a date indicator rotating angle is 0 degree, that is, "state of point A" in FIG. 28.
The inner teeth portion 920a of the date indicator 920 includes 31 pieces of trapezoidal teeth. A preceding tooth in view of the rotating direction of the date indicator 920 in the inner teeth portion 920a of the date indicator 920 with which the date indicator setting portion 942 of the date jumper 940 is brought into contact is defined as a first tooth 920f and a succeeding tooth is defined as a second tooth 920g.
The date indicator setting portion 942 of the date jumper 940 includes a first setting portion 942a and a second setting portion 942b. In a state shown in FIG. 29, the first setting portion 942a is brought into contact with a circular arc at a tooth tip of the first tooth 920f and the second setting portion 942b is brought into contact with a circular arc of a tooth tip of the second 920g.
(4•3) Operation of Date Indicator Feeding:
When the date indicator driving wheel 906 and the date indicator driving finger 930 are rotated further from the state shown in FIG. 29, the clearance 931b between the inner peripheral portion of the spring portion 932 of the date indicator driving finger 930 and the outer peripheral portion of the central portion 931 is narrowed to bring about a state shown in FIG. 30. FIG. 30 shows "state of point B" in FIG. 28. From the state shown in FIG. 29 to the state shown in FIG. 30, the first setting portion 942a of the date jumper 940 stays to be brought into contact with the circular arc of the tooth tip of the first tooth 920f and the second setting portion 942b stays to be brought into contact with the circular arc of the tooth tip of the second tooth 920g. Therefore, from the state shown in FIG. 29 to the state shown in FIG. 30, the date indicator 920 is not rotated.
When the date indicator driving wheel 906 and the date indicator driving finger 930 are further rotated further from the state shown in FIG. 30, the date indicator driving finger 930 rotates the date indicator 920 in a direction shown by an arrow mark to bring about a state shown in FIG. 31. FIG. 31 shows "state of point C" in FIG. 28. In the state shown in FIG. 31, the clearance 931b between the inner peripheral portion of the spring portion 932 of the date indicator driving finger 930 and the outer peripheral portion of the central portion 931 stays to be narrowed. From the state shown in FIG. 30 to the state shown in FIG. 31, the first setting portion 942a of the date jumper 940 leaves the tooth tip of the first tooth 920f and the circular arc of the tooth tip of the second tooth 920g slides along the second setting portion 942b. Therefore, in the state shown in FIG. 31, the circular arc of the tooth tip of the second tooth 920g is brought into contact with the second setting portion 942b immediately before an intersection of the first setting portion 942a and the second setting portion 942b. When the date indicator 920 is rotated from "state of point B" to "state of point C" in FIG. 28, date indicator feeding resistance is increased.
When the date indicator driving wheel 906 and the date indicator driving finger 930 are further rotated further from the state shown in FIG. 31, the date indicator driving finger 930 rotates the date indicator 920 in a direction shown by an arrow mark to bring about a state shown in FIG. 32. FIG. 32 shows "state of point D" in FIG. 28. In the state shown by FIG. 32, the clearance 931b between the inner peripheral portion of the spring portion 932 of the date indicator driving finger 930 and the outer peripheral portion of the central portion 931 stays to be narrowed. That is, the state is a state in which a force for rotating the date indicator 920 is stored in the date indicator driving finger 930.
From the state shown in FIG. 31 to the state shown in FIG. 32, the intersection of the first setting portion 942a and the second setting portion 942b of the date jumper 940 slides on a linear portion of the trapezoidal tooth tip of the second tooth 920g. When the date indicator 920 is rotated from "state of point C" to "state of point D" in FIG. 28, the date indicator feeding resistance is rapidly reduced. That is, between "state of point C" and "state of point D" in FIG. 28, the force for rotating the date indicator 920 stored in the date indicator driving finger 930 becomes much larger than a force necessary for rotating the date indicator 920 (that is, date indicator feeding resistance) and the date indicator 920 starts rotating rapidly.
When the date indicator driving finger 930 is further rotated from the state shown in FIG. 32, the date indicator driving finger 930 rotates the date indicator 920 in a direction shown by an arrow mark to bring about a state shown in FIG. 33. FIG. 33 shows "state of point E" in FIG. 28. The date indicator feeding resistance in rotating the date indicator 920 from "state of point D" to "state of point E" in FIG. 28 is the force necessary for rotating the date indicator 920. In the state shown in FIG. 33, the clearance 931b between the inner peripheral portion of the spring portion 932 of the date indicator driving finger 930 and the outer peripheral portion of the central portion 931 is widened. From the state shown in FIG. 32 to the state shown in state shown in FIG. 33, the intersection of the first setting portion 942a and the second setting portion 942b of the date jumper 940 slides on the linear portion of the trapezoidal tooth tip of the second tooth 920g. When the date indicator 920 is rotated from "state of point D" to "state of point E" in FIG. 28, although the force of the date indicator driving finger 930 exerted to the date indicator 920 is slightly reduced, the force for rotating the date indicator 920 stored to the date indicator driving finger 930 is much larger than the force necessary for rotating the date indicator 920 (that is, the date indicator feeding resistance) and therefore, rotation of the date indicator 920 is not stopped.
When the date indicator driving wheel 906 and the date indicator driving finger 930 are further rotated further from the state shown in FIG. 33, the date indicator driving finger 930 rotates the date indicator 920 in the direction shown by the arrow mark. Under the state, the clearance 931b between the inner peripheral portion of the spring portion 932 of the date indicator driving finger 930 and the outer peripheral portion of the central portion 931 stays to be widened. When the intersection of the first setting portion 942a and the second setting portion 942b of the date jumper 940 passes the linear portion of the trapezoidal tooth tip of the second tooth 920g from the state shown in FIG. 33, the date indicator 920 is further rotated in the direction shown by the arrow mark by spring force of the date jumper spring portion 944 of the date jumper 940. Further, the date indicator feeding resistance becomes "0". When the date indicator 920 is rotated further from "state of point E" in FIG. 28, the force of the date indicator driving finger 930 exerted to the date indicator 920 is further reduced. According to the conventional calendar mechanism, the date indicator 920 can be rotated by an amount of one date by rotating the date indicator driving wheel 906 by about 9.6 degrees. That is, according to the conventional calendar mechanism, a date feeding time period is about 36 minutes.
(4•4) Operation of Date Correction:
In reference to FIG. 26, in carrying out date correction, when the winding stem 910 is rotated in the first direction in the state in which the winding stem 310 is disposed at 1 stage, the date corrector setting transmission wheel 912 is rotated in a direction shown by an, arrow mark. When the date corrector setting transmission wheel 912 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow mark, the date corrector setting wheel 914, is moved to the first position pivoted in one direction (position at which the date corrector cam 916 is brought in mesh with the inner teeth portion 920a of the date indicator 920). When the date corrector setting wheel 914 is disposed at the first position pivoted in one direction, the date corrector cam 916 is brought in mesh with the inner teeth portion 920a of the date indicator 920. By rotating the winding stem 910 in the first direction under the state, date correction can be carried out by rotating the date indicator 920 in a direction shown by an arrow mark.
As shown by FIG. 27, although a front end of the date corrector cam 916 is sharpened, there is a linear portion at a front end of the inner teeth portion 920a of the date indicator 920 and therefore, there is a concern that the front end of the date corrector cam 916 and the linear portion of the front end of the inner teeth portion 920a of the date indicator 920 interfere with each other.
When the winding stem 910 is rotated in the second direction reverse to the first direction in the state in which the winding stem 910 is disposed at 1 stage, the date corrector setting transmission wheel 912 is rotated in a direction reverse to the direction shown by the arrow mark. When the date corrector setting transmission wheel 912 is rotated in the direction reverse to the direction shown by the arrow mark, the date corrector setting wheel 914 is moved to the second position pivoted in other direction (position at which the date corrector cam 916 is not brought in mesh with the inner teeth portion 920a of the date indicator 920). Even when the winding stem 910 is rotated in the second direction, the date indicator 920 is not rotated and date correction cannot be carried out.
However, the following problems are associated with the conventional calendar mechanisms of the timepieces with calendar.    (1) According to the conventional calendar mechanism disclosed in patent literature 1, a long period of time exceeding one hour is needed for feeding the date indicator.    (2) According to the conventional calendar mechanism disclosed in patent literature 2, shapes of parts are complicated, very high machining accuracy of parts is requested and a long period of time is needed for fabricating, assembling and adjusting of parts.    (3) According to the conventional calendar mechanism disclosed in nonpatent literature 1, a number of parts are needed. Further, a long period of time is needed for fabricating, assembling and adjusting of parts.    (4) According to the other conventional calendar mechanism shown in FIG. 24 through FIG. 33, since the shape of the tooth of the date indicator is trapezoidal, when date correction is carried out, there is present a long dead point (time band at which date correction cannot be carried out). Further, according to the calendar mechanism, when the date indicator correcting mechanism of the pivoting type is used, there is brought about a phenomenon in which the corrector tooth of the date corrector setting wheel interferes with the straight portion of the tooth of the date indicator and the date correction cannot be carried out.


