Asymmetric expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membranes that contain multiple layers of ePTFE where at least one layer of ePTFE has a microstructure different from the microstructure of a second ePTFE layer. In exemplary embodiments, the asymmetric membrane contains a first ePTFE layer that has an “open” microstructure and a second ePTFE layer that has a less open, or “tight” microstructure. A third ePTFE layer having an “open” microstructure may be positioned on the second ePTFE layer. The asymmetric membranes possess print durability and are both abrasion resistant and air permeable. Additionally, printed asymmetric ePTFE membranes demonstrate low gloss. A textile may be affixed to the asymmetric membrane such that the first ePTFE layer is the outer surface of the laminate. Laminates containing the asymmetric membrane are sufficiently durable against abrasion so that articles of apparel having an exterior film surface remain liquidproof after an abrasion challenge.

Laminates that contain a film layer to provide water resistance, liquidproofness, and/or breathability are well-known. Such laminates are used, for example, in the construction of garments, shoes, tents, covers, and bivy bags. Conventionally, the film layer is protected by fabric layers that provide protection to the film layer so that the film layer remains undamaged. The film layer is usually laminated to the fabrics in a way that maintains suitable breathability for the comfort of the end user. The fabric layers may be surface printed with a color or pattern to provide an aesthetically pleasing surface.
The addition of fabric layers required to protect film layers from damage adds undesirable weight to an article of apparel, and often results in materials that have a higher water pickup on the outer surface
There exists a need in the art for a laminate that has an outer, abrasion-resistant surface that can be durably printed with a color or pattern to provide an aesthetically pleasing, low gloss surface, without sacrificing air permeability, and which can be used as an outer surface of a garment.

Low gloss, air permeable, abrasion resistant, printable laminate containing an asymmetric membrane and articles made therefrom


A light receiving panel provided with a plurality of particulate semiconductor elements (solar cells) or a light emitting panel provided with a plurality of particulate semiconductor elements (light emitting diodes) is disclosed. In the solar cell panel, a printed wiring sheet is constructed by forming printed wiring and retaining holes in the form of a matrix with a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns in a printed wiring sheet material made of a thin transparent synthetic resin; a plurality of solar cells are respectively mounted in the plurality of retaining holes, these cells are resin-sealed by a transparent synthetic resin material, a positive pole terminal and negative pole terminal exposed to the outside are formed, and a plurality of solar cell panels are constructed so that series connection, parallel connection or series-parallel connection is possible. The solar cell panel may also be constructed so that deformation in the manner of two dimensional or three dimensional curved surface is possible.

In a conventional solar cell, an n type diffusion layer is formed on the surface of a p type semiconductor substrate, a light receiving surface electrode with a herringbone pattern is formed on the front surface side, a back surface electrode is formed on the back surface side, and the overall device is constructed as a flat-plate panel structure. In such a flat-plate solar cell panel, when the angle of incidence of sunlight increases in the morning and evening, the proportion of reflected light increases, and the proportion of light that enters the panel drops.
Conventionally, therefore, various types of solar cell panels using solar cells comprising spherical semiconductor elements with a diameter of approximately 1 to 2 mm have been proposed. For example, in WO 98/15983, the present applicant proposed a solar cell and light emitting device comprising spherical semiconductor elements. In such devices, each spherical semiconductor element is provided with a diffusion layer, a pn junction and a pair of electrodes which are disposed on both ends of the semiconductor element with the center thereof interposed therebetween. Numerous solar cells of the abovementioned type are disposed in the form of a matrix having numerous rows and numerous columns, these solar cells are connected in series and parallel, and the cells are sealed in embedded form with a transparent synthetic resin, thus forming a solar cell panel. Since a pair of electrodes are formed on both ends, these solar cells are advantageous in the series connection of a plurality of solar cells; the arrangement of a plurality of solar cells in the form of a matrix, and the connection of these numerous solar cells in series and parallel, cannot be easily accomplished.
For example, the present applicant attempted series and parallel connections by disposing a plurality of solar cells in matrix form in a sandwich type configuration between two printed boards.
In this case, however, since numerous electrodes must be connected with a plurality of solar cells precisely positioned on a printed board, and numerous electrodes must be connected with another printed board superimposed on top of this assembly, the structure of the solar cell panel becomes complicated; furthermore, the size of the panel is increased, and the cost of parts and cost of assembly are increased, so that the manufacturing cost of the solar cell panel is increased.
Here, panels with various types of structures have been proposed as solar cell panels in which numerous spherical solar cells are disposed in the form of a matrix.
A solar cell panel in which numerous solar cells are connected in parallel via two sheets of aluminum foil is proposed in Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 6-13633.
In the solar cell panel (or solar cell sheet) described in Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 9-162434, a mesh is constructed from insulating warp filaments and first and second woof filaments on which different metal coating films are formed; furthermore, numerous spherical elements in which a diffusion layer is formed on the surface of a p type spherical single crystal silicon particulate are manufactured, these spherical elements are disposed in the respective eyes of the abovementioned mesh, the first woof filaments are connected to the diffusion layers, the second woof filaments are connected to the spherical single crystal silicon particulate, and these particulates are sealed by means of a synthetic resin.
In the case of this solar cell panel, the manufacture of the mesh having a special structure is not easy, and the manufacturing cost is also high; however, a solar cell panel (or solar cell sheet) can be manufactured continuously and inexpensively by means of an automated apparatus.
In the optical power generating panel described in Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2001-210834, numerous spherical elements in which a diffusion layer is formed on the surface of a p type or n type spherical crystalline silicon particulate are manufactured, these spherical elements are inserted into numerous holes formed in a printed board, printed wiring is connected to the diffusion layers of the numerous spherical elements, the diffusion layers of the numerous spherical elements are then removed by etching on the back surface side of the printed board, the printed board in which the numerous spherical elements are incorporated is placed on top of another printed board, and the spherical crystals of the respective spherical elements are connected to the printed wiring. In this optical power generating panel, since numerous spherical power generating elements are connected in parallel, the electromotive force of a single optical power generating panel cannot be increased, and since two printed boards are used, the cost of parts and the assembly cost are high, so that the manufacturing cost of the optical power generating panel is also increased. Since two printed boards are used, the rigidity of the panel tends to be high, so that it is difficult to construct a flexible optical power generating panel. In all of the abovementioned devices, the spacing between electrodes becomes smaller as the spherical diameter is reduced, so that a reduction in size is hindered.
Objects of the present invention are to provide a light receiving or light emitting panel in which numerous spherical semiconductor elements, each of which has a pair of electrodes facing each other across the center, are electrically connected by means of a single printed wiring sheet, to provide a light receiving or light emitting panel that possesses flexibility, to provide a light receiving or light emitting panel that can be constructed as a thin type panel with a simple structure, and to provide a light receiving or light emitting panel in which the numerous spherical semiconductor elements can be connected by a desired connecting system selected from series connection, parallel connection and series-parallel connection.

Light-receiving panel or light-emitting panel, and manufacturing method thereof


Provided are methods of treating ischemic disorders in a subject includes administering stromal cell derived factor-1 (SDF-1) to ischemic tissue of the subject.

Ischemia is a condition wherein the blood flow completely obstructed or considerably reduced in localized parts of the body, resulting in anoxia, reduced supply of substrates and accumulation of metabolites. Although the extent of ischemia depends on the acuteness of vascular obstruction, its duration, tissue sensitivity to it, and developmental extent of collateral vessels, dysfunction usually occurs in ischemic organs or tissues, and prolonged ischemia results in atrophy, denaturation, apoptosis, and necrosis of affected tissues.
Ischemic cerebrovascular injury development mechanisms are classified into three types, thrombotic, embolic, and hemodynamic. The principal pathological condition for all three types is nevertheless cerebral ischemia, whose severeness and duration define the extent of cerebral tissue injuries. At the site of severe ischemia, nerve and endothelial cell rapidly suffer from irreversible injuries, forming typical infarction nidi due to necrosis. Although the bloodstream moderately declines and functions of neurocytes are suspended in the ischemic penumbra, their survival capacity is not lost and the remaining cerebrovascular system can recover its functions when circulation is resumed via collateral vessels.
In ischemic cardiopathy, which are diseases that affect the coronary artery and cause myocardial ischemia, the extent of ischemic myocardial cell injury proceeds from reversible cell damage to irreversible cell damage with increasing time of the coronary artery obstruction.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The present invention is drawn to a new diagnosis method for detecting the extend of a inflammatory, fibrotic or cancerous disease in a patient, in particular liver fibrosis, in particular in a patient infected with hepatitis C virus, by using the serum concentration of easily detectable biological markers. The invention is also drawn to diagnosis kits for the implementation of the method.

