Fluid strut which consists of a cylinder, the interior of which contains a charge under pressure, and a piston rod connected to a piston located in this interior. On the end of the cylinder where the piston rod exits, there are a gasket and a guide for the piston rod, while a valve device which acts when there is a thermal overload on the fluid strut opens the interior to the atmosphere, whereby the valve device has at least one passage channel which can connect the atmosphere to the interior, whereby the fluid strut is connected by means of connecting parts to a base body and to a pivoting body which can move with respect to the base body, whereby in a first series connection between the base body by means of a first connecting part and the fluid strut, or a second series connection between the pivoting body by means of a second connecting part and the fluid strut, there is an element which melts in the event of a fire, and releases at least one end of the fluid strut from one of the series connections, as a result of which the fluid strut assumes a first emergency operating extended position, from which, in the event of the further addition of heat, the fluid strut moves into a second emergency operating extended position, in which the gasket to the piston rod is bridged.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fluid strut for a motor vehicle. The fluid strut includes a cylinder and a piston rod connected to a piston. The piston is contained in the interior of the cylinder, which also contains a charge under pressure. The end of the cylinder which contains the exit for the piston rod contains a gasket and a guide rod for the piston rod. The cylinder also contains a valve device which acts when there is a thermal overload on the actuator element to open a passage channel which connects the interior of the cylinder to the atmosphere.
2. Background Information
German Laid Open Patent Application No. 41 01 567.3, for example, describes a known similar fluid strut. Attempts to reduce the risk represented in the event of a fire by the actuator element in the device described in the above-referenced unexamined patent application have led to good results. This problem must frequently be dealt with in relation to applications in motor vehicles in particular.


Absorbable radiation or radiochemically sterilized medical devices, including sutures, whose breaking strength and absorption profile can be modulated by controlling the total dose received during sterilization are disclosed.

When exposed to a sterilizing dose of high-energy radiation, absorbable polymers, particularly fully aliphatic ones, are known to undergo catastrophic reduction in their functional strength retention when used as implants for wound repair [Chapter 1 in Biomedical Polymers—Designed-to-Degrade Systems (Shalaby, Ed) Hanser, N.Y., 1994]. Because of the detrimental effects of high-energy radiation, such as gamma radiation and electron-beam, on absorbable polymers and their intermediates, two novel approaches were disclosed in the prior art to allow the application of high-energy radiation in the sterilization of absorbable devices. The first approach dealt with incorporating a significant fraction of aromatic repeat units in the chain of absorbable aliphatic polyesters [U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,435,161 (1984), 4,532,928 (1985), and 4,649,921 (1987)]. Although this was an effective means for allowing copolymers of glycolide with aromatic prepolymers to be radiation sterilizable, the approach has limited applicability to other absorbable copolymers and its implementation is technically tedious and costly. The second approach dealt with using a combination of a very low dose of high-energy radiation and radiolytically generated formaldehyde as a gaseous co-sterilant and resulted in a minimum or no detrimental effects on the sterilized absorbable polymers [U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,068 (1995)]. This was referred to as radiochemical sterilization. Meanwhile, there has been a growing need for absorbable polymers and intermediates having a broad range of strength retention profiles for use in many surgical and tissue repair procedures. Another area with pressing need for absorbable polymers with a broad range of functional strength retention profiles pertains to their use in tissue engineering as scaffolds for supporting the propagation of several types of viable cells for different periods of time, as in the case of endothelial cells and osteoblasts. To meet the needs for these wide-ranging applications will require decades of research to develop and test the biocompatibility of many candidate absorbable polymers and intermediates without limited assurance for success. Accordingly, the present invention deals with the use of a unique family of fully aliphatic, absorbable polymers as the source of several subfamilies of polymers through controlling the total dose of high-energy radiation received by the specific substrate to achieve sterility. Such a unique family of polymers is distinguished for having segmented or blocked copolymeric chains with radio-compatible components (i.e., components capable of limiting the radiolytic impact of high-energy radiation), wherein said polymers can display a range of functional strength retention profiles through modulating the radiation dose, and sterility can be secured through a radiolytically generated surface sterilant at radiation doses of less than 25 kGy. Likewise, intermediates for flexible absorbable articles, which are present as liquids at room temperature, can be considered as candidates for being radio-compatible systems.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Radiation and radiochemically sterilized absorbable devices with dose-controlled functional strength retention


A nearly balanced synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) structure that can be advantageously used in magnetoelectronic devices such as a magnetoresistive memory cell includes two ferromagnetic layers and an antiferromagnetic coupling layer separating the two ferromagnetic layers. The SAF free layer has weakly coupled regions formed in the antiferromagnetic coupling layer by a treatment such as annealing, layering of the antiferromagnetic coupling layer, or forming the antiferromagnetic coupling layer over a roughened surface of a ferromagnetic layer. The weakly coupled regions lower the flop field of the SAF free layer in comparison to untreated SAF free layers. The SAF flop is used during the write operation of such a structure and its reduction results in lower power consumption during write operations and correspondingly increased device performance.

The class of devices that is magnetoelectronic devices is a broad class that includes motors, disk drives, and certain semiconductor memory devices, such as magnetoresistive random access memories (MRAMs), and integrated circuits that include MRAM and logic functions other than MRAM, such as radio and processing circuits. Memory devices of all types are an extremely important component in electronic systems. The three most prevalent semiconductor memory technologies are SRAM (static random access memory), DRAM (dynamic random access memory), and FLASH (a form of non-volatile random access memory), which are essentially non-magnetoelectronic. Each of these memory devices uses an electronic charge to store information and each has its own advantages. SRAM has fast read and write speeds, but it is volatile and requires large cell area. DRAM has high density, but it is also volatile and requires a refresh of the storage capacitor every few milliseconds. This requirement increases the complexity of the control electronics.
FLASH is the major nonvolatile memory device in use today. FLASH uses charge trapped in a floating oxide layer to store information. Drawbacks to FLASH include high voltage requirements and slow program and erase times. Also, FLASH memory has a poor write endurance of 104–106 cycles before memory failure. In addition, to maintain reasonable data retention, the thickness of the gate oxide has to stay above the threshold that allows electron tunneling, thus restricting FLASH's scaling trends.
To overcome these shortcomings, new magnetic memory devices are being evaluated. One such device is the MRAM, which stores bits as magnetic states. MRAM has the potential to have speed performance similar to DRAM. To be commercially viable, however, MRAM must have comparable memory density to current memory technologies, be scalable for future generations, operate at low voltages, have low power consumption, and have competitive read/write speeds.
A significant amount of power is consumed during a write operation of an MRAM cell in an MRAM device having an array of cells. The write operation consists of passing currents through conductive lines external but in close proximity to the MRAM magnetic element. The magnetic fields generated by these currents are sufficient to switch the magnetic state of the free layer of the magnetic element. In addition, as the bit dimension shrinks, the switching field increases for a given shape and film thickness, requiring more current to switch. As will be discussed in more detail below, data is stored in the magnetization state of the free layer of the magnetic element. Therefore a significant challenge to commercializing MRAM devices is to construct MRAM cells that switch the magnetic state using the lowest possible magnetic field, resulting in the lowest possible write currents, while maintaining the integrity of the data within the entire array of elements
It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing and other deficiencies inherent in the prior art.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

Synthetic antiferromagnetic structure for magnetoelectronic devices


A system for manufacturing modular aircraft includes at least a common tooling component, wherein the at least a common tooling component is configured to manufacture at least a flight component. The system includes at least a modular tooling component, wherein the at least modular tooling component wherein the at least a modular tooling component is configured to manufacture at least a fuselage component and a collar component. The system includes at least a tooling interface component, wherein the at least a tooling interface component is configured to mechanically connect the at least a common tooling component at a first end to the at least a modular tooling component at a second end.

The BWB aircraft may be a hybrid shape that resembles a flying wing, but also incorporates features from conventional transport aircraft. This combination offers several advantages over conventional tube- and wing airframes. The BWB airframe merges efficient high-lift wings with a wide airfoil-shaped body, allowing the entire aircraft to generate lift and minimize drag. This shape helps to increase fuel economy and creates larger payload (cargo or passenger) areas in the center body portion of the aircraft.
The BWB shape allows unique interior designs. Cargo can be loaded, or passengers can board from the front or rear of the aircraft. The cargo or passenger area may be distributed across the wide fuselage, providing a large usable volume.

Systems and methods for manufacture of a modular aircraft


A helical spring for a spring clutch including:. (i) at least one right hand wound section (B); PA1 (ii) at least one left hand wound section (A); and PA1 (iii) tabs (2,3,4 & 5) projecting from both the right hand wound section and the left hand wound section.

