A composition includes at least one poly(aliphatic ester)-polycarbonate copolymer, a polysiloxane-polycarbonate copolymer, and an electromagnetic shielding agent (such as metal fibers). The composition exhibits excellent impact properties and electromagnetic shielding properties when formed into an article. Another composition includes at least one poly(aliphatic ester)-polycarbonate copolymer, a polysiloxane-polycarbonate copolymer, and carbon fibers. This composition has excellent impact properties when formed into an article.

The present disclosure relates generally to polycarbonate compositions that have high impact properties, good aesthetic values, and are useful in electromagnetic shielding applications. Also disclosed herein are methods for preparing and/or using the same, as well as articles comprising such polycarbonate compositions.
Polycarbonates (PC) are synthetic engineering thermoplastic polymers derived from bisphenols and phosgene, or their derivatives. They are linear polyesters of carbonic acid and may be formed from dihydroxy compounds and carbonate diesters or carbonyl halides, or by ester interchange. Polycarbonates are a useful class of polymers having many beneficial properties.
The consumer electronics market has grown significantly in recent years. Recent designs aim for slimness, with thinner walls and with wide and large display panels. Known compositions used for such mobile devices (e.g., mobile phones) may exhibit brittleness and/or cracking, unsightly surfaces, and/or poor flowability.
Due to various "critical to quality" requirements of customers, there is a need for polycarbonate compositions that have favorable flow, aesthetic, and impact properties combined with electromagnetic shielding.

Polycarbonate composition and articles formed therefrom


The invention relates to a method for transmitting messages in a network via data terminals connected thereto. This method comprises the following steps: sending a message to be relayed from a sender data terminal to an assigned first mail processing device assigning a unique identifier to the message which indicates that a message to be relayed is in the sender data terminal or in the first mail processing device; evaluating the identifier by the first mail processing device based on data present therein concerning the entry of a message at an address data terminal from the past, and in response to the evaluation result, transmitting in a triggered or blocked manner the message or parts thereof to the address data terminal. The invention also relates to a data terminal and network that carry out the inventive method using mail processing devices.

The transmission of electronic information by electronic means, i.e. by e-mail for instance, is becoming increasingly important in the current age of modern information technology. As well as reducing costs, for example because less paper is used or because of savings in postage and delivery costs, which may be extremely high especially where speed is of the essence, the main advantage of transmitting messages by electronic means is that a message can reach the recipient within a very short time of being sent.
A further advantage of electronic messaging becomes evident in cases where a message needs to be sent not just to one recipient, but to a number of recipients. Whilst such a message would once have needed to be painstakingly copied or passed on from one recipient to the next—a time-consuming process—it is now possible for the message to be copied to them by electronic means in a matter of seconds. For this purpose, e-mail programs usually have a facility for defining so-called message groups, for example for interest communities or work teams. A message group lists together those persons to whom a message or e-mail is to be sent or relayed. Once the message groups have been set up, sending a message to all members of the message group is a simple process in that the addressee for the message is the message group. The onward distribution to the individual members of the message group is handled automatically by the e-mail program or by a mail server connected to it. It is usual in companies, for example, for individuals to be assigned not only to one message group, but to several in connection with various tasks.
For the sender of a message, finding out which persons belong to a message group is a highly time-consuming or even impossible task. It is therefore also difficult to determine whether one recipient of the message to be transmitted has already received it as a member of a different message group. It is virtually impossible for the sender to determine whether one of the intended recipients has already received the message from another sender. This is particularly problematic in the case of messages that have been or are to be forwarded.
This often means that recipients of messages receive the same message from one or more persons. In addition, if the message is sent by different persons, the sender sometimes adds a comment to the message, whilst the attachments etc. contained in the message remain unchanged. Whilst the comments may be of interest to the recipient in this case, the remainder of the message does not contain any new information.
For example, a manager of a team and an employee in his team may receive news about changes and activities from a standardization body via an appropriate message distribution list. The manager, who has likewise listed all his employees in a message group, forwards the message from the standardization body to his employees via the group distribution list defined by him. However, because there is a multitude of message group distribution lists in existence, it is virtually impossible for the manager to tell that one of his employees has already received the information via a different route. As a result of the employee receiving the message more than once, the amount of data traffic in the network is unnecessarily increased as well as the productivity of the employee being reduced since the latter has to spend part of his working time on identifying and deleting duplicate messages that have been received. In addition, when deleting such a duplicate message, it is often not sufficient simply to delete the message without opening it since it is not usually possible to tell from the subject line whether or not the sender of the message has added a comment to it.

Method for transmitting messages in a network


A method of packaging by heat sealing, including: a) transporting films to a heat sealing packaging station; b) pressing two layers of the films with a positioning blocking element to position the films and block the air flow between a packaging cavity and a packaging line; c) performing heat sealing to the two layers of the films at the packaging line by a heat sealing device; and d) resetting the heat sealing device and the positioning blocking element, and cooling and solidifying the films bonded at the packaging line.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the technical field of packaging, and more particularly to a method and device of packaging by heat sealing.
2. Description of the Related Art
At present, the method of packaging by heat sealing for plastic films has been widely used for packaging food, medicine, and cosmetics, with the advantages of low cost, high packaging efficiency, moisture resistance, seepage prevention, etc. There are several concrete application methods: (1) continuous liquid packaging, the film raw material adopts a double-layer long film packaging tape, and its two side edges are sealed. During the packaging process, the packaging tape is filled with packaging materials, and then two ends of the packaging tape are transversely sealed and cut off, so as to finish packaging; (2) single packaging, packaging materials are put into a plastic bag or a single cavity with an opening at one end, and then the opening of the plastic bag or the single cavity is sealed with a heat sealing device; (3) a concave cavity for allowing the packaging materials to be placed in is formed on at least one layer of film in two layers of films, a heat sealing cutting die of the heat sealing device is manufactured into the shape consistent with that of a required packaging line, then the two layers of films are sealed at the packaging line, the packaging method can adopt an individual packaging method or a multipack packaging method, and a packaging line is arranged between every two packaging materials, so that the packaging materials are separated from each other. The fundamental principle of the method of packaging by heat sealing is as follows: a heat sealing cutting die is arranged on the heat sealing device and has the same shape as the packaging line, the heat sealing device is used for heating the heat sealing cutting die through a heating device, the heat sealing cutting die is maintained at a set temperature, close to and pressed against the films, the films are mutually bonded after being molten by heat, the heat sealing cutting die is reset, and then the films are cooled and packaged. Although the film for packaging has no harm to human body, it is molten at a high temperature to generate a small amount of toxic decomposition gas during the packaging process, the decomposition gas enters a packaging cavity and packaged food or medicine, thus the secondary pollution to the packaging materials is caused. The prolonged intake of light polluted food or medicine may negatively affect the human health. Currently, some more advanced heat sealing machines are provided, such as a high-frequency heat sealing machine, an ultrasonic heat sealing machine and a heat sealing machine using laser technology, and the heat sealing packaging quality and the heat sealing packaging efficiency are remarkably improved, but the heat-sealed films are bonded together by melting, thus the secondary pollution to the packaging materials cannot be avoided. Even for the normally used plastic bags, the odor left in the plastic bags during the melting and decomposing process can be often smelled when the plastic bags are used in an opened manner.
For example, an upper film and a lower film are placed on a middle die seat and a lower die seat respectively, the lower film is infused with fluid, a vacuum cavity where the middle die seat and the lower die seat are positioned is closed through a valve, the gas in the vacuum cavity can be extracted through a vacuum pump unit, so as to form a state close to the vacuum, a vertically butted sealing seat formed by the middle die seat and the lower die seat is used for heat sealing, the circumferences of the upper film and the lower film are sealed at one time in the state close to the vacuum state to cause the fluid to be enveloped, and no bubbles remain in the fluid. During the packaging process, the packaging cavity is vacuumized, so as to extend the shelf life of packaging materials, but the secondary pollution of trace decomposition gas to the packaging materials cannot be avoided.