Liver biopsy is considered as mandatory for the management of patients infected by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), particularly for the staging of fibrosis (1–4). For patients and general practitioner it can be considered as an aggressive procedure (5–6). Numerous studies have shown significant predictive values of several markers for the diagnosis of cirrhosis (6–15) but none for the diagnosis of earlier stage as few septa (beginning of bridging fibrosis), prospectively in a large population infected only by HCV virus.
It is nevertheless important to be able to detect these early stages in the development of liver pathology, in order to improve the patient treatment, and the follow-up of the disease. As liver biopsy is still an invasive procedure, it could be advantageous to have a fast and easy to perform test that would give a good predictive value of the level of fibrosis in the patient.
After infection by the hepatitis C virus, the evolution of the disease can lead to fibrosis, and later to cirrhosis. The liver biopsy allows for the determination of the stage of the fibrosis, but also the presence of liver necroinflammatory lesions. The intensity and activity of such lesions, in complement to the degree of fibrosis, are acknowledged by physicians as an important factor for diagnosis and prognosis of the evolution of the disease, and in order to determine the type of treatment to administrate.
There is therefore a need to develop a diagnosis method that would give a good predictive value of the presence (or the absence) of fibrosis and/or lesions in a patient, and that would be reliable enough to reduce the need of liver biopsy.

Diagnosis method of inflammatory, fibrotic or cancerous disease using biochemical markers

Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris (AP-HP)


An optical disk polishing device which includes: a disk holder for rotatably holding an optical disk, the disk holder installed in a lower fixed portion; a cylindrical buff disposed in parallel with the surface of the optical disk and perpendicular to a rotary shaft of the disk holder in an offset manner; a drive motor to rotate the buff; and an upper opening-and-closing portion normally urged to an open state to the lower fixed portion by a spring or other member. The device makes it possible to clean a readout surface of the optical disk in a short period of time, and to be offered at a low price owing to the simple and small-sized structure thereof.

An optical disk such as a DVD is widely used as a medium in the rental video business. The adhesion of contamination such as dust or fingerprints on the readout surface deteriorates the appearance of the rented disks as well as causes readout problems deriving from the fundamental system of reading out stored information by the use of light. Therefore, frequent cleaning of optical disks is required at a video rental store or similar facility. However, there has been no conventional mechanical device for the aforementioned simple cleaning. Instead, a repairing device to remove scratches on the readout surface of a disk by polishing the disk is utilized, or a manual operation including spraying a cleansing liquid and then wiping the liquid with a cloth is carried out.
Patent Document 1 entitled "disk washing device" discloses a disk cleaning device for cleaning polished disks in a process of manufacturing a magnetic disk, an optical disk or other storage media. On the other hand, Patent Document 2 entitled "optical disk medium cleaning mechanism" discloses a cleaning mechanism for cleaning an optical disk medium by using a cleaning liquid. Further, Patent Document 3 entitled "washing device for optical disk and dust absorptive cloth" discloses a cleaning device which automatically cleanses the information recording surface of an optical disk, and a cartridge-type dust absorbing cloth used in the cleaning machine.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H11-90358
Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H5-101604
Patent Document 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H8-180643


An uncooled turbine outer air is comprised of a combination of monolithic ceramics with high temperature capability and oxidation and creep resistance, and a fiber reinforced ceramic composite with high fracture toughness. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a fiber reinforced ceramic composite of silicon carbide and aluminum borosilicate is infiltrated by chemically vapor deposited silicon carbide. The infiltration process is continued until the composite develops a monolithic layer of silicon carbide. An additional layer is deposited on the monolithic ceramic to provide additional thermal protection.

Uncooled turbine outer air seals with only incidental cooling from leakage air can provide substantial saving in terms of percent of thrust specific fuel consumption (TSFC) in many gas turbine engines such as the Pratt and Whitney PW2037, PW4000 and 2500. However, the aggressive thermal environment of uncooled seals precludes the use of all metal or graded zirconia based seals. Advance ceramic materials are appropriate for such applications, except for the fact that monolithic ceramics, due to their low fracture toughness, are prone to catastrophic failure as a result of bill of material damage (BOMD). This invention overcomes such possibilities by providing a combination of monolithic ceramic with high temperature capability (in the range of 2500 to 3000 degrees F.), oxidation and creep resistance, and a fiber reinforced ceramic composite with high fracture toughness.
A search of the prior art resulted in the following U.S. Patents relating to high temperature composite seals:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,902 issued to Prewo et. al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,332 issued to Brennan et. al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,626,461 issued to Prewo et. al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,338,380 issued to Erickson et. al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,289,446 issued to Wallace; and
U.S. Pat. No. 4,209,334 issued to Panzera
These patents relate to high temperature composite seals. In particular, the Prewo et. al. '902 patent is directed to gas turbine engine core components made of silicon carbide fiber reinforced ceramic matrix or silicon carbide fiber reinforced glass matrix material. Several techniques for making the components are described including drawing a continuous length of reinforcing fiber through a slurry of glass powder mixed with a liquid binder, drying the impregnated fibers in the form of a tape or a drum, laying up the resulting fiber tape into a predetermined shape and then hot pressing it into its final form. Another technique comprises preparing a mixture of glass powder and chopped fibers at elevated temperatures and then hot pressing into the final product.
The Brennen et. al. patent describes a seal composed of an abradable sealing layer affixed to a high temperature stable substrate. The abradable sealing layer includes a high temperature stable ceramic oxide, and the substrate is a high temperature stable, lightweight, fiber reinforced glass or glass ceramic having a relatively low coefficient of thermal expansion.
The Prewo et. al. '461 patent relates to gas turbine engine components which comprise a plurality of substantially titanium-free ceramic layers selected from alumino-silicate, lithium alumino-silicate, magnesium alumino-silicate or mixtures thereof. Each layer is reinforced with a plurality of unidirectional, continuous length silicon carbide fibers.
The Erickson et. al. patent describes a method of attaching ceramics to metals for high temperature usage. The method comprises a ceramic layer; a three dimensional flexible, resilient, low modulus, low density, metallic structure interface secured to the ceramic layer; and a metal member fastened to the low modulus metallic structure. Thermal strains caused by differences in the coefficients of thermal expansion of the metal member and ceramic are absorbed by the low modulus material interface.
The Wallace patent is directed to an outer air seal structure for gas turbine engines. The structure is built around a porous, low modulus pad of metallic material which is disposed between ceramic material and a substrate of solid metallic material. The ceramic material is applied to a preferred density at which the physical properties of modulus of elasticity, mean tensile strength, coefficient of thermal expansion and thermal conductivity impart good thermal shock resistance.
The Panzera patent is directed to a ceramic seal comprising an inner ceramic layer, an outer metal layer and an intermediate interface layer of a low modulus metallic low density structure having a high melting point. The ceramic layer is secured to the low modulus structure directly or through an intermediate ceramic-metal composite.
Although the foregoing patents relate to various designs of ceramic seals, they do not teach a seal in which a fiber reinforced ceramic composite of silicon carbide and aluminum borosilicate is infiltrated by chemically vapor deposited silicon carbide to provide thermal protection.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force


A bias estimating method includes: calculating a virtual posture angle which is a posture angle with a bias which is assumed to be zero by the use of detection values of a plurality of axes in a calibration posture where one axis of a multi-axis acceleration sensor is parallel to the vertical direction; and estimating a bias value contained in the detection value of the axis using the detection value of the axis and the virtual posture angle.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a bias estimating method, a posture estimating method, a bias estimating device, and a posture estimating device.
2. Related Art
In various fields of so-called seamless positioning, motion sensing, posture control, and the like, inertial sensors have attracted attention. An acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, a pressure sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, and the like are widely known as such inertial sensors.
In recent years, sensor modules equipped with a multiple-axes (multi-axis) inertial sensor have been developed. The multi-axis sensor module is provided with inertial sensors mounted on plural orthogonal axes and is configured to perform a sensing operation in a three-dimensional space. However, there is a problem in that the output of the inertial sensor contains a misalignment error due to the inaccurate attachment of the inertial sensors to the sensor module.
In view of this problem, for example, JP-A-10-267651 discloses a technique of calculating different-axis sensitivity in a multi-axis acceleration sensor and correcting the misalignment error contained in the detection value of the acceleration sensor.
According to the technique disclosed in JP-A-10-267651, the misalignment error can be satisfactorily corrected. However, the output of the acceleration sensor may typically contain a bias component called a zero bias. It is known that a bias (so-called turn-on bias) is created at the time of turning on an inertial sensor, and the bias has a random drift characteristic that it randomly varies with the passage of time.
In recent years, an MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) sensor as a small and inexpensive inertial sensor employing the fine processing technology of semiconductor has been provided to various consumer products. In the MEMS sensor, a mechanical part detecting an inertial force and a conversion part converting the inertial force into an electrical signal are formed on a single silicon wafer by the use of the fine processing technology.
The MEMS sensor has merits such as small size, small weight, low cost, and low power consumption, but has a demerit that it can be easily affected by external influences such as impact, vibration, and temperature variation. The external temperature variation has a great influence on the output of the inertial sensor. A temperature compensation technique of removing a temperature-dependent component from the output of the inertial sensor has also been devised. However, even when the temperature compensation is carried out, there is a problem in that the bias value contained in the output of the inertial sensor is not zero but has a considerable magnitude due to the turn-on bias or external influences other than temperature variations.