Whilst the following description discusses springs and spring clutches by illustration to their use with blinds, it should be understood that the invention is not so limited. Many designs of spring clutches have been manufactured in the past and in particular will be well known to persons skilled in the blind industry. Spring clutches are destined to provide a smooth translation of rotational movement of one shaft to another coaxial shaft. In the absence of such types of clutches, a direct translation is provided which can make the rotation difficult to initiate and control.
One known type of spring clutch has a first shaft, a helical spring and a second shaft. The helical spring has an internal diameter which is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the first shaft. To install the spring, it is slightly expanded and slid onto the first shaft to grip the first shaft by frictional engagement. The second shaft is tubular and surrounds the first shaft with the helical spring interposed in between the shafts. The second shaft engages one end of the helical spring.
In use, the spring clutch may be mounted at one end of a blind roller so one of the shafts is fixed relative to the other. For example the first shaft is fixed and the second shaft is rotated by a pullcord engaging a pulley mounted upon one end of the first shaft. The second shaft is connected to the blind roller. Rotating the second shaft causes the helical spring to also rotate. Any resistance to rotation of the second shaft is first absorbed by rotational contraction of the helical spring and if the resistance exceeds a predetermined level the helical spring will slip about the first shaft. This ensures that excessive rotational torque in not applied to the roller blind and the blind will be smoothly rotated. Damage of the spring clutch can also be avoided.
Another type of spring clutch is disclosed in Australian Patent No. 557825. In this specification the problems of stairstepping and excessive torsional loading of spring clutches is discussed. A spring clutch is described which permits torque to be transmitted to the load (eg. a blind) in graduated steps to allow for a slower acceleration of the load than is the case when the maximum rated torque is applied suddenly to the load.
The spring clutch disclosed in that patent is characterised by having at least two helical springs frictionally engaging a first shaft. Each of the helical springs have tabs affixed to their ends which engage in openings in the surrounding coaxial second shaft. The openings have a configuration such that upon rotation of the first shaft, and consequently the helical springs, the tabs are sequentially engaged. This arrangement allows the first helical spring to contract to transmit torque to the second shaft prior to a second helical spring doing likewise. Further, the frictional engagement between the first helical spring and the first shaft is such that the second helical spring will not engage the second shaft unless the first helical spring is caused to slip about the shaft. This will occur if the torque applied to the first helical spring exceeds a predetermined limit. The second helical spring operates in a similar way as does a third helical spring and so on. Accordingly, a number of helical springs are sequentially used to transmit torque loads from the first shaft to the second shaft.
This patent also discloses a bidirectional spring clutch. To achieve this, both ends of each helical spring are provided with upstanding tabs. All the helical springs are provided with a common winding direction. Different ends are engaged depending upon the direction of rotation of the first shaft. A complex configuration of openings and barriers is necessary in the second shaft to achieve this functionality. Consequently such a bidirectional spring clutch is expensive to manufacture and assemble.


Provided is an electronic device having a semiconductor device and a mounting board. The semiconductor device has a die pad, a semiconductor chip on the die pad, a coupling member coupling the die pad to the semiconductor chip, and a semiconductor package member covering the upper portion of the semiconductor chip and the side surface of the die pad. In this semiconductor device, the plane area of the coupling member coupling the mounting board to the die pad is smaller than the plane area of the lower surface of the die pad exposed from the semiconductor package material. This makes it possible to reduce separation between the die pad and the semiconductor chip resulting from cracks, due to temperature cycling, of the coupling member present between the die pad and the semiconductor chip.

The present invention relates to an electronic device, for example, a technology applicable to a semiconductor device having a power transistor and an electronic device having the semiconductor device.
A semiconductor device is sometimes mounted on a mounting board by exposing a die pad from a semiconductor package member of the semiconductor device and coupling the entire lower surface of the exposed die pad to a pad of the mounting board. A large adhesive force is secured by coupling the entire lower surface of the die pad to the pad of the mounting board. The area of the pad of the mounting board is therefore made a little greater than the area of the entire lower surface of the die pad. In particular, when the semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip having a power MOSFET or the like that generates heat greatly upon use, the heat radiation property is secured by releasing the heat thus generated upon use through a joint between the entire bottom surface of the die pad and the pad of the mounting board greater than the semiconductor chip.
As a result of the related art search after completion of the present invention, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-127228 (Patent Document 1) was found as a related art. An object of Patent Document 1 is to realize a power type resin molded semiconductor device while reducing the size of the semiconductor device and increasing the number of terminals. A means for satisfying the above-mentioned object is disclosed as follows (refer to FIGS. 7A and 7B of Patent Document 1). A resin film (3) has thereon a die pad (4) and a plurality of signal coupling leads (5) that surround the die pad. The die pad (4) has thereon a semiconductor chip (11) via an adhesive (12) and at the same time, the semiconductor chip (11) and each of the signal coupling leads (5) are coupled to each other with a fine metal wire (13). On the upper surface side of the resin film (3), the resin film (3), the die pad (4), the signal coupling leads (5), the semiconductor chip (11), the metal wire (13), and the like are molded with a resin package (14). The die pad (4) is equipped with a heat radiation portion (4a) protruding below the resin film (3), while each of the signal coupling leads (5) is equipped with a terminal land portion (6) protruding below the resin film (3). Since the die pad (4) is smaller than the semiconductor chip (11), the semiconductor chip (1) may be equipped with the terminal land portion (6) therebelow. The numbers in the parentheses are those described in Patent Document 1.

Electronic device and semiconductor device


The present invention provides a double-sided curved liquid crystal display device, which includes: a backlight frame (1), first and second LED light sources (3, 5) that are mounted in the backlight frame (1) and are opposite to each other, first and second diffuser plates (7, 9) that are mounted in the backlight frame (1) and are opposite to each other, first and second mold frames (2, 4) that are mounted on the backlight frame (1) and are opposite to each other, first and second curved liquid crystal display panels (6, 8) that are respectively mounted to the first and second mold frames (2, 4) and are opposite to each other, and a bezel (10) that is mounted to the first and second curved liquid crystal display panels (6, 8). The first and second LED light sources (3, 5) face opposite directions. The backlight frame (1) includes a backplane brace (15), a backplane (11), and a backplane mounting strip (13). The first and second diffuser plates (7, 9) are planar.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of liquid crystal displaying, and in particular to a double-sided curved liquid crystal display device.
2. The Related Arts
Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) have a variety of advantages, such as thin device body, low power consumption, and being free of radiation, and are thus of wide applications. Most of the liquid crystal displays that are currently available in the market are backlighting liquid crystal displays, which comprise a liquid crystal panel and a backlight module. The principle of operation of a liquid crystal panel is that with liquid crystal molecules interposed between two parallel glass substrates and a number of vertical and horizontal tiny electrical wires arranged between the two glass substrates, application of electricity is made to control the liquid crystal molecules to change orientation in order to refract out the light emitting from the backlight module for generation of images. Since the liquid crystal panel itself does not emit light, light must be provided from the backlight module in order to normally display images. The backlight modules can be classified in two types, namely a side-edge backlight module and a direct backlight module, according to the site where light gets incident. The direct backlight module comprises a light source, such as a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) or a light-emitting diode (LED), which is arranged at the backside of the liquid crystal panel so that the light is homogenized by passing through a diffusion plate to form a planar light source supplied to the liquid crystal panel. The side-edge backlight module comprises an LED light bar, serving as a backlight source, which is arranged at an edge of a backplane to be located rearward of one side of the liquid crystal panel. The LED light bar emits light that enters a light guide plate (LGP) through a light incident face at one side of the light guide plate and is projected out of a light emergence face of the light guide plate, after being reflected and diffused, to pass through an optic film assembly so as to form a planar light source for the liquid crystal panel.
Recently, with the progress of the liquid crystal displaying technology, major manufacturers have marketed curved liquid crystal display devices one after another. Generally speaking, the curved liquid crystal display devices allow for the best viewing effect from edge to edge, enabling an increase of viewing distance of the user to achieve better experience of viewing. Most of the curved liquid crystal displays that are currently available are single-sided curved liquid crystal displays. In the field of commercial display devices, the application of double-sided display devices is getting wider and wider. Most of the double-sided display devices that are currently available are double-sided flat display devices, which are of not strong attraction to the market. Compared to the double-sided flat display devices, double-sided curved liquid crystal display devices have remarkable advantages, such as strengthening attraction to the market and the consumers and achieving brand discrepancy.
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional single-sided curved liquid crystal display device comprises a backplane 100, a light guide plate 200 mounted in the backplane 100, an LED backlight source 300, a cushion block 400 supporting the light guide plate 200, a mold frame 500 mounted on the backplane 100, an optical film assembly 600 mounted in the mold frame 100, a liquid crystal display panel 700 mounted on the mold frame 500, and a front bezel 900 mounted on the liquid crystal display panel 700. Since liquid crystal display plane 700 is curved, to accommodate the arrangement thereof, a side plate of the backplane 100 is made inclined with respect to a bottom plate for mounting the LED backlight source 300. Other components, such as the light guide plate 200, the cushion block 400, the mold frame 500, the optical film assembly 600, and the front bezel 700, are all arranged to show a curved structure. Namely, an arrangement of curved backlighting is used. The overall design and manufacture of the product are difficult and the cost is raised.
The above-mentioned problems must be handled for the double-sided curved liquid crystal display devices in order to make the structure of the double-sided curved display device simple and the manufacturing cost low.