Method and device for packaging by heat sealing


A base board for a printed circuit board panel which permits easy inspection of a printed circuit by means of a fluorescence-applied circuit pattern inspection machine used for the inspection of printed circuit patterns and which is not altered in the properties as a printed circuit board, the base board having an insulating layer containing 5.0 to 0.00001% by weight of a compound of any one of the formulae (1), (2) and (3), ##STR1##

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a base board for a printed circuit board panel which permits easy inspection of a printed circuit by means of a fluorescence-applied circuit pattern inspection machine used for the inspection of printed circuit patterns and which is not altered in the properties as a printed circuit board.
2. Prior Art of the Invention
The circuit pattern of a printed circuit board is conventionally inspected by a direct continuity method using a probe, a metallurgical microscope-applied method using reflected light from a metal conductor circuit pattern, or a method using a soft X-ray.
The circuit pattern is recently beginning to be inspected by a more accurate and highly efficient method in which a pattern of fluorescence generated from the circuit pattern of a manufactured printed circuit board is compared with a pattern of fluorescence generated from the circuit pattern of a reference normal circuit pattern by means of a phenomenon that the resin layer of a printed circuit board generates fluorescence under irradiation with excited light while a conductor pattern does not generate fluorescence.
When, however, there is an internal layer of a circuit or when the resin layer is too thin, there are some cases where insufficient inspection is possible, since fluorescence is not sufficiently strong, or the fluorescent pattern is affected by the presence or absence of the conductor circuit of the internal layer, the presence or absence of the conductor circuit on the surface opposite to the surface to be inspected, or a difference caused by whether or not a pigment and a filler are used.
To overcome the above defect, JP-A-3-2258 discloses a method using a fluorescent brightener, specifically a coumarin-containing fluorescent brightener. In this method, however, the amount of fluorescence is sometimes insufficient or the amount of fluorescence having a wavelength with which to inspect a pattern is sometimes small. The defect with this method is that when the amount of the fluorescent brightener is increased to overcome the above problem, the properties of the base board alter.


To provide a compound which exhibits a serotonin antagonism and an acetylcholine release accelerating activity at a well-balanced activity ratio. An aminobenzoic acid derivative represented by the general formula (I) or (II) or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a group represented by the formula: ##STR2## {wherein A represents a group represented by formula --CH.sub.2 --X--CH.sub.2 -- (wherein X represents O, >N--R.sup.6 or>CHR.sup.7 (wherein R.sup.6 represents lower alkyl and R.sup.7 represents hydrogen or lower alkoxy)), etc.; D and E each represents a group represented by formula --(CH.sub.2).sub.3 --, etc., and R.sup.2 represents lower alkyl, etc.}; R.sup.9 represents alkynyl; R.sup.10 represents amino, etc-; R.sup.11 represents halogen; R.sup.12 and R.sup.13 each represent lower alkyl; a is an integer of 1 to 5; and b is an integer of 0 to 5!.

The proportion of patients with indefinite complaints such as abdominal distension, heartburn, nausea and vomiting among those with gastrointestinal diseases has recently increased steadily and now reaches 60% or above.
Most of these indefinite complaints are caused by the functional anomaly of the digestive tract. For example, it is known that a patient with epigastric indefinite complaints such as chronic gastritis is in a state of delayed gastric emptying, while a patient with hypogastric indefinite complaints such as irritable bowel syndrome including abnormal evacuation and abdominal pain as the cardinal symptom is in a state of intestinal hyperanakinezia.
It is ascertained that stress and anxiety are causative of any indefinite complaint, and in this sence, it is not too much to say that indefinite complaint is one of modern diseases.
Dopamine antagonists, musculotropic agents for regulating the movement of smooth muscles and acetylcholine release accelerators are now used in order to ameliorate the above gastrointestinal indefinite complaints. However, dopamine antagonists cause potent adverse reactions such as parkinsonism, so that they must be used carefully; musculotropic agents for regulating the movement of smooth muscles cause adverse reactions such as constipation unfavorably; and acetylcholine release accelerators do not effectively act as an antiemetic or anxiolytic, thus being unsatisfactory.


A vehicle travel control apparatus includes a sensor (16) that obtains preceding vehicle information representing a status of a first preceding vehicle; a communication apparatus (18) that obtains preceding vehicle acceleration/deceleration information, which is generated in a second preceding vehicle, via communication with the second preceding vehicle; and a controller (10) that generates a first target value related to a target acceleration/deceleration value of a host vehicle based on the preceding vehicle information and a second target value related to the target acceleration/deceleration value of the host vehicle based on the preceding vehicle acceleration/deceleration information, and controls acceleration/deceleration of the host vehicle based on the generated first and second target values, wherein the controller (10) corrects the preceding vehicle acceleration/deceleration information according to an index value to generate the second target value, the index value representing an identity between the first and the second preceding vehicles.

It is known that acceleration/deceleration of a following vehicle is controlled by concurrently using PID control by a feedback control system based on an inter-vehicle distance difference with a preceding vehicle and control by a feed-forward system according to the acceleration/deceleration adjusting status of the preceding vehicle based on acceleration/deceleration adjusting information obtained via inter-vehicle communication (see Patent Document 1, for example). The acceleration/deceleration adjusting information is accelerator pedal operation information (accelerator position) and brake operation information (brake position). The acceleration/deceleration of the following vehicle is controlled by adding a feed-forward control amount, which corresponds to the accelerator position and the brake position of the preceding vehicle, to a feed-back control amount determined based on the inter-vehicle distance difference.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 11-013507


The invention relates to a double-duty applicator for solid and liquid mediums, comprising a columned bearer and an outer tube combined to contain solid medium, and extending from a double-stage columned base. At the other end of said base is fixed a soft tube containing liquid medium. Said outer tube covers the outside of the bearer, with inner threads on the inner wall therein, which matches with outer threads of the bearer. The bottom end of the outer tube is fixed outside a smaller columned flange of the base through fastening slots, and a limiting mechanism is positioned between the bottom of the bearer and the base to limit the turning of the bearer. The invention adds a liquid medium applicator to the conventional solid medium applicator structure, and combines both applicator structures together, thereby making it easy to carry and use.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an applicator, more particularly, it relates to an applicator for the combination of solid and liquid mediums.
2. Related Art
Common applicators, such as glue, lipstick and so on, are divided into two types, liquid medium and solid medium, which are commonly packaged separately for use in different circumstances. Lipsticks are used for everyday make up and skin care. The problem is that although solid lipsticks have a long-lasting effect, they are however, dry. Lip moisturizers can moisturize lips, however, it does not have a long-lasting effect. Often, both liquid lipsticks and solid lipsticks are used together, that is, applying the solid lipstick first, then applying another layer of liquid lip moisturizer, so that the lipsticks are long lasting while moisturizing the lips. However, the two types of lipsticks are packaged separately, making it inconvenient for carrying as well as using the lipsticks.


A bias circuit includes a current sensor, a transistor, and a low pass filter circuit. The current sensor has a first terminal coupled to a voltage terminal, and a second terminal. The transistor has a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the current sensor, a second terminal coupled to a radio frequency signal path for providing a bias signal, and a control terminal for receiving a reference voltage. The low pass filter circuit is coupled between the second terminal of the current sensor and the control terminal of the transistor.

Amplifiers are usually used to amplify signals to improve signal quality for both signal transmission and signal reception in wireless communications.
However, since the environment in which wireless communications is located may change at any moment, the power of the radio frequency (RF) signal may also change correspondingly. When the instantaneous power of a modulated RF signal on an RF signal path exceeds a specific power level, a bias signal provided by a bias circuit for RF signal path will also vary, thereby reducing the stability of the bias signal and degrading the performance and the linearity of an amplifier disposed on the RF signal path.
Furthermore, the temperature change of the amplifier due to self-heating can also affect the stability of the bias signal, affecting the performance of the amplifier, and even causing damages to the amplifier and/or thermal runaway of the transistors in the amplifier. Since the bias circuit plays such a crucial role in achieving the linearity and performance of the amplifier, the design of the bias circuit has also raised interests.


A bypass procedure for connecting a bypass conduit to a blood vessel to channel a flow of blood around an occlusion. The procedure involves attaching a bypass conduit to a portion of the blood vessel at first and second locations. A collar is utilized to suture the graft to blood vessel. A punching device is inserted into one of end of the bypass conduit. The punching device preferably includes a punch and a block. The block is inserted through a cut formed in the blood vessel wall. Concomitant actuation of the block and punch toward one another severs a section of the blood vessel wall to form a channel into the bypass conduit. The present invention also discloses preferred implements for use in the bypass procedure. A cutting device can be utilized to form the cuts in the vessel wall and may be either integral with or separate from the block. In one embodiment, the block is expandable between a collapsed state and an expanded or inflated state. The block is inserted into the lumen of the blood vessel in its collapsed state. An inflating medium is injected into the handle of the block which causes that block to expand to its expanded operative state. In another embodiment, the block is pivotable about a handle to facilitate positioning within the lumen. A guide wire can be utilized in the bypass procedure to guide the implements to the blood vessel wall.