Bias estimating method, posture estimating method, bias estimating device, and posture estimating device


An archery bow having a pair of lever arms pivotally attached to opposite ends of an elongated handle structure. The handle structure is contoured to fit an individual's hand, and the lever arms may be selectively removed for convenient storage and travel. Free ends of each lever arm include a bow string guide that accommodates an included bow string. The bow string is placed around the string guides, and the bow string ends are secured to anchoring posts located on the handle structure. At least one biasing member is attached to the handle structure. Biasing bar free ends engage a corresponding lever arm. Drawing the bow string away from the handle structure to force the biasing bar free ends against the lever arms raises the potential energy within the bow.

Archery bows have long been used by hunters and sportsmen. A conventional archery bow is formed from a single piece or pair of elongated arms that extend from a central handle. A bow string extends between the ends of the elongated arms and placed in a highly-tensioned position. Opposite ends of a loaded arrow are supported by the handle and bow string. Drawing the bow string increases the potential energy within the bow, placing an arrow in a launch-ready state.
In some archery bow designs, the arms are fixed and bend when the bow string is pulled. In this type of bow, often called a recurve bow, pulling the bow string to bend the arms raises the potential energy within the bow. The increased potential energy is stored primarily in the flexed arms until the bow string is released. Accordingly, the force required to draw the bow string and the resulting arrow-launch force are products of the arm materials and geometry. Unfortunately, many archers are not able to use high-powered versions of this type of bow. For example, versions that gain power from long, relatively-pliant arms may be too cumbersome for use by many individuals. Alternately, high-powered versions that use compact, relatively-stiff arms may require more pull force than many archers can provide. Recurve bow have the additional drawback of limited adjustability. Once the bow is made, it is often difficult, if not impossible, to vary the bow's operating characteristics.
One example of a recurve bow is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,674,001. This archery bow has both primary arms and auxiliary arms. The arms are flexible, and the auxiliary arms are positioned to resist motion of the primary arms. This cooperative arrangement produces a relatively higher-powered bow, when compared with bows including the primary arms only.
In other bow designs, such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,989,026, the arms are rigid and the bow string is connected to a system of cables, springs, and pulleys. In this type of bow, pulling the bow string increases the potential energy within the bow by loading the springs. The increased energy is stored primarily within the springs until the bow string is released to launch an arrow. This type of bow, often called a compound bow, is usually adjustable. Altering the springs, for example, will change the required bow string pull weight and resultant arrow-launching forces. Additionally, the pulleys may have non-circular perimeters that provide a mechanical advantage that lowers the force required to keep the bow string pulled back in a ready-to-launch position. A compound bow that relies on a network of cables and pulleys, many compound bows can not be readily dismantled. Although some compound bows have detachable arms, the included cables can make removing and reattaching the arms difficult or maintenance-intensive. Additionally, although compound bow characteristics are more a function of spring forces than arm length, there is a minimum bow length which be maintained to create a useful device. As bow length decreases, so to does the angle between the arrow and bow string. If this angle is too small, the bow string will pinch the archer's fingers when the bow string is pulled back during use.
As mentioned above, U.S. Pat. No. 3,989,026 is an example of a compound archery bow. In the '026 device, a bow string is directed around the bow frame by a series of guides; the bow string is attached to a single tension-producing member. The single tension producing member ensures uniform tension throughout the bow. By including only one such member, this bow eliminates tension variances that are common in bows with two or more tension-producing members. The bow arm angles may be adjusted with respect to a central beam, and the arms may also be removed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,677 discloses yet another compound bow. The bow has a rigid frame and energy is stored within flat, coiled springs mounted on the frame. Applying a tensile force to the bow string increases energy within the flat coiled springs. The energy is, in turn, transferred to a bow string to launch an arrow.
Another type of bow, such as that depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 3,744,473, includes design elements borrowed from both recurve and compound bows. This type of hybrid bow typically has rigid, pivoting portions attached to a fixed handle. These hybrid bow designs employ the cable systems found on compound bows and incorporate a modified version of the moving limb motion common to recurve bows. As a result, hybrid bows are adjustable to a degree, and do not rely solely on limb flexibility for power generation. However, such hybrid bows are difficult to store and dismantle.
The '473 patent discloses a hybrid archery bow having rotatable, spring-loaded arms. The arms are connected to a central beam by rotating wheels. Cables extend between the wheels to ensure that the arms rotate in uniform, yet opposite, directions when the bow string is pulled.
What is needed in this art is an archery bow that encompasses the features of the known bow designs, while overcoming the difficulties faced so far. The bow should be simple in construction, so that it may dismantled for easy storage and travel. Additionally, the bow should be lightweight and adjustable so that it may be used in a variety of situations by archers of varying strength and skill. Finally the bow should be capable of high-powered configurations without producing cumbersome dimensions or necessitating unreasonable pull weights.


An air intake for a lawn and garden tractor has an opening with a screen covering the opening. A float panel is positioned adjacent to and spaced from the outer surface of the screen. The full surface area of the screen is available to pull in air, while limiting engine noise entering the environment and minimizing ingestion of excess grass and other debris.

Conventional hoods or shrouds on small agricultural vehicles such as lawn and garden tractors or other grass or vegetation mowing machines typically enclose an engine, cooling system, and other vehicle components. Such vehicles commonly utilize liquid cooled internal combustion engines which generate heat during their operation. Liquid cooled engines employ pressurized coolant circulated through the engine to absorb heat. The heated coolant is subsequently passed through a heat exchanger such as a radiator to dissipate heat from the coolant to the atmosphere, after which the coolant is re-circulated to the engine for further cooling. As the coolant is passed through the heat exchanger, air flows through the heat exchanger to absorb heat and carry it out into the atmosphere. Air is commonly drawn or propelled through the radiator by use of a fan.
The capacity of a cooling system in such a vehicle depends on many factors including the velocity and volume of air flowing through the heat exchanger, as well as the distribution of the air flow over the available heat exchange surface of the radiator. Since these vehicles may be used in cutting grass or other vegetation, the air used to cool the radiator is frequently contaminated with dust, grass clippings and similar debris. Typically, such vehicles will include a grille or grilles having a screen to reduce debris present in the cooling air while allowing the air to pass into the area enclosed by the hood to cool the engine by interaction with the radiator.
In recent years, regulations are limiting allowable emissions from internal combustion engines of lawn and garden tractors, mowers and other agricultural and/or work vehicles. Due at least in part to these regulations, efforts have been made to increase the area of the cool air intake on the vehicle hood, and to increase the air flow through the heat exchanger. However, increasing the area of the air intake may result in more grass clippings, debris and other materials being sucked toward and/or into the air intake during machine operation. The materials may pile up in the air intake, restricting air flow, and may even ignite. There is a need for a larger cool air intake for a lawn and garden tractor, mower, and other small vehicle that will allow greater air flow without sucking up and/or ingesting grass clippings, debris and other materials that may restrict flow.
Additionally, there is a need to reduce or limit the noise emitted into the environment from engines of small lawn and garden tractors, mowing equipment and other small agricultural vehicles. Efforts to reduce noise levels include the design of quieter engines, and improvements to the hoods or shrouds intended to help contain or muffle engine noise. Larger air intakes, however, may limit these other noise reduction efforts. There is a need for a larger cool air intake for a lawn and garden tractor, mower, and other small agricultural vehicle that will help limit engine noise emitted into the environment.


A visible light communication signal display method of displaying (i) an image represented by video signals and (ii) an image obtained by encoding visible light communication signals includes: encoding at least part of the visible light communication signals to generate an encoded image; generating a plurality of sub-images which correspond to respective partial images obtained by dividing the encoded image and each of which (i) includes a corresponding one of the partial images and (ii) except for the corresponding partial image, is an image having a substantially uniform luminance value lower than or equal to a predetermined luminance value; and displaying, in a video display period, the image represented by the video signals, and displaying the sub-images in time series in a communication period different from the video display period.

Communication techniques using visible light have been proposed. For example, as in Patent Literatures (PTLs) 1 and 2, there are proposals on a video display apparatus including a display, a projector, etc., to superimpose visible light communication information on normal video to be displayed and then display resultant video.
In addition, there are the digital watermark technology applied to printed materials, and techniques of displaying QR codes (registered trademark), barcodes, or the like, in images and using encoded signals thereof to spread information to the Internet world though imaging devices such as mobile phones, smart phones, or digital cameras.
However, in these techniques, video signals are displayed by way of driving each pixel and controlling a backlight, and as a part of the control on the backlight, the visible light communication signals are encoded and superimposed. Thus, these techniques can be applied only to video display devices which display video by controlling the two systems.
Another devised method is, for example, superimposing information on an entire image inconspicuously like watermark and decoding the superimposed information on a receiver side, that is, transmitting and receiving, in or without synchronization with video, information different from the video (e.g., information relevant to the video), using a video display apparatus. There has also been an approach that, as in press release 1, separates information quickly with use of an existing typical reception device although some deterioration is seen in video.