A vehicle includes a contactor electrically between a charge port and a traction battery, and a controller configured to maintain the contactor in a closed position until a charge current estimate, derived from vehicle load data without sensing current through the contactor or receiving data from a charge station regarding the current, is less than a predetermined threshold. The maintenance of the contactor position is responsive to a charge disconnect request.

Vehicles having electrical propulsion may be plugged in through charge ports to recharge depleted energy stores. For example, a plugin hybrid-electric vehicle may be plugged into a charging station to reenergize. While the vehicle is charging, the current passes from the charging station to the vehicle. Disconnection of the vehicle from the charging station while high current passes through the charge port may affect contactors of the charging port.


A mobile communication terminal including an antenna for receiving broadcasting waves of television broadcasting and being capable of detecting its own current location and an azimuth direction is provided, the mobile communication terminal including a broadcasting station location retaining unit configured to retain location information of a broadcasting station that transmits the broadcasting waves, a best azimuth direction calculating unit configured to, using the detected azimuth direction, calculate a best azimuth direction in which the mobile communication terminal can receive the broadcasting waves the best, an azimuth direction displaying unit configured to display a location of the broadcasting station and the best azimuth direction in the detected current location, and an azimuth direction display updating unit configured to update as needed the display by the azimuth direction displaying unit in accordance with a change of the azimuth direction of the mobile communication terminal.

In many cases, horizontal polarization waves are used for television broadcasting. In the case where a mobile communication terminal receives television broadcasting, in general a rod antenna is used. Therefore, the antenna gain pattern (directional characteristics) of horizontal polarization waves for a broadcasting wave arrival direction forms a figure of eight, and creates an easy-to-receive-broadcasting-wave direction and a not-easy-to-receive-broadcasting-wave direction. Also, an easy-to-receive-broadcasting-wave direction does not necessarily correspond to the front face direction of the mobile communication terminal due to an antenna structure, an antenna position, etc.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Mobile terminal receiving a television broadcast signal by calculating a best azimuth direction


An electronic device apparatus includes: a generating unit for acquiring an authentication image containing an image of a fingerprint of an owner of the electronic device apparatus and/or an image of a possession of the owner, and for generating first authentication image data based on the given acquired authentication image; a write unit for writing the first authentication image data, to a recording medium which the owner has purchased; a read unit for reading given authentication image data from a recording medium to which the given authentication image data and given content data are written; a determination unit for comparing the given authentication image data with the first authentication image data, and for determining whether or not they match with each other; and a processing unit for processing the given content data based on a determination result by the determination unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a content data processing system, an electronic device apparatus, and a server device such as a program which reads content data, from a recording medium having the content data written thereto, and processes the content data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, a person, who has purchased from a shop of CDs, DVDs, video game software, or the like from a shop, a recording medium having content data (given program or music data, for example) recorded thereto, performs the following action. The purchaser inserts the recording medium into a given device (a PC terminal device, a CD player, a DVD player, or a video game device, for example). Then, the given device reads the content data and then processes the content data(for example, executing a given program or reproducing sound data, image data or video data).
However, heretofore, there has been the following problem. Heretofore, an action as below has been performed. The action is one in which a person who does not purchase the recording medium borrows the recording medium from the person who has purchased the recording medium, for example. According to such an action, the person who does not purchase the recording medium can cause, for example, his/her own PC terminal device to process the content data recorded on the recording medium (to process the content data is, for example, to execute a given program or to reproduce sound data, image data or video data).
It can be said that such an action infringes the rights (for example, copyrights) of program authors or data creators (sound, image or video data creators). However, in the present circumstances, such an action cannot be prevented.
Therefore, it has been desired to develop a system wherein a person other than the purchaser who has rightfully purchased the recording medium cannot cause a given device (his/her own PC terminal device, for example) to process the content data recorded on the recording medium.