Atherosclerosis is a disease which affects the blood vessels in a cardiovascular system. This disease involves thickening of the vessel walls caused by the accumulation of fat, fibrin, cellular debris and/or calcium. As the vessel wall thickens, the internal lumen of the vessel narrows. This is commonly referred to as stenosis. Vessel stenosis impedes and reduces blood flow through the vessel. Hypertension and disfunction can result in organs which are downstream from the vessel stenosis due to the reduced blood flow.
One complication associated with the thickening of the vessel is the loss of its ability to expand and contract. Additionally, the thickening of the vessel wall reduces the vessels viability. This results in increased likelihood that an aneurysm will develop. If the patient suffers from hypertension or elevated blood pressure, ann developing aneurysm will frequently dissect and ultimately rupture.
Small vessels, such as the arteries that supply blood to the heart, legs and intestines are particularly susceptible to atherosclerotic narrowing. The loss of blood supply to the leg or segment of the intestine may result in the development of gangrene. Atherosclerotic narrowing of the coronary arteries impedes, limits and, in some instances, prevents blood flow to regional areas of the heart. Depending upon the severity of the narrowing and its location within the coronary circulation, pain, cardiac dysfunction or death may result. Larger vessels can also develop atherosclerosis.
In cases where atherosclerotic disease is advanced and the attendant complications jeopardize the health of the patient, surgical intervention is usually instituted. If the disease is extensive and the vessel is no longer reliable, it is usually replaced or bypassed by a graft. Conventionally this procedure involves placing the patient on a heart bypass machine while the diseased portion of the vessel is transected and removed. A graft, either synthetic or biologic, is attached between the transected sections of the vessel. This grafting procedure is called anastomosis.
A biologic graft is usually a non-critical artery or vein of small diameter which is harvested from elsewhere in the body, such as the internal mammary artery. When no suitable artery or vein can be harvested, or where time prevents harvesting of a suitable biological vessel, a synthetic vessel can be used. Synthetic vessel are conduits made from biocompatible material, such as DACRON.RTM. polyester fiber (DACRON is a registered trademark of E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc., Wilmington, Del.), or polytetrafluoride (PTFE).
As described above, conventional heart bypass surgery requires that the patient be placed on a heart-lung machine and stoppage of the blood flow along the diseased vessel. This is a very time consuming procedure. Moreover, placing a patient on an extracorporeal circuit may result in complications, such as a stroke, myocardial infarction, infection, or hemorrhage.
A need, therefore, exists for a bypass procedure which eliminates the need for placing the patient on an extracorporeal circuit. A need also exists for a bypass procedure which minimizes the likelihood of damage to the host vessel.

Procedure for bypassing an occlusion in a blood vessel


The present invention provides nonvolatile semiconductor memory which has advantages permitting the cell of the memory circuit to integrate, the memory circuit to be easy to manufacture, and the manufacturing expense to be cut down. The nonvolatile memory (21) comprises a P type well for which a N+ type source (4) and a N+ type drain (3) is provided. A surface of a space between the source (4) and the drain (3) comprises a first portion (10a) and a second portion (10b). An insulating layer (6) for holding electrons spans the surface of the space. A memory gate electrode (5) is on the insulating layer (6) and spans the first portion (10a). The surface of the second portion (10b) and a part of the surface of the memory gate electrode (5) is covered with a first region electrode (24) attaching to the source (4). But the first region electrode (24) is insulated from the memory gate electrode (5) with the insulating layer (8).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor nonvolatile memory and, more particularly, improvement in integration, speed of operation and productivity thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In related art, there is an instance of semiconductor nonvolatile memory 1 as shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1, a P type well 2 includes a drain 3 and a source 4, the two region forming a space comprising a region 10a and a region 10b. Between the region 10a and a memory gate electrode 5 is an insulating layer 6 for holding electrons. This insulating layer 6 has a structure of three layer: a silicon dioxide layer 6a, a silicon nitride layer 6b, and a silicon dioxide layer 6c. The silicon nitride layer 6b is where electrons can be trapped by bias between the well 2 and the memory gate electrode 5. The insulating layer 6 and a silicon dioxide layer 8 insulate a control gate electrode 7 from both the memory gate electrode 5 and the region 10b.
It is arranged that the region 10b changes from nonconductive into conductive when a stable positive voltage is applied to the control gate electrode 7 and that the region 10a changes from conductive into nonconductive when a stable positive voltage is applied to the gate electrode 5.
The operations of writing data into and reading data from the nonvolatile memory 1 will be described. To write data into the memory 1, a positive voltage such as 9 V is applied to the memory gate electrode 5 relative to the drain 3 and the source 4, whereby electrons in the P type well 2 move into the insulating layer 6 and get trapped therein. This change in charge distribution due to the trapped electrons cause the region 10a to change from conductive into nonconductive. These electrons remain trapped in the insulating layer 6 even when the voltage applied to the memory gate electrode 5 is cut off. This state wherein electrons are trapped in the insulating layer 6 is referred to as "write state" hereinafter.
In the reading operation, a positive voltage, which is larger than the threshold voltage for the conductive channel of the region 10b, is applied to the control gate electrode 7 relative to the drain 3 and the source 4, whereby the region 10b changes from nonconductive into conductive.
Therefore, when the insulating layer 6 has electrons trapped therein and a voltage is applied to the drain 3 relative to the source 4 a current flows between the drain 3 and the source 4. It is because the regions 10a and 10b are conductive. Conversely, when the insulating layer 6 have no electron trapped therein and a voltage is applied to the drain 3 relative to the source 4, no current flows between the drain 3 and the source 4. This is because the region 10a is nonconductive.
As is described above, it can be determined whether or not the memory 1 is in "write state", by determining whether or not a current flows between the drain 3 and the source 4.
To erase data from the nonvolatile memory, a positive voltage is applied to the P type well 2 relative to the memory gate electrode 5. This application of the voltage causes the electrons trapped in the insulating layer 6 to return the well 2. This indicates that the data of the memory has been erased.
A memory circuit can be constructed by using the above-mentioned memories 1 which array in rows and columns. The memory circuit is shown in partial view of equivalent circuit 15 in FIG. 2A. As shown in FIG. 2A, each word line W connects with all control gate electrodes of memories arrayed in a row and each word line X connects with all memory gate electrodes of memories arrayed in a row and each bit line connects with all drains of memories arrayed in a column and a well line PW connects with sources of all of the memories arrayed in rows and columns as well as wells for each of them.
So as not to write data into and read data from memories other than a desired memory, the following means can select a desired memory from the memory circuit.
FIG. 2B is a table showing an example of combinations of voltages applied to each of the individual lines at writing, erasing and reading operations, the combination enabling the memory circuit to select a desired memory, for example, a memory C11 at writing and reading operations.
More specifically, to write data into the selected memory C11, a voltage of 5 V is applied to both the word line W1 and the bit line B2 and a voltage of -4 V is applied to each of the other individual lines. That means that a positive voltage of 9 V (volts) is applied to the memory gate electrode 5 of the selected memory C11 relative to the well 2, the source 4 and the drain 3. As a result of the application, the insulating layer 6 of the selected memory C11 traps electrons therein.
Referring to the nonselected memory C12, the voltage of 5 V is applied to the memory gate electrode 5 and thereby the region 10a changes into conductive. The voltage of 5 V applied to the drain 3 can travel into the region 10a. That is, there is no potential difference between the memory gate electrode 5 and the well 2. Therefore, the insulating layer 6 of the nonselected memory C12 traps no electrons therein. Referring to the other nonselected memories C13 and C14, the voltage of -4 V is applied to the memory gate electrode 5. Therefore, the insulating layer 6 traps no electrons therein, respectively.
Note that the voltage of -4 V is applied to the word lines X1 and X2 in order that all the regions 10b of memories C11, C12, C13 and C14 get nonconductive. Therefore, the voltage of 5 V applied to the bit line B2 can travel into the region 10a of the memory C12 without a loss.
Reading operation is effected by applying a voltage of 5 V to a word line X1, applying a positive voltage to the bit line B1 connected to a sense amplifier, leaving the bit line B2 floating and applying a voltage of 0 V to each of the other individual lines.
Referring to the selected memory C11, the region 10b is conductive because the voltage of 5 V is applied to the control gate electrode 7. When the memory C11 has electrons trapped in the insulating layer 6 the region 10a is nonconductive. Therefore, no current flows through the bit line B1. Conversely, when the memory C11 has no electrons trapped in the insulating layer 6 the region 10a is conductive. Therefore, a current flows through the bit line B1.
Referring to the nonselected memory C12, the region 10b is conductive because the voltage of 5 V is applied to the control gate electrode 7. However, since the source 4 is in a voltage of 0 V applied and the bit line B2 is left floating, no current flows through the a bit line B2 even when the region 10a is conductive. Referring to the other nonselected memories C13 and C14, the region 10b is nonconductive respectively because the word line X2 is at a voltage of 0 V applied. Therefore, no current flows through the bit line B1 and through the bit line B2 respectively.
As is described above, in the memory circuit, data can be written into and read from a desired memory.
Meanwhile, erasing operation is effected by applying a voltage of -4 V to all of the word line X1, the word line X2 and the word line W1, and applying a voltage of 5 V to the other individual lines.
Referring to the selected memory C11 and C12, since the well line PW has a voltage of 5 V and the memory gate electrode 5 has a voltage of -4 V, the electric field developed between the well 2 and the memory gate electrode 5 causes electrons in the insulating layer 6 move into the well 2. This indicates that the data of the memories C11 and C12 has been erased.
Referring to the nonselected memories C13 and C14, since the well 2 has a voltage of 5 V and the memory gate electrode 5 has a voltage of 5 V, no electric field develops between the well 2 and the memory gate electrode 5. Therefore, the data of the memories C13 and C14 is left unchanged.
The above-mentioned memory circuit, however, has a flowing problem.
Each of the memories in the memory circuit comprises two field effect transistors with a common source and a common drain.
These two field effect transistors bar the memory cell and the memory circuit from integrating and being manufactured easily.
Meanwhile, in order to control the conductivity of the region 10b by application of electric field between the well 2 and the control gate electrode 7, it is necessary to arrange a certain width of the region 10b correctly during the manufacturing process. This width W is determined by a width of a photoresist pattern using as a mask. In lithography technique, it is difficult to locate the photoresist pattern mask at a predetermined position in the substrate. Therefore, it is difficult to form the region 10b with a predetermined width.