Visible light communication signal display method and apparatus

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA


A bucket holding apparatus includes first and second carriages with pivotally attached inner edges arranged in such a manner that the first and second carriages freely rotate upwardly from a horizontal plane defined on a support surface. The bucket holding apparatus further includes first and second arcuate walls directly conjoined to the first and second carriages and oppositely situated from the inner edges such that the first and second arcuate walls define a circular cavity within a combined perimeter thereof. The bucket holding apparatus further includes an arcuate lever directly and statically conjoined to the second carriage and extending laterally upwards away from an outer edge thereof.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to bucket holders and, more particularly, to a bucket holding apparatus for holding a bucket at a stationary position during operating procedures.
2. Prior Art
For do-it-yourselfers and tradesmen, the development and introduction of power tools made the accomplishment of many jobs much easier and less physically demanding. Starting with the introduction of the power-driven screwdriver in 1987 and then the arrival of 18 and 24 volt cordless drills, battery-powered electric tools have gained wide acceptability among both do-it-yourselfers and contractors. Battery charging times, which initially were measured in hours, have been compressed to minutes.
Cordless tools have proved immensely popular on outdoor job sites and in areas, including many foreign markets, where electric power supplies are unreliable. According to newly released U.S. Census of Manufactures data, product shipments of battery-powered tools have more than doubled in the last ten years. However, one job which must be performed fairly often by do-it-yourselfers and many tradesmen which has not been made any easier by the use of power tool is the basic job of mixing various types of substances such as caulks, compounds, paints, drywall mud, and other materials.
This job is normally accomplished by pouring a substance in a bucket and holding the bucket with the legs and knees while the substance is being stirred to form a homogenous mixture. Even if an electric drill is used, this is still a time consuming and labor intensive task which frequently results in a fair amount of spillage. Obviously, it would be advantageous to provide a means for eliminating or alleviating the problems of spillage and physical effort required to mix various types of substances within a bucket.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,208 to Kennard discloses a support for a mixer bucket which includes a raised platform having a recess shaped to accommodate a mixer bucket. Resistance means are provided in the recess that engages against the bucket to maintain the bucket stationary while the contents of the bucket are being mixed. Unfortunately, this prior art example can not be used on all horizontal surfaces.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,361,001 to Durand discloses a container holder for mixing slurry material in a 2½ or 5 gallon bucket. The container holder is formed from a one-piece raised top portion having a centrally disposed aperture allowing insertion of a stirring paddle. Depending from the top portion are two legs that extend downwardly and span the entire height of the bucket to be mixed with foot pads joined at the bottom of the legs extending outwardly therefrom which allow an individual to stand on during the mixing operation. Unfortunately, this prior art example is not designed to be easily moved or stored.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,184 to Lytle discloses an apparatus for retaining a canister having an adjustable base and at least one swing member attached to the base and preferably two swing members attached to the base opposite each other. The base further has a spring member disposed thereupon and in contact with the swing member to keep the swing member in a first open position. The swing member has a first end that is rotatably attached to the base via a hinge member and a second end that has a semicircular recess formed therein. The base is adjustable to provide an adjustable range of motion of the swing member with respect to the base. In operation, the apparatus moves from a first open position to a second closed position upon application of a force upon the swing members to retain a canister placed between the swing members. Use of the apparatus results in no temporary movement or constricting of a worker's limbs that may result in imbalance or injury, nor requires a second person to stabilize the canister. Unfortunately, this prior art example is not designed to be easily moved or stored.
Accordingly, the present invention is disclosed in order to overcome the above noted shortcomings. The present invention satisfies such a need by providing an apparatus that is convenient and easy to use, lightweight yet durable in design, and designed for holding a bucket at a stationary position during operating procedures. The bucket holding apparatus is comprised of two interconnected sections that are placed on any horizontal surface for use. The apparatus advantageously allows the user to quickly and easily mix materials within a bucket without running the risk of knocking the container over, and spilling the contents thereof. This saves the user a considerable amount of time, energy, and also money that would otherwise be lost to wasted product as the result of a spill. The present invention is simple to use, inexpensive, and designed for many years of repeated use.

Bucket holding apparatus and associated method


A method is provided for transmitting control information between a line-switching and a packet-switching communications network. A signaling connection is set up in a packet-switching network in order to transmit signaling packets which form connection-independent control information which relates to at least one service feature in a line-switching communications network so that at least one service feature of the line-switching communications network may be used in the packet-switching communications network by means of the control information independently of the connection.

The present invention relates to a method for transmitting control information between a line-switching and a packet-switching communications network.
Originally, various types of communications networks were developed in order to transmit voice, data and video data. Owing to the various options for use of these communications networks, different services were developed. For example, Voicemail was developed for use in conventional line-switching communications networks, and electronic mail was developed for use in packet-switching communications networks, such as the Internet. As of today, voice, data and video services can be handled by both types of communications networks. Supplementary services (such a call transfer and call forwarding) can now also be used in packet-switching communications networks. At the present time, Standards are being defined and discussed, for example in the H.323-based series of ITU-T Recommendations (H.323, H.225, H.450: ITU-T Recommendations) for packet-switching communications networks. An H.323 architecture for supplementary services is described on pages 118–125 of an article titled "Supplementary Services in the H.323 IP Telephony Network" by Markku Korpi and Vineet Kumar published in the IEEE Communications Magazine in July 1999. The article describes one option for interaction of services between line-switching and packet-switching communications networks.
This article introduces a solution approach relating to the way in which user-channel-related signaling messages for controlling, requesting and (de)activating service features offered in the line-switching communications network can be mapped onto signaling packets used in the packet-switching network in accordance with a standardized transmission protocol. The signaling messages in the line-switching communications network are preferably DSS1 messages, as defined in the ITU Standards Q.931 and Q.932. The standardized H.225 signaling protocol is preferably used as the transmission protocol for the signaling packets in the packet-switching communications network, in particular in the Internet. Service features whose use requires user-channel-related signaling messages are, for example, call transfer, triple subscriber and large conference calls, hold, display charge information, closed user group and call number identification services.
There is currently no mapping capability for mapping signaling messages onto such signaling packets, such as those mentioned above, in the packet-switching communications network for signaling messages which are used in the line-switching communications network, are independent of the user channel or user connection and which, in particular, [lacuna] (de)activation or registration of service features for private branch exchanges (PBX) which are connected to the line-switching communications network. Signaling which is independent of the user channel or of the user connection is required, for example, for status checking and for activation and deactivation of service features such as call forwarding, call completion on busy subscriber or on no reply (automatic callback when busy or when there is no answer), outgoing call barring, and message waiting indication.
One feasible form of analog mapping of signaling messages which are independent of the user channel onto signaling packets in the packet-switching communications network based on the mapping of signaling messages which are dependent on the user channel onto signaling packets encounters, in particular, the difficulty that the DSS1 signaling messages used in the line-switching communications network are subject to a different type of transmission mechanism than that for the H.225 signaling packets used in the packet-switching communications network. The transmission of DSS1 signaling messages relates only to a local signaling section, that is to say between a communications terminal or private branch exchange and a switching center. In this case, the transmission of signaling messages is not terminated at the DSS1 protocol level, but is accomplished by means of subordinate protocol layers. In contrast to this, H.225 signaling packets are transmitted point-to-point, that is to say over a number of signaling sections, with the transmission of signaling packets being terminated only after receiving an acknowledgement at the H.225 protocol level. The concepts used in the line-switching communications network for transmitting signaling messages which are independent of the user connection have no corresponding concepts in the signaling protocols used in the packet switching communications network.

Method for transmitting control information between a line-switching and a packet-switching communications network


A device is provided. The device includes a first lens assembly controllable to switch between a first plurality of optical powers. The first lens assembly includes a plurality of directly optically coupled lenses, and is configured to converge or diverge a light transmitted therethrough. The device also includes a second lens assembly coupled with the first lens assembly, and controllable to switch between a second plurality of optical powers that are opposite to the first plurality of optical powers.

Virtual reality (VR) headsets can be used to simulate virtual environments. For example, stereoscopic images can be displayed on an electronic display inside a headset to simulate the illusion of depth, and head tracking sensors can be used to estimate what portion of the virtual environment is being viewed by the user. However, because existing headsets are often unable to correctly render or otherwise compensate for vergence and accommodation conflicts, such simulation can cause visual fatigue and nausea of the users. Augmented Reality (AR) headsets display a virtual image overlapping with real-world images. To create comfortable viewing experience, the virtual image generated by the AR headsets needs to be displayed at the right distance for the eye accommodations of the real-world images in real time during the viewing process.


The present invention relates to a packing device for the receiving of the Christmas lamp string. It is to provide the Christmas lamp string after usage to be easily wound around the outer edges of connecting columns mainly by the positioning disks of both sides with the connecting columns binding together to achieve the purpose of receiving packing. Thus, it is very convenient to be taken out for usage next time. It is able to improve the disadvantage of hard to store the lamp string in the pass, and increase the practical effects.