Content data processing system, electronic device apparatus, and server device


A method of forming a contact hole in a semiconductor device, by which a PMD layer as an insulating interlayer is prevented from being overetched by wet cleaning for removing polymer and photoresist after forming a contact hole perforating the PMD layer in a manner of adjusting temperature and concentration of an NC-2 solution for the wet cleaning. The present invention includes the steps of forming a premetal dielectric layer on a semiconductor substrate, forming a contact hole perforating the premetal dielectric layer, and cleaning the substrate using an NC-2 cleaning solution at a temperature equal to or lower than about 55° C.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of forming a contact hole in a semiconductor device.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, to keep up with rapid developments in information media such as a computer and the like, semiconductor fabrication methods have been remarkably developed. For semiconductor devices, further enhancement in the degree of integration, nano-sized implementations, operational speeds, and the like, are needed. As known by Moore's Law, the degree of integration of semiconductor devices is biannually raised twice higher. Inevitably, new problems which were never taken into consideration arise due to the reduced chip size and the reduced critical dimension (CD).
Meanwhile, a premetal dielectric (PMD) layer, which is an insulating interlayer for isolating a polysilicon gate from a metal line, needs to be efficient in gap-fill performance, gathering performance, and planarization.
The phrase "gap-fill performance " refers to a capability of filling up a step difference due to a pattern of a semiconductor device. And, the phrase "gathering performance " refers to capability of trapping mobile ions degrading a device characteristic such as natrium ions and other metal ions.
A silicon oxide (SiO2) layer frequently used as an insulating layer is incapable of filling a step difference formed by a polysilicon gate. Since voids are formed in the PMD layer of silicon oxide, the PMD layer fails to be dense or thick to degrade the device characteristic. Moreover, a conductor material is formed in the voids on depositing the conductor material as a contact plug, whereby the PMD layer of silicon oxide lowers a production yield of the semiconductor device.
To overcome such a problem, silicon oxide is replaced by borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG) having excellent gap-fill performance as a PMD layer. A BPSG layer is generally formed in a manner of introducing boron (B) and phosphor (P) into a reaction chamber together with silicon and oxygen source for forming silicon oxide. In doing so, boron is a dopant for improving the gap-fill performance and phosphor is a dopant for improving the gather performance of mobile ions.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional diagram of a contact hole in a semiconductor device according to a related art.
Referring to FIG. 1, shallow trench isolation (STI) is carried out on a semiconductor substrate 100 to form a device isolation layer 102. Subsequently, a gate oxide layer 104, a polysilicon gate 106, source/drain (not shown in the drawing), a sidewall nitride layer 108, a silicide layer 110, and the like are formed on the semiconductor substrate 100. And, a PMD liner layer 112, a BPSG layer 114, and an oxide layer 116 are sequentially stacked over the substrate including the silicide layer 110.
Thereafter, contact holes for electric connection to the source/drain are formed on the semiconductor substrate 100 in a following manner. First of all, a dry etch is carried out on the semiconductor substrate 100 to form the contact holes exposing the silicide layer 110 onto the source/drain. After completion of the dry etch, wet cleaning is carried out on the semiconductor substrate 100 to remove polymers generated from the dry etch and photoresist. Specifically, the wet cleaning includes sulfuric hydroxide (SH) cleaning at about 130° C. and new cleaning-2 (NC-2) at about 75° C.
However, in performing the wet cleaning, a portion 120 of the BPSG layer 114 is overetched to degrade device characteristics. And, in forming a contact plug to fill up the contact hole, a metal material of the contact plug intrudes the overetched portion 120 to short-circuit the semiconductor device.


A method of analyzing the vibro-acoustic optimization potential of a structure of vibro-acoustically coupled subsystems having internal and coupling loss factors by means of statistical energy analysis (SEA). The method optimizes the vibro-acoustic behavior of the structure.

For optimizing the vibro-acoustic behavior of vehicle bodies above 400 Hz statistical energy analysis (SEA) has become a common tool in recent years. The application of SEA in the automotive industry was first introduced by R. Lyon, G. Maidanik, "Power Flow between Linearly Coupled Oscillators", JASA, 34, 1962; and P. Smith, Jr., "Response and Radiation of Structural Modes Excited by Sound", JASA, 34, 1962.
According to the basic principles of SEA, the stationary average energy E within e.g. a ⅓ octave band with center frequency ωm is given byωmL(ωm)E(ωm)=P(ωm)  (1)
wherein
                    L        =                  [                                                                                η                    11                                    +                                                            ∑                      j                                                                                η                                              1                                                j                                                                                -                                      η                    21                                                                                ⋯                                                                                -                                      η                    12                                                                                η                    22                                    +                                                            ∑                      j                                                                                η                                              2                                                j                                                                                ⋯                                                                    ⋮                                                                                ⋰                                            ⋯                                                                                -                                      η                                          1                                            j                                                                                ⋯                                                                                η                    jj                                    +                                                            ∑                      j                                                                                η                      ij                                                                                ]                                    (        2        )
is the (non-symmetric) SEA matrix consisting of frequency dependent loss factors ηij, which are in fact internal loss factors (ILFs) of the subsystems for i=j and coupling loss factors (CLFs) between the subsystems for i≠j, with P being the vector of excitation input powers to the subsystems.
According to known methods for analyzing and/or optimizing the vibro-acoustical sensitivity or behavior of structures as disclosed e.g. in E. Sarradj, "Bestimmung von Sensitivitäten mit der Statistischen Energieanalyse", DAGA, Bonn, Feb. 26th-29th 1996"; or N. Lalor and G. Stimpson, "FEM+SEA+OPTIMIZATION=LOW NOISE", 2nd Int. Conference, "Vehicle Comfort: Ergonomic, Vibrational, Noise and Thermal Aspects", Bologna, Italy, Oct. 14th-16th 1992; the gradient of energy of a selected subsystem with respect to a certain ILF or CLF represents a measure of how changes in that ILF/CLF will influence subsystem energy. This measure can therefore be conveniently used to e.g. minimize a selected subsystem energy for noise reduction purposes, for example the interior of a vehicle passenger cell, by adjusting the appropriate ILF/CLF parameter(s).
However, up to now all known methods fail to give a correct estimate of such subsystem energy changes in case of large, i.e. more than local, ILF and/or CLF variations since they rely on a numerical model of the energy gradient only.
Therefore, there is a need for a generally practicable method of analyzing the vibro-acoustic optimization potential of a structure, and subsequently optimizing its vibro-acoustic behavior, by means of statistical energy analysis (SEA), which method yields fast and correct results under a variety of operating circumstances.