Double-sided curved liquid crystal display device

Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd


Disclosed is a demodulation apparatus for receiving signals by an adaptive modulation and coding method, and demodulating the signals, in an OFDMA based packet communication system, comprising: a QAM demapper for performing QAM demapping to the received signals by a modulation method using a maximum modulation ratio, until modulation methods for each of sub-channels are analyzed; a slot buffer for storing the data outputted from the QAM demapper; a channel decoder for decoding the data stored in the slot buffer and analyzing modulation methods for each sub-channels and transferring the analyzed modulation methods to the QAM demapper; and in at the same time, reading valid data from the data stored in the slot buffer, based on the analyzed modulation methods for each sub-channels, and demodulating the valid data.

In general, an OFDMA system uses an adaptive modulation and coding method, which selects a different modulation and coding method depending on a change of channel states per sub-channel while performing a speed packet communication.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a packet in which an adaptive modulation and coding method is applied to in a general OFDMA system.
As referred to in FIG. 1, at least one of preamble symbol are is located to the head of each packet, and are used for acquirement of initial synchronization, calculation of frequency offset, and recognition of Cell ID, etc.
Data symbols of the packet follow the preamble, and several continuous data symbols gather and form one slot. The reason for forming the slot is that at least 3 symbols are needed to assign a data block given to a channel codec to one sub-channel, since the length of one symbol is not enough for the assignment.
Next, a frame prefix is located in the front of the data slot, this information is being constructed by the QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying) method, and it includes a location information and size information of a MAP information. Following the frame prefix, a DL MAP and a UL MAP are located, and the DL MAP describes a modulation method and a channel coding method applied to each sub-channel in a downlink, and the UL MAP describes a modulation method and a channel coding method applied to each sub-channel in an uplink. Data bursts following the DL MAP and the UL MAP are modulated by various methods predetermined in the MAP.
This frame construction is adopted by IEEE 802.16a.
FIG. 2 shows a construction of a modulator for modulating a packet to which an adaptive modulation and coding method is applied to in a general OFDMA system.
As referred to in FIG. 2, the received OFDMA packet is transformed in a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) device by an FFT method, and a channel for the packet is estimated and is equalized in an equalizer 23 through a re-ordering buffer 22. The channel is QAM demapped in a QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) demapper 25 and is channel decoded in a channel decoder 27 through a slot buffer 26, and is finally demodulated.
Meanwhile, there are several buffers 24 the before QAM demapper 25. Since modulation methods for each sub-channel are described in the MAP area, it is necessary to understand the contents for the QAM demapping process. Thus the data symbols are needed to be delayed in the buffers during when the channel decoder 27 analyzes the frame prefix and the MAP information.
FIG. 3 shows action timing for modulating a packet in the modulator shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 indicates an order and the time required for modulating the packet frame shown in FIG. 1 by the modulator of FIG. 2.
As referred to in FIG. 3, the delay by the FFT 21 and the delay by the re-ordering buffer 22 corresponds to each symbols, and in the case all the FFT for the first slot are is finished, the information of the frame prefix are is analyzed by the channel decoder 27 and the location and size of the MAP information can be found. First, It is needed to perform the QAM demapping process and the channel decoding to the sub-channels on which the MAP information are loaded on, and determine the modulation method and the channel coding method for each sub-channels, in order to perform the QAM demapping process to the data bursts.
A significant time delay occurs in this process, since the next stage can not be started until each stage is finished. It is shown in FIG. 3 that the delay of about 11 symbols occurs. This delay depends on the construction of the system. In particular, this delay increases along the length of the slot. Thus, the analysis for the frame prefix and the MAP information can not be started first, since the modulation is performed for each symbol before the channel decoder 27, however, the channel decoder performs decoding for each slot.
As a conventional method using an adaptive modulation and coding method, there is a Korea Patent Publication No. 2003-69299 entitled An adaptive modulation and coding method for a mobile communication system. The invention actively responds to the channel circumstance being changed in the wideband high speed mobile communication and adopts an AMC (Adaptive Modulation Coding) and an STC (Space Time Coding) at the same time.

Demodulation apparatus for efficiently embodying adaptive modulation and coding method in OFDMA based packet communication system and method thereof

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


Pinion gears for planetary gear transmissions are hobbed, heat treated, and then ground to get better control of the leads/profiles on all the gear teeth. Then a light shot peening is applied to the tooth flanks to achieve the desired compressive residual stresses on the tooth surface. By applying the process in the controlled manner specified, the surface is not over-cold worked. Next, a chemically assisted isotropic surface treatment is applied over the pinion gears to improve the surface finish on the gear teeth. For low speed applications the surface finish improves the lambda ratio, allowing for a good oil film thickness on the surface of the gear teeth.

Vehicle power levels are increasing at a steady rate. Increased power dramatically reduces the life of drive train components, with the weakest area typically being the axle final drive planetary gear reduction. For example in some agricultural tractors the final drive planetary gear reduction is 6:875:1. The highest stress component is the sun gear. Typically, sun gears fail from pitting caused by very high compressive stresses on the tooth surface. Often packaging constraints in both diameter and width prevent gear designers from developing a new larger design to transmit the increased power. Standard gears are manufactured by a hobbing, shaving, and heat-treating operations. There can be considerable geometry distortion of the gear leads and profiles after heat-treatment. In addition, the surface doesn't have enough compressive residual stress to sustain a long life under severe loading. Accordingly there is a need in the art for a new gear manufacturing method that yields greater than a five time increase in sun gear durability, without changing the overall size of the existing planetary.

Process of durability improvement of gear tooth flank surface


Systems and methods are provided for characterizing biological tissues through their thermal signatures that include directing microwave energy into a biological tissue using a first slot antenna, detecting microwave radiation emitted by the biological tissue using a second slot antenna, generating output signals corresponding to the microwave radiation, processing the output signals to characterize a temperature of the biological tissue as a function of time to yield temperature characteristics, and characterizing a biological function of the biological tissue based on the temperature characteristics. The first and second slot antennas can be defined using a dual mode antenna and the generating can include alternatively collecting signals from the second slot antenna through a first low noise amplifier (LNA) and a reference load through a second LNA that the two LNAs are substantially identical.

Blood perfusion is an important component of the physiology of normal tissue, local transport of oxygen, nutrients, and pharmaceuticals. Among clinical applications that the knowledge perfusion is necessary are disease diagnostics, drug delivery, cancer hyperthermia treatment, skin perfusion after plastic surgery (involving the use of flaps, i.e., sections of living skin and underlying muscle that are surgically moved from one area of the body to another), and the management of peripheral vascular disease (a major cause of amputations).

System and method for combined microwave heating and radiometry for characterizing biological tissues


A system and method is provided for creating a trail of events. A plurality of data exchange events and a plurality of user interaction events are captured. A frame is generated based on the captured plurality of user interaction events. A cut is generated based on the captured plurality of data exchange events and the frame. The cut represents a historical trail of the plurality of user interaction events associated with the back-end data receive event and the back-end data send event.

Modern information technology (IT) management systems allow users to interact with large amounts of data through user interfaces and visualizations. These tools facilitate complex data exchanges with back-end storage systems as well as interactively explore the received data. While such interfaces provide many benefits, it remains a challenge for users to explore and analyze the history of their activities.
Breadcrumbs or breadcrumb trail in IT management systems provide information to users regarding how they arrived at a current state of their IT environment. In other words, a breadcrumb trail is a trail or history of activities or events associated with the IT environment that the user is interacting with. To accurately analyze the information provided by the breadcrumb trail, users need to know contextual information including, but not limited to: i) the initial state of the IT environment they were working with; ii) the actions they performed and the results obtained, and iii) data that was visible on their screen at the time they decided to perform modifications to the IT environment. Often systems provide logs of data transactions or interface events, and users rely on memory to determine the contextual information that led to such actions. The dynamic nature of IT environments makes it difficult for users to have a clear picture of actual information they used in their decision making process.
An alternative to logging user activities is using breadcrumb trails of static snapshots of the interface with which the user interacts. Snapshots may be captured and labeled by the users. However, both approaches fail to capture contextual information that helps reconstruct the data and human factors that influenced user actions.
As such, there is a need for a breadcrumb trail navigation tool that integrates and structures data exchanges with user interaction events such that users may trace the factors that influenced critical decisions and to trace back events that may have been sources of error.
These and other drawbacks exist.

Method and system for capturing expertise of a knowledge worker in an integrated breadcrumb trail of data transactions and user interactions


A mobile booth, which is mounted upon a truck, comprising a primary housing and a canopy that is slidably mounted exterior to the primary housing. The canopy is mounted to the primary housing with a roller track. The canopy comprises a top panel, and side panels that are hingeably connected thereto. The side panels have a tri-partite construction, including an upper panel, middle panel, and lower panel which are hingeably connected to allow an enclosure created by canopy to be wider than the truck. To deploy the canopy, the middle panel and lower panel are lowered to the ground, and the truck is pulled forward until the primary housing is forward of substantially all of the canopy. Hydraulic jacks may extend downwardly from the primary housing to selectively engage the ground surface, raise the primary housing slightly, and allow the truck to be driven away to create a semi-permanent installation.