Ordinary Christmas lamp strings mainly utilize the packing frames to clip-set the orderly arranged Christmas lamps and electrical wires to the frames, and pack them in carton for sale. After being bought by the users, the Christmas lamp strings are taken out and hanged for the usage of decoration. Then, after the festival has passed, the lamp string was taken off for the next usage. The lamp strings taken off are easily to have their lamp groups and electrical wires be wound together, and the users are hard to put the lamp strings back to the frames which they buy. Therefore, it will cause great troubles to the users who are intended to reuse the lamp strings, e.g. the lamp strings are hard to be pulled out, or the lamps drop out while being pulled out, the lamp strings become out of order, and are unable to be used.
Owing to the above described, the main object of present invention is to provide a temporarily receivable packing structure of the Christmas lamp string, such that the lamp string can easily be wound-stored and pulled out for use, therefore it is a invention of progressiveness.

Packing device for the receiving of the Christmas lamp string


At least one resonator is disclosed having a plurality of nanoscale resonator elements, the at least one resonator having at least two, different resonant frequencies and configured to provide at least two signals in response to an input signal and at least two adders configured to weight the signals with respective weights and to add weighted signals so as to produce an output signal.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to resonator(s).
2. Discussion of Related Art
Some forms of signal processing, such as pattern recognition, data mining and sensor signal processing, involve classifying or categorizing data.
Classifying and categorizing data has been the subject of intensive research for several decades. For example, an audio pattern recognition based on resonators is described on page 146 of "Self-Organisation and Associative Memory" by Teuvo Kohonen (Springer, 1984).
It has been proposed to implement pattern recognition in hardware.
In recent years, machine learning algorithms have evolved for classifying data. These algorithms tend to use digital signal processors and employ mathematical methods based on statistical methods and optimization processes.
An example of classifying data will now be described.
A chemical sensor system or "artificial nose" can be used to identify an odor by measuring concentrations of n different chemicals. The result of a measurement is an n-dimensional vector of measurement values. Recognizing a particular odor involves determining if the n-dimensional vector belongs to a specific cluster of points in n-dimensional space. The system learns to classify these points using certain mathematical rules known as "discriminant functions" which divide n-dimensional space into decision regions.
FIG. 1 illustrates a simple example of a two-dimensional space 1 in which data values 2 are classified into three groups 3 by three discriminant functions 4. Discrimination can be carried out based on a method using a form of discriminant known as a support vector machine (SVM). A discriminant, g(x), is defined in terms of a set of support vectors, αt, and a non-linear Kernel function K(xt,x), namely:
                              g                                (            x            )                          =                              ∑            t                                                                                α              t                                                  r              t                                                  K                                            (                                                      x                    t                                    ,                  x                                )                                                                        (        1        )            and where, in this case, a Gaussian radial basis Kernel function K(xt,x) is used, namely:
                              K                                (                                          x                t                            ,              x                        )                          =                  exp                                [                          -                                                                                                                                      x                        t                                            -                      x                                                                            2                                                  σ                  2                                                      ]                                              (        2        )
The Kernel function is typically calculated using a digital signal processor using a multiplication unit.
It may be useful for portable devices, e.g. handheld devices or smaller-sized devices, to classify or categorize data. However, these types of devices may have limited-capacity power sources and/or limited computing resources.


A lamp (10) has a housing (12) with a base (14) with an internal circumferential wall (16) arranged about a longitudinal axis (18). A hollow body (20) projects from the housing (12) and is symmetrically arrayed about the longitudinal axis (18). A light guide (21) is positioned in the hollow body (20) and as a single output end (22) arrayed along the longitudinal axis (18) and has a plurality of radially extending arms (23), each of the arms having an input end (24). The light guide (21) is preferably constructed from a molded acrylic or a suitable glass having wave-guide characteristics.

The long-life and appreciable ruggedness of LED light sources has produced a desire to use such light sources in automotive applications. Currently, these applications have been limited to stop lights and taillights and internal illumination. Recently developed LEDs capable of emitting white light have suggested that they might also be used for headlights. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,406,172 teaches the employment of multiple red, green and blue emitting LEDs arranged in a matrix, whose light is blended to emit a version of white light. The light output can also be varied by computer control and can accommodate directional variation by the vehicle with which they are used.
Newer versions of white light emitting LEDs employ blue and ultra violet-emitting LED sources in combination with a yellow light emitting phosphor, which blends the output into a white light
While the matrix versions of LED combinations provide different opportunities for forward lighting, it would be an advance in the art to provide light emitting diodes light source the replicated a point source.


A processing module to use for a processing system having a plurality of processing modules connected via a communication line is comprising mounting position information for the processing module in the communication line; a unique logical address to indicate the processing module; a database to correspond with a physical address of the processing module in the communication line; a position identification device to identify the mounting position information in the communication line of the processing module;                a unique/physical address conversion device to fetch the physical address corresponding to the unique logical address from the database using a data packet having the unique logical address as a destination; anda position/physical address conversion device for searching for the physical address from the mounting position information.

1. Field of the Technology
This invention relates to a communication device for transmitting information between a plurality of modules. This invention relates in particular to a communication device for performing settings relating to autonomous communication in a plurality of module devices.
2. Background of Art
An example of the communication method for connecting the plurality of modules in the case where the modules are connected by a parallel bus in particular is the communication method disclosed in Patent Document 1. That is to say, in the system bus architecture in which the first module (system processing device) is connected to the second module (system interface device) via the system bus, transmitting and receiving operations are performed between the first and second module via the SRAM common bus memory.
Another example of the communication method is the multi-computing communication method that is disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1. That is to say, in the bus architecture comprising one system node (SN) and a plurality of peripheral nodes (PN) which are connected by the PCI bus, transmitting and receiving operations are performed via the common memory on the PCI bus. In addition, it is necessary for the system node to mediate communication from a plurality of peripheral nodes. For example, the system node constructs a memory map when the system starts up and operates as a mediator at the time of broadcast.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Application Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 09-6271
[Non Patent Document] PICMG2.14 "Compact PCI Multi-computing Specification"

Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.


Methods of forming integrated circuit packages having an LED molded into the package, and the integrated circuit package formed thereby. An integrated circuit including one or more semiconductor die, passive components and an LED may be assembled on a panel. The one or more semiconductor die, passive components and LED may all then be encapsulated in a molding compound, and the integrated circuits then singularized to form individual integrated circuit packages. The integrated circuits are cut from the panel so that a portion of the lens of the LED is severed during the singularization process, and an end of the lens remaining within the package lies flush with an edge of the package to emit light outside of the package.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods of forming integrated circuit packages having an LED molded into the package, and the integrated circuit package formed thereby.
2. Description of the Related Art
The strong growth in demand for portable consumer electronics is driving the need for high-capacity storage devices. Non-volatile semiconductor memory devices, such as flash memory storage cards, are becoming widely used to meet the ever-growing demands on digital information storage and exchange. Their portability, versatility and rugged design, along with their high reliability and large capacity, have made such memory devices ideal for use in a wide variety of electronic devices, including for example digital cameras, digital music players, video game consoles, PDAs and cellular telephones.
While a number of packaging configurations are known, flash memory storage cards may in general be fabricated as system-in-a-package (SiP) or multichip modules (MCM), where a plurality of dice are mounted on a substrate. The substrate may in general include a rigid base having a conductive layer etched on one or both sides. Electrical connections are formed between the dice and the conductive layer(s), and the conductive layer(s) provide an electric lead structure for integration of the dice into an electronic system. Once electrical connections between the dice and substrate are made, one or both sides of the assembly are then typically encased in a molding compound to provide a protective package.
In view of the small form factor requirements, as well as the fact that flash memory cards need to be removable and not permanently attached to a printed circuit board, such cards are often built of a land grid array (LGA) package. In an LGA package, the semiconductor die are electrically connected to exposed contact fingers formed on a lower surface of the package. External electrical connection with other electronic components on a host printed circuit board is accomplished by bringing the contact fingers into pressure contact with complementary electrical pads on the printed circuit board. LGA memory packages are ideal for flash memory cards in that they have a smaller profile and lower inductance than pin grid array (PGA) and ball grid array (BGA) packages.
Significant economies of scale are achieved by forming a plurality of integrated circuit (IC) packages at the same time on panels. In fabrication, the chips and other circuit components are mounted on the panel, which may be for example a substrate or leadframe, and molded in epoxy molding compound. Once fabricated, the IC packages are separated from the panel, and those which pass inspection may then be enclosed within an outer plastic lid to form a completed flash memory card.
After the molding process, it is known to physically and electrically attach a liquid crystal diode (LED) to a portion of the substrate outside of the molded package. In the finished flash memory, the LED may be illuminated by a controller within the IC package, for example to indicate when read/write operations are being performed on the flash memory. Conventionally, the LED is positioned outside of the molded package.

Method of assembling semiconductor devices with LEDs


An optical disk head which includes a substrate, a light path for allowing light beam to propagate in a zigzag form, having a thickness and width of 10 times greater than the wavelength, a light source optically connected to the light path so as to allow an incident light from the light source to propagate therethrough, a first light condenser optically connected to the light path so as to radiate the light beam propagated through the light path upon an object provided toward a top surface of the substrate, a second light condenser for guiding the light beam reflected from the object into the light path, and an optical detector for detecting the light beam propagated through the light path guided by the second light condenser.