Methods of analyzing the vibro-acoustic optimization potential and optimizing the vibro-acoustic behavior of a structure


An interior assembly for a load center includes a base member disposed at or about a panel member of the load center housing, a first bus bar assembly disposed on the base member, and a first insulating member overlaying the first bus bar assembly and being coupled to the base member. A first portion of the first insulating member receives circuit breakers of the load center, and a second portion receives a second bus bar assembly. A second insulating member overlays the second bus bar assembly and is coupled to the second portion of the first insulating member. A neutral bus bar is coupled to the second insulating member. A fastening mechanism fastens the interior assembly to the panel member. The base member, first and second bus bar assemblies, first and second insulating members, and neutral bus bar are secured together without the use of separate fasteners.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to electrical enclosures and, more particularly, to interior assemblies for electrical enclosures, such as load centers. The invention also relates to electrical enclosures.
2. Background Information
Electrical equipment such as, for example, relays, circuit breakers, electric meters and transformers, are typically housed within an electrical enclosure such as, for example, a housing, such as a box or cabinet, to protect the electrical equipment.
A load center, for example, is a type of electrical enclosure which serves to distribute power for residential or commercial applications. Typically, a load center includes a housing enclosing a number of electrical switching apparatus (e.g., without limitation, circuit breakers) for protecting branch circuits against electrical faults or overload conditions. The circuit breakers are electrically connected to a bus assembly, which includes at least one line bus and a neutral bus. The line buses may contain terminal lugs to facilitate the attachment and removal of the circuit breakers. Traditionally, the foregoing components have been separately mounted with the housing of the electrical enclosure and then electrically connected to one another. However, such a design fails to make efficient use of the available space within the interior of the housing, thus necessitating an electrical enclosure which is larger than desired.
In an attempt to reduce the overall size of the load center, one prior proposal has been to provide the aforementioned components in the form of a separate sub-assembly. Specifically, the components are first coupled together and then mounted as a unit within the electrical enclosure housing. Although this design has generally resulted in the components being mounted closer together, thus enabling the overall size of the electrical enclosure housing to be reduced, significant room for improvement remains. Specifically, such sub-assemblies are relatively complex in design and require numerous fastening mechanisms, first to secure the various components of the sub-assembly together, and second to mount the sub-assembly within the housing of the electrical enclosure. There is also further room for improvement to make such interior assemblies even smaller, and more economical to manufacture and assemble.
There is a need, therefore, for an interior assembly for electrical enclosures, such as load centers, which is capable of accommodating a plurality of circuit breakers within a minimal amount of space, yet which is relatively easy and cost-effective to manufacture and assemble.
Accordingly, there is room for improvement in electrical enclosures, and in interior assemblies therefor.

Electrical enclosure and interior assembly therefor


A method and a system for anonymous communication are disclosed in the present invention, which are applied in an architecture network with Identification (ID) identifier and locator separation. The method includes: after receiving an anonymous communication request initiated by a terminal, the network allocating an anonymous ID identifier to the terminal, and recording a state of the terminal as an anonymous communication state; when the terminal is in the anonymous communication state, an access gateway device where the terminal is located replacing a source access identifier in data message transmitted by the terminal with the anonymous ID identifier while receiving the data message; and replacing an anonymous ID identifier in data message transmitted to the terminal with the access identifier of the terminal while receiving the data message transmitted to the terminal.

The IP address in Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) widely used in the exiting Internet has dual functions, which is not only used as a location identifier of a network interface of a communication terminal host of a network layer in a network topology, but also is used as an identification (ID) identifier of the network interface of the host at a transport layer. In early period of the TCP/IP design, the condition of host mobility is not considered. However, when the host mobility is increasingly common, the defect of semantic overload of the IP address is increasingly evident. When the IP address of the host is changed, not only the route changes, but also the identification identifier of the communication terminal host changes, which will lead to an increasingly heavy routing load, and the change of the identifier of the host will cause an interruption of applications and connections. The purpose for presenting the problem of identification identifier and location separation is to solve problems such as the semantic overload of the IP address and a serious routing load etc., separate the dual functions of the IP address, support the issues such as mobility, multi home-ness, IP address dynamical re-allocation, reduction of routing load, and interactions between different network areas in the next generation Internet, and so on.
In the related art, there are mainly two solutions for ID identifier and locator separation, one is implemented based on a host, and the other is implemented based on a router. Each implementation is supported by a plurality of related technologies. An existing primary protocol based on a host is a Host Identity Protocol (HIP for short), and an existing primary protocol based on a router is Locator/ID Separation Protocol (LISP for short) and so on.
The HIP is a protocol associated with host mobility, and the HIP separates an IP address into an endpoint identifier and a location identifier. The basic idea of the HIP is to introduce a 3.5 layer, i.e., a Host Identity Layer (HIL for short), between the third layer, i.e., a network layer, and the fourth layer, i.e., a transport layer. That is, a Host Identity (HI for short) space is introduced between a domain name space and an IP address space. The HIL separates the original tightly-coupled transport layer and network layer, and the IP address no longer plays the role of identifying the host, and is only responsible for routing and forwarding data packets, that is, only be used as a locator, and a host name is represented by the host identifier. The HIL logically is located between the network layer and the transport layer. The transport layer uses a transport layer identifier, and a translation between the host identifier and the IP address in the data packet is implemented by the HIL. The network layer is shielded for the transport layer, and any change in the network layer (for example, the change of the host IP address in the communication process) does not influence a transport layer link, unless the quality of service changes.
The connection of the transport layer based on the HIP protocol is established on the host identifier, and the IP address is only used for the routing in the network layer, and is no longer used for identifying the host ID. The key idea of the HIP is to disconnect the tight coupling between the network layer and the transport layer, so that a connection between an application layer and the transport layer will not be influenced by the change of the IP address. When the IP address changes in one connection, the HI remains unchanged, thus ensuring that the connection is not interrupted. In a host supporting the HIP, the IP address is only used for routing and addressing functions, while the HI is used to identify a terminal host to which a connection corresponds, instead of an IP address used in a connection socket.
The LISP reuses the routing technology, makes some changes to the existing routing topological structure, combines with the existing transmission network, and optimizes the existing routing and transmission technologies with the minimum transformation.
The host uses an IP address, which is referred to as Endpoint Identifiers (EID) in a LISP system to keep the track of the socket, so as to establish a connection, and transmit and receive the data packets.
The router transmits the data packets based on IP destination address Routing Locators (RLOCs).
In the LISP system, tunnel routing is introduced, and the LISP is encapsulated when the host packets are initiated, and the data packets are de-encapsulated before the data packets are finally transmitted to the destination. In the LISP data packets, the IP addresses of the "outer header" are RLOCs. In a process of end-to-end packet exchange between hosts of two networks, the Ingress Tunnel Router (ITR) encapsulates a new LISP header for each packet, and strips the new header in the egress channel routing. The ITR performs an EID-to-The RLOC searching to determine a routing path to an Egress Tunnel Router (ETR), and the ETR treats the RLOC as one of its addresses.
The LISP is a network-based protocol, and only influences the network part, and more specifically, only influences the existing Internet backbone (backbone network) part, but does not influence an access layer of the existing network and the user host, and is completely transparent to the host.
In the existing solutions for ID identifier and locator separation above, the corresponding location identifier must be searched for with the user's ID identifier. The ID identifier must be the true identity of a communication node, and the ID identifier must be passed between communication nodes; otherwise, it is impossible to determine the location identifier of the communication nodes, and it is impossible to establish a contact between communication nodes.
For the consideration of security and service characteristics, a number of application services of the existing Internet network are developed in an anonymous mode, while the existing solutions for ID identifier and locator separation cannot meet the requirements for the development of the services in an anonymous mode.