The invention relates to a mobile booth system. More particularly, the invention relates to a truck mounted system which can create a temporary enclosure suitable for use as a spray booth.
Application of paints or chemicals by spraying involves atomizing the paint or chemical using pressurized air, creating a fine mist. This mist is directed toward the surface being sprayed, known as a "workpiece". Although the majority of the paint or chemical adheres to the surface, a large percentage does not, and is kindly referred to as "overspray".
Overspray is an unavoidable yet problematic by-product of spraying. In a confined space, such as a garage, overspray can get onto everything and into every nook and cranny of the space. Even outdoors, overspray can travel much further than one would expect. Paint overspray can add color to objects which we would otherwise prefer not to paint. However, overspray of solvents can actually be harmful to property and living organisms. Further, toxic paints such as IMRON are being used with increasing frequency. These mist produced by these paints must be contained, since fumes from their vehicles or solvents can cause severe respiratory damage or other health problems.
A common way to control overspray and contain fumes, is to perform all spraying in a confined space around the workpiece, known as a "spray booth". Typically spray booths are isolated, ventilated, climate controlled areas inside a structure where spraying can safely be conducted without harm to property.
It is not always possible to bring the workpiece to a spray booth. For instance, it is often desirable to paint an automobile undergoing restoration while the automobile is not fully mechanically restored, and thus not movable.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,811,371 to Hardy; 4,425,870 to Marshke; 4,932,316 to Josefsson; 5,040,482 to McGuire et al.; and 5,173,118 to Josefson each disclose different spray booth configurations. All of these configurations involves a permanent structure--none provide any sort of portability.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,897,100 to Gardner; 3,883,380 to Stockdill; and 5,470,124 to Ernst each disclose truck bed covers which attach onto a pickup truck. These devices all slide onto the truck by means of a rail assembly that is mounted along the upper perimeter of the truck bed. None of these devices provide any sort of enclosure aside from that created between the truck bed and cover.
While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter.


A signal averaging circuit includes a plurality of switched weighted current sources to generate a total amount of charge. The total amount of charge is representative of a weighted sum of a plurality of input signal samples during an active period of a read enable signal. A timing control signal generator is coupled to receive an input signal and the read enable signal and sequentially switch the plurality of switched weighted current sources to adjust the total amount of charge in response to the input signal during the active period of the read enable signal. A storage circuit is coupled to the plurality of switched weighted current sources to convert the total amount of charge into a voltage representative of an output signal.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present invention relates generally to power converters. More specifically, examples of the present invention are related to switching power converters that utilize an error amplifier in a feedback loop to regulate an output.
2. Background
Many electronic devices such as cell phones, laptop computers, etc., use direct current (dc) power to operate. Conventional wall outlets generally deliver a high voltage alternating current (ac) power that needs to be transformed to dc power in order to be used as a power source by most electronic devices. Switched mode power supplies are commonly used due to their high efficiency, small size, and low weight to convert the high voltage ac power to a regulated dc power. In operation, a switch is used to provide a desired output by either switching at a variable duty ratio (typically the ratio of on-time of the switch to total switching period) or by varying the number of ON and OFF cycles per unit time.
A switched mode power supply also employs a controller, which typically provides output regulation by sensing the output and controlling the switch in a closed loop. The controller may receive a feedback signal representative of the output and then vary one of the control parameters (such as for example duty ratio, or for example the number of ON and OFF cycles of the switch per unit time) in response to the feedback signal to regulate the output of the power supply to a desired quantity.
One practical consideration in the design of a controller is the accuracy with which the feedback signal represents the output of the power supply. This is because as the feedback signal tracks the output of the power supply with less deviation from the ideal value, the controller can react with greater accuracy to the changes at the output, which then results in tighter output regulation.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention.


Cement clinker is produced using high sulfur fuels by combusting high sulfur fuel within a kiln. The feed material is introduced at an inlet of the kiln and is sintered by the combusting fuel to form sintered material. The sintered material is cooled to form cement clinker. The production of the sintered material is controlled by measuring the sulfur content in the cement clinker and using that measurement to control the concentration of oxygen at the inlet of the kiln.

The invention is related to producing cement clinker.
In known processes for producing cement clinker, raw material fed into a rotary kiln is preheated and partially decarbonated in a multistage cyclone suspension preheater system and a precalciner by using the heat of combustion gases exhausted from the rotary kiln and precalciner. As the combustion gases and raw material mix, lime (CaO) in the raw material and sulfur dioxide (SO.sub.2) in the combustion gases react to form calcium sulfite (CaSO.sub.3). The calcium sulfite is formed in the preheater and in the main electrostatic precipitator of the stack. The calcium sulfite, in turn, reacts with oxygen in the preheater system to form calcium sulfate (CaSO.sub.4), if there is sufficient oxygen. If there is not enough oxygen in the atmosphere at the kiln's inlet, the calcium sulfate may decompose into lime and sulfur dioxide and leave depositions at the kiln's inlet. If there is an insufficient excess of oxygen in the rotary kiln, the calcium sulfate may decompose at temperatures of 1200.degree. Celsius. Similarly, if there is not enough oxygen in the preheaters, the calcium sulfite may decompose into lime and sulfur dioxide. This decomposition also leads to an increase in sulfur dioxide concentration in the gas in the kiln, which leads to depositions of calcium salts on the shells and walls of the preheater's cyclones and ducts. The level of deposit formation may be increased when the combustion fuel is a solid fuel high in sulfur (i.e., above 2%), such as petcoke, oil shale, and agricultural or industrial wastes, or a fuel oil high in sulfur content because of the resulting increased sulfur dioxide concentration in the kiln gas. The increased sulfur circulating in the gases causes an increase in the quantity of calcium sulfite. This may result in deposits to a level sufficient to close the kiln inlet, preheater, preheater cyclones, and ducts connecting the cyclones, thereby stopping production. The problem can be alleviated by extracting a fraction of the gas between the rotary kiln and preheater and sending it to a bypass tower. In the bypass tower, the gas is quenched with cooler atmospheric air and a dust rich in sulfur dioxide precipitates out. The desulfurized gas is then directed into the preheater, the result being an overall reduction in the concentration of sulfur dioxide in the gas in the preheater. This solution poses two significant problems: a loss in thermal energy and an environmental issue in disposing of the precipitated dust.
Alternatively, the oxygen can be controlled to ensure an excess oxygen concentration in the kiln and eliminate the need for a bypass tower. However, this potential solution is prone to problems associated with oxygen sensor reliability in a kiln environment, which is further reduced at the kiln inlet where oxygen concentration is even more important. At the inlet, the gas intake for oxygen analyzers can be filled by the dust circulating in the kiln environment. Because current oxygen sensors in the kiln environment may be unreliable, it is not practical to provide continuous control of cement clinker production using an oxygen sensor. To provide excess oxygen by merely increasing the flow of air through the kiln, precalciner, and preheaters may create other problems associated with reduced thermal efficiency and pressure loss.

Control of cement clinker production by analysis of sulfur in the end product


A power supply route for a light source includes a first route that closes when a microcomputer is operated and a second route that opens when the microcomputer is operated. When the microcomputer stops operating, the power supply route of the light source is automatically switched from the first route to the second route. When the microcomputer is operated and a position lamp switch is turned on, current is supplied to the light source through the first route. When the microcomputer stops operating and the position lamp switch is turned on, current is supplied to the light source through the second route.

The present invention relates to an illumination circuit, which controls the illumination of an indicator provided in a vehicle interior, and a method for controlling an illumination circuit.
A vehicle includes an indicator, which indicates the vehicle state or an abnormality, and an illumination circuit, which controls the illumination of the indicator. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-325324 describes an example of such an illumination circuit. As shown in FIG. 7, an illumination circuit includes a micro-processing unit (MPU) 71, a transistor 72, and an indicator 73. The MPU 71 activates or deactivates the transistor 72 to control the illumination of the indicator 73. The indicator 73 includes a mark 74, which indicates the content of a warning, and a light emitting diode 75. When the transistor 72 is activated, the light emitting diode 75 is lit to illuminate the mark 74. The MPU 71 provides the transistor 72 with a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal based on illumination information or darkening information of the indicator 73, which is obtained by a sensor, to perform pulse width modulation (PWM) control on the light emitting diode 75. When the MPU 71 illuminates or darkens the light emitting diode 75, the MPU 71 changes the duty ratio of the pulse width modulation (PWM) signal to gradually change the brightness of the light emitting diode 75. In this manner, the illumination control generates a fade-in effect, which gradually brightens the light emitting diode 75, or a fade-out effect, which gradually darkens the light emitting diode 75.
In the illumination circuit of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-325324, when an ignition switch deactivates the power supply of the vehicle, the MPU 71 stops operating. Thus, the indicator 73 cannot be illuminated. However, it has become desirable that the indicator 73 be illuminate even when the MPU 71 stops operating.
One aspect of the present invention is a vehicle indicator illumination circuit including an indicator that indicates a vehicle state or abnormality. A control circuit is operated by an ignition power supply. The control circuit controls power that is supplied to the indicator. A power supply route extends to the indicator. The power supply route includes a first route that closes when the control circuit operates and a second route that opens when the control circuit operates. When the control circuit stops operating, the first route opens and the second route closes, and the power supply route extending to the indicator is automatically switched from the first route to the second route.