Semiconductor device including nonvolatile memories


The disclosed embodiments relate to a system that facilitates accessing audio files associated with a user from an online content management system. During operation, the online content management system receives a function call from a client to list audio files associated with the user. In response to the function call, the system filters through operations for files associated with the user to identify audio files. Next, the system returns metadata for the identified audio files associated with the user to the client. In some embodiments, filtering through the operations involves filtering an operation log to identify operations performed on audio files associated with the user, wherein the operations occurred since a preceding call to the function.

Field
The disclosed embodiments generally relate to online content management systems. More specifically, the disclosed embodiments relate to a system that facilitates accessing audio files from an online content management system.
Related Art
Online content management systems, such as the Dropbox™ service provided by Dropbox, Inc. of San Francisco, Calif., presently provide a convenient way for a user to store content items (such as audio files) in a replicated, synchronized storage architecture that allows the user to share content items with other users, and also enables the user to access content items from different computing devices. As these online content management systems become more prevalent, people are beginning to use them to store different types of content, such as audio files. Storing audio files in an online content management system enables users to access their audio files from different network-connected electronic devices, such as a laptop computer or audio player in a car.
However, existing online content management systems do not provide convenient mechanisms for accessing audio files. At the moment, audio files are typically stored in various folders belonging to the user on the online content management system, and the user needs to manually navigate through these folders to locate audio files for playback on a client device.
Hence, what is needed is a more convenient way for users to access their audio files on an online content management system.

Accessing audio files from an online content management system


A board connector has a plurality of contacts, an insulator holding the plurality of contacts, and a shell covering at least a part of the insulator. Each contact has an SMT terminal to be connected to a wiring pattern on a board. The insulator has a first insulator portion extending in an X-direction and two second insulator portions each extending in a Y-direction perpendicular to the X-direction. The first insulator portion has a bottom surface and first ends in the X-direction. Each second insulator portion has second ends. Each second insulator portion extends from the first ends to the second ends, respectively. The second ends are positioned on an imaginary straight line. The first insulator portion, the second insulator portions, and the imaginary straight line define a predetermined area. The SMT terminals are held by the insulator so that the SMT terminals are positioned within the predetermined area.

This invention relates to a board connector having an SMT (Surface Mount Technology) terminal, a mating connector to be connected with the board connector, and an electronic device including the board connector and the mating connector.
There have been proposed various kinds of connector assemblies for connecting a plurality of cables to a circuit-board in an electronic device such as a notebook computer or a cellular phone. JP-U 3118719 and JP-A 2005-302417, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, disclose the conventional type of the connector assembly and discuss the measures against the noise. However, JP-U 3118719 and JP-A 2005-302417 do not present the sufficient countermeasures.

Board connector, mating connector, and electronic device including the same

Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited


A disk player capable of selectively reproducing a plurality of optical disks includes a rotary table, a reproducing mechanism, a supporting member and a drive mechanism. The rotary table includes a plurality of concave portions on which a plurality of disk-like recording mediums are set. The reproducing mechanism includes a disk rotation drive portion for rotating the disk and a head for reading out an information signal from the disk. The supporting member includes the reproducing mechanism. The supporting member is moved between an elevated position at which the disk is rotated by the disk rotation drive portion and in which an information is reproduced from the disk by the head and a lowered position at which the disk rotation drive portion is detached from the disk-like recording medium. The drive mechanism drives the rotary table and the supporting member. The drive mechanism includes a Geneva gear provided at the rotation center of the rotary table and a rotary drive portion for rotating the Geneva gear. The rotary drive portion includes an operation portion for moving the supporting member between the elevated position and the lowered position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for recording and/or reproducing a disk-like recording medium. More particularly, the present invention relates to a disk-like recording medium recording and/or reproducing apparatus capable of recording and/or reproducing one of a plurality of disk-like recording mediums.
2. Background of the Invention
Disk players of the rotary table type are known for recording and/or reproducing an information signal on and/or from an information recording medium of an information recording disk such as an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk or the like. Such a disk player comprises a rotary table having a plurality of disk stocker portions provided on the same circumference to store information recording disks, a table drive mechanism for rotating the rotary table, a disk drive mechanism for chucking and rotating one of the information recording disks stored in a plurality of disk stocker portions on the rotary table, a pickup device disposed so as to oppose the information recording surface of the information recording disk rotated by the disk drive mechanism and which can be moved along the radius direction of the disk for writing and/or reading an information signal on the information recording surface, etc. U.S. Pat. No. 4,755,978, for example, discloses such disk player of rotary table type.
The table drive mechanism comprises a motor serving as a power source, a reduction gear train increasing a torque by reducing a rotational speed of the motor to thereby rotate the rotary table, a drive belt for coupling a drive pulley fixed to the rotary shaft of the motor and a driven pulley fixed to an input gear of the reduction gear train so as to transmit a power, etc. An output gear of the reduction gear train is meshed with a gear portion of the rotary table.
The disk drive mechanism comprises a disk table for chucking the information recording disk in cooperation with a chucking plate, a spindle motor for rotating the disk table, a supporting bracket for supporting the spindle motor, a motor and a reduction gear train for operating the supporting bracket such that the information recording disk is chucked and released from being chucked. The supporting bracket is supported to the disk player so as to become swingable or movable in parallel. The supporting bracket is swung or translated in parallel by a rotational force of the motor serving as a power source, whereby the information recording disk is chucked on the disk table or released from being chucked on the disk table.
However, in the disk player, the table drive mechanism and the disk drive mechanism have motors independently provided and the rotary table is rotated and the supporting bracket is swung or translated in parallel by these respective motors. Therefore, there should be provided two motors serving as drive sources. As a result, assemblies of the disk player are uneconomical. Moreover, the two kinds of motors must be controlled separately with the result that the disk player becomes complicated in arrangement.