Method for anonymous communication, method for registration, method and system for transmitting and receiving information


A novel coating composition, exhibiting improved adhesion to anionic substrates and a process for its preparation and use, is disclosed. The coating contains an aqueous dispersion of a cationic polymeric binder. The polymeric binder is preferably prepared by the polymerization of at least one monoethylenically unsaturated monomer, having amine functionality, in the presence of at least one nonionic or amphoteric surfactant, followed by the subsequent neutralization of the polymer using selected acids. Coatings containing the cationic latex polymeric binder and selected cationic pigment dispersants are provided. In addition, by selecting certain process conditions and reactive pigments, completely cationic aqueous coating compositions, which maintain the advantages of a water-based system while exhibiting excellent stain blocking, corrosion resistance, water sensitivity resistance and adhesion to wood and alkyd surfaces, and which are competitive in their performance with conventional solvent based alkyd primers and paints, are disclosed.

Improvements to aqueous-based latex paints have resulted in their wide- scale commercial use for many end use applications. In some applications, such as for example in interior paints, aqueous-based latex paints have substantially displaced conventional non-aqueous solvent based paints.
Conventional aqueous based coatings have not, however, significantly displaced solvent-based systems as primers for use on previously painted ("repaint") surfaces and on a variety of different types of substrates due to their inability to provide the desired combination of adhesion and stain blocking that solvent based alkyd primers can provide. ln general, it is very difficuft, under wet or moist testing conditions for conventional aqueous based latex coatings to provide sufficiently adequate adhesion to old repaint alkyd painted substrates, chalky weathered paint, and wood.
In addition to adhesion, primers must have the ability to block stains. "Stainblocking" refers to the ability of a coating to prevent water soluble stains, present in or on a substrate or substrate coating, from migrating through a newly applied coating. These stains may result from the presence of certain chemicals in the substrate itself. For example, certain woods such as redwood, cedar, mahogany and the like contain tannin and lignin staining agents which are particularly concentrated in the knots and grains. If contacted by a conventional aqueous latex coating, these staining agents become extracted from the wood and migrate through the coating to the air interface. Repeated applications of the same or a similar type of aqueous latex coating will not successfully prevent these stains from reappearing on the new coating surface. Other water soluble stains which present the same type of problem include marks made by children's markers, felt or ballpoint pens and stains due to water damage on ceilings or walls. All these water soluble stains are effectively blocked by solvent based coatings in which the stain is not solubilized by the coating solvent.
While solvent based alkyd coatings have certain desirable film properties, aqueous based coatings are preferred in many ways over solvent based coatings like alkyds. One reason is due to the potential environmental, health and safety concerns caused by the organic solvents in the coating formulation. In addition, alkyd coatings are not generally as crack and flake resistant as latex based coatings, particularly in exterior applications. Furthermore, alkyds do not perform well over alkaline, cement based substrates, have poor adhesion to galvanized steel, and do not offer the easy water clean-up possible with aqueous latex coatings.
Therefore, it would be desirable if workers in the art could develop an aqueous latex coating which could be used as a substitute for solvent based alkyd coatings, such as for example as a primer coating, to provide the desirable adhesion and stain blocking properties of conventional alkyd coatings as well as the other desirable properties of conventional aqueous based latex coatings.