Vehicle indicator illumination circuit and method for controlling vehicle indicator illumination circuit

KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO


There is provided a distributed system having a plurality of nodes connected by a network. Each of the nodes includes: a common-parameter-value determining unit for determining a common-parameter-value from values of a parameter (each value being possessed by a corresponding one of the nodes); a common-operation execution unit for executing a common-operation using, as its input, a value of the parameter or the common-parameter-value; a send/receive unit for exchanging, via the network, the parameter values used for the determination of the common-parameter-value and the results of the common-operation execution with the other nodes; and a fault identification unit that compares the common-operation execution results collected from all the nodes and determines that an error occurs if not all the results are the same.

A type of control system configuration of is a distributed system. In distributed systems, multiple nodes (such as computers and controllers) cooperate by exchanging messages via a communication network. In such a distributed system, even when part of the system suffers from a fault, a remaining normal part can execute, on behalf the faulty part, tasks for which the faulty part has been responsible. Thus, a highly fault tolerant system can be achieved.
A problem with distributed systems is fault detection. Because nodes operate independently of each other, there can occur a situation in which not all the nodes share the same information on fault occurrences (such as the locations, types, timings thereof). Such information difference between nodes can cause the nodes to operate in contradiction to each other and can incur a system failure. So, in distributed control systems, it is important that all nodes can share the same information on fault occurrences.
A method by which nodes can share the same information on fault occurrences is a mutual node monitoring system. In mutual node fault monitoring methods, all the nodes independently monitor and detect node faults and the fault detection results obtained at all the nodes are exchanged thereamong via a network. Then, each node examines the collected fault detection results and makes a final fault determination. A method for making such final fault determination, for example, is to determine that there occurs a fault when the number of nodes which detects the fault exceeds a predetermined threshold (such as a majority thereof).
In general, such mutual fault monitoring and determination methods have a limitation as expressed by the below equation.The number of processes ≧3×(the number of identifiable faults)+1  (1)
In other words, at least four nodes need to join a mutual fault monitoring system if any fault identification is to be made. However, some small systems or subsystems may be configured with only three nodes. A technology is discussed which can perform fault identification even for systems with only three nodes (see Non-patent Document 1).
Non-patent Document 1: Yoneda, Kajiwara, Tsuchiya, "Dependable System", published by Kyoritsu-Shuppan (November 2005)


A non-volatile register includes a memory element. The memory element comprises a first end and a second end. The non-volatile register includes a register logic connected with the first and second ends of the memory element. The register logic is positioned below the memory element. The memory element may be a two-terminal memory element configured to store data as a plurality of conductivity profiles that can be non-destructively determined by applying a read voltage across the two terminals. New data can be written to the two-terminal memory element by applying a write voltage of a predetermined magnitude and/or polarity across the two terminals. The two-terminal memory element retains stored data in the absence of power. A reference element including a structure that is identical or substantially identical to the two-terminal memory element may be used to generate a reference signal for comparisons during read operations.

A register can be a portion of a hardware used as a storage location. An example of a register can include a portion of a central processor unit used for storage of information. Another example of a register can include a portion of a video memory used for storage by video graphic cards. Information stored in a register can include configuration information, information associated with the initialization of the hardware, and other information.
Flash memory may be configured as a register. However, flash memory requires high voltage charge pumps that require specialized designs. Furthermore, flash memory requires complex programming algorithms that result in a large amount of logic. Electronically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) also may be configured as a register. Still, the EEPROM requires a charge pump and the process of configuring the EEPROM as a register is complicated and is subject to a high failure rate. As a result, there is a need for continuing efforts to improve non-volatile registers.

Non-volatile register having a memory element and register logic vertically configured on a substrate


A method of fabricating a nanoscale topography system for inducing unfolding of a DNA molecule for sequencing includes providing a substrate and creating trench walls on the substrate which define a trench therebetween. The method further includes depositing a layer of a block copolymer (BCP) in the trench and forming cylindrical domains by self-assembly of the BCP between the trench walls, removing a first portion of the cylindrical domains to create a vacant region in the trench, and depositing a subsequent layer of the BCP in the vacant region and forming spherical domains by self-assembly of the BCP between the trench walls adjacent a second portion of the cylindrical domains. The spherical domains form staggered post structures for unfolding the DNA molecule and the cylindrical domains form parallel channel structures for entry of the DNA molecule for sequencing.

DNA is the central storage unit of genetic information, and extracting this information is one major goal in the field of biology. Through gene sequencing, insights into genome variation, genetic mutation and replication dynamics can be achieved. Sequencing technology has made enormous strides over the past decades in reading genetic information; however, the vision of extracting the genetic code directly from a single long DNA molecule out of a single cell has still met with limited success. While human DNA has billions of base pairs, the direct read of base pair sequences is hindered by the complex compactification of DNA inside the cell. Hence, the folding and twisting of the soft condensed matter of DNA has to be unraveled to access the genetic sequence.
Due to the extreme length of DNA (human chromosome of 250 million base pairs has a full stretched length of ˜8.5 cm), the DNA is first sheared or enzymatically digested into fragments of a maximum length of few millimeters and incorporated into bacterial or yeast artificial chromosomes. Libraries of fragments of ˜1000 base pairs can be directly sequenced and analyzed.
DNA linearization plays a crucial role in gene sequencing. Different techniques rely on hydrodynamic forces to achieve DNA extension. One attractive example is molecular combing. There, a salinized coverslip is lowered into a reservoir containing DNA. During the coverslip residence time inside the reservoir, one or both ends of DNA are attached to the coverslip surface. The coverslip is slowly withdrawn from the surface where an air-liquid meniscus is formed. The capillary forces will stretch the DNA molecule. The technique is fast and relatively simple; however, it does not allow for reliable manipulation of DNA fragments longer than a few hundred microns.
More recently, Chan et al. (Genome Res. 14, 1137-1146 (2004)) proposed using direct linear analysis (DLA) to analyze DNA. The random coil conformation of DNA is unwound and stretched using hydrodynamic forces generated in laminar flow by a tapered microfluidic channel. In this setup, the solution is injected into the loading port and the sample solution is pressure driven into the chip, and tagged DNA molecules travel with the flow in their random-coil forms. Downstream, DNA uncoils as it interacts with the post fields. These pre-stretched molecules stretch to completion under hydrodynamic influences in the tapered region. The short taper length produces flow acceleration over a distance comparable to the size of the DNA. The resulting differences in flow velocities around different parts of the molecule produce the force that stretches it.
However, this large size topography proved to have limited efficacy in extending DNA molecules, as the achieved extension is typically reverted in the gaps preceding the nano-channels. The real potential of single molecule sequencing requires orders of magnitude of miniaturization of topography (from micro to nano channels and posts), bringing new challenges in addressing nanoscale forces, complexity of nano-fabrication, and the cost of devices.
Nanoscale topography can be achieved using sophisticated techniques that vary in accuracy, cost, and throughput. For example, electron beam (e-beam) lithography is a process using a focused beam of electrons to chemically alter a resist via energy loss through ionization. The feature resolution is limited to critical dimensions of approximately 3 nm due to scattering in the resist. E-beam lithography is often used for the fabrication of nanochannels and pores given its impressive resolution, though it is a time-consuming and expensive technique not well suited for exposing large areas across an entire wafer.
Focused ion beam (FIB) lithography, whereby a focused beam of ions (typically Ga) physically sputter neutral and ionized substrate atoms upon impact, has also been used to fabricate nanochannels. This method is quite versatile since it can be used to etch, image, and deposit films in conjunction with precursor gases (similarly to chemical vapor deposition). However, it is more useful for prototyping than for patterning large areas.
Nanoimprint lithography can potentially address the requirement of high throughput fabrication. There, a carefully designed inverse template/mold is fabricated using e-beam lithography or other high-resolution techniques. The template is pressed against a thin resist that is heated above its glass transition temperature. The resist is then cooled and the mold is removed. The uneven resist surface is then exposed to directional etching where the thin regions are removed faster than the thick regions, creating channels. The mold can be used several times to create multiple channels on multiple surfaces. Nonetheless, mold erosion and flow behavior of the resist under compression negatively impact reaching small feature size.