1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to an optical disk head used in an optical recording apparatus, and a method for producing the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to an optical disk head which is thin and lightweight, and achieves easy mechanical alignment of components, and a method for mass-producing such optical disk heads.
2. Description of the Prior Art:
An optical recording apparatus includes an optical disk head so as to read signals recorded in an optical recording medium such as compact disks (CD), optical disks, and optical card memories. The optical head is necessarily equipped with a servocontrol such as a focus servo or a track servo.
There is a typical optical disk head known in the industry illustrated in "Autofocus Hitec Technologies" (edited by M. Kohno, published by Keiei System Kenkyusha) which will be described by reference to FIG. 1:
A light source 1 radiates a laser beam 17 which is made parallel by a collimator lens 18 and caused to pass through a beam splitter 19. Then it is focused on an optical disk 7 by an objective lens 20. The laser beam is reflected from the optical disk 7, and is made parallel by the objective lens 20. After being reflected from a boundary face 19' of the beam splitter 19, is introduced into a focus-track error detector optics 21 which includes a convex lens and a cylindrical lens. Thus, a reproducing signal, a focus-error signal and a track-error signal are read.
The known optical disk head shown in FIG. 1 has disadvantages in that the optical system becomes complex and the mechanical alignment of optical components requires high precision. Thus, the resulting optical head is likely to become large, heavy and costly.
In order to solve these problems, efforts are being made to develop optical integrated circuits including a substrate in which a waveguide and various optical components are provided. However, a difficulty arises from the fact that light beam is propagated throughout the waveguide as a wave having a crest-type distribution of light intensity, thereby requiring the light beam to be treated under the theory of wave optics. This means that the efficiencies at which a light beam is introduced into the waveguide and output therefrom are likely to reduce, and the optical information propagated through the waveguide is one-dimensional.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publications Nos. 2-301702, 2-301703 and 2-301704 disclose planar reflection optical devices. These devices employ a transparent substrate with reflective lenses so that a light beam is allowed to propagate in a zigzag form through the substrate but they have no optical pickup means for catching a light beam reflected from an optical recording medium. As a result, these devices cannot be used for an optical disk head.

Optical disk head including a light path having a thickness and width greater than the light beam wavelength by a predetermined amount

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A method for transmitting and for storing destination information in a mobile communication terminal is disclosed. The method for transmitting destination information includes determining whether a navigation mode is enabled and, if the navigation mode is enabled, determining whether a hot key is pressed for a predetermined time. If the hot key is pressed for the predetermined time, destination address information corresponding to the hot key is read, and transmitted to an information center over a wireless network. Therefore, since a phone book of the mobile communication terminal is interworked with destination address information for navigation, the present invention simplifies procedures needed to transmit the destination address information using the mobile communication terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a navigation system, and more particularly to a method for transmitting destination information in a mobile communication terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typically, a navigation system displays a current position of a moving object, calculated by information received from a GPS (Global Positioning System), on a map displayed on a display screen. The navigation system provides a driver with a variety of navigation information such as a proceeding direction of the moving object, a distance from a current position to the destination, a current speed of the moving object, a driving path preset by the driver, and an optimum path to the destination, etc. Such a navigation system (or GPS system) is mounted to a variety of moving objects such as a ship, an airplane, and an automobile, and is widely used for checking current position and current speed of the moving objects or determining moving path of them. In particular, the navigation system calculates the current position of the moving object by receiving radio signals indicating latitude, longitude, and altitude from a plurality of satellites involved in a GPS system, and then visually displays map information having the calculated current position for a driver, or audibly informs the driver of the map information.
In the meantime, to allow a user to receive navigation information (e.g., path guide information) from the conventional navigation system, the user gains access to the information center by selecting a navigation mode preset in a mobile communication terminal, and performs an additional process for acquiring his or her desired information. For example, to allow the user to receive guide information concerning an optimal traveling path to his or her desired destination, the user has to set the destination on a display screen of the mobile communication terminal when the mobile communication terminal is switched to a navigation mode. In conclusion, in order to allow the user to receive his or her desired navigation service, the typical navigation system requires the user to perform complicated processes, for example, the user sets the mobile communication terminal to a navigation mode, selects a desired service in the navigation mode, and manually inputs his or her desired information, if necessary.

Method for transmitting destination information in mobile communication terminal


The present invention discloses an adsorbent comprising a densified carbon black. The densified carbon black comprising the adsorbent preferably has an increase in density of from about 100% to about 500% above the undensified form of the adsorbent. The densified carbon black adsorbent has an increase in adsorption capacity per unit volume over the undensified form of the adsorbent in excess of 100%. The densified carbon blacks are particularly useful as adsorbents for gases.

The present invention relates to an adsorbent comprising a densified carbon black, and a process for adsorbing a gas with such an adsorbent.
The adsorption of gases is an important component of many industrial processes. The extent of adsorption is dependent on the ability of the adsorbent to contain the gas. The effectiveness of an adsorbent may be judged from several criteria, depending on the application. The adsorption capacity of the adsorbent may be expressed in terms of the adsorption per unit mass of the adsorbent, or in terms of the adsorption capacity per unit volume of the adsorbent. For some applications, such as the adsorptive storage of natural gas, space is a constraint, and so the adsorption capacity per unit volume of the adsorbent is the criterion for measuring its effectiveness. Thus, a good adsorbent should have a high adsorption capacity both on a unit mass basis, as well as on a unit volume basis. The adsorption capacity per unit volume of adsorbent is dependent on the adsorption capacity per unit mass, as well as the bulk density of the adsorbent material. Thus, increasing the bulk density of the adsorbent will cause an increase in adsorption capacity per unit volume of the adsorbent.
A number of carbon adsorbents have been investigated in the past. For example, Mullhaupt, et al., "Carbon Adsorbents For Natural Gas Storage", International Carbon Conference, Jun. 21-26, 1992, discloses the use of active carbon as a methane adsorbent, as well as the use of certain carbon blacks as methane adsorbents.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,999,330 to Bose, et al., describes a densified carbonaceous material for use as a methane adsorbent. As disclosed in this patent, while there is an increase in the density of the adsorbent of from 50% to 200%, the corresponding increase in the adsorption capacity per unit volume of the adsorbent ranges from about 20% to about 100%.
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a densified carbon black that exhibits an adsorption capacity per unit volume superior to that shown by undensified carbon blacks.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a process for using such a densified carbon black as an adsorbent for gases.

Densified carbon black adsorbent and a process for adsorbing a gas with such an adsorbent


In an SiC vertical MOSFET comprising a channel region and an n-type inverted electron guide path formed through ion implantation in a low-concentration p-type deposition film, the width of the channel region may be partly narrowed owing to implantation mask positioning failure, and the withstand voltage of the device may lower, and therefore, the device could hardly satisfy both low on-resistance and high withstand voltage. In the invention, second inverted layers (41, 42) are provided at the same distance on the right and left sides from the inverted layer (40) to be the electron guide path in the device, and the inverted layers are formed through simultaneous ion implantation using the same mask, and accordingly, the length of all the channel regions in the device is made uniform, thereby solving the problem.