A method of programming a multi-level, electrically-programmable memory with memory cells electrically programmable into at least two distinct programmed states, includes: defining at least two programming sequences, each one being designed for bringing memory cells into at least one respective programmed state; receiving a pattern of data to be written into a selected group of memory cells of the memory; analyzing the pattern for determining sub-groups of memory cells, each sub-group of memory cells including the memory cells in the selected group that are to be brought into at least a respective one of the at least two programmed states; and submitting the memory cells in each sub-group to the respective programming sequence. A memory circuit and a computing system are also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the field of semiconductor memories, particularly to electrically programmable memories and, even more particularly, to non-volatile memories such as, for example, EPROMs, EEPROMs and Flash memories. Specifically, the invention concerns a method of programming a multi-level, electrically programmable non-volatile memory.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electrically programmable, non-volatile semiconductor memories have memory cells formed by MOS transistors, whose threshold voltage can be varied electrically in order to store the desired information.
The number of different values that the threshold voltage of a memory cell may take depends on the number of bits that the memory cell is intended to store. For example, in two-levels memories having memory cells intended to store only one bit each, the threshold voltage of each memory cell can take one of two different values, which are associated with the two opposite binary logic states ("1" and "0"). In multi-level memories, whose memory cells are intended to store more than one bit, the number of different threshold voltage values is equal to 2n, where n identifies the number of bits stored in each memory cell. Multi-level memories are also known in which n bits are stored in k memory cells, with k<n and n/k is not necessarily an integer number; in this case, the number of different values that the memory cell threshold voltage may take is higher than two, but not necessarily equal to a power of two.
Programming a memory cell means bringing the memory cell threshold voltage to the desired value, starting from a memory cell erased condition in which the threshold voltage value is equal to or lower than the lowest of the prescribed values. Typically, in order to increase the memory cell threshold voltage, electrons are injected into a memory cell conductive floating gate of, e.g., polysilicon, or into a memory cell charge-trapping element (typically, a layer of silicon nitride); the charge present in the floating gate or trapped in the charge-trapping element affects the formation of a conductive channel when a gate voltage is applied to a memory cell control gate.
Electrons are for example injected into the floating gate or charge-trapping element by means of the channel hot-electron injection mechanism, which is triggered by applying suitable programming voltages to the memory cell terminals; this mechanism is typically exploited in EPROMs and Flash memories having the so-called NOR architecture. Another mechanism of injecting electrons into the floating gate or charge-trapping element is electron tunnelling; this mechanism is for example exploited in EEPROMs and in EPROMs and Flash memories with the so-called NAND architecture.
The data stored in the memory cell are retrieved by accessing the memory cell in read conditions. Prescribed read voltages are applied to the memory cell terminals, and, e.g., the current sunk by the memory cell is sensed. The higher the memory cell threshold voltage, the lower the current sunk by the memory cell.
The data stored in the memory cell are thus determined by comparing the sensed current to a prescribed reference current or, in the case of a multi-level memory, to a plurality of reference currents.
Multi-level memories, especially of the Flash type, are experiencing an increasing market demand. Features such as high storage density, compactness, ruggedness, low cost, low power consumption make multi-level memories particularly adapted to applications such as silicon storage disks, palmtops, digital still cameras and memory cards. The reason of the success of multi-level memories is that they offer storage densities achievable only by means of two-levels memories of more advanced technological generations, allowing in this way to take full advantage of an already mature technology.
Conventional programming methods of multi-level memories call for programming in parallel a relatively high number of memory cells, so as to increase the programming speed; for example, in four-levels memories, sixty-four memory cells (i.e., 128 data bits) are programmed in parallel, irrespective of the different programmed states that the different memory cells are intended to reach. A sequence of programming pulses is applied to the group of memory cells to be programmed. Each programming pulse provides for applying to the memory cell terminals the proper programming voltages for a prescribed, relatively short time; in particular, the voltage applied to the memory cell control gate is progressively increased at each programming pulse: it has in fact been observed that if the voltage applied to the memory cell control gate is progressively increased at each programming pulse, the memory cell threshold voltage progressively increases following the increase in the control gate voltage.
The lower the control gate voltage increase at each programming pulse, the finer the positioning of the threshold voltage; typically, the control gate voltage undergoes a swing of about 7 V, with an increase of approximately 0.3 V at each programming pulse.
Each programming pulse determines a slight increase in the memory cell threshold voltage. After each programming pulse, a program verify is performed: the memory cells under programming are read to assess whether they have reached the intended programmed state. No more programming pulses are applied to the memory cells that are assessed to have reached the desired programmed state.
The programming operation ends when all the memory cells to be programmed are assessed to have reached the desired programmed state. In the conventional programming method, both the programming current and the programming speed are proportional to the number of memory cells programmed in parallel to each other; in other words, the speed/power ratio is constant.
The Applicant has observed that due to the relatively high degree of parallelism of the program operation, there is a relatively high statistical probability that at least one of the memory cells has to be brought to the programmed state more distant from the erased state, i.e. the programmed state corresponding to the highest threshold voltage level (in a four-levels memory cell, this state is conventionally referred to as the "00" state). This means that, given the small increase of the control gate voltage at each programming pulse, a relatively high number of programming pulses have to be applied for programming these memory cells; by way of example, twenty to twenty-five programming pulses may have to be applied (each one followed by the respective program verify phase). The programming time is typically relatively long and substantially independent from the pattern of data to be programmed.
Accordingly, there exists a need for overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art as discussed above.

Method of programming a multi-level, electrically programmable non-volatile semiconductor memory


Novel P-chirogenic organophosphorus compounds of general formula (I), a process for the synthesis of the compounds of formula (I), and intermediate products of general formulae (II), (III) and (IV), as shown below, are involved in the synthesis of compounds (I).

During the past decades, asymmetric organocatalysis and organometallic catalysis made a breakthrough and became methodologies of choice for the synthesis of chiral substances on laboratory as well as on industrial scale. Numerous chiral catalysts are formed by complexation of a phosphorus ligand with a transition metal. Sometimes, organophosphorus compounds may also be directly used as organocatalysts. In this latter case, organophosphorus derivatives may be used as counter ions, as organocatalysts in asymmetric reactions under phase transfer conditions or as Lewis bases.
As no "universal" ligand exists for asymmetric catalysis, the synthesis and the study of new chiral ligands remains a field in permanent development.
In most cases, the organophosphorus compounds used in asymmetric reactions derive from naturally occurring substances or easily accessible precursors (for example binaphthol, tartaric acid, amino-acids, carbohydrates . . . ) in which the chirality is on the carbon skeleton. In organophosphorus organometallic catalysts, chirality of the carbon skeleton is transferred to the coordination sphere of the metal through the phosphorus substituents. The most popular chiral organophosphorus compounds used in asymmetric reactions, such as Quinap, Binap, XyliPhos or DuPhos, have axial- or planar-chirality or still chirality due to a cycle.
Organophosphorus compounds bearing the chirality on the phosphorus centers (P-chirogenic), such as Dipamp or MiniPhos, are very interesting from an industrial and stereochemical point of view in organometallic catalysis. In fact, they allow introducing directly a sterically and electronically well-defined architecture around the metal center, depending on the nature of the substituents present on the phosphorus atom. The resulting chiral environment is more efficient than the one obtained by the transfer of chirality from the carbon skeleton.
P-chirogenic organophosphorus compounds are also interesting as organocatalysts. They may be used as phosphonium salts, acido-basic derivatives or conduce to obtain low valence chiral complexes.
However, P-chirogenic organophosphorus compounds are not often used in asymmetric catalysis due to difficulties of synthesis and to delicate procedures of resolution of optically active compounds.
The asymmetric synthesis of organophosphorus ligands has made significant progresses in the last decade due to the introduction of borane as protecting group of the phosphorus atom. Organophosphorus borane complexes are stable, often crystalline compounds, which give clean reactions either on the P-center or on the alpha or beta position of the phosphorus substituents. The borane decomplexation can easily be achieved to give quantitatively the corresponding P(III)-compound with complete retention of configuration on the phosphorus center (Uziel J., Darcel C., Moulin D., Bauduin C. and Jugé S., Tetrahedron: Asymmetry, 2001, 12, 1441-1449).
Today, the enantioselective synthesis of P-chirogenic organophosphorus compounds is essentially achieved by two approaches using phosphine boranes acting either as electrophilic or as a nucleophilic reagents.
In the electrophilic approach, phosphinite borane 1 or chlorophosphine borane (VII) may be prepared using a methodology starting from ephedrine (Jugé S., Stephan M., Laffitte J. A. and Genêt J. P., Tetrahedron Lett., 1990, 31, 6357-6360; Bauduin C., Moulin D., Kaloun E. B., Darcel C. and Jugé S., J. Org. Chem., 2003, 68, 4293-4301). These electrophilic reagents may then be used to prepare ferrocenyl- and silyl-bridged diphosphines.