Nanoscale topography system for use in DNA sequencing and method for fabrication thereof


One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates high-bandwidth communication using a flexible bridge. This system includes a chip with an active face upon which active circuitry and signal pads reside, and a second component with a surface upon which active circuitry and/or signal pads reside. A flexible bridge provides high-bandwidth communication between the active face of the chip and the surface of the second component. This flexible bridge provides a flexible connection that allows the chip to be moved with six degrees of freedom relative to the second component without affecting communication between the chip and the second component. Hence, the flexible bridge allows the chip and the second component to communicate without requiring precise alignment between the chip and the second component.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to semiconductor integrated circuits. More specifically, the present invention relates to structures and methods associated with a flexible bridge that enables high-bandwidth communication to a chip while simplifying chip alignment.
2. Related Art
Researchers have begun to investigate alternative techniques for communicating between semiconductor chips. One promising technique involves integrating arrays of capacitive transmitters and receivers onto semiconductor chips to facilitate inter-chip communication. If a first chip is situated face-to-face with a second chip so that transmitter pads on the first chip are capacitively coupled with receiver pads on the second chip, the first chip can transmit data signals directly to the second chip without having to route the data signals through intervening signal lines within a printed circuit board.
This capacitive communication technique can greatly increase the communication bandwidth between chips. However, this capacitive communication technique depends upon precise alignment. For instance, the effectiveness of capacitive coupling depends on the alignment of the transmitter pads and the receiver pads, both in a plane defined by the pads and in a direction perpendicular to the plane. Sub-optimal alignment can result in poor communication performance between chips and increased power consumption. Unfortunately, aligning chips properly using existing mounting structures, such as conventional single-chip modules or conventional multi-chip modules, is not a simple matter. The chips in these structures are subject to thermal expansion and mechanical vibrations, as well as manufacturing and assembly perturbations that cause alignment problems. Furthermore, a need to deliver power and cooling to chips that communicate through proximity communication further complicates chip alignment.
Hence, what is needed are structures and methods that allow high-bandwidth communication between chips without the above-described problems.

Structures and methods for an application of a flexible bridge


A video game apparatus includes a CPU, and the CPU advances a game according to input data transmitted from a plurality of controllers. A plurality of players share each controller to utilize it in turn. Each player selects in advance a character as his or her own avatar. When a certain player's (Designation: Mr. or Ms. kk) turn has come, a voice message for urging the change like the following is output from the speaker of the controller: “Take places with Mr. or Ms. kk!” Similarly, when the next turn is a relevant player, and the player directly before finishes playing, a voice message for urging a preparation like the following is output: “Mr. or Ms. kk, prepare for your turn.”

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a storage medium storing a game program, a game apparatus, and a game controlling method. More specifically, the present invention relates to a storage medium storing a game program, a game apparatus, and a game controlling method capable of playing a game by allowing a plurality of players to take turns using a controller with a speaker.
2. Description of the Related Art
An example of this kind of a game apparatus of the related art is disclosed in a Japanese Patent Laying-open No. 2005-245927 [A63F 13/10, A63F 13/00, A63F 13/12] laid-open on Sep. 15, 2005. According to the game system of the related art, a game console is connected with a plurality of hand-held type game apparatuses and a monitor. In the game console, a turn-based game is executed, and its game screen is displayed on the monitor. The player who waits his or her turn in the turn-based game plays a single-person game with the use of a hand-held type game apparatus, and its game screen is displayed on an LCD of the hand-held type game apparatus. When his or her turn is notified, the player who uses the relevant hand-held type game apparatus performs an operation of the turn-based game.
However, in the game system described in the related art, the turn is notified to the player through the hand-held type game apparatus by a message or sound or the both, wand therefore, when a plurality of players intend to share one controller, the players cannot know to which player the notification is sent, causing a problem of making it impossible to smoothly playing the game.

Storage medium storing a game program, game apparatus and game controlling method


A sheet feed unit for use in an image forming apparatus includes a sheet feed unit body and a sheet cassette. The sheet feed unit body includes a first frame and a first contact face provided on the first frame. The sheet cassette, which is withdrawable from the sheet feed unit body, includes a second frame, a second contact face provided on the second frame, and a separator. The second contact face is attached to the first contact face when to set the sheet cassette at a position in the sheet feed unit body. The separator is inserted between the first contact face and the second contact face to separate the sheet cassette and the sheet feed unit body, and is disengaged from the first contact face and the second contact face to set the sheet cassette at the position in the sheet feed unit body.

Conventionally, a sheet feed unit for use in an image forming apparatus includes a sheet feed unit body and a sheet cassette, which is withdrawable from the sheet feed unit body.
The sheet cassette stores a plurality of recording medium such as transfer sheet used for image forming, and the recording medium (e.g., transfer sheet) is fed from the sheet cassette to an image forming section one by one.
As for such sheet feed unit, an operator conducts sheet-refilling or sheet-replacement by withdrawing the sheet cassette from the sheet feed unit body.
In case of the sheet-refilling, the operator refill recording medium (e.g., transfer sheet), and in case of the sheet-replacement, the operator changes the size of the recording medium (e.g., transfer sheet) from one size to another size (e.g., from A4 to A3).
In general, an image forming apparatus includes a sheet feed unit having a locking mechanism to hold a sheet cassette at a predetermined position in the sheet feed unit body, from such position the recording medium (e.g., transfer sheet) is fed for image forming.
Such locking mechanism operation includes one of the steps of: (1) holding by a locking pawl and a spring; (2) holding by a Y-shaped catch mechanism having a pivotable arm, shaft, roller, spring, and frame; (3) holding by a Y-shaped catch mechanism made of resin material, and (4) holding by a leaf spring having a locking shape using elasticity of the leaf spring, for example.
Furthermore, the position of the sheet cassette in the sheet feed unit body is held by another mechanism such as a link mechanism for a sheet-feed position and a sheet-size detection switch provided on the sheet feed unit body, wherein the link mechanism for the sheet-feed position links the sheet cassette and the sheet feed unit body to set sheets to a sheet-feedable position when the sheet cassette is set in the sheet feed unit body, and the sheet-size detection switch detects a sheet size with contacting a sheet selection device provided in the sheet cassette.
Such sheet cassette is slidably configured to the sheet feed unit body, and is withdrawable from the sheet feed unit body, in general.
With such configuration, when an operator withdraws the sheet cassette from the sheet feed unit body for sheet-refilling or sheet-replacement, the operator needs to exert a force to detach the sheet cassette from the sheet feed unit body at the above-mentioned locking mechanism, to exert another force to detach the sheet cassette from the link mechanism for sheet-feed position and sheet-size detection switch, and to exert yet another force to overcome a sliding resistance of sliding portion of the sheet feed unit, for example.
Accordingly, the operator needs to exert a relatively large combined force to withdraw the sheet cassette from the sheet feed unit due to the above-mentioned forces.
Under such configuration, when the operator pushes the sheet cassette into the sheet feed unit body to set the sheet cassette to the sheet-feedable position, the operator receives reactive forces from the locking mechanism, the link mechanism, and the sheet-size detection switch, and sliding resistance at the sliding portion of the sheet feed unit, for example.
Thereby the operator also needs to exert a relatively large force when inserting the sheet cassette into the sheet feed unit body.
With the advent of the barrier-free trend and universal design, manufactures have been requested to produce machines or tools having improved accessibility for people including disabilities. For example, the Rehabilitation Act of the United States requires federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities.
Under such circumstances, it is desirable to manufacture an image forming apparatus having improved accessibility for people including disabilities. For example, it is preferable that the operator can insert the sheet cassette into the sheet feed body and withdraw the sheet cassette from the sheet feed body with less operating force.

Sheet feed unit operable with smaller force and image forming apparatus


A monosulfonium salt in which very little unreacted raw material remains, which has a purity of at least 96%, and which has one sulfonio group in its molecule is manufactured without a refining step. After (a) an aryl compound, (b) a sulfoxide compound, (c) a dehydrating agent, and (d) a BF4, PF6, AsF6, or SbF6 salt of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal are introduced into a reaction system, (e) an inorganic acid is added, so that the aryl compound (a) and the sulfoxide compound (b) are subjected to dehydration condensation.

BF4, PF6, AsF6 and SbF6 salts of triarylsulfonium are known and commonly used up to now as polymerization initiators of high cationic photopolymerization initiation performance.
However, with methods proposed up to now for manufacturing a sulfonium salt, such as a method in which a sulfide and a sulfoxide are condensed in the presence of a strong organic acid such as methanesulfonic acid or an inorganic acid such as sulfuric acid, and then subjected to double decomposition in an aqueous solution of a BF4, PF6, AsF6 or SbF6 salt of an alkali metal or the like (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application S61-100557 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application S61-212554, for example), a bis-sulfonium salt having two sulfonio groups per molecule is produced in addition to a monosulfonium salt having only one sulfonio group per molecule.
Bis-sulfonium salts generally have higher photopolymerization initiation performance than monosulfonium salts, but they have low solubility in cationic polymerizable monomers or in dilution solvents that are used as needed, so when a sulfonium salt is added to and dissolved in these in the required concentration, there is the problem that a bis-sulfonium salt may precipitate and settle from the sulfonium salt solution over time.
Also, a cationic polymerizable compound containing a bis-sulfonium salt tends to become more viscous over time, which is a problem in that such compounds cannot be stored for an extended periods.
These problems can be solved by refining the bis-sulfonium salts away from sulfonium salts comprising a mixture of monosulfonium salts and bis-sulfonium salts by some means such as recrystallization from an organic solvent, but the problem with performing such refining is that it greatly diminishes the yield of the desired monosulfonium salt.
In view of this, in an effort to solve the problem of the production of a bis-sulfonium salt encountered with conventional methods for manufacturing a sulfonium salt, the inventors have already proposed a manufacturing method with which a monosulfonium salt is obtained as the main component, that is, a manufacturing method with which the desired sulfonium salt can be obtained directly, with condensing a sulfide and a sulfoxide in the presence of a strong acid such as HBF4, HPF4, HAsF4, or HSbF4 without conducting double decomposition (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2002-241363).
The prior art published information correlated to the invention of this application are the following.                Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application S61-100557        Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application S61-212554        Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2002-241363

Method for manufacturing monosulfonium salt, cationic polymerization initiator, curable composition, and cured product


A multiple-gate transistor structure which includes a substrate, source and drain islands formed in a portion of the substrate, a fin formed of a semi-conducting material that has a top surface and two sidewall surfaces, a gate dielectric layer overlying the fin, and a gate electrode wrapping around the fin on the top surface and the two sidewall surfaces separating source and drain islands. In an alternate embodiment, a substrate that has a depression of an undercut or a notch in a top surface of the substrate is utilized.