Apparatus for recording and/or reproducing disk-like recording medium


In a node device which is part of a communication system with a terminal and a location registering server, a node device on a receiving side transfers, to a destination node device, a received inter-node packet, based on destination terminal location information stored in its storage portion or based on a location registering server, directly or through other devices, or the destination node device notifies a former node device (on the receiving side) of an address of its own device and the destination terminal directly or through other devices. Also, the node device on the receiving side or the destination node device notify a source node device of the address of the destination node device and the destination terminal directly or through other devices, based on a predetermined address stored in the storage portion of the terminal, the node device, or the location registering server.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a node device, and in particular to a node device which composes a communication system with a terminal, or with a terminal and a location registering server.
Recently, a next generation mobile communication system has been studied in research institutions, standardization groups, and the like all over the world. The next generation mobile communication system aims at offering multi-media services including a high-speed data communication to the extent of 2 Mbps.
Particularly, it is expected that packet communication services including the Internet will become the core services of the next generation of mobile communications in lieu of present services mainly using voice.
Furthermore, the study of the communication system has started where a mobile and a fixed station are integrated. In such an integrated communication system, it is important to reliably transmit a packet from a source terminal to a destination terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Current concept diagrams and problems of a mobile communication packet system realized by a cellular communication network in Japan and Europe are mentioned in a mobile packet communication system of the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/482,712 (filed on Jan. 13, 2000). This entire application is hereby incorporated by reference.
FIG. 32 shows an arrangement of the mobile packet communication system in the above-mentioned application. This communication system is composed of location registering servers 30_1 and 30_2, and node devices 20_1–20_4, each node device having a respective area 21_1–21_4 of communication.
Addresses [ADR1]–[ADR6] are assigned to the location registering servers 30_1, 30_2, and the node devices 20_1–20_4.
Furthermore, the communication system includes mobile terminals (hereinafter simply referred to as terminals) 10_3, 10_4, 10_1, and 10_2, which are respectively located in the areas 21_1–21_3, and addresses [1.1.1], [1.1.2], [2.1.1], and [2.2.1] are respectively assigned to each of the terminals 10_1–10_4.
It is to be noted that in FIG. 32 a subscriber node and a gate node in the above-mentioned application are not distinguished therebetween and simply referred to as a node device. In addition, reference numerals or characters of a terminal, a node device, and the like are used in modified forms.
The location registering servers 30_1 and 30_2 are established corresponding to an upper figure of a destination address (e.g. IPv4 and IPv6) of the packet, and are respectively provided with location registering tables 31_1 and 31_2 which register the address of the terminal corresponding to the address of the node device having the area where the terminal is located.
For instance, the addresses [1.1.1] and [1.1.2] of the terminals 10_1 and 10_2, the address of which is represented by [1.X.X ("X": don't care)], are made corresponding to the address [ADR5] of the node device 20_3 having the area where the terminals 10_1 and 10_2 are located to be registered in the location registering table 31_1.
Similarly, the addresses [2.1.1] and [2.2.1] of terminals 10_3 and 10_4, the address of which is represented by [2.X.X], and the addresses [ADR3] and [ADR4] of the node devices 20_1 and 20_2, are registered in the location registering table 31_2.
Also, the servers 30_1 and 30_2 are provided with a function of transferring the packet based on the information of the location registering tables.
The node devices 20_1–20_4 have location information tables 22_1–22_4 (only 22_2 is shown) for storing the addresses of the terminal and the destination node device, and a server retrieval table 40 for retrieving the address of the corresponding location registering server from the upper figure of the destination address of the packet.
FIG. 33 shows an operation example of the packet transfer in the mobile packet communication system shown in FIG. 32. Hereinafter, the operation when a user packet 71 is transmitted from the terminal 10_4 to the terminal 10_1 will be described in the order of processing steps.    Step S1: The terminal 10_4 transmits the user packet 71 including the address [1.1.1] indicating "addressed to the terminal 10_1" to the node device 20_2.    Step S2: The node device 20_2 retrieves the address [ADR1] of the server 30_1 corresponding to the address [1.1.1] of the terminal 10_1 from the server retrieval table 40.    Step S3: The node device 20_2 adds the address [ADR1] of the server 30_1 to the received user packet 71 to be transferred to the server 30_1 as an inter-node packet 81.    Step S4: The server 30_1 retrieves the address [ADR5] of the node device 20_3 having the area where the terminal 10_1 is located from the location registering table 31_1.    Step S5: The server 30_1 transfers an inter-node packet 82, in which the destination address of the received packet 81 is rewritten to [ADR5], to the node device 20_3.    Step S6: The server 30_1 notifies the node device 20_2 of the address [ADR5] of the node device 20_3 having the area where the terminal 10_1 is located based on a source address [ADR4] of the packet 81.    Step S7: The node device 20_3 transmits the packet 71, that is the packet 82 from which the address [ADR5] of its own device is removed, to the terminal 10_1, so that the terminal 10_1 receives the same.    Step S8: The node device 20_2 updates the address of the node device having the area where the terminal 10_1 is located in the location information table 22_2 to [ADR5] or adds [ADR5] to the node device address.    Step S9: The next user packet 71 addressed to the terminal 10_1 arrives at the node device 20_2.    Step S10: The node device 20_2 retrieves the location information table 22_2 to obtain the address [ADR5] of the node device 20_3 having the area where the terminal 10_1 is located.    Step S11: The node device 20_2 directly transfers to the node device 20_3 an inter-node packet 83, that is the received packet 71, addressed to the terminal 10_1 and added with the address [ADR5] of the node device 20_3.    Step S12: The node device 20_3 transmits the user packet 71, that is the packet 83 of the node device 20_3 from which the address [ADR5] is removed, to the terminal 10_1.
Thus, the packets 71 which the terminal 10_4 subsequently transmits are received by the terminal 10_1.
In such a communication system composed of such a node device, a packet loss occurs when the terminal 10_1 moves to an area of another node device.
This will be described by referring to FIG. 34 which shows an operation after a packet transfer operation of FIG. 33.    Step S1: The terminal 10_1 moves to the area 21_4 of the node device 20_4.    Step S2: The terminal 10_1 makes a location registration to the communication system.    Step S3: The node device 20 4 retrieves the address [ADR1] of the location registering server 30_1 corresponding to the address [1.1.1] of the terminal 10_1 from the server retrieval table 40.    Step S4: The node device 20_4 transmits location registering information to the location registering server 30_1.    Step S5: The location registering server 30_1 updates the address of the node device having the area where the terminal 10_1 is located in the location registering table 31_1 to [ADR6].    Step S6: The user packet 71 addressed to the terminal 10_1 arrives at the node device 20_2.    Step S7: The node device 20_2 retrieves the address [ADR5] of the node device 20_3 having the area where the terminal 10_1 is located from the location information table 22_2.    Step S8: The node device 20_2 transfers to the node device 20_3 the inter-node packet 81, that is the received packet 71, addressed to the terminal 10_1 and added with the address [ADR5].    Step S9: Since the node device 20_3 does not have the area where the destination terminal 10_1 is located, the user packet 71 cannot be transmitted to the terminal 10_1.
Hereafter, every time the terminal 10_4 transmits the user packet 71 to the terminal 10_1, steps S6–S9 are repeated, so that the user packet 71 is discarded.
As mentioned above, when the destination terminal moves to a different destination node device in such a mobile packet communication system, the user packet received at a former node device cannot be delivered to the destination terminal, so that a communication quality deteriorates due to the occurrence of packet loss.
Also, since the location information of the destination terminal cached in the location information table of a source node device is not updated, there has been a problem that the packet transfer to the former node device is inevitably continued although the destination terminal has already moved.


An automatic shaft lock is incorporated into the transmission or drive components of a power driving tool of the type commonly used to tighten or loosen threaded fasteners, for example. The automatic shaft lock operates to prevent an externally-applied rotational back-force or back-torque, such as results from use of the tool to manually tighten or loosen a fastener, from being transmitted all the way through the drive components to the tool's motor or armature shaft. The shaft lock also effectively reduces the amount of back-torque, functioning automatically in either rotational direction, due to being disposed at an intermediate location in the drive train, between an intermediate gear enmeshed for driving rotation with the tool's armature shaft and an output gear enmeshed in a driving relationship with the tool's output shaft.