In the nucleophilic approach, carbanions in alpha-position of phosphine boranes 3 can be obtained either by deprotonation of a methylphosphine borane or via a dynamic kinetic resolution of a dimethylphosphine borane in presence of sparteine (Muci A. R., Campos K. R. and Evans D. A., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1995, 117, 9075-9076; Yamada Y. and Imamoto T., J. Org. Chem., 1999, 64, 2988-2989). The reaction of these carbanions with various electrophiles leads to ethano- or methano-bridged diphosphines.
Another nucleophilic approach uses a dynamic kinetic resolution of racemic secondary phosphine boranes in presence of sparteine. The phosphide lithium borane 4 (M=Li) obtained under these conditions may be used for the synthesis of pincer ligands via the formation of two P—C bonds. The metallophosphide boranes 4 are highly important building-blocks for the synthesis of novel classes of P-chirogenic ligands. However, the preparation of these compounds with high stereoselectivities was restricted until recently to lithiated examples with sterically hindered substituents like t-butyl or adamantly groups (Crépy K. V. L., Imamoto T., Top. Curr. Chem., 2003, 229, 1-40; Imamoto T., J. Synth. Org. Chem., Jpn., 2007, 65, 1060-1069).
Therefore, there remains a need for the development of new methods of synthesis of optically active phosphine ligands. Such methods should be versatile enough to easily lead to broad libraries of optically active phosphine ligands that may be tested for asymmetric synthesis applications.
Recently, the Applicant has developed a new methodology for the preparation of P-chirogenic secondary phosphine boranes (V) starting from chlorophosphine boranes (VII). This unprecedented methodology is based on halogen/metal exchange reactions at low temperature which proceed with complete retention of configuration on the P-atom (scheme 1). The subsequent protonation of the intermediate phosphide boranes 4 affords secondary phosphine boranes of general formula (V) with excellent enantiomeric excess (ee>90%).

As a result of intensive research conducted for the development of new optically active phosphine compounds, the Applicant found that new classes of ligands or organocatalysts of general formula (I) may be obtained with very high enantiomeric excess starting from chlorophosphine boranes (VII) (scheme 2). The synthetic approach leading to compounds (I) was found to be very versatile, giving access to a wide variety of products and easy modification of their substituents.

The process developed by the Applicant for producing compounds (I) involves the synthesis of intermediate phosphine boranes of general formula (IV) bearing an activated group in the ortho position (scheme 2).
The process of the invention especially enables the synthesis of enantioenriched ortho-functionalized phosphines, such as for example o-boronate, o-silano phosphines and o-hydroxymethyl.
O-boronates phosphines are ambiphiles, i.e. bearing both Lewis acid and base, and are of particular interest in the fields of synthesis and catalysis for their use as ligand. To the Applicants-s knowledge, no chiral borane or boranate phosphine has been described so far.
Chiral enantiopure o-hydroxymethyl phosphines are also particularly interesting as they can be used both as asymmetric organocatalyst and as ligand in organometallic catalysis. For example, Nakamura reported the use of non-P-chirogenic phosphines bearing a hydroxymethylated chelating chain for Ni-catalyzed coupling reactions (Yoshikai N., Matsuda H. and Nakamura E., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 9590-9599).
The only example of preparation of P-chirogenic phosphines bearing a hydroxymethylated chelating chain has been reported by Beak et al. (Tollefson M., Li J. and Beak P., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1996, 118, 9052-9061). It involves phosphinite rearrangement and the methods of synthesis is not versatile.
o-hydroxymethyl phosphines may also be used as precursors of o-hydroxymethyl phosphonium salts, which are known to be synthetically useful in Wittig reactions (Marcoux D. and Charette A., Adv. Synth. Catal. 2008, 350, 2967-2974; McNulty J. and Keskar K., Tetrahedron Letters, 2008, 49, 7054-7057). It may also be envisaged to use o-hydroxymethyl phosphonium salts as new interesting organocatalysts.
Applications in asymmetric catalysis of P-chirogenic organophosphorus compounds (I) as ligands have been explored. Especially, compounds (I) may be used as ligands of transition metal, such as rhodium or palladium, and the resulting complexes may be suitable for asymmetric catalyzed hydrogenation, allylation, hydroformylation or carbonylation reactions. Phosphonium salts of compounds (I) may also be used in asymmetric reactions using phase transfer conditions such as fluoration or cyanation.

Abstract: Metal complexes including compounds (I) as ligands are also described. The novel compounds and complexes are useful in asymmetric catalysis by transition metal complexes or organocatalysis, especially for asymmetric hydrogenation or allylation. Compounds of general formula (I) may be useful as agrochemical and therapeutic substances, or as reagents or intermediates for fine chemistry.

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE (CNRS)


A hardware system is configured for, and a method of, generating detail-rich gradient-based disparity maps in real-time using an automated gradient-based disparity map classification process that is scalable, can be used under different environment conditions with little to no restrictions, and whose level of precision can be adjusted in a scalable manner. Highly accurate cross-spectral stereo matching methods may be used for search and rescue operations and work at day time and night time using current and past visual and full infrared imaging to generate, classify, and identify scenes in real-time with minimum constraints. Such system and methods may be used to improve operations of existing search and rescue equipment.