As the gate length of the MOSFET is scaled down into the sub-50 nm regime for improved performance and density, the requirements for body-doping concentration, gate oxide thickness, and source/drain (S/D) doping profiles to control short-channel effects become increasingly difficult to meet when conventional device structures based on bulk silicon (Si) substrates are employed. The heavy channel doping required to provide adequate suppression of short-channel effects results in degraded mobility and enhanced junction leakage. The aggressive reduction of the silicon dioxide SiO2 gate dielectric thickness for reduced short-channel effects and improved drive current leads to increased direct tunneling gate leakage current and standby power consumption, and also raises concerns regarding the gate oxide reliability. For device scaling well into the sub-50 nm regime, a promising approach to controlling short-channel effects is to use an alternative device structure with multiple-gates, such as the double-gate and the surround-gate or wrap-around gate structure.
A simple example of a multiple-gate device is the double-gate MOSFET structure, where there are two gate electrodes on the opposing sides of the channel. There are several ways in which a double-gate structure can be implemented. One way is the vertical-channel double-gate MOSFET. This is described by U.S. Pat. No. 6,372,559 B1 issued to Crowder et al. for a method of fabricating a self-aligned vertical double-gate MOSFET, and by U.S. Pat. No. 6,406,962 B1 issued to Agnello et al. for a vertical trench-formed dual-gate FET device structure and method for fabrication. A common feature of these two methods is that the source-to-drain direction is oriented normal to the plane of the substrate surface, and the gate-to-gate direction is parallel to the plane of the substrate surface. The device fabrication processes for such a double-gate structure are typically complicated, costly and suffer from poor manufacturability.
Another method to fabricate a double-gate MOSFET is described by U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,802 B1 issued to Hu et al. for fin FET transistor structures having a double gate channel extending vertically from a substrate and methods for manufacture. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,802 B1, the device channel comprises a thin silicon fin formed on an insulative substrate (e.g., silicon oxide) and defined using an etchant mask. Gate oxidation is performed, followed by gate deposition and gate patterning to form a double-gate structure overlying the sides of the fin. Both the source-to-drain direction and the gate-to-gate direction are in the plane of the substrate surface. This device structure is widely recognized to be one of the most manufacturable double-gate structures. An integral feature of the double-gate MOSFET described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,802 B1 is the etchant mask on the silicon fin. The retention of the etchant mask is crucial due to problems faced in the etch process, particularly relating to the etch selectivity of the gate electrode with respect to the gate dielectric during the gate patterning step.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a multiple-gate transistor structure and a method for fabricating the structure that allows transistor scaling beyond the limits of the conventional bulk silicon MOSFET.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


A method and system for storage and retrieval of blockchains with Galois Fields. One or more blocks for a blockchain are securely stored and retrieved with a modified Galois Fields on a cloud or peer-to-peer (P2P) communications network. The modified Galois Field provides at least additional layers for security and privacy for blockchains. The blocks and blockchains are securely stored and retrieved for cryptocurrency transactions including, but not limited to, BITCOIN transactions and other cryptocurrency transactions.

"Cloud computing" is a term used to identify the delivery of computing requirements as a service to a heterogeneous community of end-recipients. The term cloud theoretically signifies abstraction of technology, resources and locations that are used in building an integrated computing infrastructure (including networks, systems, applications, etc.). All Cloud computing models rely heavily on sharing of resources to achieve coherence and economies of scale similar to a utility (like a grid for electricity) over a network.
Cloud computing provides services with a user's data, software and computation on over multiple networks. End users access cloud based applications through a web browser or a light weight desktop or mobile application while the rest of the application software and data are stored on servers at remote locations. Cloud computing provides a same or better service and performance with cloud software programs as if al the cloud software programs were actually installed locally on end-user devices.
At the foundation of cloud computing is the broader concept of infrastructure convergence and shared services. This type of cloud computing environment allows enterprises to get their applications up and running faster, with easier manageability and less maintenance, and enables the enterprise to more rapidly adjust resources (such as servers, storage, and networking) to meet fluctuating and unpredictable business demand.
"Peer-to-peer (P2P)" computing or networking is a distributed application architecture that partitions tasks or workloads between peers. Peers are equally privileged, equipotent participants in the application. They are said to form a peer-to-peer network of nodes.
Peers make a portion of their resources, such as processing power, disk storage or network bandwidth, directly available to other network participants, without the need for central coordination by servers or stable hosts. Peers are both suppliers and consumers of resources, in contrast to the traditional client-server model in which the consumption and supply of resources is divided.
Emerging collaborative P2P systems are going beyond the era of peers doing similar things while sharing resources, and are looking for diverse peers that can bring in unique resources and capabilities to a virtual community thereby empowering it to engage in greater tasks beyond those that can be accomplished by individual peers, yet that are beneficial to all the peers.
A "blockchain" is a public ledger of all transactions that have ever been executed. It is constantly growing as completed "blocks" are added to it with a new set of recordings. The blocks are added to the blockchain in a linear, chronological order. Blockchains are used on P2P networks and other networks. Each P2P node gets a copy of the blockchain, which gets downloaded automatically upon joining P2P. The blockchain has complete information about the block owners and block content right from the first block to the most recently completed block.
The blockchain is seen as the main technical innovation of the cryptocurrency BITCOIN, where it serves as a public ledger of all BITCOIN transactions. BITCOIN is P2P; every user is allowed to connect to the network, send new transactions to it, verify transactions, and create new blocks, which is why it is called "permissionless."
However, there are a number of problems associated with electronic content storage and retrieval on cloud computing network.
One problem is how to efficiently store and retrieve electronic content on cloud computing networks.
Another problem is providing proper privacy and security for electronic content stored and retrieved on cloud computing networks.
Another problem is information entropy including information gain and mutual information of information stored on cloud computing networks.
Another problem is storing plaintext on a cloud computing networks without encrypting the plaintext and providing various levels of security and privacy for the plaintext.
Another problem is where to store and retrieve electronic content on a cloud computing network.
Another problem is how and where blockchains can be safely and securely stored and retrieved on a communications network.
Thus, it is desirable to solve some of the problems associated with content storage and retrieval with cloud computing networks.

Method and system for storage and retrieval of blockchain blocks using galois fields


There are disclosed a process for the electrochemical decomposition of organic pollutants in an acidic solution to carbon dioxide performed in a electrochemical system comprising a working electrode and an auxiliary electrode with oxygen at ambient temperature and at a reductive potential or current, wherein the working electrode used is a graphite-containing electrode.

This invention relates to a process for the electrochemical decomposition of organic pollutants to carbon dioxide.
The presence of industrial chemicals, manufacturing wastes, and other unwanted chemicals in water and of pesticides on land and in crops has convinced the public that pollution by synthetic organic molecules is a problem of major importance.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,799 discloses a process for chemical destruction of toxic organic compounds by using hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizing agent in the preselected ranges of the temperature and the pH, e.g., about 50.degree. C. to about 90.degree. C., and the pH starting at about 1 to about 2 and terminating at about 5 to about 8 during the oxidation, and then finishing decomposition of the oxidation product of the original toxic organic compound at an alkaline pH, e.g., to a maximum final pH of about 11.
Japan Pat. No. 07265862 A2 discloses an apparatus for oxidation decomposition of organic substances in water by electrolysis. The apparatus includes an electrolysis tank having anode plates and cathode plates (made of graphite) with activated carbon filled between two electrodes. The electrolysis is carried out by adding iron salt and hydrogen peroxide into wastewater to be electrolyzed at low voltage and high current.
In view of an ideal method for decomposition of organic pollutants, the following aspects must be fully concerned. 1) The efficiency of decomposition of organic pollutants to carbon dioxide and inorganics without increasing the volume of the waste, the formation of new toxicants, and/or the biosynthesis of persistent products. 2) The mild, easy, and safe condition for controlling the operating process of environmental cleanup. 3) Aversatile process that can treat multiple kinds of organic pollutants using the same equipment in view of the economic reason. For these reasons, establishment of an excellent industrial method for decomposition of organic pollutants has been desired promptly.