The present invention relates generally to automatic locking mechanisms for power driven shafts. The invention is particularly well-suited for application in power tools, especially those of the hand-held variety used for driving threaded fasteners into a workpiece, for example.
Power tools such as power screwdrivers, nut drivers, and other such fastener drivers have become widely used for power-driving threaded fasteners into a workpiece or for driving one threaded fastener onto or into another threaded fastener. Sometimes, though, due to the size, length, or condition of the threaded fastener, such power driving tools lack sufficient torque to tighten (or loosen) the threaded fasteners to the full extent desired by the operator. In such instances, operators frequently use the power driving tool in a de-energized state or in a locked-armature condition to forcibly manually tighten the fastener. Also, in some cases, operators use the tool to manually set a fastener in order to more precisely control the final amount of torque applied to the fastener.
While such manual torque-applying usages are well known and common, they can sometimes result in damage to the power tool in the form of bent or broken internal drive components or even possible electrical damage to the power tool's motor. In addition, if the operator uses the power tool to manually tighten a fastener when the motor is de-energized, the back-applied torque can cause slippage in various drive components or can otherwise be less than fully effectual to allow the operator to manually tighten (or loosen) the fastener.
Accordingly, various shaft lock mechanisms and designs have been provided in hand-held power tools to alleviate these problems or to aid in manual torque-applying operations. One example of which, wherein the shaft lock mechanism is on the power tool's output shaft, is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,501, granted to Holzer in 1991. However, many of these mechanisms have themselves proved disadvantageous in that large or excessive amount of manually-applied back-torque can damage or break the shaft lock mechanisms themselves. The present invention, therefore, seeks to provide an automatic shaft lock mechanism that substantially prevents the transmission of back-torque during manual tightening operations in ways that could result in component breakage, motor damage, or slippage. The present invention also seeks to provide such a shaft lock mechanism that is not located at the tool's output shaft and that can thus take advantage of the tool's output gearing and thus be sturdier and more effective.
In accordance with one preferred example of the present invention, an interlock mechanism including an automatic shaft lock apparatus is provided for a power tool having a housing, a longitudinally-extending or axially-extending rotatable armature shaft enmeshed (either itself or through a pinion gear) with an intermediate gear disposed within the housing for rotation in response to rotation of the armature shaft, and an intermediate shaft disposed in the housing for rotation therein and rotationally interconnected with the tool's bit-holding chuck. The interlock mechanism drivingly and rotationally interconnects the intermediate shaft with the intermediate gear in order to cause bidirectional "forward-torque" rotation of the intermediate shaft in one of two directions in response to corresponding rotation of the intermediate gear, while the automatic shaft lock portion of the interlock mechanism prevents rotation of the intermediate gear in response to an external rotational force imposed on the intermediate shaft in a second opposite or "back-torque" direction.
In order to accomplish this, the automatic shaft lock includes a hollow cylindrical cavity formed in a fixed portion of the housing, preferably in the form of a hollow cylindrical cavity (with or without an internal wear sleeve) carried by a fixed bearing plate in the housing, with the hollow cylindrical cavity being radially offset relative to the armature shaft and having a cylindrical interior cavity surface therein. At least one drive lug (and preferably more than one) is fixedly disposed on the intermediate gear for concentric rotation therewith and extends longitudinally or axially into the hollow cylindrical cavity at the radial periphery thereof, with each of the preferred drive lugs having a drive projection extending radially inwardly.
An anvil is fixedly disposed (such as by press-fit, for example) on the intermediate shaft for concentric rotation therewith and is disposed within the hollow cylindrical cavity.
The anvil has an external diameter smaller than the diameter of the interior cavity surface of the hollow cylindrical cavity and has at least one, and preferably more than one, longitudinally-extending anvil channels recessed radially inwardly therein for interlockingly receiving the radially inwardly extending drive projections therein in a driving relationship therewith. The anvil channels have a circumferential width greater than the circumferential width of the drive projection in order to permit a predetermined amount of limited relative rotation therebetween. The anvil, adjacent drive lugs, and the interior cavity surface of the hollow cylindrical cavity together form a chamber within the cylindrical cavity, within which at least one longitudinally-extending cylindrical locking pin is disposed, resting between the anvil and the interior cavity surface of the hollow cylindrical cavity and between circumferential sides of the adjacent drive lugs.
The preferred anvil has a radially inwardly recessed flat portion between each of the adjacent pairs of anvil channels such that there is more radial clearance for the locking pin (between the interior cavity surface and the anvil) at a generally intermediate location of the chamber (between the anvil channels) than there is at the circumferential ends of the chamber, closely adjacent the anvil channels, where the pin or pins become radially "pinched" between radially outwardly-raised portions or radially outwardly-protruding "bosses" on either circumferential side of each of the anvil channels. The locking pins and the anvil are free to rotate in response to interlocking rotation of the drive lugs, the intermediate gear, and the anvil, in response to forward-torque rotation of the intermediate gear being driven (in either rotational direction) by rotation of the armature shaft, with the locking pins being urged and engaged by circumferential sides of the drive lugs to maintain them in the radially relatively unrestricted area defined by the above-mentioned flat anvil portions and the cavity inner surface. The pins, however, become radially wedged or pinched between the anvil boss surfaces closely adjacent the channels and the interior cavity surface in response to an externally-applied rotational back-force or back-torque imposed on the intermediate shaft when the intermediate gear and the armature shaft are rotationally stationary, or in response to such back-torque imposed in an opposite direction from the direction of the rotational force on the intermediate shaft imposed by the armature shaft, the intermediate gear, the drive lug, and the anvil when such external rotational back-torque is being imposed on the intermediate shaft of an energized power tool. In either case, the automatic shaft lock prevents transmission of the external rotational back-force and consequent back-torque from being imposed from the intermediate shaft and the anvil to the intermediate gear and the armature shaft. The automatic shaft lock of the present invention functions equally in either rotational direction.
It should be emphasized that such back-torque imposed on the tool's output shaft is reduced by virtue of being transmitted through the relatively large output gear and the relatively small output pinion gear before it is transmitted to the shaft lock mechanism. Or, stated another way, this arrangement allows the shaft lock mechanism to resist such back-torque with a "torque-amplified" resistance. This protects the shaft lock mechanism from breakage, as well as locating it more internally (at a position in the drive train that is internally-located relative to the output shaft) where it is better protected from dust or other external contaminants.
Additional objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


An ant bait stake is provided having two components including an outer housing and an inner bait pack or reservoir that is separate from the outer housing. The outer housing has a main component and a minor component. The main component includes a bait pack compartment for receiving the bait pack, and a ground engaging stake. The minor component includes a door coupled along one edge to the bait pack compartment by a living hinge. The door and bait pack compartment include complementary structures that securely seal the bait pack compartment once the bait pack has been placed in the compartment and the door closed. A neck portion with an access channel to the bait pack therein has a break-away tab that extends outwardly of the housing, the tab being removable by the consumer without any tools or other devices when the ant bait stake is ready for use.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to the field of pest control and, more particularly, to a plastic insect bait assembly, especially for ants.
2. Description of the Related Art
Numerous types of bait stations have been developed for attracting and killing insects, through provision of a supply of bait, normally one that is doped with an insecticide, and facilitating the application of the station at a location where it will attract and kill insects through ingestion of the edible bait. More specifically, various types of bait stations, of the type as identified, have been available for some time for attracting roaches, ants, and other type of pests.
For example, an integrally molded insect or ant bait stake is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,540,111 to Kraatz ("the '111 patent"), which is commonly owned by the assignee of the instant application. The full disclosure of the '111 patent is hereby expressly incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
The ant bait stake of Kraatz is made of two halves that are essentially a mirror image of one another. Each half has an upper reservoir part and a stake segment. When the two halves are sealed together along abutting edges, the two reservoir parts form a whole reservoir that is filled with insecticide. The stake segments are also adhered to one another along their abutting surfaces to form a layered or laminated stake. The bottom of the stake is driven into the ground while the top of the stake extends slightly above the reservoir to form a top edge. The top edge provides a narrow surface that can be impacted, as by a hammer, to drive the stake into the ground. To open the reservoir and provide ants with access to the insecticide contained therein, the user must cut off one corner of the top edge to create an access channel into the reservoir.
Because the two mirror image halves form the insecticide reservoir, the seal between the halves needs to be perfect. Therefore, any defect during manufacturing that allows for a leak between the halves results in the device being unusable and a potential for harmful contamination. Further, the top edge of the stake must be of adequate stiffness and strength to withstand hammering or other application of force to drive the device into the ground. As a result, the user must rely on a separate opening device, such as a knife or scissors, to cut open one corner of the top edge.
Therefore, a need exists for an insect or ant bait stake that overcomes the foregoing drawbacks.


A method of controlling a wind turbine is described. The method comprises calculating a current wear rate for each of the main bearing of a turbine rotor and the blade bearings of rotor blades mounted on the turbine rotor, and calculating a blade pitch adjustment of the rotor blades to achieved a desired ratio between main bearing wear and blade bearing wear in dependence on the calculated current wear rates of the main bearing and the blade bearings.

Wind turbines comprise a fixed tower which stands on the ground or sea bed, and a nacelle which rests on the top of the tower and carries a turbine shaft, a gearbox, a brake, a generator, a blade pitch controller which controls the angle of the turbine blades, and a yaw drive which controls the position of the wind turbine relative to the wind. Turbine blades are mounted to the turbine shaft externally of the nacelle. The turbine blades cause the shaft to rotate under the influence of wind, which in turn drives the generator to generate electrical power. The pitch of the blades is controlled by the blade pitch controller. The pitch of the blade is adjusted by rotating each blade around its axis in order to change its angle of attack to the wind. Changing the pitch of the blade is a useful technique for limiting peak power, optimizing rotor efficiency, and slowing down the rotor. Traditional pitch control methods utilise collective pitch control, in which the pitch of all blades is adjusted simultaneously. More advanced methods of pitch control include cyclic pitch control and individual pitch control. Cyclic pitch control varies the blade pitch angles with a phase shift of 120° (in the case of 3 turbine blades) to reduce the load variations caused by rotor tilt and yaw errors. Individual pitch control adjusts the pitch angle of each blade independently. In practice, both techniques can be used on a single set of turbine blades, that is a collective pitch component may be used to, for example keep the power at a desired level, while an individual pitch component may be used to help minimise loading on the turbine components without reducing the power output.
One of the design drivers for turbines utilising individual pitch control is the trade-off between blade bearing and main bearing loading and wear. In order to reduce main bearing loading the amount of allowed pitch activity can be increased, but this comes at the cost of increased blade bearing wear, in some cases resulting in the need for early blade bearing replacement. This problem has been addressed previously, but a satisfying solution has not yet been found. Examples are the Load Dependent Deactivation Strategies developed for TYC/ETYC (Tilt and Yaw Control/Enhanced Tilt and Yaw Control), described in WO2013/182204, and the Rotor Load Control 3.0 activation strategies, described in WO2015/051801. Both techniques significantly improve the balancing of blade bearing wear versus main bearing/shaft load reductions but neither technique adequately addresses the trade-off between aerodynamically lifting the rotor to compensate for the gravity loading of the main bearing and the resulting increase in pitch activity.
Current TYC activation strategies are mostly sensitive to wind shear and turbulence, with the result that the amount of main bearing load reduction achieved from rotor lift is dependent on the turbulence level on the site, while it is the mean loading and number of operating hours which determine the bearing wear. This also means that the wear of the main bearing is highly dependent on the wind speed distribution for a given wind farm. Consequently some sites will experience higher than intended blade or main bearing wear depending on the wind speed and shear distribution which can results in the need for early replacement of bearings or that turbines cannot be used on certain sites.
It is against this background that the invention has been devised.