Stereo matching algorithms use a pair of cameras to create fast and robust disparity maps that serve to describe and recognize scenes in a diverse number of applications. Examples of systems using stereo matching include NASA's Mars Exploration Rover (MER) mission involving two Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, the HiRISE camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, self-driving cars, motion and object tracking to measure paths (surveillance), traffic scene analysis (transport), 3D reconstruction, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). In each case, the algorithm uses a pair of visual cameras to create pixel-based disparity maps to identify a scene. This setup works well both indoors and outdoors and in many environments; however, it is restricted to day time and ideal weather conditions.
Visual cameras work poorly at night or in environments with limited light sources. Moreover, visual stereo matching is of limited value when weather conditions offer poor visibility. Under these circumstances, visual image capture is not possible.
An alternative is to employ two full infrared (FIR) cameras to create pixel-based disparity maps. For example, an aircraft 110 performing search and rescue over an area of interest 101 is constrained to use full IR cameras in an attempt to match as accurately as possible the area of interest against a visual image of the same area taken at an earlier date when weather conditions were favorable.
However, many applications require both a visual camera and an infrared camera to cover day and night or under different weather conditions or at different points in time, forcing the algorithm to accept a cross-spectral input-image pair. This is important when trying to identify a location or scene from a previous occurrence. In this new setup (e.g., when the images form a cross-spectral image pair), the pixel-based stereo matching approach will not work because differences in pixel intensities between cross-spectral images are significant and result in poor disparity maps.
As an example, autonomous systems designed for deep space collect images of interstellar objects use their relative locations to triangulate a spaceship coordinate system, and analyze them to identify landmarks of interest on the surfaces of celestial objects. In other words, there is a deep-space positioning system on board with cameras designed for multi-spectrum image capture to enable robust stereo matching for location, recognition and terrain mapping of, for example, a planet and its surface.

System and method for multidimensional gradient-based cross-spectral stereo matching

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.


According to the invention, a safety device for a pre-filled syringe comprises of a needle shield adapted to cover an injection needle of the pre-filled syringe before and after an injection, a support body with at least one pivoting arm adapted to engage a barrel collar of the pre-filled syringe and an outer body with a first inner sleeve comprising a bevelled section. The needle shield, the support body and the outer body are telescopically arranged. The needle shield, the support body and the outer body may telescope with respect to each other to cover and to expose the injection needle of the pre-filled syringe. The bevelled section is arranged to abut against the pivoting arm connected to the support body by a living hinge to deflect the pivoting arm radially inwards, so that the pivoting arm may engage the barrel collar after a dose of a medicament contained in the pre-filled syringe has been disposed beneath the skin of a patient receiving the injection.

Pre-filled syringes that are filled with a selected dosage of a medication are well known injection devices for administering the medication to a patient. Safety devices for covering a needle of a pre-filled syringe before and after use are also well known. Typically, these devices comprise a needle shield that is either manually moved or moved by the action of a relaxing spring to surround the needle.
A different type of safety device known in the state of the art achieves the object of providing needle safety by arranging the pre-filled syringe movable relative to a body, where the pre-filled syringe is retracted into the body after the injection.
WO 2006/111862 A1 discloses an injection assistance device comprising a body with a needle, grasping means and first elastic return means to dampen limited movement of said grasping means, in at least one of the two directions, respectively distal or proximal, during an injection phase, and to maintain said body in its insertion position and said needle at a constant insertion length during the injection step, when the user increases, respectively releases, a distal pressure on the grasping means. WO 2006/111862 A1 also relates to an injection set comprising an injection device and the said assistance device.
FR 2 799 975 A1 discloses a disposable hypodermic syringe having a safety sleeve with a forward end in which a barrel can slide between an operating position with a needle holder deployed and a safety position with it retracted. The syringe has a telescopic head containing a spring which is released automatically at the end of the pressure stroke to retract the barrel and needle inside the sleeve. Disposable hypodermic syringe comprises a barrel, a needle holder, a plunger and a safety sleeve with a forward end in which the barrel can slide between an operating position with the needle holder deployed and a safety position with it is retracted. The syringe has a telescopic head containing a spring which is released automatically at the end of the pressure stroke to retract the barrel and needle inside the sleeve. Lugs inside the head hold the barrel in its retracted position and prevent re-use.
WO 2010/104779 A1 discloses a pharmaceutical delivery apparatus with an automatic syringe retraction following a manually controlled injection. The apparatus includes a housing, a syringe carriage, a medication-filled syringe held within the carriage, the syringe needle tip being disposed within the housing in a first position and projecting from the housing beyond the housing proximal end for insertion into an injection site in a second position, a manually shiftable plunger, means on the carriage and the housing and the plunger for causing the carriage to advance from the first position to the second position and for injecting medicine from the syringe when the plunger is manually plunged proximally toward the housing, and means on the carriage and the plunger for causing the carriage to retract from the second position to a position at which the needle tip is disposed within the housing when the plunger shifts distally.
EP 1 970 086 A2 discloses an injection device for use with a pre-filled syringe. The device features a track and track follower engagement which facilitates locking a protective needle guard over the tip of the needle at the conclusion of the injection. The device further includes a tamper evidence overcap which, once removed from the device cannot be readily reinstalled. The injection device features a tubular handle which is grasped by the hand and moved towards the injection site to administer the injection. The device is suitable for self-administration of injections.
WO 2007/047200 A1 discloses a pharmaceutical delivery apparatus including a housing, a syringe assembly, and a needle cap. The syringe assembly is plungeable relative to the housing from a first position, at which its needle tip is disposed within the housing, to a second position, at which its needle tip projects from the housing beyond the proximal end for insertion into an injection site. A base of the needle cap is exposed at the housing proximal end to be manually grippable for cap removal. A needle cap stem is upstanding from the base and sized and configured to insert through an opening is the housing proximal end to cover the needle tip when the syringe assembly is disposed in the first position. The needle cap base further includes a plurality of distally projecting cams located radially outward of the stem. The cams are fittable within slots in the housing proximal end when the cap is fully mounted to the apparatus.


Apparatus for lighting and/or indicating purposes, on a vehicle such as a motor vehicle that has a rear fog lamp. The apparatus includes an electrical supply and a control circuit connecting the electrical supply to the fog lamp and/or an indicator. The control circuit is responsive to activating signals from a fog detector that is adapted to produce the activating signal when a condition of reduced visibility exists in the environment of the vehicle. This activating signal, moreover, is generated in response to electromagnetic waves reflected to a receiver coupled to the fog detector.

The unwitting use of fog lamps, and more particularly the rear fog lamps which are intended for giving an indication to the drivers of following vehicles of the presence of the vehicle in which the rear fog lamps are installed, is dangerous to the drivers of those following vehicles when illumination of the rear fog lamps is not justified. The drivers of the following vehicles can be dazzled under these circumstances, and may be unable to distinguish quickly enough when, for example, the brake lights of the vehicle in front of them light up to show that the brakes are being applied. This can cause collisions.

Lighting and/or indicating means for use in fog