Process for electrochemical decomposition of organic pollutants


A method for the preparation of respirable zafirlukast monohydrate particles comprises the steps of preparation of an aqueous suspension of amorphous zafirlukast; size-reduction with conversion of the suspended zafirlukast into crystalline monohydrate nanoparticles; and isolation of the crystalline zafirlukast in the form of a dry powder. Also provided are zafirlukast respirable particles characterized by comprising crystalline monohydrate zafirlukast. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the particles are also disclosed, as is the use of the particles or compositions for the treatment of respiratory diseases.

Zafirlukast is a leukotriene receptor antagonist for the maintenance treatment of asthma, currently marketed as an oral solid dosage form, often used in conjunction with other inhaled therapies. Zafirlukast blocks the action of the cysteinyl leukotrienes, thus reducing constriction of the airways, build-up of mucus in the lungs and inflammation of the breathing passages.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,504,216, 5,482,963, 5,319,097, 5,993,859, 5,612,367, and 6,143,775 disclose several crystalline polymorphic forms of zafirlukast, namely an amorphous form, a crystalline monohydrate form and a crystalline anhydrous form. Polymorphic forms are different arrangements and/or conformations of the same molecule in the crystalline structure. These different arrangements can lead to different chemical and physical properties, including melting point, chemical reactivity, apparent solubility, dissolution rate, optical and mechanical properties, vapour pressure and density. [Guidance for Industry, ANDAs: Pharmaceutical Solid Polymorphism Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), July 2007]. These patents also refer that the monohydrate and anhydrous crystalline forms have been found to be physically stable, but with relatively poor bioavailability. On the other hand, the amorphous form is the most bioavailable, as disclosed in the patents, but also the less physically stable. Hence, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,504,216, 5,482,963, 5,319,097, 5,993,859, 5,612,367, and 6,143,775 also describe pharmaceutical compositions comprising the amorphous form of zafirlukast and polyvinylpyrrolidone, used to stabilize zafirlukast amorphous form in order to successfully prepare solid oral dosage forms, while ensuring high bioavailability.
However, for pulmonary delivery of zafirlukast for the treatment of local diseases such as asthma and COPD, amongst others, a lower drug absorption/systemic bioavailability is a desired feature so that side-effects are reduced and safer medicines are generated. Furthermore, the crystalline monohydrate form is more stable than the amorphous form. Hence, for the development of a zafirlukast inhalation formulation, we have appreciated that methods for preparing the crystalline monohydrate form, preferably substantially free of other physical forms, to ensure appropriate control over drug properties, would be desirable.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,504,216, 5,482,963, 5,319,097, 5,993,859, 5,612,367, and 6,143,775 provide methods for preparing the amorphous form substantially free of other forms by heating the crystalline monohydrate form, and methods for preparing the crystalline monohydrate form substantially free of other forms by crystallization from hot aqueous acetone. Although these patents indicate that the amorphous form can convert into crystalline monohydrate form in the presence of water, no method is disclosed to ensure conversion of the amorphous to mostly crystalline monohydrate material. Moreover, the oral dosage pharmaceutical composition preparation methods include mixing amorphous zafirlukast with polyvinylpyrrolidone in water, while claiming that the amorphous form is maintained. But, in fact, exposure of the amorphous form to water is not sufficient for ensuring conversion to monohydrate. Therefore, the present inventors have realised there is still a need for methods for converting the amorphous zafirlukast form into crystalline monohydrate substantially free of other polymorphic forms, since conventional crystallization processes typically lead to amorphous zafirlukast mixed with other polymorphic forms. Finally, the above patents indicate that the amorphous form can be micronized prior to formulation without providing any insight either on the micronization methods or on the impact of these methods on the final material physical form. Overall, these patents refer to application of zafirlukast for oral dosage forms and do not provide any teaching for the preparation of zafirlukast suitable for inhalation formulations.
After processing according to the present invention, the zafirlukast particles are preferably comprised of 90% (by weight) or more of crystalline monohydrate form with a particle size suitable for inhalation drug products.
In the pulmonary drug delivery field, there are many types of inhaler devices able to deliver the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) as a powder or liquid aerosol, namely dry powder inhalers (DPI), pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI) and nebulizers. For DPI and pMDI formulation, often there is the need to reduce the particle size of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) to a particle size typically between 1 and 5 microns in order to ensure proper deposition in the lungs and, consequently, efficacy.
In inhalation, the standard size-reduction technique has been jet milling (or similar dry media micronization methods); however, more recently, the use of size-reduction techniques where the API is suspended in an anti-solvent have gained momentum, owing to a number of advantages that are discussed in patent applications WO 2009/074666 and WO 2011/131947. There are several variations of these "wet media" based techniques including, but not exclusively, i) ball milling, ii) high-pressure homogenization, iii) microfluidization, and iv) ultrasonic homogenization. Following size-reduction, the preferential isolation step of the powder described in patent WO 2011/131947 is spray drying (the combination of size-reduction in "wet media" with spray drying was designated as wet polishing). The use of size-reduction in "wet media" with zafirlukast has been claimed in patent applications WO 2006/096462 and WO 2006/099591 for the preparation of nanosuspensions with improved solubility in water.
However, the WO 2009/074666 process considers the preparation of an initial feed suspension of crystalline drug substance; while patent WO 2011/131947 claims the maintenance of the polymorphic form of the API during processing. Surprisingly, the invention herein described considers the conversion of zafirlukast amorphous form in an aqueous suspension to mostly crystalline monohydrate during the wet milling step, as a consequence of the high energy input provided. On the other hand, WO 2006/096462 and WO 2006/099591 patents claim nanosuspension compositions of zafirlukast comprising at least one surface stabilizer, without disclosing the final physical form of zafirlukast. These patent applications also claim nanoparticulate compositions further comprising pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. In the present invention, the resulting suspension after the size-reduction step is absent of any surface stabilizer or surfactant to ensure the preparation of nanoparticles, which is a significant advantage considering the limited number of excipients approved or regarded as safe for inhalation formulations.

Preparation of respirable zafirlukast particles


An electronic musical instrument which can be designed compact in longitudinal size and is excellent in acoustic characteristics. A musical instrument main body (1) has at least one keyboard device (12), and left and right lateral side panels (13 and 13′). A musical tone signal is generated by a controller (101) through operation of the keyboard device. The musical tone signal generated by the controller is acoustically converted by at least one speaker (31 or 31′). The musical instrument main body is supported by left and right front legs (2 and 2′) in the vicinity of the left and right lateral side panels of the musical instrument main body. An upper part of each front leg is secured to the musical instrument main body, and a lower part thereof extends to a floor surface on which the electronic musical instrument is placed. The speaker is held in a speaker box (3 or 3′). The speaker box serves as a supporting member that supports a rear side part of the musical instrument main body. The speaker box has a lower part extending to the floor surface to serve as a rear leg.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic musical instrument which includes a musical tone signal generating device that generates a musical tone signal in response to performance operators, one or more speakers that convert the musical tone signal generated by the musical tone signal generating device into sound, and front legs that support the main body of the electronic musical instrument in the vicinity of left and right lateral side plates of the main body, and more particularly to an electronic musical instrument suitable for use as an electronic keyboard musical instrument equipped with a keyboard section at the main body thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there has been proposed an electronic musical instrument in which the main body of the musical instrument is supported by a plurality of legs. In the musical instrument main body, a performance device (e.g. a keyboard device) equipped with operators such as keys, a frame supporting the operators, a circuit board for detecting operations of various operators, and so forth is disposed on a keybed, and a rear side of the performance device (a side opposite to the player side) is configured as a panel surface on which a display, operating switches, and so forth are disposed. Also electronic keyboard musical instruments have been widely used, in which the musical instrument main body is supported by upright plate-shaped legs disposed at opposite lateral sides thereof, as disclosed in e.g. Japanese Patent No. 2745952 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2002-244661.
In electronic musical instruments, musical tones are sounded by speakers. In many electronic musical instruments, speakers are accommodated within the musical instrument main body, as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2745952, referred to above. The space (volume) within the musical instrument main body, however, is narrow so that good acoustic characteristics cannot be obtained. Therefore, speaker boxes are provided separately from the musical instrument main body, as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2002-244661, referred to above.
Even in the case where the speaker boxes are disposed separately from the musical instrument main body, the larger the volume of the speaker boxes, the better acoustic characteristics (particularly, low frequency range sound characteristics). However, if the speaker boxes are simply disposed below the musical instrument main body, as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2002-244661, referred to above, the player cannot easily perform foot operations, particularly, pedal operations. Moreover, this disposition gives a feeling of oppression to the player. Furthermore, in keyboard musical instruments, the keyboard has to be disposed at the foremost part of the instrument (toward the player). In addition, if speaker boxes of a larger volume are used and disposed so as not to impose limitations upon the pedal operations, the longitudinal size of the musical instrument has to be necessarily increased, leading to an increased longitudinal size of the musical instrument main body. Consequently, the whole musical instrument becomes large in size so that it cannot be transported with ease, resulting in increased costs. Thus, there is room for improvement in this respect.