An apparatus to control the rate of flow of a stream of pressurized fluid through a conduit. The apparatus comprises a flow measurement device operatively connected to the conduit, a flow control device operatively connected to the conduit, and a controller operatively connected to the flow control device. The flow measurement device generates an output signal proportionate to the rate of flow of fluid therethrough. The flow control device includes an adjustable orifice wherein upon the opening of the orifice a portion of the stream of pressurized fluid is independently released from the conduit by the flow control device. The controller receives the output signal generated by the flow measurement device and causes the adjustable orifice in the flow control device to open or close as necessary to maintain the flow of pressurized fluid as measured by the flow measurement device within pre-determined limits.

In many situations there is a desire to produce a stream of pressurized fluid at a flow rate that is below the minimum or output rate of a pump that comprises part of a particular piece of equipment or that is situated at a particular site or location. For example, in many oil or gas field applications (including underbalanced drilling situations) it is necessary to pump or inject fluid into a wellbore at rates below the output rate of the pump that is supplied with a drilling or service rig. In such cases a separate pump that is designed to pump at the low rate required for a specific operation must typically be acquired and put to use.
If properly sized for a given application, utilization of a secondary pump will satisfy the particular needs at hand, but also presents a number of limitations. First, a secondary pump and pumping system can add significantly to cost in terms of capital outlay or rental charges, and also in terms of increased operating and maintenance costs. In addition, a secondary pump designed for producing a stream of pressurized fluid at a particular flow rate will, as in the case of the primary rig pump, be of little use in the event that the operational parameters should change and should there be a need or desire for a fluid flow rate below the minimum pumping rate of the secondary pump. Where there is the expectation that a required minimum flow rate may change, more complex and sophisticated pumps having variable flow rates can be utilized, but once again only at significantly increased costs.

Method and apparatus to control the rate of flow of a fluid through a conduit

Weatherford Canada Partnership c/o Weatherford International Ltd.


A print structure includes a pattern layer that selectively actuates one or more of a plurality of actuators to selectively form one or more wells in a print surface to create a defined pattern on the print surface. A material is applied to the one or more wells and subsequently transferred to another surface in order to transfer the pattern.

The following relates to printing systems and methods. It finds particular application to structures that improve print quality. More particularly, it is directed toward structures that use viscous materials for variable data printing. However, other printing techniques are also contemplated.
Offset printing is a printing technique in which an inked image is transferred (or offset) to a rubber blanket and then to a printing surface. When used in combination with a lithographic process based on the repulsion of oil and water, the offset technique typically employs a flat (planographic) image carrier on which the image to be printed obtains ink from ink rollers, while the non-printing areas attract a film of water, keeping the nonprinting areas ink-free. In other instances, the ink can be applied with a blade or squeegee, as is practiced in the gravure printing process. The ink used for offset printing typically is a highly viscous tar-like material with excellent opacity and little tendency to wick or bleed into the fibers of the paper. The resulting image typically is associated with relatively high image quality (including a sharper and cleaner image than letterpress because the rubber blanket conforms to the texture of the printing surface) and can be formed on various printing substrates (e.g., paper, wood, cloth, metal, leather, rough paper, etc.). However, offset printers generally are inflexible in that every page typically requires a new master.
Variable data printing is a form of on-demand printing in which elements such as text, graphics and images may be changed from one printed piece to the next without stopping or slowing down the press. Thus, variable data printing enables the mass-customization of documents. For example, a set of personalized letters can be printed with a different name and address on each letter, as opposed to merely printing the same letter a plurality of times. This technique is an outgrowth of digital printing, which harnesses computer databases and digital presses to create full color documents. However, the image quality of conventional variable data printing typically is inferior to that of offset printing. This is due at least in part to the differences in the ink used. Because offset printing ink is highly viscous, it typically cannot be ejected from ink jet printers or the like.
Thus, there is an unresolved need for systems and methods that facilitate producing higher quality images with variable data printing.


In the field of mass flow measuring apparatuses, it is known to provide a sensor member for the establishment thereon of streamline flow of bulk material, in which the sensor member design is optimised in order to minimise the effects of changes in the coefficient of friction between the bulk material and the sensor member.. The invention relates to improvements in the construction of the measuring apparatus, whereby two mechanical quantities (such as a pair of forces; or a pair of moments) may be measured to provide additional data on the flow process. In particular, it is possible to determine an exit velocity value v.sub.e that is indicative of the momentum of bulk material in the sensor member.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to improvements in or relating to mass flow measuring devices. In particular, the invention relates to improvements in such devices in which streamline flow ("bulk flow") of bulk material is established on a sensor member. Such apparatuses are of particular use in vehicles such as combine harvesters and forage harvesters. In such vehicles it is desirable to provide data on the mass flow rate of grains of crop passing between the grain elevator and the bubble up auger for temporary storage in the grain tank of the vehicle.
2. Description of Prior Art
Mass flow measuring devices are also employed in stationary installations such as hoppers, silos, conveying machinery, and various kinds of manufacturing and medical apparatuses.
Bulk flow may embrace the flow of bulk grain and chemicals in transport vehicles; the flow of powders and of materials of larger particle size such as fruit, vegetables, coal, minerals and ores; and even the flow of liquids of high viscosity. In general terms, bulk flow of material may be regarded as any flow of matter in contact with a surface, in which the effects of friction between the surface and the material usually influence the maximum flow rate, and in which the matter exhibits free flow behaviour.
Our co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 09/005,094 and 09/005,095 disclose sensor members for use in bulk flow measuring apparatuses, in which one or more manufacturing parameters of the sensor members are optimised in order to minimise the effects, on the measured flow rates, of changes in the coefficient of friction between the bulk material and a sensor surface. Such optimisation of manufacturing parameters is of particular benefit in harvesting machinery and crop conveyors, since some characteristics (such as the moisture content) of the bulk material can vary over time, for example during harvesting operations.
Although the apparatuses in application Ser. Nos. of 09/005,094 and 09/005,095 represent significant improvements in the field of mass flow measurement, the inventor has surprisingly discovered that it is possible to make further improvements in mass flow measurement apparatuses.
Broadly stated, the invention relates to apparatuses and methods for measuring two measurable quantities resulting from bulk flow on a sensor member, and deriving from the measured values one or more characteristics of the flow, such characteristics being optionally either independent of or dependent on changes in the coefficient of friction between the bulk material and the sensor surface.

Relating to mass flow measuring apparatuses


A method for demodulating a data signal according to one embodiment includes processing baseband signals using multiple complex correlators each having a half-Tbit length; summing outputs of the complex correlators for a first data state; and differencing outputs of the complex correlators for a second data state. A system for demodulating a data signal according to one embodiment includes a correlator module having logic for: processing baseband signals using multiple complex correlators each having a half-Tbit length; summing outputs of the complex correlators for a first data state; and differencing outputs of the complex correlators for a second data state. Additional systems and methods are also presented.

The use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags are quickly gaining popularity for use in the monitoring and tracking of an item, RFID technology allows a user to remotely store and retrieve data in connection with an item utilizing a small, unobtrusive tag. As an RFID tag operates in the radio frequency (RF) portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, an electromagnetic or electrostatic coupling can occur between an RFID tag affixed to an item and an RFID tag reader. This coupling is advantageous, as it precludes the need for a direct contact or line of sight connection between the tag and the reader.
In some currently used passive and semi-passive RFID tags, during the 'read' cycle, the reader generally transmits a continuous unmodulated carrier signal. A distant RFID tag includes a RF switch connected to the tag's antenna, which repetitively alternates its state at a rate called the 'backscatter link frequency' (BLF). This RF switch effectively modulates the carrier signal in the tag received from the transmitter, creating sidebands surrounding the carrier frequency, and separated from the carrier frequency by the backscatter link frequency. For example, if the carrier frequency is 900 MHz and the tag backscatter modulation is at 160 KHz, side bands present in the return signal are about 900 MHz+˜160 KHz and 900 MHz−˜160 KHz. These sidebands are re-radiated by the tag's antenna, and are recovered by the reader, e.g., the reader detects and demodulates one or both of the side bands to obtain the data returned by the tag.
The above description is one typical way in which the tag communicates information to the reader. The tag does not create RF power, but instead modulates incoming RF power from the reader's transmitter, and in so doing, converts some of that incoming power to sideband frequencies which can be separately recovered by the reader. These backscatter sidebands only exist when (and because) the reader is transmitting.
The current RFID standard includes a wide range of reverse link parameters such as backscatter link frequency and data rates to provide flexibility in various applications. Most readers are designed to use specific parameter combinations at which the demodulator operates, i.e., the readers are designed to operate at a specific frequency and data rate. Such designs have traditionally been favored due to their simplicity, lower cost, and effectiveness at talking to particular tag designs. Moreover, in long distance communications with semi-passive and active tags, the low return signal strength urges towards settings directed to a specific frequency. However, such implementations are unable to cover a continuum of reverse link backscatter link frequencies and data rates.