The single crystal of silicon carbide (SiC) has excellent physical properties, such as a wide band gap, a high dielectric breakdown intensity and a large saturation drift velocity of electrons, as compared with the single crystal of silicon (Si). Therefore, use of SiC as the constitutive material makes it possible to fabricate a semiconductor device for use with an electrical power of high withstand voltage and low resistance exceeding Si. In addition, like Si, SiC is characterized in that it may form an insulating layer through thermal oxidation. These facts lead to a supposition that the fabrication of a vertical MOSFET having a high withstand voltage and a low on-resistance and using the single crystal of SiC as the constitutive material is feasible. Numerous researches and developments directed to this fabrication have been under path.
When SiC is used as the constitutive material, a vertical MOSFET (D-MOSFET) could not be fabricated by the double diffusion method that is generally applied to Si. This is because the diffusion coefficient of impurity dopants is extremely small in the crystal of SiC and the formation of channel regions is consequently precluded by the difference in the transverse diffusion length between the p-type and n-type impurity dopants. Thus, the vertical MOSFET similar to D-MOSFET of Si is fabricated through ion implantation of p-type and n-type impurities (double ion implantation method). This method, however, degrades the electron mobility because numerous crystal defects induced by ion implantation remain in the channel region and scatter the conductive electrons induced in the channel. The SiC vertical MOSFET fabricated according to the double ion implantation method has a channel mobility of from 5 to 10 cm2/Vs, an extremely small value as compared with the channel mobility of about 500 cm2/Vs that the Si D-MOSFET has. As a result, the device entails a problem in that its on-resistance is far higher than the theoretical value thereof.
As a means to solve this problem, a configuration that forms the channel region not by ion implantation but with a deposition film has been proposed. A typical examples of this configuration is disclosed in Patent Reference 1 that was filed on Oct. 3, 2003. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the unit cell of the configuration. In this configuration, a low-concentration n-type drift layer 2 is deposited on a high-concentration n-type substrate 1, a high-concentration p-type gate layer 31 is formed by ion implantation on the surface of the n-type drift layer 2, and a low-concentration p-type layer 32 is deposited further thereon. On the surface part of the low-concentration p-type layer 32, an n-type source layers 51 and 52 are selectively formed by ion implantation, a gate electrode 7 is formed via a gate oxide film 6, and further a source electrode 9 is formed via an interlayer insulation film 8. Channel regions 11 and 12 are formed in the low-concentration p-type deposition layer 32 directly below the gate oxide film 6. The configuration is characterized in that an electron guide path 40 penetrating through the low-concentration p-type deposition layer 32 and reaching the n-type drift layer 2 is selectively formed through ion implantation of an n-type impurity from the surface (hereinafter the electron guide path 40 will be occasionally referred to as a "inverted layer 40"). Since this configuration has the channel regions 11 and 12 formed in the low-concentration p-type deposition layer that has undergone no ion implantation, it is capable of acquiring a high mobility of conductive electrons and permitting fabrication of a vertical MOSFET having a small on-resistance. It is further characterized in that the leak of an electric field into the gate oxide film near the channel regions 11 and 12 can be prevented and the source/drain withstand voltage can be heightened because the depletion layer transversely extending from the high-concentration p-type gate layer 31 to the low-concentration n-type drift layer 2 in the state of voltage block enables the vertical channel part 24 to be completely pinched off at a low voltage.
However, this configuration entails a problem that makes it difficult to satisfy both high withstand voltage and low on-resistance, as described below. This is based on the difference between the length a and the length b of the channel regions 11 and 12 formed on the right and left sides of the inverted layer 40. Before the reason is described in detail, first described hereinunder is the reason why there occurs the difference between the length a and the length b in the conventional configuration and according to its production method.
FIG. 8(a) to (e) show a part of a process for producing the SiC-MOSFET having a conventional configuration shown in FIG. 7. These are cross-sectional views of the unit cell of the configuration. First, a low-concentration n-type drift layer 2 doped with 5×1015 cm−3 of nitrogen is deposited on a high-concentration n-type substrate 1 to a thickness of 15 μm (a). Next, a high-concentration p-type layer 31 is formed through p-type impurity ion implantation 3a via a mask 130 (b). The mask 130 is formed by patterning through photolithography of an SiO2 film deposited on the surface according to a reduced-pressure CVD method. After the mask is removed, a low-concentration p-type layer 32 doped with 5×1015 cm−3 of aluminum is deposited on the surface to a thickness of about 0.5 μm (c). Next, an n-type inverted layer 40 is formed through n-type impurity ion implantation 4a via a mask 140, and the implanted region is converted (reversed) from p-type to n-type (d). For the n-type impurity ion implantation 4a, nitrogen ions are implanted at room temperature at an acceleration energy of from 40 keV to 250 keV to a dose of 1×1016 cm−3. After the mask 140 is removed, n-type source layers 51 and 52 are formed through n-type impurity ion implantation 5a via a mask 150 (e). For the n-type impurity ion implantation 5a, phosphorus ions are implanted at a substrate temperature of 500° C. at an acceleration energy of from 40 keV to 250 keV to a dose of 2×1020 cm−3. Next, this is annealed for activation in an argon atmosphere at 1500° C. for 30 minutes, and a gate insulation film 6, a gate electrode 7, a source electrode 9 and a drain electrode 10 are formed to complete the device.
In the production process, the inverted layer 40 and the n-type source layers 51 and 52 are formed according to an ion implantation method using different implantation masks 140 and 150. Accordingly, the distance to the position at which the n-type source layers 51 and 52 are formed, relative to the position at which the inverted layer 40 is formed, is not always the same. Specifically, this depends on the positioning accuracy in photolithography in mask-patterning the layers, and even under the most careful positioning operation, there may occur a position shift within a positioning accuracy of the alignment device itself of generally about 0.5 μm. As a result, there may be a dimensional difference of 2 times the position shift between the length a and the length b of the channel regions 11 and 12 to be defined as a relative position to the right and left edges of the inverted layer 40 and the right side edge of the n-type source layer 51 and the left side edge of 52. In general, the length of the channel regions 11 and 12 (the value of a, b) is planned to be from 1.0 to 1.5 μm or so, and in case where the length is taken as 1.0 μm and the position shift of the two masks is the same, 0.5 μm, as that of the positioning accuracy of the alignment device, then the length a is 1.5 μm but the length b is 0.5 μm, of that is, there occurs a difference of 1.0 μm between the lengths a and b.
The above description relates to the difference between the length of the right-side channel region and that of the left-side channel region in one unit cell; but in a practical device, a large number of cells, or that is, more than tens of thousands of cells are aligned in parallel in a semiconductor chip having a few mm square, and between the cells in the chip, there may occur a difference in the length between the channel regions. Accordingly, in one device, the ununiformity of the length of the channel regions further expands.
The conventional configuration in which the length of the channel region differs not only in a unit cell but also between unit cells constituting a device in the manner as above has an extremely serious problem in that it could not satisfy the requirement of low on-resistance and high withstand voltage of MOSFET. This is described below. Specifically, this configuration is characterized in that the leak of an electric field into the gate oxide film near the channel regions 11 and 12 can be prevented and the source/drain withstand voltage can be heightened because the depletion layer transversely extending from the high-concentration p-type gate layer 31 to the low-concentration n-type drift layer 2 in the state of voltage block enables the vertical channel part 24 to be completely pinched off at a low voltage. In this state, the voltage of from 30 to 50 V before the complete pinching off of the vertical channel part 24 must be blocked in the horizontal MOSFET part that comprises the n-type inverted layer 40, the p-type channel regions 11 and 12, the n+ source layers 51 and 52, the gate oxide film 6 and the gate 7. When the horizontal MOSFET part could not block the voltage of from 30 to 50 V, then source/drain withstand of the vertical MOSFET of this configuration is greatly degraded. The voltage block characteristic of this part is defined by the punch-through voltage in the npn transistor part composed of n-type inverted layer/p-type channel region/n+ source layer. In other words, this greatly depends on the impurity concentration and the length (value a, b) of the p-type channel regions 11 and 12, and for keeping a punch-through voltage of from 30 to 50 V or more, these must be larger than predetermined values. However, for reducing the on-resistance of the vertical MOSFET, the channel mobility thereof must be increased, and therefore, the p-type impurity concentration in the channel regions 11 and 12 are reduced as much as possible and at the same time the length of the channel regions is shortened as much as possible to thereby reduce the channel resistance as much as possible. Accordingly, the degree of freedom in planning the impurity concentration and the length (that is, the length a and the length b) of the channel regions 11 and 12 is small, and in general, the p-type impurity concentration is planned to be from 5×1015 to 1×1016 cm−3 and the length is to be from 1.0 to 1.5 μm or so, as so mentioned in the above. In the thus-planned MOSFET, when any of the length a or b is made smaller than the defined value owing to the limitation to the positioning accuracy in the production process as described in [0007], then the withstand voltage of the vertical MOSFET greatly lowers.
FIG. 9 shows experimental examples of the relation between the channel length LG and the drain/source withstand voltage VBD of a vertical MOSFET having a conventional configuration. The data of three test lots (black circle, black square, black triangle) are shown. In this, the channel length LG is not a found value, but is a planned length in a virtual case where the mask positioning accuracy is estimated as ±0 μm. When the channel length is 1.5 μm, all the three cases have a withstand voltage of 800 V; but when the channel length is 1.2 μm, then the withstand voltage is from 600 V to 700 V, and further when the channel length is 1.0 μm, then the withstand voltage is from tens V to 400 V. Thus, the withstand voltage fluctuates greatly. The reason for the extreme reduction and fluctuation in the withstand voltage may be considered because, as so mentioned in the above, the channel length LG fluctuated within a range of from 0.5 μm to 1.5 μm owing to the mask positioning failure in the actual device, and at the site having a smallest LG, the device showed a low withstand voltage.
As in these experimental examples, when the channel length is designed to be at least 1.5 μm, then devices having a predetermined withstand voltage can be produced at a high yield, but on the other hand, the devices shall have a large on-resistance in proportion to the channel length thereof. In addition, for devices having a further higher withstand voltage, the channel length must be set further longer, therefore bringing about a problem in that the on-resistance of the devices increases further. Specifically, vertical MOSFET devices having a conventional configuration and produced according to a conventional method could hardly satisfy both the requirement of low on-resistance and the requirement of high withstand voltage.
To solve the problem that, owing to the limitation to the positioning accuracy in the production process, a part having a short channel length may form as in the above and the withstand voltage is thereby lowered, a modification may be taken into consideration for the conventional production process shown in FIG. 8. Concretely, in the step (d) to form the inverted layer 40 through nitrogen ion implantation, the implantation mask 140 is holed to have an opening at nearly the same position as the position at which the source layers 51 and 52 are formed, and also in the opening, nitrogen ion are implanted to thereby form the inverted layer 40 and the source layers 51 and 52 all at the same time. In this case, however, there is a problem in that, since the nitrogen dope concentration in the source layer part could not fully increase, the resistance inside the source layer and the contact resistance of the source contact increase. When high-concentration phosphorus ions are implanted in the step (e), using the same mask, then the problem of the source layer concentration could be solved, but the impurity concentration in the inverted layer part increases too much, therefore often causing a problem of dielectric breakdown since a strong electric field is applied to the gate oxide film 6 existing between the gate electrode 7 and the inverted layer before the vertical channel part is completely pinched off. In addition, after the vertical channel part has been pinched off, the electric field may be further strengthened owing to the voltage increase, and owing to the dielectric breakdown of the gate oxide film in this part, there occurs still another problem in that the source/drain withstand voltage shall be limited to be low. Anyhow, the conventional configuration and the conventional production method have extremely serious problems in that MOSFET could hardly satisfy both the requirement of low on-resistance and the requirement of high withstand voltage. Patent Reference 1: WO04/036655

Silicon carbide semiconductor device and method for producing the same

National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology


A crimping tool for nut locks which comprise a ring type lock member having spaced apart teeth extending outwardly from the circumference and which are positioned adjacent a nut that is to be locked or held in place thereby when a selected one of the teeth is crimped or bent over to bear against the flat surface of the adjacent nut. The present invention comprises a flat support bar for placing over and across the outer end of the nut and member on which it is threaded, a puller member extends through an aperture at one end of the bar having a lateral projection or hook formed at its inwardly extending end with a puller nut threaded on the outwardly extending end of the puller member on the opposite side of the bar. The lateral projection or hook is positioned behind one of the teeth of the nut lock ring and the puller nut is then rotated to draw the tooth of the nut lock ring forward to crimp or bend over the surface of the adjacent nut. A slidably adjustable clamping lug is provided at the other end of the bar to clamp against an available housing portion when the puller is in position to engage and pull on a selected one of the teeth of the nut lock ring, thereby clamping and holding the bar in position while the puller crimps and bends the engaged tooth over one of the flat surfaces of the nut.

The most commonly used prior art method of crimping the teeth of the nut lock ring on the axle nut to keep it from turning and becoming loose is a pry bar or crow bar. However, the space within the hub cavity of the wheel in which to get at and behind the teeth of the nut lock ring is so small it is difficult to get the tip of the pry bar in place behind a selected one of the teeth. The puller of the present invention solves that problem.
The present invention comprises a flat support bar for placing over the outer end of the axle across the face of the axle nut, a puller member extends through an aperture at one end of the bar having a lateral projection or hook formed at its inwardly extending end on the inwardly facing side of the support bar with a puller nut threaded on the outwardly extending end of the puller on the oppositely facing side of the bar. The lateral projection or hook is positioned behind one of the teeth of the axle nut lock ring and the puller nut is then rotated to draw the tooth of the nut lock ring forward to crimp or bend over the surface of the adjacent axle nut. A slidably adjustable clamping lug is provided at the other end of the bar to clamp against a portion of the wheel hub when the puller is in position to engage and pull on a selected one of the teeth of the axle nut lock ring, thereby clamping and holding the bar in position while the puller crimps and bends the engaged tooth over one of the flat surfaces of the axle nut.
Other prior art devices for crimping teeth of a lock member over on to an adjacent nut known to the inventor include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,392,264; 1,886,732; 1,480,811; and 212,659 which are readily available to the public and interested parties in the United States Patent and Trademark Office as well as in the public libraries of various cities throughout the United States.


System, methods and apparatus are described that facilitate transmission of data, particularly between two devices within an electronic apparatus. Information is transmitted in N-phase polarity encoded symbols. Data is encoded in multi-bit symbols, and the multi-bit symbols are transmitted on a plurality of connectors. The multi-bit symbols may be transmitted by mapping the symbols to a sequence of states of the plurality of connectors, and driving the connectors in accordance with the sequence of states. The timing of the sequence of states is determinable at a receiver at each transition between sequential states. The state of each connector may be defined by polarity and direction of rotation of a multi-phase signal transmitted on the each connector.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to high-speed data communications interfaces, and more particularly, multi-wire, multi-phase data communication links.
2. Background
In the field of high-speed serial communication, demand for ever-increasing data rates continues to grow. Many conventional high-speed serial interface systems use non-return to zero (NRZ) data encoding with separate data and clock signals. This separation of the data and clock signals, however, typically results in skew between the two signals, limiting the maximum possible link data rate of the interface.
Typically, de-skewing circuitry is used at the receiving end of the serial interface to eliminate skew between the data and the clock signals. Consequently, both the real estate requirements and the link start-up time of the serial interface are increased, with the latter becoming disadvantageous when the interface is being used intermittently at a low duty cycle to minimize system power consumption.
Other conventional serial interface systems are more immune to skew by using data and strobe signals, but still suffer from skew problems when operating at high speeds.
Additionally, certain integrated receiver devices are typically built with slower logic because they have larger feature sizes in order to drive high voltages. This is the case, for example, for integrated LCD Controller-Driver circuits that are used to drive LCD panels. As such, it would be difficult to implement a high-speed serial interface for such devices using conventional systems.
What is needed therefore is a high-speed serial interface that resolves the above-described problems of conventional serial interface systems. Further, a high-speed serial interface with increased capacity and reduced power consumption relative to conventional systems is needed.

N-phase phase and polarity encoded serial interface


A method and an apparatus detect series and/or parallel arc faults in AC and DC systems. The method according to one embodiment inputs an AC current signal; extracts a fundamental component of the AC current signal and monitoring an amplitude variation profile for the fundamental component, thereby generating a first arc fault detection measure; detects non-stationary changes in the AC current signal applying at least one measure of order higher than one, thereby generating a second arc fault detection measure; and determines whether an arc fault exists based on the first arc fault detection measure and the second arc fault detection measure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electric power distribution systems, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for detecting series and/or parallel arc faults for electric power systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electrical systems used in complex environments such as aerospace systems, industrial environments, vehicles, and residential environments include a large number of electrical circuits, devices, and wires. Arc faults may occur in any of the electrical circuits, or along the wires. If not detected promptly, arc faults may cause short circuits, malfunctions, and fires in the equipment serviced by the electrical circuits or wires exhibiting arc faults.
Arc fault detection and protection pose a significant challenge in such complex environments. Correct and prompt arc fault detection and protection are critical in aircraft environments. Airlines, aircraft manufacturers, the military, and regulatory agencies such as the FAA have expressed the need for accurate and fast arc fault detection and protection systems. A generalized method and system that can reliably detect and prevent series and/or parallel arcs in both AC and DC electric power systems is needed.
Prior art methods have focused research and technology development efforts mostly on the detection of parallel arc faults. Parallel arc faults exhibit high energy levels and are easy to differentiate from other operating conditions. In contrast, series arc fault currents have low energy levels, being limited in magnitude by the electrical load along which they occur. Hence, series arc faults are more difficult to detect. Conventional circuit breakers, currently in widespread use in the aerospace and general residential and industrial environments, are designed to detect only over-current and overload conditions. Numerous serious or fatal electrical incidents are caused by low energy level arc fault conditions resulting from damaged or aging wire. Such low energy level arc faults are not typically detected by conventional circuit breakers.
The aging of wire systems is recognized as a significant safety concern in commercial aviation. Aging wires are a source of arc faults. The problem of aging wire systems extends to virtually all electrical systems in homes and other buildings, consumer products, nuclear power plants, public transit systems, and railroad systems.
Currently there are no systematic means to distinguish a series arc signal from normal and abnormal transient signals, or from various load profiles that occur in a typical AC or DC power distribution system. The existing arc fault detection approaches use a combination of filtering and threshold detection to distinguish such arcs from normal signal occurrences. Such methods are not universal, and are susceptible to frequent nuisance trips. The choice of filtering strategy depends on the nature of the distribution network environment and on the characteristics of the load. However, the nature of the distribution network environment and the characteristics of the loads in an electrical environment may not necessarily be known at the time when generalized libraries are created, such libraries being used to differentiate between arc faults and normal/abnormal transient characteristics of the loads.
A few publications have studied arc detection techniques for electrical power systems. One such technique is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,561,605, entitled "Arc Detection Using Current Variation". In the technique described in this work, notch filters are used to remove the fundamental and harmonic components from an AC line current and voltage. The resultant signal (current or voltage) is subtracted from the value obtained from a previous period. Normally this difference signal is zero, however, under certain arc fault conditions, the difference can be non-zero. The absolute value of the difference signal is used to create a pulse train whose frequency depends on the magnitude of the error signal. A pulse count is accumulated in a synchronous summer over a predefined time. A trip signal is generated if the accumulated pulse count exceeds a specific value over the predefined time. This technique, however, does not detect arc faults with small absolute signatures.
A disclosed embodiment of the application addresses these and other issues by utilizing a generalized arc fault detection system that detects series and parallel arcs in real time in both AC and DC electrical systems; differentiates arc faults from normal loads both in steady state and during normal and abnormal electric power system transients; allows detection of small arc currents in the presence of large load currents; and provides excellent trip-free operation and noise immunity against switching devices and potential cross-talk among adjacent power lines.

Method and apparatus for generalized arc fault detection