Half bit correlator combining for data demodulation


A connector (10) has a terminal accommodating portion (31) with a plurality of cavities (34) into which terminals (20) are accommodated from behind and a front holder (50) is mounted into the terminal accommodating portion (31). The front holder (50) includes locks (53) that move onto locked portions (49) on the upper surface of a narrow portion (45) of the terminal accommodating portion (31) when the front holder (50) is mounted into the terminal accommodating portion (31). The narrow portion (45) includes deformation preventing recesses (47) that fit to deformation preventing ribs (57) on the front holder (50) in a convexo-concave manner. The deformation preventing ribs (57) and the deformation preventing recesses (47) contact each other in a vertical direction when the locks (53) move onto the locked portions (49), thereby suppressing excessive deflection of the front holder (50) or the narrow portion (45).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 7,114,999 discloses a connector with a housing that includes a terminal accommodating portion. A fitting recess is provided in a central part of the terminal accommodating portion and receives a fitting portion provided on a mating housing. Cavities are provided at opposite upper and lower sides of the fitting recess and terminal fittings can be inserted into the cavities from behind.
A front holder is mounted into the housing and has locks that engage locked portions provided on the terminal accommodating portion at outer side surfaces at upper and lower outer sides of the cavities at the opposite upper and lower sides of the fitting recess. In the process of mounting the front holder into the housing, the locks of the front holder move onto the locked portions of the housing. When the front holder reaches a proper mount position, the locks move over the locked portions and are locked to the locked portions to hold the front holder in the housing.
Spaces, such as the cavities and the fitting recess, are provided inside the above-described terminal accommodating portion. As a result, areas of the terminal accommodating portion at inner sides of the locked portions may deform excessively toward the fitting recess and the terminal accommodating portion may incline excessively inward and deform plastically when the locks of the front holder move onto the locked portions of the housing. The fitting portion of the mating housing and the terminal accommodating portion may interfere with each other if the terminal accommodating portion is deformed plastically in this way. Consequently, the mating housing and the housing may be unable to connect.
Further, the front holder may open excessively outward and deform plastically when the locks move onto the locked portions and the front holder may remain open outwardly. Therefore locking margins between the locks and the locked portions may be reduced.
The invention was completed based on the above situation and aims to suppress plastic deformation of a terminal accommodating portion and a front holder.


An electrostatic speaker includes: an oscillator; a first cushioning material layer and a second cushioning material layer; a first electrode and a second electrode; and a first cover layer and a second cover layer. In a second region inside a first region including an outer edge end of a laminated body including a plurality of layers including at least the first cover layer and the second cover layer, two adjacent layers of the plurality of layers included in the laminated body are fixed to each other, and strength at the outer edge end in the first region is higher than strength in the second region.

Electrostatic speakers are attracting attention as speakers capable of generating sound with high straight forwardness by emitting plane waves.
An electrostatic speaker has a structure in which, on each side of a sheet-like oscillator having conductivity, a sheet-like electrode having conductivity is disposed with an insulating spacer held therebetween. The electrode is required to be equipped with numerous through-holes passing through the inside and outside faces thereof and serving as air moving paths so as not to obstruct the oscillation of the oscillator, and the electrode is made of, for example, a cloth woven from conductive fibers or a punching metal sheet.
When a direct-current bias voltage is applied between the oscillator and each of the two electrodes, and an alternate-current voltage drive signal corresponding to a sound waveform is applied between the two electrodes, a drive force corresponding to the drive signal is generated between the oscillator and the electrode in accordance with Coulomb's law, and the oscillator oscillating between the two electrodes by virtue of the drive force generates sound pressure. As a result, sound corresponding to the sound waveform is emitted.
For the purpose oscillating the oscillator between the two electrodes, each of the two electrodes is required to be disposed so as to be isolated from the oscillator. Hence, a cushioning material layer having insulation property, air permeability and elasticity is disposed between the oscillator and each of the two electrodes. As the cushioning material layer, for example, a nonwoven cloth made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) can be used.
In the case that a laminated body formed of a plurality of sheet-like members, in which the cushioning material layer is disposed on each side of the oscillator and the electrode is disposed on each outside thereof as describe above, is exposed directly to the outside, the user may touch the electrode and receive an electric shock or dust may attach to the electrode or the oscillator, thereby inducing discharge or leakage between the electrode and the oscillator. For the purpose of avoiding these problems, a cover layer is usually disposed on the outside of each of the two electrodes. As the cover, for example, a PET film can be used. Since the PET film also has waterproofness, the film can prevent intrusion of not only dust but also liquid and moisture to the inside and can also prevent corrosion or the like of the electrodes and the conductive layer of the oscillator.
Since the above-mentioned cover layer is easily broken when the layer collides with a pen tip or the like or makes contact with a high-temperature lamp or the like, an outside cover having flame retardant property and cushioning property is disposed in some cases further outside the above-mentioned cover layer. As the outside cover to be used for such a purpose, for example, a flame-retardant nonwoven cloth can be used.
The above-mentioned cover layer is required to be formed into a bag-like shape to protect the electrodes and the oscillator to be accommodated therein. At the time, the cover layer is required to be air tight to hold therein an air layer required for the oscillation of the oscillator and to prevent intrusion of moisture or the like from the outside to the inside.
As widely spread techniques for fixing a plurality of laminated synthetic resin sheets so that the outer edge regions thereof are sealed with one another, a method in which the sheets are bonded using an adhesive and a method in which welding is performed between the sheets by heating and melting and then by cooling the synthetic resin, that is, heat sealing (heat welding), are available.
In the case of using an adhesive, a process of applying the adhesive to one sheet, quickly positioning the other sheet and disposing the other sheet on the sheet on which the adhesive has been applied, pressing the adhesion portions thereof and waiting for the adhesive to be hardened is performed, whereby the process is complicated and takes time. Furthermore, for the purpose of fixing all the n sheets of the laminated body using the adhesive, the above-mentioned process is required to be performed (n−1) times.
On the other hand, in the case of heat sealing, a belt-like heater is pressed against previously positioned and laminated sheets to heat them, whereby fixing between the sheets is completed. The time required for the melted synthetic resin to be cooled and hardened is generally shorter than the hardening time of the adhesive, and the process required for fixing all the n sheets of the laminated body is the same as the process for fixing two sheets, whereby the heater is merely required to be pressed once against the sheets to heat them. Hence, generally, heat sealing is low in cost as a method for fixing the synthetic resin sheets of the laminated body to one another in comparison with the case in which the adhesive is used.
A technique for performing welding between synthetic resin sheets by heat sealing is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1. In Patent Document 1, a technique has been proposed to reduce sealing defects in heat sealing by specifying the difference between the crystal melting points of two synthetic resin layers to be welded to each other, the thickness of the synthetic resin layer having a lower crystal melting point, and the optimal value of the thickness ratio of the layers.


In a communication system using a sheet light guide 100 which is formed by containing light-scattering particles in a sheet optical medium and propagates signal light incident from one end surface 100a to the other end surface 100a side while scattering the signal light by the particles, and using a plurality of optical fibers 21, 22, 23 and 24 or 31, 32, 33 and 34 coupled to the other end surface 100a in a state of being provided in parallel, each of the end surfaces 100a of the sheet light guide 100 is adapted to have an outer edge shape in which at least a part substantially coincides with an outer edge shape of the plurality of optical fibers 21 to 24 or 31 to 34.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication system using a sheet light guide, and particularly, to a light guide which is formed by containing light-scattering particles in a sheet optical medium and propagates light incident from one end surface thereof to the other end surface side while scattering the light by the particles.
Moreover, the present invention relates to the sheet light guide for use in the communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, for example, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,548,670 and 5,542,017, a light guide has been known, which is formed by containing light-scattering particles in an optical medium such as polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), and propagates light incident from one end surface thereof to the other end surface side while scattering the light by the particles.
Such a light guide is that which propagates light while repeatedly scattering the light by the particles in the optical medium as well as by means of the mechanism of total reflection at an interface between the surface along the light guide and a surrounding medium (air or cladding layer). Accordingly, in comparison with a light guide which propagates the light only by the mechanism of the total reflection, the light guide thus described has an advantage in that light having an intensity which is more uniform can be taken out at an end surface where light is emitted. For example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,822,475, it is conceived, by utilizing this advantage, to apply such a type of light guide to the purpose of constituting an optical data bus (sheet bus). The optical data bus is that which is formed by use of a sheet optical medium, and in which one input unit for inputting an optical signal is coupled to one end surface thereof, and a plurality of output units are coupled to the other end surface, thus distributing the inputted optical signal as a common signal to the plurality of output units.
Moreover, for example, as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11 (1999)-031035, as such an optical data bus, one has been also known, in which light-scattering portions are provided on a light-incident-side end portion of the sheet optical medium so as to correspond to respective signal light incident portions, and signal light scattered and branched by the light-scattering portions is propagated toward a light-emitting-side end portion of the optical medium.
The sheet light guide formed by containing the light-scattering particles in the sheet optical medium, which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,822,475, is also frequently used by connecting a plurality of optical fibers provided in parallel to the one and the other end surfaces in order to constitute a plurality of nodes.

Sheet light guide and communication system using the same